Travel Weekly (UK) articles from October 2004

Travel Weekly (UK) archives from October 2004

prebookable add-ons.
October 1, 2004... Arrive in style: ifyou're going to Las Vegas, arrive like you mean business. For [pounds sterling]90, six people can squeeze into a limousine, bookable with Gold Medal Travel. Take to the air: helicopter flights are big business in Vegas -...

Fam-tastic.
October 1, 2004... Ski Andorra and the Andorra Ministry of Tourism held two evenings in Manchester and London to celebrate the 'Experience the Difference' roadshow Winners of an Andorra fam trip in 2005 are, from left, Emma Badenoch, Alpine Answers; Caroline...

sample; product.
October 1, 2004... Crystal offers a week's room-only at the four-star Hotel Manoir Victoria from [pounds sterling]507 per person, including flights and transfers. Inghams sells a week's room-only at the five-star Chateau Frontenac from [pounds sterling]506...

Pretty city.
October 1, 2004... The latest brochures under the microscope Gold Medal Travel Gold Medal has added several properties to its 2005 Dubai brochure, including the latest Jumeirah International development, Madinat Jumeriah. The hotel is...

there's no escape from the mystery shopper In association with.
October 1, 2004... The target wanted Woking A family ski holiday in Canada Going Places 16 Commercial Way The consultant confessed that she would have to read through the brochures before being able to recommend a particular resort,...

Diary Dates.
October 1, 2004... OCTOBER 3-5 Central America Travel Market, Guatemala. centroamerica-tm.com. 5 TIPTO Roadshow, North Stafford Hotel, Stoke-on-Trent. Tel: 01484 345014. 5 Maison de la France Evening Roadshow in partnership with Air France, London....

Reality bites.
October 1, 2004... After reading your letter of the week (Travel Weekly September 17), I felt compelled to write. I joined the trade as a 16-year-old school leaver and, boy, did I have high expectations. I never imagined I'd be in the situation I am in now -...

Team work was a winner.
October 1, 2004... In this time of dog eat dog in the travel industry, I was gratified when an operator behaved honourably. A client and his Russian bride spent some considerable time considering a trip to the Maldives, Seychelles or Mauritius, travelling...

Anything goes...
October 1, 2004... Las Vegas isn't just about having fun, it's about doing it in style. Luxury spas, helicopter trips, eating at top restaurants and experiencing exceptional nightlife - it's all there. Whether a group wants a pre-wedding celebration, or a couple...

It's now or never...
October 1, 2004... Whether your clients are stags, hens or the bride and groom, Vegas is sure to have something to suit BYLINE: Report by nick dalton Weddings are big business in Las Vegas. It's not just the day itself that can be catered for - the city...

Risky business.
October 1, 2004... Report by steve jones The city-break market has become a no-frills battle for survival THE Travelscene collapse was a harsh lesson for all. Long established, well respected and with high-profile staff, yet not immune to the realities...

Staying local wins clients.
October 1, 2004... THE convenience of local departures is helping coach operators withstand the onslaught of low-cost carriers, Leger Holidays has claimed. The escorted tours specialist insists it is holding its own while the air-based sector continues to...

Prestige plumps for short breaks.
October 1, 2004... Morocco among new additions PRESTIGE Holidays is featuring short breaks in its winter brochure for the first time after previously offering the product on a tailor-made basis. The move comes as the operator admitted customers and...

Frights and fireworks.
October 1, 2004... The best fun you'll have with the lights out It's that time of year when evenings draw in and nights are long. A short break tailored around Bonfire Night or Halloween could be just the ticket to brighten things up. Marking the...

of the best Canadian ski trips.
October 1, 2004... There's a resort in Canada to suit every skier or boarder, but it's not always easy to know which to recommend to particular clients. We've hand-picked some of the best resorts for five different types and level of skier, whether they are...

sample; product.
October 1, 2004... Olympic has a week at the four-star self-catering Belvedere Beach Hotel In Rhodes Town from [pounds sterling]309 twin-share, including flights. Golden Sun sells a week at the self-catering Efrosyni Apartments in central Lindos from [pounds...

Turning up the heat for winter.
October 1, 2004... Clients seek alternative options for short breaks As the winter months begin to close in, the appeal of a few days in the sun is luring sun-starved Brits to warmer climes, with more people prepared to venture further afield or try new...

hotel check; annapolis inn Studios; Rhodes Town, Rhodes.
October 1, 2004... Where is it? In the centre of Rhodes new town, a five-minute walk from the beach and a 10-minute stroll from the Old Town. It's on a quiet leafy street housing a number of restaurants and laid-back bars. 4444 What's it like? ...

Hellenichaven.
October 1, 2004... It's hard to imagine an atmosphere more removed from the boisterous nightlife of Faliraki, but Rhodes Old Town is only 10 miles from the tacky party resort. Walking through the narrow, winding cobblestone alleyways late one night, after...

Weddings offered by Manos.
October 1, 2004... Greece specialist Manos Holidays is offering wedding packages in Greece for the first time in its 2005 programme. The operator features weddings on Rhodes, Kos, Skiathos and Santorini, leading in at an extra [pounds sterling]319 on top of...

Survey finds market share is diminishing.
October 1, 2004... A SURVEY by Mintel has fired a warning shot to travel agents to buck up their customer service in the face of falling market share. In a worrying overview for traditional bricks-and-mortar agencies, Mintel's Holiday Bookings Leisure...

Crystal offers 'ski and see' package.
October 1, 2004... Crystal Ski is the latest tour operator to feature the resorts of Stoneham, Mont St Anne and Le Massif, the three resorts local to Quebec City. Skiers stay in the scenic Quebecois capital and catch a shuttle bus to their choice of resort...

In the limelight.
October 1, 2004... Expansion plans underway in Quebec New flights and a raft of investment could see Quebec step out of the shadows to become Canada's most promising ski destination. A [pounds sterling]425 million expansion project is underway at the...

hotel check; victoria-jungfrau grand hotel and spa; Interlaken, Switzerland.
October 1, 2004... Where is it? Located on Interlaken's main thoroughfare, the Hoeheweg, where it is dwarfed by an imposing trio of Alpine peaks: the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. 44444 What's it like? Contemporary elegance in a 19th century...

things; to do.
October 1, 2004... Family fun: take the Interlaken children's train and make your own cheese at the Emmental show dairy. Take a steamboat and then ride up the Rothorn on Switzerland's last remaining steam-driven cogwheel railway. Do the Dwarves' Trail in...

The hills are alive with soft adventure.
October 1, 2004... Clients will be surprised by the range of world-class adventure sports on offer in Interlaken You haven't really 'done' Switzerland until you've zoomed down a mountainside on a trotti bike with the breeze in your hair, cowbells tinkling in...

Cutbacks on the cards.
October 1, 2004... After a slow summer and autumn this year for bookings to Greece, some UK tour operators are cutting capacity and shortening their flying season for 2005. Sunvil managing director Noel Josephides said he expects to reduce the length of the...

Good company.
October 1, 2004... I am sorry to see the tourism management graduate quit the industry after only one year (Travel Weekly September 17). In order to discourage other graduates from leaving l would like to point out there are some high-street agencies...

sample product.
October 1, 2004... Spirit of the Alps sells a week's bed and breakfast at the Villa Europe from [pounds sterling]294 per person twin-share including cross-Channel car-ferry crossing. A five-day Highlights of Switzerland rail tour taking in Interlaken, Lucerne and...

On tour with TIPTO.
October 1, 2004... Picture-postcard images of York conceal a much tougher scene. The familiar Minster, ancient city walls and villages dotted across the surrounding countryside may be a magnet for tourists. But as independent agents at the first of TIPTO's latest...

news in brief.
October 1, 2004... new mykonos opening The Louis Group opened its latest hotel this summer, the 52-room, four-star Theoxenia on Mykonos. Planet Holidays claims it is the only UK operator to feature the property, offering seven nights from [pounds...

Air Scotland to add new Greek routes.
October 1, 2004... Air Scotland is looking at offering year-round scheduled flights to Crete, Rhodes, Kos and possibly Corfu on the back of a successful summer, according to operations manager Raymond McMillan. The carrier was the first airline to offer...

All eyes on Athens.
October 1, 2004... Operators have tipped Athens to make its mark as a short-break destination after defying the pessimists to pull off an Olympic triumph earlier this year. And hoteliers whose overpricing turned the event into a tourism fiasco in the short term...

BA managers safe after fiasco.
October 1, 2004... BRITISH Airways' senior managers have escaped unscathed following the August operations disaster, chief executive Rod Eddington has revealed. At least one manager was expected to carry the can following the disruption which threatened to...

EasyJet saves the best for last.
October 1, 2004... Final-quarter profits show big increase EASYJET has scaled back capacity growth plans despite reporting improved trading for the final financial quarter of this year. In a City trading update, chief executive Ray Webster said capacity...

l in brief.
October 1, 2004... Legoland Windsor sees Super summer sales Superbreak has said its inclusive breaks to Legoland Windsor have doubled, booking 29,000 customers over the March-October season. Numbers for next year are expected to top 40,000, the operator...

Embratur drives Brazil bookings.
October 1, 2004... THE Brazilian Tourist Office Embratur has launched a drive to encourage more agents to sell the destination and more operators to feature it. The office has launched a series of Europe-wide seminars in London, inviting agents to come along...

Host with the most.
October 1, 2004... CTC to hold travel awards ceremony in Manchester following workshops boom The Canadian Tourism Commission has switched the venue of its travel awards ceremony to Manchester and will focus the event entirely on its qualified Canada...

Focus Group in call to sign up.
October 1, 2004... ADVANTAGE Business Travel is targeting members to promote the benefits of its 88-strong Focus Group. The Focus Group, created just over two years ago, consists of travel management companies which have made a commitment to the group, and...

Kelly winsBCPprize.
October 1, 2004... Travel agent Kelly Reddin, of Appleby's Travel in Brigg, Lincolnshire, scooped the [pounds sterling]50 first prize in a competition run by airport car parking specialist BCP and Nottingham East Midlands Airport. Every agent making a...

l in brief.
October 1, 2004... Radius announces new vice-president Business travel consortium Radius has announced Kieran Hartwell as its new vice-president for multinational corporate sales for Europe. Hartwell was previously business development manager at P&O Business...

l in brief.
October 1, 2004... Flybe expands services out of Birmingham Flybeis extending its route network from Birmingham International Airport with the launch of a weekly flight to the French ski resort of Chambery from January 8. Prices start at [pounds sterling]39...

Taking it to the extreme.
October 1, 2004... Red Mountain, known for its tough terrain, could be the next big thing for hardened UK skiers Cult local resort Red Mountain could be the next in British Columbia to gain a following in the UK. Located in southern BC's Monashee...

Slump in shop sales.
October 1, 2004... CADOGAN'S traditional travel agency business is down almost a third, while sales from online agencies have soared in the past year. The operator said sales via conventional bricks and mortar agencies are down 29% and business from online...

Goldtrail additions.
October 1, 2004... TURKEY specialist Goldtrail Holidays has launched its first-edition Summer 2005 brochure, which includes 22 new properties. The properties are mainly self-catering and three-star hotels in the Marmaris and the Fethiye region. With...

Bmibaby extends deal with Air Wales.
October 1, 2004... BMIBABY has widened its joint operation deal with Air Wales at Cardiff Airport by transferring a number of Belfast services to the Welsh carrier. Air Wales will take over operation of three flights to Jersey and eight flights to Belfast to...

UK sales fall for Thomas Cook AG.
October 1, 2004... THOMAS Cook AG described the UK as a "sharply declining market" despite reporting significantly reduced operating losses for the first nine months of the financial year. The UK, traditionally one of the company's strongest markets, saw...

'US is back in business'.
October 1, 2004... Premier Holidays says sales will recover by 2005 PREMIER Holidays predicts 2005 will see US business return to pre-September 11 levels on the back of a resuscitated Florida family market and favourable currency rates. The independent...

Vesuvio Express targets UK sales.
October 1, 2004... AN ITALIAN tour operator specialising in the Sorrento region is targeting the UK travel trade for the first time. Vesuvio Express, previously an Italian inbound operator only, has launched its first brochure for the UK market and is...

NCV plan is a flying success.
October 1, 2004... NORWEGIAN Coastal Voyage has claimed its regional flying programme is one of the key factors behind strong sales, with 30% of its 2005 programme already sold. The company introduced its first regional programme this year and has now...

Alliance launches brochure.
October 1, 2004... THE Niche Cruise Alliance has launched its first showcase brochure highlighting the product and destination range of its members. The alliance was formed in November 2003 to promote niche products in the cruise sector. Its members are...

New rail routes for 2006.
October 1, 2004... The Great Canadian Railtour company - owner of Rocky Mountaineer Railtours - has won a bid to operate two new tourist routes in British Columbia and Alberta. The first, the Whistler Mountaineer, will run along the so-called sea-to-sky...

Study shows future is in long-haul sales.
October 1, 2004... TOUR operators will be able to sustain and increase market share by extending long-haul product and entering the low-cost market, research has revealed. A study by research firm Market and Business Development forecast spend on inclusive...

Grand forecast for 2005.
October 1, 2004... GRAND UK Holidays has launched its Summer 2005 brochure and forecasts strong bookings following a growth in agent distribution. The over-55s operator, which runs escorted tours mainly through Britain and Europe, said since May it has...

A sea food offering.
October 1, 2004... P&O Cruises has signed up celebrity chef Gary Rhodes to head its fine dining restaurant on new ship Arcadia. The restaurant, Arcadian Rhodes, will offer modern British cuisine to passengers. Rhodes will be involved in all aspects including...

Airport buys EUjet.
October 1, 2004... only commercial airline following a multi-million pound revamp and Planestation's directors are keen to ensure it remains in business. It launched on September 1, flying to 12 European destinations. Planestation and EUjet management are...

Sisters doing it for themselves.
October 1, 2004... As the AWTE celebrates its half-century, we asked what's changed for women in travel over the past 50 years. Emily Williamson reports THE saying goes that it's a man's world, but look around the travel industry...

Raising our profile.
October 1, 2004... With regard to Rachael Meese of Louth and Horncastle Travel Centre's comments on a 20% discount being offered on our holidays through Flower Arranger magazine (Travel Weekly September 24), you should be aware that through Page and Moy, Air...

We've got the power.
October 1, 2004... My controversial move last year to suggest tiered commission levels could soon be the industry norm. Agents join a consortium because, as part of a group, they feel they can command greater respect from tour operators and exercise more...

Offshore Cruise Club fails.
October 1, 2004... ABTA is dealing with hundreds of claims following the collapse of cruise specialist Offshore Cruise Club last week. The Isle of Man agency also traded as Legends Leisure, Skyline Travel and Fallas Travel with branches in Jersey and...

Simply the best.
October 1, 2004... AIR Miles customer services manager Wendy Jones has scooped the title of Customer Service Manager of the Year at the National Customer Service awards. She beat 1,800 applicants to the top spot and was the only finalist from the travel...

Are you listening carefully?
October 1, 2004... HOW many times do you switch off when the cabin crew valiantly starts taking passengers through the oft-heard safety procedures on a flight? Well, on the way back from the Northern Travel Trade Ball in Bolton last week, last resort had to...

Virgin goes Galactic.
October 1, 2004... AGENTScould be selling [pounds sterling]115,000 flights into space on Sir Richard Branson's new venture Virgin Galactic. Branson has announced plans this week to launch the world's first commercial space tourism carrier which could be...

Cadogan eyes 25% growth.
October 1, 2004... CADOGAN Holidays is targeting a 25% hike in passenger numbers over the next year with an enlarged portfolio including five new destinations. The operator currently carries 33,000 passengers annually but claims it will be able to drive this...

It's all in the stars.
October 1, 2004... Check out our guide to which zodiac signs work best together. Lisa James reports HAVE you ever wondered why you get on really well with some people in the office while others just drive you mad? The answer could lie in the stars. We've...

Would you credit it?
October 1, 2004... Oregon Scientific Credit Card PDA-293 This organiser is so small it will slip into your wallet along with your credit cards, but it's big enough to store more information than the pentagon. It comes with easy-sync PC link, software and a...

Boom in room-only product.
October 1, 2004... ACCOMMODATION-ONLY now accounts for 38% of Cadogan's business and is continuing to increase. The operator said demand for bonded accommodation-only product had grown substantially following the collapse of Travelscene's brand Citybedz.com....

l in brief.
October 1, 2004... MP to open Business Travel Show The Guild of Business Travel Agent's parliamentary consultant Mark Tami MP is to open the Business Travel Show in Birmingham on October 13. The GBTA will promote its agent qualification, the Certificate in...

Operators stealing trade from retailers.
October 1, 2004... TOUR operators have increased their direct bookings by 3% between 1999 and 2003 to the detriment of travel agents, according to a new Mintel report. It says operators have driven direct sales further in recent years to maintain margins by...

The name game.
October 1, 2004... Thomas Cook is the best-loved holiday brand in the UK and Airtours the most hated, according to a survey published this week in Marketing magazine. The survey questioned 11,000 people during the peak holiday months of July and August and...

Not all doom and gloom.
October 1, 2004... THE overseas holiday market is expected to return to growth levels of 5% this year in terms of passenger volumes after a dip following the 2001 terrorist attacks. According to the Mintel survey, the annual growth rate fell to 3.1% between...

Wigging out.
October 1, 2004... LAST resort doesn't get to look this good without a lot of hard work behind the scenes by our crack production team, but some challenges are too great even for them. Spare a thought for art editor Flora Ioannou, who was descended on during...

SRS-Worldhotels targets expansion.
October 1, 2004... HOTELsales, marketing and distribution company SRS-Worldhotels aims to boost its membership to 750 by 2008, on the back of a stabilising hotel trade and increased brand awareness. The company, which has 460 members, said it aims to build on...

'Make the most of grey sector'.
October 1, 2004... "We're totally underestimating the magnitude of the business change created by a large number of wealthy, healthy people released from the constraints of work with the desire to enjoy themselves," said over-50s expert Dick Stroud, who will be...

Smooth operators.
October 1, 2004... In a classic case of poacher-turned-gamekeeper, we've heard from not one but two travel journalists this week who have decided to try their hand at tour operating. First up we had an e-mail from News of the World travel editor John...

Marketing is key to winning trade.
October 1, 2004... TRAVEL companies need to make wholesale changes to customer relationship marketing to exploit opportunities in the older market. Over-50s experts Dick Stroud, managing director of technology consultant 20plus30, said: "If managers believe...

Proud to escape.
October 1, 2004... I work for Thomas Cook and when I joined I had a training day telling me about being proud to work for this company. How proud I am. My shop does not have a manager, we have to close once a week to take days off, we have to close early, we...

Food processing.
October 1, 2004... Your article questioned the appropriateness of Virgin Atlantic's specially created meals for the European Ryder Cup Team on their flight to Detroit (Travel Weekly September 17). Our menus featured, among other things, the Golf Game Square...

When will they put people first?
October 1, 2004... Once again I read that a large travel company is axeing jobs as a cost-cutting method, this time it being TUI UK. I am a sales consultant for one of its Lunn Poly branches and previously worked for Thomas Cook, where I was relocated after...

New franchise opportunity.
October 1, 2004... CRUISE and long-haul agency chain Personal Service Travel plans to expand through a new franchise partnership scheme. The 11-branch PST, backed by newly elected ABTA president Martin Wellings and brother Paul, hopes to woo new agents and...

Capacity slashed by P&O.
October 1, 2004... P&O FERRIES has drastically cut capacity to counter growing losses from the sector. It plans to axe up to 1,200 jobs and six ships to cut costs by [pounds sterling]100 million. All Western channel routes except Portsmouth-Bilbao will...

EC rejects TOMS overhaul.
October 1, 2004... Tax guru turns down reform proposals from Council for Travel and Transport THE UK travel industry's proposal to overhaul the existing Tour Operators' Margin Scheme has been rejected by the European Commission's tax guru. EC head of...

l in brief l in brief l.
October 1, 2004... Agents miss out on selling prebookable ticketsHalf of all bookings to Florida are made through an agent but only 18% of attraction ticket packages are sold to clients at the same time. Research commissioned by direct supplier Attraction Tickets...

Bmibaby ditches Gatwick-Prague.
October 1, 2004... BMIBABY's flirtation with Gatwick could be ending after the carrier confirmed Prague will be dropped from the airport for winter. The route closure will leave Bmibaby with just Cork from Gatwick this winter and signals a decision by the...