Travel Weekly (UK) articles from October 2007

Travel Weekly (UK) archives from October 2007

Hit the slopes for high adventure.(Departures)
October 5, 2007... Heliskiing and other adrenalin-filled activities are in high demand in Canadian resorts. Will Gray reports on the latest developments Canada operators are adding off-piste ski experiences this winter in response to demand for adventure. ...

Powder-filled slopesit's a sure thingSample product.(Departures)
October 5, 2007... Following a lack of snow in European ski resorts last year, Canada's popularity continues to grow and it's now more affordable than ever. Will Gray reports After poor winter weather on the European slopes last season, Canada is preparing...

Travel Weekly seeks budding agent reporters.(News)
October 5, 2007... Travel Weekly is looking for travel professionals to join its Agents Reporter Scheme. Agent will be able to report on industry events and destinations and produce anything from articles to video blogs. The initiative is being backed by...

woman of theworld.(News)(Interview)
October 5, 2007... Sarah Longbottom talks to World Travel Market managing director Fiona Jeffery about her plans to promote responsible tourism at this year's WTM show, which takes place from November 12 to 15 Why should travel agents and tour operators...

Calling all roving reporters.(Comment)
October 5, 2007... Byline: Sarah LongbottomEditor "Sharpen your pencils and start chasing those stories!" Have you ever read a review of a destination or product you have experienced and thought that you could do better? Well, now's your chance. The...

Departures.
October 5, 2007... sample product Thomas Cook offers two nights at the three-star Acropolis Select hotel in Athens in November for [pounds sterling]242, including flights. Cox and Kings offers three nights at the Imperial Hotel in Athens in November for...

What's hot for 2008.(News)
October 5, 2007... The appeal of Greece is as strong as ever, but which destinations are set to be next year's big things? Janine Kelso asks those in the know Vintage Travel overseas operations director John Fallon What's hot for 2008? Skopelos,...

holidaymaker.(Departures)
October 5, 2007... Judith and Richard Mansley, both 38, married in Santorini, Greece, last June. They went on an Olympic Holidays two-week trip to the Regina Mare Hotel in Imerovigli, booked through First Choice. They paid [pounds sterling]1,340 each for 14...

Departures.
October 5, 2007... Boutique hotel experts Mr and Mrs Smith are set to release their long-awaited guide to the swankiest places to stay in Britain: UK/Ireland Volume 2. Including boutique hideaways, luxurious spa retreats and secret city havens, the stylish...

Departures.
October 5, 2007... Let's face it, the UK summer wasn't the best we've had. But the agonisation over what to wear, whether it will rain on a bank holiday or which sunny country to fly off to is over. Autumn is here and we all know where we stand weather-wise....

Departures.
October 5, 2007... Travel Weekly has teamed up with Hoseasons to give you the chance to win a fantastic four-night weekend break for two staying at one of its lodges. With 300 parks across the UK, Hoseasons Lodges and Parks has the biggest choice of...

News.
October 5, 2007... The world according to... Sir Vivian Richards, former West Indies cricket Test captain How many holidays do you take a year? I tend to travel a lot for my work, but I always try to spend at least two or three days enjoying...

Trip to Jamaica for 2,000th specialist.(News)
October 5, 2007... Agents have a chance to win a trip to Jamaica for two with the Jamaica Tourist Board. The 2,000th agent to complete the online Jamaica Travel Specialist Programme will win a personal fam trip as well as dinner at one of London's top...

Aviation.
October 5, 2007... airline's a380 is on its way A new Airbus A380 superjumbo will be added to the British Airways fleet after the airline announced a multi-billion pound investment. BA has ordered 12 Airbus A380 and 24 Boeing 787 aircraftwith Rolls-Royce...

BA hits back at cabin crew strike rumours.(Aviation)
October 5, 2007... Airline and union refute Mail on Sunday report of Christmas walkout ballot Michelle Perrett British Airways and union Unite have refuted claims that the airline's cabin crew are set to strike over Christmas. A report in last...

Aviation.
October 5, 2007... in brief New route to Tromso Scandinavian low-cost airline Norwegian is to launch a Stansted-Tromsoroute on Tuesdays and Saturdays from December 8. Prices start from [pounds sterling]35 one-way. Director of network and revenue Daniel...

Budget airlines fly high in Europe.(Aviation)
October 5, 2007... Low-cost flights now account for 22% of all flights in Europe and are growing at a faster rate than in the rest of the world, according to the latest figures from the Official Airline Guide. There are now 31,000 more no-frills flights than...

Trials for queue system test patience at Stansted.(Aviation)
October 5, 2007... Stansted has issued an apology after passengers were left waiting for up to two hours at immigration while a new queueing system was trialled. Holidaymakers returning to the UK were left waiting at the Essex airport on September 22 when...

News.
October 5, 2007... World weather Midday readings A*F A*C Alicante sh 77 25 Amsterdam s 60 16 Athens s 80 27 Auckland s 64 18 Bahamas s 91 33 Bangkok sh 89 32 Barcelona s 77 25 Beijing r 75 24 Budapest sh 69 21...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
October 5, 2007... What will you do with all that time? This week the UK's minimum annual leave entitlement for people who work five days a week rose from 20 days to 24. Bally good show! Employment relations minister Pat McFadden told the BBC that up to...

Departures.
October 5, 2007... Winter Pride, the annual gay ski festival, is taking place in Whistler from February 3-10, with more than 3,200 skiers and snowboarders expected to attend. Now in its 16th year, the festival includes a free ski and snowboard guiding...

Departures.
October 5, 2007... Erna Low offers at Whistler hotels Erna Low has a range of special offers at its Whistler properties this winter, including Kids Ski Free, designed to target and reward its largest customer base: the family market. The offer applies to...

Departures.
October 5, 2007... in brief Holiday Taxis adds shuttles Holiday Taxis has added taxi and shuttle services from Calgary and Edmonton airports - opening up access to Banff, Lake Louise and Fernie. Prices start from [pounds sterling]165 per vehicle between...

Departures.
October 5, 2007... Opening Ceremony: December 31, 2007 On the stroke of midnight a spectacular fireworks display and visual effects will kick off the celebrations. The Interactive Tour: January 5-6 2008 The tour leads participants on a 400-year...

Quebec's ready to party.(Departures)
October 5, 2007... As the French-Canadian province's charming capital prepares to mark 400 years since its historic founding, Teresa Machan gives you the rundown on what's in store for revellers Quebec City is gearing up for its biggest party ever. Fiercely...

Operator wants to offer clients 'something different'Fred Olsen will focus on cruise.(News)
October 5, 2007... Kelly Ranson Fred Olsen Travel is launching its own dynamically packaged cruise brochure which will be sold exclusively through its own agencies. The agency has decided to focus on cruise this year after seeing the sector grow and...

'Green concerns will lead to bigger ships'.(News)
October 5, 2007... Economic and environmental factors will drive cruiselines to build ever-bigger ships, said Susan Hooper, senior vice-president international and managing director EMEA, Royal Caribbean International. In 1970, Royal Caribbean's largest ship...

Carnival to welcome bloggers on board.(News)
October 5, 2007... A Carnival Cruise Lines director's blog has become so popular that the operator is putting on a special bloggers' cruise next year. Carnival Freedom senior cruise director John Heald started his blog about life at sea in March this year...

'Europe is ripe for expansion'.(News)
October 5, 2007... "About three million cruises a year are taken on the Continente_SDRq Continent's cruise market growing 10% a year, says Dingle Jane Archer Europe is the focus for expansion in the cruise market, Carnival UK chief executive David...

News.
October 5, 2007... river cruising 'not sexy' River cruise operators need to add glamour to their product to encourage sales through the trade, according to Viking River Cruises senior vice-president European marketing and sales Guido Laukamp. He said:...

Costs will halt building boom.(News)
October 5, 2007... The current boom in shipbuilding is set to end due to escalating costs, Seatrade delegates have been told. Carnival UK chief executive officer David Dingle said the weak dollar means new ship builds are expensive and margins are tight for...

Departures.
October 5, 2007... Everything you need to know for the week ahead The news of the world Operator: Page and Moy Brochure: Europe: Holiday Collection 2008 What's new? 14 tours in Romania, Italy, Austria and Russia. It says: "For 2008 we've...

Departures.
October 5, 2007... Karen Doyle national account manager, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines What have you been up to this week? We've been preparing for the Big Hand Appreciation Beach Party at The Grove Hotel. Every month agents have been nominating their...

Cameras roll for reviews.(News)
October 5, 2007... On Holiday Group adds video section to trade site for agents' holiday reports Juliet Dennisjuliet.dennis@rbi.co.uk On Holiday Group is to launch a review section on its consumer website and agents are being invited to film hotel and...

Exposed: Going Places in data protection gaffe.(News)
October 5, 2007... Exclusive Market Street, Manchester branch staff left customers' details in window Edward Robertsoned.robertson@rbi.co.uk The Thomas Cook Group faces possible disciplinary action from the ABTA Code of Conduct Committee after one of its...

NCL polishes Gem ready for inaugural in Dover.(News)
October 5, 2007... Norwegian Cruise Line is set to launch Norwegian Gem today and more than 1,200 agents are due on board for the ship's inaugural celebrations in Dover tonight. The company will be hosting more than 1,500 people on the 2,394-passenger ship....

News.
October 5, 2007... Thomas Cook agents get tropical Thomas Cook's top 100 agents were flown to Antigua last week in recognition of their hard work. Staying in the newly built Mediterranean suites at theall-inclusive couples resort Sandals Grande...

News.
October 5, 2007... in brief Russian transfers Transfer specialist Holiday Taxis has added Russia to its portfolio of destinations. Transfer options are available at airports, rail and bus stations in Moscow and St Petersburg. MSC luxury cruises ...

Dead P&O Cruises passenger is named.(News)
October 5, 2007... Police have named the woman who died after reportedly falling from P&O Cruises' Oceania as it approached Southampton last weekend. The body of Karleen Barbara Pang, 67, of St Leonards, Dorset was recovered from the Solent on Sunday morning...

Hotel prices 'bad for tourism'.(News)
October 5, 2007... The cost of staying in a hotel in the UK is the highest in Europe and could be damaging the UK tourism industry, according to the Good Hotel Guide 2008. Unhelpful staff, the irritating playing of 'muzak' and treating children as...

Levy gets majority vote.(News)
October 5, 2007... Exclusive Survey shows two-thirds of consumers willing to pay [pounds sterling]1 ATOL charge Juliet Dennisjuliet.dennis@rbi.co.uk Two-thirds of holidaymakers are willing to pay the proposed [pounds sterling]1 levy on package holidays...

News.
October 5, 2007... in brief Southeast Ball tickets Limited tickets remain for the Southeast Ball on October 18 at Copthorne Effingham Park, Gatwick. There will be a three-course dinner followed by the Agent Excellence Awards and a disco. Call Angela...

News.
October 5, 2007... in brief Winstanley ACE move Travel Weekly Cruise Club member Andrew Winstanley has been elected to sit on the Association of Cruise Experts Steering Committee. Winstanley is director of Hove agency Americas4u, which moved into the...

Agent Chris lands [pounds sterling]62K cruise sale.(News)
October 5, 2007... Exclusive Consultant managed to upsell client to take top suite on P&O's Aurora Kelly Ransonkelly.ranson@rbi.co.uk A travel agent was celebrating this week after making a [pounds sterling]62,000 booking for a round-the-world cruise....

News.
October 5, 2007... in brief Riley is on the board Cadogan Holidays has appointed John Riley to its board after he spent six months as commercial and product director. Riley has been credited with introducing new destinations, product and programmes since...

Resorthoppa in management shuffle.(News)
October 5, 2007... Exclusive Transfer specialist Resort-hoppa is expected to announce high-profile appointments in the coming weeks as part of a management restructure. It follows news that independent merchant bank Close Brothers has purchased a...

Agencies threaten to quit over Worldchoice merger.(News)
October 5, 2007... At least 30 agencies have threatened to quit Worldchoice should the proposed merger with fellow Triton Travel Group member Global Travel Group win approval, possibly by the end of November. Stowaway Travel director Paul Stowe said the group...

News.
October 5, 2007... Woodroffe's high-speed cleaning Yotel owner and Dragon's Den panellist Simon Woodroffe took time out last week to do a spot of cleaning on the Gatwick Express. The creator of worldwide restaurant company YO! Sushi said: "The Gatwick...

Life's a beach in Austria.(Letters)
October 5, 2007... I'm surprised to find an entry in your competition for 'weirdest client requests' for a beach holiday in Austria (Rear View, Travel Weekly, September 14), because the request is not that strange. Klagenfurt on Lake WA[paragraph]rthersee,...

Letters.
October 5, 2007... A case of quality, and not quantity Last month I wrote to Travel Weekly pleading for agents to monitor the performance of their accommodation-only suppliers. I was delighted to see Travel Weekly highlighting this issue in last week's issue...

Maureen.
October 5, 2007... Lisa stopped short of advising her to get legless and get over it Toilet humour Our week seems to have been dominated by loos. Heck, we're not shy in this office. The first call to set the ball-cock in motion came from clients in...

Brunlea TravelGoing PlacesFirst Choice Travelcare.(Mystery Shopper)
October 5, 2007... 47-49 Hammerton Street, Burnley I explained to one of the consultants what I was looking for. When she failed to provide any suggestions, I pushed her by asking directly what she could recommend. Despite having many chances to ask me...

Columnists.
October 5, 2007... Byline: Chris Photisenior partner, White Hart Associates Let's put these gripes to bed Am I the only one fed up with the gripes aimed at bed banks? Not a week goes by without another agent or consortia grumbling about bed banks. ...

Operators and Agents.
October 5, 2007... Bradley hits double figures Bourne Leisure's mascot Bradley Bear will be hosting parties at the operator's 34 UK parks to celebrate his 10th birthday. The events will take place from October 8-12. Bradley visited Thomson's Aylesbury...

Rhodes is left out of the club.(News)
October 5, 2007... Poor old Stephen Rhodes. The Travel 2/4 commercial director recently had his golf clubs stolen from the boot of his car, so he had them replaced with the latest G5 models on his insurance. And then, out on the course proudly displaying...

Educating the tropical sellers.(Skillzone)
October 5, 2007... The Caribbean Tourism Organisation's second UK academy set out to ensure travel agents are all clued up to sell the destination. Emily Ashwell finds out just how successful it was The Caribbean Tourism Organisation has held its second UK...

Skillzone.
October 5, 2007... What was your first job in travel? At Pickfords Travel in Newcastle as a trainee. My first cruise booking was to the Caribbean on Royal Caribbean's Sun Viking. How did you climb the ladder? After Pickfords, I joined Sealink British...

Skillzone.
October 5, 2007... Hoseasons has announced its new regional sales executive for the south of England as Lisa James. She joins from Millennium Gloucester Hotel in Kensington, where she was meetings and events sales executive. Phill Spokes has been appointed...

Building on success.(Skillzone)
October 5, 2007... This week, Lisa James talks to Robin Deller, managing director of Fast Track Travel, which won the title of Best Cruise Agency at Travel Weekly's Southwest and Wales Agent Excellence Awards You could say we look at what our competitors are...

News.
October 5, 2007... Something's brewing at Stena Line HSS Stena was the host for the world's biggest coffee morning last week, raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support. This is the seventh consecutive year that Stena Line company has hosted the event, with...

News.
October 5, 2007... our TOp five web stories Most-read stories on www.travelweekly.co.uk this week: 1) Travel businesses face new consumer protection rules 2) Four out of five travel companies hit by fraud in the last three years 3) Bed banks...

Ali could bath in her bollinger.(Week in pictures)
October 5, 2007... Bath Travel Lymington agent Ali Atlas is celebrating with her bottle of Bollinger after winning a Princess Cruises competition. After seeing the competition in Travel Weekly last month Ali made a booking with the cruiseline to enter. She bagged...

Week in pictures.
October 5, 2007... The Week to ComeWhere to be and what you need to know for the week ahead Saturday October 6 International Seminar on Health Tourism, Romania. spa.ro Sunday October 7 Advantage Business Travel Conference in Zurich,...

News.
October 5, 2007... technologY providers at WTM Cutting-edge Internet service providers, registration systems, reservation systems, software solutions, and telecoms products and services will be among the technology and online travel exhibitors at this year's...

Connect with hotel users.(News)
October 5, 2007... Properties offering a reliable Internet service at reasonable rates are on to a winner, say business travellers While wireless Internet hotspots are becoming commonplace, dissatisfaction levels from would-be laptop users is growing at an...

'A new world for agents'.(News)
October 5, 2007... Advantage hopes new specialist programmes will drive sales for the travel trade Edward Robertson Winter sports and destinations including Australia, New Zealand and India will be the next components in the Advantage specialist agents...

Elite hires Franklin to poach members.(News)
October 5, 2007... Elite Travel Group has appointed Julie Franklin as new business development manager with the express brief to poach members from other consortia. Chairman Neil Basnett said Franklin, who has a wide range of retail experience having...

Watchdog uncovers Expedia's failings.(News)
October 5, 2007... Exclusive Customers complain of failed bookings to BBC Edward Robertsoned.robertson@rbi.co.uk An expose of Expedia by BBC's Watchdog on Wednesday has reminded customers of the benefits of booking through traditional operators and...

News.
October 5, 2007... in brief Bales has trade in site Bales Worldwide is to launch a trade website after more than 15 months' development. However, only part of the operator's product - escorted tours - will be bookable on the site when it goes live in...

face the possibilities.(News)
October 5, 2007... Social networking sites - and facebook.com in particular - have become a global phenomenon. Chloe Berman reports on how some travel companies are capitalising on these new websites "We have to have a presence on facebook.com to ensure our...

Conservatives plan to cut red tape.(News)
October 5, 2007... Party says bureaucracy costs British businesses [pounds sterling]56bn a year Chloe Bermanchloe.berman@rbi.co.uk A pledge by the Conservative party to cut red tape by 20% over five years has been welcomed by the travel industry. ...

Goldtrail gets an early start on summer sales.(News)
October 5, 2007... Goldtrail Holidays has launched its summer 2008 brochure three months earlier than normal as repeat business drives early sales. Sales and marketing manager Joe Lavers said around a quarter of all this year's sales are through repeat...

Not so quiet on Leger front.(News)
October 5, 2007... Leger Holidays is launching a new Battlefields brochure to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I. The operator has introduced two tours that visit the sites and memorials of the last 100 days of the war. Also new for...

Chain hotel will help bookings for Jersey.(News)
October 5, 2007... The arrival of the first international chain hotel in Jersey should drive growth in the island's short-break market. Premier Holidays product manager Beverley Scarr said the Radisson SAS property, opening in November, is one of two...

By George, he did it.(News)
October 5, 2007... Bales MD Nickerson reveals tour operator's humble beginnings at its 60th birthday bash If mighty trees grow from the small seeds then it seems the same can be said about tour operators. Speaking at the 60th birthday party of Bales...

Barometer.
October 12, 2007... top 20 travel searchterms 1. Ryanair 2. EasyJet 3. Multimap 4. AA route planner 5. Train times 6. Google Earth 7. Thomas Cook 8. Expedia 9. AA route finder 10. National Rail11. Cheap flights ...

Caught on Camera.
October 12, 2007... Best business travel manager Best business travel consultant Mark Wilson, Branch manager, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Preston "I saw entering these awards as an opportunity to put down on paper what I thought I could do and what I...

Our winners in the north.(Caught on Camera)
October 12, 2007... The De Vere White Hotel at Bolton Wanderers' stadium was a scene of celebration as deserving agents were rewarded for going that extra mile. Emily Ashwell reports "With the consolidation of the big four we recognise that there is more...

'trend is still going strong'.(News)
October 12, 2007... - that's according to trade professionals who took part in a discussion on the dynamic packaging sector during a VIP trip to Sharm el-Sheikh hosted by youtravel.com. Juliet Dennis reports Growth of the dynamic packaging sector There is...

Barometer.
October 12, 2007... top 10 african destinations 1. Johannesburg 2. Cape Town 3. Lagos 4. Sharm el-Sheikh 5. Accra 6. Nairobi 7. Marrakesh 8. Dhaka 9. Taba 10. Monastir

Barometer.
October 12, 2007... Currency Spot rates Argentina Peso 6.44233 Australia Dollar 2.2626 Brazil Real 3.69496 Canada Dollar 2.0046 China Yuan 15.32557 Cyprus Pound 0.8426 Denmark Krone 10.7581 Euro 1.4453 Egypt Pound...

Barometer.
October 12, 2007... top 10 us flight searches 1. New York 2. Orlando 3. Las Vegas 4. Miami 5. Los Angeles 6. San Francisco 7. Chicago 8. Atlanta 9. Colorado 10. Washington, DC

Barometer.
October 12, 2007... norwegian gem in statistics 965ft - the length of Norwegian Cruise Line's new cruise ship, which launched last week 25 knots - the speed at which the ship can travel 93,530 tons - the total weight of Norwegian Gem 15 - the...

Barometer.
October 12, 2007... World weather Midday readings A*F A*C Alicante f 78 26 Amsterdam f 62 17 Athens s 74 25 Auckland sh 59 15 Bahamas s 87 31 Bangkok th 84 29 Barcelona s 75 24 Beijing s 71 22 Budapest s 62 17 ...