FEATURE HONG KONG & MACAU
From The Front Line
Up Close and Personal by Ben Lerwill “I’ve never been much of a gambler – poker remains as baffling to me now as it did 20 years ago – but I enjoy a good casino. There’s something about the collective tension and the glitzy decor that makes them fascinating places to wander around. I find The Venetian in Macau particularly
entertaining. Beyond its Vegas-a-like mock canals and gondoliers, which are diverting in their own way, the betting floor itself is warm, opulent and utterly colossal. Even in the early afternoon it feels as though every mainland cardsharp and his wife have descended on the place – the hum of activity is intense. Gamblers generally need big budgets, but there’s no charge for strolling from table to table and taking in the endless mini-dramas, and as a contrast to Macau’s other attractions – the old Portuguese remnants of the colonial era, for example – it adds a whole new side to the destination.”
oeWHE R E TO BOOK IT TRAVEL 2
0800 0224 182
www.travel2.com The operator is offering a five-night break in Hong Kong at the five-star Mandarin Oriental, giving ample time for day-trips to Macau if desired. The package is priced from £1,499pp, based on a stay in a superior room on a room-only basis. The cost includes return flights from London to Hong Kong with Qatar Airways and is valid for travel between the May 2 and 31 2011.
PREMIER HOLIDAYS
08444 937 099
www.trade.premierholidays.co.uk For clients looking to visit the region without breaking the bank, suggest this four-night stay at the Harbour Plaza North Point in Hong Kong from £849pp. This includes flights with Cathay Pacific from Heathrow and private transfers, based on travel between August 18 and September 11.
ROOM R E PORT The modern Hotel Novotel Hong Kong Nathan Road is a smart option, located in a lively part of Kowloon but set back from the main street, offering something of a sanctuary from the heat and crowds. For visitors in search of something different on Macau, The Westin Resort on Coloane feels in a different world to the main hotel zones,
24 March 2011 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
set in 150 acres of greenery on the South China Sea. Full-on luxury (with the price to match) can be found at Hong Kong’s Four Seasons Hotel – there’s a superb view over Victoria Harbour, as well as an extensive spa. The luxury five-star Harbour Grand Kowloon (formerly the Harbour Plaza HK) has been chosen by TripAdvisor ® as one of the 25 top hotels in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. The 554- room/suite hotel is situated on the harbour front promenade close to Victoria Harbour.
WHO F LIES THERE DIRECT TO HONG KONG: CATHAY PACIFIC
www.cathaypacific.com BRITISH AIRWAYS
www.britishairways.com QANTAS
www.qantas.co.uk VIRGIN ATLANTIC
www.virgin-atlantic.com AIR NEW ZEALAND
www.airnewzealand.co.uk There are no direct flights from the UK to Macau.
AGENT TRAINING Sign up for these great Travel Uni programmes: HONG KONG SPECIALIST
www.specialisthk.com MACAU SPECIALIST
www.macauspecialist.co.uk •
TOP SELLING TIPS... Shopping opportunities in
Hong Kong are legendary, whether at its street markets or in its designer stores
Horse racing nights at Hong
Kong’s Happy Valley make for a memorable experience
In Macau try one of the
famous egg tarts, ideally bought oven-warm from a backstreet bakery.
History buffs can compare
the British and Portuguese legacies in Hong Kong and Macau respectively
The Victoria Peak tram is
one of Hong Kong’s most popular tourist attractions, so arrive early in the day to avoid the worst of the queue.
Autumn’s sunny days and pleasant temperatures make it a great time to visit both places
There’s a free nightly sound- and-light show
GILL STANDEVEN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, VIRGIN HOLIDAYS
“Our partnership with Cathay Pacific has opened up a great opportunity and a
chance for us to really grow our volumes. Hong Kong is selling both as a city-break destination and as a stopover when combined as a twin- centre, and it’s great having Macau just a short ferry ride away.”
ANDY HANCOCK HEAD OF PRODUCTS AND OPERATIONS, WENDY WU TOURS
“Our biggest seller to the region is a four- day, three-night package to Hong
Kong. Hotels in Kowloon always sell well, we find – it feels more ‘Chinese’ than Hong Kong Island. We’re getting more interest in outlying areas like Lantau Island too. We do offer Macau, but it’s not massively popular.”
MELISSA TILLING PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FUNWAY FAR EAST
“Hong Kong and Macau combination packages are growing in popularity as
awareness grows of the resort-casino operations in Macau - we have direct contracts so can provide some great added-value offers. The entertainment options in Macau are phenomenal now – there’s a growing range of spectacular shows.”
Ask The Agent JACK GARTH
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL CONSULTANT FLIGHT CENTRE
“Hong Kong’s one of our biggest sellers and appeals to a whole range of different clients. The food’s good, the nightlife’s good, the shopping’s good – people enjoy themselves when they’re there, so it’s fantastic as a stopover. Macau’s getting a bit bigger, but it’s nothing like as popular yet.”
MGTO
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76