talk shop OUT AND ABOUT Fiji extends warm ‘Bulu’ to agents


BY STEVE HARTRIDGE Fiji Tourism was out and about meeting agents in the south and south west last month. ‘Bulka Bus 2011’ stopped in Brighton, Winchester, Bournemouth, Bath and Bristol, where agents discovered all about Fiji’s 333 islands, heard presentations from key Fiji suppliers such as Air Pacific, Captain Cook Cruises, Tadrai Island Resort, Lomani Island Resort and Musket Cove, enjoyed a three-course dinner and had the opportunity to win ‘spot prizes’ and a trip to Fiji itself. One of the big winners at the Brighton event, where agents were treated to some ‘warrior’ dancing on the beach and 'fire-walking', was Lee Hicks of Travelbag. Before learning he had won a place on


a 2012 fam, he said: “The presentations were really interesting. Fiji is one of those destinations that is seen as a trip of a lifetime; we are selling quite a lot of Fiji as part of a round-the-world ticket.” Travel Counsellor Rebecca Aylett attended to ‘improve her minimal


Tourism Update ABTA


The annual ABTA Travel Convention takes place this month (October 3-5) in Palma, Majorca. We have a fantastic programme in


knowledge’ of the destination. “I sell plenty of stopovers to Australia and New Zealand but I don’t really sell a lot of the Pacific Islands and Fiji, but I want to start switch-selling to clients who have been down under via other routes.” Nikki Foulsham, who represents Koro


Sun Resort and Lamani Resort, said Fiji delivers that dream South Pacific Island destination, with its white-sand beaches, palm trees and blue waters.


“We have everything that people want


from an idyllic tropical island, but our best asset is our people, who always give visitors a warm ‘Bulu’, or welcome. "In the UK Fiji is usually sold as a two-


or three-night add-on to Australia or New Zealand, but we hope agents go away from these evenings better equipped to sell Fiji as a long-stay destination in its own right,” added Foulsham. www.fijimatai.com


Saint Lucia escapes for a country showcase Saint Lucia Tourism Board invited


some of its key partners to a country retreat last month, writes Laura Gelder. The first Saint Lucia Showcase, intended


as a more productive alternative to World Travel Market, took place among the gentrified surrounds of Sunningdale Park, Berkshire. Suppliers at a series of scheduled meetings included Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Rex Resorts, The Jalousie Plantation, Hotel Chocolat, Ladera, Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain. Attendees enjoyed a champagne


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of travel, from important trade events, to exciting fam trips. ...more online


reception with a live reggae performance followed by a three-course dinner and complimentary accommodation. Saint Lucia Tourist Board UK director


Jean-Marc Flambert hosted a presentation on 'what’s hot' on the island and shared its key marketing message for the next few months: romance – which ties in with the current television series, The Bachelor, starring Gavin Henson and set in Saint Lucia. Suzanne Walford, market and product manager for Carrier, said the event provided the opportunity to concentrate


OUT AND ABOUT


Agents are off to Botswana Botswana Tourism Organisation


sellinglonghaul 62 October 2011 • www.sellinglonghaul.com .com


is running a fam this month. The group will visit the Okavango Delta, Chobe and the Central Kalahari. Partcipants include Jean Claffey, Joe Walsh Tours; Tina Bender, Travel Counsellor; Lindsay Wyatt, Kuoni; Yvonne Evenden, Experience Holidays; and Melanie Broughton, Medway Travel. www.botswanatourism.co.bw


Tahiti tempts the trade The Tahiti Tourisme Roadshow


swept across the UK, visiting Manchester and London. A delegation of partners that included Air Tahiti Nui, Aranui Cruises, Hilton, InterContinental and Sofitel met almost 90 agents. Attendees entered a competition to win a place on a fam to Tahiti and Bora Bora. www.tahiti-tourisme.co.uk


Lone Star State in town Texas Tourism and representatives


from Austin, Fort Worth, Dallas, San Antonio, TaxFree Shopping LTD, Houston and Wildcatter Ranch will be visiting the UK to meet with agents and tour operators October 3-7, in London and Manchester. For further information about Texas please contact Martin Court on martinc@hillsbalfour.com.


place, and those heading out to the Spanish island will find some excellent opportunities to learn from 'game changers' in the industry and gain some vital insights into what the travel industry will look like in the future. I’m looking forward to getting


back to Palma, as the destination was the host of my first-ever ABTA Convention, in 2003. So much has happened between


then and now, not least the advent of social media. Be sure to follow the convention on Twitter and LinkedIn. All the details can be found on www.thetravelconvention. com. The Selling Long Haul team will also be down in Palma, and I'm looking forward to meeting up. People 1st have published this


on one destination. “At WTM it’s very noisy and you’re always looking over your shoulder. But this presented the chance to hunt out special offers from the suppliers here.” Feolla Chastanet, managing director of Coco Resorts, said the event would never replace WTM “but it certainly takes some of the pressure off.” Flambert hailed the event a success


saying: “We were very encouraged by the large tour operator presence. Following the formal meetings, attendees could continue networking during the evening.”


year's State of the Nation 2011, the definitive snapshot of the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism labour market. The report reveals that rising competition and challenging trading conditions are prompting travel businesses to increase their focus on customer service and management skills. Download the report at


www.people1st.co.uk/SOTN For information on ABTA contact


Vicki Wolf on vwolf@abta.co.uk, call 020 3117 0549 or visit www. abta.com/resources/training.


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