MIDDLE EAST CANADA
CARIBBEAN ASIA
GENERAL
INDIAN OCEAN AFRICA
NORTH AMERICA
news to use REPORTING ON THE TOP NEWS STORIES
Win a Funway trip to Thailand
Funway Holidays is offering agents
four great chances to join a fam trip to Thailand and two of them are in this issue of Selling Long Haul. (See page 61). Two more chances will be up for
grabs at this summer's hot event, the Far East Travel Guide launch party quiz being held in the cool Carbon nightclub in London's Marble Arch. If you'd like to be there, just email fareastrsvp@
sellinglonghaul.com. Flying with Etihad to Bangkok via Abu Dhabi, accommodation will be in the Dusit Thani Bangkok for two nights, three nights at Dusit Thani Hua Hin and then a further night at the Dusit Thani Bangkok.
www.funway4agents.co.uk
Virgin challenges for Canada
BY JULIE BAXTER Virgin Atlantic has thrown down
the competitive gauntlet to Canadian carriers with the launch of its first service into Canada. The new summer service to
Vancouver, British Columbia, will initially operate four times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) until October 27 but during the inaugural celebrations the airline’s President, Sir Richard Branson, confirmed the airline’s aim was for this to ultimately become a year-round, daily service. Speaking immediately after the first
flight touched down, Branson said: “We want to be a considerable and
IN BRIEF
Mauritius Travel Guide Look out for your personal copy
inside this issue of Selling Long Haul with a full update on tourism to help you make those Mauritius sales. If you’d like additional copies contact the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Board on 020 7367 0949 or email
Mauritius@hillsbalfour.com www.tourism-mauritius.mu
Nevis hotel gets ‘best budget’ vote Oualie Beach Resort on Nevis has
won ‘Best Budget Hotel’ in Caribbean Travel & Leisure’s Choice Awards 2011. It was also named one of ‘20 Awesome Beachfront Hotels Under $200’ in the February 2012 issue of Caribbean Travel + Life magazine. 2012 room rates start at $225. for the 32-room property.
www.oualiebeach.com
Multiple entry UAE visa Cruise-ship passengers will be able
to obtain a multiple entry visa for the UAE region commencing September this year. The outline plan will simplify the entry process for cruise tourists visiting the region which expects 420,000 cruise ship tourists into Dubai alone by the end of this year.
www.definitelydubai.com
formidable competitive force in the Canadian market. Our competitors have already brought their prices down since we announced the route and we believe we can drive demand higher with great competition and our award- winning product. Our timing is auspicious with Vancouver’s tourism booming and the Olympics and the Jubilee stimulating demand to the UK.” Vancouver is Virgin’s 32nd destination
adding 40,000 seat capacity to a route already served by British Airways and Air Canada. It’s operated by the Airbus A340-300 with 34 Upper Class suites, 35 Premium and 171 Economy seats. Virgin Holidays has included the
summer product in its first dedicated Canada brochure and has committed to grow its current market share by 300% by 2014. MD, Amanda Wills, said: “The new service has already had a halo effect on our pan-Canada programme. It’s a spring board for great things in British Columbia and all of Canada.” She said new innovative product would be added to help open Canada to younger travellers.
www.virginatlantic.com www.virginholidays.com
Above: Joining VIPs on the inaugural Virgin flight was UK Winter Olympics skeleton bobsleigh gold medalist Amy Williams
A Jamaican extravaganza
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of
Jamaican independence, London’s O2 venues will become a Caribbean oasis with more than 50 artists taking to the stage as part of Respect Jamaica 50. The two-week extravaganza, from July
25 to August 6, will include a host of legendary Jamaican singers, DJs, writers, comedians, actors and poets from Damian Marley and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry to Shaggy and Jimmy Cliff. Tickets are now on sale through
www.aeglive.co.uk Authentic Jamaican food and drink will
also be on hand during the event and all key Olympic events will be screened.
www.respectjamaica50.co.uk • Virgin Atlantic is to add an extra weekly Friday flight to Montego Bay from Gatwick on November 3 2012.
www.sellinglonghaul.com • June 2012 07
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