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CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANISATION
The end of the year is fast approaching and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation would like to thank those of you who participated in the many Caribbean events that took place, throughout the year. And many thanks to the agents who
joined in the Caribbean Treasure Hunt and training sessions at World Travel Market at Excel, London, on Wednesday November 7. Well done to Collette Glazer of Departure
Zone for winning one of the grand prizes: two regional flights on LIAT Airlines; Dennis Jackson from Travel Counsellors for winning a three-night stay at the Dreams Punta Cana Resort, Dominican Republic, courtesy of AM Resorts; and Gail O’Donoghue of Travel Counsellors for winning a seven-night all- inclusive stay for two at the Sirenis Cocotal Beach Resort Casino & Spa, in the Dominican Republic, courtesy of Sirenis Hotels & Resorts. Thank you to the agents who joined the
CTO on the ‘Courses in the Caribbean’ Familiarisation Trip to Grenada & Saint Lucia, flying with British Airways. This trip included a seven-night stay in Grenada and Saint Lucia, along with many activities and networking and training events in both of the destinations. Agents are invited to get involved with all
our Caribbean activities and to keep up to date on all of these make sure you join the Caribbean Training Programme. It is the perfect way to increase your knowledge of the Caribbean with the help of a comprehensive training manual, the Travelfax; a Filofax-style manual which focuses on the key selling points for over 30 Caribbean destinations. For 2013, watch this space for new
exciting changes to the programme! For more information and details on the Caribbean Training Programme, please contact Ann-Marie Brooks on 020 8948 0057 or email
abrooks@caribtourism.com The Caribbean Tourism Organisation would like to wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a successful and prosperous 2013!
Guide to the Caribbean... Have you seen the latest 2013 Guide to the Caribbean? Order a free copy now by calling the CTO Office on 020 8948 0057 or emailing ctolondon@
caribtourism.com
CARIBBEAN Your 2013 guide to the
www.caribbean.co.uk GTTC_cover.indd 1 8/21/12 12:29 PM
BY ALAN ORBELL CENTARA Hotels & Resorts is to open a third property in the Maldives in 2014. The four-star Hudhufushi Resort and Spa will be on Hudhufushi Island, 35 minutes by seaplane from Malé International Airport. The family-friendly resort will offer 80 land and 30 water villas, two restaurants, Spa Cenvaree, tennis courts, fitness centre, kids’ club plus water sports and dive centre.
California heads beyond the gateways
BY STEVE HARTRIDGE
CALIFORNIA will be encouraging visitors in 2013 to sample tourism products beyond its well-known gateways of Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Visit California’s Director of sales Dean Jacobberger said: “Airlift into those three cities is well-established, but we will be highlighting how easy it is to take to the road to take in other regions.
“For example, it’s easy to combine, say, San Diego with Temecula Valley, Southern California’s little-known wine region and a town that retains an Old West feel, with Palm Springs. It’s a fabulous drive along the Temecula Highway to the desert cities. “In the north, San Francisco is easily combined with Tahoe, Yosemite and Sacramento and the nearby wine regions.” One of those ‘lesser known areas', Santa
010 December 2012 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
The hotel will join the five-star 112- villa/suite Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa and the 140-villa Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa, planned to open in February 2013, 15 minutes by speedboat from the airport. In Mauritius, the four-star Centara
Poste Lafayette Resort & Spa Mauritius is due to soft-open on December 10. It is offering guests Half Board Plus accommodation with buffet breakfast and a choice of either lunch or dinner
Cruz in northern California, is the backdrop in Chasing Mavericks, a surf movie starring surfer Jay Moriarity, released in the UK this month (December). Jacobberger said the state is “fully committed to the UK trade” and would again run its Superfam next September. “The value of our trade partners is immeasurable and we know how important it is to engage travel agents
together with a complimentary open bar concept for the meal service period, or an all-inclusive option, which includes all meals and and full open bar served from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Centara is also opening its first two properties in Sri Lanka in the spring, Centara Passikudah Resort & Spa in Passikudah and Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa, Bentota Peninsula. 12/12/12 marks Centara's 30th
anniversary.
www.centarahotelsresorts.com
through letting them experience all California has to offer,” he said. Agents should also look out for ‘trade activity’ next year based around the 30th anniversary of Air New Zealand’s London- Los Angeles-Auckland service and can expect a rush of interest in the Golden State after its new TV campaign, which first airs on Boxing Day.
www.visitcalifornia.com
Centara launches Half-Board Plus
MATT BONNER
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