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I
Steve Hartridge EDITOR
welcome TO SELLING LONG HAUL
s it me or did the ideal holiday formerly involve escaping the trappings of modern life, perhaps via a desert island with a pile of books?
Hotel.com’s survey says otherwise, showing that 66%
of Brits now look for free wifi on holiday. Of course, you can have both, as featured this month on the Maldives and Turks & Caicos. Hayes and Jarvis’ long haul holiday report shows mid haul destinations bouncing back, including Kenya and Egypt, the former no doubt aided by Sir David Attenborough’s remarkable Africa series. We also cover exotic and proximate Morocco and Gambia. Closer to home, we hope you
INDUSTRY COMMENT “We offer training to agents such as the Macau Specialist online scheme. In September we'll host our second dragon boat racing day
with Selling Long Haul and Hong Kong Tourism Board!" Sue Whitehead, General Manager, Macau Government Tourist Office UK – see Hong Kong & Macau, p.45
“Our key focus is on promoting the variety that awaits visitors in Morocco. Regions off the beaten track, such as, Essaouira, Fès
and Ouarzazate, as well as hotspots such as Marrakech.” Jamal Boujrad, Communications Manager, Morocco Tourist Board – see Morocco, p. 73
enjoyed our events this month. 200 of you came to the Thailand Travel Guide launch party – the glitziest pub quiz we’ve ever held, at London’s Café de Paris! In contrast was our intimate Destination Dialogue Oman, uncovering the mystique of Muscat. Thanks for your support and look out for more events on our website – including the TAT's Thailand roadshows. Carnival Cruise Line’s fire was another knock to the cruise industry. However, we’re confident it'll bounce back – so we've dedicated 12 pages to river cruising this issue. A hot, growing sector, it covers the globe from France to China. Finally, Selling Canada epitomises diversity: sports, bear watching, cultural festivals and cruises. That should put a spring in your step!
WEDDINGS& HONEYMOONS IN THE CARIBBEAN
Up to one in fi ve weddings now takes place abroad, with couples tempted by lower costs, sunshine, and memories to last a lifetime, says Emily Ashwell
22 March 2013 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com 22-25 W&H in the
Caribbean.indd 22 01/03/2013 15:20 22-25 W&H in the
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her recent Caribbean wedding on condition that she never booked with them again, it turned out to be something of a masterstroke in public relations. Not only did it generate column inches of publicity for Sandals, but the response spelt out just how much work goes in to planning a wedding. According to some reports, the wedding co-ordinator at the Sandals
W
hen Sandals Resorts offered to refund model Katie Price the cost of
Royal Bahamian Resort and Spa even offered the couple a private island to marry in secrecy.
Although there are no offi cial statistics on the number of UK couples marrying abroad, according to market research fi rm Mintel around one in fi ve weddings now takes place overseas, with the average cost being around £6,500, compared with a UK wedding which comes in at just under £20,000. Of all the overseas destinations the Caribbean continues to remain
popular, with Saint Lucia, Antigua, Jamaica and Barbados making the top 10 wedding destinations in Kuoni’s 2013 Travel Trends Report. There’s an obvious appeal to marrying in the Caribbean: the climate, the white-sand weddings and the hotels aimed at giving couples the most romantic experience. In addition, there are logistical factors such as the simplicity of marrying in the Caribbean. Neil Wallace, Weddings Manager at Virgin Holidays said: “We are seeing increasing numbers of
late wedding bookings, particularly in Antigua and Barbados because of the straightforward legal requirements which can be sorted in a short time.” As well as the convenience, the ease of travelling between resorts and islands means couples can marry surrounded by family and friends in one place and then enjoy a private honeymoon without having to travel too far. But for honeymoons the Caribbean is a slightly harder sell. The region (excluding Mexico) didn’t even make Kuoni’s top 10 list of honeymoon destinations this year. Travel Counsellor Maria Foxwell said that when selling Caribbean honeymoons it can sometimes struggle on price compared to holidays in Asia, particularly destinations such as Vietnam. “I tend to suggest somewhere where there is a lot of added value, such as AMResorts. Its Endless Privileges packages can include things like room upgrades or special wine packages and those make the honeymoon really special,” she said.
Linda Bellis, a director at trade-only operator Lusso Travel, said: “Hotels are trying to be more creative with their offers by bundling them into more attractive packages which includes a combination of the customary offerings such as free nights and meal plan upgrades, but also other special value-added extras. Whilst many offers are released well in advance we are also seeing a growth in attractive last-minute offers as well as offers that span high- season dates.” Across the Caribbean there’s
certainly no shortage of novel places to tie the knot. For example, on Petit St Vincent alone jaw-droppingly beautiful locations include The Atlantic Pier; Conch Bay Gazebo, a secluded conch bay; and Telescope Hill, elevated above the island with great views across the ocean and reefs.
What’s new Accommodation: The former
Almond Casuarina Beach Resort in Barbados has been taken over by Couples Resorts and will be
WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS: Caribbean
rebranded as Couples Barbados from June. A US$3-million upgrade programme will include new décor, pool, spa, gym and piano bar. There’s also a host of booking incentives for agents, including vouchers. For this year Couples Resorts is offering a free One Love wedding
TIP
package when guests stay for six nights. The Flamboyant
Take a look…“Utilise the selling tools
Hotel in Grenada has launched underwater weddings for couples looking to tie the knot in a very unusual way. The Villas at Stonehaven in Tobago has relaunched its website with a new weddings page at stonehavenvillas. com/
tobago-weddings-en.html. It is now offering new wedding venues including poolside at the Clubhouse. There are plenty of wedding and
tourist boards offer. Videos and image galleries like those in the weddings section of the Turks and Caicos Islands website really bring weddings to life and offer great ideas for beach- style wedding dresses, flowers and table settings as well as invaluable local contacts” Emily Ashwell, Journalist
bride stays free for any honeymoon or wedding bookings made for a junior or deluxe junior suite. The wedding must have taken place within the last six months and the offer is valid until December 22. Bougainvillea Beach Resort in Barbados has new wedding brochures available which are downloadable from
escapemarketing.net. The new Canouan
Resort and Villas will open later this year on Canouan,
part of the St Vincent and the Grenadines island chain. The island should also open its new Argyle international airport this year. Operators: Caribtours has
honeymoon offers on the market, including an all-inclusive honeymoon at Half Moon in Jamaica. The Inn at English Harbour in Antigua has an offer thats sees the
launched LOVE, a weddings and honeymoons programme for couples looking to marry this year. The programme features ‘romantic hotels’ .
Beach weddings have an obvious appeal to sun-starved British couples!
www.sellinglonghaul.com • March 2013 23 01/03/2013 15:21
WIN an iPad2
Stay ahead of the Easter trail and WIN some great Easter prizes! How to enter
Make bookings to the value of £2013 in March Send an email with these booking references to
incentives@holidayautos.co.uk The FIRST THREE agents who email us will each WIN a £50 high street voucher Everyone who enters will automatically be entered into the iPad prize draw
To book:
www.trade.holidayautos.co.uk or call 0800 093 3210 (Now open 24/7) For help:
salessupport@holidayautos.co.uk or call 0800 093 3222 (Monday to Friday 9am until 5.30pm)
03 Date 2012 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com Holiday Autos terms and condition apply. Check our website for our prizes full terms and conditions.
The 2013 Easter prize trail is on!
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