PATA Exchange 2013 REVIEW


PATA puts on a show


Tourist offices, operators, hotels and airlines from the Pacific Asia Region came together in London to promote their region, Julie Baxter reports


Inspiring brand from AAT Kings


AAT KINGS is seeking to build


awareness of its range beyond the Australasian 'honey-pot sights' it is best known for. Attending PATA Exchange for the first time, the company turned the spotlight onto its new Inspiring Journeys brand launched this year. The brand targets small, up-market groups with exclusive trips off-the- beaten-track in Australia and New Zealand. Clients travel in luxury 4WD vehicles styled as a gentleman’s club with leather seats, wood panelling, drinks cabinet and a library. Each has a dedicated driver and journey leader. Itineraries take clients to less-well areas and include New


travelled


Zealand's fjordlands and aboriginal areas in Australia. aatkings.co.uk


THIS year’s PATA Exchange was held in a new, bigger venue following the sell-out success of the event in 2012. It saw 56 sellers and 60 buyers attend at Central Hall Westminster, 14 more than last year. New to the mix were exhibitors and


“THIS EVENT WAS GREAT. FOR NETWORKING IT WAS WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD"


GARY TOSHACK, CHINA LINKS TRAVEL


IN BRIEF New terminal: Hong Kong is gearing up


for cruise growth with the opening of a new cruise terminal in June. The terminal is being built on the old Kai Tak Airport site and will be the biggest in Asia. It will include shops and restaurants too and is expected to become a new focus for tourism activities. discoverhongkong.com


Thai debut: Rest Detail Hotel made its debut at PATA to raise the profile of its 56-room boutique property in Hua Hin, Thailand. The property’s focus is on ‘rest’ and attention to ‘detail’ with facilities, including a spa, overlooking the Gulf of Siam. The hotel is featured by Kuoni, Emerald Travel and Southwold Travel. restdetailhotel.com


Thai refitted: Thai Airways reintroduced the Boeing 747 onto its UK to Thailand route in March following an extensive retrofit. The double-daily service now offers nine seats in First, 40 in Business and 325 in Economy. First now has flat- bed seats and stylish wood panelling. Economy has back of seat IFE systems. thaiairways.co.uk


Dusit beyond Thailand: Dusit is working


to extend awareness of its range beyond Thailand. The group now has Dusit Thani properties in the Maldives, Manila, Cairo Dubai, China, Guam and Abu Dhabi, as well as a new Dusit Devarano brand in New Dehli and China; and the dusitD2 lifestyle brand in the USA, Thailand and New Dehli. dusit.com


buyers promoting China including Hangzhou


Expeditions, which offers Tourism Commission and


Orientis DMC, as well as two cruise lines: Aqua


river


cruises on the Mekong, and HG Travel offering Auco and Bhaya cruises in the Gulf of Tonkin. Marketing representative PATA UK Flo


Powell, said: “This really seems to have been the year China made its mark. We have all been talking about this region for


a while now and it really is beginning to engage directly with the UK trade.” Orientis Managing Director, Tal Zion, said:


“We have being working in China for the past 10 years. The product standards are very good and the experience remains very authentic; all that is missing for most are good contacts in the destination to overcome the communication issues and ensure clients get what they expect. The potential for the UK trade is huge.” Hotel chains including Movenpick,


Sofitel and Hilton also made a debut at the event, alongside tourist offices and airlines from the Pacific Asia Region including Garuda Indonesia and Condor. patauk.org.uk


Sri Lanka goes wild


SRI LANKA is riding a wave of success after Lonely Planet ranked it ‘the number one country to visit in 2013’. January saw a 17.5% increase in


visitors, with a 7.7% increase from the UK. Wildlife tours are key to growth. Nalin Perera, Customer Relations


Executive Sri Lanka Tourism, said: “Our leopard spotting and the fact


that


clients can see the largest sea mammal, the blue whale, and the largest land- based mammal, the elephant, all within 24 hours makes Sri Lanka’s wildlife product very compelling. ” srilanka.travel


China makes its move


Agents' sales amaze Thailand on the road


THE UK travel trade has thrown its weight behind a series of Thai trade events and helped it secure six per cent growth from the UK in January. Almost 480 agents have registered


for the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) trade roadshows being run in association with Selling Long Haul. TAT director Chris Lee, said: “Agents


are hungry for information, they want to get involved and motivated. Once they engage personally with our events the results come through in terms of sales. Our events provide a link between the UK


and tourismthailand.org


Thai private sectors."


www.sellinglonghaul.com


April 2013 13


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