p11 News Nov6 4/11/09 16:14 Page 11
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news
In brief
Prestige expands into
■ Airports add Lapland departures with Transun
East Midlands and Manchester airports have
added Lapland departures with Transun Holidays.
Part of Transun’s Arctic Spirit range, the three- Canada following tip-off
day trips will depart from East Midlands on
January 7 and from Manchester on various dates
Lee Hayhurst.
“The brochure offers a taster of what is
throughout January and February. PRESTIGE HOLIDAYS has expanded into Canada available,” she added. “Agents are looking for a
after a recommendation from an agent partner. specialist who can do everything but also be
■ TrekAmerica offers alternative to camping John Dixon, chairman and managing director sensible in the recommendations and know what
North America specialist TrekAmerica has of the Hampshire-based operator, took a call from suits one client is not maybe right for another.”
introduced two Budget Lodging Tours (BLTs) for Kitts Travel director Chris Turner in May. He sug- Prestige, which sells 80% of its holidays
2010, as an alternative to its camping adventure gested Dixon contacted Denise Hunn, who had through the trade, expects to carry up to 850
tours. The seven-day Western BLT and 14-day worked for Lowestoft-based operator All America customers to Canada in the first year, mainly
Westerner 2 BLT will follow the routes of two of Holidays, which had just gone out of business. using British Airways and Air Canada.
TrekAmerica’s most popular camping tours. “Chris phoned me to say we should talk to It has also tied up relationships with Holland
Denise,” said Dixon. “He said she had worked for America Line and luxury cruise line Regent Seven
■ Leger strengthens trade relationships All America for 12 years and knows the country.” Seas to offer cruises out of Vancouver.
Leger Holidays is warning of another tough year Contact was made and work on the new Pres- Dixon said Canada would also be pushed as a
for the industry, despite forward bookings for tige Canada operation started in earnest in Sep- honeymoon destination.
2010 being 10% up on last year. The coach tours tember. Next week, the new brochure will be The Canadian operation employs two staff and
operator is beefing up its support for agents with officially launched at World Travel Market. is based in a satellite office in Lowestoft.
increased promotional material via weekly alerts Hunn said the programme covers all regions Dixon said Prestige, which turns over £18 million
and incentive schemes, as well as continuing to of Canada, offering the five-star and tailor-made a year, will look to further expansion of its product
develop its dedicated trade website. product associated with Prestige. range as opportunities arise.
■ Travel Marketing Awards appoint new judges
New judges for the Travel Marketing Awards
include Abta chairman John McEwan, Freedom
Travel Group and Future Travel managing director
Jane Atkins, Virgin Holidays marketing director
Andrew Shelton and Kuoni head of marketing
Naomi Wilkinson. Deadline for entries is No-
vember 30. See thetravelmarketingawards.com
■ Jamaica showcases sports to UK teachers
The Jamaica Tourist Board, sports travel specialist
Edwin Doran and Virgin Atlantic hosted a group of
UK teachers to showcase the sporting facilities
available in Jamaica for school trips. Former West Rupert Peters (centre), Canadian Tourism Commission, with Denise Hunn and John Dixon, both Prestige Holidays
Indies cricket captains Courtney Walsh and Jimmy
Adams joined the six-day trip to view cricket,
netball, hockey and athletics facilities.
Virgin Holidays
■ Training for Travel targets 10 apprentices
Training For Travel aims to revamps website
recruit 10 apprentices to
apprentice
work at its head office in VIRGIN Holidays has added new functions to its
Bury. The 16 to 18-year- website, including a virtual customer services
olds will gain NVQ qualifications as they work assistant called Valerie.
through a government-funded scheme adminis- The changes come after Virgin consulted
tered by Training for Travel. The company will agent partners about the site, and the operator Mark Burns, head of trade sales and distribu-
ultimately have space for up to 36 apprentices at said more improvements were planned next year. tion, said: “Our solid agent relationships, spanning
a new NVG training school at its head office. Log As well as Valerie, who can already answer 25 years, are built fundamentally on listening.
on to trainingfortravel.com to register interest. 3,000 questions, the site now offers a regularly We like horse’s mouth feedback because it means
updated offers page, user-friendly search tool we are always aligned to what our agents want
ttglive.com
For the latest news, reviews and comment
and map detailing Virgin’s destinations. from the booking experience.”
from the travel industry, visit ttglive.com
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