p11 WTM Nov13 11/11/09 16:19 Page 11
ttglive.com
conference report news
WTM • November 9-12 • ExCeL • London
FLORIDA BROCHURE.
Potter fronts Virgin
Robin Searle.
“Our marketing alliance
HARRY POTTER features with Virgin Holidays continues
on the front cover of Virgin to allow us to crystallise our
Holidays’ new Florida brochure relationship with the trade,”
following a landmark agree- he said.
ment with Universal Orlando “We have already started
Resort. educating agents and reserva-
The operator has made a tions staff, and will continue
big departure from its usual to do so alongside Virgin with
brochure design – which has webinars, fam trips and on
traditionally featured a tie-up and offline training.”
with Disney – to produce Virgin Holidays managing
a brochure (pictured) com- director Amanda Wills added:
pletely branded with imagery “We are number one to
promoting Universal’s new Florida and it is really exciting
Wizarding World of Harry to be the official holiday
Potter attraction. company in the UK for Universal Orlando Resort.
STRICTLY COME FLORIDA: Vincent and The collaboration also sees Virgin, and sister “We have a great partnership with Disney, but
Flavia from BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing brand Travel City Direct, offering exclusive this is the big opening for Orlando next year and
were the star guests at Visit Florida’s benefits to customers visiting the attraction to be working together is fantastic.”
WTM party. “Strictly Come Florida” saw when it opens at Universal’s Islands of Adventure Presswell said the exact opening date for the
six travel trade couples competing, with next spring. Wizarding World of Harry Potter was still being
the winners being Hertz Europe’s Tom Simon Presswell, Universal Parks and Resorts’ kept under wraps, but confirmed it would be
Knight and Chase Travel’s Colleen Butler European managing director, said the tie-up open in time for the peak summer travel season.
marked a major step in the gradual “reveal” of Exclusive benefits available to Virgin Holidays
the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which has customers include free parking, complimentary
CRUISE.
been designed to be true to the original books breakfast, a free keepsake and early park
Deliziosa’s date in Dubai
and films. admission for Harry Potter attractions.
COSTA CRUISES will officially name a cruise
ship in the port of Dubai – a first for the cruise
AIR.
industry and for the Middle East.
The 2,300-passenger Costa Deliziosa will be
Emirates steps closer to inflight web
named on February 23 at the end of an 18-night
inaugural cruise out of Savona, Italy. The cruise is EMIRATES passengers will be able to use Clark claimed much of the talk about consoli-
already on sale and almost sold out. BlackBerries during their flights within months, dation being needed during a recession was a
Costa Cruises will invite 2,000 guests to the president Tim Clark revealed. “smokescreen” concealing other motives that
event who will attend a gala dinner in a venue Clark said the airline was close to choosing could potentially harm consumers’ interests.
in Dubai, the details of which have not been between two providers for an onboard system Emirates was forced to raise a fare it offered in
released. that would allow passengers to use the handheld one European country because it was not the
Costa, the Carnival-owned, Italian-based line, devices. The service would be in place “very same as in the rest of Europe, said Clark, in a
has pioneered cruising in the Middle East, sailing soon”, he added. move that suggested the crisis facing the airline
itineraries which have proved particularly However, he said progress towards giving cus- industry was being used as a “tool to marginalise
popular with British customers. tomers full broadband internet access was “like what we do”. He refused to name the country,
This year is the third year it has based ships in pulling teeth” and that goal was still some way off. but it is not thought to be the UK.
the region, which has now attracted the atten- Speaking during a public interview at WTM, He predicted Emirates would end its financial
tion of rival lines, in particular Royal Caribbean, Clark accused competitors in Europe and the US year with profits ahead of forecasts. But he ac-
which will be basing a ship in Dubai. of attempting to “marginalise” Emirates through knowledged that although it had not cut capacity
Marco Rosa, UK managing director of Costa, consolidation and co-operation such as airline or routes like other carriers, it had made cuts in
said the decision to break new ground with the alliances. other areas. Unit costs had been reduced by 16%
Deliziosa naming was not a reaction to the Emirates has not joined any alliance, prefer- and staff levels reduced by ending “legacy prac-
advances of competitors. ring to be “master of its own destiny”. tices” that had built up over 20 years, he added.
13.11.2009 11
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