Travel News January 2022


TRADE NEWS 41


“Strong Rebound” of American and Cruise Visitors - Hastings Hotels Managing Director H


OWARD Hastings, the Managing Director of Hastings Hotels, has set out his predictions for travel in 2022 and what this will entail for Northern


Ireland.


Hastings Hotel Group is the largest independent hotel operator in Northern Ireland with six luxury hotels, including the Grand Central and Europa Hotels in Belfast and the five-star Culloden Estate and Spa just outside the city. It also co-owns the five-star Merrion in Dublin. “Last year we enjoyed an excellent staycation boom


from the Republic of Ireland. Whilst this may be more muted as Covid restrictions lift, many visitors enjoyed the experience meaning Belfast and Northern Ireland will continue to be there on the Republic of Ireland consideration set for weekend breaks in 2022,” He said. “Travel from Great Britain will be boosted in 2022,


both due to the post-pandemic sustained marketing for Northern Ireland in Great Britain and the reduction in air passenger duty from April, making it cheaper to arrive here by air.” He continued: “There is much pent-up demand


from the US. We expect to see a strong rebound in 2022 from North American and Canadian visitors as the direct flights cancelled during the pandemic are being reinstated. Dublin to San Francisco has now resumed and new ones have been added, with Dublin to Vancouver direct starting in June.


“It is also anticipated that 2022 will be a record year


for the number of passengers on cruise liners coming to Belfast, so we look forward to welcoming many of these in the near future.” The Covid-19 pandemic caused major disruption


to the travel industry throughout 2020 and 2021; from hospitality to air operators, travel agents to cruise ships and the introduction of quick-change covid-19 restrictions caused havoc across the province. Despite this, the reopening of hardened restricted countries such as Australia and America show signs of positive action and gain for the industry here in Northern Ireland as we move towards 2022.


Advantage Travel Support Travel Agents With ‘Holidays are sooo 2022’ Campaign


THE Advantage Travel Partnership has recognised how important this January and February – the traditional peak period – is to its members and has launched a multi-channel marketing campaign, ‘Holidays are sooo 2022’ to support travel agents during this time. The campaign will consist of both on- and offline activity with a big focus on aspirational content to help members engage customers and inspire them to book. This includes the largest point of sale pack that has ever been produced for an Advantage campaign, social media support, customer magazines, digital assets and B2B activity. To encourage members to dress their stores for the January booking period, Advantage has created its largest ever point of sale pack, which contains a wide selection of banners covering different holiday types and destinations. These include a dedicated ‘Why Book with Us’ banner, showcasing the various benefits of booking with an independent travel agent, such as financial security and extensive travel knowledge. Advantage will be running a competition to encourage its travel agent members to dress their store for the turn of year booking period. To ensure travel agent members can share their


latest offers across their own social media channels, Advantage has created a wide range of banners suitable for Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to help promote holiday types and destinations with the ‘Holidays are sooo 2022’ badge. What’s more, the private members’ Hot Offers Facebook group will provide a forum of different up- to-the-minute tactical offers from Advantage’s supplier partners to put out to members. Members can then lift the relevant deals and share on their own social media feeds, enabling speed to market. In order to support members and expand their knowledge, Advantage has curated a range of communications for travel agents focused on product knowledge, flexible policy updates and commercial terms to ensure that they are equipped with the necessary tools to answer questions and enquiries from customers as the travel landscape continues to evolve. David Forder, head of marketing at Advantage commented, “we know how important this January and February booking period is to our members. With continued uncertainty around new variants and travel, the need to book with a trusted travel agent is clear, and we have pulled out all the stops to ensure all bases are covered for our leisure members, to help them generate enquiries and all-important bookings for 2022 and beyond.”


Howard Hastings, the Managing Director of Hastings Hotels Royal Caribbean Launch New Sales Incentives


ROYAL Caribbean International launched new sales incentives to kick off its key annual sales period. The sales campaign predominately focuses on


driving bookings made on the cruise line’s eight ships that will be sailing breath-taking itineraries in Europe in summer 2022. Guests can benefit from reduced booking deposits, excellent value flights to the Mediterranean and lower deluxe drinks package costs. In addition, the campaign sees the launch of the


brand’s biggest ever trade facing competition where partners can win a place onboard Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Wonder of the Seas.


Royal Caribbean’s 2022-23 Wave Incentives: Flights to the Mediterranean at reduced price for bookings made from 16th December to 31st January Go all-inclusive with Deluxe Drinks for a reduced price per person per day on all 2022 sailings in Europe. Available for all bookings made from 16 December to 28 February. ‘Get Me On Wonder’ competition launches on 16 December. Travel partners can earn points for logging their bookings through Club Rewards, social sharing and completing online training modules. The top of the leader board will win one of 600 staterooms on board Wonder of the Seas’ first two, 2-night European sailings in early May 2022. Royal Flush: offering the protection and reassurance


to the consumer, while providing agents the opportunity to earn even more from booking everything in one place - cruise, flights and transfers – all of which will also benefit from Royal Caribbean’s ATOL protected cover. Stuart Byron, Sales Director UK, Ireland & Spain, Royal Caribbean International comments: “In spite of everything that’s come our way, we have still delivered unforgettable holidays around the world in 2021 – in fact, over a million guests have now sailed with us since the end of 2020. We kicked off our new


ETIHAD Airways and ADQ, one of the region’s largest holding companies, have announced a proposed transaction that will support the ongoing transformation of Etihad Airways and the future growth of the civil aviation sector in Abu Dhabi. As part of the proposed transaction, a number of Etihad’s businesses providing airline support services will become part of a new ADQ aviation company. Once the transaction is complete, the airline support


services businesses will benefit from being part of ADQ’s broad mobility and logistics portfolio, which includes Abu Dhabi Airports and AD Ports Group. The businesses included in the proposed transaction are Etihad Engineering, Etihad Airport Services Cargo, Etihad Airport Services Ground, Etihad Aviation Training, Etihad Secure Logistics and Etihad Technical Training. Additionally, the proposed transaction will see two


Etihad businesses join Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company (ADNEC). Etihad Airport Services Catering will combine with ADNEC’s catering business Capital Hospitality, and Etihad Holidays will join ADNEC’s tourism promotion business, Tourism 365. The proposed agreement marks the start of a new


global television marketing campaign, ‘Rise to the Vacation’, earlier this quarter to stimulate the market early. This, paired with the success of our European return to service this year, has given us the confidence to follow with bumper turn of year deals that include some of our best ever sales incentives.” The highly anticipated Wonder of the Seas is set


to sail from Barcelona and Rome for its first summer season starting May 2022. Guests of all ages have a new wave of possibilities across Wonder’s eight distinct neighbourhoods, an Oasis Class first, that include all-new features such as the Suite Neighbourhood, a cantilevered pool bar named The Vue, and Wonder Playscape – an interactive, open-air kids’ play area with awe-inspiring views.


With returning favourites also on deck, like The Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea; Central Park, filled with real plants from end to end; and the vibrant Caribbean-inspired pool deck experience, the innovative, new ship will offer 7-night Mediterranean sailings to France, Spain and Italy. Having launched this year, Odyssey of the Seas


will be sailing in Europe for the first time, sailing a mix of itineraries of varying lengths and even offering overnight stays in select ports. Setting sail from Rome, this state-of-the-art ship includes Royal Caribbean’s signature SeaPlex, the largest indoor activity space at sea, Ripcord by iFly, the skydiving simulator and much, much more. Over the summer season Odyssey will be calling at Greece and the Greek Islands, Cyprus, Italy, Turkey and Israel. Anthem of the Seas will be offering the ultimate


summer holiday from UK guests’ doorstep. Anthem will sail from Southampton with a range of itineraries that take in the stunning natural beauty of the Norwegian Fjords and the sunny, vibrant coastlines of Canary Islands.


New Chapter For Etihad Airways as Partnership with ADQ Announced


chapter for Etihad Airways, allowing the airline to further sharpen its focus on its core business and respond with greater agility to market opportunities as global travel demand rebounds from COVID-19. H.E. Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, CEO of


ADQ, commented that “ADQ is primed to develop an integrated aviation platform that is driven by performance and a robust financial foundation through its new company. “With an integrated mobility and logistics portfolio


that plays a leading role in the development of Abu Dhabi’s global connectivity, we are well-positioned to unlock the growth potential of these aviation services businesses.”


Tony Douglas, Group CEO of Etihad Aviation


Group, added “We’re excited to partner with ADQ on the next stage of our transformation. The past two years have changed the face of aviation and the proposed agreement marks a significant milestone in how we are repositioning Etihad Airways and our subsidiaries for long-term success. “ The businesses joining ADQ’s new aviation company


and ADNEC will remain key long-term strategic partners to Etihad Airways.


Dani Shahar approved as new Director-General of the Israel Ministry of Tourism


BRIGADIER General Dani Shahar has been appointed Director-general of Israel Ministry of Tourism. Dani Shahar as Director-General of the Israel Ministry of Tourism was approved earlier this week by the government. Shahar will replace Amir Halevi, who has served in the position for nine years. Shahar has extensive experience in managing


public and military frameworks. He comes to the Ministry of Tourism from his position as director of the Israel Authority for Prevention of Violence, Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Prior to that, he served as Director of the City Without Violence in the Ministry of Public Security, after serving as the Acting Director-General and the Deputy Director- General of Operations at the Municipality of Netanya. Shahar is entering his position at a time when


the Tourism Ministry is working to create financial assistance packages for the tourism industry following the Covid-19 Pandemic. Dani Shahar: “I thank the minister for his confidence in me and I come with a clear purpose to lead the Israel tourism industry to significant achievements, in line with the policy of the minister.” Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov congratulated


Shahar on his appointment and added: “Dani is an excellent manager, a man of deeds with a broad vision who knows how to spearhead necessary changes in an organization that he heads, with excellent interpersonal skills who serves as a role model for all those around him.”


Norse Atlantic Airways Granted Air Operator’s Certificate


THE Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority has issued an air operator’s certificate (AOC) to Norse Atlantic Airways. The new airline is on track to start transatlantic flights in spring 2022.


“We would like to thank Norway’s Civil Aviation Authority for a constructive and professional process. We are now one important step closer to launching our attractive and affordable flights between Europe and the U.S. in spring next year,” said CEO and founder Bjørn Tore Larsen of Norse. “We wish them the best of luck and look forward to


a continued fruitful relationship going forward,” said Director General of the Civil Aviation Authorities of Norway, Lars E. de Lange Kobberstad. An AOC is the approval granted by a national aviation authority to an aircraft operator to allow it to use aircraft for commercial purposes. This requires the operator to have personnel, assets and systems in place to ensure the safety of its employees and the general public. Norse plans to start commercial operation in


spring 2022 and the first flights will depart from Oslo to selected cities in the U.S.


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