RED SEA HOLIDAYS UPDATES AGENTS ON NEW RESERVATIONS SYSTEM

Red Sea Holidays recently introduced a new reservations system to support its growing business. The new “@COM” system gives the operator a more flexible platform for managing its existing product portfolio, improved extras and upgrade offerings, and supports a range of exciting future product developments.

"Most of all," says Red Sea Holidays, "it makes it easier for our travel trade partners to search, book and maximise revenue from every booking.

All holidays can now be booked on the new reservations system, and the old system has now been turned off. Please take a moment to check the new Viewdata details, and the system changes that you may need to make.

All bookings must now be made using the new reservation system: Viewdata SEA#

From 01 November 2013, all availability searches and bookings must be made using the new @COM booking system.

The Viewdata code for the new system is SEA#

The new system is live now.

The RED# booking system has been turned off

The previous ATOP booking system (Viewdata RED#) has now been turned off. All availability searches and bookings must be made using the new @COM system (Viewdata SEA#).

Updating your systems

Availability searches on your in-house systems should be amended to point to the new Red Sea Holidays reservation system – SEA#

Viewdata and website passwords for the new SEA# system remain the same as those used previously for RED#. Travel partners are requested to liaise with their IT support teams to facilitate this change.

Third party systems providers

Systems providers Traveltek, Comtec, Micros, Kwik Hols, Top Dog and Vertical have made the necessary changes to integrate the new scripting. If you are experiencing any difficulty in accessing either our website or view-data systems please inform your system provider directly.

In the short term, Multicom will not feature/return our holidays; we are working with them to resolve this.

Book online at redseaholidays.co.uk

Holidays can also be booked online at http://email.redseaholidays.co.uk/_act/link.php?mId=P89766534874460898418296483920&tId=39225725 using your existing agent log-in. You'll see more choice of holiday on the new search results page, and you can add upgrades and extras during the booking."

MTB 02/11/13

VUELING TO SAVE BARCELONA FLIGHTS FROM EDINBURGH FOR CHRISTMAS

Festive flights saved as Vueling steps in to operate Barcelona services from Edinburgh

Spanish carrier Vueling has stepped in to save Scots passengers’ Christmas holiday plans after it
announced it will operate flights between Edinburgh and Barcelona.

The airline will offer five flights from Edinburgh Airport on 21, 28, 30 December and 02 and 05
January.

The decision comes after plans were announced to stop flights to the Spanish city this winter from
Scotland’s busiest airport. The Vueling services will allow planned holidays to go ahead but also
provide an important Christmas lifeline link for those trying to get home to see family.

Welcoming the decision, Chief Commercial Officer, John Watson, said: “This announcement will no
doubt come as a happy surprise to those passengers whose Christmas getaway plans were in doubt.

“We’re delighted to be working with Vueling again this winter and look forward to offering
passengers the chance to, not only visit Barcelona, but to experience all that Christmas in Edinburgh
has to offer.”

Denise Hill, Head of International Marketing at VisitScotland said: “Barcelona is the biggest market
when it comes to outbound travel from Spain and is an important focus for our marketing.
“Spaniards are fun-loving visitors and love to throw themselves into the events and the nightlife on
offer at their holiday destination. Scotland’s Winter Festival and Hogmanay events will be a big draw
as we celebrate through into 2014 and our second Year of Homecoming”.

MTB 02/11/13

NEW EASYJET DESTINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR 2014

New easyJet sunshine destinations from Edinburgh announced for 2014

Scottish passengers will have even more choice for their summer holidays next year after easyJet
announced the return of flights from Edinburgh to Crete and Turkey from spring 2014.

Scotland’s biggest airline will be operating twice weekly services to Bodrum in Turkey from 31 March
and Heraklion in Crete from 01 April. It is the first time since 2009 that passengers have been able to
fly direct from Edinburgh Airport to Heraklion and the first direct service to Bodrum since 2011.

John Watson, Chief Commercial Officer at Edinburgh Airport, said: “We’re delighted to be offering
Scottish passengers even more choice for their 2014 summer getaways with the announcement of
these two routes.

“It has been a great year for Edinburgh Airport and easyJet so far, with the airline launching six new
European services from Edinburgh in March and the airport experiencing its busiest summer on
record. We’re pleased we can add these destinations to our growing route network.”

Tickets are on sale now and are available from easyjet.com/holidays.

MTB 26/10/2013

AIRLINES NAME EDINBURGH AIRPORT AS THEIR FAVOURITE

Edinburgh Airport continues to shine as its named Airport of the Year 2013

Edinburgh Airport is celebrating after being named ‘Airport of the Year’ (over six million passengers)
at the recent Airport Operators Association Awards in London.

The award, voted by airlines, is the fifth high profile award for the airport this year after it was
named ‘Scottish Airport of the Year’ in June and ‘Best European Airport (5-10m passengers)’ at the
ACI EUROPE Best Airport Awards.

The award was accepted by Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive, who attended the ceremony with Colin
Murray, Head of Airside, and Sarah Gardiner, Head of Terminal Operations.

Gordon said: “This award is a tremendous validation for Edinburgh Airport. The fact that it is voted
for by airlines shows that our strategy is working. They’re at the core of all that we do.”

David Wilson, Chief Operating Officer, said: “We’ve worked hard with our airlines to better serve
their needs and make sure our service is world class.

“We’re delighted that our airlines have voted us Airport of the Year. Edinburgh Airport is all about
working together as a team to provide great customer service. We will continue to work hard to
ensure we remain the airport of choice for the millions of people that travel through.”

This is the fifth major award for Edinburgh Airport this year. The airport was named ‘Best in Britain’,
and one of the top three in Europe, for passenger satisfaction at the Airport Service Quality (ASQ)
Awards and ‘Best European Airport (5-10m passengers)’ at the ACI EUROPE Best Airport Awards.

Edinburgh Airport has just announced several new routes for 2014, including the first direct service
to Chicago which will launch in May 2014. In addition, the £25m terminal expansion will begin in
mid-October which will offer passengers a new state-of-the-art new security facility and retail space.

MTB 26/10/2013

WELL KNOWN SCOTTISH TRAVEL FACE HEADS FOR ROYAL CARIBBEAN IN TOP ROLE

Royal Caribbean International has appointed Stuart Leven as managing director for the UK, the latest move in the company’s corporate restructure. Stuart's name and face will be familiar to many in the Scottish travel community, having  previously worked for KLM, IHG, Thistle and Guoman, and Choice Hotels Europe.

The move, which will also see Dominic Paul expand his role to vice president international, will mean Paul will add Latin America, Asia Pacific and the Caribbean to his regions as well as Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The new UK structure will see Royal appoint separate teams for Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises and Royal Caribbean.

Jo Rzymowska will lead the Celebrity team and an executive is still to be named for Azamara.

“We are evolving our business to be in the best possible position for future growth,” explained Dominic Paul. Our new structure in the UK and Ireland, and the industry-leading management teams now taking shape, means that we can confidently deliver against the individual growth strategies of Royal Caribbean International, Azamara Club Cruises and Celebrity Cruises. We hope to be able to announce the new leadership role for Azamara Club Cruises very soon.”

MTB 18/1/2013

VIRGIN TRAINS WINS BUSINESS TRAVELLER AWARD

It was all glamour and applause this week as readers of Business Traveller magazine voted Virgin Trains Best UK Domestic Rail Operator for the seventh year running.

The award was collected by Virgin Trains’ National Sales Manager Anna Doran, at a ceremony held on Tuesday 15 October 2013 at The Royal Garden Hotel in London. Virgin Trains beat a strong field of rail companies.

Anna said: ”At Virgin Trains we understand the vital role the business traveller plays in our ongoing success. We work hard to provide a service which meets their needs and exceeds their expectations. We are therefore delighted to be voted best rail operator by the readers of Business Traveller magazine.”

Virgin Trains passenger satisfaction soared to 92% and remains the highest of any long distance franchise operator.

MTB 18/10/2013

AIR CANADA ROUGE INCREASES EDINBURGH-TORONTO SERVICE FOR SUMMER 2014

Air Canada rouge, Air Canada’s leisure carrier subsidiary, has announced it will increase its summer non-stop service from Edinburgh Airport to its Toronto hub, Toronto Pearson International Airport, from three to five weekly flights, beginning July 2014.

The summer 2014 schedule is set to start on 17 May with three services per week, increasing to five per week from July 2014. Air Canada rouge Edinburgh-Toronto flight, AC1905, will depart Edinburgh at 10:15 a.m. and arrive in Toronto at 12:45 p.m. local time the same day. The return flight, AC1904, will depart Toronto at 8:40 p.m. and arrive in Edinburgh at 8:30 a.m. the next day (all times local).

Robert Atkinson, Air Canada’s General Manager – Sales UK, Ireland and Northern Europe, said: “Following the success of the Air Canada rouge service this year, we are pleased to announce an increase in our Edinburgh service for summer 2014. Travellers from Scotland will not only have direct access to our Toronto hub, they will also benefit from onward connections to destinations across North America, the Carribean and Latin America.”

The Edinburgh to Toronto service will be operated with Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, featuring a two-cabin configuration with three customer comfort options including rouge, rouge Plus with preferred seating and additional legroom, and Premium rouge offering both additional space and enhanced services. By the summer 2014 season, the Air Canada rouge widebody fleet will have grown to consist of eight Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. All flights offer customers streamed wireless inflight entertainment to their personal electronic devices, standard 110 volt power plugs and USB ports, stylish and modern cabin interiors with innovative new seats, and the ability to earn and redeem Aeroplan miles.

Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport, said: “After a highly successful summer 2013 season, we’re delighted that Air Canada rouge will not only return to Edinburgh next year but will also increase its summer service to Toronto. Having met with colleagues from Air Canada rouge while at the recent World Routes conference in Las Vegas, we’re delighted to continue our collaboration on this hugely popular route. We are now looking forward to offering Scottish passengers even more services to Canada and beyond next summer.“

MTB 12/10/2013