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

SCOTTISH AIRPORTS REPORT HEALTHY PASSENGER INCREASES FOR SEPTEMBER

Scotland's three major airports have all reported passenger growth for the month of September 2013.

Glasgow Airport reported another month of growth after 765,000 passengers travelled through its doors in September, representing an increase of 3.8% compared to the same period last year. The continued increase in passenger numbers follows the news the airport had enjoyed its busiest summer in five years. Domestic and international traffic grew by 5.5% and 2.6% respectively during September and a number of airlines including Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, easyJet and KLM all reported an increase in demand.

Edinburgh Airport has enjoyed its busiest September ever with more than 950,000 passengers  travelling through – an increase of 9.0% on 2012. The airport has also reported its strongest quarter ever, with over three million passengers arriving and departing in July, August and September. A total of 958,944 passengers made their way through Edinburgh Airport in September. Domestic numbers were up 8.5% from 2012 with 429,738 passengers and international also saw an increase of  9.3% with 529,206 people travelling through the airport.

Meanwhile, nearly 322,000 people used Aberdeen International Airport in the month of September, according to figures just released. Passenger statistics for the month have been published, and show a growth of 6.3% on the previous year. Fixed-wing flights grew by 9.7%, reflecting steady growth as well as an influx of passengers for Offshore Europe 2013. Helicopter numbers showed a further reduction of 13.3%.

MTB 12/10/2013

Flybe PART-FLOWN ITINERARY CHANGES NOW LIVE ONLINE

Flybe has advised that functionality enabling customers to make itinerary changes on flybe.com when their booking is partially flown is now live. This enhancement applies to bookings originally made online at flybe.com. Previously it was only possible to make an itinerary change online when the booking was wholly unflown.

It is not possible to amend GDS bookings online - any booking made via a GDS must still have itinerary changes processed via a GDS.

To make an itinerary change online,  the booking should be retrieved as normal via the 'Manage my booking' option from the homepage.

Enter:
1. Flybe Booking reference
2. Booker's forename
3. Booker's surname

NOTE: it is important to enter the booker's name in order to enable the 'Change flight' functionality.

Part-flown itinerary changes will not be possible under the following circumstances:

a) Where the original flights are subject to minimum stay restrictions (this currently affects Loganair flights only).

b) Where the booking has previously been affected by a schedule change, itinerary changed via the Flybe Call Centre, disrupted or where the passenger is already checked-in.

c) It will not be possible to change the return flight's departure point.

d) It will not be possible to amend the return flight's destination point to a different currency area (e.g. changing return destination from Belfast to Dublin).

Where these circumstances apply changes will need to be made via the Call Centre by calling 0871 700 2000. Queries should be directed to e-mail sales.support@flybe.com

A copy of this announcement is also available at www.flybe.com/trade

MTB 05/10/2013

MORE SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS FROM RSSC

Regent Seven Seas Cruises ha announced a number of product and service enhancements.

RSSC is set to expand its all-inclusive product offering to include FREE Wi-Fi . Beginning with Winter 2014-2015 sailings, Concierge-level and higher guests will receive up to 500 minutes of FREE Wi-Fi. This enhancement is a natural evolution for the brand, which delivers 'the travel industry's most all-inclusive product that includes flights, pre-cruise hotel, ground transfers and unlimited shore excursions to premium spirits and fine wines, and gratuities.' Coupled with RSSC's hallmark personalized service and spacious all-suite accommodations, the line says it 'endeavours to provide clients with a luxury cruise experience like no other.' 

RSSC is making a multi-million dollar investment to enhance its fleet's onboard Internet offering - a fleet-wide Internet upgrade that will ensure that clients have 'an exceptional experience whenever or wherever they connect on board.'

This major upgrade, which will be completed by 2013 year-end, includes:

• Doubling the satellite bandwidth to provide considerable improvements in both the quality and speed of clients' online experience

• Expanding the Wi-Fi signal's range, making Wi-Fi available throughout the entirety of the ships including all suites, public rooms and outdoor decks

• Replacing all onboard hardware such as the modems, routers and bandwidth compression equipment with advanced technology

The company is also making a change to its Seven Seas Society loyalty program. Seven Seas Society members receive a host of exclusive and valuable rewards and benefits including FREE UNLIMITED Internet, FREE phone time, priority dining and shore excursion reservations, laundry service, FREE private transfers and more.

For clients who are currently SILVER, GOLD, PLATINUM or TITANIUM Level members, they will continue to receive FREE UNLIMITED Internet in any suite category with no activation fees as they always have.

However, the FREE UNLIMITED Internet benefit will no longer be offered at the SILVER Level for new members who reach that level AFTER September 30, 2014. RSSC is hopeful that by providing one full year of advance notice of this change, it will give BRONZE clients an opportunity to reach the SILVER Level (requires 21 nights) and be eligible for the current FREE UNLIMITED Internet benefit. Members who qualify for GOLD, PLATINUM and TITANIUM Levels after September 30, 2014 will continue to receive FREE UNLIMITED Internet benefits. 

The upgrade to the fleet's onboard Internet capabilities combined with the change in the loyalty program will significantly enhance the Internet experience for ALL of guests, particularly on longer cruises, says RSSC.

MTB 05/10/2013

AUTUMN CAMPAIGN EXTENSIONS FOR RCL CRUISES

Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises have extended their Autumn Campaign offers through 21 October

Royal Caribbean International

Drinks on Us!

We're delighted to announce that we're extending our family drinks on us campaign until 21 October

• Free unlimited soda for kids- at all bars, lounges and dining venues for every child aged 3-17 years old
• Free wine while you dine- Five complimentary bottles of wine per stateroom booking

This offer is available on sailings from the UK of 7 nights or more, between May and October 2014. This offer is now valid on bookings created and confirmed up to 21 October 2013.

As part of the campaign extension we're also continuing to give TWO lucky agents the chance to Win a CASE OF WINE EVERYDAY! Plus the chance to WIN a VIP trip for 2 to the launch ceremony of one of our Quantum class ships.

Find out more »

Celebrity Cruises

Exceptional Extras on 2014 Sailings: Free Drinks & Reduced Regional Airfare

Applicable on a huge range of selected European, Caribbean and Alaskan sailings in 2014. These offers are combinable and have been extended to 21 October.

View the flyer to find out more.

Terms and conditions and full list of applicable sailings on cruisingpower.co.uk.

There's still 6 days to enter your 2014 bookings to win an iPad 4, and from 1 October, start saving for Christmas shopping season. Enter your 2014 bookings to win 5 x £20 Lifestyle vouchers every day.

Find out more »

Azamara Club Cruises

Double Upgrade to a Balcony Stateroom & Free or Reduced Flights

Receive a complimentary double upgrade for your guests, from a Club Interior to a Club Balcony stateroom on many 2014 voyages - now extended to 21 October. And with free or reduced airfares they can choose where and how to enjoy their spectacular view!

To view all applicable sailings please click here.

Find out more » visit www.cruisingpower.co.uk 

MTB 28/09/2013

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM THOMAS COOK

CHANGE TO THOMAS COOK BROCHURE ORDERING PROCESS

Thomas Cook has responded to reports that some agents may have been experiencing difficulties ordering brochures (Thomas Cook, Cresta, Airtours, Club 18-30, Neilson, Signature, Escapades, Neilson) on the Trade Gate website.

Currently, the company is unable to fulfill orders placed through Trade Gate. However, it can accept orders via email to brochure.orders@thomascook.com - including details of the brochures required and the agent's ABTA number. Alternatively, brochures can be viewed at http://www.brochure-store.co.uk/.

Any further questions should be referred to the Key Account Manager or to www.thomascookworld.com

CHANGES TO VIEWDATA FOR LATES

Please see below details of changes on Viewdata for Lates.

Late Search Menu Item

Late Search has been added as an option in the Viewdata Menu (menu item 3), with latest search date for the Lates Grid displayed next to the menu option

Lates Booking Journey

Lates Booking journey has been added, including search page, Lates Grid, package selection and flight selection.

Lates Grid

The Lates Grid now shows all available holidays departing within the Lates period, not just Late Offer holidays. This is different from the previous Viewdata system, which only showed Late Offer holidays (and which will cease operation after the last Summer 13 departures).

The Lates Grid shows the lead-in prices (i.e. cheapest adult package price) by Departure Date, Route, Duration and Star Rating, based on standard occupancy.

Where there are multiple flights on same day, the Lates Grid will show the cheapest lead-in price of all of these flights, and then preferred flight can be selected on a new page which appears later in the journey.

Late Offer Holidays ‘LD’

A Late Offer holiday shows the label ‘LD’ next to it on the Late Search package selection screen. Late Offer holidays will also appear in Adult Price and Party Price search results, again denoted ‘LD’. This is different from the previous Viewdata system, which only showed brochure holidays through these searches.

Transfers and Late Offer Holidays

As before, transfers are not included with Late Offer Holidays. Where a Late Offer holiday has been selected the message ‘NO TRANSFER INCLUDED’ has been added to the accommodation screens to make this clear. Transfers continue to be added to Late Offer holidays by default in the Extras section of Viewdata, but they can be removed if not required (as per previous Viewdata system). Transfer prices may vary.

Lates Terms & Conditions Screen

There is no Lates Terms & Conditions confirmation question displayed or subsequent screens containing Terms & Conditions for Late Offer holidays. Full Terms & Conditions for Late Offer holidays are available in the corresponding brochures.

Further Information

A guide containing screenshots of the new Viewdata functionality is attached for further reference.

Any further questions should be referred to www.thomascookworld.com

MTB 28/09/2013

BRITISH AIRWAYS TRIAL NEW SHORT HAUL POINT-TO-POINT FARES

11 September 2013 saw the start of a new British Airways trial to simplify the short haul point to point fare ladder, offering customers more choice and greater flexibility.

The Hand Baggage Only (HBO) fare, introduced at London Gatwick in February, is extended to
selected routes to/from London Heathrow and London City and new Semi-flex and Fully-flex fares will
be introduced.

The suite of new fare types, including the HBO fare will be trialed on nine routes and is available for
sale for travel from 24 September 2013:

• Hand Baggage Only (HBO) – lowest price for when travelling light

• Standard – lowest all inclusive price, with everything a passenger would expect when flying with
British Airways

• Semi-flex – when travel plans change last minute, the Semi-flex price gives the option to change a flight on the day to an earlier or later flight

• Fully-flex – fully flexible price gives complete flexibility and control to change when and where the passenger flies

New more flexible fare attributes mean that customers will have the option to make changes to their
itinerary with no change fee and the ability to be able to make changes to their ticket on the day of
travel free of charge.

Semi-flex tickets will also give customers the opportunity to select their seat free of charge two days
in advance of travel and Fully-flex tickets allow customers to choose their seat free of charge at any
time.

Standard Euro Traveller fares will continue to be available year-round.

More information is available from BA account manager.

MTB 21/09/2013

MORE VIRGIN TRAINS THAN EVER ON WEST COAST MAIN LINE

Tickets are now on sale for journeys using Virgin Trains new timetable which starts on December 8. The new timetable maximises the use of Virgin Trains’ recently lengthened Pendolinos, typically delivering 153,000 seats on weekdays.

Phil Bearpark, Virgin Trains Production Director said:

‘As the number of people using our highly-rated services grows we need to make sure their journeys are comfortable. We’re paying an extra £150 million this year for the four new 11-car Pendolinos and 70 extra Standard carriages we now have in operation. Our new timetable makes the most productive use of that extra capacity to give customers a speedy and enjoyable journey.’

One of the highlights of the new timetable provides new through journey opportunities between the Midlands, North West England and Scotland, with one train an hour running from Euston to Glasgow Central via Birmingham New Street. This adds 4,000 seats a day by substituting Pendolinos for some of the shorter Super Voyager trains currently used on the route north of Wolverhampton.

MTB 21/09/2013

TURKISH AIRLINES OPENS ITS TRANSIT BUSINESS LOUNGE FOR BUSINESS-CLASS PASSENGERS

Turkish Airlines has opened its transit Business Lounge for Business Class passengers available after International flights in Istanbul Ataturk Airport.

Turkish Airlines continues to enhance the travel experience for its international Business Class passengers. Turkish Airlines inaugurated its new 'Istanbul Arrival Lounge' in a ceremony. The area is designed to provide a space where inbound guests may refresh themselves before exiting the Ataturk Airport. This is the most recent innovation directed at making Business Class travel on Turkish Airlines a uniquely pleasurable experience.

The lounge, which is ​​250m2, has a capacity of 38 seats and provides a comfortable ambiance for passengers to relax and refresh after their flight.

The Lounge offers passengers shower facilities, areas for changing clothes and staff dedicated to ironing clothing items if desired. There are also delicious treats prepared by Turkish DO & CO—all designed to ready passengers for the tasks that await them upon leaving the airport. This service is especially valuable to guests arriving in the early morning when hotel rooms are generally not yet available for check-in.

Also available are daily local and foreign newspapers and magazines, a full wireless internet connection, media walls and charging points for passengers’ electronic devices.

The lounge will be open every day to receive arriving passengers from 05:00 AM untill 12:30 PM (local time) and business lounge will be closed for passengers at 13:00 PM (local time).

Important details for using the Istanbul Arrival Lounge:

• Only Business Class passengers and Economy or Comfort Class passengers having Elite Plus membership will be able to use the lounge on arrival in Istanbul following their international flights 
• Star Gold members and other Miles & Smiles members - except Elite Plus members - will not be eligible to use the Lounge. Additionally, eligible passengers passengers will not be permitted to bring guests 

DB 14/09/2013

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises announces wide range of facilities for the EUROPA 2

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is proud to reveal the wide-ranging sports and spa facilities available on its new luxury ship, the EUROPA 2.

The ship boasts state-of-the-art fitness equipment, numerous courses, four saunas and a diverse range of treatments. Fitness and spa enthusiasts will find everything they could possibly want in the gym and spa spanning over 1,000 square metres, including a large outdoor area. Plus, passengers who would like professional, personalized advice and support can choose the extra option of engaging a personal trainer, while guests who would like to relax in private with their partner can book the Personal SPA on board the EUROPA 2 for their exclusive use.

In fact, the spacious SPA is perfect for guests in search of relaxation. As well as a hammamm, an ice wall, a Kneipp pool and a whirlpool, the spa has medically trained massuers, physiotherapists and beauticians on hand to provide all kinds of treatments and therapies. These range from traditional part-/full-body massages and popular therapies such as Ayurveda, hot stone massages, thalasso and shiatsu, to exotic treatments such as lomi lomi, a traditional Hawaiian oil massage. 

Plus, the gym offers an extensive choice of innovative training equipment. In addition to traditional fitness and cardio machines, Kinesis panels from Technogym help guests to make progress quickly. Passengers can also target specific areas with HYPOXI, a combination of positive and negative pressure, plus special training. In addition, there are numerous courses on offer, from relaxation exercises to spinning. The sports hosts from EUROPA 2 also arrange active shore excursions suck as bike rides and Nordic walking courses.

For a visual impression of the spa and sports facilities on board EUROPA 2, please see our film online at www.hl-cruises.com/press/passagentv/. 

DB 14/09/2013

PRINCESS CRUISES - 2014 TO BE A 'YEAR OF COMMITMENT TO UK AGENTS AND PASSENGERS'

Princess Cruises has declared 2014 as 'a year of commitment and dedication to our UK travel agent partners and passengers.'

New regional air connections from Manchester are planned, to be flown by Jet2.com, to support the inaugural season of new ship Regal Princess as she cruises the Mediterranean.

The voyages are included in Princess Cruises' current 2014 Cruise Extra campaign, which offers lower lead-in prices, free balcony upgrades and a choice of free onboard spending, free parking or coach transfers.

A base commission level of 10% completes the package. Princess will base no fewer than four of its newest cruise ships in Europe.

MTB 07/09/2013

bmi Regional + Air Baltic ANNOUNCE EX ABERDEEN AIR ROUTE EXPANSION

bmi Regional

bmi regional will launch the first scheduled services connecting Stavanger with Harstad and Tromsø in northern Norway in January 2014. These services will be the first direct air link between the two fastest growing regions in Norway, and are important hubs for the Norwegian oil and gas industry.

The announcement that the UK’s most punctual airline is to fly direct services within Norway has been widely welcomed by Norwegian city municipalities and the business community, as it represents the culmination of extensive work by industry and the public sector to achieve enhanced air connectivity between these key regional locations. The news comes just days after bmi regional launched a direct, scheduled service between Kristiansund in Norway and Aberdeen in the UK. Both cities are key locations for oil and gas activity in the North Sea.

At the recent ONS conference in Stavanger, the municipalities of Hammerfest, Tromsø, Harstad, Brønnøysund, Sandnessjøen, Stavanger Airport Sola and Greater Stavanger presented a detailed route development report on the opportunities between Stavanger and Northern Norway. “A comprehensive survey of the market carried out by regional municipal partners revealed that Norwegian businesses could save significant time and money with the creation of a direct route between Stavanger-Harstad and Stavanger-Tromso and that there was significant demand for shorter travel times." says Commercial director, Stavanger Airport, Ina Eldøy. “When the regions with the strongest growth in Norway require close co-operation and faster connections to enable shorter travel times, it's our job at the airport to facilitate this. We are delighted that bmi regional have responded almost immediately to deliver on this opportunity”.

Ian Woodley, Chairman, bmi regional, said: “The launch of these domestic Norwegian routes is part of bmi regional's strategy of expanding into markets with compelling growth possibilities for our business model. We identified the Nordic region and, in particular, the oil and gas industry as one of the best opportunities. The solid data and documentation of the two region’s requirements delivered at ONS, combined with the support of local government, businesses and the airports convinced the management at bmi regional to launch domestic flights in Norway. These routes not only meet our strategic goals, but are a perfect example of the flexibility of our airline to move fast when opportunities arrive. We look forward to bringing the fantastic bmi regional product to Norwegian flyers”.

Tromso and Harstad also have incredible scenery and experiences to offer the leisure tourist. Tromsø is the the capital of the arctic and is surrounded by mountains, fjords and islands. It has 24 hours of daylight in the summer - you can even play a round of golf on the most northerly course in the world - at midnight. The polar nights from November to January offer stunning light conditions during the short dawn. Tromsø is one of the best places on earth to observe the northern lights. And, of course, you can go skiing - even as late as May. Harstad is on Norway’s biggest island, and offers fantastic hiking options and nature based experiences. You can catch the ships sailing the Hurtigruten route (‘the fast way’) through the Arctic Norway coast.

The news came just days after bmi regional launched a direct, scheduled service between Kristiansund in Norway and Aberdeen in the UK. Bookings can be made on www.bmiregional.com/norge

AIR BALTIC TO SERVE RIGA FROM ABERDEEN

Latvian airline airBaltic is putting the finishing touches to plans to launch a new route between ABZ and Riga. 

Currently at the planning stages of the schedule, the new route which will be operational in spring 2014 will offer convenient connections between the two cities and beyond to destinations in the Baltic region, Scandinavia, Russia and the CIS countries.

It is predicted that the service will operate four days a week. It will provide an important service to businesses at both ends of the route, as well as feeding the growing leisure market thanks to the popularity of Riga as a short-break destination from the North-east of Scotland.

Michael Grimme, Chief Commercial Officer of airBaltic: “Every month, airBaltic has been achieving consistently good results. This means we can now bring it back to our customers by offering affordable tickets and new destinations. We are now making the necessary preparations for a new Aberdeen-Riga route to offer excellent connections via Riga to and from destinations such as Baku, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Warsaw, Kiev, Odessa.”

Carol Benzie is the Operations Director in Aberdeen. She said: “The energy industry will benefit from this route, and many of our business passengers will value this service into Riga as well as the onward connections that serving this hub will provide. On top of that it will be welcomed by our leisure passengers who see Riga as a popular short break destination. We look forward to welcoming airBaltic to the Aberdeen team.”

airBaltic serves 60 destinations from its home base at Riga, Latvia. From every one of these, airBaltic offers convenient connections via Riga to its network spanning Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, CIS and the Middle East.

MTB 07/09/2013

OSPREY HOLIDAYS PROMOTES AUTUMN BREAKS

Osprey Holidays is promoting autumn breaks as a pleasant alternative to travelling in the heat of the summer and is offering short breaks to Paris in October from £255 per person.

The operator says, "Autumn is the perfect time of year for a City break offering comfortable temperatures for visiting cultural sites but still warm enough for al fresco dining and enjoying the European café culture. The main cultural season is at its peak with many art exhibitions and special events happening when cities are quieter than the busy summer months. With beautiful autumn colours, our featured cities are often at their most beautiful at this special time of year."

Osprey Holidays offers firm favorites like Paris, Barcelona and Amsterdam, historical gems like Bruges, Prague and Vienna and romantic favourites like Venice, Florence and Rome. With over 50 destinations to choose from, Osprey Holidays can tailor-make "the perfect city break for clients".

Prices start at £255.00 per person* for 3 nights in Paris from Edinburgh and bookings can be made on 0131 243 8098.

*Based on two sharing a room at the 2* Nord et Champagne hotel in central Paris, Easyjet flights direct from Edinburgh with hand luggage. Based on a October departure subject to availability.

MTB 30/08/2013

INSPIRATION AT SEA - EUROPA 2'S ON BOARD ART COLLECTION

· A total of 890 different artworks on board

· Works by artists including Damien Hirst, Gerhard Richter and Hans Hartung

· Additional offer: Gallery and art tours

On the EUROPA 2, art lovers and connoisseurs can discover a range of various artworks in the public areas and suites. There are 890 originals on board in total, some of which were created as part of extra contract work for the casual luxury ship from Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Art was conceived to be an integral component of the new ship design, and it interacts harmoniously with the architecture and technology.

The art concept on board the EUROPA 2 focuses on contemporary art befitting the modern design of the new ship, especially from young artists from Germany and Europe. Well-known names from the art scene and a selection of international works can also be found in the public areas. All works in the EUROPA 2 art collection were compiled by curators from International Corporate Art (ICA).

The collection features works by Gerhard Richter, Ólafur Elíasson, David Hockney, Damien Hirst, Adam Fuss and Hans Hartung. This exclusive list is complemented by works by Jeppe Hein, Georg Küttinger, Ingrid von Kruse, Eva Hild, Minjung Kim, Cornelius Völker, Rupprecht Mathies, Kubach & Kropp, Tenka Gammelgaard, Christiane Baumgartner and Christian Schoppe.

In addition to the public areas, special attention has also been paid to the art selection in various suites. For example, in the two Grand Penthouse Suites and the two Owner Suites, guests can encounter works by the British pop-art artist Damien Hirst from his portfolio The Souls I, II, III, IV. This consists of four different series of butterfly images in 80 different colours. The art collection on board the EUROPA 2 features all four types of butterfly in various colours. Additionally, guests can find works by David Hockney, Donald Sultan and Bram van Velde in the upper suite categories.

Artists or gallery owners who can explain the works and discuss them with the guests will be on board for all cruises. An art tour is also held on every cruise, which provides background information on the works, the artists behind them and the general art concept on board. Guests can also enjoy alternating exhibitions in the gallery on Deck 9 of the ship.

In addition, please note also that the new English special edition “EUROPA 2 – creating a luxury cruise ship” (publisher Abenteuer & Reisen), 96 pages, has been published and can be ordered now for you/your clients.

If you like to have some samples of this magazine, feel free to contact us at any time.

For more information on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ exciting destinations and itineraries visit www.hl-cruises.com. All press releases and a picture gallery can be found on www.hl-cruises.com/press. For EUROPA 2 images: http://www.hl-cruises.com/press/photoarchive/cruises-fleet/ms-europa-2/

For Reservations: +49 (0) 40 3001 4580 (English-speaking hotline), or via email to salesteam@hlkf.de, or www.hl-cruises.com/contact-services for local Agents.

MTB 30/08/2013

ABZ TEAM DELIVERING EXCELLENCE

Aberdeen International Airport has become the first airport in the UK to receive a prestigious award for putting the customer first.

The team has been awarded ‘Customer First’ accreditation – seen as the national standard for excellence in Customer Service. It demonstrates that customers are at the heart of the operation, and is recognition of the delivery of the customer charter.

The team now joins an elite group of companies, including the Princes Trust and the Nelson Mandela Museum, to proudly display the official accreditation, and were fully accredited at the first attempt, which in itself is unusual.

Roger Hunt is the Airports Operations Director. He said “This result is thanks to everyone across all our teams who contribute each day to the customer experience. The assessor commended a number of elements that made our application so convincing. He complimented the way the charter was created, based on staff and customer opinions and created from the ground up. The ability of staff to proactively identify examples of good customer service also helped in his ultimate decision.

“We recongise that this is by no means ‘job-done’ and the process of delivering good customer service is an on-going one. This confirms that we created and launched the charter in a unique and effective way, and from now we need to keep building on this success.”

Mike Wildey is the assessor responsible for the airport application. He was delighted with what he saw in Aberdeen. “In the many years I have been assessing organisations against the Customer First standard, Aberdeen International Airport provided the best example I have seen of a meaningful Customer Charter. It has been developed by establishing what customers and employees value and making a commitment to deliver. It is not just a series of statements, but a way of working that is providing measurable and positive results.”

The full charter can be read at www.aberdeenairport.com/customercharter, where you can download a full copy.

You can read more about Customer First at www.customerfirst.org

MTB 24/08/13

EDI ANNOUNCES £25M EXPANSION AS £150M INVESTMENT PROGRAMME BEGINS

100 new construction jobs provided during the build period

Edinburgh Airport is investing £25m in a significant expansion of the airport’s terminal
building, creating the foundations of the airport’s ambitious growth plans and providing
passengers with more space and a new state of the art security area.

The new 6000m2 facility will be built around a larger security area that will allow passengers
to move through that part of the airport faster and more efficiently. The use of extra space,
coupled with new technology, processes and training will mark a step change in the service
provided to UK airport passengers. There will also be new retail areas and a brand new
airline business centre.

The project is estimated to create over 100 construction jobs throughout the build period.
Edinburgh Airport chief executive, Gordon Dewar, said: “Our expansion is a significant mark
of our intent to transform our customers’ experience of Edinburgh Airport through high
quality facilities, outstanding customer service and one of the best direct international route
networks in Europe.

“This investment is the first of a number of developments that will build Edinburgh Airport’s
profile around the world, helping us to compete more energetically with other UK airports
and those in mainland Europe.”

The extension will see the terminal move into the space currently occupied by the airport’s
coach park, moving the terminal access closer to the new tram stop. By moving the security
area into this extension, valuable space within the terminal will be freed for more passenger
and retail spaces including the airport’s first walk through store. Edinburgh Airport will offer
more choice to its passengers than ever before.

The Board of Edinburgh Airport has committed to investing £150m in Scotland’s busiest
airport over the next five years to allow it to compete more energetically on the international
stage and to ensure that its facilities reflect the predicted growth in passenger numbers. This
new £25m terminal expansion is the first major project in an ambitious investment plan.

Work will begin in October 2013, with the new security product operational by late 2014.
The new retail space will follow in 2015. Gordon Dewar added: “Our experience this summer
with unprecedented numbers of passengers and airlines at Edinburgh, highlights our ongoing
need to invest in facilities to meet growing demand and to do so without any taxpayer support."

“We’re keenly aware of our responsibility to be the place where Scotland meets the world.
This is an investment not just for in the future of the airport, but for Edinburgh and Scotland
and we are delighted to play our part in offering a warm welcome and, importantly, great
memories of our capital city."

“This is an excellent example of an exciting new development planned from beginning to end
in Edinburgh, which has taken months - and not years - to plan and implement. No
bureaucracy - just a clear focus on what our customers want. I’m grateful to the Board for
the support it has given my team in delivering for our passengers and airlines.”

David Birrell, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: “A thriving airport is
of critical importance to Edinburgh as Scotland’s capital, as its financial and cultural hub, and
as a gateway to the nation as a whole. The city is already benefitting from the knock-on effect
of a successful airport. The news of Edinburgh Airport’s continued investment plans
underline its commitment to delivering a quality customer experience, to attracting new
routes and ultimately to ongoing growth. That has to be good news for Edinburgh.”

MTB 24/08/13

ABERDEEN AIRPORT - AIRMAIL AUGUST 2013

Thomson and First Choice announcement

Thomson and First Choice have recently announced that in Summer 2014 they will be more than doubling capacity at Aberdeen International Airport. This is through the introduction of new routes to Corfu and Dalaman, as well as the addition of further weekly flights for existing Majorca routes including a new Sunday departure, and Ibiza flights now being extended to run for the entire summer season.

This makes them the first tour operator to offer a flight to Greece from the airport, as well as the only tour operator operating this route in summer 2014.

Paul Cooper, Airport Negotiations Manager for Thomson and First Choice, said of the move: “Adding additional capacity from Aberdeen and the introduction of a Greek route for the first time demonstrates our commitment to Aberdeen International Airport and the local area, and following the success of similar routes across a number of regional airports, we know that the demand is there. Expanding access to our portfolio of destinations and hotels is a key part of our overall strategy and we hope that this move will enhance the holiday experience for our customers.”

Traffic update July 2013

The month of July saw passenger numbers increase further at Aberdeen International Airport.

335,631 people used the terminal over the month, an increase of 6.8% on the previous year. There was growth in both the fixed-wing and helicopter sectors, and both domestic and international.

Carol Benzie is the airports Commercial Director. She said: “This growth is very welcome and we are in a good position with seven months of the year under our belts. We recognise that the coming months will likely bring challenges for both our sector and our airport specifically, however we are well placed to deal with them.

“We are coming towards the end of the busy summer holiday period, a lucrative and popular time of year for passengers heading off for some family sun. Meanwhile we continue to work hard to secure extra capacity and new routes for summer 2014, as our recent TUI announcement (see below) demonstrates.”

MD move

Aberdeen International Airport’s interim MD Nick Barton has recently confirmed his next post.

At the start of March Nick joined the Aberdeen team to replace Derek Provan during his secondment at Heathrow. The role was on an interim basis, and he is now preparing for a move to Westminster to take up a senior role within a property management company ‘City West Homes’. Nick is set to leave by the end of August.

In a statement he said: “I have enjoyed every moment of my time in Aberdeen thus far, and I believe strongly that this is a great airport with fantastic prospects for the future. At the end of my interim period I was keen to ensure I could make the transition into my next role, in the interest of my career and my family, and as such I have recently accepted an exciting offer. In the short term, I will continue to do my utmost to promote this airport, both at a group and external level.”

Meanwhile, Derek Provan has confirmed he is to remain in post at Heathrow, after agreeing terms on the permanent position as Director of Airside Operations.

An announcement on the next steps for Aberdeen International Airport is expected soon.

Runway Run

A charity run with a difference on the runway at Aberdeen International Airport is taking off in the hope of landingcash for charity.

The first ever Eastern Airways Runway Run will give up to 50 runners a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to run the length of the airport’s runway and back again, covering 2.42 miles or around 4km.

The event will take place at midnight over Saturday, September 21 into Sunday, September 22, when the runway will be clear of aircraft and illuminated by the airfield lights, against a picturesque backdrop of the city of Aberdeen at night. All proceeds will go to CLIC Sargent.

Sarah Campbell is the chair of the Aberdeen International Airport Community Panel. She said: “For any runner this will surely be an once-in-a-lifetime experience which none of them will ever forget. Supporting local charities and being part of the community is a core part of our business, so when this idea was first tabled it presented us with an exciting opportunity to use our diverse and often fascinating infrastructure for a good cause.

Go to http://www.georgewalkerevents.co.uk/ for more.

MTB 16/08/13

HIGH SPEED BOOK SIGNINGS ON VIRGIN TRAINS

This autumn, Virgin Trains is launching the UK’s first ever on board ‘high speed’ book signings on its West Coast route. A host of well-known authors have been confirmed, including renowned Scandi-crime writer, Jo Nesbo; highly acclaimed British writer Joanna Trollope; who is launching The Austen Project with a reworking of Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility andrenowned comedian and author,Ruby Wax.

All the authors involved have either recently launched or will soon be launching their new books and will offer Virgin Trains’ passengers an exclusive opportunity to own a signed copy. The book signings will take place in Coach G (the First Class carriage closest to Standard Class). Travellers will be informed over the on-board announcement system and invited to buy a book before meeting the author for a personalised copy.

Passengers can keep up to date with details of when their favourite author is on board by visiting the Virgin Trains Facebook page.

Virgin Trains reaches speeds of up to 125mph between 45 west coast stations from London Euston to Glasgow including Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool and the authors will be travelling on various routes over the autumn months.

For those travelling for business, on a family day out, or who simply want to be a part of this one off experience, they are advised to visit the Virgin Trains Facebook page from the 1st September to check when each author is on board.

Commenting on the launch of the ‘High Speed Book Signings’, Jim Rowe, Virgin Trains Senior Communications Manager says “Authors routinely travel the country to book signing sessions so we thought why not use the time travelling to sign some more. It is a fact: nowhere else will our authors sign books faster than on our Virgin high speed trains”.

MTB 16/08/13

ABTA TRAILS PTD WORKSHOP - 12 AUGUST IN GLASGOW

A reminder from ABTA's Member Information Manager - Dennis Ashby :

Dear Member,

This is a reminder that ABTA are hosting workshops around the UK on the European Commission’s proposed revisions to the Package Travel Directive.

These changes will affect all ABTA Members – travel agents and tour operators.

Your nearest meeting is:

12 August, Jurys Inn Glasgow, 4.30pm to 7pm

Why should you attend?

· The workshop will enable you to hear what changes are being proposed to the existing Package Travel Directive.

· ABTA Legal and Public Affairs teams will explain:

§ What types of holiday are included in the proposal
§ What liabilities each travel company has
§ What new rights your customers will have

· The workshop will be the opportunity for you to ask questions and to join a discussion of the issues with ABTA.

· We want every Member to be fully informed and to hear your views, as we prepare to respond to the proposal on your behalf.

To book your place at one of the meetings, please respond to this e-mail

Full details of all events can be found on the ABTA website www.abta.com/events-and-training

Kind regards
Dennis
Dennis Ashby
Member Information Manager
ABTA - The Travel Association
T: 0845 177 ABTA (2282)
F: 020 3117 0581
www.abta.com

PATA UK SUMMER PARTY IN GLASGOW - 21 AUGUST 2013

A reminder in the August edition of the PATA UK Newsletter - if you haven't already signed up for the Summer Party in Glasgow on 21 August, please register now!

Also, a thank you to all members who have sent in their news, and a plea to keep sending it in to ukchapternews@pata.org.uk.

To read this month's edition of the PATA Newsletter, click here.

MTB 09/08/2013

RED SEA HOLIDAYS INTRODUCES NEW RESERVATIONS SYSTEM

Red Sea Holidays has recently introduced a new reservations system to support its growing business. The new “@COM” system gives it a more flexible platform for managing the existing product portfolio, improved extras and upgrade offerings, and supports a range of exciting future product developments. Most of all it makes it easier for travel trade partners to search, book and maximise revenue from every booking.

The operator currently runs TWO reservations systems - to minimise disruption to Summer 2013 season bookings, there will be a transition period where it operates the current and new reservations systems side by side:

Departure dates	Booking System	Viewdata Code	Notes
Holidays departing up to and including 31 October 2013	Current "ATOP" system	RED#	This will operate as it does currently for all holidays departing up to and including 31 October 2013. The ATOP system will cease to operate on 1 November 2013.
Holidays departing 01 November 2013 or later	New "@COM" system	SEA#	The new system applies to holidays that depart from 1 November 2013 onwards. This system is live now.

Updating your systems:

Availability searches on your in-house systems should be amended to point to the relevant Red Sea Holidays reservation system, dependant on the departure date:

Departures up to and including 31 October 2013 – RED#
Departures 1 November 2013 and later – SEA#Viewdata and website passwords for the new SEA# system will remain the same as those used currently 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 are aware of the changes and are currently working to integrate the new scripting. Until this development work has been completed it will be necessary to log in to SEA# manually.

In the short term, Multicom will not feature/return our holidays for departures beyond 31 October 2013.

Administration of existing bookings:

All reservations made on RED# up to 31 July, and departing 1 November 2013 or later will be transferred onto the new system during August. This will result in a new booking reference number being generated.

Red sea Holidays will issue new booking confirmations along with a covering letter which will include details of the new and old booking reference numbers. Upon receipt of this information, the details should be updated within agents' back office system to ensure there are no issues with payments and statement reconciliation further down the line.

More information:

Questions relating to the change, and additional information, can be addressed at traderelations@redseaholidays.co.uk

MTB 03/08/2013

QUALITY WINES ON THE HIGH SEAS BY EUROPA 2

Hapag Lloyd Cruises are featuring 'the supreme pleasure of quality wines on the high seas' with the Grand Reserve on board EUROPA 2, where:

· Fine wines are paired with complementary foods
· There are exclusive wine tastings for up to 12 persons, and ...
· ... genuinely rare wines on board

For wine connoisseurs and epicures, EUROPA 2 – the new, modern, casual luxury ship in the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises fleet – features a really special culinary opportunity on board. The Grande Reserve, one of the seven restaurants on board, offers guests exquisite wines - and genuine rarities - paired with complementary foods. Here, the selection of wines determines which small dishes are served to the guest as an accompaniment. The Grande Reserve also offers special wine tasting sessions in an exclusive group, limited to no more than twelve guests.

The sommelier on the EUROPA 2, Florian Sender, organises the wine tastings on board in the Grande Reserve. For each tasting he puts together a totally different collection of wines – after all, there are many to choose from: “In total we have about 19,000 bottles on board with some 450 various cuvees originating from 14 different countries. There is simply no limit to the creativity and new ideas that can come into play in our tastings,” says the sommelier.

The wines and champagnes are stored on Deck 2, since this is where the ship’s motion is at a minimum. Amongst them, there are also some really rare wines and very special, distinctive vintages. “The most expensive wine on board the EUROPA 2 is the 2008 Romanée St. Vivant Domaine Romanée Conti from Burgundy, France at € 1,413 per bottle. The price range varies – very good and tasteful wine is also available on board starting at €20 to €30. When it comes to selecting champagne, in addition to great, well known brands, we also keep those known as “winegrowers’ champagnes” that are only produced in small quantities and that are also distinguished by their high quality,” explains Florian Sender.

For a visual impression of the Grand Reserve wine tasting please see the film online at: www.hl-cruises.com/press/passagentv/ and for more information on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ exciting destinations and itineraries visit www.hl-cruises.com. 

MTB 03/08/2013

BA LAUNCHES RESERVATIONS FOR AIRBUS A380 ROUTES

British Airways has announced that seats are now available to book on the airline's new Airbus A380 on selected services to Johannesburg. 

Agents can book now for flights to Johannesburg on the A380, starting from 12 February 2014*. 

Initially offering three flights a week, this service will increase to six weekly flights from 10 March 2014*.

Seats are also available to book now for the new double-daily service to Los Angeles starting 10 April 2014. Agents can currently book seats on one of the five flights a week to Los Angeles operated by the A380 starting 24 September 2013.

Seats can now also be booked for a daily service to Hong Kong, starting on 22 October 2013.

* Please note that dates for the inaugural flights to Johannesburg will be announced soon.

MTB 27/07/13

FREE FAMILY DRINKS FROM ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL

This August, Royal Caribbean International is launching a new campaign highlighting all the features onboard a Royal Caribbean International cruise that make it ideal for families. From the FlowRider, rock wall or outdoor movie screen, to creating a tasty treat in the Cupcake Cupboard, there’s something onboard for all the family!

To celebrate the launch of the August campaign, RCI is giving all the family drinks:

• Free unlimited soda for kids
at all bars, lounges and dining venues for every child aged 3-17 years old

• Free wine while you dine
five complimentary bottles of wine per stateroom booking

• Available on bookings created and confirmed between 1 August and 30 September 2013

• Only applicable on sailings from the UK of 7 nights or more, between May and October 2014

• Valid for all stateroom categories except guarantee staterooms (Z, Y, X & W)

For more details about our new campaign, SPAA members should register for the RCI webinar on Monday 29 July at 11am ...

... AND WINE TO BE WON - OR A VIP NAMING CEREMONY TRIP!

"We’ve got 2 cases of wine to be won every day in August and September. And on top of that, every booking gives you an entry into the draw where you could win this once-in-a-lifetime experience for two at the naming ceremony for a spectacular new Quantum Class ship!

You simply need to create and confirm any automated Royal Caribbean 2014 booking sailing from the UK between 1 August and 30 September to be in with a chance to win – and the more bookings you make, the better your chances! Good luck!"

MTB 27/07/13

UNITED AIRLINES CELEBRATES 15 YEARS' SERVICE FROM GLASGOW

On July 16, 2013 United Airlines marked 15 years of nonstop service from Glasgow to its New York hub, Newark Liberty International Airport, with an anniversary celebration at Glasgow Airport.  Since it was launched on July 16, 1998, the service has carried over 1.5 million customers.

Bob Schumacher, United’s Managing Director Sales, UK & Ireland, was joined by Campbell MacKinnon, Operations Director, Glasgow Airport and Denise Hill, Head of International Marketing, VisitScotland, at a celebratory event for customers at the departure gate.

“We thank customers for choosing United over the past 15 years," said Schumacher. "Glasgow continues to be an important destination with strong customer support for the route. Our flight offers fast access to the most popular tourism and business destination in the United States as well as unparalleled connectivity to cities throughout the Americas via our New York hub."

Campbell Mackinnon said: “Since its launch in 1998, United’s Glasgow to Newark service has proved extremely popular with business and leisure passengers alike. Not only does it generate considerable in-bound tourism revenue for Glasgow and Scotland, it allows businesses to access and trade with what is the world’s largest economy. Routes such as this enable Scotland to maintain and increase its global competitiveness and we’re delighted to be able to celebrate this landmark anniversary with United.”

Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, said:  “Efficient airline connectivity is key to Scottish tourism in a 21st century world, in which we all want to get to places quickly and easily whether that’s for business or leisure. This long-standing United Airlines route has done just that for 15 years, bringing visitors to our shores and generating millions for the Scottish economy.   As we prepare to welcome the world in 2014, with a year of astounding events such as the Commonwealth Games, Ryder Cup and Homecoming, I am sure the New York United Airlines route will be busier than ever."

United flight UA162 departs Glasgow daily at 9:00 a.m. and arrives at New York/Newark at 11:25 a.m. the same day.  The return flight, UA161, departs New York/Newark daily at 7:45 p.m. and arrives in Glasgow at 7:30 a.m. the next day (all times local).

From its Newark Liberty hub, United offers flights to more than 300 destinations across North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, including more than 100 cities served nonstop.

The Glasgow-New York/Newark flight is operated by Boeing 757-200 aircraft with a total of 169 seats – 16 flat-bed seats in United BusinessFirst and 153 in United Economy, including 45 Economy Plus seats with added legroom.

ONBOARD PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

United BusinessFirst offers a superior business-class service.  The BusinessFirst seat reclines 180 degrees into a 6-foot, 4-inch lie-flat bed and features an Audio/Video on Demand entertainment system with a 15.4-inch touch-screen monitor.   BusinessFirst amenities include laptop power, USB ports and a multi-course meal with complimentary wines.

United Economy offers complimentary food, soft drinks, juices, tea, coffee and inflight entertainment.  Seats feature an adjustable headrest and personal seat-back monitor delivering a multi-channel Audio/Video on Demand inflight entertainment system.

United Economy Plus offers up to five inches of extra legroom. Located near the front of the Economy cabin, the seats give the added benefit of allowing a swifter exit from the plane on In addition to its Glasgow service, United offers daily non-stop flights from Edinburgh to New York/Newark, which have operated since 2004.

MTB 20/07/13

Flybe - SERVING THE HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS + THE NORTH EAST

Companies operating in the energy sector, particularly oil and gas, in addition to manufacturing, marine and financial organisations based in the Highlands & Islands and the North East of Scotland are increasingly taking advantage of Flybe’s routes out of Aberdeen and Inverness to hubs such as Manchester and Birmingham to avoid congestion at London airports.

Flybe’s flights out of Aberdeen to Belfast City and Birmingham airports have recorded a year on year increase in passenger numbers of 62% and 20% respectively this summer.

More passengers are also flying on the airline’s six routes out of Inverness with flights to Amsterdam (27%) and Birmingham (9%) recording the highest increases. Europe’s largest regional airline has also noted a rise in the number of passengers on flights from Aberdeen (76%) and Inverness (16%) using Manchester as a hub; with many of those passengers taking advantage of the hundreds of connections available through Flybe’s interline partners to access global destinations.

Unlike many other airlines, Flybe’s independence means that it is able to link with airlines like Air France, British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, KLM, Qatar Airways, United Airlines, US Airways and Virgin Atlantic to offer connecting flights to destinations all over the world from Scotland, including the likes of Abu Dhabi, Atlanta, Amsterdam, Doha, Dusseldorf, Dubai, New York, Paris, Philadelphia and Orlando. And beyond.

Customers on a through ticket issued by a travel agent enjoy a seamless journey with their bags and, with some airlines, the passenger themselves being checked right through to their final destination.

As the oil and gas exploration and production moves further north off the coast of Shetland, more people will be taking advantage of Flybe’s 140 flights a week to and from Sumburgh, one of the eleven airports served exclusively by Flybe’s franchise partner Loganair.   Flights from the Shetland airport to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Inverness and Glasgow have connecting services to key regional destinations throughout the UK.

Likewise, with the Orkney’s increased investment in renewables, Loganair’s regular services from Kirkwall are of key strategic importance.

Flybe operates more UK domestic flights than any other airline, helping to support regional economies, in particular the corporate, oil and gas and marine communities in the Highlands & Islands and North East of Scotland.  The airline currently offers up to 1 return flights a week from Aberdeen and 51 from Inverness and looks forward to continuing to serve the region.

MTB 20/07/13

STOP PRESS // RED SEAS HOLIDAYS UPDATES ON EGYPT SITUATION

From Jason Hilton, Sales Director, Red Sea Holidays

12.00noon, 15/07/2013

Dear Travel Partner

In discussion with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), we have taken the decision to suspend our flights to Luxor and Nile cruise itinerary up to 28 August 2013.

This is because the FCO is advising against non-essential travel to many areas of Egypt, including Luxor. They are NOT advising British nationals to leave the country, and they are NOT advising against travel to the Red Sea tourist resorts, which remain peaceful.

The safety of our customers and staff in the country remains our top priority. We continue to monitor the situation closely and work with the FCO to plan appropriate steps should the advice change. A summary of the latest information is shown below, but please check the Egypt information page on our website for regular updates.

Nile Cruises and holidays to Luxor

Following FCO advice, we have taken the decision tosuspend our weekly Nile cruise itinerary and flights from Gatwick and Manchester to Luxor for departures up to, and including, 28 August. We apologise for the disruption this will cause.

Customers affected will be offered the opportunity to amend their booking to an alternative holiday from our programme with no amendment fee, or to cancel and receive a full refund. Cruise & Stay customers due to depart up toFriday 23 August will also have the opportunity to amend or cancel their holiday. All customers affected will be contacted by our Customer Service team within 7 days.

Our next flights to Luxor / Nile cruise itinerary are scheduled to depart on 4 September. These are still planned to go ahead as normal, and passengers are advised to continue with their holiday plans. We will continue to liaise closely with the FCO to determine their recommendation on whether these can go ahead, update our Egypt information pagewith the latest information as it becomes available, and contact you directly should you have any affected customers.

Excursions to Cairo & Luxor

In line with FCO recommendations, all excursions to Cairo and Luxor have been cancelled until further notice. Other excursions in the Red Sea resort areas, such as diving, snorkelling, quad biking and Bedouin adventures, remain unaffected.

The Red Sea Resorts

The vast majority of our holidaymakers visit the Red Sea resorts in the Hurghada / Makadi Bay area (including El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh and Soma Bay), Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab and Taba. These areas remain unaffected by the disturbances that have taken place elsewhere, and guests there are continuing to enjoy their break as normal.

In fact, all of the Red Sea resorts are several hundred miles – a five hour drive – from Cairo. This makes them effectively isolated from the rest of Egypt, both by distance, and the limited number of roads. The resorts also have an exceptionally low crime rate, and very low unemployment due to the vibrant tourism industry.

All our flights to Hurghada, Sharm el Sheikh and Taba are still planned to go ahead as normal, and passengers are advised to continue with their holiday plans.

More information

We will keep you updated on any news on travel to Egypt that could affect the enjoyment of our customers holiday via our website and our Facebook and Twitter pages. Please also see the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website for further information.



Yours faithfully
Jason Hilton,
Sales Director

MTB 15/07/13

JTA LAUNCHES CRUISE BRAND - NEEDACRUISE.CO.UK

SPAA Associate and midlands-based tour operator / flights specialist - JTA - has launched a new trade-only cruise product - needacruise.co.uk

The brand will be supported by the one of the most advanced cruise dynamic packaging systems ever built for the travel industry. The new system will bring together airlines including scheduled, low cost and charter with cruise fares and hotels, enabling agents to build cruise packages with savings up to 40% . All packages will be covered by ATOL and delayed departure insurance.

JTA has also set up a dedicated team of cruise experts to support agents and work with cruise partners.

JTA Managing Director Wayne Darrock commented " We have been working on this project for over 2 years and the complexities of developing such an advanced system focusing on cruise. We recognised the frustrations of agents booking cruise with lengthy booking processes and restricted flight choices. Our system will provide agents with access to all major airlines and fares - including Cruise IT fares - and all complimented by a significant hotel progarmme for pre and post stay to deliver the cruise package in minutes. 

We are committed to working with our cruise partners and airlines to drive more sales via travel agents and giving agents the competitive prices to compete in such an aggressive market place!"

MTB 13/07/13

GLASGOW AIRPORT UNVEILS NEW LOGO

Glasgow Airport has reached a significant milestone in its multi-million pound investment programme with the unveiling of its new look logo.

The launch of the logo and accompanying strapline – Proud to Serve Scotland – comes at an exciting time for the airport which is currently investing £17 million in enhancing key parts of the terminal ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Glasgow Airport will be the gateway to the Games and the new logo is a key part of its extensive preparations.

Designed by Paisley-based agency Designline, the logo is a contemporary twist on an iconic Scottish symbol. It depicts the head of a thistle sitting proudly above the letter G and the use of a solid blue colour adds to its distinctive Scottish feel.

Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: “When creating our new identity, we considered the many factors that make Glasgow Airport unique and the overwhelming theme was that the people who work here see it as more than a job. They carry out their day-to-day roles with great care and are passionate about delivering unrivalled customer service to the millions of people who travel through our doors every year. Our new strapline was therefore quite a logical choice as it articulates the tremendous sense of pride we take in serving Scotland.

“For many, Glasgow Airport is their first and last impression of Scotland and the concept of the new brand also centres on creating a ‘Sense of Place.’ We recognise the need to have a strong, identifiable personality, which positions the airport within the region, supports an enjoyable customer experience and gives people a sense of arrival to Glasgow and to Scotland, hence the use of the G and the thistle.

“Through our continued investment and new logo, we are also sending out a clear message that Glasgow Airport is committed to playing its part in the successful delivery of what will be the biggest sporting event in Scotland’s history, when Glasgow plays host to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.”

The new logo will be rolled out across the airport in the coming months - and SPAA Members can view it here .

MTB 13/07/13

HOLIDAY AUTOS TO WITHDRAW FROM UK TRADE MARKET

From Sandra Downs, Head of B2B, Holidays Autos :

To SPAA Members 

I am writing to update you on the Holiday Autos Trade business in the UK and Ireland following the recent announcement that CarTrawler, the Dublin-based car rental solutions provider, has purchased the Holiday Autos brand.

It was explained at the time that the Holiday Auto’s Trade business is not part of the sale and that Travelocity Global was assessing options for the Holiday Autos Trade business. One option, pending review and consultation across each of our trading countries, was the potential exit from the intensively competitive car rental Trade sector.

I am writing to inform you that the decision has been made to withdraw from the Trade sector in UK and Ireland as of 31 October 2013.

As of 31 August 2013, Holiday Autos in UK & Ireland will no longer accept new bookings. Up until the end of 2013, we will continue to provide customer support services for existing bookings and will take steps to manage any bookings with departure dates that occur thereafter. With immediate effect, we will no longer accept bookings due to depart after 1st November. Any customers that may wish to cancel a booking departing after 31 October, as a result of these changes will not be charged a cancellation fee and will receive a full refund.

On behalf of Holiday Autos and the Trade sales team, I want to personally thank you for your support and appreciate the valuable partnership we have built with you over many years. We will continue to engage with you over the coming weeks to support you during this transition until the business closes. Should you require any further information or have any further questions please don’t hesitate to contact your account manager or sales support team at salessupport@holidayautos.co.uk or 0800 093 3222. Alternatively, you are welcome to get in touch with me on my contact details listed below.

Sandra Downs
Head of B2B Sales UK & Ireland
holiday autos
victoria gate chobham road
woking surrey GU21 6JD
direct +44 (0) 1483 263206
mobile +44 (0) 7917507387
fax +44 (0) 871 472 5228
email sandra.downs@holidayautos.co.uk

MTB 13/07/13

Jet2Holidays PRESENT NEW PRE-TRAVEL CONTACT DETAILS

In order to improve agents' experiences when making amendments & cancellations to existing bookings Jet2Holidays have changed their contact process.

Pre Travel Services now have a dedicated Administration Team, who will focus on amendments & cancellations that are requested by email.

These email addressesshould be used to contact PTS via email:

Amendmybooking@Jet2Holidays.com – For non urgent requestsCancellations@Jet2Holidays.com - Cancellation of passengers or full bookings (emails handled within 24 hours)

PTS are still contactable by phone on 0800 408 5596 option 1 and agents should continue to use this number when an amendment may result in additional costs or if the booking to be amended is for travel within 14 days.

The Pre Travel Services line is available 08:30 until 17:00 Monday to Saturday.

Jet2Holidays advise that calls may be placed in a queue when contacting the Pre Travel Services Team – especially between 11:00 and 15:00 which are peak call times.

**OTHER USEFUL CONTACT INFORMATION FOR TRADE**

To Make a New Booking (9 passengers or less) – 0800 408 5596 option 2

To Make a Group Booking (10 or more passengers) - 0800 408 5596 option 3

To setup a new account, update user account information, unlock passwords or order brochures - 0800 4085596 option 4 or email: mailto:tradesupport@jet2holidays.com

To follow up on a complaint for a holiday which has returned - 0800 408 5596 option 5

Jet2.com Flight Only Bookings & Amendments – 0871 226 1737

MTB 05/07/13

THOMAS COOK VIEWDATA CHANGES + NEW AMENDMENT PORTAL

Thomas Cook has announced the release a new version of its Symphonyviewdata system - now live for Thomas Cook, Airtours, Manos, Style Collection, Neilson Beach and Ski, Club 18-30, Escapades and Thomas Cook Accommodation only products.

As part of this release TC has disabled the Display/Cancel/Amend Booking option in viewdata with this functionality now being delivered via the simpler and more flexible new Thomas Cook amendment portal, where agents can make a full cancellation, change names, add or amend dates of birth and add or remove extras or add requests. Other amendment and part cancellations can still be done through the Administration team on the usual contact numbers found in the resources section of Thomas Cook World.

The Thomas Cook amendment portal can now be reached via www.thomascookworld.com using the same abta/password log-on credentials as viewdata. Agents will need to manually log in for security reasons.

For password queries ONLY agents should call Systems Support on 0871 895 0090 Option 2.

It will also be possible to access the portal directly through the web link agents may already use for TC's Direct Debit portal, which is http://www.thomascookb2b.com/.

A Thomas Cook amendment portal user guide can be found by visiting the SPAA Today download option above and opening the 06 July 2013 edition of the ebulletin.

MTB 05/07/13

30% OFF DFDS MINI-CRUISES FOR SUMMER 2013!

A reminder from DFDS Seaways that customers can enjoy sun, sea and savings on a 2-night mini cruise to amazing Amsterdam this summer. Comments DFDS, "They can catch some rays and enjoy a drink or two on deck as they watch the world, and the water, go by. Or they can enjoy a delicious meal in one of the restaurants, check out the bars with live music and entertainment, visit the shops, casino and cinema before a good night’s sleep in their cosy en suite cabin.

Once your customers arrive in Amsterdam next morning, they can make the most of the summer days by taking a canal boat cruise, doing a spot of alfresco dining, or having a picnic in the park.

And do it all for less with 30% off Amsterdam mini cruises!"

MTB 29/06/2013

holidayautos ACQUIRED BY CarTrawler

CarTrawler has announced its aquisition of the Holiday Autos business, commenting, "This is great news for Holiday Autos customers and means we can now offer great rates for more than 30,000 worldwide locations; no credit card fees; free cancellation or amendment, and regular promotions and special offers."

MTB 29/06/2013

EDINBURGH INSTALLS UK'S FIRST MULTI-AIRLINE BAG DROP

Edinburgh Airport is continuing to invest in technology to help improve the passenger experience
with the launch of its latest facility, a new multi-airline common bag drop which will reduce average
bag drop time from almost two minutes to just 30 seconds.

In a UK first, Scotland’s busiest airport has installed three SONIC Common Use Bag Drop machines in
the check-in hall, enabling passengers to print their own luggage tag, weigh their bags and despatch
them to their aircraft with minimal time and stress.

Other airports around the UK currently operate similar technology but this is the first to have more
than one independent airline using it at the same time. These machines at Edinburgh Airport will be
exclusively operated by easyJet and Flybe, with staff members from their handling agent Menzies
taking on the day-to-day running of the kiosks.

David Wilson, Chief Operating Officer at Edinburgh Airport, said: “We are very excited to have
introduced this ground-breaking technology to help improve our passengers’ experience when they
travel with us.

“We know that time is of the essence when checking in and we want to make this process as quick
and stress-free as possible. These new self-service bag drop kiosks are very simple to use and will
speed up the entire check-in and bag drop process. If we can reduce the check-in time to as little as
30 seconds then we will be demonstrating our unwavering commitment to providing the best
service for our passengers.

“This project will be on-going and we’re delighted to be working so closely with our colleagues from
easyJet and Flybe on this.”

These new Common Use Bag Drop kiosks work by allowing passengers to scan their boarding pass
which they will have already printed. The machine will automatically assign the baggage to the passenger’s airline and ask for the bag to be placed on the belt in order to be weighed. Built in chip and pin card machines will enable passengers to pay for overweight baggage if necessary. Their luggage tag will then be printed which the passenger can attach themselves before their baggage is despatched through the main system to the waiting aircraft. A member of staff will be on hand at all times to ensure passengers have no issues.

Also commenting on the new technology, Flybe’s Director of Marketing, Simon Lilley, said: “This is
yet another way in which Flybe, together with our airport partner in Edinburgh, is adding benefit for
our passengers and we congratulate the airport on being the UK industry trail-blazer by adopting this
excellent service that will undoubtedly enhance our customers travel experience.”

Chris Hurley, Chief Technology Officer of P5T Ltd, who devised the SONIC Common Use Bag Drop
system, said: “SONIC is the first truly common-use bag drop application and I am delighted that
Flybe and easyJet have demonstrated that intermingled passengers flying with two independent
airlines can use the same processes and equipment without any differentiation in speed or customer
service levels.

“Only by working with Edinburgh Airport and Menzies was such a milestone achieved and I would
like to congratulate all the parties concerned.

“The positive experiences and feedback from passengers using the SONIC Common Use Bag Drop
will no doubt shape the future of airport terminals in years to come.”

Hugh Aitken, Head of Scotland for easyJet, said: “We’re pleased Edinburgh Airport has invested in
technology which will provide an additional quick and easy way for customers to drop off their bags.
Last month easyJet introduced mobile boarding passes for passengers travelling from Edinburgh
Airport and this is another example of how we’re working together to make travel easier to and
from Scotland.”

MTB 22/06/2013