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