Monday 28 November 2011

Last Minute Holidays Specialist Reports Drop In Egypt Bookings

Packyourbags.com, specialists in last minute holidays has seen a drop in its number of winter Egypt bookings.

Even though there are currently no travel restrictions to Egypt, as per the latest information published by the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office, it is probably not that much of a surprise for tour operator Packyourbags.com to see a drop in its Egypt bookings. The violent outbreaks earlier this year and the more recent demonstrations in Cairo are all taking their toll on the country’s tourism industry.

Although the Foreign & Commonwealth Office has not issued any travel restrictions it is recommending that British nationals should stay away from Tahrir Square, including the Egyptian Museum and the Downtown area of Cairo including Maspero and the Interior Ministry.

But while Egypt bookings are down, Packyourbags.com is experiencing uplift to destinations such as The Gambia and the Canary Islands. These two destinations are already well established winter-sun hotspots for Brits, and are a great option for those who would like to find an alternative to Egypt.

As a former British colony, The Gambia is located on the west coast of Africa with plenty of alluring beaches and off the beaten track adventures, flights from the UK take 6 hours and there’s no time difference. With it also being an English speaking country there’s a lot of appealing elements for holidaying in that part of the world, particularly for Brits as the best weather is during the winter months.

As for the Canary Islands, their allure and popularity as an excellent winter-sun holiday destination is very well known, there’s seven islands to choose from, although the most popular by far is Tenerife. With flights taking approximately 4 hours, it’s no wonder the Brits head there year in year out in their thousands.

Packyourbags.com is an independent online travel agent offering UK consumers the ability to search and compare the best available deals from all major holiday suppliers, through one simple search. The site features package holiday deals to the most popular resorts throughout the Mediterranean including Turkey holidays, Spain holidays and cheap holidays to Greece.

For more information about Packyourbags holidays, call 0800 652 5986 or visit Packyourbags.com.

Lower cost carriers should embrace loyalty, says Collinson Lattitude

Collinson Latitude, a global provider of incremental revenue and membership products, is arguing today, on the eve of the Mega Event 2011 travel industry summit, that loyalty programmes are fully compatible with the low-cost carrier (LCC) business model, and that loyalty is a vital part of differentiation for the coming generation of LCCs.

Speaking at a pre-conference expert panel session in Miami, Collinson Latitude director Janet Titterton said: “There are some people who believe Ryanair is showing the way ahead for low-cost carriers by not offering a loyalty programme. However, several factors make Ryanair an exceptional case and other low-cost carriers, including new entrants, need to incorporate loyalty strategies to ensure their profitable growth.

“Ryanair operates the purest form of the low-cost carrier strategy, devoted to delivering the lowest possible seat price. The airline then offers multiple additional ancillary revenue products to create a range of profitable add-ons. In this instance, a loyalty programme could conflict with Ryanair’s fundamental lowest-cost strategy, which is clearly extremely successful.

“However, not all LCCs are built on the Ryanair blueprint, which brings variety the market welcomes. Some airlines, such as easyJet, are successfully offering services that straddle the divide between low-cost and legacy carrier, such as bundled services for business travellers. Other airlines have inherited fleets or operational structures that impact their seat pricing strategies. These airlines, for whom rock-bottom pricing may not be an objective, must develop loyalty strategies to build lasting, mutually beneficial customer relationships.

“The really exciting opportunity for LCCs is to offer loyalty and ancillary revenue programmes that deliver relevant benefits to passengers in different aspects of their lives. While some LCCs offer discounts on their own fares, airlines should expand their offering to include non-travel ancillary opportunities. By analysing passenger data to deepen customer insights, LCCs can offer benefits that are relevant to and valued by the individual, whether through music, financial services or leisure.”

Sunday 20 November 2011

Members of women’s online travel community have offered their top tips for avoiding the holiday hell of teenage tantrums

Members of women’s online travel community Thelma & Louise aren’t keeping to the “Mum’s the Word” mantra of old when it comes to dealing with wayward teens on their travels. Travelling with a teenager can bring a host of challenges, but the Thelma & Louise ladies have been sharing their top tips on the best ways to travel without a teenage tantrum in sight.

The woman-only website (www.thelmaandlouise.com) has members of all ages, and although the site is a tool to meet like-minded travel companions, many members have husbands and families at home. When a member asked a question about the best ways to family fun, not holiday hell, other mums were quick to share their tips.

Thelma & Louise member Deborah Klaassen, who has also written on this topic for the Airtours blog, said, “Relaxing holidays might seem beyond reach when teenagers are involved, but there is a way to get through travelling with teens. I suggest starting the holiday off on the right foot with generosity and kindness, and make sure teens don’t get bored by bringing games, magazines and other things that they might find interesting.”

“If teens start to act up, try to understand what they’re going through. Don’t be too harsh if you feel that they’re spoiling the holiday by being moody, lazy or difficult. Have some empathy. Don’t make fun of them, embarrass them or tell their secrets. All you can do is address these subjects in private.”

Seeming to join the discussion, Psychotherapist Kitty Hagenbach wrote in The Times Weekend in early November 2011, “Before puberty there’s a huge increase in the number of neurones in the brain. At puberty these are pruned back so we can become ready for the complexities for adult life... The brain is effectively being completely rewired, so parents need to moderate their expectations. You can’t expect someone to behave in an adult way when he or she is in a half-baked place”

Christine Davies, one of the founders of Thelma & Louise knows all too well the trials and tribulations of teen travel. “I was blessed with twins, so had double the trouble when we travelled as a family. Although we had our moments, now my family is fully grown we cherish the times we spent on adventures together. To see Thelma & Louise members inspiring and guiding each other on matters like this brings another great resource to the website – real advice for real women. Long may it continue.”

Inspired by the great advice coming from the members, Thelma & Louise have drawn up a survival guide for travel with teenagers:

1. STAY CONNECTED: For the Facebook generation nothing is more important that staying in touch with their friends. Allow teens an allotted amount of time each day to read their mail and chat online with their friends. If they have this time to connect and chat, they will be more willing to do family activities as well.

2. PRIVACY & SPACE: Give teens some space to be themselves. Consider booking them their own room, or interconnecting rooms so supervision is close but not too close. Give them the opportunity to learn to do things on their own, obviously making sure that they are safe. They should learn that responsibility will bring trust and freedom.

3. CHOICE: Ask teens in advance to make a contribution to the holiday in the form of ideas and suggestions. Ask them to draw up a list of things that they would like to do, and try to dedicate time to activities they've chosen. A fresh approach to travel or a new activity might bring joy to all the family.

4. FREEDOM: Discuss your rules with teens, and listen to their objections. Denying them the right to freedom altogether is setting up for a failure. Tell teens where they are and where they aren’t allowed to go, what behaviour is acceptable, and what time they have to be back. Be strict about these rules, but be reasonable too.

5. TECHNOLOGY: Take at least two mobile phones on holiday, ensuring they function abroad, so a teen can carry one if they spend time away from the family. Explain that they’ll have to pay the bill themselves if they use the phone to call their friends back home.

6. WOW FACTOR: Think of a way to give teens a special experience during the holiday, something that they will never forget. If they are looking forward to something that will make their friends say, "Wow, I wish my parent would do that", their interest will be peaked. Look out for a local concert, a theme park, an adrenalin sport or an activity popular with their idols.

7. CRUISE: On a family-friendly cruise line, life on the ocean waves is a fantastic holiday for teens. Many modern ships are filled with activities, special attractions and experiences that appeal to a young crowd. Encourage teens to make friends as they will be in a fairly safe environment and can be independent for most of the time.

8. PATIENCE: Avoid escalating fraught situations by learning what is really important and what doesn’t matter in the bigger picture. Conflict isn’t always avoidable, but be reasonable and don’t lose your temper. And keep in mind that teens will eventually grow out of it.

As one member said, “I'm sure I was a horrible teenager to travel with, but now I'm really grateful my parents dragged me around lots of incredible places and gave me many amazing memories.”

Thelma & Louise is a free, online community where women, friendship and travel come together. For more information or to become a member, please go to www.thelmandlouise.com

Jumeirah and Speedo support belly flop competition II at Wild Wadi

Jumeirah's Wild Wadi Waterpark recently hosted a belly flop competition, one of the wildest water spectacles to be held in the emirate.

Hosted by the Jumeirah Group in partnership with Virgin Radio and Speedo, this year's competition was set to make an even bigger splash with Virgin Radio giving away 80 tickets prior to the event live on air.

The competition, which was closely judged according to the sound of the belly flop, the size of the splash, redness of the belly after the jump and audience appreciation, saw the winner of the best belly flop, aptly crowned the best belly flopper, swim away with a staggering Dhs15000 cash prize from Speedo and an annual pass to experience the thrills of Wild Wadi for a whole year.

Speaking on Speedo's sponsorship, Elise Barrett, Brand Manager for Speedo said: "Speedo is delighted to support the amazing belly flop competition at Wild Wadi for the second year in a row. At Speedo we are all passionate about life in and out of the water and keen to see people of every shape and size enjoying water sports. The weekend is set to be a contest full of fun and I encourage everyone to wear their Speedo's or dress-up and join in the activities."

For participants who were unable to make the biggest splash, but still looked to have fun whilst jumping, Speedo also awarded an additional prize of AED5000 worth of Speedo vouchers to the best dressed participant making a jump in the belly flop competition along with 40 Speedo goodie bags being given away to the crowd.

Wild Wadi water park Dubai is the only themed amusement park in the UAE, situated on Jumeirah Beach road in front of Burj Al Arab. It offers a number of Dubai water slides and many other rides to suit kids and adults alike.

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Kuoni wins ten new travel awards

Kuoni, a respected luxury tour operator, has won ten new awards for its travel services, including the title of 'Long Haul Tour Operator of the Year'. These awards help to further endorse its position as the number one operator in the UK for quality and tailor-made long haul travel.

The title of 'Long Haul Tour Operator of the Year' was voted by the Scottish Passenger Agents' Association (SPAA), an important travel trade association in Scotland.

Besides the 'Long Haul Tour Operator of the Year' award, Kuoni was also named:
- Best Safari, Wildlife and Nature Tour Operator
- Best Weddings and Honeymoons Tour Operator
- Best Tour Operator to the Caribbean and Bermuda
- Best Tour Operator to Asia and Australasia
- A Specialist Award for Best Adult Only Tour Operator
- Silver Award for Best Tour Operator to Central and South America
- Bronze Award for Best Tour Operator across Africa and Middle East

The seven accolades above were awarded at the British Travel Awards, which was presented by Denise Lewis, former British heptathlon Gold Medallist and former 'Strictly Come Dancing' star. All awards were voted for by customers and therefore represent a genuine vote of confidence in Kuoni's products and service, which include Caribbean holiday and Maldives holiday packages.

Kuoni also received the award for 'Long Tour Operator of the year to the Indian Ocean', which was awarded at the Travel Agent Choice awards.

In response to the award wins, Derek Jones, Managing Director of Kuoni UK, said: "I want to thank everyone at Kuoni for the parts they have played in helping us to gain this level of recognition from agents and customers alike. It is a testament to how committed and enthusiastic our staffs are in helping the industry sell with the best support possible from Kuoni, and to ensuring the travelling public enjoy their travels to the maximum."

FACTFILE:

The Kuoni Group is one of the world's leading globally-active leisure and destination management travel organisations, with a worldwide workforce of 8 772 (full-time equivalent) employees and consolidated turnover of CHF 3 984 million in 2010. Kuoni's activities are focused on its core leisure travel and destination management businesses. 

The head office of Kuoni Travel Holding Ltd. is in Zurich, Switzerland, where Alfred Kuoni founded the company back in 1906. The Kuoni Group has steadily and systematically developed its position in the world travel market over the years and has branch operations in Africa, Asia, Europe, India, Middle East, North America, South America and Oceania.

Kuoni UK offers holidays in a number of locations, including holidays in Mauritius, holidays in Dubai, and holidays in Thailand. The company's Authentic Experiences enable travellers to do as the locals do or learn from experts in their field.

www.kuoni.co.uk

Lugo Rock in Falmouth Cornwall receives CHEFS award

Lugo Rock Guest House Falmouth Cornwall
The Lugo Rock Bed & Breakfast Falmouth is an ideal place to enjoy Cornwall, and Falmouth is a fabulous destination to visit. It is a vibrant town with the world’s 3rd largest deep water harbour, it is framed by the south west coast path, it is a premier sailing destination with beaches, a castle, the Maritime Museum, parks and galleries - something for everyone!

The Lugo Rock B and B Falmouth is located 100 yds from the Blue Flag Gyllyngvase Beach and a short walk form Falmouth town. The Lugo Rock B&B Falmouth is a friendly, relaxed family-run business which provides high quality guest accommodation in Falmouth.

The Lugo Rock bed and breakfast Falmouth has recently been awarded the CHEFS (Cornwall Healthier Eating & Food Safety) Award which requires businesses to demonstrate the highest possible standards of good hygiene, to offer healthier options to their menus and to source some Cornish ingredients.

The Lugo Rock Guest House in Falmouth is one of only 100 businesses in Cornwall to be awarded the prestigious CHEFS award and the Lugo Rock has achieved the award at gold standard level. The Lugo Rock guest accommodation Falmouth is currently undergoing extensive refurbishment to a number of its guest rooms which will be available from January 2012 and will hopefully provide an even better and more comfortable stay.

The website address for the Lugo Rock is http://www.lugorockhotel.co.uk.

Greece is the word for Rezidor

The rapidly growing Rezidor Hotel Group has announced the launch of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Athens. The existing Athens Park Hotel will be rebranded as Radisson Blu Park Hotel Athens by mid December 2011. The 152 room property is Rezidor's first hotel in Greece. Rezidor now has a presence in 65 countries across Europe, Middle East and Africa.

"Despite the recent crisis and still challenging times in Greece, hotels in the capital city Athens are still performing well. We are glad to arrive in the country and that we are able to further strengthen the development of our core, upper upscale brand Radisson Blu in South East Europe," said Kurt Ritter, President & CEO of Rezidor.

"Our hotel is a leading deluxe property in Athens, operating for 35 years. The unique, modern and innovative design is inspired by an urban nature concept. We look forward to joining the Radisson Blu family and to starting a fruitful international cooperation," commented Vassilis & Mary Deverikos, owners of the hotel.

The future Radisson Blu hotel was fully renovated in 2009/2010. Further renovations are also planned for 2012. Currently, the property comprises 152 guest rooms, Gallo Nero restaurant, The Oak Room bar, St' Astra rooftop restaurant, and two conference rooms. It also features a rooftop swimming pool with stunning views across Athens and its famous Acropolis.

The location of the hotel is in the northern part of the city centre, on Alexandras Avenue, which is one of the city's main avenues and offers excellent access to the airport and surrounding area. The hotel is situated opposite "Pedion Areos", Athens' largest park, and next to the National Archaeological Museum. The immediate neighbourhood was redeveloped for the 2004 Olympics and is home to many offices and embassies. Athens’ old centre, the Acropolis, numerous museums and Kolonaki Square are all within walking distance.


www.rezidor.com

Thursday 17 November 2011

Top Five Winter Holiday Destinations Revealed

The top foreign holiday destinations revealed based on car rental bookings this winter, compiled by car hire specialist carhiremarket.com

Tenerife and Geneva are shaping up to be the most visited destinations for Brits looking for a winter break, according to leading car hire comparison site carehiremarket.com. Based on car hire bookings to date for December 2011 and January 2012, fly drive holidays look set to be most popular in the largest of the sunny Canary Islands, Tenerife, and with holiday makers on the hunt for snow from the Swiss city of Geneva.

The other destinations in the top five prove that much needed winter sun is rather important to us chilly Brits, with the southern city of Faro in Portugal and Cape Town in South Africa also popular for car hire holidays. In addition, a pint of warming festive Guinness looks to be a draw, with the capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast, making it into the top five.

Compared to bookings during the winter months of 2010, it looks like popular destinations such as Spain and Greece are falling off the top of the league table. Palma de Majorca won first prize with Malaga and Alicante coming second and third in 2010. However, perhaps us Brits are becoming more adventurous with winter trips, leaving the summery Sangria and ancient Greek architecture behind.

“With forecasters warning of another big freeze this winter with Siberian temperatures and widespread snow, it’s no wonder that many Brits are looking to take to the skies and fly off to sunnier climes,” commented Andrew Shorrock, Product Manager at leading car rental comparison site carhiremarket.com. “Although snowy Geneva is popular, our other top destinations offer hotter temperatures and winter sun and so far it looks like Brits are being a bit more adventurous in their choice of holiday.

We've already had lots of bookings from people looking for a winter getaway, who see the benefit of receiving great deals by getting car hire sorted well in advance. As the demand for winter fly-drive holidays starts to pick up, getting online and booking your car hire early will certainly help prevent disappointment, whether you are looking for sun and sand or a week on the slopes."

Carhiremarket.com Dec 2011 / Jan 2012 Holiday Car Rental League Table for Bookings

1. Tenerife
2. Geneva
3. Belfast
4. Cape Town
5. Faro

For more information on car hire and for top holiday destinations visit www.carhiremarket.com

Stena line sails away with top ferry accolade for 19th year

Stena Line has been voted the top ferry company for a record 19th time at the annual Northern Ireland Travel and Tourism Awards. The 'Best Ferry Company' award was presented to the ferry company at a glittering awards ceremony at the Slieve Donard Resort in Newcastle in October.

Northern Ireland Travel News has been organising the awards for the past 20 years. This year's ceremony was hosted by TV personality Eamonn Holmes and was attended by over 450 VIPs from the local travel and tourism industry. 

Paul Grant, Stena Line Route Director collected the award on behalf of the company. He said: "I am delighted Stena Line has won the Best Ferry Company title for the 19th time and all of us are very proud that our commitment to improving our services has been recognised once again."

"Although this is our 19th win, it’s every bit as important as our first success in this prestigious ceremony. The travel industry is used to seeing innovation and high levels of customer service so when they say once again that we are the Best Ferry Company it underscores that the high standards we set ourselves lead the industry," said Paul.

"We are moving into a very important time for Stena Line's operation between Northern Ireland and Scotland. On November 21 we are scheduled to start our new Belfast to Cairnryan service which will also see the introduction of two new vessels, Stena Superfast VII and Superfast VIII, the largest ships every to have sailed between Northern Ireland and Scotland," he continued.

"In the summer we also added the Belfast to Liverpool and Heysham services to our route network. Along with our purpose built Belfast Port in VT4 which was completed in 2008, the overall investment is in the region of £250M, a resounding endorsement of our confidence in the future of Belfast as the regional hub for both freight and passenger traffic," he added.

Stena Line is the market leader on the Irish Sea, offering the biggest fleet and the widest choice of routes from Ireland to Britain, including Belfast to Cairnryan (launching 21 November), Belfast to Liverpool, Dublin Port to Holyhead, Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead and Rosslare to Fishguard. The company carries approximately two million passengers on its Irish Sea routes each year, more than its rival ferry operators combined.

Tuesday 15 November 2011

20th November – Best Time to Buy for Christmas Getaway

Travel search site KAYAK today reveals that the best time to book your Christmas getaway is 20th November.

The site, which compares hundreds of travel sites at once, reveals that based on last year’s data, international flights from the UK booked on Sunday 20th November are on average eight per cent cheaper than the rest November, and nearly a fifth (19%) cheaper than booking in the first two weeks of December.

Unfortunately, for those who planned ahead and have already booked, travellers may have paid up to 28 per cent more by booking in September compared to the ‘best price’20/11/2011 date.

Annie Wilson, UK Managing Director for KAYAK says: “A few years ago it was widely believed that booking at the last minute meant you got the best deal. However, as our data shows, factors such as airlines scaling back on capacity, mean it’s no longer guaranteed that this is the case, leaving some people stung with few options and a pricey ticket close to Christmas.”
“To get the perfect price balance when planning a trip, there are a few basic tips:

1) Research – Speak to friends, experts and look at prices from the year before. Ask when would you like to book? Is this the best time to get the right deal?

2) Set up price alerts – KAYAK.co.uk has price alerts, so when you search flights, holidays or car hire, you have the option of receiving email alerts on the changing costs and best deals. This can help track the cost, so you can pounce when you think the price is right.

3) Do what works for you – Christmas can be stressful time which is why some people would rather buy in advance than be sure they have the best deal. If this is you, buy when you want and instead concentrate on enjoying the festivities!”

FACTFILE:
KAYAK provide free web and mobile services to help people find and manage their travel. Their search tools compare information from hundreds of travel sites at once, including supplier websites and online agencies. Their travel management service (www.KAYAK.com/trips) allows users to easily consolidate booking receipts from different travel sites into one simple itinerary. They have local websites in fourteen countries including US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, India and Spain, and they operate swoodoo, Germany’s leading travel search site. They also offer free mobile apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, and BlackBerry.

For more information/creative images, please contact
Claire Lawson

Sunday 13 November 2011

British Airways wins award for worldwide charity support

British Airways has been given a major award for the support it provides to charities around the world. The airline was one of three companies to be given a Word Tourism Award at a ceremony at the World Travel Market, in Excel, East London before a specially invited audience.

British Airways received the award in recognition of its annual investment of over £5m to support more than 50 charities and community programmes, through free flights, cargo space and expert advice, around the world as well as in the UK.

The World Tourism Awards, celebrating its 14th Anniversary, is co-sponsored by American Express, Corinthia Hotels, the International Herald Tribune and Reed Travel Exhibitions to recognise 'the extraordinary initiatives by individuals, companies, organisations, destinations and attractions for outstanding accomplishments in the travel industry'.

Mary Barry, British Airways' community investment manager, said: "This award belongs to the thousands of generous British Airways customers and colleagues who dig deep into their own pockets or who give up valuable time to help us support scores of charities around the world.

"Without their generosity we would not be able to provide the much-needed support to our 'Flying Start' partnership with Comic Relief that does incredible work to change the lives of so many vulnerable and disadvantaged people.

"Nor could we support the scores of other charities we work with or provide emergency relief flights, like the famine aid flight we gave free to East Africa last week, supported by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge."

She added: "We are incredibly grateful for the recognition of the part played by British Airways customers and colleagues, and we will continue to support those charities that work so hard to make a difference in the lives of so many people."

Among the charities supported by British Airways are the Acts of Hope Charitable Trust, which offers education and healthcare to poor and underprivileged children in Bangalore; Chain of Hope UK, a children's heart surgery charity which provides underprivileged children suffering from life-threatening heart disease with medical treatment in the UK and the Mukuru Promotion Centre, which runs vocational programmes for children and young people in the vast Nairobi slum of Mukuru, which is home to over 400,000 people.

Wednesday 9 November 2011

Rezidor announces opening of Radisson Blu East Midlands hotel


Rezidor, a rapidly growing and  expanding global hotel company, has revealed a new edition to its hotel portfolio with the opening of the brand new Radisson Blu East Midlands hotel. The hotel's general manager, Daniel Keane, said that the event came early thanks to hard work from everyone involved in the project.

The £22 million luxury property development is located in the England's East Midlands and offers an upscale hotel experience for both business travellers and tourists alike. For those in need of East Midlands Airport accommodation, the hotel offers a private on-site car park for 'Park and Fly' guests who require a home-base for their business travels.

The four-star hotel near East Midlands Airport achieved £1m in presales three weeks before opening and its meeting and conference rooms are fully booked for its second week of trading. Since its grand opening, bookings for the new Radisson Blu hotel have risen in popularity with a surge of 'Park and Fly' guests and many wedding enquiries.

In addition to its wedding offerings, the hotel can also accommodate business travelers and corporate meetings/events. The hotel's event spaces include nine meeting and conferencing suites with capacity for 350 delegates.

Hotels near East Midlands Airport are not known for being relaxing retreats, but this new hotel has leisure and spa facilities for those wanting to unwind after a busy day of travel or business. The hotel also features a restaurant and wine-tasting room.

In regard to the East Midlands Airport Hotel, Daniel Keane, said: "I have to pay testimony to the hard work of everyone involved in the project - from the fantastic construction team that handed this major build project over on time, to my new team of hotel staff who have worked around the clock to get everything perfect for our opening. It's a real achievement and the highlight of my hotel career to date.

"The hotel is already proving a real hit with a variety of guests - from our 'Park and Fly' guests who get a fantastic deal on accommodation and low cost parking, to our wedding customers with our first matrimonial celebration on Christmas Eve. Add to this the fact that we are almost at full capacity in only our second week of business for meetings and conferences and it seems that the area is crying out for a high quality, contemporary hotel across all market sectors."

Sunday 6 November 2011

That's Christmas: Go Christmas Shopping in New York for Free!

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Winter Sessions Festival Chamonix 2012

Kicks off with it's festival launch party at Brick Lane's Vibe Bar on Friday November 18th  8pm-1am with a showcase night for the festival featuring Dj Flo (Ninja Tune), Paddy Freeform, Russ jones AKA Hackney Globe Trotter, Uncle Joe and more.

The snow and music festival is taking place 30th & 31st March in Chamonix, France.


Winter Sessions Weekender is boutique a snow fuelled music festival in the heart of the French Alps taking place in the mecca of adventure sports, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. A two day festival on and off the slopes of the Mont-Blanc Massif with its heart and soul rooted in creating good times party vibes.

The explosive collection of Alpine parties has taken the mountains by storm over the last six years with an international line up of DJ’s, artists and MC’s creating some of the most exciting and unique events to be found in the Alps recently. 

To celebrate the start of winter and give Londoner’s a taste of what to expect this season in the Alps, Winter Sessions is hosting an exclusive launch party at Brick Lane’s infamous Vibe Bar. The lineup is an eclectic fusion of all the genres of music you might expect to hear during the Weekender.

The night will feature Russ Jones aka Hackney Globe Trotter famed for his Latin, cumbia flavoured global beats, Paddy Freeform with a foot stomping house set, Ninja Tune’s party starter, DJ Flo and Winter Sessions very own Uncle Joe cranking out some jungle and classic drum & bass. ‘Nuf said, this Winter Sessions party will be no different to the rest – unadulterated ass wiggling pleasure!
After kicking off the start of the season amongst fellow Londoner’s, Winter Sessions makes its way back to its Alpine home to continue a season of parties and gigs building up to the Winter Sessions Weekender.

Taking place on the 30th & 31st March with the legendary Norman Jay, electric hip hop ensemble, Lazy Habits and Solid Steel’s video wiz kid Cheeba, the Weekender is any adventure seekers heaven. Set in one of the most spectacular places on earth, Chamonix provides that certain je ne sais quoi to create a once in a lifetime experience - perhaps it’s the 600km of pistes, the longest ice cave in the world or the highest vertical cable car on the planet – but we highly recommend you check it for yourself.  

This year, Winter Sessions have teamed up with snow obsessed tour operator, Off The Piste to offer some brilliant holiday packages around the Weekender. 7 nights from £314 including accommodation, ski pass and festival wristband which you access a range of fantastic discounts with across the Chamonix valley. Visit www.offthepiste.com to book.

Tickets for the Winter Sessions Launch Party are available on the night or from the Vibe Bar box office. Tickets for the Winter Sessions Weekender are on sale this month available from www.seetickets.com


Winter Sessions Launch Party: Friday 18th November // Vibe Bar // Brick Lane // London E1

Friday 4 November 2011