Nationwide Premier Passport Programme Provides Travellers With Exclusive Offers & Amenities at America's Premier Shopping Places

America’s Premier Shopping Places, a collection of tourism-oriented shopping centres owned and/or managed by General Growth Properties, Inc (NYSE: GGP), offers domestic and international travellers a nationwide incentive programme, Premier Passport.

The programme provides visitors with an array of exclusive shopping and dining offers, savings, amenities and added-value promotions from participating retailers and restaurants at each centre. With the variety of shopping and dining options available to both group and leisure travellers throughout America’s Premier Shopping Places, Premier Passport provides unique services and offers at each destination.

Whether travellers are visiting popular urban destinations like Chicago, Las Vegas, Miami, Baltimore and Honolulu, or regional destinations along America’s highways and byways such as Virginia Beach, St. Louis, Providence, San Antonio, or Tucson, they are treated to an exclusive Premier Passport welcome packet specially designed for that location.

A Premier Passport voucher is features eight languages, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Mandarin, German, Italian and French. The four-colour pre-printed vouchers are available free of charge to travel professionals and distributed through participating travel agents, tour operators and meeting planners along with customers’ travel documents. In addition, travel professionals can request a PDF of the voucher, which can be emailed to their clients’ before departing on their trip. Visitors can print a “voucher on demand” before travelling by visiting www.AmericasShoppingPlaces.com. These vouchers are also available in eight languages.

Upon arrival at any one of America’s Premier Shopping Places, the visitor presents their Premier Passport voucher at Guest Services or a designated retail location noted on the Passport to receive their complimentary welcome packet. Offers vary at each center due to the unique assortment of stores and restaurants at each location.

For example, in addition to shopping and dining specials at The Grand Canal Shoppes in Las Vegas, Premier Passport offers include discounts to Madame Tussaud’s, Blue Man Group and more. Every Premier Passport visitor receives a welcome letter, store directory, coupon book or printed listing of discounts and/or exclusive offers from stores and restaurants which only are available to out-of-town guests upon presentation of their driver’s license or passport. Visitors are encouraged to retain their Premier Passport voucher to utilise in other America’s Premier Shopping Places destinations when travelling throughout the U.S.A.

Travel industry professionals appreciate the simplicity and convenience of the Premier Passport program and the added value it provides to their clients. The Passports are welcomed at all of America’s Premier Shopping Places across the country - from Honolulu to Baltimore, Miami to Portland - eliminating the need to store vouchers or coupon books for multiple destinations.

America's Premier Shopping Places is an award-winning collection of tourism-oriented shopping centers located throughout the United States which are owned and managed by General Growth Properties, Inc. The centers are located in the heart of America's best-loved cities as well as along America's scenic highways and byways, attracting millions of visitors annually from around the world.

National Geographic Traveller (UK) May/Jun 2012 Out Now

National Geographic Traveller (UK) May/Jun 2012
NOW AVAILABLE ON NEWSSTANDS
26 PAGE DIGITAL EZINE SAMPLE www.natgeotraveller.co.uk/may12
Including the 77 Wonders of the World

The ninth issue of the 180-page National Geographic Traveller (UK) May/Jun 2012 issue has hit the newsstands, including the 77 Wonders of the World and the winners of the young travel writers’ competition.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Cover Story: 77 Wonders of the World — highlighting the very best of the world’s most awe-inspiring sites. Broken down into lists of seven, we’ve come up with everything from natural and medieval wonders, once-in-a-lifetime experiences and UNESCO’s best to industrial and architectural gems — as well as a few personal choices.

Editor Pat Riddell said: “Although six of the Seven Wonders of the World are long gone — only the Great Pyramid of Giza survives — the concept continues to tantalise travellers. What is the Eighth Wonder? What are the New Seven Wonders? What, in fact, counts as a Wonder?

“Well, guess no more. To avoid further wrangling, we’ve come up with the National Geographic Traveller 77 Wonders of the World.”

Travel Writers’ Competition Winners: Last September saw the launch of National Geographic Traveller’s inaugural young travel writing competition in association with i-to-i to find the next generation of talent. Congratulations to the winning entry by Jess Connett – read this and extracts from five runners’ up inside the magazine and online.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Destinations: Discover South-east Asia’s last unexplored frontier — Burma; take a remote safari in Tanzania; gorge yourself on the gastronomy of Normandy; take a long weekend on the Orient-Express; and get lost in the spectacular landscapes of Utah. Finally, take a pictorial tour of Bolivia’s stunning panoramas.

Cities: The burgeoning bright lights of Belgrade; and New Orleans’ beguiling charm and allure.

Smart Traveller: Live like a local in Lisbon, Western Australia’s foodie scene and discover our recommendations for Bangkok hotels.

Interview: DJ Norman Jay talks about discovering disco and hip hop in New York, his ‘Olympic rings’ and touring Brazil.
Travel Talk: Ask the experts about your travel dilemmas: where to spend the Jubilee weekend?; what the new ATOL changes mean; and the lowdown on cross-Channel ferries.

Real Life: Ask yourself whether you would stay in a stranger’s house while on holiday in our house swap feature and the travel writing competition winners revealed.

For a taster of our new 26-page digital sample of the May/Jun 12 issue: www.natgeotraveller.co.uk/may12

PLUS: OUR FABULOUS COMPETITION TO ENTER

Win a six-night trip for two, to Canada with Air Canada and Nova Scotia Tourism.
www.natgeotraveller.co.uk/competitions

ALSO INSIDE

• Subscription gift: GBP £13.60 for eight issues – and a free gift (a rucksack/across the body bag) while stocks last. Don’t miss out.
Promo code: NGTMJ12. www.natgeotraveller.co.uk/subscribe
• Our website: Competitions, subscriptions, blogs, features and more. www.natgeotraveller.co.uk
• If you can’t find the magazine – let the team know today!

National Geographic Traveller (UK) has a cover price of GBP £3.85, via subscription and on newsstands. For 2012 there will be seven issues (single issues for Sept and Oct) moving to an eight-issue frequency into 2013. Visit www.natgeotraveller.co.uk for more information.

Find them on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NatGeoTraveller
And Twitter: http://twitter.com/NatGeoTraveller

New web portal offers social networking for business travellers

MVI is designed for business travellers

A new web portal has been launched that will enable friends, family, colleagues and other acquaintances to connect, socialise and stay with each other as they travel around Europe and globally.

My Village International (MVI) – www.myvillageinternational.com - provides social and business networking opportunities to individuals who frequently travel because of their work.

This international online networking village has been established by a group of friends who themselves have held a number of European and international posts in business enterprise. As well as helping people to socialise through their international connections, other benefits of MVI to members include travel sharing to help reduce CO2 emissions and getting the most from their visits to new places.

“The idea first occurred because of our own experiences of travelling extensively on business throughout Europe,” says Director of MVI, Kathy Vuillaume. “Women in particular find it difficult to do simple things like go to a restaurant or bar on their own, so they end up ordering room service and staying in their hotel room, rather than enjoying the local environment and meeting people.

“We tried to find a social networking site that was offering this type of service, but couldn’t. Facebook is geared towards friends, LinkedIn is very business-oriented, and we really wanted to connect with professionals with international lifestyles who travel regularly and have several addresses. None of these other traditional sites enable you to appear registered in different locations.”

The current functionalities of MVI allow members to promote their social and business activities by using forums and groups, and uploading multimedia materials. They can initiate or participate in MVI events open to all members or host private events with their own connections. They can share their itineraries - both business trips and holidays - to make new business contacts and friends wherever they go. Members can also set up profiles tailored to their different social and business circles.

Future functions of the site, already under development in partnership with the University of Surrey, include the development of a smart phone app and the potential to car-share between members; the University is currently assessing members’ willingness to share, their relationship to potential sharers, and the routing and timing of planned journeys.

“The feedback from MVI is raising some exciting new research challenges,” says Paul Krause, Professor of Software Engineering at the University of Surrey. “We are using latest techniques to ensure the smart phone app will work across all major device types. More interestingly, we are developing some innovative tools to enable us to introduce a range of location aware services. We believe this will reinforce MVI as the leading social networking site for business people on the move.”

The main aim of MVI is for members to reconcile their social and business lives in very practical ways. For example, if you are going to be in a city or town at the same time as other people that you know, then book into the same hotel and catch up on your business ventures, or go out and visit the town together to enjoy a more social experience.

The objective is to grow MVI to around 3,000 members in the first year and to reach more than 100,000 members within five years.

MVI has been launched in English and French languages with the aim of adding new languages as membership grows. Currently, 16 countries are represented in the network - 99% of members are professionals with the remaining 1% made up of students and other individuals.

For a free trial experience, visit: www.myvillageinternational.com

Jet operator calls for industry to promote time saving, not luxury to business clients

Patrick Margetson-Rushmore, the CEO of London Executive Aviation (LEA), one of Europe’s biggest business jet charter operators, is calling on the business aviation industry to promote time-saving benefits rather than giving out 'luxury messages' in its marketing this summer.

Speaking ahead of the annual meeting of the British Business & General Aviation Association (BBGA) later this month, Margetson-Rushmore says: “After a very tough recession, private jet charter operators stand to do good business this summer, thanks to Euro 2012 and the Olympics. However, we risk squandering the chance of a sustained recovery after these events if we don’t portray ourselves intelligently.

“The BBGA and the European Business Aviation Association do a great job in communicating the invaluable benefits we offer, namely efficient and convenient travel. But there is still a temptation for many operators to emphasise ‘the champagne lifestyle’ in their marketing, which is self-defeating folly given the general public mood,” Margetson-Rushmore continues. “The Zeitgeist is still very critical of excessive City bonuses, so it is vital we distance ourselves from so-called ‘corporate greed’. We should instead promote the true value of business aviation, which is all about saving precious time, an important ingredient for the economic recovery that will benefit us all.

“After the ‘tarring and feathering’ our reputation received during the credit crunch, there is a lot of PR damage our industry has to repair,” he says. “The BBGA can lead the way, but can only succeed if we present a united front. Only once we have detoxified the public’s perceptions of chartering an aircraft can a sustained industry recovery truly get underway.”

According to Margetson-Rushmore, the Olympics offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve the public’s understanding of business aviation. “The fact is we have an essential role to play in the south-east’s overstretched air transport system. The Olympics will bring a huge number of people into London and our major airports will struggle to handle this volume.

"Heathrow Airport operated at 99.2% of its annual limit for flights in 2011 and has severe capacity issues. On its busiest days during the Olympics, Heathrow expects to handle 138,000 passengers, a 45% increase over normal levels. This increase is despite takeoff and landing slots at Heathrow being reduced during the Games from around 43 to 36 per hour. Therefore, not only will business aviation allow many to visit London without delays, but we will also be taking an important share of the strain on London’s travel infrastructure. This is a story we should be promoting.”

Euro 2012 gives operators another chance to promote messages of time-saving and value, according to LEA’s chief executive. “Fans travelling abroad face significant challenges because of where the matches are to be played, and these problems could worsen if England is as successful as we hope. Fans may need to shuttle between Donetsk and Kiev in Ukraine to support the team in the group stages, which could be a challenge as the cities are more than 400 miles apart. If England make the semi-finals, supporters may have to fly to Warsaw to watch the match. And, if the team gets to the final, fans may need to fly back to Kiev.”

With limited options for scheduled air and ground transportation, this situation is almost a case study for why business aviation is so invaluable, says Margetson-Rushmore. “Rather than losing days or weeks out of the office, fans chartering aircraft with their friends could fly out to see all the live action and be home again within hours. Splitting air charter costs between six or eight passengers could make the expense per person very attractive, especially when you factor in savings on hotels and ground transportation. Explained in this way, the financial attractions of what we offer become far clearer and less elitist to potential critics.

“Summer 2012 offers us all a great showcase for what we do as an industry,” Margetson-Rushmore concludes. “I hope we take advantage of the opportunity in a way that yields us the maximum mutual, lasting benefit.”

National Rail Enquiries launches mobile site for instant rail updates on the move

National Rail Enquiries (www.nationalrail.co.uk) (NRE) has launched a new version of its site optimised for mobile users (http://m.nationalrail.co.uk/), providing rail travellers everywhere with instant access to up-to-the minute train information in the palm of their hand.

The mobile site boasts a new look and feel aligned with the main NRE website and offers commuters and other rail passengers a vastly enhanced user experience through stripped-down code, delivering super slick page load times and easy to access real-time information.

Since going live with the new version, access to the main NRE website from mobile devices has gone down by 29 per cent, while usage of the mobile version is up 129 per cent. The number of unique mobile visitors has also increased by 267 per cent.

Designed and built by digital agency Fortune Cookie (www.fortunecookie.co.uk) , the new site also makes information about travel disruptions, especially during bad weather, easier and quicker to find and introduces the ‘station picker’ drop down list to mobile visitors for the first time. Mobile users can also access station information to find out about local facilities, such as car parking and refreshments.

Chris Scoggins, Chief Executive of NRE, says: “We’ve seen usage of our mobile site increase significantly over six months and people using the main NRE website on mobile devices has more than doubled in the last year, showing a trend towards greater mobile access. But there was clearly a need for the mobile site to replicate the main website much more closely. The new version delivers a far superior user experience, and we’ll be introducing further enhancements on an ongoing basis. Early feedback and uptake of the new site have been extremely encouraging.”

Justin Cooke, CEO of Fortune Cookie and Chair of BIMA, adds: “The mobile version of one of Britain’s busiest travel websites wholeheartedly supports Fortune Cookie’s ethos: improving the digital world to make the real world a better place. Mobile usage will only continue to grow and the mobile NRE site will only continue to improve. Of course, we cannot guarantee that rail travellers won’t suffer delays and disruptions, but we can guarantee they’ll know instantly about anything that affects normal service wherever they are and from whatever mobile device they’re using.”

Test the new mobile site: http://m.nationalrail.co.uk/ <http://m.nationalrail.co.uk/pj/pj>

For more information about National Rail Enquiries visit www.nationalrail.co.uk <http://www.nationalrail.co.uk> .

FACTFILE:

National Rail Enquiries (NRE) is the definitive source of information for all passenger rail services on the National Rail network in England, Wales and Scotland. NRE is part of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), which is responsible for providing business services to the Train Operating Companies. NRE handles an average of 1.3 million journey enquiries every day either through their contact centres or self service channels.

Eurostar reports bumper half-term

Eurostar, the high-speed passenger service between the UK and mainland Europe is reporting that it has carried 10% more passengers over this half-term school holiday, compared with the same holiday period last year.

Over 230,000 people from across the UK and Europe will travel on Eurostar over the course of the week for a late winter break. A combination of attractive prices, Valentine's Day and good ski conditions have made this a bumper half-term for Eurostar.

Nick Mercer, Commercial Director for Eurostar, said: "This has been one of our busiest February half-term weeks for several years. School holidays are always popular, but our service is particularly busy this year. With the perfect skiing conditions we are enjoying at the moment our direct ski services to the French Alps are virtually sold out next week.

"For families thinking about a last minute break we still have availability towards the end of the half-term week, with children under the age of four travelling for free. A short break can cost less than you think particularly when you take into account all the discounts you get on museums, galleries, restaurants and shopping with our Eurostar Plus scheme."

Eurostar Plus launched in 2010 to offer added value to Eurostar's leisure travellers. The Eurostar Plus collection includes Plus Shopping, Plus Culture and Eurostar Plus Gourmet, with more info on the latter available here: http://www.eurostarplus.co.uk/gourmet.

For more information, to book Eurostar tickets or purchase Eurostar gift vouchers visit www.eurostar.com or call 08432 186 186.

Kuoni reveals its Travel Trends Report 2012

The Maldives has, once again, topped Kuoni's annual poll of where UK customers want to spend their holidays. In the company's top ten selling destinations for 2012, the Indian Ocean archipelago has held on to the top slot since 2005.

Where holidaymakers want to go is just part of leading tour operator Kuoni's annual Travel Trends Report. The 20-page report also tracks hot travel trends and the top destinations for weddings and honeymoons, for families, for solo travellers, for pampering spa holidays, for the most exciting adventures and authentic experiences as well as the best destinations for those that care about the planet.

The report also highlights changes in holiday behaviour and includes trends in holiday booking behaviour, such as the importance of social media in driving holiday choices.

The top five destinations for 2012 are Maldives holidays, Thailand, Sri Lanka, The United Arab Emirates and the USA, including New York holidays. Kuoni predicts that South Africa will witness huge growth over the next 12 months, helped by the exposure from the football World Cup last year and the weakened currency against sterling. The only mid-haul destination in the 2012 Top Ten selling destinations is the United Arab Emirates, mostly due to the popularity of Dubai holidays.

The Maldives also retained its top slot for honeymoon destinations and topped the wish list for digital natives, better known as Generation X, Y and Z. Sri Lanka holidays retained 'Number One Destination for Weddings', Kuramathi Island Resort in the Maldives kept the top slot for 'Family Destinations', as did Thailand holidays for solo travelling.

The winner of the Top 10 Adventure Holiday is the 11-day tour of culture-rich Sri Lanka on the Ceylon Tour, while those looking for the best 'Planet Friendly Holiday' voted for Governors Main Camp in the wildlife safari heaven of Kenya.

Aside from favourite and new destinations, there are changes in the type of holiday the customer wants. More destination-savvy and discerning holidaymakers are looking for different types of holiday, with four specific trends emerging:
- a thirst for discovery
- authenticity of experience
- social responsibility
- face to face contact with a travel expert when booking.

To meet the needs of a changing holidaymaker, Kuoni launched the Discover brochure for 2012, packed with experiences and tours to help get under the skin of a destination. The company has also launched ananea, a sustainable brand that stands for socially responsible holidays that empower people to protect the natural environment and local population. Kuoni has also strengthened its retail presence across the UK over the last 12 months, with more retail stores for holidaymakers to access all-important first-hand expertise and knowledge.

Figures in Kuoni's 2012 Travel Trends Report are based on multiple sources, namely statistics from booking patterns made between January to December 2011 for holidays during 2011 and 2012, actual passenger numbers, customer behaviour and feedback.

www.kuoni.co.uk

Romantic Retreats For 2012

Luxury villa company CV Travel has come up with its top choice of romantic retreats for 2012, from cosy villas for two on the Greek islands, to a boutique London hotel, a town-house in rural France, to a Spanish cottage.

Coastal sun-kissed Greek villa for two

Pelagia Cottage, Messinia, Greece

What could be more romantic than sitting in a hot tub overlooking the Greek coastline as the sun sets across the Gulf of Messinia. CV Travel’s Pelagia Cottageisa beautifully restored villain a superb setting on the edge of a low headland on the Peloponnese.

The property has two outdoor dining terraces, one dappled by shade and the other with a private jacuzzi on the headland with rock bathing just below and within walking distance of beautiful sandy beaches, local shops and tavernas in the Greek village of Stoupa.

A 7 night stay in Pelagia Cottage costs from £1680 - £1925 per week including car hire, maid service and food hamper, based on 2 guests sharing. Contact CV Travel on 020 7401 1026,www.cvtravel.co.uk

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/en/destinations/europe/greece/peloponnese/stoupa/accommodation/pages/pelagia-cottage.aspx

Just a diamond’s call away

The Draycott Hotel, Kensington, Great Britain

Romantics and lovers of tradition will enjoy the afternoon tea and biscuits, champagne at six and bed-time hot chocolate at the 5* Draycott Hotel, a red-brick house in the heart of Kensington and Chelsea, close to Sloane Square and temptingly close to London’s high end shops.

The Draycott recalls an era of Edwardian grandeur in style, with high ceilings, period antiques and theatrical memorabilia and is set around a peaceful private garden square. 24-hour concierge service ensures that a call for a large diamond at 2am will at least be answered.

Those falling for the hotel’s charms, and each other, can also book a wedding reception there at a future date.

A two night stay at the Draycott Hotel costs from £318 per person in 2012 (based on a standard double bedroom), including breakfast, available through CV Travel, 020 7401 1086, www.cvtravel.co.uk

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/en/destinations/europe/great-britain/england/london/accommodation/pages/the-draycott-hotel.aspx

`Wedding cake’ villa above the sea

La Ventana, Siesta, Ibiza

For those with nuptials on the mind La Ventana in Ibiza is a real `wedding cake’ of a whitewashed Spanish villa, tucked up in a private location on the cliffs above the small town of Siesta. Its immensely intimate setting, with wide-open sea views from its raised private terrace and its own hexagonal swimming pool make it a very special romantic retreat. The villa is private, but within a romantic stroll of a spa, lovely beaches and the bars and restaurants in the town.

La Ventanacan be rented through CV Travel from £2,170 per week between April and October 2012. Sleeps up to 4.

Contact CV Travel on 020 7401 1035 or visit www.cvtravel.co.uk

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/en/destinations/europe/spain/ibiza/siesta/accommodation/pages/la-ventana.aspx#/

Centuries of love

The Cockloft, Cotswolds, Great Britain

Stroll in the grounds of Wiltshire’s oldest inhabited manor house, with its 13th century porch and 15th century chapel, and amid the ancient yews, stumble across a love folly and pluck a bloom from the profusion of old fashioned rose species that fill the gardens in May and June. This historic manor house has witnessed centuries of romance and modern-day romantics can enjoy a week’s stay at `The Cockloft’ in the grounds of the manor house, a heavily-beamed, ancient, stone-built house with traditional polished wood floors, furnished with antiques.

A week’s stay at The Cockloft can be booked with CV Travel (020 7401 1086, www.cvtravel.co.uk) costs from £600 for two.

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/en/destinations/europe/great-britain/england/cotswolds/accommodation/pages/the-cockloft.aspx

Villa for two on the island of Corfu

Villa Akrothalassia, St Spiridon, Corfu

Akrothalassia on the North east coast of Corfu is a very romantic, secluded property situated deep within a private olive grove, just a few steps away from the sea. The property’s romantic charm includes a Jacuzzi bath which has superb views of the sea with an eye-catching silhouette of an offshore island.

A week’s stay starts from £1415 based on 2 people sharing and includes car hire maid service and food hamper. Contact CV Travel on 020 7401 1026 or visit www.cvtravel.co.uk

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/en/destinations/europe/greece/corfu/kalamaki-st-spiridon--perithia/accommodation/pages/akrothalassia.aspx

A tower for two in rural Umbria

`Renato's Tower', Borgo San Biagio, Umbria

This quirky, restored medieval tower in a hilltop Umbrian hamlet with a hot-tub on the roof terrace, is absolutely perfect for a romantic weekend or honeymoon retreat. From the rooftop terrace couples enjoy beautiful views of the undulating countryside while the tower offers rustic and comfortable accommodation on 4 floors and is in close proximity to historic towns and places of interest for plenty of romantic excursions.

Renato’s Tower can be booked for two from £995 per week. Call CV Travel on 020 7401 1039 or visit www.cvtravel.co.uk

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/EN/Destinations/Europe/Italy/Umbria/Umbria--Tuscany-Borders/Accomodations/Pages/Renatos-Tower.aspx

Wake up to the waves

`La Trasita', Positano

Wake up to the sound of the waves and the scent of the sea in a 14th century Saracen tower, perched on the headland on a coastal path leading away fromPositano, making it a unique venue, with its own roof terrace, galleried double bedroom and sitting room with balcony. Sea views are, naturally, unrivalled.

La Trasita is available to book through CV Travel from £1445for two to share per week. Tel 020 7401 1039 or visit www.cvtravel.co.uk

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/en/destinations/europe/italy/campania/amalfi-coast-sorrento--ischia/accommodation/pages/la-trasita.aspx

Town house on Sicily’s coastline

Casa Cefalu, Sicily Coast

Wander through the streets and squares of Cefalu with its palazzi, churches, old fashioned bars and a sandy beach, before returning a short stroll to Casa Cefalu, a pretty town house in the medieval centre of Cefalù, on the north coast of Sicily.From the house’s two terraces magnificent views over the roofs of the medieval town, the twelfth-century Norman cathedral and out to sea can be seen.

Casa Cefalu can be booked through from CV Travel from £895 for two to share per week. Call CV on 020 7401 1039 or visit www.cvtravel.co.uk

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/en/destinations/europe/italy/sicily/sicily-coast--countryside/accommodation/pages/casa-cefalu.aspx

Charming rural retreat, inland Mallorca

Son Siona, Mallorca, Spain

Son Siona is a traditional cottage with plenty of rural atmosphere and secluded countryside for a very peaceful and romantic stay. The local village of Buger is a short walk away and is one of the smallest municipalities on the island of Mallorca and one of the most attractive. Bursting with character and cosiness, the house has its own private pool and large private gardens, making it perfect for seclusion and romance.

Son Siona is available to rent through CV Travel (020 7401 1035, www.cvtravel.co.uk) from £805 to £1565 per week.

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/en/destinations/europe/spain/mallorca/bay-of-pollensa--surrounds/accommodation/pages/son-siona.aspx

Town house a deux in one of France’s most beautiful villages

La Petit Gordes, Gordes, France

Take a leisurely stroll together through the stone paved streets of one of France’s most beautiful villages, Gordes, a picturesque hillside town with spectacular views overlooking the hills of Luberon, and a place where film stars and local artists have made their home. Visitthe Saint-Firmain Palace cellars, the Sénanque Abbey and the Village des Bories. CV Travel’s La Petite Gordesis a charming two bedroom stone town house with a large private pool, just 5 minutes walk from the centre ofGordes, and driving distance fromthe beautiful town of Bonnieux and the city of Avignon.

La Petit Gordes can be booked through CV Travel (020 7401 1044,www.cvtravel.co.uk) A 7 night stay in La Petite Gordes costs from £2,360 to £3,655 per week including villa hire and maid service, for up to 4 guests sharing. Return flights, transfers and car hire can be arranged on request.

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/en/destinations/europe/france/provence/goult--surrounding-areas/accommodation/pages/la-petite-gordes.aspx

"Requested by you, crafted by Kuoni" holiday service announced

Kuoni, a top name in international travel providers, has launched what is set to be its biggest campaign, ever, 'Requested by you…Crafted by Kuoni'. 

 

The campaign, which launched on Boxing Day, December 26, 2011, aims to offer clients  a range of value holidays with exceptional service in some pretty stunning destinations.

To convey this message in an engaging way, Kuoni, in association with Brighton based advertising agency Designate, has designed a multi-media campaign that resonates with customer sentiment and needs as they think about planning their time away from it all. 

The campaign will include outdoor media in key locations which be including London, Bristol, Liverpool and Sheffield and Manchester, escalator panels in the Bank, Knightsbridge and High Street Kensington tube stations, and radio advertising for 14 Kuoni stores and two Kuoni partner stores, as well as brand advertisements in a range of glossy travel and lifestyle magazines throughout 2012.

Naomi Wilkinson, Kuoni's head of marketing said: "This campaign brings the essence of Kuoni alive - that we listen to our customers' needs and are specialists in creating unique travel memories that endure - as our Personal Travel Experts can craft the perfect holiday for you. The themes of the campaign are based around customer requests and real customer behaviour."

Alongside the brand campaign runs a multi-million pound tactically-led brand campaign including synergy of creative across all media channels, supported by stunning imagery to mirror customers’ needs. These needs were highlighted in an extensive customer centric research carried out by the company earlier this year. All the activity is designed to showcase Kuoni's hand-made approach to personalised holidays and service which all serve to underpin Kuoni’s values of authenticity, reliability and passion.

Jason Triandafyllou, Designate's MD said: "We were excited when we won the pitch, and are thrilled to see the work come to fruition and go live. Kuoni are a great, truly prestigious brand and they gave us an exciting advertising brief to work to. We think that with our 'Requested by you... Crafted by Kuoni' concept we've come up with a strong memorable idea that will stretch across all media and deliver on a truly integrated level."

To find out more visit Kuoni at www.kuoni.co.uk

National Geographic Traveller UK - One year on

One year on
www.natgeotraveller.co.uk

The arrival of the seventh issue of the 180-page National Geographic Traveller (UK) Jan/Feb 2012 and the introduction of a special Family issue concludes a fantastic first year for the magazine, with a whole lot more planned for 2012.

2011 highlights
• This year has seen the successful launch of six issues - increasing frequency to EIGHT issues in 2012 (September and October issues will be single issues).
• Launch of special issue – National Geographic Traveller - Family Spring 2012 (in December 2011).

View the 26-page sample issue by visiting www.natgeotraveller.co.uk/familyspring12
• Successful promotions with Groupon, Living Social and partnerships with Mumsnet and National Geographic Kids, as well as a whole host of others…
• Launch of the www.natgeotraveller.co.uk website in April 2011.
• Over 14,000 subscribers in the first year
• Available in all major supermarkets and high street magazine retailers
• Over 3,500 Twitter followers and 1,600 Facebook users
• Two awards for best features - Emma Gregg’s Namibia story won the British Guild of Travel Writers’ best long-haul feature and Andrew Eames won the German National Tourism Office’s Travel Writer of the Year Award for his ‘It’s Germany but not as you know it’ feature. Plus nominations for best consumer magazine and best young writer at British Travel Press Awards.
• Launch of a Travel Photography Competition (http://photos.natgeotraveller.co.uk) now closed for new entries and a Travel Writers’ Competition (closing date 23 January). www.natgeotraveller.co.uk/competitions
• Superb subscription offers over the course of the year: From £9.99 (for six issues) to £11.90 (seven issues); free gifts (a rucksack/across the body bag) while stocks last; and the chance to add the two special issues of National Geographic Traveller – Family for just a £1. All current offers are inside the magazine!

See the 26-page digital sample of the Jan/Feb 12 issue: www.natgeotraveller.co.uk/jan12
Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NatGeoTraveller
And Twitter: http://twitter.com/NatGeoTraveller

Editorial Director Maria Pieri said: “We’ve had a fantastic first year and we’re looking forward to working on an eight-issue frequency as well as moving into apps and all things digital too. And with the launch of our special Family issues we’re proving we’re the leading travel title in the market.”

FACTFILE:
National Geographic Traveller (UK) is published under license by Absolute Publishing Ltd (APL), from the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. It became the 15th local-language edition when it was launched in December 2010. The magazine also is available in China, Spain, Russia, the Netherlands, Israel, Poland, Slovenia, Latin America, Armenia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Indonesia, Romania and South Africa. The 180-page travel and lifestyle magazine is packed full of you-are-there photography, authentic travel experiences and inspiring narratives, all focused on the brand’s theme “All Travel, All the Time.”

www.natgeotraveller.co.uk

National Geographic Traveler (USA) is the world’s most widely read travel magazine. It championed sustainable travel before it was cool and, eight times annually, celebrates journeys that are about place, experience, culture, authenticity, living like the locals and great photography. It makes a distinction between tourism and travel and stresses inquisitive, not acquisitive, trips. It employs storytelling and you-are-there photography to inspire readers to pick up and go. And, with the theme of “All Travel, All the Time,” it eschews fashion and fluff in favour of articles that offer a strong sense of place, inspiring narratives that make readers take trips, and solid service information to help them plan those trips.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. National Geographic reflects the world through its magazines, television programs, films, music and radio, books, DVDs, maps, exhibitions, live events, school publishing programs, interactive media and merchandise.

National Geographic magazine, the Society’s official journal, published in English and 33 local-language editions, is read by more than 40 million people each month. The National Geographic Channel reaches 370 million households in 34 languages in 168 countries. National Geographic Digital Media receives more than 15 million visitors a month. National Geographic has funded more than 9,600 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geography literacy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com

Travel Management Company Can Offer Best Fares To All for Business Travel needs

CT Business Travel announces it can now also book the best online consumer fares for business travel purposes, and client’s still get all of the benefits of their full travel management service.

A recent article published on e-tid.com suggests unmanaged business travel could become more of the norm due to better deals online. However, CT Business Travel’s Managing Director Mark Kempster was quick to respond: “We already offer our clients the opportunity to book the cheapest prices available, even if that means we book through sites such as Expedia, Easyjet or British Airways on their behalf. Our business model is based on charging a transparent management fee, so who we book business flights, hotels and car rental through makes no difference”.

Kempster continued, “The key difference is companies who pay the small fees we charge for using our service enjoy all the benefits that come with using a corporate travel specialist. This allows a business to focus all its efforts in running their company rather than wasting precious time managing their business travel needs”.

As an independent business travel agent, CT Business Travel works with all airlines, hotel and car rental companies worldwide - it has no preferences. However, being part of Uniglobe does mean CT Business Travel has considerable buying power and secures the best business travel airfares, hotel and car hire rates, which it can access in instances where the best consumer internet deals are not suitable or available.

The benefits to companies who use CT Business Travel’s services are substantial, such as having their own team of qualified staff taking care of all their travel requirements, visa advice and entry requirements. It also includes an out of hours service which proves incredibly useful when clients get caught up in adverse weather conditions, strikes or freak occurrences like last years’ ash cloud.

CT Business Travel offers clients a credit facility and prides itself on the high level of service it provides, which is reflected in the long standing client accounts it manages and retains, which is impressive considering clients do not have to commit to any contract term.

Another important benefit is CT Business Travel’s ability to work with its clients to device their policy compliance which it then implements and follows. This can include setting budget levels for employees, travel policies like class of travel depending on the duration of a flight, or when individuals are allowed to travel etc.

With the use of CT Business Travel’s sophisticated technology, CT Business Travel can effectively monitor and report on all bookings made. This information allows a client to understand how budgets are being spent, where potential savings can be made and instances where policies are being abused.

The travel management fees CT Business Travel charge are minimal and range from £10 to £35 per booking, which depends on the nature of the transaction, such as whether a booking is made through the call centre due to being a complex itinerary or using the online booking tools CT Business Travel provides.

For more information on how to become a client of CT Business Travel and the services it provides, use one of the liks above, or give them a call 01892 673427.

National Geographic Traveller - Family Spring 2012 OUT NOW

National Geographic Traveller - Family Spring 2012 is available now in UK newsstands, a special issue focused on family travel - one of two 180-page special issues planned for 2012.

Maria Pieri, editor and editorial director, said: “This special issue of National Geographic Traveller - Family is designed to give travellers with families inspiration to get up and go; to take an adventure and to instil the love of travel our audience expects.

“We’ve been extremely excited by the positive response to this special issue and are pleased to welcome both National Geographic Kids and Mumsnet in this launch edition – as well as a whole series of family travel experts – giving their thoughts, views and ideas on travelling with kids.”

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Cover Story: 60 Great Summer Getaways – Beat the winter blues and dive into our top summer break suggestions for family holidays for all ages. Close to home, go cycling in Switzerland, hit the road in Morocco or sail the Spanish islands. Further afield, see Australia by camper van, try Kerala with kids, or live like a bushman in Namibia… and a whole lot more.

Destinations: Take the kids on Safari, how to survive Florida’s theme parks, teen trips to Thailand and Croatia, active breaks in Europe, paradors and rural retreats in Spain, Great UK Days Out, Scotland in film and pull out guides for Dubai, Paris and the Algarve.

Real Travel: Our young explorer discovers India, we ask parents and kids what they thought of their last holiday, managing expectations for a successful holiday and tips on having a great multi-generational trip.

Survival Guide: Travel experts answer your questions, how to tackle delays, the pros and cons of all-inclusives, managing infants and flying, car hire in Italy, and our travel clinic gives advice on travel health issues.

Interview: Supermum and superstar Angelina Jolie on travel, parenting and education.

Smarter travel: From our glamping top 10, to the best beaches in Sardinia, and how to keep the kids occupied when you’re on the move… our front section has it covered.

Competition: Don’t miss – a superb five-day trip to Morocco for a family of four with Families Worldwide. www.natgeotraveller.co.uk/competitions

Get a taster of this Spring 2012 special issue by viewing the 26-page digital sample: www.natgeotraveller.co.uk/familyspring12

National Geographic Traveller – Family will be published twice a year, with a cover price of GBP3.85, via subscription and on newsstands. www.natgeotraveller.co.uk/family

ALSO INSIDE
• Subscription gift: £12.90 for seven issues of National Geographic Traveller and two issues of Family – and a free gift (a rucksack/across the body bag) while stocks last. Don’t miss out.

Promo code: NGTFSPR12. Don’t forget to check the box to add the Family magazine to your subscription.
• www.natgeotraveller.co.uk/subscribe

• website: Competitions, subscriptions, blogs, features and more. www.natgeotraveller.co.uk

Beat the Brochure: Top 10 Travel Bloggers of 2011

Beat the Brochure announce their Top 10 travel bloggers of 2011 who have inspired travellers and been a prominent feature in motivating travel throughout 2011.

Online Travel Company Beat the Brochure has put together the 10 best travel bloggers of the year. The bloggers chosen have been prominent in promoting travel, especially travel in Europe, as well as family travel, and helped to inspire Beat the Brochure and its customers.

Top 10 Travel Bloggers 2011

Ibiza Inside - @ibizainside

Runaway Juno - @RunawayJuno

Europe a la Carte - @karenbryan

Starry Eyed Travels - @katyabroad

Backpacks and Bunkbeds - @packsandbunks

Isabelles Travel Guide - @IsabellesTravel

Euro Trip Tips - @eurotriptips

Blondie Travel Blog - @PolishMojito

Turkish Travel Blog - @turkishtravel

Inside the Travel Lab - @InsideTravellab

Daniel Ox, from Beat the Brochure, comments, “Travel Bloggers have fantastic audiences and followers and are currently dominating social media within the travel industry. {{Independent travel bloggers not only inspire staff at Beat the Brochure but their blogs help us keep up with trends and information in the destinations we sell}}, as well as giving us great insight into what consumers are looking for.”

“We have built excellent relationships with travel bloggers through social media and will continue to do so. Our Top 10 was difficult to compile but those featured have made a real impact in 2011 and we look forward to getting to know more and more travel bloggers in 2012.”

FACTFILE:

Beat The Brochure’s technology brings all the leading UK travel suppliers together in one simple search, affording our customers access to the very best deals from leading operators such as Thomson, Thomas Cook and First Choice.

Our technology also has the ability to bring together a huge range of hotels, flights, cars and transfers to create your own bespoke package - offering you the ultimate in flexibility at lowest possible price in one seamless experience.

Beat The Brochure is part of the award winning Como Street Travel Group with offices based in Central London, Essex and Blackpool and Florida, now boasting a team of almost 100 experienced travel consultants.

Beat The Brochure (http://www.beatthebrochure.com/) is a fully bonded member of the Travel Trust Association (TTA U0898) and is licensed by Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL - T7270) offering you and your money the very best in financial protection and peace of mind at all times.

You can find out more about the fantastic deals we have on offer by following @beatthebrochure on Twitter or becoming a fan on Facebook.

Kuoni voted best ‘Luxury Tour Operator' at the Sunday Times Travel Magazine Readers' Awards 2011

Kuoni is justifiably proud to have been voted number one in the 'Luxury Tour Operator' category at the Sunday Times Travel Magazine Readers’ Awards 2011, held at the beautifully restored St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, London.

This is the first year the Sunday Times Travel Magazine has held a ceremony to celebrate with the winners of these prestigious awards, as voted for by the Sunday Times Travel Magazine readers. The ceremony was hosted by the editor, Ed Grenby, and attended by industry leaders from the airlines, hotels and destinations.

Naomi Wilkinson, Head of Marketing, Kuoni UK said: "I would like to say a big thank-you to the readers who voted for us. At Kuoni, we pride ourselves on our breadth and depth of product in the luxury arena, as well as our renowned customer service and tailor-making capabilities, so to win the 'Luxury Tour Operator' Award makes us very proud."

Other winners in the Sunday Times Travel Magazine Readers' Awards included: Hotel Arts Barcelona (European City Hotel), The Peninsula Hong Kong (Worldwide City Hotel), Rome (European City Break), Southern Spain (European Beach Destination), Maldives (Worldwide Beach Destination), New York (Worldwide City break), Australia (Worldwide Adventure Destination), British Airways (Short-haul Airline) and Virgin Atlantic (Long-haul Airline), all of whom Kuoni are delighted to be working with.

In previous years, Kuoni has picked up the following Sunday Times Travel Magazine Readers' Awards: Favourite Family Tour Operator (2010); Favourite Tour Operator for family holidays (2009); Best Longhaul Tour Operator (2008) and Best Travel Company (2006/2005/2004).

FACTFILE:

Kuoni was established in 1906 in Switzerland by Alfred Kuoni, a visionary adventurer and explorer of his time who opened some of Europe's first travel agencies. It has branch operations in over 40 countries. For 105 years Kuoni has been creating holidays with a spirit of adventure and has been recognised consistently, winning coveted awards such as The World's Leading Tour Operator for 11 years in a row at the World Travel Awards, Best Large Tour Operator at the 2011 Daily Telegraph Ultratravel 100 Awards for five consecutive years and scored most highly in the Which? top 20 travel company survey 2011.

Kuoni has also been voted Britain’s Best Long-haul Tour Operator by travel agents for the past 29 years. Kuoni offers travel and packages to a variety of worldwide destinations.

For customers who like to book a holiday face-to-face with their own personal consultant, they are invited to pop into one of Kuoni's exclusive travel stores across the UK. Kuoni stores can be found in; High Street Kensington, Knightsbridge and Cheapside in London, Blue Water, Bristol, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Dorking, Guildford, Kingston, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Sheffield and Solihull. Coming soon: Canterbury, Chichester, Westfield Stratford City and Winchester.

Kuoni is ABTA and ATOL protected.

www.kuoni.co.uk

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.”

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

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

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

Collinson Latitude Calls For Airlines And Hotels To Focus On Value

As the travel market becomes increasingly competitive, and as loyalty becomes ever more important, Collinson Latitude is calling on airlines and hotels to act fast or risk losing customers.

A global provider of incremental revenue products, Collinson Latitude believes airlines and hotels need to think more innovatively to improve their customer engagement and retention.

Janet Titterton, director at Collinson Latitude, says: “There are many rapid, low-cost ways to maintain the loyalty of the customers you hold, but the travel industry has not yet realised the potential of these opportunities.

"Superior customer service and relevant customer experiences remain key, but you can also increase your customers’ engagement with your brand by providing them with value for money or passing back value derived from your brand buying power. This ‘value exchange’ will enable differentiation and keep your brand top of mind. A long-term, profitable relationship will follow.

“The flexibility of travel loyalty programmes is also key to their success. The market is constantly evolving, so airlines and hotels need adaptive strategies to offer programme flexibility that meets changing market dynamics and customer needs.

“Furthermore, travel companies can apply the best e-commerce thinking to increase the value of their loyalty currency. Take Amazon.com, for example. The company is well-known for providing recommendations based on a previous purchase. Such targeting can be matched by airlines and hotels providing multiple redemption offers – tailored to customer behaviour – to provide customers with ‘everyday benefit’ for their engagement.

“Collinson Latitude is today launching a campaign www.latitudeignite.com to advise travel organisations how to achieve more active, loyal and profitable customers for life. In the past, traditional reward programmes have often been expensive to set up and run, so travel companies are now looking for the kind of flexible, sustainable and cost-effective options we offer.

“From an airline or hotel operator’s perspective, improving the quality and consistency of engagement with customers is a priority. Intelligent airlines, for example, offer frequent flyer programmes (FFPs) with lifestyle rewards far beyond traditional air travel redemptions. Indeed, even the means of earning miles is no longer limited to air travel, and can be achieved through non-travel-related products and services, increasing the opportunity to earn loyalty currency for everyday behaviour. However, the ability to redeem this currency is often restricted by low availability, demanding that loyalty programmes need to offer customers more choice in how they can realise their rewards.

“Airlines are also eager to see customers redeem miles for financial reasons, because complex accountancy auditing guidelines mean unexpired miles represent deferred revenue, which the airline can only release once the miles are redeemed. Alongside the benefit of building customer relationships, FFP managers therefore have a high financial incentive to encourage customers to exploit the full range of redemption opportunities.

“The end result is that customers enjoy regular benefits across many aspects of their lives while the airline or hotel operator enjoys increased financial gain.”

Collinson Latitude’s multi-channel products can be seamlessly integrated into an existing airline or hotel loyalty programme. Capitalising on the proven and growing popularity of online shopping is a particularly strong route to customer retention. ‘RewardAll’, for example, is a merchant-funded online shopping and rewards programme that brings together thousands of diverse online merchants globally, so that each time a customer makes a purchase through the ‘Reward All’ portal, they can earn hotel loyalty points or airline miles. To complement loyalty programmes, ‘iRedeem’ is an online redemption solution that allows loyalty programme members to redeem their loyalty currency across a catalogue of diverse travel, lifestyle and leisure rewards.

Collinson Latitude’s parent company, The Collinson Group, has over 20 years’ experience in loyalty, marketing and membership. The Collinson Group also includes the world’s leading global loyalty agency, ICLP, who partner with global airline and hotel brands to build loyalty and customer relationship programmes.

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