News

CHINA SPECIALIST Wendy Wu Tours has just launched its 2012 programme which also includes itineraries to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. The independently-owned operator, founded in Australia by Wendy Wu, who was born in Tibet and raised in China, also features India and Sri Lanka, with fully-inclusive prices that also cover visas (except for Laos) for UK passport holders, and expert local and national guides.

TRAVEL agents can find a selection of winter sun deals for their clients with Discover Egypt. The operator has reduced prices on a range of holiday packages to Jordan and Egypt ? due to the new low-cost flights now available from easyJet to Luxor and Amman. TRAVEL agents can find a selection of winter sun deals for their clients with Discover Egypt. The operator has reduced prices on a range of holiday packages to Jordan and Egypt ? due to the new low-cost flights now available from easyJet to Luxor and Amman.

Hurtigruten has doubled the number of departures to six Classic Expedition departures on its most popular Antarctica voyage for next year to meet growing demand. Hurtigruten has doubled the number of departures to six Classic Expedition departures on its most popular Antarctica voyage for next year to meet growing demand.

Cox & Kings has launched its new Latin America brochure for 2012 featuring a programme of escorted tours, including a new group tour combining Chile, Argentina and Brazil, as well as a selection of private tailor-made travel throughout the continent. Cox & Kings has launched its new Latin America brochure for 2012 featuring a programme of escorted tours, including a new group tour combining Chile, Argentina and Brazil, as well as a selection of private tailor-made travel throughout the continent.

To celebrate National Cruise Week, which runs from September 20-25, Star Clippers is offering free cabin upgrades for all bookings made during that period.

The first women of football Karren Brady is headlining World Travel Market?s key Business Day event at ExCeL London in November. She will?be offering innovative advice to small and medium-sized travel businesses at ?Talk Business: Fight to Survive?, which takes place on November 10.

Longwood brochure has unveiled its latest brochure featuring the biggest selection of hotels to date, including new hotels on the Red Sea and in Morocco, a new Nile cruise boat and a new guided tour. Longwood brochure has unveiled its latest brochure featuring the biggest selection of hotels to date, including new hotels on the Red Sea and in Morocco, a new Nile cruise boat and a new guided tour.

Following the first joint overseas?AITO and?AITO Agents conference?in Vilnius in?June, a delegate survey has revealed?that the two organisations are keen to forge even closer links and repeat the format next year.

Both AITO and AITO Agents polled delegates following the conference and findings reveal that there is an appetite for closer integration amongst the organisations. The results also revealed exceeded expectations about the Lithuanian capital.

Sponsored by the Lithuanian Tourist Board, the conference was combined to celebrate two exciting milestones - the 35th?anniversary of AITO and the 15th?anniversary of AITO Agents ? and to reinforce greater links in the spirit of the Closer Ties scheme between the two organisations.

The prevailing feeling from the survey respondents was that the destination of the conference played a big role in the success of the first combined event.?The only negative was that many felt their visit was too short and that more time was needed to explore its attractions. Such was the popularity of the city that more than 25% of respondents that?had previously not sold Vilnius, said that as a result of the conference they would now do so.

The key findings from the survey were:

• 65% of respondents said that they liked the combined conference format

• More than 80% of respondents said that Vilnius exceeded their expectations

• More than 75% felt that the conference offered good value for money

Chairman of AIRO, Derek Moore, said: "The feedback from delegates who attended the first joint conference in Vilnius was overwhelmingly in favour of us keeping the same arrangement.?Much of the success for this year?s conference was down to Vilnius being such a superb location and a city that welcomed delegates with open arms. The Lithuanian National Tourist Office and the people of Vilnius could not have been warmer hosts and contributed to one of the most memorable conferences on record.?

For more information about Vilnius and Lithuania visit www.lithuaniatourism.co.uk. For details on AITO see?www.aito.com and for more information on AITO Specialist Travel Agents visit?www.aitoagents.com

Both AITO and AITO Agents polled delegates following the conference and findings reveal that there is an appetite for closer integration amongst the organisations. The results also revealed exceeded expectations about the Lithuanian capital.

Sponsored by the Lithuanian Tourist Board, the conference was combined to celebrate two exciting milestones - the 35th?anniversary of AITO and the 15th?anniversary of AITO Agents ? and to reinforce greater links in the spirit of the Closer Ties scheme between the two organisations.

The prevailing feeling from the survey respondents was that the destination of the conference played a big role in the success of the first combined event.?The only negative was that many felt their visit was too short and that more time was needed to explore its attractions. Such was the popularity of the city that more than 25% of respondents that?had previously not sold Vilnius, said that as a result of the conference they would now do so.

The key findings from the survey were:

• 65% of respondents said that they liked the combined conference format

• More than 80% of respondents said that Vilnius exceeded their expectations

• More than 75% felt that the conference offered good value for money

Chairman of AIRO, Derek Moore, said: "The feedback from delegates who attended the first joint conference in Vilnius was overwhelmingly in favour of us keeping the same arrangement.?Much of the success for this year?s conference was down to Vilnius being such a superb location and a city that welcomed delegates with open arms. The Lithuanian National Tourist Office and the people of Vilnius could not have been warmer hosts and contributed to one of the most memorable conferences on record.?

For more information about Vilnius and Lithuania visit www.lithuaniatourism.co.uk. For details on AITO see?www.aito.com and for more information on AITO Specialist Travel Agents visit?www.aitoagents.com