News

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

Haven?s pink elephant character is celebrating her birthday across all of its 35 parks from September 19-23 and guests are invited to join the birthday party, which will include?a special birthday ceremony, traditional party games, party bags and party dances.

Families can also join in a range of free activities including the SportsZone programmes, SplashZones offering heated indoor pool complexes, parent-free zones for the teenagers, a variety of family activities such as football coaching, archery, fencing, go-karts, mini-golf, remote control cars, ten pin bowling, kids clubs and adventure playgrounds.

Four night breaks starting on September 19 start from ?149 per unit of accommodation based on a Standard two-bedroom self-catering caravan that sleeps up to six people at selected parks.

For more information visit?www.bourneleisuresales.co.uk or call 0871-230 1919.

Families can also join in a range of free activities including the SportsZone programmes, SplashZones offering heated indoor pool complexes, parent-free zones for the teenagers, a variety of family activities such as football coaching, archery, fencing, go-karts, mini-golf, remote control cars, ten pin bowling, kids clubs and adventure playgrounds.

Four night breaks starting on September 19 start from ?149 per unit of accommodation based on a Standard two-bedroom self-catering caravan that sleeps up to six people at selected parks.

For more information visit?www.bourneleisuresales.co.uk or call 0871-230 1919.

LAN Airlines is relaunching direct flights from Lima, Peru to Easter Island, Chile from February 1, 2012.

The route was briefly operated between January and March this year.

For more information visit www.lan.com

The route was briefly operated between January and March this year.

For more information visit www.lan.com

Small Luxury Hotels of the World is offering guests the chance to escape the British chill this autumn with a new selection of special deals including free nights, up to 20% savings and added-value benefits with a selection of city breaks, beach getaways and countryside retreats when booking by November 14, for travel by?November 15.

As examples, guests can stay five nights at Germanys?Gut Klosterm?hle Hotel and Spa for the price of four, with prices leading in at approximately??116 per room, per night.

In France, guests staying two nights at the?H?tel Belles Rives in Juan Les Pins will?receive 10% off the best available rate. Prices start from ?137 per room, per night, while at the?Casa Angelina Lifestyle Hotel ? in Praiano, Italy, guests staying four nights?receive 10% off the best available rate, with prices from ?203 per room, per night.

For details see?www.slh.com or call?00800-5254 8000.

As examples, guests can stay five nights at Germanys?Gut Klosterm?hle Hotel and Spa for the price of four, with prices leading in at approximately??116 per room, per night.

In France, guests staying two nights at the?H?tel Belles Rives in Juan Les Pins will?receive 10% off the best available rate. Prices start from ?137 per room, per night, while at the?Casa Angelina Lifestyle Hotel ? in Praiano, Italy, guests staying four nights?receive 10% off the best available rate, with prices from ?203 per room, per night.

For details see?www.slh.com or call?00800-5254 8000.

Bales Worldwide has launched its 2012 Escorted Small Groups and Tailor Made Holidays programme for 2012/13.

The?brochure covers 40 countries (with an additional ten included online) throughout Asia, Africa, the Far East, Latin America, Egypt and Arabia, India, Canada, Alaska and Australasia.

A?few countries make a welcome return as well as an increased offering in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Peru, Morocco and throughout Africa. In addition to a variety of tailor-made?ideas and suggested itineraries there are seven new escorted small group tours with prices starting from??1,095 for a ten-day?Wonders of Ancient Egypt? tour and 11 new select frequent departure tours.

To celebrate the launch the company?is offering an?early booking offer of ?100 per person discount for bookings made before?September 30.

For?details see www.balesworldwide.com or call 0845-057 0600.

The?brochure covers 40 countries (with an additional ten included online) throughout Asia, Africa, the Far East, Latin America, Egypt and Arabia, India, Canada, Alaska and Australasia.

A?few countries make a welcome return as well as an increased offering in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Peru, Morocco and throughout Africa. In addition to a variety of tailor-made?ideas and suggested itineraries there are seven new escorted small group tours with prices starting from??1,095 for a ten-day?Wonders of Ancient Egypt? tour and 11 new select frequent departure tours.

To celebrate the launch the company?is offering an?early booking offer of ?100 per person discount for bookings made before?September 30.

For?details see www.balesworldwide.com or call 0845-057 0600.

The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) says that the Island is open for business and fully operational for tourists after Hurricane Irene passed through earlier this week.

All hotels, casinos, airports and ferries are operating as normal on the main island as well as on the islands of Culebra and Vieques.? Cruise ships and airlines are arriving and departing as scheduled.? Beaches are open and the water is safe for swimming.? The majority of roads have been reopened and electricity has been restored across most of the Island.

PRTC?s tourism service line (001-800-981-7575) will operate on its normal schedule (Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. until midnight and Saturday - Sunday 9:00 a.m. until midnight, all times Eastern Time) and tourist information centres on the Island are available during regular business hours to offer support to tourists who need it.

PRTC continues to recommend that arriving and departing passengers call their airline regarding any changes, delays or cancellations that may be caused by Hurricane Irene passing through the East Coast of the United States.

All hotels, casinos, airports and ferries are operating as normal on the main island as well as on the islands of Culebra and Vieques.? Cruise ships and airlines are arriving and departing as scheduled.? Beaches are open and the water is safe for swimming.? The majority of roads have been reopened and electricity has been restored across most of the Island.

PRTC?s tourism service line (001-800-981-7575) will operate on its normal schedule (Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. until midnight and Saturday - Sunday 9:00 a.m. until midnight, all times Eastern Time) and tourist information centres on the Island are available during regular business hours to offer support to tourists who need it.

PRTC continues to recommend that arriving and departing passengers call their airline regarding any changes, delays or cancellations that may be caused by Hurricane Irene passing through the East Coast of the United States.