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  • News: loveholidays.com launches latest payment plan

    Online travel agent loveholidays.com today announces the launch of latest and straightforward the right way to pay for a dream holiday as of early April.  Holidaymakers can either:

    1. Spread the price with interest-free monthly payments
    2. Secure a vacation with a low deposit
    3. Pay a normal deposit
    4. Pay in full

    With ‘spread the cost’, unlike another travel companies’ schemes, once a small deposit is paid – as low as £5 per person – further payments are automatically debited in equal monthly instalments, and loveholidays.com would not charge interest at the outstanding balance.

    For a hotel-only deal, checking in to the four-star Jungle Aqua Park Resort in Egypt – a property that boasts 21 pools – on 12 October 2013 for a seven night stay will cost £222 per person. With loveholidays.com’s new payment scheme, book by 1st April 2013 with a deposit of £10, you just pay five monthly instalments of £87.

    By choosing ‘spread the cost’, holidaymakers may be able to plan well ahead: jet off from London Gatwick on 15 April 2014 for seven nights self-catering accommodation on the three-star Laguna Park Apartments in Tenerife for £499 per person and easily pay £98 deposit by 1st July 2013 and budget for 6 monthly payments of £75 per person to secure per week inside the sun.

    ‘Spread the cost’ puts even luxury holidays close by. Seven nights all inclusive on the Gran Bahia Principe Riviera Maya Resort in Mexico, including flights from London Gatwick on 2 March 2014, costs £1,202 per person: secure the vacation – ideal for a honeymoon or special celebration – with a £49 per person deposit and budget for 11 equal monthly payments of £105 per person.

    Launching ‘Spread the Cost’ as portion of the brand new ‘4 How you can Pay’ scheme, Al Francis of loveholidays.com said: “Paying up front or in unequal instalments for a vacation can often put pressure at the purse but our new plan allows travellers to organise their payments as portion of their monthly expenditure. It’s catch-free, meaning that we don’t earn money from the scheme, it’s purely for customers’ benefit and enables them to responsibly afford a vacation that they could have, in the beginning, thought was beyond their budget.”

    For flight and hotel deals and hotel only purchases, the general payment is due four weeks earlier than departure. Normal Cancellation terms apply. All prices subject to availability and in line with two adults travelling together, sharing accommodation.

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  • NTA eyes adverse impacts of sequestration on travel

    Across-the-board sequestration cuts for an array of federal government functions are starting to take a toll on travel to and throughout the U . s . a .. And meaning trouble for tourism, an NTA leader warns.

    “NTA could be very concerned that cutbacks in funding could have negative impacts on visitation, jobs, the U.S. economy and the balance of trade,” said Lisa Simon, president of NTA. “Tourism is an investment that produces jobs and revenue that support the remainder of the U.S. economy, and these cuts may cause serious ripple effects.”

    Simon added that the sequester cuts come at a foul time. In a up to date survey, NTA members reported a rebound in 2012 business following a chronic economic slowdown, and nearly all of all members projected an excellent brighter 2013—tour operators (59 percent), suppliers (70 percent) and DMOs (74 percent).

    Sequestration took effect on March 1, however the full impact of federal reductions in personnel hours and operating budgets continues to mount. NTA is most closely following cuts in five areas that directly impact tourism:
    *  FAA air traffic controllers: Furloughs began yesterday and flight delays started today.
    *  Transportation Security Administration personnel
    *  Customs and Border Protection officers at airports and border crossings
    *  consulate offices overseas, which process visas and conduct interviews
    *  federal parks and public lands, where staffing reductions will limit or delay access

    Simon said NTA also is looking forward to increased fees at U.S. national parks, diverted operational funds for parks and public lands, and changes to funding for marketing america as a global destination.

    “NTA will keep a detailed eye on how these issues impact the travel economy and our members’ livelihoods, and we are able to work with other travel organizations to tell Congress and the Obama administration in regards to the significant, adverse effects of sequestration,” said Simon. “The travel sector must increase its efforts to aid public policy makers understand the specter of reduced funding.”

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  • News: Europcar unveils InterRent its new within your budget brand

    Europcar, the leader in car rental services in Europe, today unveiled InterRent, its new low-cost car rental brand for leisure customers. First implemented in France, Germany, Portugal, Spain and the UK, InterRent is to be expanded over the coming years encompassing the franchise network. The launch of InterRent illustrates Europcar commitment to meeting all of its customers’ mobility needs.

    “The launch of InterRent is a key achievement of our Group’s strategy. With InterRent, we are addressing customers’ needs, expanding our offer, enriching our brand portfolio and entering a growing market, the affordable car rental segment” said Roland Keppler, Chief Executive Officer of Europcar group.

    “Drive, save, enjoy”

    As of April 2013, customers will benefit from InterRent new car rental offering in five European countries and enjoy a smart, simple and friendly low-cost solution. InterRent puts itself in the customers’ shoes: by talking in their language, it puts customers at ease with the car rental experience. Mostly based near airport and railway stations, the 44 InterRent stations will offer customers a fleet of 6,000 vehicles, including mini, economy, compact and mini van categories.

    “With its “drive, save, enjoy” signature, InterRent is targeting a new category of leisure travelers”, commented InterRent Director Jehan de Thé. “In addition to a good value approach, we are able to offer a shopper experience according to innovation and quality of service. We plan to double the selection of stations and to deploy InterRent outside Europe by 2014”.

    At the center of the InterRent offering is an easy, user-friendly website (www.interrent.com), which supplies an effortless booking process in precisely three steps:
    –    Date and place of the rental
    –    Vehicle category and any options needed
    –    Payment

    Each rental includes:
    –    24h on-road assistance
    –    The required third-party liability insurance and further coverage for theft and damages.

    Customers find a way to settle on options including: a child seat, GPS, and further drivers.

    To support and promote the InterRent launch, a 12-months affiliate marketing online campaign was initiated in all five European countries where the service is accessible.

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  • GIBTM: Jumeirah at Etihad Towers launches new private event packages

    Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, a member of the posh hotel group Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, has launched a different line-up of personal event packages in accordance with the subjects of sea and water, where the party events appear either Above or Besides the Arabian Gulf, or In a single of the hotel’s three pools.

    The packages were launched on the Gulf Incentive Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition held on the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in Abu Dhabi.

    The ‘Above Water Group-Event Package’ provides groups with a 3-hour package of free-flowing beverages at one among Abu Dhabi’s most striking locations – the terrace deck above Scott’s restaurant located above the Arabian Gulf.

    With its open vistas and modern architecture, the venue is obtainable by both land and sea and offers a distinct al fresco setting of distinction for corporate and personal party gatherings.

    For those wishing to take their event to a much better locale, an analogous package could be provided at Abu Dhabi’s highest venue point – Observation Deck at 300, that is located 300 meters above the UAE capital and gives impressive 360 degree panoramic views of Abu Dhabi’s cityscape, Corniche and the Arabian Gulf, all from a luxury setting.

    The ‘Besides Water Group-Event Package’ is a package designed for groups seeking their very own gourmet private beach party and includes live BBQ cooking stations and free flowing beverage options for 3 hours, while the ‘In Water Group-Event Package’ allows groups not just to live it up and get wet in a single of the hotel’s three pools, but whets the appetite with an intimate poolside BBQ setting.

    Noted for its gourmet excellence and expertise in staging unique corporate, private and conferencing events, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers have been the recipient of a slew of accolades including the title of World’s Leading Meetings & Conference Hotel on the 2012 World Travel Awards.

    The Above, Besides and In Water Group Event Packages were launched for those seeking casual outdoor and unique event spaces with dramatic backdrops and compliment the formal elegance and comfort offered by the hotel’s Conference Centre with its expansive Mezzoon ballroom, 13 meeting rooms, Chairman Suite, Bridal Suite and Business Centre which are completely and uniquely housed at the same Podium 4 Level.

  • Gay and lesbian travellers a driver within the international tourism industry

    US Gay and lesbian hotel guests spend a normal 57 per cent more on their travels than their heterosexual counterparts. That’s the results of the newest survey by Community Marketing Inc., a partner of ITB Berlin. Rika Jean-Francois, ITB Berlin’s CSR officer and member of the board of the International Gay & Travel Association (IGLTA) presented the findings on the ITB Berlin Convention and on the recently held strategy conference of Wien Tourismus in Vienna. Late last year, in a survey conducted inside the USA by Community Marketing Inc., 5,700 interviewees were asked about their travel habits. In accordance with the survey, it’s not only hotels but entire destinations that get pleasure from LGBT travellers (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender).

    Sunshine and relaxation the most important reasons for holidaying
    According to the survey, 40 per cent of gays and shut to an identical variety of lesbians within the USA said a destination’s degree of gay-friendliness was the foremost factor influencing their collection of destination. As regarded holiday needs 67 per cent of gays and 66 per cent of lesbian travellers said warm weather was their first requirement, followed by cultural attractions, beaches and cuisine. Greater than 50 per cent of the respondents said certainly one of their main holiday interests was relaxation. For 35 per cent of gays the second one-most vital aspect was visiting family and friends, while for 32 per cent of lesbian couples it was spending time with their partners. 33 per cent of gay and 30 per cent of lesbian respondents said the placement of a hotel significantly influenced their selection of destination. For 30 per cent of both groups the second one-fundamental aspect was the worth.

    LGBT travellers are comfortable using the net. When on the search for travel information 59 per cent of lesbian and 54 per cent of gay travellers inside the US said they depended on the recommendations of friends and families, and then they preferred travel websites. 41 per cent of gay and 36 per cent of lesbian travellers said they responded to advertising that targeted LGBT audiences.

    Commitment to LGBT travellers
    Over a long time, as portion of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) concept, ITB Berlin has committed itself to supporting human rights in tourism, including tolerance and variety, and as an instance is a committed member of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA). Exhibitors representing the LBGT market first took part within the world’s largest travel trade extravaganza in 2003. For the last three years lectures and discussions in this subject in addition on LGBT travel topics was going down on the ITB Berlin Convention.

    It has become one of many 15 officially recognised travel segments of the world’s largest travel trade event and because then has witnessed constantly rising demand. Currently, ITB Berlin has the most important range of LGBT travel products and destinations of any tourism trade extravaganza on earth. With its large Gay & Lesbian Travel Pavilion, the ITB TomOnTour Party and diverse other supporting LGBT events ITB Berlin has made a stand for tolerance and equal rights.

    With its seminars on LGBT tourism in India in 2011, a data stand at ITB Asia 2012 in Singapore, an LGBT information booth at ABAV 2013 in Rio de Janeiro and international seminars and symposiums worldwide the ITB Academy is likewise showing its support for dismantling taboos and the event of this significant market segment worldwide. At ITB Berlin 2013 a strategic partnership between Wien Tourismus (Vienna Tourism) and ITB Berlin on LGBT Travel was agreed, in a bid to jointly support and extra its aims one day.

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