Best Holiday Lettings

Author: Alicia

  • Atoll Paradise wins three World Travel Awards

    At the Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony for the area Travel Awards, which came about at Paradise Island, a non-public resort within the Maldives, on May 12, 2013, Atoll Paradise emerged once more as a pacesetter within the region, winning three of the coveted awards, for ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Travel Agency’, ‘Maldives’ Leading Tour Operator’, and likewise within the newly established category ‘Seychelles’ Leading Luxury Tour Operator’.

    Atoll Paradise is incredibly happy with this accomplishment, especially because the company only added the destination Seychelles in late 2011 to its exclusive luxury resort portfolio and has already been recognized because the Leading Luxury Tour Operator of this gorgeous island nation!

    “It is an honor to were selected for the second one year now as a pacesetter inside the travel industry of the region! We base our success at the inside knowledge our Travel Consultants have of every resort in our collection, and naturally at the top-notch personalized service we offer! All of our team members are very devoted to their work and to the corporate, and we fully embrace our motto to always exceed our customers’ expectations. My team, as an example, is on call 24-hours an afternoon for our clients on location, and we ensure no hick-up will disturb your holiday serenity!”, says Jenny Vettiger Mufeed, Guest Experience Manager at Atoll Paradise.

    The elegant award ceremony occurred on Paradise Island inside the Maldives, and the ambience was fitting for this dream destination – chic, yet laid-back, elegant with a tropical touch! The outlet speech was given by Mr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, the President of the Maldives, and he was followed by Mr. David Falcon, Senior Vp WTA, who gave a brief background on WTA’s 20-year history. Attendees included the crème-de-la-crème in travel of the Indian Ocean region, and entertainment came with compliments of Unoosha – an impressive singer who mixes traditional Maldivian sounds with modern beats – and native Bodu Beru groups.

    The Indian Ocean Award ceremony also recognized the Maldives as an entire, awarding this gorgeous island nation the elite status of Indian Ocean’s Leading Beach Destination, Indian Ocean’s Leading Cruise Destination, Indian Ocean’s Leading Tourist Board, and Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination – awards were received by the Minister of Tourism himself, Mr. Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor, who was also named Indian Ocean’s Travel & Tourism Personality of the Year. The winners within the resort categories included a lot of our partner resorts, with LUX* Maldives being named Indian Ocean’s Leading Beach Resort, Ocean Haven at W Retreat Maldives won for Indian Ocean’s Leading Hotel Suite, Frégate Island Private within the Seychelles was awarded Indian Ocean’s Leading Private Island Resort, and Hilton Mauritius received a statue for Mauritius’ Leading Spa Resort! We congratulate all of our partners who were recognized as leaders in luxury travel, and are proud to be working with every one of them!

    The World Travel Awards were launched in 1993 to recognize and recognize excellence within the global travel and tourism industry. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, it’s thought to be the very highest achievement that a travel product could hope to receive and their aim is to spotlight and reward those travel brands which have made the best contribution to the industry over the last year. Votes are cast by greater than 700,000 travel professionals and consumers in over 170 countries around the globe.

    Atoll Paradise is busy with plans for further expansion, on the brink of move into their new state-of-the-art office complex by next month, where they’re going to make the most of the very best that technology has to provide, to make certain customers can lie back and relax worry-free while on vacation.

    Atoll Paradise extends a heartfelt Thanks to its customers, business partners, and employees – only in the course of the dedicated collaboration of all three components can a tender company like this achieve such heights of success!

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  • News: Global Travel Agency Network Virtuoso® brings its International Symposium to Buenos Aires

    Virtuoso®, the worldwide network renowned for its ability to create exceptional luxury travel experiences for clientele, welcomes its travel agency owner members and preferred travel providers to Buenos Aires for its Symposium.  Attracting greater than 400 people from 33 countries, the Symposium came about 21-25 April 2013.  Symposium meetings serve to deepen the relationships of the network’s agency owners with the foremost senior executives from the world’s leading luxury travel brands and unique providers, in addition to with the host destination and its curated Virtuoso travel providers; the result’s the elevation of Virtuoso client experiences.

    Virtuoso selected Buenos Aires from a considerable number of potential host cities following a written invitation from the President of the Argentine Nation, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner – an instantaneous results of the group’s successful relationship with the Argentina National Institute of Tourism Promotion (INPROTUR). With the connection now in its second year, Virtuoso has seen sales to Argentina rise by seven per cent year over year, with sales to numerous cities seeing substantial growth. Additionally, Argentina was named within the top-five hottest international destinations for 2013 in Virtuoso’s Luxe Report, an annual survey of the network’s member agencies at the latest travel trends. 

    “Since 2011, Virtuoso has enjoyed a successful relationship with INPROTUR, and we were deeply honored to receive a non-public invitation from President Fernandez de Kirchner to carry our Symposium in Buenos Aires,” said Matthew D. Upchurch , Chairman and CEO of Virtuoso. “Buenos Aires is a terrific destination, with its extraordinary culture, amazing cuisine and a stunning lifestyle that actually resonates with worldly travelers. INPROTUR and travel providers that belong to Virtuoso in Argentina came together to showcase their destination. This level of collaboration is the important thing to our selection process because it leads to our network’s ability to deliver richer experiences to our clients and offers our agencies’ advisors the deeper contacts to make it happen.”

    During the four-day event, attendees will enjoy a personal cocktail reception and dinner on the Bicentennial Museum, a film premiere on the Faena Art Center, city tours, private shopping excursions, culinary experiences, tango lessons or even an inside have a look at Argentina’s favorite sport – polo.  Virtuoso preferred travel providers proudly hosting this prestigious group include Alvear Palace Hotel, Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires, Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires, Faena Hotel Buenos Aires, INPROTUR, Mai10, and Abercrombie & Kent.

    This is the primary time Virtuoso has held its Symposium in South America.  Buenos Aires joins a majestic list of host cities, including Madrid, Spain (2011); Mexico City, Mexico (2010); Sydney, Australia (2009); Athens, Greece (2008); St. Petersburg, Russia (2007); Singapore (2006); and last year’s cruise from Rome to Monte Carlo aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Mariner (2012).

  • Fowlds to spotlight plight of African rhino in London

    Join Dr William Fowlds on September 18th 2013 as he hosts an inspirational lecture on the Royal Geographical Society, London, highlighting the plight of the rhino and his mission to offer protection to these iconic creatures of South Africa and to elevate funds for TUSK Trust & Born Free Foundation.

    South Africa was gripped by a major surge in rhino poaching lately.

    In 2007, 13 rhinos were poached.

    In 2013 it estimated that 900 rhinos would be poached with almost three rhinos being killed day by day.

    Rhinos are poached for his or her horns which, in line with some South East Asian countries, have healing capabilities and other medicinal uses and values.

    Modern science has, however, proved that the horn carries absolutely no medicinal value and is, actually, made of the identical protein, keratin, that’s present in human fingernails.

    Yet the demand for the product continues to extend.

    Current international debate aimed toward bringing an end to poaching include; legalising the rhino horn trade, dehorning rhinos, stricter law enforcement, decreasing demand through bans (that is illegal to trade in rhino horn through rules stipulated by CITES) or education, and a far better consolidated and collaborative approach by all stakeholders, the location is becoming more critical by the day.

    Fowlds is a South African veterinarian and star of ITV1’s Safari Vet School.

    His day-to-day job includes darting lions, elephants and antelopes but last year he was called out to a harrowing situation, unlike anything he’d encountered before.

    Overnight, three rhinos have been illegally darted using veterinary drugs and the poachers had brutally removed bone, skin and horn with either machetes or axes, leaving the rhinos for dead.

    One rhino had actually already died from its injuries but Themba, a male, and Thandi, a feminine were still alive once they were discovered a higher morning.

    So began a gruelling, heart-rending week of attempting to save these two, huge and massively mutilated animals.

    Decisions needed to be made whether to euthanize them instantly or give them a raffle.

    Will was firm to take a look at to save lots of these rhinos.

    This is his story.

    Bear Grylls, who will offer an introduction to the lecture, said: “As the world’s population explodes, the wildlife on all seven continents is being negatively affected and their numbers are dwindling.

    “I have chosen to support one such specie as a logo for all animals in trouble world wide; the rhino in Africa.

    “Will Fowlds’s story need to be heard by all, his account of the tragic consequences of poaching and the hope that he holds for the long run in his crusade to avoid wasting the survivors of those criminal acts.”

    Tickets cost £20 per person and include a complimentary drinks reception before the lecture.

    To purchase tickets please have a look at the official website.

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  • News: Hotel Indigo set to go into Brighton

    IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has signed its first Hotel Indigo in Brighton, Hotel Indigo Brighton – New England Quarter.

    The 94-room property, scheduled to open in early 2014, will operate under a franchise agreement with Fourshore Ltd.

    The new build hotel would be located practically the historic railway station and, like each Hotel Indigo property, would be uniquely designed to mirror the community, character and history of the encircling area. The hotel will take much of its influence from the arches and the artist community that now exhibit beneath them.

    IHG’s Chief Development Officer Europe, Robert Shepherd, said: “The signing of the Hotel Indigo Brighton – New England Quarter, highlights the logo’s continued strong growth in Europe following its introduction to the region in 2009.

    “It’s a testament to the strength of the brand, which mixes the distinctiveness of a boutique hotel with the peace of mind and reliability of a giant hotel company. Hotel Indigo is one in all our newest brands and was an excellent success. We opened our 50th hotel worldwide last year and feature another 47 inside the pipeline, 13 of that are in Europe.” Shepherd added.

    Every Hotel Indigo includes a positive bar and restaurant that’s open to both guests and locals. All Hotel Indigo properties in Europe offer free wi-fi within the hotel as a brand standard. Hotels also offer 24 hour room service and a fitness centre.

    The signing of Hotel Indigo Brighton – New England Quarter, is the newest development for the emblem which has seen the hole of 5 Hotel Indigo hotels in Europe in 2012. Pipeline cities, including St Petersburg, Cannes and Düsseldorf, will open within the following few years.

    There are currently 11 Hotel Indigo properties open in Europe with an extra 13 inside the pipeline.

  • ITB Berlin: Russians wish to book their holidays on the last moment

    Booking one’s holidays on the last possible moment is still a well-liked trend: some of the world’s most vital travel markets last-minute bookings make up the most important percentage of holidays. Russian citizens chiefly like to book their holidays at short notice (not up to a month before departing). It really is the results of a different survey by IPK International’s World Travel Monitor, which was commissioned by ITB Berlin. One of many top ten international source markets for travel abroad (with no less than one overnight) Russia reported the best percentage of last-minute bookings. In 2012 Russians booked 73 per cent in their trips on the last moment, under one month before departing. The habit of booking trips late has always been popular in Russia. During the last five years the craze towards booking travel on the last moment has remained unchanged and has fluctuated hardly in any respect.

    The Italian and Chinese markets also clearly belong within the same category. Unlike in Russia last-minute bookings within the above markets have declined. In 2008 69 per cent of Italian holidaymakers booked their trips on the last moment, whereas in 2012 that figure was only 64 per cent. In China the collection of last-minute bookings fell from 73 per cent in 2008 to 62 per cent in 2012. At 58 per cent and 53 per cent respectively last-minute bookings in Japan and France were comparatively low, although both markets reported a slight upward trend. In 2008 the figure for Japan was 53 per cent and for France it was 51 per cent. At 46 per cent, the German market’s share of last-minute bookings was relatively high. However, compared with other western European countries this figure was below average.

    When it involves their next holidays the Dutch wish to make their plans ahead. At 33 per cent the Dutch market reported the very best percentage of early bookings (four months or more before departing). Nevertheless, there’s a shift happening here too: over the past five years early bookings have fallen by 27 per cent. At 29 and 28 per cent respectively, the German and UK markets also reported a comparatively high percentage of early bookings. In Germany last-minute bookings have fallen by six per cent since 2008, whereas within the UK they’ve risen slightly, by four per cent. Early bookings are of only minor importance in Russia, China and Japan. In 2012 only six per cent of Russian holidaymakers and 8 per cent each of Chinese and Japanese travellers booked their trips four months or more upfront.

    Commenting, Dr. Martin Buck, director of Travel & Logistics at Messe Berlin, said: “The incontrovertible fact that the numerous source markets report widely differing booking habits could carry a crucial message for all those commercial providers who’re already operating within the respective markets or are planning on doing so. The bright level of discussion in this subject, which in Germany at the very least was going on during the last few years, is a hallmark of the way important the aspect of booking ahead is when buying a vacation. We’re delighted that conducting market surveys of this type gives us the chance to supply the travel industry with much more essential information that extends far beyond the normal function of our show.“