Virgin Atlantic, VisitBritain and London & Partners joinf forces to link Australia and Britain

  

Virgin Atlantic, VisitBritain and London & Partners announced today a new partnership between the three organisations to entice more Australians to visit Britain. Following strong numbers from Australia over the last five years with high spend levels (up 52%); the partners have now combined to continue to drive more tourism to London and beyond.

The partnership launches with a co-branded marketing campaign 'Flying in the face of ordinary to Britain' on 02 September 2013, offering a special fare to London with a bonus trip to Manchester, Edinburgh or Aberdeen. Fares start from $1799 per person, including taxes.

Virgin Atlantic General Manager Australia and New Zealand, Luke Fisher commented: "Last year was a record year for Virgin Atlantic on the Kangaroo route. Our passenger numbers travelling through to the UK increased by more than 20,000 people and we saw a marked improvement in our market share to London. We have developed a strong partnership with Visit Britain in this time and we are excited to be working with Visit Britain again this year and to also welcome London & Partners on-board for this year's campaign as well. I look forward to the possibilities the partnership can offer."

Virgin Atlantic celebrated a landmark year in 2012 with the Australian dollar at an all-time high against the British pound. With significant opportunities in the Australian market to grow holiday tourism to Britain; Virgin Atlantic and VisitBritain stood strong in market with the co-branded 'Britain is GREAT campaign. 

VisitBritain's Marketing Director, Joss Croft, commented: "We've seen spend levels grow 52% from the Australian market over the last five years so it's hugely important to extend our partnership with Virgin Atlantic, our key  airline partner linking the UK to Australia."

"London is one of the most inspirational and diverse capitals in the world and the gateway to Britain. Visit Britain and London & Partners are the perfect partners to help Virgin Atlantic capitalise on the increased global awareness and attention this exciting destination has received following the success of the London Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee celebrations."

In the last five years the price tag on a London trip from Australia has become more affordable,  allowing more travellers to venture further afield to destinations within Great Britain. We've seen more than 3 million Australian visits to London over the past five years, spending around £2.2 billion in the capital.

London & Partners Director Consumer Marketing and Digital Channels, Julie Chappell commented:

"The kangaroo route has brought many millions of Australian residents to London since the 1930s and last year Australia was London's 4th biggest market for tourism expenditure, generating £470 million and the 7th biggest visitor market with 600,000 visitors coming to London from Australia. This new partnership with Virgin Atlantic and Visit Britain will further build on our strong ties with Australia by attracting more visitors keen to experience London's rich cultural offering, world class events and shopping." 

The bespoke multi-platform, integrated marketing campaign has been designed by Virgin Atlantics creative agency RKYR London and GPYR Sydney, with media planning and buying by OMD Sydney.

The campaign will feature;

•              Online primarily with Yahoo! 7, BBC.com and Ninemsn Gourmet Traveller

•              Weekend travel sections of all major metropolitan newspapers

•              Radio live reads

•              Social media presence on Facebook

•              Travel trade media

Through this collaboration, the 'Flying in the face of ordinary to Britain' campaign communicates each organisations' commitment of inspiring Australian travellers to visit London and Britain not just in 2013 but beyond into 2014.

The Leading Active Specialist To Unveil a New Vietnam Walking Tour in Two Week

The Leading Specialist (www.adventurevietnam.com) to Unveil Vietnam Walking Tour in Two Week With Each Day of Vietnam Walking Tour is a Unique Experience.

Active travelers will discover the beauty of Vietnam in style, as well as with a little sense of adventure. You will arrive in Hanoi and will explore this beautiful city, with its dozens of little handicrafts shops.

This Ultimate Vietnam Adventure Tour engages the mind, body and spirit of travelers. The beauty of our tour is the flavors of firsthand knowledge and authentic, unique, sophisticated service handled by local active travel experts.

A guaranteed minimum of two for departure at any given day, all departures are accompanied by an English-speaking tour guide. The Vietnam package tour is priced from US$1,531 per person on a twin-sharing basis, including domestic economy flights, 13 nights’ accommodation, most meals, porters, airport transfers and sightseeing tours.

“On this walking vacation, you’ll enjoy full amenities at our exceptional lodgings and relish the local cuisine from gourmet dinners to the simplest picnic lunch. Each day of our Vietnam walking tour is a unique experience.” Says David Nguyen, Sales and Marketing Director  of AdventureVietnam.com

www.AdventureVietnam.com  —Vietnam’s premier adventure travel company— offers you a one-of-a-kind adventure in Vietnam and the Mekong region. It is not just a trip, it is an unforgettable experience which engages your mind, body and spirit. Adventure Vietnam trips combine adventure with unparalleled cultural immersion in unique and exotic places. Choose your dream trip from our extensive portfolio of private, small group departures, self-guided adventures or ready-to-book private itineraries for once-in-a-lifetime celebrations.

Accor’s investment in Pullman pays dividends Pullman celebrates unprecedented focus and success in just 12 months

Over the past 12 months Accor has been focused on accelerated expansion of its portfolio of Pullman, MGallery, Novotel and Mercure brands following the purchase of the Mirvac hotel group with a capital investment of over $280million (€195million euro). 

Showing confidence in the Australian hotel sector, Accor has placed Pullman front and centre of the group’s expansion in the upscale hotel market, and has taken the brand from just two hotels to 11 in rapid one year growth.

In just four years, Pullman has become Australia’s largest and leading 5-star hotel brand, with a pipeline of four additional Pullman hotels currently under negotiation.

Accor has grown Pullman to become one of Australia’s strongest brand portfolios in upscale hotels and an attractive investment for owners such as Ascendas who own four Pullman properties: Pullman Brisbane King George Square, Pullman Cairns International, Pullman Melbourne Albert Park and Pullman Sydney Hyde Park.

“Establishing and expanding Pullman in Australia is one of the group’s priorities given we have recognised a sweet spot in the upscale market in Australia,” said Chief Operating Officer Accor Australia and New Zealand, Simon McGrath.

“Pullman is currently at a turning point in its history and its expansion in Australia reflects this. Australia is seeing rapid increases in travel from a number of Asian destinations where Pullman is already well-established, and with the Australian Pullman network located in key business and resort areas of Australia, we believe that the brand is well poised to further grow considerable support from both international and domestic travellers,” said Simon McGrath, Chief Operating Officer, Accor Australia and New Zealand.

The success of Pullman’s expansion in Australia is based on Accor’s multimillion dollar investment in the growing network of hotels and resorts, key refurbishment programs in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane worth over $20million and new brand repositioning.

Pullman has also strengthened its brand exposure through strategic partnerships with celebrity chef Justin North (culinary consultant for the brand), Taittinger Champagne, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival and the management of Qantas’ domestic lounges.

In recognition of this growth and success, Pullman has been crowed Australia’s Hotel Brand of the Year at the prestigious HM (Hotel Management) Awards 2013. In addition to this major accolade, Pullman Sydney Olympic Park was named Upper-upscale Hotel of the Year while Accor was crowned winner of Accommodation Chain for the third consecutive year.

The Pullman brand boasts 11 hotels and resorts in the country’s key tourism and business destinations: Sydney, Cairns, Port Douglas, Palm Cove, Brisbane, Bunker Bay and Melbourne. Pullman continues to expand its network across world’s prime tourist destinations and is on track to meet its objective of 150 hotels by 2015-2020.

Madrid, an accessible tourist destination

Madrid has a standing commitment to tourism for all, as illustrated by the 6th Accessible Tourism Guide to Madrid. This publication offers up-to-date, detailed information on the accessibility of a wide range of tourist attractions in the city, including 161 accommodations, 129 places of interest - such as museums, restaurants and theatres - along with seven emblematic routes for exploring the Spanish capital.

The guide provides information on accessibility - gathered in situ by experts from the State Representative Platform of the Physically Challenged (PREDIF) - encompassing 161 hotels, 43 museums and exhibition halls, 28 restaurants, 16 theatres and cinemas, 14 shopping centers, 9 tourist information points, 8 monuments, 7 conference and trade fair venues and 4 recreational activities.

This latest edition of the Guide contains updated information as well as 18 extra accommodation options and 20 new tourist attractions, such as the Conde Duque Cultural Centre, Matadero Madrid, San Anton market and the Madrid City Tour bus. Available on CD, the publication can be accessed via the city of Madrid's official tourism portal,www.esmadrid.com/es/madrid-accesible .

The new additions include a planned route around the Argüelles district, complementing the six routes already available, which details the specific conditions that persons with disabilities may encounter when touring this area. The other six routes are: “Art Walk," “Royal Palace and Surrounding Area," “Gran Via," “Literary Quarter," “Salamanca District," and “Chueca District."

MOBILE APPS

You can access the Guide on your mobile phone thanks to the Tur4all app, promoted by PREDIF. It provides accessibility information on more than 1,500 tourist establishments throughout Spain. This tool also allows you to search for information on nearby establishments, telling you how far away they are and how to get there. You can personalize your search criteria, find the closest accessible tourist establishment as well as bookmark those which most interest you.

This is a free, accessible app that has been made possible thanks to the support of Fundacion Vodafone Espana, as is also the case with the free “Accessibility" app promoted by the Region of Madrid Federation of Associations of Persons with Physical and Organic Disabilities (FAMMA-Cocemfe Madrid). This system features geolocation and augmented reality as well as providing real-time information on over 25,000 accessible locations around Spain.

PARTNERSHIP WITH ORGANIZATIONS

The Accessible Tourism Guide to Madrid is one of the key initiatives through which Madrid City Council, under the guidance of PREDIF, promotes accessible tourism, as set out in Madrid's 2012-2015 Strategic Tourism Plan. The initiative is also made possible thanks to the collaboration and support of major organizations from the world of accessibility and tourism, such as Fundacion ONCE, ONCE (Spanish Organization for the Blind), the Federation of Organizations in Support of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (FEAPPS-Madrid), the Region of Madrid Federation for the Deaf (FESORCAM) and the State Centre for Personal Autonomy and Technical Aids (CEAPAT).

Madrid Visitors & Convention Bureau is fully aware of how vital it is for a tourist destination to offer the best possible conditions in order to make any visit a complete and unique experience. Consequently, it promotes services aimed at receiving persons with disabilities. Such commitment further enhances the image of Madrid as a city that is open, easy-to-access and welcoming for visitors, offering a superb range of widely-available services to suit all tastes and needs.

THE FIRST ACCESSIBLE URBAN TOURIST OFFICE IN SPAIN

This Guide is not the only initiative through which Madrid makes it easier for everyone to visit the capital city. Madrid is also the first city in Spain to have a tourist office (its main Tourist Centre, located in Plaza Mayor) awarded the Universal Accessibility certification by the Spanish Association for Standardization and Certification (AENOR). This accessibility system, introduced in 2010 and upgraded annually, covers not only the physical accessibility of a location, but also of the services provided at the Tourist Centre.

To guarantee accessibility, at the entrance of the Tourist Center there is a high-relief map in Braille showing the services available, a description and their location. There are also many informative signs designed with large text and contrasting colors to make them easier to understand. Madrid Visitors & Convention Bureau is committed to offering a standardized tourist service accessible to all.

Podotactile bands have been installed for persons with visual disabilities, along with hip supports for persons with reduced mobility and a magnetic loop that reduces background noise to make it easier to communicate with persons that have impaired hearing. The Centre also has a Spanish sign language service, available every day of the year, and the staff at all tourist centers and information points are specially trained in the protocols for assisting persons with disabilities.

ADAPTED VISITS

Another initiative that reflects the city's standing commitment to accessible tourism is the creation and adaptation of guided tours for persons with disabilities. Since 2004, the Official Guided Tours Program has been both increased and enhanced by a number of standardized guided routes available to everyone, regardless of whether or not they have a disability, such as the three “Essential Madrid" tours, as well as the creation of free guided tours specially adapted for persons with physical, visual, hearing or intellectual disabilities.

Last year, Madrid Visitors & Convention Bureau provided 136 specially-adapted guided tours for 2,336 persons with disabilities. This summer sees the launch of some new adapted routes: “El Capricho Alameda de Osuna Historic Gardens," “El Retiro Park, a Royal Space," and “Madrid and the River. Trail 1″ for persons with disabilities.

Harrison Ford visits Indonesia for TV Series on Climate Change and Rainforest Conservation

Hollywood’s legendary actor, Harrison Ford of Indiana Jones fame, was in Jakarta recently to interview Indonesian President Soesilo Bambang Yudhoyono and a number of high ranking officials in connection with the shooting of the documentary series on Climate Change entitled : “Years of Living Dangerously”.

For the series, Harrison trekked through the Tesso Nilo National Park in the Riau Province and the Nyaru Menteng Orang Utan reserve near Palangkaraya in Central Kalimantan (Borneo). The series covers a number of countries, including Indonesia.

In the interview and discussion with President Yudhoyono on Tuesday, 10th September 2013 lasting 40 minutes, Harrison discussed environmental and conservation issues in Indonesia. Presidential spokesman , Julian Aldrin Pasha, later told the press that discussions flowed smoothly. President Yudhoyono explained Indonesia’s policy on environment conservation and the mitigation of climate change. “Several strategic issues and government policies in protecting and managing the environment were discussed, as Indonesia is considered a country that has made great contributions to global environmental conservation,” Julian said as reported in thejakartapost.com.

On his side, Harrison Ford requested the President that Indonesia give more positive contribution towards forest conservation since this country has huge swathes of tropical rainforests and, therefore, plays a significant role in global climate. Ford also urged the Indonesian authorities and police to act firmly towards those who have violated environmental rules and regulations and damaged the environment with special reference to the degradation of the Tesso Nilo National Park in Riau.

Since the President’s birthday fell on the previous day, 9th September, Harrison Ford personally gave on the occasion, as birthday gift, a package of “Indiana Jones” movies honoring the President’s 64th birthday, added Julian.

Addressing the issue of Climate Change, the series the “Years of Living Dangerously” is co-produced by James Cameron, Daniel Abbasi, David Gelber, James Cameron, Jerry Weintraub and Joel Bach. and Arnold Schwarzenegger for US TV network Showtime, and is set to premier in 2014. The series plans to show how climate change affects humanity. Besides Indonesia, shooting will also take place in the United States and the Middle East. Other actors involved in the series are Jessica Alba, America Ferrera, Olivia Munn, Michael C. Hall, Ian Somerhalder, Don Cheadle and Matt Damon.

In Riau, Ford recently filmed inclusive peatland conservation activities conducted by Dharsono Hartono and activists from international green groups, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Greenpeace.

During his time in the country, the legendary actor also met a number of environmental activists, business people, and government authorities that included the Minister for Forestry Zulkifli Hasan; Chief of the Presidential Working Unit for the Supervision and Management of Development (UKP4), Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, plantation businessman Franky Widjaja, and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (Kadin) Deputy Chair for the environment and climate change,Shinta Widjaja Kamdani.

Glacier Explorers up-and-running and excited for summer season

Access to New Zealand’s stunning Tasman Glacier is once again possible as iconic tourism operator Glacier Explorers opens for summer business this week taking the first guests on their once-in-a-lifetime boat trip.

Guides and guests took to the Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake on Saturday (14 September) aboard the company’s Mac Boats, surrounded by around 50 icebergs of varying sizes, marking the start of the 2013/14 season.

Glacier Explorers offers the only tour of its kind in New Zealand at Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and is one of the only accessible glacial lakes containing icebergs in the world.

Trips don’t operate in winter as the lake is frozen over, however trips resume from this week as the lake has melted.

The company’s four Mac Boats, including a new 15-seater vessel called the Nor’easter, were lifted into the lake last week by helicopter. 

Glacier Explorers Operations Manager Bede Ward, who’s led the experienced team of guides for a number of years, said opening weekend was “amazing”.

“It was perfect; the sun was shining and there were some great icebergs to be seen. The team and I are stoked to be back on the water once again,” said Mr Ward.

“You never get tired of being out here, it’s ever-changing and every day you see something slightly different,” he said.

“It promises to be yet another exciting season ahead with a couple of ‘calvings’ predicted over the next few months,” said Mr Ward.

“No one knows exactly when this natural phenomenon will take place but during a recent helicopter flight over the glacier we could see signs of movement. We’ll see a couple of calvings this year, though who knows if they’ll be as big as last year’s”, Mr Ward said.

Last summer saw a major calving event take place forming the largest-ever iceberg seen on the Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake; a delight for guests and guides.

In February the entire 650m-wide front face of the Tasman Glacier in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park broke away into the lake and into around 20 huge icebergs, providing a spectacular sight for passengers. The iceberg remains of the calving can still be seen today.

Glacier Explorers take passengers out on the lake to view the terminal face of New Zealand’s largest glacier, the Tasman Glacier, and the icebergs that periodically break away to float on the glacial lake offer “an extraordinary opportunity to view nature in action”.

“Getting out on this magnificent lake is a unique experience and is growing in popularity.

“It’s on most people’s ‘to do’ list while they’re in New Zealand, it’s simply spectacular,” Mr Ward said.

The tour is hugely popular with New Zealand and overseas visitors, taking over 25,000 visitors last season. 

Glacier Explorers trips depart up to seven times a day, leaving every hour and a half. Bookings are essential and can be made atwww.glacierexplorers.com

Interval International Welcomes Residence La Splaza In Italian ALPS

Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group , announced the affiliation of 21 timeshare units at Residence La Splaza, a seasonal ski and summer resort in the Italian Alps.

The new units are located in Scala N, part of the well-established development in the popular Montecampione ski resort near Boario and Lake Iseo in Valcamonica, one of the largest valleys in the eastern Lombardy region of Italy.     

   

"We look forward to working with the developers of Residence La Splaza, who have built this successful timeshare community that dates back to the 1980s," said Darren Ettridge, Interval’s senior vice president of resort sales and business development for Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. "The surrounding area offers numerous groomed trails for all levels of skiers, as well as a host of summer activities for our members to enjoy.”

Located at an altitude of 1200 metres or nearly 4,000 feet, the destination is renowned for its downhill and freestyle skiing and snowboarding from mid-December to the beginning of April. During the summer season, hiking, tennis, and golf are popular activities.

The complex features a number of on-site and nearby facilities that are available depending on the season: ice skating rink, pool, gym, playground, soccer pitch and basketball, as well as tennis and volleyball courts.  Guests also have access to restaurants and bars, a market, pharmacy and shops, and an intra-resort minibus service. The units that are part of Interval’s network include studios and one- and two-bedrooms and are housed in a new building adjacent to the main ski lift. Each has a kitchen and balcony.

“We are excited about this expansion to our existing resort, so that we can welcome more guests to this beautiful part of the Italian Alps," said Alessio Rocchetti, managing director of Edilombarda06 Srl, developers of the resort. "Our partnership with Interval International will give our owners the ability to sample other destinations available through its quality vacation exchange network. It will also introduce Residence La Splaza to skiers and active vacationers throughout the world."

Residence La Splaza is 62 kilometres (38 miles) from the nearest international airport in Bergamo and 110 kilometres (68 miles) from Milan.