JAX FAX Travel Marketing Magazine · 2017. 9. 14. · CHINA Host of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo For info, contact the China National Tourist Ofﬁce: Air China: Y Y NEW YORK 370

MAGAZINEJAXFAX® JUNE 2009

The Travel Agents’ Path to Profits

18 ISRAEL Celebrating Bauhaus23 GREECE Tour Operators26 HUNGARY Beyond Budapest28 POLAND Industrial Heritage32 COLOMBIA Economical Escapes36 CHINA Rural Yunnan Province38 INDIA In the Lap of Luxury40 TRINIDAD & TOBAGO44 BOSTON Favorite Daughter

Egypt

http://www.kenya-airways.com

CHINAHost of the 2010

Shanghai World Expo

For info, contact the China National Tourist Office: Air China:

www.cnto.org www.cntovideo.org www.airchina.com

NEW YORK370 Lexington Ave

Suite 912New York, NY 10017

[email protected]

LOS ANGELES550 North Brand Blvd

Suite 910Glendale, CA 91203

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mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.cnto.orghttp://www.cntovideo.orghttp://www.airchina.com

2 JUNE 2009 WWW.JAXFAX.COM

DESTINATION FEATURES AND ARTICLES12 COVER FEATURE EGYPT

The Spirit of Egypt Delivers

PUBLISHER’S CORNER 6 Travel Agents Win Again!EDITOR’S DESK 8 Is Anybody Home?

SNAPSHOTS 11 The Month in ReviewEXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW 17 Sayed Khalifa, Consul-Dir. of the Egyptian Tourist Authority

31 Charis Papacharalambous Sales & Marketing, Louis Cruise Lines

MAGAZINEJAXFAX®VOLUME 37, NO. 6 JUNE 2009

800-952-9329 www.jaxfax.com

Consolifare Password: egypt

The 21st century has arrived in this fabled land of sun and stones, but touristsdon’t come to see the newest marvels. They want to see the sphinx, the temples,the tombs – and Egypt has ‘em in abundance. Sure, there are the pyramids alongthe Nile River, but – check out the new library in Alexandria! Earnest camel touts intraditional desert garb patrol the key tourist sites, but trendy Cairenes in their Euro-pean designer duds prefer zipping about town in luxury sports cars…

DESTINATION ARTICLES

18 ISRAEL Celebrating BauhausThe city of Tel Aviv has always been a melt-ing pot of cultures and artistic styles. In the1920s, 1930s, and 1940s Tel Aviv was ayoung, thriving city in the midst of…

20 AFRICAN SAFARIS On Track for 2009

23 GREECE‘s Perpetually Natural Appeal26 HUNGARY Beyond BudapestFor half a century beginning in 1867, Austrians and Hungarianswere united in their vast central European empire. Thataccounts for a fascinating mix of cultural influences…

28 POLAND Industrial HeritageNot long ago when JF interviewed Jan Rudomina, director ofthe U.S. based Polish National Tourist Office, he mentioned…

32 COLOMBIA Cartagena’s Major Makeover

34 EL SALVADOR Suchitoto36 CHINA Yunnan ProvinceIt was not my first trip to China. Ihad previously been to Beijing andShanghai, but this was my first tripto rural China – to Yunnan…

38 INDIA In the Lap of LuxuryIndia’s tourism industry is forging ahead with a huge growthspurt in the luxury category. Like most of the world, global…

40 TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Sustaining SuccessThis Spring, the eyes of the world were on Trinidad and Tobagoas the country hosted the Fifth Summit of the Americas.

44 BOSTON Favorite Daughter46 CRUISE When Small is Indeed, Beautiful.Throughout 2009 clients seeking an alternative to the giganticmega-liners can choose from a host of small ship cruise linesthat are attracting increasing interest from first- time and…

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Once in A Lifetime Splendid Yangtze11 Days: Beijing, Yangtze Cruise, Shanghai ..................................................................... from $1999*This super saver tour features the highlights of Beijing and Shanghai, along with a splendid cruise through the beautifulThree Gorges, and Small Three Gorges.Departure Dates: June 4, Sept. 10, 17, 24 Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Tour Code: T9YW11VU

Air-Inclusive SpecialsChina Impressions10 Days: Beijing, Xian, Suzhou, Shanghai ............................................... from $1899*Enjoy the highlights of Beijing and Shanghai, the magnificent terra cotta warriors in Xian, and the splendid gardens & canals of Suzhou.Departure Dates: Sept. 3, 17, 22 Oct. 8, 15, 20, 27 Tour Code: T9CZ10BS

China & The Magnificent Yangtze14 or 15 Days: Shanghai, Yangtze Cruise, Chongqing, Beijing ......................... from $2299*An in depth tour of China includes the most important sights in Beijing and Shanghai, and a relaxing cruise on board Five Star Victoria Cruises.14 Day Departure Dates: July 15, 29, Aug. 12, 26, Sept. 9, 23 Oct. 7, 21 Tour Code: T9YW14VD15 Day Departure Dates: Jun. 11, July 23, Aug. 6, 20, Sept. 3, 17 Oct. 1, 15, 29 Tour Code: T9YW15VU

*All prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to availability. Prices quoted are subject to change without notice. Air-inclusive prices include air from LAX (or from JFK for an additional $150). Air-inclusive prices include fuel surcharge, but do not include up to $120 in government-imposed taxes and fees including the September 11th Security Fee, which apply and are additional. Additional baggage charges may apply. For details please check with website(s) of cooperating airline(s). Passports, visas, vaccinations, travel protection premiums, tips to guides/crew or any other items of a personal nature are not included and are additional. Your final air-inclusive vacation price is guaranteed when your air schedule has been confirmed and your full air and land deposit has been received. Offer expires 30 days before the last departure date of each tour code mentioned above. Cannot be combined with any other offer, discount, or promotion. Terms & conditions apply. CST 2001314-20

Vietnam & Cambodia12 Days: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Saigon, Halong Bay, Hanoi ............................ from $3099*Vietnam and Cambodia Experience have been selected as top travel destinations for 2009.Departure Dates: 2009: Aug. 31, Sept. 7, Oct. 12, Nov. 9 / 2010: Jan. 11, Feb. 15, Mar. 8 Tour Code: T9SE12PH

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TRAVELMARKETINGMAGAZINEIS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY:

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Randi White | [email protected] President & Associate Publisher

Jeff Posner | [email protected] Publishing Manager | Contributing Editor

Maria LisellaEditor, [email protected]

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Clifton N. Cooke, CTC. | [email protected] Publisher & Editor-at-Large

Worldwide CorrespondentsTom Bross: Austria & Germany

Mercedes Cardona: South AmericaMarian Goldberg: AsiaDanielle Hayes: Africa

Kathy Feeney: Southeast U.S.A.Denise Mattia: Caribbean/MexicoMerrie Murray: MediteranneanJ. Herbert Silverman: BritainJonathan Siskin: Cruise Editor

Contributing EditorsJeff Burdick, Ron Butler, Jad Davenport,

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Member of: ASTA–American Society of Travel Agents; ATA–Africa Travel Assoc.;NTA–National Tour Association; ATME–Association of Travel Marketing Executives.;CHA–Caribbean Hotel Assoc.; CTO–Caribbean Tourism Organization; PATA–Pacific AsiaTravel Assoc.; USTOA–United States Tour Operators Assoc.“JAX FAX Travel Marketing Magazine” (ISSN 0279-7984) is published monthly by Jet Air-transport Exchange Inc., 52 West Main Street, Milford, CT 06460. Periodicals postage paidat Milford, CT, & additional mailing offices.POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to JAX FAX Travel Marketing Magazine,52 West Main St., Milford, CT 06460.COPYRIGHT 2009. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A. No part of this publication maybe reproduced in print or electronically without permission. Direct requests for per-mission to the Publisher, JAX FAX, 52 West Main St., Milford, CT 06460or via E-mail: [email protected]

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AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST 18NEWS • BEST BUYS 21•22

EUROPE 23NEWS • BEST BUYS 27, 29•30

CRUISE PROFILE — LOUIS CRUISE LINES 31

CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA 32BEST BUYS 35

ASIA & SOUTH PACIFIC 36NEWS • BEST BUYS 37 • 39

CARIBBEAN & BERMUDA 40NEWS • BEST BUYS 41, 42

NORTH AMERICA & HAWAII 44BEST BUYS 45

WORLDWIDE CRUISES 46

MESSAGE BOARD 48

LISTINGS AND DIRECTORIES 49-80LISTINGS BY DESTINATION 49DIRECTORY OF SUPPLIERS 80

MARKET PLACE DIRECTORY 64

CALENDAR TRADE SHOW EVENTS 68

FAM TRIPS & STUDY PROGRAMS 79

AIR UPDATE 79

FRONT COVER Photo credit: Susan Mc Kee

ADDENDUM-DIGITAL ONLINE EDITIONCARIBBEAN Fresh-Faces in the U.S.V.I. e42SPECIAL INTEREST Take Your Kids to Town, or Not! e44

100% Digital JAXFAX eMagazine at www.jaxfaxmagazine.comThe electronic version includes additional features.

Click on the page numbers to go to the article. Each Email and Website is a live link!

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www.goisrael.com/bestdeals1-888-77-ISRAEL

It is the 100th birthday of the amazing and beautiful Tel Aviv and you and your clients are invited to join

the celebration. You’ll enjoy endless concerts, shows, exhibitions and special events and feel the warmth

of 100 “Shaloms” from the people of Israel. And after celebrating in Tel Aviv, you can

discover the glory of Jerusalem, the beauty of Haifa, the mystery of the Dead Sea, the grandeur of

the Gallilee and the many wonders of Israel. So have your clients visit Israel this year – during the

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Over the past decade, more and moreconsumers are turning to the inter-net when searching for the best air-fares. But are they in fact finding thebest deals?

A recent survey by Topaz International suggests not. Forthe past 8 years, Topaz has been comparing bookings offares on the internet vs. traditional travel agencies. Theresults have not varied much over that time and show thatin 2008, agent booked fares were equal or lower than inter-net booked fares 91 percent of the time, with an averageagent fare of $497, compared to an average Internet fare of$558, a difference of $61. When you factor in the amount oftime it takes a consumer to search, find and book an onlinefare and what that time is worth to them monetarily, thesavings are even greater and certainly justify the $25-$50service fee most agents are charging these days.So why do consumers continue to waste their time and

money booking airfares online when travel agents will dothe job for less? I believe the answer comes down to twothings: perception and empowerment. There is a perceptionon the part of the consumer (largely a result of onlineagency ad campaigns) that they will get the “best deal”

online. Also, the ease of booking a ticket online gives theconsumer a sense of empowerment and control over theirpurchase. However, armed with the information above, asavvy travel agent should be able to convince their clientthat they, not the internet, are able to provide the bestflights at the lowest cost. Case in point – online sites do notadvise consumers which airlines charge fees for checkingbags. These fees could cost a family of four traveling onvacation hundreds of dollars in additional fees. This is infor-mation that you should have at your fingertips as a profes-sional travel counselor and is part of the value propositionyou offer your clients.Now, I realize that many agents don’t want to be bothered

with selling just an airline ticket. It is time consuming andoffers little reward. However, by allowing/encouraging yourclient to book their air only trip online, you are opening Pan-dora’s box. With the advances in dynamic tour packagingand cruise reservations online, it won’t be long before theseclients are booking those products online as well.More information on the research quoted above as well as

additional studies can be found on Topaz International’swebsite: www.etopaz.com.

Douglas Cooke, CTC, Publisher

Travel Agents Win Again

PUBLISHER’S CORNER

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Food and Wine Tours &Superior Villa Il Patriarca

8 Days From $2199Thru November 2009

Round Trip Air from JFK to Florence. Fuel Surcharge. 6nights in superior double room at Villa Il Patriarca.Breakfast daily. 1 dinners at La Taverna del Patriarca,typical Tuscan Osteria located in villa’s old wine cellars(excluding beverage). 1 dinner Zaire Restaurant Chiusi(excluding beverage). English guided tour of an old winecellar of Montepulciano, renaissance town famousworld wide for its Nobile wine. Second Wine Tour Fatto-ria Le Capezzine of Avignonesi a famous wine makerneat Montepulciano in Valiano. Special Wine Tasting.

Wine, Chocolate & History Tour ofTuscany and Umbria

8 Days From $1999 Reduced PriceThru October 2009

Round Trip Air from JFK to Florence. Car for length of stay.Breakfast daily. 3 nights Superior Villa Il Patriarca, Querce alPino, near Chuisi, Sienna, Tuscany. 3 nights Relais Ducale,Deluxe room, Gubbio, Perugia, Umbria. 1 dinner at La Taver-na del Patriarca, Chiusi (beverages excluded). English guid-ed tour of old wine cellar of Montepulciano. Special WineTasting. 1 dinner at the Taverna del Lupo Restaurant, Gub-bio( beverages excluded ). Complimentary dish of Gelato inGubbio. 2.5 hour Guided tour of Gubbio with Local winetasting and finger foods. 4 hour tour/private driver, to theChocolate Factory of Perugina, 45 minutes away.

Once you discover the flavors of Tuscany and Umbria & enjoy cooking classes and wine tastings,YOU'LL NEVER WANT TO GO HOME!

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Fortunately, it now looks asthough the answer to thatquest ion wil l be negat ive,according to the U.S. TravelAssociation’s (USTA) annualsummer travel forecast, Ameri-

cans are expected to take 322 mil-lion domestic leisure trips during June, July and August2009. True, that reflects a decline of 2.2 percent com-pared to last summer, but still carries with it the sensethat leisure travel remains resilient.Daytripping and or long weekend getaways are on the

American travel radar screen especially since lodging andairfares are down by 6.8 percent and 4.1 percent, respec-tively, through the first quarter of 2009 compared to thesame period in 2008.Understandably, because international travelers spend an

average of $4,500 per trip to the U.S., the USTA views thisas the most efficient form of economic stimulus.But, travel deals are enticing Americans to travel,

especially at the last minute. And the market of "unde-cided" leisure travelers looms large: an estimated 38million U.S. adults have not yet decided whether or not

they will take a leisure trip this summer through earlyfall.This month, JF is featuring several “exotic” destinations

that are indeed, good values for cost-conscious clients. Takea look at the spectacular popularity of Egypt, Greece’s per-petually enticing island vacations and review how to bestutilize Louis Cruises’ island hopping vacations. CentralEurope and Hungary’s wine-tasting, and soon-to-be culturecapital of Europe, the city of Pecs, also a UNESCO WorldHeritage site. And, deeper still in the heart of Central Europeis Poland with its onion domed churches and castles or, planand book ahead for the Year of Chopin in 2010 or Oberam-meragau. Tour operators report sales are slow presumablygroups are also waiting out the season until sales show up.But this is a buyer’s market so from what we hear, pricesare “negotiable.”This month, industry professionals will participate in

Caribbean Week in New York, which is bound to highlightmore deals, more opportunities that will not necessarilyrepeat themselves for a good long while. I passed a bill-board recently that said: Bill Gates introduced Microsoft-Word during a recession.

Maria Lisella, Editor

E D I T O R ’ S D E S K

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Travel Bound® Bonus Nights are available in many locations, including:Athens · Barcelona · Berlin · Boston · Dublin · Hawaii · London · Los Angeles · Miami · New York · Paris · Rome · San Francisco

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Sky Bird & ContinentalContinental Airlines and Sky Bird

Travel & Tours, a leading national airlineConsolidator brought together 150 trav-el agents to a great interactive presen-tation over cocktails & dinner at thePark Central Hotel, New York. ArvinShah, President of Sky Bird Travel, addressed the future of the travel business, akey concern for the agents present in the audience.Pictured left to right are Allen Richards, National Sales Manager - Tour and Leisure Sales; Vic Kerckhoff,Director of Leisure Sales; Dave Hilfman ,Senior VP Worldwide Sales; Arvin Shah, President - Sky BirdTravel & Tours Inc.; and Ravindra Lal, Manager – Sky Bird Travel & Tours Inc.

Jamaica Lauds Excellent ServiceCelebrants applaud proudly as

Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism EdmundBartlett congratulates National Champi-on Individual Fiona Hartley, room atten-dant at the Beaches Boscobel Resort

and Golf Club where she’s provided guests with excellent service since 2002.The inaugural Tourism Service Excellence Awards took place Friday, April 24 atthe Ritz Carlton Resort & Spa in Montego Bay. The program was created to rec-ognize organizations and individuals who display exceptional commitment, leader-ship and innovation in customer service and care.Pictured Left to Right are: Carrole Guntley, Director General, Ministry of Tourism; Michael Campbell,National Champion Organization, Island Car Rentals; Fiona Hartley; Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism,Jamaica; Jennifer Griffith, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism; Ian Neita, Executive Director,Tourism Enhancement Fund; Earl Patrick, Executive Director, Tourism Product Development Company.)

Palace of the Lost City at Sun CityRecently, a group of Leading Hotels of the

World representatives visited The Table Bay inCape Town, The Palace of the Lost City in SunCity and The Royal Livingstone in Zambia.Pictured from left are Chef Neil, Nathalie Debonnet, CarolMaldonado, Allison Conner, Stephanie Pearson, Anthony Pellegrino, Joanne Lucas, Tanya Forsythe.

50th Anniversary of Leakeys’ Discovery of First Humanoid SkullTanzania Tourist Board, together with Ethiopian

Airlines Journeys, Asante Safaris, Dhana Safaris andSerena Hotels & Lodges, launched an “ArchaeologyLovers’ Tour” to Tanzania/Ethiopia at the Archaeo-logical Institute of America (AIA) /Archaeology Mag-azine’s Gala Dinner, April 28, 2009 at Capitale inNew York City. The special event, which honoredHarrison Ford and the Samuel H. Kress Foundation

for their respective roles in uplifting the profile of archaeology, was hosted by author, TVhost and renowned archaeologist James Delgado. A Trip to Ethiopia and Tanzania wasfeatured in the live auction at the Gala Dinner.From Left: H.E. Ambassador Dr. Augustine Mahiga, Tanzania’s Permanent Representative to the UN inNew York; Renny Hunt, Asante Safaris; James Delgado, Gala Host; Karen Hoffman, TTB USA; and GobenaMikael, Regional Director, North and South America, Ethiopian Airlines.

SnapshotsTHE MONTH IN REVIEW

WWW.JAXFAX.COM JUNE 2009 11

http://www.lufthansaspecialist.com/


The 21st century has arrived in this fabled land of sunand stones, but tourists don’t come to see the newestmarvels. They want to see the sphinx, the temples, thetombs – and Egypt has ‘em in abundance.Sure, there are the pyramids along the Nile River, but –

check out the new library in Alexandria! Earnest camel toutsin traditional desert garb patrol the key tourist sites, buttrendy Cairenes in their European designer duds prefer zip-ping about town in luxury sports cars. Stop to watch ademonstration on how to make paper from a papyrus reed,and you’ll probably spot the latest model of cell phone in thecraftsman’s pocket.

Starting PointMost tours start in Cairo, because that’s where the inter-

national airport is located. After a few days to recover a bitfrom jet lag and hit the high spots, it’s off to the south of thecountry – called Upper Egypt. Abu Simbel, Aswan and Luxorare easily accessible by both air and Nile River boat. Tendays – and it’s back home, with all the high spots checkedoff the lifetime list.If that’s all your client wants to do, a travel agent’s job is

easy. Hundreds of inbound operators provide buses, step-onguide service, airplane reservations and river boats – inwhatever language required. Individual travelers with specif-ic requests require a bit more research, but this is a countryof entrepreneurs who’ll design whatever itinerary your cus-tomer desires.That said, because it’s a country of entrepreneurs, expect

the usual press to visit perfume, papyrus and carpet shopswhere the guides have “previous arrangements.” Shoppingis part of the fun of travel, but remind clients that pricesaren’t exactly bargains in tourist locations.Even along a shopping street such as Khan El Khalili Old

Market, prices are geared for tourists rather than locals andthings aren’t always what they seem. Saffron, for example,should be stamens from Crocus Sativus, but if on closerexamination (take a sniff) it looks like red-dyed straw, keeplooking.

Classical SitesCairo’s highlights (of course) the Pyramids of Giza, and the

sphinx, but there’s also the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities,the Coptic Quarter, Memphis and Saqqara (for starters).The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities is so crammed with

artifacts that even the staff sometimes loses track of whatancient relic is where. According to gossip, it’d take morethan nine months to see it all – even if one allotted just aminute for each item on display. Although no cameras areallowed, you’ll see families taking pictures of each otherwith their cell phones when the guards’ backs are turned.A new museum is under construction, but until it’s fin-

ished, visitors will wander the dimly-lit corridors wherethere’s a surprise around every corner. Don’t miss (for anextra charge) visiting the Mummy Room – the famous onesare there.The Copts are the indigenous Christians of Egypt. Having

TThhee SSppiirriitt ooff EEggyypptt DDeelliivveerrssBy Susan McKee

plus:

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Cairo, Petra and LuxorCairo, Petra and Luxor

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survived the Muslimonslaught, they’re stillhunkered down in anarea on the southernside of Cairo. Severalchurches (especially theChurch of St. George)are open for visitors,who also might enjoy theCoptic Museum. Alsolocated in the CopticQuarter is the Ben EzraJewish Synagogue, origi-nally built in the ninthcentury on the remainsof a Coptic church. Sometimes called Mai-

monides Synagoguebecause the renowned medieval physician, philosopher,authority on religious law worshipped there, its 11th centurycarved wooden doors are now found in the Israel Museumin Jerusalem. Legend has it that Moses was found in thebulrushes growing there when the Nile River flowed pastthe site, but it’s famous for a more recent find. In an 1890srenovation, a cache of ancient documents was found hiddenin its geniza or store room.

Travel IconsThe Pyramids at Giza are the iconic image of Egypt.

Almost impossibly ancient, the three monumental struc-tures built for pharaohs Cheops (Khufu), Chephren (Khafre)and Mycerinus (Menkaure) have drawn visitors for cen-turies. Although somewhat isolated from the city, they’renot alone. Dozens of tourist police, hundreds of touts andthousands of tourists surround them every hour of the day.Not far away is the sphinx, the monumental structure with

the head of a human and the body of a lion facing the rising

EgyptClassic Egypt Tour 9 Days $1181*

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For reservations and more information contact 1 800 442 6136 For itinerary details

visit www.africaexperts.com Reg #

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Left: Abu Simbel

Right: Camels in front of the Saqqara Step Pyramid

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http://www.africaexperts.com


sun. Fenced off for seem-ingly perpetual reconstruc-tion, it’s nonethelesspicturesque.Memphis (about 12 miles

south of Cairo) was foundedaround 3100 BCE byMenes, the pharaoh whounited Upper and LowerEgypt. Destroyed centuriesago, today the site is anopen-air museum withdelightful gardens. Saqqaraserved as a necropolis forMemphis. The distinctiveStep Pyramid of Djoser (Netjerikhet) is found here.Cairo is replete with five-star hotels. Be sure to check cur-

rent charges for buffet breakfasts and internet access whenquoting daily rates to your clients: the “essential extras”mount up fast.Just a 2-1/2 to three-hour train ride northwest of Cairo is

the even-older city of Alexandria. Most Americans haveheard of the place, founded by Alexander the Great about334 BCE. Novelist Lawrence Durrell’s “Alexandria Quartet”was set here. With about four million people, it’s the secondlargest city in Egypt (Cairo’s population clocks in at more

than eight million). It’s here on the western

edge of the Nile Deltawhere the river meets theMediterranean that thelargest library in the worldwas assembled, only toburn down during theRoman era (the cause is indispute, but the timing isaround 50 BCE). Six years ago, a new Bib-

l iotheca Alexandrinaopened near the site ofthe old. Designed by

Snøhetta, a Norwegian architectural firm, it includes spacefor more than eight million books – but it’s also the site ofthe only external backup for the Internet Archive. A tourincludes the library’s temporary and permanent museumcollections. For information on tours of the BibliothecaAlexandrina, [email protected] course, there are antiquities to see in Alexandria, too.

The high point (quite literally) is the Pompeii Column, some100 feet of Aswan pink granite. Nearby are the Kom al-Shuqafa Catacombs, dating from the first and second cen-turies CE. Out on the far end of the corniche, the Qaitbay

Call: 800-248-3487Visit: www.fittours.com

Egypt & Malta Special 13 Days From $2499

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Exploration of Egypt & Morocco 17 Days From $2999

An Extensive Tour of Two Ancient North African Nations

4 nights in Cairo, extensive touring of Egypt and Moroc-co, 4 nights Nile Cruise, 7-night Imperial Cities Tour peritinerary, Service of English-Speaking Guides. -30 Meals

All trips include RT air from JFK, Transfers in country. Nile cruise is aboard the Queen Nabila Cruise Line in an Outside Cabin and includes all meals and shore excursions. Serv-ice of an English-speaking Egyptologist during Egyptian sightseeing. Prices: p.p. on dbl occ, subject to availability at time of booking. The “from price” reflects the lowest avail-able price valid for a specific departure date(s). Prices do not include airline taxes & fees, ranging from $100 to $475 p.p. depending on the route & airline(s) used.

FOREIGN INDEPENDENT TOURSAncient Mystique...A Lifetime of Memories

Grand Tour Egypt & Turkey 15 Days From $3499

Explore Two Ancient Cultures of the Mediterranean

4 nights in Cairo, 3-night Nile Cruise, 5 Nights in Turkeyat 4 Star hotels, 1 Night Sleeper Train to Ankara, Exten-sive sightseeing with English Speaking Guide. 25 Meals

Egypt & Beyond Explore Africa & e Mediterranean With Our Egypt Combo-Country ToursExplore Africa & e Mediterranean With Our Egypt Combo-Country ToursEgypt & Beyond

Statue in Cairo Museum

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http://[email protected]://www.fittours.com

Fort (built in 1480) stands on the site of the fabled Alexan-dria lighthouse. Two classic (and classy) hotels welcome guests in down-

town Alexandria, just a block from the Mediterranean: theSofitel Cecil Alexandria (built in 1929) and Paradise Inn’sLe Metropole (opened in 1902). Both are right on the mainsquare, Saad Zaghloul, and both are four-star properties.World War II buffs may want to journey about 70 miles fur-

ther west to El Alamein, where both a military museum andcemeteries memorialize the site of the 1942 battle whenBritish troops defeated the Germans.A boat trip on the Nile is de rigueur for visitors. The pace is

slow and the vistas range from ancient temples to contem-porary farmers. Numerous companies offer all level of cruis-ing amenities and escorted (or not) shore visits. A fasterway to get between Cairo and Upper Egypt is by plane. Fre-quent service on Egyptair links Abu Simbel, Aswan andLuxor.

Matching Clients with the DestinationTraveling in Egypt is at once familiar and strange – it’s not

a destination for those making their first trip outside the U.S.For starters: don’t drink the water and wash your hands fre-quently. Dress modestly (no sleeveless tops or shorts);don’t forget a hat and sunscreen.As is true in many destinations throughout the world, this

is a culture lubricated by baksheesh – tips. You can eitherplay dumb or carry a wad of 1 pound notes (about 18 cents)to hand out lavishly. Note: Coins are worth so little in Egyptthat they’re more of an historical artifact than a currency.Assume that nothing is free. You want to ride that camel?

Of course, there’s a charge. But there’s also a request forpayment for taking someone’s photograph or helping you liftyour suitcase onto the baggage-screening belt at the airport,so forewarn clients to be firm but not rude.The upside of this system is that it’s likely that a little bak-

sheesh will help you jump the queue at a tourist attractionor get the right directions when you’ve made the wrongturn, so surrender to the culture at hand.

Getting ThereEgyptAir’s daily service to New York JFK, was the inaugu-

ral flight that took off from Cairo’s new Terminal 3 to mark a

new era in civil aviation history in Egypt on April 27. The 210passengers on the flight were welcomed by top figures ofthe Ministry of Civil Aviation and its subsidiaries, as well astop executives from EgyptAir. The new terminal is equippedwith state-of-the-art services for luggage handling, and veryspacious waiting areas in front of the gates with all facilities.In addition, the boarding of the plane is done throughbridges. The terminal serves both domestic and internationaltraffic, which offers more convenience for tourists. The newTerminal has been allocated only for EgyptAir and StarAlliance Members. In a later stage, EgyptAir will transfer thedomestic flights to the new terminal, then the rest ofEgyptAir flights. On June 2, 2009, Egypt Air will re-launch its service from

Cairo to Dar es Salaam, making it easier for visitors to com-bine two world class destinations very popular with Ameri-can travelers, Tanzania and Egypt. A Star Alliance member,Egypt Air flights departs four times a week from New YorkCity to Dar es Salaam, with a stopover in Cairo on the returnfrom Tanzania. Visit www.egyptair.comFor train travel, contact Egyptian Rail Roads

www.egyptrail.gov.eg/docs/index.htmlFor more information, contact the Egyptian Tourist

Authority, 212-332-2570; E-mail [email protected];www.egypt travel.com

For consolidator airfares and tour packages to Egyptsee page 62 of the Listings Section

Khan El Khalili street market.

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http://www.egyptair.comhttp://www.egyptrail.gov.eg/docs/index.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.egypthttp://www.homerictours.com

Egypt is now preparing for cen-ter stage when PresidentObama will deliver a speechin Cairo this month to encour-age this powerful ally in the

Middle East to take its rightful positionas a leader in the region. After beingbuffeted by the Bush Administrationfor the past eight years, the country isexuberant on this occasion. Its tourismofficials are also thrilled because poli-tics always has a direct impact ontourism. While other countries are mitigating

the damage of a terrible downturn invisitor arrivals, Egypt is smacking itsl ips at the record-breaking visitorarrivals the country has been experi-encing in the last two years – 12.8 mil-l ion worldwide, 65% of whichoriginates in Europe and 319,000marks the highest number of visitorsfrom the U.S. According to Sayed M.Khalifa, Consul-Director U.S. and LatinAmerica of the Egyptian Tourist Author-ity (ETA), Egypt has already seen a20% leap in worldwide arrivals thisquarter over the same quarter in 2008;and a small but significant four percentrise from the U.S. market. Khalifaexpressed some surprise but overall,says this success was a long time incoming.

JF: To what do you credit this unprecedent-ed success?ETA: We attribute it to four major fac-tors: Value for money vs. the Eurozone; the exchange rate for the Egypt-ian pound is currently about 5.5: U.S.$1; Product is very attractive; Cultural-ly, it cannot be beat from the Pyramidsto Aswan; and finally the diversity ofproduct. On this last point we havebeen working for the past 20 yearsdeveloping beyond the obvious culturalassets we have to include things likeadventure and desert tourism, religioustourism, the MICE market (incentivesand meetings), golf (we now have 17tournament-ready courses), and thereare diving opportunities year round inthe Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea atSharm El-Sheikh. Wellness facil i -ties are beginning to be developedas well in Aswan, along the Red

Sea and the New Valley.JF: Any noteworthy travel patterns?ETA: Primarily that seasonality is fastdisappearing – Egypt is becoming ayear round destination although it isquite hot in August.JF: Are there any new developments on thereligious tourism front? ETA: The Route of the Holy Family isof particular interest to Christian travel-ers as Jesus’ family sought refugefrom King Herod’s reign of persecutionand lived in Egypt for four years. Wehave tracked and developed this partic-ular program, and have repaved theroute as part of a policy to revive andgive prominence to religious landmarkssuch as this one. Although there areother routes, this includes about 20 to25 destinations along their route and itresonates with religious travelers.JF: Egypt is not normally known as a golfdestination, is it?ETA: That may be so, but we see thisas a link to the Incentive or MICE mar-ket. In just 10 years, Egypt has gonefrom its original three standard-bearersto almost 20 world- class golf courses– with many more under constructionor planned. The courses are spreadright across the country: from the his-toric heart of Cairo, and Cleopatra’shome city, Alexandria to a pristinestretch of the Mediterranean coast; orcl ients can send a drive soaringtowards the Luxor mountains wherethe pharaohs of ancient Egypt wereburied; and sink putts on Red Sea Riv-iera courses from the Sinai Peninsulato the northern and western Red Seacoasts.JF: Is there a cap on the number of shipsthat are allowed to cruise the Nile, usuallya part of everyone’s first trip to Egypt?ETA: There is a limit to the number ofcruise ships and we had to stop issuingpermits beyond 300 ships. However atthe entrance to Lake Nasser we dolimit the arrival to six to eight ships aday as that is also the source of drink-ing water.We are in the process of developingmore centers and berthing facilitiesalong the Nile to reduce the risks ofdisembarking and crossing the manyships that are often berthing along

many of the sightseeing stops.JF: What about big-ship cruising?ETA: For now, about half a dozen big-name lines (Costa, Crystal, Cunard,MSC, Norwegian, Oceania, Princess,Radisson Seven Seas, RoyalCaribbean, Seaborn, Silversea) call atports such as Port Said and Alexandria.This year, we participated in tradeshows like SeaTrade with the PortAuthority of Port Said to let cruise lin-ers know we have facilities and itiner-aries. JF: Are there emerging destinations agentsmay be unfamiliar with?ETA: Western Egypt, while not usuallyvisited by first-timers, is lined withwonderful oases and the Valley of theGolden Mummies with tombs thatdate back to Roman times. A MasterPlan is in place to develop the Red Seacoastal areas such as Marsa Alam.JF: Has air access improved?ETA: EgyptAir schedules daily nonstopflights to Cairo and Delta operates fiveweekly flights; all the European carriershave easy connections for Cairo; flyingtime from New York is about 10 and ahalf hours.JF: What is the best way for agents to getto know Egypt?ETA: Roadshows are scheduledthroughout the year and a new serieswill be coming up in October stoppingin New York, Boston and Los Angeles.Our website also has an E-learning pro-gram that will be launched by the endof this month. It involves three chap-ters before one becomes an EgyptSpecialist. We highly recommend thattravelers, especially first-timers, thatthey use travel agents to make theirarrangements.For more information, contact the

Egyptian Tourist Authority, 212-332-2570; E-mail [email protected];www.egypt travel.com


Egypt’s Great Fortune

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW By Maria Lisella

mailto:[email protected]://www.egypt

Celebrating Bauhaus in Israel

The city of Tel Aviv has always been a melting pot of cul-tures and artistic styles. In the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940sTel Aviv was a young, thriving city in the midst of eco-nomic, social, cultural and geographical change. It wasduring this period that the part of Tel Aviv known as

“The White City” was built. The architects and designers ofthe city could not imagine that their choice of the Bauhausstyle of architecture would eventually make Tel Aviv thelargest open-air Bauhaus museum in the world.“BAUHAUS” is the common term for the Staatliches

Bauhaus, an art and architecture school in Germany thatoperated from 1919 to 1933, and for its approach to designthat it publicized and taught. The Bauhaus, the most impor-tant and most influential school of design of the 20th centu-ry, was founded by Walter Gropius in the German city ofWeimar in 1919.Beyond Germany, its philosophy caught on in New York,

Chicago, and in Israel’s Haifa and Tel Aviv. As a result ofimmigration to Israel by German Jews in the 1930’s, Ger-many’s Bauhaus architecture movement found a new identi-ty in Tel Aviv and the city is home to more Bauhausbuildings than any city on earth. So much so that Tel Aviv’s“White City” – as the Bauhaus neighborhoods are known –has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.It was because of the “White City” that Tel Aviv was

added to the list of 56 historical cities in the world in 2003,and became one of the few modern cities to be declared aworld heritage site by UNESCO.The “White City” is a residential neighborhood in the heart

of Tel Aviv. The neighborhood consisted of 4,000 buildingsthat were built during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s of whichabout 1,000 are still standing today.The buildings, designed by the best architects in the city,

drew on the Bauhaus style invented in post First World WarGermany. Bauhaus design philosophy attempted to create anew, simple architectural language based on clean formsthat met people’s everyday needs.In Tel Aviv, the Bauhaus style gave rise to a typical Israeli

style that was suitable to the hot Mediterranean climate andthe city’s turbulent atmosphere. The simple, square whitebuildings sought austere beauty from the asymmetrical playbetween various geometric shapes. Round terraces werebuilt alongside square windows, flat roofs, and tall pillars.Ceilings were higher and rooms larger than usual and largewindows overlooking the urban panorama were open to thepleasant evening breeze. In keeping with the Israeli traditionof warm hospitality, the terraces of these homes served asmeeting places for the residents and their neighbors as wellas friends passing by.Visitors to Tel Aviv can visit these buildings in the area of

Rothschild, Bialik, and Dizengoff streets, marvel at the beau-ty of the houses, and sense their great contribution to thecity’s architecture.The impact of Bauhaus was not only in Tel Aviv. Haifa’s

recently renovated German Colony reveals vestiges of the

Bauhaus style adopted in the 1930s. Set at the foot of theBahai Gardens the picturesque German Colony was foundedin the nineteenth century by German Templars who came toestablish a Christian community in the Holy Land.At the end of the 1920s a railroad was built to link Manda-

tory Palestine to Jordan. A white railway station at the bor-der was built in the Bauhaus style with clean lines and a roofthat rests upon square pillars, rounded on one side andsquare on the other. The station can be seen only within theframework of organized tours that leave from the area of theIsraeli-Jordanian border. The graffiti on the walls add to itshistorical value.

Parallel EventsFrom sleek glass and steel skyscrapers to the matte black

minimalism of high-end stereo components to the familiarpictograms for men's and ladies' washrooms - in thousands,maybe millions of ways, the look and feel of life today tracesback to a single design school in Germany that existed foronly 14 years, from 1919 to 1933.The Bauhaus art school existed in three German cities

(Weimar from 1919 to 1925, Dessau from 1925 to 1932,Berlin from 1932 to 1933), under three different architect-directors. Today – the Bauhaus sites in Weimar and Dessaudesignated as UNESCO World Heritage sites.For more information, contact the Israel Ministry of

Tourism at 888-77-ISRAEL; www.goisrael.com

AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EASTAFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST

For consolidator airfares and tour packages to Israelsee page 62-63 of the Listings Section

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http://www.goisrael.comhttp://www.jaxfaxmagazine.com/skylink


Dan HotelsA Legend with a Future

By Maria Lisella

Not long ago, Hillary Clinton was wined and dinedand stayed at the King David Jerusalem on herfirst visit to Israel as the U.S. Secretary of State.Her delegation occupied 154 rooms with Clintonstaying in the Royal Suite and using the Presiden-

tial Suite for interviews. Such State visits and celebrity sight-ings are not uncommon at the King David, flagship propertyof the Dan Hotels. While King David property is 75 yearsyoung, the Dan Hotel group was born in 1931. At that time,Israel counted about 600 people living in what was still theBritish Mandate of Palestine.Back then there was a shortage of everything, the least of

which were upscale properties in which to host the newcountry’s guests. Visionaries suggested the new country ofIsrael needed at least one upscale hotel in Tel Aviv. Thegroup purchased a 31-room pension from a German womanand the Dan Tel Aviv soon arrived in its place with its strikingYaacov Agam’s rainbow colored wall facing the Mediter-ranean seafront. Known as one of the leading pioneers ofkinetic art, though his work is usually quite abstract, therewas nothing abstract about Agam’s use of light and color inthis extraordinary property.

Moving Toward a Better WorldHow does a legend improve itself? JF posed this question to

Rafi Baerii, VP Sales & Marketing of Dan Hotels, who has beenin his position for 11 years. “In all of its history, Dan has neverclosed or sold a hotel,” he said, “and in today’s world we contin-ue to have the courage to be optimistic.” Baeri indicated thatthe Dan group has hit upon a development strategy for thefuture as well.To deliver uncompromisingly good results, the Dan Hotel cor-

porate culture is uncompromising: During the past 15 years DanHotels has invested about $20-$25 million in renovations, refur-bishments, representing about 12 to 15 percent of its revenue;changes include the addition of a boutique brand within its port-folio; and there are no franchises, or management contracts, soall the investments are returned to the two most importantaspects -- human resources and the physical plant of eachmember property.Among the latest improvements are the new lobby and the

new “D” restaurants at the Dan Tel Aviv, which faces theMediterranean and what amounts to be a hotel in a hotel at theDan Panorama where 150 rooms are in the “Smart Room” cat-egory, meaning there are built-in computers as well as otherinnovations. “D’s”chef, Rafi Cohen, worked at the King David.The Dan Hotel group currently counts 13 properties in its port-

folio ranging from the super luxury properties of the King Davidin Jerusalem to the newest addition and 13th member of thegroup -- the Dan Boutique in Jerusalem, located on HebronRoad just minutes from the Old City Walls, which saw a $16million investment last year. The Dan Garden properties in

Ashkelon and Haifa represent yet another level of service. Ofthese, the Dan Gardens in Haifa is among the most popular asmany of the rooms face the Bahai Gardens.Common to all Dan properties are central locations, in clus-

ters, often with a choice from luxury to three and four-star prop-erties (although there is no star system in Israel), some of whichcater to those who are more price sensitive. In all there arethree properties each in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, two each inEilat and Caesarea, all of which span all of Israel from north tosouth. Rates are all based on a bed and breakfast plan, whichincludes an enormous buffet breakfast at every property.To develop brand loyalty, Dan is reaching out to the younger

generation through its boutique properties and to the veryyoung through its Danilands, a children’s program, which hasbeen operating for many years. From time to time the proper-ties conduct wine tastings as Israeli wines are winning moreaccolades.

Beyond IsraelAlthough the Dan Hotel group estimates that about 70 per-

cent of its clientele is comprised of international tourists,and just 30 percent represents business, that ratio can varyfrom property to property. So it was with some surprisewhen Dan announced it was interested in developing “newbuilds” throughout India.Hoteliers and industry insiders have speculated for years

about where Dan Hotels would go next in the world. Baericonfided the company examined many markets over theyears and settled on an emerging market in Asia: India.“There were many reasons why India was chosen say overChina, for instance – English is widely spoken, for example,which makes business easier and it is a country with a greatneed for good business hotels,” said Baeri. Expect to seeDan banners in places such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai,catering to the business community, both international anddomestic. Dan has already broken ground for the first 250-room property that is going up in Bangalore, the Silicon Val-ley of India.Dan Hotels still counts agents as its major source of book-

ings – averaging about 85-90% -- while it maintains frequentflyer programs with El Al, Lufthansa and Delta. Airlift fromthe U.S. will increase when USAir inaugurates service fromPhiladelphia in July; Continental also operates frequentservice to Israel. A number of tour operators also featureDan Hotels in their programs. For more information, contactNew York-based Gabi Mor, Director of Marketing and Salesfor North America who can assist agents on all inquiries,with full support for special requests, FIT's, and Groups,800-223-7773/4; for descriptions of room categories andsuites, visit www.danhotels.com

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The Obama Factor KeepsSafaris On Track

By Maria Lisella

The recent inauguration of President Barack Obama ismore than a landmark in America’s political history, it isalso an opportunity for the travel and tourism industryto take a more focused approach to increasing visitorsand investment in Africa from the U.S.

“All over Africa, we can see how excited everyone isabout President Obama’s connection to the continent,” saidEdward Bergman, ATA Executive Director. “We have alreadyseen a surge in interest about travel specials to Africa notonly to Kenya, where President Obama traces his roots, butalso throughout East Africa.”Tour operators and tourism officials are reporting steady sales

for safaris to Africa this year although with a few twists andturns. For instance, while many first-timers are showing up onsafaris to the classical destinations of East Africa and SouthAfrica, the more exotic locales such as Namibia are not sellingas well as some had expected. Ranging from travel in the classi-cal destinations of Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa to theSouthern African jewels of Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe andSouth Africa, add Namibia’s newfound appeal to the enormousvariety of products currently on the market.Dave Herbert, CEO, of African Travel Inc. (ATI), says, “Kenya

business was certainly down in 2008. The political unrest didhave an affect, no doubt. However, our 2009 sales show a solidrecovery. A point of interest: our sales to Tanzania in 2008 set anall time company record. We surmise that many clients originallyheaded for Kenya, switched to Tanzania. So they stayed in theEast Africa region versus booking into Southern Africa.” Call800-421-8907; E-mail [email protected];www.africantravelinc.comPeter Mwenguo, Managing Director, Tanzania Tourist Board,

said, “In a year when people are conscious about cost/value,Tanzania offers an excellent travel experience where the dollarbuys much more than in other countries.”Likewise, Kenya, East Africa’s other safari nation has recently

dropped visa fees by 50% and offers free visas to childrenunder 16 years old. “This announcement eases costs for travel-ers” said Moira Smith, General Manager Goway’s AFRICAEx-perts, ‘A family of four would currently pay $200 in visa costs.With the revised pricing structure this is a reduced to $50.”To that end, Goway has come up with a new offer. “Taking

children on safari could be one of the most memorable experi-ences of a lifetime,” states Smith, “and while many gamelodges have age restrictions, Goway has put together a four-night family friendly deal where the first child under 12 staysfree, the second child pays $596 when sharing with their par-ents.” Call 800-387-8850; www.goway.comJo Bertone, USA Director of Naipenda Safaris, has seen no

evidence of a travel slowdown when it comes to Tanzania.“While the media was filled with doom and gloom for the pastfew months about the U.S. economy in general,” she says,

“right after the elections and the holidays we resumed normal— if not higher — quote requests on bookings to Tanzania.“Kent Redding of Adventures in Africa states “Bookings arestarting to pick up in 2009. From our standpoint, we are cau-tiously optimistic for 2009—so optimistic that I’ve hired a Direc-tor of Sales and Marketing, and am increasing marketingactivities such as the New York Times Travel Show, and more.”“Business was good to Tanzania in 2008,” reports Brad Ford,

Director of Business Development, G.A.P. Adventures in Cana-da, “and early indicators tell us we will be up 25-30% across theboard there in 2009. Our Tanzania safari trips (trips that spendmost if not all of the time in Tanzania) were up 20% this pastyear, compared to the previous year and Kilimanjaro trekkingtrips were up about 43% compared to the previous year.”Encouraged by strong sales and consumer interest in its new

flying safari expeditions by classic airliner, luxury travel providerTravcoa is announcing more expeditions for 2010.Due to the success of the sold-out “Once in a Lifetime” and

nearly sold-out “By Royal Invitation” flying safaris in 2009, Trav-coa will offer similar multi-region grand expeditions in 2010. It isalso planning a new journey that will cross the African continentfrom the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic including the KalahariDesert, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique and Zululand.“Whether travelers want to learn about Africa’s place in worldaffairs, understand game conservation or immerse themselvesin the culture, these flying safaris allow for that personal discov-ery,” said Dr. Loel Fenwick, a fourth-generation South Africanwho will lead the expeditions. “These are journeys with a pur-pose, in which everyone participates.” Call 866-591-0070;www.travcoa.comAt Safari Ventures based in Florida, Rumit Mehta, Direc-

tor of Business Development in New York City, feels thatmany Americans are fulfilling a dream in keeping and/or cre-ating travel plans to Tanzania. “In the last five or so years,Safari Ventures has seen a steady growth of clients frombusiness schools and universities who are interested in theintellectual and cultural heritage of Tanzania. There are morethan enough value-added hotels, safaris and other attrac-tions to keep them booking this year.”Lynn Newby-Fraser of Africa Dream Safaris said, “Despite

the economic gloom there still seem to be people who are look-ing for a trip-of-a-lifetime and interestingly they’re looking to Tan-zania for the experience. I think that people are beginning torecognize that the Serengeti is not only the undisputed champi-on for wildlife viewing and that the overall quality of safari avail-able to them in Tanzania is nothing short of superb.”

AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST


mailto:[email protected]://www.africantravelinc.comhttp://www.goway.comhttp://www.travcoa.com

New Markets on the RiseATI’s Herbert mentioned that, “Honeymoons are big right

now. Despite the economic conditions, these traditional‘rites of passage’ continue as usual. People are still gettingmarried (and maybe even more so now) and they are stillcelebrating by going on honeymoon. Africa is one of the tophoneymoon choices.”Additionally, he added that another ‘rite’ seems to be the

multi-generational bonding. We are seeing many large familygroups traveling on safari now. Grandpa is taking all the kidsand grandkids. Perhaps the last big family trip before who-knows-what-will-happen.As evidence, South Africa’s Shamwari Game Reserve

has recently announced that it now offers a special “Kids onSafari” program where, for the first time, kids as young asfour years of age have the chance of a lifetime to see theBig Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and Cape buffalo),view a special educational film, visit the Born Free Founda-tion and Shamwari’s Rehab Centre, and stay at a traditionalAfrican lodge.

Additional Air AccessOn June 2, 2009, Egypt Air will re-launch its service from

Cairo to Dar es Salaam, making it easier for visitors to com-bine two world class destinations very popular with Ameri-can travelers, Tanzania and Egypt. A Star Alliance member.Egypt Air flights will now depart four times a week fromNew York City to Dar es Salaam, with a stopover in Cairo onthe return from Tanzania.With Dar es Salaam as the gateway for the Southern Cir-

cuit, visitors can take this opportunity to visit one of themost beautiful and unexplored areas in Tanzania. The high-lights in the South are Ruaha, the second largest NationalPark in Africa and the Selous, the largest game reserve inAfrica and a World Heritage Site.Jessica O’Keefe, CTC, Eastern/Midwest Regional Sales

Manager, Egypt Air said “Egypt Air has helped position themember carriers of the Star Alliance as the major allianceserving Africa, with half of our members flying to the Africancontinent.This new service to Dar es Salaam is just one example of

our efforts to provide service to some of Africa’s great desti-nations. We are confident that these new routes will expandU.S. travel for both Tanzania and Egypt with the ease ofbooking one overseas flight.”Visit www.egyptairnyc.com

IN THE NEWSIN THE NEWS

New Art-Themed Property in Tel AvivTravelers to Israel this spring will be able to stay in one of

the world's most artistically imaginative hotels, The Art +Hotel in Tel Aviv. The Art + Hotel features artworks by someof Israelis leading artists including Zadok Ben David, SigalitLandau and Maya Attoun.The Art + Hotel, Tel Aviv, is dedicated to featuring art by

leading Israeli artists, from huge murals on each floor tovideo art by internationally renowned artist Sigalit Landau inthe lobby. Retro-style furniture combines clean, moderndesign plus features a 1,200 square foot gallery that exhibitsIsraeli art and a rooftop sundeck, from which guests canwatch the sun set over the Mediterranean. A rich Israelibreakfast is served in the library, amongst art books ... andmagazines.Each of the 62 guestrooms, including eight junior suites,

has multi-channel cable TV, coffee and tea facilities, a mini-fridge, a safe (suitable for a personal computer), free wi-fiinternet access, and a phone with voice mail. The Art + TelAviv Hotel is a short walk from the veteran art galleries onGordon Street and a short cab ride from the many new artgalleries in southern Tel Aviv and Jaffa.

Rates for the special inaugural pricing range from $110for one adult in a room to $193 for two adults and two chil-dren in two rooms; a seven-night minimum is required. Allrates are per night including a full Israeli breakfast. Call +972-3-5425555; E-mail [email protected];www.atlas.co.il

Helicopter Tours are Back at Sun CityHelicopter rides are back at Sun City. Guests staying at

the Sun City Resort properties can now book their helicop-ter tours at the Welcome Center. For only $50.80 per per-son, the scenic flights gives tourists a bird’s eye-view of themarvelous landscapes and unique South African wildlife,making their trip an unforgettable experience.Visit www.suninternational.com

For consolidator airfares and tour packagesto Africa see pages 70-71; for the Middle East see

pages 62-63 of the Listings Section


http://www.egyptairnyc.commailto:[email protected]://www.atlas.co.ilhttp://www.suninternational.comhttp://www.sitatours.com


AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST

BEST BUYSBEST BUYS

$3854 EGYPT, JORDAN AND ISRAELIndus Travels combines Egypt, Jordan andIsrael on this 12-day program that visits the Pyramids ofCheops, the most colossal ever built, the Sphinx of Giza, theCairo Museum, St. Catherine’s Monastery, visits the city ofPetra in Jordan as well as the Biblical sites of Jerusalem fol-lowed by a drive along the Jordan Valley to the Land ofGalilee to visit the "Mt. of Beatitudes," followed by rest andrelaxation on the beach in Tel Aviv.Accommodations are in superior classed hotels such as

the Shepherd Hotel, Wadi El Raha, Golden tulip, Days Inn,Dan Panorama and the Holiday Inn or can be upgraded toinclude deluxe properties such as the Ramses Hilton, theInterContinental Aqaba, Marrriott Petra, Crowne Plaza, KingDavid in Jerusalem or the Sheraton Tiberius. The program isdivided into three nights in Cairo, one each in St. Cather-ine’s, Aqaba, Petra and Tiberius, and two each in Ammanand Jerusalem.Call 866-978-2997; E-mail [email protected] or visit

www.industravels.com

$2199 EGYPTFIT has reduced the price of an air-inclusive15-day trip through Egypt that starts with history and cul-ture, sails the Nile for four nights and ends with three nightsat the all-inclusive Al Nabila Grand Makadi Resort on the RedSea. This well-paced tour includes extensive sightseeingplus 27 meals starting at $2,199 per person double. Shoreexcursions are included as well as all transfers including theone between Luxor and Hurghada.In another offer from FIT, an eight-night program, also

priced at $2,199 per person double with airfare from theU.S., covers Cairo and Lake Nasser to Abu Simbel with astay at the Belle Epoque Hotel. Enhancing the program is aNile cruise aboard the Empress Eugenie of France. Con-structed in 1993 in the style of a turn-of-the-last-century Nilesteamship, The M.S. Eugenie was the first ship to sail LakeNasser, launching a new era of tourism while offering travel-ers fresh vistas of Egypt’s natural beauty and archeologicaltreasures. Call 800-248-3487; www.fittours.com

$1375 ISRAELThe eight days and seven nights Footstepsof Our Lord package offered by Picasso’s Israel With Ushas been recently reduced by $150 per couple. The packagecosts $1,375 per person double; $1,945 for singles.Besides accommodations in four-star hotels (Tel Aviv –

Grand Beach or Mercure Hotels; Calilee – Kibbutz HotelLavi and Jerusalem – Grand Court or Novotel Hotels),the package includes daily buffet breakfast and dinner at thehotels, a professional guide with the group for six full days,private transfers from airport to Tel Aviv hotel where thetour begins and private transfers from Jerusalem hotel toairport. In the Footsteps of Our Lord package is available forselect Sunday arrivals from now through February 2010.Special low airfares from the US to Israel are also available.Call 800-995-7997; www.picassotours.com

$1199 ISRAELTravelers flying El Al’s economy class canenjoy special summer savings between June 20 and August19, 2009 with low roundtrip fares (including the fuel sur-charge) for $1,199 from New York (JFK/Newark) and $1,499from Los Angeles.Families seeking a group getaway this summer can “dou-

ble dip” by combining these low economy class fares withthe special EL AL family fare; the first child between theages of 2 and 11 traveling with two adults receives a 10%discount, the second child receives a 50% discount andthere is 25% off for the third, fourth and fifth child.Call 800-223-6700; www.elal.com

$1720 KENYAFew areas of the world are as wealthy withnatural wonders and offer such a kaleidoscope of memo-rable images such as in Kenya. Long time recognized as thehome of the traditional safari, SITA's Classic Kenya 11-dayprogram, one of the tour operator's most popular tours, isalso one of best values. Classic Kenya allows guests to trav-el by road between camps, to take in every experience thatKenya has to offer.Another popular program is “Masai Footsteps,” a seven-

day program that visits Nairobi, Masai Mara, Lake Nakuruand Amboseli National Park. Laudie Hanou, SITA's VicePresident adds, "This safari takes in three of the most pictur-esque regions of Kenya and is truly one of the most excitingdestinations in the world to experience". Masai Footstepsstarts at $1,720 for land and has daily departures exceptTuesdays and Fridays.SITA World Tours, headquartered in Los Angeles, Califor-

nia with offices throughout the nation, including New York,Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Vancouver and Toronto continuesto offer a myriad of African safaris in destinations such asKenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Uganda and South Africa.Call 800-421-5643; www.sitatours.com

$1999 SOUTH AFRICASouth African Airways Vacations is offer-ing its nine-day South Africa in Style package priced from$1,999 per person double that includes the Cape culture andclassic safari: Round-trip international airfare on SouthAfrican Airways between New York (JFK) or WashingtonD.C. (Dulles) and Cape Town. The $1,999 price is based ondeparture from either New York-JFK or Washington DullesAirport. Price excludes taxes and fuel surcharges. Low add-on fares available from 26 other cities in the U.S. Packageprice is exclusive of gratuities, tour guides and drivers. Pack-age price includes round-trip airfare; six breakfasts; twolunches; two dinners; game drives as specified in itinerary;accommodation in standard rooms; transportation in luxuryair-conditioned vehicles including qualified drivers; sight-see-ing as per itinerary led by qualified English-speaking guides;entrance fees for sightseeing; and SAA Vacations Represen-tative Meet upon arrival.Call 888-722-4872; www.flysaavacations.com.

mailto:[email protected]://www.industravels.comhttp://www.fittours.comhttp://www.picassotours.comhttp://www.elal.comhttp://www.sitatours.comhttp://www.flysaavacations.com


Greece’s PerpetuallyNatural Appeal

Greece has an abundance of resources thatappeal to tourists looking for natural, ecological andcultural attractions. But every destination no matterhow perpetually appealing, is counting its bookingscarefully and holding its breath. Good news, howev-

er, comes from a recent report from Deloitte as reported in Trav-el Daily News, a European travel trade publication.

With Memorial Day as the kickoff to the summer season,more Americans are taking some time to relax and refreshwith the economy only slightly impacting their summer trav-el plans, according to a new study released by Deloitte.Nearly one-third (29 percent) of respondents planned to takevacations this Memorial Day weekend. A figure that is upslightly from the 24 percent who said they took a MemorialDay vacation last year.

In other trends, consumers are showing that environmen-tal issues remain important to them, despite today’s eco-nomic challenges and this bodes well for Greece. Thirty-twopercent of those surveyed agreed that they expect thehotels they stay at to be environmentally friendly, and 29percent said they would like to know more from hotelsabout their green efforts. Thirty-seven percent of consumerssaid they are more aware of the environment than theywere a year ago.

Said Adam Weissenberg, Deloitte, U.S. Tourism, Hospitali-ty and Leisure leader, “Whether traveling on Memorial Dayor during the summer, we are finding that Americans areplanning to travel and take advantage of incentives and gooddeals on room rates. Economic concerns, however, havemany travelers spending cautiously on accommodations andother expenses. While travel spending will likely not be asstrong as several years ago, these survey results are a posi-tive sign for the industry.”

Clients who truly want to get away from it all when travel-ing in Greece, will naturally entertain visions of idyllic Greekislands, the eternal Greek sun, with pleasant fishing villages,

sandy beaches, bathtub-warm water, fresh fish dinners, andnone of the tourist crowds that plague the much-scrambled-after well-known Greek Isles.

The Greek coast counts about 1,000 miles of coastline:half of which wraps around the thousands of Greek islandsthat seem to be floating in azure seas while the rest extendsalong the mainland. What characterizes the famous Greekcoasts is their diversity: beaches stretch for miles, smallbays and coves, sandy beaches with dunes, pebbly shores,coastal caves surrounded by steep rocks and with the char-acteristic dark sand of volcanic soils, coastal wetlands andtheir clean and transparent waters that have made themrenowned and extremely popular all over the world.

Island-HoppingBeyond Greece’s historic centers that dot the mainland

from Athens to Thessaloniki, the islands are Greece’s chiefattraction and an integral part of the country’s civilization andtradition. It is estimated that Greece counts some 6,000islands and islets scattered in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, atruly unique phenomenon on the European continent; ofthese islands only 227 are inhabited.

The Greek Archipelago takes up about half the country’stotal coastline, offering a highly diversified landscape. Asthey are the cradle of some of the most ancient and pros-perous European civilizations, the islands boast archaeologi-cal sites, an outstanding architectural heritage andcenturies-old, fascinating local traditions of a multifacetedcultural past. Moreover, 58.5% of the country’s accommo-dations and 62.6% of hotel beds are found on the islands.

EUROPE

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Insiders RecommendInsiders and Grecophiles suggest adding the Peloponnese

Peninsula to the mix of offerings to clients looking to getaway from it all. Rich in archaeological sites such as Corinth,Mycenae, and Epidauros, clients can explore the intriguingMani district, visit thriving Patras with its vineyards, or relaxat Hermioni.

Two groups of islands lie off the Peloponnesan coast: theArgo-Saronic Islands to the east and the Ionian Islands tothe west. The island of Kythira, off the Epidaurus Limerapeninsula to the south of the Peloponnese, is considered tobe part of the Ionian Islands. The peninsula has been inhabit-ed since prehistoric times. Its modern name derives fromancient Greek mythology, specifically the legend of the heroPelops who was said to have conquered the entire region.The name Peloponnesos means “Island of Pelops.”

Cycladic IslandsOne of the most important Mediterranean civilizations was

born in the Cycladic. Some believe the lost continent ofAtlantis was here. Calm crystal clear water, bright sky, radi-ant sun, and austere architecture on naked rock, theCyclades are filled with light and sunshine. The climate isdry and healthy with mild winters and cool summers thanksto the ‘meltemia’ winds.

Kea (Tzia) is very close to Athens and offers relaxing vaca-tions and pristine beaches. Its image of little valleys with

vineyards and orchards between mountainous masses, lead-ing to idyllic coves remains true to this day. One and two-story houses with tiled roofs, stone-paved alleyways,chapels, windmills and monasteries characterize the island,the most important site is the Kastriani monastery.

On small Kithnos, the ground is high and rugged withgreen tufts of vine and fig trees scattered about. The shoresare heavily indented and the island has thermal springs withgreat curative powers. The churches are beautiful and aredecorated with fine wood carvings and icons painted by theCycladian painter Skordilis, who lived around 1700.

Serifos has a strange charm that captivates. It boastsnaked waves of mountains and small fertile valleys, singularhouses, narrow stone-paved streets, magical shores and acastle surrounded by windmills.

Grey trails line the rocks of Siphnos and white chapels liebetween them, here green alternates with dazzling white.An island of rare beauty and spellbinding views it is a mazeof yards, alleyways and workshops where the famous Sifn-ian pottery is made, with 365 churches, chapels and impor-tant monasteries.

Kimolis is a small mountainous island as white as the chalk itproduces, far from the summer crowds. Houses are designed inthe authentic Cycladic style, surrounding the castle.

Island PrimerMost islands lie in the Aegean Sea and are divided in seven

groups; listed below from north to south.The Northeastern Aegean Islands: Agios Efstratios, Thasos,

Ikaria, Lesvos, Limnos, Inousses, Samos, Samothrace, Chiosand Psara. The Argo-Saronic Islands: Angistri, Aegina, Poros,Salamina, Spetses, Hydra and the coastal area of Methana.

The Cyclades: A group of 56 islands, its most important onesbeing Amorgos, Anafi, Andros, Antiparos, Delos, Ios, Kea, Kimo-los, Kythnos, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Santorini, Serifos,Sikinos, Sifnos, Syros, Tinos, Folegandros, and the “MinorCyclades” with Donousa, Irakleia, Koufonisia and Schinoussa.

The Dodecanese: Astypalaia, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kasos,Kastelorizo, Kos, Lipsi, Leros, Nisyros, Patmos, Rhodes, Symi,Tilos, Halki.

Crete and Evia are independent islands not belonging to anygroup, but Crete is located in the northeast and Evia is in theAegean Sea.

The Ionian Sea is home to one sole island group: The IonianIslands include Zakynthos, Ithaca, Corfu, Cephallonia, Lefkada,Paxi, Antipaxi, Ereikoussa, Mathraki, Meganissi, Othoni, Stro-fades. These islands, together with Kythira, which is however cut-off from the rest, opposite the southern Peloponnese (Lakonia),as well as neighboring Antikythira, they constitute the Eptanissa.

The islands of Gavdos (situated south of Crete), Elafonis-sos (in the Gulf of Laconia) and Trizonis (in the Gulf ofCorinth), although not forming part of any group, are ofunparalleled natural beauty.

For more information, contact the Greek National TouristOrganization in New York, 212-421-5777; [email protected]; or visit www.gnto.gr

EUROPE

For consolidator airfares and tour packages to Greecesee page 54 of the Listings Section

FIT's • Groups • Car Rentals • Honeymoons Worldwide Hotel Accommodations • River Cruises

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Beyond BudapestWine-Tasting, Well-Being and a Culture Capital

By Tom Bross

For half a century beginning in 1867, Austrians and Hun-garians were united in their vast central Europeanempire. That accounts for a fascinating mix of culturalinfluences and impressive landmarks. Reason enoughfor travel programs combining capital-cities Vienna and

Budapest. Fine. Also, though, tell your clients about itinerariesextending south-southwest into Hungary’s Transdanubian region,its climate pleasantly moderated by Mediterranean air currentsflowing northward through vineyard-covered river valleys, theforested Villány hills and deep Mecsek mountain passes.

Here the prime destination and tourism hub is Pécs (sayPaytch)—population 156,576 for stature as the nation’s fifth-largest city, loaded with 2,000 years of historical reminders thatinclude Roman walls, fourth-century Christian burial chambers(named a UNESCO World Heritage Site nine years ago) and a16th-century Ottoman-Muslim mosque. That minaret-topped edi-fice, now a Catholic parish church, dominates a public squaresqueezed right amidst the swirl of downtown traffic. DirectBudapest-to-Pécs roadway distance totals 105 miles.

Plan ahead for next year’s buzz of local activities. Pécs willshare 2010’s European Capital of Culture honors with Istanbul inTurkey and Essen/Ruhr in Germany. To preview the lineup of city-wide events and special-interest tours, visit www.pecs2010.hu.Among the year’s highlights are heritage and harvest festivals inSeptember, plus seasonal concerts and exhibitions produced byHungary’s oldest university’s faculty of music and visual arts. Visi-tors can also look forward to major symphonic, operatic and bal-let performances in the flamboyantly designed, circa-1895National Theater.

Any comprehensive sightseeing tour, whether group or FIT,absolutely must include the four-towered Basilica of St. Peter,begun in 1009, hence its thousandth anniversary this year. Neo-Romanesque, high-ceilinged interior spaces and side chapels arelayered with dazzling blue mosaic patterns brilliantly accentuatedby gold and silver trimmings.

Artfully, Locally Crafted Zsolnay Ceramics Contemporary-art museums and galleries get noticed on walk-

ing routes. Among them are the museum and porcelain work-shops devoted to one of Hungary’s best-known products:Zsolnay decorative ceramics, distinctively Art Nouveau. Theyembellish the National Theater’s frieze and adorn a number ofneighborhood villas. In Vienna (274 miles away), looking upwardat St. Stephen’s cathedral reveals a postwar rendition of 250,000rooftop tiles in brightly colored zigzags; they surround a Zsolnay-crafted symbol of the two-headed Habsburg imperial eagle.

For overnighting, JAX FAX got familiarized with a pair of recom-mendable properties. If in-town convenience becomes a deci-sion-making factor, be sure your clients know about the100-room, Secessionist-styled Hotel Palatinus(www.danubiushotels.com), overlooking a pedestrian corridorextending from the main square. Visitors preferring moreupscale, cosmopolitan accommodations would be impressed bythe four-star, Bauhaus-shaped Kikelet (www.hotelkikelet.hu),

perched on a Mecsek mountain promontory, ideal for panoramicviews of the city’s layout and surroundings. Amenities includeindoor-outdoor swimming pools and a solarium, in addition toconference facilities and a sophisticated, balconied restaurant.Among side trips from Pécs, the most popular option delves intoSouth Transdanubian countryside terrain, where the Dráva Riverforms a stretch of the Hungarian-Croatian border. Mapped-outand signpost-designated since 1994, the Villány-Siklós WineRoad curves 13 miles, connecting two dozen picturesque vint-ners’ villages.

Bonus extra: the hilltop ramparts of 13th-century Siklós Castle.As for comfortably casual accommodations complemented byepicurean red-wine tastings, JAX FAX likes Villány’s four-star, 25-room Crocus Gere Bor Wine Spa, opened two years ago(www.gere.hu).

Sightseeing in Southern Transdanubia Departing from Pécs, head in the same southward direction to

reach Hungary’s best-known “wellness” destinations, defined bytherapeutic thermal springs and grand old 19th-century continen-tal resort properties in and around Harkány, surrounded by awoodsy nature reserve’s network of biking-hiking pathways.Newer upscale properties have popped up since eastern Europe’ssocialist-governmental downfall two decades ago.

Such as the four-star, 105-room Thermal Hotel Harkány, withsun terraces, a beauty salon and direct access to its enormousfresh-water twin pools (mild enough for year-‘round soaking).

Curative packages covering one-, two- and three-week thera-pies are offered, with high-season rates ranging $117-$560. Foryour group clientele, packages range $300-$533 per-person(seven nights) and $545-$960 (14 nights); daily buffet breakfastsincluded. Visit www.thermalhotelharkanyhu

For less spaciousness but similar four-star health-spa niceties,consider central Harkány’s family-friendly, 87-room Drava Hotel(www.dravahotel.hu), opened in June two years ago on a beach-front site.

Up toward retro-trendy Hévíz—a short distance from the west-ern edge of big Lake Balalton—the palatial five-star, 232-roomRogner Lotus Therme development, welcoming guests since its1996 debut, sprawls along its own tree-shaded waterfront(www.lotustherme.com). Amenities include indoor-outdoorsaunas and sports facilities.

For information, contact the Hungarian National TouristOffice in New York City for trip-planning information, salesaids, 2010’s Capital of Culture previews and U.S.-to-Budapest flight schedules. Visit www.gotohungary.com


EUROPE

For consolidator airfares and tour packages to Hungarysee page 54 of the Listings Section

TOM

BR

OSS

Pecs Basilica Pecs Mosque

http://www.pecs2010.huhttp://www.danubiushotels.comhttp://www.hotelkikelet.huhttp://www.gere.huhttp://www.thermalhotelharkanyhuhttp://www.dravahotel.huhttp://www.lotustherme.comhttp://www.gotohungary.com


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IN THE NEWSIN THE NEWS

Travel Bound Urges Agents to Shed Pounds With a stronger dollar vs. the British pound, London is

more affordable than in recent years. To help entice agents’independent travel clients back to this perennially appealingdestination, Travel Bound announces six newly opened andfive renovated 3-, 4- and 5-star London hotels at the lowestavailable rates, new low rates on top-selling properties,“bonus night” offers - providing up to 33% savings – at tenLondon hotels, as well as exclusive low prices on two popu-lar London sightseeing tours.

Starting commission for all Travel Bound hotels, sightsee-ing tours and transfers is 10%. Agents can book any ofthese special London rates/offers when they click on the“Shed Those Pounds” promotion of the website.

“Now that the dollar is stronger, it’s a great time for NorthAmericans to visit London,” said Nico Zenner, TravelBound’s General Manager. “Thanks to the negotiating cloutof GTA, we’re able to sweeten the deal with bonus/freenight offers and some of the lowest rates available at top-selling properties and brand-new or recently renovatedhotels.” Rates quoted are per person per night based ondoubles with breakfast, local taxes and service charges.”

Among the 68 sightseeing tours/excursions Travel Boundoffers in and from London, two can now be booked forlower prices than those available anywhere else: HistoricRoyal Palaces pass (valid for 2 years) – now $38 per person,

normally $66 for admission to the Tower of London, Hamp-ton Court Palace and Banqueting House Whitehall (bookedbefore June 30); St. Paul’s Cathedral, Crypt & Gallery – now$12 per person, normally $17 (book by June 30 for travelthrough Sept. 30); clients receive a free Jack the Ripper Tour(normally priced at $38). Visit www.booktravelbound.com

Celtic Lowers Group RatesCeltic Tours World Vacations announces new reduced

group rates for 10 or more passengers valid between Oct14, 2009 to April 25, 2010. The company has negotiatedreduced rates on both customized and scheduled tours.Land prices for groups traveling to Ireland start at $379 netper person for a five day escorted motorcoach tour; a six-night program from $479 net land per person and a seven-night escorted program begins at $649 net per person.

Call 800-833-4373; www.celtictours.com

Can You Say and Sell Hur

JAX FAX Travel Marketing Magazine · 2017. 9. 14. · CHINA Host of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo For info, contact the China National Tourist Ofﬁce: Air China: Y Y NEW YORK 370

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