Page 2 Page 8 Stronger rand boosts bookings...international travel bookings predicted for the year. According to XE Currency Tables, on January 15, 2016 the rand hit a low of R24,03

TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY

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SOUTHERN AFRICA’S TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLYFebruary 15 2017 I No. 2433

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FEATURE

Putting together perfect itineraries

PROFILEPENNY BANNERMAN

Adventure travel reaches new heights

NEWSFLIGHT SPECIALS

Bold growth planned

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Wendy Wu Tours is running a Valentine's promotion. Book and pay the tour deposit for any Asia group tour in February and your clients will qualify for a discount on their tour. Discounts start from R2 500pp. The offer is valid for new bookings until February 28. Pictured (from left) are Alet Steyn, gm, Bianca Morais, sales representative and Rene Swart, tour consultant of Wendy Wu Tours. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl

From Asia, with love

Stronger rand boosts bookings taryN NightiNgale

THE rand has strengthened significantly compared with the same time last year. Industry

experts report record sales for 2017 and expect the trend will only continue with a substantial increase in international travel bookings predicted for the year.

According to XE Currency Tables, on January 15, 2016 the rand hit a low of R24,03 to the pound (due to political shenanigans) whereas it was trading at R16,46 at the same time this year. While the pound has dropped after the Brexit vote, the rand is currently trading at R14,38 to the euro and R13,52 to the dollar compared with R18,44 and R16,82 respectively at the same time

last year – a considerable improvement. Industry experts attribute their January

booking success to the rand’s recovery – both Travel Counsellors and Pentravel report record results.

Travel Counsellors announced record sales for January, posting 20% year-on-year growth in South Africa with 10% of SA Travel Counsellors celebrating their best months ever in January 2017, says marketing and recruitment manager, Michelle Bullmore.

“We have had a phenomenal January, and this is still flowing over into February – not only have our enquiries and quotes increased but we are reporting a 21% growth in sales this year versus last year,” says Michelle Bergset, coo of Pentravel.

To page 16

The end of Fly Blue Crane?THE demise of Fly Blue Crane is on the cards, industry experts say.

Earlier this month, the airline’s business rescue practitioner, Etienne Naude, said the airline had decided not to operate until the business rescue process had been completed.

He said the decision would allow the airline to restructure its operations, reach critical agreements and fine-tune its schedules. In a statement, he said he had requested an extension from Fly Blue Crane’s creditors on the presentation of the proposed business rescue plan. The plan, Etienne said, would be presented in the next few weeks after a few loose ends were “tied up”. The airline entered business

rescue proceedings on November 14, 2016.

However, sources on industry forum, AvCom, have reported that most of Fly Blue Crane’s contracts for staff have not been renewed. “Airport staff have been instructed to remain at home and wait for the airline to contact them. Only supervisory staff are reporting for duty,” one aviation specialist said.

Fly Blue Crane’s Iata licence has also been suspended with immediate effect, and travel agents have been advised to settle all outstanding billings, including pending sales and refund claims directly with the airline.

Spokesperson of Iata, Linden Birns,To page 2

EUROPE

2 n Wednesday February 15 2017 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

NEWS

Rubes® By Leigh Rubin

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TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY

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Unfriending – the early years

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Flight Specials gets a makeoverDebbie baDham

IN A strategic move to expand its reach and grow its prominence in

the corporate market, Flight Specials has rebranded to XL Flight Specials. The new brand will cater for small to medium-sized agencies looking to join the XL fold.

While Flight Specials has always been an associate member of the XL Travel Group, gm Franz Von Wielligh says Flight Specials made a decision to more closely align itself with XL Travel to strengthen its brand internally and externally.

XL Flight Specials will also serve as the ‘low-cost’ option for agencies joining the XL Group. Franz explains that fully branded XL agencies have minimum requirements for membership, but as a

result of the new agreement, smaller agencies will not need to meet these minimum requirements in order to access the benefits of the XL Group. The only significant difference will be that these agencies will earn slightly less in terms of GDS

rebates, he says.Franz says that Flight

Specials will be very specific about not targeting larger agencies, which could potentially join as fully fledged members of the XL Group.

Marco Ciocchetti, ceo of XL Travel, says Flight Specials’ decision to rebrand will add to the XL Group’s brand proliferation.

Franz says the rebrand

will function as a platform to strengthen the Flight Specials brand in the corporate space and help expand its footprint in Africa. “We’ve seen significant demand for agency membership in countries like Mozambique and Zambia where they are not part of consortiums. Instead of competing with the bigger XL brand in this regard, we can work closely with it.”

Eventually, the plan is for XL Flight Specials to set up head offices in other African countries as well.

Further plans for growth include a fully fledged ITC model that will act as a centralised ticketing hub for XL Flight Specials. “What is particularly nice about this model is that it will be GDS-agnostic,” Franz says. He expects the model to launch within the next six to eight months.

Airlink flies CPT-PZBAIRLINK launched a Cape Town-Pietermaritzburg service on February 6.

Flight SA8721 operates Monday to Saturday, departing Pietermaritzburg at 07h00 and arriving in Cape Town at 09h10. Flight SA8724 departs Cape Town Monday to Friday and Sundays at 17h35 and arrives in Pietermaritzburg at 19h30.

According to Rodger Foster, ceo and md of Airlink, the flight will cater for both business and leisure travellers.

Rodger has confirmed that the airline plans to introduce a third daily flight between Cape Town and Windhoek. Currently the first daily flight, SA8120, departs Cape Town at 06h45 and arrives

in Windhoek at 08h50. Return flight SA8121 departs Windhoek at 11h25 and arrives in Cape Town at 13h30.

The second flight, SA8124 departs Cape Town at 14h50 and arrives in Windhoek at 16h55. Return flight SA8125 departs Windhoek at 20h05 and arrives in Cape Town at 22h10.

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The end of Fly Blue Crane?

told TNW the suspension of the airline from BSP was standard industry practice when a carrier suspended its scheduled operations.

But travel consultants say Fly Blue Crane will battle to regain consumer confidence after it suspended its services.

A Kimberley Flight Centre consultant told TNW that, even before the airline suspended its services, clients preferred to book SAA and SAX. “Clients were

often not advised of delays or cancellations, arriving at the airport to find their flight would not be departing or departing later than scheduled,” she said.

Corporate travellers to Kimberley report that flights have been quite empty for some time. Ros Crossingham, a regular business traveller to Kimberley who works in the diamond industry, told TNW she flew Fly Blue Crane twice and enjoyed the experience. However, she added: “The next time I wanted to book

the airline, it wasn’t flying any more. The staff were very nice, but the flights were quite empty.”

Other industry experts have questioned the decision to temporarily ground the airline. One business rescue practitioner, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said cancelling Fly Blue Crane’s flights “took away the lifeblood of the company” as clients would not be able to book flights, which in turn could impact the success of the company.

From page 1

“The rebrand will strengthen the brand and help expand its footprint in Africa.”

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NEWS

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Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) held its South African roadshow at the Hyatt Regency in Rosebank on January 31 and February 1. It was a fun-filled day where agents danced and sang along to Abba and Cher classics. NCL presented its latest offering and quizzed agents on their NCL cruise knowledge. Pictured here enjoying the afternoon’s entertainment with Jackie Adami, md of Development Promotions (second from left) are (from left) Nadja Louw, Lize Grobler, Anja van Dyk and Divashni Reddi, of Pentravel. Photo: Leigh Hermon

Let’s go cruising

SAA hit by another hoax

SAA has warned that a hoax survey is doing the rounds on social media.

This is the second scam involving the airline in the last two months. In December, SAA warned the public of a hoax inviting people to apply for a cabin crew training programme.

The current scam is a poll that invites clients to answer four survey-type questions and share the survey with ten friends on WhatsApp to stand a chance to win free tickets to any destination.

SAA spokesperson, Tlali Tlali, says: “SAA is neither conducting an online survey nor offering free flight tickets.

Free flight tickets are a luxury we cannot afford at this stage as the airline is focusing on restoring financial stability and is managing its costs to improve its performance.”

SAA strongly urges clients to ignore the survey and not to click on the link if they receive it. All promotional activities are uploaded on the airline’s website and will also appear on its official social media channels.

“Any person who may have been prejudiced or suffered any loss as a result of this hoax is encouraged to report the matter to the law enforcement agencies,” says Tlali.

TTC launches new training platformTHE Travel Corporation (TTC) has launched a new training platform, the TTC Agent Academy, which includes courses from Trafalgar, Contiki, Insight Vacations and Uniworld.

Agents who have made a booking for one of TTC’s brands, will receive an email inviting them to join the TTC Academy.

After creating a logon and password, agents will have 24/7 access to the courses available at the academy.

The courses, which will be updated with new material

on a regular basis, are a mix of videos and interactive presentations and can be completed in more than one sitting.

At the end of each module a questionnaire needs to be completed to proceed to the next module. The modules should not take longer than an hour to complete.

Brett Tollman, TTC ce, said: “It is our hope that enrolment into the TTC Academy will reward agents with happy customers, generate repeat business and increased earnings.”

SANParks restructures commissions Tessa Reed

SANParks has introduced a new commission structure, effective December 1, 2017.

From that date, commission levels will not only be determined by the revenue an agent brings in in terms of bookings, but also according to the average occupancy of the camp booked. There are three categories of occupancies, with higher commissions paid to lower occupancy camps.

Low-occupancy camps include Agulhas,

Augrabies, Golden Gate and Mapungubwe national parks as well as camps in the Kruger, including Berg-En-Dal, Malelane and Pretoriuskop. Average-occupancy camps include Camdeboo, Karoo and Mountain Zebra national parks as well as Kruger camps Shingwedzi and Bateleur. High-occupancy camps include Addo Elephant and Kgalagadi parks as well as Skukuza, Crocodile, Lower Sabie, and Satara in the Kruger.

Reynold Thakhuli, gm: Media, Events & Stakeholder Relations

at SANParks, told TNW a business decision had been taken to change the structure in the interests of ensuring a balanced spread of visitors to all the parks that are managed by SANParks.

He added that SANParks would seek to encourage a greater spread across its parks from direct bookings, which accounted for the bulk of the business, by offering discounts and also marketing the activities on offer at the parks with lower occupancies and by introducing new activities at these parks.

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NEWS

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Airlink upgrades fleetAIRLINK will acquire five Embraer E-Jets during the first half of 2017 – three E170s and two E190s. This follows the addition of 11 Embraer ERJ 140s to its fleet since December. Airlink is in the process of replacing its current fleet of 12 Avro RJ85s with the Embraers over the next three years. The E-Jets will replace the airline’s current Avros on its more established routes and also allow Airlink to introduce new routes. The E170 will seat 74 passengers, while the E190 will seat 98 passengers. Airlink will require a total of 13 E-Jets to complete its planned growth and modernisation strategy, and is in the process of sourcing the final eight E190s.

Etihad ups flights to Riyadh, DüsseldorfETIHAD Airways introduced a third daily flight on its Abu Dhabi-Riyadh route, effective February 1. The airline will also launch a double-daily schedule between Abu Dhabi and Düsseldorf from March 26. Etihad expects to take delivery of nine more B787-9s this year, some of which will fly to Shanghai, Beijing and Seoul.

New direct air service to MaratabaMORE luxury hotel and lodge collection, and charter airline, Angel Gabriel, have launched a new direct daiy air taxi service from Grand Central Airport in Midrand to Marataba in the Marakele National Park in Limpopo. The service includes complimentary shuttles to and from OR Tambo and Lanseria International Airports. The flight departs from Grand Central at 12h00 and lands in Marataba at 13h00. The return flight departs Marataba at 11h15 and arrives in Johannesburg at 12h15. The airstrip is a 25-minute drive from Marataba. The air taxi service is available for a minimum of two passengers and can be booked only through More reservations.

Proflight Zambia launches new routesPROFLIGHT Zambia will launch four new domestic routes this year. The airline relaunched its direct Ndola-Solwezi route in January, along with Ndola-Kasama flights. A Lusaka-Kalabo service will begin on March 15 and a direct Mfuwe-Lower Zambezi service will operate between June 15 and October 31. The Lusaka-Kalabo route will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays and the Ndola-Solwezi flight operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Ndola-Kasama flights operate on Tuesdays and Fridays and the return Kasama-Ndola service operates on Mondays and Thursdays.

Direct flights from ORTIA to Zim lodgeNEW flights will transfer guests from OR Tambo International Airport to Buffalo Range in the Zimbabwe Lowveld. The service is available for a minimum of two passengers staying at least three nights at Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge or Tented Camp, Gonarezhou. The flights will operate between April 3 and September 28 (excluding June 22-July 6) departing JNB on Mondays and Thursdays at 12h15, arriving at Buffalo Range at 14h00. The return flight departs Buffalo Range at 15h00 and arrives in Johannesburg at 16h45. Flights include transfers from Buffalo Range to Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge.

AirHeadsA snapshot of the week's airline news

Visa-free travel to Russia on the cardsLeigh hermon and Fiona davids

VISA-FREE travel between South Africa and Russia is likely after

an instruction was signed by Russian Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev, on January 18.

According to the Russian Embassy Consular department, a date for visa-free travel has not been set yet, but the initiative is in draft

protocol from the Russian side and South Africa still needs to confirm the protocol and make suggestions.

The DHA confirmed that the initiative would apply to South African travellers visiting Russia, but could not provide further details on the process or date of implementation at the time of publication.

“According to the practice we have introduced with other countries worldwide, removal

of visas for SA citizens will mean visits for up to 90 days without a visa,” says Alexey V Enyagin, vice-consul of the Consulate General of Russia in Cape Town. He also says the new agreement is designed for both business travellers and tourists. “Persons who intend to work in SA or Russia and overstay the agreed 90-day period would still apply for their visas,” says Alexey.

New visa exemption rules for Thailand

Cuba changes visa procedureSOUTH Africans travelling to Cuba via the US can no longer apply for visas at the Cuban embassy.

The Embassy of Cuba in Hatfield told TNW that the changes had been made last month for security reasons.

Agents need to advise clients who are travelling to Cuba via the US that they

must apply for a visa at the airline desks in the US, regardless of the airline they travel with. Agents cannot apply for the visa on behalf of their clients, either through another Cuban embassy or a visa company.

Passengers must carry the correct documentation (such as passport and application

forms, which can be found on the Embassy of Cuba’s website) when applying for the visa. The application process could take around two to three hours, says the embassy.

Travellers to Cuba via other destinations will not be affected and can still apply for visas at the Embassy of Cuba.

This week’s visa updates

THAILAND has changed its 30-day visa exemption rule for travellers entering at border posts from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia. Travellers who have not obtained a visa prior to travel, will only be allowed to stay 15 days.

According to the Thai Embassy, travellers will also be limited to two

entries by land in a calendar year. Those who want to re-enter more than twice or stay longer than 15 days must obtain a Thai visa in advance of their visit.

The change is believed to have been introduced to prevent tourists from extending their stay in Thailand by briefly visiting

neighbouring countries and qualifying for another visa-exemption period when they return.

The change does not apply to travellers entering Thailand by air. Travellers entering by air who do not require a visa, will be granted 30 days’ visa-free entry. This can be done multiple times.

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WHO IS PENNY BANNERMAN?

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Curious traveller makes adventure an artTour operator, Penny Bannerman’s company, Curious Traveller, takes adventure travel to a new level. In this Who is… Debbie Badham asks her about the kind of expeditions daring souls dream of.

IT WAS Penny Bannerman’s curious nature that drove her

to start Curious Traveller in 2013. “I had been developing a keener interest in booking unusual experiences for other people. I wanted to help travellers feel as though they were pioneers of a new travel age,” she says.

True to her word, Penny enthusiastically describes her latest discovery, a destination called Keulap in Peru, which she says is the new Machu Picchu.

The massive stone walls and scattered ruins in Keulap tell the intriguing story of the Chachapoyas or ‘Warriors of the Cloud’ before they were conquered by invaders.

Penny’s travel career began in retail, at Budget Travel. She then worked with the founder of Pentravel, Rob Crankshaw, and became part of the team that established the agency. Rob asked her to join him, which she did six months after Pentravel’s doors opened. Penny stayed for 28 years.

She was later offered a job in wholesale at Sure Tours where she was responsible for products in the US, Far East and Mozambique. Penny then set up the wholesale division for ICAN Holidays before founding Curious Traveller.

Her passion for the unusual began with explorations into the unseen parts of Cuba and expeditions into Antarctica. She is also a specialist when it comes to hunting the Aurora in Finland and Iceland.

Feed the imaginationIt’s easy to see how Penny’s unusual excursions appeal to the imagination of today’s luxury travellers who want never-been-done-before experiences. The key to putting together and selling excursions like these is fine-tuning travellers’ tastes, says Penny.

She recently had a group of clients who spent New Year’s Eve around a campfire in a small village in Iceland. Another group travelled to Bohol in the Philippines where they saw a very rare type of monkey called a Philippine tarsier.

Her advice for agents considering specialising in unique travel experiences is to ensure they acquire

an intimate knowledge of the destinations they wish to sell. “These are not the kind of packages you can put together in 24 hours,” she says. However, on the upside, the pay-off from these types of holidays is greater. The travellers have bigger budgets, which means better income and you gain fulfilment by helping people tick off their bucket lists, she says.

The most unusual request Penny has received to date was from a group of travellers who wanted to embark on a cruise to see the rare Yellow-eyed penguins in the sub-Antarctic in New Zealand.

The average cost per person joining this cruise

was R150 000. She has many examples

of the incredible excursions available to travellers looking for adventure. They can, for example, spend a day at Star City in Russia. “Travellers are able to go there for a day and be an astronaut and wear a space suit,” says Penny.

On an adventure of a different kind, travellers can journey to Palawan in the Philippines and sail across one of the longest underground rivers in the world. They can also stay in the Canvas Boutique Hotel which is built on stilts and features a savant’s intricately hand-painted murals that tell the story of the Palawan people.

Penny Bannerman at Keulap in Peru.

Getting to know Penny Of all the magical

places Penny has been, her favourite destination is the Antarctic.

“It is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen and you can literally hear the silence,” she says. Another favourite is Italy and she describes herself as something of an Italophile. As well as being an avid

explorer, Penny used to

be a scuba diver. She also prides

herself on being an enthusiastic networker, which, she says, is an important skill in the travel industry. In her business it’s

critical for Penny to know who to speak to when travel plans go awry. Penny is resourceful; she recently had a group of travellers on a sub-

Antarctic cruise who hit a bump in their journey when their luggage didn’t arrive on the flight with them – a significant problem when one considers the freezing temperatures they would be exposed to. Penny phoned one of the top professionals at the cruise company, who organised warm clothing for the passengers on arrival.

For a FREE subscription to TNW contact Gladys on [email protected]

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NEWS

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World Leisure Holidays is offering seven-night packages from R17 935pps at selected four- and five-star resorts in Mauritius. Packages include return flights on Air Mauritius from Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town (excluding approximate taxes, levies and surcharges), return coach transfers and daily entertainment as well as free unlimited green fees at the Ile aux Cerfs golf course. Travellers can stay for seven nights at the four-star Ambre Resort & Spa on an all-inclusive basis from R19 850pps departing Johannesburg; from R20 670 departing Durban; and from R21 040 departing Cape Town. Specials are valid until March 18. Ready to catch the boat to take him to the golf course on Ile aux Cerfs is Ramesh Jeenarain, gm of World Leisure Holidays. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl

Sun, surf, sport...Bid for cruise upgradesLeigh hermon

NORWEGIAN Cruise Line (NCL) is piloting its Upgrade

Advantage Program, which allows travellers to bid for cabin upgrades.

Passengers who have already purchased a cabin will be sent an invitation from NCL to make a bid for an upgrade. They can then bid up to two categories higher than the current class on their original booking. This bid may be accepted at any time before the traveller’s sailing date. Once the bid is accepted, it is non-refundable and the passenger’s credit card

will be charged.The bid can be revised

or cancelled up to 48 hours before departure as long as the offer has not been accepted by NCL. Invitations for bids are dependent on the number

of cabins available for each sailing.

Christian Böll, md EMEA of NCL, says travel agents will receive commission on a successfully upgraded bid, and says the trials have shown a big demand

for the programme.Upgrade Advantage

Program is currently only available in the US domestic markets, says Nick Wilkinson, gm Northern Europe and MEA of NCL. “From here, we will develop the implementation plan, depending on the success in other markets.”

George Argyropoulos, md of Cruises International, says at this stage there is no such programme available from the cruise companies Cruises International represents but says it will only be a matter of time before another cruise line offers something similar.

To the point

APG Global, a company owned by Holiday Holdings and operated by Holiday Aviation, has been appointed the GSA for Avianca Brasil and Philippine Airlines. Avianca Brasil is SAA’s codeshare partner in South America and will host workshops for agents in February, says Gavin Simpson, ceo of Holiday Holdings. Gavin told TNW that Avianca Brasil was already in the local BSP and Philippine Airlines would be joining shortly.

“Travel agents will receive commission on a successfully

upgraded bid.”

QUICK READ FOR BUSIEST PEOPLE Wednesday February 15 2017 n 11

There are many ways to take in the sights of Europe. Sue van Winsen spoke to Europe specialists to find out how agents can put together perfect itineraries for unique traveller segments.

Packaging for different traveller types

EUROPE is a vast continent that holds appeal for travellers

from all walks of life: from young to old, newlyweds and

singles, big spenders and penny savers. While this presents agents with endless packaging opportunities, it can equally be a daunting

prospect, particularly when it comes to identifying the perfect options to suit your clients’ specific tastes and preferences.

Solo travellers

Romantic getaways

Families

Solo travel is a growing trend, with many travel companies introducing options that make them more attractive to single travellers. In some cases, this includes scrapping single supplements or providing female-only groups to make solo travel less expensive and intimidating.

Annemarie Lexow, sales and marketing manager of

Travel Vision, says coach travel and river cruising are two of the best options for single travellers. “If your client is a solo traveller who sees travel as an opportunity to connect with other people from different parts of the world, then coach and river cruising are ideal. They will spend quite a bit of time sharing common space and people then tend to strike

up a conversation.” Thaybz Khan, manager:

Contemporary Brands of Cruises International, says regardless of destination, cruising is great for singles. “It all depends on the experience the solo traveller is looking for. Defining the on-board experience will help solo travellers choose the cruise line that is best suited to their lifestyle.”

France, Italy and the Greek islands continue to be popular choices for honeymooners, or couples on a romantic getaway.

Clients seeking romance should consider either self-drive or cruising, says Annemarie. “Again, self-drive is just the two of them spending quality time together, while river cruising is romantic. They can view sunsets from the deck, or if they want to be by themselves, they can just stay in their cabin and still have an amazing view of the beautiful scenery drifting past.”

Thaybz says for something laid-back, luxurious and off the beaten track, the yacht experience would be best, including Windstar, Seabourn, SeaDream or Crystal Esprit. “If adventure is key, then Royal Caribbean or Celebrity would be great,” she adds.

Europe’s cultural offering is a huge drawcard for family travel, with many parents wishing to expose their children to different ways of life, while learning about world history and sometimes even their own family’s background and heritage. Added to this, sophisticated medical facilities and infrastructure make it a good choice for families with young children.

Annemarie says rail and self-drive are the best ways for families to explore Europe. “In a train they can get up and stretch and walk around a bit, while on a self-drive trip they will be in charge of when they stop and what they want to see,” she adds.

Inge Dobihal, owner of Austria Connection, agrees that rail is a great option

for families. “Children are usually excited by train travel where they can move around.” She adds, though, that instead of travelling around all the time, families should consider staying in one place strategically located in an area with a range of short day trips.

“In Austria, for instance, you can spend a lovely holiday for one week staying in a picturesque village in the Alps, somewhere in the province of Tyrol or Salzburg. One can do walks and hikes, mountain biking or other sporting activities, or for some sightseeing, one can do a short day trip to either Innsbruck or Salzburg.” Another option is a cycling holiday in Austria along the River Danube, which is suitable for all ages,

from young children to grandparents.

She also recommends Croatia for families, as it combines the beach experience with interesting historical options. “Talking about Croatia, a small-ship island-hopping cruise is another very popular and ideal holiday. As you don’t spend the full day cruising, it would not be boring for the children. You would cruise for a while, then stop in a bay for a swim or snorkelling, then land on an island and spend time there exploring before carrying on with the cruise. The boat docks overnight in a different harbour every evening,” adds Inge.

Other cruising options include Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, which Thaybz says have multigenerational appeal.

Did you know?

EgyptAir allows passengers one piece of additional baggage at 50% of the usual price (up to 23kg). Connections via Cairo to Europe are quick via EgyptAir’s Terminal 3, and the airline has introduced a mobile check-in facility for easier and more convenient departures.

Stroll along the Danube.

To page 12

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SeniorsTravellers aged 50 years and over have been highlighted as one of the main demographic groups for travel brands to target. Research published by Skift, says this consumer group has the technology savvy of the millennials, with a lifestyle that gives them more freedom to travel.

“The Fifties don’t need a brand to introduce them to experiences, they just want the fastest way from the theme park to the local restaurant and on to their boutique independent hotel or Airbnb. And, yes, they’ll most likely be taking an Uber XL rather than a Hertz rent-a-car (or even airport shuttle) to get there. They won’t be caught dead on a packaged tour, but at a pinch they respect the efficiencies of a fast, casual restaurant,” says the report by Skift.

It goes on to say: “For Fifties, a short-term rental or a hostel isn’t a budget-first necessity, it’s an option. So yes to that Airbnb apartment booking in Madrid or Amsterdam. And yes, too, to a traditional hotel booking.”

As those aged 50 and

over tend to be experienced travellers, they are usually looking for something new, says Inge, “but they still want to have a bit more comfort than the youngsters.”

Inge recommends Eastern Europe. “Hotels are good, and English is spoken widely amongst the younger generation and the tourism industry. Slovenia is an extremely beautiful country with good infrastructure and is an ideal combination with either Austria or Croatia. Travel can be done by coach, rail or self-drive.

“Another very interesting country is Romania, which is

best experienced by private car with a driver or guide at reasonable costs,” she adds.

Annemarie says all forms of European travel are suited to senior travellers. “If they are fit, then coach and rail are fine as you have to handle your luggage quite a bit in and out of vehicles.” She says that self-drive is also a good option, as it will allow them to explore Europe at their own pace. “If a customer does not like the packing and unpacking of luggage and in-and-out of trains and buses, then I would definitely recommend river cruising.”

Budget travellersWhile the euro-rand exchange rate may make Europe seem like a difficult destination to package for budget travellers, the huge selection of affordable accommodation in the form of backpackers, apartments and hotels, can make it a good option for those on a tight budget.

Inge says travellers looking for value should carefully consider the timing of their trip. “Contrary to general belief, prices in cities like Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Krakow, Warsaw, Ljubljana, Zagreb and Bucharest are low in July and August.” Inge explains that the school and business holidays mean

that European families head to the countryside and beaches, leaving the cities empty, with hardly any business travel or trade fairs taking place.

Annemarie says one of the best ways to make sure your clients don’t end up overspending on their Europe trip is by booking them on a coach tour. “Our supplier tries to include as many value-adds into their itineraries as possible – more meals, entrance fees on sightseeing excursions and handling fees.” The more inclusive the package is, the more value the budget traveller is likely to feel they are getting.

Europe and Britain confirmed as hotspots for 2017TRAFALGAR reports that it has an unprecedented 86% of confirmed departures for its Europe and UK tours in 2017 due to huge demand for travel to the region.

Gavin Tollman, ceo of Trafalgar, said: “There is no doubt that Britain is

back and Europe remains ever-enchanting. Demand for these destinations in 2017 has been enormously encouraging and it’s tremendous to see solid growth across the entire portfolio. Scandinavia, Russia and Iceland are all

performing well, in addition to our perennially popular Britain and Ireland, Italy and Central Europe itineraries.”

Additional incentives for agents to book Trafalgar include the Trafalgar Frequent Traveller discount of 5%.

Book it!

Travel Vision is offering a ‘Taste of Ireland’ package with rates from R21 300pps. The tour stops over in Dublin, Killarney and Bunratty. The package includes return airfare and taxes (ex-JNB); sightseeing by luxury coach with a professional driver and guide; five nights’ accommodation in four-star hotels; three dinners including a pub dinner and traditional show, Bunratty Castle Medieval Banquet and one table d’hôte dinner in Killarney; one lunch, all breakfasts; welcome drink; tour of Dublin with a local guide; sheepdog trials on the Ring of Kerry; ferry ride across the River Shannon and tour of Galway. Tour departs on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays and is valid from February 27 to March 27.

Europe

Seniors have a lifestyle that gives them freedom to travel.

London’s Regent Street is always popular with shopaholics. Photo: Pixabay

From page 11

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Tel: (011) 408-8000Fax: (011) 782-7624email: [email protected]

Spain ANDALUCIA & TOLEDO – 6 Days Madrid –Sevilla – Cordoba – Ronda – Marbella – Granada – Toledo – MadridFrom R10 555pps Valid: 1 March to 30 June 2017 (Saturday departures)

Italy CITIES OF ART – 8 DaysRome – Assisi – Florence – Bologna – Venice – Montepulciano – RomeFrom R14 454pps Valid: 30 June to 26 August 2017 (Sunday departures)

Ireland QUEST OF THE THRONE…for all the Game of Throne fans! – 7 DaysDublin – Trim – Portrush – Belfast – Tollymore – Castle Ward – Newcastle – DublinFrom R26 446pps Valid: 2 April to 29 October 2017 (Sunday departures)

Croatia DISCOVER CROATIA – 9 DaysZagreb – Plitvice – Dubrovnik – Split – Trogir – Zadar – ZagrebFrom R15 678pps Valid: 10 May to 14 June 2017 (Wednesday departures)

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UNCOVERAUTHENTICEUROPEWE’VE GOT A LEKKER DEALFOR YOUR CUSTOMERS!Give your customers an authentic cultural experience with mouth-watering �avours and of course all the iconic sights.

SAVE 7.5% and get a further R1000 value add!

What are you waiting for? Call 011 280 8400or visit www.trafalgar.com for more informationWhat are you waiting for? Call 011 280 8400or visit www.trafalgar.com for more information

Europe

Safety: top tips to reassure your clients WHILE Europe was once considered one of the safest continents to travel around, the spate of 2016 terror attacks throughout the region has shaken the confidence of tourists and those responsible for organising their travel.

At the end of last year, Flight Centre advised South Africans travelling to Europe over the festive season to remain vigilant and take extra care following a US State Department travel advisory. Kim Taylor, customer care manager of Flight Centre, said South Africans should be careful when attending events, visiting tourist spots, using public transport, walking around in large crowds and visiting places of worship.

“Travellers to Europe should also pay attention to the news and specific travel alerts to ensure that they are well informed of the safety risks in the country or countries they intend to visit,” she said.

Duty of carePerceptions around risk have also caused many corporates to re-examine their duty-of-care policies, especially as many were guilty of ignoring this essential aspect of business travel for far too long.

Collin Austen, business development executive of

Club Travel, says while duty of care is now gaining more attention from smaller enterprises, until recently it was only larger corporates that gave it due diligence – especially those with international head offices.

“This trend is changing, however, and more companies are now taking their duty-of-care responsibilities more seriously,” says Collin.

However, he doesn’t believe this increased focus on travellers’ safety has anything to do with political tensions in Europe. “This is not due to any events happening internationally, but can be attributed to companies taking their responsibilities to their staff more seriously.” He admits, however, that some corporates are more cautious about which airlines and routes are used for European business travel.

Client concernsWhen dealing with customers face to face, there are various tools and technology that can provide reassurance and the traveller with peace of mind.

Collin says: “Club Travel Corporate offers traveller tracking and direct messaging services to our clients. This gives HR and procurement departments peace of mind that we are able to monitor their staff whilst overseas. We are also

constantly watching multiple news sources and send our clients security alerts and news of other world events that may influence their travel.” He adds, though, that South Africans tend to be rather hardy and not “overly concerned” when it comes to world events.

Providing travellers with information on the various options available in terms of travel insurance can also help allay fears. Simmy Micheli, sales and marketing manager of TIC, says the “hard to ignore” importance of travel insurance has been presented by both travel agents and brokers positively and proactively. “When it comes to insuring business travel and the types of risk that need insuring, most corporates have a policy in the bag.”

Terror attack cover – check the small print

Book it!

Cruises International is offering a ‘buy one get the second guest 60%’ special for Royal Caribbean International, along with 30% savings for third and fourth guests. This is applicable for all sailings on or after March 2, 2017 (excluding China departures). Bookings must be made before February 28.

Collin Austen

TRAVELLERS should not assume that their travel insurance means they are completely covered in the case of a terrorist attack.

Simmy Micheli of TIC says there are products that exclude cover or limit cover – but this depends on the type of losses experienced by the traveller.

She explains that the first is cancellation or curtailment cover. “If an airline cancels

a flight to a destination due to a terrorist attack, you could claim your losses from your insurance. You could also cancel your trip due to a terrorist attack at a destination on your itinerary. It is important to observe terms of cover such as how long prior to your departure the incident occurs to qualify for cover and whether this incident follows another recent one in the same city.” TIC’s terms stipulate that the travellers will be covered if they have to cancel their international journey as a result of hijack, riot, strike or civil

commotion, causing direct cancellation and/or delayed departure of transport. In addition, travellers are covered if there has been a terrorist incident within 14 days of departure, in the same city noted on a prepaid itinerary. However, they will not be covered if the terrorist incident occurs within the same city within 60 days.

Another product to consider is cover for

medical expenses. “Any medical expenses as a result of a terrorist incident will be covered on a good insurance policy. Look out for terrorism

exclusion or limits as some products will limit cover related to terrorist incidents,” Simmy says.

Finally, travellers may want to consider cover for accidental death or permanent disability. “This is a lump-sum compensation payable to the beneficiary in the event of death or to the insured in the event of a permanent disability.” She says this will be included in most comprehensive travel insurance products.

JOBSCOMMUNITYNEWSBirths, deaths, marriages, promotions – we want to know! Please e-mail TNW’s Taryn Nightingale, at [email protected].

QUICK READ FOR BUSIEST PEOPLE Wednesday February 15 2017 n 15

Appointment and resignation

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Pick of the week

These adverts were selected from the vacancy section of www.travelinfo.co.za For more details contact [email protected]

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Junior Travel Consultant – Cape Town CBDOpulent Living TravelMake reservations for 5* luxury clients. Complete travel documents, invoicing, communicating with clients and suppliers. 1-2 years’ experience with knowledge on Southern Africa. Email: [email protected]

Intermediate Outbound Incentive Consultant – West RandProfessional Career ServicesMin 3–4 years’ in incentives/events. Galileo. Manual fare builds, ticketing, group bookings, re-issue/issue in exchange, cancellations/automated refunds. Email: [email protected]

Commercial Manager – HelderbergQuantex Recruitment GroupAnalytical mind with a degree in accounting/financial management wanted. Candidate must be able totravel internationally & have advanced MS Excel skills. Email: [email protected]

Afterhours Consultant – GautengLee Botti & AssociatesNorth. Need flexibility? Ideal opening for the senior consultant with strong re-issues, ticketing and fullreservations expertise. Salary highly negotiable. Email: [email protected]

Senior Corporate Consultant – RivoniaWendy’s Travel PersonnelEnjoy flexibility of shift work and must be able to handle pressure!! Amadeus/Galileo/ Sabre.Email: [email protected]

Senior Lifestyle Assistant – JHBProfessional Career ServicesExperience as senior leisure/wholesale consultant. Good all round product knowledge. Amadeus. Ability to work shifts (8-7pm weekly, every 3rd Saturday). Email: [email protected]

Business Development Executive – JHBQuantex Recruitment Group3+ years’ travel sales experience & experience within the corporate travel industry essential. Tender /RFP experience required. Email: [email protected]

IT Technician – GautengLee Botti & AssociatesNorth. National TMC requires your IT skills! Varied role from basic technical repairs to in-depth technical queries. Competitive offer. Email: [email protected]

In-House Consultant – JohannesburgEquity Connections ccHighly skilled senior needed to join leading agency. Minimum six years’ senior experience, Galileo, Faresand great communication skills essential. Email: [email protected]

Intermediate Tours Consultant – JohannesburgEquity Connections ccJoin well established operator, work with European and American markets. Book FIT’s into South/Southern Africa and design tailor-made itineraries. Email: [email protected]

Kirsten Johnston of Beachcomber (left) and Kirstie Hanslo of XL International Travel, recently enjoyed a Mauritius Educational. While on an excursion to The Curious Corner of Chamarel, their inner child came out to play.

Magical Mauritius!

Horsing around with Club Travel THE Club Travel franchise team raised R25 000 for the Cart Horse Protection Association (CHPA). The association helps to ensure the health of horses working in the carting industry around the Cape Flats, and provides veterinary and rehabilitation services.

At the end of each year, Club Travel hosts its annual Year-End-Dabas in Johannesburg and Cape Town, where suppliers, partners and staff get together to network and celebrate a successful year and toast a prosperous one ahead. At the event, a raffle raised R14 000 for CHPA. At the ‘Day at the Races’ a

further R11 000 was raised through friendly table bets.

“These festive events are to thank our partners for their loyal support,” says Lorraine Clinton, franchise manager Gauteng of Club Travel.

Club Travel handed over the funds to the CHPA at the beginning of December.

Club Travel ITCs celebrated the end of 2016 at the group’s Year-End-Daba and raised funds for the Cart Horse Protection Association. Pictured here (from left) are Dionne Nelson, director, and Melissa McKay, sales executive, both of Legacy Travel.

Raylene Pienaar, gm of Corporate Traveller, a subsidiary of Flight Centre Travel Group SA (FCTG), has left the company to pursue new ventures. Andrew Stark, md of FCTG, will oversee the brand until a suitable replacement is found. Andrew was gm of Corporate Traveller from 2010 to 2013. Raylene, who had been with FCTG for 13 years, took over as gm of Corporate Traveller in October 2015.“I am extremely excited to be back at the helm of Corporate Traveller until we find a replacement for Raylene,” says Andrew. “I would like to thank Raylene for her service and commitment to Corporate Traveller during her tenure and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.”

The Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (Saaci) has appointed new ceo, Rudi van der Vyver. Following the resignation of previous ceo, Adriaan Liebetrau, Saaci received over 40 CVs from interested parties applying for the position. “From the outset, Rudi presented a clear stabilisation plan for the association and after reviewing with our board, an offer was made,” says Saaci chair, Wayne Johnson. “We are very pleased to have him on board and look forward to his contribution towards our association and members.”

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eTravel is the ITC market leader in South Africa and assists senior Travel Consultants and Travel business owners to realise their dreams. If you have ever dreamt of owning your own travel business or would like to cut costs by doing away with your IATA license and improve your current business efficiencies then you should call eTravel. We run the back office for over 200 Independent Travel Companies and specialise in making your travel business a success by offering the best commissions, overrides & a comprehensive support structure. If you have a client base, 5 years travel consultant experience or already own your own business but want to make more, then contact us! You’ll be amazed at how easy it is!

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brought to you by eTNW and TRAVELINFO

eTravel is the ITC market leader in South Africa and assists senior Travel Consultants and Travel business owners to realise their dreams. If you have ever dreamt of owning your own travel business or would like to cut costs by doing away with your IATA license and improve your current business efficiencies then you should call eTravel. We run the back office for over 200 Independent Travel Companies and specialise in making your travel business a success by offering the best commissions, overrides & a comprehensive support structure. If you have a client base, 5 years travel consultant experience or already own your own business but want to make more, then contact us! You’ll be amazed at how easy it is!

Contact Tammy on 0861eTrave1 or [email protected]

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We favour fees!Do you charge a service fee?

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Stronger rand boosts bookings

“The stronger rand must have played a big part in our huge increase in January sales,” says md of Beachcomber Tours, Terry Munro. “I am not sure if this is the only reason for the increase in demand. Possibly clients were also holding back on bookings until after Christmas.”

And the trade expects the trend to continue. Michelle Bergset says she expects booking behaviour to remain positive, adding that Pentravel has seen a “super increase”

in international cruise bookings in particular.

Andrew Stark, ceo of Flight Centre Travel Group SA, says he expects South Africans will forget the “hangover they had after their Europe spend in June last year” and that there would definitely be a spike in outbound bookings as a result of a stronger rand.

Although inundated with quotes, Annemarie Lexow, sales and marketing manager of Travel Vision, says there have been few conversions. “I suspect travellers are hoping

that the rand will strengthen even more and that’s why they are not booking yet.”

Despite a stronger rand, corporates prefer to take a more restrained approach to travel expenditure. Ben Langner, md of Carlson Wagonlit Travel, says it’s because “the operating environment for SA businesses remains very tough,” but he does agree that “a stronger rand would definitely be helpful in stimulating more overseas travel in due course”.

From page 1

TC reveals big plansKate NathaN

MLADEN Lukic, gm of Travel Counsellors SA, believes that in its first

ten years, the company has fundamentally influenced the shape of the industry in South Africa. “We’re entering the next ten years with a bang.”

Travel Counsellors has two important developments coming on stream in 2017. One is the inception of a Cape Town-based IT development team. “This will serve TC’s need for bespoke development – TC frequently develops its own solutions, especially in the client-facing space – and it will also serve our ever-increasing IT maintenance needs,” says Rob Snelson, chief technology officer.

Mladen says although TC is a global company, every region has its own flavour – for South Africa it is a high proportion of corporate business. “SA corporate travel is well developed; it employs sophisticated systems, often using similar or better tools than those available in the UK. SA history has created

a culture of inventiveness, especially in the financial sector. SA agents also understand the complexities relating to operating in a long-haul destination, plus the problems and solutions around visas, lodge cards and payment methods.” Mladen believes that through the Cape Town IT team, the global TCs will benefit from the high level

of sophistication present in the SA travel business.

The other big development is a collection of direct relationships with sub-Saharan African DMCs. Chris Iuel, who has many years’ experience in the inbound business, and is former product and contracts manager of Akilanga, has been appointed commercial manager at TC SA. He is tasked with managing TC’s business with suppliers in sub-Saharan Africa. Mladen says this is the first time a retail travel company will control the end-to-end

experience of the traveller. “Accommodation providers are concerned that their products are properly represented to potential customers. By removing the middle part from the transaction, we have full control of every touch in this high-touch business.”

High touch is what will be important in the future, says Mladen. He says by 2027, the number of companies still in business will be a fraction of what it is today. “Companies like Google will dominate the transactional space – Google Travel has entered the travel space at the end of 2016.”

He says this will result in fewer players in travel. But at the opposite end of the spectrum from the transactional arena, there will be the high-touch business – and that is where Travel Counsellors will be working. “There will always be customers who are focused on the transaction, and those who are focused on the experience. TCs understand we are not fixated on the transaction, but on outcomes of the conversations we have.”

“We’re entering the next ten years with a bang.”

To the pointEthiopian Airlines has updated its baggage policy from Johannesburg to Lagos and Abuja. Economy-class passengers are now allowed three pieces, each weighing 23kg, and business-class passengers are allowed three pieces weighing 32kg per bag. This new allowance is a promotion and is valid for ticket sales and travel until March 31. Previously, passengers were allowed two pieces of 23kg each in economy class and two pieces of 32kg each in business class. Travel agents can advise clients travelling on Ethiopian Airlines from Johannesburg to other destinations across the globe that this baggage policy remains the same.

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