Travel PR

Client News

• 
  More Sangria in Spain for your sterling

  May 18, 2012 for Spain-holiday.com

  The Pound has hit a new three-and-a-half year high against the Euro, meaning good news for British holidaymakers this summer.

  According to Claus Sorensen, CEO, Spain-holiday.com, “British holidaymakers can expect around 10% more purchasing power in Spain this year. Families travelling to Spain will get £47.41 more than last year when they change £500, while the price of a three-course meal with wine in Spain costs just £21 pp.”

  Spain-holiday.com is the fastest growing holiday rental company in Spain with over 6,300 properties on its books.

  Here are just some of the properties currently available…
• 
  Tohoku – a little-known treasure trove

  for Inside Japan Tours

  See two sides of Tohoku with InsideJapan Tours – discover its gems and try volunteering
  

  Tohoku in northern Japan is probably better-known for the tsunami that devastated its coastline than for its inland rural beauty. Yet this largely unexplored region is a place of forest-clad sacred mountains and hot springs; it is dotted with ancient temples and steeped in history. Tohoku is also home to the utterly exquisite Konjikido, a gold-gilded shrine in the Chuson-ji Temple situated in Hiraizumi, a town with a history dating back to 866.

  InsideJapan Tours has created a 13-night Tohoku Treasures & Volunteering trip designed to highlight the gems of Tohoku but also to encourage people to help with the tsunami recovery efforts. Imagine if all the seaside towns along coastline from London to Newcastle disappeared overnight:  this is what happened in Tohoku.
• 
  ‘The Autumn Lights’ – a new way to see the Aurora Borealis in 2012

  May 10, 2012 for The Aurora Zone

  Experienced Northern Lights tour operator, The Aurora Zone, introduces a new range of ‘Autumn Lights’ tours in Finland to coincide with the Solar Maximum

  After a tremendously successful 2011-12 winter season, specialist Northern Lights tour operator, The Aurora Zone, announces an expanded 2012-13 season including a range of new Autumn Lights itineraries for travellers who would like to experience the Borealis, but without the snowy, sub-zero conditions of a Scandinavian winter.

  With similar prospects of seeing the Borealis in September as in deepest winter, ruska (Finnish for ‘time of autumn colours’) lends a different perspective to the Northern Lights.
• 
  Expert Africa relaunches website

  May 9, 2012 for Expert Africa

  Offering safaris, beach holidays and combinations of both, Expert Africa is known for its unrivalled expertise – and this new website retains that incredible depth of African knowledge, with reams of detail on hundreds of areas and thousands of properties.  However, the new website also now offers a much-improved functionality, rendering it a truly indispensable resource for any would-be visitor to sub-Saharan Africa, if it wasn’t already.

  Improvements include: easy-to-navigate tabbed pages; new at-a-glance accommodation and country summaries, so visitors can opt out of reading full reviews if desired; much bigger-sized images available in galleries; the option to have a parallel gallery of professional photographs*; customer reviews integrated thoroughly across the site with each property’s latest rating on display; a much-easier-to-use wish-list function.
• 
  Jubilant Llandudno – Voted one of the UK’s top ten resorts by TripAdvisor

  May 3, 2012 for St George’s Hotel

  Fondly regarded as the “Queen of the Welsh resorts”, North Wales’ Llandudno has been voted one of the top 10 UK holiday resorts in TripAdvisor’s 2012 Travellers’ Choice Awards announced today.

  Perfectly placed on the unspoilt North Wales coast, the town has a pristine Blue Flag beach and is the ideal destination for a nostalgic family break with Punch and Judy shows, donkey rides on the beach, sand castle building competitions and the longest pier in Wales.  Llandudno was also the favourite holiday destination of Alice Liddell who inspired Lewis Carroll’s famous Alice books and first visited Llandudno when she was just eight years old.  More recently, Prince William and Kate Middleton have been spotted there.
• 
  Avoid the midsummer madness: think Alentejo

  May 2, 2012 for Sunvil Discovery

  Far from the madding crowds of the Algarve, the Alentejo region of Portugal has a tremendous range of options for travellers looking to recharge their batteries

  Covering one third of Portugal – but with just 6% of the population – the Alentejo is a beautiful and vast region of magnificent plains (montados), cork forests, medieval hilltop towns and unspoilt beaches – perfect for travellers seeking genuine relaxation, and a great place to indulge the senses, too.

  Gaze up at the stars of Lake Alqueva – UNESCO’s first designated Starlight Tourism Destination; visit the 19^th century copper mines of Mértola and the Roman remains at Miróbriga; savour traditional desserts so delicious they bring out the sweet tooth in almost everyone; sample fine Alentejo wines – the region produces 47% of Portugal’s vino – or simply enjoy the transcendent silence and space of the montado.
• 
  Unique white orca seen near Kamchatka – where wildlife specialist Naturetrek operates a tour

  for Naturetrek

  As if Kamchatka isn’t a unique enough destination already, an all-white orca has just been observed swimming near its shores.  Scientists sighted this amazing creature, presumed albino, in April near the Commander Islands, east of the Kamchatka Peninsula.

  Wildlife specialist Naturetrek (01962 733051, www.naturetrek.co.uk) runs a 16-day tour to Kamchatka which visits the Commander Islands.  It’s easy to see why: few destinations are as exotic and alluring as the Russian Far East – what with its thermal springs, acid lakes, geysers, virgin forests, pristine tundra, coastal bays, flower-filled meadows and rumbling volcanic islands – and there’s an incredible array of wildlife there.  The locals include more than a dozen species of auk, millions of breeding seabirds, the mighty Steller’s sea eagle, sea otter, fishing owls, brown bear and a wide range of cetaceans including orcas.
• 
  AITO and AITO Agents announce inspirational keynote speaker for joint conference in June

  April 27, 2012 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents

  The first of many high-profile speakers revealed for this year’s overseas conference (14-17 June, 2012), sponsored by the Portuguese National Tourist Office and the Madeira Promotion Bureau

  The conference – which will be held in Funchal, the capital of Madeira – offers the 145 member tour operators and 100-plus member agents the opportunity to meet up and to discuss the biggest issues currently affecting the travel sector. They will also be able to pick the brains of a number of successful personalities both from within the industry and beyond.
• 
  SOUTHERN AFRICA’S BEST BICYCLE OPTIONS – FROM EXPERT AFRICA. (Including safaris while in the saddle…)

  for Expert Africa

  On your bike!  Safari specialist Expert Africa features several Southern African locations which offer the opportunity to cycle:

  Zambia: Amid the lush Rift Valley, enclosed by steep escarpment walls, is Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park. Tafika Camp, located on the banks of the Luangwa River beside the park, offers one of Africa’s more adventurous cycling options: mountain-bike safaris.  Bike rides usually leave after afternoon tea and consist of a small group – usually no more than four guests. The group’s led by a highly experienced cyclist-guide, and accompanied by an armed National Park scout.
• 
  Keen to make your property pay…this summer and beyond? A capital idea from LondonsHolidayApartments.com

  April 24, 2012 for London’s Holiday Apartments

  London is an all-year-round holiday destination. This summer alone, the capital gears up to celebrate three of the most iconic events in its recent history: The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (2-5 June), the Olympics (27 July-12 August) and the Paralympics (29 August-9 September), and demand for accommodation is likely to be higher than ever. Short-term and holiday lets specialist, LondonsHolidayApartments.com can help property owners who want to let out their homes – during this period and beyond – to reach potential customers and generate valuable income.

  Founded in 2011 by four London-based directors with backgrounds in residential sales and lettings, surveying, law and accounting, LondonsHolidayApartments.com offers accommodation options ranging from ultra-modern studio apartments in the city centre to large, comfortable family homes in the quieter outskirts – and is adding new properties to its portfolio all the time.
• 
  Sunvil acquires Planet Holidays – a marriage of two specialists

  April 23, 2012 for Sunvil Holidays

  Sunvil Holidays is pleased to announce that it has purchased Planet Holidays Limited, the wedding and luxury hotel operator.

  Says Noel Josephides, Managing Director of Sunvil:  “One of the growth areas in the travel industry has been the arrangement of weddings overseas.  Until now, Sunvil has simply passed on to specialists the many enquiries it receives from clients wishing to tie the knot whilst on holiday because it didn’t have the right technical expertise to handle weddings.  Planet was the first tour operator to recognise the potential of this market and still remains one of the true specialists in this field. The two companies are, I believe, a perfect match.”
• 
  Relive the spirit of the Ancient Olympics and take part in the Nemean Games, 2012

  April 16, 2012 for Sunvil Holidays

  23 June, 2012 brings the fifth Nemean Games – held every four years in the ancient stadium of Nemea. Free entry to all contenders; sprint the 100m in a traditional Greek tunic and be crowned a champion with a wreath of wild celery.

  Located in the Peloponnese area of southern Greece, the Nemean Games – first staged in 573BC – have been brought back to life and are looking for international contenders. It’s free, and competitors enjoy not only the amazing experience of racing just as the athletes of antiquity did, but also a village feast in honour of the Games afterwards, with acclaimed Nemean wineries furnishing the banqueting tables with excellent local wines. To take part, visit www.nemeangames.org (applicants must register by 15^th May latest).
• 
  Spring and Summer in North Wales

  April 11, 2012 for St George’s Hotel

  Walking, spa, culture, lobster safaris, gastronomy and family breaks – all on offer at St George’s, Llandudno

  Four-star St George’s in Llandudno, North Wales is the place to be this spring and summer. Situated on the seafront with glorious views of Llandudno Bay, as well as of the Great and Little Orme headlands, it’s an ideal base from which to explore the different activities on offer in North Wales. Here are just some of the activities on offer:

  Seafood and Lobster safar: With a spot on the town’s elegant Promenade, and views of the bay from many of the bedrooms, Llandudno’s the place to be if you’re fond of seafood…
• 
  Holidaysplease.co.uk names 10 most unusual beaches

  April 4, 2012 for Holidaysplease

  If there’s one thing Holidaysplease.co.uk knows about, it’s beaches.  As a long-haul specialist which offers lots of fly-and-flop breaks, the company knows its Byron Bays from its Bora Boras, and its Oludeniz from its Tulums.  It also knows about some seriously strange sandstrips – and here are the ten strangest of all:

  1. Loango National Park, Gabon: The sprawling park extends to miles of pristine beach, enabling the strange, gape-inducing dynamic of elephants, buffalos, wild pigs, gorillas and ‘surfing hippos’ taking a dip in the ocean.  The coast-side Loango Lodge is the best place to stay, although you’re probably advised to leave your own trunks at home and just watch these strange swimming spectacles from the safety of the shore.
• 
  Land of the Lost Wolves? We’ll help you find some!

  for Naturetrek

  If the BBC’s Land of the Lost Wolves (Thursday & Friday, 8pm, BBC1) whets your wildlife appetite, Naturetrek has the answer.  Follow its experts Stateside in the hope of seeing wolves on one of three holidays to western Canada, or head to Europe on a shorter wolf-focused break.

  The wolf is one of the world’s most awe-inspiring mammals. Persecuted across the globe, it has been eradicated across much of its former range by man. While the BBC’s new series focuses on the return of wolves to Washington’s Cascade Mountains, wolf packs still roam across parts of Canada, and Naturetrek’s three holidays each offer a good chance of seeing this magnificent, yet elusive, animal.
• 
  Summer on Suðuroy

  for Faroe Islands

  Home to an Olympic swimmer, wonderful for walks and where the first-ever Faroese flag can be found

  Suðuroy, the most southerly of the Faroe Islands, has lots to offer those looking for a summer break that involves history, culture and raw nature. It is also the birthplace and home of swimming champion, Pál Joensen, who trained in a 12.5 metre pool on the island to be selected to swim in the London 2012 Olympics. Yet, because the Faroe Islands exist under the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark, this tiny nation, located 300 km north of Scotland, is not entitled to have its own Olympics team; hence Pál will compete on the Danish team.

  The Faroe Islands is, however, self-governing, with its own Parliament and flag…
• 
  Take time out for National Family Week

  for Great Little Breaks

  Celebrating family life, and encouraging families to spend more time together, National Family Week is an essential reminder for all of society – and wholeheartedly supported by Great Little Breaks

  Taking place from 25 – 31 August in 2012, this annual event – now in its fourth year – highlights the importance of strong connections within families. Everyone and every interrelationship is important: children, parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles, nephews and nieces.

  With demanding schedules, it can be tricky to find quality time together…
• 
  St Tropez? So passé – try Tróia in Portugal

  April 3, 2012 for Costa Alentejana

  The Costa Alentejana’s Tróia Peninsula – a short ferry ride from Lisbon’s Setúbal – is flanked by the Sado River estuary and the Atlantic Ocean. This little-known wedge of paradise, blessed with 65km of uninterrupted talcum-powder-white sandy beach, is being developed as a sustainable but deluxe destination.

  The Tróia Peninsula will eventually boast 17,000 beds in a range of residential villas, townhouses and high-end hotel accommodation with apartment options across four resorts facing the Atlantic. For now, the jewel in the crown is the 486-hectare Tróia Resort, built at the end of the peninsula, where nature and leisure facilities exist harmoniously for families, well-heeled holiday makers and second-home buyers to enjoy.
• 
  City breaks and relaxing resort stays from Voyages Jules Verne

  April 2, 2012 for Voyages Jules Verne

  Latest ‘Classic Resorts & Weekends’ brochure features new itineraries in Albania, Egypt and Iceland

  Innovative specialist tour operator Voyages Jules Verne has launched the latest edition of its popular Classic Resorts & Weekends brochure. Covering departures until April 2013, the brochure features 35 tempting itineraries – ranging in duration from three to seven nights – to destinations across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, including three new tours:

  A Taste of Albania: enjoy a few days in the ‘Land of the Eagles’ on this three-night sojourn that explores the capital, Tirana, before venturing further afield to visit the picturesque museum town of Berat, the Corinthian city of Apollonia and the historic centres of Shkodra and Kruja. Price is from £495 pp*.
• 
  PRIDE OF BRITAIN HOTELS APPOINTS TRAVEL PR

  for Pride of Britain Hotels

  Travel PR is delighted to announce that it is now representing Pride of Britain Hotels, a not-for-profit consortium of 43 privately-owned independent British hotels.  Celebrating its 30^th anniversary this year, Pride of Britain members provide, first and foremost, superb hospitality to their guests.

  The collection spans the UK and is proud to be the official hotel partner to The National Trust.  Styles of property include castles, manor houses, country mansions, spa hotels, contemporary properties, stately homes, inns and even a cruise ship.  Locations range from idyllic hideaways in coastal, waterside and countryside locations to stylish city establishments.
• 
  Baby-friendly acccommodation – enjoy a stress-free break with Classic Cottages

  for Classic Cottages

  Let’s face it, holidaying abroad with a little one can be rather challenging – so new parents should consider the great advantages of a UK holiday cottage getaway…

  Offering 700 coastal and country cottages in Cornwall, Dorset, Devon and Somerset, Classic Cottages’ website has a very useful baby-friendly option. With a single click, the search automatically shows only properties that have cots, highchairs, stair-gates, baby baths, bath mats, changing mats and socket covers as standard.  It’s perfect for parents with babies and saves schlepping all that bulky baby paraphernalia into the car on top of the normal hefty baby or toddler luggage allowance.
• 
  AITO Agents welcomes new member

  March 29, 2012 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents

  AITO Specialist Travel Agents is delighted to announce its latest member – CBT Travel.

  Based in Rossendale in Lancashire, CBT Travel is an independent, family-run travel agency that offers all types of holidays – from UK short breaks through to tailor-made worldwide itineraries.  Founded in 1990, CBT staff members are all well travelled – each with an average of 14 years’ travel industry experience.

  Lisa Mousley of CBT Travel, says: “’We made the decision to join AITO as it is becoming harder and harder to compete with the big tour operators’ online and direct prices…”
• 
  “Greece is wide open for business”, say the Greek Gurus at Sunvil Holidays

  for Sunvil Holidays

  – Sunvil, the acknowledged Greek Guru for 40+ years, explains why the British love affair with this Mediterranean favourite should be as passionate as ever this spring, summer and autumn –

  A place of ancient legends, classical art, healthy cuisine, superb beaches and so much more, the British have been enthralled by Greece for decades, with over two million UK travellers visiting the country each year.

  Dudley der Parthog, Director of Sunvil Greece (www.sunvil.co.uk), says:  “Greece is wide open for busines…”
• 
  Naturetrek appoints Travel PR

  March 28, 2012 for Naturetrek

  Travel PR is delighted to announce that it is now representing Naturetrek.

  The Hampshire-based tour operator is the UK’s leading wildlife and natural history tour specialist.  Offering around 375 expert-led itineraries, Naturetrek takes small groups (anything from 6-16 people) to every continent and the many seas between them, from spring birdwatching in Armenia to classic African safaris in Zambia.  The company has been in business for over 25 years, and its heritage includes many “firsts”, for example being the first UK operator to introduce tiger-watching trips to India.  Around half of Naturetrek’s current range of trips focus on Europe, with tours frequenting its best corners (many of them little-known) for flora and fauna.

  Specialities include birdwatching trips, botanical tours, bear, whale and tiger-watching…
• 
  Time to rethink the British stiff upper lip? Holidaysplease.co.uk survey reveals Britons’ worst (and best) holidays habits

  March 27, 2012 for Holidaysplease

  An exhaustive survey of over 1,000 holidaymakers by long-haul specialist Holidaysplease.co.uk has revealed that we 21^st century Brits are flirty, friendly, celebrity-obsessed and even a little soppy.  Not to mention fond of petty theft and joining the mile high club! Here are some of the best insights garnered by Holidaysplease.co.uk’s research:

  Secrets of getting a flight upgrade:

  • Flirting with check in staff is the top tactic for bagging a free upgrade with 41% of people admitting to doing it.
  • 12% of travellers admit they would flirt with check-in staff of the same sex if it meant getting an upgrade.
  • Pretending to be on honeymoon (34%) and being a ‘nervous’ flyer (27%) are also popular tactics.
  • 6% of travellers are even willing to pretend to be going to a funeral to get an upgrade!
• 
  Walking holidays – for foodies

  March 21, 2012 for On Foot Holidays

  On Foot Holidays self-guided hikes not only offer great walking – they also offer excellent eating

  Although it’s a walking specialist – self-guided hikes to quiet European corners, to be precise – On Foot Holidays is also a foodie expert…  The basic premise is this: having undertaken a day’s great hiking and convinced yourself that this was terrible, insufferable toil, you undo all the good work by gorging on delicious nosh (and wine) each evening.  All culinary options are diligently researched to guarantee quality.  As with all elements of On Foot Holidays’ trips, the food is strongly accented towards local offerings: traditional delicacies, cultural variations, recipes passed down the generations, regional dishes, and so on.

  Here are four On Foot tours with particularly strong and unique culinary offerings…
• 
  Gothenburg and West Sweden Spring newsletter 2012

  March 20, 2012 for West Sweden

  New holiday inspiration and travel news, from Easter breaks on the west coast to the Nordic Championships in Oyster Opening 2012, new Taste of West Sweden restaurants and a preview of a Swedish summer…     Easter escape ideas:

  An old Swedish folk tale tells the story of an Easter witch who flies on a broomstick to Blåkulla island on Maundy Thursday and returns on Easter Sunday. Modern-day Swedes mark this story by holding bonfires along the majestic west coast (to scare away the witch!).

  Easter celebrations in Sweden also involve dressing up as Easter witches, painting eggs and tucking into a typical Easter buffet of pickled herring, cured salmon, Jansson’s temptation (a traditional potato and fish bake) and spiced schnapps.
• 
  Sunvil rolls up its sleeves for Climate Week – both at home (in the office) and abroad

  March 13, 2012 for Sunvil Holidays

  Sustainable tour operator, the Sunvil Group*, is joining in Britain’s biggest climate change campaign with a range of green ideas for travelling abroad – and it’s taking action in its offices, too …

  Culminating in a week of activities, Climate Week showcases practical solutions from every sector of society. The Sunvil Group* actively supports this initiative – both in its wide range of holiday ideas and via a number of in-office ideas through which its staff can get behind the campaign.

  Climate change is an international issue which the Sunvil Group* – as a holiday specialist to 24 countries – understands must be tackled on a global scale as well as a local scale.  Here are some suggestions on eco-tourism and how to go green when travelling abroad – not only in Climate Change week, but whenever holidays loom.
• 
  More than just villas – with Spain-holiday.com

  March 9, 2012 for Spain-holiday.com

  - Swap your holiday villa for something more unusual this summer, including palaces, caves and a lava-built house…

  With over 5,600 holiday homes across Spain, the Balearic Islands and the Canaries, Spain-holiday.com offers far more than just your average holiday villa. Apart from its wealth of beachside villas and city apartments, the company – now the fastest growing company for holiday rentals in Spain – also includes castles, farms and former monasteries on its ever-expanding books.

  So if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to stay in a cave, or have wished you’d had a resort to yourselves, Spain-holiday.com has the answer…
• 
  Berns means business

  March 6, 2012 for Berns Hotel

  Stylish event space in the Swedish capitalfor 12 to 1,200 delegates

  Looking for a stylish, comfortable venue in a buzzing European city for your next business meeting, conference or product launch? Then look no further than the award-winning Berns Hotel in Stockholm (www.berns.se/en).

  Named ‘Sweden’s Leading Boutique Hotel’ in the 2011 World Travel Awards, this iconic hotel offers delegates state-of-the art business facilities in the heart of the Swedish capital. As well as 82 stylishly-decorated bedrooms, Berns offers a great choice of meeting space, which can be easily adapted to suit groups of anywhere from 12 to 1,200 people. Planning a small corporate dinner?
• 
  Sunvil Discovery: the essential key to authentic Italian and Sicilian wine, food and experiences

  for Sunvil Discovery

  All new in 2012, Sunvil Discovery introduces Sicilian agriturismo properties, plus a range of traditional cookery courses and a self-drive Sicilian wine trail – and why not let the train take the strain for travel on mainland Italy?

  NEW: 21 agriturismo properties in Sicily: Fantastic for foodies who like good, honest food served on an ancient wooden table – think converted farmhouses, surrounded by hectares of agricultural land producing flavoursome, wholly organic wares including olive oil, cheese, cured meats and full-bodied Sicilian wine.  Explore the countryside and get involved in harvesting – from grapes and olives in the autumn to oranges in December or lemons in March. Properties include:
• 
  Live the American dream across the entire USA with Vacations to America

  for Vacations to America

  Specialist tour operator to North America now offers an extensive range of fly-drive, escorted and tailor-made tours that cover all 50 USA states

  Hertfordshire-based and newly-rebranded Vacations to America has built upon its 25 years of experience offering holidays in New England, The Carolinas, California and Florida, to extend its holiday offering across all 50 USA states in its new 2012 brochure. There are seven key regions in the new brochure and on the new website (www.vacationstoamerica.com) – New England, Great Lakes and the North East, the South, Florida, California, the West and the rest of the USA and Canada.
• 
  Staying put for summer doesn’t always mean you’ll stay safe

  March 5, 2012 for Lyme Disease Action

  - Charity Lyme Disease Action warns UK holidaymakers to be aware of ticks this summer

  Even if you’re neither patriotic nor sporty, many of us will be tempted to spend parts of the summer in the UK, joining in with Diamond Jubilee celebrations and Olympic fever – or just watching it at home on TV.

  You may think that a summer at home in the UK makes for a less stressful time: there’s no flight to miss, no language to learn, no nasty jabs required and certainly no malaria tablets to take. But those who holiday in familiar surroundings may not necessarily be familiar with ticks.
• 
  2012 AITO Member Media Contacts

  for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators

  AITO is delighted to announce the launch of the 2012 AITO Member Media Contacts directory. Sustainable Tourism and protecting the environment are integral to AITO’s ethos, and so this year we have decided not to produce a full member directory.  The handy reference booklet will, however, point you towards the right person to answer any questions you may have about individual members – or the Association as a whole – both quickly and easily. To find out more about AITO’s 150 specialist tour operators, please visit the website at www.aito.com.  A substantial revamp of the website will be launched in a few months’ time and will make it, we believe, the must-go-to site for information on specialist holiday companies and their huge range of holiday ideas and destinations.
• 
  At a glance: Business facilities at Berns Hotel, Stockholm (Fact Sheet)

  March 4, 2012 for Berns Hotel

  Set in the heart of the Swedish capital, Berns offers stylish, comfortable facilities for business groups from 12 to 1,200 people:

  MEETING ROOMS

  Berns offers a variety of adaptable spaces suitable for business meetings, conferences and private events, including:

  • The China Theatre (holds up to 1,249 people). A spectacular venue for large-scale presentations. From £5,500 per day excluding VAT.
  • Stora Salongen (holds up to 800 people for a reception, 500 seated). Stockholm’s most distinguished banqueting hall, this venue would be ideal for a gala dinner or grand cocktail party. From £3,600 per day excluding VAT.
  • The Kammarsalen (holds up to 180 people). A smart, modern amphitheatre for presentations and lectures. From £2,300 per day excluding VAT.
    
• 
  Great Little Spring Breaks: Heritage & Explorer

  March 2, 2012 for Great Little Breaks

  Between the freeze of Christmas and the scorch of summer, spring is the most pleasing time to discover the UK – and to re-discover yourself

  Leading short break specialist, Great Little Breaks – offering UK-wide getaways complete with activities and treats for just one eye-catching little price – introduces two types of break which are ideal for springtime: Great Little Heritage Breaks, visiting some of the most celebrated heritage landmarks; and Great Little Explorer Breaks, discovering regions on foot, equipped with maps, directions and packed lunches.

  With the weather warming up and the evenings eking out, it’s safe to come out of hibernation and start seeing and doing again.
• 
  Enjoy ‘Americans in Florence’ with Kirker Holidays

  for Kirker Holidays

  Cultural short breaks include tickets to the Palazzo Strozzi’s major new art exhibition from just £469 pp, with flights 

  Celebrate the start of Spring with a restorative visit to Florence where, from this Saturday 3 March, the Italian city so synonymous with art treasures welcomes a major new exhibition – tickets to which are included in a tempting range of short breaks from Kirker Holidays.

  On display at the elegant Palazzo Strozzi until 15 July, ‘Americans in Florence – Sargent and the American Impressionists’ tells the story of the love affair between Americans and Florence through the eyes of the artist John Singer Sargent (1856-1925), who was born in the city.
• 
  Voyages Jules Verne celebrates its royal connection

  March 1, 2012 for Voyages Jules Verne

  From Barnado’s boy to a lead role in the Jubilee flotilla,company founder Phillip Morrell continues to excel

  As businesses large and small across the UK prepare to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, one London-based travel company is feeling particularly proud of its links to this summer’s big royal event.

  Innovative specialist tour operator Voyages Jules Verne was founded in 1978 by Phillip Morrell, on board whose luxury cruiser – Spirit of Chartwell – Their Royal Highnesses The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will lead the Diamond Jubilee flotilla on 3 June.
• 
  Classic Cottages named one of top two self-catering companies in UK

  February 29, 2012 for Classic Cottages

  The UK’s leading independent cottage holiday company, Classic Cottages, has been recognised as one of the top two self-catering companies in the UK by consumer guide ‘Which?’

  A survey of more than 2,600 Which? members, who named over 400 different agencies both in the UK and abroad, awarded Classic Cottages an excellent customer score of 89%.

  Based in Helston, South West Cornwall, the company’s high customer score means that it is now one of only two self-catering companies in the UK to gain the accolade of being a Which? recommended provider.
• 
  Sunvil rolls up its sleeves for Climate Week – both at home (in the office) and abroad

  for Sunvil Discovery

  Sustainable tour operator, the Sunvil Group*, is joining in Britain’s biggest climate change campaign with a range of green ideas for travelling abroad – and it’s taking action in its offices, too . . .

  Culminating in a week of activities, Climate Week showcases practical solutions from every sector of society. The Sunvil Group* actively supports this initiative – both in its wide range of holiday ideas and via a number of in-office ideas through which its staff can get behind the campaign.

  Climate change is an international issue which the Sunvil Group* – as a holiday specialist to 24 countries – understands must be tackled on a global scale as well as a local scale.  Here are some suggestions on eco-tourism and how to go green when travelling abroad – not only in Climate Change week, but whenever holidays loom.
• 
  Witness the iconic Olympic torch during a West Country cottage stay

  February 28, 2012 for Classic Cottages

  The Olympic torch is set for an epic once-in-a-lifetime journey across England in May 2012. Setting off from Land’s End on 19 May, the torch relay route will visit 1,018 places in 70 days, including an abundance of hotspots across the South West of England.

  Classic Cottages – one of only two self-catering companies in the UK to be recognised recently by the Which? consumer guide for excellent customer service offered (see its 700 coastal and country properties across Cornwall, Dorset, Devon and Somerset at www.classic.co.uk) – picks some of its favourite destinations along the torch route below, recommending where’s best to stay nearby on the day.
• 
  AITO GREEK OPERATORS DECLAIM HAGUE STATEMENT

  February 22, 2012 for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators

  The Association of Independent Tour Operators (www.aito.com) is upset at reports that the FCO is, seemingly, treating the whole of Greece as a war zone according to media reports.

  Says AITO Chairman Derek Moore: “To say, as was reported yesterday, that Britons may be put at risk if the civil unrest in the country worsens, is alarmist to say the least and very far from reality.

  “AITO’s specialist holiday companies working with Greece know the situation very well indeed, and they are unanimously reporting that there is no problem except in two very small, highly-contained areas – firstly, around Syntagma Square, by the Greek Parliament in Athens, and, secondly, in central Thessaloniki, Greece’s next largest city. This is nothing new – it’s exactly the same situation as the past three years.
• 
  AITO WELCOMES EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE RULING

  for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators

  A recent European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling has confirmed that the obligation under the 1990 EU Package Travel Directive to provide the consumer with financial protection against the risk of the organiser’s insolvency amounts to a guarantee that the consumer will be refunded or repatriated in this situation. AITO believes that this ruling will dramatically affect both the tour operating and insurance sectors.

  The ECJ gave its judgment on 16^th February, 2012 in a case referred to it by the German courts*. This involves a claim brought by a German consumer against an insurance company which had provided financial protection insurance for the consumer’s holiday in accordance with the German equivalent of the UK Package Travel Regulations 1992.
• 
  Costa Alentejana Tourist Board joins Travel PR

  February 18, 2012 for Costa Alentejana

  Travel PR is delighted to announce that it is now representing Costa Alentejana, located in Portugal’s Alentejo region

  Occupying one-third of Portugal, yet inhabited by just 6% of the population, the Alentejo, situated north of the Algarve, is beautifully unspoilt and gloriously peaceful. The Alentejo holds appeal for a broad spectrum of people, from families, wine aficionados and foodies, to honeymooners, nature lovers and those looking for a place to live in the sun.

  The region’s coast, Costa Alentejana, is practically deserted and is mainly a National Park. The top half of the coast comprises 65km, no less, of uninterrupted talcum-powder-white sandy beaches.
• 
  Fuerteventura… but not as you know it

  February 16, 2012 for Activities Abroad

  - A brand-new activity holiday with Activities Abroad – for adults

  - Watersports focus: surfing, stand-up paddling and sea kayaking in idyllic El Cotillo

  Activities Abroad has launched a number of brand-new adult-only trips, including this week-long activity holiday on Fuerteventura’s lesser-developed north-west coast.

  With an average sea temperature of 20°C and 10-11 hours of sunshine each day, Fuerteventura’s ideal for spending a week in, on and under the water. Avoiding the sprawling masses of purpose-built complexes, this multi-activity holiday is based in and around the small rural fishing village of El Cotillo, which still centres around its traditional harbour.
• 
  Vacations to America appoints Travel PR

  February 13, 2012 for Vacations to America

  Travel PR is delighted to announce that it is representing Vacations to America, the specialist tour operator to North America which offers an extensive range of fly-drive, escorted and tailor-made tours across the United States.

  The Hertfordshire-based tour operator has recently built upon its offering of holidays in New England, The Carolinas, California and Florida, with the launch of its 2012 brochure. The new programme now covers all 50 USA states, split into seven key regions – New England, Great Lakes and the North East, the South, Florida, California, the West and the rest of the USA & Canada.

  Vacations to America offers a unique range of accommodation that it is often not possible to book direct from the UK including charming country inns, small luxury hotels and private villas.
• 
  Tot & teen-friendly self-catering with Spain-holiday.com

  February 9, 2012 for Spain-holiday.com

  Spain continues to top the polls as the most family-friendly destination in Europe with its child-friendly restaurants, sandy beaches, eclectic culture and fabulous climate.

  Spain-holiday.com, the fastest growing company for holiday rentals in Spain, features over 5,600 holiday homes across Spain, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands, with a huge choice of child-friendly properties to suit every budget.
• Rare, but that rare?

  for Lyme Disease Action

  Charity Lyme Disease Action questions the number of cases of Lyme disease in the UK as Rare Disease Day (29 February) approaches

  29 February 2012 marks the fifth international Rare Disease Day – an annual awareness-raising event  co-ordinated by EURODIS (The European Organisation for Rare Diseases) and by rare disease national alliances across Europe. In Europe, a rare disease is defined as one with an incidence of less than one in 2,000 people (or 50/100,000).
• “The Islands of the Sheep and the Paradise of Birds”

  February 8, 2012 for Faroe Islands

  Land, sea and air experiences in the small and quirkily-formed Faroe Islands

  The first settlers in the Faroe Islands were Irish monks, in AD 560. St Brendan was seeking ‘The Promised Land of the Saints’ and one of his stories told of a visit to the Faroes, which he called “The Islands of the Sheep and the Paradise of Birds”. Today, nearly 1,500 years later, the Faroes remain home to 70,000 sheep, 48,500 human beings and the world’s largest storm petrel colony; St Brendan’s name of long ago is still uncannily accurate in respect of these remote islands.
• 
  Missed out on the Northern Lights this winter?

  for The Aurora Zone

  Book now for next season – likely to be the best for the next 20 years – with just a £100 pp deposit

  As a successful winter season draws to a close, Northern Lights specialist The Aurora Zone is encouraging clients to secure their place on next winter’s tours now.

  Says Alistair McLean, The Aurora Zone’s Managing Director: “The demand for Northern Lights hunting trips – a new concept this winter – has been so incredible that we want to ensure we’re fully prepared for even greater demand next season.  Although the Solar Maximum – when the solar cycle is at its most virulent – occurs during 2012, the Aurora will remain near the peak of its intensity long into 2013, and even into 2014, so there’s still time to see this amazing phenomenon for yourself.”
• 
  Activities Abroad launches 2012 family activity holidays brochure

  February 6, 2012 for Activities Abroad

  - Activity holiday specialist Activities Abroad adds six new tours including Montenegro, Fuerteventura, Borneo and Peru

  Activities Abroad’s new brochure includes six new tours – to Montenegro, Fuerteventura, Bulgaria, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, Peru and Borneo. It demonstrates Activities Abroad’s continued understanding of what makes a real family holiday.

  Founded 15 years ago, the specialist company has always catered for families who are keen to get the most out of their holidays.
• 
  Swim with an elephant: a first in Mozambique from £2,702 pp with Expert Africa

  for Expert Africa

  Extraordinary in the extreme: last week an elephant swam and played happily in newly-opened Nuarro beach lodge’s bay, only a short distance from the beach (fantastic hi-res images available). Expert Africa’s MD, Chris McIntyre – who has travelled extensively in southern Africa over the past 25 years – has never seen an elephant in the ocean, and very rarely even heard of it, especially not in Mozambique where game parks have had a hard time historically. Stay in seductive rustic simplicity here in the Nampula Province, where there’s a strong focus on eco-tourism, a dive centre and dhow trips.
• 
  AITO ON AIRLINE COLLAPSES

  for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators

  Spanair and Malev – two down in four days: how many more before Government will listen to the industry?

  With ATOL Reform being debated this week in the House of Commons in front of the Transport Select Committee, and the airlines claiming loudly that they should be left outside ATOL regulation because “there is no need” for them to be included, AITO (www.aito.com) is interested to note two airline collapses in the space of just the past four days.
• 
  Brush up your painting skills at The Watermill at Posara, Tuscany

  February 2, 2012 for The Watermill at Posara

  - Learn from some of the world’s best tutors -

  Tuscany has long been associated with painting. Michelangelo was born in Tuscany, as was da Vinci, and the beautiful scenery, Mediterranean light and delicious food and wines continue to attract a talented mix of artists who come to The Watermill, all keen to pass on their painting skills.

  Here are just six of the artists who will be teaching at The Watermill in 2012…
• 
  AITO Specialist Travel Agents announce spring training roadshow

  for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents

  AITO Specialist Travel Agents is set to hold a product training roadshow across England this spring to update its membership base with important developments, including new operators, amongst members of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO).

  Taking place in London, Birmingham and North Midlands/Cheshire (from 13-15 March 2012), the training sessions will act as a useful refresher for delegates, assisting AITO Agents to continue to sell AITO product offerings – a collection of more than 140 specialist operators covering the world with an unrivalled selection of trips.
• 
  See the best of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in India with Real Holidays

  February 1, 2012 for Real Holidays

  Visit the forthcoming movies fictional setting of Bangalore, or combine the filming locations of Udaipur and Jaipur with Indian specialist Real Holidays

  Adapted from Deborah Moggach’s novel These Foolish Things and due out on 24 February, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a comedy starring Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Maggie Smith and Bill Nighy as a group of retirees who are lured to live out their days in a recently-restored Indian palace hotel.  This turns out to be the incomplete and decrepit Marigold Hotel, whose naïve young owner (Dev Patel) has run out of cash.
• 
  First fly-camping in Zambia’s Emerald Season, from £2,775 pp with Expert Africa

  January 31, 2012 for Expert Africa

  If you’ve only experienced Africa when all is dry, you’ll be amazed by Zambia’s Emerald Season. A hugely underrated time to travel, not only is it the most spectacular period (the bush is lush and the air is crystal-clear), but also the best value. The legendary Robin Pope is offering a first this year: throughout April only, you can fly-camp in the Luangwa Valley, exploring by boat and reaching areas inaccessible to most as roads are often un-passable with the high waters. A seven-night trip is from £2,775 pp (minimum two sharing, maximum four) including flights from Heathrow to Lusaka, accommodation in very stylish camps, all meals (except overnight in Lusaka which is B&B), most drinks, safari activities, laundry and internal transfers.
• MINISTER OF TOURISM SCORES A BULLSEYE, SAYS AITO

  January 27, 2012 for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators

  Specialist tour operators welcome simplification of consumer financial protection methods required by the Package Travel Regulations, plus the proposal to allow the travel industry once again to sell insurance policies without FSA red tape

  “A real breath of fresh air” is how AITO Chairman Derek Moore and Industry Affairs Director Noel Josephides jointly describe the “Smart Regulation and Economic Growth – Seizing the Tourism Opportunity” report just issued by Alan Parker, Chairman of the Tourism Regulation Taskforce.
• 
  Thought the UK auroras were good? Take a look at what’s on offer in Finnish Lapland

  January 25, 2012 for The Aurora Zone

  The weekend of 21-22 January 2012 saw an extraordinary level of geophysical activity in the Earth’s atmosphere, with the Aurora Borealis glimpsed as far south as the UK and Ireland – but can the British Isles ever really compete with the light shows in Finnish Lapland?

  Says Alistair McLean, MD of specialist Northern Lights company The Aurora Zone – a veteran Northern Lights hunter who’s currently in Muonio: “Last night I saw one of the best auroras in living memory and we haven’t even reached the Solar Maximum, which happens next winter.”
• 
  NEW Luxury All-Inclusive Two-Night Break

  for Great Little Breaks

  Quintessential, cosy Cotswolds – £149 pp with Great Little Breaks

  Short breaks often end up costing more than you think, and in tighter times, unexpected expenses are the last thing we all need. Great Little Breaks, leading UK short break specialist, recognises the need for single-price reassurance, and is growing its all-inclusive portfolio apace.

  Actually worth nearly £400, this exclusive offer – new today – gives you two nights’ accommodation at the extremely appealing Frogmill Hotel in the undulating Cotswold hills.
• 
  Exotic adventures for discerning travellers

  for Kirker Holidays

  Kirker Holidays offers tempting tailor-made itineraries across India, Sri Lanka and The Maldives Specialist tour operator Kirker Holidays presents the latest edition of its dedicated brochure to India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Appealing in equal measure for first-time and repeat visitors to this intoxicating region, the brochure contains tempting hotel descriptions and essential travel information as well as sample itineraries and themed sections on Indian Wildlife experiences and Luxury Trains.
• 
  Expert Africa releases 2012-13 brochure

  January 24, 2012 for Expert Africa

  Safari specialist’s 2011-12 brochure includes emerging areas in Mozambique

  Another impressive tome of knowledge, Expert Africa’s new 2012-13 brochure reinforces the company’s position as the Southern Africa specialist.  New options are present across the brochure, but below are some of the most newsworthy additions, including Mozambique’s fast-emerging mainland and new options on Lake Malawi and in the Serengeti.

  +Emerging: mainland Mozambique

  2011 was the year that Mozambique’s mainland caught up with its islands.  Gorongosa National Park was once one of Africa’s finest national parks. However, the civil war which raged through the 1980s and early ‘90s shattered its game populations. It’s been slowly recovering since, and now game densities are good and getting better.  Elephant, crocodile and lion are increasingly encountered; it’s now an excellent safari destination for 2012.  

  New internal flights make reaching it much easier and from 2012, Expert Africa is offering walking safaris there via local camp Explore Gorongosa, whose safari tents have been greatly upgraded for 2012.
• 
  PETER SOMMER TRAVELS APPOINTS TRAVEL PR

  for Peter Sommer Travels

  Travel PR is delighted to announce that it is now representing Peter Sommer Travels

  Specialising in archaeological and cultural tours, gulet cruises and private charters, Peter Sommer Travels offers holidays across Turkey, Greece, southern Italy and Sicily.

  Expert guides – predominantly archaeologists and historians – and small group sizes ensure that history is brought to life on fascinating archaeological sites, whether you reach them by water, foot or road.
• 
  Japanese Culinary Coup

  for Inside Japan Tours

  Masterchef winner and Japanophile, Tim Anderson, teams up with InsideJapan Tours to create a new food and travel experience

  Any trip to Japan is a culinary adventure and InsideJapan Tours’ new 13-night Japanese Cookery tour, led by expert guide Liam Chawdhary and Masterchef 2011 winner Tim Anderson, will not disappoint.

  In addition to an exploration of cultural landmarks, this tasty tour – with stays in cities, the mountains and on the coast – encourages participants to eat their way across the islands of Honshu and Kyushu, and provides the opportunity to glean a few of the secrets of Tim Anderson’s success.
• 
  Sunvil Discovery announces its 2012 real Scandinavia brochure

  for Sunvil Discovery

  – Eclectic Sweden programme significantly expanded with new destinations, activities and properties –

  Sunvil Discovery has just launched its 2012 real Scandinavia brochure, packed full of short break, fly drive and bespoke itinerary options to Sweden, Norway and the Faroe Islands – its most ambitious yet to celebrate its fifth year of high-quality and well-structured tours to Scandinavia.  New destinations and new experiences provide an even broader range of options for travellers.

  In Sweden, new adventurous ideas include the back-to-nature resort of Kolarbyn in the north-west corner of Västmanland and Luleå in the north: try hovercraft and ice road tours.  2012 also introduces the ultra-modern, feng-shui-inspired Hotel Avalon in Gothenburg.

  In Norway, there’s an excellent balance of cosmopolitan city breaks contrasted with fjord and northern wilderness itineraries and The Faroe Islands (part of Denmark) remain an off-the-beaten track option, perfect for nature lovers, birdwatchers and walkers.
• 
  Mark Desert Island Discs’ anniversary with your own paradise island break from Holidaysplease.co.uk

  for Holidaysplease

  BBC Radio 4′s famous Desert Island Discs show celebrates its 70^th anniversary on 29 January.  Why not use the occasion as an excuse to visit your own paradise island on a fly-and-flop break?  Upmarket specialist Holidaysplease.co.uk has compiled three of its favourites:

  QAMEA ISLAND RESORT, FIJI

  A spectacular sliver of an island, Qamea is six miles along but only 200m wide in places.  Volcanic hills and lush valleys give way to coconut-palmed beaches, with just six small villages.
• 
  Enjoy Two-for-One Swiss rail passes with Ffestiniog Travel

  January 19, 2012 for Ffestiniog Travel - Unforgettable Rail Journeys

  Rail specialist Ffestiniog Travel is pleased to announce that it will be offering two Swiss Saver Passes for the price of one, entitling travellers to unlimited journeys over four consecutive days on railways, boats and most alpine postbuses throughout Switzerland.

  The offer applies to the four-day Swiss Saver Pass on departures from 1 April to 31 May and from 1 September to 30 November in 2012. A 50% saving is also being offered on all funicular and mountain railways, plus free entry to 400 museums in Switzerland.
• 
  2012 in Gothenburg and West Sweden

  January 17, 2012 for West Sweden

  Here’s an overview of new holiday inspiration and travel news in 2012, from crime fiction holidays to swanky new hotels, archipelago retreats, culinary experiences and music festivals.

  New hotel:

  Clarion Hotel Post in Gothenburg

  The new Clarion Hotel Post in Gothenburg is set to open on 26 January 2012, and is a listed former Post Office from the 1920s which has been restored and extended into a sleek 500-bedroom hotel.
• 
  The Lawrences are back in Morocco

  January 16, 2012 for Lawrence of Morocco

  - Father and son team, Chris and Max Lawrence (founders of The Best of Morocco), have been tailor-making holidays to Morocco for over 45 years. This week they launch a new bespoke operation –

  For anyone travelling to Morocco in 2012 – and indeed for the Moroccan people – the news could not be better. Chris and Max Lawrence, founders of what was, in their day, the leading specialist to the country (The Best of Morocco, which they sold at the height of its success in 2005), now introduce their new brand – Lawrence of Morocco – bringing back the old principles of expertise, surprising experiences and exhaustive attention to clients’ requirements. Hotels and other partners across Morocco are delighted by the Lawrences’ return (click here to see the extent of their joy) since they were, for many years, the most respected, trusted and expert UK operator to the country.
• 
  Madeira, the Portuguese garden island gem, set to host AITO and AITO Agents’ joint overseas conference 2012

  for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators

  AITO operators and AITO Specialist Travel Agents are delighted to announce Madeira, Portugal, as the setting for their 2012 joint overseas conference

  Sponsored by the Portuguese National Tourist Office and the Madeira Promotion Bureau, the joint conference will take place from 14-17 June 2012 and will see the two organisations come together on the popular Portuguese island to reinforce even greater links in the spirit of the Closer Ties scheme between AITO and AITO Agents.
• 
  Cruise into 2012 with Voyages Jules Verne

  January 11, 2012 for Voyages Jules Verne

  Latest World of Wonders brochure features no-fly ocean cruising in Europe, escorted itineraries in Albania, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, and new Private Journeys Innovative specialist tour operator Voyages Jules Verne has launched the latest edition of its popular World of Wonders brochure. Joining the company’s impressive array of global guided departures, available until April 2013, are a number of new tours
• 
  GIC The Villa Collection launches its inspiring 2012 brochure

  January 10, 2012 for GIC - The Villa Collection

   – An exciting new destination on the mainland, plus 15 new properties featured–

  Greek villa specialist GIC The Villa Collection has launched its 2012 brochure, featuring an enticing selection of handpicked villas carefully chosen for either their private, get-away-from-it-all location, or for their stylish modern furnishings and close proximity to shops and tavernas.
• 
  It’s official – going on holiday means you live longer

  January 9, 2012 for Holidaysplease

  Research from luxury online agency Holidaysplease.co.uk has revealed a startling fact: those who fly more live longer…

  (… admittedly, only by, on average, a sixth-millionth-of-a-second.  But they all count, right?)

  Here’s the science, as provided by Holidaysplease.co.uk’s in-house science professor*.  According to Einstein’s theory of relativity, the faster you travel, the less time you experience – and thus, technically, the longer you live. For example, consider twins who are somehow both destined to die on their shared 70^th birthday.  If one of them travels around consistently and extremely quickly all their life, then after 70 years they could end up having experienced 69 years and 364 days of time compared to their twin’s exactly 70 years, and thus would be due an extra day.  They would die a day later than their twin purely by virtue that they travelled around a lot more quickly.
• 
  Tie the knot on Aphrodite’s Island

  for Ionian Weddings

  Ionian Weddings introduces new and unique Cyprus wedding venues

  Ionian Weddings, the award-winning wedding specialist for bespoke, stylish and unique weddings in the Greek Islands and Cyprus, is delighted to be launching several new and exclusive venues in Cyprus for 2012.

  Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean and is the ideal wedding destination, with virtually guaranteed year-round sunshine and a breathtaking range of locations both on the coast and inland.  Here are just some of Ionian weddings’ new venues which offer excellent value for money, too:
• 
  AITO Specialist Travel Agents’ domestic conference 2012 set to be bigger than ever

  January 6, 2012 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents

  Annual event will see the largest gathering of truly independent agents and operators in the UK travel sector

  AITO Specialist Travel Agents announces a comprehensive programme of activity at what will be its biggest domestic conference yet – taking place at the prestigious Chesford Grange Hotel in Warwickshire on 14-15 January 2012.  Says Oliver Broad, its Chairman:  “I have to say that I am extremely delighted to see how popular this conference is proving amongst our members and their tour operator counterparts.”
• 
  Sail into new waters in 2012

  January 5, 2012 for Essential Sailing

  Essential Sailing launches a new itinerary for 2012 to Italy’s Ligurian coast

  Perfect for sailors and non-sailors alike, Essential Sailing combines sailing with gastronomy and sightseeing in three superb locations: Italy’s Ligurian coast, the Canaries (Tenerife and La Gomera) and the French Riviera. With a maximum of six guests on board at any one time, spend a week in the lap of luxury, being taken from place to place on a luxury 50-foot Beneteau yacht.
• 
  Discover the real Greece with those in the know

  for Sunvil Holidays

  – Over 220 hand-picked properties across 31 islands and the mainland to choose from in 2012 –

  Expert operator to Greece, Sunvil Holidays, has launched its 2012 real Greece brochure, featuring an enticing mix of holidays to the more authentic parts of this captivating country.

  Sunvil Holidays’ 2012 Greece programme reflects all that is great about Greece including: traditional, working villages that retain their authentic flavour; beautiful, mountainous inland areas; a wealth of ancient sites on the mainland; small – and often owner-managed – cottages, apartments and hotels of character. Its 2012 programme is amongst the best, and one of the most varied, Greece offerings in the UK.
• 
  IONIAN WEDDINGS JOINS ABTA

  for Ionian Weddings

  First-ever specialist overseas wedding planner joins ABTA – The Travel Association

  Reflecting one of ABTA’s highlighted travel trends for 2012, forecasting an increase in weddings abroad, Ionian Weddings, specialist consultancy for weddings in unique locations across the Greek Islands and Cyprus, has become the first-ever wedding company to join the Association.

  Ionian Weddings has seen a 25% increase in bookings so far for weddings in 2012 compared to 2011, with the number in Cyprus more than doubling year on year. Increased flights to Kefalonia and Kos will undoubtedly contribute to even more magical weddings on these beautiful islands during 2012.
• 
  Weddings from £2,012 for the 2012 Olympics at the Hatherley Manor Hotel

  January 4, 2012 for Hatherley Manor

  Olympic fever might be taking over the country, but this could be to your advantage if a wedding is on the cards for 2012

  From 27 July until 12 August 2012 (Olympic Games) – or until February if you get in there quickly – the 17th century Hatherley Manor Hotel will be offering weddings starting from the special Olympic price of £2,012. Continuing the theme, three levels of wedding will be offered – Bronze, Silver and Gold – all of which include both a daytime and an evening reception for 40 and 70 guests respectively.
• 
  New European walks for 2012 from On Foot Holidays

  January 3, 2012 for On Foot Holidays

  Walking-holiday specialist On Foot Holidays has introduced two innovative new trips for 2012.  A Côtes du Rhône  trip introduces a different corner of Provence, while a Rhine Gorge tour provides an expert – and largely crowd-free – way to tackle the famous German waterway. 

  NEW: Côtes du Rhône, France

  Forget the crowd-infested Luberon – explore a more varied and interesting corner of Provence

  Ignoring the busy Luberon area, the little-visited Provençal region around Gigondas is the focus of On Foot Holidays’ newest walking trip.  This seven-night, self-guided route circles around Mont Ventoux (the windy mountain), promising clifftop villages, strange conical hills, tiny Le Barroux’s impressive castle and gorgeous Roman bridges.  You can even stay in the former home of the Marquis de Sade en route.  And don’t worry: this being the Côtes du Rhône, food and wine are of primary importance to the walk .  Each hotel boasts a good kitchen, though nothing tops a five-course gourmet experience in Gigondas itself :  you can taste your way through tarte aux tomates, tiny quail, elaborate sorbets and a whole dairy’s worth of cheeses.
• 
  A Japanese calendar of culture

  for Inside Japan Tours

  InsideJapan Tours recommends when to go to Japan for new openings, festivals and fun   January: See ancient sites, such as Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion Temple, sparkle with a dusting of snow or head to the Alps to watch snow monkeys bathe in hot spring pools; on Hokkaido, see the graceful Japanese red cranes perform dances as the orange sun sets over the pure white snowfields of Tsurui. 15 January – Nozawa Fire Festival, Nagano This intense celebration of health and growth brings heat to the snowy slopes of Nozawa, the country’s oldest ski resort. Fireworks and bonfires light up the village and the skies above whilst large amounts of sake are consumed by the locals and visitors alike. How to get there: The ‘Alpine Winter Culture’ self-guided adventure heads from Tokyo to the Japanese Alps for a nine-night trip taking in the exciting Fire Festival, visits the ‘Snow monkey’ of Yudanaka, stays in the atmospheric Zenkoji temple and the alpine castle town of Matsumoto. Costs £1,450 pp (two sharing), departs 9 January.
• 
  Lapland beyond 25 December with Activities Abroad

  December 28, 2011 for Activities Abroad

  Husky-sledding in Finnish and Norwegian Lapland – the perfect antidote to Christmas

  You’ve feasted on turkey and you’re full of mince pies, the Christmas tree is about to come down and there’s a list of thank-you letters to be written. Throughout the post-Christmas lull, chances are that Lapland won’t be on your mind. But it really should be, according to Activities Abroad.

  For many, Lapland’s idyllic landscapes will provide a welcome relief to the Christmas frenzy. All Santa-seeking families will be gone for another year, leaving behind a Lapland free from the crowds.  Team up with a handful of huskies on a dog-sledding adventure, and you’ll find yourself getting fit and seeing Lapland at its very best – empty and enticing – as the days get longer and temperatures increase.
• 
  Celebrate NYE twice in one night with Holidaysplease

  December 23, 2011 for Holidaysplease

  If you really, really like New Year’s Eve, how about celebrating it twice in one night this year?!  Upmarket online travel agency Holidaysplease knows a way to do it. Celebrate NYE first of all in Auckland, joining the parties in Viaduct Basin.  Then, on New Year’s Day, fly at 17:35 with Air New Zealand to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands; as you’re crossing the International Date Line, you’ll effectively be going back in time, and returning to 2011.  The plane arrives in Rarotonga at 22:30, leaving enough time to leave the small airport, and head into Avarua to welcome 2012 all over again!
• 
  Sunvil Discovery launches 2012 Portugal & Madeira brochure

  December 21, 2011 for Sunvil Discovery

  Eight new properties feature and the Alentejo region goes from strength to strength

  Tailor-made specialist Sunvil Discovery has launched its 2012 real Portugal & Madeira brochure, packed full of accommodation options and flexible itineraries to the lesser-known areas of this captivating country.

  Sunvil Discovery is pleased to announce that its exclusive flight to Beja in the heart of the Alentejo will continue – departing London Heathrow once a week – in 2012. Following the success of the flight and expanded Alentejo programme in 2011, a new section detailing what to do and see in this unspoilt region now features.

  New properties include elegant manor house Casa do Sezim, set in its own vineyards just outside Guimaraes, European Capital of Culture for 2012, and the luxurious five-star Onyria Marinha Edition Hotel & Thalasso near Cascais, complete with golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Senior that offers fantastic views over the Atlantic and Sintra mountain range.
• 
  Race to Hatherley Manor for The Cheltenham Festival (13-16 March 2012)

  December 16, 2011 for Hatherley Manor

  Make Hatherley Manor your accommodation choice Join horses, jockeys and trainers for four days of exciting races at the world-famous Cheltenham Racecourse. Whether you’re attending Champion Day, Ladies Day or St Patrick’s Thursday – or the pinnacle of the entire jump racing season, the Cheltenham Gold Cup Day (Friday 16 March) – HatherleyManor provides good-value accommodation in an attractive setting.
• 
  Kirker expands its Short Breaks selection

  December 14, 2011 for Kirker Holidays

  2012 brochure introduces new options in Belgium, Croatia, France, Greece, Portugal, Turkey and the UK Specialist tour operator for discerning travellers, Kirker Holidays, has launched the 2012 edition of its popular Short Breaks brochure. Featuring 70 cities and some 250 countryside and coastal properties throughout Europe and beyond, the 2012 brochure includes a number of new destinations.
• Stockholm’s Berns Hotel gears up for Millennium mania

  December 13, 2011 for Berns Hotel

  With Stieg Larsson fans on the edge of their seats as they await the film release of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo –in UK cinemas from 26 December – Stockholm is placed firmly on the wish list for those wanting to follow in the footsteps of their favourite characters.

  Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy of thriller novels – which first hit book shelves back in 2008 – has already sold over 30 million copies worldwide, and David Fincher’s Hollywood version of the first title in the series looks set to be equally popular.
• New blissful venues for 2012, at modest prices

  December 8, 2011 for Ionian Weddings
• 
  STAFF COULD BE IN HOT WATER AS MOST BRITS BOOK THEIR HOLIDAYS DURING OFFICE HOURS

  December 7, 2011 for Holidaysplease

  Travel PR is delighted to announce that it is representing Holidays Please (www.holidaysplease.co.uk), an online travel agent specialising in four and five star long-haul destinations across the Indian Ocean, Far East, Caribbean and Africa. Holidaysplease provides a range of indulgent yet competitively priced luxury holidays aimed primarily at couples, with honeymoons being a particular speciality. The company’s Travel Advisors are some of the most dedicated and experienced in the business as they give their mobile and even home phone numbers to customers. Also many stay up until 11pm at night and work during their own holidays to service customers’ requirements. For example, one Travel Advisor worked up until 11pm to confirm bookings even though she was due to fly out on a personal holiday to Brazil the following day.
• Lyme Disease Action is awarded The Information Standard quality mark

  December 6, 2011 for Lyme Disease Action
• Let self-pride levels soar in 2012 – make a New Year’s resolution with Discover Adventure

  December 5, 2011 for Discover Adventure
• Kirker Cultural Tours & Music Holidays 2012

  December 2, 2011 for Kirker Holidays
• PRESTIGIOUS DOUBLE WIN FOR ELMAN WALL

  for Elman Wall Travel Accountants
• 
  The alternative airport lounge

  November 30, 2011 for Holidaysplease

  The alternative airport lounge – The Maldives from £1,847 pp With UK airports and immigration queues the topic of much discussion with the Home Secretary at present, why not enjoy one of the most scenic and uncrowded airport check-ins in the world?  Male International Airport, in the Maldives, is calm personified:  bare-foot pilots on its floating pontoons and picture-perfect views in all directions.  It’s currently basking in 30-degree sunshine.  Board a seaplane for a brief transfer flight to further-flung islands or, instead of an airport coach, hop aboard your private speedboat transfer service for the half-hour trip to Velassaru, a stunning resort on the northern tip of the South Male Atoll.  Here you can wallow in beauty treatments and enjoy boat trips, tennis and dining by the water’s edge.  Departing 12 December, a week’s stay costs £1,847 pp including flights (London), transfers and B&B through www.holidaysplease.co.uk/maldives (0845 365 6565).

  According to Charles Duncombe, owner, Holidaysplease.co.uk, “The Maldives has gained in popularity over the past year, with bookings up 10%, as it is a true desert island paradise with excellent hotels and good flight links.  In this hectic world where we have constant contact from every angle, there seems to be a desire for people to have a small window in the year where they are not generally contactable and can just relax without their phone going off, emails coming in, texts arriving and facebook/twitter messages landing, etc.”

  Ends – 30 November 2011

  For press enquiries or hi-res photography (including versions of those attached): Please contact Julia Farish or Richard Mellor, Travel PR, tel: 020 8891 4440, email: j.farish@travelpr.co.uk or r.mellor@travelpr.co.uk
• The Aurora Zone: New Northern Lights & Sámi Cultural Heritage tours

  November 29, 2011 for The Aurora Zone
• Great Little Breaks joins Travel PR

  November 28, 2011 for Great Little Breaks
• Great Little Breaks launches…and delights

  for Great Little Breaks
• AITO All Star Champions to be crowned at AITO Specialist Travel Agents’ domestic conference

  November 25, 2011 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• Venture into the unknown on the Azores in 2012

  November 24, 2011 for Sunvil Discovery
• Enjoy the world’s ‘HighLights’ with Voyages Jules Verne

  November 23, 2011 for Voyages Jules Verne
• Kirker launches latest edition of its dedicated Spain brochure

  November 21, 2011 for Kirker Holidays
• Kirker expands its Italian Lakes programme for 2012

  November 18, 2011 for Kirker Holidays
• ‘Short stories abroad’ with Voyages Jules Verne

  November 16, 2011 for Voyages Jules Verne
• Göta Canal Steamship Company unveils its 2012 season

  November 15, 2011 for Göta Canal Steamship Company
• 
  Not your ordinary Santa holidays

  November 11, 2011 for Activities Abroad

  – See Lapland as well as Father Christmas this winter with Activities Abroad Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without Santa Claus, and there’s no better place to see him than in Lapland. Getting away from touristy day-tripper destinations may involve a lengthier journey (tell the kids it’s a long way to the North Pole), but it does mean that, once there, it’s the real Lapland you’re visiting, that of Narnia-esque scenery and frozen landscapes – as well as Father Christmas’s home.
• Not your ordinary Santa holidays – See Lapland as well as Father Christmas this winter with Activities Abroad

  for Activities Abroad
• A green-fingered tick warning

  for Lyme Disease Action
• Sunvil Holidays, 42 years on: still the most

  November 10, 2011 for Sunvil Holidays
• OUR NEWEST CLIENT: ON FOOT HOLIDAYS

  for On Foot Holidays
• AITO and AITO Agents celebrate success at The Guardian and Observer Travel Awards 2011

  for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators
• Ffestiniog Travel offers competitive rail tickets to Europe’s ski resorts

  November 9, 2011 for Ffestiniog Travel - Unforgettable Rail Journeys
• Europe’s Christmas Markets with Kirker Holidays

  November 4, 2011 for Kirker Holidays
• Tour leaders launch new signature itineraries in the wake of British Travel Awards

  November 3, 2011 for Inside Japan Tours
• 
  Delve into Lapland’s white wilderness

  November 2, 2011 for Activities Abroad

  – and meet Santa, or not, as you choose… Husky expeditions, snowmobile safaris and Father Christmas visits – a range of winter experiences for families (both young and old) and adults From magical winter wonderlands to the remote Arctic wilderness, Activities Abroad has a varied programme of winter holidays lined up for 2011/12, stretching across Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish Lapland – and right up to the Russian border.
• Delve into Lapland’s white wilderness – and meet Santa, or not, as you choose…

  for Activities Abroad
• Delve into the secrets of the South West with Classic Cottages

  November 1, 2011 for Classic Cottages
• West Sweden and Gothenburg – World Travel Market 2011 newsletter

  October 31, 2011 for West Sweden
• AITO Specialist Travel Agents set Mastermind challenge 2011

  October 28, 2011 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• AITO Agents welcomes new member

  October 27, 2011 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• The Aurora Zone adds six new Northern Lights hunting dates in 2012 as trips sell out five months in advance

  October 26, 2011 for The Aurora Zone
• The Islands of the Sheep and the Paradise of Birds

  for Faroe Islands
• AITO announces 2011 Travel Writer of the Year awards

  October 13, 2011 for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators
• Sub-zero Japan: Delicate cherry blossom in the spring, a festival-packed summer, autumn leaves ablaze – and what about the winter?

  for Inside Japan Tours
• ELMAN WALL’S TRAVEL INDUSTRY EXPERTISE RECOGNISED

  October 11, 2011 for Elman Wall Travel Accountants
• The Secret Parks of Southern Africa

  October 5, 2011 for Expert Africa
• COSY WINTER BOLTHOLES: THE COTSWOLDS & NORTH WALES

  October 4, 2011 for St George’s Hotel
• IONIAN WEDDINGS, THE PERFECT TRAVEL AGENT PARTNER FOR CLIENT WEDDINGS

  October 3, 2011 for Ionian Weddings
• AITO and AITO Agents celebrate success at The Guardian and Observer Travel Awards 2011

  for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators
• Ionian Weddings, the perfect travel agent partner for client weddings

  for Ionian Weddings
• AITO seminar at the World Travel Market 2011 – The State of Independent Travel Agents and Tour Operators

  September 28, 2011 for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators
• Now is the time to snap up Spain’s blissful villas

  September 23, 2011 for Spain-holiday.com
• Paints, pastels and putting pen to paper in Tuscany

  September 21, 2011 for The Watermill at Posara
• Walks, foodie treats and a literary festival – it’s time for a South West autumn getaway

  September 16, 2011 for Classic Cottages
• Sunvil Discovery ups its tailor-made game in Norway and Sweden this winter

  September 15, 2011 for Sunvil Discovery
• Enchanting Austria: fairytales, magic tricks and happy memories

  September 13, 2011 for Kinderhotels
• AITO Specialist Travel Agents announce autumn training event

  September 12, 2011 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• Ffestiniog Travel launches 2012 Rail Holidays of the World

  September 6, 2011 for Ffestiniog Travel - Unforgettable Rail Journeys
• AITO All Stars announces winners of luxury Caribbean fam trip

  September 3, 2011 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• Six months on: great savings in September and beyond

  September 2, 2011 for Inside Japan Tours
• West Sweden and Gothenburg Autumn newsletter 2011

  for West Sweden
• AITO and AITO Agents unveil Holiday Festival Fortnight

  for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• Specialist travel agent returns to AITO Agents

  September 1, 2011 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• Combine Florence’s hidden gems with a Tuscan painting or writing course

  August 30, 2011 for The Watermill at Posara
• Latest from Lyme Disease Action

  August 24, 2011 for Lyme Disease Action
• Stress-free solo travel with Voyages Jules Verne

  August 22, 2011 for Voyages Jules Verne
• The perfect ingredients: Gastronomy, Sailing & Sightseeing in the French Riviera and the Canary Islands

  August 18, 2011 for Essential Sailing
• Do a Brangelina and seek a private train tour with Ffestiniog Travel

  for Ffestiniog Travel - Unforgettable Rail Journeys
• Paintbrushes and Pens at the ready: Autumn availability at The Watermill at Posara

  for The Watermill at Posara
• Queen for a day with Ionian Weddings

  August 17, 2011 for Ionian Weddings
• Faroe Islands Host Vestnorden Travel Mart, 13-15 September 2011

  August 16, 2011 for Faroe Islands
• Antipodean anticipation: start saving for the ride of your life

  August 9, 2011 for Ffestiniog Travel - Unforgettable Rail Journeys
• New Northern Lights hunting trips from brand-new The Aurora Zone

  for The Aurora Zone
• Autumnal beauty

  August 3, 2011 for Inside Japan Tours
• Discover Adventure unveils trek to take in venues of Olympics 2012

  for Discover Adventure
• Art: just as you wouldn’t expect it in the South West

  August 2, 2011 for Classic Cottages
• Get on track for this year’s Christmas Markets with Ffestiniog Travel’s Unforgettable Rail Journeys

  for Ffestiniog Travel - Unforgettable Rail Journeys
• Save over £1,600 PER PERSON with record summer specials from Expert Africa

  for Expert Africa
• 
  Discover the Alentejo wine region

  July 25, 2011 for Sunvil Discovery

  Sunvil Discovery’s new flight into Beja provides UK travellers with direct access to Europe’s most exciting developing wine region.
• 
  AITO Agents All Stars report staggering 40% sales increase in June 2011

  for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents

  AITO Specialist Travel Agents report an overall sales increase of 40% in June 2011
• 
  Start autumn smoothly: float through France’s finest vineyards

  July 22, 2011 for VFB Holidays

  Travelzest’s VFB Holidays, the river cruise specialist, invites wine lovers to cruise France’s most majestic rivers.
• 
  AITO Agents welcomes new member

  for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators

  AITO Specialist Travel Agents is delighted to announce a new member – the Tyne and Wear based award-winning independent agent, Westoe Travel
• Start autumn smoothly: float through France’s finest vineyards

  for VFB Holidays
• Start autumn smoothly: float through France’s finest vineyards

  for VFB Holidays
• AITO Agents welcomes new member

  for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• 
  10 things you (probably) don’t know about the Azores

  July 19, 2011 for Sunvil Discovery

  Specks in the Atlantic Ocean, sub-tropical and untouched, are the nine islands of the Azores.
• 10 things you (probably) don’t know about the Azores

  for Sunvil Discovery
• Schools break up, but the summer’s no holiday for ticks

  July 18, 2011 for Lyme Disease Action
• Voyages Jules Verne launches latest World of Wonders

  July 15, 2011 for Voyages Jules Verne
• If you want to really feel Italy, try farm Italy

  July 14, 2011 for Sunvil Discovery
• A steam dream on the newly-completed Welsh Highland Railway

  for Ffestiniog Travel - Unforgettable Rail Journeys
• Buy-to-let holiday homes – the long-term investment benefits and top tips for rental success

  July 13, 2011 for Classic Cottages
• August availability from Explore:

  July 12, 2011 for Explore!
• Challenge of a lifetime – Discover Adventure unveils new trips for 2012 and 2013

  July 11, 2011 for Discover Adventure
• Cruise control: unpack, relax, float and be fascinated

  July 8, 2011 for VFB Holidays
• AITO and AITO Agents announce engaging speaker programme for first-ever joint conference

  July 6, 2011 for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators
• AITO and AITO Agents announce engaging speaker programme for first-ever joint conference

  for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• AITO Agents welcomes new members

  for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• New free travel app set to revolutionise how travellers search for holidays

  for Appi Holidays
• Cambodia travel news from ABOUTAsia Travel

  July 5, 2011 for ABOUTAsia Travel
• Made in Japan

  July 1, 2011 for Inside Japan Tours
• The greatest sense of achievement – Discover Adventure’s worldwide cycling challenges

  June 30, 2011 for Discover Adventure
• Make your holiday greener with Sunvil

  June 29, 2011 for Sunvil Holidays
• New boutique-style sailing holidays: Essential Sailing launches fully-crewed luxury Canary Island trips

  for Essential Sailing
• The Second Half of the Cultural Year

  June 28, 2011 for The Traveller
• Perfect your watercolour prowess, write your own memoir or pen a romantic novel

  for The Watermill at Posara
• Summer in Italy – the best-remaining availability from Real Holidays

  June 27, 2011 for Real Holidays
• 11 reasons to visit Gothenburg and West Sweden

  June 23, 2011 for West Sweden
• Make the most of the Marrakech Fare Wars

  June 22, 2011 for The Best of Morocco
• Intimate weddings abroad on the rise

  June 21, 2011 for Ionian Weddings
• Awarding the best in travel at AITO and AITO Agents’ overseas conference 2011

  June 20, 2011 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• AITO Agents and AITO overseas conference 2011: AITO Agents officially unveils ‘Let’s Go Green’ campaign

  for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• Still available this summer – Family Adventures from Explore

  for Explore!
• Limit-pushing challenges – it’s time to really Discover Adventure

  June 13, 2011 for Discover Adventure
• A summer cottage getaway – it’s not too late to book!

  June 8, 2011 for Classic Cottages
• Free child places in the Azores & the Alentejo

  June 7, 2011 for Sunvil Discovery
• It’s not all doom and gloom as much of the travel market enjoys a good 2011

  June 6, 2011 for Elman Wall Travel Accountants
• The Watermill at Posara appoints Travel PR

  June 2, 2011 for The Watermill at Posara
• Expert Africa’s wildlife where-to-go

  May 31, 2011 for Expert Africa
• AITO welcomes tougher ATOL rules

  for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators
• Discover Spain’s lesser-known yet entrancing cities

  for Spain-holiday.com
• West Sweden and Gothenburg Summer newsletter 2011

  May 19, 2011 for West Sweden
• Short break perfection in Paris

  May 18, 2011 for Kirker Holidays
• Seychelles on a shoestring

  May 17, 2011 for Expert Africa
• Undisturbed cultural immersion

  for Inside Japan Tours
• Lose yourself in Cornwall’s majestic gardens

  May 16, 2011 for Classic Cottages
• Alentejo, Portugal: A special release for a special destination

  May 13, 2011 for Sunvil Discovery
• Enjoy even more of Jordan with Voyages Jules Verne

  May 11, 2011 for Voyages Jules Verne
• AITO Agents’ survey – majority to switch sell Thomas Cook group if merger goes ahead

  May 9, 2011 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• Living the pre-school dream…

  May 4, 2011 for Classic Cottages
• Birdwatchers and Twitchers take note!

  for Lyme Disease Action
• AITO Agents reinforces dedication to customer service

  May 3, 2011 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• Göta Canal Steamship Company cruises into the summer season

  April 26, 2011 for Göta Canal Steamship Company
• AITO Agents All Stars report staggering 13% sales increase in March

  April 19, 2011 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• Mark the centenary of Machu Picchu’s discovery with Ffestiniog Travel

  April 14, 2011 for Ffestiniog Travel - Unforgettable Rail Journeys
• France specialist VFB Holidays gives the staycation a run for its money

  April 13, 2011 for VFB Holidays
• Book a bridalmoon – pre-wedding pampering with the girls

  April 8, 2011 for Austria's Finest Spa Hotels & Resorts
• Life’s more than just a beach in Spain

  April 7, 2011 for Spain-holiday.com
• Summer offer in Llandudno – from £87.50 pp for two nights at St George’s Hotel

  for St George’s Hotel
• GIC The Villa Collection’s Top Ten ‘Best for…’

  for GIC - The Villa Collection
• Travelzest’s coffee-table collection

  April 5, 2011 for Travelzest

  
  
• Way Out West music festival 2011, Gothenburg

  March 29, 2011 for West Sweden
• AITO All Stars steps up incentives with luxury Caribbean fam trip

  March 28, 2011 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• Bank on a break with Classic Cottages

  for Classic Cottages
• Travelzest’s take on film tourism

  for Travelzest
• West Sweden and Gothenburg Spring newsletter 2011

  for West Sweden
• With British Summer Time approaching, enjoy the great outdoors – but be tick-aware as the number of Lyme disease cases rise in the UK

  March 25, 2011 for Lyme Disease Action
• Classic Resorts & Weekends

  for Voyages Jules Verne
• The Alentejo, Portugal – it’s new, it’s undiscovered and it also offers excellent value for money…

  March 24, 2011 for Sunvil Discovery
• InsideJapan Tours establishes tsunami relief fund

  March 16, 2011 for Inside Japan Tours
• South West shows Britain off best

  for Classic Cottages
• Tohoku Tsunami – Statement from InsideJapan Tours

  March 15, 2011 for Inside Japan Tours
• InsideJapan statement on today’s earthquake

  March 11, 2011 for Inside Japan Tours
• Heaven away from the hordes

  March 10, 2011 for PAN Parks
• Spain-holiday.com appoints Travel PR

  for Spain-holiday.com
• AITO Agents proud of strong presence in Agent Achievement Awards shortlist

  March 8, 2011 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• Be moved by Murakami

  March 7, 2011 for Inside Japan Tours
• Travelzest’s top five festivals for 2011

  March 3, 2011 for Travelzest
• AITO Specialist Travel Agents announce Spring training event

  March 2, 2011 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• Picture perfect…with Ionian Weddings

  for Ionian Weddings
• Classically British holidays for British Tourism Week

  February 28, 2011 for Classic Cottages
• Roger Diski

  February 25, 2011 for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators
• Lyme disease warning issued as 2012 Olympic cycle route is announced

  February 24, 2011 for Lyme Disease Action
• No Basho? No big deal

  February 23, 2011 for Inside Japan Tours
• Sunvil Discovery expands its Portugal & Madeira programme

  February 15, 2011 for Sunvil Discovery
• Sunvil launches innovative new website

  February 8, 2011 for Sunvil Holidays
• Tailor-made tracks for Spain with Kirker Holidays

  February 3, 2011 for Kirker Holidays
• Enjoy the full Welsh Highland Railway

  February 2, 2011 for Ffestiniog Travel - Unforgettable Rail Journeys
• Sunvil Discovery launches exclusive charter/first-ever direct flight to The Alentejo

  January 28, 2011 for Sunvil Discovery
• New Managing Director appointed for Classic Cottages

  January 25, 2011 for Classic Cottages
• The best of Japan in one signature brochure

  January 24, 2011 for Inside Japan Tours
• Short Breaks brochure kicks off Kirker’s 25th anniversary year

  for Kirker Holidays
• Another BA cabin crew strike can only hurt the innocent passengers

  January 21, 2011 for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators
• Voyages Jules Verne adds new itineraries to its popular worldwide brochure

  for Voyages Jules Verne
• Affordable country house weddings without compromise

  January 20, 2011 for Hatherley Manor
• Stylish sailing for culture vultures

  January 19, 2011 for Essential Sailing
• Bright, bullish start to 2011 reported by AITO Agents

  January 17, 2011 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• AITO Agents and AITO announce new combination conference for anniversary

  for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• Vilnius in Lithuania announced as host for the AITO and AITO Specialist Travel Agents’ simultaneous conferences

  for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators
• High-flying AITO Agents refresh and rebrand with new ‘kitemark’ logo

  for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• Sunvil’s biggest Greece programme to date

  January 13, 2011 for Sunvil Holidays
• Top winter travel experiences with Travelzest Holidays

  January 12, 2011 for Travelzest
• 2011 in West Sweden and Gothenburg

  January 10, 2011 for West Sweden
• Expert Africa underlines its position as the Zimbabwe specialist

  January 4, 2011 for Expert Africa
• Step into the timeless world of West Sweden’s Koster Archipelago

  for West Sweden
• AITO Assured – the new logo that offers consumers financial protection and confidence when booking a holiday

  for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators
• Greek Islands Club rebrands and launches new name, website and 2011 brochure

  December 17, 2010 for GIC - The Villa Collection
• Hotel that hosted Churchill opens new function suite

  December 16, 2010 for St George’s Hotel
• Essential Sailing appoints Travel PR

  December 15, 2010 for Essential Sailing
• AITOversity Challenge’s final four are announced

  December 14, 2010 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• Richard Carrick to speak at AITO Agents’ Domestic Conference

  December 7, 2010 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• Top opera festivals for 2011 – Travelzest’s JMB Travel picks its favourites

  for JMB Travel
• Seasonal specials: Christmas & New Year getaways from Classic Cottages

  December 6, 2010 for Classic Cottages
• Tired of train confusion? Fix it with Ffestiniog Travel

  December 2, 2010 for Ffestiniog Travel - Unforgettable Rail Journeys
• AITO to launch new logo and branding to celebrate its 35th year

  for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators
• A smörgåsbord for the senses: Sunvil’s new Scandinavia brochure

  November 30, 2010 for Sunvil Discovery
• Travel PR appoints Ian Bradley as new Managing Director

  November 25, 2010 for Travel PR appoints Ian Bradley as new Managing Director
• Dartmoor draws A-listers, all thanks to Mee

  November 24, 2010 for Classic Cottages
• Explore the Azores with the experts

  for Sunvil Discovery
• Kirker expands its hotel collection in India, North Africa & the Middle East

  November 19, 2010 for Kirker Holidays
• Celebrate 10 years of InsideJapan Tours with a ten-day 10% discount

  for Inside Japan Tours
• Hallmark venue revealed for milestone AITO Agents conference

  November 18, 2010 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• Anderbury Hotels appoints Travel PR

  November 17, 2010 for Hatherley Manor
• Anderbury Hotels appoints Travel PR

  for St George’s Hotel
• Live the lingo of Morocco

  for The Best of Morocco
• Live the lingo of Morocco

  for The Best of Morocco
• Visit Faroe Islands joins Travel PR

  November 16, 2010 for Faroe Islands
• Göta Canal Steamship Company cruises named Best Experience in Sweden

  November 15, 2010 for Göta Canal Steamship Company
• New city, coast and countryside properties join Kirker’s Italy programme in its silver anniversary year

  for Kirker Holidays
• Added extras, on the house

  November 12, 2010 for Classic Cottages
• News from West Sweden and Gothenburg – Winter 2010

  November 5, 2010 for West Sweden
• Japanese Winter Highlights revealed

  November 2, 2010 for Inside Japan Tours
• Explore introduces Experiential and Budget tour collections

  October 29, 2010 for Explore!
• Try Kirstie’s own Homemade Home in North Devon

  October 27, 2010 for Classic Cottages
• Lymelife sheds light on the debilitating effects of Lyme disease

  October 26, 2010 for Lyme Disease Action
• Now’s the time for The Shellfish Journey in West Sweden

  October 18, 2010 for West Sweden
• Explore launches Active & Discovery Programmes

  October 12, 2010 for Explore!
• Sunvil Holidays launches 2011 Cyprus brochure

  for Sunvil Holidays
• Explore launches Active & Discovery Programmes to coincide with 30th Anniversary milestone

  for Explore!
• Explore launches Active & Discovery Programmes to coincide with 30th Anniversary milestone

  for Explore!
• Another cool side to Japan

  September 30, 2010 for Inside Japan Tours
• Let Ionian Weddings plan your perfect day….in the Greek Islands or Cyprus

  September 29, 2010 for Ionian Weddings
• Explore goes ape for London’s Great Gorilla Run once again

  September 24, 2010 for Explore!
• Forget Facebook – it’s face time you need with friends

  September 23, 2010 for Classic Cottages
• Cultural Tours & Music Holidays 2011

  September 21, 2010 for Kirker Holidays
• Ffestiniog Travel launches Rail Holidays of the World

  September 17, 2010 for Ffestiniog Travel - Unforgettable Rail Journeys
• Oliver Broad crowned AITO Specialist Travel Agents’ new chairman

  September 16, 2010 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• Tailor-made adventure trips across the real Latin America

  September 7, 2010 for Sunvil Traveller
• Nepal to Nicaragua – five news tours on Explore’s 2011/12 Family Adventures programme

  September 6, 2010 for Explore!
• Voyages Jules Verne launches VJVLounge

  September 3, 2010 for Voyages Jules Verne
• New AITO Specialist Travel Agents Chairman secures Tunisian National Tourist Office as sponsor of AITOversity Challenge

  September 1, 2010 for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators
• Free-Falling for young families: make the most of autumn and take a short break for a big difference

  August 31, 2010 for Classic Cottages
• The bare necessities for going nude

  August 24, 2010 for Peng Travel
• PAN Parks joins Travel PR

  August 20, 2010 for PAN Parks
• Christmas Day in incredible locations

  August 13, 2010 for The Traveller
• 26.2 miles of Tokyo

  for Inside Japan Tours
• Legendary Lloyd is back… and Botswana’s not been this Savuti-full in 30 years

  August 11, 2010 for Expert Africa
• Try Kirstie’s own Homemade Home for inspiration and relaxation in North Devon

  August 9, 2010 for Classic Cottages
• The A-to-Z of African safaris

  July 21, 2010 for Expert Africa
• Fancy watching conservation history?

  July 12, 2010 for Expert Africa
• Freak contraction for Cheryl Cole

  July 7, 2010 for Expert Africa
• InsideJapan launches new Gourmet Deluxe tour

  July 5, 2010 for Inside Japan Tours
• Machu where? Alternatives to world-famous cultural sites from The Traveller

  June 21, 2010 for The Traveller
• Wanderlust – AITO survey for March to May 2010

  June 10, 2010 for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators
• Gothenburg and West Sweden expect new easyJet airline route to further boost tourism

  June 7, 2010 for West Sweden
• Culinary Adventures in Japan – The Way of the Stomach

  June 1, 2010 for Inside Japan Tours
• Long-awaited so-called “Minister of Tourism” won’t meet Outbound Industry

  for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators
• Watch out for ticks now the warm weather is here

  for Lyme Disease Action
• Join Benedict Allen in East Africa with Baobab Expeditions & the Born Free Foundation

  for Baobab Expeditions
• From Lyme disease to a Grand Slam final…

  for Lyme Disease Action
• Explore launches Slow Travel Movement

  May 26, 2010 for Explore!
• More BA Strike Misery for Customers

  May 1, 2010 for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators
• Lyme disease: hiding behind the panel

  for Lyme Disease Action
• Sweden in the spotlight

  for Sunvil Discovery
• Festival Season in Japan: double your listening pleasure

  for Inside Japan Tours
• AITO members unearth the world’s most spectacular golden triangles

  for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators
• At a glance – Kinderhotels 2010

  for Kinderhotels
• Try a different kind of family holiday with Kinderhotels

  for Kinderhotels
• Greece is still a goer, says Sunvil

  for Sunvil Holidays
• Baobab Expeditions announces exciting new wildlife tour

  for Baobab Expeditions
• No-fly summer breaks from Explore

  for Explore!
• Protea Hotels withdraws application to build hotel beside World Heritage site

  April 14, 2010 for Expert Africa
• India & Sri Lanka – latest news from Real Holidays

  for Real Holidays
• AITO members offer some of the best views in the world

  April 1, 2010 for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators
• Classic Resorts & Weekends

  for Voyages Jules Verne
• All you knead on a cruise: therapy for body and soul as you slice through the heart of Sweden

  for Göta Canal Steamship Company
• Explore’s “Seven Wondrous Experiences of the World” –

  for Explore!
• Seven secret Cuban corners

  for Captivating Cuba
• Japan – Quality, value and an amazing cultural experience

  for Inside Japan Tours
• World Heritage site of Mana Pools National Park in Zambia under threat from 144-bed conference hotel

  for Expert Africa
• Wanderlust/AITO travel industry survey reveals encouraging outlook for 2010

  March 23, 2010 for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators
• Wilpattu, Sri Lanka’s best National Park, has re-opened

  March 3, 2010 for Real Holidays
• Pregnant Pause

  March 1, 2010 for Classic Cottages
• Greece is the word in 2010

  for GIC - The Villa Collection
• Discover the real Cyprus with the real experts

  for Sunvil Holidays
• Travel the real Latin America

  for Sunvil Traveller
• Inspirational Japan InsideJapan’s new brochures

  February 23, 2010 for Inside Japan Tours
• Let the train take the starring role

  February 1, 2010 for Ffestiniog Travel - Unforgettable Rail Journeys
• Wings over Africa

  for Baobab Expeditions
• Wild about Africa? Try Tanzania

  for Wild About Africa
• Botswana’s not been this Savuti-full for 30 years

  for Expert Africa
• The Millennium bug

  for Sunvil Discovery
• An A – Z of the Azores

  for Sunvil Discovery
• Wow House takes to the seas with its first yacht and welcomes Sophie Conran’s manor house

  for The Wow House Company
• The Traveller tells the History of the World in 10 tours

  January 19, 2010 for The Traveller
• AITO Specialist Travel Agents launch new 10 point consumer promise

  January 17, 2010 for AITO - Specialist Travel Agents
• What’s happening in Gothenburg and West Sweden in 2010?

  January 12, 2010 for West Sweden
• Discover the real Greece with Sunvil Holidays

  January 1, 2010 for Sunvil Holidays
• Austria’s Finest Spa Hotels & Resorts and Kinderhotels join Travel PR

  for Kinderhotels
• Travel to a World of Wonders with Voyages Jules Verne

  for Voyages Jules Verne
• Top of the Ops

  for VFB Holidays
• The Traveller’s own History of the World – in just 10 tours

  for The Traveller
• Life’s too short not to enjoy a Kirker Short Break!

  for Kirker Holidays
• The latest news from Explore:

  December 1, 2009 for Explore!
• Caribbean customised: a contradiction in terms?

  November 1, 2009 for Captivating Cuba
• Quint-essential client counsel

  May 1, 2009 for The Best of Morocco
• Slow food – new culinary cruises through the heart of Sweden

  October 29, 2008 for Göta Canal Steamship Company