The National Trust bucks economic trends to have bumper December

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:37:13 GMT

The National Trust has reported a substantial increase in its visitor numbers, and retail and catering sales in December 2011 compared to the previous December, despite a backdrop of challenging economic times and lack of consumer confidence.

There were more than half-a-million (521,000) visitors to Trust properties in December 2011, an increase of 74 per cent on the previous year*.

Factors affecting the large jump in visitor numbers include the mild weather (December 2010 saw heavy snowfall hitting the number of getting out and about) and an increasing number of houses running Christmas themed activity, such as lighting schemes and decorating stately homes for Christmas.

Over forty Trust pay-for-entry properties were open during the weekends in December. Attingham in Shropshire saw its busiest ever weekend with its Frost Fair which ran on the first Saturday and Sunday of the month.

The Trust is on target to have its best ever year for visitor numbers to its pay-for-entry properties, exceeding 18 million visitors for the first time in its history**.

The retail business, which includes high street shops, shops at properties and online sales, saw an increase in sales of 24 per cent and the cafes and restaurants had a 71 per cent increase in sales in December 2011 compared to the same month in 2010.

In the year to date retail sales have increased by 8 per cent and catering has so far seen a 14 per cent increase in sales.

Fiona Reynolds, Director-General of the National Trust, said: "In these economically tough times the National Trust seems to have swum against the tide with these fantastic results.

"As the nation tightens its collective belt people have been looking for great value and places where they can get a real feel for Christmas.”

Simon Jenkins, Chairman of the National Trust, added: "This shows that arts and heritage charities not dependent on government grants appear to be experiencing a surge in trading income. The public is turning away from more expensive leisure venues, overnight stays and foreign trips. It is a rare good news story in the gloom."

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Notes to editors:
* Visitors numbers are broken down into members and paying visitors. Visitor figures for the year to date (2011/12) compared to the previous year (2010/11) are up by more than 9 per cent.
** Overall visitor figures are based on the National Trust financial year which runs between the 1 March and the 28 or 29 February.

About The National Trust:
The National Trust is one of the most important nature conservation organisations in Europe with over 1,000 places to visit to visit in the UK covering 250,000 hectares, including coastal sites, woodland and upland areas, including many gardens to visit; many of which are rich in wildlife. The All 17 species of UK bat have been recorded as roosting or breeding on National Trust land and 96 per cent of all resident UK butterflies can be found on our land. Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire is our most species rich site and 93 per cent of our land has been surveyed for its nature conservation importance. The charity also offers a number of National Trust holidays, including walks throughout locations across the British countryside. Find out more at: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nature

British Airways wins award for worldwide charity support

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 09:50:15 GMT

British Airways has been given a major award for the support it provides to charities around the world. The airline was one of three companies to be given a Word Tourism Award at a ceremony at the World Travel Market, in Excel, East London before a specially invited audience.

British Airways received the award in recognition of its annual investment of over £5m to support more than 50 charities and community programmes, through free flights, cargo space and expert advice, around the world as well as in the UK.

The World Tourism Awards, celebrating its 14th Anniversary, is co-sponsored by American Express, Corinthia Hotels, the International Herald Tribune and Reed Travel Exhibitions to recognise 'the extraordinary initiatives by individuals, companies, organisations, destinations and attractions for outstanding accomplishments in the travel industry'.

Mary Barry, British Airways' community investment manager, said: "This award belongs to the thousands of generous British Airways customers and colleagues who dig deep into their own pockets or who give up valuable time to help us support scores of charities around the world.

"Without their generosity we would not be able to provide the much-needed support to our 'Flying Start' partnership with Comic Relief that does incredible work to change the lives of so many vulnerable and disadvantaged people.

"Nor could we support the scores of other charities we work with or provide emergency relief flights, like the famine aid flight we gave free to East Africa last week, supported by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge."

She added: "We are incredibly grateful for the recognition of the part played by British Airways customers and colleagues, and we will continue to support those charities that work so hard to make a difference in the lives of so many people."

Among the charities supported by British Airways are the Acts of Hope Charitable Trust, which offers education and healthcare to poor and underprivileged children in Bangalore; Chain of Hope UK, a children's heart surgery charity which provides underprivileged children suffering from life-threatening heart disease with medical treatment in the UK and the Mukuru Promotion Centre, which runs vocational programmes for children and young people in the vast Nairobi slum of Mukuru, which is home to over 400,000 people.

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About British Airways:
British Airways plc offers a wide range of worldwide destinations - including flights to Brisbane, flights to Bangkok, holidays in Dubai and Amsterdam holidays - as well as a range of hotels and flights and car rental with Avis. Customers can save time and money with ba.com when booking ATOL protected holiday packages, ATOL number is 5985. Passengers are offered added peace of mind to their holiday plans and the security of travelling with British Airways. British Airways plc constantly seeks to exceed customers' expectations, both in terms of the value for money and quality of the service provided.

Voyages Jules Verne nominated for British Travel Award

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:33:42 GMT

Voyages Jules Verne received nomination for the Best Specialist Escorted Tours Operator category at the prestigious British Travel Awards.

Because it is the consumer who ultimately determines the winners at The British Travel Awards rather than a panel of judges, it is widely acknowledged as the most accurate reflection of consumer sentiment and therefore the definitive monitor of public opinion covering performance in the travel and tourism industry. The fact that these prestigious awards are also the largest awards programme in the UK further consolidates their reputation as one of the most sought after accolades for any travel company.

Recognised by consumers and travel professionals throughout the UK, The British Travel Awards are widely referred to as the "Oscars" of the travel industry and are easily the most recognisable of all travel industry accolades amongst consumer and industry professionals alike. With categories spanning 100 types of holiday experiences, including transport, destination, cruise, customer service, holiday extras and accommodation, the British Travel Awards is the benchmark for excellence when it comes to finding out who really is the best in the business*.

The VJV nomination is the result of the tour operator's continued commitment to offering the highest levels of customer satisfaction. VJV is continually looking for new destinations, new combinations of cities and countries, to complement its ever popular collection, including China holidays and India holidays. The addition of special events and different modes of transport mean that its portfolio of travel arrangements always stay fresh and exciting, another major draw for travellers looking for a more innovative holiday experience.

Notes to Editors:
*Source: britishtravelawards.com

About Voyages Jules Verne:
Voyages Jules Verne was founded in 1978 and its range of product encompasses longhaul and shorthaul, weekends and expeditions, the conventional and the unexpected, a variety of themes and special interests - all underpinned by quality and value for money. VJV offers tours to a number of worldwide destinations including Italy tours and Egypt tours.

British Airways launch pilot recruitment drive

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:25:22 GMT

British Airways has launched its biggest pilot recruitment drive in more than 10 years.

The airline plans to take on more than 800 new pilots by 2016, using three combined recruitment programmes:

- A new programme to help people to train to become airline pilots for the first time, called the 'Future Pilot Programme'.
- Recruitment of qualified pilots from other airlines
- A joint initiative with the UK Armed Forces to provide military pilots with a planned career path into commercial aviation.

The British Airways Future Pilot Programme will help about 400 applicants to gain a place at an approved flight training school, with successful candidates landing a job as a British Airways pilot.

Previously people have been prevented or deterred from starting a career as an airline pilot, due to the initial private training costs of around £100,000, which they have had to find themselves. This programme helps students to secure funding to train as a pilot which they can pay back later in their career.

The airline is also using YouTube as a recruitment tool for the first time. Anyone interested in becoming British Airways' next generation of pilots can learn more about the programme and hear useful advice from current pilots from the clip on the company's dedicated YouTube site.

Captain Robin Glover, head of pilot recruitment at British Airways, said: "The Future Pilot Programme is a fantastic opportunity for anyone, from any background to realise their ambition of becoming a pilot and flying for British Airways.

"By removing the barrier of initial training costs and making it more accessible to a wider range of people, we hope to be able to attract the very best talent out there.

"It is a really exciting time to join British Airways as we are giving our customers even more choice by adding new destinations to our network including flights to San Juan and Marrakech and introducing new aircraft to our fleet.

"No other airline in the UK offers the opportunities that British Airways does for developing a career as a pilot."

Successful trainees will attend one of three world-class flight training colleges in the UK and Spain, with the initial training fees covered by sponsor company, Airline Placement Limited (APL), with British Airways acting as guarantor.

The Future Pilot Programme is part of a wider pilot recruitment plan at British Airways. The airline is also taking on current commercial pilots and working with the UK Armed Forces to give military pilots a new career in commercial aviation, once their agreed service period has ended.

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About British Airways:
British Airways plc offers a wide range of worldwide destinations - including holidays in Dubai, holidays in Marrakech and holidays in Maldives, as well as flights to Chambery and flights to Sao Paulo, hotels, flights, car rental with Avis and experiences. Customers can save time and money with ba.com when booking ATOL protected holiday packages, ATOL number is 5985. Passengers are offered added peace of mind to their holiday plans and the security of travelling with British Airways. British Airways plc constantly seeks to exceed customers' expectations, both in terms of the value for money and quality of the service provided.

Voyages Jules Verne launches latest World of Wonders

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:13:28 GMT

Voyages Jules Verne, the innovative specialist tour operator, has launched the latest edition of its popular 'World of Wonders' brochure.

Among the tempting selection of escorted worldwide departures available until December 2012 are eight new tours. These include Burma, which has been reintroduced to Voyages Jules Verne’s worldwide programme following pro-democracy leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi's approval for the return of tourism to the country. The brochure features two Burma itineraries, both selected to be both sensitive to, and supportive of, local interests.

'Discover Burma' is a 14-night trip that includes visits to picturesque pagodas, monasteries and a hill station as well as a cruise along the Irrawaddy. Meanwhile, the 'Along the Irrawaddy' tour allows travellers to experience Burma's iconic river, traversing mountains, jungles and plains on a 14-night Pandaw cruise. This itinerary is part of a 21-day tour that also includes Rangoon and Inle Lake.

Clients keen to visit Burma at this pivotal point in its history can also choose from two further itineraries - 'The Golden Land' and 'The Pagodas of Pagan', full details of which are available on the Voyages Jules Verne website.

Also new for 2011/2012 is 'The Search for El Dorado', an 11-night journey across Colombia which includes stopovers in Bogotá, the San Agustín area, the Coffee Region and Cartagena. The brochure also features, for the first time, the 'Grand Tour of Central America', an 18-night adventure through five fascinating countries; Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. Also available for 2011/12 is the 'Country Wilderness Safari'. This 18-night African odyssey combines trips to Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia, taking travellers from the Victoria Falls Hotel to tented safaris, with light aircraft transfers and game drives.

Also available is 'Kenya - Wildlife & Coast'. This 14-night safari takes travellers from Nairobi to Mombasa including visits to Amboseli, Tsavo and Taita Hills, lunch at Kenya's original tea estate in the Limuru Highlands and a look around the former home of 'Out of Africa's' Karen Blixen.

'Petra to the Pyramids' is an 11-night journey through Jordan including stays in Amman, Petra, Aqaba and Taba before culminating with a four-night visit to Cairo.

With the 'Ice & Lights' itinerary travellers can explore Iceland's glacial lagoon, ice cap, volcano area and the Northern Lights on this seven-night itinerary which includes stops in Reykjavik, Skaftafell and Hveragerði.

The 'Danube Waltz' features a cruise of the Danube river through Austria, Slovakia and Hungary over seven-nights that also visits Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava en-route.

World of Wonders 2011/12 also includes a number of early booking offers, saving up to £150 per person on selected tours in Europe, the Middle East and Ecuador. Price reductions of up to £460 per person also apply on selected mid and long-haul destinations such as Cuba, Egypt, India, Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia.

Voyages Jules Verne's No Single Supplement programme offers solo travellers a choice of departures without financial penalty, including 'Christmas Markets & Music on the Danube'; 'Bordeaux & the Rivers of Wine'; 'Iceland's Land of Ice & Fire'; 'Grand Tour of Sri Lanka'; India holidays and Italy tours.

Special events and exclusive arrangements remain a popular part of Voyages Jules Verne's programme, with a selection of new experiences available for 2011/12. Travellers can visit a camp on the outskirts of Petra, visit the Himalayas' largest fort and enjoy an evening of traditional Sudanese entertainment.

About Voyages Jules Verne:
Voyages Jules Verne was founded in 1978 and its range of product encompasses longhaul and shorthaul, weekends and expeditions, the conventional and the unexpected, a variety of themes and special interests - all underpinned by quality and value for money. VJV offers tours to a number of exotic worldwide destinations including China tours, Far East holidays and South America tours.

Etihad Airways Offers Cheaper Flights During Ramadan

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:33:25 GMT

Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, is offering a range of reduced rates on Coral Economy Class, Pearl Business Class and Etihad Holiday packages for travel from Abu Dhabi to more than 20 worldwide destinations during Ramadan. The special promotional rates are on sale now, applicable for travel through to September 30, 2011.

Reduced fares for bookings in Coral Economy Class and Pearl Business Class are available for sale now until August 7, 2011 and special rates on Etihad Holidays packages are available for sale until August 31, 2011.

Etihad Holidays will offer three-night packages for destinations such as Beirut, Muscat, Cyprus, Athens, Bangkok and London.

Hareb Almuhairy, Etihad’s Vice President UAE Sales, said: “Ramadan is a time of sharing, which is why we are so pleased to share these generous deals on some of Etihad’s most popular destinations. We encourage UAE residents to take advantage of the exceptional value on offer and make the Holy Month even more special with our award-winning services.”

Black-out dates apply for Coral Economy Class: 25 August – 1 September 2011. Package prices include return Coral Economy Class flights with Etihad Airways departing from Abu Dhabi, breakfast and applicable taxes. Complimentary airport transfers are provided in Beirut, Muscat, Athens & Bangkok.

British Airways reveals Gatwick airport is top choice for families this year

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:32:01 GMT

British Airways has revealed that more families than ever are choosing to fly from Gatwick airport as they jet off on holiday this year.

The airline has already seen a ten per cent increase in family bookings compared to last year and the trend is set to continue through the summer.

In July and August, British Airways will serve around 7,000 child meals on its long haul and European flights from Gatwick, and cabin crew will give out over 26,000 special Paddington Bear Skyflyer packs to keep its young customers entertained.

Florida is the number one destination for British Airways from Gatwick during the school holidays, offering 14 flights a week to the Sunshine State, with daily flights to Tampa and Orlando.

Parents travelling with children can benefit from family check-in and the chance to choose seats together free of charge 24 hours before departure.

On long haul flights children also have their own television channels as well as a choice of family movies on the in flight entertainment system.

Gatwick is the only UK airport, to join a new Family Friendly scheme launched by the Family and Parenting Institute which aims to make the UK more family friendly.

Over the past 18 months, the airport has rolled out a number of family friendly initiatives to help take the stress out of travel for families, particularly those with young children in tow.

In Spring 2010, Gatwick became the only UK airport to create separate security lanes – "Assistance lanes" - to give families travelling with young children in buggies extra help through security after checking-in.

Earlier this year, it also created dedicated "kids zones" in the departure lounges of both terminals for children aged between 0-5 years to enable parents and guardians to relax while their children are kept entertained.

Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive of Gatwick Airport said: "Millions of families choose to travel through Gatwick airport every year. We realise that travelling with children can be stressful, so we’re going out of our way to make their journey through the airport more enjoyable. That's why we’re proud to be supporting the Family Friendly scheme."

The second most popular long haul holiday hot spot for British Airways customers is Barbados and there are still some family holidays in Barbados available there and many other destinations from Gatwick, including many with free night offers and kids stay free.

British Airways has also introduced the family favourite destination of Malaga to its Gatwick schedule, moving the service moved from Heathrow and almost doubling frequency to 27 flights a week.

Ends

About British Airways:
British Airways plc offers a wide range of worldwide destinations - including holidays in Dubai, holidays in Maldives, holidays in Amsterdam, holidays in Prague and flights to Berlin, hotels, flights, car rental with Avis and experiences. Customers can save time and money with ba.com when booking ATOL protected holiday packages, ATOL number is 5985. Passengers are offered added peace of mind to their holiday plans and the security of travelling with British Airways. British Airways plc constantly seeks to exceed customers' expectations, both in terms of the value for money and quality of the service provided.

SENTIDO shows its commitment to the environment

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:02:17 GMT

SENTIDO Hotels & Resorts are getting greener, with a new sustainability programme having now been launched for the hotels in the chain.

The programme focuses on "integrating an environmentally friendly approach in everything we do," said SENTIDO Managing Director, Stefanie Berk, and the benchmark is the Travelife Award.

Travelife is an independent certification system which evaluates accommodation and other service providers against ecological and social criteria. Depending on the outcome of the assessments, hotels receive a gold, silver or bronze award which is valid for two years. Some 100 criteria are assessed including fair staff remuneration, reduced water and energy consumption, waste reduction and a preference for purchasing goods from local suppliers. Two hotels have already been awarded Travelife certification; the SENTIDO Sultan Beldibi and the SENTIDO Perissia in Turkey.

The Sentido Perissia is a deluxe resort, with its attractive design, attention to detail and stylish ambiance. It is set on a peninsula and offers great views of the Mediterranean. The resort is situated amidst spacious gardens and not far from the historical and cultural highlights of Side.

The SENTIDO Sultan Beldibi allows guest to enjoy Turkish hospitality in oriental style. The spacious hotel is ideal for families and is set in a fragrant orange grove.

SENTIDO Hotels & Resorts can be booked on the internet portal www.sentidohotels.com or through tour operators such as Thomas Cook and Neckermann Reisen.

About SENTIDO Hotels & Resorts:
SENTIDO Hotels & Resorts is an international hotel brand founded in 2009. It unites 30 hotels & resorts in Egypt, Greece, Kenya, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey and Cyprus, as well as two cruise ships on the Nile. The hotels are all in the Four-Star-Plus segment, located near beaches and operated under franchise contracts. The concept is aimed toward discerning singles, couples and small families, who, besides quality and service, also value a health-conscious cuisine and wellness facilities along with a wide-ranging sports and entertainment programme. Travellers can book the hotels directly online through the internet portal www.sentidohotels.com. In addition, the hotels are offered in all renowned international tour operator programmes. The company is part of the Thomas Cook tourism group. The SENTIDO head office is in Oberursel, near Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

EasyJet Holidays reveals Brits turn their back on the traditional two week holiday

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:08:06 GMT

EasyJet Holidays has revealed that the perfect holiday length for British holidaymakers is officially 11 nights, marking a move towards the end of traditional one and two week holidays offered by traditional package tour operators.*

According to a survey* conducted by easyJet, seven out of 10 people prefer their holidays to last more than eight days but less than the traditional 14 day escape to the sun.

The easyJet Holidays website reflects the results with 55 per cent of all enquiries to the site from savvy customers searching for flexible holidays over seven nights in duration, but less than the conventional two week getaway.

Reasons for snubbing longer holiday lengths included:
- Missing home comforts
- Holiday budget
- Worries about work
- Missing friends, family and pets

Only one per cent of respondents claimed they would prefer to take less than a three night break for their annual holiday and 17 per cent opted for seven nights or less.

The new 11 night holiday trend is perfectly accommodated on the easyJet Holidays website and offers consumers totally flexible and competitively priced breaks throughout Europe and the Middle East.

Mandy Round, general manager at easyJet said: "Holidaymakers are signalling the end of the traditional one and two week holidays and no longer want to be restricted to the standard deals offered by tour operators.

"Customers looking for complete flexibility and the ability to tailor their holiday length, dates and flight times, as well as having the choice from thousands of excellent value holiday deals to suit all budgets can do so on the easyJet Holidays website."

As a result of this flexibility holiday makers can enjoy breaks of nine days but only take five days off from work commitments - maximising the length of their holiday without eating into their annual holiday entitlement.

The easyJet Holidays website has also witnessed an increase in enquiries for the ten night stay as British holidaymakers tighten their purse strings by searching for affordable deals, but still making the most of their annual escape to the sun.

The arrangements for a holiday booked on the easyJet Holidays website are made by easyJet, acting as principal for flights and as disclosed agent for travel insurance, car rental and airport parking, and by Lowcostbeds acting as agent for accommodation and transfers.

easyJet flies from 18 UK airports to destinations across Europe, operating on over 560 routes with over 200 aircraft across 29 countries. It operates more flights than any other British airline.

Lowcosttravelgroup provides over 10,000 hotels ranging from luxury five star to great value three star options with private and shuttle transfer options across all of easyJet’s European, North African and Middle Eastern destinations.

Notes to Editors:
* Survey commissioned by easyJet, published by YourSayPays 16.3.11 - http://www.yoursaypays.co.uk/

About easyJet:
easyJet is Europe's No. 1 air transport operation due to its leading presence on Europe's top 100 routes and at Europe’s 50 largest airports. More than 300 million Europeans live within one hour's drive of an easyJet airport, more than any other airline.

easyJet flies from 18 UK airports to destinations across Europe, operating on over 560 routes with over 200 aircraft across 29 countries. It operates more flights than any other British airline.

The airline takes sustainability seriously. Over the last 10 years the airline has reduced CO2 emissions per passenger km by 25%.

About Lowcostravelgroup:
Lowcosttravelgroup was founded in 2004 and is backed by a number of leading European hotel groups and Albion Venture Management, a £250m venture capital trust

Lowcost provides accommodation and transfer to holidaymakers through its trade partners and directly to the consumer, featuring over 70,000 hotels around the world and private and shuttle transfer services in over 450 gateways worldwide.

British Airways celebrate record passenger numbers at London City Airport

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:12:50 GMT

British Airways is enjoying a double celebration at London City Airport as the airline achieves record passenger numbers and takes delivery of the last aircraft in the new fleet.

The new fleet has helped the airline to carry over 100,000 customers from the Docklands airport in June - the first time this milestone has been broken in a single month.

Meanwhile, the latest addition to the British Airways fleet at London City, an Embraer 190 aircraft, has flown into operation.

The aircraft was delivered from Brazil and operated its first commercial flight on the London City to Edinburgh service.

It will operate on all the British Airways European routes from London City, including flights to Stockholm and the new flights to Malaga and Faro which began in June.

Luke Hayhoe, BA CityFlyer general manager commercial said: "We are delighted with the response we have had to the new aircraft fleet, our customer feedback is the highest it's ever been in terms of comfort and service on board the aircraft. The fact customers are so positive is obviously reflected in the fantastic passenger numbers we've had for June.

"The original order was for a fleet of 11 aircraft but we converted two further options and as a result have been able to launch a number of new routes from London City in the past year."

British Airways offers holidays to European cities with a selection of hand-picked 2 to 5 star hotels, ideally suited to budget travelers as well as the urban tourist seeking sophistication.

For holidays in Stockholm, travellers can fly from London City from a choice of 11 flights a week and enjoy a stay at one the city's top hotels, including the four-star Stureplan hotel, an elegant 19th century building.

Customers looking for hotels in Edinburgh for the annual Edinburgh Tattoo this August can stay at the budget three-star Piries Hotel in Edinburgh offering great value in a good location. For a bit of luxury, travellers can stay at the four-star plus Caledonian Hilton Edinburgh Hotel located in the heart of the city.

Ends

About British Airways:
British Airways plc offers a wide range of worldwide destinations - including holidays in new york, holidays in the maldives and flights to the Maldives, hotels, flights, car rental with Avis and experiences. Customers can save time and money with ba.com when booking ATOL protected holiday packages, ATOL number is 5985. Passengers are offered added peace of mind to their holiday plans and the security of travelling with British Airways. British Airways plc constantly seeks to exceed customers' expectations, both in terms of the value for money and quality of the service provided.

Kuoni scores joint top place in the recent Which? survey

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 14:02:42 GMT

Kuoni, the luxury travel company, has announced it scored joint top place with a customer satisfaction score of 80% in the recent Which? Top 20 Travel Companies survey.

Which?, the consumer organisation famous for its impartial product reviews and ratings, surveyed nearly 10,000 people who travelled on holiday over the last two years. Trailfinders also scored 80% in the overall rankings making it joint winners with Kuoni.

Customers were asked to rate the holiday companies based on overall organisation, customer service, value for money, accommodation and journey. These scores were then used to calculate the travel company's overall score.

Joanna Edmunds, Kuoni UK MD said, "I am absolutely delighted that Which? readers have voted Kuoni joint first place. Kuoni was liked for 'being reliable and having excellent customer care'. When rating beach holidays specifically our score increased to 84%, again top of the league. I am firmly of the view that it is this willingness to go the extra mile for customers, which will have contributed to our high score."

Kuoni was also voted the best UK travel brand in the TNS 'Most Trusted Travel Brand' list and Kuoni was shortlisted for the Which? awards, in the Best Travel Company category, which took place on 23rd June 2011.

The Which? Top Travel Companies survey and the results can be viewed on the Which? website.

About Kuoni:
Kuoni Travel LTD is ABTA and ATOL protected, giving customers financial protection and ensuring they won't be stranded abroad. Customers are safe in the knowledge that while they are abroad, Kuoni has professional ground agents and English speaking guides to ensure they have an enjoyable stay.

Founded by Alfred Kuoni in 1906, Kuoni Travel has grown into not only the largest travel company in Switzerland, but also one of the leading travel organisations in the world.

Kuoni offers luxury holidays in a number of beautiful locations, with a host of Dubai holidays, Mauritius holidays and St Lucia holidays. The company's Authentic Experiences enable travellers to do as the locals do or learn from experts in their field.

Quality is an integral part of companies like Kuoni who are aiming at the luxury market, however Kuoni has recently launched its 'smart' holidays - a collection of three to four-star holidays that have been handpicked and designed to give customers more holiday for their money.

British Airways launch new flights to Faro and Malaga direct from London City

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:43:02 GMT

British Airways has announced the launch of two new routes to Faro and Malaga and added more frequency to the popular destinations of Nice, Palma and Ibiza. This means that British Airways now offers 39 leisure flights per week for this summer from London City Airport to top sun destinations at the height of the season.

The four times a week flights to Faro and the three times a week flights to Malaga are now both in operation and will operate year round.

The existing Nice service has been increased to double daily flights from May until September, and from July to September both Palma and Ibiza flights will be increased from four to ten a week.

Flights are operated by the wholly owned British Airways' subsidiary BA CityFlyer on the new Embraer 170 and 190 aircraft.

Luke Hayhoe, BA CityFlyer commercial manager said: "We first launched leisure only flights from London City last year in direct response to demand from our customers. They proved so popular, particularly during the summer months that we have decided to expand them further this year.

"The addition of two extra aircraft to the fleet means we can also offer year round services to the summer and winter sun destinations of Malaga and Faro."

British Airways offers holidays to European cities with a selection of hand-picked 2 to 5 star hotels, ideally suited to budget travelers as well as the urban tourist seeking sophistication. Customers looking for hotels in Nice can stay at the budget two-star Compte de Nice offering great value yet comfortable accommodation. For family atmosphere, travellers can stay at the friendly four-star Splendid located close to Nice's renowned Promenade des Anglais. For a luxury holiday there is the stylish 4.5-star Le Meridien Nice within strolling distance of the old town. With Cannes being just down the road, the five-star Martinez hotel in Cannes is an established flagship Riviera hotel, ideal for a romantic break as a couple or single travelers away on a celeb spotting adventure.

Ends

About British Airways:
British Airways plc offers a wide range of worldwide destinations - including European city breaks, holidays, hotels, flights, car rental with Avis and experiences. Customers can save time and money with ba.com when booking ATOL protected holiday packages, ATOL number is 5985. Passengers are offered added peace of mind to their holiday plans and the security of travelling with British Airways. British Airways plc constantly seeks to exceed customers' expectations, both in terms of the value for money and quality of the service provided.

Voyages Jules Verne launches enhanced service for autumn 2011

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 15:45:25 GMT

Voyages Jules Verne has announced the introduction of scheduled flights to its popular programme of escorted tours in Jordan.

Replacing the charter arrangement from Gatwick to Aqaba, clients will now fly from Heathrow to Amman with British Midland International (bmi), enjoying a number of additional benefits that include Saturday departures, an extended season (which means a wider choice of departures over a longer peiord), free connecting bmi flights from Manchester (supplement for other regional airports) and an upgraded flight option where customers can fly in even greater comfort in Business Class (additional cost).

Travelling on scheduled flights will also extend the duration of each itinerary, enabling Voyages Jules Verne clients to spend an extra night in Jordan, staying at an additional location. For example, VJV's 15-night Grand Tour of Jordan itinerary now includes a stay at the luxurious Evason Ma'in Hot Springs & Six Senses Spa as well as an upgrade to its standard accommodation in Tala Bay, which is now the five-star Radisson Blu Resort. The eight-night Discover Jordan tour now features a night at the Dead Sea - staying either at the four-star Holiday Inn Resort or the new five-star Mövenpick Resort & Spa (additional cost).

Whilst it would be understandable to expect all these extra benefits to incur an additional cost, Voyages Jules Verne has managed to maintain prices across its Jordan programme - reinforcing the company's reputation for offering the best possible value to its clients. And there's even better news on the budgeting front in the form of an Early Booking Offer as customers can now reserve their place on a Jordan tour by 30 June 2011 and enjoy a £50 pp reduction on advertised prices.

2012 promises to be a big year for Jordan, as it celebrates the 200th anniversary of the re-discovery of Petra by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt as well as the 50th anniversary of the filming of Lawrence of Arabia. And, with the country currently experiencing a temporary drop in tourism, there really is no better time to see Jordan 'while the tourist crowds are away'.

Voyages Jules Verne's 2011/12 Jordan holidays programme offers a choice of four itinerates including Petra to the Pyramids, Jordan's Red Sea & Petra, Discover Jordon and Grand Tour of Jordon.

About Voyages Jules Verne:
Voyages Jules Verne was founded in 1978 and its range of product encompasses longhaul and shorthaul, weekends and expeditions, the conventional and the unexpected, a variety of themes and special interests - all underpinned by quality and value for money. VJV offers tours to a number of exotic worldwide destinations including Italy tours, India tours, Egypt tours and China holidays.

The tradition of innovation and creativity is still alive today and evidenced, amongst others, by a unique direct charter operation to Aqaba, stays at a convent in Rome, exclusive use of royal steamers for Nile River cruises, and a series of special events exclusively arranged for VJV clients.

easyJet Holidays sees Eurovision enquiries increase

Fri, 20 May 2011 14:49:49 GMT

easyJet Holidays announces it has seen a 20 per cent increase in enquiries for European holidays on its website after the Eurovision Song Contest.

This year's record UK television audience for the Eurovision Song Contest has triggered a surge of interest in holidays to some of Europe's top destinations, online searches suggest.

Queries on the easyJet Holidays website for holidays to Denmark, Germany, Austria and Estonia have risen by an impressive 20 per cent since the popular pop-vote contest.

The countries which finished in the top ten seem to have raised a curious wanderlust in the UK, with holidaymakers casting their eyes beyond the more obvious summer holiday hotspots.

Mandy Round, of easyJet, said: "The surge we have witnessed in holidays to these destinations since Eurovision is quite remarkable. Tourists are certainly voting with their fingers since the contest and we've noticed a keen increase in bookings to the likes of Denmark and Germany.

"Obviously we are delighted by the interest in the holidays on offer and hope this transpires into firm bookings. These countries are packed full of fun, cultural experiences, magnificent architecture and relaxing excursions, and have plenty to interest the most discerning British holidaymaker."

Azerbaijan took the 2011 Eurovision crown. The small Eastern European nation recorded 221 votes for Ell/Nikki with their song 'Running Scared', following performances by acts from 43 countries at the show in Dusseldorf, Germany. Webstats also show enquiries have been made about holidays to Azerbaijan.

British tourists who book city breaks or holidays to Germany, Denmark, Austria and Estonia using the easyJet Holidays website or call centre, or any other destination, are in for an extra bonus this summer, thanks to the price match guarantee.

The Big Holiday Challenge means customers who couple up an easyJet flight with a hotel and find it cheaper than the exact same holiday on the easyJet Holidays website will have the price matched and will receive an extra £10 off their booking.

-ENDS-

About easyJet:
easyJet is Europe's No. 1 air transport operation due to our leading presence on Europe's top 100 routes and at Europe's 50 largest airports. More than 300 million Europeans live within one hour's drive of an easyJet airport, more than any other airline.

easyJet flies on more than 550 routes between 129 airports in 30 countries.

The airline takes sustainability seriously. Over the last 10 years the airline has reduced CO2 emissions per passenger km by 25%.

easyjet crowns Royal look-a-like Couple

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:15:31 GMT

easyJet, the UK's largest airline, has crowned Simon Watkinson, 29, from London and Orsola Rossi, 29, from Milan as the most convincing Prince William & Kate Middleton look-a-likes across the whole of Europe.

Simon and Orsola joined 20 Will and Kate look-a-likes from more than 10 European countries in London where they competed for the ultimate title of best Will and Kate doubles and won a year's worth of free easyJet flights each.

Besides being a mirror image of the Royal love birds, they had to impress the judges by waving like a Royal, acting out a romantic wedding proposal and throwing the bridal bouquet.

Simon Watkinson said: "I've often been told that I look like Prince William, particularly since the Royal engagement was announced, but I can't believe that I’ve been crowned the winner. I'm so excited to have won a year’s worth of free easyJet flights and to be in London for the big day."

Orsola Rossi said: "To be voted the best double to one of the most famous women in the world is very exciting. This really is a once in a lifetime opportunity and there isn't a better place to be to enjoy the celebrations."

Paul Moore, Communications Director at easyJet said: "The competition has been fierce with hundreds applying to be crowned the best Will and Kate look-a-likes Europe has to offer. However, Simon and Orsola stood out as they bear such a striking resemblance to our future King & Queen.

"It has been great fun to fly look-a-likes from all over Europe to London to enjoy the wedding celebrations and crown our very own easyJet Royal couple."

Hundreds of Will and Kate wannabes from across Europe entered the competition to be in with a chance to be flown by easyJet to London for the grand final and be crowned the winner.

Simon and Orsola will stay in London to watch the real Royal wedding celebrations and take in the sights of the city with a friend courtesy of easyJet.

A recent survey conducted by easyJet Holidays revealed that 63 % of those polled would be watching the Royal Wedding, however only 8% would actually be heading to London for the celebration. 88.9 % of the total number preferring to take advantage of the full 11 day break to get away, with holidays to Spain revealing themselves as the most popular choice for beach holidays with 35% of the vote.

-ENDS-

About easyjet Holidays:
easyJet Holidays comprises flights by easyJet with other services provided by and arranged with Lowcostbeds.com and other third party suppliers.

easyJet is Europe's No. 1 air transport operation due to our leading presence on Europe’s top 100 routes and at Europe’s 50 largest airports. More than 300 million Europeans live within one hour’s drive of an easyJet airport, more than any other airline.

easyJet flies on more than 550 routes between 129 airports in 30 countries.

The airline takes sustainability seriously. Over the last 10 years the airline has reduced CO2 emissions per passenger km by 25% by investing in the latest technology.

Lowcosttravelgroup was founded in 2004 and is backed by a number of leading European hotel groups and Albion Venture Management, a £250m venture capital trust

Lowcost employs over 350 people across Europe, recorded sales in excess of £200m in 2010 and operating profits of £1.7m.

Voyages Jules Verne launches new short breaks and sojourns

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 17:22:57 GMT

Voyages Jules Verne, the specialist tour operator, has launched the latest edition of its popular Classic Resorts & Weekends brochure.

The brochure features a choice of 32 itineraries across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, and clients can choose from classic city breaks and cultural forays or simply book a relaxing resort stay with the option to add on some sightseeing trips once they get there.

The new brochure, which covers departures from April 2011 to April 2012, encompasses perennial Voyages Jules Verne favourites - such as Venice from the Water, Bargain in Marrakech and A Taste of South Africa, as well as more recent additions that include Tallinn Tales, and Arts & Delights in Vienna.

There are four new holidays which have been added to the Classic Resorts & Weekend brochure for 2011, including Bombay Mix, a five-night trip to India which features a full-day sighseeing tour of the city as well as time for independent exploration. Going Going Tirol allows clients to stay in the Tirolean village of Going for seven nights including a journey on Europe's oldest steam-driven railway the Achenseebahn and a cruise on Lake Achensee.

The new additions also include An Icelandic Summer, where clients are based in Reykjavik and Heritage of Malta, which has a four night stay in one of Malta's historic hotels.

Also new to the Classic Resorts & Weekends brochure this year are details about the walking content of itineraries. Shown alongside other useful tour information in the 'Key VJV Features' section on each page, each tour is graded from 1 (relaxed walking) to 4 (strenuous - for seasoned walkers), based on an overall assessment of the terrain and activities covered.

Solo travellers selecting their next trip from the new Classic Resorts & Weekends brochure need not fear financial penalty, with more than half of the itineraries available with no single supplement. Options range from Cyprus - The Southern Tour, A Slice of Madeira, Grand Hotels on Lake Como and an Italian itinerary that includes a journey on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, as well as the brand-new Heritage of Malta and Going Going Tirol tours. No Single Traveller supplement places apply on certain departure dates only and are subject to availability.

Ends

About Voyages Jules Verne:
Voyages Jules Verne was founded in 1978 and its range of product encompasses longhaul and shorthaul, weekends and expeditions, the conventional and the unexpected, a variety of themes and special interests - all underpinned by quality and value for money. Voyages Jules Verne also offers escorted tours, European river cruises and Italy tours.

The tradition of innovation and creativity is still alive today and evidenced, amongst others, by a unique direct charter operation to Aqaba, stays at a convent in Rome, exclusive use of royal steamers for Nile cruises, and a series of special events exclusively arranged for VJV clients.

British Airways doubles capacity on its London City to Palma route

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:38:45 GMT

British Airways has increased capacity on its popular London City to Palma service by 50 per cent to meet the demand for seats this summer.

With additional frequency and larger aircraft the airline will be providing over 25,000 seats to the Spanish holiday island direct from the Docklands making holidays to Palma de Mallorca more accessible than ever before.

Due to the high early season demand, the three-times-a-week flights will increase to six-days-a-week, excluding Saturdays, in July and August. The Friday and Sunday flights to Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza, on brand new Embraer 190 aircraft, will continue until October 31st, enabling a long weekend or longer breaks. The extension also means flights will operate until the end of the school half-term holidays.

For relaxing beach holidays in Palma de Mallorca British Airways offers over 40 beach hotels including the 3* Manaus for the lighter pocket to the 5* Cap Rocat - a magnificent former military fortress with an infinity pool and private beach. City breaks in Palma are also a popular choice. British Airways has a range of city hotels including the 4* Catalonia Majorica just 10 minutes stroll from the Harbour, or the 5* Hospes Maricel - a historic stately mansion.

British Airways now operates 39 leisure flights from London City to top sun destinations this summer. The airline has also added more frequency to popular destinations of Nice and Ibiza. Holidays in Ibiza are perfect for families with secluded coves and family resorts while Ibiza Town has several ancient sites and party venues.

British Airways has also launched new routes to Faro and Malaga in June, all from London City. The four times-a-week flights to Faro start on June 7 and the three times-a-week flights to Malaga start on June 8. Both routes will operate year round.

British Airways flies to 12 destinations from London City airport including Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Faro, Barcelona, Nice, Madrid and Malaga. Flights are operated by wholly owned British Airways' subsidiary BA CityFlyer.

- Ends -

About British Airways:
British Airways plc offers a wide range of worldwide destinations – holidays, hotels, flights, car rental and experiences. Customers can save time and money with ba.com when booking ATOL protected holiday packages, ATOL number is 5985. Passengers are offered added peace of mind to their holiday plans and the security of travelling with British Airways. British Airways plc constantly seeks to exceed customers' expectations, both in terms of the value for money and quality of the service provided.

Kuoni launches its 'smart' holidays online

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:34:22 GMT

Kuoni, the specialist operator, has launched 'smart' by Kuoni, a collection of three to four-star holidays that have been handpicked and designed to give customers more holiday for their money.

The value range is the 'smart'er choice for those looking for a great holiday in a fantastic location that doesn't have to break the bank. And customers can still expect great value holidays with the same award-winning service that Kuoni is renowned for. Each hotel or resort has been handpicked by Kuoni to fit with the 'smart' by Kuoni profile.

The collection includes long-haul destinations throughout the Far East, India, Indian Ocean, North Africa & Middle East, Caribbean, Africa and Short-haul to Europe.

Highlights include a wide range of value products for Sri Lanka and Thailand holidays, such as Krabi, Pattaya, Koh Samui and Phuket. 'smart' by Kuoni hotels and resorts can also be found for Maldives holidays, which is Kuoni's number one holiday destination.

The properties will be identified as 'smart' hotels on the web (a black bar on the right with a red roundel) and in future brochures. Kuoni are launching 'smart' with this collection, which currently includes 38 handpicked hotels, and will be expanded as even more value holidays become available.

The 'smart' by Kuoni product range is available now on the Kuoni website and more information can be found on the microsite or through the special offers page where properties can be selected using the "'smart' by Kuoni" hotel style filter and then segmented further by destination, departure date and many other options.

About Kuoni:
Kuoni is ABTA and ATOL protected, giving customers financial protection and ensuring they won't be stranded abroad. Customers are safe in the knowledge that while they are abroad, Kuoni have professional ground agents and English speaking guides to ensure they have an enjoyable stay.

Kuoni offers luxury holidays in a number of beautiful locations, including a range of all inclusive Maldives holidays, Egypt holidays and luxury holidays as well as a host of memorable experiences such as brewing coffee at ancient Brazilian fazendas, tracking chimpanzees in the wilds of Tanzania and salsa dancing in Havana. The company's Authentic Experiences enable travellers to do as the locals do or learn from experts in their field.

First Choice becomes first UK mainstream all inclusive holiday company

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:51:25 GMT

Leading holiday company First Choice (part of TUI UK & Ireland) is marking a major travel industry milestone by becoming the UK's first mainstream holiday company to offer 100% of its hotel and resorts on an All Inclusive basis – including flights, in-resort transfers, hotel accommodation, three meals a day and unlimited local drinks as standard.

Available to book online from May (2011) First Choice's new All Inclusive holidays offering has been created in direct response to the needs of today's consumers who want more control over their holiday spend, and the growing demand for All Inclusive holidays. In five years (2004-2009) the All Inclusive holiday market has grown by 32%, part of the 14.4 million package holidays estimated to be taken in 2010 according to latest research from Mintel**.

Driven by the emerging trend for All Inclusive holidays, which now account for 65% of First Choice sales, budget conscious Brits are cottoning on to the fact that All Inclusive holidays are the way forward. New case study research from First Choice shows that a family of four can save a staggering £511 on an All Inclusive holiday versus a bed and breakfast only holiday for one week***.

All Inclusive holidays can also be significantly less stressful - nearly two-thirds said they would relax more on an All Inclusive holiday****, as everything has been paid for upfront and they don't need to worry about added extras on top of the total cost of the holiday. The research also showed that two-thirds of Brits on non-All Inclusive holidays tend to overspend, a quarter of them by over 20%.

Evening meals are the most likely area where people overspend (40%), followed by 36% who blow the budget on daytime meals and snacks, and 27% who put their over-spending down to long, leisurely evenings spent in the hotel bar.

Johan Lundgren, managing director of TUI UK & Ireland, believes this will build further on the reputation of First Choice as one of the most innovative, yet accessible holiday companies in the UK. "This is a major milestone for the UK travel industry and an exciting and timely transformation for the First Choice brand. All Inclusive is becoming the holiday of choice for many British consumers, offering them great value for money, yet there is no mainstream holiday company currently offering a completely All Inclusive portfolio.

"First Choice will become the home of All Inclusive, offering the best of both worlds – a unique feeling of indulgence combined with practical control over their holiday spending – whatever their budget."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
* Mintel All Inclusive Holidays Report – UK 2009
** Mintel Package Holidays Report – UK 2010
*** Total difference in holiday cost including flight, transfers, accommodation, and spending money while abroad. First Choice sent a family of four to a 4* First Choice All Inclusive resort in Tenerife (28th March - 4th April 2011), another family of four went to a 4* hotel by another travel company on a B&B basis for the same period. Average spending costs of the two families were recorded and analysed.
**** Research carried out by Opinion Matters between 17 and 22 March 2011 based on a sample of 1,343 UK adults who holiday abroad.

About First Choice:
First Choice is a trading name of TUI UK Ltd, part of the TUI Travel PLC Group of companies – the UK's leading leisure travel company. First Choice specialises in sunshine holidays, beach holidays and charter flights

Customers expect the travel companies they deal with to have the highest standards of business practice and accountability. First Choice is registered with the Association of British Travel Agent (ABTA), fully bonded by the Civil Aviation Authority under Air Travel Organisers' Licence (ATOL) and part of the Federation of Tour Operators.

Travelzest’s VFB Holidays announces special offers to France

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:16:13 GMT

Travelzest owned VFB Holidays has revealed it is cutting the cost of going to France with a special promotional offer on return ferry crossings, running right through till the 30th of April 2011.

The special offers will mean that customers can book a holiday cottage in France with VFB Holidays at any time during the month of April 2011 and they will get a discounted rate on a return ferry crossing with Sea France, which will save them £226 on the normal peak crossing rate for a car.

The offer is exclusive to VFB Holidays and gives travellers the ability to make the crossing from Dover to Calais at any time during the 2011 holiday season - even on peak times and dates. This represents real value for money within the industry, highlighting a commitment to affordable travel to our luxury destinations.

VFB Holidays' Philippe Pozzi said: "This is a fantastic offer for Travelzest's VFB Holidays customers. It enables them to make a significant saving on the cost of their holiday and they can travel with Sea France whenever they like. It really is an offer not to be missed if you're thinking of taking time away this year at one of our holiday cottages."

VFB Holidays first pioneered self-catering cottage holidays in France back in the 1970s and is still recognised as one of the best UK Tour Companies to France. Its portfolio includes a huge range of cottages and villas in France and beyond. It also offers escorted tours and relaxing river cruises as part of its holiday mix.

Details of the France holiday offers are available online at the Travelzest website, with a highlight of some of the holiday cottages available over the period available also. Bookings are available over the phone, with details provided to do so.

About Travelzest:
Travelzest plc (LSE:TVZ.L) is a dynamic travel group, with a collection of online travel retailers and specialised merchant operators, with operations in over five countries in Europe and North America. Travelzest offers holiday villas and short break holidays in a number of destinations. Included in the Travelzest family are holiday.co.uk, flight.co.uk, travelzest.com, itravel2000.com, The Cruise Professionals, The Best of Morocco, VFB Holidays, Peng Travel, Faraway Holidays, The Malaysia Experience, Tapestry Collection, The Wow House Company, Captivating Cuba, JMB Travel, and Fair's Fare. Travelzest is traded on London's AIM Exchange under the symbol TVZ.

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