HEADLINES – AVIATION – AFLOAT – DEALWATCH – FOOD & WINE – HOTELS – INTERNATIONAL – IRELAND – STRANGE WORLD – TRAVEL TRADE
Travel Extra TV
Our video of the week will give you giggles: this little girl has a gas time doing loop-the-loops in a light aircraft with her pilot dad. Watch here.
- This baby elephant gets stuck in the mud. Don’t worry — her family comes to the rescue. It’s adorable. Watch here.
- Ryanair announces it recruitment drive. Watch here.
- …and does Aer Lingus. Watch here.
- The making of Emirates’ TV ad with Jennifer Aniston. Watch here.
- See Tourism Ireland’s Game of Thrones itinerary. Watch here.
- The next leg in Tourism NI’s Year of Food and Drink: the harvest. Watch here.
Behind the headlines
To celebrate the second birthday of Club Royal, Ben Bouldin hosted 17 agents in the Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore at a morning presentation activities including archery and cliff walking and entertainment. Ben Bouldin said that 550 Irish agents are now among the 5,500 members of Club Royal, including eight gold members. Ben Bouldin says what we have done is made golf membership easier to attain and introduced platinum membership. Three winners of the Countdown to South Africa competition were from Ireland. Royal’s makes share of the cruise business in Ireland is currently between 50pc and 55pc. Picture shows prize winner of a trip to South Africa Claire Mulligan with Delia Aston of Club World and Michaea Banks of Royal Caribbean. Watch here video of the event. See more pictures here or connect with the album on Facebook.
There were familiar faces amongst the eight delegates on a trade mission from Kansas and Oklahoma to Cork, Belfast and Dublin (in that order), led by Matt Bates, the Scottish-based representative for the English-speaking European market for the co-operating states. On Tuesday they lunched in Belfast with 14 trade and media representatives at Sticks and Stones lunch and hosted travel media in Dublin, visiting tour operators in all three cities. Kansas and Missouri on a joint trade mission? Naw. Not going to happen. Picture shows Kelli Hilliard from Kansas tourism, Matt Bates from Bates Consultancy,Todd Stallbaumer from Oklahoma state tourism, Vanesa Massuci from Tulsa, Lisa Weigt from Kansas state, Rebecca Roberts from Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Clodagh Oxley from Visit USA Dublin, Sandy Brice from Oklahoma City and Michael Roberts from Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma who hosted travel writers at Dunne & Crescanzi in Dublin. Watch here video of the event. See more pictures here or connect with the album on Facebook.
Mary McKenna’s 16th annual trade sale drew 12,000 to Moran’s Red Cow Hotel on Sunday. A bank of 30 sales staff were set up in the centre of the main room taking bookings as customers queued five and six deep to reach them. She also had 30 suppliers there to give information to customers and provide the deals for Tour America to drive €1m worth of bookings. Mary says the show has been tweaked over the years to suit the customer. “It’s a bit tacky, but it does what it is supposed to do.” Picture shows Karl Moen of Disney and Dave Cole of Universal at the event. Watch here interview with Mary McKenna. See more pictures here or connect with the album on Facebook.
Has an airline ever announced 76 routes in a week since the collapse of the Soviet Union? That is what Ryanair did last week and they followed it up this week. The airline confirmed their strategy to grow market share in Germany with a 20pc increase in flights at three bases. Ryanair will open a two-aircraft base ito open n Hamburg next month and add 10 new routes next summer in the wake of Air Berlin’s retreat from the airport, Dublin 5 weekly is among the routes to continue into summer. . See German announcement here, Hamburg announcement here, Cologne announcement here and Nuremberg announcement here.
Seychelles tourism and Turkish airlines hosted 60 agents.at an event in Dublin. Visitors to the Seychelles from Ireland are up 16pc in the early part of the year. Julia Havelka of Trailfinders, who is getting married this year, was the very excited prize winner of a trip to the Seychelles (watch here). Picture shows Onur Gul and Julienne Marie Curran of Turkish Airlines, prize winner Julia Havelka of Trailfinders, Hasan Mutlu of Turkish Airlines, Ash Behari of Coca de Met and Lauren Mills of Savoy Resorts. Watch here video of event. Watch here interview with Tinaz Wadia of Seychelles Tourism. Watch here Hasan Mutlu of Turkish Airlines. See more pictures here or connect with the album on Facebook.
Travel Trade
Stephen Sands of Riviera Travel organised a roadshow in Ballinasloe with travel partners..
Sunway hosted 20 agents to launch their 2016-7 Morocco programme. Picture shows Mary Denton and Marie Claire Porter.
Topflight hosted a Lean Best Practice Visit for Enterprise Ireland client companies.
As a part of the Turkish Airlines Partnership with the European Champions Rugby Cup they are offering 2 Tickets as a prize to agents issue Turkish airlines tickets before October 23. To join the competitions send us name the agency name and the ticket numbers to Alper Sean Kanburoglu email
Sunway is taking part in Spinal Injuries Ireland’s Colour Me Friday campaign where everyone arrived to work decked out in 40 shades green and donated €4 each.
Jo Piani and Joe Marinella of Visit Savannah were in Dublin to meet travel partners.
Daniela Otero is the new CEO of Skål International.
Ryanair is now officially a travel agent: as it launched a new Schools tour programme under a CAR license.
The Travel Industry Golf Society AGM will take place immediately before dinner at the outing to the Castle, October 20 2016. The agenda for the AGM is outlined below. Written notice of any motion or changes of rules should be forwarded to me (by email) not later than 15th October, sponoered by Travel Extra. Format for the golf is singles Stableford, tees are reserved 1030 -1230. Cost is members €45 and guests €70. Tee reservations to here.
Strange World
A TAAG Angola Airlines flight from Porto to Luanda was forced to return to Lisbon after a ground worker loading cargo onto the aircraft was discovered missing. The member of ground staff is said to have passed out while handling animals in cargo bay and the flight took off with him still trapped inside
A group of nine young Australian tourists were arrested after stripping down to their Malaysian flag underpants during the Malaysian Grand Prix
An overheating, smoking Samsung smartphone forced the evacuation of a Southwest Airlines jet that was preparing to take off Wednesday from the Louisville airport.
A court in Myanmar sentenced a Dutch citizen to three months in prison for interfering with a religious observance by unplugging an amplifier broadcasting a late-night Buddhist sermon near his hotel in Mandalay.
Hotels
CBRE reported that hotel sales hit €238m and 35 hotel sales so far in 2016. Lisa Keogh, of CBRE Ireland’s hotel division, said the total spend on Irish hotels will match the record €710m in 2015, including the €150m sale of the Spencer, Morgan and Beacon hotels in Dublin to an investment group including John Malone.
Qantas is partnering with Airbnb where frequent flyers will earn points for every Airbnb booking
Watch here Joe Dolan president of the IHF speaking about seasonality and regionality problem for Irish hotels.
International
Irish visitor numbers to the USA are up 2pc in the period January to April, defying a decline in bigger markets such as Britain and Germany. Increased access in the autumn likely to drive figures further.
The Department of Foreign Affairs expects their issued passport rate to rise to 1m a year by 2019, up from 700,000 in 2015, and issue 6.2m Irish passports between 2017 and 2023. The department expects to receive just under 63,000 passport applications from the six counties, and 52,336 from Britain.
A survey by Arton Capital estimated Ireland has the joint 19th most acceptable passport in the world. Germany and Sweden can visit 158 countries visa free, Britain, Finland, France, Spain and Switzerland can visit 157, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway and South Korea can visit 156, Austria, Luxembourg, Portugal, Singapore and USA can visit 155 and Greece, Ireland and Japan can visit 155. Afghanistan has the least welcome passport in the world. The result differ slightly from a survey of visa restrictions by Henley & partners which ranks Ireland joint 15th from a higher sample of countries and territories.
Tenerife Tourism reassured the travel trade that Teide is NOT going to blow after two reports in the London Daily Express on Monday: (VOLCANO WARNING: Panic on Tenerife amid fears huge Mount Teide is about to BLOW) and Tuesday (Mount Teide: Canary Islands call for urgent analysis of volcano after Tenerife quake swarm
The €20m Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology opened in Lisbon on a site next to the former Central Tejo power station in Belém.
Logarithms were blamed for the 6pc plunge in the value of sterling on Friday sending it past 90c at one stage. It is the third inexplicable tumble in the past 14 months in the $5.1 trillion-a-day-currency market. The highest the euro was against sterling was 96c on January 2 2009.
The operator of Philadelphia duck boat tours has suspended operations in the city “indefinitely” due to financial reasons.
Disney Orlando shut its doors for only the fourth time in its history for Hurricane Matthew on Friday. Disney World previously closed on Sept 26, 2004, for Hurricane Jeanne, Sept 4 and 5 1999, for Hurricane Frances and Sept 15 1999, for Hurricane Floyd. Orlando’s theme parks closed as a precaution, with the exception of Busch Gardens.
Jocelyn McCalla: After Hurricane Matthew, will aid predators ravage Haiti?
Food & Beverage
The delicious dozen: Ireland now has a record 12 Michelin Star restaurants as Heron and Gray were added to the list for 2016 compiled by the international peer-review guide. They join Martijn Kajuiter’s Cliff House in Ardmore, Michael Deane’s Eipic and Stephen Toma’s Oxx in Belfast (both since 2016), Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud in the Merrion Hotel (one star 1990-5, two Michelin stars since 1996), Ross Lewis’s Chapter One (since 2007), Derry and Sally Clarke’s L’Ecrivain (since 2003), Mickael Viljanen’s The Greenhouse in Dublin (since 2016), Ultan Cooke’s Aniar (since 2013) and Enda McEvoy’s Loam (since 2016) in Galway (Enda was previously chef with Aniar), Gareth Byrne’s Campagne (since 2014) and Cormac Rowe’s Lady Helen in Kilkenny (since 2014).
Previous kitchens to receive the award were Kei Pilz’s Shiro in Ahakista Co Cork (2001), Peter Robinson’s Armstrong’s Bar in Annamoe, Co Wicklow (1977), Stefan Matz’s Erriseask House in Ballyconneely (2000-1) Robbie Millar’s Shanks in Bangor (1996-2005) Michael Deane’s in Belfast (2001-10), Paul Rankin’s Roscoff in Belfast (1991-8), Declan and Michael Ryan’s Arbutus Lodge in Cork (1974-83, 1987-8), Ballylickey House Co Cork (1975), Myrtle Allen’s Ballymaloe House in Co Cork (1975-80), Hans Peter Matthiae’s Chez Hans in Cashel (1983), Declan Ryan’s Cashel Palace Hotel (1982-3), Jean Baptiste Molinar’s Dromoland Castle (1995) Aiden Byrne’s The Commons in Dublin (2002), Rory Carville’s Locks Brasserie in Dublin (2013) Dylan McGrath’s Mint in Ranelagh, Dublin (2008-9) Conrad Gallagher’s Peacock Alley originally in Baggot Street and then in FitzWiliam hotel Dublin (1998, 2001-2), Thornton’s originally on Portobello Road then in Fitzwilliam Hotel (1996-2015), Matt Dowling’s Russell Hotel in Dublin (1974) Barry Smyth’s The Oriel in Gilford Co Down (2004-5) Dean’s on the Square in Helen’s Bay (1997), Park Hotel in Kenmare 1983-90 and 1994-9 (Colin O’Daly 1983-1985, Brian Cleere 1994-5, Bruno Schmidt[ (1996-7 and Matthew d’Arcy 1998-9) Fergus Moore’s Sheen Falls in Kenmare (1993-8), Catherine Healy’s Dunderry Lodge in Co Cork (1986-9) and Michel Flamme’s K Club in Straffan (1993-4).
David Gilmore of James Street South in Belfast won the Yeschef award for chef of the year. Other winners: Best Fine Dining Restaurant, MacNean House & Restaurant, Blacklion, Co Cavan, Best Hotel Restaurant, Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork, Best Irish Culinary Experience, Joy Beattie, The Hot Stove, Dublin, Best Newcomer, Ochos Tapas, Portrush, Co Antrim, Best Front of House, Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork, Best Gastro Pub, Bar One, Castlebar, Co Mayo, Best World Food, Sol y Sombra Tapas Bar & Restaurant, Killorglin, Co Kerry, Best Street Food, Pyke ‘N’ Pommes, Derry, Best Golf Club Dining, 19 at Lucan Golf Club, Co Dublin, Best Indian, Ananda, Dundrum, Dublin 14, YesChef Readers’ Award, Safa, Belfast, Best Casual Dining, Paddy Coynes Pub, Renvyle, Co Galway, Best Castle Dining, Lough Rynn Castle, Mohill, Co Leitrim, Best Country House, The Red Door, Inishowen, Co Donegal, Best Seafood, La Côte Seafood Restaurant, Custom House Quay, Wexford, Best Italian, Batoni’s restaurant, Emo, Laois, Rising Star, Rory Carville, Manor House Country Hotel, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, Best Skill & Innovation, Bryan McCarthy, Greene’s Restaurant, Cork,
The High Court has appointed a liquidator to two companies operating iconic Dublin restaurant Dobbins.
James Devine Sous Chef at Deanes Eipic beat nine other chefs in a cook-off at the Olympia for a chef of the year award for 2017.
Aviation
IAG figures indicated Aer Lingus is now the star of IAG group with RPK up 11.3pc and ASK up 13.1pc. Not in the statement, new trans-Atlantic routes for summer 2017 are likely to be announced October 20.
Four days of strikes called by Greek air traffic controllers next week are expected to disrupt flights across and into the country. The 24-hour strikes are planned for Oct.9, 10th, 12th and 13th – Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
KLM confirmed their new Dublin Amsterdam flight, to commence October 30, will increase from two daily to four daily flights for summer 2017.
Ryanair carried 10m passengers for the seventh month in its history and remains on course for 117m passengers in 2016: only seven airlines have ever carried 10m in a month.
Etihad signed a codeshare agreement with kulula.com.
Volotea is to operate a weekly B717 scheduled service from Cork to Verona from June 2017.
Aer Lingus launched a cabin crew recruitment drive with a video of a day in the life of Aer Lingus Cabin Crew member Shona, as she flies on the inaugural flight from Dublin to Newark. To be eligible, applicants must be 18 years of age or over, live and work in Ireland, be fluent in English, both spoken and written, hold a valid EEA Passport allowing unrestricted worldwide travel and have at least 12 months combined experience in a customer service/sales role. Apply online here
AerCap‘s third quarter 2016 earnings wil be released on Tuesday.
Belfast International Airport is to hold a second Job Fair next Monday with up to 100 new jobs created.
Air Berlin says it will discuss transferring part of its fleet to a new group that would be set up by tour operator TUI Group and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad, a major shareholder.
EasyJet‘s trading update showed fares down 9pc and capacity up 6pc. Shares fell 7pc on sterling worries.
Emirates launched an autumn sale: book by Oct 17th for travel from Dec 2016. Jennifer Aniston mad a return to the Emirates A380, and a new friend, in a new global digital and TV advertising campaign. This is Anniston’s second commercial with Emirates. The first launched last year.
Airlines, including IAG chief Willie Walsh, asked permission to break antitrust law to retrieve $4bn trapped in Venezuela.
Brussells Air Traffic Controllers went on strike on October 7, leading to delays on departing and arriving flights. Brussels Airport’s twitter feed reported: “Not all hold baggage put on board and baggage delivery may be delayed.”
EDreams named Easyjet the best low cost carrier in Europe, yes the same eDreams that is being pursued through the courts by Ryanair.
Transavia confirmed the 3w Dublin-Munich route reported in last week’s Travel Extra’s Sunday Supplement.
A survey by Cheapflights claims the most popular time of day for flight searches is 8pm and Saturday and Sunday the busiest days. Thursday is the quietest day of the week for flight research.
Afloat
Hurtigruten is to operate a charter flight from Dublin airport direct to Tromso on February 25 as part of a programme of charter and regional flights to Bergen, Tromso and Oslo.
Regent Seven Seas Voyager will receive a makeover in early November.
Miss USA Deshauna Barber was chosen as Godmother for Carnival Vista.
Holland America banned smoking on all its cruise ship balconies
Ireland
Ballymahon held a community event for Center Parcs CEO Martin Dalby
The Irish Exhibition Organisers Association met last week in the RDS and were briefed on expansion plans. The group played an important role in the development of the industry over many years, undertaking exhibitor and sales personnel training, helped promote exhibitions as a marketing tool and served as a common voice when dealing with venues and contractors.
The recession reduced the number of exhibitions by over 50pc but thankfully in the last year a lot of new shows have taken place and it is time to regroup as significant new Health/Safety and insurance challenges are on the horizon and some exhibitions are already classified an official ‘Building Sites’ with the requirement for full time safety officers during build-up and knock-down.
Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland hosted journalists from Denmark, Sweden and Norway have been exploring Ireland’s Ancient East. Picture shows Erik Valebrokk, KK Living magazine (Norway); Anna Wahlgren, Icakuriren magazine (Sweden); Peter Kvorning, Fyens Stiftidende newspaper (Denmark); Christina Bild, Kombi magazine (Sweden); Annica Jansson, Tourism Ireland; Hanne Hoiberg-Nielsen, Børsen newspaper (Denmark); and Johan Oberg, Svenska Dagbladet newspaper (Sweden).
Picture shows at travel media at Mount Usher Gardens with Linda Arceo, Giggles, Gobbles & Gulps; Andrew Villagomez, blogger Veetravels.com; Christina Walsh, Fáilte Ireland; Sean Heffernan, Head Gardener Mount Usher Gardens and Karin E Baker, Huffington Post.
Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland invited journalists (from Canada, Germany, Holland, Belgium, France and a Canadian TV crew with host Adamo Angelo Ruggiero to document the Irish LGBT tourism matchmaking festival in Lisdoonvarna.
Deal Watch
Sunway offers: 7 nights B&B Agadir and Marrakech from €599pp, travel January 2017. 7 nights self catering 3* Intouriste Apartments, Agadir from €369pp, travel January or February 2017. 7 nights B&B 3* Argana Hotel, Agadir from €439pp, travel January 2017. 7 nights B&B 4* Agadir Beach Club Hotel from €529pp, travel January or February 2017. 7 nights B&B 4* Royal Atlas Hotel, Agadir from €689pp, depart January 7 or 14 2017. 7 nights all inclusive 4* Iberostar Founty Beach Hotel, Agadir from €689pp, depart January 7 or 14 2017. 7 nights B&B 5* Sofitel Agadir Royal Bay Hotel from €669pp, travel January or February 2017. 12 days 4* escorted tour of Vietnam from €3,189pp, depart March 25 2017. Visit sunway.ie or call 01 231 1800.
Thomson offers: 7 nights all inclusive 4* ClubHotel Riu Vistamar, Amadores, Gran Canaria from €1,139pp, depart October 20. Lapland day trip form €579 per adult from €479 per child, depart December 10, 16 or 17. 7 nights half board 5* Hotel Maspalomas Oasis, Gran Canaria from €1,149pp, depart December 31. 7 nights full board 5* Sensatori Resort Tenerife, Guia de Isora, Tenerife from €1,318pp, depart January 6 2017. 7 nights half board 4* Hotel H10 Timanfaya Palace, Playa Blanca, Lanzarote from €639pp, depart January 15 2017. 7 nights half board 4* Hotel IFA Catarina, Playa del Ingles, Gran Canaria from €619pp, depart January 21 2017. 7 nights full board 4* Canaria Flavours cruise on board Thomson Majesty from €929pp, depart January 21 2017. 14 nights all inclusive 4* ClubHotel Riu Ochos Rios, Jamaica from €1,699pp, depart June 8 2017. 14 nights all inclusive 4* Riu Cancun, Mexico from €1,825pp, depart June 14 2017. Visit thomsonholidays.ie or call 1850 45 35 45.
Tourism NI offers: 1 night B&B Lough Erne Resort & Spa, Co Fermanagh from £149 incl. two rounds of golf and dinner, book by October 31, call (028) 66 323230. 1 night B&B Ten Square Hotel, Belfast from £200 per couple incl. prosecco and strawberries on arrival and three-course meal, available until November 6, call (028) 90 241001. 1 night The Whistledown Hotel, Co Down from £62.50pps incl. cocktail on arrival, box of chocolates in the room and a 3 course evening meal in The Bistro, call (028) 41 754174.
Falcon offers: 14 nights self catering 2* Canaima Apartments, Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria from €679pps, depart October 13. 7 nights self catering 2* Green Park, Playa Del Ingles, Gran Canaria from €649pps, depart October 20. 7 nights all inclusive 3* Catalonia Punta Del Rey, Las Caletillas, Tenerife from €579pps, depart October 21. 3 nights half board 4* Hotel Barcelo Santiago, Puerto de Santiago, Tenerife from €599pps, depart November 19. 7 nights self catering 3* Bali Hotel & Studio, Benalmadena, Malaga from €379pps, depart November 20. 7 nights all inclusive 4* Club Riu Buena Vista, Playa Paraiso, Tenerife from €1,299pps, depart December 23. 7 nights half board 3* Hotel IFA Buenaventura, Playa del Ingles, Gran Canaria from €599pps, depart January 7 2017. 7 nights half board 2* Las Pirmindes Resort, Playa del las Americas, Tenerife from €529pps, depart January 13 2017. 7 nights all inclusive 4* Hotel H10 Rubicon Palace, Playa Blanca, Lanzarote from €619pps, depart January 15 2017. 14 nights all inclusive 4* Catalonia Riviera Maya Resort & Spa, Mexico form €1,619pps, depart June 7 2017. Lapland day trips from €579 per adult form €479 per child, depart December 10, 16 or 17. Visit falconholidays.ie or call 1850 45 35 45.
Topflight offers: 7 nights self catering 3* London Pub Apartments, Kirchberg, Austria from €679pp, depart Cork or Dublin December 31. 7 nights self catering 3* Chalet Alpina, St Johann, Austria from £544pp, depart Belfast December 31. 7 nights full catering 3* Chalet Marguerite, Plagne, France from €1,269pps, depart December 31. 7 nights self catering 3* Livigno Ski Apartments, Livigno, Italy form €645pps, depart December 31. 7 nights B&B 2* Hotel Arisnal, Andorra from €749pps, depart December 27. Visit topflight.ie or call 01 240 1700.
Insight Vacations is offering 10 days best of Italy tour from €2,349pps incl. flights, transfers and accommodation. Depart November 19. Visit insightvacations.com or call 01 775 3803.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is offering 8 days Enchanting Danube river cruise on board the River Beatrice from €1,879pps incl. flights, airport transfers, all meals and beverages and shore excursions, depart November 6. Visit uniworld.com or call 01 775 3803.
ITAA offers: Day trip to Lapland from €499 per child incl. return flights, 15kg baggage, all meals and activities, travel December. 2 nights trip to Lapland from €1,059pp incl. flights, accommodation, meals and activities, travel December. 4 nights trip to Lapland from €1,600 per adult incl. return flights, transfers, clothing, full board accommodation and gala dinner, husky ride, reader experience, meet the elves, meet Santa, snow games and other activities and souvenirs, depart December 7.
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