GB Air to operate winter frequencies from Manchester

Valletta, 26/07/07 - GB Airways, the Gatwick-based British Airways franchise partner, has confirmed its schedule for the forthcoming winter season. Highlights include new winter fights from Manchester to Malta.

The new Malta service will operate three times a week from Manchester - on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Alan McIntrye, commercial director of GB Airways says "with this winter service we hope to see a boost in tourism in Malta during the quieter months, and it gives our customers in the north-west another destination to choose from".

Gay marketing master class slated for WTM

London, 26/07/07 - World Travel Market, in conjunction with leading global homosexual marketing agency Out Now Consulting, is launching a gay and lesbian travel master class with a difference.

Organisers are asking for marketing questions to be sent to specialist market agency Out Now that will help shape a targeted, interactive and internationally based session at World Travel Market, covering some of the biggest issues and challenges facing the travel and tourism industry.

"The travel and tourism industry is now beginning to recognise the importance of the gay and lesbian market and its economic potential for the future," said Fiona Jeffery, managing director of World Travel Market. "We have asked Out Now Consulting to help the industry to reach out to this historically under served segment.

"Out Now is one of the most experienced market agencies of its kind, working with many travel clients, including VisitBritain, the German National Tourist Office, South African Tourism and Lufthansa.

"In a survey carried out by the Travel Industry Association (TIA), the majority of gay men (53 per cent) and lesbians (69 per cent) reported that a place generally identified as safe and free from intimidation and threats - is one of the top three ways they consider a destination as gay-friendly.

"Gay-friendliness is frequently mentioned as a litmus test for how gay holidaymakers view destinations, products and services.

"They are not looking for special treatment, merely the kind of consideration and equal respect that should be given to all customers."

Jeffery added: "This is the third year that we have worked with Out Now and are delighted that the master class will be able to help delegates much more comprehensively about how to tap into this lucrative market more effectively."

Ian Johnson, CEO of Out Now said the 60-minute master class will offer the latest practical advice on reaching the gay market. "We will take the most representative questions submitted to Out Now online before World Travel Market to be used as part of a presentation covering a whole range of issues", he said.

"We also invite people to send us their brief - specifying specific requirements and budget - and Out Now will select two to present real gay travel marketing solutions to such problems at WTM. If people have ever wondered how their own brand should best approach the gay market, this is their perfect opportunity to find out."

"The master class will provide a 'state of the gay travel world' summary paper, offered free to everyone attending and setting out the essential 2007 gay travel segment data from the US, Europe and Australia."

Questions submitted for consideration at the gay and lesbian master class at World Travel Market should be submitted to info@outnowconsulting.com

The Out Now gay travel marketing master class is being presented by WTM on 14 November at the London World Travel Market, ExCel Centre.

Greek islanders protest unruly British tourists

Malia, 26/07 /07 - Hundreds of local residents on the holiday island of Crete took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against the lewd and violent behaviour of young British tourists, TravelWire News reports.

Hotel and business owners, municipal officials and even the mayor of the town of Malia, on the north-eastern coast of Crete, closed off the island's main highway, disrupting traffic and handing out leaflets, saying they were fed up.

"They get drunk, they exhibit themselves in front of our eyes. We won't put up with these acts”, one of the protesters told Reuters television.

The protesters want the government to crack down on tourist agencies promoting sex and fun for young tourists in Malia, more police to maintain order and more controls on nightclubs which, they say, encourage excessive drinking with cheap drinks.

"We can't take it anymore, we have reached the end of our rope. Order has to be restored," said one Malia resident during the protest.

For years, Malia, considered the Ibiza of Greece, has been a popular tourist destination for British tourists under 30 and thousands flock to it every year. TV has shown pictures of apparently drunk youths engaging in public sexual acts, violence and vandalism.

As a result of the violent incidents, shop owners say they close up early and cover their shops with tarpaulin before the evening tourist rush, when their windows are attacked with beer bottles and other objects.

One local shop owner said he no longer ventured out at night with his family because it was too dangerous.

"It is very, very dangerous. We live here and we put netting on our shops to protect them. We cannot go out at night, we can't go for a walk or sit in a cafe. We close the shops and leave," he said.

In 2006 a British woman fell from an apartment in Malia and was impaled on a spike after a drunken argument with her boyfriend. In 2003 a British tourist bit off the nose of a bartender who asked him to leave, and in 1999 a man died after brawling with two British tourists.

Corinthia to operate Dubai Ramada hotel

Floriana, 18/07/07 - Corinthia Hotels International has signed a long-term management agreement with the Golden Sands Hotel Company of Dubai for the operation of the 371 all-suite Ramada Hotel & Suites Jumeirah Beach. The property is set to open next January and forms part of the larger Jumeirah Beach Residence master complex, a unique high-rise development located minutes away from Dubai's sandy beaches.

In addition to the 371 suites, the Ramada Hotel & Suites Jumeirah Beach features a number of amenities, including an all-day dining room, a speciality restaurant, bar, a gym and fitness room, an outdoor swimming pool, several meeting rooms and secured underground parking.

"We are delighted to be entering Dubai for the first time with such a wonderful product, having successfully established our management expertise over the last 45 years in exclusive destinations such as Malta, Prague, Budapest, St Petersburg, Lisbon and Tunis, to name a few. We pride ourselves in being able to introduce a new dimension of warmth, colour and vitality to all our new operations, elements that blend in perfectly with this amazing City", said Tony Potter, chief executive officer of Corinthia Hotels International.

The management agreement is a first for Corinthia Hotels International in this destination since signing a joint venture agreement with Wyndham Worldwide, last year, for the exclusive operation of Corinthia, Wyndham and Ramada Plaza branded hotels in the Europe, Mideast and Africa (EMEA) region.

The Jumeirah Beach Residence complex is located some 15 minutes away from Dubai's city centre, on a 1.7 kilometre stretch of land in between Jumeirah Beach and the marina. The complex features 36 residential towers, four hotel towers, beach clubs, restaurants and retail outlets. It lies in close proximity to Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City and Emirates Golf Club. With an impressive two million square metres footprint, the development represents the world's largest single-phase project of its kind.

EU taking on hidden airline ticket charges

Strasbourg, 18/07/07 - European airlines will have to advertise tickets at full price to avoid landing customers with a slew of hidden charges, according to new rules adopted by the European Parliament last week, msnbc.msn.com reports.

The ruling, which needs approval from EU states before it comes into force, revises the bloc's rules on airlines to boost competition by making it easier for travellers to compare prices before booking a flight.

The move is the latest measure from the bloc to become more consumer-friendly. In May it introduced new rules to slash the cost of using mobile phones abroad.

EU transport ministers are expected to seek a common position later this year so that final agreement can be reached in the first half of 2008.

"I don't see any indication (from EU states) against our proposals. It seems to me there is no major obstacles to find some compromise," said Arunas Degutis, the liberal lawmaker who is steering the package through parliament.

The air fare rules are seen especially aimed at low cost carriers whose advertised fares often turn out much higher once taxes and other charges are included.

Fares will have to include all applicable taxes, non-avoidable charges or duties, fees and other costs levied by the airline or airport.

Where airport or on-board security costs are included in a ticket, those costs must be shown separately on the ticket or otherwise indicated to the passenger.

Also as part of the revision package, airlines will have to show they have enough insurance cover in order to get an operating license.

The proposal would also give the European Commission authority to revoke or suspend airlines' licenses if they do not follow EU rules on safety or financial standards, for example.

This is in case a member state authority, for political reasons, failed to revoke a carrier's license despite potential safety concerns.

The new rules will also require more frequent submission of financial information such as business plans from start-up airlines to reduce bankruptcies among new carriers.

Monkey 'steals' Korean tourist's glasses

Meer Ghat, 18/07/07 - In an unprecedented occurrence, a Korean tourist has filed a complaint with the Indian police for the recovery of his glasses 'stolen' by a monkey, ETN reports.

Kim Dang Hoon, staying with his girlfriend at a guest house in the Meer Ghat area on the banks of Ganges river yesterday lodged a complaint at the Dashwashamedh police station for the recovery of his reading glasses stolen last evening by a monkey.

''I opened the windows of the room for fresh air last evening. A monkey, however, sneaked inside and took away my reading glasses,'' the Korean national explained.

''I brought the matter to the notice of the guesthouse owner but the spectacles could not be found anywhere. Later we found one of lenses broken on the terrace of the guesthouse,'' he added.

''I had no other option but to report the matter to the police for the recovery of the reading glasses,'' Kim maintained.

Station officer Govind Singh said ''it is not difficult but impossible to initiate action against a monkey for the recovery of the tourist's reading glasses. A complaint of missing glasses has been lodged to enable the Korean tourist to make an insurance claim for his missing belonging.''