Teletext has renewed sponsorship of the Travel Alternative Golf society for 2010.

Managing director Victoria Sanders said: “We are delighted to renew our sponsorship of what is becoming a powerful networking group focussed around the travel industry’s favourite participation sport of golf.”

It was sentiment echoed by TAGS organiser David Coates (Elmscott): “In our second year to have such a prestigious sponsor as Teletext is great news.

“We have 70 TAGS members and founder members and interest in our society continues to grow.

“This past twelve months we have raised over £1,100 for TAGS nominated charity the Royal Marsden Cancer Hospital.”

The golfing programme for 2010 is now confirmed:
* January 28 Foxhills Golf and Country Club
* March 29 The Oxfordshire
* June 28 Ifield Golf Club
* September 29 Hanbury Manor
* December 2 Woburn

Annual membership to TAGS remains at the nominal cost of £50 a year. All renewing members receive a complimentary 12 ball box set of TaylorMade golf balls courtesy of Teletext.

More details are available at www.tagsonline.org

Source: Phil Davies – TravelMole.com

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Royal Caribbean UK and Ireland boss Robin Shaw is stepping down from the company after five years.

Shaw, vice president and managing director for UK and Ireland, will be leaving at the end of March.

He is to “pursue another senior management role outside of the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd business,” a statement said.

Jo Rzymowska, associate vice president and general manager, UK and Ireland – who has worked in partnership with Shaw for the past five years – will work with vice president international Michael Bayley and Shaw to oversee the transition period for the UK and Ireland business.

Bayley said: “Over the last five years Robin has been instrumental in delivering exceptional results for the UK and Irish markets where both market share and profitability have increased significantly.

“Robin leaves behind a talented and dedicated team and has set a very strong platform for continued growth in 2010 and beyond. We wish Robin the very best in his future career.”

Source: Phil Davies – TravelMole.com

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Adventure travel is poised to make a stronger recovery from the global economic slowdown than other parts of the travel industry.

The sector’s dedicated and distinctive client base will help the upturn, according to a study by TUI Travel Adventure Companies.

The ‘Passport to Adventure’ report highlights a growing acceptance among consumers that specialist operators offer the best adventure travel experiences.

It estimates that the UK market for adventure travel represents more than 400,000 passengers a year.

More consumers have indicated they will choose operators for adventure travel in the next three years, owing to their unparalleled destination expertise and their local guides’ ability to offer authentic, ‘under the skin’ travel experiences that cannot be attained through guidebooks, according to the report.

Research into consumers’ travel intentions shows that they are 190% more likely to take an adventure holiday, 145% more likely to take a special interest holiday and 303% more likely to take an environmentally friendly holiday in the next three years.

Adventure travellers crave meaningful holidays offering in-depth cultural experiences, expert guiding, a physical or mental challenge and sharing new experiences with like-minded people, the study shows.

The upturn in demand for 2010 has seen bookings up 40% year on year for non-eurozone destinations such as Turkey while mid-haul destinations such as Morocco are up by 80% year on year.

Egypt and the Middle East offer potential growth of 81% over the next three years and ‘once in a lifetime’ destinations like Kilimanjaro, the Inca Trail and Angkor Wat.

Demand is also strong for tougher treks, assisted in part by the improvement in Nepal’s political stability and accessibility. A potential six fold increase has been identified in travel to Nepal from the UK over the next three years.

In addition the TUI Adventure Companies have seen ‘unprecedented’ demand for Kilimanjaro, with bookings up 400% for 2010.

The study is based on a commissioned YouGov market research poll, tourist office figures, information from the adventure travel brands, and a Google search trend report.

TUI Travel’s network of independently operated adventure travel companies include The Adventure Company, Exodus, Imaginative Traveller, Peregrine Adventures, Geckos, Quark Expeditions and Headwater in the UK.

Managing director Colin Stump said: “A Passport to Adventure’ is an important report into an area of the travel industry that is set to grow significantly in years to come.

“Not only does it identify hot trends for destinations and holiday types but the results of the report also provide valuable clues to the future requirements of consumers including young professionals, families and the more active and more demanding over 50’s group.

“All of TUI Travel’s adventure companies in the market place are well placed to take advantage of this resurgent and growing market. It’s a challenge we look forward to with relish.”

Source: Phil Davies – TravelMole.com

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The Institute of Travel & Meetings is to manage operations as the US-based National Business Travel Association expands into Europe.

The largest global association for corporate travel professionals is creating a buyer-led, multinational European business travel and meetings network.

NBTA Europe is being created with the co-operation of partner associations across Europe.

These comprise of the ITM in the UK and Ireland, the Danish Business Travel Association, the Iberian Business Travel Association of Spain, Netherlands Association for Travel Management, the Norwegian Business Travel Association, and the Swedish Business Travel Association.

Members of these partner associations will automatically be members of NBTA Europe for the networks’ first year.

NBTA Europe will carry the tag line “powered by ITM”. This means that the UK & Ireland association will manage the operation on behalf of NBTA.

Members of the NBTA Europe network will gain access to networking opportunities, education and professional development, industry research, plus CSR and benchmarking tools.

NBTA Europe will hold events throughout the year including forums and an annual conference to bring together Europe’s travel and meetings industry professionals for high level debate, discussion and networking. Details are to be announced soon.

Paul Tilstone, newly appointed NBTA Europe managing director, said: “We have some great plans for this network in the year ahead.

“We will be able to make a real impact on the industry in Europe as we take the size and experience of NBTA, add it to the knowledge and passion of local European associations and use the drive and innovation of ITM.

“This is just the start of something great for the European business travel and meetings community.”

The network is led by a combination of buyer-led “Advisory Board” and “Partnership Council”, with each of the partner associations retaining a seat on the council to ensure the network maintains a European feel and focus.

The Advisory Board buyer and supplier members are yet to be announced but will be led by Caroline Strachan, global category leader for business travel at Astra Zeneca, for the first two years.

Strachan, newly appointed chairman of NBTA Europe, said: “NBTA Europe will bring a new collective business travel buyer voice to the European community.

“Together NBTA Europe members and partner organisations will take the issues we experience in each of our countries and create a truly representative position to discuss with industry and government.”

NBTA global president & CEO Craig Banikowski said: “Europe is an important, complex market that deserves a cohesive, buyer-led network.

“The formation of NBTA Europe is designed to meet that need by bringing together travel and meetings stakeholders from across the continent.

“We will create new resources to help members advance their careers and drive greater travel value on behalf of their companies.”

Source: Phil Davies – TravelMole.com

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Many people who took domestic holidays in 2009 are set to abandon the UK this year, a new study shows.

More than half of those who holidayed in the UK last year plan to travel abroad in 2010.

The poll of 3,000 consumers by travel site www.simonseeks.com found that people are prepared to cut back on areas such as going out and buying new clothes in order to take an overseas holiday.

Fifty six per cent of those surveyed are to turn their backs on ‘staycations’ in 2010 and plan to head for sun, sea and warmer climates, with Spain, USA and France emerging as travel hotspots.

But 41% will cut back on this year’s holiday budget, saving an average of £391.

People are opting to compromise in order to pay for their 2010 holiday

Half of respondents would cut back on entertainment and going out for a year to fund their trip away and the same number of women would wear last year’s winter wardrobe to avoid new purchases.

Another four in 10 would do overtime to pay for the holiday, 14% will drop home improvements and 41% will start taking a packed lunch to work.

The survey found holidaymakers will spend an average of five days researching and comparing prices before booking their holiday.

They are also particularly keen on money-saving schemes, and two thirds would be happy to wait until the last minute to book if it meant finding a cheaper deal.

But they won’t cut the holiday short or downgrade their destination to save money.

Company commercial director Chris Nixon said: “The research reveals a real determination to travel – especially among those who didn’t take a holiday overseas in 2009.

“Staycation was the buzz word of 2009 but it seems that 2010 is will be more about a compromise culture, with people giving up short terms benefits to ensure they can afford that holiday abroad.”

Other key findings include:

· 81% claim cost is their biggest travel concern in 2010
· 50% would be prepared to skimp on flight fares in order to save money, followed by activities (39 per cent), and accommodation (31 per cent)
· 46% said they would try to avoid areas where the pound is particularly weak
· 56% said they will spend longer searching for the best price / discount in 2010
· UK was still hailed as being the best-value destination (20%) closely followed by Eastern Europe and Spain (17% each)

Top 2010 holiday destinations according to the survey are:

1. Spain
2. USA
3. France
4. Italy
5. Greece
6. Portugal
7. The Caribbean
8. Turkey
9. South Africa
10. Mexico

Source: Phil Davies – TravelMole.com

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Cruise bargains are due to extend into 2010 as lines seek to attract record numbers of UK passengers.

The prediction comes from cruise reviews and news site CruiseCritic.co.uk, which said the cruise industry stayed buoyant in 2009 due to companies’ willingness to slash prices and the fact that the British love a good bargain.

Similar trends are expected to attract record numbers in 2010.

“As the economy crumbled, the cruise lines adopted a fearless attitude toward discounting, and the resulting deals proved irresistible,” said Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor in chief of Cruise Critic.

“Prices won’t stay low forever, but the perks should remain as the competition to fill cabins continues. Look out for a host of new ships, more celebs at sea and the demise of controversial tipping policies.”

More than 1.5 million British people in took a cruise last year despite the tough economy and this figure is expected to increase 6.5% in 2010, according to the Passenger Shipping Association.

2010 – CruiseCritic’s what to watch for:

Value, Not Just Price -The deals will continue, but the exceptional offers of recent months will eventually dry up as the economy improves. So, holidaymakers are advised to book when they see a deal, rather than wait. Look for complimentary upgrades and onboard credit, free flights and other perks. New and refurbished ships often include new features and facilities, adding to the value of the cruise.

Hot New Ships – Norwegian Epic tops the list and will debut in July as the largest-ever NCL ship. It will feature an aqua park, an array of restaurants (but no main dining room), a circus- and acrobatics-themed dinner show, a dueling piano bar, an ice bar and New Wave cabins with curved walls and split baths. It is definitely the ship to watch in 2010. We are also excited about Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth and P&O’s Azura.

More New(ish) Ships – Otherwise, most of the ships debuting in 2010 year are sisters to previous ships. Costa Deliziosa, Celebrity Eclipse, Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam, Seabourn Sojourn and Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas are all twins (or nearly so) of existing ships (namely, Costa Luminosa, Celebrity Solstice, HAL’s Eurodam, Seabourn Odyssey and RCI’s Oasis of the Seas, respectively).

Headline Acts – Look for theme cruises being hosted by more big-name stars — like previous headliners John Mayer, the Barenaked Ladies and Lynyrd Skynyrd — instead of featuring B-list celebrities and has-been sports stars. Plus, cruises will focus on the hottest trends, like the Twilight Cruise in August 2010. Be prepared to book early, though, as the hottest theme cruises are guaranteed to sell out far in advance — the 2009 New Kids on the Block cruise sold out in minutes.

New Cabin Designs – Check out the cabins in this year’s new-builds. Norwegian Epic is launching the New Wave cabin concept, featuring curved walls and a new bathroom concept with the shower stall, toilet area and vanity split up into three different entities. New, 100-square-foot studio cabins will offer mood lighting and access to an exclusive two-floor lounge, while the line’s spa cabins take that trend to new heights by placing in-room whirlpools in eight of the staterooms. P&O’s Azura will have 18 single cabins (a first for the line) and a pair of large suites, ideal for families or groups of friends.

Tips – Unpopular with many UK cruisers, tipping polices – which often include compulsory gratuities – are changing. Royal Caribbean is reviewing its gratuities procedures, and P&O Australia recently announced that, starting with the line’s October 2010 departures, gratuities will no longer be automatically added to passengers’ onboard bills, leaving guests to tip – or not – at their own discretion. On the luxury side, Azamara is abolishing gratuities for housekeeping and dining as part of its more-inclusive policy.

Source: Phil Davies – TravelMole.com

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