Brochure launches: Operators reveal their latest product

Nick Talbot, marketing director

What’s new in your 2018 programme?
Funway’s first joint brochure with AMResorts – the Luxury All-Inclusive Collection 2018, which launched in August, includes 92 pages and brings together luxurious hotels and destinations along with fresh itineraries and unique experiences.

Why have you introduced these new products?
AMResorts and the Caribbean make the perfect mix for a fantastic holiday, paring renowned luxury all-inclusive accommodation with number one holiday destinations. Funway is now proud to boast one of the widest and most comprehensive ranges across the region.

What do you think will be your best emerging destination next year?
Costa Rica will take off because of the airlift and the relative freshness of the destination among travel agents.

What else is new?
The introduction of Central America for the first time including Costa Rica, Panama and Curacao.

funway4agents.co.uk

Matthew Rushbrooke, head of product

What’s new in your 2018 programme?
We’re branching out beyond our established destinations of Africa and Latin America into Sri Lanka, India, Borneo and Canada. In doing so, we’re putting the brand’s focus on wildlife and nature holidays, reflecting the demand from our customers and offering them greater choice.

What do agents need to book early to secure the best rates and availability?
It’s important that agents understand the high demand for safaris during peak seasons such as Christmas and Easter and advise clients to book as early as possible – ideally as far as a year in advance.

If you could only sell one product from your 2018 programme what would it be and why?
Gorilla tracking in Uganda. Our sales team are really knowledgeable in this field and our customers report back that it exceeded expectations.

What do you think will be your best emerging destination next year?
We’ve barely begun promoting it yet and already we’re enjoying a strong level of enquiries for wildlife trips to Borneo. The orangutans seem to have our clients enticed.

rainbowtours.co.uk

Will Sarson, product director

What’s new in your 2018 programme?
We have just launched our Solo Traveller Collection, retaining all eight itineraries and adding six new ones. We now offer Montenegro, Portugal, Lake Garda, Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, Vietnam and Cambodia and a New York break.

What do agents need to book early to secure the best rates and availability?
We give our best price from the start and we will never reduce that, so early bookers can secure the date they want to travel without worrying about someone booking it later for less, and agents know that we never undercut them.

If you could only sell one product from your 2018 programme what would it be?
New York. Aside from the obvious big-hitters like the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building, we have also included more unique experiences such as a food-themed tour of Greenwich Village and a guided tour of the High Line Park.

What do you think will be your best emerging destination next year?
Montenegro – it has stunning scenery, fascinating history, pristine coasts and lovely people.

rivieratravel.co.uk

Colin Currie, head of sales

What’s new in your 2018 programmes?
Gold Medal will be launching its 2018-19 brochure suite in December 2017. Overall there will be 11 new brochures covering all long-haul destinations including: Africa; Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific; Australia & New Zealand Touring; and Canada.

Simply Luxury by Travel 2 has had a very strong year with Oceania performing particularly well. As a result we have added Australia and New Zealand into this year’s brochure.

What do agents need to book early to secure the best rates and availability?
Florida is a key destination for booking early and Gold Medal can offer guaranteed pricing on all Orlando packages flying with Virgin Atlantic throughout 2018.

For Travel 2, experiential holidays such as Galapagos cruises and polar bear spotting in Canada can often sell out up to a year in advance.

If you could only sell one product from your 2018 programme what would it be?
New six-star Kokomo Private Island Resort, Fiji’s most exclusive beachside hideaway in our Simply Luxury by Travel 2 brochure. I could see myself spending a week or two there.

What do you think will be your best emerging destination next year?
The Indian Ocean continues to perform well for both Gold Medal and Simply Luxury by Travel 2. Gold Medal’s 2018-19 brochures will feature new properties in the Maldives, Mauritius and Sri Lanka. Ras Al Khaimah was up for Travel 2 and it continues to grow in popularity.

travel2.com

goldmedal.co.uk

Jane Atkins, managing director

What’s new in 2018?
The Worldwide brochure, in partnership with Collette, offers an exciting collection of cultural, wildlife and activity-packed experiences. Highlights include the Canadian Rockies, Splendours of China, The Delights of Costa Rica, and America’s Music Cities itineraries.

Why have Shearings decided to release a Worldwide brochure?
Our research shows that we have an enormous number of customers who book with Shearings time and again and that these same customers are also taking long-haul escorted touring holidays. We wanted to expand our Worldwide programme and offer them more variety.

What do agents need to book early to secure the best rates and availability?
We have some great early booking offers available with savings up to £500, so booking now will secure the best price and availability.

If you could only sell one product from your 2018 Worldwide programme, what would it be?
Kingdoms of South East Asia or Complete South America – you get to see three countries in one tour and really experience the destinations like a local.

shearings.com

John Parker, product manager

What’s new in your 2018 programme?
There are several fantastic itineraries including a Cape, Wine & Garden Route Boutique tour, a Cape, Wine & Whales self-drive trip, and a Botswana Wildlife Discovery tour. We have also enhanced our South Africa multi-country tours, which now offer an option for combining South Africa and the Seychelles, as well as Mauritius and Dubai.

What do agents need to book early to secure the best rates and availability?
Accommodation in South Africa is selling very fast, particularly from October to March. This particularly applies to popular destinations, such as the winelands, Garden Route and game reserves.

If you could only sell one product from your 2018 programme what would it be?
The Glimpses of South Africa tour is a comprehensive coach trip that covers all of the main sights in South Africa including Johannesburg, the Kruger region, KwaZulu-Natal the Garden Route and Cape Town; it’s a great opportunity for people to tick off everything on their South Africa bucket list.

What do you think will be your best emerging destination next year?
We’re excited to introduce the island of Nosy Be in Madagascar for the first time, and it is already selling very well.

premierholidays.co.uk

Maria Cook, general manager

What’s new in your 2018 programme?
Albanian Odyssey, Mallorca Narrow Gauge, Trams & Trains of Portugal, New Year in Romania, Bonn & Rhine in Flames, California - The Golden State and The Baltic - Trains, Boats & Trams tour.

If you could only sell one product from your 2018 programme what would it be?
Switzerland, as it combines beautiful scenery and wonderful trains. Our Swiss Alpine Holiday tour is a great example of the very best rail journey experience.

What is emerging for next year?

Uzbekistan – we have already added a second departure.

Why have you introduced these new products?
We like to offer our customers an interesting range of destinations where we can develop sustainable tourism.

ffestiniog travel.com

Ben Briggs, head of marketing UK

What’s new in the 2018 programme?
The Immerse Yourself collection in China will see clients have the chance to learn tai chi with a master, make dumplings with local chefs and explore lesser-visited sections of the Great Wall of China.

What do agents need to book early to secure the best rates and availability?
With our business class upgrade offers you’ve got to be quick off the mark, especially for destinations such as Japan, which is gaining in popularity. If you look at our China, Japan, Vietnam and India tours there will be an applicable business class upgrade from £99.

If you could sell one product from the 2018 programme, what would it be?
Borneo will be a hot destination for the next couple of years. We have developed a new tour taking clients to both sides of the nation.

What else is new?
Sri Lanka; it has sat in India’s shadow for many years but actually it’s an incredibly diverse destination that caters for couples, families and has a bit of everything.

wendywutours.co.uk

Simon Edwards, product manager, Europe

What’s new in your 2018 programme?
I have introduced 20 new tours including Essential Turin, Enchanting Calabria and Quintessential Tuscany which showcase some of Italy’s best loved, and less trodden landscapes.

What do agents need to book early to secure the best rates and availability?
We already have our price promise, which protects early bookers, so once your clients have paid a deposit if we then reduce the price of their holiday we refund the difference as credit.

What do you think will be your best emerging destination next year?
We are delighted to bring Turkey back to the portfolio; it’s a diverse country with a wealth of history and culture.

titantravel.co.uk