ttg features list 2016

06.08.201546

TTG Features Hotels, Resorts & Spas

can really pick out the history of theButlins story from the details.”But while there is a retro vibe

across the entire 8.8-acre West LakesVillage, which is home to the newchalets, every aspect has beendesigned with modern customers in mind. Much to my husband’sdelight, there is a 42-inch TV withDVD player, free Wi-Fi, and parkingoutside our door. Our two-year-oldson George (pictured below) lovesthe landscaped gardens and lake,which is home to Canada geese,seagulls and ducks. All bedrooms have king or twin

beds and our mattress is one of the best I’ve ever slept on. Fellowmattress aficionados take note – they were designed for Butlins withfour layers of filling spread across

1,000 pockets. There are more than 40

different chalet layouts,including some thatinterconnect. Others are adapted for disabledcustomers. We stay in oneof the Lakeside chalets,which have balconiesoverlooking the lake.

There are also Parkviewchalets, which overlook thecommunal gardens. Onaverage, they have a

20% bigger footprint than the deluxe apartments, which are the next grade of

accommodation. Theoutdoor communal spaces and largeopen-plan lounges would also suitlarger groups and multi-generationalfamilies, especially if interconnectingchalets were requested.

A new kind of spaceResort operations manager DianeBowen says: “The chalets have been developed especially for peoplewho want a different type ofaccommodation, with outside space,more room and somewhere to relax.So guests don’t need to go to themain areas for their entertainment in the evening if they don’t feel like it because their chalet is a lovelyplace to stay.”Bowen says this focus on space

also feeds into another key aim ofthe chalets – to enable families to

have quality time together. Thiswas a requirement that came out of a survey Butlins did with1,000 users of the online parentscommunity Mumsnet, asking what they looked for in a UK self-catering short break. As a

result, Butlins has equipped every chalet with board games forfamilies to play; we have Twister, and others are available to borrow.The Redcoats also organise games in the chalets’ gardens. Bowenexplains: “It’s about the simplepleasures, and the concept is givingfamilies time to spend together, soeveryone is unplugged.” The Mumsnet research helped to

influence other design aspects, as46% of respondents asked for no TVs in children’s rooms, which Butlinshas adhered to. More than half wereworried about the British weather, so emergency arts and crafts kits are provided for rainy days.With their eye-catching colours

and design, the chalets stand outfrom the other accommodation on

There’s a new style of accommodationat Butlins Minehead – a collection of modern, lakeside chalets, styled on Billy Butlin’s original design.Charlotte Cullinan checks into one during a Just for Tots break

The interior of one of th

The late Sir Billy Butlin was famed for being aperfectionist, but if hecould see the new chalets

at the Butlins Minehead resort inSomerset, I think he’d be impressed.Opened at Easter this year, the 117 pastel-coloured buildings areinspired by the chalets with which Sir Billy launched the Butlins brandin 1936, built in a former turnip fieldon the Lincolnshire coast. When we stay in a new two-

bedroom chalet, there isn’t a turnipin sight, but we do find plenty ofnostalgic touches, which give ahomely and welcoming feel. Thereare framed vintage adverts and lyricsfrom Butlins songs on the walls, and the textiles are similar to thosein the original chalets,embroidered with “B”letters and tiny yachts.Interiors firm Fusion

by Design worked on theproject, and designerJennifer Danks says theteam were exacting intheir attention to detail.She says: “From theconcept stage, we lookedat the colours from the1950s and the imageryfrom the history of Butlins.We worked with textiledesigners to create bespokefabrics to get across thecolours of the seaside. You

Go retroat Butlins

Billy Butlin brought the first dodgems to Europe in 1928

Aside from the chalets there are 10 other grades of accommodation.They are divided into rooms and suites,which have tea and coffee facilities butno kitchen, and apartments, lodgesand bungalows, which are aimed atself-catering clients. The onlyaccommodation graded above thechalets are the Blueskies apartments,which opened in 2007.

Growing in popularityBowen says the chalets are provingpopular with existing customers and£2.5 million of advance sales wereplaced before they had officiallylaunched in May. She is also hopefulthat the buzz will help to convertconsumers who may have previouslyshied away from the brand. “Weknow that we have a fantastic offer,but we do have a stigma attached toour name,” she says. “If people comeand stay here and talk about us, thenthat will really help changeperceptions. We want to change thatold-fashioned image to one that isreally forward-thinking.” The chalets are part of a wider

£25 million investment Butlins ismaking in its three resorts this year.While £16 million was spent on thechalets, £3 million has been investedat each site on accommodation,dining and entertainment. At Skegness, the Seaside

Apartments were refurbished earlierthis year, receiving patios andbalconies alongside new kitchens andshower rooms. Meanwhile, over atBognor Regis, the Shoreline Hotel isreceiving a nautically themedmakeover and all rooms will sport anew cabin-style look by February. Nearly 80 years after the first

Butlins chalet opened, the companyhas recently hinted that its moderncounterpart may now be rolled out to the other two sites if they continueto be successful. No doubt, Sir Billywould be proud.Book it: Four nights in a chalet startat £139pp, based on two adults andtwo children sharing and arrivingSeptember 7 on a Just for Tots break.The same break in a deluxe lodge,which is the accommodation tierbelow, starts at £99pp.� bourneleisuresales.co.uk

site, which errs towards functionalrather than fancy. This is reflected inthe price, as the chalets are not thecheapest option available.

06.08.2015 47

he newly redesigned Butlins chalets; inset, the original 1950s decor

We visit during a Just for Totsbreak – these run year-round atall three resorts and are aimed atfamilies with children under five.� A packed timetable of activitiesand entertainment is included inthe price, so the breaks work wellfor budget-conscious clients. � All timed activities are repeatedseveral times a day, making iteasier to work around nap andmeal times. � There are various places foryoungsters to burn off energy.One of the most popular duringour stay was the Little Tikes Town,which has a racing track and well-stocked fleet of ride-on cars.Songs from CBeebies TV showsplay around the site – perfect forimpromptu toddler discos. � Recommend arriving early for the arts and crafts sessions,which can get very busy. � The live shows are extremelypopular. Many are performed onan open stage, where we seeFireman Sam. Others are in aseated theatre, so arriving early isadvisable as there is a queue tosee CBeebies star MisterMaker during our stay. � Buggy parking baysare situated around thesite and customersoften return to find asurprise balloonwaiting for them.

JUST FOR TOTS SELLING TIPS:

� When families buy a dining plan (from £18 per adult per day), under-fives eat for free and the restaurants have plasticplates and cutlery and plenty ofhighchairs. There is a counter ofchild meals designed by parentingand nutrition expert AnnabelKarmel, alongside Heinz baby food pouches and jars. � All accommodation is toddler-proofed during the breaks – look out for plug socketcovers and toddler stools. � Complete the Butlins onlinetraining sessions atButlinsExpert.co.uk to receive afree resort day pass and earnrewards for bookings. � butlins.com/chalets� bourneleisuresales.co.uk

Activities in the communal gardens; below, the chalets of old

Features list 2016

TTGLUXURYThe Flash Pack battles forBranson’s backing, p22

IPW 2015LA metro, Imax film & US pre-clearance, p26-28

TOOLKITLooking ahead to the Digital Travel Summit, p47

ON OUR RADARA koala hospital & otherPacific Coast delights, p59

11.06.2015 ttgdigital.com £3.00

All at seaCruise sector yet to regain

agents’ trust, p4-5

Try hardTrade urged to push rugby tickets, p7

Disruptive behaviour?Airbnb’s UK chief busts the mythsof the home-sharing model, p14-15

Give your clients a fresh perspective on South Africa as we explore the history, culture and scenery of KwaZulu-Natal p61-62

The big draw

CITYProfit hike and growthfor Classic Collection, p12

TOOLKITTripmule calls on agentsto jump onboard, p26

ON OUR RADARThe Sound of Music stillresonates in Salzburg, p37

MIDDLE EASTSavouring the flavours of Arabic cuisine, p51


A Greek tragedy?What the election results will mean for tourism, p4

On the adventure trailHow to tap into this

specialist market, p10-11

Carnival atmosphereLine plans return to Europe, p14

Space to dreamGive your clients a Maldivian honeymoon they’ll never forget with our take on three Universal Resorts p38-42

Touring & Adventure TTG Features

Combined with the president RaulCastro’s relaxation of the rulessurrounding private enterprise andoverseas investment a few years ago,this sea-change has many travellerspushing the socialist country up their to-do lists before itsrevolution-won “authenticity” iscompromised. Officials claim afurther 85,000 hotel rooms will beavailable by 2020, with UK arrivalsfor January-May up 26% on the sameperiod last year according toUniversity of Havana data.On Plaza de la Catedral I admire

the baroque facade of the churchdescribed by Cuban novelist AlejoCarpentier as “music turned tostone”. This square is where the partystarts on New Year’s Eve, says ourwalking tour leader Juan-Carlos, whohas seen his city change more in thepast five years than over the previous50. In faultless English, Juan-Carlosexplains how the appeal of an entry-level tourism industry salary paid inconvertible pesos (CUC) versus thesalary of a doctor or professor paid inthe weak national peso (CUP) has led to Cuba having some of the best-educated tour guides and taxidrivers in the world. The governmentpromised to end the complicated dualcurrency system this year but adeadline has yet to be set.Later we head to the kitschy

Habana Cafe adjoining the MeliaCohiba hotel to hear trombonistJesus “Aguaje” Ramos (of BuenaVista Social Club fame) and his bandperform mambo, danzon and Latinjazz favourites. Earlier in the yearRamos played a sold-out Royal AlbertHall, and here I am in the front rowfor about £15 including bar snacks.

Buzzing scenesAfter nearly a full day on the road,we arrive in pastel-painted Trinidad.This compact World Heritage-listedtown is a photographer’s paradise,with views across the Escambraymountains from its 18th-centurybelltower, cobbled streets dottedwith horse-drawn carts and residentspausing to enjoy inch-thick cigars.Following a picnic dinner of grilled

fish and garlic yuca on Playa Ancon,the owner of tonight’s

Joining thestampede to visitthe largest andarguably mostmusical Caribbeanisland before theAmericans arrive,Carlie Trotter salsasher way aroundCuba with Intrepid

There’s no shortage of good dance teachers in Cuba

Carlie, left, has a dance lesson in Trinidad

O nly on the dancefloor.The man is only the boss on the dancefloor, I chant to myself, as

my partner increases the pressurethrough his hand to nudge methrough the turn I keep stumblingon. Though the gents in our IntrepidTravel group of 10 rhythmicallychallenged Brits, Canadians andAussies insist they have it toughestduring our beginner salsa lesson,I argue that allowing oneself to beled is its own challenge. Even if thatleader is a snake-hipped Cuban.From the moment we touch down

in Havana, a city often described as an open-air museum with its1950s Chrevrolets and tumbledownmansions, the pulse of thisotherworldy island nation growslouder with each step. As we pull upto Hostal Casa Vieja, a colonial-eracasa particular (or privately ownedguesthouse) in the centre of the oldtown, the neighbours are blaring outreggaeton hits while competingmusic echoes from a nearby cafe.Our exuberant guide Tony explains

he’s been leading back-to-back toursever since negotiations to restore USties were announced in December.

Taking the rightsteps in Cuba

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23.07.2015 51

TTG_FEATURES_LIST_2016_Layout 2 27/10/2015 11:51

JANUARY.7 Middle East

Beach, cultural, active, luxury and touring holidaysIndia & Indian OceanIndia, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Maldives and Seychelles

14 Cruise Luxury, mainstream, specialist and river cruises

21 Australia & New ZealandCulture, activities, cities and touringCanada Culture, activities, cities and touring

28 USACulture, activities, cities and touring

FEBRUARY.4 Weddings & Honeymoons

Worldwide inspirationAsia China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, Korea andbeyond

11 CaribbeanFamily holidays, luxury, activities and cultureUK & Ireland Family holidays, activities, cities and touring

18 Air TravelAirlines, airports, lounges, transfers, airport parking andseat-only suppliersMalta, Italy and Med Islands Malta, Italy, Corsica, Sardinia and SicilyCRUISE SUPPLEMENT

25 Holiday EssentialsInsurance, travel money and car hireTouring & Adventure Escorted tours and small group adventuresTRAVEL TECH SUPPLEMENT FOR TTE

Features list 2016: January – June


CRUISEUniworld goes ‘baroque’with new river ships, p14

TTGLUXURYMantis Collection reachesout to the UK trade, p18

TOOLKITFacebook’s UK head oftravel in first interview, p28

GOOD BUSINESSSchoolchildren tackle poverty for We Day, p24

Cold callingDiscover how to grow your niche and expedition cruise sales with our crack team of experts in our 17-page cruise special p37-53

Where there’s a Will(s)… Former Virgin Holidays chief

takes on new role, p4

Alps tragedyAirline industry responds to

the Germanwings disaster, p5

Hot or not Which destinations will sizzle

this summer? p10-11

20.08.201548

TTG Features Air Travel

Etihad Australia dealIn addition to the airline’s recentlyannounced second daily non-stopservice between Melbourne and Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways hasboosted its commercial partnershipwith Tourism Australia by signing a five-year, £14 million marketing deal to promote Australia to leisure and business travellers in keyoverseas markets.� etihad.com

First Gatwick-Boston linkLow-cost carrier Norwegian will introduce a new route fromGatwick to Boston as of May 13,2016, operating four times per week. The direct service is the latest in a series of

announcements from theScandinavian airline, which recentlystated that its Gatwick to New YorkJFK service will run daily fromOctober, plus a new route betweenPuerto Rico and Gatwick will launchin November. � norwegian.com

Taxi to runwayHail a black cab thissummer in Londonand you might get more than just a taxi ride. La Compagnie hascommandeered 50black cabs in the Big Smoke,outfitting them in the company’slivery, and 1,000 passengers will find a La Compagnie amenity kitinside. Two of these kits will also contain a return flight to New York. � lacompagnie.com

Cheers, Qantas!Clients taking to the skies withQantas can now benefit from an enhanced menu of tipples.Wine experts and mixologistsfrom Australian restaurantgroup Rockpool have selectedwines, champagne and spiritsfor Qantas international flightsand lounges. For internationalfirst and domestic businesscabins, tasting notes will alsobe available.� qantas.com

Toronto Rouge routeAir Canada has expanded its networkwith new Gatwick to Toronto flightson its subsidiary service Air Canadarouge. The non-stop service willoperate up to seven times a week insummer, beginning May 19, 2016.� aircanada.com

Hire your own jet If your clients dream of hiring aprivate jet they could be in luck.Bmi regional is offering the useof a 50-seater jet from £300 per person per day, including full in-flight service withbespoke menu and bar. Guestscan choose their own schedule, a UK departure airport andshort-haul destination, and evenhave their own name on theaircraft exterior. � bmiregional.com

Bite-sized news about budget jet hire,new lounges and Puerto Rico non-stop

Hot list

Aspire takes offThe first independent, shared-uselounge has now opened atHeathrow Terminal 5. PriorityPass members will have access tothe Aspire lounge as part of theirmembership, while travellerswithout membership can enjoy a three-hour stay for £35 whenbooked in advance – agents canbook passes online throughLounge Pass. The lounge, at GateA18, is open from 5am until 11pm.� executivelounges.com

Oman adds new citiesInternational connections with OmanAir are increasing: there are nowdaily services through Muscat toManila, Mumbai and Colombo, plusfive flights a week from Muscat tothe Maldives. The Gulf carrier’sBoeing 787 Dreamliners will alsoenter service from September.� omanair.com

CONFERENCE REPORTWe join Aito in Cordobafor four-day event, p10

TOOLKITHow to avoid trouble atthe end of a lease, p31

ON OUR RADARFalling for Franschhoek’sLeeu Collection, p37

TTG ON TOURWere you papped on a Big Night Out? p28


Discover how to set your clients adrift in the US state of Georgia, with a tale of two cities, an island and a spellbinding beach p39-42

Drifting along

Held to accountWhy Monarch isn’t out

of the woods yet, p4

Dash for cashCan trade be quids in with money-back sites? p14-15

Plane sailing Princess launches flight tool, p20

Attractions & Tickets TTG Features

top Halloween events in the US, HHN is to British Halloween whatprofessional bodybuilding is to theoccasional visit to the gym.The principle may be thesame, but the flex is farmore impressive. Hundreds

of “scareactors”, eightbig-budget hauntedhouses, fullyimmersivestreet scenes andenough Halloween

cocktails,sweets and

merchandise to satisfyeven

the most ghoulish of appetites. HHNshould be on the bucket list of anyhorror-film fan and scare enthusiast.

But would its on-steroidsAmerican version ofHalloween affect a cynical British punterlike me? There was only

one way to find out…We start in the

deep end. Each of the haunted houses, or “mazes”, isconstructed in

professional TVstudios on

site atUniversalOrlando.

They are like mini-worlds: incrediblydetailed, with realistic sets, cinematicsound and unique scents waftingthrough each terrifying environment.(Be warned: don’t go into thecannibal maze if you’ve just eaten!)Guests walk through the narrow,winding environments as live actioncharacters jump out, enact gruesomescenes and do their best to scare theskin off your back. And it works.“We’ve had people crawling on theirhands and knees to the exit,” creativedirector Mike Aiello says with a touchof pride. “I’ve literally seen peoplelose their facilities.”

The mazes are built fresh every year and never duplicated. As a result, repeat

Once a year, Universal Orlando Resort puts the frighteners on its guests with aHalloween spectacular. Could Aaron Millar hack it? Let’s find out

Halloween Horror Nights’ mazes are filled with “scareactors” who jump out at guests as they make their way through

The vigilante mob fire uptheir chainsaws and run atme. My heart is pounding.There are bodies on the

ground, smoke everywhere. In thedistance, a voodoo priest offers ablood sacrifice as the dollhouseof the damned creaks open. I am a grown man but I screamlike a little girl. No one, I realise,does Halloween quite like the Americans.

And nowhere is it celebratedwith more gusto, gore andHollywood-budget special effectsthan Universal Orlando Resort’sHalloween Horror Nights. Markingits 25th anniversary this season,and consistently rated as one of the

One hell of a holiday

Turn to 46

09.07.2015 45

MARCH.3 Hotels, Resorts and Spas

Bed banks, hotels, villas and all-inclusivesAttractions & Tickets Theme parks, shows and attractions in the UK, US and worldwide

10 AfricaSub-Saharan Africa including Kenya, South Africa, Botswana,Namibia and beyond, plus GambiaCities and Short BreaksShort-haul city breaks and long-haul stopovers

17 North Africa and Red SeaEgypt, Jordan, Israel, Morocco and TunisiaNordicScandinavia including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmarkand Iceland

24 USA including BermudaCulture, activities, cities and touringLatin America including MexicoBrazil, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Central America and beyond

31 CruiseLuxury, mainstream, specialist and river cruisesGermanyCity breaks and touring

APRIL.7 Turkey

Beach, cultural, active, luxury and touringTechnologyAgent systems and innovation

14 Greece & CyprusBeach, cultural, active, luxury and touringAir TravelAirlines, airports, lounges, transfers, airport parking andseat-only suppliers

21 Middle EastBeach, cultural, active, luxury and touring holidaysRiver Cruise A focus on the river cruise market

28 Eastern Europe including the Balkans Poland, Lithuania, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Croatia,Bulgaria and beyondTouring & AdventureEscorted tours and small group adventures

MAY.5 Caribbean

Family holidays, luxury, activities and cultureRail HolidaysTrain travel and holidays around the worldCRUISE SUPPLEMENT

12 Weddings & HoneymoonsWorldwide inspirationHoliday EssentialsInsurance, travel money and car hire

19 CanadaCulture, activities, cities and touringCities & Short BreaksShort-haul city breaks and long-haul stopovers

26 AsiaChina, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, Korea andbeyondMediterraneanSummer holiday hotspots including Spain/Spanish Islands,Portugal, Cyprus, Greece and Turkey

JUNE.2 Pacific Islands

Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Cook Islands and Papua New GuineaHotels, Resorts and Spas Bed banks, hotels, villas and all-inclusives

9 Africa Sub-Saharan Africa including Kenya, South Africa, Botswana,Namibia and beyond, plus Gambia

16 UK & Ireland Family holidays, activities, cities and touring

23 Attractions & Tickets Theme parks, shows and attractions in the UK, US and worldwideTouring & Adventure Escorted tours and small group adventures

30 Responsible Tourism Sustainable holidaysMiddle East Beach, cultural, active, luxury and touring holidays


JULY.7 Caribbean

Family holidays, luxury, activities and cultureNorth Africa and Red Sea Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Morocco and Tunisia

14 USA Culture, activities, cities and touringAir TravelAirlines, airports, lounges, transfers, airport parking andseat-only suppliers

21 NO ISSUE28 Israel

Culture, activities, cities and touringMalta, Italy and Med Islands Malta, Italy, Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily

AUGUST.4 NO ISSUE11 Cities and Short Breaks

Short-haul city breaks and long-haul stopoversMauritiusHotels and activities

18 Weddings & Honeymoons Worldwide inspirationAsia China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, Korea andbeyond

25 Winter Sun Preview of 2016-17 winter sun hotspotsHoliday Essentials Insurance, travel money and car hireCRUISE SUPPLEMENT

SEPTEMBER.1 Caribbean

Family holidays, luxury, activities and cultureLaplandFestive/active holidays in the Arctic Circle

8 Greece & Cyprus Beach, cultural, active, luxury and touringAustralia & New Zealand Culture, activities, cities and touring

15 Brochure LaunchpadIn-depth content and teasers for 2017 brochures

22 Cruise Luxury, mainstream, specialist and river cruises

29 Touring & Adventure Escorted tours and small group adventuresAttractions & Tickets Theme parks, shows and attractions in the UK, US and worldwide

OCTOBER.6 USA

Culture, activities, cities and touringNorth Africa and Red Sea Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Morocco and Tunisia

13 Canada Culture, activities, cities and touringHotels, Resorts and Spas Bed banks, hotels, villas and all-inclusives

20 Air TravelAirlines, airports, lounges, transfers, airport parking andseat-only suppliersAfrica Sub-Saharan Africa including Kenya, South Africa, Botswana,Namibia and beyond, plus Gambia

27 Christmas Markets Preview of 2016 Christmas market seasonWeddings & Honeymoons Worldwide inspiration

NOVEMBER.3 WTM Preview

A preview of WTM 2016, including exhibitor profiles andagent events

10 Food & Wine TourismSpotlight on culinary tourism around the worldAsia China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, Korea andbeyond

17 Cruise Luxury, mainstream, specialist and river cruisesBucket List TripsOnce-in-a-lifetime holiday inspiration

24 India & Indian Ocean India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Maldives and SeychellesCities and Short Breaks Short-haul city breaks and long-haul stopovers

DECEMBER.1 Caribbean

Family holidays, luxury, activities and cultureMed 2017 Preview In-depth content and teasers for 2017

8 Australia & New Zealand Culture, activities, cities and touringAir Travel Airlines, airports, lounges, transfers, airport parking andseat-only suppliers

15 Middle East Beach, cultural, active, luxury and touring holidaysTouring & Adventure Escorted tours and small group adventures

22 USA Culture, activities, cities and touring2017 Preview In-depth content and teasers for 2017

Light up yourdigital worldExplore the latest video tools, delve intodata with a ‘unicorn’ and discover whyage is no barrier to innovation in our

technology feature – plus find out moreabout the all-new ttgmedia.com!

CRUISEAgent’s smashing time asEmerald godmother, p18

TOOLKITFlight Centre packs funinto a ‘suitcase party’, p33

ON OUR RADARExile your clients to stunning St Helena, p39

TTG UNVEILS NEW SITEResponsive site improvesuser experience, p10-11

27.08.2015 ttgmedia.com £3.00

Plane gameAnger as Lufthansa prepares to bring in GDS fees, p5

Crackdown Are airlines set to be stung by compensation changes? p12-13

Speedy boarding Fastjet’s plans for expansion, p14

Weddings & Honeymoons TTG Features

international call and enthuse abouttheir day, which perhaps included ice creams from the beachside kioskconverted from a Mini.

My own fun involves a boat trip outto a nearby island with a refreshingbreeze through my hair and tinyflying fish skipping over the water.Once ashore, my party lunches onbarbecued fresh squid, tuna andmeat in capsize-risking proportions.

That night, my heels wobbling inthe sand and the strains of the bar’slive singer on the air, I follow a ropelight runway towards a cluster of

people on the beach. This is theresort’s weekly stargazing session andit’s a thrill to take my turn peeking atJupiter through a telescope.

Cosmic dessertThe following lunchtime I’m tuckinginto what looks like a model solarsystem on a plate on a prettydecorated pier at the new WestinTurtle Bay Resort & Spa in north-west Mauritius. The coloured spheresof the show-stopping Trilogy ofChocolate dessert collapse under my spoon to reveal truffle,

ice cream and mousse. It’s a perfectmenu choice for an intimate weddingbut staff members have morecultural big-day suggestions too, like choosing bright island flowers, a passion fruit and banana cake andpartying with African fire-eaters andMauritian sega dancers.

Thanks to a kids’ club and familyrooms, the hotel has welcomedseveral brides and grooms withchildren since its September opening.Grown-up treats include a seasideIndian restaurant, a feet-in-the-sand

lobster grill onSaturday nights anda martini cocktailbar with pebble-shaped seating and

DJs. The “moonlight massage” fortwo in an open-sided beach pavilionis perfect for newlyweds.

Beach lifeMauritius’s most famous white sandbeach, Flic en Flac, is the setting forSands Resort & Spa, which occupiesa peaceful spot at one

Mauritius is popular with couples looking to legally wed in the IndianOcean. Debbie Ward visits some of the top romantic resort venues

The beach at LUX Grand Gaube makes a perfect setting for a dinner for two

In the ladies bathroom at LUXGrand Gaube, there’s a womanhastily scrubbing bleach intothe stained bodice of a wedding

gown. She looks remarkablycomposed for such a big-daydisaster. “Don't worry,” she tells me,as I sympathise, “I’m doing a photoshoot for a magazine.”

Happily, most wedding daydilemmas at the Mauritian resort are of the “beach or garden gazebo?”kind. It’s a smart spot for couples; the decor is fresh, the buildings low-rise and thatched and the hotpink beach towels striking against the turquoise sea. There are pocketsof beach either side of the hotel’sheadland setting and at the tip thesecluded clearing that holds theScreen on the Beach cinema is amongoptions for a wedding ceremony.

It’s the thoughtful touches thatwow me. On the first night I notice acouple dining under the stars arechoosing from LED-lit menus. Later,they slip into a classic British redphone box to make a free

Live the dream

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14.05.2015 55

The Screen on the Beach clearing at LUX Grande Gaube is an option for a ceremony

06.08.201556

TTG Features Holiday Essentials

year. Victoria was the first state to offer the programme, with fivedifferent wineries available, and in May this year four wineries in South Australia also joined; Western Australia and New South

Wales are set to be the next spots for expansion.Leading in from $140 per couple

per night, the price includes theexclusive site location, access to the vineyard’s winemaker, a gourmet hamper for two and a bottle of wine. Customers are alsoencouraged to make use of the fresh local produce from the comfortof their motorhome kitchen. Marsh explains: “Many of our

clients are families – they go andstay at campsites, so there’s lots of kids there. But we also have lots of customers that don’t want to stay in campsites with loads of kidsrunning around.” Each vineyard allows a maximum

of four campervans on-site at anyone time. “There’s no such thing as an ugly vineyard and we don’twant to make it ugly with lots of

campervans,” adds Marsh. “With theWinery Havens, you park up literallyin among the grapes. My personalfavourite is Boynton’s FeathertopWinery in Porepunkah, Victoria,which only has space for onecampervan, so you get the wholevineyard to yourself.”Marsh says the new Winery Havens

in South Australia look set to provepopular. “It’s going to work really wellfor clients who want to travel fromMelbourne along the Great OceanRoad or visit the Grampians NationalPark, as they can then drop thecampervan in Adelaide at the end.”

Vehicles with mod consSome clients may grimace at theprospect of hiring a campervan,imagining a grotty, lurid vehiclethat’s been left in tatters byrambunctious backpackers, but many of the rental vehicles availableare far plusher than that, saysMarsh, who explains that all of the company’s vehicles are eitherMercedes-Benz or Volkswagen,automatic and feature a camera atthe back for reversing. He adds thatthere is also a USB socket on the TVso that customers can watch filmsand look at photos they’ve taken thatday on a big screen.Some of Maui’s regular customers

include the “Ski” set – which stands for spending the kids’inheritance – but Marsh explains that hiring a motorhome is also ideal for sports-mad clients who are heading to Australasia. “The 2017 British and Irish Lions Tour will be massive for us. [During thesesporting events], hotels take themickey. We charge 10% above peakprice on a six-berth camper van,which is less than half the price of aroom. Guests can follow the rugby ina van and never have to worry aboutaccommodation. Plus, they’ll have afridge full of beers.”Book it: Agents can book Maui, Britz and Mighty campervans onTourism Holdings’ B2B website(thlonline.com). To register as anofficial thl agent, agents need to fill in a new agent registration form and send it back [email protected]

Forget a night at the museum – Maui’s new Winery Havensprogramme offers motorhome hire and exclusive vineyardlocations at wallet-friendly prices, says Chloe Cann

As two of the world’s most expensive places to live, it’s no secret that travelling to the

antipodean isles of Australia andNew Zealand is hard on the wallet.But that doesn’t mean your clientsshould rule out visiting or feel theymust forego the little luxuries that can make travel so joyous.One travel hack they should

consider is hiring a motorhome.Aside from the freedom andflexibility a motorhome offers, it canalso prove cost-effective, explainsKeith Marsh, UK account manager for campervan rental provider Maui.“It’s all about the fridge – the fridgeis your friend,” he says. “It’s actuallymore important than the bed. This iswhat saves you so much money.”

Expanded programmeThere’s now added incentive to bookwith Maui, following the expansion ofits Winery Havens programme. Thescheme launched in New Zealand inDecember 2012, where four WineryHavens are on offer, and expanded to include Australia in December last

A vintage tripDown Under

Maui has expanded the number of exclusive sites it offers in vineyards

The deal includes a gourmet hamper

Winery Havens make the most of local produce

Features list 2016: July – December


Features: contactsEDITORIAL.Katherine Lawrey, features [email protected] 3714 4112@katherine_ttg

Chloe Cann, senior features [email protected] 3714 4113@ChloeCann

Abigail Challenor, special projects [email protected] 3714 4111@achallenor

To get involved in TTG Features:The editorial team normally has a synopsis prepared for each feature four-to-six weeks ahead of publication. Email Katherine torequest it. Synopses include deadlines and freelancer contactdetails. Freelancers generally submit copy to us three weeksahead of publication date. We send our pages to press on Mondaysand Tuesdays; Wednesday is a better day to contact us.

Features list 2016

COMMERCIAL.Louise Napier, sales director020 3714 [email protected]

Anna Slater, sales manager020 3714 [email protected]

Chris Gascoine, senior account manager020 3714 [email protected]

Jemini Kukadia, account manager020 3714 [email protected]


ttg features list 2016

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