GO...UP & AWAY - JAXFAX Travel Marketing Magazine

EUROPE NEWS & BEST BUYS
$ 869 EUROPE
Celtic Tours World Vacations’ 2010 brochure includes
the expanded eight-day “Regional Discovery” product offerings–priced
under $1,000– and includes the Celtic Dream, Irish
Rose, Celtic Sojourn, Celtic Delight, Celtic Charm, Heart of Ireland,
Irish Harmony, Tuscan Experience, Southern Italian Odyssey and
the Treasures of Italy. The Celtic Fling is the first in a series of an
eight-day budget escorted tours, featuring a regional view of South
West Ireland with visits of Glin, Listowel, Tralee and both the Dingle
Peninsula and Ring of Kerry. Accommodations are in first and
superior first class hotels; include sightseeing full Irish breakfast
daily and six dinners. Prices start at $869 per person double. In
Italy, a new regional discovery in the south features the escorted
eight-day Sorrento and Amalfi coast prices from $1099 per person
double. Call 800-833-4373 or visit www.celtictours.com
$ 1276 GREECE
European Tours Poseidon Tour offers an 8
day/7 night package including 2 nights accomodation in
Athens, Athens city tour, 2 nights on the island of Mykonos
and a 3 day cruise to the Greek Islands and Turkey, stopping
in Patmos, Kusadasi, Heraklion and breathtaking Santorini.
Guests have to option to visit the Grotto of St. John where the
Book of the Revelation was written; Ephesus, one of the most
complete ancient cities ever excavated; and the Palace of
Knossos, center of the Minoan Civilization. Tour program includes
daily breakfast, four or five-star hotel accommodations,
half-day Athens city-tour, ferry transfers and hotel taxes. Airfare
is not included. Call 800-882-3983 or email info@europtours.com;
www.europtours.com
Turkish Airlines Sponsors FC Barcelona
Dr. Temel KOTÝL (right), CEO of Turkish Airlines, and Mr.
Joan Laporta (left), Chairman of the
legendary Barcelona Football Club,
signed a three-year sponsorship deal
to become “the 3rd international official
sponsor” of Barcelona FC, who
made history last year by bringing
home 6 trophies in a single season.
This deal brings one of the fastest
growing carriers in the world one step
closer to becoming a global brand. Turkish Airlines will provide
the team with transport to tournaments and training camps,
have players appear in commercial spots and have their logo
displayed on-screen at the Nou Camp Stadium and all other
team locations. More information about their Frequent Flyer
Program is available at www.thy.com/smiles and for more information
on Turkish Airlies flights and fares please visit
www.thy.com or contact Turkish Airlines Sales Offices.
New Site at Europe Express
Europe Express, formerly EEI Travel, has launched a new website:
www.europeexpress.com which allows agents additional
functionality including flexible FITs, live air, and Google maps
showing the exact location of each hotel. Upcoming enhanced
features are: tour management, online tour sign up, upgraded look
to quotes, detailed itineraries for the client, and online payments.
Call 800-927-3876; www.europeexpress.com
TURKISH AIRLINES
Spain in the U.S. at February Festivals
New York’s annual flamenco celebration, now in its 10th year,
will feature mesmerizing performances with renowned dancers
and musicians direct from Andalucia, Spain from Feb. 11-14. This
year's Flamenco gala features new figures in flamenco dance: the
sensuous Pastora Galván; Manuel Liñán, a master of technique;
the passionate Belén López, who has caused a sensation in flamenco
circles in recent years; and Rocío Molina, known as a fiery
dancer. Visit www.nycitycenter.org
At the same time, prepare your palate for Piquillo red peppers
and rosado wine as the Kingdom of Navarra, Spain will
visit New York and Washington D.C. for its nine-day Gastronomic
Festival Feb. 6-14. For more information on restaurants
and events, visit www.navarragastronomy.com. Contact the
Tourist Office of Spain at 212-265-8822; www.spain.info
Up & Away named Top Consolidator for SN
Up and Away Travel, a major consolidator for most international
carriers “is the top seller of tickets on Brussels Airlines
(SN) from North America for the third year in a row,”
stated Terence Mascarenhas, the company’s president at their
New York headquarters, adding that “we are delighted to work
with a carrier and management that is so focused on our customers
and the markets we specialize in.” Up and Away Travel
offers special net fares from the Brussels gateway to all 14
destinations in Africa served by the Belgian airline. Passengers
originating in the United States are offered discounted add-on
rates on major transatlantic carriers such as American,
United, Delta, Continental, Lufthansa and Jetairways, and
baggage is checked thru to the final destination in Africa. Brussels
Airlines currently offers flights to Abidjan, Banjul, Bujumbura,
Conakry, Dakar, Douala, Entebbe, Kinshasa, Freetown,
Kigali, Luanda, Nairobi, Yaounde and Monrovia. The consolidator
also offers net fares for travel originating in the above
cities to Europe and the United States. Visit www.upandaway.com;
800-275-8001
Brussels Airlines Joins The Star Alliance
Lufthansa has acquired a 45 percent stake in Brussels Airlines
after being granted approval from the European Union.
Following this action, Brussels Airlines has joined the Star Alliance,
thus solidifying an already strong partnership of 11
major airlines. Brussels Airlines is the Belgian airline offering
the widest choice of flights to and from the “capital” of Europe.
With a fleet of 51 aircraft, the airline operates some 200
daily flights to 55 European airports and 14 African destinations.
With the addition of Brussels Airlines, customers on the
Star Alliance network can now choose from more than 19,700
daily flights to reach 1,077 destinations in 175 countries. New
to the network are more connections from Brussels Airport,
which has now become a Star Alliance hub. These include four
destinations in Africa, which are presently not being served by
other Star Alliance member carrier: Bujumbura, Burundi;
Conakry, Guinea; Kigali, Ruanda; and Monrovia, Liberia. Eleven
Star Alliance member carriers serve 81 destinations in 40
countries across Africa. Belgium has now become a home
market for the Star Alliance network, thereby improving the
customer proposition for both business and leisure customers.
www.brusselsairlines.com
38 EUROPE WWW.JAXFAX.COM FEBRUARY 2010