Mid June 2009 - On The Road

On The Road 

The magazine for the inbound tour industry reaching 8 million escorted visitors into & around Europe 

Biometric passports 

for Swiss 

Swiss voters have narrowly accepted 

an overhaul of the country's 

passport system to include travel 

documents equipped with biometric 

data. 

The biometric passport was 

approved by 50.1% of voters in 

May. The tight result re flected 

widespread concern of govern ment 

intrusion into people's privacy. 

Europe's control-free Schengen 

travel zone requires countries to 

regis ter citizens' facial and fingerprint 

im ages on an electronic chip 

in the pass port. Switzerland, which 

is not a member of the European 

Union, joined the Schengen agreement 

last year. The Swiss need 

biometric passports to stay on the 

U.S. visa-waiver program. Many 

see this move as a pre-curser to 

Switzerland applying to join the 

European Union. 

Reykjavik to seek EU member- 

Boat cruises on Lake Lucerne to the historical sites of Switzerland 

Five vintage paddle steamers, a new catamaran and 15 elegant motor 

vessels • Culinarily treated by tavolago • Open all year round • Groups 

are welcome – advanced booking requested. 

www.lakelucerne.ch | www.tavolago.ch 

• Here is an ancestral home to envy - Count Karl Graf zu Eltz shows us around his magnificent 

Castle, and tells you of two very special events he is hosting this year. Page 17 

• Interlaken between the beautiful Lakes of Brienz and Thun – summer themed lake excursions, 

exhilarating summer sport and of course next to Jungfraujoch – the top of Europe. 

This year presenting its first autumn FOLKLore Festival. Pages 15-16 

• Once again, we have provided highlights from the new Armour and Evening Dress exhibition 

which has just opened at the Tinguely Museum in Basel. One of the fabulous outfits on 

display can be seen here. Page 14 

Armour & Evening Dress 

Fondazione Roberto Capucci, Rom, 1985 

‘Fuoco’ Army National Guard Armory New 

York 

German visor helmet, polished, c. 1510, 

Landeszeughaus Graz, Landesmuseum 

Joanneum 

© Photos: Gianluca Baronchelli / Musei 

Provinciali di Gorizia & LMJ, Nicolas Lackner 

ship 

The newly installed centre-left 

government of Iceland is to proceed 

with a vote on joining the 

European Union, in the teeth of 

opposition from one of its coalition 

partners. 

Until recently a clear majority 

of Icelanders had favoured staying 

out of the EU, but the effects of the 

economic crisis, which have undermined 

confidence in the Icelandic 

krona and led to a big drop in the 

standard of living, have persuaded 

many people to change their 

minds. Prime Minister Johanna 

Sigurdardóttir strongly favours joining 

the EU, but although her Social 

Democratic Alliance coalition allies 

support her, the Left-Green Movement 

opposes her. The issue will be 

put to a parliamentary vote and if 

approved, would then be subjected 

to a national referendum. 

No Jews allowed 

Downloadable copies of On The Road are available on the net: www.OnTheRoad.co.uk 

Mid May - Mid June 2009 

Issue 183 

An hotelier in the Tyrolean village Monz's comments have out- 

of Serfaus has made the pages of raged Jewish groups and embar- 

newspapers around the world - has rassed her fellow hoteliers in the 

almost sent the Internet into melt region, which in recent years has 

down - and is to be featured on become popular with Orthodox 

Israeli national radio. 

Jewish visitors. The mayor of 

Irmagard Monz, the owner of 

the Haus Sonnenhof apartment hotel 

refused to accept a reservation 

from a Viennese family of seven 

because they are Jewish. She sent 

Serfaus condemned the hotelier's 

response as "unacceptable". But 

others have defended her right 

to decide who stays in her own 

hotel. 

an email to the father of the family The unnamed father of the fam- 

in which she stated that although ily was reported to have said: "I 

she had rooms free, she could not don't want to spend my vacation in 

accept his booking. In it she said, such a racist nest, and I will inform 

"Based AZ ETTG on our 2008 past bad 11.02.2008 experience 10:21 

all my friends 

Uhr 

about 

Seite 

what 

1 

is going 

in 2008 with Jewish guests, we no on in Tyrol." 

longer want to put them up." 

Don’t let your guests miss the 

unforgettable “Christmas Village” 

in Rothenburg o. d. T. with the 

largest selection of traditional 

German Christmas decorations. 

Smaller selections in Oberammergau, 

Heidelberg, Rüdesheim, Nuremberg, 

Bamberg and Bruges. 

Also find many fine gift ideas and 

German souvenirs in our stores. 

Käthe Wohlfahrt GmbH & Co. OHG · Herrngasse 1 

91541 Rothenburg o. d. T. · Tel: +49(0)9861 - 4090 

info@wohlfahrt.com · www.bestofchristmas.com


in Mid May - Mid June 

In the News... 

3 People... 

3 Places... 

5 Hospitality 

6 European Eccentrics 

7 Cruise News 

8 Faith Based Tourism 

9 Transport News 

10 Mice News 

10 CPT News 

11 Options & Attractions 

13 Travel Industry 

14 Museum Tinguely 

15 Interlaken 

16 Jungfraujoch 

17 Magical Castle Eltz 

18 “We Welcome Groups” 

A directory of Companies throughout 

Europe that specialise in working with 

leisure and business escorted groups 

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© Copyright 2009. Articles published in this magazine are copyright and 

should not be reproduced without permission from the publishers. 

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers and all 

information is given in good faith. no responsibility can be taken by the publishers for any 

errors or omissions, howsoever caused. Readers are advised to check upon any information 

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Dear Reader 

A sunny story 

With so many dark clouds on the horizon, it’s so, so, uplifting to 

hear a really ‘good news’ story. You know - the kind of story that 

fills you with a warm sunny glow. 

The Balkan state of Kosovo, once synonymous with sectarian 

violence, has welcomed its first British organise group (which included 

1 Chilean national), since Kosovo declared independence 

in February 2008, following the bloody Balkan’s conflicts. 

Regent Holidays took a group of 20 pioneering travellers on a 

£555pp 3-day trip to Gjakove, Peje, Istog and Prekaz, as well as 

taking in the capital, Pristina. 

"Our clients were pleasantly surprised - the people of Kosovo 

were delightful. The Albanian population were especially welcoming, 

we were even interviewed on Kosovo national television as EU 

trail blazers," said a relieved Andrea Godfrey, Regent Holiday’s 

General Manager. 

The group flew from 

Gatwick to the capital Pristine 

where, “We stayed in 

this most amazing boutique 

hotel called the Qarshia E 

Jurane - the food was superb 

– portions were waist 

outspanding. Wherever we 

travelled standards were 

excellent and really affordable. 

For example, good 

glugging wine was about 

€2 a bottle – really fine wine 

was €13– outstanding!” 

One of the highlights 

of the tour was when the 

Andrea Godfrey - GM Regent 

Holidays 

group stayed in accommodation that was home to a trout farm. “It 

raised the old Geordie rhyme – ‘you shall have a fishy, on a little 

dishy’ – to a whole new level!” 

But in a serious vein Andrea pointed out, “There is in Kosovo a 

sombre presence, a reminder of Kosovo’s dark past- UN peacekeepers 

and observers - they were not intrusive but it just brought 

it home to the group that Kosovo’s journey to independence had 

been at a human price - but if this trip is anything to go by, it will 

not be long before Kosovo is healed and well on the road to 

recovery – and that’s got to be a good thing for everybody. And 

I tell you what, Regent Holidays will be back next year to Kosovo 

to help that recovery.” 

Here! Here! Andrea 

We will all drink to that! 

Publishing Editor 

397 Walworth Road, 

London SE17 2AW, UK 

tel: +44 (020) 7703 9154 

fax: +44 (020) 7703 0358 

e-mail: iatm@iatm.co.uk 

www.iatm.co.uk 

2 On The Road - Mid May - Mid June 09

PEOPLE UPDATE..... 

Barceló Hotels 

Barceló Hotels has recruited Elaine 

McCormack as UK Sales Director. 

Elaine, who has 24 years’ global 

experience in the industry including 

Concorde Hotels , Millennium Hotels 

and Resorts, Hilton International 

Hotels and Pullman International 

Hotels. 

Deutshe Bahn AG 

After 10 years, Hartmut Mehdorn has 

left DB and the Supervisory Board has 

appointed Dr. Rüdiger Grube as the 

new Chairman and CEO. He was 

previously on the Board of Management 

of Daimler AG. 

Ferrovial 

The owner of BAA, which owns seven 

UK airports, has appointed Iñigo 

Meirás as CEO to succeed Joaquín 

Ayuso. The move represents one 

of many recent high-level changes 

made within the Spanish company 

and its UK subsidiary to cope with 

the difficulties the company is currently 

facing. 

Mr Meirás, currently Head of Airports 

and VP of BAA, has long been seen 

as the likely successor for the post, 

however the promotion's timing has 

surprised analysts. 

Holidayline UK 

Parent company of online travel 

agency Directline Holidays, has appointed 

Maria Whiteman as its new 

Chief Executive, with co-founders 

Tony Bradley and Matthew Flint moving 

to Chairman and Non-Executive 

Director positions respectively. 

Whiteman previously came from 

Travel2, The Holiday Team, and 

previously ran the Hays & Jarvis tour 

operating business and was also 

Product and Purchasing Director of 

Air Miles. 

Kayak.com 

In April Kayak.com the travel search 

site, appointment Robert Birge 

as Chief Marketing Officer. Birge 

will manage all offline marketing, 

advertising and public relations 

activities. Birge will report to Kayak. 

com Co-Founder and CEO Steve 

Hafner and will be based at the 

company’s global headquarters in 

Norwalk, Conn. 

However in early May, Kayak has 

seen its overseas expansion plans 

thrown under the spotlight after 

European Managing Director Faisal 

Galaria unexpectedly quit the business, 

having only joined Kayak in 

August 2008 with a mandate to grow 

the company in Europe and launch 

new sites in Asia. It is understood 

Galaria left the company following a 

disagreement with other members of 

the management team over strategy 

outside of the US. 

Marriott 

Marriott International has announced 

“significant” changes in its executive 

management. From this month Arne 

Sorenson, Executive VP, CFO and 

President, continental European 

lodging, will take over from William 

Shaw as Marriott’s President and 

COO. Shaw will become Vice Chair- 

man and remain on the board of 

directors, while still reporting directly 

to CEO and Board Chairman J W 

Marriott, Jr. 

Carl Berquist, Executive VP financial 

information and enterprise risk 

management, will become Executive 

VP and CFO reporting to Mr Shaw. 

Berquist will continue as Marriott’s 

principal accounting officer. 

Marriott has also appointed Theo 

Ocks as Area Sales and Marketing 

Director for Western Europe. Ocks 

is one of three new Area Directors, 

along with Vicky Varfis for Eastern 

Europe and Iris Baugatz for Central 

Europe.All three will be based in 

Eschborn, Germany. Together they 

will be responsible for nearly 100 

properties in 22 countries, across 

five brands including J W Marriott 

and Courtyard by Marriott. 

Rezidor 

The Rezidor Hotel Group has appointed 

Michel Stalport as its new 

area VP for Southern Europe and Africa.Stalport, 

a 54-year-old Belgian, 

was previously VP for Russia, CIS, the 

Baltic States, Turkey, Azerbaijan and 

China .He will move from Moscow 

to his new base in Nice. 

Ryanair 

Announced the appointment of Laszlo 

Tamas as Sales and Marketing Manager 

for the UK and Ireland. Before 

joining Ryanair, Laszlo was employed 

as Sales and Marketing Manager at 

Wizzair and Lufthansa 

SWISS 

The SWISS Board of Directors have 

appointed Harry Hohmeister as 

successor to Christoph Franz as the 

company’s Chief Executive Officer. 

Hohmeister, has been a member of 

the SWISS Management Board since 

the beginning of 2005. 

SWISS has also appointed Holger 

Hätty as Chief Commercial Officer 

and a member of the Management 

Board. He will be responsible for 

all revenue, distribution, marketing 

and product management activities. 

His appointment sees the SWISS 

Management Board streamlined to 

four members, a resizing that will 

simplify the present structure. It also 

completes CEO-designate Harry Hohmeister’s 

top-management team 

Holger Hätty 

VisitBritain 

The national tourism agency, has 

announced the appointment of 

Sandie Dawe as Chief Executive 

with immediate effect. Awarded the 

MBE in 2008 for services to tourism, 

Sandie Dawe is currently Deputy 

Chief Executive of VisitBritain. 

PLACES... 

Scotland 

Owners of castles and tower homes 

across Scotland have been encouraged 

to apply for refurbishment 

funding in a bid to boost tourism. 

Culture Minister Mike Russell said 

by restoring Scotland’s historical 

houses tourism could be boosted in 

the economic downturn. 

Mr Russell said the buildings could 

be used as hotels, rented accommodation 

or in some other business 

capacity. Historic Scotland has 

begun an audit of possible sites and 

the launch of the preliminary list is 

expected by June 2009. 

It is hoped the project will provide 

an online database of castles and 

tower houses which demonstrate the 

characteristics that would enable a 

successful scheme for restoration to 

be developed, plus a guide to castle 

and tower house restoration. 

Eilean Donan Castle 

Greece 

Ioannis Kofinis, the President of the 

Greek National Tourism Organisation, 

has revealed marrying his country’s 

ancient history and expansive 

natural assets with luxury city breaks 

forms the core of his body’s strategy 

to increase the Mediterranean 

nation’s share of inbound Middle 

East guests. 

“Greece is a traditional tourist destination 

and we strongly believe we 

have a unique product to sell to the 

world. In the coming years, we’re 

looking at maintaining revenue 

in our traditional Western Europe 

source markets and targeting certain 

global markets for expansion. 

“The Middle East - along with Russia, 

China, Poland and South Africa - is 

one of our key target markets and 

we are tailoring our products to attract 

a higher proportion of regional 

customers. It is a market which has a 

lot of potential but it is different, with 

different needs to Western European 

markets,” said Kofinis. With a relatively 

small population of just over 11 

million, tourism contributes a staggering 

20% of Greece’s GDP. 

Sicily 

The cost of building a suspension 

bridge, the world`s longest, across 

the Messina Strait to link Sicily to the 

mainland is estimated at €6.3 billion, 

according to the bridge-building 

company Stretto di Messina SpA. 

“This great public works project will 

give a major boost to the nation`s 

economy”. the company`s CEO, 

Pietro Ciucci said after the contracts 

for the project, suspended in 2006 

by the previous government, were 

reactivated. 

Work on the bridge will begin not 

later than the latter half of 2010 and 

the project will be completed in six 

years. Once completed the bridge 

will replace slow ferry services between 

Sicily and the mainland. The 

Mid May - Mid June 09 - On The Road 3 

news 

3,690-metre-long bridge has been 

designed to be able to handle 4,500 

cars an hour and 200 trains a day. 

Croatia 

Croatia protested a warning issued 

by Britain’s Foreign Office that 

tourists visiting Croatia be aware of 

threats from organized crime. The 

Zagreb government was upset by a 

BBC article in April on organized 

crime and corruption in Croatia, 

including assassinations of journalists 

and businessmen. Croatia complained 

it was the malicious article 

before the oncoming tourist season 

on the Adriatic coast. 

Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan 

Jandrokovic said his ministry asked 

the Foreign Office to explain why the 

security situation in Croatia was not 

depicted in an objective way. 

Rioja Alavesa 

The region of Rioja Alavesa has 

recently launched Rioja Alavesa 

Magazine, a quarterly magazine 

covering current and up-andcoming 

attractions based on wine 

tourism, local nature and the rich 

historical heritage of the area. www. 

rutadelvinoderiojaalavesa.com 

Sweden 

Short tourist flights into space are 

expected to begin launching from 

northern Sweden in 2012, according 

to Spacesport Sweden spokeswoman 

Johanna Bergstroem-Roos. “Flights 

are expected to leave the USA in 

2011 and Kiruna in northern Sweden 

will be next about a year later” 

she said. The flights will be run by 

Virgin Galactic, owned by Sir Richard 

Branson, which will first send paying 

customers about 70 miles above the 

earth from New Mexico. 

Virgin Galactic said five Nordic travel 

agencies will sell tickets for both the 

US and the Swedish launches, cost 

approx €153,000 each. "We hope 

Kiruna will become Europe's main 

launch pad for the tourist flights," 

Bergstroem-Roos said, pointing out 

that the town located 90 miles north 

of the Arctic Circle also home to the 

Esrange Space Centre since 1966. 

Northern-lights 

"The suborbital flights are the kinds 

of flights we already run from Kiruna, 

although we send crewless flights 

much higher up, to 800 kilometres, 

so we are very experienced in space 

missions " she said. 

Kiruna is also already a magnate 

for adventure and wildlife tourists 

eager to see natural phenomena 

like the Northern Lights and the 

Midnight Sun, stay at the nearby Ice 

Hotel or set off on ski, dog sleigh or 

snow scooter trips. "We expect that 

if one person in a family is flying the 

other family members will sign up 

for other experiences," Bergstroem- 

Roos said. 

continued on page 4...

news 

Estuaire 2009 

If you think that art exhibitions are only mounted in galleries or gardens, 

think again. This summer (June 6 to August 16), the mouth of the Loire 

River is the setting for what must be one of the world’s largest free art 

shows - Estuaire. 

The works will be displayed on, along and in the River Loire between 

Nantes and St Nazaire. The river is a 25-mile link between two cities 

that share a common history of shipbuilding and trade. And this year it 

will provide a backdrop for what is said to be some of the most thought 

provoking works. 

Back in 2007, the first Loire Estuary Project featured 40 art installations. 

People still talk about the 25-metre tall giant duck and a house that 

seemed to float in the river. 

In Nantes, there will be giant rings 

illuminated at night marching along 

the water out in the city’s industrial 

area. At Coueron, sit on a bench 

and watch a fountain spurting 

high in to the sky. At Le Pellerin, 

‘Misconceivable’ is a witty work, a 

banana-shaped boat that seems to 

be melting. 

Canard de Bain (Bath Duck). 

One project will be at a massive World Florentijn War II Hofman 

submarine base in St 

Nazaire. Poplar trees are being planted inside the 300-metre long bunker, 

so that they can grow up and out into the daylight and form a green 

garden - the trembling leaves will contrast with the harsh concrete. 

You can drive, cycle or walk to see most of the installations -all are 

free to view. 

There is also a three-hour boat cruise on board a specially-built craft. 

This unique audio guided tour is available in English and French. It is 

cultural and historic and includes the installations themselves. 

Also incorporated into the trail are important art and cultural venues such 

as Le Grand Cafe art centre in St Nazaire, the Nantes Museum of Fine 

Arts, the chateau of the Dukes of Brittany and the extraordinary Machines 

de lie workshop where you can see new mobile monsters or ride the 

40-foot tall mechanical elephant on a tour. www.estuaire.info 

...continued from page 3 

Germany’s 

Highland Games 

In early May more than 20,000 fans 

of Scottish farye and tradition descended 

upon Peine, near Hanover, 

for an 11th ‘Highland Gathering’. 

Tossing the Caber, tugs of war and 

playing bagpipes were ‘par for the 

course’ during this three- day, Tartan 

spectacle. 

Contestants travelled from all over 

Germany for what is one of many 

Highland Festivals that are held 

around the world annually. 

Extraordinarily, while the Cowal 

Games which take place on the 

home turf in Dunoon every August, 

is the largest in Scotland, attracting 

around 3,500 competi tors and up 

to 20,000 spectators, it is dwarfed 

by the 50,000 visitors to the Grandfather 

Mountain games in North 

Carolina and the even larger games 

featured every year since 1865 at the 

Caledonian Club of San Francisco. 

The 1940s - 

golden age of the 

French brothel 

An unusual history of the Nazis’ occupation 

of France has trampled on 

a most painful taboo, by focusing 

on women who slept with the enemy 

dur ing the occupation. 

Flouting a long-running convention 

of silence on what he calls 

“horizontal collabora tion”, Patrick 

Buisson, the author, describes the 

Nazi occu pation as the “golden age” 

of the French brothel, chronicling a 

dramatic growth in prostitu tion to 

satisfy German demand. 

The book, ‘1940-1945’, Erotic 

Years, is the second hefty vol ume in 

a wide-ranging sexual history of the 

occupation that one critic described 

as a “magisterial provocation” 

because of its assault on the myth 

that life under the Nazi boot was all 

resistance, hard ship and suffering. 

Brothels that had been on the verge 

of closure before the war, as the 

abolitionist league gained force, enjoyed 

a drama tic revival as German 

soldiers poured into France. 

Some of the so-called ‘Maisons 

Closes’ were reserved exclusively for 

officers, who, “along with looks and 

gallantry, would bring chocolates 

and flowers – and won admirers in 

a coun try whose natives were rather 

less charming to prostitutes”. 

One madame who presided over 

a top address, is referred to debauched, 

champagne drenched 

soirees, and saying, “I am ashamed, 

but I’ve never had so much fun in my 

life. Those nights of the occupa tion 

were fantastic.” 

Seldom has a book delved as deeply 

into what is regarded by many as a 

source of national shame: far from 

being forced into bed with the invaders 

through economic hardship (as 

the official history would have people 

believe), thousands of French women 

fell in love with German soldiers and 

it is esti mated that 200,000 children 

were born to Franco-German couples 

during the war. 

“That the departure of the Germans 

caused thousands of women deep 

affliction ... is one of those facts 

that political necessity commands us 

to ignore,” writes Buisson, direc tor 

of France’s History Channel and a 

presidential adviser. 

By Dominique Faure 

Paris 

Venice Watery highlights 

Vogalonga Regatta (31 May) 

In Venice, the Vogalonga Regatta follows ancient traditions and was 

instigated by a group of Venetians with a passionate interest in rowing in 

the Venetian Lagoon. The racecourse has remained virtually unchanged 

over the years and covers about 30 kilometres by way of canals through 

the most beloved and picturesque parts of the Lagoon of Venice. 

Five hundred boats with nearly 1,500 participants meet on the race day 

and after singing hymns to St Mark and Venice, the event begins. At the 

finishing line each participant receives a commemorative medal and a 

certificate - souvenirs of a memorable day. 

Regatta Storica (6 Sep) 

The Regatta Storica first took place in Venice in 1315 and is today made 

up of two parts - the historical parade and the all-important rowing races, 

when rowing ‘alla veneta’ means to the rowers becoming a part of the 

history of this sport and, to a certain extent, of Venice. 

The climax of the event is the champions’ race on two-oared ‘gondolini’, 

light boats shaped as a very slim gondola. Winning in ‘Canalasso’, as 

natives call the Grand Canal, is still today the greatest wish of every 

racer, besides being the impossible dream of many Venetians that are still 

rowing ‘alla veneta’ ( see hotels section where Go Barging are featuring 

exclusive charters for both of the above) 

Regatta Storica, Venice 


HOSPITALITY 

Go barging – 

summer highlights 

Go Barging - luxury barge cruising 

company, is once again this year 

offering specific cruise itineraries 

aboard two hotel barges - Magna 

Carta and La Dolce Vita - to coincide 

with three world famous rowing 

events - the Henley Royal Regatta 

on the River Thames (1-5 July) and 

the Vogalonga Regatta (31 May) & 

Regatta Storica (6 Sep) in Venice. 

The special 6 night/7 day cruises 

take in the local sights in each location 

and are available as a charter of 

6-8 people depending on the boat. 

Charters including accommodation 

aboard in air-conditioned, ensuite 

cabins, gourmet meals, fine wines, 

an open bar and all excursions. (See 

options and attractions for more 

information about the Italian races). 

www.gobarging.com 

Amsterdam 

Hotel group citizenM opened its 

second hotel and first urban property 

in early May - citizenM Amsterdam 

City. The hotel is located on Prinses 

Irenestraat in Amsterdam’s booming 

financial district, between the World 

Trade Centre and city centre and 

just minutes from the city’s cultural 

attractions. 

There are the 215 rooms. High-tech, 

ultra-compact and identical, all 

have wall-to-wall windows, power 

rain showers, extra-large king-size 

beds. From mood lighting to in-room 

music, from free movies-on-demand 

to the alarm clock, everything in the 

room is programmable with just 

one device. 

Amsterdam City’s canteenM - a 

24hour café/bar/eatery - has added 

a few titbits to its healthy snacks, 

drinks and coffee station. Rates per 

room are still only €69 -€149. 

Cairo Tower 

reopens 

In mid May the 60 story Cairo Tower 

reopened. The Panoramic View on 

the top floor offers spectacular views 

of the Egypt’s bustling Metropolis. 

The 360 Revolving Restaurant on 

the 59th floor, offers an array of 

International cuisine. The Garden 

Coffee shop on the 60th floor has a 

more informal dining atmosphere. 

The new VIP Restaurant and Lounge 

features luxurious furnishings and an 

elegant upscale menu. The Tower 

now also has space for meetings 

and conferences. 

The company that lights up the Eiffel 

Tower was consulted to provide 

a similar system, so the Tower has 

a new LED night-time light effects 

The visiting hours are from 9AM to 

Midnight. 

Ibiza 

2009 sees the first full season with 

the operation of two new five star 

hotels. The Ibiza Gran Hotel which 

is situated in Eivissa town and the 

Aguas de Ibiza located in Santa Eulalia 

on the East Coast of the island. 

It offers 154 suites of varying sizes. 

Ibiza Gran Hotel overlooking the 

Old Town and situated right at the 

edge of the port, all rooms boasting 

private terraces overlooking Dalt 

Vila and many featuring a private 

jacuzzi. The hotel’s restaurant Costa 

Mara blends local ingredients with 

originality. Rates start from €148.50 

for a junior suite including breakfast. 

www.ibizagranhotel.com 

The new Aguas de Ibiza positions 

itself as Eco Luxury. Offers 36 

standard rooms and 57 suites. The 

Alabasto Lounge provides drinks, 

light breakfast and tapas and snacks 

throughout the day. There is a 44 

seater Gourmet Restaurant and 

the Buffet Restaurant has 142 seats 

inside plus 4 outdoor rooms. The 

hotel features a wellness centre 

called Revival and soon by the 

opening of a new roof top chill out 

area. Rates start from €150.87 per 

night not including breakfast. www. 

aguasdeibiza.com 

Bognor 

A £20 million hotel is to be opened 

by Butlins at its Bognor Regis site in 

August. Family rooms featuring a 

children’s den and special beds will 

form part of the 200-room property. 

Facilities include all-day check-in, 

restaurant and bar, spa facilities, and 

room service. Prices for a four-berth 

room with South Downs views start at 

£480 for two adults and two children 

aged between two and 14 for three 

nights from August 21. 

Brighton 

The Rezidor Hotel Group has rebranded 

two existing Brighton 

hotels. The Park Inn Brighton, previously 

Lansdowne Place, offers 84 

guest rooms and seven meeting 

rooms, including a reception room 

for 200 people. 

The Radisson Blu Hotel, previously 

the Royal York Hotel, has 59 guest 

rooms, including eight apartments 

with either one or two bedrooms 

and a kitchenette.The hotel also 

has three meeting rooms, with the 

largest room able to accommodate 

50 people. www.rezidor.com 

Edinburgh 

The new John Hope Gateway visitor 

facility opens in the Royal Botanic 

Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) in June. 

There will also be a new 120-seat 

day visitor restaurant ‘The Gateway 

Restaurant’ and 40-seat VIP room 

the ‘David Douglas Room’ 

The name of the new John Hope 

Gateway facility commemorates 

RBGE’s 18th century Regius Keeper, 

Professor John Hope, a leading 

botanist and teacher who was also 

responsible for unifying the Garden 

at one site on Leith Walk. 

Monte-Carlo 

Reopened this month is the Monte-Carlo 

Beach Hotel. The hotel 

features 40 marine-themed guest 

rooms and suites; four restaurants, 

including Elsa, a new fine dining 

restaurant, a private beach, heated 

seawater swimming pool, massages 

in beach tents and mooring at the 

hotel’s private pontoon. www.montecarlo-beach.com 

Europe figures March ‘09 

The European hotel industry reported mixed year on year results for March 

2009, according to data compiled by STR Global. Figures for occupancy, 

average daily rate and revenue per available room ranged from double 

figure losses to single figure gains, depending on the market and the 

currency used for comparison. 

Year-over-year March 2009 figures for Europe: 

Occupancy 58.6% -5.6% 

ADR £87.27 +6.6% 

RevPAR £51.12 +0.6% 

Europe as a whole fell 14% in RevPAR, up from the 19% drop in February, 

with southern Europe again bearing the brunt of the hit and dropping 

by over 20%. 

Outside southern Europe, other Markets fared far better, with the United 

Kingdom falling in RevPAR only 6% compared to February’s decrease of 

10% continued. “Scandinavia was +21% and Germany was up by 6.7%. 

There is huge concern over Spain and Italy which fell by 26% and 15% 

respectively. James Chappell, MD of STR Global said “ as the Easter 

effect will be reversed next month. I think we can look forward to some 

eye-watering numbers in April in those markets. 

Paris 

May has seen the opening of the 

Renaissance Paris Arc de Triomphe 

combines an ultra-modern design 

with the Renaissance brand experience. 

The 118-room hotel offers 

location, contemporary and comfortable 

guest rooms, chic public spaces 

and an innovative restaurant pairing 

French and Indonesian cuisine. 

Porto 

The HF Ipanema Park has reopened 

totally renovated and now offers 281 

rooms. Strategically located between 

Boavista and Foz, the HF Ipanema 

Park is just a few minutes away from 

both the city centre and the highway 

that provides access to the airport 

and the city of Lisbon. http://www. 

hfhotels.com/gb/?s=6&ss=57 

Stevenage 

In Hertfordshire , The Holiday Inn 

Stevenage hotel has opened and 

is located in the town centre. Offering 

140, high spec, air conditioned 

guestrooms, contemporary restaurant 

mini gym and excellent conference 

and meeting facilities. 

Vienna 

The Rainers Hotel opened at the beginning 

of May. The 4-star hotel has 

been erected behind the façade of 

a former factory building in Vienna’s 

Gudrunstraße. Characterised by 

the historic architecture, clear lines 

extend throughout the entire hotel, 

its 154 rooms and suites, in the hotel 

restaurant VERDE with its sunny terrace 

and in the 620-square-metre 

meeting and conference facility, 

the hotel offers an atmosphere of 

well-being. The six event rooms offer 

enough space for up to 350 people. 

Further amenities of the five-storey 

building include 60 hotel parking 

spaces and five bus parking spaces. 

The hotel is managed by Vienna 

International Tel.: +43 1 60580, 

Fax: +43 1 605 80 555 www.vihotels.com 

Gourmet Slovenia 

Slovenia can now boast a unique 

gastronomy centre where it is possible 

to taste and experience all the 

specialities of Slovenian cuisine. 

The centre is located in the Gorenjska 

region, at Dvor Jezeršek 1768, 

a restaurant and hotel complex 

based around a renovated historic 

farmhouse in Zgornji Brnik. 

The gastronomy centre is famous 

for organising banquets and receptions, 

gives visitors the opportunity 

to experience some of the most 

characteristic specialities. The bread 

oven is used to bake various types of 

bread and flatcakes, and of course 

potica, (Slovenia’s traditional cake) 

Guests can try home-made jam, 

Carniolan sausage (PDO) and other 

cured and dried meat products 

and cheeses. In conjunction with 

the Matic Farm, the centre offers 

100% natural apple juice, kummel 

and walnut liqueur. The centre’s 

wine cellar offers a representative 

selection of the finest wines from 

all three of Slovenia’s wine regions. 

Groups can have lunch or dinner 

at the centre with the option of a 

cultural programme. www.dvorjezersek.si 

Herzlich Willkommen 

A warm welcome to Sterzing / Vipiteno. Mair Mair are glad to greet you at 

our traditional trading establishment where we are pleased to offer you a 

wide range of souvenirs, leather goods, wines etc etc. 

Our friendly sales staff speak English, German, Italian and Dutch, so 

please feel at home when you visit us and enjoy the flair of this historic 

trading city. 

I 39049 Sterzing, Altstadt 1 

Tel: +39 0 472 765386 

Fax: +39 0 472 766386 


news

news 

EUROPEAN 

ECCENTRICS 

Pink elephant 

A Polish city councillor Michal Grzes 

criticised his local zoo for acquiring a 

gay elephant. Poznan Zoo confirmed 

that 10 year old Ninio seems to 

prefer male company. 

Grzes complained “ we didn’t pay 

37m zlotys (£7.6m) for the largest 

elephant house in Europe to have a 

gay elephant living there. We were 

supposed to have a herd but with 

Ninio as he is who is to produce 

offspring” The head of the zoo said 

that Ninio may change his mind as 

elephants don’t reach sexual maturity 

till they are 14. 

Fir find 

Russian surgeons operated on a man 

for suspected cancer and found a fir 

tree growing inside his lung. The 2in 

fir was discovered inside Attyom 28. 

Doctors think he may have inhaled 

a seedling. 

Halfway sting 

A pair of soft-hearted con artists 

swindled an elderly Florentine lady 

but gave her half the money back. 

The pair, a man and a woman, 

posing as health ministry inspectors, 

demanded a €300 surcharge 

on a new health card required for 

getting prescriptions, police said. 

The alarmed lady, 87, rushed to 

put together the sum but the bogus 

officials then told her half would be 

enough. ``They probably felt sorry 

for her and had a change of heart,`` 

police said.’ It could be a sign of the 

times, this halfway sting``. 

Mad English 

The English are embracing a new 

way to drink their cocktails. Forget 

shaking, or stirring - in one Soho bar, 

inhaling is the latest craze. The Soho 

bar provides mist to its customers 

containing gin and tonic. Patrons 

are allowed to spend up to an hour 

breathing it in, before the alcohol 

levels become a health risk. Patrons 

are advised to ‘breathe responsibly’ 

and are warned it could be a little 

tricky to work out exactly how many 

drinks they have had. 

Caught in the act 

Police stopped a motorist who had 

been driving at over 80 miles and 

hour whilst having sex with his 

girlfriend. near Oslo.“The car was 

veering from side to side because 

the woman was sitting on his lap 

and doing the act shall we say” said 

a police spokesman. 

Love locks 

dumped 

A youth craze for swearing undying 

love by writing names on padlocks 

and throwing the key into the Trevi 

Fountain took an unromantic turn recently 

after thousands of locks were 

removed and sent to the dump. 

Lovers from all over the world began 

attaching locks to the rails of 

a church facing the famous monument 

and throwing the keys into 

the fountain. But after tolerating 

the custom, the parish priest of the 

church dedicated to Saints Vincent 

and Anastasius decided enough 

was enough. 

The craze for attaching so-called 

‘love locks’ first hit the Italian capital 

in the wake of a successful 2003 

romantic book and film, Tre Metri 

Sopra Il Cielo (Three Metres Above 

The Sky).Imitating the protagonists, 

young Romans started writing their 

names on locks, chaining them 

round a lamp post on the Milvian 

Bridge and throwing the keys into 

the Tiber. 

When’s a 

Yorkshire man not 

Chris Gregory, a 30 year old Yorkshire 

man woke up after a brain 

operation and sang the ever popular 

Irish ballad ‘Danny Boy’ at the top 

of his voice. His wife waiting for him 

to come round after the operation, 

heard the singing and rushed to his 

bedside. “Chris was sitting up in 

bed, belting out the tune with a thick 

Irish accent, like he had been born 

and raised in Dublin” Mr Gregory’s 

normal Yorkshire accent returned the 

next day and he had no recollection 

of his rendition. 

For the chop 

A union official chopped his finger 

off and ate it to protest against low 

wages. A representative of textile 

workers in Novi Pazar, Serbia, 

Zoran Bulatovic said he did it with a 

hacksaw to stop his female deputy 

carrying out a similar protest. 

He said the workers had nothing to 

eat and his protest gave an example 

of ‘alternative’ food. “ It hurt like 

hell” he said unsurprisingly. 

Bar story 

A man has been charged with drink 

driving after crashing a motorised 

bar stool. Police in Newark arrived 

at the scene of the crash to find the 

wreckage of the stool powered by a 

lawn mower engine. The 28 year old 

driver said it could reach speeds of 

up to 38mph 

Pudsey won’t be 

going places 

A mother who changed her name 

to Pudsey Bear to raise £4,000 for 

charity has had her request for a 

passport refused. Mrs Bear, formerly 

Eileen de Bont was told the name 

was frivolous and would bring the 

passport office into disrepute. 

Pudsey is the BBC’s Children in 

Need mascot , Mrs Bear has been 

more successful with other applications 

in her new name including her 

driving licence and bank cards 

A Dress for the 

occasion! 

A 109-year-old UK grandmother 

wrote to the Queen pointing out that 

Her Majesty had been wearing the 

same yellow dress on the five previous 

birthday cards she had sent. 

Catherine Masters was perhaps 

expecting a polite note from a ladyin-waiting. 

What she got instead was 

tea with Prince William. The prince 

arrived with just five minutes’ notice 

at Catherine’s care home in Stanford 

in the Vale, Oxfordshire. “He was a 

delightful young man,” said Catherine. 

“I said it would be nice to see 

the Queen in blue or white.” 

Smoking law up 

in flames 

A South Yorkshire Landlady, Kerry 

Fenton, has opened a smoking room 

at her pub after one of her regulars 

found a loophole in the smoking 

ban. She has turned the tap-room 

at the Cutting Edge in Barnsley, 

into a “smoking research centre”. 

Drinkers fill in a questionnaire on 

their smoking habits and can then 

enjoy a cigarette. 

Kerry, 36, says trade has doubled 

since the ‘centre’ opened after James 

Martin, a printer, spotted the loophole. 

“I’m a non-smoker but I believe 

in the freedom of the individual,” 

said Kerry. “It’s given the business 

a shot in the arm and it’s all in the 

name of research, legal and above 

board. I hope the questionnaires can 

be used by academics interested in 

studying this law.” 

You’re nicked! 

A cardboard cut-out of a police constable, 

displayed in a Stockport shop 

to deter thieves, has been stolen. The 

life-size image of PC Bob Molloy had 

been placed behind a display at the 

Co-operative store on Heaton Moor 

Road in a bid to banish petty theft. 

But a Co-op supervisor said: 

“We saw two girls on the CCTV - one 

held the door open while the other 

ran out with the policeman under 

her arm.” 

The greater the 

truth, the greater 

the libel! 

Rod Liddel recently wrote in the 

Sunday Times…. ‘I suppose, My colleague 

Jeremy Clarkson got himself 

into trouble for having suggested 

- on that television programme ‘Top 

Gear’, the one he does about cars 

- that a lorry driver’s job consisted 

of the following:-‘ 

“Change gear, change gear, change 

gear, check mirror, murder a pros- 

Marathon Man 

An injured Iraq veteran who was 

told he would never walk again 

has completed the London Marathon. 

Major Phil Packer took 13 

days to walk the 26.2-mile route, 

raising more than £700,000 

for the charity Help for Heroes. 

He lost the use of both legs in a 

rocket attack, but has fought to 

overcome his injuries. Hundreds 

of well-wishers lined the route 

as he approached the finish 

line. “Somebody walked with me 

every step, be it dinner lady, taxi 

driver or police officer,” he said, 

collecting his medal. “This is for 

the soldiers with far worse injuries 

than me.” 

titute, change gear ... Cue, immediately, 

outrage from lorry drivers 

and complaints to television watch 

dogs and demands for Clarkson’s 

dismissal. The prostitutes complained 

too, but I’m not sure on 

what grounds. 

Now, though, the FBI has revealed 

that a remarkable 200 truck drivers 

in the USA are suspected of being 

serial killers and that truck driving 

is by far the most popular profession 

for people whose chief hobby 

is murdering women. Maybe it was 

just the order and frequency which 

Clarkson got wrong, and his description 

should have read: “Murder 

a prostitute, murder a prostitute, 

murder a prostitute, change gear, 

murder a prostitute ... “ 

Let the train take 

the strain 

On 23 May, the train journey between 

Kettering and King’s Cross 

- which usually takes 1 hr 20mins - 

will instead take 18 hours owing to 

planned engineering works. 

Passengers on the 13.35 from Kettering 

will be expected to make seven 

changes, take five replacement 

buses and stay overnight in Milton 

Keynes. 

Out of step 

The stepladders that for 400 years 

have allowed students to reach the 

top shelves at the Bodleian Library in 

Oxford have been removed because 

of safety fears. But the library says 

the books themselves must remain 

in their ‘historic location’, out of 

reach, while students travel as far as 

the British Library in London to find 

other copies. 

….And 

When Hong Kong’s Metropark 

Hotel discovered that a man with 

swine flu had recently stayed there, 

its 296 guests were told they would 

have to remain under quarantine 

in the hotel for a week. But far 

from feeling trapped, they had a 

marvellous time. Emerging into the 

fresh air this week, cheering guests 

told how they partied all night, ate 

and drank like kings and became 

firm friends. Two serious romances 

also blossomed. “I’m so happy,” 

declared one Korean guest, hugging 

a policeman. “I love Hong 

Kong people!” 


CRUISE NEWS 

Hebridean back to 

life 

All Leisure Group has bought Hebridean 

International Cruises, including 

its Hebridean Princess vessel, 

from administration for £1.4m. The 

group, which own Voyages of Discovery 

and Swann Hellenic, plans to 

operate luxury cruises on-board the 

49-passenger vessel out of Skipton, 

Yorkshire 

Lord Sterling, who is currently Chairman 

of Swann Hellenic, will also 

become Chairman of the new 

company. Mike Deegan who was 

Managing Director of Hebridean 

remains in the same position, will 

remain as Managing Director, and 

the 12 staff will retain their jobs. 

Group Executive Chairman Roger 

Allard said: “This acquisition is our 

first investment of the funds raised on 

flotation and represents, as promised, 

a continuation of All Leisure’s 

strategy to acquire established niche 

destination-led brands. 

Hebridean Princess justifiably enjoys 

the exceptionally high levels of both 

passenger loyalty and customers 

support that a product of this quality 

and profile should demand.” 

Hebridean’s troubles were attributed 

to its other vessel, the Hebridean 

Spirit, which operated on its international 

routes, mainly in the Mediterranean 

and the Caribbean. Sale of 

the vessel was completed just before 

the company was put into administration, 

with the official line being that 

this proved too little too late. 

The 72-metre Hebridean Princess 

May to October 

Wednesday to Sundays 

from 7pm until 10.30pm. 

Top quality dinner & cabaret. 

Price £66 inclusive. 

is one of the world’s smallest cruise 

ships, accommodating 49 passengers 

and 38 crew. Its style is like to 

that of a Scottish country house, with 

30 tartan-bedecked cabins, a large 

fireplace and a small library. 

Circumnavigation 

cruise 

Cruise West is planning a 335-day 

circumnavigation of the world that it 

is describing as the longest of its kind 

in the cruise industry. Specific details 

will be released later this month. 

At this stage Cruise West have stated 

that one of its ships will visit 59 

countries over 14 oceans and seas 

during a cruise that intends to trace 

the destinations of historical sailors 

and explorers. 

New cruise 

terminal for 

Marseilles 

The EU has approved a partnership 

between the French government and 

three cruise lines to construct a new 

cruise terminal in Marseilles. 

In addition to helping finance the 

project, Costa Cruises, MSC Cruises 

and Louis Cruises will jointly manage 

the port under a 25-year deal. MSC 

said the collaboration between the 

state and private companies is a first 

in the history of French ports. 

The three cruise lines will invest about 

$10 million, while France will contribute 

approximately $5 million to 

the redevelopment. The work entails 

a widening of the port to increase 

capacity, a new parking area and 

renovated reception areas for cruise 

passengers. The aim is to increase the 

number of annual passengers passing 

through Marseilles from 530,000 to 

1 million by 2011. 

SC focuses on the 

Med 

Star Clipper 

Star Clippers will position its entire 

fleet of three tall ships in the Mediterranean 

for the 2010 summer season. 

Star Clipper will operate Greece and 

Turkey voyages round-trip from Athens, 

while Royal Clipper will maintain 

its popular itineraries round-trip from 

Civitavecchia, and between Rome 

and Venice. Star Flyer is scheduled 

to sail seven-day round-trip Monaco 

itineraries, as well as eastern Mediterranean 

and Turkey cruises from the 

Greek island of Rhodes.(previously 

based in Tahiti) 

“We thought it prudent in this challenging 

economy to bring all three 

ships closer to where our guests reside 

and have them sail itineraries with 

proven success, and make is more 

affordable,” says Mikael Krafft, owner 

and president of Star Clippers. 

MSC Criticised 

Action 

In late April the Italian cruise ship, 

MSC Melody, with 1,527 people on 

board fought a run ning battle with 

pirates 600 miles off the Somalia 

cost and 200 miles north of the Seychelles. 

None of the 991 passengers 

and 536 crew was hurt. 

Describing the attack in The Times, 

the ship’s captain, Commander Ciro 

Pinto said that the ship was left with 

smashed windows and bullet holes 

on its port side after six pirates who 

were trying to board the vessel fired 

at least 200 rounds with assault rifles 

from their dinghy. 

Commander Pinto ordered the 

Melody to turn into the waves to 

make it difficult for the pirates to 

climb aboard. Pistols kept in a safe 

on the ship were handed out to 

Israeli security guards who opened 

fire above the pirate’s heads and 

turned the ship’s water hoses onto 

the dingy. There are reports that 

some passengers at tempted to assist 

in repelling the pirates by hurling 

chairs overboard at the dinghy, 

before being ordered below decks 

by the cap tain. The pirates followed 

the Melody for an other 20 minutes, 

still firing, before giv ing up. 

Speculation is that the pirates 

launched from a near by mother 

ship, as a dingy would not have had 

the capacity to make the 600 miles 

from Soma lia on its own. 

A Span ish warship, the Marques 

de Ensenada, escorted the Melody 

to safety. 

At 35,000 tonnes, the 27-year-old 

MSC Melody is the largest in a fleet 

of nine cruise ships, which is owned 

by the Italian cruise operator MSC 

Crociere, and was on a 22-day 

cruise from Durban to Genoa. 

But the Cruise Forum’s Administrator, 

Ally Jones, criticised the action of 

MSC Cruises. 

“Several weeks before the attack 

MSC made public that Melody was 

being re-routed to avoid the pirate 

problem. It doesn’t take too much 

sophistication to read all about it via 

the internet and have a boat sent out 

to the approximate area in order to 

engage the ship. 

MSC were lucky this time, perhaps 

next time they will keep quiet as to 

it’s routing which was reckless and 

potentially tragic. Cruise lines must 

stay quiet as to their routes in both the 

Straits of Malacca and Gulf of Aden/ 

Somalia regions....common sense 

should outweigh the ‘need to know’ 

by agents etc surely?” she said 

Regular cruises in the Valley of the Loreley 

Rüdesheim – Bingen – St.Goarshausen 

Dept.Rüd.: 9.15am,11.00am and 2.00pm 

Dept.St. Goar: 11.00am,2.10pm and 4.10pm 

Full restaurant service and snacks available 

Commentary in English – Multi-lingual staff – Group rates 

Tel. Bingen +49 6721 14140 

E- bingen-ruedesheimer@t-online.de 

www.bingen-ruedesheimer.de 


news 

Crystal 2010 

Crystal Cruises is almost doubling 

the number of short cruises being undertaken 

in 2010 over 2009. Sailing 

programme includes 17 cruises of 

10 nights or less. Crystal Symphony 

and Crystal Serenity will maintain 

an emphasis on port intensive, 

destination-driven itineraries with 

many overnight stays in port. 

Two British Isles itineraries will run in 

June and August 2010. Also new is 

a nine-night Canary Islands cruise 

and 10-night autumn Mediterranean 

itineraries. There are also ten sevennight 

voyages to a variety of destinations. 

www.crystalcruises.co.uk 

Costa awards 

Costa Cruises has once again 

achieved market recognition in 

China, receiving two awards in quick 

succession. In April, Costa Cruises 

was awarded ‘The Most Popular 

Cruise Line’ title at the World Travel 

Fair 2009,(award won for the second 

successive year) shortly after winning 

the Golden List Award of ‘The 

Preferred Cruise Line’ by National 

Geographic Traveler magazine. 

Big....and fast 

The largest fast ferry to operate on 

short sea Channel crossing routes 

between the UK and France is to be 

introduced by French company LD 

Lines. The new, high speed Catamaran 

will be introduced on the Dover– 

Boulogne route from May 29. 

The vessel can carrying 1,200 passengers 

and crew and up to 417 cars 

or a mix of cars trucks and buses, 

continued on page 8...

news 


with increased frequency from the 

current two to six return sailings a day 

with a crossing time of one hour. 

Stena spending 

spree 

Stena Line has announced it is 

investing £14m on Irish Sea fleet 

makeover with refits and refurbishment 

of 10 ships. 

Between February and August 2010 

the two new superferries – the largest 

of their kind in the world – will start 

operating between Harwich to the 

Hook of Holland. The new superferries 

will transport 1,200 passengers, 

with 538 cabins and 1,376 beds. 

Highlights of Stena Line’s investment 

include £3.1m refit and refurbishment 

on the Stena Adventurer and 

a £2m refit and refurbishment of the 

Stena Nordica which both sail from 

Holyhead to Dublin, £1.8m on the 

Stena Caledonia, which sails from 

Stranraer to Belfast, £1.35m on the 

Stena Lynx III which sails from Fishguard 

to Rosslare, £1.1m on the HSS 

Stena Explorer which sails from Holyhead 

to Dun Laoghaire, and £1m 

on the HSS Stena Voyager which sails 

from Stranraer to Belfast. 

Whilst onboard passengers can 

enjoy a wide range of brand-new 

services, from a buffet/self-service 

restaurant, through to tax-free shop- 

FAITH BASED TOURISM 

Guide to 

Faith Tourism 

Marketplace 

The World Religious Travel Association 

(WRTA) has published 

the industry’s first-ever Religious 

Travel Market Buyer’s Guide. The 

fifty-eight page booklet provides an 

in-depth overview of the Religious 

Travel and Hospitality industry, as 

well as a directory of travel trade 

organizations involved in the marketplace 

including tour operators, 

travel agents, travel wholesalers, 

destinations and suppliers. The 

publication is written for tourism 

companies, travel professionals 

and group planners. Although the 

printed version of the Buyer’s Guide 

is USD $24.99, the digital (online) 

version is available for free at www. 

WRTAreligioustravel.com. 

NEW - 

Pilgrimages in 

Austria 

Beginning in the summer, pilgrims 

have an opportunity to get to know 

the SalzburgerLand and its five major 

regions – the Flachau, Tennengau, 

Pongau, Lungau and Pinzgau – both 

from their spiritual and their cultural 

side, during an 8-day journey. 

Walkers can select from between five 

different programs: They can attend 

mass and taking walking tours of 

towns, the St. James’ Way, the St. 

Rupert Pilgrims’ Trail and the Via 

Nova, together with other excursions 

to historical locations and places of 

great spiritual power. 

Another highlight is always a visit 

to Salzburg, the ‘City of Mozart’, 

ping, an à la carte restaurant, bar 

and lounge areas, business lounge, 

reading area, news and media 

relaxation room, cinema, internet 

area, gaming area and children’s/ 

teenage area. T 08705 143184. 

Stena trade team 

And.. 

Stena Line announced an operating 

profit of SEK 272 million (£23 million) 

for 2008, compared to 2007’s 

operating profit of SEK 612 million 

(£52 million). The decline in profits 

was the combined result of extremely 

high oil prices during 2008, the 

financial crisis and the general slowdown 

in the economy. However, the 

results exceeded Stena Line’s initial 

forecast for the year. 

Focus on Slovenia 

68 cruise ships bringing 40,000 

tourists are due to call at Koper 

- the largest town on the Slovenian 

coast. 

Koper has an excellent strategic 

position in the northern Adriatic. The 

docking port is almost in the middle 

of the old town centre, giving cruise 

passengers easy access to the city. 

Koper boasts a thousand-year history, 

picturesque architecture and 

attractions in its hinterland – the 

Land of Refošk, the famous wine, the 

Karst with its many natural attractions 

and Istria with its traditional culinary 

wealth. www.turizemvkopru.si 

boasting countless beautiful sights 

of its own. Further details and an 

to order our new SalzburgerLand 

pilgrimage brochure visit pilgrimage. 

salzburgerland.com. 

Castilla y Leon - 

new tourist routes 

The Castilla y Leon tourist board has 

developed five new tourist routes, 

which will open up the archaeological 

jewels of the region to its visitors. 

The route is 65 miles long and tourists 

can spend the day driving along 

one of the three routes, admiring 

the historic sites and landmarks 

of the region. All three itineraries 

highlight the restorations made to 

preserve these stunning churches, 

cathedrals and ancient ruins. T+34 

983 360 556 

Vatican weather 

web 

The Vatican has set up its own weather 

station to measure heat, cold, 

atmospheric pressure and rainfall 

in the tiny state. Anyone interested 

in the weather within the Vatican`s 

walls can access the service through 

the www.vaticanstate.va portal. A 

walled enclave of about 44 hectares 

(110 acres) in Rome with a population 

of around 900, the Vatican is the 

smallest country in the world. 

A spa along the 

pilgrimage way 

Portugal’s Dom Gonçalo Hotel & 

Spa now offers a service to meet the 

needs of the many pilgrims who visit 

the Fátima Sanctuary in the Portuguese 

town of Fatima in the Centro 

Region. The hotel is just 400 meters 

Papal visit to Jordan and Isreal 

Tourism chiefs in Jordan are hoping that Pope Benedict’s visit will lead to 

a boom in interest in the kingdom among global travelers. In particular, 

given the country’s rich biblical history, it is expected that the recent visit by 

the Pontiff will place it on the map for religious travelers in much the same 

way Israel and Saudi Arabia attract millions of pilgrims every year. 

Among the historical highlights of Jordan are the east bank of the 

Jordan River, where it is now believed John baptised Jesus, as well as 

Mount Nebo, which has long 

been named as the peak from 

which God showed Moses the 

Promised Land. Jordan is also 

home to one of the world’s most 

famous archaeological sites, 

the ancient city of Petra, which 

many travelers know from its 

appearance in ‘’Indiana Jones 

and the Last Crusade’. Pope 

Benedict went on to visit Israel 

and the surrounding Palestinian 

territories. 

His visit to Israel - the first papal 

visit in nine years, has received 

mixed criticism from Israelis, 

Palestinians and Christians who 

were disappointed with the lack 

of support for their respective 

causes. Most of his speeches were devoted to reconciliation between 

Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Peace, brotherhood and coexistence 

were the basic message. 

Far from healing wounds, his words at the Yad Vashem Holocaust 

museum garnered harsh criticism for failing to adequately address the 

horrors memorialized there. He repeatedly condemned anti-Semitism, 

which he describes as “a sin against God and man.” However, when he 

spoke about the Shoah, he was criticized for referring to victims being 

killed rather than murdered and for not apologizing. 

There were even occasions when Pope Benedict XVI /Joseph Ratzinger’s 

Hitler Youth and Wehrmacht background were raised without pointing 

out that his parents were anti-Nazi, that every German youngster at the 

time was obliged to become a member of the Hitler youth, and that he 

had deserted the army to become a priest. 

Jerusalem – ‘special status’ 

Following Pope Benedict XVI`s week-long visit to Jordan and Israel, the 

Vatican reiterated a request that Jerusalem be given a ``special status`` 

so that all the faithful of the three monotheistic religions would have 

access to their holy sites. 

Israel captured Arab East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war and 

annexed it in a move not recognised internationally. It has insisted that 

Jerusalem be its undivided capital and is totally opposed to the idea 

of an international mandate or an international status for the city. The 

Palestinians, meanwhile, want East Jerusalem as their future capital. 

from the Sanctuary and will provide 

the pilgrims who stay there with 

transportation to the stopping points 

along the pilgrimage routes. 

This 5-day service will follow the predefined 

routes along the pilgrimage. 

The 4-star hotel’s Spa and Wellness 

Centre will be available at the end 

of each pilgrimage day. http:// 

lisboainside.lpm.com.pt/en/index. 

php?option=com_content&task=v 

iew&id=171&Itemid=1 

Religious tourism 

– still growing 

Since 2003, overseas religious travel 

by Americans has grown by more 

than 50%, from 587,000 people to 

906,000 people. “Religious tourism 

is recognized as one of the most resilient 

markets in the travel industry,” 

said Kevin J. Wright, president of the 

World Religious Travel Association 

(WRTA) 

Faith-based cruises are extremely 

popular and in addition to many 

religious travellers are taking part in 

‘voluntourism’ a mix of travel and 

volunteer service, as in joining fellow 

believers to help with disaster-relief 

efforts. 

The most popular tourist destina- 

Papal visit Isreal 

tion is Israel, with more than a 

third of travellers, followed by Italy 

(12%) and Greece (11%), according 

to a 2007 study by Globus 

Religious Travel. Although England 

remains a desired destination in 

Europe, the Globus study found that 

travel to the continent has dropped 

compared with the Middle East, 

understandable because of the 

weakness of the $ over the €. http:// 

www.charismamag.com/index.php/ 

news/20632 

Rome exhibition 

An exhibition paying tribute to early 

Renaissance master Fra Angelico 

has opened in the Italian capital, 

offering visitors the rare chance to 

see a selection of his fragile works 

in one place. 

Organisers have gathered together 

49 works of art produced by the 

painter and friar at different stages 

during his life, providing an overview 

of his artistic development. The 

selected works highlight his talents 

in different fields, with his skills as 

a painter. The exhibition, timed to 

coincide with 550 years since Fra 

Angelico`s death, can be visited at 

Palazzo dei Caffarelli until July 5. 


TRANSPORT 

Air France-KLM, 

Delta team up 

Delta Air Lines Inc, Air France and 

KLM signed a deal to combine two 

separate joint venture agreements 

into one to create a trans-Atlantic 

powerhouse that’s expected to 

generate $12 billion in annual 

revenue, and more closely align 

the carriers’ operations without a 

formal merger. 

Passengers get more nonstop flights 

between major cities in the U.S. and 

Europe. The airlines aren’t merging, 

and no subsidiary will be created, 

but airline consultant Darryl Jenkins 

said the equal sharing of revenue 

and costs regardless of who is flying 

the plane means the carriers 

will essentially act as one airline 

on certain routes.”This is a very big 

deal,” Jenkins said. No new routes 

were announced beyond what the 

two previous agreements provided 

for separately. 

The latest agreement means the 

airlines will equally share cost and 

revenues on certain flights regardless 

of which airline owns or flies the aircraft, 

unlike a simple code-sharing 

agreement where one airline bears 

all of the cost but another airline 

might get a share of the revenue for 

booking a customer on a flight. 

What it means for customers is 

seamless booking. For example, a 

customer in San Francisco wanting 

to fly to Paris can book a nonstop 

flight on Delta’s Web site. The flight 

would be operated by Air France. 

The airlines said they will coordinate 

branding at airports and global 

advertising. 

AL reduces Belfast 

flights 

Aer Lingus is temporarily suspending 

flights to five destinations from Belfast 

International Airport this winter. 

It is removing an aircraft from the 

airport and launching new flights to 

Tenerife. As a result, it is suspending 

flights to Faro, Barcelona, Milan, 

Rome and Paris for four months. 

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, 

the airline stressed it was not unusual 

for airlines to reduce schedules in the 

winter and said it remained committed 

to flying from Belfast. 

But commenting on the suspension, 

easyJet spokesman Andrew 

McConnell said: “This shows the 

folly of high-cost Aer Lingus trying 

to compete with low-cost easyJet. 

“They’re running away from Belfast, 

but how long before they run away 

from Gatwick too.” The two airlines 

compete head to head on routes 

from Belfast to Faro, Barcelona, 

and Paris. 

EC approve Berlin 

Airport finance 

The European Commission has 

approved €654.5m capital increases 

for the building of the 

Berlin Brandenburg International 

Airport. Reuters reported that the 

EC also approved a 10% guarantee 

for up to €2.4bn from the public 

shareholder of the airport operator 

Flughafen Berlin Schoenefeld and 

€74m in an infrastructure grant. 

The total cost of the airport which will 

replace the German's capital three 

smaller airports at Tegel, Schoenefeld 

and Templehof (now closed), 

is €3.6bn, mainly private investment. 

www.berlin-airport.de 

Enobús initiative 

La Ruta del Vino La Rioja Alavesa 

has launched a new Enobús initiative 

to further promote the wine tourism 

in the region of Rioja Alavesa. The 

Enobús is aimed at attracting wine 

enthusiasts with three individually 

designed wine bus tours around the 

region. 

Each wine tour visits different vineyards, 

restaurants, bars and activities. 

The bus offers an in-bus audio 

guide in English, French, Castilian 

and Basque. All routes depart from 

La Guardia in the early morning and 

return in the evening 

BAA reports 

£229m loss 

UK airport operator BAA has reported 

a net pre-tax loss of £316.2m 

(€357.2m) in the first quarter, compared 

to a £55.6m (€62.8m) yearon-year. 

BAA blamed one-off costs 

from building Heathrow's Terminal 

5 and from losses on derivatives 

contracts. 

Passenger numbers also fell 10% 

to 24.8m in the three months to 

March as global demand for travel 

declined further. 

Two of BAA's London airports, 

Gatwick and Stansted, saw the 

greatest declines in traffic at 14.6% 

each. Despite substantial increases 

in revenue and pre-tax earnings of 

15.5% and 27.9% respectively, BAA 

suffered a post-tax loss of £228.8m 

(€258.5m).www.baa.com 

EU-Canada 

Canada and the European Union 

have signed a transatlantic Open 

Skies agreement. The transatlantic 

deal allows airlines from Canada 

and the EU states to fly freely between 

each others' airports. 

The agreement eases restrictions on 

control and ownership of Canadian 

and EU airlines, and replaces existing 

agreements governing routes, 

prices and flight frequency. 

Story telling cars 

GoCar, Barcelona 

Barcelona’s talking, yellow sightseeing 

cars will be giving visitors 

a chance to see even more of the 

famous Catalan city this summer. 

The GoCar story-telling cars have 

doubled the size of their city tour, 

with more than 800 ‘trigger points’ 

in the GPS guided audio tour using a 

combination of directions, information, 

sound effects and music. 

The three-wheeler cars, which 

launched in Barcelona last year, 

take a driver and one passenger 

on a zippy tour of the city’s famous 

landmarks providing clear directions 

and a running commentary. 

The advanced navigational capabilities 

of the Global Positioning System 

deliver an informative tour, highlighting 

specific locations throughout 

Barcelona as you drive. Prices are 

€35 for the first hour, second hour 

€25, additional hour €20 or for a full 

day €99 It is highly recommended 

to book in advance online at www. 

gocartours.es or call GoCar on 00 

34 93 269 1792 

German Ryanair 

base receives new 

licence 

Ryanair is once again accepting 

bookings on all flights to and from 

Dusseldorf-Weeze after the airport 

was issued a new licence.The new 

licence will allow the low cost carrier 

to continue to operate its full flight 

schedule in Weeze, which is 70km 

from Dusseldorf. 

The airline has six aircraft based at 

Weeze and carries 2.5m passengers. 

Ryanair said 2,500 employees would 

have lost their jobs if the license was 

not renewed and the airport was 

forced to close. www.ryanair.com 

Lufthansa bid for 

Austrian 

Lufthansa has filed its formal request 

for EC approval for its bid to take 

over Austrian Airlines. The EC is 

already reviewing the bid over its 

concerns about the price and the restructuring 

plan. The first phase of its 

review is expected to be completed 

by June 17. 

Wolfgang Mayrhuber, Lufthansa’s 

Chairman and CEO, has said that 

his airline will not proceed if the 

EC rules against it.The EC is also 

holding an “in-depth” probe into 

Lufthansa’s bid for Brussels Airlines, 

a decision on which is expected on 

June 10. 

Eurostar – more 

through fares 

Eurostar is set to increase its ticketing 

partnership with other European rail 

Flight plan 

companies including high speed operators 

from this year. Richard Brown, 

Eurostar’s CEO, announced plans to 

work more closely with Dutch train 

operator NS when it begins its high 

speed service between Amsterdam 

and Brussels next year. 

From June this year, Eurostar customers 

will be able to buy tickets from the 

UK to destinations in Switzerland. 

Dutch/USA 

agreement 

The Dutch and US governments 

have signed a deal to speed up entry 

of their citizens into each other's 

country. It would cut the time spent 

going through immigration from 70 

minutes to 40 seconds. 

Several other countries including 

Canada, the UK, France and Germany 

are interested in joining the 

project. The agreement, called FLUX 

in the Netherlands and Global Entry 

in the US, signed in late April is now 

in operation. 

It allows all US and Dutch citizens 

who have been screened and approved 

by both the two countries' 

authorities to pass straight through 

immigration checks at Schiphol Airport 

in the Netherlands and ten airports 

in the US, planned to increase 

to 20 by the end of 2009. 

All Dutch and Us citizens holders 

passport can apply. Dutch citizens 

must also be members of the 

Privium fast track scheme which 

as been operating at Schiphol for 

several years. To join Privium, Dutch 

citizens must have an iris scan and 

pay from €109 a year. The FLUX 

scheme does not apply to holders 

of a Privium Card who are not Dutch 

citizens. 

Applicants for the FLUX/Global 

Entry scheme must also agree to 

background screening by both the 

Dutch and Us authorities.This will 

include an interview with an officer of 

US Customs and Border Protection 

and the Dutch Border Police. There 

is a non-refundable application fee 

of €100 and an annual FLUX fee 

of €159. 

Once accepted, citizens will not have 

to fill in immigration forms or wait 

in queues when visiting each other's 

continued on page 10... 

Aer Lingus launched 5 new European routes from its new hub at 

London Gatwick Airport. The new destinations are Munich, Vienna, 

Nice, Faro and Zurich 

Air France, in co-operation with subsidiaries, CityJet and VLM Airlines 

has launched a new service from London City airport to Nantes. Twice 

daily departures every weekday and daily flights at the weekend 

easyJet it is increasing the number of flights this summer to the popular 

destinations of Split, Dalaman, Bodrum, Mykonos, Montpellier & Toulouse 

from Gatwick Airport.It is also starting three new routes from its 

Luton hub in July – Milan operate six times weekly, Mahon and Montpellier, 

three times weekly 

Icelandair has announced a service from Glasgow to Iceland and 

Icelandair’s connecting North American destinations from 27th August 

to 8th November 2009. There will be two flights per week, on Thursdays 

and Sundays, 

Monarch has added services to Larnaca in Cyprus to its scheduled 

winter flying programme for 2009/2010 

Pegasus Airlines - Turkey’s carrier, has launched direct flights to 

Bodrum from Stansted. 

Virgin Atlantic will start flying between London Gatwick and Puerto 

Rico’s San Juan for the winter season 2009/2010. The weekly services, 

which will operate via Antigua, begin on 7 November 2009. 


news

news 


country. www.privium.com www. 

dartagnan.eu 

Ryanair – web 

check in only 

Ryanair, confirmed that from 20th 

May all new passenger bookings, 

including those travelling with infants 

and checked in bags, will move 

to online check-in and ‘bag-drop’ 

only as Ryanair phases out the use 

airport of check-in desks from its 146 

airports by 1 October next. 

Ryanair will no longer accept bookings 

for unaccompanied minors 

(under 16 years old) while all new 

bookings will require passengers 

(including infants and domestic flight 

passengers) to hold a valid passport 

or valid national identity card. 

Accordingly, Ryanair will remove its 

£10/€10 airport check-in fee and 

introduce a £5/€5 online check-in 

fee per person, per flight, on new 

bookings, other than promotional 

fares (fares of ‘Free’, ‘C1’ and ‘€5’ 

will include web check-in on a free 

of charge basis), while a €40/£40 

‘boarding card re-issue fee’ will 

be introduced to encourage all 

passengers to arrive at the airport 

with their pre-printed web check-in 

boarding card. 

Hop on, hop off 

service 

Visitors to Frankfurt am Main metropolis 

will be able to discover the 

city in an original double-decker bus 

while boarding or deboarding at the 

most interesting tourist attractions as 

often as they please. 

Frankfurt is responding to numerous 

visitor requests. Guests are now 

able to arrange their very own flexible 

sightseeing tour. This is a great 

advantage particularly for younger 

generations, who generally prefer to 

discover a city on their own, rather 

than by way of standardised guided 

MICE NEWS.... 

Hungary Mice 

event 

The Hungarian National Tourist Office 

in London (HNTO) is bringing 

together some of its key MICE suppliers, 

including top hotels, conference 

centres and DMC’s on Friday 

5th June 2009 (11am-4pm) to talk 

about this exciting destination, and 

the many opportunities there are for 

MICE organisers looking for a good 

value conference destination. 

The event is going to be held at the 

conveniently located Strand Palace 

Hotel in Central London. Register 

your interest early to be entered in 

a grand prize draw for a chance to 

win one of the five luxury short breaks 

in Budapest offered by the exhibiting 

hotels. trade@gotohungary.co.uk 

Tel. 020 78230413 

Istanbul’s congress 

valley 

The Halic (Golden Horn) Congress 

Centre, which recently opened a 

tours. This new sightseeing service 

supplements the existing range of 

motorised city tours, which are accompanied 

by a certified tour guide 

and generally last two to two-anda-half 

hours. 

Passengers have multilingual service 

(currently 10 languages)The service 

runs every hour between 10:00 a.m. 

and 5:00 p.m. from Monday to 

Thursday and every half hour from 

Friday to Sunday. The tour includes 

the most important sightseeing 

attractions ( and the main rail station) 

and lasts approximately one 

hour. Tickets, which are valid for 

the entire day, are available at the 

Tourist Information Offices ‘Römer’ 

and ‘Main Train Station’ as well as 

on the bus. 

Warning! 

Somerset and Devon County Council 

have announced the full details of 

the South West Tour of Britain cycle 

stages, that takes place on Thursday 

17 and Friday 18 September. 

The two race routes will cover a 

total of 346kms and pass through 

a number of towns and villages in 

Somerset and Devon. 

Stage six of the Tour of Britain will 

start in Frome. Riders will cover 

187kms passing through the Somerset 

Levels, The Quantocks and 

Exmoor National Park, before finishing 

in the estuary town of Bideford 

on the North Devon coast. 

Stage seven will cover a further 

159kms. Starting in the Devon 

market town of Hatherleigh, competitors 

will ride close to the edge 

of Dartmoor National Park. They will 

then race along the Devon Jurassic 

Coast and cross the river Axe, before 

pedalling over the finish line at Huish 

Park in South Somerset. 

Last year there were 107,000 spectators 

at the South West stage. This 

year’s two-day event aims to build 

upon previous years. www.southwesttourofbritain.co.uk 

main auditoria for 3,104 delegates 

and stands on the shore of the Golden 

Hornis, an area of great historic 

interest in one of the most beautiful 

parts of the city. It is connected by 

the historical Galata Bridge to the 

Feshane International Exhibition, 

Congress and Culture Centre. 

October 2009 sees the opening of 

The Harbiye Congress and Cultural 

Centre with an auditorium for 3,500 

people, foyer, and exhibition space 

of over 10,000 square meters and 

further flexible meeting rooms. 

Tartu offering 

In Estonia’s second City – Tartu, 

The Tartu Hotel has opened a new 

conference centre with three new 

conference rooms taking 50, 30 

and 10 delegates respectively for a 

conference, banquet or workshop. 

All are equipped with up to date 

technology. Group catering and 

coffee breaks are offered by the café 

‘Tartu Kohvik’. 3, Soola St, Tartu Tel: 

+372 731 4300; +372 51 80009 

www.tartuhotell.ee 

CPT News but 

Eurotunnel coach 

incident 

The Rail Accident Investigation 

Branch (RAIB) has issued a report 

regarding an incident last year on a 

Eurotunnel Shuttle train. 

A French-owned coach parked in 

the Shuttle train rolled backwards as 

the train began to move foreword, 

stopping only when it hit a fire door 

to the next carriage. 

RAIB concluded that the immediate 

cause of the accident was that the 

coach was not sufficiently restrained. 

The coach parking brake was not 

applied and first gear was not engaged 

and chocks that should have 

been placed under the wheels of 

the coach by Eurotunnel staff were 

either missing or were incorrectly 

positioned. 

Graduated Fixed 

Penalties and 

Financial deposits 

New UK regulations introducing 

the issuing of fixed penalties to PCV 

and HGV drivers commenced 1 

April 2009. 

The new fixed penalties will apply to a 

range of drivers’ hours, tachographs, 

overloading and vehicle safety offences 

and the fines payable at the 

roadside will range from £30 to £200 

and will be non-endorsable. 

A number of £60 or £120 fines 

are endorsable and carry 3 penalty 

points. Alternatively the driver can 

contest the fine and he can opt to 

go to court rather than accept the 

fixed penalty. 

It is anticipated some Police forces 

will commence using these new powers 

after 1 April and VOSA (Vehicle & 

Operators Service Agency ) Enforcement 

Officers will commence issuing 

the fixed penalties at the roadside 

from 28 May 2009. 

Details of each fixed penalty issued 

by VOSA will be sent to the Operator 

of the vehicle concerned and where 

there are repeated offences this will 

be followed up by a VOSA investigation 

with the driver and operator. 

This could include the matter being 

referred to the Traffic Commissioner 

who could take action against the 

driver’s vocational driving licence. 

VOSA officers will also be able to 

immobilise vehicles where they consider 

the vehicle or driver are a risk 

to road safety if they were allowed 

to continue with their journey. This is 

primarily aimed at Operators where 

VOSA considers there is a significant 

risk that the driver might ignore the 

prohibition after VOSA have left the 

site. Full details will be published on 

the CPT website shortly. 

London Coach 

parking 

In April the City of Westminster rolled 

out ‘Pay by Phone’ parking arrangements 

for coaches. 

All coin payment meters and coinoperated 

pay and display machines 

were withdrawn from the streets - 

none of the general conditions of 

parking have been changed and 

the usual time restrictions still apply, 

payment for parking at all designated 

coach parking bays across 

the city must now be made via the 

council’s Pay by Phone service. 

To begin using the service, operators 

will need to register for a Westminster 

Pay by Phone account. Your driver 

can do this by phone when parking 

in Westminster for the first time, 

however CPT recommends that you 

register online at: www.westminster. 

gov.uk/paybyphone 

For fleets in excess of 10 vehicles 

contact Westminster’s pay by phone 

team at Verrus for assistance T:0870 

112 4612 or email: uksupport@ 

verrus.com 

Once registered, you can manage 

your account online at www.verrus. 

com/westminster/index.aspx 

If you do not wish to use the pay by 

phone service the Council do have 

Parking Cards which available in 

£2 and £4 denominations and can 

be purchased from Westminster Libraries 

or One Stop Services. www. 

westminster.gov.uk/libraries www. 

westminster.gov.uk/onestopservices 

Wembley coach 

parking 

Operators wishing to book a coach 

into the Wembley Stadium Arena 

facilities, other than for event days, 

should now contact Jane Harrison at 

‘City & Suburban Parking, telephone 

020 8900 2405, who will assist with 

this process and make appropriate 

arrangements with on site security. 

Pre-booking is still required for this 

facility, as per the events booking 

procedure. The longer notice period 

given to City & Suburban Parking, the 

easier they will be able to facilitate 

requests. 

Whitby Coach 

Parking 

CPT has discovered that the temporary 

arrangement for coach 

parking at the Harbour side (Lang 

borne Road) in Whitby has been 

withdrawn. 

Two alternative coach parks are 

available in the town at West Cliff 

Coach Park, off North Terrace Crescent, 

Whitby, adjacent to the Pavilion 

and Theatre and offers approximately 

30 spaces. (additional bays 

are available by arrangement) . 

Abbey Headland Coach Park, Abbey 

Lane, Whitby offers approximately 6 

spaces. The costs have not changed 

and remain at £5.50 

Bayswater Coach 

Park 

Following its closure in January, the 

Bayswater Road coach park in London 

has now been re-opened, with 

the operation now being controlled 

by Euro Car Parks. 

The Bayswater Road coach park is 

opposite St. Petersburgh Place and 

has 20 coach bays. Open 24hrs 

Mon-Sun with meter and pay by 

phone options. 3 - 12hrs - £10, 

12 - 24hrs - £20 

For further information on coach 

parking contact CPT’s Coaching 

Executive, Graham Messenger: 

graham@cpt-uk.org. 


GROUP OPTIONS/ 

ATTRACTIONS 

Houses of 

Parliament 2009 

Group and travel trade rates are 

now on sale for one of London’s 

premier tourist attractions, The 

Summer Opening of the Houses of 

Parliament 2009, exclusively from 

Ticketmaster. 

The ‘Blue Badge’ guided tours will 

run Monday to Saturday from 3rd 

August to 3rd October. Group rates 

for 10+ people start at just £4.89 

per person a saving of up to 60 % 

compared to the full individual price. 

Group rates vary depending on the 

time of day. 

The 75 minute guided tours, which 

run throughout the day, have proven 

to be extremely popular with group 

visitors. Visitors have the opportunity 

to discover the fascinating blend of 

history and politics that lie within one 

of the most instantly recognisable 

buildings in the world. The tours take 

in the Lords and Commons Chambers 

plus other highlights such as 

Westminster Hall, the Queen’s Robing 

Room, the Royal Gallery, Peers’ 

Lobby, Central Lobby, Members’ 

Lobby and St Stephen’s Hall. 

T0844 847 2498 or www.ticketmaster.co.uk/groups. 

Please note 

that these are new booking details 

for 2009. 

Houses of Parliament Robing 

Room 

Battlefield tours 

by Helicopter 

Heli Promotions are offering 3 different 

sightseeing tours by helicopter 

over the Belgium battlefields. 

During the 30 minute flight, passengers 

fly over Diksmuide, Ypres, 

Passendale and Houthulst. The bestknown 

memorials they fly above are 

the Ysertower, Trench of Death, Menin 

Gate and Tyne Cot Cemetery. 

During the 45 minute tour passengers 

also fly over Heuvelland and the 

Irish Peace park in Messines. 

Finally there is the 60 minute tour, 

where the pilot follows the Yser until 

the Albert I Memorial in Nieuwpoort. 

During this last tour, guests can enjoy 

a beautiful view over the Yser valley, 

the Belgian coast and all the other 

memorials. This tour offers the ideal 

aerial view on the First World War! 

Before take-off, guests receive a 

brochure which shows the route 

map of the flights and the monuments 

passengers will see. Flights 

every day Sunday – Friday inclusive. 

Can take up to 4 passengers and 6 

passengers is the luxury helicopter. 

www.battlefields.be T+32 (0)51 

50 56 56 

First gaming 

museum 

Italy has its first gaming museum, 

with a vast collection of artifacts 

tracing the dizzying development of 

videogames from their ancestors in 

the 1950s through to the latest arrivals 

on the market. The collection 

of software and hardware is housed 

in the Videogaming Archive in Bologna’s 

Cineteca film library. 

The videogaming legends on show 

include the mythical Atari 2600 

console from the 1970’s, the first 

Nintendo machines from the early 

1980’s, classic Sega Mega Drives 

from the late 1980’s and Sony 

devices, such as Playstation. The museum 

will map out the development 

of videogames, starting with their 

tentative beginnings in 1958 with a 

game called Tennis For Two. This was 

followed by Spacewar!, written by 

two students from the Massachusetts 

Institute of Technology, in 1961. 

However, it was only in the 1970s, 

with the arrival of arcade games such 

as Pong and Space Invaders, that 

the general public got involved. The 

instant popularity of these games led 

manufacturers to start copying them 

and by the early 1990s, home videogame 

consoles were widespread. 

Sales of videogames in Italy reported 

annual rises of 40% in 2007 and 

44% last year, with a 51% increase 

predicted for 2009 www.cinetecadibologna.it/en/biblioteca 

Imperial Treasury, 

Vienna 

The world’s richest Imperial Treasury 

is open to the public from 18 May 

until 1 November. Daily from 10 

am to 6 pm. 

The oldest part of the Hofburg Palace, 

the Schweizerhof, houses the unrivalled 

treasures of the Habsburgs, 

among them the Austrian imperial 

crown, and the crown and insignia 

of the Holy Roman Empire. Other 

highlights include the golden cradle 

of Napoleon’s son, the treasure of 

the Order of the Golden Fleece, and 

the extant holdings of the sumptuous 

15th Century treasure of the Dukes 

of Burgundy. 

Imperial Crown 

Also on show are charming pieces 

of jewellery once worn by Habsburg 

empresses and princesses, and 

pieces formerly in the possession of 

the Empress Elisabeth. 

Due to space restrictions and the 

large increase in groups visiting the 

Imperial Treasury limit the group 

size to a maximum of 25 PAX 

per guide. 

Entrance fees 

Adults €10,- Groups of 10 or over 

€7,- p.p. www.khm.at 

Island Getaway 

Vienna’s Danube Island Festival, Europe’s 

largest free open-air party, will 

be held for the 26th time in 2009. 

From June 26-28 and featuring 600 

hours of concerts by 2,000 artists on 

20 stages. The stages, concessions, 

and information booths will be set 

up in the central part of the island, 

between the Nordbrücke and the 

Reichsbrücke bridges. The island 

itself is easy to reach by public transportation 

(subway lines U1 and U6). 

www.donauinselfest.at 

Russian rises 

Russian museums have strangely 

responded to the world financial 

crisis and started raising their fees. 

According to some of our tour op- 

erator readers, the Moscow Kremlin 

is the ‘leader’ in this trend. Recently 

the entrance fees to the Kremlin have 

doubled. Other famous museums, 

such as for Tretiyakov Gallery raised 

its entrance fee by 10% and The 

Hermitage in Saint Petersburg has 

an increase imminently. 

Operimsommer 

Vienna 

Julie May Queen, 

Operimsommer 

Castles and Manor Houses 

Elizabethan Garden at Kenilworth Castle 

Early May saw the opening of the recreated exquisite garden Robert 

Dudley, Earl of Leicester created to seduce Queen Elizabeth I in 1575 

at Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire. Complete with an aviary housing 

colourful birds, a beautiful marble fountain, obelisks and planting. As 

with any garden the changing seasons enable the plants, herbs and 

flowers to take on new colours, textures and forms. While this garden 

has been planted to peak with the passion of summer colour in July 

when Elizabeth originally visited, autumn brings the more muted, pastel 

tones of a love unreturned. 

Kenilworth Castle itself is one of the great castle ruins in England, the 

beautiful Elizabethan Gatehouse, is now fully restored. Explore new 

exhibitions that chart the castle’s long and colourful history, then enjoy 

the finest local produce in the newly refurbished castle tearoom. 

English Heritage offers 15% discount for parties of 11 people or more. 

You also receive one free place for every additional 20 people in your 

group (i.e. from 31 people), plus free entry for one tour leader and 

coach driver per group. T01926 852078 or visit Kenilworth Castle & 

Elizabethan Garden 

Waddesdon Manor 

It is the 75th anniversary of the 

death of Baron Edmond, father 

of James de Rothschild, who 

bequeathed the Manor to the 

National Trust in 1957. Baron 

Edmond was one of the greatest 

collectors; on his death in 1934 

James’s inheritance included over 

2000 drawings, porcelain, furniture, 

and paintings. His Sèvres was 

Waddesdon Manor 


particularly important; this year’s exhibition will examine the key pieces 

preserved at Waddesdon, but also loans from other collectors some of 

which have never been seen in public before.www.waddesdon.org.uk 

Buy 1 day get 12 months free 

Challenging times call for radical measures and, in response to the 

current economic climate, Blenheim Palace, in the heart of Oxfordshire 

Cotswolds is fighting back with the ultimate ticket offer. Every visitor to 

the ancestral home of the Dukes of Marlborough, and birthplace of Sir 

Winston Churchill, will have the opportunity to enjoy unlimited great 

days out for a whole year, by converting their day ticket to an Annual 

Pass – for free! 

The Annual Pass offer was launched in February. Over the May Bank 

Holiday weekend visitors to Blenheim Palace almost doubled last year’s 

attendance from over 10,100 to over 19,800. 

Group visitors can enjoy this ticket offer by simply upgrading their discounted 

group ticket to a full price adult Palace ticket on the day, offering 

12 months worth of visits for just £17.50! 

The Annual Pass includes free entry to most events including Jousting tournaments, 

Craft shows, a Classic Car Show and Christmas events, as well 

as offering good value discounts for the Blenheim Palace International 

Horse Trials, and the Battle Proms evening picnic concert. T08700 60 

20 80 (24 hour information) or visit www.blenheimpalace.com 


news

news 


The Theater an der Wien – after serving 

for years as a stage for musicals 

– was reopened in 2006 as Vienna’s 

newest opera house. This theatre by 

the Naschmarkt now presents operas 

all year round, including the summer 

program billed as Operimsommer. 

In July 2009, the Theater an der 

Wien will stage the premiere of 

Gioachino Rossini‘s Il Turco in Italia 

(in Italian, with German supertitles), 

followed in August by a production 

of Mozart’s Don Giovanni with Erwin 

Schrott in the title role. 

The Schönbrunner Schlosstheater 

will present Carl Zeller’s Bird Seller, 

a well-loved and often-performed 

operetta. And another classic can 

be found during the Operetta Summer 

program held in the gardens 

of the Theresianum palace in the 

city’s fourth district. Johann Strauss’ 

Vienna Blood was not originally 

composed as an operetta. It is actually 

more of an adaptation. The libretto 

was written by Victor Leon and 

Leo Stein, which was then matched 

with compositions and themes from 

Strauss’ rich musical creation and 

later augmented with lyrics. www. 

theater-wien.at 

Margritte museum 

opens 

The work of Belgian surrealist painter 

Rene Magritte will get a new home 

on 1st June with the opening of 

a museum dedicated to his life. 

Located on the Place Royale in 

Brussels, the Rene Magritte Museum 

will bring together over 170 of Magritte’s 

paintings alongside archival 

The museum will be housed in a 

neo-classical building known as 

the Altenloh Hotel, part of the Museum 

of Modern Art complex.Group 

rates for parties of 15 or more and 

guided tours available.T00 32 2 

508 33 33 

New Tivoli 

exhibition 

Located approx 30 kilometres from 

Rome, new exhibition celebrates 

the Ancient Roman incarnation of 

the modern town of Tivoli, through 

a host of archaeological finds on 

public display for the first time. 

Staged in the archaeological complex 

of the Villa Adriana - the 2ndcentury 

palace built by the Emperor 

Hadrian - the exhibition spotlights 

the town`s rise to prominence in 

the Roman Empire, with a particular 

focus on the palace. Hundreds of 

finds have been unearthed in Tivoli, 

once Tibur, over decades of excavations 

most stored or sent to museums 

throughout Italy 

The new exhibition offers visitors to 

the complex the first opportunity to 

admire many of these artefacts in 

context. On show in the artificial 

grotto of Conopus, exhibits different 

aspects of Ancient Roman life. 

Garden 

inspirations 

New in 2009 - Future Gardens 

presents innovative designer gardens, 

beautiful wildflower meadows, 

a tropical butterfly house, fun experience 

gardens for children, a butterfly 

garden and much more 

material, letters written by the artist, This is just the beginning for what 

86x123_ING 12.12.2008 11:45 

drawings and photographs. will become 

Pagina 

Butterfly 

1 

World. Future 

PURE SWISS EMOTIONS! 

Open daily: 

from the 14th of March 2009 

to the 15th of November 2009 

from 9.00 AM till 6.00 PM 

Tel: +41(0)91.640.10.60 

www.swissminiatur.ch 

info@swissminiatur.ch 

CHINESE AND INDIAN CUISINE 

Gardens is an annual event covering 

4 months, 5th June to 4th October 

2009 offering visitors the chance to 

see and appreciate how gardens 

mature and evolve throughout the 

seasons. With something for everyone, 

including The Very Hungry 

Caterpillar Garden, Future Gardens 

will excite, inform, educate and 

inspire all ages. 

Future Gardens 

At the heart of the show are 12 inspirational 

Designer Gardens, selected 

to present intentionally thoughtprovoking 

ideas, whilst showing that 

sustainability and innovative design 

can be perfect bedfellows. 

Located just off junction 21a of the 

M25 and only 30 minutes outside 

London, Future Gardens is set 

amongst 27 acres of land, which 

over the coming years will become 

home to an amazing tropical 

dome filled with butterflies. Chiswell 

Green,St Albans,Hertfordshire 

T01727 869203 

A Taste of Spain 

2009 

On Sunday 31 May, A Taste of Spain 

2009 will transform London’s world- 

6112 WATTENS · AUSTRIA 

www.swarovski.com/kristallwelten 

famous shopping street – Regent 

Street into a grand showcase of 

Spanish culture, lifestyle and food 

for the fourth consecutive year. 

Regent Street will be traffic free and 

everyone will be invited to celebrate 

the very best of Spain from 12 noon 

to 6pm. 

The Spanish fiesta will see twelve 

Spanish regions fill the street with 

dancing horses and folk dancers, 

traditional musicians and DJs from 

Ibiza, flamenco dancers and street 

performers, contemporary art and 

children’s face painting, a typical 

Spanish food market and a giant 

Valencian paella. All the flavours 

of Spain will come together for an 

unforgettable day out in the heart 

of London. A Taste of Spain is supported 

by the Spanish Tourist Office, 

Regent Street Association and The 

Crown Estate. www.tastespain.info 

and www.regentstreetonline.com 

Munich début 

On show at Munich’s Bavarian National 

Museum until 26th July, is the 

exhibition ‘The House of Wittelsbach 

and the Middle Kingdom - 400 

years of Relations between China 

and Bavaria’ 

As early as the 16th century, the 

Bavarian dukes succumbed to the 

fascination of Asian arts and crafts 

and collected these exotic items for 

the Münchner Kunstkammer.The 

exhibition examines the history of the 

perception of China in Bavaria in five 

sections ranging from the fascination 

with the exotic to the enthusiasm for 

the different aesthetic of Chinese 

luxury goods and the idealisation 

of the unknown Middle Kingdom to 


THE ART OF 

CRYSTAL FICTION 



the sober view of the superpower in 

the Far East. 

Over 300 top-class exhibits have 

been made available by international 

lenders (in Beijing, Florence, 

Copenhagen and Vienna), 

including outstanding examples of 

decorative art. www.bayerischesnationalmuseum.de 

BM No2 in the 

world 

Congratulations to the British Museum, 

which has come second in 

the worldwide museum attendance 

TRAVEL INDUSTRY 

NEWS 

2010 prices fixed 

by NTS 

The National Trust for Scotland has 

just announced that it is holding its 

advertised 2009 travel trade prices 

until 31 December 2010. 

This means that the Trust’s Group 

Rates and flexible, multi-day Discover 

Tickets save up to 78%* on 

standard admission prices. 

Their new 3, 7 and 14 day Discover 

Tickets also offer greater opportuni- 

list published by The Art Newspaper. 

The institution attracted 5.93 million 

visitors in 2008, beaten only 

by the Louvre with 8.5 million. The 

BM even beat Tate Modem, which 

until last year was the UK’s second 

most visited tourist attraction (after 

B1ackpool Pleasure Beach). That 

came in fourth with 4.95 million. 

Good news for the Royal Academy 

though - despite coming 45th in 

the most -visited list, the gallery’s 

From Russia show came a respectable 

tenth among individual show 

figures, with 388,628 visitors turning 

up to goggle at Matisse’s The 

Red Room and Kazimir Malevich’s 

Black Sauare. 

ties to visit more National Trust for 

Scotland properties than ever before 

now including Burns National Heritage 

Park at no extra cost. 

Discover Tickets: 

• attract a 20% commission on all 

sales 

• are sold exclusively to the travel 

trade 

• are issued on a sale or return 

basis 

• allow unrestricted access to all 

Awards in the industry 

Enjoy England awards 

The great English ‘pub’ has scooped the award for ‘outstanding contribution 

to tourism’ at this year’s Enjoy England Awards for Excellence, 

organised by VisitEngland and sponsored by The Caravan Club. 

Other winners included Harewood House in Harewood, Leeds www. 

harewood.org - Large visitor attraction of the year. 78 Derngate: The 

Charles Rennie Mackintosh House and Galleries in Northampton 

www.78derngate.org.uk - Small visitor attraction of the year. The London 

Walks www.londonwalks.com - Best tourism experience of the year. 

Eurostar Awards 

Eurostar held their annual Sales Awards on 30th April to recognise their 

travel partners for their fortitude and exceptional contribution to what 

ended up being an exceptional and highly challenging year. 

Record numbers of submissions were received for the 10 categories 

across a wide range of Eurostar’s partnership base including corporate 

clients, TMCs, Tour Operators and overseas distribution partners. The 

winners were chosen by a panel of top judges across the industry from 

Visit Britain, the Institute of Travel and Tourism, PricewaterhouseCoopers, 

Argate Consulting and Amadeus. 

The full list of award categories and winners is as follows: 

HS1 and Beyond: Great Rail Journeys 

Best International Partner: The Walshe Group 

Best Overseas Campaign: Rail Europe Group 

Tread Lightly – business: Carlson Wagonlit 

Tread Lightly– leisure: STA 

Travel Management Team of the Year: HRG and PWC 

Outstanding performance in Leisure Market:VFB 

Outstanding Partnership: Disneyland Resort Paris 

Eurostar Ambassador: Angel Alvarez, Rail Europe Group 

Manager of the Year: Pamela Nyambi, Rail Europe Group 

ECE wins award 

Following our report last month congratulating China Holidays and CHR 

for their Queens Award, we present another winner - Group travel operator, 

Educational Cultural Exchanges (International) Ltd (ECE) has been 

honoured with The Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2009 in recognition of 

its export earnings. Figures have quadrupled over the last six years. 

Formed in 1987, ECE develops educational and cultural travel programmes 

for groups of international and domestic students. The organisation 

now extends beyond its original following in the USA, with groups 

taking part in ECE programmes from Europe, Israel and most recently 

China. www.ecetravel.com 

National Trust for Scotland attractions 

• 3 day tickets are valid 3 days out 

of 7 consecutive days 

• 7 day tickets are valid 7 days out 

of 14 consecutive days 

• 14 day tickets are valid 14 days 

out of 30 consecutive days 

* 78% saving based on 14-day 

adult 

The National Trust for Scotland offers 

a wealth of 4 star and 5 star visitor 

attractions. traveltrade@nts.org.uk, 

www.nts.org.uk/TravelTrade 

Good News 

Bookings for coach day trips, short 

breaks and longer holidays for 2009 

have surged according to the UK’s 

Coach Tourism Council, as people 

look for extra value with the all inclusive 

nature of coach tours. 

The surge in bookings is backed up 

by specialist coach booking website, 

www.coachholidays.com which sells 

tours on behalf of more than 50 UK 

operators. It reports year on year 

sales up by as much as 50%. 

The latest Coach Tourism Council 

Handbook for 2009/10 underlines 

the sheer size, importance and diversity 

of the UK’s coach industry.CTC 

provided the following: 

Coach statistics 

• 273 million people went on a 

coach for leisure purposes last 

year while nearly seven million 

people spent £1.15 billion on a 

UK coach touring holiday. 

• In addition there were 266 million 

day trips by coach with each passenger 

spending more than £50 

on the trip. 

• Coach travel is the greenest travel 

option in the UK today with the 

lowest carbon dioxide emissions 

per passenger per kilometre of 

any mode of transport 

• A coach is twice as efficient as a 

train, nearly four time more efficient 

than the car and six times 

more efficient than air travel 

• Coaches help cut congestion – a 

coach carrying 50 passengers 

takes the place of 20 cars on the 

road 

• Travelling from London to Edinburgh 

by coach is four times 

cheaper than going by car 

• Safety: Coaches are seven times 

safer per mile than a car. They 

each get a maintenance check 

every day, and a full examination 

every four to six weeks 

• The increased popularity of London’s 

theatres had been helped 

by coach passengers who account 

for 10% of theatre visitors 

For a copy of the 2009 Coach 

Handbook (free to members. £50 to 

non members) please contact: Email: 

paul.directpr@btconnect.com 

Chasing the 

Chinese 

Australian learning and development 

company, TravConsult, has just 

launched an interactive educational 

blog, called TravConsult China, in 

order to help tourism organisations, 

businesses, tourism professionals 

and academics globally to better 

understand Chinese tourists. 

TravConsult’s China blog, which can 

be found at www.travconsultchina. 

blogspot.com includes the latest 

tourism, hospitality and business 

news from China, links to useful 

websites from around the world 

on outbound tourism from China, 

gaming and Chinese tourists, doing 

business in China. There are 

interactive Chinese language tools 

and an audio-dictionary for people 

who would like to learn some words 

& expressions in Mandarin. 


news 

TUI invests in 

Russian market 

TUI is taking majority stakes in 

Russian tour operating and travel 

agency firm VKO Group and Voyage 

Kiev based on Ukraine. The 

joint venture also plans to take 

a 75% controlling stake in Mostravel, 

a Turkey and Egypt destination 

specialist based in Moscow. 

TUI Travel announced a year ago 

that it was forming a joint venture 

with S-Group Capital Management, 

together with affiliated parties, to 

develop its Russian and CIS leisure 

tourism presence. The joint venture 

- 51% owned by S-Group and 49% 

by TUI Travel - will be an investment 

holding company, financed proportionally 

by both parties. 

Six million Russians and one million 

Ukrainians travelled on traditional 

sun and beach holidays last year, 

which combined is equivalent to a 

third of the size of the UK sun and 

beach charter market, according 

to TUI. 

UK visa clamp 

down 

The number of colleges approved to 

sponsor UK student visas has shrunk 

by 90%, following a crackdown in 

March on bogus colleges. The new 

list, vetted by the UK Border Agency, 

contains only 1,500 colleges - down 

from 15,000. 

‘European Tourism 

2009 - Trends & 

Prospects’ 

It is now clear that the financial-sector 

blizzard that struck in the second 

half of 2008 is affecting the global 

economy. Every single economy in 

Europe, is expected to suffer a contraction 

in GDP in 2009. Not many 

emerging markets, so many of which 

were booming in 2007-2008 will be 

able to sustain any significant growth 

in 2009, either. And the downturn 

is expected to be more severe than 

any in recent memory. 

Given the inevitable impact of the 

economic and financial crisis on 

business and consumer confidence, 

as well as on demand for travel and 

tourism, the European Travel Commission 

(ETC)’s Market Intelligence 

Group (MIG) decided that it was 

important to monitor trends affecting 

tourism demand on a more frequent 

basis. So they have presented the 

first in a series of new quarterly 

reports, European Tourism 2009: 

Trends & Prospects, which forms part 

of their regular reports monitoring 

developments in Europe’s travel 

and tourism. 

The main value of the report is that 

it focuses very specifically on the 

European tourism dimension. 

Click here for the full report: http:// 

www.etc-corporate.org/modules.ph 

p?name=Content&pa=showpage& 

pid=31&ac=8

Top Left 

Fondazione Roberto Capucci, Rome 

1982 Palazzo Visconti Milan Green 

quilted taffeta, fuchsia and red, cupshaped 

sleeves © Photo: Gianluca 

Baronchelli / Musei Provinciali di 

Gorizia 

Top Right 

Michael Witz the Younger (c. 1510- 

1588), Innsbruck Parade armour, c. 

1550 (c.30 kg) 

Landeszeughaus Graz, 

Landesmuseum Joanneum © LMJ, 

Photo: Matthias Wimler 

Bottom 

Oskar Schlemmer, The Triadic Ballet. 

Black Series. Goldkugel (Gold Ball), 

1922/1967 

U. Jaïna Schlemmer after the 

drawing „Die Zeichen im Menschen 

(Entmaterialisierung)“, 1924 

by Oskar Schlemmer - Wood, 

papiermaché, fabric. Steel support 

199 x 79 x 93 cm 

Bühnen Archiv Oskar Schlemmer, 

Sammlung C. Raman Schlemmer 

© 2009, Photo Archiv C. Raman 

Schlemmer 

More about the exhibition and Museum 

Tinguely next month 

Museum Tinguely Basel 

In 1996 F. Hoffmann-La Roche celebrated the 

company’s centenary with the opening of the Museum 

Tinguely. 

Niki de Saint Phalle, the widow of the prolific artist, 

Jean Tinguely (1925-91), donated 50 of his ‘machine’ 

sculptures plus drawings as a permanent exhibition to 

commemorate this son of Switzerland. Now until August 

30 th another exhibition compliments the avant-garde 

works of Jean Tinguely. 

Armour & Evening Dress 

The new exhibition at Museum Tinguely, ‘Armour & 

Evening Dress,’ was inspired by a dazzling tournament 

‘Gowns as Armour’ that was staged in 1991 at the 

Hofburg in Vienna. At the tournament armour from the 

Hofburg Collection were exhibited with gowns designed 

by Roberto Capucci, a leading Italian couturier. 

The Museum Tinguely project goes beyond the Vienna 

presentation both dramatically and visually. It includes 

more than 60 suits of armour and 12 gowns as well 

as numerous helmets, breastplates, cuirasses, cuisses 

and greaves, halberds and lances that fill the large 

hall, and indeed the entire gallery and walkway and 

are celebrated in an exhibition dedicated to the iron 

sculptor and the workings of iron. 

Here, Jean Tinguely, the extraordinarily gifted kinetic 

artist, who conjured with waste materials and scrap 

metal, himself a self-proclaimed anarchist and closet 

militarist, encounters the golden age of the handicraft 

of armour making. 

‘Armourer’ was the name for these master metal artists, 

who, from their forges in Augsburg and Nuremberg, 

Innsbruck and Landeck, Graz, Milan and Brescia, 

supplied the European armies and courts with suits of 

armour for war and later for tournaments. 

Museum Tinguely has selected armour of chivalric 

culture from the Habsburg Empire and Switzerland that 

is a true reflection of a turbulent epoch of medieval 

history. Most of the suits of armour on display were 

made between 1485 and 1570 and come from the last 

two working European medieval armouries located in 

Austria and Switzerland, namely Graz which bordered 

on the territories of the Turkish invaders, and Solothurn. 

Lansquenets, heavy cavalry, ‘knaves’ and the hussars 

from the phenomenal Graz collections are joined by 

a ‘delegation’ from Solothurn to evoke the battles of 

Morgarten, Sempach and Näfels. 

The transition of amour from battlefield to tournament 

after 1500 during the reign of Emperor Maximilian I 

(1459-1519), ‘The Last Knight’, is illustrated by 

decorated fluted suits of armour from Graz, and 

by twelve exceptional examples of ‘tailored’, richly 

ornamented metal suits for emperors, archdukes 

and princes from the armour collections of the 

Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. 

Two displays of jousts from Graz and Vienna highlight 

the fabulous sculptural qualities and courtly brilliance 

of the tournaments. 

It is at this point Armour & Evening Dress takes up the 

dialogue with Roberto Capucci’s frequently pleated, 

silken evening gowns of the 1980s. Born in Rome 

in 1930, the couturier was famous in the 1950s for 

creations that clothed beauties such as the American 

swimmer and movie star, Esther Williams, and the 

Italian actress, Silvana Mangano; and for a brief period 

in the early 1960s he worked with Christian Dior in 

Paris - and from an early stage armour was one of his 

inspirations. 

The exhibits, with hollow, faceless bodies enchant while 

sending shivers down the spine. The whole exhibition 

evokes a vision of war and the world arena, extinction 

and elevation parade hand in hand down the catwalk 

of history, of myths and illusion, of the blood-soaked 

earth and the wild dreams of fantasy. 

The commentaries for Armour & Evening Dress are by 

two important women artists, Niki de Saint Phalle and 

Eva Aeppli - Jean Tinguely’s second and first wives. 

Oskar Schlemmer’s figures for his ‘Triadic Ballet’ also 

act as ‘mediators’ between metal and fabric. On the 

gallery, groups of works by Tinguely, Luginbühl and 

Spoerri parody military history and there is an excursion 

through the films of knights with examples from 

Metropolis to Star Wars and from Madonna to Heath 

Ledger of how the ‘armoured’ body lives on, conclude 

this discovery of treasures. 

By Alan Bennett 

Museum Tinguely Basel 

Paul Sacher-Anlage 1, 4058 Basel 

Tel.+41 (0)61 681 93 20 / Fax +41 (0)61 681 93 21 

www.tinguely.ch ; infos@tinguely.ch 

Tue – Sun, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. / Mon closed 

Sat, 1 August, Swiss National Holiday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Admission: CHF 15 / reduced: CHF 10 / up to 16 years of age: free 

Reduced rates for Group organisers. There is space for 2 coaches on 

the main road (Grenzacherstrasse) in front of the museum 


Interlaken 

Welcome to Interlaken – a town with an Alpine 

flair, between two lakes and at the foot of the 

world-famous trio of peaks, the Eiger, Mönch 

& Jungfrau. Easy to reach by road and rail, for 

decades this resort in the heart of the Bernese 

Oberland has been one of the most popular 

destinations in Switzerland. As ‘the gateway to 

the Jungfrau’.The icy icons can be explored 

in comfort by rail or cableway. Visitors get 

inside views of a glorious glacier world on the 

Jungfraujoch, which also boasts the highestaltitude 

railway station in Europe. The Schilthorn 

offers sensational high-Alpine views and an 

authentic film set, the world-famous location 

for the legendary James Bond film “0n Her 

Majesty’s Secret Service”. 

Cruises on the Lakes 

New - Castle Cruise 

What better way to see the sites than by water. 

A whole day boat trip ticket on the lake of Thun 

- Two castle visits of your choice: 

• Spiez Castle The interior is Baroque style and 

has a ballroom with stucco work, furniture 

and paintings. 

• Oberhofen Castle In the castle’s museum 

there is an important exhibition of Bernese 

interior decoration from the 16th to 19th 

centuries. 

• Thun Castle Over five floors the historic 

museum presents the cultural development of 

the area from around 4000 years. 

• Huenegg Castle the castle has an intimate 

original interior in historicism and art 

nouveau style. 

When: April to 18th October 2009 

Sunset Barbeque Cruise 

Enjoy a wonderful evening ambiance at 

Interlaken’s first Sunset Barbeque Cruise on 

Lake Brienz. 

Chill out with good music, enjoy cool drinks, 

taste the delicious Barbeque and talk to other 

travellers. Relax and feel the energy of the 

breathtaking Swiss Alps. 

When: 15th June to 13th August Monday and 

Thursday 

Swiss Dinner Cruise 

A very special Swiss experience: come and 

enjoy an evening cruise on romantic Lake 

Brienz, a traditional Swiss buffet dinner and 

Swiss folklore music. Spectacular views of 

mountain peaks and soft slopes with typical 

Swiss chalet villages along the shores of the 

deepest lake in Switzerland 

When: Tuesdays and Fridays throughout July 

and August 

- a shot of adrenaline 

Adventure sports 

Whether in water or on rock – Interlaken 

offers a vast variety of leisure activities in a 

conveniently compact area. Paragliders circling 

over the town before landing on the Höhematte 

meadow. The mountains surrounding the 

Bödeli’ - the local name for the area between 

Lakes Thun and Brienz - offer numerous, easyto-reach 

take-off points. Ambitious ‘high-flyers’ 

can book a skydiving session and admire a 

bird’s-eye view of the spectacular scenery. The 

rivers in the region offer river rafting, canyoning 

and hydro speeding. Zorbing promises heady 

action as you roll over Alpine meadows in a 

transparent plastic sphere. Mountain-bike tours 

and hikes along well-marked trails make for 

near-to-nature experiences – with the majestic 

lake and mountain world always in your sights. 

Cultural and sporty 

summers 

Summer sees Interlaken set the scene for 

culture as well as sport. Several events enjoy a 

long tradition. For example Friedrich Schiller’s 

dramatic play about national hero William 

Tell, since 1912 has been performed on the 

stunning natural stage in the Rugen woods 

at nearby Matten. Concerts, from classical to 

rock, traditional to trendy, attract and delight 

audiences of all ages. Interlaken also has an 

impressive sporting programme. The beginning 

of July sees the Nissan Outdoor Games – a 

multi-sport event in which 25 of the world’s 

top athletes in mountain-biking, white-water 

kayaking, climbing, paragliding and base 

jumping disciplines take up the challenge. 

Services of the Interlaken 

Tourist Board 

Hotel reservation in more than 100 hotels in 

Interlaken and the surroundings via phone, fax, 

e-mail and also online at www.interlaken.ch 

• Organisation of city tours, transfers, guides, 

special interest tours 

• All-inclusive travel arrangements for 

individuals and groups 

• Assistance and advice with the organisation 

of meetings, conferences and events 

• Interlaken visitors’ cards offering free 

and unlimited use of Interlaken’s public 

transportation system within Interlaken zone. 

Up to 20% discount on admissions to various 

museums and attractions. 

Contact: Interlaken Tourism 

Höheweg 37 | P.O. Box 369 | CH – 3800 Interlaken 

Tel. +41 (0)33 826 53 00 | Fax +41 (0)33 826 53 75 

mail@interlakentourism.ch | www.interlaken.ch 

Hotel Metropole 

Glorious Views 

The Hotel Metropole - a 4 star hotel right in the centre 

of Interlaken, offers breathtaking views of the Jungfrau 

range. 

Accommodation 

The hotel has 96 fashionably furnished rooms and 

thanks to the unique architecture 84 of them provide 

a balcony and views onto the Jungfrau. All rooms are 

equipped with cable TV, direct dialling telephone, radio, 

mini bar, safe, internet access, and W-LAN telephone 

line. 

Wine, dine and dance 

The Metro Bar awaits its guests every evening with exotic 

cocktails. Our ‘chef de bar’, Angela, will dazzle your 

clients with her cocktail skills. 

Our Chef and our Restaurant Manager together with 

their team are looking forward to pampering your 

clients with fresh produce direct from our local 

producers. 

The Panoramic Restaurant Top o`Met on the 18th floor 

with its wonderful view of the mountain panorama. The 

Specialty Restaurant Bellini, which offers home-style 

cooking. 

Guests with energy left in the late evening can then take 

to the floor in the discothèque Black and White open 

from Wednesday to Sunday incl. 

Meetings and conferences 

The hotel offers 8 air-conditioned meeting rooms 

for up to 200 people all with natural daylight. Only 

five walking minutes from the Metropole Hotel is the 

Congress Center Casino Interlaken (CCCI) which is one 

of the biggest and most modern conference centres in 

Switzerland with a capacity of close to 2000 people. 

What else is on offer 

The Hotel Metropole offers an indoor pool, large 

terrace and a sauna, shopping at the Metropole gallery, 

hairdresser and a perfume shop. 

Summer 2009 

Who invented Swiss chocolate? How the holes get into 

the cheese? Why Swiss watches are the best? And if 

Swiss banks really are the safest? 

Enjoy a typical, traditional Swiss dinner in a beautiful 

setting while Heidi and William Tell explain Switzerland, 

its people, traditions and secrets in a hilarious and fun 

comedy show. 

Experience the cuisine and enjoy professional Swiss 

actors and singers in a great play about their home 

country. The mix of fine dining and fun entertainment 

makes an unforgettable evening. 

The dinner shows are from 22nd June to 12th August 

2009, every Monday and Wednesday at 7.30 pm. 

Hotel Metropole 

Höheweg 37, CH – 3800 Interlaken 

Phone: +41 (0)33 828 66 66 Fax: +41 (0)33 828 66 33 

www.metropole-interlaken.ch mail@metropole-interlaken.ch 

Coach parking is provided and the main rail station is a short 

10-minute walk away. The hotel is ISO 9001 certified. 

Mid May - Mid June 09 - On The Road 15

Jungfraujoch - Interlaken 

The Jungfrau Region is a compact area in the 

heart of the Bernese Oberland, stretching a 

mere 18 km, from its ‘capital’ Interlaken, to the 

Jungfrau massif, its snow-clad queen! 

The first impression in this remarkable region 

is the scenery, so spectacular that no picture 

postcard can do it justice. It includes resorts 

such as Grindelwald, Wengen and Mürren, 

first made famous by Britain’s ski-crazy elite. 

The Eiger, Mönch & Jungfrau, three stunning 

summits renowned throughout the world, are its 

hallmark, and the notorious Eiger North Wall 

is a major part of the region’s mountaineering 

history. 

Jungfraujoch – Top of 

Europe 

There are numerous crystal clear mountain 

lakes, rivers and streams with cascading 

waterfalls and glaciers and peaks that include 

the Aletsch Glacier, which at 22 kilometres is 

the longest in the Alps and which belongs to 

the UNESCO World Heritage. Then there is 

Europe’s highest-altitude railway station (3454 

m) at the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe with its 

Ice Palace, which is build 30 metres beneath 

the glacier surface and the Sphinx with its 

unique viewing platform, which is the highest 

vantage point at 3571 metres altitude. 

First – the active mountain 

for families 

The First Flyer originated in the USA where it is 

known as a Zip Rider can now be experienced 

the first time in Europe. 

It gives four people the chance to 

simultaneously yet independently, glide through 

the air on a length of cable about 800 metres 

long, at speeds of up to 84km/h. 

In effect the construction is four parallel 

Tyroliennes, which link the starting and finishing 

platforms without supporting masts. Guests sit 

in a special harness which is very similar to that 

used for paragliding. The harness is attached 

to a safe roller mechanism. 

This new attraction is available all year round 

and makes a spectacular addition to the other 

mountain activities on offer. The First Flyer 

is suitable for young and old people: it will 

fascinate children (from 10 years onwards) and 

adults and the fact that four people can use 

the First Flyer at the same time highlights the 

attraction as a family and group experience. 

Flying through the air becomes reality with the 

First Flyer; particularly as the high speed and 

maximum height of 45 metres above ground 

exhilaration in the extreme! 

First – has become the active mountain – it is 

not only the hikers paradise, but also a family 

paradise, with the new 700 m2 children’s 

playing ground at Bort and the Trottibike rent. 

A fusion of folk culture 

and nature 

INTERfolk Jungfrau is a brand new event 

beginning in October 2009 within the Jungfrau 

Region, packed full of events involving national 

and international participants. This event will 

be taking place every year in October. 

The aim of this festival is to highlight the 

great diversity of folkloric cultures. INTERfolk 

Jungfrau is to be a platform for the exchange 

of Swiss traditions. It presents a multi coloured 

bouquet, chock-full of folklore from Alpine 

countries. The aim of this major event is to 

enable everyone to experience and enjoy the 

diversity and topical character of folk culture. 

It will increase awareness of folk culture 

which is such an important part of the local, 

national and international infrastructure. Most 

importantly folklore is such a vital ingredient 

of our tourism infrastructure. Bringing to life 

local customs, traditions, myths, legends and 

colourful costumes and giving vital insight to 

visitors about local history. Often the highlight 

of any trip to a foreign country. 

INTERfolk festival 14 to 18 

October 2009 

The programme is packed with folk music, 

song and dance, language and customs, 

handicrafts and artisan trades, sport and 

games and food and drink. 

Events and topics will include: 

• Music from Switzerland and other Alpine 

countries, yodelling, alphorn playing 

• Traditional costumes, clothes, textiles, folk 

dancing, flag throwing 

• History, languages, customs, handicrafts, 

traditional trades, market trading 

• Nature, plants, animals, agriculture, 

landscape conservation, ecological systems, 

• Ancient medicines, medicinal herbs and 

herbal remedies 

• Sports and games from the alpine countries 

• Mouth watering ( and sometimes not!) 

international culinary delicacies – the 

opportunity for visitors to taste traditional fare 

• Evening events will be held each day 

with great performances by national and 

international performers 

Where 

This 5 day event will take place within the 

Jungfrau Railways network; including Schynige 

Platte, Winteregg-Mürren, Harder Kulm, 

Grindelwald- First, Kleine Scheidegg and the 

Jungfraujoch–Top of Europe. 

Contact Jungfrau Railways in Interlaken. T+41 33 828 72 33 

email info@jungfrau.ch 


Magical 

Castle 

Eltz 

Count Karl and Countess Sophie represent 

the 33rd generation of the House of Eltz. Like 

their ancestors, they have undertaken the task 

of maintaining this national monument both 

for the family and the public, to preserve its 

structure and contents and to pass it on to the 

34th generation. 

A brief history of Burg Eltz 

In the 12th century, the castle was built on a 

rock by the Elz river, a tributary of the Moselle 

River, amidst one of Germany’s most intact 

ancient wooded landscape. The family and the 

castle were first mentioned in an Imperial deed 

when Rudolph of Eltz co-testified a donation 

in 1157. In 1268, the family split into three 

branches. The Rübenachs, Rodendorfs and 

Kempenichs erected their own towers between 

1300 and 1640 while commonly using the well 

and the Romanesque keep. As the Rodendorfs 

died out, and the Rübenachs sold their share 

in 1815, the Eltz-Kempenichs have become the 

sole owners. 

The Eltz Feud between 1331 and 1337 was 

the only major military conflict at Burg Eltz, 

when an alliance of knightly families, led by 

the House of Eltz, unsuccessfully opposed 

the territorial expansion of the Prince Elector 

Balduin of Trier. His ruined siege castle on 

the opposite hill, dozens of his catapult stone 

projectiles and the world’s eldest cannon 

missiles are the remnants of the mighty founder 

of the Imperial Luxembourg dynasty at Eltz 

Castle. 

Tour of the Castle 

With a castle tour you can experience 

eight hundred years of history, reflected in 

architecture and period interior of the rooms. 

The Rübenach Lower Hall with its impressive 

15th century ceiling and with Lucas Cranach’s 

invaluable masterpiece “Madonna with child 

and grapes”, the Rübenach Bedroom with 

its unique filigree frescos and stained glass 

windows from 1470 and the carved Italian 

bed of 1520, the countesses’ room with 

Germany’s eldest painted Renaissance bed, 

a dowry of 1525, the Knights Hall with its 

splendid Maximilian armour and its tapestry, 

the elegantly vaulted arch of the Banner hall 

and the late Middle-Ages Rodendorf Kitchen 

are just a few examples of the finest European 

secular architecture, as well as both exquisite 

and well preserved original content. 

The Armoury 

and Treasure Hall 

The vaults of the castle accommodate one 

of Europe’s foremost treasure chambers 

with its renowned collection of medieval and 

Renaissance gold and silversmith’s work, rare 

medieval arms, spectacular 18th century 

royal hunting weapons, personal belongings 

of the two Eltz family prince electors from the 

16th and 18th century as well as many other 

precious objets d’art collected throughout eight 

centuries. 

Location: D-56294 Münstermaifeld, near Koblenz 

on the banks of the Moselle 

Coach parking: Use the parking lot Burg Eltz 

behind the village of Wierschem, as it is the 

closest, there will you have shuttle buses for your 

convenience. 

Tel :+49 (2672) 950 500 

Fax: +49 (2672) 9 50 50 – 50 

Email: burg@eltz.org Web: www.burg-eltz.de 

Did you know? 

Burg Eltz featured on several postage stamps 

and banknotes, including the 500 D-Mark note 

for more than 25 years. 

Magical Castle Eltz – 

Special events in 2009 

Our Family Day 

Date - 5th July 09.00 – 18.00 

A warm welcome to you and your clients to this festive 

event. Eltz Castle will offer special entertainment for 

every age group and a magical experience not to be 

forgotten. Take this opportunity to visit the epitome of 

a medieval Castle. 

Customised castle tours for young and old as well as 

other delights ranging from jesters and medieval 

musicians to traditional salute shootings using historic 

guns and the wonderful sorceress ‘Magica Natalia’, 

who will teach the children ( and adults if you are so 

inclined) how to perform magic tricks –. Traditional 

food will also be on offer. 

An Evening at Eltz Castle 

Date - 1st August 18.00 – 24.00 

Note the 1st August in your diary for the unique 

opportunity to visit Eltz Castle at night. For the first 

time, Eltz Castle will keep its doors open after the sun 

sets, and as darkness settles it will be spectacularly 

illuminated until after midnight. 

Explore the manifold and stunning beauty of the 

original Fairytale castle; enjoy the treasury and 

mystery castle tour; and feast in the Castle Inns. 

Germany’s best minstrel, will sing medieval love 

poems, moving from table to table and around the 

castle. Plus additional entertainment for your guests. 

Pray do not forget a torch for your comfort! 

The standard entrance fee (plus group discounts) is 

valid for both above events. 

My wife and I look forward to sharing the fun events 

with you this year. 

Dr. Karl Graf zu Eltz 

Mid May - Mid June 09 - On The Road 17

AustriA 

Concerts 

sound of salzburg Dinner show 

Office: 

Zwieselweg 10, A-5020 Salzburg 

Tel: +43 662 826 617 

Fax: +43 662 826 617-1 

E-m: reservation@soundofsalzburgshow.com 

www.soundofsalzburgshow.com 

Performance takes place at the Sternbräu 

Dinner Theatre with special net rates for 

Tour Operators & Groups. 

Sound of Salzburg Dinner Show 

sound of Vienna 

Strauss & Mozart Concerts 

Kursalon Wien 

Johannesgasse 33 

A-1010 Wien 

Tel.: +43 (0)1 512 57 90 

Fax: +43 (0)1 512 57 91 

E-mail: sound@soundofvienna.at 

Concerts performed daily at 8.15 pm. 

Concerts at 6.00 pm on request. You can 

also have lunch or dinner at our Johann 

Cafe Restaurant or on the lovely terrace 

overlooking the City Park. 

tyrolean Evening with the Gundolf 

Family 

Gasthaus SANDWIRT 

Innsbruck 

Tel.: +43 512 263 263 

Fax: +43 512 263 263-4 

E-mail: office@tirolerabend.info 

www.tirolerabend.info 

Tyrolean Evening with the Gundolf Family 

An authentic Tyrolean Evening with 

the Gundolf Family at the Gasthaus 

SANDWIRT located near the heart of 

beautiful Innsbruck. Your guests will enjoy 

folk dancing, brass band music, yodelling 

and typical songs of the Region. The 

performers have travelled Internationally 

as musical Ambassadors of the Tyrol. 

Daily 20.30 – 22.00 April – October, out 

of season – on request 

Vienna residence Orchestra 

Palais Auersperg 

Auerspergstrasse 1, 1080 Wien 

Tel.+43 1 817 21 78 

Fax: + 43 1 813 28 65 

Email:konzert@residenzorchester.at 

www.wro.at 

Mozart & J. Strauss Concert 

Daily 6:30 & 8:15 p.m 

Imperial Dinner before or after the 

concert. 

Crystal & Glass 

swarovski Crystal Gallery 

Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse 39, A 6020 

Innsbruck 

Tel: + 43 512 57 3100 

Fax: + 43 512 57 3530 

e-mail: crystalgallery@swarovski.com 

www.swarovski.com/crystalgallery 

Contact: Mrs Gfreiner 

Crystal, Glassware, Jewellery 

swarovski Crystal Worlds 

Kristallweltenstrasse 1, A-6112 

Wattens, Tyrol 

Tel: + 43 5224 510 80 

Fax: + 43 5224 510 80 3831 

e-mail: swarovski.kristallwelten 

@swarovski.com 

www.swarovski.com/crystalworlds 

Contact: Christian Oberleiter 

Crystal, Glassware, Jewellery, Café 

Motorway Restaurants 

Landzeit Autobahn-restaurants 

Landzeit HeadQuarters 

New Corporate address 

Voralpenkreuz 2, A-4642 Sattledt 

Tel: + 43 7244 20250 

Fax: +43 72 44 20250320 

e-mail: zentrale@landzeit.at 

Excellent catering and shops Generous 

benefits for drivers and tour managers 

Museums 

Old Vienna schnaps-Museum 

Wilhelmstr 19-21 

A1120 Vienna 

Tel: + 43 1 815 7300 

office@schnapsmuseum.com 

www.schnapsmuseum.com 

A museum and working distillery, original 

furniture from the 1870’s – 1920’s. Visitors 

can tour the distillery and taste and buy. 

Coach parking 

technisches Museum Wien 

Mariahilfer Srraße 212, A-1140 Wein 

Tel: +43 1 899 98 1720 

Fax: +43 1 899 98 1111 

email: museumsbox@tmw.at 

www.technischesmuseum.at 

Exhibits range from the original Imperial 

Salon carriage of Empress Elizabeth 

1 to the modern TV studio. Interactive 

presentations and “hands on” experiments 

– a unique experience 

Restaurants 

sternbräu Gastronomie Welt 

Greisgasse 23 

Salzburg 

Tel: + 43 0 662 840 717 

info@sternbraeu.at 

14 different dining experiences under 

one roof, with beautiful gardens also for 

guests eating during the summer. Excellent 

location for groups with easy parking 

Shopping 

Geiger Hut-und trachtenmoden 

Goldgasse 19, A-5020 Salzburg 

Tel: +43 662 841393 

Fax: +43 662 841393 

E-mail: geiger@hats.at 

www.hats.at 

Contact: Mr Peter Macho 

groups welcome, good provisions! 

We are specialised in the famous boileed 

wool jackets from Geiger and traditional 

hats! Tax free for 

non eu visitors! 

salzburger Heimatwerk 

Residenzplatz 9 

A-5010 Salzburg 

Tel: + 43 0 662 844 110 

sbg@heimatwerk.at 

Large store offering every type of gift for 

any friend or family member, exhibitions 

and displays throughout the year. 

Everyone visiting Salzburg passes the door 

BELGiuM 

Museums 

Choco-story 

Sint-Jansstraat, 7b 

8000 Bruges 

Tel/Fax + 32 50/61.22.37 

info@choco-story.be 

The museum opened in March 2004. Tells 

the story of the transformation of cocoa 

into chocolate and to promote the health 

and quality aspects of Belgian chocolate 

Gifts/Souvenirs 

Käthe Wohlfahrt - Kerstfeeerie N.V. 

Walplein 12/Wollestraat 29 

Tel: +32-(0)50/330604 

Fax: +32-(0)50/346313 

E-m: kerstfeeerie.brugge@pandora.be 

Experience the real authentic German 

Christmas in Bruges. Käthe Wohlfahrt, the 

German Christmas specialist, have two 

‘year round’ Christmas stores in Brugge 

FrANCE 

Perfumerie/Museum/ 

Boutique 

Perfumerie Molinard 

60 Boulevard Victor Hugo, 06130 

Grasse 

Tel: + 33 (0) 493 360162 

20 Rue St Francois de Paule, 06300 

Nice 

Tel: +33 (0) 493 62 90 50 

Free guided tour and 10% group 

discounts and free parking. Welcome pack 

for Tour Managers collecting On The Road 

magazine 

GErMANy 

Gifts/Souvenirs/Hotels 

Hofgut sternen 

An der Ravennaschlucht (B31) 

79874 Breitnau/Hollsteig 

Tel: +49 7652 9010, 

Fax: +49 7652 1031 

E-m: info@drubba.com 

Contact: Jurgen 

Cuckoo clocks (demonstration), Biersteins, 

Hummel figures, Birkenstock, Swarovski 

crystal, largest cuckoo clock in the Upper 

Balck Forest. 

Black Forest Clock Centre 

Seestrasse 37, 79822 Titisee 

Tel: +49 765 198 1200 

Fax: +49 765 188 142 

E-m: info@drubba.com 

Cuckoo clocks (demonstration), Biersteins, 

Hummel figures, Swarovski crystal, boat trips. 

Contact: Alison or Peter 

House of the Black Forest Clocks 

Landsraß 7, D-78132 Hornberg 

Niederwasser 

Tel: +49 7833 8037 

Fax: +49 7833 7724 

Web: www.house-of-black-forestclocks.com 

Contact: Jurgen Herr 

Black Forest Clocks 

Gifts/Museums 

Käthe Wohlfahrt - 

“Weihnachtsdorf”, ( Christmas 

Village & Christmas Museum ) 

Herrngasse 1 

91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber 

Tel.: 09861 - 4090 

Christmas novelties, and museum 

Museum Contact: Mrs Felicitas 

Höptner 

Tel: +49 (0)9861 409 365 

E-mail: hoeptner@wolfahrt.com 

Shop Contact: Andrea Rank 

Tel: +49 (0)9861 409116 

E-mail: rank@wohlfahrt.com 

Fax: +49 (0)9861 409 366 

Shops also in Heidelberg, Oberamergau 

and Rüdesheim 

GrEECE 

Destination Greece 

Olympias 23, 1st Floor 

Glyfada 16673 

Tel: + 30 210 9626220 

Fax: +30 210 9651493 

Mob: + 30 6944 825251 

email: julie@cruise-greece.com 

Tour Operator 

itALy 

Travel 

Blue star italia 

V. Filippo Corridoni 15, 1/c 00195 

Rome, Italy 

Tel: +39 063 723487 

Fax: +39 063 728573 

Contact: Giancarlo Staroccia 

E-m: bluestartvl@tiscalinet.it 

Gifts/Souvenirs/Leather 

Mair Mair 

Alstadt No 1, I- 39049 Sterzing, 

Vipiteno 

Tel: + 39 472 765 386 

Fax: + 39 472 766 386 

Contact: Mr Mair 

Souvenirs, Leather, Wine, etc 

NEtHErLANDs 

Souvenirs/Restaurant 

De simonhoeve 

Wagenweg 2 

1145 PW Katwoude/Volendam 

Tel: + 31 299 36 58 28 

info@simonehoeve.com 

15 minutes north of Amsterdam, Cheese 

Farm & Clog Factory with demonstrations, 

meals and snacks 

Museums 

Het Loo Palace 

Koninkliijk Park 1, 7315 JA Apeldoorn 

Tel: + 31 55 577 2448 

Was the famous summer retreat for the 

Dutch Royal family between 1686-1975. 

The museum has been beautifully restored 

with gardens 

NOrWAy 

Clothing 

Oslo sweater shop 

Radisson SAS Scandinavia Hotel, 

Tullins Gate 5, N-O166 Oslo 

Tel: +47 22 11 29 22 

Fax; +47 22 11 06 48 

Contact: Yonna Johnsen 

sWitzErLAND 

Restaurants 

swiss Folklore restaurant stadtkeller 

Sternenplatz 3, CH-6004 Lucerne 

Tel: + 41 0 41 410 4733 

email: info@stadtkeller.ch 

www.stadtkeller.ch 

Original Swiss folklore restaurants, 

yodelling, alphorn blowing and flag 

throwing, and outstandingly good food 

swiss Musik & Foklore show 

Albisgütli Event Centre 

Uetlibergstrasse 341 

8045 Zurich 

Tel: +41 43 333 30 00 

Fax: +41 43 333 30 01 

Internet: www.albisguetli.ch 

E-Mail: info@albisguetli.ch 

Opened June 2008 Experience Swiss 

folklore at it’s best: Yodelling, alpine horn 

blowing & banner waving. Lot’s of fun and 

good food are guaranteed! 

Groups are welcome 

Shopping 

Bühler's "Chalet shop & toyland" 

Bühler AG Interlaken 

Bahnhofstrasse 10 

CH-3800 Interlaken 

Tel: +41 (0)33 822 34 33 

Fax: +41 (0)33 823 34 33 

info@buehler-interlaken.ch 

www.buehler-interlaken.ch 

Contact: Kurt Bühler 

A huge souvenir and watch store close to 

the west-station, every conceivable gift 

idea, and also a model train enthusiast 

dream. Open daily during the season until 

10.30 pm. Multilingual staff to assist your 

clients 

swiss Knife Center 

Höheweg 125 

3800 Interlaken 

T/F+41 (0)33 822 32 30 

Email swissknife@tcnet.ch 

Established for over 20 years, specialists 

for Swiss army knives, Swiss and German 

kitchenware, International-hunting knives, 

and Swiss souvenirs. Opposite Hotel Du 

Nord, parking available. 

Watches/Jewellery/Gifts 

Casagrande 

24 Kapellgasse & Grendel/ 

Schwanplatz, Lucern 

Tel: +41 41 418 60 60 

Fax: +41 41 412 16 64 

E-mail: info@casagrande.ch 

www.casagrande.ch 

“One stop shop” for all gifts including 

watches. Additional store, and Internet 

Café . Restrooms 

Gübelin 

Schweizerhofquai 1 

6004 Luzerne 

Tel: + 41 41 417 0017 

Fax: + 41 41 417 0018 

E-mail: pr.guebelin@guebelin.ch 

www.guebelin.ch 

Watches, jewellery and diamond centre. 

uK 

Group Services 

t shirts Etc 

Tel: +44 (0) 1442 832929 

E-m: info@tshirtsetc.co.uk 

Personalised tour gifts and souvenirs, no 

minimum order for Tour Operators/Cruise 

Company/Event Organisers. Over 7,000 

items available instantly 

Associations 

EtOA 

The Weighhouse Gallery 

6 Weighhouse Street 

London W1K 5LT 

Tel: +44 020 7 499 4412 

Fax: +44 020 7 499 4413 

E-m: info@etoa.org 

Web: www.etoa.org 

Contact: Tom Jenkins 

European Tour Operators Association. 

Representing the interests of European and 

international tour operators at a political 

level in Europe and providing commercial 

opportunities for suppliers. 

international Association of tour 

Managers (iAtM) 

397 Walworth Road, London SE17 

2AW 

Tel: +44 020 7703 9154 

Fax: +44 020 7703 0358 

E-m: iatm@iatm.co.uk 

Web: www.iatm.co.uk 

Contact: Ron Julian 

The Association for all professional Tour 

Managers. 

Regions 

UK: iatmbr@iatmbr.co.uk 

Central Europe: iatmcer@gmx.at 

Israel: iatm@iatm.co.il 

Italy: iatm.italia@aliceposta.it 

Ned: jannas63@hotmail.com 

Nordic: iatm@telia.com 

N. America: iatmtourmanager@ 

yahoo.com 

Pacific: iatmpacific@yahoo.com 

Spain: bofiko@yahoo.es 

Taiwan: T +886 22779 0070 

“We Welcome Groups”

Mid June 2009 - On The Road

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