Tourism Thailand and Thai Airways are giving you the chance to win a fam trip, departing in October! Tourism Thailand and Thai Airways are giving you the chance to win a fam trip, departing in October! Complete the Amazing Thailand Online Training Programme for the opportunity to win the trip of a lifetime! Visit training.tourismthailand.co.uk and complete all modules of the course by 30 June for your chance to see Thailand’s beautiful beaches, stunning scenery and unique culture!  

Take to the skies in North Korea in the ‘Grand Aviation Tour’ with Juche Travel Services Juche Travel Services is proud to announce that it is ‘Back in the DPRK’ to take part in the Grand Aviation Tour from the 16th – 20th October 2018! Flying on Ilyushin Il-18, Il-62, Il-76, Tupolev Tu-134, Tu-154, Tu-204, Antonov An-24, An-148, Mil-17, and Microlites Whilst also visiting Pyongyang / Kaesong & DMZ / Mount Myohyang! We are delighted to be offering aviation enthusiasts a very special tour of the DPRK in 2018. Learning from our 6 years of experience, we have refined the itinerary to create a time-efficient package that maximises flying opportunities. Condensed into only 4 nights (with an optional 3 night sightseeing extension), it features flights on the entire Air Koryo fleet of aircraft – 9 types in total – several of which can now only be flown commercially in the DPRK. Combining a mix of point to point flying, circular joyrides and low-level panoramic city sightseeing, this really is a tour not to be missed for classic aviation enthusiasts, not least due to the rarity of the aircraft types involved – one never quite knows when they will cease flying in the […]

Audley Travel clinch title at second annual Great Australian Challenge The Great Australian Challenge, Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Tourism Australia’s annual agent event, took place on Tuesday 1st May at London’s Hippodrome in Leicester Square. Now in its second year running, the event tested over 70 agents on their Aussie trivia for the chance to win free flights to Australia, which were won by top scoring team Audley Travel. David Cochrane, Country Manager for Philippine Airlines UK & Ireland, said “With daily service to Sydney, increased frequency to Melbourne and non-stop services to Brisbane on our new A321neo, PAL’s Australian routes continue to be some of our strongest. We were delighted to host our agent at this year’s Great Australian Challenge and appreciate the continued support from the trade.” Denise von Wald, Tourism Australia Regional General Manager for the United Kingdom and Northern Europe, said: “The Great Australian Challenge, together with Tourism Australia’s award-winning Aussie Specialist Program, demonstrates our commitment to working with trade to help agents continually update their knowledge about Australia, so that they can sell the destination most effectively.”       Contact Philippine Airlines: MEDIA CONTACT Carl Ellis, Philippine Airlines: carl_ellis@pal.com.ph +44 (0) 207 734 9355

Kurtz-Ahlers UK & Ireland announce representation partnership with Resplendent Ceylon, Sri Lanka Representation and consulting experts Kurtz-Ahlers UK & Ireland have recently announced their latest partnership with Resplendent Ceylon, a collection of stunning properties in Sri Lanka offering a journey of tea, sea and safari. Conceived by the Fernando family, Sri Lanka tea producers and founders of Dilmah Ceylon Tea, Resplendent Ceylon’s collection of small, luxury resorts offer the discriminating traveller a remarkable circuit across Sri Lanka, with a range of authentic experiences, while contributing towards local communities and the environment through the MJF Foundation and Dilmah Conservation.  The collection comprises Ceylon Tea Trails – the world’s first tea bungalow resort; Cape Weligama – a gorgeous cliff top resort on Sri Lanka’s southern coast and the luxurious camp Wild Coast Tented Lodge. For more details on the collection please contact Kurtzahlers by jo@kurtzahlers.com or visit www.resplendentceylon.com  

Celebrating Balinese Traditions at the Samaya Seminyak The Samaya Seminyak recently held the anniversary ceremony of its temple on May 12th. One of the Balinese Hindu’s most important annual events, the “Odalan” or “Piodalan” that is celebrated based on the Balinese calendar, every six months of 210 days. Odalan has a great philosophical sense to remind us of where we came from and the balance of the universe and the meaning of life itself. The ceremony also believed to bring protection and bring back the balance between positive and negative energies. The Samaya Seminyak preserves the traditional values of Bali through various cultural activities and showcase them to the guests whenever possible. Guests are encouraged to take part in these lively events to experience the Balinese traditions and take a glimpse on the traditions, culture, and philosophies of the paradise island. Among unique events such as the ceremonies, The Samaya Seminyak also features cultural activities such as temple visit, sarong demonstration and more.

Study in North Korea with Juche Travel Services From Sunday 15 July to Monday 6 August 2018 students from all over the world can study Korean language at Kim Hyong Jik University in North Korea. 3 hours daily intensive language Afternoon extra curricular activities and language lab Daily tourism activities in Pyongyang 3 weekend overnight tourism excursions to the north, south and east of the country Classes for total beginners, intermediate and advanced learners. This summer we are heading back to Kim Hyong Jik University in the DPRK – North Korea- for three weeks intensive Korean language study mixed with daily tourism activities around Pyongyang as well as overnight weekend excursions to the picturesque Myohyang Mountains, truce village of Panmunjeom and the DMZ, the historic city of Kaesong, and the eastern port city of Wonsan! This is a tour packed with adventure and new discoveries. Study alongside the locals and gain a unique day-to-day insight into life in the DPRK, not to mention being one of the first foreigners to live and study Korean language at Kim Hyong Jik University. Kim Hyong Jik University of Education (김형직사범대학) is known for being a top university in the DPRK, specialised in pedagogical […]

Happy Birthday to the Brando – Luxury Resort in the French Polynesia During the month of July, The Brando will celebrate its 4th birthday, Independence Day, and Bastille Day! Three good reasons to extend the “Fly Free” promotion to 31st July 2018.  The July celebrations promotion is valid for new reservations only, booked for stays between now and 31st July 2018, and is non-retroactive.   With a minimum stay of 3 nights on Tetiaroa, The Brando will offer complimentary round-trip transportation on board Air Tetiaroa between Tahiti and Tetiaroa (for up to 2 persons per room). For more details please visit www.thebrando.com or contact jo@kurtzahlers.com

Route buildup is strategic goal as PAL aims for 5-star global rating. PAL will further boost its operations at its hubs in Davao, Cebu and Clark, with the scheduled arrival of 15 new aircraft within 2018, and another six (6) aircraft in 2019. Now an internationally-certified 4-Star airline, PAL announced a multi-hub expansion strategy that aims to improve domestic and international connections, while spreading the benefits of tourism and commercial activity to the various regions in Mindanao, the Visayas and Luzon. New routes and hikes in flight frequencies are being introduced as the flag carrier accepts delivery of five (5) additional Next-Generation Bombardier Q400s and six (6) new Airbus A321neos starting in May 2018, along with four Airbus A350-900 trans-oceanic aircraft starting in June 2018. “We are no longer just a Manila-centric airline,” said PAL President & and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Jaime J. Bautista during a recent press briefing at Davao City for Davao, Cebu, Clark and Manila media. “Our new aircraft and our new hubs are a winning combination that will help expand our market reach both domestically and worldwide. This is imperative for a global airline, and we must sustain and build on our hard-won 4-Star rating.” […]

Study in North Korea with Juche Travel Services From Sunday 15 July to Monday 6 August 2018 students from all over the world can study Korean language at Kim Hyong Jik University in North Korea. 3 hours daily intensive language Afternoon extra curricular activities and language lab Daily tourism activities in Pyongyang 3 weekend overnight tourism excursions to the north, south and east of the country Classes for total beginners, intermediate and advanced learners. This summer we are heading back to Kim Hyong Jik University in the DPRK – North Korea- for three weeks intensive Korean language study mixed with daily tourism activities around Pyongyang as well as overnight weekend excursions to the picturesque Myohyang Mountains, truce village of Panmunjeom and the DMZ, the historic city of Kaesong, and the eastern port city of Wonsan! This is a tour packed with adventure and new discoveries. Study alongside the locals and gain a unique day-to-day insight into life in the DPRK, not to mention being one of the first foreigners to live and study Korean language at Kim Hyong Jik University. Kim Hyong Jik University of Education (김형직사범대학) is known for being a top university in the DPRK, specialised in pedagogical […]

Bangkok Airways and Oman Air sign codeshare agreement Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited (PG) and Oman Air (WY) signed a codeshare agreement, which will provide customers with an enhanced network to travel between Oman and cities in Thailand, commencing on 1st  April, 2018. Under the agreement, Oman Air puts its “WY” designator code on Bangkok Airways flights, serving 8 routes on domestic. This includes roundtrip routes on Bangkok-Chiang Rai, Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Phuket, Bangkok-Krabi, Bangkok-Lampang, Bangkok-Trat, Bangkok-Sukhothai and Bangkok-Samui. This new codeshare partnership offers passengers enhanced connectivity and seamless connections to well known destinations in Thailand. Moreover, Oman Air’s passengers traveling on Bangkok Airways will enjoy the boutique airline’s unparalleled services such as lounge access and in-flight meal. For more information about Bangkok Airways, please visit www.bangkokair.com or tel: 01293 813961

Qantas announces new Sydney international business lounge The national carrier’s Sydney International Business Lounge will undergo a multimillion dollar rebuild, providing travellers with a completely new design, at least 30 per cent more seating and a new signature dining experience. This latest in a series of lounge upgrades was announced along with several other investments including new interiors for the QantasLink regional aircraft at its half year results today. Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the lounge investment demonstrated the airline’s commitment to world class customer service and leading design. “Our Business lounge in Sydney is one of the most visited on the international network, so we look forward to upgrading the space with a completely new design and a lot more capacity,” said Mr Joyce. “Our customers have told us that ample space, privacy and ambience are what they value most in their lounge experience, so the overall design of the new lounge will be tailored with this in mind.” Construction is scheduled to start in the third quarter of this calendar year and will be completed in stages to allow ongoing lounge access, targeting completion at the end of 2019. Features will include: Neil Perry designed dining concept; […]

Macao takes the lead in Forbes Travel Guide 2018 Macao is leading the way in luxury travel, with the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide 2018 awarding its hotels and restaurants more five-stars than any other city in the world. The prestigious travel guide, which uses incognito inspectors to rate and rank the world’s finest hotels, restaurants and spas, gave 12 hotels (Altira, Banyan Tree, Conrad, Encore, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, MGM, Nüwa, Star Tower, Wynn Macau, Wynn Palace and The Ritz-Carlton) and 12 restaurants in Macao the coveted top award. Visit Macao