Thomas Cook’s German website and travel agents awarded for quality and service

THOMAS Cook, one of the world’s leading leisure travel companies, has been awarded first prize in two separate surveys for the quality of its German travel agents and website.

In a survey of more than 350 websites by 20,000 customers, The German Institute for Service Quality and television news channel n-tv awarded Thomascook.de first prize for the ‘offer and performance’ of its website, and second place for ‘customer service’ and ‘recommendation’.

A second survey, by Germany’s leading consumer comparison and market research company, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Verbraucherstudien, awarded first prize to Thomas Cook’s retail travel agents for both ‘service’ and ‘advice’, and awarded second prize for the ‘ambience’ of its shops. The study was carried out by professional secret shoppers across 20 of Germany’s biggest travel agency chains.

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Making Waves in Austin Texas

NORTH America’s first #surf park Nland, offers world-class surfing in the heart of #Texas Hill Country. Creating thousands of waves, steep head-high reef waves, challenging inside waves, perfect to share with friends, and gentle bay waves to delight new surfers and juniors.

Nland is the brainchild of Doug Coors. An engineer and a surfer, NLand’s founder and CEO embarked on a journey 20 years ago to find a wave technology that would create a perfect break anywhere—from the Colorado Rocky Mountains to Texas Hill Country. Doug’s dream is now a reality. NLand is the only surfing destination of its kind in North America creating long, consistent and barreling waves for novices, passionate travel surfers and world-class competitors alike. 

New for 2017:

  
-The Reef Wave still commands centre stage with barreling and open face    sections during a 30-second ride.
-The Inside Wave is longer for 2017, offering a challenging point break where    you can perform a variety of manoeuvers.
-The Bay Wave offers an excellent place to enjoy a gentle, whitewater wave.
-An all-new addition for 2017: Boogie Bay a dedicated area for boogie boarders  to ride waves in the lagoon.

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Cruise Industry surpasses 2016 ocean cruise passenger projections

CRUISE Lines International Association (CLIA) announced the cruise industry has surpassed 2016 ocean #cruise passenger projections, reaching 24.7 million cruise passengers globally up from a projection of 24.2 million. 

For 2017, based on current new vessel launch schedule and expected regional deployment, CLIA is projecting another positive year of growth for the industry with a passenger forecast of 25.8 million. 

“One of the many reasons that the cruise industry continues to thrive is because of the personalization it is able to offer to its guests from around the world,” said Cindy D’Aoust, president and CEO, CLIA. “Never before have I been a part of or seen an industry that is so good at listening and reacting to what its customers want, and this is why we are going to see our industry continue to grow.” 

Top Cruise Destinations in 2016:

1. Caribbean (35 percent) 

2. Mediterranean (18.3 percent) 

3. Europe w/o Med (11.1 percent) 

4. Asia (9.2 percent) 

5. Australia/New Zealand/Pacific (6.1 percent) 

6. Alaska (4.2 percent) 

7. South America (2.5 percent)

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Mountain Biking in Scotland

FOLLOWING last weekend’s UCI Fort William Mountain Bike World Cup, a new study by VisitScotland has revealed that mountain biking among domestic visitors generates £43 million a year for the Scottish economy.

The national tourism organisation’s Insight department has produced a new report, Cycling Tourism in Scotland, which also reveals that mountain bikers spend 66 per cent more per night than those who cycle on a road or path during their holiday.

Newly analysed data shows that, typically, 122,000 people a year get on their mountain bikes while on holiday in Scotland, spending £355 per trip*.

The study also shows that 76 per cent of mountain biking visitors to Scotland are male. Most cyclists are aged between 35 and 44, while 25 per cent are 45-54 and 19 per cent are aged between 25 and 34.

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Destination Denmark: Food & Drink Delights

THE lure of world-class #gastronomy, liveable cities, cutting-edge design and architecture and gripping crime fiction sees UK visitor numbers continuing to climb for overnight stays in #Denmark.  Here is just a taster of what is on offer to tantalise your tastebuds . . .

EUROPEAN Region of Gastronomy for 2017, Aarhus and the surrounding region of Central Denmark is a mecca for foodies. With outstanding fresh produce and new restaurants, bars and food markets adding to its culinary prowess, the region continues to gather international acclaim for its Michelin star restaurants and annual Aarhus Food Festival, which has grown to become the largest in the Nordics. As part of ‘Rethinking Good Food’ in 2017, chefs, producers and world leaders in sustainable thinking will come together to host a programme of events that not only pays tribute to gourmet food and local ingredients but addresses the need to rethink a more sustainable food culture. One of the highlights of the programme will be The People’s Feast, a communal dinner where 500 people will be able to sample different menus from all over the world, including a menu of the future born out of much scientific, culinary and forward-thinking discussion.

RANKED as the world’s best restaurant 4 times in the last 6 years, Chef René Redzepi’s Copenhagen restaurant Noma will leave its current location in Christianshavn and reopen in 2017 on the border of the special Danish community, Christiania, with a new mission and a new menu. Excelling in locally sourced and foraged Scandinavian cuisine and with two Michelin stars to his name, Redzepi plans to take a revolutionary approach to the new graffiti covered derelict space by transforming it into a thriving urban farm and restaurant, with a green house on the roof and fresh soil covered grounds. Focusing on a seasonal menu, the aim is for the majority of ingredients to come from noma’s own farm. 

WITH Carlsberg turning 170 in 2017, it only seems fitting that #Copenhagen has introduced a beer walk that takes thirsty visitors around the trendy areas of Vesterbro and Nørrebro in search of a refreshing ale. Exploring some of the city’s tucked away watering holes, the Copenhagen Beer Walk offers a choice of 12 bars to be taken at leisure. Costing 199 DKK (approx. £24), the package includes a tasting glass, a map and six beer tokens.

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Slovenia: Postojna Cave

POSTOJNA Cave is known for its unique forms of stalactites and stalagmites and is one of the most diverse cave systems in the world. It is the most visited attraction in #Slovenia, wowing visitors with the beauty and magnificence of its underground halls and the extent of its tunnels for two centuries.

In August 2016, Postojna Cave delighted the world with the information that its divers had discovered new underground tunnels, which extended the cave system by 3.5 kilometres. 

The Cave is once again updating the map of the 24,120-metre-long cave system and marking the missing parts on the map of the subterranean course of the River Pivka. After each new discovery, the scientists and the general public can easily understand the magic of the karst underworld and the achievements of the cavers. Due to their efforts the Postojna Cave system is even longer, following the waterways that are otherwise known only to the cave-dwelling olms.

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Up in the air . . .

AIR Transat has launched its Summer 2018 programme and is doubling capactiy on its Winter 2017/18 flights.

The Canadian carrier will offer direct flights from Glasgow to Toronto five times a week and a weekly Vancouver service in Summer 2018, along with a range of connecting flights to Calgary, Montreal and Vancouver.

In addition to unveiling its 2018 programme, the airline has also announced its also doubling its Winter 2017 season flights through to April 2018 from Glasgow to Toronto from once a week to twice weekly.

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