In recent years, Kathrin Möllers has worked intensively on the topics of change, digitalisation and sustainability at TUI and successfully managed and implemented strategic transformation processes during her time in the Group’s airline division. With her vast operational experience and extensive technical expertise, she will drive the practical implementation of the TUI Sustainability Agenda, which was presented at the beginning of 2023, and develop it further in all of the Group’s business areas. With a degree in industrial engineering, she will be able to bring her extensive experience from the airline sector to bear. This will play a decisive role in achieving the Group’s climate targets.

Kathrin Möllers began her career at TUI in 2014 as a consultant in project and process management, later taking on various management positions in TUI’s international airline organisation. She is currently Head of Aircraft Asset & Business Management. In her new role, Kathrin Möllers reports to Thomas Ellerbeck, Member of the Group Executive Committee and Chief Sustainability Officer of TUI Group.

The TUI Sustainability Agenda was published at the beginning of this year. Now that the strategy process has been successfully completed, the focus is on implementing the Sustainability Agenda in the various business areas. TUI aims to build on its leading position in sustainability in the tourism sector.

After successful years in management positions at TUI Group, Charlotte Wwiebe will contribute her knowledge and experience in various organisations as a consultant and Supervisory Board member in the future, as announced in February 2023.

The article Kathrin Möllers is TUI Group’s new Director Sustainability & ESG first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

The busy flight will mark the start of the leading leisure airline and UK’s largest tour operator giving local customers a real taste of La Dolce Vita by operating weekly Thursday services to Sicily from Birmingham Airport until 26th October. Jet2.com and Jet2holidays are expanding their Italian programme even more later this week from Birmingham Airport, as their inaugural flight to Sardinia will depart from Birmingham Airport on 28th May, offering weekly Sunday services until 15th October.

The start of flights and holidays to Sardinia and Sicily is part of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays’ expanded programme for Summer 23 from Birmingham Airport. Thanks to the addition of these new destinations, it means the companies have seven Italian destinations on sale this summer from the base (Sicily, Sardinia, Naples, Pisa, Rome, Venice and Verona).

Sardinia offers customers the most authentic of Italian experiences and is on many people’s bucket list of must-see European beach destinations. With snow-white sand sloping into glimmering turquoise waters, customers can head to the Costa Smeralda for a glamorous seaside experience or head south of Olbia for a holiday with an authentic slant.

Jet2holidays and Jet2CityBreaks have a wide selection of hotels on sale in Sicily and Sardinia, the majority of which enjoy a 4 and 5-star rating. Families and groups can also choose the privacy of a villa holiday with all the benefits of a package holiday, by booking through Jet2Villas.

Resorts on sale in Sardinia include Porto Cervo, Baia Sardinia, Budoni, San Teodoro, Cannigione, San Pantaleo, Orosei and Pittulongu, as well as city breaks to Olbia.

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and is a well-established destination with UK holidaymakers, offering everything from beach holidays to city breaks. With culture, cuisine, dramatic landscapes, mighty Mount Etna, and stunning beaches, Sicily has something for everyone.

Package holidays to Sicily with Jet2holidays offer customers and independent travel agents a fantastic choice of beach resorts, including Taormina, Taormina Mare, Giardini Naxos, Syracuse, Cefalu and Campofelice Di Roccella. Holidaymakers can take their pick from a selection of quality accommodation, with a range of star ratings and types of board basis available. In addition, packages are also on sale through Jet2CityBreaks to the historic city of Catania.

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays are offering a huge programme for Summer 23, with 51 sun and city destinations on sale from Birmingham Airport. This offers local customers and independent travel agents with unrivalled choice and flexibility when it comes to booking or enjoying a much-needed getaway to their favourite summer destinations.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “We are delighted to be waving off our first flight to Sicily from Birmingham Airport today and look forward to seeing our inaugural flight to Sardinia take off from the base later this week too. The addition of these stunning Italian islands to our Summer 23 programme from Birmingham Airport has proven to be extremely popular with customers and independent travel agents looking for glorious sunshine alongside that authentic Italian experience. Sardinia and Sicily are fantastic additions to our enormous Summer 23 programme from Birmingham Airport, and it means we are extending our popular Italian offering significantly for locals in the Midlands. As the UK’s largest tour operator, we are giving customers and independent travel agents unrivalled choice when it comes to enjoying a holiday from Birmingham Airport this Summer 23, with award-winning customer experience on top.”

Tom Screen, aviation director for Birmingham Airport (BHX), said: “Direct flights to the largest and the second-largest islands in the Mediterranean is fabulous news for customers. Sicily, with its stunning coastline, glorious landscapes and sumptuous cuisine, is a wonderful addition to Jet2.com and Jet2holidays’ Birmingham Airport offering. But they haven’t stopped there. Sardinia, with its fascinating geology, dreamy beaches and unique history, is also now just a few hours away from Birmingham Airport.”

The article Jet2.com and Jet2holidays take off to Sicily and Sardinia for the first time from Birmingham Airport first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Well-known and newly discovered

The importance of Crete for the FTI GROUP is also shown by the fact that the island was the venue for this year’s annual conference of the Touristik Vertriebsgesellschaft (TVG). From 27 April to 1 May 2023, 130 participants discussed techniques for improved resilience, the new understanding of the role, the challenges and opportunities for the franchisor, the offices and their partners. Besides Crete, FTI is also focusing on a multi-faceted programme in Greece and is intensifying connections to smaller islands such as Zakynthos and Skiathos. Hence, Araxos, a completely new airport in the north-west of the Peloponnese, is used for the holiday region between Olympia and Patras.

Meeting Point Hellas expands its portfolio

Meeting Point Hellas, the group’s destination management agency, is also benefiting from outstanding figures: “We are already seeing higher demand from our international guests than at the same time in 2022. Due to the very good bookings, especially for the islands of Rhodes. Corfu and Crete, we expect a strong push for the coming months,” knows Mario Habig, CEO DMCs at the FTI GROUP. In order to inspire first-time visitors as well as show regular guests new corners, the subsidiary of the FTI Group has significantly expanded its programme there. “On Crete, our guests can experience a jeep tour through the Psiloritis Park starting this summer: The discovery tour through the UNESCO Geopark leads to archaeological sites, the Sfendoni Cave as well as to the birthplace of Zeus, the Ida Mountains,” says Manos Drakonakis, CEO of Meeting Point Hellas & Cyprus, and continues, “On renewed round trip ‘Cretan Flavors’, stops at a winery as well as an olive oil factory will make gourmet hearts beat faster.”

The article FTI Group focuses on Greece – especially Crete first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Global bicycle sales rose 68% worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic and more travelers are looking to support green-friendly travel options. As the community of cycle travelers is rising, Intrepid continues to expand into new countries and forge new paths for its cycling product. The company saw a significant increase in cycle bookings in 2022, 70% of which were from brand new Intrepid customers.

“Riding a bike is good for you, even factoring in the odd gelato or Tuscan cellar door pitstop, but it’s also good for the environment,” says Intrepid Travel Product Manager Frank Cheshire. “Like all our trips, our cycling tours are 100% carbon offset. Most of the transport is powered by the greenest energy of all: humans.”

New for 2023, Intrepid is launching an 8-Day ‘Cycle Slovenia’ trip. Travelers spend 8 days discovering Slovenia on two wheels, travelling from lively Ljubljana to picturesque Pira, experiencing the winding road from Ljubljana to Piran with breathtaking views of the slopes of Kranjska Gora, the emerald-green waters of the Soca River and the stunning Adriatic coastline.

Additional highlights:
Cycle Vietnam
Intrepid’s first and most popular cycling trip, this is an unforgettable north to south cycling tour of vibrant Vietnam, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. The cycling tour winds down country lanes and over spectacular mountain passes and provides opportunities to meet the locals and experience their culture in a way that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. And, of course, all the exercise gives you the perfect excuse to indulge in delicious Vietnamese cuisine.

Cycle the Danube
Travelers retrace the steps of the Roman, Ottoman and Turk Empires on this adventure along the mighty Danube River. The journey passes through picturesque villages, forests and lush farmlands as travelers’ cycle from Vienna to Budapest, passing through Slovakia and it’s cosmopolitan capital. Travelers live it up in Baroque style at the elegant Schönbrunn Palace or get lost in the cobbled laneways of Komarom, a city with one foot in Hungary and the other in Slovakia. A stop at the architectural jewel of the Danube River, the Esztergom Basilica, is included and cyclists pass by the imposing white-hued Bratislava Castle, finishing the day with a luxurious soak in one of Budapest’s iconic baths.

Cycle Tanzania
Venture off the beaten track on a two-wheeled trip across Tanzania. Brimming with mighty predators and birds, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater are must-visits for any Tanzania trip, but safaris are only the beginning. This unique cycling adventure has cyclists cruising down Great Rift Valley escarpments, strolling through farm villages, roasting and grinding their own coffee, drifting off to sleep among nocturnal creatures, experiencing the culture of the Maasai people, pedaling far off the beaten track to trails where no cars go, and of course sipping sundowners at sunset.

The article Intrepid relaunches cycling tours and vacations first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

This winter, easyJet will become the only UK airline to operate to Akureyri in North Iceland when flights launch from London Gatwick twice a week from 31st October. Dubbed ‘The Capital of the North’, the town lies in the fjord Eyjafjörður in North Iceland and is located a short drive from many of Iceland’s top natural, cultural and historical attractions. Visitors can enjoy whale watching, hiking, viewing the Northern lights and geothermal bathing, all while taking in the stunning scenery.

easyJet holidays is offering packages to the brand new destination, including flights, hotel and 23kg luggage. The holiday company has put brand new hotels in sale in the Akureyri area, including the 4* Hotel Aiglo by Keahotels, with a pool overlooking fishing boats, and the 4* Myvatn, near the Myvatn nature baths. Holidaymakers can enjoy a huge range of excursions including whale watching, exploring the country’s stunning waterfalls, or catching the Northern Lights, all available through easyJet holidays’ excursion partner, Musement.

Ahead of the opening of a new base at Birmingham next spring, the airline will continue the expansion of its network from the midlands, with new routes now launching this winter to the French cities of Lyon and Paris from 30th October and city break packages available with easyJet holidays.

More new routes to France, to Paris Charles de Gaulle from London Southend and a weekly service to Grenoble from Manchester will also take off this winter, while new services between London Luton and Enfidha in Tunisia and Bristol and Marrakech will provide those in the south and south west with two new winter sun destinations to choose from.

easyJet will also offer even more choice from Southampton, strengthening domestic connectivity from the region, with two new routes to Glasgow and Belfast launching from 29 October 2023 with departures up to three times a week.

The launch of even more new routes follows easyJet’s return to growth this summer in the UK which will also see the airline operate its biggest ever UK summer flying programme, flying around eight per cent more capacity than pre-pandemic with over one million more seats in peak summer and 23 new routes from the UK.

Ali Gayward, easyJet’s UK Country Manager said: “We are delighted to be launching even more new routes and holidays from the UK across a fantastic range of destinations which provides even more choice and variety for our customers this winter, including flights and holidays to Akureyri in North Iceland for the very first time, with a unique route from the UK.

“easyJet is proud to be the largest airline in the UK and the launch of these nine new routes demonstrates our confidence in the resilient strength of demand for travel in the UK, with customers choosing us for our trusted brand, unrivalled network and great value fares and we can’t wait to welcome more customers on board.”

Arnheiður Jóhannsdóttir, Managing Director at Visit North Iceland, said: “We are happy to welcome easyJet customers to North Iceland, where they can enjoy magical winter adventures. Their days will be filled with exciting activities and tranquil moments in unique nature, experiences ranging from relaxing geothermal spa visits to thrilling super jeep tours, whale watching, or northern lights hunting.

“Working with easyJet over the past years to prepare for this new route has been a pleasure. Close cooperation with our partners in North Iceland and the Nature Direct project is now giving us the opportunity to open up a new gateway to Iceland. easyJet customers will land at Akureyri airport, only 5 minutes from the town centre and in the middle of North Iceland’s arctic nature.

“This new route will transform how tourism develops in Iceland and give easyJet customers a unique opportunity to come and experience Icelanders’ most popular winter destination. “

easyJet, since launching nearly 30 years ago, has flown over 800 million customers to and from the UK, having grown to serve 21 UK airports, offering over 480 routes to over 130 destinations from the UK across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

The article easyJet and easyJet holidays announce nine new routes from the UK first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

A whopping 85% of Americans plan to travel this summer, and while Intrepid always strives to meet customer demand, these added tours increase travel options to destinations where industry supply often hasn’t caught up to the exceptional demand for 2023 summer travel.

Expanded Regions:

• Europe: In the wake of continued strong growth in European travel, Intrepid’s local DMCs have worked to provide an additional 70 departures with 868 seats, in the past 6-8 weeks alone. Intrepid has seen its highest growth of European travel demand in Portugal, Greece, Italy and Iceland. The tour operator has also seen strong growth in France, with 8 current offerings including an 8-Day Cycle Provence, and 8-Day Hike the Tour Du Mont Blanc.
• Morocco: Core to the Intrepid product, Morocco tourism continues to boom, with a 474% increase in tourist arrivals for 2023 as recorded by the Tourism Observatory. Intrepid offers 27 unique Morocco itineraries including an 8-Day Morocco Women’s Expedition and an 8-Day Morocco Family Holiday. Since November 2022, Intrepid has expanded this range, adding an additional 193 departures with over 2500 spaces.
• Egypt & Jordan: Intrepid offers 21 itineraries in Egypt including a 12-Day Egypt Experience. Travellers will commonly pair the destination with Jordan, as offered on Intrepid’s 19-Day Explore Egypt and Jordan. Through the destination expertise of Intrepid’s Egypt DMC, the tour operator has kept up with rising interest in the region, adding an additional 93 departures in Egypt and 55 departures in Jordan since November 2022.
• Japan: Since the country reopened to international tourists last fall, Japan has been in extremely high demand. With 13 itineraries to choose from and a diverse range of trip styles including a 12-Day Real Food Adventure and a top-selling 12-Day Premium Japan, Intrepid has added an additional 47 departures and opened up over 200 spaces on existing itineraries.

By having a greater on-the-ground presence in popular destinations, Intrepid can bring more travellers on their bucket-list journeys, while helping to sustain the growth of responsible tourism in local communities, harnessing travel as a force for good.

The article Intrepid doubles down on high-capacity destinations first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

The prestigious Platinum status accreditation represents the highest category within the She Travel Club classification.

SHe Travel Club’s expertise is rooted in regular surveys and global studies that highlight the unique needs and expectations of female travellers. By sharing these valuable insights with hotels and their teams, SHe Travel Club aims to raise awareness and improve the travel experience for women worldwide. This recognition reflects Regent Porto Montenegro’s unwavering commitment to creating an exceptional hospitality experience that caters to the specific needs of its esteemed female guests.

“We are deeply honored to be bestowed with the prestigious Platinum status from SHe Travel Club,” said Marija Delibasic, Sales and Marketing Director at Regent Porto Montenegro. “This remarkable recognition holds immense significance as it highlights our unwavering commitment to empowering every woman who walks through our doors. It is our utmost priority to provide exceptional service, ensuring that all our guests, especially female travelers, feel not only welcomed but also empowered, safe, and inspired throughout their stay. Our close collaboration with SHe Travel Club has been an invaluable partnership, as we have eagerly embraced their invaluable insights and recommendations, seamlessly integrating them into our operations.”

In 2023, SHe Travel Club will launch an online training platform specifically designed for hotel teams, providing guidance on how to address the needs and preferences of female guests.

Valerie Hoffenberg, founder of SHe Travel Club said “We want hotels to be a major driver of the social change that will create gender equality in the hospitality sector. The label offers a real opportunity for the hotel industry to utilise our expertise to adapt their services and facilities to meet the expectations of their female clientele, which will enable them to attract a lucrative new pool of clients and retain them.”

Regent Porto Montenegro is proud to be among the pioneering hotels participating in this training program, further solidifying its commitment to exceptional service and guest satisfaction.

As part of the SHe Travel Club Platinum status, Regent Porto Montenegro is delighted to offer its female guests an array of tailored recommendations derived from extensive feedback from fellow female travelers. These recommendations ensure that every aspect of their stay is meticulously curated to enhance their comfort and enjoyment.

Furthermore, Regent Porto Montenegro encourages all guests to take advantage of the SHe Travel Club Emergency Kit, which includes essential items such as sanitary pads, makeup, and nail polish removers, readily available upon request. By providing these thoughtful amenities, the hotel aims to surpass expectations and ensure an unforgettable experience for all its female guests.

This special achievement is a testament to our shared vision of creating an extraordinary environment that surpasses expectations, where every woman can embrace her journey, unleash her potential, and feel truly empowered. We are immensely proud to be part of this empowering journey and look forward to continuing to exceed the expectations of all our valued guests.

The article Regent Porto Montenegro achieves Platinum status with SHe Travel Club first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

First Scuba Safari Launches at Manta Resort, Tanzania

Manta Resort on Pemba Island in Tanzania introduces the Pemba Coral Reef Safari, a one-of-a-kind scuba diving and marine wildlife experience. Manta Resort joined forces with Ecotraining, a renowned guide training organization in Africa, to introduce a groundbreaking 28-day guide training course that has been specifically adapted for the marine environment and scuba diving, creating a first-of-its-kind training experience. Unlike traditional scuba instruction, the Pemba Coral Reef Safari course focuses on equipping guides with specialized techniques for underwater guiding, as well as the identification and interpretation of marine wildlife found in and around the coral reefs of Pemba.

By partnering with Ecotraining, known for their expertise in guide training, Manta Resort ensures that their guides receive top-notch education and skills development in the marine environment. To enhance the guest experience, the trained guides are equipped with the latest full-face masks featuring built-in microphones. This technology allows for real-time underwater commentary, providing guests with an immersive and educational narrative about the marine world. Divers participating in the Pemba Coral Reef Safari will wear specially designed earpieces, further immersing them in this informative journey.

This immersive journey combines the elements of a terrestrial African safari with the undersea world, offering a guided encounter with marine wildlife. The safari accommodates a maximum of two divers, ensuring a comprehensive and intimate experience. Each dive is led by a trained guide who has completed a specialist course in underwater guiding and marine wildlife interpretation.

Manta Pemba Island partners with BlueRise, the eco-tourism division of Blue Finance, and supports the local non-profit organization, Kwanini Foundation, dedicated to making positive social and environmental contributions to Pemba Island.

Booking a Pemba Coral Reef Safari not only offers an extraordinary diving experience but also contributes to marine protection and local community development. $35 from each safari booked directly supports the Kwanini Foundation.

Citizen Science & Lionfish Spearfishing Adventure at Hamanasi Resort, Belize

Hamanasi Resort, located on the south coast of Belize, is introducing the Belize Dive Explorer, a captivating Marine Conservation & Citizen Science Scuba Diving Package. This package combines exhilarating dive adventures with the eco-luxury experience offered at Hamanasi Resort. Guests will have the opportunity to explore the wonders of the Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while participating in activities such as a Lionfish spearfishing adventure where guests can learn about the invasive lionfish species and help remove them from the reef and night dives.

In addition to the Belize Dive Explorer, Hamanasi Resort also launched the Women’s Dive Internship & Career Development Course. This paid internship aims to empower women by providing them with an opportunity to enter the dive profession and establish meaningful connections with industry professionals and conservation organizations. Guests will have an opportunity to dive with the female dive trainees and learn more about conservation firsthand.

*Hamanasi is offering select press trips to journalists interested to cover the female guiding program and new scuba package

The article Regenerative Hotels launch innovative scuba diving programs in Belize and Tanzania for World Oceans Day 2023 first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

The evening proved to be a delightful blend of engaging presentations and valuable networking opportunities in a relaxed atmosphere. Attendees were able to connect with representatives from APG USA and gain insights into the range of airline partners they work closely with. Through these interactions, agents discovered firsthand the multitude of exciting travel products and services available to them, allowing them to better cater to the diverse needs of their clients.

The event commenced with short presentations that highlighted all the represented airlines and the key features and advantages of APG IET ( Ticketing on GP) and NDC Platform solutions. These innovative products empower agents by streamlining ticketing processes and providing access to a comprehensive inventory of fares, ancillaries, and real-time availability. Through the intuitive and user-friendly interface, agents can efficiently manage bookings and offer their clients a seamless travel experience.

In addition to the informative sessions, the evening also featured an array of networking opportunities. The relaxed and convivial atmosphere fostered a spirit of collaboration and laid the foundation for mutually beneficial relationships between APG USA and the travel agents.

APG USA would like to extend its heartfelt congratulations to all the prizewinners of the event. Among the winners, special recognition goes to Moises Lugo from American Express Travel, who won 2 return tickets with SKY Airlines from Miami to Lima or Santiago. Additionally, congratulations to Julia Russell from Global Marine Travel and Maurisia Jeffers from Travel Cruzan, winners of return tickets with Neos from New York to Milan. Moreover, Maurisia Jeffers also emerged as the lucky winner of 2 return tickets with Philippine Airlines from the USA to Manila.

“We are thrilled with the success of the agent event held at the 94th Squadron Restaurant,” said Julianna Hill, CEO of APG USA. “It was an excellent platform for us to connect with travel agents and showcase our wide range of airline partners and innovative products. We are confident that the event has facilitated stronger relationships and provided agents with valuable insights that will ultimately benefit their clients.”

The article APG USA hosts agent event showcasing airline partners and innovative products first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Joyned Booking enables online users to invite friends or family to the RIU Hotel website, and collaborate in a private, on-site platform to discuss and book their group trip.

By keeping Friends & Family (F&F) travelers on their site and making it easy for them to book a trip, hotel and travel sites using Joyned typically enjoy a significantly higher conversion rate and a greater user experience.

After a short period of using Joyned Booking, RIU Hotels saw an interesting increase in average revenue per user. To further build on this early success, RIU Hotels has now embarked on a full roll-out, bringing Joyned’s engagement tools to RIU’s customers across the US.

Joyned team (ⓒ Nir Slakman)

Commenting on the partnership, Jonathan Abraham, CEO of Joyned, said: “This is an exciting move for both Joyned and RIU Hotels, introducing seamless group bookings to F&F travelers across US. We’re incredibly honoured to be partnering with such a heavyweight in the travel industry, and look forward to helping RIU Hotels to further enhance the online booking experience for its customers.”

Juan Campins, Director of Digital Channels at RIU Hotels said: “At RIU Hotels, we are committed to creating a superior customer journey. Joyned shares our values. Integrating Joyned Booking into our US sites was a logical step in our progression towards creating a truly integrated and seamless online experience for our F&F customers where ideas can be shared at the click of a button and purchasing decisions can be taken in real time.”

The article Joyned and RIU Hotels unveil new partnership in the US first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.