Grenada expects to unveil its activity portfolio at Unite Caribbean in London next month, including details of key tour operator partnerships and a calendar of tour operator and travel agent fams.

Bernstein said: “Our strategy is a response to changing buying patterns and will include investment in the bridal and dive markets which we believe set Grenada apart. Regular representatives forums and improved communications will help ensure we work as one team to market these key areas, as well as Grenada’s flora and fauna, sporting events and cruise tourism.”

Contact the Grenada Board of Tourism team at grenada {at} eyes2market.co(.)uk and find out more at www.Grenadagrenadines.com

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World Reviewer features dozens of video reports by travelguru.tv presenters including USA specialist Kathy Arnold exploring Boston, travel editor David Wickers captivated by Catalonia and Wish You Were Here…? presenter John Carter seeking winter sun in Malta.

World Reviewer founder James Dunford Wood said: “We’ve made it even simpler to make well-informed holiday decisions with our extensive and growing video library of high quality expert-led destination reports, supported by our thousands of travel experiences reviewed by specialists.”

travelguru.tv managing director, Cathy Bartrop, added: “Our professionally shot first hand video reports breathe life into the online research process. The combination of World Reviewer’s high quality editorial content, broadcast quality video and great value holiday offers from trusted specialist operators provides an unrivalled one-stop resource for discerning travellers looking for qualified recommendations and honest advice.”

Once inspired, visitors can enquire about specific offers or seek assistance with tailor made travel plans by calling travelguru.tv consultants on 0845 602 9833.

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Notes to editors
Travelguru.tv, launched in January 2008, is the video based website providing a unique combination of inspiring travel video reports presented by respected travel experts and exceptional holiday offers from a selection of the UK’s specialist tour operators.

Worldreviewer.com, a part of the James Media Group, founded in October 2007 by James Dunford Wood and James Blackwell, makes the experience of finding ideas and planning holidays fun, offering the latest technology to provide inspirational and authoritative travel advice that is visually appealing and practically useful.

4 February, 2010

2010 marks the 300^th anniversary of the completion of Fort St George, the imposing edifice that commands unrivalled views over capital St George’s and the Caribbean Sea. Full details of anniversary celebrations available soon at www.Grenadagrenadines.com

The 29-beachfront room Kalinago Beach Resort   (www.kalinagobeachresort.com) opens in mid-February on peaceful Morne Rouge Bay surrounded by almond trees. A short drive from the capital St George’s, the resort is an ideal wedding location. Double rooms from £48 pppn.

Mount Hartman Bay Estate (www.mounthartmanbay.com) has just opened the Cave House and Folly, with just eight suites. Built into the hillside on its own private peninsula, this Gaudiesque property boasts its own beach protected by coral reefs, a dining room that opens up on two sides to terraces, and an internal waterfall. From £730 per suite per night.

In mid-February, Horizon Yacht Charters and Management (www.horizonyachtcharters.com) opens an office at Camper and Nicholsons Port Louis Marina (www.cnportlouismarina.com) in St George’s offering yacht charter, management and brokerage at the well protected, in water location.

Le Phare Bleu Marina & Resort (www.lepharebleu.com) – with its unique restored Swedish Light Ship restaurant Västa Banken – is the focus for the second annual South Grenada Regatta (www.southgrenadaregatta.com), 26-28 February, set to attract sailors from around the world. Mark Banthorpe recently joined as Executive Chef from Spice Island Beach Resort and has created a romantic pre-dinner sundowner area on the top deck as well as revitalising the menu with contemporary dishes using local ingredients. 

Dive Grenada (www.divegreanda.com) is part of the ‘renaissance’ of Grenada’s Underwater Sculpture Park that starts with a brand new sculpture designed and produced in Grenada and set to be installed in February.

The Grenada Classic Yacht Regatta (www.grenadaclassicregatta.gd) brings lovingly-restored yachts from around the world for three days’ racing, 4-7 March, setting off from Bel Air Plantation (www.belairplantation.com) to Prickly Bay, with a regatta party at True Blue Bay Resort’s (www.truebluebay.com) Dodgy Dock bar, one of the hottest spots on Grenada.

British Airways (www.ba.com) increases flights from London Gatwick to Grenada from one to two services per week on 28 March 2010, operated by Boeing 777 aircraft with three-class configuration. Winter flights operate via Antigua, departing Tuesdays and Fridays; summer flights operate via Barbados, departing Tuesdays and Sundays.

Petite Anse (www.petiteanse.com) offers nine sea view chalets and two deluxe suites, ideal for honeymooners, on the northern coast of Grenada. New British chef Jamie Morpeth is creating fresh and locally sourced menus including fish specialities.

La Luna (www.laluna.com) is offering a Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training Course with 200-hour certification, 9-24 April. Led by yoga teacher Michelle Maue, lessons are held in La Luna’s spectacular beachfront yoga pavilion from 7am to 7pm daily and encompass Ashtanga, Iyengar and Vinyasa. Places are limited; from £3,025 pp inc. course and accommodation.

The Carriacou Maroon & String Band Music Festival, 23-25 April, offers the chance to hear first hand the traditional ‘maroon’ – an expression of gratitude for harvest and praying for successful planting. The three-day festival on Grenada’s sister isle comprises of traditional songs, dance, drumming and fresh street food.

Lime Tree Lane (www.limetreelane.com) is organising a seven night culinary tour in April embracing three dinners at Rhodes Restaurant, time to explore the food markets of St George’s, an introduction to cooking with Grenada’s spices – including cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice - dinner at Mount Hartman Bay Estate…and more. From £2,599 pp including flights, accommodation, tours and meals.

Grenada will once again wow the crowds at the Chelsea Flower Show, 25-29 May. In 12 years, the island’s Grand Pavilion has won seven Gold Medals with Grenadian-born, Essex-based Suzanne Gaywood’s designs showcasing the best of the island’s luxuriant flora. Inspired, explore the rainforest around the Grand Etang Forest Reserve, high up in the mountains boasting towering mahogany and giant gommier trees as well as ferns and tropical flowers. Lizards, frogs, exotic birds, armadillos and Mona Monkeys abound.

DISCOVER MORE ABOUT GRENADA, CARRIACOU & PETITE MARTINIQUE AT WWW.GRENADAGRENADINES.COM

Eyes2market UK has been appointed to the role of marketing, PR and Tourist Office representatives. They bring with them a wealth of experience and knowledge of niche marketing and new media development.  

What does this mean to the UK travel industry:

*        Increased focus on ROI for all partnership activities
*        Niche market focus 
*        Primary: Wedding & Honeymoon, Diving, Small & Friendly
*        Secondary: Flora and Fauna, Sports Tourism and Cruise Tourism
*        More excitement, more events and promotions

The UK Director and our PR Manager look forward to working with to provide information and to getting across our message that Grenada is a natural and authentic tourism brand offering visitors experiences of ‘pure warmth’
incorporating the our ‘Rythms of Spice’.

Contact:

Rob Bates -  PR and Promotions Manager- rob {at} eyes2market.co(.)uk

Sharon Bernstein:    Director UK- sharon {at} eyes2market.co(.)uk

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The award recognises the quality of the 4.5 minute video and the diversity of the Costa Brava Girona region showcased by Wickers, including its historic towns and fishing villages, quiet coves, verdant valleys and walking and cycling trails.

Upon collecting the award in Olot, near Girona Travelguru.tv Managing Director, Cathy Bartrop, said: “The G! Award recognises the importance of broadcast quality online video content in promoting a destination to discerning travellers. Our professional production values and distinctive first hand reporting from travel industry experts - including David Wickers, John Carter and Kathy Arnold - provide valuable insights into worldwide destinations. Our users get to see what a place is really like so they can make informed decisions about where to travel for their holidays.”

Bartrop continued: “With increased bandwidth and continued proliferation of products that make shooting and sharing video easier than ever, online video will play a much greater role in 2010. Travelguru.tv offers independently-produced professional video content that really stands out from other online video resources to deliver broadcast quality destination guides.”

In addition to Girona, the website features a wealth of online video guides from sailing in the British Virgin Islands to Boston City Breaks, all supported with easy-to-book holiday offers from trusted tour operator partners.

The G! Award makes a hat trick of prestigious awards received by Travelguru.tv since its launch in January 2008. The website received Best Use of Video in the Travelmole Web Awards and BT Business ‘Essence of Entrepreneur’ in 2008.

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Notes to editors
The Costa Brava Girona G! Awards were launched in 2006 to strengthen relations within the business and tourism sectors and to reward excellence in the Girona tourism industry. There were over 60 entries across the award categories for consideration by the judging panel that consisted of the President of Costa Brava Girona Tourist Board, Enric Vilert, the Vice President of Girona’s journalism college and several members of the local media.

Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi: Sharjah (www.sharjah-welcome.com) is increasingly coming under the international spotlight as an ideal venue for major events.

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) officially announced that the emirate of Sharjah will play host to the UIM F1 Powerboat World Championship – Sharjah Grand Prix 2009, the world’s most spectacular water sport competition, which is scheduled to be held on Sharjah’s Khalid Lagoon from 10 to 11 December 2009.

Sharjah has added a level of value to the UIM F1 Powerboat World Championship during the last eight years has been unmatched in the history of the championship.

To date, Sharjah has won international awards for best event organiser in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2007, as well as an international media award for ideal organizing in 2001. 

Find out more about Sharjah at www.sharjah-welcome.com

Qantas Holidays now offers over 75 competitively-priced Fly-Cruise options from £999*. With departures until mid-2010 from ports across Asia and Australasia including Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland, Qantas Holidays Fly-Cruise offers agents a straightforward way to book flights connecting with a cruise, in addition to local accommodation and sightseeing tours.

Featured cruise lines are Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises, Holland America Line and The Yachts of Seabourn.

Love2shop vouchers are accepted by over 75 leading high street stores in over 18,000 outlets nationwide including Debenhams, Boots, Waterstones and Thresher.

Agents can contact Qantas Holidays Fly-Cruise experts on 020 8222 9119.
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Notes to editors
*Price per person based on 2 adults sharing specific inside cabin category on selected cruises. Subject to availability and conditions. Price includes Qantas flights, airport taxes, transfers, cruise accommodation, meals, entertainment & leisure facilities and port taxes.

One voucher per named agent on new Fly-Cruise bookings made during National Cruise Week (20-27 September 2009). Qantas Holidays opening times: Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 5pm.

In addition to Costa Cruises, on sale since June, Qantas Holidays will offer selected cruises from Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and The Yachts of Seabourn with departure dates until mid-2010, appealing to an array of customers from first-timers to families, from cruise aficionados to honeymooners, and to a variety of budgets.

Qantas Holidays General Manager, Nick Crabb said: “Strong demand since we started selling Fly-Cruises in the Far East means that we’re expanding our programme for this and next year to offer 75 Fly-Cruise offers featuring Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific islands as well as Asia. With our highly competitive air inclusive packages we’re providing agents with the opportunity to offer their customers an unrivalled portfolio of great value Fly-Cruises.”

In November, a 14-night Far East tour on Costa Allegra costs from £999 pp visiting Indonesia, Malaysia, Phuket in Thailand and Kuala Lumpur, with other cruises offering departures from Sydney, Beijing and Bangkok.

Also in November, a 12-night cruise from Hong Kong to Singapore aboard Holland America Line’s MS Volendam taking in ports in China, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia is available from £1599 pp.

December departures include 12-nights from £1799 pp aboard Diamond Princess departing Sydney for Auckland and visiting Melbourne, Hobart, then New Zealand’s Fjordland for scenic cruising, Dunedin, Christchurch and Tauranga.

Prices include return international Economy class flights with Qantas Airways, air taxes and fuel surcharges, transfers (in Singapore and Hong Kong only), Cruise accommodation, all onboard meals and taxes based on two adults sharing a two bed inside cabin.

For more information about and to book Fly-Cruises and the wide range of Pre- and Post-Cruise options available agents can call Qantas Holidays dedicated trade team on 020 8222 9119.
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Notes to editors
All prices include return economy class international flights, transfers (in Singapore and Hong Kong only), cruise accommodation, meals and taxes and are based on two adults sharing a specific double occupancy inside cabin category. Additional charges may apply for cruise service charges, beverages and excursions. All products subject to availability and booking conditions of Qantas Holidays and individual cruise lines.

Media contact for Qantas Holidays Fly-Cruise
Rob Bates
T: 020 7902 2990
E: rbates {at} bgbtcnetwork.co(.)uk

Bates has nine years in travel communications, after a background in TV. He has in-house experience at Air New Zealand and Icelandair as well as agency experience working on clients such as Tourism Australia, the Spanish Tourist Office and individual members of The Leading Hotels of the World.

He joins Catherine Brennan Consulting in the bgb Travel Consultants Network.

Debbie Hindle, bgb managing director said: “We founded our network of independent consultants last year because I could see a great opportunity to match clients who didn’t want a full service agency to the skills of senior consultants.

“It’s proved a very successful and good-value service with the flexibility of offering clients additional services from training to crisis work if the need arises.”

Bates said: “By joining bgb’s innovative Travel Consultants Network I can offer clients a cost-effective and personalised service supported by the agency’s insight and intelligence, providing communications essentials to those whose resources may not allow them to retain an agency team.”