Group vs individual fares – the pros and cons
WITH travel agents generally
under enormous pressure
to secure the best fares for
clients, there can be temptation to book
groups on individual fares when these
are cheaper, or to take advantage of
fare specials.
However, most airlines require
agents to book groups via their groups
departments. Some have very strict
policies around this and will raise
an ADM with an agency if individual
bookings for groups are discovered.
While individual fares may seem
attractive, there are disadvantages
to booking these for group travel,
such as having to submit passenger
names upfront and same-day booking
confirmations.
It is often impractical for incentive
and event decision-makers to comply
with these time limits, and corporates
may not immediately know who their
qualifying incentive or group travellers
will be. The same issues face sports
teams and school groups.
This is where booking group flights
works well. Agents can block book
seats months in advance and only
provide passenger details 30 days
prior to travel, as is the rule for most
airlines. There are usually very few
seats available at special advertised
fares for individual travellers, and
groups are generally excluded from
booking these. Usually the larger the
group, the higher the group fare. This
is due to airline yield management
systems and the tendency for airlines
to want to book the entire group in a
single fare class.
Mandy McEvoy, Club Travel
Corporate’s Westlake branch manager,
says online and GDS fares are usually
cheaper than group fares as the rules
are very different.
“With a group booking, seats and
fares are secured with a deposit but
no names are required and tickets are
not issued. This enables one to make
changes to dates, itinerary and names
(if already inserted) free of charge. The
price and seats will remain secure,
with the payment balance only required
closer to departure date. After issue,
some airlines allow for a complete
name swop for a fee, which is not
allowed on FIT tickets.”
Mandy suggests splitting very large
groups into two smaller groups and
booking them on different flights to
avoid a higher fare class.
Ramon Geldenhuys, 360 Degrees
Travel md, says it’s imperative
to explain group booking terms
and conditions to clients so they
understand why group bookings usually
attract higher fares.
Always use the airline’s booking policy
AIRLINES vary in their group booking
polices and how these are enforced.
Sally George, Singapore Airlines
market development manager,
says its far more advantageous
doing group bookings with the
airline’s groups department. “It
helps with seating arrangements
and, when large groups book quite
far in advance, we can give them
competitive fares. Last-minute online
deals come with high penalties and
you can’t change the booking.”
Lufthansa requires groups to be
booked using its Book-a-Group tool.
If groups are booked individually via
the GDS an ADM will be raised.
Booking more than 10 people on
British Airways must be done through
the airline’s groups department.
Bookings made incorrectly are raised
with the agent.
Delta Air Lines doesn’t allow
agents to book groups as individual
passengers. When these are
tracked, Delta automatically cancels
the space. It’s advisable to book
groups on Delta at least 90 days
prior to departure so that groups can
take advantage of discounted fares.
Cathay Pacific monitors any
malpractice on GIT bookings. It is
the airline’s policy for 10 or more
passengers to be handled as a
group booking.
Air Austral’s group fares are
generally cheaper than FIT fares and
a competitive fare for the whole
group is quoted. Group
size can be reduced
to a minimum of
10 passengers after
the initial booking, without penalty.
A 30% deposit is required within 30
days of flight confirmation and is
non-refundable 60 days or less prior
to departure.
Wouter Nel, Air Mauritius’s sales
and marketing manager, says if
agents book groups on FIT fares,
the airline’s group value proposition
won’t be available to them. Group
requests can be emailed to Air
Mauritius’s Johannesburg office.
“Once the group contract is signed
and deposits paid, we release the
group to the agent to insert names
and issue tickets. This can be done
if the agent uses the same GDS as
we do.”
Kirby Gordon, FlySafair’s vp: sales
and distribution, says while the
airline’s system accommodates the
full group at the best possible fare,
it does its best to improve on those
fares, depending on group size. “For
example, the system will return a
quote for 20 passengers at R799
per ticket, even though there may be
three fares available at R599 and
five at R699. We can override this
R799 fare to provide a better price
to the group.
Cruising and all-inclusive resorts – the best group options
TRAVEL agents and most tour
operators agree that cruising
and all-inclusive resorts are
among the best considerations
for groups and incentive travel.
Ramon Geldenhuys of 360
Degrees Travel, says cruises
and all-inclusive resorts
such as those offered by
Beachcomber, World Leisure
Holidays and Club Med,
provide a great experience for
clients.
“They’re also easiest to book
for groups and incentives,
because once agents have
done the booking, there’s very
little left for them to do as
the cruise line or resort takes
care of everything, including
excursions.”
Sarah Welton-Blake, owner
of SWB Consulting, says the
allure of cruising will never
diminish. “Cruising is a onestop
wonder – easy to sell,
easy to manage, easy to
deliver and tremendous value.”
The all-inclusive nature of
cruising means no hidden
fees or extra charges added,
enabling group and incentive
organisers to keep budgets
under control, says
Encore Cruises
sales manager,
Janine Pretorius.
“The groups
and incentives
market often seeks
shorter cruises,”
says Lizaan
Schnettler, Cruises
International’s
groups and
incentives
manager, “but
these are in short supply.
Most cruises start at seven
nights.”
“That’s why our threeand
four-night cruises out
of Durban to Portuguese
Island and Pomene Bay in
Mozambique are perfect
for the groups and MICE
market,” says Ross Volk,
MSC Cruises SA md. “With
companies cutting back on
group travel budgets in the
current economic climate,
booking a local cruise enables
companies to still offer
employees a ‘wow’ incentive
without breaking the budget.”
Although Med cruises remain
popular, repeat
groups are looking
for alternatives,
says Lizaan. “We’re
increasingly seeing
requests for the
Far East, Alaska
and European river
cruises. Cruises
out of Hong Kong
and Singapore
to Phuket and
Malaysia are
attractive because
South Africans don’t require
visas. Incentive groups are
looking at Australia/New
Zealand.”
Scandinavia is also a growing
cruise destination for South
Africans, says Incentives at
Sea’s Dalene Oroni, who
manages Development
Promotions Groups &
Incentives department.
“Scandinavian cruises offer
glacier walking, geothermal
pools, the Northern Lights and
volcanic landscapes – new
experiences for many South
Africans. The short travel time
and its cost-effectiveness also
make Europe sought-after.
Good growth in groups business
OPERATORS are reporting
good growth in their groups
and incentives business
this year, with forward
bookings for 2018 also
looking good
Olivier Perillat-Piratoine,
Club Med Southern Africa’s
meetings and events
manager, says group travel
has increased by more than
140% year-on-year for the
November 2018 to April
2019 winter season, with
growth coming from Club
Med’s long-haul snow and
exotic destinations.
Development Promotions
has reported huge growth
in business since launching
its groups and incentives
department.
Beachcomber has also
had an exceptional year
and is expecting a good
2018.
Thompsons Holidays
has also reported a big
increase in groups and
incentives travel in the last
two years, while Air Austral
reports a steep climb in
passenger loads to Réunion
Island, with good incentive
business a contributing
factor.
Trafalgar is preparing
for its big group
season in 2020 when
the Oberammergau
Passion Play takes
place in Oberammergau,
Germany, says Theresa
Szejwallo, Trafalgar md.
“We've already received
numerous bookings for this
prestigious event that takes
place every 10 years.
Current trends...
MANDY McEvoy of Club Travel
Corporate, says South Africans
are now travelling closer to
home, reducing flying times
and packing more into shorter
incentives to reduce total
spend. “Croatia, Victoria Falls
and Zambia are very popular
now.”
Cindy Williamson, consultant
with XL Turners Travel, says
groups and incentive travellers
prefer destinations that
don’t require visas, such
as Mauritius, Zanzibar and
Thailand, with sports events in
SA increasingly popular.
‘Bleisure’ is the new trend
in hospitality, says Greg
Hoffmann, Birchwood Hotel &
OR Tambo Conference Centre’s
marketing manager, with
groups wanting to combine
a business stay with a
vacation. “And with budgetary
restrictions globally, corporates
are combining events such
as seminars, exhibitions and
year-end functions rather than
hosting separate events for
each.”
Cathie Bester, World
Leisure Holidays’ marketing
relationship manager, says
tight budgets
mean shortstay
packages
that include
unique events
for companies,
like private group
dinners, as part of
the package price.
Corporates are
spending less on
incentives as they don’t want
to be seen to be spending
excessively in the current
economic climate, says Ramon
Geldenhuys of 360 Degrees
Travel.
Gillian Hurford, manager
of Superlative Incentives &
Events – a TAG company, says
incentive travel is on the rise
in the SA market but budgets
have remained static. “With
clients still expecting the
same ‘wow’ experiences as in
previous years we recommend
they reduce trip length or
participant numbers.”
Requests for extraordinary
destinations such as Norway,
Iceland, Russia, Cuba, Vietnam
and Cambodia and for regional
travel destinations such as
Mauritius, Swakopmund and
Zanzibar, are
increasing, adds
Gillian. The Far
East also offers
good value.
“Corporates are
also seeking
mobile apps that
enable travellers to
interact with one
another throughout
their travels.”
Air Mauritius’s Wouter Nel
says groups have been smaller
due to the economic climate,
but Mauritius remains hugely
popular as a MICE destination.
Sarah Welton-Blake of SWB
Consulting, says almost all her
incentive clients are seeking a
conference component to their
incentive trips with motivational
speakers, a CSI element and
cultural experiences.
Liane Venter, Africa Stay
sales and marketing manager,
has seen a shift to better
value options such as Zanzibar,
Victoria Falls, Mauritius and
Mozambique. “We encourage
our clients to book all-inclusive
offers along with some prepaid
activities for their groups to
save on costs.”
...and challenges
“WE’RE facing shorter
lead times,” says Kathy
Nel, Limex’s divisional
executive head. “Clients
don’t realise how much goes
into proposals and have
unrealistic expectations
of turnaround times for
quotations.”
Availability, tight budgets,
finding suitable activities
for diverse groups, forex
fluctuations, and slow
supplier turnaround
times are some of the
challenges, says John Ridler,
Thompsons Holidays pr and
media manager.
Group bookings through
airline groups departments
generally have slow
turnaround times because
decisions are no longer
made locally, says Ramon
Geldenhuys of 360 Degrees
Travel. “This can affect
agents’ service levels to
clients.”
“The disconnect between
budget and wish list can be
difficult to manage,” says
Sarah Welton-Blake of SWB
Consulting, “but frank and
frequent communication
with clients helps to manage
expectations.”
Airlines don’t do waivers
any more,” says Mandy
McEvoy of Club Travel
Corporate, “which means
airlines will reject a group
booking for 14 passengers
if the group minimum rule
is 15 passengers. Where
a group deposit has been
paid and the client reduces
the group size to under the
minimum number required,
the reservation becomes
invalid and the deposit is
forfeited if the balance of
payment has not yet been
paid.
“The airline will cancel
the group booking and the
agent will need to re-book
individual seats on the
available airfare at the time,
which can literally double the
ticket price quoted to the
client on a group booking.
It’s imperative to inform
clients of the rules before a
deposit is paid or they will
hold you responsible for any
additional costs incurred.”
“Ensuring all payments
and necessary
documentation are
received timeously can be
a challenge,” comments
Janine Pienaar, Globus
sales and marketing
manager.
Tips from the experts
It’s crucial that clients do
site inspections for large
group travel, says Ramon
Geldenhuys of 360-Degrees
Travel, “to ensure any
cheaper accommodation
options selected meet their
expectations.”
Low season is the best time
to obtain a group fare, says
Isla Moffett of Air Austral’s
GSA. “The further in
advance a booking is made
the better the airfare should
be.”
Always make sure the
client signs a contract
that outlines all terms and
conditions, such as allowed
breakaway percentage, name
change fees and number
of passengers booked,
says Mandy McEvoy of
Club Travel Corporate. “A
signed contract has saved
me many times as clients
often forget what they have
asked of you. Never sign
an airline contract on your
client’s behalf. Another good
tip is to apply to all airlines
flying the route selected, as
airlines offer very different
rates to what you see on
the GDS. You may
think one airline
is cheaper than
another due to
GDS rates but
that’s often not
the case when it
comes to group
fares.”
Trafalgar’s
Theresa Szejwallo
says getting
the destination
choice “just right” is really
important. “Agents must
do their homework on
current trends, travel routes
and costs. When sourcing
multiple quotations, it’s
important that agents
compare ‘apples with
apples’. In most cases it’s
less expensive to travel as
a group. There are many
inclusions on an itinerary
that can’t be done as an
individual or would be too
expensive.”
Cindy Williamson, XL
Turners Travel consultant,
says it’s important to book
sports teams as a group
to benefit from airline
name change policies in
case of player
replacements
due to injuries.
Some airlines also
offer an extra bag
free for sporting
equipment.
Kirby Gordon
of FlySafair says
agents must
adhere to payment
timelines in
the quotation,
otherwise bookings can
lapse and auto-cancel,
requiring a fresh quote.
“Flexibility also helps.
We can help groups find
cheaper flights if they can
be flexible. If groups take
only hand luggage on a
weekend retreat they can
also save money.”
Greg Taylor, Pure Sport/
Pure Skiing gm, says when
booking sports or skiing
packages, agents must
match client needs with the
correct event, destination
and budget; ensure the
itinerary suits all travellers
and there’s a good balance
between group activities and
individual leisure time.
How to stretch an incentive budget
SARAH WeltonBlake
of SWB
Consulting,
says: “Consider
allowances for
some meals
rather than
hosting all meals.
Neighbouring
countries like
Mauritius provide
great value, with many hotels
offering packages inclusive
of drinks, conferencing and
meals.”
Opting for local incentives
really helps, says Gillian
Hurford, manager of
Superlative Incentives &
Events. “‘Wow’
elements like
a trip on Rovos
Rail or a stay at
a luxury game
lodge can then be
factored in.”
“One can
do more in a
destination where
the exchange
rate is favourable,” says
Kathy Nel, Limex divisional
executive head, “which is
why the East is so popular.”
Dalene Oroni of
Development Promotions
says cruising is an amazing
budget stretcher.
Get the best deals
On Trafalgar, a group of five joining
set departure brochure tours get 5%
discount on the tour price. Exclusive
groups require a minimum of 42
guests. For groups of 15 to 48
guests, Trafalgar offers 15% off the
tour price plus one free place for
each 15 full-paying passengers, two
for 30 passengers and three for 45.
Once deposits are paid, the rand
price is guaranteed.
MSC Cruises considers 12 cabins or
24 adults to be a group and offers
one free cruise fare for every 23rd
person booked. Group bookings are
based on a group rate.
Globus and Cosmos offer rebates on
land arrangements for groups. Where
holidays include a cruise of three or
more nights, one person travels free
in a group of 32 and one at half price
for groups of 16. On all other tours,
one person travels free in a group
of 16 and for half price in a group of
eight.
Groups on Air Mauritius start at 10
passengers. MICE group bookings
benefit from a free ticket (excl.
taxes) for every 50 tickets booked;
a dedicated check-in counter for
groups; dedicated in-cabin seating;
discounted access to Air Mauritius’s
business-class lounge; two bags
each weighing 23kg free in economy
and two bags each weighing 32kg in
business class, plus free carriage of
golf clubs up to 20kg. MICE groups
can print their own branded head
rests.
Cruises International has new MICE
offers from Celebrity Cruises and
Royal Caribbean International. On
Celebrity, there’s a bonus on-board
credit of US$100 (R1 360) for
all ocean-view staterooms and
categories above, bookable until
October 31. The offer is combinable
with Celebrity’s Go! Big, Better, Best
offer.
Royal Caribbean’s MICE offer for new
bookings until December 31 is 5% off
the total group cruise fare (excluding
port charges, taxes and gratuities)
to use as an on-board credit for
the group towards amenities, and
a reduced beverage package of
US$35pppd (R480).
Development Promotions offers free
tour conductor credits when eight
cruise cabins are booked. The larger
the group the more tour conductor
credits are earned. These translate
into free travel for up to six people
in three cabins, depending on group
size.
Fifteen adults and more are
considered a group with
Beachcomber, with every 16th adult
travelling free on a shared basis.
During low season, Beachcomber
offers extra special rates and a
complimentary beach barbecue.
Delta Air Lines requires 10
passengers for group bookings in
economy and eight in business
class, and offers flexible payment
conditions. A nominal group deposit
is required with the balance payable
15 days prior to departure. Delta has
a dedicated group check-in area and
meet and greet services at OR Tambo
International Airport.
At World Leisure Holidays a group
comprises a minimum of 16 fullpaying
adult passengers. Depending
on group size and destination,
complimentary travel can be
negotiated for tour leaders.
FlySafair considers 15 passengers a
group. Reservations can be secured
with a 50% deposit with the balance
payable a month before departure.
FlySafair’s airport teams take care of
groups at the airport.
Air Austral negotiates special fares
for groups of 10 and upwards,
ensuring all passengers pay the
same amount for their tickets. Group
fare ticketing is 30 days before
departure.
Groups start from 15 passengers
upwards with Thompsons Holidays.
The company prepares specialised
teaser programmes for groups and
has dedicated DMC back-up at all its
destinations for group assistance.
On Singapore Airlines a discount of
up to R8 000 applies for every 16th
passenger for MICE groups until
March 31, 2018.
The latest destinations and offerings
NEW for the incentive market
is Sri Lanka, which, says John
Ridler of Thompsons Holidays,
offers a rich history, heritage
and culture, excellent food, top
beaches and wild scenery.
Island and beach
destinations, he says, are
always popular, with Zanzibar
and Mauritius ideal for larger
groups. In southern Africa
Victoria Falls, Namibia and
Mozambique are sought after,
while further afield, Europe and
skiing are also on the radar.
In South Africa smaller groups
are patronising the Conrad
Pezula Golf Resort & Spa and
Zimbali Coastal Resort, says
Ramon Geldenhuys of 360
Degrees Travel. “Larger groups
go to Sun City and destinations
with large convention centres,
while leisure groups love the
Kruger National Park, Cape
Town and the Western Cape,
and KwaZulu Natal.”
The North American
destinations of Orlando and
Las Vegas are strong incentive
favourites, says Manoj
Kuriakose, commercial director
Middle East & Southern Africa
for Delta Air Lines. New York,
San Francisco, Los Angeles,
New Orleans and Washington
are always popular group
destinations.
Theresa Szejwallo says
Trafalgar’s Discover Europe
trips that include several
destinations are popular.
“South Africans no longer
need visas for Russia, which
has become a sought-after
group destination as have
Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Eastern Europe offers the best
value, especially Prague and
Budapest. France, Austria and
the Scandinavian countries
are also growing group
destinations.
Ross Volk, MSC Cruises SA
md, says the new four-night
cruise to Pomene Bay is ideal
for groups and incentives, as
well as a three-night weekend
Portuguese Island getaway.
“We’re increasingly seeing
requests for our Asian,
southern Europe and Brazilian
resorts,” says Club Med’s
Olivier Perillat-Piratoine.
Skiing is another fast-growing
segment.
“Our Club Med 2 five-masted
cruise ship is a must for top
incentives, as are our Finolhu
Villas in the Maldives and
Valmorel Chalets in the French
Alps. In Africa, Marrakech
offers a unique culture, city
and fascinating excursions to
Berber villages.”
Dalene Oroni of Development
Promotions reports a lot of
interest in Alaska, Asia and
Norway from the groups and
incentives market. World
Leisure Holidays’ Cathie
Bester says Zanzibar and
Mauritius offer good quality,
reliability, choice and great
value, while Réunion offers
something unique for the more
adventurous.
Book it!
Africa Stay is offering three nights at the four-star Doubletree by
Hilton from R9 950pps in Zanzibar. The package includes economyclass
flights on Mango Airlines from JNB to Zanzibar, transfers,
all-inclusive full-board accommodation and a Blue Tour safari – a
full-day trip on a dhow with snorkelling, lunch and visits to various
islands. The package is valid for travel from March 16-31 and
May 1-31, 2018. Groups of up to 70 can be accommodated.
Agentivity’s Delegate Tracker makes consolidation easy
THE Agentivity reporting
tool, which gives travel
agencies actionable
insights into their
businesses and keeps
them abreast of dayto-day
booking activity,
is very useful for large
group bookings.
Delegate Tracker helps
agents to manage
large group bookings. It
consolidates all booking
data directly in the
GDS, providing a single
report at the touch of a
button.
No matter from where
travellers originate,
Delegate Tracker
amalgamates all
booking data, PNRs,
booking changes and
delegate preferences.
All agents need to do is
load the information on
to the booking entry in
the GDS using notepad
and free text. For
example, if a delegate books a car
then cancels it, then books a hotel
and then wants a room
upgrade, Agentivity
tracks all this activity
and reflects it in the
report.
Agents no longer
have to manually
input booking changes
and requests into a
spreadsheet and move
back and forth between
spreadsheet and GDS,
a time-consuming
process that can result
in errors.
Another great
advantage of Delegate
Tracker, says Yolandé
Bouwer, Agentivity
director: Africa, is that
more than one agent
can handle large group
bookings. “As long as
the booking is assigned
to the group on the
GDS, it doesn’t matter
who adds entries or
makes changes in
the GDS. This is very
helpful for agencies, enabling them
to split the workload.
Great value-add from Pure Sport and Pure Skiing
PURE Skiing is freezing prices on
receipt of a client’s first deposit,
thereby eliminating hidden surprises
caused by currency movements
when paying in full.
Pure Sport and Pure Skiing are
also redeveloping their websites
and will soon include online booking
capability. Greg Taylor says since
Tourvest acquired the companies,
they are in a position to add further
value for clients, such as reduced
transfer costs, reduced room rates,
a free room when a minimum of
20 passengers are booked, a
reduction on lift passes and ski
programmes, and tailored ground
programmes to suit specific group
needs and interests.
High-end incentive groups, says
Greg, enjoy attending major sporting
events such as the FIFA World
Cup, Rugby World Cup, Wimbledon,
Premier League football, Sevens
Rugby, Formula 1 events, and golf
majors, with skiing also popular.
For budget-friendly sports
incentives, Greg recommends
Premier League football, local
sporting events, and an end-ofthe-year
tour with the Springboks
to Europe to attend one of their
matches. “Groups enjoy combining
sports events with special dinners,
sightseeing, team-building and
driving experiences.
Sinfonia suits short group breaks
MSC Sinfonia’s 2017/2018
cruise season kicks off
on October 30 with a fournight
cruise from Durban to
Portuguese Island. All cruises
depart from Durban and
mostly travel to Portuguese
Island and Pomene Bay,
with some itineraries
including Maputo or Ilha de
Mozambique.
MSC Sinfonia is also
offering an 11-night cruise
to Réunion and Mauritius,
departing Durban on
December 26, 2017.
On January 6, 2018, the
ship sails from Durban to
Cape Town and then sails
two Cape Town to Walvis Bay
itineraries before returning to
Durban on January, 19. The
last sailing of the season
takes place on April 15,
2018, with a five-night trip to
Maputo, Portuguese Island
and Pomene Bay
Birchwood makes banqueting easy and affordable
THE Birchwood Hotel & OR
Tambo Conference Centre
is offering three affordable
banqueting packages for
groups of up to 1 500
guests, starting at R450
per head. For smaller
groups, from 20 people,
Birchwood’s Grill at One
Twenty and the unique
Cellar offer menus that
start at R220 per head.
“We know how stressful
it can be to plan an event
or a year-end function.
Hence we’ve created these
packages that include
décor, menu, venue and
more,” says marketing
manager, Greg Hoffmann.
Greg adds that having four
restaurants on the property,
in addition to the above,
means guests can enjoy a
different experience every
night of their stay.
Accommodation options
at Birchwood take care of
the diverse needs of large
groups with 334 functional
rooms for a comfortable
stay, 235 rooms at the
Silverbirch@Birchwood for
the discerning and modern
business traveller, and the
96 ValuStay@Birchwood
rooms for budget travellers.
Greg adds that hotels
can no longer just offer a
bed, meeting room and a
restaurant.
“They need to offer an
experience and a humancentric
approach. We want
our passion for service
excellence, energetic
efficiency and never-say-no
attitude to shine through.
Beachcomber packs in fun
A FIVE- to seven-night group
stay at either the five-star Trou
aux Biches Resort & Spa or
five-star Paradis Beachcomber
Golf Resort & Spa, can include
special beach dinners, a
catamaran cruise to one of
the nearby islands with added
extras such as musicians
and masseuses, and fun
team-building activities where
groups get to learn about
Mauritian culture.
These are elements that go
to make a great Beachcomber
groups and incentive trip.
“The catamaran cruises are
amazing,” says Beachcomber’s
Enid Maullin. “Guests enjoy
a full-day cruise to some of
the islands and spend the day
swimming and snorkelling.
There’s an incredible vibe on
board with music, a barbecue
and true Mauritian hospitality.”
Enid further recommends
the zipline experience at the
Chazal Ecotourism Site near
St Felix in Mauritius. Guests
can swim the Rivière des
Galets, bathe under waterfalls
or dive from the rocks. The
glides along the ziplines are
spectacular, and the excursion
involves some trekking too.
At the end of the excursion,
guests can enjoy a typical
Mauritian lunch in breathtaking
surroundings.
La Pirogue reopens after extensive refurbishment
LA PIROGUE,
one of the first
hotels to open
on Mauritius’s
west coast 40
years ago, has
reopened after
a complete
renovation of
its rooms –
decorated in
boho-chic style –
and public areas.
New bars, restaurants
and a new lobby welcome
guests to the hotel.
“A fun new
feature,” says
Cathie Bester
of World Leisure
Holidays, “is a
new recording
studio that
is staffed by
professional
musicians
and sound
engineers. It
could be a nice
option for conference
delegates and groups to
record team songs.
Book it!
Development Promotions is offering a seven-day Hurtigruten
Classic Voyage North up the Norwegian coastline from
€900pps (R14 500). Ideal for groups, the cruise starts in
Bergen, and travels to Florø, Molde, Kirstiansund, Rørvik,
Stockmarknes, Skjervøy, Øksfjord, Berlevåg, Båtsfjord and
Kirkenes. It’s a great opportunity to experience the Arctic
Circle, Northern Lights, the Ice Hotel in Kirkenes, horse riding
in snow, the Svartisen glacier, dog sledding, kayaking, polar
history walks and a Viking Medieval feast.
Participants seek more depth
THOMPSONS
Holidays’ John
Ridler says incentive
groups are seeking
experiential and
cultural activities
and evening events,
with the emphasis
on fun.
“Increasingly
groups want top
international
sporting events
included in their incentive,
such as Formula 1 Grand Prix,
golf, rugby, Rugby Sevens, and
soccer.
Theresa Szejwallo of
Trafalgar, says travellers are
seeking in-depth experiences,
such as places that are off
the beaten track and visiting
places at less crowded times.
They want to meet
and eat with locals
in their homes,
and participate in
cultural activities
like cooking
demonstrations.
When it comes
to cruising, says
Ross Volk of MSC
Cruises, cocktail
parties, themed
entertainment and
sports activities are sought
after.
A new trend among
corporates is mountain biking
rather than golf, says 360
Degrees Travel’s Ramon
Geldenhuys. “People are
looking to be more active and
seeking more health-conscious
options.”
Zanzibar ticks the boxes
ZANZIBAR is the ideal
destination for both groups
and incentives, says Africa
Stay’s Liane Venter.
“South Africans don’t
need visas to travel there.
It’s just a four-hour flight
from Johannesburg and
is a diverse destination
that offers something
for everyone.
“Our clients love historic
Stone Town, a Unesco
World Heritage Site, with
its shops, markets and
rooftop restaurants.
They also love exploring
the traditional villages,
turtle sanctuary and
enjoying the miles of white
sandy beaches.”
Book it
Cruises International is offering a three-night western Mediterranean
cruise on board Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas from
October 11-14, 2018 visiting Rome and Naples in Italy and Barcelona
in Spain, starting from US$746pps (R10 260) including port charges
(excl. taxes and gratuities).
Photocap: It's a group hug!
Development Promotions has commenced a campaign to advise ‘DP groupies’ of the
on-board benefits for cruising groups using the services of Norwegian Cruise Line. The
cruise company’s ‘group hug’ comes in the form of complimentary drinks, gratuities
and cocktail events. Pictured here from Development Promotions are, clockwise,
back from left: Michelle Hunter, groups sales manager; Dalene Oroni, groups ops
manager; Shelley Phillips, sales manager; and Serena Janse Van Rensburg, key
accounts sales.
Paradis’ ocean-view rooms upgraded
BEACHCOMBER has
refurbished its Beachfront
Ocean Rooms at Paradis,
which are very popular
with groups. “The
rooms have brand-new
interiors and redesigned
bathrooms. The bedroom
is open-plan, with en-suite
bathroom, sitting area
and lovely terrace. The
rooms are a stone’s
throw from the beach,”
says Beachcomber’s Enid
Maullin.
Regent Seven Seas launches 2019/2020 programme
REGENT Seven Seas
Cruises has unveiled its
2019/20 itinerary, with
118 sailings from March
2019 to June 2020 in the
Mediterranean, northern
Europe, Alaska, Canada,
New England, Bermuda, the
Caribbean, South America,
Asia, Australia and the South
Pacific.
There are also two Grand
Voyages – the 77-night Grand
Arctic Quest from London to
New York and the 66-night
Circle South America from
Miami, circumnavigating
South America and cruising
the River Amazon.
All ships have full meetings
and conference capabilities.
Cold climates for something different
FOR the adventurous,
Development Promotions
suggests Trekking in Iceland:
the Laugavegur Trail. It is
an eight-day trek that starts
and ends in Reykjavik, and is
ideal for small groups of up
to 14 people.
Trekkers camp for five nights
and stay in hostels for two;
they walk on glaciers and
lava fields, enjoy waterfalls,
geothermal pools, volcanic
landscapes and snow-capped
mountains. The trip is priced
at R34 000pps.
In Alaska, Cruises
International suggests these
Celebrity Cruises excursions:
Travel by narrow-gauge railway
in a vintage car on the White
Pass Scenic Railway in
Skagway from the tidewater
to the summit of White
Pass, passing deep gorges,
waterfalls, and valleys.
Alaska Sled Dogs and
Musher’s camp in Juneau:
Take a sled ride through lush
rainforests, play with husky
puppies and learn about
dog sledding.
Take note
A not-to-be-missed mountain bike adventure on Beachcomber’s
events calendar is the Mauritius Tour Beachcomber, the ultimate
mountain bike experience. On the four-stage mountain bike race
from May 17-19, 2018, riders get to experience rarely accessed
areas, including cliff tops, forests, mountains, sugar cane and tea
plantations. The five-star Shandrani Beachcomber Resort and Spa
is the starting and finishing point of the race.
Book it!
Trafalgar is offering a 12-day European Experience from
R27 690pps for groups of 10 or more (excl. flights). It visits Dover,
Amsterdam, Cologne, Rhine Valley, Munich, Innsbruck, Venice,
Rome, Florence, Swiss Alps, Lucerne and Paris.
