| |
NEW DAILY FLIGHTS FROM LAX ON AIR PACIFIC
& AIR NEW ZEALAND COMMENCE MAY 7, 2007
Just
in time for spring, beginning May 7, 2007, Air Pacific,
Fiji’s international airline, will commence code
share arrangements with Air New Zealand, providing
customers with daily flights between Los Angeles
International Airport and Fiji. Seats have been available
for sale in the CRS since April 24, 2007. Air Pacific is
operating Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
with non-stop services on the B747 aircraft. Air New
Zealand will operate Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
non-stop services using B767 & B777 aircraft. This
marketing liaison will provide mutual benefit for visitors
to Fiji, including more choice of schedule, while driving
tourism dollars and ensuring the route remains sustainable
for both airlines. Each airline will continue to offer
independent and competitive airfares.
More information
can be obtained from each of the airline’s websites at:
www.airpacific.com and
www.airnewzealand.com
NEWS
FROM FIJI ISLANDS VISITORS BUREAU
TRAVEL
AGENTS HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN A TRIP TO FIJI DURING JULY,
2007 WEST COAST ROADSHOW
Travel agents will have the
opportunity to be updated on Fiji’s dynamic tourism
industry and be in a great position to win a trip to Fiji
during the upcoming “Fiji Me” West Coast Roadshow. The
trade seminars are scheduled for July 9 to 19, 2007.
Travel partners will visit Houston and Dallas, Texas;
Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; La Vegas, Nevada; Boulder
and Denver, Colorado; Salt Lake City, Utah; Seattle
Washington; and San Diego, California. Partners that will
join the Fiji Islands Visitors Bureau in July, 2007 to
share why Fiji continues to be a preferred leisure travel
destination include: Air Pacific, Air New Zealand,
wholesaler partners Exotic Escapes, Pleasant Holidays, Qantas/Jetabout,
Sunspots, Happy Vacations, South Seas Awesome Adventures
and major Fiji partners Blue Lagoon Cruises, Creative
Marketing, Maravu Resort and Crusoes Retreat, Castaway Island Resort, Jean-Michel Cousteau
Fiji Islands Resort, Koro Sun Resort Fiji, Lomani
Resort/Plantation Resort, Matamanoa Island Resort, Musket
Cove Island Resort, Namale Resort and Spa, Outrigger on
the Lagoon Fiji, Qamea Resort and Spa Fiji, Royal Davui
Island, South Sea Cruises, Toberua
Island Resort, World Resorts of Distinction Vatulele
Island Resort, Sonaisali Island Resort, Matangi Island
Resortand Yasawa
Island Resort.
For more information, contact Vani Vogel
at vvogel@bulafij-americas.com
Fiji Islands Visitors Bureau
commences a 12-month online campaign this month on
BRIDES.COM as part of its efforts to increase its share of
the lucrative “weddings and honeymoon market.” The online
website is the premier online resource guide for this
market segment, according to Regional Director of the
Americas Ili Matatolu. Conde Nast Bridal Media’s
BRIDES.COM Executive Director of Marketing & Creative
Services Pamela Quandt said, “Online honeymoon research
and booking is a sizeable activity for engaged women.
Along with choosing other wedding elements, they’re
excited about the first trip they’ll take as husband and
wife. BRIDES.COM is thrilled to be partnering with Fiji
in this campaign.” Added Matatolu “this online campaign
is a critical part of our marketing plan this year and we
are confident it will deliver results for Fiji. Partners
in the online campaign also include Fiji’s International
Airline partner Air Pacific, and key wholesalers Happy
Vacations, Journey Pacific, South Seas Adventures.
In 2007
more than 3,800 travelers are expected to travel to Fiji
as part of Grand Circle’s "Australia, New Zealand & Fiji"
program and through its cruise itineraries aboard the M/S
Paul Gauguin. This reflects an increase of 26% from last
year, when more than 3,000 Americans visited Fiji with
Grand Circle Travel, the largest direct marketer of
international vacations for Americans 50 and older. Next
year, Grand Circle anticipates more than 2,500 travelers
to Fiji on its land program alone. In the future, Grand
Circle plans to include Fiji in M/S Paul Gauguin cruise
itineraries.
“Fiji is one of the most
spectacular places in the world, and its natural beauty,
rich culture, and welcoming people are a major draw for
our travelers,” said Grand Circle’s Chairman and CEO Alan
E. Lewis. “I encourage all of our travelers who seek a
wonderful, unforgettable experience to visit Fiji with
us,” added Lewis.
To thank
the Fijian people for sharing their beautiful country with
Grand Circle travelers, Grand Circle is supporting the
Fijian community through its non-profit foundation, Grand
Circle Foundation, that has built a school library and
provided classroom equipment for the Tagage District
School, a rural primary school in Fiji which is visited by
Grand Circle travelers. This program is expected to be
further strengthened with the partnership.
Fiji will host a VIP group of
American incentive buyers in June, 2007 on a nine-day fam
itinerary that also showcases the latest resort openings
and developments catering to this lucrative segment. The
program, which also includes time out for the VIP guests,
covers Denarau Island, Coral Coast, and the Mamanuca
Islands. Other major parts of the Bureau’s 2007 program
for the Conference and Incentive Market include ITME and
Bula Calls in June and October, 2007.
For more
information, contact Regional Marketing Officer Mrs
Adeline Erasito at
alee@bulafiji-americas.com
Fiji’s first familiarisation program for
2007 gets under way this month with 11 VIP Fiji Matai
agents visiting Fiji on a comprehensive 12-day itinerary.
Fiji Matai program coordinator Jese Naka “the itinerary
covers the key tourist regions in Fiji including the
Northern parts of Fiji, Pacific Harbour, Coral Coast,
Denarau Island and the Mamanucas.
For more information on
planned Fiji educationals for 2007 please contact,
Jese
Naka on email:
jnaka@bulafiji-americas.com
INDUSTRY NEWS…
Air
Pacific's "Visit the Americas" (VTA) program for 2007 held
its second in a series of training forums last month,
focusing on updating wholesaler reservations staff about
up-to-the-minute information regarding Fiji’s major hotels
and resorts. Participants included Matamanoa Island
Resort, Qamea Resort and Spa, Yasawa Island Resort and
Plantation/Lomani Resorts. Regional General Manager The
Americas Candy Andrus said "VTA is a key component of Air
Pacific's marketing program for 2007.” “Its educational
distribution network is an integral part of converting
sales,” added Andrus. The remaining programs are scheduled
for June, September, October, 2007 and January 2008.
Additional information about the “Visit the
Americas Program” can be obtained from Air Pacific's
Administrative Coordinator, Ms. Louise Waqanisanini at
louisew@airpacific-lax.com.
AIR NEW ZEALAND AND FIJI TEAM UP FOR A MAJOR EDUCATIONAL
IN AUGUST
Fiji Visitors Bureau and Air
New Zealand will coordinate a major trade familiarization
program for Fiji in August. The action-packed itineraries
will showcase Air New Zealand’s award winning products and
services. It will also focus on showing “the other side of
Fiji” – white water rafting in a “tropical Yosemite”
setting, visiting a “live cultural museum” as well as
checking out the latest additions to Fiji's growing
inventory which include the Fiji Beach Resort and Spa
Managed by Hilton, Radisson Fiji Denarau Island Resort,
Likuliku Resort.
More information can be obtained from Mrs Adeline Lee-Erasito
on email: alee@bulafiji-americas.com
Caption Cook Cruises continues it popular
Northern Fiji Dateline Cruise aboard the MV Reef Escape in
2007 . The special seven-night cruise, venturing to the
international dateline, highlights transfers from Nadi,
cruise accommodation, all meals, all on-board facilities,
snorkelling equipment, glass bottom boat excursions,
village and island visits, cultural activities, meke, lovo
feasts and guided islands walks. The cruise takes
visitors to the Mamanuca Islands, North Coast of Vitu Levu,
historic Levuka, Savusavu Town, Savusavu Bay Beach, Bouma
Waterfalls, Naselesele Village and Waiyevo Church and
Dateline in Taveuni and Wainunu Bay on the Southwest Coast
of Vanua Levu.
For more information, check out
www.captaincook.com.au or email:
nick.reid@deliveringamerica.com
Fiji’s newest resort Likuliku Lagoon Resort
Fiji rolled out the red carpet for its first guests when the resort officially opened its
doors on April 15, 2007. Welcoming the duo from New
Zealand, Group General Manager Steve Anstey treated the
couple to Veuve Clicquot champagne and a deluxe beachfront
bure with private plunge pool as part of their six-night
stay at the luxury resort. The couple travelled to Fiji
to celebrate a belated 25th wedding
anniversary. Likuliku Lagoon Resort Fiji is the first
resort in Fiji offering guests overwater bungalow
accommodations. Information:
www.ahuraresorts.com.
THE WAKAYA CLUB ROLLS OUT THE RED CARPET WITH A NEW
AMBASSADOR’S BURE
The newest addition to The
Wakaya Club accommodations is the tenth and final bure –
the glamorous 4,000-square-foot luxurious oceanfront
Ambassador’s Bure. This spacious air-conditioned
two-bedroom retreat is designed for a maximum of two
couples or four people. It features a secluded, covered,
rear plunge/water Shiatsu pool lanai, a separate living
room with a full kitchen/dining area for up to six guests,
DVD/VCR and stereo system with an IPod connection and
surround sound, and wireless Internet. Each of the two
bedrooms highlight a four-poster king bed, spacious
walk-in closet, writing desk, luxuriously appointed
bathroom, including two separate vanities, a private
outdoor shower, generous soaking tub designed for up to
two! and separate W.C. with bidet. In addition, the new
Ambassador’s Bure spotlights its very own Spa. Two
treatment rooms boasts a relaxation area which has a a
private plunge/water Shiatsu pool lanai. Information:
www.wakaya.com.
BLUE LAGOON CRUISES DEBUTS
“BUDDY RATE”
Fiji’s premier cruise company, Blue Lagoon
Cruises, is currently offering a “Buddy Rate” which is
available for sale until June 30, 3007 for travel through
December 10, 2007. The cruise includes up to 15 dives in
some of Fiji’s most spectacular underwater diving regions.
Conditions apply.
For additional information, contact
Marie Yalenkatian at
marie@bluelagooncruises.com
PAY 3, STAY 6 GOLD CLUB
CRUISE SPECIAL UNVEILED BY BLUE LAGOON. TRAVELERS SAVE
$866
Book a cabin on a Blue Lagoon 7 Days/6
nights Gold Club Cruise and pay only the 4 Days/3 Nights
Gold Club Cruise cabin rate based on twin share! Per
person prices begin from USD $1,115 based on twin share
for a 7 Days/6 Nights Gold Club Cruise.
Contact your
wholesaler Marie Yalenkatian regarding details or email:
marie@bluelagooncruises.com
Fiji’s Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands
Resort received the top award for
environmentally-friendly accommodations in a recent survey
for 2006 by Trip Advisor. The survey noted, “The resort
boasts the friendliest staff, and we were made to feel we
were the only people there.” The resort has 17 acres of
coconut plantations overlooking idyllic Savusavu Bay,
which is located on Fiji’s second biggest island called
Vanua Levu. Second runner up was Lapa Rios Ecolodge in
Costa Rica and third runner up was Post Ranch Inn in Big
Sur, California, a sister resort to Cousteau. General
Manager of the resort Greg Taylor said, “It shows what a
great team we have.” “This is an award for all the
staff.” TripAdvisor ® is the largest travel
community in the world, with more than five million
unbiased reviews and opinions, covering 250,000+ hotels
and attractions.
TOKORIKI ISLAND RESORT
GOES ECO WITH PROJECT AWARE GO ECO OPERATOR
Tokoriki Diving is the latest
PADI dive centre to be awarded with Project AWARE Go ECO
Operator status in 2007. Project Aware Foundation, the
dive industry’s leading non-profit environmental
organization, launched the Go ECO campaign into the Asia
Pacific region in 2005. Its main goal is for dive centres
to minimize their impact on the aquatic ecosystem, while
contributing to environmental, economic and cultural
conservation. Dive centres are required to meet best
practice environmental guidelines and commit to the
Project Aware Go Eco philosophy. Instructor Owner Will
Wragg said, “Tokoriki Diving is delighted to be awarded
with the Project Aware Go Eco status for 2007,” says Wragg.
“We are committed to providing dive experiences that
enhance visitor awareness, appreciation and understanding
of the local aquatic environment,” he added.
For more
information about Tokoriki Diving or Tokoriki Island
Resort visit www.tokorikidiving.com or
www.tokoriki.com.
Mana Island Resort is
offering a Stay 6, Pay 3 deal for its oceanfront
suite/oceanfront bures/ocean view categories. The deal is
valid for sale until June 30, 2007 for travel May 2
through December 20, 2007. Blackout dates are June 20 to
July 20, 2007 and September 15 to October 15, 2007. The
above rates are available for new bookings only.
More
information can be obtained from
www.manafiji.com or
email: info@manafiji.com
For those
travel agents who book five Sonaisali holiday vacations,
they will receive five night’s accommodations at Sonaisali
for themselves! The resort announced that the incentive
is valid for all clients booking travel completed by March
31, 2008. A minimum of five client bookings (minimum five
nights each) are to be made and deposited before the free
incentive travel can be taken. The free nights are based
on space availability, exclusive of the peak season and
are not transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash. To
book the free nights, contact World Resorts of Distinction
via phone at 310/645 1998 or contact via e-mail at
northamerica@wrd.com.au.
|
|
