Visit Jersey are excited to share our travel trade booking incentive for any UK agents who book a trip to Jersey in April and May (travel for any time).

Agents can enter the prize draw by registering their details (including a booking reference #) by 31^st May 2023 for a chance to win an afternoon cook & dine experience on 24^th June in London.

This experience will give the winners a chance to cook with fresh Jersey produce, and afterwards they can sit back and enjoy the dishes along with a glass or two of Jersey sparkling wine.

From managing a Travel Agent in New Zealand to operating a local beach resort in Samoa. Please meet Robyn and Grant Thornley, the new owners and managers of the Savaii Lagoon Resort who left everything they built in New Zealand to follow their dream of operating a local beach resort that they believe suits their life careers. Robyn is a travel agent and her husband Grant is a commercial builder. Their journey to Samoa started off when Robyn came to Samoa on one of Samoa Tourism Authority-hosted familiarization trips in 2008 and immediately fell in love with Samoa. In early 2020, Savaii Lagoon Resort was in search of new owners and the couple began to explore the possibilities. In January this year, the purchase agreement was finalized and the Thornleys took over the management and operation of the property. The boutique resort, situated on the coastal beach of Fagamalo village is a 3-star resort offering a 5-star experience, consisting of 10 clean and comfortable rooms that are perfect for a big family. “Our team works tirelessly to ensure our guests have a wonderful stay.  The area where we are situated is arguably one of the most stunning beaches in Samoa and provides safe conditions for swimming, snorkelling and kayaking,” said Robyn. The resort employs mostly locals from around the area which reflects the true spirit of Samoan hospitality. It also provides a market for the local villagers to sell their local produce and catch of the day to. The resort offers cultural demonstration and village tours, half and full-day island tours, laundry, umu demonstration and fiafia nights on request as well as transfers to and from Salelologa wharf. Babysitting is also available at a small fee. “Our dinner menu changes daily reflecting the fresh produce available.  We host a ‘Talofa Hour’ daily from 4-6pm with drinks specials in the bar, and our deck is very popular for sunset cocktails.  We welcome all drop-ins for dining or refreshments.” Robyn added. Over the coming months, the focus will be on getting the glass-bottom boat back in the water so they can re-commence their reef tours. In addition, the couple plans to get air-conditioning into all 10 rooms. “Grant and I are so happy to be here, and feel privileged to be caretaking this beautiful slice of paradise.” Robyn. For more information please visit www.savailagoon.co.nz or email savaiilagoon@samoa.nz.

Tropical Tours was awarded the Private Tour Company in Samoa for 2023 by the Travel & Hospitality Awards, a United Kingdom-based program that globally recognizes the best hotels, tour operators, and experience providers amongst many other services within the tourism sector.

It is an annual travel celebration and awards are given based on the review of customer feedback alongside the company’s own collected data entry.

Trudy and Jimmy O’Dwyer’s journey has not been easy. Before their company even got off the ground, Covid-19 forced them to shut down. The award, according to Mr O’Dwyer means so much to him, especially since the work he is passionate about also resonates well with others.

“I was very overwhelmed with gratitude that Tropical Tours Samoa was selected as ‘The Private Tour company of the year in Samoa’ winner by the Travel & Hospitality Awards 2023. Tropical Tours were so honored to receive the recognition for this award, and we were both very humble to be nominated for this category.” he added.

The O’Dwyers acknowledged it was challenging during Covid-19 but they managed to hold on which made them more determined to get the operation back up to showcase Beautiful Samoa.

In 2023, Greater Miami & Miami Beach will once again hold one of the 22 glittering grand prix races of the world’s premier auto racing series, Formula 1. The events run over the course of the first weekend in May, with practice on Friday and qualifying on Saturday before the Grand Prix event on Sunday, May 7, 2023.

The Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix will take place at the Miami International Autodrome, which wraps around Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. More than 20 of the world’s best drivers and top teams will compete in 1,000-horsepower open-wheel cars over 19 corners and three straights. The 3.4-mile (5.41-kilometer) track was built specifically for the F1 races.

Nearly 250,000 fans attended the inaugural Formula 1 Miami event in 2022, with tickets selling out early. Tickets for 2023 are already on sale, or you can opt to place a $5,000 deposit to “receive priority access to hospitality options.” Those who bought tickets for the 2022 event will have the first shot at tickets for the 2023 edition.

Culture seekers and families in search for adventure can visit Greater Miami and Miami Beach’s to discover various attractions and museums special offers ranging from incredible admission savings, “Buy One Get One Free” deals, and more.

The Samoa Tourism Authority (STA) European team showcased the best of what our client #BeautifulSamoa has to offer to the European markets by meeting 63,000 consumers, 73 travel trade partners and 40+ media, along with other South Pacific Islands and private sector partners.

In February, the STA European office teamed up with Tourism Fiji and Cook Island Tourism to bring the South Pacific to some 63,000 consumers who visited Fespo – Switzerland’s largest consumer travel fair – over 4 days.

Back in the UK, the team took part in the 16th edition of Unite Pacific, an annual trade show aimed at product managers. The event took place in Central London. The STA team met with 40 tour operators to bring them up to speed with Samoa’s sustainable tourism product during a series of 1 to 1 appointments and a networking lunch.

“Beautiful Samoa” went on to Germany to exhibit at ITB Berlin, Europe’s largest travel trade show, which reopened for the first time since its cancellation in March 2020. The event took place from 07 to 09 March and was attended by 5500 exhibitors, 90,127 trade visitors, around 3,000 media and 333 travel bloggers from more than 161 countries – about 50% of previous years visitor numbers. The STA team shared a stand with the Turama Pacific Travel Group, Fiji Airways, Rosie Holidays and the Vanuatu Tourism Office. Over the 3-day event, STA Europe held 33 meetings with travel trade buyers and media writers from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, France, UK, Czech Republic, Lithuania and the Netherlands.

STA Europe finished its spring tour at Antor Meets the Media Spring in London on 29 March, meeting with over 40 leading travel writers, editors and influencers to encourage them to publish content about “Beautiful Samoa”, one of the original sustainable tourism destinations.

“Personal contact is crucial for tourism as a people’s business as, we, STA Europe witnessed during the positive response to Beautiful Samoa’s participation in these four leading events with the purpose of growing tourism to Samoa sustainably with leading international buyers and media.” enthused Alison Cryer MBE, Director STA Europe. “Consumers, trade and media all reported new trends of longer stays, looking for local cultural engagement and prioritising bucket list destinations.”

For the latest news releases on what’s happening on the island of Ireland and for inspiring content about new products, regions or itinerary ideas see: https://media.ireland.com/en-ie

wo beautiful Czech cities – Broumov and České Budějovice are running for the 2028 European Capital of Culture. Broumov has made it to the finals as the smallest registered town in the project history. However, it represents 30% of Europe in a way. There are many similar small towns, often forgotten, on the peripheries. Broumov might not be as big as its competitors but it has an interesting story and a soul. The winner will be announced in June this year; until then, visit Broumov to explore the unique local landmarks and breathtaking countryside ruled by rock formations.

A getaway from London to Prague by train just became easier. New sleeper train route to Berlin will be opening this spring.
Exciting news for the train lovers and all fan of sustainable travel. In May 2023 a new sleeper train route from London to Berlin will launch and with only 16 hours of travel time and only one change on this route, it creates a perfect opportunity for long weekend getaway in central Europe. From Berlin regular direct trains run to Prague with additional travel time of 4 hours. However there are plans for 2024 where this new route should be extended from Berlin to Dresden and finally Prague, which would mean that visitors could get from London to Czech capital only with one change in Brussels. 

After a 3-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the STA European office took the first opportunity once Samoa was fully reopened and accessible by air to spend 2 weeks on the road showcasing the best “Beautiful Samoa” has to offer to over 200 European travel trade partners in 5 cities. 

They joined South Pacific colleagues on a pan-European Roadshow to retrain and re-incentivise the travel trade to sell Samoa as part of a South Pacific itinerary or stand alone bucket list destination. All operators were met on an individual basis by the STA European Directors. 

Meet The Pacific 2023, co-ordinated by the Turama Pacific Travel Group and Rosie Holidays kicked off in London followed by Munich, Zurich, Rome and ended in Milan. As a result the European office is already seeing enquiries coming in from these markets and several operators have signed up to STE (Samoa Travel Exchange) to come and see the destination for themselves in April.