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Opportunities : for group and individual press trips
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- A place to stay :and review hotels, resorts and other accommodation
- Travel products and services : of interest to travel journalists
- Bird Watchers press trip : Gujarat, India
- Confluence Music Festival – Ladakh, India
- Parks and gardens in Holland
- The Lower Rhine, the Dutch German border region
- Partners
Opportunities : for group and individual press tripsNews : items of interest to travel journalistsLeads : story ideasWhat’s on : annual festivals and events Reasons to write about : destinations and travel pursuits A place to stay :and review hotels, resorts and other accommodationWorking with Alliance members : travel partners and their agencies Ongoing initiativesAlerts : ongoing press trip opportunitiesTravel products and services : of interest to travel journalistsTravel guides : that will offer review copiesThe International Travel Writers Alliance and AllWays
To register with the International Travel Writers Alliance visit : www.itwalliance.com, click to enter the site and click on Register as a member/editor/partner or agency.
Alliance members looking to take advantage of any of the following opportunities should be on assignment, with a commission or able to obtain one. For ongoing opportunities for Alliance members see Alerts (below) or visit : www.internationaltravelwritersalliance.com. Bird Watchers press trip : Gujarat, IndiaThe Government of Gujarat and Tourism Corporation of Gujarat are running an International Bird Watchers Conference from 25th to 27th November 2010 at Khijadiya, Dist: Jamnagar, Gujarat, India. Jamnagar is an ex Princely State and is situated on the North West Coast of Gujarat, India. Jamnagar is well connected by air with Mumbai and by road as well as rail with most major cities of India. Gujarat is one of the most prolific bird watching areas in all of Asia. A variety of habitats-coastlands, wetlands and islands, saline desert plains, forests, hills, lakes and grasslands have made the state a migratory route of birds from Europe and West Asia. The Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary is a unique wetland area with sea water on one side and fresh water on the other side. This area is about 12 km. from Jamnagar (Gujarat). There are 3 Watch Towers for bird watchers, as well as inspection paths leading deep into the foliage. One can find both sea and coastal birds. Watching the arrival of the Cranes at sunset for roosting is a fantastic experience. The flagship bird found at Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary is the Black Necked Stork. The Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited will be arranging a press trip within the State of Gujarat, showcasing the diversity of places of tourist interest of Gujarat. Visir : www.gujarattourism.com. Members interested in applying for a place on the trip should contact : Uttej at jnraotcs@eth.net and/or ibwc2010@gmail.com. ABode Chester, UKAbode Chester is inviting Alliance members to review the new hotel. ABode Chester, the new flagship of the ABode group, is located opposite the famous Chester racecourse on the site of the former Cheshire Constabulary. The building enjoys a 360-degree outlook taking advantage of its position overlooking city and country alike, with views across the racecourse to the rolling Welsh hills beyond. There are now ABodes in Exeter, Glasgow, Canterbury, Manchester and Chester. Visit : www.abodehotels.co.uk. Contact : Megan Davidson at megan@crimsonedge.co.uk. AA Travel Guides The AA has been helping travellers find their way around the world with its comprehensive range of travel guides for over 20 years. The AA will be delighted to provide Alliance members with review copies. Visit : www.shop.theaa.com/store/travel-guides. Contact : Katie Stephens at katie.stephens@theaa.com. The Peat Inn, Scotland The Michelin-starred Peat Inn, which is situated on Fife’s coastal trail, is delighted to offer Alliance members complimentary dinner, bed and breakfast for review purposes. Geoffrey Smeddle, chef and owner of The Peat Inn was awarded ‘Chef of the Year’ and ‘Restaurant of the Year’ by The Scottish Restaurant Awards and the Inn received its Michelin star in January. Visit : www.thepeatinn.co.uk. Contact : Megan Davidson at megan@crimsonedge.co.uk. Press trips to Cumbria, Lancashire, Manchester, Liverpool and Cheshire, UK The North West Development Agency (NWDA) area, which includes Cumbria, Lancashire, Manchester, Liverpool and Cheshire will be delighted to host Alliance members with commissions. The NWDA is interested in focusing on cultural and natural stories including city breaks, historic houses and gardens, industrial heritage and rock and roll. There is also the chance to resource walking, cycling, canal-boats, food stories, themed breaks, including literary and artistic interest. Visit : www.nwda.co.uk. Contact : Oliver Bennett at oliverbennett@blueyonder.co.uk. Sunparks Sunparks offers eight holiday villages in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Each village also has a dedicated tourist information centre, the Tourist Guide, where village guests and online visitors can view the best tips and event listings for cultural, gastronomic, shopping and recreational activities in each region. These include hurtling across abandoned railway tracks on a rail bike in the Ardennes, racing in the Nurburgring, or trying beauty creams and sampling liqueurs made from horse milk in De Peel in Limburg. Visit: www.sunparks.co.uk. For press trips contact Jenny Groutage at jenny@saltmarshpr.co.uk.
Jet2.comJet2.com has launched Yorkshire’s first ever direct service to the island of Madeira from Leeds Bradford Airport. Visit : www.jet2.com. Contact : Kiran Ryatt at Kiran@lucre.co.uk. GuamPacific Flier airlines is now flying to A.B. Won Pat International Airport in Guam to provide another low-cost option for visitors of Palau, the Philippines and Australia’s Gold Coast. Guam is an s an island in the western Pacific Ocean Visit : www.pacificflier.com. Contact : Ernie A. Galito at egalito@visitguam.org The St Regis Mauritius The St Regis Mauritius opens in Spring 2011 on one of the finest beaches on Mauritius in the stunning UNESCO World Heritage site of Le Morne. Visit www.stregis-mauritius.com. Contact : Louise Ferrall at louise@ktapr.com The Hôtel de Toiras, Île de Ré, France The Hôtel de Toiras, Île de Ré, France has been awarded a 5th star - new rating in France. Before it was introduced hotels were only able to gain 4 stars. This 5th star award is still extremely rare throughout France and is only awarded to the very best of the country’s hotels. Visit : www.hotel-de-toiras.com. Contact : contact Sophie Furness sophie@grifcopr.com
Alliance members looking to take advantage of any of the following leads should be on assignment, with a commission or able to obtain one. Sanctuary Retreats Sanctuary Retreats, the eco-friendly and sustainable African lodge and camp company.has launched an all natural and eco-friendly SPAfarai through Zambia and Botswana. Visit : ww.sanctuaryretreats.com. Contact : Myka Volney at Myka@thisismission.com. Randonnée ToursRandonnée Tours are North America specialists in self-guided active tours offering self-guided cycling, hiking, walking, multi-sport, and unique, active driving tours. These are available in Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Spain and the United States. Visit : www.randonneetours.com. Contact : Eve Cabanel at info@randonneetours.com. Rothschild Safaris
Rothschild Safaris have added India Wildlife Safaris to their portfolio of custom-designed journeys in East and Southern Africa. India Wildlife Safaris include trekking for Bengal tigers, visits to New Delhi, Udaipur and Jaipur and the awe-inspiring Taj Mahal. Visit www.rothschildsafaris.com. Contact : Rebecca Widness at rebecca@widnesspr.com. Conservancy Safaris Namibia Responsible travel operator Conservancy Safaris Namibia is to launch a new Caprivi itinerary in October 2010. The first safari operation in Namibia owned entirely by local communities, Conservancy Safaris is expanding its Kunene operations to include further conservancies in the Caprivi-Etosha region. Visit : www.kcs-namibia.com.na. Contact : Jovanka Ristich at jovanka@independent-pr.co.uk. Château Breaks from Grape Escapes Grape Escapes’ new two-night Champagne Château escape is based at Château d’Etoges, located 36 miles from the historic city of Reims in the Champagne region. Built at the beginning of the 17th Century and set in 18 acres of expansive grounds, Château d’Etoges offers a luxury base for exploring the region and discovering the secrets of its prestigious wines. Visit www.grapeescapes.net. Contact : Clair Horwood at clair@saltmarshpr.co.uk Hôtel de la PaixExpedia travellers have ranked Siem Reap’s Hôtel de la Paix among the world’s best hotels on this year’s Expedia Insiders’ Select list. Siem Reap is the capital of Siem Reap Province, Cambodia. Hôtel de la Paix is operated by Ativa Hospitality, which manages properties in Thailand and Cambodia with project developments in Vietnam, Laos and India. Visit : www.hoteldelapaixangkor.com, www.expedia.com/insidersselect and www.ativahospitality.com. Contact : Eleanor Longley at eleanore@bacall.net UTracks European activity holidays’ specialist UTracks is launching this summer a mix of challenging and family-friendly hiking itineraries in some of the continent’s most popular destinations. Visit : www.UTracks.com. Contact : Tom Panagos at tom@saltmarshpr.co.uk
Information for professional travel writes, editors, broadcasters and photographers on annual events and celebrations worldwide. Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Denmark 2 – 11 July 2010 (annual, 32nd) 850 concerts in a variety of jazz styles including New Orleans, swing, fusion and experimental forms. Around 240,000 people attend. Visit : www.jazz.dk/en/copenhagen-jazz-festival. Contact : info@jazzfestival.dk. Country Music Festival Of Mirande, France 13 to 18 July 2010 (annual, 18th) Features over 70 country music concerts, line dancing, car, bike and truck shows and over 30 stalls. Europe's largest country and western festival. Around 160,000 people attend. Visit : www.country-musique.com. Contact : info@country-musique.com. Bayreuth Wagner Festival, Germany 25 July 2010 to 28 August 2010 (annual) An opera festival, devoted principally to the work of Richard Wagner, who supervised the design and construction of the host theatre. Features 30 performances and has an eight to 10-year waiting list for tickets. Visit : www.bayreuther-festspiele.de. Contact : info@bayreuth-tourismus.de. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA 26 July 2010 to 01 August 2010 (annual) Features 10,000 aircraft on display and entertainment. Billed as the world's greatest aviation celebration. Evening outdoor screenings show aviation-related films, while workshops and forums also take place. Around 500,000 visitors attend. Visit : www.airventure.org. Contact : Dick Knapinski at communication@eaa.org. Fuji Rock Festival, Niigata, Japan 30 July 2010 to 01 August 2010 (annual, 14th) Japanese and international acts perform over multiple stages in a forest setting. Japan's biggest rock fest and one of the major fixtures on the international rock calendar. Visit : www.fujirockfestival.com. Contact : James Smith at james@smash-uk.com. Vodacom Durban, Greyville Racecourse, Durban, South Africa 31 July 2010 (annual) Features 12 horse races. After the last race, naked racegoers complete the final two furlongs. Africa's biggest horse racing event. Hospitality packages include marquee village and grandstand side. Visit : www.vodacomdurbanjuly.co.za. Contact : Gill Simpkins at vdjmedia@vodcomdurbanjuly.co.za. Bristol Harbour Festival, Bristol Harbourside, Bristol UK 30 July to 1 August 2010 (annual, 39th) Centred in and around the city's historic docks and celebrates Bristol's maritime heritage. One of the largest free events in the UK. Features both local and international music, dance and street performances, historic ships and sailing craft, a continental market, local craft market, children's activities and fireworks. Receives coverage in Event magazine. Visit www.bristolharbourfestival.co.uk and www.bristol.gov.uk. Contact : David Pyne at david.pyne@bristol.gov.uk. Festival d'Avignon, France 7 to 27 July 2010 (annual, 64th) One of the oldest and largest festivals in France. Originally a celebration of theatre, the Avignon Festival has now broadened its vision to include other performing arts such as dance, mime and puppetry. Visit : www.festival-avignon.com. Contact : presse@festival-avignon.com. Salzburg Festival, Austria 25 July to 30 August 2010 (annual) Takes place in the birthplace of Mozart and features theatre, ballet, opera and classical music performances. Around 250,000 visitors attend. Visit : www.salzburgerfestspiele.at. Contact : Ulla Kalchmair at u.kalchmair@salzburgfestival.at.
Alliance members looking to take advantage of any of the following should be on assignment, with a commission or able to obtain one. Pilgrim Spirit ToursPilgrim Spirit Tours runs cultures pilgrimages to Tibet. It takes a special kind of faith and the imprinting of an ancient culture for a nomad in the countryside of Tibet to travel maybe a year, maybe as along as 5 or 6 years so that he or she can pray and make offerings of yak butter and money at the temples in Lhasa. As they walk many of them carry a prayer wheel, which they spin in a clockwise motion while chanting: Om Mani Peme Hung. As they arrive at the temples, they prostrate themselves before the Buddha in an act of surrender and reverence. As the global marketplace creeps into every nook and cranny of our world, there are few places in which one can be steeped in the ancient mysteries that guided life for thousands of years. Tibet is one of those few. Yunnan, a province in China that is home to over 30 minority cultures, is another. Pilgrim Spirit Tours helps visitors to discover the ancient traditions nestled in these still remote areas of China. Visit : www.pilgrimspirittours.com. Contact Barbara Lee at barbaralee13@gmail.com. Music festivals Way out west, Sweden Now in its fourth year, the Way out West Festival (12-14 August) combines live music in Slottsskogen city park and a vibrant club scene, in central Gothenburg. The main stage boasts a star-studded line-up including Chemical Brothers, Mumford and Sons, Paul Weller, La Roux and M.I.A. Visit : www.wayoutwest.se, www.gothenburg.com and www.westsweden.com. Confluence Music Festival – Ladakh, IndiaLadakh, (15-18 July), is an Indian region next to Kashmir and the festival combines blues, electro pop, rock and traditional Indian musi. Visit : www. theconfluence.in and www.indiaportfolio.co.uk. G! Festival in the Faroes The g Festival (15-17 July) is an eclectic mix of international and local bands in the seaside village of Gøta – attracting a fifth of the population. This festival offers a breathtaking backdrop of high green slopes and grass-roofed houses surround the beach-based main stage. Visit : www.gfestival.com and www.sunvil.co.uk)..
Contact : Camilla Colley at C.Colley@travelpr.co.uk. Parks and gardens in HollandFrieslandFriesland, a province in the north of Holland, has four National Parks.
Schiermonnikoog is one of the Frisian Wadden islands. The whole island is a National Park which has a unique characteristic and no cars are allowed to enter the island: discover unique plants in the salt marshes, enjoy the spaciousness and the phenomenal peace and experience one of the most beautiful spot of Holland. Visit : www.visitfryslan.com
The Lower Rhine, the Dutch & German border regionThe Lower Rhine has a picturesque and varied countryside.
Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe is the largest national park in Holland with 5500 hectares of woodland, heath, pools and drifting sand. It's the perfect place to enjoy nature - and culture too. Floriade 2012April to October, 2012 Floriade 2012 is the official World Horticultural Expo and the world’s most natural experience. It will take place from 5 April until October 2012 in Venlo, in the South of Holland.
The participating countries, horticultural companies and (semi) public bodies will present themselves to more than two million guests from all over the world with their most innovative, sustainable, creative and exceptional stories about plants, flowers, trees, fruit and vegetables of the world.
Contact : Evelina Sugintaite at esugintaite@holland.com.
Alliance members looking to take advantage of any of the following opportunities should be on assignment, with a commission or able to obtain one. The George Hotel, Edinburgh, Scotland The George Hotel, which is situated on George Street, known as the “Bond Street” of Scotland, was voted ‘Edinburgh Hotel of the Year’ at the Scottish Hotel Awards in 2009. The Grade II listed building was designed over two hundred years ago and many of the original architectural details have been carefully retained. EH2 Tempus, the hotel's restaurant and bar, was opened in June 2006 and was voted ‘Bar of the Year in 2009. The George will be delighted to host Alliance members with a commission. Visit : www.principal-hayley.com/venues-and-hotels/the-george-hotel. Contact : Megan Davidson at megan@crimsonedge.co.uk.
Hotel Verta, London UKvon Essen hotels is to open Hotel Verta, its first new build and London hotel, V on 12 September 2010. The hotel will be part of the Bridges Wharf Battersea development, which has already won ‘Best International High Rise Architecture Award’ at the Daily Mail International property Awards. The new-build boutique style hotel will have a spa, restaurant and executive international business suite and has views overlooking the River Thames, the in Battersea will offer 70 contemporary designed guest rooms over seven floors. Hotel Verta will be the first integrated hotel heliport solution in Europe and coincides with the regeneration of the Thames riverfront and the hotel is expected to create circa 100 new jobs. The von Essen private collection of hotels comprises: The Classic SetCliveden, Berkshire The Royal Crescent Hotel in Bath Lower Slaughter Manor in Lower Slaughter Ston Easton Park near Bath Thornbury Castle near Bristol Sharrow Bay in the Lake District Buckland Manor in Broadway Ynyshir Hall in Wales Amberley Castle in West Sussex, and The Samling in Cumbria. The Country Set includes: Hunstrete House near Bath Bishopstrow House Warminster Congham Hall in Norfolk New Park Manor in the New Forest Lewtrenchard Manor in Devon The Mount Somerset in Taunton Washbourne Court in Lower Slaughter Dalhousie Castle in Bonnyrigg near Edinburgh The Greenway in Cheltenham Homewood Park near Bath, and Callow Hall in Derbyshire. The Family Set Woolley Grange in Wiltshire Fowey Hall in Cornwall Moonfleet Manor in Dorset The Elms near Worcester, and Ickworth Hall in Suffolk. The Continental SetChâteau de Bagnols near Lyon in France. The Metropolitan SetThe Forbury Hotel in Reading Seaham Hall in County Durham and The Hotel Verta, London Visit : www.hotelverta.com and www.luxuryfamilyhotels.com. Contact Lucy Newman at lucy.newman@brightergroup.com. base2stay Liverpool UK base2stay Liverpool opens on 1 August in the Ropewalks area of the city, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The RopeWalks is recognised as Liverpool's vibrant, trendy, edgy Design Quarter, with an eclectic mix of old and new, traditional and cutting edge.
The contemporary hotel will have 106 bedrooms – ranging in style and size from garden suites to split level doubles. The historic building, a former print works dating from the 1850’s is being painstakingly redeveloped, retaining many of its original heritage features whilst still having a modern, stylish feel. The hotel is also within walking distance of the main train station, the new Liverpool One shopping centre and the Albert Docks on the River Mersey. base2stay Liverpool will be delighted to offer accommodation for Alliance members able to review the hotel. Visit : www.base2stay.com/press_page/Liverpool.html. Contact : Laura Leggetter at laura@rivapr.co.uk.
The following travel partners and agencies have registered with the Alliance and are keen to work with Alliance travel writers, editors, broadcasters and photographers. Other Alliance partners and agencies can be found at www.itwalliance.com.
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