World Travel Market 2019!
SLC attended World travel market 2019 on behalf of and alongside our clients!
Hosting in market visits from
Aurelie, Carole and Vandana from Connections
Gilancarlo and Coskun from Karavan
Ngan and Sayuri from TMG
Tourism Noosa & Thala Beach Nature Reserve hit the UK!
Tourism Noosa & Thala Beach Nature Reserve hit the UK!
We’ve LOVED having Vynka from Tourism Noosa and Wade from Thala over in the UK next week visiting Product Managers and tour operators around London and the North. To find out more about these amazing products in sunny Queensland, Australia please contact Anna@slcrepresentation.com
SLC Representation appointed to provide Sales representation for Connections DMC
Connections DMC Mauritius, one of the leading DMC’s located on the island, has appointed SLC Representation to support their on-going growth from the UK market.
Founded in 1996 in Mauritius, Connections quickly grew to incorporate neighbouring Reunion Island and has provided on-the-ground support for both travel operators and customers for over twenty years, carrying over 50,000 passengers annually.
Connections prides itself on its status as Mauritius’ leading DMC, offering expert service for both the MICE and FIT Leisure markets, with dedicated teams working and acting as tour operators’ local representatives 24-7, and with a product range spanning simple airport meet & greet to hotels, villas, touring excursions and private guides.
Connections DMC are also the first DMC in Mauritius to offer an advanced online B2B booking solution, which can be used to quote and book their extensive product range in just a few clicks.
Aurelie Pitot, Chief Operating Officer, Connections, commented:
“We are really thrilled to have partnered with the team at SLC to focus on bringing a uniquely different Mauritian expertise and flavour to the market. We believe there are still many untapped opportunities for British travellers to discover new facets of our beautiful island, and hopefully also neighbouring Reunion Island, through Connections’ portfolio of experiential packages.“
Mauritius has seen exponential growth from the UK market over the past decade with an increased international profile and continues to expand its market share – particularly as a honeymoon destination – from more established destinations such as the Maldives and Thailand. As well as attracting honeymoon tourism, Mauritius has established itself as a wedding destination with Connections experiencing incremental growth as a DMC ‘wedding planner’ for tour operators across Europe.
Mauritius’ tropical climate makes it a year-round destination but its Summer (November – April) makes its particularly appealing to the UK market chasing winter sun. It’s also particularly attractive to surfers with key areas such as Tamarin Bay and the stunning Morne Brabant rock formation towering 556m above many of Mauritius’ finest surf areas. The island also continues to establish itself as a venue for Wellness Holidays with niche product growing steadily around bike tours, yoga retreats, hiking, kite surfing and spirituality. Opportunities for Eco Tourism and Ethical Travel also continue to grow and the island is equally appealing as a stand-alone destination or twin centre with Reunion, Dubai or even South Africa.
Gill Davies, SLC’s Development Director, commented, “We have watched with interest as Mauritius arrival numbers have grown from the UK market, with over 150,000 Brits making the journey last year. We look forward to supporting that growth by partnering with one of the island’s leading DMC partners, and see real opportunity both within the beach package market, but also within niche areas such as weddings, spa, villa stays and experience-led excursions.”
Connections DMC will be exhibiting at WTM in London next month, where they will be introducing their booking platform and product range to travel trade partners; to find out more or to book an appointment, please contact Abbie Downes: abbie@slcrepresentation.com.
Fly high over the Barossa Shiraz Estate
When visiting Barossa Valley, an area infamous for its wine, you can take advantage of the wine tasting and making experiences pairing them with unique dining experiences, all just a short walk or drive away from the Barossa Shiraz Estate. However, if wine tasting every day
isn’t for you or if you’d like to combine a wine and food tour with another unique experience, Barossa Shiraz Estate can arrange a variety of activities for you to enjoy.
Helicopter or Hot Air Balloon ride over this stunning region aren’t to be missed, whether you want a scenic tour or a custom flight, it can be arranged with or without wine. Hire a bike and ride the Barossa bike trail to really explore this gorgeous region or visit the Whispering Wall where if you whisper something at one end of the wall whoever is at the other end can hear exactly what you’re saying over 100 metres away! Children in particular love visiting the wall to test its abilities. Barossa Shiraz Estate can take care of booking whatever you want to do on your holiday in the Barossa Valley.
Thala Beach Nature Reserve – Your clients ‘one-stop shop’ to capture the best of Tropical North Queensland
Make Thala your clients ‘one-stop-shop to experience the best of the Tropics’; as Thala can be sold as a ‘Beach Holiday, a nature-eco based stay or a Rainforest Vacationor a combination of all and with all of the key Daintree Tour operators and GBR Day Cruise operators picking up at Thala’s reception, there’s no need to change accommodation places and waste a day getting between each different experience. In fact with 83 deluxe Bungalows, set on 145 acres of beachfront forest all surrounded by Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest – many agents position Thala as an Island alternative and very much Thala can be your ‘one-stop to experience the best of Tropical North Queensland’.
Visit the award-winning Hamilton Gardens
Hamilton’s most visited attraction, the award-winning gardens offer a vibrant outdoor gallery of themed gardens telling the history of gardens through time. Currently, there are more than 20 themed gardens including the latest Katherine Mansfield garden. Development is underway to open two new gardens by early 2020 and a further four are in the planning stages. Guided tours hosted by knowledgeable guides tell the story of the Hamilton. Dining and Gourmet Picnic Basket options also available.
www.hamiltongardens.co.nz