London, 8 March, 2010 – New York Times best-selling author Patricia Schultz has been announced as the 10th celebrity judge in an esteemed panel that will select the Top 20 finalists of Gap Adventures’ highly-popular Create Your Own Adventure contest (www.createyourownadventure.com).

But the author of the definitive travel guide 1,000 Places to See Before You Die – who was named one of the 25 most influential women in travel by Forbes Magazine in 2008 – will have extra judging duties to carry out before she helps decide the top finalists. For all entries submitted between 8 March and 13 March, Schultz will select her five choices for ‘Best Adventure to Experience Before You Die’ out of the hundreds of worldwide submissions. The five winners will be awarded a £250 Gap Adventures travel voucher, as well as a signed copy of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die including a personalised message from the author.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to participate in such a dynamic online contest,” Schultz said. “Create Your Own Adventure allows travellers to share the itinerary of their dreams with others and communicate their passion for adventure to the world – I don’t think you could ask for anything more from a travel contest.”

The Create Your Own Adventure contest invites everyone from once-a-year travellers to seasoned globetrotters to submit an itinerary for the tour of their dreams, virtually anywhere in the world, virtually any way they want. Everyone with a winning tour idea can log on to www.createyourownadventure.com and use the customised itinerary engine to build their dream trip. The deadline for submissions is 31 March 2010 and the creator of the winning tour will have the opportunity to experience their adventure along with two lucky friends.

“Having Patricia Schultz come aboard as a judge simply is the perfect addition to this panel,” said Gap Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip. “Her commitment to exploring the world in search of authentic travel experiences aligns perfectly with our goals when we first dreamt up this contest. I can’t wait for her to join me and the rest of our travel-loving judges to select the finalists.”

The wildlife breaks in Germany depart on 25 March and 11 November 2010 and provide the chance to capture some of Europe’s great predators including: brown bears, wolves and lynx as well as the endangered European bison, deer, otters, wild horses and birds of prey. Included in the package are return flights from London Stansted to Prague, airport transfers, three nights accommodation with breakfast, four days of photography tuition and transport to all photography locations.

In Slovakia, Tatra Photography is offering three night photography breaks focusing on the lakes and waterfalls of the Tatra Mountains departing on 3 June and 7 October and week long breaks featuring the peaks and valleys of the mountains, departing 6 June and 10 October. Both courses require a moderate level of fitness and include stays in remote lodges surrounded by beautiful valleys, rugged mountains and three lake locations that are perfect for reflection and sunrise shots.

The longer course also features an overnight stay at Lomnicky Peak, 2634 metres above sea level, with the unique opportunity to photograph sunsets and sunrises and, on clear nights, to shoot star trails. The peak is reached by cable car from Tatranska Lomnica. Visitor to the peak are usually limited to a 50 minute stay.

Tatra Photography’s three and seven night Tatra mountain photography holidays include: return flights from London Luton to Krakow, (2 hour flight), return airport transfers, transport to all photography locations, three or seven nights full board accommodation based on single/twin or double rooms and 4/6 days of photography tuition.
Accommodation is in a combination of remote mountain cottages, Penzion 2004 and in an apartment at Lomnicky Peak.

The Tatra Mountains are the highest and only range of the alpine system in Slovakia and feature stunning scenery including: giant waterfalls, lakes, valleys, deep green forests, blue mountain tarns and rugged snowy peaks as well as wildlife, including brown bears, wolves, lynx and deer and an abundant range of flora.

The holidays are led by award-winning photographers , Chris Weston, Nick Jenkins and Andrew James and require a moderate level of fitness as there are walks of up to four hours. They are suited to photographers of all abilities whether working in digital or film, from 35mm up to large format.

Photographic tuition is offered throughout the holidays and covers: composition, exposure, shutter speed, focus and depth-of-field, apertures and understanding histograms. Participants will also learn to ‘read’ the landscape and how to create panoramas as well as getting tuition in HDR imaging and black and white photography. Numbers are limited to ensure that each participant can receive high levels of personal tuition.

Tatra photography has thoroughly researched all the photographic locations featured in the courses including assessing the best stand-points for sunrise and sunset images – enabling participants to concentrate on photography and to put into practice the hints, tips and techniques offered by the professional photographers.

Aquarias spa is the only La Prairie five star ‘Art of Beauty’ centre outside of London. These centres are only found in the most exclusive spas around the world and are a sign of outstanding quality.

With a choice of two full day midweek spa experiences guests can select either a two hour or three and a half hour series of treatments. The two hour series of treatments includes a sixty minute facial and a Jessica mini manicure and mini pedicure per person, plus full use of the spa facilities followed by a light lunch and refreshments and costs £195 per person. Or alternatively the three and a half hour series of treatments comprises a ninety minute facial, choosing from a host of luxurious and signature facials plus a Jessica mini manicure and mini pedicure per person and full use of the spa facilities. This is followed by a light lunch and refreshments served in the spa lounge for £310 per person.

For those that wish to extend the indulgence and treat themselves to an Overnight Mother & Bride-to-Be stay, packages start from at £555, based on two guests sharing a standard room (Midweek only – Sunday to Thursday night), full English breakfast, use of all the spa facilities plus a 60 minute spa treatment and mini manicure and mini pedicure per person and a light lunch and refreshments served in the spa lounge. Prices for a Deluxe room are £595 and for a Suite £655 based on two guests sharing.

For further information and to book call Whatley Manor on 01666 822 888 or visit the website at www.whatleymanor.com.

Casa Luisa / Ortigia, Sicily http://www.essentialitaly.co.uk/casa-luisa.php

(Sleeps 2)

Casa Luisa offers pretty and simple accommodation in the heart of the ancient part of Siracusa. This charming and romantic ground floor apartment will make you feel like you are one of the locals from the moment you arrive.

Casa Luisa is in an impressive sea-facing building with a majestic wooden gate leading into a courtyard. The apartment is found at the back of the building and the more than stylish design and décor makes up for the lack of sea-view. There is a super outside terrace that sits between the tightly packed old “palazzi” of Ortigia where you may enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner and enjoy the warm air day or night!

The location of the apartment means you will find yourself in the middle of Italian life with an easy stroll to the local bars or to the archeological sites, shops, restaurants and sea-front as well.

Location: Catania airport 65km, Taormina 120km, Ragusa 78km, Porto Palo 60km, Trapani airport 375km, Palermo airport 290km

Prices: From £515 – £630 per week depending on season

The ever-popular two-week event gets underway on Sunday 21st March, running until Saturday 3rd April.

Fourteen days will be dedicated to Beethoven and the wealth of classical music in the two centuries since his heyday, as Warsaw welcomes performers and artists from around the world.

Acting Director of the Polish National Tourist Office Bogdan Becla said: “The Beethoven Easter Festival is a big event in Warsaw, and it gets bigger and better every year.

“There’ll be concerts, performances and exhibitions throughout the two weeks of the festival, and it’ll be a great time to visit our capital city if you’re interested in Beethoven or classical music. And of course we’re celebrating Chopin’s 200th birthday this year, which will only add to the festivities.”

Every year the festival is built around a central theme, and this year organisers are celebrating the phenomenon of the piano alongside the genius of Poland’s favourite son, Fryderyk Chopin, and his contemporary Robert Schumann.

The Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival has been a part of Warsaw’s cultural calendar since 2004 after staring life in Krakow in 1997.

Tickets for performances are available now and you can find out more at http://www.beethoven.org.pl/en

• For further information contact Ewa Binkin on 020 8991 7074 or ewa.binkin@poland.travel

The award in the category of “Commitment to Developing People and Skills” recognises commitment to the development of staff at the heart of the organisation, and recognises that developing people in business will drive business forward.

Judging the entry, Russell Strutt, Principle of Central Sussex College, commented that the Copthorne Hotels “manage to wholly engage its workforce to achieve its business objectives through a comprehensive review process, a commitment to personal development and incentivised recognised programmes. Peer training champions in each of its departments help to drive and deliver development and training linked to organisational objectives, with targets translated into meaningful milestones for staff at every level. In an industry renowned for transient employment, this company has a stable staff with an amazing 43% of them in a post to which they have been promoted, proving that talent identification and development really works.”

Heinz Skalnik, General Manager at both hotels, commented: “We are incredibly honoured to receive this prestigious award which demonstrates that effective staff development can have a dramatic impact on the performance of a business, and this is fundamental to supporting our success at the Copthorne Hotels.”

Sammy – mascot of iconic Lake District cruise company, Ullswater ‘Steamers’ – hid a stash of pine cones in various locations around his favourite lake before the hard, long winter set in. The hungry red squirrel is now eager to find them again, but needs the help of children and their families.

Anyone travelling with Ullswater ‘Steamers’ between April 3 and 20 can help locate a pine cone, and win a prize, by finding the clues on wildlife cards hidden in the ‘Steamers’ Lake Guides. They can then head to the online competition page at www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk to enter their answer and potentially win one of 50 prizes.

Ullswater ‘Steamers’, in conjunction with the Lake District conservation and nature project, Flora of the Fells, will also be running a real treasure hunt around Ullswater on April 15.

Prizes will be available on the day to those heading to the Ullswater ‘Steamers’ pier at Glenridding and signing up for the treasure hunt, by paying a £1 donation to conservation in the Lake District. Each entrant who returns a ticket with one of the hidden pine cones will win a prize, with up to 40 prizes available.

Both fun treasure hunts will enable visitors to learn more about local wildlife, as the wildlife cards highlight some of the characteristics of Red Squirrels, Holly Blue butterflies, Oyster Catchers, Nut Hatches and the Marsh Marigold.

Ullswater ‘Steamers’ cruises will be operating as usual throughout Easter, providing an idyllic cruise in some of Britain’s most stunning scenery. A return trip cruise lasting 70-minutes, from either Glenridding at the foot of the lake, or Pooley Bridge at its top, to Howtown costs £9.00 for an adult, £4.50 for a child, or £24.00 for a family.

A family ticket covers two adults and up to three children (aged 5-15) or one adult and three children. Under 5s travel free.

To find out how to make your Easter revolve around pine cones rather than eggs, visit www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk or call 01768 82229.

Visitors to Poland with Regent Holidays can be amongst the first to visit the new museum as part of a short break that includes a number of excursions with strong Chopin connections. Called Chopin’s Special Weekend Break, this city break begins in Warsaw and includes a private optional excursion to Chopin’s birthplace and to the church in Brochow, where his parents were married and he was baptised. Another optional excursion will give visitors the chance to visit Chopin’s room in Czapski’s Palace, the Church of the Holy Cross containing the composer’s urn and Honoratka, his favourite café. The price for this two night city break starts from £385 per person and includes return flights, transfers, 2 nights accommodation on bed and breakfast basis in a four-star hotel, visit to the Frederic Chopin museum (from 1st April), half day coach tour of Warsaw and tickets to Chopin piano recital. The optional tours described are available at £93 and £97 per person respectively.

This is just one of a wide selection of tours on Regent’s new-look website which went live this week. The site has been completely redesigned with a fresh, clean look and offers user-friendly navigation around a product range that spans the Baltics and Eastern Europe, through Russia and Mongolia to China or North Korea via the Trans-Siberian Railway and even to Indo-China, Central Asia and the Caucasus, available as tailor-made tours, fly-drive holidays, escorted group tours or city breaks.

For information about Regent Holidays’ Alternative Europe, From Russia to the East, City Breaks, Iceland and Greenland programmes, visit www.regent-holidays.co.uk

The region’s tourism agencies are keen to encourage rural businesses to explore the benefits of eco-friendly practices and become more appealing to environmentally aware holidaymakers.

A conference – Pure Profit 2010 – is being held in Durham City on March 18 to showcase how going green can make businesses more profitable, sustainable and marketable. The conference is delivered by tourism agency Visit County Durham on behalf of One North East and is sponsored by Natural England.

Janet Cummings, business performance coordinator at One North East, said: “More and more consumers are now environmentally aware and looking to reduce their carbon footprint whenever possible, even on holiday, leading many to choose domestic short breaks instead of overseas trips.

As this tourism trend grows it’s vital for North East England to be known nationally as a place that offers a high quality, ethical and green experience for visitors.”

Pure Profit 2010 is being held at the Rivergreen Centre, Aykley Heads, Durham, a multi award winning green business centre, and features speakers from the worlds of tourism, environmental research and sustainable business practices. Full details of the speakers in Notes to Editors.

Tourism is the UK’s fifth biggest industry, worth £4bn to the region’s economy per year and sustains over 60,000 jobs. Several North East tourism businesses are already benefiting from being green.

In 2009, North East accommodation businesses who were members of the Green Tourism Business Scheme recorded occupancy rates 19 per cent higher than non accredited businesses.

A recent pan European survey by electrical goods manufacturer Samsung found that a third of consumers would opt for an ‘eco-friendly’ hotel, demonstrating that green credentials have a major impact in influencing the decisions of holidaymakers.

Based in Ljubljana, Slovenia’s fascinating and highly photogenic capital, participants benefit from expert photographer guides and small groups, which allow flexibility to adjust itineraries according to weather and lighting conditions.

A guided tour of the capital with plenty of opportunity to take photographs, dinner with the photographer and time to discuss and view images, plus a half-day excursion are all part of the itinerary.

Prices start from £549 per person based on two people sharing and include flights from Stansted, three nights’ bed and breakfast at the Central Hotel in Ljubljana, one evening meal, plus airport transfers.

For further information, telephone 01373 814230 or visit www.justslovenia.co.uk.