Martin Dunford, one of the founders of the Rough Guides series of travel guides and reference books, has joined forces with the learning holidays specialist GoLearnTo.com.

Started by Vanessa Lenssen, GoLearnTo.com specialize in selling high quality learning holidays and experiences online, including language courses, cookery weekends, painting holidays, surf breaks and much more. Vanessa has over 20 years experience in the travel industry, working across a number of sectors, and was previously a Managing Director at STA Travel and MyTravel.

Dunford believes that there’s huge potential in the learning holidays sector.

‘Vanessa has established a great business in just two years, and I feel that together we can raise it to the next level. Our ambition for GoLearnTo.com is massive: to become the principal portal for learning and experience-based holidays on the web, with an inspirational and content-rich site that is the last word on this new kind of travel.

It’s a great opportunity. The sector is bigger than most people think, and getting bigger all the time. ’

The numbers bear this out. Just over three million adults attended a course while on holiday over the past three years, and over the past five years the number of consumers swapping beach holidays for trips that educate and provide new experiences has grown by 66%. Society is changing: a zeitgeist culture is driving the need for self-fulfillment, self-expression and status –holidays that satisfy the need to show off a new skill when you get home.

There is also growing interest in travel that can act as a fast-track catalyst for career changes, career progression and major ‘life-shifts’, and significant growth in the singles population and the ‘active retired’, both of which are key markets for GoLearnTo.com. According to National Statistics projections, the singles population in England and Wales is set to grow by almost a third by 2031, when it’s estimated around 45% of the adult population will live in single households.

Dunford continues: ‘Travel is in a relatively mature phase in the UK. For a huge number of people it’s just not enough to fly and flop anymore. They either want to give something back – hence the rise in volunteering and gap year experiences – or they’re looking for some aspect of self-improvement, hence the rise in activity breaks and in particular learning holidays, which are expected to be the number one growth niche market in travel in the next five years.’

Vanessa Lenssen comments: ‘I’m delighted to have Martin on board at GoLearnTo.com. He has a proven track record in building a fantastic brand at Rough Guides, and his experience, expertise and drive to succeed will be a fantastic asset in taking GoLearnTo.com to the next level.’

With its non-Euro currency, good flying links to the UK, high quality accommodation at affordable prices, Croatia is tipped to increase in popularity this summer far more than most other European destinations, many of which are still seeing a decline in popularity. According to specialist Croatia tour operator, `Hidden Croatia’, Croatia will be one of 2010’s biggest success stories.

Alan Brown of `Hidden Croatia’ says “Not only is Croatia attracting new visitors for 2010, but the country enjoys a high level of repeat business. These are British guests who have been surprised at the high standards of accommodation and cuisine and who are returning time and time again.

When Croatia first re-emerged onto the tourist map it’s fair to say the hotels were reminiscent of its socialist past, standards were mediocre and food was nothing to write home about. These days standards have improved beyond recognition and Croatia offers really good value. Hotels have been reconstructed and refurbished, there’s a much greater emphasis on high quality food and new, cosmopolitan restaurants have sprung up.

British guests are finding both high quality and good value, something that is accelerated by the fact that Croatia’s currency is the Kuna, not the Euro. For visitors apprehensive about traveling to a Euro-zone, this is incredibly good news and although prices have increased in recent years, so has the quality.

On the Croatian coast, hotels that were distinctly average a few years ago are now of a good 4* and 5* standard and new hotels, such as the Hotel Amfora on the island of Hvar is absolutely stunning and has been improved beyond recognition. The island itself is very chic and is home to as many as 47 different types of high quality wines.

Alan Brown continued “The country is also very, very accessible from the UK. `Hidden Croatia’ has flights into Split, Pula and Dubrovnik from a choice of fourteen regional UK airports and during the summer there are nearly 50 flights a week from the UK.

Croatia has become highly fashionable. The islands in particular have become chic and are reminiscent of the sophisticated resorts of France’s Cote d’Azur. The country also has some fantastic new family hotels, for example the new Radisson Blu Resort, Dubrovnik, which opened in July 2009, which is a superb example of a family property with a variety of pools, restaurants and child-care facilities”.

He concluded “Alongside quality, value and accessibility, Croatia offers immense variety, from the historical sites at Dubrovnik and Korcula, island hopping between Croatia’s thousand or so islands, its beautiful clear sea with more blue flag beaches per kilometre than anywhere else in the world, sailing and activity holidays and holidays in Croatia’s beautiful and unspoilt interior. A lot of people hire a boat for the day when in other countries they would hire a car. Here they take out a boat and sail to one on the many uninhabited islands to play Robinson Crusoe for the day. Croatia is just not a place you could ever get bored in”.

Holiday price examples:-

A 7 night stay for a family of 4 in the 5* Radisson Blu Resort during May 2010 costs £1828, with b&b accommodation, return flights from the UK and transfers.

A 7 night all inclusive stay for a family of 4 in the Waterman’s Supertrus Resort on the fashionable island of Brac costs £1720 for 4 people in May 2010, including all meals, drinks, afternoon tea & cakes, a daily activity programme for adults and children, tennis, gym, aqua aerobics and selected sports and activites.

A 7 night stay at the 5* Hotel Amfora on the island of Hvar costs £745 per person, based on 2 sharing and including breakfast, return flights and transfers.

The Hidden Croatia 2010 brochure is launched on 4th January 2010.

To find out about holidays to Croatia visit www.hiddencroatia.com or call 0844 477 9999

- Icelandic economic situation puts Iceland as a value destination in the spotlight

Iceland’s leading airline, Icelandair, has seen an increase in UK sales over the past year since the Icelandic economic situation has brought increased attention to the destination.

Travellers are flocking to Iceland due to the favourable currency exchange rate for UK visitors which has also been confirmed by the Lonely Planet World Travel Guide choosing Iceland as the 2010 best value destination for 2010.

“It seems that in the middle of the media interest we have been able to communicate the fact that this is a great time to visit Iceland, because as a traveller you simply get more for your money than ever before”, says Birkir Holm Gudnason, CEO of Icelandair.

Hjorvar Saeberg Hognason, General Manager UK, added, “If you compare what a pound got you on 1st February 2008 to 1st February 2010, you see an increase of 57%, so you can see why UK passengers are heading to Iceland in droves to experience the breathtaking nature and enjoy activities like searching for the northern lights. Whale watching season is just around the corner so we hope to see many travellers heading over to see the whales and amazing birdlife.”

Last week Icelandair added another three percent to its flight schedule, which was already ten percent up from last year, as a reaction to the rising interest in Iceland tourism.

Icelandair is one of Iceland’s longest established companies, connecting the world and Iceland for over 70 years.
For more information on Icelandair and to book flights visit www.icelandair.com

Tune Hotels.com, part of the Tune Group, the private investment group of Tony Fernandes, founder and Group CEO of low cost airline AirAsia and Team Principal of the Lotus F1 Racing team, has entered into a strategic partnership with London-based Queensway Group Limited to invest in, develop and operate 15 Tune Hotels.com hotels across Greater London by 2017.

Under the terms of the strategic partnership, Tune Hotels.com’s limited service concept of a ‘5-star sleeping experience at a 1-star price’ will be rolled-out across approximately 1,500 hotel rooms, representing £150 million of investment into the London hospitality sector. The roll-out will commence with the launch of Tune Hotels.com-Westminster at 118 Westminster Bridge Road in Q3 2010.

Queensway Group Limited is a UK-based private investment group owning and operating hospitality assets in the UK, Europe and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Mark Lankester, Group CEO of Tune Hotels.com, said: “We believe Tune Hotels.com will significantly boost London’s hospitality sector. While this city’s global reputation as a leisure and business destination will be enhanced by the Olympic Games in 2012, sterling’s current weakness works in London’s favour in attracting overseas visitors and spend, and in times of continuing economic uncertainty, superior value for money remains key.

“We are pleased to be working with organisations such as Visit Britain, Visit London, Think London and Visit England; and believe our dynamic pricing model will provide a strong call to action that will be hard to ignore.

“Our limited service concept encourages guests to spend less within the hotel itself, driving more spend outside the hotel, within the local business community.

“More consumers are demanding a ‘5-star sleeping experience at a 1-star price’ so that they can spend their hard-earned income on shopping, dining and recreational pursuits outside the hotel. Tune Hotels.com creates a multiplier effect, growing overall tourism spend throughout the locations we establish. Understandably, our expansion requires strategic collaborations with solid local partners who share our vision and we’re delighted to have found the right partner in Queensway Group Limited for Greater London. “

The fast developing economies of Asia, with their major populations and innovative regional low-cost carriers such as Tune Hotels.com’s sister company AirAsia, have fostered significant increases in travel activity. Tune Hotels.com has leveraged this by embracing the limited service model used by low cost airlines, passing on savings from eliminating costly, yet underutilised facilities like conference rooms, food & beverage facilities, swimming pools and gyms, directly to its guests.

Tune Hotels.com focuses only on the high quality basics of great beds with ensuite Power Showers; implementing a pay-as-you-use system of optional add-ons for energy-consuming amenities. It encourages guests to book early online to enjoy exceptionally low prices, with rooms available from as low as £2 per night in its Malaysian and Indonesian hotels.

Tune Hotels.com’s healthy occupancy figures confirm it has hit upon a concept that resonates with today’s modern traveller. Until recently, much of Asian travel activity was intra-regional. However, with the AirAsia-X launch of low-cost, long-haul flights between Kuala Lumpur and London in 2009, there is now a truly affordable bridge between a key Asian hub in Kuala Lumpur and a Europe-American hub which can be found in London. Tune Hotels.com therefore see it a logical step to enter the London hospitality sector with a limited service product that has already been embraced by over half a million guests in South East Asia, in addition to the expected customer base from the United Kingdom and Europe.

Nick Jivraj, Managing Director of Queensway Group Limited, said, “We’re extremely excited about partnering with Tune Hotels.com to develop the London market. Their association with AirAsia, AirAsia-X and Lotus F1 through the Tune Group provides a unique platform for marketing synergies, and their strong brand and marketing expertise in generating room nights online aligns with trends revealing the internet as the prime channel for travel purchase decisions.”

He continued, “Queensway Group Limited views Tune Hotels.com’s brand presence in Asia Pacific as positive for the medium to long term as we expect Asia Pacific to become a major incoming market into London. In addition, we appreciate the strong match of cultures and values fostered in both teams – highly entrepreneurial, people-focused companies for which the Customer is King. By leveraging on Tune Hotels.com’s proven brand, team expertise, and operational model, Queensway Group Limited expects that our investment into the brand will present significant growth in the near future.”

Despite the challenging global economic environment, the partnership with Queensway Group Limited forms only a part of Tune Hotels.com’s aggressive expansion plans. Mark Lankester, Group CEO of Tune Hotels.com, says, “By 2015 we will have invested in over 100 hotels in key cities across the world.”

The global roll-out involves recent strategic partnerships in India and Thailand. On 11 September 2009, Tune Hotels.com announced a strategic partnership with Apodis Hospitality Group to invest in, develop and operate 20 Tune Hotels.com hotels across India by 2012. Under the terms of the strategic partnership, 5 Tune Hotels.com hotels are targeted to be operational in India by December 2010 with a staggered roll-out of the subsequent 15 hotels to be completed by the end of 2012. Initial hotels are likely to be located in and around Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Indore, Jodhpur, Kochi, Mumbai, Pune, Pipavav, Raipur, Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchirapally.

On 17 December 2009, Tune Hotels.com announced a strategic partnership with Evolution Capital PCL, a real estate investment advisory firm listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, to franchise a roll-out of 44 Tune Hotels.com hotels across Thailand, China, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Under the terms of the strategic partnership, the first 24 Tune Hotels.com hotels are targeted to be in development by early 2010 and operational by 2012 with staggered roll-out of the subsequent 20 hotels to be completed by 2013.

Tune Hotels.com employs a self-service online booking system similar to low-cost carrier airlines that encourages guests to book as far in advance as possible on www.tunehotels.com to enjoy exceptionally low prices.

All Tune Hotels.com hotels feature space-efficient, streamlined rooms focusing on high-quality basics: 5-star beds and powerful hot showers. Though minimally priced, the strategically located hotels still provide housekeeping services, electronic keycard access into rooms, extensive CCTV systems, and no access into the main lobby without a keycard past midnight. Through Tune Hotels.com’s ‘Less Waste, More Earth’ pay-as-you-use system of add-ons for air-conditioning, laundered towels and other energy-consuming facilities and amenities, Tune Hotels.com aims to help guests conserve both their funds as well as the earth’s resources.

Since Tune Hotels.com was first launched in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2007, more than 500,000 guests have stayed in one of its properties, currently totaling 9 hotels located in Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, KLIA-LCCT Airport, Penang, Danga Bay, Johor and Kota Damansara in Malaysia and Kuta – Bali and Double Six, Legian – Bali in Indonesia.

For bookings made between 3-12 March 2010, Tune Hotels.com is offering promotional rates from less than £3 per night across its network of Asian hotels for stays between 1 November 2010 – 31 January 2011.

Bookings can be made online at www.tunehotels.com.

This 2 night Mini Cruise Break to Alkmaar is a MUST for cheese lovers! From only £97pp this Alkmaar’s Cheese Festival is one of Holland’s most popular tourist attractions. Browse the stalls; watch the cheese men bringing their wares on barrows, and taste samples of Dutch cheese. Or explore the restaurants, cosy bars, extensive shopping offering and interesting museums.

Alkmaar’s historic town centre hasn’t changed really since the 17th century and with its pretty canals, cobbled streets and traditional gabled buildings it creates a fantastic atmosphere for the famous cheese market.

Sailing from Newcastle, enjoy two nights cruising, to and from Holland, where there is a whole host of great things to see and do onboard. From a cinema to a casino, a number of sumptuous restaurants and bars to enjoy a drink, there is something to keep everyone entertained.

Why not enjoy a summer drink on the sky deck as you sail to Holland and enjoy a romantic meal before retreating to your en suite cabin for a relaxing nights sleep.

On arrival into Holland you will be transferred to the famous cheese markets of Alkmaar. After a full day exploring the shopping and museums of Alkmaar it’s time for your return overnight cruise back to Newcastle.

2 nights from £97pp departing 27 May, 8 July, 19 August 2010

What’s Included

• 2 nights onboard in an en-suite cabin

• Coach transfers to and from Alkmaar

• Live entertainment onboard

Mini Cruise Prices

• Standard Mini Cruise
From £97pp

• With Breakfasts included
From £115pp

• With Breakfasts & Dinners included
From £155pp

Simply add meals or upgrade your cabin whilst making your booking.

As British Pie Week (March 1-7) is celebrated all over the country, one Western Lake District village is laying claim to the title of Britain’s Favourite Pie Parish and to the creation of a new tourism niche – Pie Tourism.

The village of Gosforth, near England’s highest mountain (Scafell) and its deepest lake (Wastwater) is enticing holiday makers seeking a pie-fect experience that combines one of the country’s favourite dishes with a unique blend of other attractions.

The Gosforth Hall Inn first put a Supper Pie on its menu in January 2008. The Steak, Bacon and Mushroom pie, filled to the brim with local Lakeland steak slow-cooked for at least four hours, proved a huge hit and added to the village’s existing ‘lunch time pie’ offer from Gill Unsworth’s bakery.

The creator of the Supper Pie, Rod Davies, decided his inn should experiment with other pies. These were seen as perfect food choices into which walkers, cyclists, foodies and other visitors could tuck in after a fabulous day out enjoying ‘Britain’s Favourite View’ – Wastwater, just a few miles from Gosforth -and the stunning scenery all around.

Along with wife Barbara, Rod set about concocting delicious pie varieties for his Inn’s menu and now offers a rotating selection of pies, including Wild Boar with Wholegrain Mustard, Moroccan Lamb, Wild Game and Plum, Pulled Pork and Sweet Chilli, Venison and Haggis and Broccoli and Stilton.

All of these can be washed down with four real ales, at least three of which are always Cumbrian, served by an inn that was the 2008 runner-up in the CAMRA Pub of the Year awards.

Rod has new served up 4630 pies since the Supper Pie concept’s creation and attracts pie lovers from locations worldwide. The legendary pies turned out by the village are promoted by word-of-mouth recommendation, but Rod also operates a quirky Royal Ale Bus. This former Royal Mail vehicle is now sign-painted with the words “Up Hills, Down Dales, Rod’s Pies and Real Ales.”

Operating a mini-bus system to help pie lovers reach the village more easily, Rod is not only putting Pie Tourism on the map, but also keeping a pie-chart of his sales, which are escalating with each passing month.

The village’s success in attracting pie aficionados is assisted by a number of fabulous facts relating to the area. Whilst “Britain’s Favourite View” is a big draw, the village Churchyard also boasts the tallest ancient cross in England. This 14-foot high cross is carved with a mix of Christian and Viking symbols and depicts both the Crucifixion and the pagan God Loki.

This relic of the Viking era is joined in the Churchyard by Europe’s most northerly Cork Tree, planted in 1833, a listed-building tool-shed built of stones from the original Church and two 10th Century Hogback tombstones in St Mary’s Church itself.

Archaeological digs at the Gosforth Hall Inn have so far revealed a sunken Norse Hall (920 AD), and a Victorian path running through the grounds.

The Hall itself was built in 1658. A tight-fisted gentleman called Copley reputedly refused to pay the Royal Herald for his coat of arms, inventing his own instead (now hanging in the bar), and built the upper storeys from the timbers of ships wrecked on the Irish Sea coast.

There is no Room 8 – this being continuously sought by a ghostly monk frequently seen sitting by a Priest’s Hole in Room 11, which leads to the fireplace in the bar – an escape route used by the Catholic Copleys.

Pie lovers hungry for more than just fabulous food, are satisfying their appetites by feeding on the rich history of the Western Lake District. This includes Roman occupations at nearby Ravenglass and Hardknott, as well as Roman activity in the Eskdale Valley. This is explored by the Steam and Romans experiences organised by the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.

There is also the legend of St Bega and early Christianity within the area, to add to the historical backdrop ,and visitors can also revel in the area’s unique traditions, such as the annual gurning Championships, staged in Egremont.

Others are building up the appetite by following one of the Gosforth Walks described by a book of that name.

Rod Davies says: “We really believe that, as a village, we have invented the concept of Pie Tourism here in Gosforth and are delighted that so many people are making a pie pilgrimage to reach us here.”

Western Lake District Tourism Director, Katie Read, says: “We have pie loving walkers and cyclists staying in Cyclists Welcome and Walkers Welcome accommodation like The Pennington hotel in Ravenglass. These visitors are expending their energy enjoying our rugged gems landscape and cool coast by day and heading to Gosforth to devour their choice of pie come supper time. It’s the perfect combination of food and travel and it’s very much thanks to Rod’s fabulous Supper Pie invention.”

More information about the Western Lake District can be found at www.western-lakedistrict.co.uk The Gosforth Hall Hotel website is at www.gosforthhallhotel.co.uk

Fancy a break to celebrate the onset of Spring? Then why not take advantage of DFDS Seaways Spring Saver 2 for 1 breaks to Holland or Denmark. Enjoy a Mini Cruise to Amsterdam or Esbjerg, take the children on an adventurous wildlife experience on the ORCA Wildlife Watching Mini Cruise or visit the fascinating city of flowers, Haarlem.

With prices from £88 for 2 people there is no reason not to book that much deserved trip away!

2 for 1 Mini Cruise to Amsterdam – from £89 for 2 people, sailing from Newcastle

Take a romantic break with your partner or a fun-filled trip with the kids and explore the quaint streets and tree-lined canals of Amsterdam. Arriving refreshed after a great nights sleep on a DFDS Seaways’ cruise ferry, stroll alongside the canals, admire the architecture, visit bustling Dam Square, or take in the art and culture.

From £89 for 2 people and from £138 for 4! There are daily departures from Newcastle with the 2 for 1 offer available on selected dates in March and April. Book before 31st March 2010

What’s Included
- 2 nights onboard ship in an en suite cabin
- Coach transfers to and from the city centre
- Optional complimentary coach sightseeing tour
- Approx 5 hours in Amsterdam

Extend your break
With many famous attractions, one day may not be enough so why not extend your 2 for 1 Mini Cruise and include an overnight hotel stay in Amsterdam. Add a hotel stay to your 2 for 1 Mini Cruise from only £38 per person per night.

2 for 1 Mini Cruise to Esbjerg – from £85 for 2 people, sailing from Harwich

Visit the pleasant Danish town of Esbjerg for a short break with a difference. A hub for culture, music and shopping, there are also a number of interesting attractions and museums in the city. Feed the seals at the Fisheries and Maritime Museum, view the famous sculpture ‘Man Meets the Sea’ or simply relax.
From £85 for 2 people and from an amazing £91 for a family of 4 – that’s just £23 EACH! Available on selected departures in March, April and May. Book before 31st March 2010

What’s Included
- 2 nights onboard ship in an en suite cabin
- Approx 4½ hours in Esbjerg

2 for 1 Mini Cruise to Haarlem – from £88 for 2 people, sailing from Newcastle

Whisk a loved one away to the historic Dutch city of Haarlem on this relaxing 2-night Mini Cruise.

Known as the ‘City of flowers’, this compact city is a maze of quaint, narrow streets and canals, with lots of pretty medieval houses, museums and places of interest. Enjoy a hot chocolate in one of the on street cafes and sample some of the local cuisine before returning to the DFDS Seaways cruise ferry for a relaxing journey home.

From £88 for 2 people or £136 for 4 people. Departing Newcastle on 5th, 26th March & 11th April. Book before 31st March 2010

What’s included
- 2 nights onboard ship in an en suite cabin
- Coach transfers to and from Haarlem
- Approx 6 hours in Haarlem

2 for 1 ORCA Wildlife Watching Mini Cruise – Family prices from £138 for 4, sailing from Newcastle

Enjoy learning about the ecology of the North Sea whilst sailing to Amsterdam, with DFDS Seaways’ special wildlife programme of activities, led by officers from whale and dolphin charity ORCA.

A great trip for families and wildlife lovers, this trip allows you to see wildlife in their own natural habitat. You’ll have the opportunity (weather dependant) to do some wildlife watching with the help and advice of an expert ORCA wildlife officer, where you will spot wildlife indigenous to the North Sea including whales, dolphins and sea birds. Enjoy a number of animated talks and presentations, plus activities for children. What’s more you’ll also spend the best part of the day in Amsterdam.

Family prices from £138 for 4 people or from £89 for 2 people. Available on selected departures in April 2010. Book before 31st March 2010

What’s included
• 2 nights onboard in an en suite cabin
• Introductory presentation and welcome information
• Deck watch (weather dependent)
• Activities for kids, information for adults, latest sightings and news
• Coach transfers to and from Amsterdam
• Approx 5 hours in Amsterdam

Onboard
As you sail enjoy the delicious cuisine in one of the restaurants, join the fun with a drink and watch the live entertainment or dance the night away. Indulge in some retail therapy in the Sea Shop, or catch a movie in the cinema or your cabin. Children will love the kids’ club, while older children can have fun in the games room.

For more information on the DFDS Seaways Spring Savings, visit www.dfds.co.uk/2for1 or call 0871 882 0885 (10p per minute plus network rates)

DFDS Seaways has recently been awarded Europe’s Leading Long Sea Ferry Operator 2009 at the World Travel Awards, the industry’s “Oscars”. This is the third successive year that the cruise ferry operator has received this recognition.

World Travel Market’s visitor satisfaction levels have increased dramatically cementing WTM’s position as the premier global event for the travel industry, independent research reveals.

Visitors to WTM 2009 rated the exhibition as better than other industry events, including ITB Berlin, in a range of categories with WTM being particularly strong for meeting and networking and keeping up to date with the latest trends.

The independent research of 2,058 visitors to WTM 2009, by Fusion Communications, also reveals increased levels of satisfaction compared to WTM 2008. An impressive eight out of ten visitors in 2009 came away feeling completely satisfied or very satisfied.

Overall, WTM 2009 met or exceeded the expectations of 94% of visitors.
The research also reveals WTM remains an extremely important place to do business with a massive 91% stating the event is imperative for their business and an impressive 97% of visitors likely to return in 2010.
Furthermore, 85% of visitors feel attending WTM gives them a competitive advantage over their rivals.

International media, which increased by 12% to 2,839 for WTM 2009, are in agreement with visitors with a massive 86% rating WTM as the best event or among the best events in the travel industry, including four out of ten stating WTM is the best event.

World Travel Market Exhibition Director Simon Press said: “It’s great to see that visitors are delighted with the experience of World Travel Market 2009 and view the exhibition as the best in the industry.

“WTM 2010 is expanding with a new floorplan, seminar content and networking functions offering greater opportunities.

“The findings from the independent research firmly cements World Travel Market’s position as the premier global event for the travel industry.”

The Great Adventure People use expertise to foresee what travellers really want

The Great Adventure People say after 20 years in the business they are perfectly placed to predict the future of adventure travel.

The company has launched a number of initiatives to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2010.

The latest is its 10 tips for the ultimate travel experience.

“It’s a fun idea but what lies behind it is a serious understanding of the future of adventure travel and what adventure travellers are really looking for,” says Bruce Poon Tip, founder of Gap Adventures. “What we have created is our blueprint for twenty more years of the best service in the business.”

Poon Tip says travellers like to do a bit of everything nowadays. They have their ideal itineraries in mind and his company’s job is to give people what they want.

Gap Adventures has also launched the exciting new competition, ‘Create Your Own Adventure’ (www.createyourownadventure.com) which invites travellers to submit their dream itinerary for the chance to win a place for themselves and two friends. The winning entry will then be featured in the 2011 brochures as the signature trip for the 20th Anniversary.

“This is an excellent way for travellers to express their perfect, once-in-a-lifetime trip and for one lucky winner, the dream will become a reality,” says Poon Tip.

Gap Adventures top ten tips for the next 20 years are:

1 Once in a lifetime trips
We will see less travellers going on package holidays and more embarking on life-changing adventures. They want memories and experiences they can boast about.

2 Embrace the bizarre
Travellers don’t want to see the ordinary any more. They will travel to new destinations and take part in new activities to really see and experience the weird and wonderful.

3 Do The Right Thing: Give Back
From our customers, we have learnt that people love the feeling of giving back to the communities they have visited. Volunteering holidays are more affordable and accessible than ever and over the next 20 years these will soar in popularity.

4 Love Changing Lives
People love to better themselves so combining a personal accomplishment with travel is the ideal situation. The next 20 years will see travellers booking trips to do something they’ve always wanted to do in order to better their lives. This can be anything from visiting that lifetime dream destination or climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to learning to cook in South America or even rehabilitating wild animals.

5 The staycation was a passing craze
Travellers are bored of home and are realising that holidaying in the UK isn’t always cheaper. They will now want to spread their wings and get their kicks further afield.

6 Working sucks – travelling doesn’t
Many people who have lost their jobs over the past few years have turned the situation on its head and used their time wisely. They have eloped to see the world. By 2030 more people will choose to take some time out in search of thrills and experiences.

7 Edgy destinations are on the up
Travellers obviously want to be safe when they visit new countries but with so many new destinations opening up to global tourism, the world has never seemed bigger. People are also becoming more travel savvy and with this comes curiosity. Travellers will begin to venture to new locations that were once viewed as risky, Columbia, Burkina-Faso and Bhutan being prime examples.

8 A whole new world
Travellers want so much from a trip now and want to see places that are a world away from what they’re used to. People crave extremes and as a result will travel to the ends of the earth to do so. The next 20 years will see destinations such as Antarctica and Spitsbergen growing in popularity.

9 Create Happiness and Community
What is the point of travelling to a whole new country and not experiencing how the locals live? People are craving more meaningful adventures now and want a chance to interact with the local people, traditions and customs. By 2030, more travellers will be staying in basic, locally-owned accommodation or with local families in villages. They will experience all types of accommodation – from gurs to igloos.

10 One trip, more countries
In today’s society everyone is time poor. Not all people can spare weeks on end to travel. That is why it is becoming increasingly common to cram as much as they can into the time they have. Over the next 20 years, we will see a rise in people who crave a diverse itinerary, with one itinerary taking in two or three countries as we are seeing in the 2,000 plus itineraries which have been created through www,createyourownadventure.com.

Are you looking for a family adventure this year? Then look no further than a stay at The Edinburgh Residence in Scotland’s capital for the ultimate adventure break. The Edinburgh Residence has teamed up with Wilderness Scotland, an award winning adventure travel and eco tourism company, to offer a fun filled adventure for all the family!

The Edinburgh Residence’s family adventure break not only offers you all the chance to experience the vibrant city of Edinburgh but you could find yourself on a stunning nature walk in picturesque Perthshire, spotting rare wildlife such as red squirrels or ospreys or watching salmon leaping up a waterfall during the salmon run season. You and your family might also find yourself mountain biking in the beautiful Scottish Borders. The adventure break will certainly guarantee an action packed trip, which will eliminate any cries of school holiday boredom!

This exclusive package is available from 1st April – 31st August 2010 and includes:

3 nights luxury accommodation in a townhouse suite
Dinner on one night, served in your suite
Private guiding for 2 days, with all activities led by fully qualified guides and instructors.
All transport in a private vehicle driven by Wilderness Scotland guide
Bike hire (with helmets and relevant equipment)
Entrance fees to nature reserves
Breakfast each morning
A packed lunch on activity days.

The Family Adventure Break is priced at £1932 per family based on 2 adults and 2 children.

For further information on this exclusive package please contact 0131 274 7418 or visit www.theedinburghresidence.com.