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SECTION FOUR SEPTEMBER 2006 THE PROFITABLE WORLD OF NICHE MARKETS THE PROFITABLE WORLD OF NICHE MARKETS

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Page 1: SECTION FOUR SEPTEMBER 2006 THE … 2006 •TRAVEL WORLD NEWS• 3 THE PROFITABLE WORLD OF NICHE MARKETS Indian Adventure Tourism Professionals Showcase India to USA Market The Sub-Continent’s

S E C T I O N F O U R S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6

THEPROFITABLE

WORLDOF

NICHEMARKETS

THEPROFITABLE

WORLDOF

NICHEMARKETS

Page 2: SECTION FOUR SEPTEMBER 2006 THE … 2006 •TRAVEL WORLD NEWS• 3 THE PROFITABLE WORLD OF NICHE MARKETS Indian Adventure Tourism Professionals Showcase India to USA Market The Sub-Continent’s
Page 3: SECTION FOUR SEPTEMBER 2006 THE … 2006 •TRAVEL WORLD NEWS• 3 THE PROFITABLE WORLD OF NICHE MARKETS Indian Adventure Tourism Professionals Showcase India to USA Market The Sub-Continent’s

While their clientsback home inIndia weretrekking withseasoned guidesthrough the

Himalayas’ awesome majesty, ascend-ing thriller roads on jeep safaris, andcycling through expanses of other-worldly landscapes, nine savvy andaward-winning Indian adventure touroperators came to the USA. Theirmission here was to showcase India’svast array of adventure tourism andintroduce its wide-ranging market toAmerican tour operators, wholesalers,special interest travel professionals,and travel agents. New York, Boston,Washington, D.C., and Chicago werethe chosen venues where, from July17-20, Indian adventurers made newbusiness contacts and introducedtheir professional association,Adventure Tour OperatorsAssociation of India (ATOAI). Adventurers abroad were Rajesh

Ojha, Banjara Camps & Retreats Pvt. Ltd.; AmitSankhala, Managing Director, Dynamic Tours Pvt. Ltd.;Tejbir Singh Anand, Managing Director, Holiday MoodsAdventures; Mandip Singh Soin, President & CEO, IbexExpeditions; Vinay Sharda, Vice President, Indo AsiaTours Pvt. Ltd.; Vishal Singh, Director, RoyalExpeditions Pvt. Ltd.; Capt. Swadesh Kumar, ManagingDirector, Shikhar Travels (India) Pvt. Ltd.; Ajeet Bajaj,Managing Director, Snow Leopard Adventures Pvt. Ltd.;and Ravi S. Kalra, Managing Director, Travel Inn (India)Pvt. Ltd. All are members of ATOAI, which has 150members and was founded in 1995.

Bragging RightsSo just what is adventure tourism in India? It is a

nascent yet growing market segment that numbers twomillion domestic participants, and attributes 10% - some200,000 people – to international participants, accord-ing to ATOAI figures as of December 2005. Adventuretourism encompasses these sports: trekking, moun-taineering, cycling, river rafting, kayaking, canoeing,

mountain biking, heli-skiing, rock-climbing, high-alti-tude jeep safaris, hang and para-gliding, ballooning,scuba-diving, fishing, and these unique safaris: wildlife,tribal, horse, and camel. The U.K. is India’s strongestmarket for adventure tourism. Hence the raison d’être forwhich these professionals embarked on marketingIndian’s adventure tourism in the USA. And just why is adventure tourism an emerging tourism

niche in the sub-continent? Perhaps it is due to thebreadth of this amazing country’s geography: India hassome 250 wildlife sanctuaries and over 40 NationalParks. It is framed by the Himalayas (the “Abode ofSnow”) to the north, the upland plain (the DeccanPlateau) in the south, a flat to undulating plain along theGanges that runs east, and deserts and dunes in the west.The Himalayan range is the youngest in the world; wherecultural, religious, and adventure tourism intersect influid synchronicity. India possesses 4,350 miles of coast-line (7,000 kms), and is slightly over one-third the sizeof the US.

SEPTEMBER 2006 • T R A V E L W O R L D N E W S • 3

THE PROFITABLE WORLD OF NICHE MARKETS

Indian Adventure Tourism ProfessionalsShowcase India to USA Market

The Sub-Continent’s plethora of possibilities. By Helen Kitti Smith

Being introduced at the Chicago showcase are three of the nine tour operators representing theAdventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI). Pictured in the foreground are (from L. toR.): Mr. Ravi Kalra , managing director, Travel Inn, Delhi; Mr. Ajit Bajaj , managing director, SnowLeopard Adventures and the President of ATOAI and Venkatesan Dhattareyan, Assistant Director,India Tourism, New York.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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Mark Twain (Samuel Clemmons) wrote in Following theEquator (1895-1896) "So far as I am able to judge, noth-ing has been left undone, either by man or nature, tomake India the most extraordinary country that the sunvisits on his rounds. Nothing seems to have been forgot-ten, nothing overlooked."Indeed, as if to substantiate Mark Twain’s comment,

foreign visitors to India in 2005 reached 3.91 million,based on Indian Ministry of Tourism figures. Currenttrends from the Indian Press Information Bureau state,“Foreign tourist arrivals in the country have registeredan increase of 13.9% in June, 2006.”“Brand India” received a lot of U.S. interest, according

to Ravi Kalra of Travel Inn (India). “We found the audi-ence very receptive,” Kalra states. Ibex Expeditions’Mandip Soin Singh elaborates, the “North Americantravel trade audience was very enthusiastic, as they neverrealized the diverse travel and tour possibilities in India.They soaked up all the info.” But Tejbir Singh Anand ofHoliday Moods Adventures noted the audience’s focuswas on cultural tourism, “whereas our focus was India asan adventure destination.” He commented that he net-worked and made solid contacts, and anticipates somegood business for 2007-2008. Kalra replied that the in-terest in India was greater than they had anticipated. “Iam not sure if the business would happen so quickly, butwe succeeded in generating interest for selling India forour travel partners.”

Nine Distinguishing CharacteristicsKalra’s company Travel Inn (India) Pvt. Ltd., special-

izes in operating wildlife holidays to India. “We are al-ready the #1 wildlife destination management companyfrom the U.K. to India. We now intend to establish ourpresence in the USA.” Ibex Expeditions’ Mandip Soin Singh states that his

company is distinguished by its “responsible tourismethics. [We are] the most internationally-awarded adven-ture and eco-tourism company, with an accent on tailor-made itineraries, and eye for detail in any tour rangingfrom private safaris to luxury holidays. We have beenmentioned in Time, Newsweek, and National GeographicAdventure. Like the mountain goat, the Ibex, we take peo-ple on sure-footed journeys where others can’t go!” Shikar Travels started in 1979, and is dedicated to pro-

viding a flexible tour portfolio with wide variety. Personalattention is not the exception - but the rule - at ShikarTravels. Ajeet Bajaj, President of ATOAI, and principal of Snow

Leopard Adventures, cites meticulous planning, tremen-dous emphasis on safety and “eco-sense” as the founda-tion of each of his firm’s trips. Snow Leopard Adventuresendeavors to fulfill its societal responsibilities ... and has

launched “Study and Value Environment - SAVE” whichbrings together students from different schools to sensi-tize them to the outdoors and the environment.Rajesh Ojha and Captain Ajay Sud started Banjara

Camps & Retreats in 1994. The company remains a“labor of love” for them, as it was a pioneer in luxurycamping, and one of the first to set up camps in northernHimachal Pradesh when the area opened to tourists in1993. Amit Sankhala’s Dynamic Tours, founded in 1983,

plans and develops holidays with special care to inculcatethe spirit of India in every tour. The firm established aNorth America associate office, Tiger Venture Inc. inVancouver, Canada, to coordinate all overseas activities. Indo-Asia Tours was founded in 1987 by a dedicated

group of professionals, experienced in every facet oftourism in the Indian sub-continent, and each with morethan a decade of experience behind him. It is an owner-managed organization that offers personalized services,prompt replies and competitive rates.Royal Expeditions is a travel-management company

that has set out to establish true-to-desire standards inthe Indian travel market. Founded in 1993 by RaniChandresh Kumari (Princess of Jodhpur) former Memberof Parliament and Minister of State for Tourism(Himachal Pradesh), it has the right mix of travel savvypeople as its top management.Holiday Moods Adventures India is India's largest

camping & trekking agency that promotes responsibletourism - sensitive to protecting, preserving, and con-serving nature; and benefiting and respecting the localcommunities. The company has the distinction of being the only ad-

venture tour operator that caters to perhaps over 2,000trekkers per year. HEAT - (Himalayan Environment &Adventure Trek) is India's largest trekking event heldevery summer to a new trekking trail.AATTOOAAII,, wwwwww..iinnddiiaannaaddvveennttuurree..ccoomm;; AAiirr IInnddiiaa,, 880000--222233--77777766,, wwwwww..aaiirriinnddiiaa..ccoomm;; IInnddiiaa GGoovveerrnnmmeenntt TToouurriissttOOffffiiccee,, 880000--995533--99339999,, wwwwww..iinnccrreeddiibblleeiinnddiiaa..oorrgg

4 • T R A V E L W O R L D N E W S • SEPTEMBER 2006

THE PROFITABLE WORLD OF NICHE MARKETS

The Adventurers at play (minus Vinay Sharda of Indo-Asia Tours).

ATOAI FROM PAGE 3

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RREENNTT AA PPRRIIVVAATTEE VVIILLLLAA OORR IISSLLAANNDD TTHHRROOUUGGHHUUNNUUSSUUAALL VVIILLLLAASS AANNDD IISSLLAANNDD RREENNTTAALLSS

Unusual Villas and Island Rentals offers one of the largest websites inthe world dedicated to private villas and private island rentals in over57 countries, including The Caribbean, Europe, Mexico, Hawaii, TheUnited States, Costa Rica and Bali. They have been in business for over13 years, and John Greer, President and CEO of Unusual Villa and IslandRentals, has been in the travel business spanning 31 years.

Unusual Villas and Island Rentals offers over 2,800 private villas and50 private islands for rent from $500 to $5,000 per person per week.Each villa or private island comes with a full staff or a minimum of maidservice.All villas have additional staff available, such as security guards,yoga instructors, a chef or chef service. Most villas are near the beachexcept for Italy, France and The United States.

Unusual Villas can handle groups of 1-150 people, depending uponthe location. They are famous for handling vacations, birthdays, an-niversaries, weddings, honeymoons, family reunions, sales seminars,board of director meetings, school reunions, corporate outings, movielocations, and more. Unusual Villas can arrange car or limo service inmost destinations, as well as a car and driver.They can also arrange pri-vate charter planes for customers around the world.UUnnuussuuaall VViillllaa aanndd IIssllaanndd RReennttaallss,, 880000--884466--77228800,, wwwwww..uunnuussuuaallvviillllaarreennttaallss..ccoomm

MMEEXXIICCOO’’SS SSPPOORRTTSS TTOOUURRIISSMM BBOOOOMMIINNGG The numbers and revenue show that sports enthusiasts are increas-

ingly traveling to Mexico. Both amateur and professional athletes arecontributing to the ever-continuing expansion of Mexico’s sportstourism segment.

Many sports benefit from Mexico’s natural beauty and unique back-drops. Mexico has recently hosted many high-profile internationalsporting events, including Rip Curl’s Pro Search surfing event, part ofthe Association of Surfing Professionals’ Men’s World ChampionshipTour last June, and the PGA’s 2006 Champions Tour’s Puerto VallartaBlue Agave Golf Classic last March. Upcoming events include the yearlyMexico City International Marathon in August.

Amateur athletes and sports lovers are also helping to spur Mexico’s

sports sector growth. 2005 enjoyed robust numbers, with sports activ-ities pumping approximately $1.27 billion into the national economy.

In 2005, 600,000 golfers traveled to Mexico, generating $400 million. Triathlons attracted 36,000 travelers to Mexico, who in turngenerated $6 million in 2005. In 2005, diving and relating activitiesproduced $200 million in revenue. Sports fishing reeled in $500 millionin 2005.

The increased popularity of Mexico’s sports tourism sector echoestravel developments on a global scale. The World Tourism Organizationpredicts that sports tourism will be the second most important travelsegment by 2020.

Sports tourism’s bright future recently prompted Mexico TourismSecretary Rodolfo Elizondo to underscore the importance of develop-ing this segment during a national sports tourism conference.

“Sports tourism plays an important role in the evolution of Mexico’stourism industry. As we continuously improve infrastructure andsports tourism offerings on both a local and regional level, Mexico’s po-sition as a sports tourism destination will be solidified, more jobs willbe generated and we will attract investors,” he said.

Elizondo went on to mention that Mexico’s active support of the sports tourism sector is part of Sectur’s strategy to diversify the country’s tourism offerings beyond its already-successful productslike sun and beaches, nature tourism, and cultural tourism, among others.TThhee MMeexxiiccoo TToouurriissmm BBooaarrdd ((MMTTBB)),, wwwwww..vviissiittmmeexxiiccoo..ccoomm

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HHOORRIIZZOONN PPHHOOTTOOGGRRAAPPHHYYWWOORRKKSSHHOOPPSS AANNNNOOUUNNCCEESSIINNAAUUGGUURRAALL CCRRUUIISSEE TTOOCCAARRIIBBBBEEAANN

Horizon Photography Workshops, known forits weekend workshops in historic ChesapeakeCity, MD, have announced HorizonPhotography Cruises. Horizon’s inauguralcruise will be held from December 7-17, 2006,embarking from New York City and traveling tofive Caribbean destinations: St. Thomas,Tortola, St. Maarten, Puerto Rico and theBahamas. Travel will be on Norwegian CruiseLine’s “Norwegian Dawn.”

On board and in port, using a combination ofclassroom work and hands-on activities, stu-dents receive guidance on all aspects of travelphotography, including people, nature and ar-chitecture.

Photographer Steve Gottlieb, Horizon’sFounder and Director, along with one of hisHorizon associates, will be the instructors forthis Caribbean adventure. Gottlieb has beendesignated as one of a handful of “KodakProfessional Icons” in the United States. He haspublished five widely-recognized books,one ofwhich, Abandoned America, was chosen byboth PEOPLE Magazine and USA Today as“2002 Gift Book of the Year.”

Subsequent Horizon cruises, led by Gottlieband other Horizon Workshop instructors, arebeing scheduled for Alaska (early summer ‘07)and Canada/New England (October ‘07).CruiseOne-Plano, a member of the nation’slargest cruise booking organization, is the ex-clusive booking agency for HorizonPhotography Cruises.HHoorriizzoonn PPhhoottooggrraapphhyy WWoorrkksshhooppss,, iinnffoo@@hhoorriizzoonnwwoorrkksshhooppss..ccoomm,, wwwwww..hhoorriizzoonnwwoorrkksshhooppss..ccoomm//ccrruuiisseess;; CCrruuiisseeOOnnee--PPllaannoo,, 888888--552277--99333355,, wwwwww..ccrruuiisseeppllaannoopphhoottooggrraapphhyyccrruuiissee..ccoomm

PPRREEMMIIEERR RREESSOORRTTSS OOFFFFEERRIINNGGLLOOWWEERR PPRRIICCEEDD PPRREE--SSEEAASSOONNVVAACCAATTIIOONNSS OOUUTT WWEESSTT

Premier Resorts is offering lower priced pre-season vacations (some with money-savingfuel credits) at its Western ski resort properties.Fall visitors can choose from fly-fishing, golf,tennis, horseback riding, hiking, mountain bik-ing, and other cool weather sports.

Visitors to Colorado's BBeeaavveerr RRuunn RReessoorrtt canenjoy a wide range of activities available in thefall, from festivals, to hiking and biking, to hot airballooning and fly-fishing and shopping. Staytwo nights in Breckenridge and receive a dis-counted room rate plus a $50 fuel credit for roomsup to a one-bedroom suite; receive $100 fuelcredit for any two bedrooms or larger sized room.The offer is valid through November 13,2006.BBeeaavveerr RRuunn RReessoorrtt,, 880000--552255--22225533,,wwwwww..bbeeaavveerrrruunn..ccoomm

At Colorado's HHootteell TTeelllluurriiddee, receive a $25fuel credit and breakfast with stay by reservinga deluxe room or higher for two or more nightsbetween September 18 - November 1, 2006. Inaddition, visitors staying three nights get thefourth free for stays from October 9 -November 22, 2006. Not valid with any otheroffer.HHootteell TTeelllluurriiddee,, 886666--HHOOTTEELL0044,, wwwwww..tthheehhootteell--tteelllluurriiddee..ccoomm

The MMaannoorr VVaaiill RReessoorrtt,a Vail tradition for over40 years, is located a short covered bridge walkfrom Ford Amphitheater and less than a milefrom the Vail Golf Course at the base of GoldenPeak. Between September 1 and November 21,2006, the property is offering 25 percent off allreservations of three nights or more.TThhee MMaannoorr VVaaiill RReessoorrtt,, 880000--995500--VVAAIILL ((88224455)),,wwwwww..mmaannoorrvvaaiill..ccoomm

At the second annual Ernest HemingwayFestival, September 28 - October 1, events in-clude presentations by guest speakers andscholars, films, a short story contest, a trapshooting competition and a tour of"Hemingway's Haunts." Three nights lodgingin a SSuunn VVaalllleeyy studio condo starts at $142ppdo. The condos are walking distance fromthe Sun Valley resort village.SSuunn VVaalllleeyy,, 880000--663355--44444444,, wwwwww..pprreemmiieerr--ssuunnvvaalllleeyy..ccoomm

DDeeeerr VVaalllleeyy LLooddggiinngg in Park City, Utah is of-fering a Fall Family Reunion Getaway.Condominiums are available in Park City andDeer Valley Resort close to Historic Main Street

with shopping, dining and entertainment, andPark City Mountain Resort's Alpine Slide andZipRider zip line cable ride. Save 20 percent onfamily size condominiums. A three-bedroomcondominium is from $128 per night.Two-bed-room condominiums start at $140 per night.Rates are valid from September 5 to November30, 2006.DDeeeerr VVaalllleeyy LLooddggiinngg,, 880000--445533--33883333,,wwwwww..ddeeeerrvvaalllleeyyllooddggiinngg..ccoomm

A two-night weekday golf package atSSeevveenntthh MMoouunnttaaiinn RReessoorrtt is $379 midweek,$419 on weekends.The price includes lodgingin a one-bedroom premium condo, taxes andrecreation fee, two 18-hole golf rounds atWidgi Creek Golf Course, and free use of pools,hot tubs and fitness center. Up to two addi-tional nights extended stay are also offered fora discounted rate of $159 plus taxes and recre-ation fee. Larger units may also be available foradditional cost.Valid September 5 until the firstsnow flies. A new tennis package at theSeventh features Steve Vaughan, U.S.Professional Tennis Association certified in-structor, and Pacific Northwest USPTA 2002Coach of the Year. If you book lodging for theSeptember 5 - October 1 period,Vaughan's ten-nis package includes five hours of instructionfor $100 per person (based on min. three peo-ple.) Also included is an imprinted wine glass,water bottle, t-shirt and 30-minute session onan electronic Ultimate Balance Trainer (totalvalue: $50). The tennis package requires book-ing at the discounted rate of $289 in a one-bedroom standard condo or $349 in a one-bedroom premium condo for two people fortwo nights, a savings of $80-$90 per package.The lodging package includes discountcoupons at the Oasis Day Spa, nearby WidgiCreek golf course, and other Seventh MountainResort activities.SSeevveenntthh MMoouunnttaaiinn RReessoorrtt,, 880000--445522--66881100,,wwwwww..sseevveenntthhmmoouunnttaaiinn..ccoomm

Book and stay at LLaakkeellaanndd VViillllaaggee RReessoorrtt inLake Tahoe from September 4 - November 21,in a two-bedroom townhouse, one-bedroomtownhouse, one-bedroom suite, or a deluxestudio, for four nights and pay for only three.Allresidences come with a fireplace, balcony, andfull kitchen.LLaakkeellaanndd VViillllaaggee RReessoorrtt,, 880000--882222--55996699,,wwwwww..llaakkeellaanndd--vviillllaaggee..ccoommPPrreemmiieerr RReessoorrttss,, 880000--888822--44775544,, wwwwww..pprreemmiieerr--rreessoorrttss..ccoomm

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TTHHEE RRAAIILL AAUUSSTTRRAALLIIAA CCOOLLLLEECCTTIIOONN

Have your clients experience Australia in comfortable and relaxing sur-roundings while visiting Australia’s cities, outback & coastal towns. RailAustralia offers varying levels of service: for the discerning guest, pre-mium overnight accommodation and fine dining restaurant experiencesare available on most services; for the budget conscious traveler, severalrail passes are available offering almost unlimited access across theAustralian continent.

The Legendary Ghan is the ultimate rail journey into the heart ofAustralia from Adelaide to Alice Springs and Darwin. The Indian Pacifictraverses the continent from Sydney to Adelaide to Perth.

The XPT travels from Sydney to Melbourne, Brisbane, and Dubbo. TheXPLORER travels between Sydney and Canberra,Tamwoth, Armidale andMoree, and Broken Hill.

Discover the real warmth of Australia aboard The Sunlander along thespectacular coastline between Brisbane and Cairns.

Between Brisbane and Rockhampton or Cairns, the Tilt Train connectsyou with holiday destinations such as Fraser Island or Whitsundaysthroughout coastal Queensland.The Spirit of the Outback transports youbetween Brisbane and Rockhampton to Longreach in the heart of theQueensland Outback.

Guests can discover Australia with a variety of rail passes, Austrail FlexiPass,East Coast Discovery Pass,Backtracker Rail Pass or Rail Explorer Pass,point to point fares and rail packages.RRaaiill AAuussttrraalliiaa,, 888888--444444--RRaaiill,, wwwwww..rraaiillaaggeenntt..ccoomm

SSEEDDOONNAA RROOUUGGEE HHOOTTEELL && SSPPAA PPAARRTTNNEERRSS WWIITTHHIINNNNOOVVAATTIIVVEE GGOOLLFF PPEERRFFOORRMMAANNCCEE

Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa has partnered with Dave Bisbee, Presidentof eGolfGroup and a golf performance specialist, who offers business-golf instruction, corporate teambuilding programs, and insight on howbeing a better golfer can improve the bottom line of a business. SedonaRouge Hotel & Spa, Sedona’s newest hotel, offers a destination restau-rant, spa services, and a variety of meeting facilities. The hotel featurespersonalized guest amenities, adventure packages and is ideal for cor-porate groups. Its close proximity to the new Seven Canyons Golf Resortand Sedona Golf Resort make the partnership with Dave Bisbee workwell.

Bisbee’s Business Golf Suite includes four programs that can be con-ducted separately or as a complete seminar package.

Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa also arranges organized activities such asjeep tour scavenger hunts, cooking classes, golf, and picnics in the Red

Rock canyons. The Spa at Sedona Rouge offers an array of facilities andtreatments. Sedona Rouge is also home to Reds Restaurant & Bar whichoffers a seasonally inspired menu of American classics reinterpreted witha unique contemporary flair.SSeeddoonnaa RRoouuggee HHootteell aanndd SSppaa,, 886666--331122--44111111,, wwwwww..sseeddoonnaarroouuggee..ccoomm

FFAALLLL IINNSSPPIIRREEDD SSPPAA TTRREEAATTMMEENNTTSS AATT MMOOHHOONNKKMMOOUUNNTTAAIINN HHOOUUSSEE AANNDD CCRRAANNWWEELLLL RREESSOORRTT

Mohonk Mountain House and Cranwell Resort, Spa and Golf Club havecreated special Spa offerings in celebration of fall foliage.

Mohonk Mountain House, a Victorian-castle resort 90 miles north ofNew York City located in the Hudson Valley, has created a new fall-in-fused facial. The Heavenly Harvest Facial features pumpkin to help thecomplexion. In addition Mohonk Mountain House has introduced a newSpa-tacular Fall Getaway Package available September 4-November 30,2006 with nightly rates starting at $279 ppdo, per night, Sunday-Thursday. Guests will have access to 85 miles of hiking trials in theShawangunk Mountains and enjoy a credit of $75 per person to be ap-plied toward a service in the resort's new 30,000-square-foot Spa, a wel-come gift of pumpkin butter, three meals daily prepared by award-win-ning chefs, along with afternoon tea and cookies.

The Spa at Cranwell created a special Spa in the Pantry facial maskrecipe using fresh apples. The recipe includes one medium sized apple(grated) mixed with five tablespoons of honey that is then smoothedover the skin.MMoohhoonnkk MMoouunnttaaiinn HHoouussee,, 880000--777722--66664466,, wwwwww..mmoohhoonnkk..ccoomm;;CCrraannwweellll RReessoorrtt,, SSppaa aanndd GGoollff CClluubb,, 880000--227722--66993355,, wwwwww..ccrraannwweellll..ccoomm

KKEERR && DDOOWWNNEEYY LLAAUUNNCCHHEESS NNEEWW EEGGYYPPTT NNIILLEECCRRUUIISSEESS BBRROOCCHHUURREE

Ker & Downey has introduced a new brochure focusing specifically ontravel to Egypt. Egypt Nile Cruises features the completely remodeledM.S. Salacia in a new "all suite" configuration. Innovations include the"Sahara" Sun Deck restaurant for al fresco lunches, individual singlesuites at the half twin rates, the inclusion of Abydos and Dendera in theitineraries, and longer time spent cruising down the Nile, as opposed tositting in port.

The M.S. Triton continues to feature the seven-night cruise and a newprogram, Elegant Egypt, combining the Mena House Palace Cairo with atwo night stay at the Old Cataract in Aswan before embarking on a fournight cruise to Luxor.The M.S. Salacia and M.S. Triton boast outstandinghigh quality at an international level (constructed to meet U.S. Bureau ofShipping specifications), and they were literally brought into being bytheir owners, the El Narsh family, a combination of Marine Engineeringfrom England, Hotel Management from Switzerland and tourism busi-ness studies from Egypt.

The specific tours Ker & Downey offers are guaranteed to operate witha minimum of two to a maximum of 16 clients to ensure a top quality ex-perience. If 17 or more passengers travel they will be split into twogroups, each with their own university trained English speakingEgyptologist/guide.KKeerr && DDoowwnneeyy,, 880000 442233 44223366,, wwwwww..kkeerrddoowwnneeyy..ccoomm

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EEXXTTRREEMMEE VVAACCAATTIIOONN PPAACCKKAAGGEESS YYEEAARR RROOUUNNDD AATT332200 GGUUEESSTT RRAANNCCHH IINN MMOONNTTAANNAA

The 320 Guest Ranch in Montana features over 320 acres of wildmountain range and forest, Gallatin River frontage, over a dozen wran-glers, 72 horses, world-class extreme skiing and snowmobiling close by,and Yellowstone around the corner. .

The ranch boasts 60 modern comfortable cabin accommodations,many with wood-burning fireplaces, an authentic saloon, and a ranchrestaurant which features wild game specialties of the house, preparedby Chef Jeffrey Tappero.

In the summer, there’s extreme trail riding, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, and even extreme fly-fishing on the Gallatin, Madison andYellowstone Rivers, with some of the worlds best guides available.Extreme Montana Vacation Packages are available during the summerand winter seasons. Base packages start at $275 per person per day(three-night minimum) and include lodging accommodations; break-fast, lunch and dinner; and seasonal recreational activities.332200 GGuueesstt RRaanncchh,, 880000--224433--00332200,, wwwwww..332200RRaanncchh..ccoomm

WWHHIISSTTLLEERR AADDVVEENNTTUURREE PPAACCKKAAGGEESS OONNBBOOAARRDDCCAANNAADDAA’’SS WWHHIISSTTLLEERR MMOOUUNNTTAAIINNEEEERR

Canada’s newest tourist train, the Whistler Mountaineer has helpedconnect guests between Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia.Travelers can now combine the three-hour train ride with eight unique“Whistler Adventures” getaways, including adrenaline packed holidays,short family vacations or rejuvenating visits to the spa. These getawayscan be enjoyed as day trips or are available up to three days in length.The packages are available until October 16, 2006.

One “Whistler Adventure” package is the “Whistler Zipline Adventure,”which can be booked as a day trip or as an overnight stay. Travelers willenjoy Whistler’s most popular eco-adventure tour, featuring ziplines,boardwalks,canopy walks and more. After a three-hour journey onboardthe Whistler Mountaineer’s Coast Classic experience, travelers will soaralong steel ziplines above Fitzsimmons Creek. A Gray Line West motor-coach transfer from Whistler to Vancouver tops off this adventure. Pricesstart from $226 per person.

A family getaway is the “Whistler Adventures.” Adults and children on-board the Whistler Mountaineer train will take in the scenery of the WestCoast and can combine that experience with a floatplane flight or a gon-dola ride in the four-resort town of Whistler. The “Overnight Adventure”is a two-day or three-day trip. It includes a round-trip journey onboard

the Whistler Mountaineer train, a scenic Whistler Mountain gondola rideand a $30 CDN gift card towards local dining, shopping and activities.Prices start from $240 ppdo. The rate for children between the ages of 2and 11 is $105.

Once in Whistler, there are several “Whistler Adventure” getaways thatinclude rejuvenating treatments. The “Whistler Spa Adventure” packagecan be booked as either a two-day or three-day stay. Guests are pam-pered with a one-hour Swedish massage and an aromatic facial. Pricesstart from $473 ppdo.RRoocckkyy MMoouunnttaaiinneeeerr VVaaccaattiioonnss,, 880000-- 666655--77224455,, wwwwww..rroocckkyymmoouunnttaaiinneerr..ccoomm,, wwwwww..wwhhiissttlleerrmmoouunnttaaiinneeeerr..ccoomm

PPUUSSHHKKAARR CCAAMMEELL FFAAIIRR TTOOUURRSS WWIITTHH EEXXOOTTIICCJJOOUURRNNEEYYSS GGRROOUUPP

Every November the rich tradition of Rajasthan, India, comes alive atPushkar. Pushkar is host to an annual extravaganza called the PushkarFair that attracts foreigners and Indians alike. It is one of the most spec-tacular fairs in the world and perhaps the largest gathering of tourists allaround the world in Rajasthan. Synonymous with the world's largestcamel and cattle fair, the Pushkar fair is a unique experience. Here thetourists spontaneously break into a song or a dance; they forget theirdaily chores and enjoy the camel and the cattle races.

Exotic Journeys Group, the Chicago based wholesale tour operator, willoperate two 15-day group tours incorporating Pushkar Camel Fair de-parting on October 28, 2006.The land tour price is from $2,145 ppdo in-clusive of accommodations, room taxes, daily breakfast, meetings, assis-tance and airport transfers, baggage handling, comprehensivesightseeing tours and excursions with English speaking guides, entrancefees to the monuments and the cost of surface travel from Delhi to Delhiin air-conditioned car or coach. Airfares and fuel surcharges are extra.EExxoottiicc JJoouurrnneeyyss GGrroouupp,, 880000--555544--66334422,, iinnffoo@@eexxoottiiccjjoouurrnneeyyss..ccoomm,,wwwwww..eexxoottiiccjjoouurrnneeyyss..ccoomm

PPOOLLYYNNEESSIIAA CCRRUUIISSEESS WWIITTHH FFRREEEE AAIIRR FFRROOMMDDIISSCCOOVVEERRYY WWOORRLLDD CCRRUUIISSEESS

mv Discovery winds her way through the South Pacific, including leg-endary Robinson Crusoe Island, Bora Bora, Raiatea and an overnight callon Easter Island. The “In the Wake of the Bounty” itinerary departs onFebruary 20 and March 18, 2007 with rates starting at $3,650 per personincluding a two-night hotel stay in Santiago, Chile and free air from allDiscovery World’s North American gateways.

The 29-night “Polynesia, Peru & Galapagos” itinerary, departing onMarch 18, 2007, sails from Papeete, Tahiti, to Peru and the Galapagoscombining the South Seas with South American cities such as Arica,Limaand Manta. The cruisetour also includes two nights on board in SanCristobal in the Galapagos with included shore excursions, and a two-night hotel stay in Quito. Rates start at $5,995 per person and includefree air.

For those who want an adventure of a different kind, the 34-night“Antarctica & South Pacific” adds the White Continent to Polynesia withrates starting at $7,450 per person including a 2-night hotel stay inBuenos Aires and free air.DDiissccoovveerryy WWoorrlldd CCrruuiisseess,, 886666--662233--22668899,, iinnffoo@@mmvvddiissccoovveerryy..ccoomm,,wwwwww..ddiissccoovveerryywwoorrllddccrruuiisseess..ccoomm

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DDEEIILLMMAANNNN 22000077 CCRRUUIISSEESS NNOOWW AAVVAAIILLAABBLLEE FFOORRBBOOOOKKIINNGG

Reservations are now open for booking Peter Deilmann’s 2007European river cruises, two months earlier than in previous years. Thecruise line will operate eight vessels on 250 sailings next year followingthe retirement of the 4-star Danube Princess at the end of October.

Deilmann’s eight river ships will operate on the Danube,Rhine,Moselle,Rhône, Saône, Seine, Elbe, Vltava, Oder and other rivers from late Marchthrough mid-November 2007. Deilmann plans to replace the DanubePrincess,which was sold to another company,with a 5-star vessel in 2008.

Peter Deilmann will offer 10 different cruise tours in 2007 with morethan 100 departures. The river cruises will have itineraries that feature special events in 2007 and new destinations. Selections will in-clude independent cruise tours sailing the Seine, Rhône, Danube andElbe rivers, Dutch and Belgian canals.

Deilmann will have complete cruise-tour information available inOctober.“Discovery Add-ons,” a concept introduced in 2006 in indepen-dent cruise tours, will once again give travelers added flexibility in se-lecting tour options by allowing a choice of destinations at the begin-ning or end of a river cruise.

The 96-passenger Casanova will cruise on three rivers - the Rhine,Moselle, Danube - and the Main-Danube Canal and will offer a 14-nightgrand cruise between Amsterdam and Budapest.The Frederic Chopin andthe Katharina, both 79-passenger ships, will alternate one-week sailingsfrom Potsdam (Berlin) and Prague on the Havel,Elbe and Vltava (Moldau)rivers.

Rhine and Moselle sailings on the 110-passenger, four-deck Heidelbergwill sail to four countries calling at Rhine cities and towns that includeAmsterdam, Cologne, Rüdesheim, Koblenz, Basel, Strasbourg and at thewine villages and towns of Bernkastel, Cochem and Trier on the smallerMoselle River. Ghent, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Bruges and Brussels are desti-nations on the Dutch and Belgian canals in April on cruises that feature

tulips and other flowers on roundtrip sailings from Amsterdam.The popular seven-night Danube cruises from Passau in southern

Germany, two hours from Munich, will operate on the 200-passengerMozart, known for the largest cabins of any river vessel. Both the 100-cabin Mozart and 48-cabin Casanova will sail 10- and 11-night cruises onthe Danube from Passau to the Black Sea in Romania.

The 100-passenger Cezanne will cruise from Paris on the Seine offer-ing itineraries that feature an overnight stay aboard the ship in Paris and sailings from Rouen as well as Paris. The Rhône and Saôneriver cruises on the 140-passenger Princesse de Provence call at townsand villages with the well-known vineyards of Côte du Nuits,Beaujolais, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Macon-Villages and other wines andthe history-rich Provencal cities of Avignon and Arles. Cruises originatein Lyon and Avignon.

The Elbe River ship, the 106-passenger Dresden, will offer alternateweekly sailings from Hamburg and Dresden to Luther’s town ofWittenberg, porcelain-famous Meissen, the formal gardens of PillnitzPalace as well as the gracious sea port city of Hamburg, historic Dresden,and excursions to the fascinating capital of Berlin. Berlin and the Czechcapital of Prague, with its elegant Old World churches and spires are thefocus of the seven-night cruises of the twin ships Katharina and FredericChopin.PPeetteerr DDeeiillmmaannnn CCrruuiisseess,, 880000--334488--88228877,, ppddccmmaaiill@@ddeeiillmmaannnn--ccrruuiisseess..ccoomm,, wwwwww--ddeeiillmmaannnn--ccrruuiisseess..ccoomm

AAMMBBAASSSSAADDOORRSS CCRRUUIISSEE GGRROOUUPP IINNTTRROODDUUCCEESSMMAAJJEESSTTIICC AAMMEERRIICCAA LLIINNEE

Ambassadors International, Inc.announced that its wholly-owned sub-sidiary, Ambassadors Cruise Group, LLC, has combined its American riverand coastal cruising companies – American West Steamboat Companyand Delta Queen Steamboat Company – into one brand, MajesticAmerica Line.The combined companies will begin operating under thenew name later this year.

Majestic America Line will be comprised of a fleet of six U.S.-flagged,American-crewed cruise ships plying the coastal and inland waterwaysand rivers of America. The company’s cruise experiences feature thegreat rivers of America, including the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee,Cumberland and Arkansas rivers of America’s Heartland, and theColumbia, Snake and Willamette rivers of the Northwest. MajesticAmerica Line also operates in-depth cruises of Alaska’s Inside Passage in-cluding a visit to Stikine River, one of the last truly wild rivers in NorthAmerica.

The Majestic America Line fleet consists of the American Queen, recog-nized as the world’s largest stern wheel cruise ship; the Empress of theNorth, the first sternwheeler to cruise Alaska’s Inside Passage in morethan 100 years; the Queen of the West; the famous Mississippi Queen,which features the world’s largest calliope; the Delta Queen, a NationalHistoric Landmark; and the Executive Explorer, a deluxe, small cruise shipcapable of visiting scenic areas and communities beyond the reach oflarger ships.

In 2007, Majestic America Line will offer more than 215 departures andcall at 70 port cities and communities in 19 different states, providing anauthentic American travel experience.AAmmbbaassssaaddoorrss IInntteerrnnaattiioonnaall,, IInncc,, wwwwww..aammbbaassssaaddoorrss..ccoomm

SEPTEMBER 2006 • T R A V E L W O R L D N E W S • 9

THE PROFITABLE WORLD OF NICHE MARKETS

MV Dresden in Meissen

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10 • T R A V E L W O R L D N E W S • SEPTEMBER 2006

THE PROFITABLE WORLD OF NICHE MARKETS

GGOOWWAAYY’’SS AAFFRRIICCAAEEXXPPEERRTTSSUUNNVVEEIILL NNEEWW TTRRAAVVEELLEEXXPPEERRIIEENNCCEESS

AFRICAExperts by Goway has recently re-leased their expanded 48-page brochure for2007.“We’ve focused on expanding the desti-nations and memorable experiences availablein Africa,” commented founder and President,

Bruce Hodge,“recognizing the diverse needs ofNorth American travelers, we offer safari excur-sions, small group escorted tours, wildlife en-counters, winter escapes, self-drives and IndianOcean island resorts.AFRICAExperts now offersthe most wide-ranging African travel optionsfor North Americans.”

New travel experiences introduced for 2007include: Travel Africa in Style, two exclusive VIPitineraries to enjoy South Africa that includeicons such as the Kruger National Park andVictoria Falls. The 12-day “Route of the AfricanSun” ($4,963) and 15-day “Heartbeat of Africa”($6,014) are both planned to incorporate anumber of Stays of Distinction, a selection ofunique accommodations that cater to the dis-cerning traveler.

The 8-day “Zambian Walking Safari,” startingfrom $4,097, is a journey to explore theZambian landscape.The safari includes accom-modation at three bush camps, day walks andgame drives, a professional guide, and flightsfrom Livingstone to Lusaka. Highly recom-mended is a visit to Victoria Falls before of afterthe safari.

Two Namibian flying safaris for 7-days start-ing from $4,506, offer visitors the maximumtime to see the country’s highlights by flying inlight aircraft in between and over some of themost spectacular scenery in the world.

On the 8-day “Best of Uganda” journey, trav-elers will see the Mountain Gorillas in Uganda,enjoy game viewing and bird watching inQueen Elizabeth National Park, and visit theNgamba Island chimp sanctuary. Starting from$3,078, departures are available fromSeptember 2006.

The ultimate luxury tenting experience,“Colonial Glory of Kenya” is a 7-day journeystarting at $2,380. This tour travels fromNairobi to Samburu, Lake Naivasha to Kenya’sfinest reserve, the Masai Mara.

AFRICAExperts has also a variety of islandsand resorts available in the Indian Ocean, in-cluding the Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles,Zanzibar and Mombasa. Three day packagesstart from $253.AAFFRRIICCAAEExxppeerrttss bbyy GGoowwaayy,, 880000--224455--00992200 eexxtt112233,, wwwwww..aaffrriiccaaeexxppeerrttss..ccoomm,, bbrroocchhuurreess@@ggoowwaayy..ccoomm

After your clients have experienced the sights and sounds of Africa,

Let them discover MAURITIUS the exotic jewel of the Indian Ocean...

(800) 537-1182 • [email protected] Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632

Call any of the tour operators in this travel supplementto help you combine an African experience with thissurprisingly affordable, fascinating and luxuriousisland paradise for your clients, or contact us.

Air Maur i t ius , A i r l i ne to Sou th A f r i ca and the enchan t ing i s lands o f t he Ind ian Ocean

with 100 miles of sun-drenched beaches, secluded lagoons, coral reefs,

colorful markets, friendly people and fabulously elegant resorts.

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SSAAAA NNAAMMEESS MMAARRCC CCAAVVAALLIIEERREEEEXXEECCUUTTIIVVEE VVIICCEE PPRREESSIIDDEENNTT--NNOORRTTHH AAMMEERRIICCAA

South AfricanAirways has an-nounced the ap-pointment of MarcCavaliere asExecutive VicePre s i d e n t - N o r t hAmerica. Based atthe carrier’s U.S.headquarters inFort Lauderdale,

Florida, Cavaliere will oversee all aspects ofSAA’s North American operations including theairline’s regional integration into the globalStar Alliance.

An airline industry veteran with more than20 years experience, Cavaliere joins SouthAfrican Airways from his most recent positionas Vice President of Sales and Distribution forlow-fare specialist Spirit Airlines. In additionto directing Spirit’s sales and distributionstrategies, Cavaliere also managed Spirit’sInternet sales, e-commerce and the airline’sparticipation in the Global DistributionSystems (GDS).

Cavaliere will take up the reins for the man-agement of South African Airways’ NorthAmerican operations from Phillip Bekker, whowill return to South Africa to take a manage-ment role in the CEO’s office at South AfricanAirways headquarters in Johannesburg.

South African Airways is the only airline toprovide direct flights from the U.S. to SouthAfrica with daily departures that couple travelconvenience and award-winning service ex-cellence. The airline features a young fleet en-hanced by new Airbus aircraft with the latestin airline comfort and entertainment options.SSoouutthh AAffrriiccaann AAiirrwwaayyss,, 880000--772222--99667755,,wwwwww..ffllyyssaaaa..ccoomm

AAIIRR MMAAUURRIITTIIUUSS DDEEBBUUTTSS ““CCLLUUBBMMAAUURRIITTIIUUSS”” SSEERRVVIICCEE

Air Mauritius has announced a three-cabinredesign of its interior aircraft configuration,with the addition of all flat beds in First Class,and a middle cabin,“Club Mauritius,” for trav-elers who want value, greater comfort andservice for a slightly upgraded economy fare.

Scheduled for deployment initially on theLondon-Mauritius route in December 2006,

the airline’s new flagship product will be available on the first two of three new-gener-ation A340-300E aircraft the airline has onorder with Airbus Industries. The First classcabin will feature cocoon seats, while an en-tirely new intermediate cabin class (ClubMauritius) will be introduced in addition to thetraditional Economy class cabin. Passengers ofall three classes will have at their disposal anAVOD – Audio & Video On Demand - menu of-fering approximately 100 digital-qualitymulti-language video options together with alibrary of more than 100 CDs with play-listfunctionality. Along with the delivery of thenew A340-300E aircraft, the airline will retrofitthe rest of its wide-bodied fleet with the newconfiguration.

The newly-branded 33-seat intermediatecabin class, (Club Mauritius), will feature seatsset at a 38-inch pitch. “Individual seatbackmonitors, in-cabin lavatories and a dedicatedcrew are only some of the “Club Mauritius” at-tributes that will provide unmatched value-for-the money,”says William Pankow, ManagerUSA. “Club Mauritius passengers will also havetheir own dedicated arrival check-in counters,a generous 66 lb. baggage allowance with pri-ority handling and access to designatedlounges worldwide, comparable to the finestbusiness class standards,” adds Mr. Pankow.

Air Mauritius’ highly-regarded economyclass service featuring complimentary aperi-tifs and liqueurs will continue to be availableon all long-haul flights. It too will be enhancedwith new-generation single-beam structureseats that allow for extra personal living space,a fully complimentary AVOD menu offeringthe same content as First Class, and a choice ofhot main courses.AAiirr MMaauurriittiiuuss,, 880000--553377--11118822

NNEEWW CCOONNNNEECCTTIIOONN TTOO KKIIGGAALLIIFFRROOMM TTAANNZZAANNIIAA

Travelers can now link the plains of Serengetiwith the mountains of Rwanda for new safariitineraries,at a cost of $500 each way Mwanza-Kigali and Kigali-Mwanza on the new Coastalshared charter flight.

The flight schedule is as follows: departArusha 12:30, arrive at Kigali 5:30. 12:30 de-part Arusha – Lake Manyara – Seronera –Grumeti, Klein's, Kogatende, Lobo, Sasakwa(on inducement) – Mwanza arrive at 4:15.

Customs and immigration formalities are

done in Mwanza and the flight continues byshare charter on to Kigali. Depart 5:30 arriveKigali 5:30 local time. (Kigali-Mwanza is 60minute flight time. Rwanda time is one hourbehind Tanzania time).

Depart 6:00 Kigali, arrive Arusha 12:15. At6:00 depart Kigali by share charter and arriveat Mwanza 8:00.Customs and immigration for-malities take place and then the flight contin-ues at 9:00 to Grumeti, Klein's, Kogatende,Lobo, Sasakwa (on inducement) – Seronera –Lake Manyara.Arrive at Arusha at 12:15 in timeto meet the flight to Zanzibar.

The domestic airport tax in Tanzania plussafety tax of $6 is applicable from Mwanza,Dodoma, Tanga, Pemba, Zanzibar, Mafia, Dar,and Arusha. The airport tax to and from Kigaliis airport tax ex Tanzania to Kigali, $30 per per-son TZN international airport tax, $8 per per-son TZN international safety tax. Airport tax exKigali to Tanzania $30 per person airport tax exKigali, $8 per person, TZN international safetyfee, $20.00 per person tax excluded.CCooaassttaall AAvviiaattiioonn,, wwwwww..ccooaassttaall..cccc,, wwwwww..ssaaffaarriittaannzzaanniiaa..oorrgg

SEPTEMBER 2006 • T R A V E L W O R L D N E W S • 11

THE PROFITABLE WORLD OF NICHE MARKETS

MARC CAVALIERE

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THE PROFITABLE WORLD OF NICHE MARKETS

CCAAPPEE GGRRAACCEE AAPPPPOOIINNTTSS NNIIGGEELL PPAACCEE AASS NNEEWWGGEENNEERRAALL MMAANNAAGGEERR

Malta-born Nigel Pace has been appointedas General Manager of the legendary CapeTown hotel known simply as “Cape Grace.”

Born in Malta but now “proudly SouthAfrican,” Nigel Pace brings with him 11 yearshands-on knowledge of the luxury hotel in-dustry. With experience ranging fromScotland’s epic Gleneagles, to Marriott Hotelsin the USA, to some of South Africa’s finesthostelries, Pace’s vision for Cape Grace is toconsolidate and expand upon the unprece-

dented achievements of his predecessor, Tony Romer-Lee. Pace’s previ-ous posts include senior management positions at both The Cellars-Hohenort in South Africa’s Western Cape and at The Plettenberg on theGarden Route. More recently, he was General Manager of Operations ofall three of the 5-star hotels that make up South Africa’s Collection by LizMcGrath.

Soon to begin its 10th anniversary celebrations, Cape Grace has prideof place in a tranquil corner of the city’s Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Itsonewaterfront. restaurant is considered South Africa’s finest. Its BasculeBar is home to the largest collection of single malt whiskeys south of theEquator. And its Spa at Cape Grace, one of the continent’s most elegantspa facilities, is available exclusively to guests of the hotel.CCaappee GGrraaccee,, wwwwww..ccaappeeggrraaccee..ccoomm

GGOOLLDDEENN TTUULLIIPP TTAAKKEESS OOVVEERR TTHHEE MMAANNAAGGEEMMEENNTT OOFF GGOOLLDDEENN TTUULLIIPP AACCCCRRAA

Golden Tulip Hospitality has announced the signing of a managementagreement for Golden Tulip Accra effective July 2006.

The Golden Tulip Accra is owned by GLAHCO Hotels & TourismDevelopment Company Ltd. and has been with Golden Tulip under afranchise agreement since 1992.

Golden Tulip Accra is a first class African Style Business Hotel with 234superior guestrooms and is centrally located in the developing businessdistrict of Accra. The hotel offers various business and relaxation facili-ties such as a Piano Lounge, the Ahengua Grill, pool bar, meeting roomsfor up to 300 delegates and a casino.

Mr. Ernest Asamoah, Executive Director of GLAHCO Hotels & TourismDevelopment Company Ltd.comments:"We are delighted to sign a man-agement agreement with Golden Tulip Hospitality Management. Intoday's climate, there is a strong need for rationalizing hotel operationsand with the international recognition of Golden Tulip, I feel the GoldenTulip will be in a good hands to continue delivering positive returns andsubsequently increase its property value:"

Golden Tulip's portfolio in the African Continent comprises of 10 hotelsin Egypt, Morocco, Ghana,Tanzania and Tunisia.GGoollddeenn TTuulliipp HHoossppiittaalliittyy GGrroouupp,, wwwwww..ggoollddeennttuulliippttoopp..ccoomm

TTAARRAANNGGIIRREE BBUUSSHH AADDVVEENNTTUURREE SSPPEECCIIAALLIIZZEESS IINNTTAANNZZAANNIIAA

Tarangire Bush Adventure has been in business for two years and as alocally owned business they are deeply committed to serving the Arushacommunity.That is why they use only local vendors and make every ef-fort to bring clients to locally-run conservation projects. It is their aim topromote sustainable tourism with an emphasis on environmental andcultural conservation.

They offer a wide range of tours,safaris,hiking expeditions and culturalactivities. They attract many tourists who are interested in something"off the beaten track" or a more intense cultural experience.Travelers canchoose from wildlife viewing (photographic safari) in the Northern Parksor Southern Parks and Reserves, mountain climbing on their HikingExpeditions, walking through unique ecosystems on an EducationalWalking Safari, taking a trip into the bush with the Maasai on theNgorongoro Crater Highlands Hike, hiking through the tropical rainforests on an Educational Safari in the Eastern Arc Mountains, relaxingon the beaches of Zanzibar, or taking advantage of unique CulturalOpportunities.

The best time to visit the National Parks in Tanzania is between themonths of May and November. For Kilimanjaro, the best time to climb isJune-August when it is likely to be dry but cold. Zanzibar is hot all yearround,less so during the months of June-September,however the IndianOcean is there to cool off in.

Northern Circuit Safaris include Arusha National Park, Lake ManyaraNational Park, Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Areaand Serengiti National Park. Southern Circuit Safaris include SelousGame Reserve,Ruaha National Park,and Mikumi National Park.They alsooffer a Ngorongoro Crater Highlands Hike and a Mount Meru Climb.TTaarraannggiirree BBuusshh AAddvveennttuurree,, iinnffoo@@ttaarraannggiirreeaaddvveennttuurree..ccoomm,,ttaarraannggiirreeaaddvveennttuurree..ccoomm

NIGEL PACE

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SSAAHHAARRAA SSOOUULL TTRRAAVVEELL OOFFFFEERRSSCCUUSSTTOOMMIIZZEEDD ““IINNSSIIDDEERR””IITTIINNEERRAARRIIEESS TTOO MMOORROOCCCCOO

Sahara Soul Travel offers a chance to experi-ence exotic Morocco with customized tours atany date, according to personal interests,schedules and preferences.The professionals ofSahara Soul Travel make all land arrangementsfor sightseeing, accommodations, meals, pri-vate transport, local guides and other logistics.

The founders of Sahara Soul Travel have a 10-year record of reliability and success. Their al-ternative,based on local contacts and a native’sknowledge of Morocco, is to offer the authen-tic experiences of thoughtfully crafted jour-neys for people who like to travel flexibly andindependently.

Sahara Soul Travel’s journeys include flexibleand customizable themes (no fixed “pack-ages”) such as Morocco’s Imperial Cities,Ultimate Morocco, Desert Discovery, TrekkingAdventure, Jewish Heritage, Grand Golf Tour,Magic Marrakech, Sacred Music Festival andthe Gnaoua Festival.

The “Ultimate Morocco” journey includesRabat, the ancient medina fortresses ofMeknes, the holy city Moulay Idriss, the pre-served ruins of Volubilis, Fez, the religious andintellectual heart of the nation, the MiddleAtlas Mountains, the village of Midelt, the ZizValley, a Sahara Desert experience, and more.In Marrakech, celebrate the finale of the jour-ney by dining at a centuries-old palace. This10+ day journey is customizable and is avail-able daily, year-round, on a private basis. Pricesare categorized by airline style, from $2,400 to$7,925 ppdo, including guides, transportation,sightseeing, accommodations and two dailymeals. All Sahara Soul Travel Journeys are com-missionable.SSaahhaarraa SSoouull TTrraavveell,, 880000--779999--33008800,, iinnffoo@@ssaahhaarraassoouullttrraavveell..ccoomm,, wwwwww..ssaahhaarraassoouullttrraavveell..ccoomm

DDEESSRROOCCHHEESS IISSLLAANNDD RREESSOORRTTNNOOWW 2200 PPEERRCCEENNTT OOFFFFPPUUBBLLIISSHHEEDD RRAATTEESS

Desroches is part of the AmirantesArchipelago, one of several that make up thelegendary Seychelles. Tucked away here, theDesroches Island Resort is one of NaïadeResorts' collection of properties in theSeychelles, Maldives and Mauritius.

Vacations start at $487 to $807, single, for a

junior suite.That rate is 20 percent off the stan-dard published rates. Stays at the DesrochesIsland Resort include accommodation in an air-conditioned junior suite, breakfast, lunch, anddinner, plus free use of non-motorized watersport facilities.

Desroches Island Resort is a collection ofcolonial-style villas that house 20 elegantsuites. Coffered ceilings with fans and air con-ditioning keep the bungalows cool in the after-noon heat,a welcome respite after a day of bik-ing or snorkeling.

At the Restaurant Le Veloutier the chef cre-ates Creole and French dishes. Breakfast, lunchand dinner are also prepared at the beachrestaurant, where patrons can enjoy buffets oran intimate candlelit dinner.DDeessrroocchheess IIssllaanndd RReessoorrtt,, rreesseerrvvaattiioonn..CCRROO@@nnaaiiaaddee..ccoomm,, wwwwww..nnaaiiaaddeerreessoorrtt..ccoomm

SSOOUUTTHH AAFFRRIICCAANN AAIIRRWWAAYYSSAANNNNOOUUNNCCEESS SSPPEECCIIAALL FFAALLLLFFAARREESS

South African Airways’ low seasonal fares inOctober and November offer North Americantravelers the perfect time to visit during springin South Africa.

From October 7 through November 30, 2005,South African Airways is offering fares from$1,000 per person (excluding taxes/fuel fees)on transatlantic roundtrip travel to SouthAfrica from the airline’s U.S. gateways at NewYork’s JFK International Airport andWashington Dulles International Airport.Travelers can choose to fly to Cape Town orJohannesburg, or experience both cities with afree roundtrip air add-on betweenJohannesburg and Cape Town included in theirticket.

South Africa is a year-round travel destina-tion offering extraordinary wildlife, scenery,mountains, beaches, culture, cuisine andaward-winning wines. The months of Octoberand November bring sunny days perfect for ex-ploring the southern part of the country, in-cluding the scenic regions of Cape Town, theGarden Route, and the malaria-free game re-serves of the Eastern Cape.

South African Airways is South Africa’s flag-ship airline, the continent’s most awarded car-rier, and the only airline to provide direct ser-vice from the U.S. to South Africa.South AfricanAirways’ Africa network features connectionsto more than 20 destinations within South

Africa and more than 20 cities across the conti-nent.SSoouutthh AAffrriiccaann AAiirrwwaayyss,, 880000--772222--99667755,,wwwwww..ffllyyssaaaa..ccoomm

SSPPEECCIIAALL IINNTTRROODDUUCCTTOORRYYPPAACCKKAAGGEE FFOORR TTIINNTTSSWWAALLOO AATTWWAATTEERRFFAALLLL

Tintswalo Lodges, located in the ManyaletiReserve, introduces the latest addition to its ex-panding portfolio of luxury properties:Tintswalo at Waterfall boutique hotel. Thebuilding, designed to emulate a barn, houses16 rooms. It will also boast executive board-rooms catering to groups of up to 45 atten-dees.

Among Tintswalo at Waterfall's offerings andamenities are a dining room with indoor andoutdoor seating and an underground wine cel-lar. A full-service hydro-therapy spa will offer aVichy Shower, Hydro Bath, and Sauna/SteamRoom, combined with state-of-the-art treat-ment rooms.There is a fully-equipped gym anda walking trail.VIP transportation is available toand from Johannesburg International Airport,as are guided day tours.

In celebration of the opening of Tintswalo atWaterfall, guests staying for three nights atTintswalo Safari Lodge will be offered onecomplimentary night at Waterfall. Additionally,a four-night stay at Tintswalo Safari Lodgequalifies guests for two complimentary nightsat Waterfall. Rates start at $385 per person pernight, valid November 1, 2006 to October 31,2007. Daily breakfast and round-trip airporttransfers are included. This introductory pack-age is commissionable to international touroperators at 20 percent. Travel agent commis-sion is 10 percent.TTiinnttsswwaalloo SSaaffaarrii LLooddggee,, ttiittsswwaalloo@@rreesscceennttrraall..ccoo..zzaa

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14 • T R A V E L W O R L D N E W S • SEPTEMBER 2006

PROFITABLE WORLD OF NICHE MARKETSresource directory

AACCCCEESSSSIIBBLLEE//DDIISSAABBIILLIITTYYSSAATTHH800-513-1125www.sath.orgAADDVVEENNTTUURREECCrriilllloonn TToouurrss www.titicaca.comDDuubbaaiiwww.dubaitourism.aeGGaammbbooaa RRaaiinnffoorreesstt RReessoorrtt877-800-1690reservations@gamboarresort.comwww.gamboaresort.comIInnddiiaa GGoovveerrnnmmeenntt TToouurriisstt OOffffiiccee800-953-9399ny@itonyc.comwww.incredibleindia.orgIInnkkaa NNaattuurraa [email protected] LLllooyydd AAeerroo BBoolliivviiaannoo800-337-0918www.labairlines.com.boMMeexxiiccoo TToouurriisstt BBooaarrdd 800-44MEXICO www.visitmexico.comPPrroomm PPeerruu866-661-PERUwww.peru.info

AAFFRRIICCAA CCUULLTTUURRAALL//SSAAFFAARRIISSAAffrriiccaann PPoorrttffoolliioo800-700-3677onsafari@africanportfolio.comAAffrriiccaann TTrraavveell [email protected] AAiirr BBoottsswwaannaa800-518-7781AAiirr MMaaddaaggaassccaarr866-933-5963AAiirr [email protected] ZZiimmbbaabbwwee800-742-3006CCoorrtteezz [email protected] AAiirrlliinneess866-322-5561DDiissccoovveerr AAffrriiccaa888-330-4880inquiry@discoverafrica.netGGoowwaayy800-387-8850www.goway.comIInnddiiaann OOcceeaann EEnntteerrpprriisseess201-767-7722indianocean1@yahoo.comKKeennyyaa AAiirrwwaayyss866-536-9224

NNeeww AAddvveennttuurreess877-862-6643annie@newadventures.comPPrreemmiieerr [email protected] TToouurriisstt BBooaarrddsafari@ud.co.tzwww.tanzaniatouristboard.comTTaarraannggiirree BBuusshh AAddvveennttuurreeinfo@tarangireadventure.comwww.tarangireadventure.comWWeebbiissccoo TTrraavveell && TToouurr [email protected] www.blackhistorymonth.comZZaammbbiiaann AAiirrwwaayyss877-592-6242

CCRRUUIISSEESSCCrruucceerrooss [email protected] www.australis.comDDiissccoovveerryy WWoorrlldd CCrruuiisseess866-623-2689www.discoveryworldcruises.comPPeetteerr DDeeiillmmaannnn CCrruuiisseess800-348-8287www.deilmann-cruises.com

DDIIVVEEAAnntthhoonnyy’’ss KKeeyy RReessoorrtt 800-227-3483www.anthonyskey.comMMeexxiiccoo TToouurriisstt BBooaarrdd 800-44MEXICO www.visitmexico.comSSuunnbbrreeeezzee HHootteell800-688-0191www.sunbreeze.netTTuurrnneeffffee [email protected]

FFIISSHHIINNGGTTuurrnneeffffee [email protected]

EECCOOTTOOUURRIISSMMIInnkkaa NNaattuurraa TTrraavveellpostmaster@inkanatura.com.pewww.inkanatura.comPPrroomm PPeerruu866-661-PERUwww.peru.info.com

GGOOLLFFDDuubbaaiiwww.dubaitourism.aeMMeexxiiccoo TToouurriisstt BBooaarrdd 800-44MEXICO www.visitmexico.com

LLUUXXUURRYYMMaarrbbeellllaa OOppttiioonnss 800-293-9709 [email protected] www.marbellaoptions.comRRiivviieerraa MMaayyaa TToouurriissmm PPrroommoottiioonn BBooaarrdd [email protected] www.rivieramaya.com

RRAAIILLTThhee AAllaasskkaa RRaaiillrrooaadd800-544-0552www.AlaskaRailroad.comIInnddiiaa GGoovveerrnnmmeenntt TToouurriisstt OOffffiiccee800-953-9399ny@itonyc.comwww.incredibleindia.orgMMeexxiiccoo TToouurriisstt BBooaarrdd 800-44MEXICO www.visitmexico.comRRaaiill AAggeenntt888-444-RAILwww.railagent.com

RRaaiill AAuussttrraalliiaawww.railaustralia.com.au

RRoocckkyy MMoouunnttaaiinneeeerr VVaaccaattiioonnss 800-665-7245 604-606-7245 reservations@rockymountaineer.comwww.rockymountaineer.comTTrraaiinnss UUnnlliimmiitteedd TToouurrss800-359-4870530-836-1745tut@plsn.comwww.trainsunlimitedtours.com

SSPPAATThhee AAlleexxaannddrraa 800-704-9424info@alexandraresort.comwww.alexandraresort.comFFoorrttiinnaa SSppaa [email protected] RRaaiinnffoorreesstt RReessoorrtt877-800-1690reservations@gamboarresort.comwww.gamboaresort.comHHaacciieennddaa VViissttaa RReeaall

DDeessttiinnaattiioonn [email protected] PPaarraaddoorr [email protected] GGoovveerrnnmmeenntt TToouurriisstt OOffffiiccee800-953-9399ny@itonyc.comwww.incredibleindia.orgMMeexxiiccoo TToouurriisstt BBooaarrdd 800-44MEXICO www.visitmexico.com

For additional listings please visit the online resource directory: www.travelworldnews.com/agent

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Or contact us at: www.incredibleindia.org

What time weakens,Nature can strengthen.It can add years to life. It can easethe stress of modern living. And itcan even improve immunity.

It’s the ‘science of life’, and is asold as mankind. It uses self-knowledge and self-care to bringharmony to your mind, body andsoul - with secrets gathered fromleaves, flowers, roots oils andstones.

Ayurveda will nourish you. Much like Incredible !ndia.