The Great Gatsby SPAA Summer Ball 29th June 2017

SPA A TODAY

21 June 2017

Your weekly round-up of SPAA news - including the President's remarks, coming events and all the latest product and people news from our Associate Members ... be sure to scroll down!

From the President

The Great Gatsby SPAA Summer Ball 29th June 2017

I hope you are all getting ready for the next big event in the Scottish travel diary - the SPAA Summer Ball at the fabulous Balmoral Hotel Edinburgh!

Thanks to our sponsors, Fred. Olsen, Delta/Virgin and Travelport, we have a great night in store. The 'Great Gatsby' theme is very much in keeping with the venue and promises to be a lot of fun, with some great prizes on the night for the best outfits.

We also have a new SPAA Charity - the Argyll based 'Mary's Meals' who provide life changing meals to some of the world's poorest school children every day. SPAA have committed to sponsor meals at the Chipake school in Malawi, so we can guarantee that your contributions to the prize draw on the night are going to a very good cause!

So look out those Gatsby outfits and prepare to party!

Alan Glen SPAA President

21 June 2017

EVENTS CALENDAR - 2017

Twitter #Hashtags

Thu 29 June Summer in the City Balmoral Hotel Edinburgh #SPAAsummerball

Thu 24 August Golf Day Lanark Golf Club #SPAAgolf

Thu 07 September Autumn Seminar & Lunch Hilton Edinburgh Carlton #SPAAlunch

Thu 14 September STAR Exhibition Aberdeen Douglas Hotel #STARabz

Thu 02 November Annual Travel AwardsDoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow #SPAAawards

Tue 21 November STAR Exhibition Glasgow DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow #STARgla

Thu 07 December AGM & Christmas Lunch 29 Club Glasgow #SPAAchristmas

NB for details visit www.spaa.org or contact Janice Hogarth at [email protected]

all event details are subject to change

Associate newsbyte

Virgin Trains wins prestigious Public Transport Operator of the Year at Scottish Transport Awards

Virgin Trains' role in transforming rail journeys between Scotland and England has been recognised at a prestigious awards ceremony in Glasgow.

The intercity operator was named as Public Transport Operator of the Year at the Scottish Transport Awards, cementing its reputation as the UK's leading long-distance rail service.

Virgin Trains has seen strong customer satisfaction levels and record passenger numbers on its east coast and west coast routes over the past year following a raft of investment, innovation and customer service improvements.

On the east coast route between Edinburgh and London, passenger numbers grew by 8% last year as train interiors were overhauled on its entire fleet and 45 additional services between the capitals were added.

On the west coast route, punctuality has improved to record levels and passenger volumes between Glasgow and London have rebounded following the closure of the route in early 2016 due to a bridge failure at Lamington. In a 24-week period to the end of March, passenger numbers were up by 28% compared to two years ago.

Both routes have been boosted by the introduction of the innovative and industry-leading onboard entertainment service, BEAM, which allows customers to stream more than 200 hours of Hollywood blockbusters and popular box sets straight to their device.

Patrick McGrath, Virgin Trains' Executive Director for Human Resources on the west coast route, said: "This is a wonderful recognition of the hard work Virgin Trains has put in over the last 20 years to transform customer services and improve rail connections between England and Scotland. We have seen investment, innovation and a relentless focus on customer experience which has helped make rail more popular than ever and we want to play a leading role in continuing that great success story."

David Horne, Managing Director of Virgin Trains' east coast route, added: "We started our Virgin Trains journey just over two years ago and have already seen a root-and-branch overhaul over the service we provide to customers. Brand new train interiors, more frequent journeys, introduction of an industry-leading entertainment streaming app, BEAM. These have helped drive the amazing 8% growth in passenger numbers between Edinburgh and London last year and we couldn't be more pleased to be recognised by Transport Times for putting those improvements in place."

16 June 2017

Associate salesbytes

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As of 1 July 2017, the Malaysian Ministry of Finance and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department will be introducing a Tourism Tax.

This will be directly collected from guests upon check out and the rate of tax is determined by the star rating of the property.

Read more: https://agents.ifonly.net/news/malaysian-tourism-tax

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Karen Cameron

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10 May 18 7 nights Med Cruise E809B £2272 with obc
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Book on the Glasgow Charter before the 31st July & your clients will receive £200pp OBC

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SPAA Great Gatsby Charity Summer in the City Event 2017

    Thursday 29th June at the Balmoral Hotel - Edinburgh


There could not be a better time for you to relax and enjoy yourself than at the ever popular Charity Summer in the City Event.

The Balmoral Hotel is such a great venue that we decided to create a Great Gatbsy theme for the evening. The Dress code is therefore to suit the occasion which would include a dinner suit/striped blazer or similar for the men and flapper type outfit for the ladies

There will be prizes for the best dressed lady and gentleman

The event is generously being sponsored this year by our headline sponsors Fred. Olsen Cruises, Delta Air Lines & Virgin Atlantic and Edinburgh Airport.

The evening will start at 1830 with a pre dinner drinks reception courtesy of Travelport and dancing and entertainment thanks to Classic Collection Holidays.

There will be a charity raffle in aid of Mary's Meals with great star prizes of tickets for Transatlantic flights and a 5 night cruise

Book Your places now by contacting [email protected]

£125 + VAT for Non Associates

£95 + VAT for Members and Associates