World Class 2010

Kuoni launches a new look World Class brochure showcasing the world’s most desirable hotels and holidays for 2010

A fabulous collection of hundreds of handpicked luxury properties, across over 40 countries, combined with exciting journeys and unique experiences are showcased in Kuoni’s designer 2010 brochure.  The brochure has had a chic make-over to ensure it looks at home on coffee tables as the ultimate guide to the places to stay.

Over 170 of the world’s most desirable hotels feature alongside World Class Experiences, offering unparalleled and authentic travel experiences, allowing travellers to do as the locals do, learn from experts in their field, or experience something thrilling and unique.  For example:

Active experiences

·         ride on the ‘Harley Davidson Ride, Loaves and Fishes’ trip where guests cruise through Cape Town on the back of a Harley, learn to bake bread in Kalk Bay and cook fresh fish on hot coals at a local restaurant

·         take a private jet fighter flight from Thunder City in Cape Town,  the only place in the world where you can feel the G-force take your breath away during an aerobatic flight in a Hawker Hunter

·         learn to Tango in Buenos Aires followed by a professional tango show and dinner

·         dive among the incredible sculptures at the Aquanauts underwater park Grenada

·         journey by private 4x4 into the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve and ride a camel across the dunes for a Bedouin feast

·         go desert & wadi bashing through the Hajar Mountains and Wahiba desert in Oman

·         or trek on an off the beaten track hike through Whim Gully Barbados

Cruise experiences

·         charter an overnight Champagne cruise on a luxury Dhoni in the Maldives

·         charter a private powerboat cruise for the day in Mauritius

·         overnight on a luxury yacht in South Africa with up to seven friends, cruising the coastline & dinner on board

·         entertain guests aboard the private Atlantique or Zaffiro  yacht in Dubai

·         dive the best sites in the Red Sea from a private boat with a private instructor

·         enjoy a castaway cruise aboard a luxurious catamaran in Bali

·         or the Silmaril yacht in the British Virgin Islands for an idyllic private adventure

Romantic experiences

·         charter a sea plane in the Maldives gliding over the tiny islands below before landing next to a private sandbank to relax and sip champagne on this secluded desert island retreat

·         enjoy a private safari and dinner for two, game watching and dining as the sun sets in the Maasai Mara

·         hot air balloon safaris in Kenya, Tanzania, Dubai and India (Jaipur)

Private experiences

For customers who enjoy exclusive, private and more secluded activity, where service is more personalised and timings are to their convenience, consider:

·         a private gourmet wine tour in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek with a wine expert visiting premier wine producers

·         learn about Zanzibar’s heritage visiting the slave market and old forts with a private guide

·         in Egypt visit the pyramids, sphinx and famous museum in Cairo or discover Luxor’s temples, Valley of the Kings and Queens, all with a private Egyptologist

·         for the ultimate convenience and luxury, depart whenever you want from wherever you want in a private jet and feel free to travel to fresh new places as well as those covered by scheduled airlines – champagne and gourmet food as standard

“Whatever luxury customers are looking for, they are sure to find it within the pages of World Class” says Sheena Paton, World Class product manager.  “Pampering beach and spa retreats, wilderness experiences, boutique hideaways and cultural journeys are there to tempt.   Today’s discerning travellers have many amazing life experiences under their belts so we continue to explore and bring new experiences to them using our 103 years of travel expertise.”

New destinations added to the World Class brochure are Dominican Republic and Argentina, Brazil and Peru as Latin America has undergone a travel renaissance and is now offering a wider choice of quality accommodation, entertainment and better connections.     The brochure features the iconic 1920’s Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro made famous by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Flying Down to Rio and the designer hotel Fasano by renowned architect Philippe Starck.  In Argentina, the 1930’s Alvear Palace combines opulence and refinement and the cigar bar is still famous for its finest cigars, chocolates and liquors.

Kuoni has sought out other new properties to enhance the brochure for 2010 including:  

·         unique tree-house villas at Shangri-La’s Villingili resort Maldives and at the Four Seasons resort Seychelles

·         mountain retreats such as Ananda in the Himalayas with its sumptuous spa and stunning views

·         boutique beach villa properties such as Soneva Kiri by Six Senses Thailand with its 29 oversized villas

·         the all villa Banyan Tree Sanya in China

·         the brand new Banyan Tree Ungasan Resort Bali perched 70 metres atop Bali’s southern cliffs

·         new wilderness hideaways in Africa include the Msambweni Beach House & Villas Kenya

·         truly inspiring new safaris including the Laikipia & Mara safari and Serengeti in Style

World Class holidays guests also enjoy complimentary use of a lounge at many UK airports; private road transfers in resort; for business class passengers, private transfers in the UK (within a 50 mile radius) to the departure airport.  Additionally the Kuoni Concierge service can arrange all those extra touches to make a holiday truly special.

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Editors Notes: what’s new in the World Class 2010 brochure

Indian Ocean & sub-continent                                                                                   (pages 16-69)

·         World Class Experiences

·         Baros Maldives

·         Shangri-La’s Villingili resort & Spa Maldives

·         The boutique Amangalla Sri Lanka

·         Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa (formerly Taj Exotica)

·         Four Seasons Seychelles

·         Ananda in the Himalayas

Far East                                                                                                                  (pages 70-121)

·         World Class Experiences

·         Soneva Kiri by six Senses Koh Kood, Thailand

·         Phulay Bay (a Ritz Carlton Reserve) in Krabi, Thailand

·         Banyan Tree Sanya, China

·         Banyan Tree Ungasan Resort Bali

Egypt, Dubai & Arabia                                                                                                       (pages 122-151)

·         World Class Experiences

·         Shangri-La Hotel Qaryat al Beri, Abu Dhabi

Africa                                                                                                                    (pages 152-177)

·         World Class Experiences

·         Mara Bushtops Kenya

·         Laikipia & Mara safari Kenya

·         Msambweni Beach House and Villas Kenya

·         Serengeti in Style safari Tanzania

·         One&Only Cape Town, South Africa

·         The Plettenberg, South Africa

·         Pezula Resort & Spa, South Africa

·         The Marine, South Africa

·         Grande Roche, South Africa

Caribbean & Latin America                                                                                       (pages 178-231)

·         World Class Experiences

·         Copacabana Palace Brazil

·         Fasano Brazil

·         Alvear Palace Hotel Argentina

·         Faena Hotel & Universe Argentina

·         Monasterio Peru

·         Mandarin Oriental Mexico

·         Banyan Tree Mayacoba Mexico

·         Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana Dominican Republic

For bookings call 01306 747008 or visit www.kuoni.co.uk

For further press information please call:

Fiona Blaszkowski on 01306 744194/fiona.blaszkowski@kuoni.co.uk or Anne-Marie Hansen on 01306 744173/anne-marie.hansen@kuoni.co.uk or Jemma Purvis on 01306 744006/ jemma.purvis@kuoni.co.uk

Editor’s Notes:

History and track record

Kuoni was established in 1906 in Switzerland by Alfred Kuoni, a visionary adventurer and explorer of his time who opened some of Europe’s first travel agencies.   Today it has branch operations in over 40 countries. For 103 years Kuoni has been creating holidays with a spirit of adventure and has been recognised  consistently , winning coveted awards such as: ‘The World’s Leading Tour Operator’ for the past 11 years at the World Travel Awards; The Daily Telegraph’s Ultratravel, Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Daily Mail readers all voted Kuoni ‘Britain’s favourite’. Kuoni has been ‘Britain’s Best Longhaul Tour Operator’ for the past 26 years as voted by Travel Agents.

Ethical Performance

Kuoni is committed to being a good corporate citizen, empowering people to protect the natural environment and local populations.  The broader aim of Kuoni’s Corporate Responsibility (CR) policy is to minimise the adverse impact of tourist travel.  Kuoni has over 32 active global CR projects and four priority areas: protecting children from sexual abuse in tourism; promoting fair working conditions; finding solutions for water scarcity and mitigating the consequences of climate change.

Kuoni’s Unique Selling Points

1.  Kuoni Concierge service

The Kuoni Concierge service offers all the usual facilities of booking theatres, concerts, restaurants, festival or cultural occasions and overseas sporting events. It also manages private airport transfers, late check-outs, private tours and personal guides.

2. Kuoni Personal Travel Experts

Kuoni Personal Travel Experts are knowledgeable staff passionate about travel and ready to tailor-make the perfect holiday and offer a personal touch by building a relationship with customers so they can call on the same travel expert each time they book.

3. At Home with Kuoni

Launched this year, At Home with Kuoni offers complimentary champagne, canapés and a Kuoni personal travel expert for individuals able to host a small gathering of friends and family in their home to learn about exciting holiday options.  Guests are offered exclusive discounts.  

Customer Assurance

Kuoni is ABTA and ATOL protected, giving customers financial protection and ensuring they won’t be stranded abroad.

ENDS

For further press information, please contact Kuoni PR:

Fiona Blaszkowski on 01306 744 194/ fiona.blaszkowski@kuoni.co.uk

or Anne-Marie Hansen on 01306 744 173/ anne-marie.hansen@kuoni.co.uk

or Jemma Purvis on 01306 744 006/ jemma.purvis@kuoni.co.uk

For images please download from http://www.kuoni.co.uk/pr/images.html