The FAM trip to Dubai in September was a great success

Dubai Mega Fam
It was a FAM trip to remember, as 100 agents were taken out to Dubai in September in partnership with British Airways. Delegates had the chance to visit some fantastic hotels including Angsana Hotel & Suites Dubai, Tamani Hotel Marina, Intercontinental Dubai Festival City, Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City, Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, Fairmont Dubai and the Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa to name but a few.

The extremely successful trip provided firsthand experience of the wondrous sights and sounds of Dubai, facilitating and motivating sales. Agents dined in some of the finest restaurants, were inspired by the heritage sites, shopped in the souks, splashed around at Wild Wadi and experienced the thrill of racing across the desert sands, ending with a banquet under the stars.

Helen Doyle and Danny Waine are winners of The Big Idea 2008

The Big Idea – winners announced

DTCM proudly sponsored the Travel Trade Gazette’s groundbreaking competition, The Big Idea 2008. Winners of the search for the best new travel innovation have now been announced, and weddings and honeymoon specialists Helen Doyle and Danny Waine scooped the £100,000 commitment from investors.

Ian Scott, director of the UK and Ireland representative office of DTCM, commented: “Dubai is one of the world’s most dynamic and progressive destinations, with a status rooted in innovation and big ideas.  In Dubai you can expect the best ... What if we built a palm tree-shaped island in the sea, what if we built three? What if we bought QE2 and turned the ship into a hotel? What if we developed the world's tallest building, biggest mall or perhaps the world's largest airport?  Success and big ideas are synonymous with Dubai which is why we supported this project to drive innovation in our industry.”

Helen, who owns a shop near Lichfield, and marketing director Danny Waine will invest the money in a niche weddings and honeymoons tour operation, Perfect Weddings Abroad, that will sell through agents and direct. It will offer full packages and wedding-only options.

The £100,000 prize will pay for a glossy brochure, training roadshows for agents, office expansion, search engine optimisation and attendance at wedding shows.