You Travel Agents go on so many famils and attend so many events that we’ve had to create a whole new section dedicated to your awesome adventures.
Check out what consultants got up to over the last seven days below, including ticking the Galapagos Islands off their bucket list click here to check out last week’s pics and snaps.
1 . Spotted… in the Galapagos Islands
TravelManagers’ personal travel manager Zoe Hemming jumped at the opportunity to join a family to the Galapagos Islands hosted by Lindblad Expeditions and travelling on board MS National Geographic Endeavour II.
Hemming, a representative for North Rocks in Sydney, is no stranger to exotic destinations and even more exotic wildlife, having previously visited destinations as diverse as Zanzibar, Turkey, Borneo Cape Tribulation and expedition cruising of Papua New Guinea. However, she says the eight-night itinerary provided her with a truly unforgettable experience that exceeded all of her expectations.
“Having a passion for wildlife and photography, at which I’m very much an amateur, this was a chance to watch and learn so much, whilst experiencing nature at its best up close and personal,” she explains.
“I was also fortunate to watch and learn from the best: the staff on board, the Nat Geo photographers and videographers, along with the amazing tour guides who were all naturalists, eager to share their knowledge on this fascinating part of the world.”
Zoe Hemming.
For Hemming, one of the main highlights of her trip was the chance to get close to some of the islands’ more intriguing residents, especially the tortoises.
“I’ve had a pet tortoise growing up in the UK named Hector for 17 years, so it was a dream come true to see giant tortoises roaming freely during their migration. I was in awe and moved to tears by these magnificent but gentle land-dwelling reptiles,” she said.
Hemming says the tortoises were great subject matter for a keen amateur photographer like her, as was the sea lion she came across while paddle boarding one morning.
“These beautiful, inquisitive and very playful mammals are just like Labradors! He just popped up in front of my board with a fish he’d just caught, and proceeded to slap it about, presumably to ensure that the fish was dead, before swimming over to my board to proudly show me what he’d caught!”
Hemming was also impressed by the ship that was her home for a week during her time in the Galapagos, the Endeavour II, which she describes as expedition cruising at its best.
“She is exceptionally manoeuvrable and nimble so she can enter into shallow waters to get closer to the islands. There is great viewing from all public spaces, an expansive open-air observation deck, and state-of-the-art tools for exploration, including a fleet of zodiacs, a glass bottom boat, wetsuits, snorkelling gear, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards.
2. Spotted…at Sofitel Darling Harbour
Air Tahiti Nui regional manager Alan Roman with models wearing Robert Wan pearls.
Members of the travel industry gathered at the new Sofitel Darling Harbour on Friday for a taste of Tahiti in Sydney.
Over a French Polynesian-inspired lunch of poisson cru (raw fish salad) and poulet fafa (chicken with taro), guests were dazzled by colourful Tahitian dancing and a hypnotic display of Robert Wan pearls while receiving updates on the destination, South Pacific Management’s collection of Polynesian hotels and the international carrier with Air Tahiti Nui revealing its new Dreamliner fleet would feature a three-class cabin configuration including premium economy.
Air Tahiti Nui regional manager Alan Roman, Tahiti Tourisme director Robert Thompson, SPM business development manager Alain Campignon and Atout France director Patrick Benhamou hosted the event, along with representatives from Robert Wan.
All guests who attended the ‘Déjeuner Tahitien’ received a piece of Tahiti to take away with them – a gift from Robert Wan and a bottle of Monoi -– while Booking.com’s Guillaume Wolf won the lucky door prize, a trip to Tahiti.
3. Spotted…in Aspen
A group of Travel Agents from SkiMax, American Airlines, Flight Centre, MTA Travel, St Ives Travel, Travel Associates, italktravel and Travel Managers enjoyed an epic itinerary in Aspen that included dinner at historic Hotel Jerome, lunch at Cloud Nine Bistro and private Champagne tasting in The Little Nell Cellar.
Of course they needed to burn off some of the indulgence with skiing at Snowmass, Ajax, Buttermilk and Aspen Highlands. The group also explored Snowmass Village and rode the new Breathtaker Alpin Coaster a week ahead of the ski resort’s 50th Anniversary.
4. Spotted…At Sydney Seafood Cooking School
All Nippon Airways invited Travel Industry guests to a cooking class in Sydney for a hands on demonstration by their culinary ambassador, Adam Liaw.
Guests were shown by Adam how to prepare and cook one of his current Japanese menu dishes being serviced ANA flights to Japan, with guests later dining on their dishes and finishing with the dessert served in Business Class of Asumi’s Cheesecake, a recipe created by Adam’s wife.
As Japan’s only 5-star Skytrax rated airline, Adam explained how he wanted to ensure the menu had flavour, texture and taste when flying 30,000 feet in the sky. “Passenger’s taste can change at 30,000 feet so Adam wanted to ensure that flavour was a key element to his dishes”.
5. Spotted on…Queen Mary II
One of the most elegant and luxurious icons of the cruise ship world was moored at Melbourne’s Station Pier this month and a dozen of TravelManagers’ personal travel managers were more than happy to accept an invitation aboard.
Cunard Line’s Queen Mary II underwent a spectacular refurbishment eighteen months ago, with an equally spectacular 90-million-pound price tag. TravelManagers’ Nicole Edgar, representative for Narre Warren South in Victoria, says the result of this record-breaking investment exceeded all her expectations.
“I was blown away by how spacious, modern, light, bright, classy, elegant and stunning the Queen Mary II was: not old-fashioned, dated or stuffy like you might have expected. The money and attention to detail that has been lavished on her really shows – she is beautiful!”
Cunard took advantage of the Queen Mary II’s presence in Melbourne to announce that her sister ship, the Queen Elizabeth, is going to be based out of Melbourne during the 2019/2020 summer season: something which industry heads describe as a major coup for the city’s tourism & cruising industry, and for Cunard’s sales and passenger numbers out of Victoria. She will then spend another month or more based out of Sydney.
TravelManagers’ Executive General Manager, Michael Gazal, says the opportunity for PTMs to spend time aboard the Queen Mary II will lead to further growth for the company’s overall cruise sales figures, which have already risen by 15.5% over the past year.
“Every cruise ship is unique and offers a different holiday experience to its guests: the more familiar our PTMs are with each individual ship through inspections and famils, the better they can match their clients’ needs and expectations with the right ship, and the more likely that they will become repeat cruise clients.”
Have you taken any recent pics from a roadshow or famil? Send them in to editor@karryon.com.au