Skill up on all you need to know with bite sized travel news designed specifically to help you, the Travel Agent, be your best today and tomorrow.
1. FINAL DAYS to secure $899 flights to Europe
Time is running out for your clients to secure a $899 air deal to Europe and Britain when they book any of Trafalgar’s 2017 European itineraries.
The sale ending tomorrow, is valid across all 109 trips, from major Australian capital cities with Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific and Etihad Airways.
Clients won’t need to worry about any hidden costs because there aren’t any. They just need to secure the deal by tomorrow and they can save anywhere between $600-$700 on flights.
Click here for more information.
2. Plane carrying 5 people crashes into the DFO in Melbourne
A small aircraft carrying around five passengers crashed into a building near Essendon Airport, causing a large explosion near Melbourne’s central business district.
Police Minister Lisa Neville confirmed the incident, saying it’s believed the plane flew into the DFO shopping complex in Essendon Fields.
According to witnesses, the plane took off from the gateway at around 9.00am and shortly afterward came crashing down into the building.
3. Become a USA expert & WIN a trip for two to anywhere in the USA
Has there ever been this many opportunities for Travel Agents to win a spot on a USA famil in the past? The travel industry may have a new record on its hands.
Visit California’s content creation FAM competition to The Golden State is currently running alongside Excite Holidays’ ‘America the Great’ incentive and NOW Brand USA has stepped in with the chance for Agents to win a holiday to the States.
Working with Delta Air Lines and Virgin Australia, the bureau’s largest trade incentive to date will see one consultant fly away with a loved one to any US city on the Delta network – so pretty much anywhere in the USA.
4. Brexit shmexit, it’s not hurting UK tourism & here’s the proof
Whoever said political uncertainty will deter tourists from a destination got it completely wrong for the UK, which welcomed more overseas visitors during the year of the Brexit referendum than ever before.
New figures released by VisitBritain revealed that 2016’s controversial vote didn’t do much to discourage international tourists from visiting the region, but rather it seems to have enticed them.
Some 37.3 million overseas holidaymakers travelled to the UK last year – that’s up three percent on the prior year AND an all-time record in international visitors for the destination.
5. Albatross Europe tours are 100% guaranteed
Good news for your clients! Albatross Tours has confirmed its 2017 Europe, Britain and Ireland tours are now 100 percent guaranteed to depart.
Agents can confidently book their clients holiday knowing that all available Albatross Tours’ 2017 Summer tours exploring Italy, France, Sicily, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Turkey, Germany Austria, Britain and Ireland will definitely leave.
Itineraries include two, three, four and five-night stays, small group sizes and genuinely inclusive itineraries – travellers will see and experience more of Europe.
6. Velocity’s new flexible online hotel redemption program
Loyal commerce business, Kaligo Travel Solutions and Velocity Frequent Flyer have launched a new online hotel booking platform, opening up the largest hotel inventory available to Velocity Frequent Flyer members for redemption bookings in Australia.
Now live at hotels.velocityfrequentflyer.com, the platform features over 465,000 hotels and resorts worldwide leveraging inventory from dozens of major travel suppliers.
Velocity members are able to book using Velocity Points or with Points + Pay which features an interactive slider to allow members to explore the Points and cash combinations that can be used to book. Fully integrated with Velocity Frequent Flyer, the booking engine processes
7. Garuda to launch direct flights to Moscow
Russia will soon only be one Southeast Asia stop away for Aussies, with Garuda Indonesia planning to launch direct flights from Jakarta to Moscow in August this year.
The route will be served three times weekly by an Airbus A330-200. Garuda says the service is designed to increase tourism traffic between the two countries and improve Russia’s inbound numbers by 100,000 tourists this year.
CEO and President of Garuda Indonesia Arif Wibowo, says he’s optimistic about the new service and its promising opportunity to boost tourism.
8. 2 ‘at-sea firsts’ Norwegian Cruise Line could have on its new ships
Just when you thought the cruise industry had reached its peak with water slides, robot bar tenders, helicopters and suites that cost some $5,000 a night, Norwegian unrolled the blue prints to not one, but FOUR ‘innovative’ new ships.
It’s still early days so details of the new vessels are still under wraps, however, Norwegian Cruise Line says they’ll be part of a new class of ships, which will feature many “innovative guest facing” features and at-sea firsts.
At sea-firsts? What isn’t already at sea? Seriously, think about!
9. Travel Counsellors takes training to Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane & Adelaide
The Travel Counsellors head office team recently travelled around Australia delivering a series of training roadshows aimed at educating and informing Travel Counsellors Agents working from home on their own travel enterprises.
With a strong focus on sales, the roadshows were well-received by Travel Counsellors Agents looking to refine their sales processes in order to grow their business.
The informative program aimed at driving sales, especially through the innovative quote and book system called Phenix. Sessions also covered a wide variety of topics including how to get the most out of Phenix, the psychology behind the purchase cycle, closing sales, upselling and the importance of relationship management.
10. Cruise achievers go Super Cruising
The Cruise Team recently sent their top Cruise Achievers on a five-night Tasmanian Cruise onboard Ovation of the Seas.
The group was wined and dined through their 5 day journey with plenty of time to experience everything from the North Star to the robotic barmen at the Bionic Bar.
With a tw0-day stop in Hobart the group was out and about exploring Tasmania’s capital, with its Georgian architecture, convict heritage, dynamic modern-art scene and excellent food and wine.
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