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. Helloworld’s strong business performance in half year results
Helloworld has announced its results for the half year which ended on 31 December 2016, and the numbers show strong business performance, with the company recording a profit before tax of $18.7 million.
“These half year results are a demonstration of our strong business performance, building on a period of significant change in FY16 following the merger with the AOT Group on 1 February 2016.” Helloworld Limited Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Andrew Burnes said.
2. Travello connects with Student Flights, YHA and Peter Pan’s
Leading social travel network app, Travello, has hooked up with Student Flights, the Youth Hostel Association (YHA) and Peter Pan’s in a bold move that will help travelers get the most out of their adventures.
These new partnerships are the next phase in Travello’s rapid expansion and will let travelers connect with brands in a completely new and innovative way through its new “Travello Groups” feature. Travellers will be able to meet like-minded people before they set off on their adventures, potentially making travel buddies for legs of their journey.
3. TTC launches a new training initiative – the TTC Agent Academy
The Travel Corporation has just launched a new training initiative, the TTC Agent Academy, which promises to help agents EASILY level up on their Trafalgar, Contiki and Insight Vacations game.
Let’s all win together! That’s the core message behind the launch of the TTC Agent Academy, a singular platform portal that uses a series of easy-to-use interactive modules and cool 90-second inspirational video animations to highlight the key benefits of the scheme.
4. Aussies spending the big kahunas in Hawaii
Aussies are spending up BIG when in the Aloha State, a new report by the Hawai’i Tourism Authority has revealed, with the total expenditure last year reaching US$877 million.
Nearly 336,00 Australians travelled to Hawaii in 2016, which equates to an average of US$2614 per person per trip. According to the preliminary 2016 data, this was up 3.8 percent on 2015 spending.
For Hawai’i Tourism Oceania (HTO) Australia Country Manager, Kerri Anderson, the excellent numbers confirm Australia’s love affair for the Hawaiian archipelago.
5. Last chance for Insight Vacations airfare sale
CUE THE ALARM: Agents, this is your last chance to take advantage of Insight Vacations’ fantastic air deal that allows guests to fly to Italy for $599 return (including taxes) when booking in conjunction with one of Insight Vacations’ unique 15 itineraries.
The sale expires on 23 February, and the deal is valid ex Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane. The economy airfares with Insight Vacations are available for travel between March 1 and October 31, 2017.
Visit www.insightvacations.com for more information.
6. An Excite-ing night in Sydney for agents
When Excite Holidays decides to celebrate its America the Great incentive, it goes all out in luxury and style, treating agents and industry partners to a night of drinks, food and good times! Case in point: Last week at the luxurious O Bar and Dining in Sydney.
Welcoming representatives from Travel Nevada, Hawaii Tourism Oceania, Visit West Hollywood and Hotelbeds, the evening was a fantastic night out with great food and great company, and agents were treated to first-hand information about Excite Holiday’s four featured stateside destinations.
The night was also a chance to remind agents that they can win money-can’t-buy experiences just by making a booking to one of the four partner locations, Nevada, WeHo, the South, and Hawaii.
For more information visit www.exciteholidays.com
7. Air Asia sale: Flights to Vietnam from $129
Love pho? Love beer? Love coffee? Or just love the thrill of travelling to Asia?
Then you’re going to want to talk to the boss and organise some time off work – STAT – because Air Asia have announced a truly awesome sale to Vietnam, with flights starting from just $129.
Flights are to Ho Chi Minh via KL and depart from the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. The sale is available until 26 February, 2017 for travel between 1 May, 2017 to 30 September, 2017.
8. Improved access to Sydney Airport with new road entry
The chances of you getting to your flight on time has dramatically improved with Sydney Airport opening a new road entry to its T1 International precinct from Marsh Street.
Effective immediately, the new access has been designed to smooth traffic flows and ease congestion and forms part of the airport’s five-year $500 million ground access improvement plan to make it easier for motorists, public transport users, cyclists and pedestrians to travel to and from the airport.
Sydney Airport asks motorists to exercise care when driving into the T1 precinct under the new traffic arrangements, and to observe all signage and speed limits.
9. Travel Portland appoints Barking Owl Communications
Travel Portland, the official destination-marketing organisation for the city made famous by the Netflix hit Portlandia, has chosen Barking Owl Communications to provide its in-market representation for Australia and New Zealand.
The 18-month appointment will see Barking Owl Communications handle all media and trade outreach and an exciting direct-to-consumer influencer and activation based program, all of which are designed to build on the success Portland is enjoying in this region.
Travel Portland’s International Tourism Manager, Heather Anderson, said, “We have been active in the Oceania region for some years and foresee the continued growth of the market especially with the US being the top long haul destination for Australians at this time. Appointing Barking Owl will help us to tell the Portland story and inspire travelers to consider putting us on their itinerary next time around.”
Located in the Pacific Northwest of the US, Portland is the largest city in the state of Oregon with a population of 2.3 million people. It offers 145 square miles of exciting things to do, eat, drink, see, hike and explore.
For more information on Travel Portland, visit www.travelportland.com
10. Thailand gets the thumbs up from agents
VIC Flight Centre and Infinity wholesale consultants enjoying a cool drink at Cape Panwa Hotel.
There’s nothing like a famil to help agents understand a destination and be in a better position to sell it back in store. It’s also usually a lot of fun, and that’s exactly what 12 lucky Flight Centre agents and Infinity wholesale consultants recently experienced on a trip to Thailand.
Immersing themselves in the majestic scenery of Krabi, the agents stayed at two Centara properties in the area, including the Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas and the Centara Anda Dhevi Resort & Spa – both of which were absolutely stunning.
After their time in stunning Krabi the agents got to spend a few days in the hidden gem of Cape Panwa in Phuket, where they stayed at the luxurious all-suite Cape Panwa Hotel and got a chance to relax on the hotel’s private beach and tuck into steak night at the hotel’s restaurant.
They also got a chance to visit the Aussie family favourite Sunwing Kamala Beach, which features accommodation designed for families travelling with babies and young children and Sunprime Kamala Beach which is an adult only resort with three amazing swimming pools and four bars.