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The Daily Travel Agent Bite: Wed 29 Jun

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.

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. Death toll climbs in Turkey airport explosion

Image: Shutterstock

Image: Shutterstock

Around 32 people are believed to have been killed and another 60 injured in twin explosions at Turkey’s Ataturk Airport in Istanbul.

Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag has confirmed that an attacker opened fire with a Kalashnikov at the entrance of the gateway’s international terminal overnight. Following the attack with the rifle, he detonated an explosion that killed at least 20 people.

There’s also reports of a second explosion organised by a second attacker, who used the first bomb as a distraction to pass through the x-ray security check.

Read on

 

2. Five more Travel Agents (and their clients) WIN cash with Etihad

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Calling on Antonio Banderas to sum up all them Travel Agent ‘feels’ after finding out they were the next five Etihad incentive winners.

Pure happiness.

The names of the latest winners of the ‘Your, Flight, Our Treat‘ incentive were revealed to KarryOn today, bringing the total number of winners up to 19.

Read on

 

3. This is how Sabre is letting Agents personalise their service for clients

New Sabre Red Screenshot _ SYD AKL

Sabre has unveiled a few changes to its Sabre Red Workspace, which are designed to offer Travel Agents further opportunities to personalise service to their clients.

Utilising a content rich marketplace, intelligent decision support tools and predictive data insights, Sabre says the upgraded product is now a more intuitive way to book travel.

New features on the GDS include data-driven booking trend information with intuitive design and a consumer-grade user interface, smart product differentiation for air extras and Branded Fares and inspirational shopping.

Read on

 

4. Air NZ scoops ‘Airline of the Year’ awards

Air New Zealand staff

Air New Zealand has been named both International Airline of the Year and Domestic Airline of the Year at the fifth annual Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Awards.

Air New Zealand General Manager Customer Experience Carrie Hurihanganui said the awards reaffirm the relentless focus the airline places on customer experience.

“We have been very focused on enhancing our customers’ journeys, including making substantial investments in new aircraft, new and refreshed lounges, and innovative technology.”

Carrie Hurihanganui, Air NZ General Manager Customer Experience

“It’s great to see these efforts being recognised by our customers.”

 

5. The weirdest things Aussies sneak onto planes

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Most of us like to pack a little chocolate into our carry on for a mid-flight treat, but one guy has admitted to taking an entire 3kg bucket of Nutella.

Uhhh no judgement (drenched with judgement), but a normal jar isn’t enough?

There’s the usual list of inflight requirements – change of clothing, toothbrush, laptop – and then there’s this.

Read on

 

6. Two things everyone gets wrong about Germany

Image: ©GNTB

Image: ©GNTB

It’s no secret that Germans are big on their beer, but are they chugging through more steins than other types of alcohol?

No, according to the country’s tourism leaders, who say their citizens (and visitors) consume more wine than they do das bier (beer).

Don’t get us wrong, they do drink a fair amount of beer, it’s just nowhere near the 25 litres per capita of vino demolished annually.

Read on

 

7. Travellers Choice frontliners sharpen their marketing skills

Travellers Choice Frontliners in Melbourne_June 2016

Around 70 Travellers Choice frontliners from around Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia gathered in Melbourne this month to engage with suppliers and receive some wisdom in the marketing department from Aisla Page,

The ‘marketing dynamo’ attended the Frontliner Conference held at the Manningham City Council Civic and Function Centre  where she gave a workshop presentation on the importance strategic marketing.

Feedback from Agents was that the workshop gave them the tools to better understand and utilise techniques to connect with customers.

Meanwhile, Travellers Choice shareholders will also gather across capital cities next month for the annual Travellers Choice Member Meetings. The year’s meetings will commence in Perth on 5 July, followed by Adelaide (6 July), Melbourne (7 July), Sydney (8 July), Canberra (9 July) and Brisbane (10 July).

 

8. TravelManager raises $23,000 for charity

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TravelManagers’ Annalize Troost has another reason to feel proud, after raising $23,000 at this year’s MonSTaR Foundation’s ten year Anniversary Ball, a fundraiser for motor neurone disease.

The personal travel manager donated an Avalon European River Cruise for a couple and arranged for two Qatar Airways business class tickets to Europe.

Troost said the ability to give back to the community is “hugely” important to her, and sponsoring the annual event in Pennan Hills was “just the beginning of my support”.

What are your thoughts on today’s travel news?