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. Qantas adds new route to Japan to meet growing demand
Qantas will launch daily direct flights between Melbourne and Tokyo’s Narita Airport from 16th December 2016,* responding to growing demand and marking the next step in its Asian growth strategy.
The new route will be operated by an upgraded, two-class A330-300 with 297 seats – the aircraft widely seen as best in class for the business market.
It adds to Qantas’ popular Sydney-Tokyo (Haneda) and Brisbane -Tokyo (Narita) services, launched in 2015, and will connect travellers with the broader Qantas Group network – including Jetstar’s extensive domestic network within Japan and the Group’s services across the Tasman.
2. Flight Centre lift curtain on new concert packages
Flight Centre Travel Group will lift the curtain on a range of exciting new concert travel packages following an official multi-year partnership announced today with the world’s leading live entertainment company, Live Nation.
Flight Centre will become the official concert travel package partner of Live Nation Australia and New Zealand, allowing music fans to access exclusive travel packages to their favourite concerts and events across Australia and New Zealand for the first time.
3. The Flying Kangaroo ditches traditional out of office auto email
Qantas has today launched Qantas Out Of Office, a new service that transforms the generic out of office auto email reply into a real-time photographic travel journal.
Qantas Out of Office connects an email address with Instagram and updates the auto reply message with holiday Instagram photos that are tagged with the hashtag #qantasoutofoffice.
4.Magellan Travel Group hosts a food & wine experience in Auckland
Image Source: architecturenow.co.nz
Magellan Travel Group hosted its Member’s Dinner at Shed 10 on Auckland’s Queens Wharf which was been transformed for the Kiwi Food & Wine Experience.
Members and Suppliers together enjoyed Beers, Wine and Cheese from some of New Zealand’s most highly awarded boutique producers at a pre-dinner event sponsored by Etihad Airways and Virgin Australia.
The Conference continued on Friday with a Corporate Travel Forum, a panel discussion on the Future of Leisure Travel, and the Preferred Suppliers Business Exchange which saw nearly 60 preferred suppliers sit down for one-on-one meetings with Magellan Agency owners.
The Conference will conclude tonight with the Gale Dinners and Magellan Awards ceremony.
5. G Adventures’ first Responsible Travel Ambassador is…
They come from different parts of the country, have their own travel styles, work for various agencies and they even sit across a few age generations.
These five women may not have much in common, but they all share a contagious and unwavering enthusiasm for immersive, sustainable tourism and G Adventures.
That’s why last month, Melissa Llewelyn, Laura Silverton, Erin Davey, Helena Turner and Mandy Bradtke were selected as finalists in G Adventures’ search for its first Responsible Travel Ambassador, and it’s what got them a ticket to the G Adventures office in Melbourne.
6. My Adventure Store rebrands to My Adventure Travel
Adventure travel specialist My Adventure Store has changed its name to My Adventure Travel, better reflecting the brand’s positioning and growth strategy.
National Marketing Manager Paddy Scott said the new name was a natural progression for the full-service travel agency which aims to be the sole adventure travel provider within the Flight Centre group and leader in its space nationally.
“We are very excited to announce the rebranding to My Adventure Travel aimed at clearly identifying our place in the market and providing a strong platform to implement our growth strategy.”
Paddy Scott, My Adventure Travel National Marketing Manager
7. Cruise consultants head to Cruise360
Cruise specialists have kick started their day of everything cruising at this year’s Cruise360 conference.
Held at The Star Event Centre in Sydney, the event features a range of industry professionals updating Agents on the growing sector as well as touching on future trends.
Among the topics to be discussed include how to stay ahead of the game, the government’s plan to keep up with growth and how industry trends are impacting decisions.
8. Oaks Hotels & Resorts opens new Melbourne property
Seven really is the magic number for leading accommodation provider Oaks Hotels & Resorts, a division of Minor Hotels, who is strengthening its presence in Victoria with the opening of its seventh Melbourne property, the new-build Oaks Southbank.
Located on City Road in the vibrant dining, entertainment and arts precinct of Southbank and located opposite the glittering Eureka Skydeck, Oaks Southbank features 87 keys and rises over 37 floors, presenting guests with outstanding panoramas of the lively city, urban skyscrapers and, in some instances, glimpses of a true Melbourne icon – the Yarra River and its picturesque tree-lined banks.
The property comprises a selection of stylish One and Two Bedroom Apartments, featuring timber flooring, stunning floor-to-ceiling windows, private balconies and a sleek design. The apartment interiors reflect a sophisticated style, which extends from the bedrooms to the well-equipped kitchens, complete with stainless steel appliances and glass splash-backs, and light-and-airy living and dining areas embellished with plush rugs and essential comforts. Guests also have the added option to choose from a ‘Standard’, View’ or ‘Executive’ style room.
9. Rezdy joins forces with Sightseeing Pass
Rezdy and Sightseeing Pass have joined forces in a move that makes it simpler and more cost effective for travellers to experience Western Australia’s attractions.
The partnership is a win-win for tour operators and the consumer. It provides Sightseeing Pass with access to a greatly expanded inventory of tours and attractions, and Rezdy with the ability to offer bundled products in a single booking.
Sightseeing Pass Director Lisa D’Souza said that research revealed that visitors weren’t just looking to book one tour, but several in the one transaction.
“It is ideal partnership for the market, particularly for product demand in an e-commerce environment – Sightseeing Pass was designed for the mutual benefit of the operator and the customer,” she said.
Simon Lenoir, Rezdy CEO said that one of Rezdy’s key goals is to drive more business to their customers.
10. Olympic champions make a splash on Pacific Dawn
Champion Olympians Cate and Bronte Campbell were making a splash onboard P&O Cruises’ Pacific Dawn on the weekend, with the swimming sisters taking some time out on the high seas on their first ever cruise.
The popular duo enjoyed their first swim since they left the Olympic pool in Rio last month, taking a dip in Pacific Dawn’s pool before trying their hand at some of the top deck P&O Edge Adventure Park activities including the flying fox and segways.
Onboard the three-night food and wine themed cruise to talk about healthy eating in their role as Uncle Tobys’ ambassadors, the sisters drew a big crowd at a special Q&A session with guests, afterwards signing autographs and giving fellow passengers the chance to wear their Olympic medals.