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. Virgin Australia brings sexy back to Business Class
Quick, someone get us a couple of ice packs because Virgin Australia’s new Business Class is almost too hot to handle.
The carrier brought sexy back to the skies this week when it officially launched its new International Business Class on daily Sydney-LA services.
Fittingly named ‘The Business’, the seats that convert into queen sized 80-inch beds, generous-sized private consoles and lush purple flirtatious lighting creates a relaxing atmosphere for guests to get to business on their flight – and by business, we mean catch up on paperwork using the ample space or catching up on your favourite TV show using the largest in-flight entertainment screen on the trans-Pacific.
2. It’s weird, but this is why you should think of NY state as Italy
Italian diaspora (2.7 million) and in turn, some pretty good Italian food – that’s about the extent of the similarities between New York State and Italy.
But, when you think of the American State, I Love NY’s Executive Director, Gavin Landry, wants you to think of it as Italy.
Sounds weird, but hear him out.
3. 6 men escorted from Jetstar flight after bloody brawl
Not sure whether this would be more entertaining than an inflight movie, or an incredibly frightening sky-high experience.
We’ll let you decide.
Six men were escorted off a Jetstar flight in Bali this week after breaking out into a mid-flight brawl.
4. Flight Centre’s plan to be a global leader in blending offline & online
It’s sometimes difficult to picture the offline and online world working in unison, especially in travel, but it’s now Atle Skalleberg job to make it happen for Flight Centre.
The former Managing Director of Flight Centre-owned StudentUniverse has been appointed to the newly created role of Chief Digital Officer (CDO) and is responsible not only for increasing the company’s online presence, but assisting it in becoming a global leader in blending offline and online travel services.
In his new role, Skalleberg will continue to be based out of Boston, where he’ll work with teams in the American city as well as the Brisbane HQ to provide e-commerce, mobile development, online marketing and business intelligence services to Flight Centre’s leisure brands globally.
5. Trafalgar is jetting off to three new Asian destinations
Trafalgar is adding to its Asia portfolio with the addition of three new destinations – India, Sri Lanka and Laos.
The new destinations plus nine new itineraries are available in the tour operator’s Asia 2017 programme, which as been dubbed the “most comprehensive” programme to date due to the expanded range of choice.
The new 13-day Leisurely Rajasthan with Mumbai is Trafalgar’s first itinerary exploring the riches of India with stays in vibrant cities such as Jaipur and Mumbai and the chance to see how #TrafalgarCares is helping Delhi’s street children through its support of the Salaam Baalak Trust.
6. Lindblad appoints Adventure World as exclusive local GSA
Lindblad Expeditions has appointed Adventure World as its exclusive General Sales Agent in Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
Citing further growth plans, the iconic expedition brand will expand its reach in the local Australasian market with the extensive operating and distribution power of the TTC owned Adventure World business.
Jeremy Lindblad, Lindblad’s Global Business Development Director, said appointing Adventure World will give the expedition cruise line access to “extensive preferred consortia agreements, diverse aligned land product portfolios, wholesale airfare agreements, and expert sales, marketing & reservations teams”.
Beginning on 8 August 2016 all Lindblad Expeditions reservations and operations will be conducted through Adventure World. All contact details remain unchanged and all existing and quoted travel bookings will continue as normal.
7. Snow Addicts – it’s a thing & it’ll make you want to go NZ
A collective of New Zealand’s South Island ski areas have teamed up to launch a new campaign that taps into people’s impulsive desires to ski.
The contend-led campaign titled ‘Snow Addicts’ will encourage intermediate and advanced skiers to cross the ditch this winter to take advantage of the largest ski areas in Australasia, New Zealand.
The message will be driven through humorous snow addict behaviour images published to social media, including those obsessing over the start of the snow season to wearing a goggle tan with pride.
8. Thanks for the pics Flighties!
Shout out to Peta Bread Webber and all the other Flight Centre Agents who sent through their pics from Flight Centre’s ‘Stop Hunger Now’ charity incentive.
The incentive ran during this year’s Global Gathering and saw consultants help pack some 30,000 nutritious, high protein meals to be distributed by Food Bank Singapore to help feed up to 100,000 people in need (including the elderly and those with low incomes).
Click here to check out more pics.