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. Get in quick! Here’s why those reasonable tour prices in Iceland are about to rise
Travellers who have yet to tick Iceland off the bucketlist may want to do it sooner rather than later, before those reasonable tour prices disappear.
On The Go Tours’ Managing Director Carl Cross recently told KarryOn that the influx of tourists to the Nordic nation is quickly outweighing available infrastructure to the point where hotel rooms are filling fast and the millions of visitors are far outnumbering the local population of just around 200,000.
Cross explained that this pressure on Iceland’s resources will eventually limit operators in terms of capacity and could result in higher tour prices.
2. Are you a start-up business? Qantas may want to work with you
Around 10 start-ups are about to receive the opportunity of the lifetime, as Qantas makes an open request for new businesses, scale-ups and digital disruptors to assist in its innovation agenda.
The Flying Kangaroo launched the AVRO Accelerator – a program which gives up and comers the chance to work Qantas Group mentors and pitch ideas, particularly in areas that can streamline the travel experience, design smarter ways of thinking, unlock the potential of new technologies and solve business problems.
Only around 10 teams will be chosen to take part, with each given access to the Qantas Group’s operational data, technology platforms and customer insights to bring their ideas to life.
3. Is this the sassiest flight attendant you’ve ever seen?
Some of us can barely get our hips from one side of the plane to the other without coming into fierce contact with those arm rests, but not this flight attendant.
Oh no, he puts our lower halves to shame with a petite figure that can strut, shimmy and twirl down any aircraft aisle.
The AirAsia cabin crew member has become an online sensation, but not for his great customer service skills, or his handsome features – although we’re sure he shines in both those areas.
4. INCENTIVE: Receive a $50 Coles/Myer gift card
Asia Escape Holidays is giving Agents a $50 Coles/Myer gift card on any last minute booking of over $2,000 departing before 30 June 2017.
Qualified bookings must be new air and land or land-only packages booked between 17 March 2017 and 28 April 2017.
Vouchers will be applied to qualified departures and dispatched on 1 July 2017. Click here for more information.
5. Etihad sends the jumbo jet to Paris
Sydneysiders and Melburnians will be able to fly the Etihad A380 all the way to France, as the airline adds its award-winning aircraft on the Abu-Dhabi–Paris route.
The flagship aircraft, which features The Residence, will operate one of the airline’s twice-daily services to the French capital between 1 July and 28 October. This will make Paris the airline’s newest A380 long-haul destination following Sydney, Melbourne, London, and New York.
Etihad Airways Flight EY31 has a scheduled departure time of 02:15 from Abu Dhabi International Airport, arriving at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport at 07:50, with the return flight EY32 leaving the French capital at 10:40, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 19:30. (all times are local).
6. Early bird deals to Antarctica are here
Chimu Adventures has unleashed its Early Bird offers on selected Antarctica departures, featuring discounts of up to 30 percent on 2018/19 itineraries.
Holidays makers can book on one of the top-end Le Boreal, Le Lyrial, Le Soléal, L’Austral or the Sea Spirit ships from $10,970 per person on an 11-day Emblematic Antarctica itinerary.
Agents who book clients on a Chimu Adventures Early Bird trip before 15 April 2017 will receive a $100 Coles/Myer gift card.
Click here for more information.
7. Damn Emirates, that is some fine-looking plane decal
Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema or Marcelo? Don’t worry ladies and gentlemen, you don’t need to choose. You can admire them all on this Emirates aircraft.
The attractive soccer players have been painted to the outside of one of the Dubai-based airline’s jumbo jets as part of the carrier’s sponsorship of the Real Madrid team.
Practically life-sized versions of the five players in action now cover more than 500-metres-square of the aircraft.
8. CWT raises money to fight child exploitation
Carlson Wagonlit Travel has announced it will sponsor Team Endeavour, a four-strong endurance cycling team taking part in the 34th Race Across America in June 2017. Team Endeavour is raising money for ECPAT International, a global network of civil society organisations campaigning to end the sexual exploitation of children.
The team aims to complete the 4,900 km relay race in nine days, non-stop, raising at least $100,000. The team members are Andrew Jordan and Jasper Hasell (London, UK), and Lisa Akeroyd and Brendan Cox (Sydney, Australia). All four work at CWT. They will cycle from west to east across twelve US states, supported by a crew of doctors, bike mechanics, nutritionists, and a team manager. The race starts in just under 100 days’ time.
“The work of ECPAT is very close to our hearts,” said Kurt Ekert, President & CEO of Carlson Wagonlit Travel. “By providing sponsorship for Team Endeavour on such a tough, high profile challenge, we hope to help raise awareness – and money – for their important work.”
9. Celebrity Cruises appoints first local Business Development Manager
RCL Cruises has announced the appointment of Cameron Mannix to the newly created role of Business Development Manager for Celebrity Cruises Australia and New Zealand, effective 1 April 2017.
As the company’s first dedicated Celebrity brand ambassador, Cameron will work with trade partners throughout Australia and New Zealand, bringing to life the modern luxury brand’s unique offerings across its current fleet of 12 ships – including Australia’s favourite cruise ship, locally-based Celebrity Solstice. He’ll also champion brand new Celebrity Edge, a cruise design revolution revealed earlier this week and launching in 2018.
Cameron Mannix has over 11 years of experience in the cruise industry, most recently as District Sales Manager for Victoria & Tasmania, which has seen him nominated for Best Sales Executive at the 2017 National Travel Industry Awards. Before joining Royal Caribbean, Cameron worked as a travel agent, and as a performer on various cruise ships – giving him in-depth knowledge of the industry.
Wendy Anderson, currently RCL Cruises’ District Sales Manager NSW, has been appointed the new District Sales Manager for Victoria and Tasmania, effective 1 April 2017, based in Melbourne. She too comes to the role with solid experience in the industry, with previous roles at Virgin Australia and One&Only Hayman. She also joins Cameron on the list of nominees for Best Sales Executive at this year’s National Travel Industry Awards.
10. Australian Agents sample Seabourn Encore
Some of Australia’s top luxury cruise Agents had the chance to sample the world’s newest and most luxurious cruise ship, Seabourn Encore, during her inaugural summer down under.
A dozen Agents were onboard during Seabourn Encore’s final local leg from Sydney to Bali, indulging in some of the ship’s new offerings including Dr. Andrew Weil’s wellness program, The Grill restaurant by three-star Michelin chef Thomas Keller, lyricist Tim Rice’s exclusive show, and the ultimate indulgence at sea, The Retreat, offering private cabanas on the ship’s top deck.
Seabourn Encore is the newest addition to the world’s finest ultra-luxury cruise line with sister ship Seabourn Ovation scheduled to launch next year. She will return for an encore Australian season, offering five 16-day voyages in the region between November 2017 and February 2018.