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. Anna Faris stars in Air NZ’s new Hollywood safety video
Air New Zealand is back kids, with a new and quirky safety video designed to promote in-flight safety as well as the carrier’s expanding trans-Pacific services.
Unveiled today, the ‘blockbuster production’ filmed at Warner Bros. Studio in LA, features suspense, drama, romance, that Air New Zealand comedy and a whole lot of safety.
Although Taylor Swift doesn’t appear in the five-minute clip as KarryOn suspected she would (she was probably too busy recovering from that Kim K recording), it does star the hilarious Anna Faris and Kiwi actor, Rhys Darby, which is actually more fitting considering the humorous tone of the video.
2. Don’t believe Agents are crucial? This will convince you
If the savings on offer and the link to happiness aren’t enough to convince travellers to book with an Agent, then maybe they’ll listen to their peers.
According to a new SureSave study, around 70 percent of Australians see Agents as a ‘trusted source of travel and safety advice’. That’s an increase of 15 percent compared to four years ago.
This steady rise in trust and faith resulted in around 36 percent of Australians booking their last overseas leisure trip with a Travel Agent, making it the most popular method of booking travel across the country.
3. Virgin Australia to take off with wi-fi
Virgin Australia is stepping up its inflight entertainment game by bringing wi-fi on international AND domestic services.
You know what this means, social media the whole flight baby!
The carrier will join a string of other airlines, including American Airlines and Qantas, when it starts fitting its Boeing 737-800, Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 with wi-fi technology mid-2017.
4. Turkey in a ‘state of emergency’
Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has declared a country-wide three-month state of emergency after a failed coup over the weekend.
The leader, who says he narrowly missed death or capture in the coup, explained that the measure was taken to “rapidly and effectively… eliminate the threat against democracy”, The Australian reported.
A state of emergency could see the government introduce curfews, issue search and arrests warrants where necessary and could potentially restrict mass gatherings.
Smartraveller continues to advise travellers to “exercise a high degree of caution”.
5. Eclipse expands into New Zealand
After conquering Antarctica, the Arctic, Africa and Latin America, Eclipse Travel says it’s ready to expand its business with an office in… New Zealand.
The office across the Tasman opens this month in Christchurch. A second base of operations is also planned for a second north island location later in the year.
Eclipse Travel Co-founder, Tim Farquhar, said expanding into New Zealand will help travellers “fulfill their travel dreams” to popular destinations.
6. KarryOn heads to Splendour with Contiki
KarryOn will be front and centre with around 50 Contiki guests tomorrow at Byron Bay’s Splendour in the Grass.
This year, the tour operator has its own Indian-themed stage!
It will feature a coloured ink party, Bollywood dancers, Dj’s, yoga sessions and much more.
7. TravelManagers jet off to the Maldives
Oh what an escape! A group of personal travel managers were selected to take a seven-night trip with Freestyle Holidays and Singapore Airlines in THE MALDIVES!
The eight top sellers flew to the island nation via Singapore with Singapore Airlines to experience the destination’s beautiful beaches, rich culture and hospitable people.
A key takeaway from the trip was that although the destination has a reputation for being a honeymoon destination, it also offers a fantastic holiday experience for families.
The group of eight were: Victoria-based Sylvia Holland, Debra Bean, Sharon Wright and Lea Burford; New South Wales representatives Maree Oxford, Maria Miller and Pamela Baas; and Amanda Anthony from Queensland. Tina Vitelli from the national partnership office also joined the group that was escorted by Leigh Holme, Sales Executive Freestyle Holidays.
Click here for more images.
8. QLD industry raises $17,000 for charity
The Queensland travel industry gathered once again this year for the Travel Industry Gold Day to support the Daniel Morcombe foundation.
Held this month, some 150 golfers attended the annual charity event to play a little golf and raise some funds.
Dubbed the ‘Drive 4 Daniel’, some $17,000 was raised! Well done guys!