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’ Bali flights are here to stay
Qantas is so impressed by the demand for its seasonal flights to Bali that the carrier has decided to operate the service year-round.
The carrier confirmed the decision this week after receiving a “fantastic response” to its summer service.
The Flying Kangaroo resumed its Sydney to Denpasar flights in 2015 after a seven-year hiatus. The peak service returned again earlier this month as part of a demand-led Asia Pacific expansion.
2. Reho Travel, Goldman Travel & more stick with Helloworld
Helloworld offers the goods and agencies keep on coming back for more.
The travel business says its had a “highly impressive” re-sign rate this year from its network Members whose contracts are scheduled to expire in November and December this year.
Among those sticking with Helloworld for Business (HWFB) are Reho Travel, The Travel Authority, Goldman Travel Group, Travel Brokers, Bayview Travel, Complete Business Travel, Sanford International Travel, Travel & Sports Australia and Eden Corporate Travel.
3. Why the hell is this plane gift-wrapped in a sheet of Powerball?
In what could be the most extravagant yet effective marketing of the year, an entire plane parked at Brisbane Domestic Airport has been wrapped in a sheet of Powerball.
No really it’s true, look closely at the picture above…
Interest ay? ‘But why’, you wonder?
4. Bunnik Tours adds dates for Japan
Demand for Japan is high and Bunnik Tours is meeting that demand with additional dates for the sold-out 2017 Japan cherry blossom season.
The tour operator has released two additional dates for its ever-popular Japan Discovery small group tour – 10 April and 12April.
The new dates will sell quickly with so many clients wanting to experience the magic of the as the sakura blanket the land in colour, so booking soon is highly recommended. The 17-day itinerary takes in Tokyo, Hakone, Takayama, Hiroshima, Kyoto and Osaka.
5. The stars were out at sea with food, wine & P&O
What were the winners of My Kitchen Rules, Will Stewart and Steve Flood, and celebrity chef, Luke Mangan, doing earlier this month? They were chatting to P&O guests and treating them to some fine wine and delicious food.
The star-studded lineup was onboard Pacific Dawn during a food & wine cruise from Brisbane where they took part in a Pacific Cook Off, hosted culinary demonstrations and even treated a lucky group of guests to a Chef’s Table experience curated by the reality TV champions.
Other highlights of the roundtrip cruise included a cooking demonstration hosted by Luke Mangan; The Beer Diva, Kirrily Waldhorn, busting some beer myths; Woodside Cheese Wrights’ tips on how to make Instagram-worthy cheese platters for Christmas and wine masterclasses from Agnew Wines and Glandore Estate Wines.
6. Are your clients Potterheads? Get ready for them to ask for this…
See this guy screaughing (screaming and laughing at the same time)? Expect to see him and the adorable young lady beside him a lot more.
Why?
Because Universal Studios Hollywood is going after Aussie Potterheads (Harry Potter fans) with its first consumer facing campaign promoting the park’s Wizarding World of Harry PotterTM .
The campaign is designed to put the USA theme park at the forefront of people’s holiday plans ahead of February – the Australia and New Zealand peak US booking period. Images and clips of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be pushed through various media including Foxtel’s Universal Channel, 13th Street and SyFy, along with digital and social posts.
Universal Hollywood’s Wizarding World of Harry PotterTM opened in April 2016 and is one of the most immersive worlds of any theme park. The attraction is home to two rides, nine retail locations, four eateries, five experiences and 22 animated window facades.
7. Australia’s Viking vessel touches the ocean
Viking Sun, the only Viking Cruises vessel scheduled to visit Australia and New Zealand, has officially touched the ocean during a traditional float out ceremony earlier this month.
The milestone moment marks a major step in construction and places her on track for a late 2017 debut in North America before sailing down to Oceania during a 141-day World Cruise.
Viking Sun’s float out comes just as the cruise line appointed Michelle Black to the role of Managing Director across Australia and New Zealand.
8. Helloworld Agents fall in love with Los Cabos
Soaking up that sun, enjoying local hospitality and splashing around in gorgeous beaches, oh how envious we are of these 16 Helloworld Travel Agents who were flown across the Pacific with United Airlines to experience Los Cabos.
Staying at the private enclave of the Sheraton Hacienda Hotel, participants woke to the hotel’s endless view over the Sea of Cortez for two days. And for an alternate perspective of the destination’s hotel offerings, agents relished in another two days at the all-inclusive adults-only resort, Marquis Los Cabos.
Highlights of the trip included enjoying Baja Californian cuisine at the organic farm and restaurant, Huerta Los Tamarindos, as well as the Sunset of Mona Lisa. There was a peak at the ‘Aquarium of the World’ with Cabo Expeditions where they snorkelled at Chileno Bay and Santa Maria, and they sampled cultural jewels while meandering through the charming colonial town of San Jose.
Click here for more pictures.
9. Agents taste the SuperStar life in Switzerland
That’s one big tree!
Travel Agents looked like they having a cold and incredibly fun time in Switzerland earlier this month as part of a Switzerland Tourism, Swiss Travel System and Rail Europe famil.
The group were selected for the trip after completing and out-performing others in the 2016 Swiss Travel Pass SuperStar Program.
As part of the seven-day famil, consultants were taken to Zurich, Basel, Bern, Montreux, Interlaken, Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe, Mt Pilatus and Luzern; and enjoyed some unforgettable scenic train rides including the GoldenPass Line, Jungfrau Railways and the Mt Pilatus Cableway.
Agents also indulged their senses in all things Christmassy at the markets before visiting Santa Claus’ house in Rocher-de-Naye and the Charlie Chaplin Museum in Vevey; and fuelled up on local delicacies including the Swiss cheese fondue and mulled wine.
This week’s competitions
Enter to WIN $1,000 cash prize from Collette
Who will be the 2017 Collette Christmas Carol Carpool Karaoke Champion? Collette have teamed up with KarryOn to bring you some festive fun!
12 days of Christmas, $12,000 worth of prizes to win
To celebrate the debut of Visit California’s new training app, the bureau is having a ’12 Days of Christmas’ campaign, which gives Agents the chance to win more than $12,000 in prizes.