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. Agents clap back at Webjet with promo video
Remember when Webjet launched that controversial TVC back in January that was deemed offensive and slanderous to Agents?
It portrayed them as withholding and lazy, and while it only ran for 32 seconds, it was enough to rile up and disappoint industry professionals.
Things may have smoothed over if the company hadn’t noticed the attention it generated (2.7 million views on Youtube and it’s set to unlisted) and decided to go for round two in July with a second TVC.
2. Is this the best thing to happen to Australian cruising?
“She really is the best thing to ever happen to Australian cruising.”
It may sound a bit dramatic (considering we’ve had a five ship spectacular in Sydney and are patiently awaiting our first ever new-build), but when you’re talking about a ship as grand and equipped as Ovation of the Seas some might say it’s perfectly fitting.
The bold declaration was made by Royal Caribbean’s smooth Managing Director Australia and New Zealand, Adam Armstrong, who feels (unsurprisingly) strongly about the impact the 4,180-passenger beauty will have on the local sector.
3. Rail Europe closes Sydney office in Rail Plus union
Rail Europe will integrate Rail Plus’ Australian operations into its global network, which will result in the closure of Rail Europe’s Sydney office and the introduction of a new organisational structure.
Announced this week, Rail Europe will consolidate its operations by closing its current Sydney office and moving its Australasia Manager, Ingrid Kocijan, to Melbourne where she will be responsible for sales and development across Oceania in the newly created position of Commercial Director.
Reporting to Rail Europe Global Chief Executive Fabrice Morel, Ingrid will work closely with trade partners including Rail Europe’s valued GSAs – Rail Tickets, Infinity Rail, CIT and Go Holidays.
4. Intrepid Travel rides in new Real Cycling Adventures
To coincide with World Car Free Day today, Intrepid Travel has launched a brand new range of Real Cycling Adventures that combine leisure activity with unique, grassroots experiences that are only accessible on two-wheels. The new tour range will be fully carbon offset and begin departures in 2017, the UN Year of Sustainable Tourism.
Available in 17 destinations, they will break ground on new trails in some of the world’s top cycling regions. Travellers will be among the world’s first tour group to cycle in Tanzania’s Arusha National Park and to conquer a newly minted route on Japan’s Noto Peninsula.
From cycling alongside the Indein Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar to a Maasai guided ride into the heartlands of Tanzania, the Real Cycling Adventures stay true to Intrepid’s immersive style of travel. Other highlights include riding through tea plantations in the Sri Lankan village of Giragama and a chance to navigate Andalucia’s iconic Spanish architecture.
The trips are not just for the ‘lycra-army’ and welcome all physical abilities; from veteran cyclists to people who just like to slow down and take it easy on two-wheels. Most trips also have a support vehicle available, for when travellers need to take a break.
5. Emirates revamps loyalty program
Emirates has revamped its corporate loyalty programme, Emirates Business Rewards, to provide greater value and added features for customers. The new programme has been simplified and made more competitive and to allow for easier redemptions and upgrades even on last minute bookings.
One of the biggest features in the newly improved programme is the ability to use Business Rewards Points to book any commercially available seat at any time giving members cash-like convenience. Emirates is the first and only airline in the Middle East, and one of the few airlines globally, to offer such flexibility as part of its corporate loyalty programme – improving cost-effectiveness for business travel.
Emirates Business Rewards has also enhanced user-experience with easy-to-use customer dashboards. These include tools to manage and book services for employees, and monitor the savings accumulated so far on the programme.
Enrolment has also been simplified regardless of organisation size. The introduction of the ‘Guest Traveller’ function means that organisations can include non-company persons, such as consultants, or clients who travel on behalf of the organisation, and still earn Business Rewards Points.
6. Australian visitation to Canada skyrockets
For the fourth month this year, overnight arrivals from Destination Canada’s global markets expanded at a double digit pace in July 2016 (+12.8 percent), with the number of Australian visitors to Canada skyrocketing by 29.6 percent year-on-year, the highest increase in at least a decade.
A total of 45,429 Australians visited Canada during July, with a whopping 177,558 Aussies visiting between January – July 2016, up 11.8 percent on last year.
Donna Campbell, Managing Director, Destination Canada GSA, Australia, said attributed the increase in visitors from Australia to the collaborative efforts of the Australian office, Air Canada and Canadian partners.
“Together, we have been working hard to offer out-of-the-ordinary experiences to Australians who are seeking new and surprising experiences in Canada, from intimate wildlife encounters and urban adventures, to the Northern Lights and Arctic expeditions,” she said.
7. TIME networking function Perth
TIME is delighted that its second Networking event held in Perth this week was well attended and declared a great night by those who were there.
Holding successful interstate functions is ensuring Australia wide recognition of the Program.
Speakers for the evening included: Manny Papadoulis WA Business Development at Itours Australia – Digital Visitor Experience who spoke about his career and the influence mentors had on him; Daniella Fahey (Industry Sales Leader WA/NT Virgin Australia) spoke about her experience as a mentee on the program; Robyn Willis Inglis TIME Committee Member gave those who attended a greater understanding of TIME as the only Program of its type in Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Industry and has become the envy of many other industries.
Email time@travelindustrymentor.com.au if you would like more information about these events contact Marie Allom.
8. MTA ‘Insight Top Achiever’ visits the Baltic
Pictured standing in the grounds of picturesque Wilanow Palace in Warsaw is MTA – Mobile Travel Agents’ Jennifer McCullough who recently visited Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia as part of an Insight Vacations’ Top Achievers study tour.
Jennifer’s program also included the Baltic States capitals of Vilnius, Riga and allinn.
9. TravelManagers live it up in Switzerland
Switzerland Tourism and Swiss International Air Lines hosted nine very lucky TravelManagers in Switzerland recently.
Led by Birgit Weingartner from Switzerland Tourism Australia/New Zealand and Jenni Soedarso from Swiss International Air Lines, the group started the trip in Zurich where they stayed for two nights and enjoyed a city tour and dinner at a traditional guild house.
Then, they moved on to Zermatt to visit Klein Matterhorn, which at 3,883m above sea level is the highest place in Europe reachable by aerial tramway. The next two nights were spent in Grindelwald in the Jungfrau Region, where they experienced the heart-stopping First Cliff walk, First Flyer (a zip line), carts and Trotti biking as well as a visit to Schynige Platte for some panoramic views of the Alpine region.