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. All the 2016 helloworld OMC Award winners revealed
The closing finalé of the helloworld 2016 Owner Managers Conference in Singapore was the highly anticipated Gala Awards Event Dinner, hosted by Qantas.
And what an epic night it was!
All of the 500 or so delegates donned their finery and were wowed throughout the night by entertainment including water drummers, ribbon dancers, light up entertainers and a band that played well into the wee hours.
2. Whoa! Air India has just broke Emirates’ record!
Move over Emirates: you no longer operate the longest flight in the world. That distinction now belongs to … Air India? Yep, that’s right: India’s national carrier are now the kings of the long-haul flight.
And they didn’t even need to spend too long at all crafting a new itinerary to beat the big boys. All they had to do was fly in the opposite direction, and BAMM: another 1400 kilometres was added to its route, beating Emirates by over 1000 kilometres.
The change was made on Air India’s Delhi to San Francisco route, which usually flies over the Atlantic to the USA. But from now on, the route will cross the Pacific instead.
3. Pow! Personal Travel Manager comes to the rescue
At KarryOn, we’re all about singing the praises of hard-working Travel Agents who deliver stellar service to their clients during the day and then moonlight as Super Heroes.
So when we found out about personal travel manager, Michelle Kingston, rescuing a client, we had to write about it!
When client Penny Sherrin ended up in the Cochin Orthopedic Hospital in Paris just three days into her twenty-four day European holiday, it was her personal travel manager Michelle Kingston that she turned to for help.
4. Qantas gives us a sneak peek inside its flagship 787-9 Dreamliner
Well we’re not quite there yet, but the Flying Kangaroo has given us a taste of what we can expect next year when its flagship 787-9 Dreamliner begins flying – #veryexcite!
The Qantas Dreamliner will seat 236 passengers across Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins in a layout that has been designed to maximise comfort for the longer distances the 787-9 is expected to fly.
5. Scenic celebrate the dirty thirty in style in Sydney
As part of Scenic Tours ongoing 30th birthday celebrations, the group last night celebrated in style with invited agents and partners at the Park Hyatt in Sydney who all enjoyed a cocktail party at sunset.
It’s certainly been a rich and enthralling journey for Glen Moroney and the group that started three decades ago at the humble Warrnibol Motor Inn in Victoria.
Who knew it was Glen Moroney himself who invented the first two (back) door coach in Australia? The story goes Moroney asked Mercedes to make it happen in a bid to get people on and off quicker and they built it for him.
Clearly Moroney was an innovator from the start and the journey only continues with the highly anticipated luxury ship – Scenic Eclipse to launch in 2018.
6. Jucy Snooze launches in Christchurch
What’s this? Are the Kiwis set to beat the Japanese at their own game with the first of a series of pod-style accommodation options opening up in Christchurch?
Yep, it certainly looks that way.
New Zealand’s first upmarket pod hostel, Jucy Snooze, opened in Christchurch last week, and boy is it looking pretty awesome! The self-contained pods feature storage lockers, a power supply and WiFi connectivity – all laid out in a cool, futuristic concept.
The new 271 bed ‘micro accommodation’ concept was launched by tourism operator Jucy to help relieve the chronic room shortage in Christchurch.
7. TIME is running out to bid on awesome items!
Bag some early Christmas prezzies at the TIME Silent Auction, which closes this Friday 28 October at 8pm, and help support the work of TIME and the future of the Travel and Tourism and Hospitality industry .
Amongst the awesome items that can be bid for include flights, accommodation, car hire, rail tickets and cool experiences.
TIME is a not for profit organisation and is heavily reliant on industry support to fund its valuable work.
Visit www.travelindustrymentor.com.au for more information.
8. Dreamworld to reopen tomorrow for memorial day
The Queensland theme park, Dreamworld, has issued a statement on its website confirming that it will reopen its gates on Friday for a Memorial Day following the tragic deaths of four people on its Thunder River Rapids ride.
Attractions at the theme park will be limited to smaller rides, animal attractions and the water park.
A private ceremony will also be held for staff and emergency services affected by the accident.
9. Save up to 20 percent on Topdeck’s Backyard Breaks!
Explore your own backyard with Topdeck and take advantage of the ‘Backyard Breaks’ campaign. Until 30 November, Topdeck is offering a 20 percent discount on select Australia and New Zealand trips for the lucky ones who get in early!
The main trips discounted are perfect for the domestic time-conscious traveller, as they are short, snappy and tick off the iconic hotspots. Some old favourites include Southern Cross and Rock and Canyon in Australia and Northern Explorer and Southern Explorer in New Zealand.
Topdeck is also applying the discount to the completely brand-spanking NEW ‘Discovery’ trip range in Australia. The ‘Discovery’ trip range are designed to scratch beneath the surface and provide in-depth exploration of iconic hotspots like Sydney, Uluru, Cairns and Darwin.
Find out more here.
10. Cathay Pacific to begin flying to Tel Aviv in 2017
Just announced, Cathay Pacific will be expanding its global network with the launch of a new four-times a week service between Hong Kong and Tel Aviv, Israel.
The new service will begin on 26 March 2017, subject to government approval.
According to Cathay Pacific Chief Executive, Ivan Chu, Tel Aviv has established itself as a culturally rich and technologically-advanced business capital, and the new link will offer tremendous potential for business and leisure travel.
Cathay Pacific will use one of its state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft to fly the route.
11. Malaysia Airlines’ exciting new agreement with Amadeus
In a new agreement that’s expected to boost the airline’s ‘traveller’s first’ approach, Malaysia Airlines’s new partnership with Amadeus will transform its passenger services, develop new revenue streams, and revamp the online shopping experience for passengers.
The landmark technology partnership will also make it easy for customers to book great value Malaysia Airlines fares worldwide:
“Amadeus offers a great web booking experience and state of the art mobile applications to suit individual needs so passengers can look forward to a leaner, more agile experience, from booking tickets to pre-purchasing excess baggage, meals and managing loyalty points, all at the click of a button.”
Peter Bellew, Chief Executive Officer and Group Managing Director, Malaysia Airlines Berhad.
Under the agreement, Malaysia Airlines will also adopt the full Amadeus Altéa Passenger Service System (PSS) to manage and improve all core passenger processes including reservation, inventory and departure control.
12. Are you dreaming of something new in Vanuatu?
Well dream no more, as 2017 is gearing up to be an exciting year for Vanuatu’s tourism industry, with a wide range of new accommodation, dining options and activities for visitors to discover!
Whether it is an idyllic retreat on a secluded island, luxury resorts overlooking stunning lagoons, rustic coffee shops or Melanesian restaurants, Vanuatu is poised to create memorable experiences.
For example, the Moso Vanuatu, located on the dreamy and secluded Moso Island in the north of Efate Island, is the newest addition to its already diverse range of accommodation, and is dedicated on delivering a pure and exclusive boutique experience.
For more information about travel to Vanuatu visit www.vanuatu.travel.
13. AFTA & TTF make a trip to Parliament to talk tax
AFTA Chief Executive, Jayson Westbury, and the CEO of TTF, Margy Osmond, along with other industry representatives put forward their joint case to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee at Parliament House Canberra yesterday, arguing that the Working Holiday Makers (WHM) Reform Package does not need to include the increase to the Passenger Movement Charge (PMC).
According to the industry bodies, the various bills that are before the Senate propose changes to the tax levels a backpacker will pay in the future and several other measures, and there is no reason for the PMC increase to be passed as a part of the package before the Senate.
“We made the point very firmly to the Senate Committee that $5 is a big deal to the travel industry and that any increase to the PMC is unwelcomed particularly when it is proposed to do nothing by top up revenue targets created by the government.”
Jayson Westbury, Chief Executive, AFTA.
Stay tuned to KarryOn for further developments as they happen.
14. Carnival Cruise Lines gets into the Spirit of Halloween
Getting well and truly into the Spirit of Halloween, Carnival Cruise Lines has announced two ‘spooktacular’ cruises to New Caledonia in 2017.
The first ship, Carnival Spirit, will spend Halloween at Mare in the Loyalty Islands, while the second ship, Carnival Legend, will call at Isle of Pines on October 31, offering a double dose of ghoulishly good fun in the sun.
Both cruises will feature a fun line up of scariness at sea, with a costume party, themed movies, trick or treating and a menu to die for, including witches brew bubbling at the bar, spider snacks and scary cheesecake for a death defying dessert.
If you can’t wait until next year, check out the cruise line’s equally ‘spooktacular’ guide to Halloween decorations on its blog, including a clip showing a Carnival crew member carving a pumpkin.
15. Australian wholesalers get grizzly in Canada
A lucky group of Australian product managers recently got to discover Canada’s Wild West on a 11 night tour of British Columbia and the Northwest Territories with Air Canada.
Highlights of the famil included flying in a floatplane over Vancouver Island to Great Bear Lodge, set in an area populated with wolves and bears; a trip to Yellowknife to view the dazzling Northern Lights; and a cycling trip through snow on fat bikes.
The group flew as guests of Air Canada, and explored Canada as guests of Destination Canada, Destination British Columbia, Northwest Territories Tourism, Tourism Vancouver and Tourism Vancouver Island.
16. WIN A YEAR’S SUPPLY OF COOKIES FROM WENDY WU TOURS
#Thenewwu is here and Wendy Wu is giving you the chance to WIN a year’s supply of Panda cookies! Say what? That’s 365 packets of delicious panda cookie goodness…
You have seen the Wu crew reps out on the road, handing out panda cookies as they go, and we know just how popular they have been with many of you taking to our agent Facebook Page requesting your own personal stash, so we’ve gone one better with a whole year’s supply up for grabs!
17. WIN A HOLIDAY TO LOS ANGELES WITH AMERICAN AIRLINES
Thanks to L.A. Tourism and American Airlines, a holiday to Los Angeles valued at over $5,000 is up for grabs!
The prize includes flights from Sydney to Los Angeles with American Airlines, as well as a six night stay in three unique L.A. neighbourhoods, such as Koreatown, Hollywood and Venice Beach.
Click here for more information on this fantastic prize!