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The Daily Travel Agent Bite: Tues 23 Aug

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.

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. Tigerair spreads its budget wings between Melbourne & Canberra

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Things are shaping up over at Canberra Airport as the gateway receives low-cost services to Melbourne.

Tigerair Australia confirmed new daily Canberra-Melbourne services this week, adding some 2,500 additional visitors seats per week between the two airports.

The announcement comes after years of redeveloping the airport to become a major international and domestic hub.

Read on

 

2. VisitBritain’s new appointment to attract more Aussie arrivals

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VisitBritain is chasing the Australian market by appointing a former Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways leader to manage local business.

David Nye was given the responsibility of growing the outbound market from Australia to Britain this week when he was appointed country manager in Australia.

His main focus will be to lead the consumer and business-t0-business marketing strategy, while also working to build commercial partnerships with the travel industry.

Read on

 

3. One thing more important to Agents than focusing on money

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Money makes the world go round, it can be the root of all evil, but it’s also what keeps a business thriving in a challenging modern day world, especially in travel.

But according to TravelManagers CEO, Michael Gazal, and House of Travel CEO, Joe Araullo, there’s one thing more important to a business than just focusing on bringing in the dough.

It’s learning new ways to provide and add value.

Read on

 

4. Air New Zealand dumps the Spaceseat for Premium Economy

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It’s out with the old and in with the new over at Air New Zealand, as the carrier ditches its Spaceseats in favour of the more modern Premium Economy.

Around $100 million will be spent to remove the Spaceseats in the Boeing 777-300ERs, six years after they launched.

Air New Zealand’s General Manager of Customer Experience, Carrie Hurihanganui, explained that aviation has evolved since the Spaceseats were introduced and new research shows travelled want Premium Economy.

Read on

 

5. TTC goes ‘hybrid’ for sustainability

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The Travel Corporation has revealed plans to convert its entire fleet of company cars to fully hybrid vehicles.

To support eco-conscious mobility practices, the company has started gradually replacing older, less energy-efficient models in favour of new, environmentally friendly hybrid vehicles. TTC’s commitment means that within a few years, all of its tool-of-trade cars will be featuring hybrid configurations.

This development follows a number of sustainability initiatives introduced by TTC over recent years, many under the auspices of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit initiative aimed at encouraging sustainable tourism development with the long term vision to ensure the environment remains vibrant for generations to come.

 

6. INCENTIVE: Win a Uniworld river cruise

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Travel Agents who sell three or more Uniworld River Cruises could be on their way to experiencing their very own European river adventure.

The incentive was launched in conjunction with the line’s 2017 Europe & Russia brochure featuring bike rides through the backstreets of Bordeaux, a private concert in a Viennese Palace and delicious culinary discoveries and cultural treasures.

Between now and 31 October 2016, Agents can go in the running to step aboard any eight- to- 11-day European cruise with every three 2017 bookings or a thirteen- to- fifteen-day cruise for every six 2017 bookings.

It’s simple – Book 3, Sail Free! For more details, contact your Uniworld Sales Manager or Uniworld Reservations.

 

7. An online Travel Agent robot

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roomsXML has released the second chapter in the “Fightback against the big OTA’s” video series.’

Mark Luckey says:  “We were just a little bit surprised with the level of feedback we got on the first video. Random calls, people from marketing companies doing analysis, friends asking us why we were promoting agents.  Very cool. Good awareness raiser.”

The “Dick and Tom” Pro travel agent video had a big impact across social media. Mark attributes part of that success to it being “unbranded”, cheeky and a bit of fun.

Read on

 

8. TravelManagers’ emotional morning volunteering in Bangkok

Travel Agents

Personal travel managers and suppliers had an emotional trip out to one of  Bangkok’s largest disadvantaged areas on the third day of the group’s 2016 conference, where they spent time volunteering their time to help make a difference.

Working with Hands Across the Water, the group used their ‘handy’ skills to repaint a school, plant a vegetable garden, make dozens of toys and repair wheelchairs.

Click here to check out more pictures.

 

9. Are you G Adventures first Responsible Travel Ambassador?

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A nation-wide quest is currently underway for a Responsible Travel Ambassador, and G Adventures and KarryOn are coordinating their search efforts as we speak.

The winner will not only win full bragging rights at the appointment of such a title, but they’ll also score an epic G Adventure 10 day Nepal Adventures Tour – plus flights – where they’ll experience the colourful chaos of Kathmandu, the serenity of the Himalayan walking trails, and a 4×4 expedition in search of tigers.

Enter here

 

10. WIN a spot on the ‘Ultimate Abu Dhabi famil

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Etihad Airways along with Virgin Australia and Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority has just launched an Agent incentive, giving consultants the chance to WIN a spot on the ‘Ultimate Abu Dhabi’ famil running this October.

To be one of 50 on the captivating, cultural and adventurous trip, Agents simply need to book Etihad Airways or Virgin Australia to Abu Dhabi or as a stopover to Europe.

Read on

What are your thoughts on today’s travel news?