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. The one thing that could be letting Australian tourism down
Australia’s tourism leaders, airlines and tour operators work hard and spend millions to promote our country to the world.
They sign joint agreements or team up with the likes of Chris Hemsworth to sell images of our clear, blue waters, stunning scenery and underwater activities.
Taken by both the actor’s voice, influence and of course our gorgeous land, travellers are then booking trips (in record numbers) and heading to the Land Down Under.
2. Qantas & Queensland ink $9.78M deal
After securing a $28 million deal with NSW’s tourism leaders, Qantas has turned its attention slightly north, with a three-year deal to promote Brisbane and Regional Queensland.
The Flying Kangaroo has agreed to a joint investment of $9.78 million with Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) to market the Sunshine State to the world – specifically key international markets Asia, US, New Zealand the UK.
As part of the agreement, both parties will focus on destination and event marketing through joint marketing and advertising campaigns on digital and social media, there’ll also be public relations activities and trade and media visits.
3. Singapore Airlines’ jumbo jet returns to Melbourne
Singapore Airlines is sending its A380 back to Melbourne later this year, to add extra capacity on flights to Singapore over the holiday season.
On 30 October, the airline will send its 379-seater A380 to operate on daily SQ217/218 flights. The aircraft will offer travellers access to 12 suites, 86 Business Class seats, 36 Premium Economy seats and 245 spots in Economy.
4. GSR journeys selling fast
Rail Plus is advising agents to move quickly to secure spots on the Great Southern Rail’s 2017/18 rail journeys, with live bookings now available through the company’s website and Advance Purchase fares on some journeys selling fast.
Seats on The Ghan, Indian Pacific and The Overland are all available for departures from April 2017, while demand is expected to be particularly high for The Ghan Expedition, which will operate 26 departures – twice as many as this year – between 3 May and 25 October 2017.
The Ghan Expedition takes three nights to complete the voyage from Darwin to Adelaide (a day longer than the standard journey), and features off-train outing to the spectacular Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge, an authentic Outback Pioneer Dinner under the stars, and an exploration of the tunnels and caves of opal mining town Coober Pedy.
5. TIME launches the SKALarship
Following years of successful mentor and mentee relationships, TIME is extended its mentoring business through a new partnership with SKAL Sydney North.
The program has entered a new partnership with SKAL to provide one of their members the opportunity to become a mentee.
President of SKAL Sydney North Scott Thompson announced Ben Carnegie from APRCSA inPlace Recruitment as the first recipient of the ‘SKALarship’.
6. Lucky Agent wins free cruise holiday from MSC & Etihad
Maria with Angelo Stoitsis, MSC Cruises Business Development Executive & Amir Klicic Corporate Sales Manager, Etihad Airways.
Maria Di Pietro from Jump on Board Travel will be heading off on a free cruise holiday after being named the lucky door prize winner at a recent MSC Cruises and Etihad event in Melbourne.
Di Pietro won herself return flights with Etihad and a seven-night MSC Arabian Peninsula cruise aboard MSC Fantasia.
In addition to giving away a holiday, the evening also saw Etihad and MSC update consultants on their products.