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 jumps into bed with Airbnb
Qantas is tapping into the world’s obsession with the sharing economy, by giving its loyalty members the chance to earn points when they book their Airbnb accommodation through the airline’s website.
Frequent Flyer members will be able to earn one Qantas Point for every dollar they spend on any of Airbnb’s 2.5 million accommodation listings.
The first-of-its-kind arrangement could see travellers earn around 680 points for one night at an Artist’s Loft in Downtown LA, 50 points on an apartment in Tokyo, or 102 points for a budget studio in Sydney.
2. The 5 Avis Scholarship finalists for 2016 are…
Two return Qantas Business Class tickets to New York, accommodation in Manhattan and the chance to further their career through education…
… they’re just a few of the things Barbara Baron – Sylvania Travel & Cruise; Joanna Tatton – Cruiseabout Noosa; Jeanette Lasek – Travel by Design; Melissa Pointon – MTA Travel; and Janene Ferguson – Helloworld South Melbourne, are in the running to win as finalists in the 2016 Avis Travel Agent Scholarship.
Avis Australia revealed the finalists names this morning, bringing them one step closer to taking home the prestigious title along with a prize package valued at more than $40,000.
3. Believe it or not, the fly-n-flop could be on its way out
Activity-based travel is growing faster than fly-n-flop holidays, with the most popular activities being hiking, mountain biking and scuba diving, according to research by Travel Insurance Direct (TID).
But it’s not all sweat and tears, yoga and golf are also popular activities, giving traditional holiday resorts a new way to market themselves.
The swing to the “sweatcation” holiday is also appealing to a new generation of travellers opening up opportunities for providers.
4. Skydive the Beach moves to become Australia’s largest adventure company
Skydive the Beach (SKB) is going after the title of ‘Australia’s largest adventure company’, with the acquisition of Queensland-based Raging Thunder Adventures, a leading multi-faceted adventure tourism business.
The purchase of $15.45 million, according to SKB’s Executive Director, Anthony Boucaut, means the business will be able to provide more unforgettable experiences and adrenaline-pumping stories across Australia.
Raging Thunder Adventures is considered North Queensland’s premier adventure tourism company in the adventure capital of Australia. It operates extreme white water rafting adventures, hot air balloon rides, canyoning, kayaking and boat tours of the Great Barrier Reef, serving more than 100,000 passengers each year.
5. AccorHotels takes Novotel to the Gold Coast
AccorHotels is taking over management of The Hotel Grand Chancellor on the Gold Coast from 1 October, and rebranding it to a Novotel.
Novotel Surfers Paradise will be the 30th Novotel in Australia and AccorHotels’ fourth property on the Gold Coast, joining Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach, The Sebel Coolangatta and Mercure Resort Gold Coast.
As part of the change in management, the hotel will undergo a multimillion renovation project to refresh the guest rooms, public areas and restaurant in line with Novotel brand standards in 2017/18.
Chief Operating Officer for AccorHotels, Simon McGrath, said that adding the Gold Coast to the Novotel network would expose the destination to an even wider audience.
6. Insider Journeys creates 3 new small group journeys
Insider Journeys has released its 2017/18 Small Group Journeys brochure featuring 1,000 departure dates in 11 countries across around 100 tour itineraries.
Three new itineraries have been added to the program, including a 14-day ‘Essence of Vietnam and Cambodia’ trip taking guests on a three night cruise on the Mekong Delta in Vietnam before speedboating in Phnom Penh in Cambodia.
There’s also the 16-day ‘Trails of Rajasthan’, taking in iconic sights; and there’s the new 23-day Japan Experience through Japan.
7. Swan Hellenic’s Minerva is heading East
Sri Lanka, Oman, India, Vietnam, the Philippines and Borneo are among the 26 countries guests aboard Swan Hellenic’s Minerva will be able to experience when the ship heads East in 2017.
A total of 13 itineraries will be available over the winter period starting 27 October 2017, including the first sailing from Greece to Oman through the Suez Canal and Red Sea.
According to the cruise line’s Director of Cruise Planning and Product, Lynn Cornish, passengers will be able to “get under the skin” of destinations in the Middle East and Far East.
8. Rail Europe tempts young Aussies to book Eurostar
Rail Europe GSAs is tempting Aussies under the age of 26 with one-way fares between London/Ashford/Ebbsfleet and Paris/Brussels/Lille/Calais from $69.
The offer is available from now until 4 November 2016, for travel between 2 November 2016 and 12 April 2017.
Blackout dates appy. Click here for more information.
9. AAT Kings enters new partnership with Chadstone Shopping Centre
AAT Kings has partnered with Melbourne’s fashion mecca, Chadstone shopping centre, to launch two new day tour experiences.
Guests can now combine the ultimate shopping experience with either the marvellous city sights of Melbourne or the gorgeous Little Penguins of Philip Island at no additional cost to AAT Kings’ original tour price.
The Shopping Experience & Penguins gives guests the chance to enjoy an afternoon visit to Chadstone Shopping centre to peruse the shops before enjoying Victoria’s spectacular coastal scenery en route to Philip Island to watch its famous Little Penguins return to shore after a hard day’s fishing. Alternatively, guests looking to combine a trip to Chadstone with an exploration of the urban delights of Melbourne will find exactly that on the new Melbourne City Sights & Shopping Experience morning half day tour.