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. Why you won’t find NYC & Florida in Adventure World’s first USA brochure
Flick through any USA travel brochure in Australia and you’re like to find itineraries and holiday options for New York City and Florida – they’re two of Australia’s favourite spots in America, making them an easy sell for tour operators.
So why then did Adventure World decide to skip the popular cities in its first USA program?
Before answering that, it’s important to ask – what took Adventure World so long to launch a USA brochure?
2. How a flight attendant saved a young girl from sex trafficking
“If you see something, you say something” – that was more than just a motto for Alaska Airlines’ flight attendant Shelia Fedrick, it was an instinct that resulted in her rescuing a teenage girl from human trafficking.
The cabin crew member was carrying out her usual inflight duties on a recent flight from Seattle to San Francisco when she noticed an unlikely pair.
It was a girl, around 14 or 15, with greasy hair, looking dishevelled and like she’d “been through pure hell” sitting beside a well-dressed, older man.
3. Turkish Airlines sponsored the Super Bowl & not everyone was happy about it
Super Bowl viewers have jumped on social media to question Turkish Airlines’ noticeable sponsorship of the major US sporting event.
America’s biggest annual sporting event, which aired today, saw the airline launch its newest video campaign starring Morgan Freeman during the live broadcast and display its logo beneath the commentary table. The carrier also delivered the game to passengers on board all Sunday flights that had an internet connection.
Chief Marketing Officer of Turkish Airlines, Ahmet Olmustur, said it was a great opportunity to “organise a flight that offers the best experience at the highest level” and unveil its new video to the millions of sport fans.
4. Flights to South America are selling for less than Super Bowl 2018 packages
Would you rather watch two teams of men scrimmaging, tackling and sprinting across a field for a couple of hours OR experience the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of South America?
If you’re not a sports fan and prefer your footy players in a pair of those G-blessed NRL stubbies, then this really shouldn’t be a tough decision – especially when you learn that return flights to South America are on sale right now for a fifth of the cost of a Super Bowl 2018 package.
It’s true.
5. AccorHotels to acquire Travel Keys
AccorHotels has entered negotiations to buy the private vacation rental business, Travel Keys.
The 100 percent acquisition would see AccorHotels takeover representation of over 5,000 highly curated villas across more than 100 destinations across the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii and the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa
The combination of Travel Keys with onefinestay and Squarebreak will provide AccorHotels with a unique offering of about 8,500 addresses in the luxury private rental market, with highly curated properties in both the vacation & urban segments.
The transaction is expected to close in quarter two of 2017 after customary due diligence.
6. Melbourne property to rebrand into a Sebel
Melbourne has received its fourth Sebel property this month, with the rebranding of the Grand Mercure Apartments Docklands in Melbourne to The Sebel Residences, Melbourne Docklands.
Effective this week, the property joins The Sebel Melbourne Flinders Lane, The Sebel Melbourne Docklands, The Sebel Residences Melbourne Docklands and The Sebel Melbourne Moorabbin (opening early this year) in the city.
The waterfront property offers a choice of 80 one, two or three bedroom apartment accommodation, which includes a spacious lounge and dining area and fully equipped kitchens. Apartments also include feature modern appliances, beautifully appointed bathrooms with bath (on request), shower, in-room laundry with washer/dryer, air conditioning, security intercom and a private balconies offering spectacular harbour or city views (on request).
7. A&K Philanthropy pedals into Botswana
A&K Philanthropy is expanding its partnership with Working Bikes and Wheels of Change with a second store in Kasane, Botswana where bikes are delivered from the US and local women are trained to run the shop.
The announcement comes a year after the partnership delivered 1,200 bicycles to the Nakatindi community in Zambia.
The Dipetsana Women’s Bike Shop marks AKP’s first livelihood project in Botswana and according to A&K, the response from staff at nearby Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero has been overwhelming, with 15 bikes already sold and orders in place for 15 more. With high demand anticipated, the ladies are already looking into how to mobilise and ship two more containers of bikes by June 2017 to avoid running out of stock.
Access to bikes in this community helps to sustain livelihoods, create jobs, improve medical care and empower women and has benefits which are felt far and wide.
8. Helloworld bosses hang out with Alan Joyce at G’Day USA
Senior leadership members from Helloworld – Cinzia Burnes and Gregory Lording – were invited to the annual G’Day USA gala night in L.A. last month.
As well meeting and taking a picture with Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, Gregory Lording, Group GM Helloworld Wholesale said the pair was able to take part in the event, which is significant in US and Australia relations.
“There are in excess of 680,000 Americans visiting Australia every year and they represent one of the highest per capita spends while on their holidays. It is terrific to be able to celebrate this great association at G’Day USA.” said Ms Burnes.