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The Daily Travel Agent Bites: Thurs 15 Dec

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. Ovation of the Seas sails into the Sydney mist

Travel Agent

Royal Caribbean’s technologically advanced cruising beast, Ovation of the Seas, has arrived in Sydney, with the 5,000-passenger ship sailing into the Harbour this morning.

The 5,000-passenger ship completed her journey from Perth to her new Sydney home-port in the early hours to become the largest and most technologically advanced cruise ship to ever call Australia home.

She’s the fifth Royal Caribbean vessel to be locally-based, joining Voyager of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Legend of the Seas. Her two-day visit in Sydney alone is expected to inject over $3.3 million in passenger spend.

Yaowza!

KarryOn will take a tour of the vessel this evening, be sure to check back tomorrow for any onboard updates.

Click here for more images.

 

2. British Airways cabin crew vote in favour of strikes

Travel Agent strike

Some 2,000 British Airways cabin crew employees voted in favour of strikes this week over an ongoing pay dispute with the airline.

Confirmed by the Unite union, industrial action is believed to be taking place some time after 21st of December, however, organisers aren’t yet sure whether action will impact travel over the upcoming Christmas holidays.

According to Unite, the vote among 2,500 union members came after staff rejected a proposed two percent pay rise. Some 79 percent of those who voted were in favour of action, which Unite hopes will urge the carrier to return to the negotiation table, BBC reported.

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3. What do Aussies get out of Virgin Australia & Air Canada’s codeshare?

Travel Agent Virgin Australia

You’ve probably heard the news by now, Virgin Australia has entered a new codeshare arrangement with Air Canada.

It’s an exciting time for both airlines because it means they get to reach more people through each other’s networks and offer their own guests access to new destinations.

The first stage of the codeshare is scheduled to take off from early next year and Virgin Australia’s Group Executive, John Thomas, believes it’s an opportunity to enhance the airline’s services from Australia and in North America.

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4. Jones to continue at Magellan

magellan

Magellan Co-Founder, Andrew Jones, has confirmed he’ll stay on as a Director and Chairman of Magellan Travel Group despite his agency, Andrew Jones Travel, being sold to Corporate Travel Management (CTM).

He said: “I am looking forward to continuing to serve as a Founder, Director and Chairman of the Magellan Travel Group. Moving forward this opportunity will allow me to focus on the growth and development of the Group and our Members”.

“We have an excellent Board of Directors and CEO and have added talent at Head Office to provide us with the skills and resources we need to not only serve our existing Members and Supplier Partners but also to be growth-ready for the opportunities ahead.”

 

5. Qatar Airways sends the jumbo jet to Melbourne

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Seven years after launching in Melbourne, Qatar Airways has confirmed its increasing capacity from the destination by replacing the current aircraft with an A380.

Commencing 30 June next year, the jumbo plane will increase current capacity by 44 percent on the Melbourne-Doha route with eight seats in First Class, 48 seats in Business Class and 461 in Economy Class.

Qatar Airways’ Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said there’s a “clear need” for the carrier to inject extra capacity from Melbourne.

 

6. Emirates’ plans for Christmas are both adorable & tasty

Travel Agent emirates

We know Qantas has a couple of festive weeks ahead with its Christmas plans and so too does its airline partner, Emirates, which has unveiled adorable and tasty plans for the holidays.

That huggable bear up there should be an indicator of the level of cuteness ahead.

But let’s start with the food.

Read on

 

7. Melbourne’s newest hotel will be stylish, comfortable & affordable

Travel Agent

Stylish, comfortable and affordable – that’s what Marriott International is promising guests staying at the Four Points by Sheraton, Melbourne Dockland scheduled to open in March next year.

The property is located at 22 Pearl River Road and boasts 273 modern and comfortable guest rooms including 16 studios, with each room offering either city or river views. Rooms come with free bottled water and fast and free internet access.

Guests will have access to a welcoming lounge bar, an all-day dining restaurant as well as in-room dining. There’s a 25-metre outdoor heated swimming pool with a large deck area, a 24-hour fitness centre with a steam room plus meeting space for up to 450 guests.

 

8. Rezdy’s new agreement hooks Travel Agents up to thousands of tour & activity operators

Travel Agent

Some 600 Travel Agents will have an easier time booking tours and activities thanks to Rezdy’s new arrangement with Website Travel.

Announced this week, the partnership will give Website Travel’s growing network of hundreds of consultants across Australasia and Europe access to Rezdy’s database of over 2,000 tour and activity suppliers, including unique, quirky products such as Escape Hunt in Sydney, swimming like mermaids and more.

The tour and activity research process for Agents will be simplified, as will booking with Rezdy’s real-time availability and immediate online booking confirmation.

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9. WARNING! This is just TOO CUTE

Travel Agent

Who’s this curious, little guy? Isn’t he (or could be she) just adorable!

The Penguin is one of an entire colony of sub-Antarctic penguins now residing in SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium as part of the world’s first penguin experience called, Penguin Expedition.

Inspired by Macquarie Island – an Australian owned island in the Southwest Pacific Ocean – Penguin Expedition takes guests on an immersive journey as they travel in a raft through a rugged, sub-Antarctic environment at a cool but comfortable six degrees Celsius, surrounded by colonies of King and Gentoo Penguins.

The aquarium will have a dedicated penguin breeding program on site whereby marine biologists hope to hear the pitter patter of little King or Gentoo penguin feet as early as next year. This program will provide valuable insight and research into the inner workings of penguin colonies to help ensure their future survival in the wild.

To celebrate the launch, the King and Gentoo Penguins were treated to range of enrichment activities which saw them popping bubbles, playing with toys and enjoying special fishy treats in their new icy home.

 

10. Agents get a unique Strip view in Las Vegas

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The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) rolled out the red carpet for seven Australian and New Zealand wholesale product managers last week, showcasing the best of what the ‘entertainment capital of the world’ has to offer.

The trip started off on a high with the group flying with American Airlines and continued on-the-ground with accommodation at SLS Las Vegas.

Over three nights, the group experienced some quintessential Las Vegas experiences including the Richard Petty Driving Experience; an evening helicopter flight over the Las Vegas Strip; views from the world’s tallest observation wheel; the High Roller; and Cirque du Soleil’s KÀ show

 

11. Helloworld Agents experience the power of travel first-hand

Travel Agent intrepid-2

A group of Helloworld Agents didn’t just get a feel of small group travel during a recent Intrepid famil, they also saw first-hand how travel can transform peoples’ lives.

During the trip to Siem Reap and Hanoi, the group took part in several charity projects that are part of Intrepid trips in the two destinations.

Other highlights of the trip were taking part in a Cambodian cooking class as well as bike riding from central Hanoi and out to the fields on the other side of the Red River.

Click here for more pictures of their trip.

 

This week’s competitions

Christmas Travel Gift Guide Bonanza Giveaway

Travel Agent hero

Those who love to travel are always looking for the latest gadgets to make the journey just a little easier and more fun. Enter our Christmas Gift Guide for your chance to WIN!

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What are your thoughts on today’s travel news?