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. Which celebrity will be at Flight Centre’s 2016 Global Gathering?
Image: landmarkmedia/Shutterstock.com
The last time Flight Centre took its global achievers to Singapore they had what was dubbed ‘the best time ever’ at a private beach party on Sentosa Island with Fatboy Slim.
That was only four years ago and people are still bragging about it.
This year, the travel group is taking its best sellers back to the Lion City in the hopes of reclaiming those laughs and potentially even topping that epic event.
But in order to do that, Flight Centre will need to find (and pay a large sum of money to) a pretty incredible, exciting, jaw dropping, oh-my-gosh-can’t-wait-see-this-person celebrity.
2. Brexit isn’t looking too bad for Aussie travellers
A great exchange range, cheaper accommodation and more opportunities to fly into other key European hubs such as Paris or Frankfurt.
Brexit isn’t looking too bad for Aussie travellers – please don’t ambush us with rotten tomatoes! Hear us out.
As much negativity as there is around the subject, it appears as though it is going through whether people like it or not (sort of like that lock-out law in Sydney). So let’s look at some of the positives.
3. All passengers safe following aircraft fire
Singapore Airlines plane makes emergency landing, before right engine bursts into flames https://t.co/hmUq2qoNwP pic.twitter.com/PaKg9t5F2x
— Mashable (@mashable) June 27, 2016
Singapore Airlines says all passengers and crew aboard Flight SQ368 were evacuated safely after the 777-300Er caught fire after touching down at Changi Airport.
The aircraft was travelling to Milan when the pilot received an oil warning message and made the decision to return to Singapore.
In an online statement, the carrier said the Boeing caught fire upon touch down and was immediately put out by emergency services. All 222 passengers and 19 crew disembarked safely via stairs and were transferred to another aircraft.
Shout out to the pilot for making the right decision and keeping everyone safe.
4. ‘Nothing will tarnish Vanuatu as a tourism destination’
Vanuatu may have had a rough run over the last 18 months with bad weather, runway issues and road accidents, but none of these events have or will affect tourism in the long run.
According to Vanuatu Tourism Organisation’s General Manager, Linda Kalpoi, the island nation is resilient, particularly when it comes to rebuilding and maintaining arrivals.
Speaking to KarryOn in Sydney last week at the Vanuatu Roadshow, Kalpoi explained that the communal attitude amongst Agents attending the three-city (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) event is that these incidents could have happened anywhere.
5. APT takes the Sydney Symphony Orchestra to the Kimberley
APT is bringing the symphony to the Kimberley by hosting exclusive live performances by a quintet from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) beneath the sandstone domes of the Bungle Bungle’s Cathedral Gorge this September.
The performance is being held exclusively for guests travelling on the company’s tourism, giving them the chance to experience music in the natural amphitheatre within the remote World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park, Cathedral Gorge.
The special symphony will be held during select tours, including the 15-day Kimberley Complete on 2, 6 and 7 September 2016; 16-day Kimberley, Kakadu & Arnhem Land on 5 September; the 16-day Kimberley, Kakadu & Arnhem Land (Reverse) on 9 September; and the nine-day El Questro, Gorges & Purnululu on 9 and 12 September.
6. Strong start to the 2016 whale season
The 2016 whale season has kicked off on a high, according to Captain Cook Cruises, with the company reporting 20 percent more sightings from the same time last year.
Up to 20 whales have been sighted each cruise so far and the level of whale activity has also increased with calves breaching continuously up to 20 times. Whales have also ‘mugged’ a few cruise ships – where they swim directly alongside the boat – and there’s even been a whale lunge feeding, which is a rare experience off Sydney.
Captain Cook Cruises operate Whale Watching cruises throughout the Whale Watching season which runs until 1 November, 2016. The company has a 95 percent whale sighting success rate.
7. MTA Trio attend Scenic Amber christening
Three MTA Agents were given the chance to be among the first to sail on Scenic’s new ship, Scenic Amber.
The trio were invited to the ship’s recent christening, which took place in the River Danube port of Passau, Germany.
The picture above was taken at the Mirabell Palace & Gardens in Salzburg, one of several stops on the Scenic Amber’s maiden cruise.
8. Less than a WEEK to WIN with Etihad
There’s now six days left for Travel Agents and their customers to book an Etihad flight and be in the running to WIN back the cost that fare.
One winner has been announced every day since the incentive launched three weeks ago.
To be in the running, Travel Agents need to book their clients on an Etihad flight – flights booked have to be for travel until 31 December 2016 and Agents must enter the game of skill on winwithetihad.com.au before 4 July 2016.