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The Weekly Travel Agent Bite: 10 May

Skill up on all you need to know with bite sized travel news designed specifically to help you, the Travel Agent, be your best.

Skill up on all you need to know with bite sized travel news designed specifically to help you, the Travel Agent, be your best.

1. And the winner of a 5-night cruise with Dream Cruises is…

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Travel Agents entered, they told us what they’d loved about the cruise line and how they’d sell it to their clients.

But there could only be one winner of a 5-night cruise aboard Dream Cruises’ Genting Dream and it is…

Sandra Brasier from italk Travel in Mt Waverly!

Congratulations and enjoy your trip for two from Singapore to either Thailand and Malaysia or Indonesia.

 

2. Viking Cruises announces first three winners of golden tickets

Viking Cruises

The first three winners of Viking Cruises’ golden ticket giveaway have been found as brochure deliveries start to land, with Cruise Travel Centre Hobart, Escape Travel Mackay and italktravel Fountain Gate each winning one of seven Rhine Getaway river cruises.

The four remaining golden tickets can be found between Viking’s new 2018 river brochures, and will see the winning agency win an eight-day Rhine Getaway river cruise for two from Amsterdam to Basel (or vice versa) on a pre-selected date.

As the final deliveries are made, Agents are encouraged to check if they are one of the last lucky winners so they can claim their prize.

 

3. WIN a 7-night cruise with Carnival

Carnival feature

For the month of May, all Australian Agents who book a client on a Carnival Mexican cruise will go in the draw to win a seven-night cruise to the Mexican Riviera or one of three MEXI-FUN hampers up for grabs each week.

The incentive comes after the cruise line experienced a record number of cruises to Mexico in 2018 and 2019, offering more opportunities than ever for Australians holidaymakers.

Fares on a 7-day cruise on Carnival Miracle sailing from Long Beach in Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera start from AU$976 per person twin share. The cruise departs on November 11, 2017 with calls to Cabo, San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.

 

4. 2017 NTIA Gala Dinner ticket requests open

NTIA

Want to attend this year’s NTIA Gala Dinner? You can now get your ticket request application in by clicking here.

The annual event will be held this year on 22 July in the Grand Ballroom at the International Convention Centre, Sydney.

The new venue caters for an increased capacity for 1,500 guests. Click here to find out who this year’s finalists are.

 

5. Insider Journeys reinstates China private travel range

Insider Journeys

Due to the growth of interest in China as a destination for Australian travellers, the wholesale division of Helloworld Travel has responded by reinstating a range of select FIT product offers that will be serviced by Insider Journeys, its specialist Asia wholesaler and tour operator.

While Insider Journeys plans to release its new China brochure later this year product is loaded and available to the Agent network to sell.

There will be further announcements from Insider Journeys as it looks to provide more innovation in its itineraries and potentially offer new destinations similar to what it pioneered in Indochina over twenty years ago.

 

6. Scenic launches South America program for 2018

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Scenic has launched its South America program for 2018, which features a brand-new 12/29 day tour, Icons of South & Central America, combines the very best of South America, from the history-steeped Havana and Trinidad to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Machu Picchu and Cuzco.

There’s a new Scenic Enrich experience, a horse-and-carriage ride and dinner in Cartagena, as well as a host of new Scenic Freechoice options: think Cuzco cooking classes, off-road adventures in Los Glaciares National Park and a Classic Havana tour.

Also new for 2018 is a Belmond Andean Explorer two-day luxurious rail journey across the awe-inspiring Andes to Lake Titicaca on Scenic’s 16 day Peru Discovery tour, where guests will delve into Peru’s Sacred Valley and visit the World Heritage site of Machu Picchu.

Click here to check out the brochure.

 

7. Helen Wong’s new bargain escapes

Helen Wong Beijing

Helen Wong’s Tours has partnered with Qantas to launch a newly-branded program of guided tours with a host of benefits designed for bargain hunters called the Bargain Escapes program.

Focusing on China and Japan, the program combines guided sightseeing with ample free time for travellers to shop, dine and cover other sites – at their leisure.

Among the benefits of booking a new Helen Wong’s Tours Bargain Escapes tour are all departures are guaranteed; prices are guaranteed once a customer pays a deposit; no seasonal surcharges; chance to earn additional Qantas Frequent Flyer Points; and early bird price guarantee for bookings and deposits for 2018.

 

8. Delta is relocating at LAX

LAX 2

Between 13-17 May, Delta Air Lines will relocate from Terminals 5 and 6 to Terminals 2 and 3 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

During the move, Delta flights will operate from as many as four terminals (2,3,5 and 6), to ensure constant communication with all customers.

Travellers are strongly encouraged to arrive early and check their terminal gate information before arriving at the airport. They’re also asked to keep in mind that during the terminal move the connecting times may have increased for International to Domestic and vice versa.

During the move at LAX airport all Delta Flights (DL40/DL41) will be arriving and departing from Terminal 2, however flights from Sydney to Los Angeles (DL40/DL41) will make the move after 17 May. Virgin Australia’s flights will be arriving and departing from TBIT terminal, but check-in will be at Terminal 2.

 

SPOTTED

Gold Coast Agents welcome Hong Kong update

Gold Coast

The Hong Kong Tourism Board and Cathay Pacific Brisbane hosted over 80 retail Agents at a cocktail event on the Gold Coast on the 19 of April to update the trade on Cathay’s new A350 aircraft services from Brisbane to Hong Kong.

The event was held at the beachfront Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort and included agents from Flight Centre, Helloworld and other independent agencies.  The Hong Kong Tourism Board updated guests on the latest self-guided walking trails in Central as part of the new ‘Old Town Central’ program, highlighting the city’s unique heritage and cultural experiences.

Attendees also received an overview of new hotel openings and infrastructure for 2017 and 2018, while Cathay Pacific discussed their expanding routes this year, including Barcelona, Gatwick, Manchester and Tel Aviv.

 

Mudgee Region Tourism celebrates a major win

Mudgee

Mudgee Region Tourism has once again been recognised for an outstanding achievement, having been announced as the winner for the Excellence in Innovation award at the 2017 Western NSW Business Awards for the regions hugely successful Reset your senses in Mudgee Region campaign.

The now multiple award-winning campaign encourages visitors to escape their everyday lives in order to reset their senses amongst Mudgee’s unique surroundings, which include Gulgong, Rylstone and Kandos.

Cara George, CEO of Mudgee Region Tourism said: “We’re extremely proud to have been awarded the winner of Excellence in Innovation. The Reset Your Senses campaign has been a huge success for our region and this award is further testament to the incredible food, drink and accommodation offering that we are so proud to have on offer for visitors.”

 

Travellers Choice BDMs come together for capital strategy session

Travellers Choice'

A gathering of Travellers Choice Business Development Managers in Canberra got off to a flying start recently with a delightfully disorderly Segway journey around the capital.

Travellers Choice General Manager – Sales, Nicola Strudwick, says once BDMs had mastered the self-balancing personal transporters – and their propensity for 360 degree spins – they turned their attention to driving the Travellers Choice network forward.

“The aim was to explore ways for the group to continue to deliver our nationally-distributed member shareholders with an unrivalled customer experience,” says Strudwick. “That means ensuring members are fully utilising the support tools and services available to help grow their businesses, and looking at additional networking opportunities.”

Travellers Choice members will meet in Perth’s new six-star Crown Towers in November to celebrate the group’s 40th anniversary.

 

Up the Fiji creek – with a paddle!

MTA Travel Agent

MTA – Mobile Travel Agent, Sandra Di Benedetto recently visited the destination with fellow Member Michelle Edwards as part of a Tourism Fiji ‘Matai’ specialist Fiji sales Agents’ familiarisation.

During the trip, she paddled her way along Fiji’s mighty Navua River and visited a traditional Fijian village in the picturesque Sigatoka Valley.

Another highlight of the program program included a high-speed Sigatoka River Jetboat Safari.

What are your thoughts on today’s travel news? Share your thoughts below.