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. WIN a 5-night cruise for 2
Here’s your chance to WIN a 5 night Cruise for 2 onboard Dream Cruises brand new amazing ship – The Genting Dream.
Cruise from Singapore to either Thailand and Malaysia or Indonesia. Enter now!
2. And the winner is… Karen Majsay
Karen Majsay, Manager at Low & James Travel Associates, Neutral Bay is the lucky winner of the recent Plaza Premium Lounge incentive, giving Agents the chance to win five passes into the group’s lounges.
Michael Thomson from Plaza Premium Group presented Karen with a bottle of bubby and the five passes that can be used at any Plaza Premium Lounge worldwide including the Brisbane Airport lounge and the newly opened arrival lounges in Heathrow London.
Congratulations Karen!
3. Viking Cruises hosts second round of information sessions
Due to popular demand, Viking Cruises will host a second round of free information sessions designed to immerse potential guests in the brand’s new ocean itineraries, extensive river cruise offering and award-winning fleet.
Hosted by experts from Viking Cruises, the sessions will be held in Canberra (The National Museum, Tuesday 23 May), Adelaide (Rydges South Park Adelaide, Tuesday 30 May), Perth (Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre, Thursday 1 June) and Newcastle (Merewether Surfhouse, Wednesday 7 June).
“We had an overwhelming response to our first ever sessions in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane with many agents seeing the advantage of attending or sending their clients along to learn more about Viking Cruises first-hand from our Viking experts, and to help find the cruise itinerary that is right for them,” said Michelle Black, Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand.
Click here for more information.
4. Americas on Sale with Globus
Globus is offering travellers to Canada and America even more bang for their buck with a special 10 percent early booking discount to celebrate the release of its 2018 preview brochure.
The discount is available for bookings on select 2018 tours, with prices starting from $2555 for a nine-day tour of Eastern Canada.
Highlights of the 2018 preview offering include the Historic Cities of Eastern Canada itinerary – nine days exploring Canada’s East Coast visiting Toronto, Niagara Falls, Thousand Islands National Park, Ottawa, Québec and Montréal. There’s also the 10-day America’s Musical Heritage from Nashville to New Orleans, including a visit to Graceland.
5. Your top guide to selling the Arctic
Tell your clients to dust off their binoculars: there’s a new hot spot on the horizon of adventure travel thanks to Polar Specialist Chimu Adventures expanding their travel options to include exciting new Arctic itineraries.
Think spotting polar bears in the midnight sun, watching the spectacular Northern Lights, cruising some of the world’s most scenic fjord systems, or exploring the northernmost reaches of the planet on the ultimate BIG bucket list adventure that is the North Pole.
6. Emirates goes all A380 to Melbourne
Emirates will provide an all-A380 service from Melbourne when it upgrades its third daily flight from the Australian city, EK408 and EK409, from a Boeing 777-300ER to an A380 operation.
The move will add 945 seats per week to the Australian city from 25 March 2018, representing a 10 percent increase in capacity. This means Emirates customers can enjoy even more seamless “A380 to A380” connections via its hub in Dubai to 18 points in the UK and Europe.
Emirates’ A380 offers 489 seats in a three-class cabin configuration with 14 private suites in First Class, 76 flat-bed seats in Business Class and 399 spacious seats in Economy.
7. Metro Hotels moves into Darwin
Metro Hospitality Group has taken over management of a popular serviced apartment property in the heart of Darwin city, as part of its strategy to expand its national footprint into every major city in Australia.
The property will be rebranded as Metro Advance Apartments & Hotel in Darwin with a takeover date at the end of April 2017, well in time to capitalise on major upcoming Darwin events, including the V8 Super Cars and Darwin Cup week.
Inside, there’s 71 serviced apartments, including 26 studios, 27 one-bedroom apartments and 18 two-bedroom apartments. All apartments feature separate living and dining areas, fully equipped kitchen, private laundry facilities and balcony.
8. AccorHotels adds to its Adelaide network
The Country Comfort Adelaide Manor has been rebranded to ibis Styles Adelaide Manor, becoming AccorHotels’ ninth hotel in South Australia.
The 46-room hotel is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment of its lobby, reception area, restaurant and bar bringing it in-line with ibis Styles’ design-led brand standards which is due to be complete in June.
A full upgrade of the hotel’s guestrooms will soon follow. Ibis Styles Adelaide Manor also boasts meeting facilities that can hold up to 100 people, an outdoor pool and spa.
9. Disneyland Resort in California helps celebrate The Morning Show’s anniversary
Disney Parks and Resorts is delighted to announce that Channel 7’s The Morning Show is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary at Disneyland Resort in California with Larry Edmur and Kylie Gillies heading to the Happiest Place on Earth from the 8 to 12 May 2017.
The Morning Show will broadcast live from the two world renowned Theme Parks at Disneyland Resort in California (Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park), where they will have the opportunity to experience over 100 attractions.
David Clarke, Head of Travel and Business Development AU/NZ, The Walt Disney Company, said: “We are delighted that The Morning Show has decided to celebrate this special occasion with us at Disneyland Resort in California. They will be able to experience and share with everyone at home in Australia, all that our Theme Parks have to offer.”
SPOTTED
‘Live Like A Local’ TravelManagers Italian educational experience
Experiencing Umbria just like a client would, was the highlight for TravelManagers who recently participated on a TravelManagers exclusive six-night Italy educational, hosted by Carol Scalercio from CIT Holidays and Melbourne-based Qatar Airways Sales Executive Jennifer Julio.
Travel Agents said the trip was arranged unlike any other past famil, with consultants able to discover and experience each location on the trip just their clients would.
Highlights of the educational included a guided walking tour of Spello, a truffle hunt in Spoleto at Bartoli as well as staying in luxurious hotels in Florence and Rome.
Sabre takes off to 20 years in APAC as market growth continues
Sabre Corporation celebrated the twentieth anniversary of its Airline Solutions business in Asia Pacific last month and marked a reinvigorated investment in the region.
In the three years since its 2014 IPO, Sabre’s Airline Solutions team’s work with airline customers in APAC has tripled in size, now extending across 19 markets, and the number of staff in its Bengaluru and Shanghai technology development centres has doubled to over 1,500 employees.
This growth comes in line with the Company’s global results, which saw Sabre’s Airline and Hospitality Solutions businesses surpass the US$1 billion revenue benchmark for the first time in 2016.
Travel Counsellors taste NZ wine
A group of Travel Counsellors travelled to New Zealand to be schooled on the phenomenal range of opportunities to relax, dine, pursue adventure and soak up culture in New Zealand’s Wellington and Marlborough regions.
In stunning Marlborough, the group got to visit iconic cellar doors to sample drops of cool climate pinot noir and sauvignon blanc, feast on local fresh seafood, try handmade chocolates, stay in deluxe accommodation and cruise the famous Marlborough Sounds.
In Wellington, the group got to discover the thriving arts and dining culture that the city is fast becoming known for. A visit to a film studio revealed the talent behind New Zealand’s film production industry, while a food tour led by a local guide helped to uncover the city’s best bars, restaurants and cafes to find gourmet produce, craft brews and wine. A trip across Cook Strait on the Interislander Ferry also demonstrated why it’s known as one of the most beautiful ferry rides in the world.
TIME acknowledges new graduates & intakes
Since launching in 2009, 24 intakes of mentees have completed their mentoring programs with TIME, accelerating the leadership paths of 150 graduates from more than 60 travel, tourism and hospitality businesses.
That 24th graduating group of mentees joined an esteemed network of alumni last month in Sydney, crossing paths with TIME’s 26th commencement group.
“Our program is structured that way,” says TIME Founder, Penny Spencer. “As one group graduates, there’s another one going in. They typically meet each other at our graduation events where both groups are presented to the industry and media. That interaction provides them with a wonderful networking opportunity, and a forum to share their experiences and allay any commencement jitters the new group may have.”