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. Final days to WIN a California-inspired prize
After five weeks of exploring the Golden State, Excite Holidays has entering the final few days of its ‘45 Days of California Dreaming’ campaign, in collaboration with Visit California.
Currently featuring the must-see destinations San Diego and Palm Springs, the carefully curated guide has been designed to help Agents create the ultimate California adventure for their clients. Click here to check out the guide.
But of course, to entice consultants to learn about Cali, the online wholesaler was also giving away California-inspired prizes every day for 45 days, and there’s only a few days left to win.
To be in the running, consultants need to make a paid California booking between 24 April 2017 and Sunday 4 June 2017, and they will automatically go into the draw. In addition, for every room night booked in California during the campaign period, agents will receive double rewards points.
2. Royal Caribbean extends its call hours for Agents
There’s nothing more annoying than trying to wrap up a late one in the office when a last minute cruise question hits you but it’s like 8.50pm and all the reservation lines are closed.
Royal Caribbean has your back because the company has extended the hours of operation of its Reservation Sales & Service call centre for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises, from 8.00am to 9.00pm Monday to Friday.
Weekend operations will remain the same.
3. Cebu Pacific Air connects Aussies to more of the Philippines
The Philippines is now even more accessible to Australian travellers thanks to Cebu Pacific Air, which operates a non-stop direct flight from Sydney to its Manila hub, connecting holidaymakers to onward acclaimed destinations. This remit has been further increased due to the Low-Cost Carrier launching new routes and operating from Puerto Princesa International Airport’s new terminal.
Cebu Pacific has expanded its network through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cebgo. From Manila, which is just an eight hour flight from Sydney, travellers can connect to Cebu’s Clark hub, which also connects travellers to Boracy and Busuanga.
The airline will operate daily services between Clark and Caticlan, Boracay and three weekly services between Clark and Busuanga. Cebgo has also launched two additional direct services between Cebu and Busuanga and Cebu and Cotabato.
Further to this, Cebu Pacific has started flying in and out of the new terminal of Puerto Princesa International Airport, operating the most number of flights to and from the capital of Palawan. In 2016, the carrier flew the most number of passengers to and from Puerto Princesa, garnering over 50 per cent of the total market share. Cebu Pacific Air will also be increasing the capacity of its flights to and from Puerto Princesa, upgrading from the 180-seater Airbus A320 to the Airbus A321 neos with a 230 seating capacity.
4. Opa! TravelCube adds Greek Island Ferry packages
It’s time to start smashing some plates because TravelCube has just added three exclusive Greek Island Ferry packages to its fast-growing portfolio of destination services.
The company’s new Greek Island Ferry packages all incorporate private transfers, with clients personally escorted to and from their ferries by local representatives. The packages cover three of the country’s most popular ferry journeys, including the Piraeus (Athens) – Mykonos, Mykonos – Santorini, and Santorini – Piraeus (Athens).
Prices for all three Greek Island Ferry packages depend on the number of passengers. Click here for more information.
5. 10% off Luxury Gold tours in India
The Jewel in the Crown is increasingly popping up on people’s travel bucket lists, so why not tick it off yours sooner rather than later and save while you’re at it.
Luxury Gold is running a limited time offer on its India journeys, offering holidaymakers 10 percent off select itineraries.
The offer is valid on new bookings made by 30 June and includes the 13-day Imperial Rajasthan trip featuring ancient forts and desert cities.
Click here for more information.
6. Treat the kids with Travelodge Choosedays
A cuter travel deal never existed! Travelodge is not only offering a sweet 20 percent discount for families who book a night’s stay at select hotels on a Tuesday, but also a family movie pass to Despicable Me 3 (out in cinemas on 15 June 2017).
True to the Travelodge promise of giving guests more of what they want, visitors can select a 2-for-1 breakfast or late check-out when they book one of seventeen Travelodge Hotels across Australia and New Zealand on a Tuesday. Aside from the movie pass, the package also includes a Despicable Me 3 sticker sheet, squishy toy and famous Minion goggles.
This Choosedays offer is available for bookings made before the end of July for stays from 28 February 2017 to 30 December 2017.
Click here for more information.
7. A Magical Winter Christmas is only one sale away
Collette is giving travellers an early Christmas present with the release of a Special Offer Collection Brochure stuffed with savings on magical winter Christmas itineraries.
Among the itineraries on sale is the three-night Classic Christmas Markets tour, during which guests stay in the famous Bavarian village Oberammergau and explore the old-world architecture of the village and soak up its rich culture as the village prepares for the 42nd edition of the play to take place in 2020. Oberammergau is also a highlight within the Magical Christmas Markets tour as a day visit.
Savings of up to $150 can be made on the Magical Christmas Markets tour, with tour prices falling from $1,879 to $1,729. Travellers will also be able to save $200 on the Classic Christmas Markets Tour, down from $2,429 to $2,229. These savings are available for selected departure dates including 26 November 2017, 3 December 2017 and 10 December 2017.
Click here for more information.
8. Savings of up to 20% on sailing holidays in the Mediterranean
G Adventures is making it cheaper for Aussies and Kiwis to sail around the Mediterranean’s pristine beaches, explore ancient ruins and visit island paradises through its new G Adventures Sail on Sale, offering up to 20 percent off select Mediterranean itineraries.
Trips vary in length and style, but among the itineraries on sale is the eight-day Sailing Greece – Santorini to Mykonos yacht adventure featuring hiking, snorkelling and relaxing, which is now available from just $1,399 – a saving of $350. The sale ends 30 June 2017, with departures up until 15 December 2017.
Meanwhile, Agents looking to learn more about G Adventures’ Mediterranean Sailing offer can tune into GTV on 7 June at 9.30am to hear from G Adventures’ GPS Steph Beard and Global Sailing Manager Vince Donnelly (who is based in the UK). Click here for more information.
9. Early birds catch the $1,000 saving from Back-Roads
Back-Roads Touring is offering travellers up to $1,000 per couple saving on some of the brand’s most popular tours for 2018, including the much-loved Corners of Cornwall tour, Italian Indulgence trip and Iberian Inspiration.
The offer is valid on new bookings made from now until 31 August 2017.
There’s up to 10 tours with the 10 percent early bird special available so get to booking!
Click here for more information.
10. sbe to open its first hotel in the Middle East
sbe will open its first hotel in the Middle East with the launch of Mondrian Doha, Qatar in July (quarter three), 2017.
This soft opening will set the stage for Mondrian Doha’s grand opening celebration, which follows in October, 2017 and promises to be an outstanding showcase of the property.
The lavish 270-room hotel has been designed in collaboration with world-renowned Dutch designer, Marcel Wanders, along with South West Architecture – the architectural company of record for Mondrian Doha, responsible for the design of the building.
The hotel will be an exceptional lifestyle offering for Doha and will be Marcel Wanders’ first hotel for the region. Guests can choose from five distinctive room categories including penthouse suites, studio suites, one and two bedroom suites and a range of standard guestrooms – all of which share the universal design details of Swarovski crystal chandeliers and sumptuous bespoke furniture in hues to mirror the desert.
SPOTTED
Hawaii created a Flux in Sydney
A piece of Hawaii popped up Sydney last week, with the opening of The FLUX Hawaii Shop, presented by Hawaii’s super cool FLUX Hawaii Magazine with Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania and made possible with support from Hawaiian Airlines, the Creative Industries Division of the State of Hawai‘i Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and Marriott Hotels and Resorts.
Fans of design and all things Hawaiian were able to enjoy curated wares from artisans and designers who represent the current of Hawai’i. An exclusive line of products, cultural demonstrations, music performances, talk-story sessions, art installations, and hands-on workshops were also featured at the weeklong pop-up shop.
FLUX collaborated with six Hawaiʻi designers on exclusive products, and brought along goods from brands that reflect the current of Hawaiʻi to share with Aussie friends. FLUX Hawaii is a tri-annual lifestyle magazine that features the latest in local arts and culture. It is Hawaii’s only internationally distributed lifestyle magazine.
Etihad welcomes its 10th jumbo jet
Etihad Airways’ gigantic fleet of 10 Airbus A380s is officially complete with the 10th and final plane arriving earlier this month.
Employees gathered at Airbus’ Hamburg Finkenwerder plant in Germany to commemorate the momentous occasion before commencing the aircraft’s delivery flight to Abu Dhabi.
Inside, the Etihad aircraft features the carrier’s famous three-room private living space called The Residence along with nine First Apartments, 70 Business Studios, a Lobby Lounge, and 415 Economy Smart Seats.