We’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to! Read on for our top ten travel news stories we think you need to know today.
1. Australia just got cheaper for Brits
Image: News Limited
Expect to see more travellers from the UK hitting our shores, as a decrease in air taxes makes it a whole lot cheaper for travellers to visit Australia.
The UK government has introduced a new banding system on flights, which sees the previously divided bands on travellers flying over 4,000 miles united. This means they will pay the same amount of tax regardless of the distance.
For people travelling to destinations like the Caribbean, which were previously in Brand C, the tax has dropped from £85 ($144) per person to £71 ($120).
2. What if April fool pranks became real?
Did someone get you? Pull your leg? Make a total fool out of you?
The travel industry sure hit us with a few really good ones this year – there’s even a few we’re still wondering whether they’ll become a reality.
Including our very own prank.
Did you get fooled by KarryOn?
3. IHG’s Business Rewards are here
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has expanded its rewards program to feature specialty loyalty value for business clients.
IHG Business Rewards is an extension of IHG Rewards Club and offers rewards on all qualified business bookings for guest rooms, meetings and all events booked at the group’s properties.
Members will continue to fall under their IHG Reward Club account where points earned from business bookings will appear.
Susanna Freer Epstein, SVP Customer Loyalty Marketing, IHG, said the extension is the company’s way of saying thank you to members who continue to do business at IHG properties.
Once members start earning points with IHG Business Rewards, they will have access to all of the redemption options available in the IHG Rewards Club global catalogue.
From hotel stays, air travel and electronic goods, to brand name merchandise and restaurant vouchers.
Regular special offers and promotions will also be available exclusively to IHG Business Reward members.
4. Canada’s new Rocky Mountain training platform
Learn everything you need to know to sell Canada’s Rocky Mountain province through a new online travel agent training platform.
Launched this week, the training tool features PowerPoint presentations and pre-recorded webinars on popular areas during both summer and winter.
There’s also presentations from Banff Lake Louise Tourism, Tourism Jasper, Tourism Calgary, plus Edmonton Tourism and Tourism Canmore Kananaskis.
Popular tourist partners of Alberta also have their own videos on the site, including Rocky Mountaineer Rail Tours, Calgary Stampede and VIA Rail.
Travel Alberta’s Lizzie Doyle said the aim of the platform is to educate agents on experiences in the province.
“These training tools are a way of showing our support by providing education to areas and agents we may not reach with our events.”
Lizzie Doyle, Travel Alberta Australia Market Development Director
Travel agents can log onto www.travelalberta.com.au/trade and scroll to view training presentations.
5. INCENTIVE: Discover the World’s agent competition
Discover the World is offering travel agents the chance to win a $1,000 gift card as part of an incentive on its products.
Running throughout April 2015 a draw will take place every week over four weeks.
To be in the running travel agents need to make and deposit two new bookings with Discover the World on Hebridean Island Cruises, Hurtigruten, Swan Hellenic, Voyages of Discovery or Variety Cruises during the month.
New bookings are accumulative throughout April, so once two bookings are deposited, agents will be entered into that week’s $1,000 Gift Card* draw.
For every two bookings made and deposited, agents will receive an entry into the draw. Agents can mix-and-match their bookings between any of Discover the World’s participating, exceptional cruise partners.
Click here to view the “Discover your Potential” Travel Agent Incentive Flyer
6. You’re invited!
Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Destination and Fraser Coast Opportunities has united to host this year’s Australia’s Nature Coast expos around Australia.
Starting in Melbourne on 13 April, 30 delegates will travel down the East Coast to present product covering the two destinations, including the launch of the Great Beach Drive, scenic touring routes, marine parks, sand islands and more.
There’s also be a number of debuts including new accommodation, attractions and touring options.
Sunshine Coast Destination’s Jan Foletta said that with the launch of the Great Beach Drive and other new product, Australia’s Nature Coast would make a very attractive component in both international and domestic tour itineraries.
“We already have a very strong reputation in the European market, but when you have outstanding beaches, national parks, historic townships, experiences such as dolphin-feeding and world-class diving, along with great dining and food options, you have the perfect package for all holiday makers.”
Jan Foletta, Sunhine Coast Destination Trade and International Manager
Expos kick off in Melbourne on 13 April and will travel down to Sydney on 15 April and Brisbane 16 April.
To attend, click here.
7. Princess comes alive with the Sound of Music
Evergreen Waterways may bring the ‘hills alive’ during movie nights on Emerald Star, but Princess Cruises is bringing the actual ‘Sound of Music’ to its guests with sing-a-long viewings of the classic movie on all 18 of its ships.
The cruise line is working with Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment to celebrate the 50th anniversaries of both the cruise line and the musical The Sound of Music.
The partnership will see Princess screen the movie onboard its ships and feature sing-a-longs, trivia games, and other movie-themed experiences throughout the year.
From mid-April, The Sound of Music will be shown once on every sailing throughout 2015 on Princess Cruises’ 28-square-metre Movies Under the Stars screen.
Sing-a-long versions will be shown in onboard theatres.
8. Skal examines sport sponsorships
Sports will be the topic on hand at the next Skal International Sydney meeting held at the Grace Hotel on 8 April.
Former Olympian and Head Coach of the Sydney University Flames basketball team, Karen Dalton, has been invited to speak to members and guests about the various benefits that are available to an organisation through sports sponsorships at all levels.
Skal Sydney President Verniece Irvine describes Ms Dalton as a sporting role model and expects her to provide ‘really valuable advice’ for members’ businesses.
The meeting starts at 12.00pm to 2.00pm and includes a two course lunch and beverages.
Tickets are $69.00. Click here for more information.
9. Agents take on Bollywood and bazars
Travellers Choice agents recently found themselves the guests of honour at a cricket match in Delhi that offered all the colour and excitement of an ICCA World Cup clash.
Wandering through the backstreets of the city, the group came across the intensely-competitive match being played on a hot and dusty scrap of land.
Travellers Choice CEO Christian Hunter said the Australians were “a little alarmed” when players from both sides suddenly stopped, looked in their direction, then charged towards them.
The four agents, along with six of their colleagues, were in India on an exclusive seven-day journey – organised by Peregrine Adventures and Peregrine Reserve – that formed part of their reward for winning Travellers Choice’s prestigious Gold Choice Awards.
As well as the delights of Old Delhi, the itinerary included a visit to the legendary Taj Mahal, the markets of Rajasthan’s vibrant capital Jaipur, and an elegant dinner below the lights of Jodhpur’s majestic Mehrangarh Fort.
Travellers Choice’s unique Choice Awards recognition program presents Gold, Silver and Bronze Choice Awards each year to 30 members (10 in each category), with recipients determined by their level of support for the group’s broad stable of preferred suppliers.
As well as taking part in exclusive educational tours, for the first time this year winners have also received access to exclusive sales incentives and service grants worth up to $1500 per winning agency.
10. Travellers need a whole video on how to fly with Tigerair
Apparently, the Tigerair experience is so different, it requires an entire 3.34 video with tips on how to fly with the airline.
Or perhaps its a new way of promoting the budget carrier.
Either way, the video is scoring points because it features some of NRL’s biggest (and cutest) names like Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk.