Home Travel News

Why 2017 was an epic year for the Aussie travel industry

As 2017 wraps up and we get ready for our well deserved Chrissy break and epic NYE, let's take a moment to appreciate all those ways in which the travel industry absolutely rocked this year...

As 2017 wraps up and we get ready for our well deserved Chrissy break and epic NYE, let’s take a moment to appreciate all those ways in which the travel industry absolutely rocked this year…

Let’s start with four and then if you can think of some more, add them in the comments below!

 

1. FAMILS, FAMILS, FAMILS, OH MY!

stoy44

Work hard, play hard, and get rewarded with a juicy famil. That was the formula hundreds of agents around Australia lived by this year, taking them to all corners of the world. There was the group that went to Hong Kong, the lucky bunch that visited Northern California, the agents that won a trip to Japan, a two-week trip to Africa, and, and – oh, there’s just too much to mention!

Check out some of our hand selected photo highlights of the year’s famils here.

 

2. WINNERS ARE GRINNERS!

story2

Besides famils, agents around the country scored some cold hard cash this year, thanks to a ton of comps and incentives that ran throughout the year. Special mention goes to Flight Centre Leichardt’s Brunella Carchidi who won a sweet $10,000 from Royal Caribbean after entering the cruise line’s Biggest Giveaway Ever.

Other agents didn’t win cash, but won plane tickets and river cruises in Europe instead, such as Cruise About’s Emma de Vos who won a free European river cruise for two with Avalon Waterways, and Liam Lavery from Escape Travel and Belinda King from Global Work and Travel in Queensland who both won return flights to the Philippines – nice work gals and girls!

The best thing is that many of these comps are still open, so get to it and check them out here.

 

3. OUR INDUSTRY MADE CONSCIOUS DECISIONS

stoy3

The Australian travel industry isn’t afraid to stand up and support decisions and programmes that make the world a better place.

For example, this year, key players in the Australian travel industry (including KarryOn) leant their support for Marriage Equality; The Flight Centre Foundation helped raised money to help support teenagers and young adults diagnosed with cancer; and roomsXML worked hard to encourage change in PNG.

These efforts still continue, and will never end – we’re a conscious industry!

 

4. INSANE AGENT RATES GALORE!

stoy5

What’s way better than paying RRP but not as good as getting it for free? Agent rates, dummie!

The Australian travel industry rewarded agents this year with a slew of agent discounts. There was Air Vanuatu coming out with $99 (+ taxes) fares to the South Pacific; Air New Zealand issuing $308 (+ taxes) fares to the Cook Islands20 percent discount off resorts in Malaysia; 30 percent off pool villas in Bali; a 7-night Sri Lanka tour for only $895, etc, etc.

So now it’s your turn: was 2017 an epic year for you? Tell us why…