Skill up on all you need to know with bite sized travel news designed specifically to help you, the Travel Agent, be your best today and tomorrow.
1. US travel ban – is it on or off?
Travellers from seven countries recently barred from entering the US received good news over the weekend when a US District Court Judge blocked Trump’s controversial travel ban.
In case you’ve been in hiding, here’s what you’ve missed:
Less than a week after his inauguration, US President Donald Trump made the decision to temporarily ban refugees and visitors from seven countries from entering the US. These countries are Muslim-majority and predominately Middle Eastern – Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
2. Louvre reopens after machete attack
Paris’ Louvre Museum reopened its doors yesterday, around 24 hours after a man is believed to have attacked soldiers guarding the popular museum with machetes.
Reports of the incident from Friday night indicate that a 29-year-old lunged at four soldiers with two knives before he was shot and seriously wounded.
One guard is believed to have received a superficial blow to the head during the incident, while the attacker was taken to hospitality where his condition has since stabilised.
3. Tigerair suspends flights to Bali permanently
Budget flights with Tigerair to Bali went from one day of cancellations to a permanent suspension in less than 24 hours.
The airline revealed on Twitter this afternoon that it will no longer operate flights between Australia and Indonesia effective immediately. The decision comes as it struggles to gain final approve on services from the Indonesian government.
The announcement comes almost a month after the low-cost carrier was forced to ground its Bali operations over a last minute administrative rule adjustment.
4. ‘ilove’ itravel’s first ever TV ad – WATCH it now
itravel is reminding holidaymakers of the pleasures and the benefits of travel with the release of its first-ever television advertisement.
The first-of-its-kind campaign for the agency group went live last week to millions of potential travellers around the country when it aired across Channel nine, GEM, Go! and 9Life.
The 30-second segment sets itself apart from other travel ads by focusing on the fun, aspirational and seductive side of travel rather than pushing special deals or packages.
5. The world’s longest flight crosses 10 time zones
Qatar Airways broke a highly sought-after aviation record and began operating the world’s longest commercial flight over the weekend, when it launched its new Doha to Auckland service.
The carrier stole the title from its Middle Eastern rival Emirates only months after the UAE airline obtained the record from the former and long time ‘world’s longest flight’ operator, Qantas.
Flight QR920 from the Qatari capital to the Land of the Long White Cloud took around 16 hours and 20 minutes on the Boeing 777, topping Emirates’ Dubai to Auckland flights by only 20 minutes.
6. Welcome Oceania Cruises’ new VP of Sales for Australasia
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) is excited to announce the appointment of industry veteran Steve McLaughlin as its first Vice President, Sales, for its upper premium cruise brand, Oceania Cruises.
The appointment of Mr McLaughlin who joins the company on March 13, stems from a strategic decision on behalf of parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) to build dedicated local leadership teams for each of its three distinct brands – Oceania Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) – in response to the company’s continued growth in the Australasian market.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Steve on board at such a crucial time for Oceania Cruises in Australasia,” said Steve Odell, Senior Vice President and MD for NCLH, Asia-Pacific. “Our local Australia office has had an incredibly successful first year, and NCLH is firmly committed to further expansion in the three distinct market segments represented by our brands.”
7. AGENTS OFFER: Save 70% on Croatia cruises
Beyond Travel is giving Travel Agents the chance to experience small ship cruising in Croatia for less, with a 70 percent discount offer on a selection of itineraries from Dubrovnik, Split and Zadar.
Available to full-time or part-time consultants and their companions, the special deal is available on a range of departures in April, May and June 2017, including the eight-day ‘Adriatic Classic’ cruise available as a Dubrovnik roundtrip or Dubrovnik to Zadar, which is now available for Agents from only $675 and $850 for their travel companion (plus taxes of $130 per person). For solo travellers there is a single supplement of $550.
The offer is only valid for new bookings made by 28 February. For more information email: sales@beyondtravel.com.au
8. Cathay Pacific brings back the 5th flight to Adelaide
Cathay Pacific’s fifth weekly service between Adelaide and Hong Kong will return from 6 July 2017 in a bid to boost the tourism and export market from the Australian city.
The additional flight will see the premium airline increase its capacity on the route by 25 percent and brings the weekly number of seats to 2,500, as well as adding space for 15 tonnes of cargo.
Nelson Chin, General Manager, Cathay Pacific Airways Southwest Pacific, said Adelaide is an important destination that has benefited from Cathay’s flights with increased tourists from mainland China and Hong Kong. He said the carrier’s services have also been popular among South Australians taking advantage airline’s services as a one-stop connection to places such as London or New York.
9. Summer never has to end! The world is on sale with G Adventures
Can you hear that? It sounds like Spanish chatter muffled by the passionate and lively reggaeton of a crowded Mexico City bar.
Maybe it’s the crash of a magnificent waterfall in Costa Rica’s La Fortuna. Or the sound of you and your friends splashing around in the clear, gem blue waters of Cuba’s Playa Ancón.
The Christmas holiday may seem like a distant memory right now and it won’t be long until the Australian heat turns into an Autumn chill, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on sun and fun just yet.
10. Virtuoso Agents get a taste of Bhutan
andBeyond recently hosted an exclusive Virtuoso educational to the Kingdom of Bhutan where consultants explored Thimphu, Gangtey, Punakha and Paro.
Highlights of the trip included the final trek up to the Tiger’s Nest Temple, staying at the Amankora, Gantey Lodge, Uma Punaka as well as a final night at the Como Metropolitan in Bangkok.
andBeyond is one of the world’s leading luxury experiential travel companies, designing personalised high-end tours in 15 countries in Africa, five in Asia and four in South America.
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