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Were you on Qantas' Queensland famil? Or were you SPOTTED in India, Adelaide & more?

You Travel Agents go on so many famils and attend so many events that we’ve had to create a whole new section dedicated to your awesome adventures. And we’re jealous just reading it.

You Travel Agents go on so many famils and attend so many events that we’ve had to create a whole new section dedicated to your awesome adventures. And we’re jealous just reading it.

Check out what consultants got up to over the last seven days below, or click here to check out last week’s pics and snaps.

 

1. SPOTTED… on the East Coast with Qantas

Qantas Famil

Qantas together with Frontier Services recently hosted a group of incentive winners from HRG for a weekend in the Queensland outback. The group of five HRG Agents and three Qantas team members, including a 747 pilot, travelled to Longreach for the experience with Frontier Services.

While in town they explored the Qantas Founders Museum, including touring a 707 and 747 aircraft donated by Qantas to the museum, discovering more about Qantas’ history and beginnings in 1920 before enjoying sunset drinks overlooking the original Qantas hangar.

All participants then ventured out to local properties, Ashra Downs and Mt Victoria, to experience firsthand the challenges being faced by local farmers, including drought, isolation, and heavy workloads.

Qantas famil 2

To show their support for the community, the group participated in hands on work at Ashra Downs painting the shearers’ quarters on the property, including the bathroom, kitchen and living area as well as all handrails on the exterior of the building – a job that desperately needed to be done, and truly touched the residents and workers.

The expedition offered a unique and different experience to Qantas’ valued trade partners, while giving them opportunity to give back to the Longreach community.

 

2. SPOTTED… in a conga line with Carnival

CCL 5 Years of Fun - Trade Partners

Carnival Cruise Line hosted some of their key trade partners at a private luncheon in Nouveau Restaurant onboard Carnival Spirit to celebrate the first five years sailing out of Australia on Tuesday 17 October.

After an impromptu Conga on the top decks and setting the world record for the longest conga line at sea with over 1,500 guests, Travel Agents enjoyed a special three-course meal, complete with birthday cake, to celebrate the milestone.

 

3. SPOTTED… getting a taste of India

Group Photo - Taj Selfie

Nine lucky Agents from across Australia were enchanted by the delights India has to offer thanks to Insider Journeys, attending a 10 day Taste of India educational in September.

Flying Thai Airways via Bangkok to Delhi, Agents and hosts experienced the unique Insider Journeys tour taking in many of India’s best sites and experiences.

Highlights of the tour included a private rickshaw ride of Old Delhi through the chaotic streets and local market shops, a visit to the world heritage site of Humayun’s tomb with informative history provided by local guides, a majestic visit to the Taj Mahal at sunrise where the group selfie was taken and then travelled to charming Fort Nahargarh where they stayed prior to experiencing a Safari in Ranthambore. The group were all amazed at the view of the Bengal tigers striding by their jeeps!

The lucky Agents then travelled to Samode for an overnight stay in the superb Samode Palace, a must for all and finally travelled to the chaotic bazaars of Jaipur and the Amber fort before returning to Delhi to finish off the tour.

 

4. SPOTTED… learning about the ‘Best of USA’

Qantas

In partnership with Brand USA, Qantas has hosted a Travel Agent Experience Day on the Best of USA, providing an interactive and unique learning experience for travel consultants at its Centre of Service Excellence and aircraft hangar in Sydney.

With over 160 travel agents in attendance, the Best of USA Experience Day was designed to further enhance selling skills for Qantas in partnership with destinations across the United States.

All sessions were educational and interactive, with the first half of the day focused on learning about Qantas’ innovative approach and focus for the future – including a session on board an A380 in the hangar. Agents then moved to Qantas’ Centre of Service Excellence where they received training in how to sell unique offerings of Brand USA’s destination partners: LAX Discover Los Angeles, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, NYC & Co, Hawaii Tourism Oceania, Visit Dallas Fort Worth, San Francisco Travel and San Francisco International Airport.

Following the event, top tier sponsors Los Angeles and San Francisco will also engage in a 12-month training plan via Qantas’ agent platforms, including its industry-leading Learning Hub.

All training sessions and footage from the Best of USA Experience Day are now available for agents to access on the Learning Hub.

Qantas operates more than 46 return services each week from Australia to the United States, including flights to San Francisco, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York and Dallas Fort Worth. Qantas offers more than 1.5 million seats on its own aircraft between Australia and the United States each year.

 

5. SPOTTED… having breakfast with Hong Kong

Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Tourism Board partnered with Cathay Pacific Airways and Preferred Hotels and Resorts to host 100 Adelaide based retail consultants for breakfast on Wednesday 18 October, 2017.

Guests were updated on new developments planned for the bustling city and beyond for 2018, including the Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park expansions, the new high speed rail to China and Macau Bridge.

Congratulations to Kymberley Fletcher from Flight Centre Elizabeth, Marcelo Buccella from Travel Extra and Rachel Cooper from Flight Centre Firle who all won prizes. Attendees still have chance to win a trip for two to Hong Kong courtesy of Hong Kong Tourism Board, Cathay Pacific Airways and Preferred Hotels and Resorts by completing and returning a questionnaire by Friday 27 October 2017. The winner will be announced on Monday 30 October 2017.

To keep up to date with all the latest developments in Hong Kong, make sure you register as a trade partner on partnernet.hktb.com/au.

 

6. SPOTTED… getting into the Vegas spirit

Las Vegas 2

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), together with ten suppliers from Las Vegas, hosted 175 Agents at a special event on Sydney Harbour on Wednesday evening, to thank the industry for their continued support of the destination.

The event, themed #VegasStrong, gave agents the opportunity to talk to suppliers from Las Vegas and to test their knowledge through an interactive Q&A session.

Las Vegas

It also highlighted why Las Vegas now needs the support of the Australian travel industry more than ever to ensure it remains a favourite destination for Aussies.

Three lucky Agents walked away with a trip to Las Vegas including the major prize winner who also received flights from airline sponsor, United Airlines.

 

7. SPOTTED… launching brochures with Wendy

Wendy Wu Tours

Travel Agents in Perth joined Wendy Wu Tours for a night of all things China and beyond to help launch the company’s newest brochures.

Wendy Wu Tours 2

In addition to unveiling next year’s programs, the launched its new range ‘immerse yourself’ trips and unveiled a special premium economy upgrade promotion.

Wendy Wu Tours 3

Click here for more information.

 

8. SPOTTED… at a birthday bash with Busabout

Busabout 2018 event launch_SketchShe @The BucketList

Busabout, officially launched its 2018-2019 Europe and Asia offering with a breakfast bash at The Bucket List in Bondi.

Despite bucketing down outside the summer themed venue, nothing could rain on the parade with an array of media and influencers in attendance including Scott Tweedie, Liv Phyland, Madison Lloyd and Lana Kington (SketchShe), comedian Alan Tsibulya and actor Lincoln Younes to name a few.

Busabout 2018 launch event- Alex Dyson and Scott Tweedie @TheBucketList

Guests sipped on Mimosas and Bloody Marys, played with Pumpt pool toys and slapped on Sun Bum sunscreen as Tina McIntosh, General Manager of Busabout Australasia presented highlights of the new brochure including the fact it was designed using 95% UGC (User Generated Content), created from passionate Busabout travellers to reflect real experiences. Some of those influential Busabout advocates were present at the event including Alex Dyson, Tegan Phillipa and her partner Ned as well as Leanne Melody who had all just recently travelled with Busabout.

Katrina Barry, Managing Director of Contiki Australia, Tina McIntosh General Manager of Busabout Australasia, Duncan Robertson Global Managing Director of Busabout(1)

On that sentiment, former Triple J presenter Alex Dyson spoke about what he got up to on his sabbatical with Busabout, “From day one I knew I was in for a good time with all the great people I met on the coach, I even learnt how to braid hair! It’s flexible where you choose to stay depending on budget so either an Airbnb or hostel, I also stayed with friends I made along the way. The highlights are the little moments in time such as watching a waterfall cascade onto the Isle of Skye in Scotland, cutting some rad shapes at Ultra Music Festival and seeing the sun come up on a rooftop in Croatia.” Dyson concluded with a thank you for “allowing me to find myself,” which really sums up what travel for 20-somethings is all about.

New for 2018-2019 is the expansion of Busabout’s travel network which includes some new stops through Portugal and Spain, a trip to the foodie capital of Bologna for the first time, an off-the-beaten-path exploration of Eastern Europe, as well as four new Europe Winter & Festive itineraries, nine new Adventures, and a new Winter Music Festival itinerary.

Have you taken any recent pics from a roadshow or famil? Send them in to editor@karryon.com.au