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. Emirates in ‘recovery’ mode after plane crash lands in Dubai
A number of Emirates flights have been cancelled, delayed and diverted this morning after one of the airline’s Boeing 777s crash landed at Dubai Airport before catching fire.
Despite the state of the aircraft upon touch down, the airline said there were no fatalities amongst the 282 passengers (including two Australians) and 18 crew members on Flight EK521, however, it has been confirmed that one brave firefighter was killed while tackling the flames.
Emirates’ Chairman and Chief Executive H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum attributed guest survival to the “quick evacuation” of staff and passengers.
2. Oh em gee – Qantas & Tourism Australia are BFFs again
You could call them the original Katy Perry and Taylor Swift for making headlines over a very public fallout back in 2012, which ultimately ended a long and beneficial relationship.
However, unlike the pop stars, they’ve made up!
Four years after calling it quits and pulling the plug on their 40-year marketing agreement, Tourism Australia and Qantas are ready to put aside their differences to boost tourism together once again.
Look at that picture above of Qantas’ Alan Joyce and Tourism Australia’s John O’Sullivan, they’re practically besties. It’s a far cry from the 2012 quarrel when Joyce apparently decided to walk away from the tourism body allegedly because the former Qantas CEO and then Tourism Australia Chairman, Geoff Dixon, had sided with a group of investors who wanted to change the Flying Kangaroo’s strategic direction.
3. WEX provides virtual payments for QBT
WEX has signed an extension to its Helloworld Group agreement to provide its virtual payments solution to travel management company, QBT.
The company’s single-use virtual credit card (VCC) technology, which assigns every transaction a unique card number, will be utilised by QBT to meet its need for seamless integration into a global distribution system (GDS), and provide the company with additional controls for security. Additionally, the VCC technology will deliver efficiencies by reducing reconciliations, queries and invoice processing.
“QBT is our first customer to use an integration tool through its Global Distribution System to implement the VCC solution, and streamline its hotel bill back and credit card reconciliation process – which is an enormous benefit for a TMC,” Jim Pratt, SVP and GM for Virtual Payments, WEX Inc. said.
4. Former Azamara executive heads up Uniworld
The former Vice President, Sales and Marketing at Azamara Club Cruises has crossed on over to river cruising as the new President and Chief Executive of Uniworld.
Ellen Bettridge succeeds Guy Young, who is being promoted to take on two new roles within The Travel Corporation (TTC).
Effective 6 August 2016, Bettridge will assume her new role, working closely alongside Young, to ensure a smooth transition for the team and the industry.
5. Etihad sends the Dreamliner to Shanghai
A state-of-the-art Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner touched down in Shanghai earlier this week from Abu Dhabi on its first flight into China.
The new Dreamliner features the airline’s next-generation Business and Economy Class cabins, with 299 seats – 28 in Business Class and 271 in Economy – representing a 14 per cent capacity increase on the route.
Flight EY862 from Abu Dhabi departed at 10.25pm arriving in Shanghai at 11.10am. The inaugural flight from Shanghai (EY867) will depart departed today at 00.30am, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 6.15am the same day.
6. Travellers Choice Agents explore Norfolk in Mini Mokes
If you’re going to embark on a mad cap car rally around a destination as unique as Norfolk Island you need a special kind of vehicle. For nine lucky Travellers Choice consultants a fleet of Mini Mokes provided the ideal solution.
On the Island as guests of Norfolk Select, the group’s quirky chariots of choice – offered by new car rental venture, MOKEabout – took them on a half-day rally to find some local attractions.
Norfolk Select’s David Bantoft says the group also connected with the locals by taking a photo with Norfolk Islanders.
During the three-night famil the agents also relaxed at Two Chimney’s Winery (Norfolk Island’s first and only vineyard), took part in a Murder Mystery Dinner, walked through the island’s beautiful bush, and enjoyed a clifftop breakfast. Air New Zealand flew the group from Sydney, while Castaways Norfolk Island and The South Pacific Resort offered them top accommodation.
7. Camels, canapés and the Glass House Mountains
Who says camels aren’t cute? Were so in love with this little (or big) guys who hangs out at the QCamel in the Sunshine Coast’s Glass House Mountains.
Live it Tours is offering a fascinating “behind the scenes” experience of the Sunshine Coast’s QCamel farm, where visitors will be able to taste delicious canapés made from fresh camels’ milk while getting up close and personal with Maxi, Gracey and all the other camels.
The inaugural Live It Tours’ Camels and Canapé experience will take place from 2.00pm on Saturday 27 August 2016, followed by a second tour on Saturday 24 September 2016. The three hour tour costs $110 per person and includes return transfers from the Glass House Mountains Visitor Centre.
For more information call: 0400 747 466.
8. WIN a spot on the ‘Ultimate Abu Dhabi famil’
If $999 flights to Abu Dhabi weren’t enough to encourage you to sell Etihad Airways to your clients, then how about a trip to Abu Dhabi?
Etihad Airways along with Virgin Australia and Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority has just launched an Agent incentive, giving consultants the chance to WIN a spot on the ‘Ultimate Abu Dhabi’ famil running this October.
To be one of 50 on the captivating, cultural and adventurous trip, Agents simply need to book Etihad Airways or Virgin Australia to Abu Dhabi or as a stopover to Europe.
