We’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to! Read on for the top ten travel news stories we think you need to know today.
1. 10 NT travel agencies under police spotlight
Northern Territory Police have confirmed that 10 travel agencies have been referred to the department over suspicions that they may have rorted a government travel concession scheme.
The 10 retail stores are in addition to five other agencies across the state also under investigation for similar activity.
Attorney-General John Elferink said the stores were referred to the police by the Health Department over concerns that they may have been taking advantage of a government-subsidised pensioner and carer travel concession scheme, The Australian reported.
2. ‘Hairspray’ star is ‘walken’ with Qantas health insurance
First it was John Travolta and now Christopher Walkens – Qantas is slowly making its way through the cast of ‘Hairspray’ to promote its many products and services.
The Flying Kangaroo recruited the ‘timeless’ American actor to put his smooth dance skills to work and promote the benefits of its Qantas Assure Health Insurance.
Released this week, the new campaign features several posters and a quirky one minute and 30 seconds video of Walkens walking, running, doing groceries and using those memorable ‘Hairspray’ moves to educate Qantas Frequent Flyers on how they can earn Qantas Points through Qantas Assure.
3. Brussels Airport to partially reopen today
Brussels Airport will partially reopen today, a week after twin explosions in the departures area killed 11 people and injured 81 others.
According to the Brussels Airport Company, the gateway has been inspected by the Belgian Civil Aviation Authority and fire brigade and is “technically ready for a restart of passenger flights”.
Temporary infrastructure has been installed to resume the check-in process. With the provisional arrangement, the airport will be able to handle some 800 departing passengers per hour.
“The final step for the restart is the formal political approval.”
Brussels Airport Company
“In the meantime, it has been decided that there will be no passenger flights until Friday evening.”
4. Excite announces third USA incentive winner
Excite Holidays is thrilled to announce the third winner of its USA Live Like a Local campaign – Susan Cuk, Phil Hoffmann Travel, Norwood.
Every two weeks for eight weeks, travel agents have the chance to win a trip to one of four destinations in the USA. To be in with a chance of taking home the prize, consultants simply have to make a paid booking on Excite Holidays’ booking platform in the destination specified.
Susan has won a trip of a lifetime to West Hollywood, where she will enjoy living like a local in one of USA’s trendiest neighbourhoods! Famous for its stunning rooftop pools and buzzing nightlife, West Hollywood is quintessential L.A.
“It’s the first travel prize I’ve ever won, and I’ve never been to USA before…. Everyone will want to go with me.”
Susan Cuk, Phil Hoffmann Travel, Norwood
5. INCENTIVE: Win a $50 gift card
Rail Plus is giving travel agents who book a Rocky Mountaineer product by 30 April 2016 a $50 Coles Myer Gift Card.
Agents will receive one gift card per new booking, with all bookings to be deposited within five days of confirmation.
For further details on the incentive, contact Rail Plus’ Great Train Journey team on: GreatTrainJourneys@railplus.com.au
6 DAYS UNTIL facetime
Woot woot – less than a week to go until facetime.
As this story is being typed, the rest of the team is securing the last of our list of prizes and can we just say, they’re amazing prizes.
Of course, in addition to the freebies, agents and other industry friends will have access to free drinks and fun tunes thanks to our live DJ.
There’s also plenty of opportunity for attendees to mingle with colleagues and friends.
If you haven’t RSVP’d yet then you’d better get in there because we have limited ticket left. Click here to register now.
7. Agents invited to learn about social media
Tourism Philippines is inviting agents to learn about the benefits of selling key destinations in the Philippines using social media.
Hosted by Australian television presenter James Tobin from Channel 7’s Sunrise, the events will take place in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne in April.
Philippine Department of Tourism Australia and New Zealand’s Norjamin Delos Reyes said the tourism bureau is keen to help consultants utilise communication tools.
Register your attendance via email at: rsvp@philippinesdinner.com.au for any one of the events in Brisbane (GOMA Roof Terrace – 18 April), Sydney (MCA Habourside Rooftop – 19 April) and Melbourne (Luminare – 21 April).
8. Rocky Mountaineer gets a TV spot
Rocky Mountaineer welcomed Network Ten’s The Living Room hosts, Chris Brown and Miguel Maestre, back to Canada to film a second series of travel segments for the TV Week Logie winning lifestyle television show.
Chris, who recently returned from the South African jungle where he was hosting I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!, and Miguel experienced the world-renowned, luxurious train journey from Rocky Mountain townships such as Banff to the iconic cities of Whistler, Vancouver and Seattle.
The entertaining duo will showcase to viewers the incredible adventures on board Rocky Mountaineer and the exciting destinations the train visits. On their journey, Chris and Miguel faced a variety of exciting challenges, from bobsledding in lycra to basic training, Royal Canadian Mounted Police style. The pair also learnt the secrets of cooking a distinctly Canadian summer dish bison steaks, got up close and personal with the iconic and graceful king of the ocean – the orca, and explored the vibrant Pike Place Fish Market in the heart of Seattle.
With these special segments broadcasting on selected Friday nights throughout April, June and July, viewers of The Living Room will see celebrity chef Miguel take food lovers on a gourmet journey showcasing local specialties including Pacific salmon and tasty Nanaimo Bars in the kitchen, with Chris playing his part as train host for the guests.
The Living Room’s Rocky Mountaineer travel segments will air on Friday 1 and 8 April, Friday 17 June, and Friday 8 July 7.30pm on TEN.
9. itravel hosts Explorer of the Seas inspection
itravel agents have given their clients a taste of cruising without booking a cruise.
Consultants escorted their clients onto a mega-inspection of Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas.
With the itravel crowd one hundred strong, agents and clients were given a tour of the enormous cruise ship that will be serving the Australian market to the South Pacific and New Zealand. With fifteen decks, ten pools and whirlpools, an ice skating rink and more the itravel crew were extremely impressed with the facilities aboard Explorer of the Seas.
After an afternoon exploring the cruise ship including the range of staterooms on offer and a demonstration of the famous Flow Rider, clients and agents were treated to a delicious three course lunch in the Main Dining Room.
itravel loves to include their clients in ship inspections as it gives them a chance to see the product firsthand and ask their travel agent and Royal Caribbean staff questions about the facilities of the ship. This gives clients an exclusive view of the product and creates a more informed holiday decision.
10. Bunnik ‘tours’ Celebrity Solstice
Celebrity Cruises recently hosted a group of agents from family owned Bunnik Tours onboard Celebrity Solstice while she was docked in Adelaide.
Bunnik Tours create a series of small group, unique holiday experiences specifically designed for Australian travellers, with no more than 20 guests.
Bunnik Tours has partnered with Celebrity Cruises to offers a range of tours combined with Celebrity sailings as part of their Europe and South & Central America programs.
P.S. Man slept through the entire EgyptAir hijack
While some freaked out about their safety, otherwise were catching up on some much needed sleep.
A man on the recently hijacked Flight MS181 confessed he slept throughout the entire ordeal, which saw a man using a fake suicide belt to demand a detour from Egypt to Greece.
According to reports, Seif Eldin Mustafa faked a suicide attack in order to see his estranged wife, who is living in Cyprus.
As most passengers sat in fear, one man managed to sleep through the entire ordeal and only woke once the plane had touched down in Cyprus.
Once he’d received a brief on the situation from his neighbour, he apparently groaned to the fellow passenger, asking “why Cyprus” before stating: “I will miss my connection”.