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. EXCLUSIVE: Travel to Dubai with Flight Centre & Sunrise
Flight Centre’s Social Media Specialist, Millie Yervantian is giving KarryOn readers the exclusive on Sunrise’s journey around the world with daily on location blogs.
It’s only day one of and it already feels like the biggest whirlwind of their lives.
As soon as the Sunrise cast landed in Dubai they were whisked to the exclusive Armani hotel in the Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest building in the world at more than 800m high.
2. A destination travellers want to book with agents
If you’re not a Peru specialist yet then you may want to consider becoming one, because according to recent figures Australians prefer to book their Peruvian getaway through a travel agent.
Speaking to KarryOn last week, PromPeru’s Jennifer Pizarro said of the 41,842 Australians that visited Peru last year, 81 percent booked through a travel agent.
That’s around 33,892 people that used a consultant for that destination alone.
3. Dine with Qantas in the sky
Qantas and Rockpool have launched their new spring menu in First and Business Class with a host of mouthwatering seasonal ingredients to savour in the ultimate ‘Restaurant in the sky’.
KarryOn Founder, Matt Leedham journeyed out to the Qantas Centre of Service Excellence (COSE) in Sydney to find out more from Rockpool’s Master Sommelier Sebastian Crowther about the new menu, accompanying wines and the complex process of serving up the finest, freshest food at 35,000 feet.
Oh and sample it all of course. Well someone had to.
4. Air Canada more than doubles your commission
First Air Canada treated Aussie travellers with new a new service and new aircraft and now the airline is gifting agents with increased commission on new bookings.
Between 14 September to 31 December 2015, the airline is more than doubling the travel agent commission on Business Class published airfares sold in Australia on its services from Sydney to Canada and the US.
Air Canada’s Special Commission Promotion will see travel agents earn a base commission of 7 percent – up from the airline’s standard 3 percent base commission – each time they book and ticket a Business Class published airfare for departures before 31 December 2015.
5. A record month for cruise sales
Creative Cruising celebrated its first anniversary with a record month of sales through its online portal.
The record was achieved during July, which contributed to the company’s 2,000 percent increase in overall sales for 2015.
Peter Forsyth, Creative Cruising General Manager attributed the spike to the company’s focus in restoring agents’ faith in the brand becoming their preferred partner once again.
“We’re confident that percentage will continue to rise ahead of what looks like a bumper summer cruise season.”
Peter Forsyth, Creative Cruising General Manager
6. FINAL CALL for a spot on the Oman famil
Agents have until the end of this week to submit their registration for Oman’s 2015 Mega-Famil.
Departing 5 November, this year’s Educational itinerary is designed to bring Oman to life by showcasing the very best of Muscat, the Jebel Akhdar (Green) mountains, the turtle sanctuaries of Rass al Jinz and the dhow yards of Sur, the sweeping golden dunes of Sharqiah, as well as the forts, castles and history of Jabrin, Bahla and the ancient capital of Nizwa.
To be in the running, agents are invited to register their interest by Friday. Click here to access the form. Agents then need to complete Sultanate of Oman’s online training modules.
A participation fee of AU$1,300 applies to Australian agents selected to participate, which covers: return airfares, seven nights twin-share accommodation, transport and entrance fees as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner.
7. Feel like a ‘nomad’ with Infinity
The Infinity Nomad Africa Adventures brochure is officially on the shelves with 32 pages of African tours ranging from seven to 55 days in length.
Itineraries feature a number of wildlife experience such as gorilla watching, as well as seeing the Okavango Delta, The Serengeti, Victoria Falls, Chobe, Zanzibar and many more.
Nomad allows guests to choose between camping and accommodated lodging which ranges between two and four star.
Click here to view the online version.
8. Princess sweetens the onboard experience
Princess Cruises is adding to the sweetness of its onboard experience by expanding its partnership with internationally acclaimed master chocolatier and pastry designer Norman Love.
Following the success of the line’s signature Chocolate Journeys experience, Princess has teamed up with Chef Love to create a series of new chocolate products, including breakfast treats and a premium chocolate cocktail, for its guests.
Among the new sweet experiences is a new Premium Chocolate Cocktail available in the main dining room dessert menu; a Chocolate Soufflé, which will be available on select evenings; and a Chocolate Cookie guests can pick up in select locations around the ship.
Afternoon Tea on Princess vessels will now come with one of seven pastries and six cakes such as the Baked Chocolate Tart with Lemon Chantilly, Chocolate Raspberry Clafoutis and Vanilla Chocolate Chip Cake.
The indulgent offerings will be rolled out across the fleet from November, including on Princess’ Australian-based ships.
9. Leading Hotels travel around Aus
The Leading Hotels of the World welcomed thirteen of its luxury collection to Australia this past month for The Leading Hotels of the World Spring Roadshow.
Attendees ranged from, Brown’s London, Laucala Island, Sacher Hotels Wien and Salzburg, The Table Bay and Palace of the Lost City, Thanda Private Game Reserve, The Mulia, The Conservatorium Amsterdam and Café Royal London, The Hay Adams, Hotel Lancaster Paris, The Datai Langkawi, Palace Hotel Tokyo, The Dolder Grand and Capella Singapore.
The Roadshow travelled to Melbourne, followed by Sydney where the group of hoteliers held a series of luxurious events for the travel industry and members of Leading Hotel’s Leader Club program.
Last week was capped off with a luncheon at the exclusive Rose Bay eatery, Catalina Restaurant and was attended by the who’s who of the luxury travel agency scene including, Spencer Group’s Penny Spencer, Goldman Travel’s, Tom Goldman and David Goldman, Voyage Affaires owner, Carol Morgan flew into Sydney along with Nicola Thomas, Accent on Travel, Leith Sisson, North Shore Business Travel, Rob Mackie, TransWorld Travel and Yvonne Verstandig, Executive Edge Travel and many more.
10. What do attendants get up to after the flight?
When you’re not there flight attendants clean up, they chat, they prepare for the next flight and they squeeze into the overhead compartment for a quick picture.
No, you didn’t misread.
It’s a new trend amongst air crew that has emerged on social media – male and female attendants squeezing into the carry-on storage space for a pose, peace sign and even a quick nap.
