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. That Travel Agent promo video created by Travel Agents is doing ‘extremely well’
They went out on a limb, used their own funds and even stepped out of their comfort zones but according to itravel’s Kim Wudko, it was all worth the effort.
Take your mind back to a couple of weeks ago, to when KarryOn published a story about a new Travel Agent promo video created by Travel Agents and designed to emphasise the benefits of booking through a professional consultant?
In case you missed it, click here to check out the story or hit play to watch the video below.
2. Scenic enters the Dirty 30s & is celebrating in a HUGE way
Grab yourself a ‘drank’ and crank up the music because Scenic has skipped its teens, passed its 20s and entered the Dirty 30s.
Congratulations to Scenic, which has pushed past economic downturns, changes in traveller beaviour and a recent rebrand to reach the big 3-0 today.
While some celebrate the major milestone with a trip Vegas, a drunken night on the town or with a soul searching trip to Europe, Scenic is commemorating its move into the Dirty 30s with a nine-week multi-channel marketing campaign.
3. Tourists in Thailand warned to be respectful after royal passing
Thailand has entered a state of mourning after the country’s longest reigning monarch and the much-loved, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, passed away at the age of 88.
King Bhumibol’s passing came after year-long hospitalisation in Bangkok, during which he reportedly suffered from various ailments, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Thai locals were devastated by the news, which was revealed by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha during a Thai television ‘breaking news’ at around 7.00pm local time yesterday.
4. How Tigerair is creating more jobs in Brisbane
Good news for Queenslanders, Tigerair is basing a third aircraft in the city and launching two new routes that will create at least 50 new jobs for locals.
A third A320 will move to Brisbane Airport from late March 2017 to facilitate two new routes between Brisbane and Perth as well as Brisbane and the Whitsunday Coast.
According to Tigerair CEO, Rob Sharp, the decision is a significant boost for Queensland tourism as well as the economy because it results in job creation, tourism expenditure and around 225,000 additional visitor seats through Brisbane per year.
5. Orbit charters first southern hemisphere flight to the Aurora Australis
A Dunedin man is skipping tour operators and stopovers and heading straight from the southern hemisphere to nature’s stunning night show, the Aurora Australis.
Ian Griffin, with the help of Orbit in Dunedin, has organised for the first chartered flight from Christchurch to the Aurora Oval to take place on 23 March 2017.
While services to Aurora Australis are common in the northern hemisphere, this is a first for the southern and will see most lights on the aircraft switched off so that passengers can enjoy the star show, while the plane will ‘zig zag’ four times when crossing the international dateline so that passengers on both of the aircraft can enjoy the view, Stuff.co.nz reported.
Those keen on joining the service can purchase a ticket, which will be around $4,000 for Economy and $8,500 for Business Class.
6. Dream Cruises takes control of its first vessel
Dream Cruises is officially the owner of a cruise ship, with the cruise line receiving its first vessel this week.
The ship – capable of carrying 3,400 passengers, serving guests in 35-restaurants and featuring a 610-wraparound promenade – Genting Dream was officially handed over the cruise line during a special celebration in Bremerhaven, Germany.
With the completion of the official handover ceremony, Genting Dream will begin her ocean voyage from Germany to Gibraltar, through the Mediterranean Sea and the Suez Canal, across the Indian Ocean with visits to India, Singapore, Vietnam and Hong Kong before ending at her new homeport in Guangzhou (Nansha), China on 13 November 2016.
7. Get out the balloons! itravel is creating a cruising buzz
The itravel team is going all out to get travellers excited about cruising during CLIA’s Plan A Cruise Month.
Spreading the ‘cruising’ word with help from Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Azamara Club Cruises, the agency group sent out a team of its iagents around New South Wales to engage with the public, give some fun items away and attract attention with a convoy of branded cars.
The iteam also stopped by a number of their franchise stores to help create some buzz around CLIA’s Plan a Cruise Month, inviting clients and potential customers to come in and fill out an entry form to go in the draw to win one of six Royal Caribbean cruises.
Click here for more pics.
8. Uniworld’s regal journey along the dazzling Danube
Follow in the royal footsteps of the archduchess Maria Theresa in the heart of Europe in 2017, and celebrate the Austrian princess’ 300th birthday in true class and style along the Danube.
A floating princess’ castle, an exclusive ‘Morning with the Masters’ at Vienna’s Kunthistoriches Museum, and, of course, Uniworld’s reputation for being all-inclusive – if these reasons aren’t enough to convince you to set sail with the leaders in luxury Europe river cruising in 2017, then we don’t know what will!
Oh, wait, here’s one more reason: you’ll get return Economy airfares from just $899 and from $4,299 in Business class on cruises of 7-12 days. This deal is valid on Uniworld’s exciting 8-day ‘Enchanting Danube‘ itinerary from Budapest to Passau, until 31 October 2016.
9. Selling Asia has never been so easy with #TheNewWu
Exotic and alluring, excellent value-for-money, friendly people, and the food – my god the food! Asia offers just about as many travel experiences as there are scooters on the streets of Ho Chi Minh.
But there’s no reason why selling Asia should be as complex as trying to cross the street in a busy Vietnamese city.
Nuh-uh-uh!
10. 6 amazing escapes & how to get your hands on them
Six different travel brands under the one TTC roof are set to rock the worlds of over 100 Travel Agents right across Australia, in another uber-awesome display of why it’s so cool to work in the travel industry!
Hear ye! Hear ye!
Calling all Travel Agents keen on composing their out-of-office email alerts and setting off on an epic adventure to some of the most alluring corners of the globe.
11. AGENTS: Learning about Los Angeles has never been so cool
The new ‘Neighbourhoods of L.A Interactive’ tool is about as cool as the City of Angeles itself, finally giving agents a destination training program that’s easy to use, fun, and won’t cut into their 9 to 5 work time.
Los Angeles has always been so uber cool, often setting the stage – literally – for the world to follow.
And now with the new ‘Neighbourhoods of L.A Interactive’ tool, it’s super easy for agents to learn all about this thriving metropolis at their own convenience.
12. 5 Aussie road trips you’ve just gotta drive
Embarking on a great Aussie road trip should be a rite of passage for all Australians. After all, it’s our vast southern land – easily navigable by road – that attracts visitors from all around the world to our shores.
From misty rainforests, arid deserts, sparkling oceans abutting stretches of sandy beach, and quaint country towns, Australia’s diverse topography is legendary, and its multi-dimensional nature is definitely worth exploring – easily done on a self-drive holiday!
Hiring a car or motorhome and getting behind the wheel allows you to cover vast distances in your own time, and gives you the freedom to stop and appreciate the continent’s beauty from whichever angle takes your fancy.
13. WIN Westfield Gift Cards with Trafalgar
Trafalgar are giving you a chance to WIN simply by checking out their new brochure and seeing for yourself just how easy and enjoyable travelling with Trafalgar can be.
Showcasing a brilliant range of effortless, authentic and fun travel experiences, Trafalgar’s 2017 Europe and Britain programme sets the global standard for travel for 2017.
PLUS, Trafalgar are offering an unprecedented air deal of return flights for only $499 on all 2017 Trafalgar Europe or Britain guided holidays – but only until 23rd October, or until sold out.
