Skill up on all you need to know with bite sized travel news to help you be your best today and tomorrow.
1. Etihad has launched what we’ve dubbed the most epic incentive EVER
Incentives are a great way to entice Travel Agents to sell a product, but here’s one incentive that will not only encourage consultants but their clients too.
Etihad is giving agents and their customers the chance to win back the cost of their flights. Over a four week period, Etihad will be refunding up to $250, 000 in airfares!
This will definitely make selling fares to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas A LOT easier.
2. Would you follow Chris Hemsworth around Australia?
Australia’s tourism leaders sure hope you do, and latest figures suggest that a fair few of his fans would definitely jump at the chance at travelling in his footsteps.
Tourism Australia is banking on the power of the celebrity to boost visitor numbers to the country, by inviting Marvel actor Chris Hemsworth to explore parts of the country and document his trip to his millions of social media followers.
The announcement comes less than a month after the bureau confirmed its Hemsworth-voiced marketing campaign was one of its most successful videos to-date, with over 2.2 million Youtube views.
3. AirAsia X to take off on extra Gold Coast flights
AirAsia X continues to spread its wings across Australia, with plans to increase its Kuala Lumpur-Gold Coast services up from daily to 11 weekly.
The announcement comes less than two months after the budget carrier increased frequency to Melbourne, Sydney AND Perth.
Additional services to the Gold Coast will start from 1 July 2016, and according to the airline’s Chief Executive, they reflect the increasing success “of the route and demand”.
4. Sydney Airport fires “on all cylinders” post-storm
Good morning Sydney.
We are back firing on all cylinders this morning! ?? pic.twitter.com/1RKIxa1PM3
— Sydney Airport (@SydneyAirport) June 5, 2016
Sydney Airport’s parallel runway operations are back up and running this morning after the weekend’s storm caused major delays on flights to and from the gateway.
Travellers were waiting up to two hours to take off and touch down in Sydney as a result of wild weather.
The gateway thanked everyone for their patience and tweeted this morning that it was “back firing on all cylinders this morning”.
5. Rail travel to THIS destination is rising
The launch of the Eurail Scandinavia Pass has had a positive effect on rail travel to the region, according to Rail Europe.
The company’s GSA bookings have shown a steady increase in the number of travellers visiting Scandinavia over the last few months.
According to the distributor, the biggest highlight of rail travel in Scandinavia over the past few years has been the Northern Lights. However, booking records show that this year, the launch of the Scandinavia Pass has encouraged travellers to spend more time exploring the region.
The Eurail Scandinavia Pass gives travellers unlimited access to all of the four countries’ national rail networks at a fixed price with only seat reservations required on premium high-speed and night trains. However, agents should advise their clients that regional trains also operate routes serviced by premium trains and seat reservations are not required for most of the time.
6. Itravel agents hop on Pacific Aria
What better way to understand the product you’re selling than by experiencing it yourself. That’s why a few itravel agents set time aside to spend a day exploring one of P&O’s newest vessels, Pacific Aria.
The team were led around the ship by Zach Gregory, who showed them some of the ship’s features such as the luxury penthouse suite, the adult’s only oasis, beautiful day spa, and the exclusive Chef’s Table dining experience.
After a morning exploring the cruise ship, itravel agents were then treated to a delicious three course lunch in the Waterfront restaurant, one of the many incredible dining options aboard the ship.
7. Oaks Hotels & Resorts rolls up its sleeves to help save Aussie lives
Oaks Hotels & Resorts, a division of Minor Hotel Group, has encouraged its staff from all across Australia to roll up their sleeves for a good cause this month, partnering with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service to help save lives.
Dozens of Oaks Hotels & Resorts’ staff stepped up to the challenge between 23 May and 3 June as part of the Red Cross ‘Red25’ Group Donation Program, which in turn, will help to save over 90 lives and treat people with various types of cancer and blood diseases, plus other serious medical conditions affecting everyday Australians.
Employees from all divisions of the company, including sales, marketing, reservations, hotel management, revenue and front desk, were among those who donated to the cause.
Click here for more information on how to donate to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service.
8. Carnival guests ‘Wiggle’ for sick children
Carnival Cruise Line has entered a new charity partnership in Australia, with its guests set to start wiggling for joy as they donate money to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.
Under the partnership, guests onboard every Carnival cruise sailing from Australia will be invited to take part in a special “Wiggle for Westmead” top deck dance party to raise funds for the hospital.
The dance event will be held on the last sea day of each cruise, with guests able to join the party by purchasing a special pack featuring a “Wiggle for Westmead” t-shirt and wrist band. Created by Carnival, the packs will cost $15, with 100 per cent of the purchase price donated to the hospital.
The Children’s Hospital at Westmead provides quality care and clinical services to 80,000 sick and injured children each year. It is the largest children’s hospital and paediatric research centre in New South Wales, caring for children from NSW, Australia and across the Pacific Rim.
Click here for more pictures.
