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. Flight Centre rolls out interest-free travel loans
Feeling those pangs of anxiety thump against your chest as your boss sends through another WOT (waste of time) email on the importance of team bonding?
Are you borderline about to lose your sh#t at annoying colleagues who insist on always being right or stealing your homemade sandwiches from the fridge (even after labelling it FYI)?
If you’re experiencing any of the above it means you’re probably long overdue for a holiday (or maybe a one-on-one with a psychologist), but if you haven’t booked it yet then that likely means you’re financially not ready to set off.
2. Virgin Australia international flies towards profits
Virgin Australia is hopeful its international operations will deliver a surplus over the next 12 months, with the latest financial results showing the airline en-route to achieve profitability by the end of FY17.
In its 2016 full financial results published to ASX last week, the carrier revealed a $48.8 million loss in underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) for its international operations.
Despite the loss, it was actually a 30 percent improvement on the prior 12 months, which puts Virgin Australia International on track to achieve profits by the end of the 2017 financial year.
3. A Qantas employee took over the airline’s Snapchat & things got interesting
Meet Justin (didn’t catch his surname), he’s a Qantas ground services employee based at Sydney International Airport.
Yesterday morning he did what some of us wish we could do at work, Snapchat throughout the day.
He took over the airline’s recently launched account to give followers a behind the scenes look at his job and it was surprisingly interesting.
4. TIME is coming to a city near you…
Travel professionals outside of Sydney will soon have their chance to take part in the industry’s mentor-ship experience, TIME, as the program expands to other states.
TIME hosted its first Networking event outside the Harbour City earlier this year when it arrived in Perth on 12 May. Organisers plan on hosting a second and third event in the coming months, one in Melbourne on 24 August, followed by a second Perth Function on 20 September 2016.
The evening will give those who attend a greater understanding of TIME as the only Program of its type in our Industry and the envy of many other industries.
5. Last chance to be ‘Ever Wondered’ with Scenic in 2016
Scenic has announced its third round of Ever Wondered sessions for 2016 which will run nationwide in metro and regional centres over six weeks from 31 August to 11 October.
Agents are invite to bring their clients along to one of the sessions so they can find out about the cruise line’s range such as the new Scenic Eclipse ocean cruising program; and the programs for 2017 Europe River Cruising; Canada, Alaska & USA; South America: Africa and South East Asia River Cruising.
New for this round of Ever Wondered sessions, Scenic will be showcasing the Scenic Space-Ship on board experience through the latest in VR technology. Guests and would-be guests will have the opportunity to see what life on board a Scenic Space-Ship is like through a virtual 360 degree tour of the entire ship.
All sessions are free. Dates are:
Sydney
- Wednesday 31 August: Four Points by Sheraton, 161 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000
- Thursday 1 September: Pullman on the Park, 192 Wellington Parade, Melbourne VIC 3002
- Monday 5 September: Panthers Event Centre, 123 Mulgoa Road, Penrith NSW 2750
- Tuesday 6 September: Crowne Plaza, 16 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide SA 5000
- Thursday 8 September: The Rocks Mornington, 1 Schnapper Point Drive, Mornington VIC 3931
- Tuesday 13 September: Convention Centre, Merivale Street & Glenelg Street, South Brisbane
Queensland
- Tuesday 13 September: Oscars, 18 Doveton Street South, Ballarat, VIC 3350
- Tuesday 20 September: Quality Hotel Ballina, Compton Drive, Ballina NSW 2478
- Thursday 22 September: Rydges, 1 Hay Street, Port Macquarie NSW 2444
- Tuesday 27 September: Novotel, 55 N Steyne, Manly NSW 2095
- Tuesday 27 September: Royal Pines Resort, Ross Street, Benowa QLD 4217
- Wednesday 5 October: Atura Albury, 648 Dean Street, Albury NSW 2640
- Tuesday 11 October: The Studio Rooms, Great Eastern Highway, Burswood, WA 6100
- Tuesday 11 October: Novotel, 2-14 Cliff Road, North Wollongon, NSW 2500
6. ‘First Lady of Cruising’ to grace Skal Sydney
The ‘First Lady of Cruising’ aka Sarina Bratton will be a guest speaker at the next Sydney International Sydney meeting on 10 August.
Sarina’s presentation, titled Never Give Up! will talk about the highs and lows of raising capital for a new venture, the importance of shareholders sharing the vision, and being true to your own values and principles.
The August meeting will be held from 12pm-2pm at the Four Points by Sheraton Sydney and includes a two course lunch and beverages. Tickets for members $69.00 per person, non-members $75.00 per person.
Click here to book.
7. Agents get a taste of Peru in Melbourne
Thirty Melbourne-based travel agents relished in an exclusive evening of sampling Peru’s unique flavours during the ‘Taste of Peru’ event held last week by PROMPERU and South American Tourism Office (SATO).
Each agent partook in a hands-on initiation to Peruvian culture, whereby they learned how to prepare the Peruvian seafood dish Ceviche, as well as the country’s revered cocktail, The Pisco Sour. Insightful presentations were given with PROMPERU sharing the exciting culinary developments of the destination and SATO revealing its new Peruvian culinary tour ‘Flavours of Peru’ seven days program. This journey includes memorable meals in the country’s leading restaurants, local experience in small rural villages and hands-on interaction with cooking classes and Pisco Sour demonstrations.
Three lucky agents were recognised for their trivia savviness and were awarded a Peru prize-pack, which included a Peruvian hand-painted statue and a leather-bound notebook. The major prize, a trip to Peru with stays in Lima and the Sacred Valley at the brand new Explora Sacred Valley, was awarded to Kendall Roberts, from Journeys by Design, who creatively articulated her ideal trip to the country. A dream made reality.
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.
