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. Not just early birds, this is what airlines are doing to get travellers over to Europe
Airlines are doing early birds a little differently this year in order to beat those attractive $1,000 trans-Pacific flights and out-sell each other.
2016 hasn’t exactly been a year of stability for Europe, with Brexit and recent attacks in Paris, Turkey and Brussels creating uncertainty amongst travellers, to the point where new data from Compare the Market found more than half of Australians surveyed said they’d prefer to holiday in Australia than overseas.
In addition to travel uncertainty, Europe has had to compete with record low airfares to the US, which reached under $1,000 at the start of the year.
2. Can fake guns & updated metal detectors make airports safer?
Fake guns and up-to-date security equipment are key to making the country’s airports a little safer, according to a new report.
The recommendation from the Australian National Audit Office came after a review into passenger security screenings at domestic gateways.
The group’s research found that although minimum standards are in place for Australia’s domestic airports, the government is unable to confirm whether or not security screenings are effective or even enforced, News.com.au reported.
3. INCENTIVE: WIN $1,000 in cash or a free self-famil cabin
APT has launched a new ‘Cash or Cabin’ incentive where Agents that book five or more APT or Travelmarvel river cruises will have the chance to receive either $1,000 in cash or a free self-famil cabin for two people on a 15-day European river cruise.
The incentive is available on new bookings made and deposited between 1 September and 31 October 2016 and applies to river cruises across all destinations –Europe, Asia and India.
Assisting consultants in the selling process, APT has also launched a new national consumer advertising campaign called ‘The Best Just Got Better’.
4. VOMO reopens after Winston with additional suites
VOMO reopened its doors this week with two new residences after a 28-week closure and refurbishment amounting to over AU$13.5 million.
The full renovation was initially completed in 2015 but further work was required after Tropical Cyclone Winston hit earlier this year.
New to the property are two additional beachfront palatial residences featuring private swimming pools, lavish interiors and up to four bedrooms. Changes were also made to roofing, joinery, air conditioning, the main kitchen and landscaping.
5. Breakaway Travelclub launches new cruise booking engine
Breakaway Travelclub has launched its new cruise booking engine which allows travel industry employees to search live availability and instantly book confirmed space cruises at industry rates.
Breakaway’s new platform is powered by technology partner Traveltek and according to Breakaway’s Managing Director, Anthony Cassar, is available for members to access 24/7.
A series of special deals are also on offer to launch the new site, including heavily discounted industry rates on Carnival Cruise Lines Australia and Royal Caribbean Cruises sailings.
6. QantasLink unveils new-look Spirit Magazine
QantasLink has adopted the ‘Spirit’ of Australia for its re-launched inflight magazine, in a bid to showcase the best regional areas of the country to the airline’s six million passengers every year.
Unveile this week, the new-look bi-monthly QantasLink Spirit publication is available to read in some 2,000 QantasLink services per week as well as through Qantas’ Travel Insider website, the Qantas magazine mobile app and Qantas’ social media platforms.
The carrier said each issue will reflect QantasLink’s diverse customer base, which ranges from tourists to business travellers, people visiting family and friends, and fly-in fly-out workers.
7. Luxperience enters new partnership with Sydney City Lexus
Luxperience is excited to announce its first major lifestyle partner, Sydney City Lexus for its 2016 event taking place at Australian Technology Park from 18-21 September 2016.
The value in partnering with Luxperience is offering Sydney City Lexus the ability to network directly with these agents, many already Lexus owners, during the three and a half day event. Sydney City Lexus will also be the major sponsor of the Luxperience Gala Awards being held this year at the newly renovated Four Points by Sheraton Sydney ballroom on Tuesday 20 September and celebrating Luxperience’s fifth anniversary. The effervescent Henry Weinreich Roth will be master of ceremonies.
At Luxperience this year, Sydney City Lexus will prominently display some of their latest vehicles as well as host a delegate lounge and café emulating the elite customer service available in their showroom. There will also be a fleet of vehicles which will be used throughout the show for VIP transfers and provide delegates first-hand a Lexus experience.
8. Trafalgar recognised for top sales team
Just a few weeks after winning ‘Best International Tour Operator’ at this year’s AFTA National Travel Industry Awards, Trafalgar, is celebrating another milestone with Melbourne-based VIC and TAS Sales Manager Sheena Smith winning ‘Global Sales Manager of the year – 2016’ at Trafalgar’s global sales conference held in Japan last week.
Having won Sales Manager of the year among several other local Sales Manager and brand awards previously, Smith is no stranger to receiving recognition for her outstanding performance.
Sales achievement, creativity, initiative and team spirit were amongst the key criteria taken into account in the judging process and Smith excelled in all categories.
9. PTM ticks Switzerland Mountain Peaks off the bucket list
For many, Club Med conjures up images of sun, sand and beach holidays however as personal travel manager Lesley Cavill discovers, Club Med also provides the easiest ski holiday ever.
The representative for Mosman Park in Western Australia recently experienced a 10-night ski famil to Switzerland, courtesy of Club Med Villars-sur-Ollon and Cathay Pacific.
“It’s not every day you learn to ski in the Swiss Alps and I certainly made the most of Club Med’s huge range of activities and really got involved! Club Med provided all of the ski equipment hire, and we had an amazing ski instructor Tamara who was with us every step of the way. She started with the basics and was really patient and supportive as we tackled the slopes during our lessons,” she said.
“There were plenty of laughs, tumbles and falls, but it was a great sense of personal accomplishment when I finished a run still upright!”