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’s business just grew drastically in India
From Australia to the US to Asia, Europe and NOW India. Those guys over at the Flight Centre Travel Group (FLT) are really getting around.
The company today announced the acquisition of Travel Tours Group, a Bengaluru-based travel group which made around AU$150 million in total transaction value (TTV) during the 2015/16 financial year.
According to FLT, the family-owned business deals with foreign exchange, MICE, leisure, corporate and wholesale in around 18 locations.
2. Jennifer Aniston plays co-pilot in adorable new Emirates ad
All eyes are on Jennifer Aniston at the moment, and it’s not just to see whether she gets the chance to recreate those karma memes that recently flooded social media after that Brangelina split.
No, some are looking past the actress’ love life and over to her new, adorable promo for Emirates.
The Breakup star teamed up with an unexpected (and completely charming) young man to showcase the airline’s inflight experience.
3. Scenic is officially river cruising down Myanmar’s Irrawaddy
Scenic is waving its black and gold flag proudly down Myanmar’s Irrawaddy, with the line’s first river ship in the Southeast Asian country launching last month.
Some 45 Scenic guests were among the first to experience Scenic Aura’s 22 all-balcony suites and high end luxury during her 10-day maiden voyage from Pyay to Mandalay.
On board, the vessel provides guests with a boutique, intimate environment, catering to only 44 guests in spacious suits ranging from 24sqm to 70sqm.
4. Singapore Airlines helps NSW attract more visitors
The NSW Government has signed a new three-year $1.8 million agreement with Singapore Airlines set to further boost tourism across NSW.
According to Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres, the new partnership aims to drive tourism from key markets including UK, Singapore, India, Indonesia and Malaysia through destination and event marketing.
“This partnership with Singapore Airlines is set to bring more people than ever before to Sydney and Regional NSW to enjoy our sparkling coastline, fantastic regional food and wine, and unique flora and fauna,” Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase said.
5. Glasses up! Urban Adventures is giving away 100,000 new tours
Cheers to Urban Adventures’ biggest ever giveaway, which will see the day tour operator give away 100,000 tours from October to December.
The giveaway is designed to offer travellers a taste of the brand’s new range of meet-ups called ‘Locals on Tap’, which cater to the growing ‘Airbnb generation’ by connecting travellers with locals to gain their local knowledge.
Lasting between one to two hours, travellers and locals will walk through a city’s iconic or emerging local neighbourhood. It will be followed by a question and answer session at an independent bar or cafe.
6. How the Trafalgar renaissance is helping Agents sell more
Refreshed logo, brand values and new tour styles – Trafalgar has undergone a bit of a renaissance over the last seven years that’s boosted the company’s business, and in turn, helped Agents sell more.
Speaking to KarryOn, the brand’s Chief Executive, Gavin Tollman, over the last few years Agent partners have seen an “explosion” in sales, which was attributable to the brand’s transformation.
Tollman said while the brand pre-2009 wasn’t “doing anything wrong”, it did need a bit of an adjustment to become “relevant in today’s ever-changing world”.
7. Active holidays are on the rise
According to a Travel Insurance Direct (TID) Survey, 27 percent of Aussies have taken an activity holiday and another 35 percent say they plan to join the travel trend on their next trip.
Respondents told TID they wanted to use their breaks to come back feeling reinvigorated and refreshed, and loved the chance away from the pressures of work to be more active than they usually would be.
8. Paint & WIN with All Nippon Airways
All Nippon Airways is giving its passengers the chance to be part of its aircraft upgrade to the double-decker A380 on the Tokyo-Honolulu route in 2019 by giving them to chance to submit designs that will excite people about visiting the tropical island.
Both pro and aspiring amateur artists are able to enter, and the Grand Prize winner will receive a pair of round trip tickets in Economy Class between Tokyo and Honolulu, while running up will receive original ANA souvenirs.
To enter, contestants must submit their designs between 7 October and 30 November either by mail or click here to enter via the official website.
9. Venture Holidays tempts travellers with new Africa & Morocco brochure
Venture Holidays has released its Africa and Morocco brochure for 2017/2018 with a wide variety of experiences to tempt all travellers’ tastes.
A popular tour is the 22-day Northern Explorer from Cape Town to Victoria Falls – a small group tour with a mix of camping and lodge stays. Highlights include a canoe ride on the Orange River, the spectacular Fish River Canyon, the Cape Fur seals at Cape Cross as well as optional activities at Swakopmund.
Also included this year are two luxury rail journey options departing from Cape Town. Rovos Rail Sojourn, a three day luxurious option from $1750 per person transports travellers back in time to the grandeur of a bygone era. Or there is the Blue Train Classic, a two day option, which is synonymous with the finest, elegant and romantic travel experience, evoking all the refinement and luxury of the Victorian era.
For travellers wanting a more experiential travel, the new nine day Classic Luangwa Safari in Zambia is ideal. Guests stay in bush camps and walk to each one – while bags are transported for you.
Click here to view and download the brochure.
10. American Express GBT completes KDS acquisition
American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) is now the owner of KDS, a global provider of integrated travel technology based in France.
The acquisition is part of GBT’s broader investment strategy to develop a suite of integrated digital services for business travellers, bolstering its core technology platform with KDS’ integrated travel SaaS technology.
All KDS employees will today officially join the GBT family of 12,000 employees globally. There is no expected change in the KDS management team and the company will continue to operate in its current office locations.
P.S. Flights from $1,225 return to London
Those earlybirds to Europe are still coming in strong, with Malaysia Airlines being the latest to offer Economy Class returns flights to London from $1,225.
The carrier’s offer is available until 31 October 2016 for travel between 1 April 2017 and 31 October 2017.
Other savings include Business Class return to Europe from $5,460.
P.P.S. PTMs gain a lot of confidence in cruise
Confidence in the cruising industry remains high for personal travel managers following their attendance at CLIA Australia’s Cruise360 third conference in Sydney late last month.
Fifteen TravelManagers’ personal travel managers (PTMs) representing New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria participated in this annual event, which is the largest and only official cruise conference in Australasia and designed exclusively for travel professionals.
TravelManagers increasing cruise sales show the significant contribution home-based consultants make to the cruise sector says TravelManagers’ Executive General Manager, Michael Gazal.
