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. Qantas’ direct Australia to Europe services could land in 2017
Direct flights between Australia and Europe could launch sooner than you think… as soon as next year.
Qantas is reportedly looking at non-stop flights between Perth and London as a ‘real option’ for its first Dreamliner, scheduled for delivery in 2017.
Although the journey would take around 18 hours to complete – one hour longer than the world’s longest flight between Auckland and Dubai – it would save travellers AT LEAST five hours in stopover and transfer time.
2. 20 years of the Avis Scholarship: How the world has changed
It’s hard to believe but it has now been 20 years since Avis Australia first began rewarding customer-service focused consultants with its Travel Agents Scholarship.
That means some of the Travel Agents competing for this year’s award may not have even started school when the prestigious award was unveiled.
There’s no doubt that Travel Agents today face challenges (and enjoy opportunities) that their counterparts could never have even imagined back in 1997. If you don’t believe us, just consider some of the ways the retail travel world has changed since the Scholarship’s inception.
3. This airline is totally cool with passengers having sex on board
Want to get kinky at 32,000-feet but don’t want to ‘do it’ squeezed into the ever-shrinking lavatory or while muffling your moans under piles of blankets?
There’s an airline out there that’s practically inviting its passengers to join the X-rated mile high club, and they don’t have to be discreet about it.
Flamingo Air, an Ohio-based airline, prides itself on being the only fulltime flight service in the world with an ‘open air’ policy that lets passengers on select flights do-the-deed freely.
4. helloworld welcomes record number of Frontliners
Helloworld welcomed a record number of frontline consultants to its Frontliners Forum in Brisbane over the weekend, with some 540 delegates in attendance.
The two-day event saw attendees entertained and informed in equal measure. CEO and Managing Director, Andrew Burnes, kicked off the event when he unveiled a number of new helloworld initiatives that will hit the market in the next three months.
Olympic Gold Medalist Steven Bradbury had the crowd on its feet with his story of how it took him 12 years to become an ‘overnight success’ and entertainer Ahn Do had the audience in both laughter and tears as he inspired everyone by sharing his unique history.
Other speakers included Paul Fraser, Head of the Qantas Integrated Operation Centre and crowd favorite Stevie Jacobs, who entertained as the effervescent MC of proceedings.
5. This is what 2017 European summer looks like with Topdeck
Topdeck has released its 2017 European summer preview brochure featuring 28 European summer escapes perfect for anyone “looking to tick Europe off their travel bucket list next year without blowing their budget”.
Highlights of the program include a seven-week Mega European Egypt trip taking in 20 countries in Western Europe, the Mediterranean, Balkans and Egypt; while the 27-day Summer Fun and Sailing trip travelling around the Mediterranean, Monaco, Paris and Amsterdam.
The 2017 European summer preview brochure also features a special 15 percent off 2016 prices and a further 10 percent discount off some of Topdeck’s most popular sailing an Anzac trips.
6. Germany gains 41st UNESCO World Heritage Site
Germany has another treasure to add to its list of heritage sites after the two Le Corbusier houses at the Weissenhof Estate in the Southern German city of Stuttgart received the UNESCO stamp.
Announced earlier this year, the Le Corbusier houses are the first World Heritage Sites for Stuttgart and the 41st for Germany.
The two Stuttgart houses are the architect’s only buildings in Germany and include the Weissenhof Museum, which illustrates the radical change in architecture around the time of the Second World War as well as Le Corbusier’s visionary thinking.
7. QBT opens new office in Darwin
QBT has opened a new Darwin travel contact centre, months after being appointed the sole provider of travel management services to the Northern Territory Government.
The premises at Moonta House, 43 Mitchell Street, Darwin have been refurbished and the newly recruited consultant team members are currently being trained by experienced QBT Customer Service Leader, Bliss Morris, who has been seconded to Darwin from Sydney for a minimum of three months.
The team will expand as appropriately skilled consultants and eligible traineeship candidates are identified. QBT is also on-track to begin their Indigenous Scholarship program at Charles Darwin University commencing 2017.
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.
