Skill up on all you need to know with bite sized travel news to help you be your best today and tomorrow.
1. “The AVIS Scholarship completely changed my career”
It’s hard work and it will definitely put you out of your comfort zone, but the benefits of the AVIS Travel Agent Scholarship is well worth the effort, according to past winners.
Not just one winner, but at least four previous recipients who were in Sydney to launch 2016 applications this week, concur that receiving the Scholarship has boosted their career.
2015 winner and MTA Member, Belinda van Tholen said from the moment she started researching the award to the moment she was announced winner, she saw it as an “amazing opportunity” to reevaluate her current position and plan where her future.
2. TravelManagers just revved up its PTMs
If you’re not excited to learn about the future of the company, hear from inspiring speakers or to socialise with your peers, then this will definitely gee you up.
TravelManagers just gave its consultants one major reason to be hyped up for August’s conference in Bangkok, by announcing one lucky agent will return home the owner of a brand new car.
That’s right, the company is giving one of its personal travel managers a Mazda 2 Neo PLUS three years AGA Roadside Assistance.
3. Join the Rainbow Challenge! Virgin employee asks for your help
“One day she was running around, swimming and dancing, like any other young girl, and the next she was unable to walk and in the first stages of losing her motor functions.”
It’s a tragedy you hear about on the news and hope it never finds its way into your life. Until one morning you wake up to find it very much a part of your reality.
That’s what happened to Virgin Australia employee, Nicole Laurie, four years ago when her then three-year-old niece was diagnosed with a rare, terminal brain disease called Vanishing White Matter Disease.
4. Famous Qantas flight attendant & author found dead
The Qantas flight attendant who penned a famous tell-all book about the carrier was found dead in his Melbourne home last week.
It’s believed that the body of Owen Beddall, author of Confessions of a Qantas Flight Attendant, was discovered several days after the 40-year-old had passed, the Herald Sun reported.
His body is currently being investigated by a coroner, but his death isn’t being treated as suspicious.
5. Virgin Australia splits with Air NZ, hooks up with China
The Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand split may still be fresh, but the Australian carrier seems to have already moved on to a new ally.
The carrier found love in a somewhat expected place this week, when Hainan Airlines‘ parent company, HNA, purchased $159 million in Virgin shares.
The acquisition is part of a new strategic alliance that Virgin says will benefit both companies and Australian holidaymakers.
6. Good news from DFTA for Kenya
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) has updated their Kenya advice and downgraded their level for Nairobi.
The destination now has an ‘exercise a high degree of caution’ warning, a significant drop from the ‘reconsider your need to travel’.
The Australian government said the downgrade is due to improved security measures in the country including enhanced security checks at all Kenyan airports.
7. Costa Concordia’s Captain gets 16 years prison
An Italian appeal court has decided to uphold the 16-year prison sentence handed to the captain of the Costa Concordia, which capsized four years ago killing 32 people.
Francesco Schettino received the sentence last year after the court found him guilty of manslaughter. Since, he’s been trying to have the sentence overturned.
He has one final appeal left to Italy’s highest court.
8. P&O hosts its first ever Origin cruise
Image: James Morgan
A few ex-footy players and a swarm of rugby league fans decorated Pacific Dawn’s deck this morning as the ship sailed into Sydney on its first ever Holden State of Origin cruise.
The seven-night P&O Cruises trip from Brisbane with around 2,000 predominantly Queensland guests onboard is in town for a special overnight visit, with all guests receiving entry and transfers to the Origin opener as part of the cruise fare.
As well as taking in the sporting event, cruisers also had the chance to cruise with past players including Queenslanders Steve Price and Petero Civoniceva and Blues legends Steve Menzies, Paul Harragon, Steve Roach and Paul Sironen went head to head with guests in a game of beach touch football.
During the cruise, fans have enjoyed a range of league-themed activities from Origin trivia hosted by Foxtel presenter Steve Hart plus photo opportunities and Q&A sessions with the former players.
When the ship sails home to Brisbane tomorrow, there will be a Holden State of Origin post game wrap-up featuring Steve Roach, Paul Sironen, Petero Civoniceva and Steve Price which will be broadcast live on Facebook.
9. Carnival takes Agents to Moreton Islands
Adventure was the name of the game for Carnival Cruise Line’s sales team as they hosted more than 40 travel agents on a famil to the cruise line’s newest port, Moreton Island.
The visit to Tangalooma Resort at Moreton Island took place during the cruise line’s second four-night cruise to the Queensland hotspot in May.
During the call, the Carnival team and agents enjoyed a special cocktail party in the resort’s Waterfront Pavilion and experienced some of the island’s famous action-packed activities including hand-feeding wild dolphins, an ATV quad biking course and snorkelling local wrecks.
