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. 2016 will go down in travel history as the year…
Some will remember 2016 as the year of political confusion or the year that displaced and killed thousands in Syria and Iraq
Some say it should be removed from history for taking away so many music and entertainment icons while others trash it for breaking up Brangelina.
2016 has without a doubt been filled with many unforgettable moments, especially in travel.
2. Travelling this Christmas? Keep safe with these Aussie govt. tips
Aussies are resilient when it comes to travel. They don’t scare easy and won’t let world events, whether it be political, natural or terror-related, stop them from taking that long awaited getaway.
But as the peak Christmas and New Year travel period approaches, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has updated its worldwide terror threat advice, to keep Aussies as safe as possible.
Issued yesterday, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said that while the updated advice does “not denote an increased threat level”, Aussies should be made aware of reports of potential attacks to coincide with the Christmas and New Year period.
3. Fiji Airways is coming to another Australian city – Adelaide
First came the direct flights to Qatar, then non-stop services to mainland China and now Adelaide is set to get additional air options with direct flights to Fiji.
Fiji Airways today revealed plans to commence twice weekly Nadi-Adelaide services from 30 June next year.
The airline will utilise its Boeing 737-800 on the route, with FJ961 departing Nadi on Monday and Friday at 4.30pm to arrive in Adelaide at 8.30pm, while FJ960 will take off from Adelaide at 10.00pm on Monday and Friday to arrive in Nadi at 5.35am the following morning.
4. British Airways plans a full Christmas schedule around strikes
British Airways has assuring travellers that will run a full schedule on Christmas Day and Boxing Day despite proposed industrial action by Unite.
The carrier’s CEO and Chairman, Alex Cruz, said in a statement that the airline is doing everything to ensure that “this attempt to ruin Christmas” fails with detailed contingency plans should the union decide to go ahead with strikes.
Cruz continued, urging the union to abandon the strike call but stressed that regardless, the airline will be able to operate a normal flight program from all airports on both days.
“We continue to seek a non-disruptive solution to issues of concern to our Mixed Fleet colleagues,” he said.
5. Cruise360 Australasia will be held in 2017 on…
Cruise specialists are you ready for a full day of nothing but ships, sailings and socialising?
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has announced the date for its fourth Cruise360 Australasia event and it will be held on… Friday 25 August, 2017.
Next year, the annual conference will be held at a new venue, the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Sussex Street in Sydney.
Details of the program will be released in the coming months, however, CLIA Managing Director Joel Katz said he wanted to get the date out there to Agents so that they could add it to their 2017 diaries.
“Cruise360 is a must-attend event for the cruise industry and our 2017 conference will include engaging seminars and opportunities to hear directly from cruise line members and industry leaders,” Mr Katz said.
6. Venture to new destinations & experiences in the Middle East
Venture Holidays has released its 2017/2018 Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman & Qatar brochure in time for Christmas, which showcases new product, new destinations and more experiences for travellers to enjoy.
For the first time, the brochure features Doha in Qatar with a City Tour of the Museum of Islamic Art, Inland Sea and more. Plus there’s new tours in Oman such as extended sightseeing day trips from Muscat and a hike to the crystal clear waters of Wadi Shab where guests can have a swim.
In Dubai, there are new hotels such as the Metropolitan, Steigenberger and The Westin. Four hotels in the very hip Dubai Marina area are also featured for the choice of restaurants and easy access to major attractions including the new Dubai Eye opening in 2017 and amusement theme parks.
Click here to check out the brochure.
7. Carnival online is going to look as gorgeous as its ships in the new year
Doesn’t that shot just making you want to book a cruise?
Carnival Cruise Line hopes your answer is yes because that image above is a screenshot of the new look and feel for the cruise line’s new website.
Described as ‘fun-packed’, goccl.com.au is being revamped for the new year to make it easier and more enjoyable for Aussie and Kiwi Agents to sell Carnival cruises.
As part of the makeover, itineraries will be easily accessible with full details for both domestic and international departures, it will have the latest brochures, deals to destination guides, information on Carnival’s onboard offerings plus there’s sharable video content, quick links to Carnival FAQs, Polar Online and Carnival Fun Zone.
8. Rail Plus & Eurostar name their 2016 Ambassador winners
Congratulations to Ronda Arthur from Helloworld Wheelers Hill in Victoria who’s off for high tea at Melbourne’s grand Windsor Hotel with five of her closest friends after taking out top spot in the 2016 Rail Plus Eurostar Ambassador programme.
Almost 500 Travel Agents from across Australia and New Zealand completed this year’s Ambassador training module, before answering 30 randomly-selected questions on everything from Eurostar’s network and cabin classes to ticketing procedures and travel times.
In addition to Arthur’s prize, Elke Baden from Helloworld Eastgardens (NSW) secured this year’s second prize of six bottles of fine French champagne, while third-placed Maxine McNulty from Student Flights Bond University (QLD) won a Belgium-themed goodie bag featuring a waffle maker, beer and some delicious chocolates.
All three of this year’s winners recorded a perfect score, with final placings decided by their respective answers to a creative question.
9. The lucky dip winner of the DriveAway $500 VISA debit card is…
… Michael Whyment from RAA Travel head office.
Whyment won for taking part in DriveAway Holidays’ RAA Agents incentive, whereby each booking in October and November equated to one entry in a lucky dip.
The second winner was Michelle Twigger from RAA Travel Victoria Harbour.
The prize of a $1500 gift card will be given to the agent with the most bookings made over the two month period; winner is yet to be announced.
10. Queensland hospitality school celebrates
After its first year, Queensland’s leading hospitality training school has turned out 50 six-star-trained students and successfully fast-tracked 90 percent of them into jobs.
The school is helping build a pipeline of future tourism workers ahead of the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane project that will require 8000 operational roles, and amidst a shortage of hospitality workers in Queensland.
Of the graduates employed, nearly 30 per cent are now employed by The Star Entertainment Group, while the remaining 70 per cent have been employed by the wider industry.
11. Agents get snapped with coppers in the Big Apple
A trip to one of the world’s most popular cities, New York, wouldn’t be complete without taking a picture with one of the local law enforcement’s finest.
A group of Travel Counsellors did just that plus they admired world-famous art at the Guggenheim Museum, took in the view at the top of the Empire State Building and listened to voices of the Harlem Gospel Choir.
The five-day famil was organised as an exclusive reward trip by New York Tourism and included visits to some of the city’s finest hotels such as Viceroy Central Park, Hotel Edison, AKA Times Square, Hotel Beacon, Roosevelt Hotel, The Wyndham New Yorker and the Intercontinental Barclay.
Click here for more pictures.
This week’s competitions
Enter to WIN $1,000 cash prize from Collette
Who will be the 2017 Collette Christmas Carol Carpool Karaoke Champion? Collette have teamed up with KarryOn to bring you some festive fun!
12 days of Christmas, $12,000 worth of prizes to win
To celebrate the debut of Visit California’s new training app, the bureau is having a ’12 Days of Christmas’ campaign, which gives Agents the chance to win more than $12,000 in prizes.