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. “How is this a natural fit?” – industry responds to Qantas/Airbnb arrangement
Travel industry professionals have expressed disappointment over Qantas’ new arrangement with Airbnb, which rewards frequent flyers when they book a home-sharing property through the airline’s website.
Revealed yesterday, the Flying Kangaroo will tap into the fast-growing sharing economy, by offering its loyalty members one point for every dollar spent on any of Airbnb’s 2.5 million accommodation listings.
While Qantas’ Chief Executive, Alan Joyce, described the first-of-its-kind arrangement between an airline and the peer-to-peer accommodation website as a natural fit, members of the travel industry see is a ‘slap in the face’ to traditional hotel partners.
2. ‘You sent my son to the wrong city’ – mother sues airline for mixing up her child
A five-year old boy travelling on his own had a very Home Alone 2 experience, when he was accidentally flown to the wrong city.
Andy Martinez was travelling from Cibao International Airport in the Dominican Republic on 17 August to meet his mother, Maribel Martinez, in New York City, but ended up in Boston after being mistaken for another child who was also travelling solo.
In a lawsuit filed by Ms Martinez against the airline late last week, the mother said she was waiting at the gate at John F Kennedy Airport on 17 August, when airline staff presented her with a boy she’d never seen before.
3. These are the best-priced tours in travel, according to CostSaver
Wondering where to book your clients the best-priced tours in travel? They’re over at Trafalgar’s offshoot brand, CostSaver.
The company has been promising the ‘best-priced tours’ since launching in October last year, saying its product is not only value conscious but packed with quality.
And that hasn’t changed with the launch of its new Europe & Britain 2017 programme, which features “incredible experiences at unbeatable prices”.
4. Travellers urged to ‘stay within their limits’ on sweatcations
Did your back doing yoga on holiday?
Travel insurer TID (Travel Insurance Direct) is warning activity-based holidaymakers to stay within their limits when they go on holiday.
“We occasionally get a claim for injury from putting too much downward in the dog,” said TID’s Phil Sylvester. “So don’t overdo it.”
TID’s “sweatcation” guide available on their site lists a range of activities to suit all levels of fitness.
5. Travelport picks up two prestigious awards
Travelport was recently honoured with two prestigious travel industry awards across the Asia-Pacific region – ‘Best GDS’ at the TTG Travel Awards 2016 for the eighth consecutive year and ‘Best Technology Supplier’ at the Travel Agents Association of New Zealand’s (TAANZ) National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) 2016.
Winners of the TTG Travel Awards are voted by the readers of TTG Travel Trade Publishing, which consists of travel industry executives across the Asia-Pacific region, while TAANZ NTIA is a prestigious award that aims to recognise companies and individuals who have made significant contributions to the New Zealand travel industry.
Mark Meehan, Managing Director, Asia-Pacific, Travelport, commented: “These awards are a testament of our commitment in redefining travel commerce with our leading solutions such as Travelport Smartpoint, our industry-leading merchandising solutions as well as our offering in hotels, digital and payments.”
6. New Chinese luxury website showcases the best of Australia
High end travel providers in Australia are welcoming the launch of ONLYLUXE CLUB as a way of reaching the high-end Chinese traveller.
Aimed at young, affluent Chinese travellers in China and also Chinese residents in Australia, the ONLYLUXE CLUB allows Chinese individuals or groups to create their own ‘wish list’ itinerary online from a collection of hand-picked experiences ranging from Kimberley cruises and super yachts on Sydney Harbour and in the Whitsundays, to wine and golf tours on private planes.
Emily Cai, Founder of the ONLYLUXE CLUB, has been running a high end bespoke travel company, Yu Teng, in Sydney since 2014. Cai said “We wanted to take our experience creating high-end tours for a discerning Chinese market one step further and develop our new online brand and website to reach the young, digitally savvy
7. Local brewery on tap at LAX
A popular L.A. brewery has opened up a new outpost in Los Angeles International Airport, the latest in a long line up of local eateries now available in the airport’s newly refurbished terminals.
Located in Terminal 3, Angel City Brewery is one of the newest tenants at LAX, bringing its craft beer lineup to parched travellers.
The microbrewery is a crowd favourite in the vibrant Arts District in Downtown L.A., and is known for its special brews, including its Srirachelada, a spin on the classic Mexican coctel cerveza. This beer comes with all your favourite michelada ingredients, plus a splash of sriracha, pre-brewed in the keg for quality control of the perfect spicy beverage.
8. Globus annual golf day a hit with trade
Over 120 industry professionals from around Australia and New Zealand joined The Globus family of brands on the golf course for the company’s annual Golf Day.
Held last week at the Pymble Golf Course in St Ives, the competition brought out the competitive side of attendees and even saw Avalon Waterways ambassador Deborah Hutton, and Emirates Divisional Vice President Australasia Barry Brown, score an impressive hole-in-one.
With 28 teams competing for the top spot during the Ambrose course, the eventual winners were Darren Perry, Globus family of brands Groups Business Development Manager; Robert Kirk, Manager of italktravel; Derek Kirk, Director of Fine Travel and Michael Gannon, Golf Professional at Precision Golf Chatswood.
