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. Ronan Keating rides the rollercoaster at Travel Counsellors Global Conference
Travel Counsellors 2016 ‘MY TC’ Global Conference held in Manchester came to a close on Sunday afternoon after three dynamic days of inspiration and celebration.
The UK’s biggest retail travel event brought together 1670 Mobile Travel Counsellors (TC’s), Head Office Staff and trade suppliers from their seven operating countries including Australia, South Africa, Ireland, Belgium, Dubai, The Netherlands and the UK to the Manchester Central Convention Centre.
2. Californian airport engulfed by sea of foam
It may look like snow, but this is California – the sunshine state – and so you just know that it cannot be. No, what you’re looking at here is firefighting foam, and its engulfing a Californian airport!
Yep, that’s right. A malfunction at the Mineto San Jose International Airport, about 70 kilometres south of San Francisco, has caused a sea of foam to run riot, swallowing a hangar and spewing onto the surrounding streets. Luckily it hasn’t disrupted any flights.
According to witnesses, the foam stood at about 3-and-a-half feet tall and filled about the size of a city block.
3. PM Turnbull checks out Chimu Adventures hotel in Peru
Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, recently got to meet the Australian travel entrepreneurs and founders of Chimu Adventures, Greg Carter and Chad Carey, in Peru.
Taking some time out of his busy South American schedule, the PM was given a tour of Chimu Adventures’ latest venture, a boutique hotel Casa Republica, which the duo are investing more than $5m into to transform the 1920s mansion in the buzzing Barranco District into what will be the city’s hottest boutique hotel when it opens next March.
Mr Turnbull is in Lima for the APEC Summit.
4. Air New Zealand’s next safety video in Northland
The latest edition of Air New Zealand’s famous safety video series will be filmed over the next few days in New Zealand’s Northland region. More than 150 cast and crew will be involved in the video, which will draw international attention to some of the best jewels in the nation’s tourism crown, as well as both local and international stars.
“For those of us who are proud to call New Zealand home the video is sure to resonate and evoke a real sense of pride and nostalgia. We hope that it will not just inspire foreigners but also more Kiwis to explore an amazing part of our country.”
Jodi Williams, General Manager of Global Brand and Content Marketing, Air New Zealand.
The airline’s safety video is widely supported by stakeholders including the Bay of Island’s Marketing Group, which has invested in the project, and will be rolled out across its fleet prior to Christmas.
5. ANA announces start date of new Tokyo to Mexico City service
Starting on 15 February 2017, ANA will become the first airline ever to operate direct flights between Japan and Mexico with its new Tokyo to Mexico City service. The new daily service will be welcomed by both business and leisure travellers between the two countries, as well as from other Asian countries taking advantage of smooth transfers at Narita Airport.
“We are proud to be the first airline to operate direct, daily flights between Japan and Mexico to better serve the growing business and leisure demand between our two countries.”
Osamu Shinobe, CEO and President, ANA.
The new route will become ANA’s longest flight, and will be operated using a Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 to ensure that all passengers have a comfortable in-flight experience. Mexico City becomes the 42nd international destination in ANA’s wide reaching network.
6. Jordan Spieth wins the Emirates Australian Open in playoff
The one and only Jordan Spieth has emerged victorious at the Emirates Australian Open on Sunday for a second time after an intense four rounds and a play off at the Royal Sydney Golf Club.
Jordan finished first after achieving a final round of 69, finishing 12 under par for the tournament. Ashley Hall and Cameron Smith from Australia finished tied second following the play off.
Emirates is the Official Airline for 21 golfing tournaments worldwide, including the Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast from 1 December until 4 December.
7. Samoa’s becoming a favourite with Aussies
According to travel search engine, KAYAK, Samoa is growing in popularity in the Australian travel market, with more and more Aussies searching for holidays to the island paradise than ever before.
Samoa joins other under-the-radar destinations, such as Tonga, Balipapan and Puerto Princesa.
KAYAK VP for the APEC region Debby Soo attributes this to the adventurous and trend setting nature of Australians with the “been there, done that” mentality.
Samoa has always been an attractive alternative to the Bali-weary traveller seeking to escape the hustle and bustle as well as the crowds, as well as those after a tropical paradise retreat without the associated high price tag.
8. Driveaway & Flight Centre Group incentive winner picked
Pictured left to right: Rishni Krishnan; My Adventure Store, Blake Wiggins; BDM at DriveAway Holidays.
And the winner of the DriveAway Holidays and Flight Centre Group incentive is … Rishi Krishnan from My Adventure Store Pitt Street!
Rishi Krishnan wins two return tickets to Los Angeles and $1,000 spending money as part of the incentive which ran for five months.
Congrats mate and don’t spend all that money at once….
9. TIME announces 25th intake of mentees
Are you looking to take your career in the travel industry to the next level? Then today is your lucky day!
TIME is calling for expressions of interest from aspiring industry leaders wishing to take action and develop their skills, networks and advance their careers. The next TIME intake commences on 22 February 2017.
TIME attracts mentors from senior ranks of the industry who are passionate about giving back and sharing their experience with aspiring travel industry professionals. The program has a stable of 95 accomplished senior executives who are matched with program participants on the basis of complementary business skills and experience that enables them to offer relevant advice and perspective.
10. Burnie Travelcentre wins the 2016 Pateman Award
It was third time lucky for Burnie Travelcentre recently as the Tasmanian travel agency was named as the 2016 recipient of the Brian Pateman Agency Award for Excellence.
For the previous two years, Burnie Travelcentre was named a finalist in the annual award, which recognises outstanding performance by a Travellers Choice member across a range of categories, including support for fellow members, preferred suppliers’ sales and marketing strategy.
But this year, it finally took out the top spot, winning a $3,000 service grant which the agency can now put towards any of Travellers Choice’s extensive range of member services, including the group’s Digital Managed Services, which provide members with assistance in areas such as social media management, search engine optimisation and email marketing.
Congratulations guys!
11. Top Travellers Choice members to receive top cooking class
In exciting news, the winners of the 2016 Gold Choice Award Winners will enjoy a personal cooking class with the master chef, Luke Nyguen, as part of a luxurious APT journey to Vietnam and Cambodia.
The top consultants will board APT’s luxurious AmaLotus in Siem Reap next March for a seven-night Mekong river cruise, during which they will dine at Nyguen’s on-board degustation restaurant. The culinary journey will then culminate in a post-cruise cooking class with the man himself at his Grain Cooking Studio in Ho Chi Minh City.
As well as spots on dedicated famils, this year’s recipients – announced during the group’s Annual Shareholders’ Conference at the National Convention Centre in Canberra – will take part in exclusive sales incentives and receive service grants worth up to $1500 per agency. The grants can be used towards any of the network’s member services, including the Travellers Choice Cruise Club and local area marketing activities.
The 2016 Gold Choice Award Winners are: Select World Travel, QLD; Savenio, QLD & SA; Ucango Travel & Cruise Centre, QLD; Ballina Cruise & Travel, NSW; Jamison Travel, ACT; Weston Cruise & Travel, ACT; Discover Travel & Cruise, QLD; Windsong Travel, NSW; Maria Slater Travel, ACT; and Oliver Travel, SA.
12. Lucky helloworld agents live it up in Cancun
Ten lucky helloworld agents were recently rewarded for their impressive Club Med sales and passion for the brand on a famil to Cancun, Mexico, courtesy of Club Med.
The group flew to Cancun via Los Angeles with Virgin Australia, and after arriving in Cancun were blown away by the natural beauty of the landscapes and crystal clear waters of this amazing destination.
The group kept busy enjoying ancient mayan sites on excursions and spent their days doing various watersports and activities around the resort. With lots of time at leisure the group were able to see all that Club Med Cancun has to offer as well as this amazing destination.
THIS WEEK’S COMPETITIONS
Pimp your scooter and WIN it!
Thanks to TravelCube and its new ‘pimpmyscooter’ promotion, one of these chic chariots – valued at $400 each – could soon be yours.
Lugging a heavy bag through an airport terminal can be a real drag… but not with a fabulous luggage scooter!
These nifty, light-weight contraptions combine a sleek carry-on bag with a top-quality scooter, allowing you to glide effortlessly past fellow passengers and get to your flight on time and in style.
To celebrate the launch of its fresh new brand, the company is giving away eight micro luggage scooters.
Sell Italy & See Italy
This is your chance to earn a place on a famil to Italy and Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airways Alitalia and Trafalgar Travel.