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. airberlin extends codeshare with Virgin Australia to New Zealand
airberlin and Virgin Australia have extended their current codeshare agreement to include 10 new routes between Australia with New Zealand.
The carrier’s flight numbers will now feature on services from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Christchurch and to Auckland; services from Brisbane to the New Zealand capital, Wellington and to Dunedin; and services from Sydney and Brisbane to Queenstown.
According to the carrier’s Chief Executive, Stefan Pichler, the codeshare extension makes it easier for guests to travel from Europe and into the Land of the Long White Cloud.
2. Which cruise line & airline are the friendliest in Australia?
When it comes to customer service this cruise line and airline are serving it up like a dinner rush buffet on a 3,000+ passenger cruise ship.
There’s a starter of genuine care, main filled with warm smiles and dessert stuffed with extra attentiveness.
Awww so sweet!
3. First look at how United Airlines plans to change its LAX Club Lounge
Oh lawd, lounges in the 21st century are so nice, they’re almost (if not, definitely) nicer than some five star hotels.
United Airlines is joining the likes of Qantas and Cathay Pacific by drastically upgrading its Club Lounges, including the one at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) which will turn into a luxurious space of comfort, gourmet food and sophistication.
And the carrier is giving the world an idea of what to expect through first pics released this week.
4. Air NZ shows winter wonderlanders how Xmas is done Down Under
White Christmas? Pfft, that’s so northern hemisphere! It’s about time us southern hemisphere folk show those winter wonderlanders how much more fun the holidays are with ‘glistening bros’, thongs and ‘barbies alight’.
Thankfully the Air New Zealand team took it upon themselves to strip away those sleigh bells, bluebirds and snowmen by adding a whole lot of jandals (lol I need to know if anyone under the age of 60 actually wears them), sunburn stings and bubbles for nan.
In case you didn’t pick up on it, the carrier has re-written a Christmas classic, ‘Winder Wonderland’, to accommodate and appeal to us ‘glistening’ Oceania peeps who are sweating it up in bikinis and shorts in a ‘Summer Wonderland’.
5. Dreamworld reopening is set for…
Gold Coast theme park, Dreamworld, is set to reopen in time for the end-of-year school holidays and six weeks after four people lost their lives on one of the venue’s popular rides.
Reopening on 10 December comes after the theme park received “tremendous support and feedback from the community”, according to Chief Executive, Craig Davidson.
Several rides, attractions, slides, pools and cabanas will be operational, however, the theme park confirmed earlier this month that it would demolish the Thunder River Rapids ride out of respect for the family.
The opening weekend has been titled the ‘Open Hearts – Open Doors Charity Weekend’, with $25 from every guest entry fee being donated to the Red Cross.
6. Agent’s Rates: FJ$199 at Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort
Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort and Castaway Island Fiji are giving Travel Agents the chance to experience its property over the upcoming holidays for a special industry summer rate.
Consultants can stay at Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort for FJ$199 per room per night plus taxes while Castaway Island Fiji is available for FJ$399 per room per night plus taxes with a minimum three night stay.
A Castaway Island meal pan is also available for FJ$99 + tax per day for adults and FJ$49 + tax per day for children aged three to 12 years with no charge for children under three years.
The deal is only available from 1 December until 1 March for travel from 1 December 2016 until 1 March 2017. Block out dates apply from December 24 until January 5.
7. An Infinity of options in the Australian Outback
The rugged and ancient lands of the Australian Outback are combined with the lush wetlands and waterfalls of the Top End, alongside magnificent beaches of the Western Australian coastline, with top-class winery regions through SA and WA.
This brochure has it all, and is calling out to be explored.
The brand new Infinity Holidays Northern Territory, South Australia & Western Australia brochure will hit shelves 16 December.
Click here to check it out online.
8. And now live from the Pullman & Novotel it’s…
… AFL Draft!
The Novotel Sydney Central played host to the official 2016 AFL Draft broadcast last week, which gave the property exposure to some 44,000 footy fans around the country.
The hotel’s rooftop garden was converted into the television programmes set and the backdrop for the hosts, and a number of AFL legend guests in attendance.
Broadcast, which included live crosses to Pullman Sydney Hyde Park to congratulate drafted players, lasted approximately two hours and highlighted AccorHotels relationship with the AFL as its national hotel network of choice.
9. Insight Vacations is lookin’ a little hairy
Insight Vacations’ Sales Manager, Andy Roberts, and Head of Sales, David Farrar, are growing a little extra fur this month all in the name of charity.
The lads are taking part in Movember to raise money for money and awareness for men’s health.
The pair showed off their ‘tashes’ are a special Bake Sale hosted by Insight Vacations earlier this week where all funds raised went towards Movember.
10. 3 reasons why the new Qantas learning hub totally rocks
Shouldn’t learning be fun and engaging? And shouldn’t it be possible to learn at your own pace and in your own time, whether that’s on your daily commute, a spare five minutes at home, or face-to-face?
Yes, it should, and thankfully Qantas totally gets it.
The new Qantas Learning Hub makes it easy for Travel Agents around the country to learn everything there is to know about the Flying Kangaroo: from support, sales, and fares, right through to product, networks and partner alliances – all accessible 24/7 on your desktop, mobile or tablet.
THIS WEEK’S COMPETITIONS
Vote for your favourite pimped-up ride!
TravelCube’s challenge was to pimp-up a luggage scooter and the results have been… well, a little disturbing, with more than 40 creative consultants adorning their rides with everything from elephants and ducks to scuba gear, pirate hats and Darth Vader. Now it’s time to vote for the most fabulously funky two-wheeled masterpiece!
Click here to view all the wacky entries then go to the voting section at the bottom of the page and select your favourite entry numbers. Make sure you also provide your agency ID and full name, and remember, you can vote for as many entries as you like but only one vote per entry will be counted.
Voting closes at midnight on 4 December, with the agents behind the top six most popular entries riding off into the sunset on their own nifty, light-weight luggage scooter, valued at $400 each.
In addition, everyone who votes will automatically go into a draw to win one of two additional luggage scooters – just in time for Christmas!
While you’re deciding on where to place your votes, make sure you check out TravelCube’s new branding!
