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. Airline wants to make air travel free but there’s a catch, obviously
We all know the saying, ‘nothing is for free’, so when Ryanair’s boss said he hoped to make air travel free within 10 years we had to ask – what’s the catch?
Michael O’Leary hyped up a whole lot of travellers this week when he said he hoped to one day offer holidaymakers $0 fares, The Sun reported.
Speaking at the Airport Operators Association Conference in London, the budget airline’s Chief Executive said free air travel could be made possible within the next decade if there’s a reduction in taxes such as air passenger duty.
2. Lufthansa pilot strikes extended by another day
It’s going to be another rough day for travellers and Lufthansa airport staff as pilots extend their 24-hour strike by another day.
In an online statement, the carrier said flights would be affected on all continental and intercontinental today as well as some continental routes tomorrow.
Lufthansa apologised for the inconvenience to travellers and said it is working hard to “keep the impact as low as possible”.
3. Travellers Choice teams up with Titan Digital
Travellers Choice has announced a new partnership with digital marketing agency Titan Digital to develop the next phase in its successful and multi-faceted digital marketing strategy.
The full-service digital marketing agencies will help enrich the quality and efficiency of Travellers Choice’s digital marketing activities to “to benefit members across Australia”, Titan Digital’s Executive Director Ian Thubron said.
Travellers Choice General Manager Marketing Robyn Mitchell added that the partnership marks a new milestone in the retail group’s efforts to deliver sophisticated digital marketing services to its members.
“We will draw on the company’s knowledge and experience to enhance our existing activities and refine our overall digital marketing strategy in order to expand the volume and quality of traffic we drive to our members.”
Robyn Mitchell, Travellers Choice General Manager Marketing
4. The winners of the JNTO Incentive Travel Awards are…
Australia’s very own JTB Australia was named one of the winners in this year’s Japan Incentive Travel Awards, which recognise travel companies that organised incentive tours to the country last year.
JTB Australia won a Contribution Award for the ‘Millennium Achievers Tour’, while teamtravel premium GmbH in Germany took out the Planning Award for its ‘Chaumet – Hurry up for sales’ and Lion Travel Service Co. in Taiawan won the Grand Prize for the ‘2015 Nan Sha Life Insurance Elite Summit in Hokkaido’ tour.
Kumiko Hardy, General Manager of JTB Australia was pleased to win the award as the tour focused on highlighting a unique side of Japan.
“The clients we have are all experienced travellers and not interested in ordinary sightseeing on the golden routes. They wanted to have a real Japanese surprise!”
Kumiko Hardy, JTB Australia General Manager
5. Cruise ‘worldwide’ with Royal Caribbean’s new brochure
Royal Caribbean International has released its 2017/18 worldwide brochure to help Agents and their clients live the Royal life and book their next adventure with incredible sailings on offer onboard the world’s largest and most feature packed fleet of ships sailing around Australia, Alaska, Asia, Europe, Canada, the Caribbean, New England and the South Pacific.
The detailed brochure features all the cruising essentials needed to research and find the perfect getaway including information about the only on Royal onboard experiences across dining, entertainment, accommodation choices and more, as well deck plans, full itineraries, and shore excursion highlights at each destination.
The brochure also includes a new ‘Personalise Your Holiday Section’, allowing quick and easy access to deck plans, stateroom specifications, a full guide on the fleet and countdown to cruise.
To order a brochure contact your local sales representative.
6. GTI celebrates a decade in business with a rebrand
A big CONGRATULATIONS to the GTI Tourism team for reaching a major milestone this month – 10 years in business!
The group celebrated the major event with a rebranding designed to reflect the innovative and full-service agency that GTI has evolved into over the past decade.
Sarah Anderson, GTI Tourism’s Founder and Managing Director said the company has continually evolved over the past 10 years and the team was ready for a “new brand that better reflected the team of today, and our dynamic and innovative spirit”.
“The new aqua logo not only embodies our energy and professionalism but also reminds us of the oceans we fly over, swim in and dive under as we explore the four corners of the globe representing our tourism clients.”
Sarah Anderson, GTI Tourism Founder and Managing Director
As well as a new brand icon, GTI Tourism’s rebrand also comprises a new look website – www.gtitourism.com.au – which overviews the agency’s representation, marketing, PR, content development, business events and digital services; work case studies; plus client news and industry insights.
7. Contiki uses Instagram stories to market to millennials
To launch its latest adventure itinerary in Asia, youth travel operator, Contiki is hosting an epic experience for leading millennial media outlets and popular social influencers.
The likes of Buzzfeed, MTV, Popsugar and nine.com.au are joining influencers, Nathan McCallum, Helen Chik, Lucette Romy and Olive Cook on a bespoke trip to explore the new hotspots of Thailand and Malaysia.
Constantly at the forefront of innovation and utilising the ever-evolving online and social space, Contiki is emphasising real-life and real-time content to trigger conversations on the new Bangkok to Singapore itinerary.
8. An Australian flavour at the Abu Dhabi Food Festival
MasterChef Australia star Matt Preston and Adriano Zumbo, star of Zumbo’s Just Desserts will join in the sumptuous celebration of food next month with the return of the Abu Dhabi Food Festival (ADFF).
Matt Preston and Adriano Zumbo will join acclaimed Michelin Star chef, restaurateur and global TV personality, Graham Elliot in delighting food fans with pop-up restaurant appearances, ‘Meet & Greets’ and cookbook signings during the festival.
Running right across the emirate from December 5th to 23rd, the festival will incorporate Gourmet Abu Dhabi, Street Feast and for the first time, the SIAL trade fair, the fastest-growing food, beverage and hospitality event in the region.
Spread over 19 days and taking in three weekends, ADFF will attract both residents and visitors alike to enjoy not only cuisine from some of the best chefs on the planet, but also some of the most scrumptious street food available anywhere in the world today.
The event will take place in Al Ain from 8th to the 10th December at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, and on Abu Dhabi Corniche on 15th and 17th December. In addition, there will be a children’s entertainment area, international street performers, graffiti artists, an outdoor cinema and live stage performances.
9. Fiji Airways to upgrade narrow-body fleet
Fiji Airways announced it will replace its existing narrow-body fleet with a selection of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
The airline currently operates five Boeing 737s (one 700 series/ four 800 series) on its short and medium haul network to destinations including Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. The first two of the five brand new B737 MAX 8 aircraft will arrive in 2018, and the remaining three will arrive in 2019.
Mr. Andre Viljoen, Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO said the decision was made based on “improved operating economics and product enhancements” of the aircraft.
10. TravelManagers find Queenstown to be ‘Remarkable’ in more ways than one
A select group of TravelManagers’ personal travel managers recently experienced an exclusive ski famil to New Zealand’s premiere ski destination, Queenstown.
Flying Virgin Australia and hosted by Sarah Miller, Sales Executive Victoria & Tasmania for Ski Express (Anzcro), the eight personal travel managers being New South Wales based Kim Mason representative for Cronulla, Michelle Schulze representative for Grays Point, Alexa Petherick representative for Lennox Head, Julie Painter representative for Mount Colah, Jane Fowler representative for Elrington; Philippa Williams representative for Medinie in South Australia; Karin Evert representative for Strathmore in Victoria and Michelle Kingston representative for Pacific Pines in Queensland, discovered the region has much more to offer than just skiing.
The famil featured a range of activities, including skiing the Remarkables, flying over the trees on a zipline adventure and cruising aboard Queenstown’s 103 year old TSS Earnslaw.
Click here for more pictures.
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.
WIN wedding celebrations in Thailand
The Tourism Authority of Thailand is inviting Australian couples to celebrate their memorable wedding moments in Thailand through a new competition.
Couples need to send their best couple moment pictures and describe their interesting couple story to: info@thailand.net.au, and tell the tourist bureau why Thailand is your dream wedding destination.
One couple will then be selected to win a wedding package including two roundtrip economy ticket (Bangkok Airways) from Australia to Thailand; two roundtrip domestic economy tickets to the wedding destination; one deluxe room for five nights in Bangkok and Samui; transportation; meals; spa treatment; rental of Thai costume and wedding dress; VDO presentation and photography on the wedding ceremony; professional wedding organiser; and hairstylist and make up artist on the wedding day.
Entries need to be in before December this year with travel for 8-13 February 2017 (wedding ceremony is on 10 February 2017).
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.