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. Virgin recognised for Business Class & Cabin Crew
Virgin Australia is currently in celebration mode after being recognised by Airlineratings.com – the leading airline safety and product rating review agency – for its exceptional Business Class and Cabin Crew.
The airline also jumped two spots from 7th to 5th place in the top ten airlines in 2017.
Virgin Australia’s two awards are in recognition of the airline’s continual push in product innovation and customer service. The Best Cabin Crew award recognises the incredible service and professionalism provided by Virgin Australia’s Cabin Crew. It is the third year in a row that the airline has received this award.
2. Etihad awarded Best First Class & Long Haul Airline
Leading airline safety and product rating review website, Airlineratings.com, has praised Etihad Airways by awarding it Best First Class and Best Long Haul Airline Middle-East and Africa.
The Abu Dhabi-based airline was also named in the global top ten in 2017 by the authoritative airline review website.
According to Geoffrey Thomas, the Editor-in-Chief of Airlineratings.com, Etihad’s commitment to perfecting the travel experience for its customers is exceptional.
3. Hotels declare war on online travel agencies
Accommodation Association of Australia (AAA) is currently in the midst of an appeal to the competition watchdog in an effort to break a duopoly in the industry that’s ramping up hotel room rates for consumers.
According to the AAA, guests are paying up to 15 per cent more on room rates than they should because of the control leading online booking websites, such as Expedia and Booking.com, have on the market.
Latest figures show that these two agencies specifically control about 80 percent of the Aussie market.
4. Hawaiian Airlines says aloha to new uniforms
Hawaiian Airlines have unveiled new uniforms for its more than 5,000 front-line staff, including Airport Customer Service, Cabin Service, Cargo, In-Flight, Line Service, Maintenance, Ramp, and Supply.
The new designs are the result of an exciting collaboration between Affinity Apparel, renowned Hilo-based design firm Sig Zane Kaiao, and a committee of 40 front-line Hawaiian employees representing a variety of job functions.
Employees from each work group revealed the uniforms on 11 November at the airline’s Runway to Runway fashion show during HONOLULU Fashion Week Presented by Hawaiian Airlines at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.
5. Wendy Wu Tours’ new brochure & launch offer
Following the success of its inaugural Deluxe Brochure last year, Wendy Wu Tours has released its 2017 brochure featuring a selection of new tours and unique experiences for travel to China, India, Indochina and Japan.
To coincide with the launch of the new brochure, Wendy Wu Tours is also offering an incredible deal where customers who book a selected deluxe China, Indochina or Japan tour can upgrade to business class return with Singapore Airlines from only $999 per person. In addition, they will also receive complimentary airport private car transfers and lounge access.
Clients flying economy class will receive complimentary airport private car transfers and Plaza Premium airport lounge pass at selected international airports when booked in conjunction with deluxe tours to China Indochina, Japan, India or Sri Lanka.
Offers are on sale to December 16, unless sold out prior.
6. AAT Kings celebrates a double win at tourism awards
AAT Kings has bagged not one, but two awards at this year’s Brolga Northern Territory Tourism Awards, which were held on Saturday 12 November at a glittering ceremony in Darwin. AAT Kings triumphed in two categories: Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services and Major Tour and Transport Operators.
The annual awards are designed to recognise tourism operators, industry suppliers and individuals who contribute to the tourism industry in the Northern Territory and the AAT Kings team is delighted with its achievements this year having
According to John Veitch, TTC CEO Australia:
“I am delighted and proud of AAT Kings’ achievements at this year’s Brolga Awards with the bestowment of these two prestigious accolades for the second year in a row… These awards are a testimony to the hard work and dedication of the entireAAT Kings team and our fantastic product offering in the Northern Territory.”
Winners of the Brolga Awards business categories will go on to represent the Northern Territory at the Australian Tourism Awards to be held in Darwin in February 2017.
7. Introducing Points Bank – a tool for loyalty members
Loyalty program members can now enjoy easy and efficient management of their multiple programs, and more choice when it comes to redemption options thanks to a new loyalty program management and redemption tool from Points Bank.
Launched yesterday, Points Bank is a free and easy to use, online application designed to provide Australians with a simpler and more rewarding loyalty program experience.
The new and secure tool makes managing, reviewing and redeeming points from over 100 different loyalty programs less time-consuming, whilst also offering greater accrual, distribution and redemption options.
8. AirPlus & Airbnb to announce collaboration
Source: http://www.cbc.ca
An exciting new collaboration between Airbnb and AirPlus will make it easier for business travellers to access the sharing economy when it delivers a new integrated booking and payment solution.
The integrated booking/payment solution will enable business travellers to book accommodation through the leading sharing economy provider and automatically centrally bill the corporate account, which will make it about 100 times easier for corporate travel programs to integrate Airbnb and better meet the needs of business travellers who often favour Airbnb
According to AirPlus’s recent International Travel Management Study, 84 per cent of business travellers are satisfied with the sharing economy, and the overwhelming majority wants to increase the use of sharing economy providers.
9. Celebrity Solstice Shows Off her $11-Million Makeover
Celebrity Solstice is already Australia’s highest rated cruise ship, and yesterday she arrived in Sydney more stunning than ever following a multimillion-dollar makeover – including Australia’s first Tiffany & Co. store at sea.
The Sydney-based ship offers even more modern luxuries to revitalise the bodies, minds and spirits of her guests – and a holiday onboard is eleven million times more fun.
Australians will be amongst the very first guests to experience the new and improved Celebrity Solstice.
10. VENTURE Holidays announces its new way forward
In exciting news, VENTURE Holidays has announced a progressive reorganisation of the company’s operations in order to shift perception from being a traditional generalised wholesaler to an all-encompassing specialist travel company.
As a part of the reorganisation, VENTURE Holidays will invest in technology and new marketing strategies, with the objective of being more flexible and proactive in this rapidly changing environment. It will also progressively reduce and phase out ‘fly and drop’ packages, to focus on both existing and new products and destinations that are more adventurous, personalised, experiential and attuned to local cultures.
VENTURE Holidays will further promote the benefits of ROVE, their online B2B booking engine powered through Calypso, which allows travel agents to increase their efficiency.
11. Flight Centre/Infinity famil in Longreach and Winton
Kinnon and Co recently hosted a Flight Centre / Infinity & Queensland Rail Famil to showcase Longreach and Winton and the award winning Kinnon and Co product.
While in Longreach (after travelling overnight on the Spirit of the Outback), the clients got the chance to experience the famous Cobb & Co Stage Coach Gallop (only place in the world where you can gallop in a Stage Coach), as well as Outback Queensland’s only Paddle Wheeler, the Historical 35,00 acre Nogo Station, Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame with Stockman’s Show, Qantas Founders Museum with the Jet Tour, all whilst staying in Outback Queensland’s highest graded accommodation at the Kinnon & Co Outback Lodges.
The attendees also got to visit Winton and touch a dinosaur bone at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs. The clients (a mix of Infinity Res & Marketing staff and consultants from stores) now have the Outback Pioneering passion that Kinnon and Co have become famous for.
THIS WEEK’S COMPETITIONS
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.
