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. Six survive tragic plane crash carrying Brazilian football team
Image: @AerocivilCol/Twitter
Brazil’s biggest sports fans are in mourning today after officials confirmed 71 people, including several of Brazil’s top football (soccer) players and journalists, were killed during a tragic plane crash near Medellin, Colombia.
The chartered British Aerospace 146 short-haul aircraft was travelling from Santa Cruz, Bolivia to Colombia when it went down at around 10.00pm (local time).
Medellin Airport officials said LMI2933 crew contacted ground staff as it approached the gateway to request an emergency landing after experiencing electrical problems, but the plane didn’t make the runway and instead crashed into the Colombian hillside minutes later.
2. American Airlines takes off to Havana days after Fidel Castro’s passing
American Airlines coincidentally kick started the first regularly scheduled US commercial flights to Havana, Cuba on Monday, just as the country entered a state of formal mourning over Fidel Castro.
Flight AA17 touched down only three days after Fidel Castro’s death – the man who allegedly played a big role in the suspension of US-Cuba services back in the 1960s.
American Airlines told media that the timing of the flight was completely coincidental, as it had not organised the service specifically for those wishing to pay their respects to the longtime ruler.
3. WIN a $50 L’Occitane voucher
Want to WIN a $50 L’Occitane voucher?
Well you can, and it’s easy to do so.
The Sud de France tourist office is giving the first 50 consultants to register for their 45 minute webinar on tourism in France a L’Occitane voucher worth $50.
So, click here to register and good luck1
4. Le Boat prepares to set sail in North America
Le Boat is expanding its portfolio into North America, with plans to launch its first base of operations in the region within the next two years.
Injecting some $16 million into the expansion, Le Boat hopes to have its infrastructure, bases and 16 of the company’s newest, state of the art Horizon Cruisers in North America by 2018.
The company is aiming to expand its fleet to at least 32 cruises five years from launching, indicating confidence in the company’s first itineraries in the region, which will take self-cruising holidaymakers down UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest continuously operating canal in North America, Ontario’s historic Rideau Canal.
5. Bench Africa unveils new travel website
Three months after dropping the ‘International’ and unveiling a new logo, Bench Africa has upgraded its online presence with a new travel website.
New features on the site include quick and easy search, experience information such as customer reviews, detailed itineraries and write-ups on each property, a bucket list creator that can be shared on social media, and a trip planner to help Agents compile the perfect holiday for their client.
Bench Africa’s Marketing Manager, Lara Behrens said the company is committed to being market leaders in Africa travel from Australia and “knew it was crucial that the new site was fresh, informative, inspirational and easy to use”.
Click here to check out the new site.
6. Oh Bouy! Aussies and Kiwis Love to Sail
In response to a huge increase in popularity for small group sailing trips, G Adventures has added two new destinations to its list of sailing adventures, allowing travellers to explore Indonesia and Montenegro from the deck of a catamaran or yacht.
The rising popularity is reflected in new statistics that show G Adventures’ sailing bookings from Australian and New Zealand travellers increased by 286 per cent over the past four years. Greece continues to be G Adventures’ most popular sailing destination globally, which has grown 75 per cent with Australian and New Zealand travellers alone.
Starting July 2017, G Adventures’ guests will be able to set off on the Sailing Indonesia itinerary – a seven-day trip exploring the coastlines of Bali and Lombok and visiting Gili Islands, Lembongan, Nusa Penida and Gili Gede; or they can secure the eight-day tour of Montenegro commencing May 2017 and taking in Croatia, the Dalmatian Coast, the Bay of Cotorchecking and more.
7. Lux Resorts & Hotels launches Lux Tea Horse Road China
LUX Resorts & Hotels has launched an immersive five days guided tour package to discover the ancient trails of the 13th Century Old Tea Horse Road in China.
Guests will experience the romance and adventure of this intrepid journey that follows the tea carrying pack-caravans through spectacular landscapes, from high mountains to deep gorges, linking the varied ancient Naxi and Tibetan cultures of China’s South West.
The five-night and six-day guided tour is offered Northbound from Lijiang in the Yunnan Province and Southbound from the Tibetan village of Benzilan, covering legendary trails through the heart of the Three Parallel Rivers and glaciers of the Meili Mountains.
Click here for more information.
8. Perth Agents hit the streets of Kuala Lumpur
Eight lucky Agents from Perth had a ball on a recent trip to Kuala Lumpur where they took in the sights and sounds of the cosmopolitan city.
The Agents stayed in the heart of the city at the contemporary Berjaya Times Square hotel where they had a blast visiting the largest indoor theme park in Malaysia located underneath the hotel.
They also took time out to do some shopping and sightseeing along Bintang Walk after a quick site inspection of the chic ANSA Kuala Lumpur which is strategically located right on Bintang Walk itself. On their way back to Oz they waited for their flight in style at the Plaza Premium Lounge in Kuala Lumpur International Airport
9. Helloworld Agents explore the south of Spain
Finnair swept helloworld Agents away and Tempo Holidays showed them around the south of Spain during a recent famil.
The educational started in Sydney where the group experienced Business Class, including fully flat beds, on Finnair’s new A350 as it flew via Singapore to Helsinki and then onward to Madrid.
Upon arrival in Madrid they were welcomed with Sangria of course! While in Spain, the group got to visit Toledo, enjoy many local tapas bars and experience the beauty of Seville, a UNESCO World Heritage site. They were also entertained by a Flamenco show and were treated to dinner at “La Taberna del Rio” right by the side of the Guadalquivir River in Cordoba.
10. Travel Counsellor indulges at an all-inclusive resort
Melbourne-based Travel Counsellor Katie Griffin recently got to experience Bali’s Club Med Nusa Dua on a familiarisation tour and has returned with a newfound appreciation for all-inclusive resorts.
Trading in her home in the Melbourne suburb of Bentleigh East for the balmy breezes and beach scene of Bali, Katie travelled to Bali with Garuda, then was transferred from the airport to the resort by a Club Med representative. Apart from getting to know the rooms, facilities, activities and eateries offered at the resort, Katie also had time to enjoy a relaxing Balinese massage in the Club Med Spa.
She said she was impressed with the property’s facilities, including the Kid’s Club where there’s an impressive carer to child ratio (one carer for every two children) that’ll give parents peace of mind to relax.
“Another key selling point of the resort is the all-inclusive nature of the offering,” she said. “This is a truly attractive holiday package, because once you’re there, your meals (including beer, wine, soft drinks, tea and coffee) are taken care of, so it ends up being quite an economical holiday.”
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!
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.
