We’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to! Read on for the top ten travel news stories we think you need to know today.
1. Flight Centre in the market for new travel companies
Days after wrapping up a major marketing campaign with Sunrise, Flight Centre is on the move again and reportedly in negotiations to purchase five separate travel companies.
Managing Director Graham Turner, who is currently in London for the Rugby World Cup, said acquisitions would be Australian-based as well as internationally operated and could cost the company as much as $50 million.
Turner said he’s confident the business would start making money back on at least two or three purchases in the next few years, The Australian reported.
2. Singapore goes cruising for Aussies
Southeast Asia’s proximity to Australia is working in Singapore’s favour with more Aussies visiting the country by sea than ever before.
Speaking to KarryOn in Sydney earlier this month, Singapore Tourism Board‘s (STB) John Gregory Conceicao admitted that while overall arrivals from Australia were down four percent last year, the number of cruise passenger arrivals is growing.
The destination grabbed a large share of the 55,399 Aussies that cruised to Asia last year. And it’s no surprise, considering Singapore is the hub of cruising in Southeast Asia, playing host to the majority of major cruise ships visiting the region, including Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess.
3. Agents join the #helloworldRELAY
Tourist bureaus and tour operators aren’t the only ones joining the #helloworldRELAY on Sunday with around 75 selected helloworld agents signing up to be part of the online photographic trek.
The 75 agents have been tasked with crafting itineraries for profiled destinations. These itineraries will then be promoted across the global first with helloworld agents able to book and promote the itineraries in store.
Kim Portrate, helloworld Chief Marketing Officer said agents had moved quickly to support the initiative.
4. Creative upgrades the Holidays site
As part of Creative Holidays’ mission to simplify the search and booking process for agents, the company has unveiled a version 3.1 of its Agents booking engine.
The site’s UX has been improved to help Agents manage their clients’ budgets better, provide them with improved documentation and create quotes and itineraries faster.
Managing Director, James Gaskell, said the development team have worked together to streamline the hotel search and shopping-cart functionality, which has reduced the number of clicks and time its takes for Agents to create documentation.
“We are confident the improved UX, in addition to our aggregated global content from the world’s biggest names in travel, competitive pricing, fantastic customer deals, low $100 deposit and flexible payment terms will help Agents win business and close deals.”
James Gaskell, Creative Holidays Managing Director
Agents can login at creativeholidays.com/agents using the username they received via email or create a new agency account.
5. Australia’s number one State for events is…
You guessed it, New South Wales has retained the titled of Australia’s number one State for major events with Sydney, Newcastle and Coffs Harbour each bestowed the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) World Festival and Event City Award.
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres said the awards come off the back of a string of major event investments and event wins in Sydney and Regional NSW.
He explained that the accolades are important to the State because it highlights the tireless work of the NSW Government through Destination NSW.
“This is the sixth year in a row that Sydney has been awarded by IFEA, reaffirming our rightful position as the major events capital of Australia.”
Stuart Ayres, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events
“The harbour city is home to Australia’s largest event, Vivid Sydney which attracted a record 1.7 million attendees this year, and hosts blockbusters including Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour – Aida, Australian Open of Surfing and the NRL Grand Final.
6. Adventure World highlight culture in new brochure
Adventure World has released its 2016 India catalog with increased focus on the destination’s culture and adventure.
The new India catalog offers a selection of itineraries that explore India’s diverse regions such as the 17-day Handpicked South India and Handpicked North India trips and the 15-day Rajasthan Adventure. It also offers short trips such as the six-day Golden Triangle adventure that touches on India’s most revered cultural icons.
To celebrate the launch of the new catalog, Adventure World is offering a saving of up to $300 per person on the six-day Golden Triangle adventure, by receiving a free upgrade to 5-star hotels, when booked before 31 March 2016.
7. INCENTIVE: Earn bonus Scenic Rewards points
Agents can earn $250 worth of bonus Scenic Rewards points when they book and deposit any new 2016 Scenic luxury Europe or France river cruise between 21 September and 31 October 2015 through Scenic’s online bookings system Express Book.
Members will receive $250 worth of bonus Scenic Rewards points for each new 2016 booking they make. These bonus points will appear in members’ accounts in November 2015 regardless of when guests travel.
All points can be redeemed on an expanded catalogue of over 4,000 products and experiences. These include favourite items such as David Jones, Myer and JB Hi-Fi vouchers plus big name brands like Apple, Bose and Swarovski and new brands to the program including Nutribullet, Fitbit and Calvin Klein.
8. End-of-year promotions
Rail Europe GSAs have released a series of year-end promotions to further add value to travellers’ rail itineraries during their visit to Europe in the coming months and next year.
A 20 percent discount has been declared on the France Rail Pass, the Eurail Global and Select Passes and the Swiss Peak promotion when purchased with a Swiss Travel Pass; while point-to-point tickets on the Eurostar and Thalys have been significantly reduced as well.
For the discount to apply, agents must ensure bookings for the France Rail Pass must be made by 3 November 2015. They can also advise their clients that for the first time, travellers can secure 2015 prices for travel in 2016 and they can take advantage of the generous 12-month validity from the date of issue. Prices start from AU$100/NZ$107.
Agents booking clients on the Swiss Peak promotion with the Swiss Travel Pass can pass on up to 20 percent discount, on top of the existing 50 percent which applies to mountain railway and cable car rides to the peaks of Pilatus, Titlis, Schilthorn and Gornergrat. Bookings must be made by 3 November 2015 and travel completed by 2 November 2016.
Agents with clients exploring more than one country around Europe can apply the 20 percent discount off Eurail Select or Global Passes for bookings made by 31 December 2015. Passes must be validated used by 31 March over the winter and off peak season. Prices start from AU$152/NZ$169 for the Eurail Select Pass (for four adjoining countries) and AU$404/NZ$442 for the Eurail Global Pass (covering 28 countries).
9. TravelManagers at the races
TravelManagers dusted off the fascinators and suits to help kick off the Spring Carnival at Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse.
Seven of TravelManagers Melbourne-based personal travel managers (PTMs) took advantage of the festive atmosphere to treat their clients to a fun day out and thank them for the ongoing business.
TravelManagers’ Kellie Browning, who is one of the company’s Melbourne-based Business Partnership Managers (BPMs), explains the day was planned as a result of a meeting between herself, her fellow BPM, Scott Hallo, and Emirates’ Senior Executive – Corporate, Carl Matto.
Joanne Haines, representative for Berwick, Victoria, says the entry price of $208 per person was a sound investment in the future of her business.
10. How natural disasters affected your travel insurance
Remember the good old days when most travel insurance providers and distributors would offer flight delay coverage in almost all their policies?
Up until a few years ago, it was practically expected that you’d have decent hotel and food cover in most extensive delays.
But what happened?
