Skill up on all you need to know with bite sized travel news designed specifically to help you, the Travel Agent, be your best.
1. WIN a river cruise in Myanmar with Wendy
Wendy Wu Tours is giving Travel Agents something to crow about as the tour operator celebrates the end of the financial year in the Year of the Rooster with a MASSIVE incentive.
Appropriately titled #CockadoodleWu, the incentive will reward consultants who book and deposit a 2017/18 departure valued over $5,000 before 30 June, with a $50 Coles-Myer gift card.
PLUS, they’ll go in the running to win from the major pool of prizes.
2. Trafalgar launches Trafalgar Academy Course 2
Trafalgar is calling on Agents to join the continuing evolution of guided travel as it unveils Trafalgar Academy Course 2: Converting Opportunities into Success.
Successfully launched in February Trafalgar Academy encompasses subjects including The Trafalgar Difference, Converting Opportunities Into Success and coming soon – It’s Lifestyle Not Features That Matter, with additional courses forthcoming as the programme gathers momentum.
Whether Agents wish to inject more energy and excitement into their sales process, unravel the best way to sell a destination or understand travel trends and what drives client preferences, this on-demand e-learning initiative is a one of a kind programme that has been created to cover all needs.
Upon successful completion of each module, agents can access downloadable certificates of accreditation. Click here for more information.
3. INCENTIVE: Get a first taste of Pacific Explorer
With the countdown on for Pacific Explorer, P&O Cruises is offering Agents in its Flagship Achievers program the chance to be the first to get a taste of its latest ship.
The six consultants with the highest revenue booked and deposited between May 15-28, 2017 on any Pacific Explorer sailings will win a twin share balcony room on the 77,000-tonne ship’s one-night showcase cruise on Wednesday June 21.
Click here for more information.
4. Chimu launches inaugural range of Small Group Tours
Chimu Adventures haa announced the introduction of a brand new, inaugural Latin America & Antarctica Small Group Tours brochure, featuring a wide range of escorted small group tours operated by Viva Expeditions.
The programme is designed for the discerning traveller looking for authentic and unique experiences in some of the world’s most intriguing and exotic regions across Latin America that may be hard to visit independently, as well as featuring a range of charter voyages to Antarctica.
While all tours offer the perfect balance between organised sightseeing and free time for independent discovery, Overland Expeditions are unique road trips with a maximum of 16 travellers exploring both the remoter regions and must-see highlights of Latin America offering a fairly active, yet comfortable, affordable and stress-free way of travelling.
Discovery Tours are designed to introduce travellers to the highlights of Latin America using a mix of various modes of transport staying in tourist class hotels, rustic cabins, guest houses or hiking lodges and travelling in groups of a maximum of 20 travellers.
Both tour types are fully escorted and offer share options for single travellers.
5. Si Holidays launches new online booking platform, pronto
Si Holidays, Australia’s largest independent wholesale travel company, has launched a new online booking platform – pronto – designed to create a streamlined and convenient booking experience for Travel Agents, while delivering content rich product information and new enhanced booking functionality.
The new platform will give Travel Agents access to a user-friendly, all-encompassing booking system, which will ultimately boost business performance by increasing consultant productivity, efficiency and accuracy, according to Tui Eruera, Managing Director, Si Holidays.
The new platform will also allow agents to export booking information from pronto to Tramada’s Mid-Office solution, one of Australia and New Zealand’s leading travel industry software and solutions providers.
6. Cathay Pacific boosts European connectivity
Cathay Pacific has announced a new codeshare agreement with oneworld partner Iberia, which will see its customers benefit from extensive new connections to destinations in the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands.
The codeshare agreement signed by the two leading oneworld carriers will see Cathay Pacific place its “CX” code on selected services operated by Iberia between Madrid and five popular destinations in Spain: Alicante, Barcelona, Bilbao, Palma and Valencia. The “CX” code will also be placed on Iberia’s scheduled flights between Madrid and Lisbon, Portugal’s capital and largest city.
Cathay Pacific customers travelling on Iberia codeshare flights from Madrid will enjoy the convenience of checked-through baggage service to their final destination, in addition to being eligible to earn Asia Miles on their trip.
Tickets will be available for sale from 24 May 2017 for flights departing from 7 June 2017.
7. Beyond Travel extends Horizons
Beyond Travel is broadening its horizons by adding an India/Sri Lanka division – India & Beyond, a move General manager, sales and marketing Bryce Crampton says is an important part of the business growth strategy the company has been continually striving for in recent years.
He said that the opportunity to partner with one of India’s most well established and respected ground operators with over 22 years’ experience, came at exactly the right time and India fits with the company’s mission and tag line “discover unique destinations”.
The new brand will have a separate experienced India team including a dedicated reservation team which can be contacted on 1300 599 005, product team, website; www.india-and-beyond.com.au and will be managed by Kellie Blackett. This experienced team will be committed to ensuring agents and their clients receive expert advice.
The India & Beyond 2017-2018 brochure features a comprehensive selection of private tours, first-class river cruises, a luxury rail journey, pre and post land packages for cruise and rail products, an escorted tour around India as well as product from Sri Lanka.
8. Luxperience returns to Australian Technology Park
Luxperience, the Southern Hemisphere’s leading high-end and experiential travel trade exhibition, to be held at Australian Technology Park (ATP) from 17-20 September 2017.
The event was originally scheduled to be held at nearby Carriageworks in 2017 due to ATP being slated to be turned into apartments.
Luxperience Luxury Brand Strategist Michelle Papas says: “The delay in the development enables Luxperience to again be based at the popular venue. It has been the Luxperience home for the past two years; it’s a vast area suited to our cutting edge image and allows our exhibitors to promote their wares in a stimulating environment.”
9. Universal’s new night-time sound and light experience at Hogwarts
Beginning June 23, Universal Studios Hollywood is introducing its all-new ‘The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts TM Castle,’ a dazzling light projection against the backdrop of Hogwarts™ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The dancing light display which will shine as night falls on Hogsmead village, will showcase the four houses of Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin.
This new summertime feature will take place multiple times a night during its run. Live rehearsals with annual pass previews and very limited guest access will begin in June in preparation for the June 23 grand opening.
SPOTTED
On The Go Tours hosts Agents in India
On The Go Tours recently hosted a group of Australian Travel Agents in India on a specialised version of their Shere Khan ten day tour.
The ten-day itinerary was led by On The Go Tours expert local guide Satendra and took the group to experience India’s many spectacular cultural attractions as well as go in search for the elusive Bengal Tiger. Starting in Delhi the famil group travelled south to take in the sights of India’s famed ‘Golden Triangle’, followed by a jungle wildlife adventure in Ranthambore National Park before catching the train back to Delhi.
This diverse itinerary included everything from iconic bucket list attractions such as; visiting India’s largest mosque, uncovering the secrets of the legendary Taj Mahal and exploring the hilltop forts and regal palaces of Jaipur, to local experiences such as joining in evening prayer (Aaarti) at the Karauli City Palace and visiting a cotton weaving house in Jaipur to see fabric dyeing and block printing demonstrations.
Thai-Riffic time in Thailand for Victorian agents
Six lucky Victorian Flight Centre and Infinity wholesale consultants had a ball in Thailand last month thanks to a Centara Hotels & Resorts & Thai Airways incentive.
The incentive started off in Phuket where the agents stayed at the Centara Grand Beach Resort & Spa Phuket, where they enjoyed some quality beach time and had a go floating down the lazy river and whizzing down the waterslides at the resorts very own waterpark.
Then it was off to Krabi arriving in style by private boat at Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi a spectacular property nestled in the jungle and surrounded by Jurassic looking limestone cliffs. The agents enjoyed a special candle lit dinner on the beach where the head chef served tantalizing dishes using fresh ingredients from the Krabi area.
Crail Crusaders cruise Canada and Alaska & ride the Rocky rails
The third and final Crail Crusade recently returned from a whirlwind 13-day itinerary of Canada and Alaska, during which the top 20 retail sellers of Infinity Cruise and Rail. During the itinerary were treated to a GoldLeaf Rocky Mountaineer journey from Vancouver to Calgary and seven nights on board Norwegian Jewel.
Highlights of the itinerary include grizzly bear-spotting in Skagway, visiting Stanley Park, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Flyover Canada, Butchart Gardens and much more.
Next year, Crail Crusade undergoes a major facelift – splitting into two Reward Trips.
Vanuatu Tourism Office wraps at SPTE 2017 & wins ‘Best Stand’
The Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) and partners had a successful two days at the 2017 South Pacific Tourism Exchange (SPTE) on 19 and 20 May, meeting with travel trade industry from Australia and other long-haul markets including Europe, USA and Asia.
The Vanuatu destination stand was awarded the ‘Best Stand’ at the expo with the destination and product partners showcased. The booth also offered a fun photo activation for all buyers and suppliers.
Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) had a strong delegation of industry at the expo including Air Vanuatu, Iririki Island Resort & Spa, Tanna Evergreen Resort & Tours, Warwick Le Lagon, Entani Company Ltd, Tamanu on the Beach, Atmosphere Inbound Services, Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu, Adventures in Paradise and The Havannah Vanuatu.
Magellan celebrates growth & success with members
Last night at the Westin in Melbourne, the Magellan Travel Group kicked off their annual State Dinners. Partnered by Emirates Airways, the roadshow will continue around the country over the coming week. The gathering saw Magellan members, management and board come together, enjoy a meal and review activity that has taken place in the 7 months post the Group’s 2016 conference in Auckland.
In his address to the 55 members in attendance, Group CEO Andrew Macfarlane shared progress and results and highlighted the continued growth that sees Magellan now a 130-member strong Group of over $1 billion in annual TTV.
Co-founder Kevin Dale reflected on the journey since Magellan formed in 2008 and Group Chairman, Andrew Jones outlined the vision for continued success and growth into the future.