Skill up on all you need to know with bite sized travel news designed specifically to help you, the Travel Agent, be your best.
Read on for this week’s travel news that Travel Agents need to know:
1. Don’t forget to submit your nominations for ‘the CLIAs’
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia has reminded Travel Agents to head online and submit nominations for the 17th Cruise Industry Awards before submissions close in three weeks’ time.
CLIA member Agents can submit nominations online for Agent Promotion of the Year Australia / New Zealand, Network Promotion of the Year (Australasia) and Plan a Cruise Month Agency Award (Australasia).
CLIA Australasia & Asia Managing Director Joel Katz encourages those in the industry to nominate themselves or a deserving colleague before submissions close on Friday, 22 December 2017. Nominations will be judged by an independent panel based on a selection of set criteria as specified on the CLIA Australasia website.
Click here to submit a nomination or buy tickets.
2. INCENTIVE: Double Si Rewards points during December
Si Holidays is offering Travel Agents double rewards points during December for all instant purchase bookings made through their wholesale brands – Freestyle Holidays, Waitui and The Collection.
The Si Rewards program offers Travel Agents one point for every $1 nett land paid in full. Throughout December, Agents can earn DOUBLE points for all last-minute instant purchase bookings that are paid in full by 31 December 2017, for travel between 1 December 2017 and 28 February 2018. That’s two points for every $1 nett land. Once 7,000 points are accumulated, Agents will receive a $100 Universal Gift Card.
To help Agents earn bonus points, Si Holidays has put together a collection of great value last-minute package deals all around the world, focussing on travel over the summer period, including: five nights at the Naviti Resort, Fiji from $79 per person, per night; and five nights at the Peninsula Excelsior Hotel, Singapore from $107 per person, per night.
3. Indonesia’s tourism leaders talk Mt Agung to Agents
Wondering what to advise clients who have booked travel to Bali – or are about to? Representatives from the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia are visiting Sydney and Brisbane next week to update industry on Mt Agung and the situation on the ground in Bali.
“Air quality in Bali and its suitability for young children is a common concern,” says Miriam Tulevski, Visit Indonesia Tourism Office, Country Manager.
“Yesterday, according to the Bali Tourism Board Air Quality in the Karangasem Regency was just 19 part per million (ppm). This quality is better than the typical Air Quality of metropolitan cities at approximately 56 ppm.”
These are the latest results from the Indonesian Department of Environment Air Monitoring Quality System installed at Abang Village in Karangasem Regency. Mt Agung is located in the Karangasem Regency.
Trade are invited to register for the Brisbane event on 13th December here. The Sydney event on 12th September has reached capacity.
4. Collette introduces new Oberammergau Passion Play tours
In the spirit of Christmas, renowned tour operator Collette has introduced several new European tours featuring the highly anticipated Oberammergau Passion Play. This event is already in high demand for 2020, and with the arrival of the festive season comes the welcome announcement that travellers wishing to experience this iconic performance will have more choice of tours than ever before.
Collette’s new Passion Play tours, which combine several of its most popular existing European itineraries with this once-in-a-decade experience, have been announced in the wake of overwhelming public response to its initial range of Oberammergau tours.
The new suite of tours featuring the 2020 Oberammergau Passion Play includes: Imperial Cities, Austrian Delight, Classic Danube River Cruise, Discover Switzerland, Austria & Bavaria, and Alpine Explorer & Glacier Express Train. The much-loved itineraries of these classics favourites are complemented by the chance to experience one of Germany’s oldest cultural treasures, the Oberammergau Passion Play. These tours will follow their established itineraries before finishing up in the charming village of Oberammergau, nestled in the Bavarian Alps, where travellers will bear witness to this spectacular performance.
5. Adventure World releases new Exodus Walking & Hiking collection
Adventure World has released its 2018/19 Exodus Walking and Hiking brochure, with 27 new trips allowing travellers to learn about mythology in Greece, explore new flavours in Galicia or tackle a challenging mountainous trek.
With over 150 itineraries spanning over 50 countries, the comprehensive trips highlights Exodus’ specialism and knowledge of the destination and trekking trails around the world. Included in the 2018/19 collection are trending destinations such as Jordan, Morocco and Nepal with itineraries for hikers on all levels.
New trips in the collection include Trekking the Tour de Monte Rosa in Italy and Switzerland, Walking and Yoga in the French Alps as well as Walking the Amalfi Coast, which holds the top spot for the most successful selling trip of all time.
6. Topdeck’s new trips to Morocco & Israel
Image: Sergey Pesterev/Unsplash
Topdeck has announced two new trips for the 2018/19 season travelling to Morocco and Israel, including the new seven-day Rockin’ Moroccan visiting main attractions like Chefehouen, Fes and Marrakech.
There’s also the new nine-day Tales of Israel showcases the best of Israel and Palestine, offering city tours, beach days, and a bike tour in Tel Aviv. Hostel accommodation is used throughout this trip, which includes a night in a 200-year-old Arab mansion in Nazareth.
Topdeck has also launched a brand-new Abu Dhabi stopover, a first for the youth touring market. Customers can opt for a three or four-day option as they make their way over to the northern hemisphere. The itinerary includes hotel accommodation, a barbecue dinner in the desert and a 4×4 desert safari.
7. P&O contributes $50,000 to help children in Vanuatu
Life for the residents of Ambae Island in Vanuatu has still not returned to normal following the eruption of the volcano in October, with many families still displaced from their homes. Those that have returned still feel anxious about the rumbling volcano, the impact of acid rain and ash on their crops and contamination of their water sources.
P&O Cruises were able to make life a bit easier for the people of Ambae through the P&O Pacific Partnership’s contribution of $50,000 to Save the Children Australia emergency response. As well as providing child-friendly play spaces in evacuation centres, these funds are providing families with access to clean water and sanitation.
Amazing work P&O!
8. Extended summer savings on Aqua Mekong
Aqua Expeditions has announced its offer of 30 percent reduced rates on selected Aqua Mekong cruises has now been extended to include 3, 4 and 7-night departures from 27 April to 14 August 2018 inclusive and 3 May to 13 August 2019 inclusive.
Lead-in rate for the selected three-night Discovery Cruises is US$2835 per person twin share in a First Deck Suite.
For more information and bookings, please contact or Aqua Expeditions Australia on 1300 124 204 or reservations@aquaexpeditions.com.au
9. Final weeks to save $250 on Europe with Bunnik Tours
Bunnik Tours are wrapping up their $250 saving on small group tours to Europe in 2018, with only a few weeks left for passengers to book and save $250 per person.
Among the tours is the perennial favourite, Moscow to Prague, which includes 25 days of travelling through Russia, the Baltics and Eastern Europe.
Along the way the small group spends time exploring medieval castles, a Soviet bunker and grand palaces. Tour the heritage-listed cities of Tallinn and Riga, and discover the history and opulence of Moscow, St Petersburg and Prague. With the saving of $250 per person the 25-day small group tour is from $10,045 per person twin-share, including return international airfares, for bookings received by 22 December, 2017.
Click here for more details.
10. $699 air fares to Europe offer is coming to an end
There’s officially only a week left for travellers to take advantage of Trafalgar’s $699 airfare offer when booking trips through Europe and Britain for 2018.
The best air offer ever from the tour operator will end on 14 December 2017 or until sold out for travel from 1 April to 30 November 2018.
Holidaymakers can choose to either make the most of the air deal for just $699 return, including taxes on all 95 Europe and Britain trips, or book with the current 10 percent Europe and Britain 2018 Early Payment Discount also ending on 14 December 2017.
11. 7 days left on Luxury Gold’s airfare offer to Europe
The countdown is on for your clients to take advantage of Luxury Gold’s air offer to Europe.
Coming to an end on 14 December 2017 are return Business Class flights from $4,599, Premium Economy from $1,599 or Economy for free.
The offer is valid on new 2018 Europe & Britain escorted journeys bookings.