New tours, new destinations and early bird savings. The internet may have changed the way we research, but everyone still loves a good brochure. Here’s the brochures of the week to help you sell and earn more.
1. Insider Journeys’ first three brochures
Insider Journeys (formerly Travel Indochina) has released its first three brochures under the new brand and logo. Read more about the transformation
Launched this week are the Comprehensive Travel Guides 2015/16 covering Thailand & Burma; China; and Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
Intended to inspire and entice, they provide insider insights into the destinations, with hand crafted itineraries and highlight attractions, while outlining the travel options across the company’s three travel styles; Small Group Journey touring, private travel and River Cruise.
The brochures feature the return of popular itineraries as well as top tips and experiences for each tour.
General manager, customer experience and marketing Joe Ponte said the new Insider Journeys’ travel guides are designed to illustrate the richness and romance of travel and to bring the destinations to life, not to serve just as a directory.
“While we know a certain level of practical information is helpful and required, simple hotel listings and outlines don’t paint a picture, it’s the descriptive and informative snippets – the ’24 hours in Shanghai’ style hints – that help form a scene our travellers can imagine themselves in.”
Joe Ponte, Insider Journeys general manager, customer experience and marketing
2. APT’s new NZ itinerary
APT has introduced a new itinerary to its New Zealand portfolio after experiencing strong growth in the destination.
Now available, the New Zealand Luxury Escorted Journeys 2015/16 brochure features a 16-day ‘Great New Zealand Rail and Cruise Experience’ – a new itinerary that takes guests on an exploration of the North and South islands through a combination of luxury coach travel, eight unique rail experiences and an overnight cruise.
Priced from $6,795 per person, twin share, rail highlights include a ride on the Glenbrook Vintage Steam train, the chance to travel through the Tongariro National Park on the Northern Explorer train, a ride on the TranzAlpine train between Christchurch and Greymouth through the Southern Alps; and the chance to travel up the Pacific coast on the Seasider Train.
Guests also spend a night on the Ipipiri cruise which showcases Auckland’s iconic sights including the Harbour Bridge and Bean Rock Lighthouse before cruising towards the Hauraki Gulf. Other highlights include a traditional Hangi Feast, overnight luxury hotel stays at Franz Josef Glacier and Mount Cook and a Milford Sound cruise.
With the new itinerary, APT now offers a choice of 10 different all-inclusive luxury escorted journeys.
The popular 18-day ‘Royal Tourer’ returns for another year to take guests from North Island to South, taking in Auckland, Bay of Islands, Rotorua, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Franz Josef and Mount Cook.
To celebrate the brochure’s release, APT is offering a choice of six special SuperDeals including ‘Fly Free, including taxes’, and ‘Companion Fly Free including taxes’ offers across selected itineraries and departures.
Book 12 months in advance and your clients will also receive an earlybird saving of 10 percent off a tour when booked and paid 12 months in advance, offering couples the chance to save up to $1,800.
For solo travellers, APT is offering 50 percent off the solo supplement on selected dates and departures, a saving of up to $1,350 per person.
Offers are valid on all bookings made by 31 July 2015.
3. An Infinity of new hotels and tours in Victoria
Infinity Holidays is set to release its new 2015/16 Victoria brochure featuring additional content and extra weekend itineraries.
On shelves from 20 February, the program is fitted with a map of the state, packages focusing on weekend getaways plus a new ‘Young & Fun’ genre page featuring top five tours, top five hotels and packages catering to younger travellers.
Additional itineraries have been added in the Melbourne section, with quite a few of those being from Wildlife Tours Australia.
There are six new tours that all feature fermented beverages including a bunch from Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia. Plus eight new hotels have been included throughout the brochure.
4. AAT adds short breaks in NZ
AAT Kings’ 2015/16 New Zealand travel program is out with new and popular itineraries available for the year.
New to the brochure this year are three new short break journeys including a four-day ‘Adventure to Middle-Earth starting in Auckland and taking guests to various film locations. There’s also the five-day West Coast & TranzAlpine tour as well as the seven-day Great Glacier Explorer.
The popular seven-day Winter Playground First Choice guided holiday returns. It includes six nights accommodation in adventure capital Queenstown with a balance of regional touring exploring Milford or Doubtful Sound and Fiordland National Park as well as included options to ski, golf or spa plus the must do favourite of a Shotover Jet Boat ride.
Due to demand, several Christchurch departures of the 18-day Best of New Zealand First Choice guided holiday (priced from $6495 pp twin share) have been added for summer 2015/16.
For 2015/16, all AAT Kings’ First Choice New Zealand guided holidays include a meet and greet on arrival, private car transfers, enhanced ‘You’re invited’ experiences, more ‘hidden gems’ and local wine with dinners.
AAT Kings is offering a fantastic Early Payment Discount of up to 10 percent across its New Zealand Guided Holidays and Small Group Journeys for travellers who book and pay-in-full before 27 April 2015.
5. New rail passes around Europe
A day trip to the top of a famous Swiss mountain, a new Scottish Highlands Pass and a novel card for London sightseers are just a few of the new products agents will discover in the latest edition of Rail Plus’ Your World on Track brochure.
The newly released 40-page program also now features more in-depth destination information for Italy and France, along with details on the extensive range of FIT product Rail Plus now offers for visitors to Canada.
Among the highlights of the 2015 brochure are the Mt Titlis Return Day Trip – a three-stage journey from Engelberg or Lucerne that starts with a Gondola ride to Trubsee, followed by a cable car jaunt to Stand and finally an unforgettable trip on the ROTAIR Titlis Gondola to the top of the legendary mountain.
Plus there’s the Swiss Half-Fare Card “Combi” – available for purchase in conjunction with a Swiss Travel Pass Flex or a Swiss Transfer Ticket, the Swiss Half Fare Card pass entitles holders to a 50 percent discount on point-to-point tickets within Switzerland.
Other highlights include the Britrail Scottish Highlands Pass – a new pass (valid for four days of travel within an eight-day period) that allows travellers to explore some of Britain’s most dramatic landscapes, with rail journeys from Glasgow and Inverness to a collection of wild highland towns; and the iVenture Card – a London city card that not only offers an unrivalled selection of attractions, theatre, sightseeing and dining.
The 2015 Your World on Track brochure is now available through TIFs to travel agents across Australia.
6. Scenic packs more into South America
Scenic Tours has released its 2016 program, which sees the addition of a new destination, a number of new itineraries plus a number of new hotels, and cultural and dining experiences.
Guests can now discover even more of Patagonia with the introduction of the lakeside town of Bariloche, set in the foothills of the Andes in the Argentine Lakes District on the shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake.
Three new itineraries, ranging from 14 to 40 days, include a stopover in Barlioche – home to spectacular scenery and stunning views, and German Baroque influenced architecture.
Another new itinerary for 2016 is ‘Treasures of Central and South America’, a 14 or 25 day tour showcasing the highlights of both regions including Cuba, Panama, Galápagos Islands and Patagonia.
The small ship cruising itineraries have also expanded to include ’27-day Central American Discovery’ which uncovers the lesser known ports of Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Guatemala and sails ocean to ocean through the engineering marvel known as the Panama Canal.
Plus, due to overwhelming demand, Scenic will also be operating three private charters to Antarctica in 2016 on 5-star luxury small ships, Le Boréal and Le Lyrial – the newest and the first all-balcony stateroom and suite ships to cruise to Antarctica.
Scenic is offering earlybird offers for bookings made by 30 September 2015, including partner fly free on tours of more than 16 days or savings of up to $1,500 per couple with an airfare credit.
Solo traveller offers and business class upgrades are also available.