What better way to bring in the weekend than to trawl through all the latest agent offers and famil pictures? All that’s missing is a sneaky glass of wine.

Personal Travel Managers experience safari camp life

(L-R) TravelManagers’ Giulia Gentiluomo, Rose Febo and Erryn Morris spent a total of eleven memorable days experiencing some of the best safari camps in East Africa

From luxury tented safari camps to early-morning hot air balloon rides, Africa offers luxury experiences that are completely unique. Three personal travel managers (PTMs) were therefore thrilled to be invited to represent TravelManagers on a recent eleven-day African safari famil, conducted by African Wildlife Safaris.

JNTO hosts luxury famil

L-R: Peita Davis, Adam Burke, D’Arne Haines, Wendy James, Kerrie Kaesler, Fanny Gilbert, Dorothy Chambers, 2^nd row far right: Stephanie Sng with the crew from the Royal Express

JNTO recently hosted an Izu, Shimoda, luxury famil with 7 agents escorted by Stephanie Sng from JNTO Sydney Office

Agents were taken on the Royal Express, a luxury cruise train from Yokohama to Shimoda and Shimoda to Izu Kogen, chartered for this famil, where they were treated to French cuisine, an on-board violinist and pianist, and handcrafted sushi.

During the famil, the group experienced the hydrangeas (a native flower to Japan) in full bloom at a Hydrangea festival at Shimoda Park, visiting the Bamboo Forest of Shuzenji Onsen, staying at Arcana Izu, an Auberge-style resort located in a sacred green forest by the Kano River with each suite having a private onsen facing the river and forest, seeing two UNESCO listed world heritage sites, the Nirayama Reverberatory Furnaces and Mt Fuji, and taking part in an Edo Kiriko glass-cutting experience in Tokyo and a ‘Nerikiri’ Japanese sweet making workshop.

Three golden tickets, three complimentary Viking cruises + agents explore Bordeaux by river

Viking has today announced that the third and final Golden Ticket has been won by italktravel & Cruise Ballarat in Victoria.

Three lucky travel agencies opened their boxes of brand new Viking 2020-2021 Ocean Cruises brochures to discover their Golden Ticket, redeemable for an incredible 15-day Far East Discovery ocean cruise prize for two.

The winning agencies are:

• italktravel & Cruise Ballarat in Victoria
• Helloworld Redbank in Queensland
• St Ives Travel in NSW

To celebrate the launch of the 2020-2021 Ocean Cruises brochure, Viking announced that three Golden Tickets would be randomly placed in boxes of brochures, distributed nationally.

Meanwhile, a group of eight lucky Australian travel agents recently sipped and savoured France’s finest flavours during Viking’s eight-day Chateaux, Rivers & Wine voyage onboard Viking Forseti, sailing the Garonne River and exploring the Bordeaux region

With two overnight stays in Bordeaux, the itinerary also visited Cadillac, Libourne, Bourg & Blaye and Pauillac in France.

Onboard their elegant Viking Longship, agents and guests were treated to destination-inspired cuisine as well as al-fresco wine and cheese tastings on the Aquavit Terrace.

Malaysia Airlines Australia group incentives

Malaysia Airlines have launched a group incentive deal for travel agents in Australia across July and August 2019 (departures Ex ANZ), with the opportunity to offer their clients the best of Malaysian Hospitality.

For any agents who book the minimum group size (ten adults in Economy or five adults in Business) by 31 August 2019 for departure on or by 31 December 2019, will receive five per cent off the group fare. Passengers will also receive additional inclusions such as checked baggage, in-flight meals and entertainment.

As an added incentive, Malaysia Airlines is offering those participating agents a chance to win prizes including two Business Class tickets for the most passengers booked, two Business Class tickets for the largest single group booking, lucky draws for Economy Class tickets and gift cards.

Enter San Francisco’s lucky dip incentive by 31 July

San Francisco is celebrating Christmas in July with a fabulous Lucky Dip for Australian travel agents. Agents can enter the draw to by completing the San Francisco specialist badge on the California STAR platform specialist badge.

12 lucky names will be drawn to win a surprise gift from an SF Bay Area company. Prizes include google home minis, air pods, an apple TV, and GoPro cameras.

Agents have until July 31^st to complete the training. Once completed, entrants should screenshot their module certificate and email it to paola@gate7.com.au. Please note that only new completions will be eligible to win.

Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi celebrates Australian successes

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) is celebrating after winning the Destination of the Year accolade at Australia’s Women in Travel Awards and also concluding a successful roadshow around the country, in partnership with Etihad Airways, to showcase the best that Abu Dhabi has to offer.

In addition, Abu Dhabi also featured on the popular Australian TV showBetter Homes and Gardens with four hosts travelling to Abu Dhabi last month to film two episodes in the UAE capital.

At the Women in Travel Awards held on 20 June, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi was awarded Destination of the Year at Doltone House in Sydney.