What’s better than reading about agents on cool famils and winning free stuff? Finally reaching Friday! Oh, and actually going on cool famils and winning free stuff.

Agents return from Unique Latin America’s first Agent Famil to Peru

Five lucky travel agents have returned from Unique Latin America’s very first Agent Famil trip to Peru, where they ticked the mighty Machu Picchu and Peruvian Amazon off their bucket-lists.

During the 10-day Famil, they experienced Mountain Lodges of Peru’s soft adventure program, The Sacred Valley and Lares Adventure to Machu Picchu. This luxury lodge-to-lodge program allowed the agents to create their own journey each day by choosing between a range of picturesque hikes and authentic cultural activities on route to the ancient citadel.

The group then flew to Iquitos to embark on Delfin Amazon Cruises’ newest luxury vessel, the Delfin III. During the 3-night cruise, the group saw pink river dolphins, baby sloths, caimans and birdlife, all whilst enjoying the delicious cuisine and comfort of the Relais & Chateaux-listed vessel.

Throughout the trip, the agents stayed in elegant boutique properties including El Mercado Hotel and El Retablo Boutique Arts Hotel in Cusco and Australian-owned Casa Republica Hotel in Lima.

Viking Trade Incentive for most river cruises sold

Viking has launched a trade incentive rewarding the travel agent who sells the most Viking river cruises between 1 August 2018 and 30 November 2018. During this period, the most river cruise deposited bookings made by an agent will win an 8-day Lyon and Provence River Cruise for two. This eight-day itinerary reveals the highlights of Lyon, Tournon and Viviers while leisurely cruising the beautiful Rhône River from France’s culinary capital – Lyon to historic Avignon.

Prize Details:

• A Veranda stateroom on Lyon and Provence itinerary departing 24 March 2019 on Viking Longship Heimdal for two adults
• Includes all on board meals, wine and beer with lunch and dinner, a free shore excursion in every port and unlimited Wi-Fi

Incentive Details:

• Open to Australia and New Zealand travel agents
• The competition opens at 12.01am AEST on 1 August 2018 and closes at 11:59pm AEST on 30 November 2018

Cover-More announces winners of luxury safari to South Africa

Cover-More has today announced the winners of their luxury safari to South Africa incentive, with eight hard-working consultants who showed the most improved or highest number of Cover-More policy sales during the incentive period travelling to South Africa in September 2018.

Cover-More launched the South African safari incentive to celebrate the launch of their new agency-exclusive polices, Comprehensive Care and Essentials Care. In an Australian-first, the policies provide cancel-for-any-reason (CFAR) cover, as well as other new benefits, including cover for cancelled tours due to numbers, cover for travel delay caused by transport providers and increased luggage benefits.

The winners of the Cover-More South Africa incentive are: Melissa Hassall – Helloworld Mildura, Caitlin Smith – Frank Ford Travel, Andrew Zegelin – Travelcentre Bendigo, Rebecca Wallis – Travel Design Group, Lisa Cheso – Easy Travel & Cruise, Teija Peiponen – Helloworld Esperance, Michelle Toner – Toner’s Travel & Cruise, and Mark Knight – Travel Managers.

The winners will stay in the five star Tau Game Lodge in the Madikwe private game reserve, experience daily safaris and game drives, visit local villages, and fly in a hot air balloon over the Pilansberg Game reserve.

The Travel Corporation wraps up its World of Thanks National Series of events for agents

On Wednesday evening, The Travel Corporation hosted the final event in this year’s TTC World of Thanks series, with over 80 top TTC selling agents from Victoria and Tasmania in attendance.

The celebration at Melbourne’s Eureka 89 venue, was a thank you to agent partners, acknowledging the critical role they play in the success of our Family of Brands.

Agents were treated to an evening filled with delicious food and cocktails from around the world, live entertainment, spectacular panoramic views of Melbourne CBD, and a few lucky winners took home some amazing travel prizes.

Intrepid commits to NZ market with new office

Intrepid Group has opened a new Auckland office in a commitment to the New Zealand market, which has experienced 25 per cent growth in the year to date. An office-warming was held in Parnell last night, with 65 industry partners in attendance.

Intrepid Group previously operated from an Intrepid Travel retail front in Newmarket. The move to the new space comes as the multi-brand Intrepid Group, including Peregrine Adventures, expands its presence in New Zealand.

The new office mimics the Melbourne headquarters design, with wallpaper dedicated to travel destinations such as Japan, Morocco and Malaysia. There’s also one of the original and rusted Intrepid signs, from the company’s early days almost 30 years ago. In keeping with the Intrepid ethos, the space utilises all recycled wood, made by a local Auckland craftsman

New York, New York – so good they visited twice on TravelManagers Famil

It’s a little-known fact that New York is the third largest-producing wine state in the United States. This was just one of the many insider tips picked up by eight personal travel managers who touched down in New York for a week-long TravelManagers famil of both city and state.

The group, who were escorted by Ben Urquhart and Kylie Wilson, representatives for New York State Division of Tourism and Delta Airlines respectively, earned their coveted spots as the result of a sales initiative that was run across the TravelManagers group during March and April.

TravelManagers’ Executive General Manager, Michael Gazal says spots were allocated based on sales of both economy and business class Delta product, and personal travel managers (PTMs) who wished to qualify were also required to book accommodation at selected properties via rooms XML and attend a product webinar.

The group spent two of their six nights in New York City, carrying out hotel inspections and taking in the sights: from a magic show at the legendary Lotte New York Palace to Broadway hit show, ‘Kinky Boots’. The remainder of their time was spent on a whirlwind self-drive itinerary to experience the natural beauty of New York State, with a theme of ‘Wine, Water and Wonders’ that saw them sampling locally-produced wine in the Finger Lakes wine region, taking an exhilarating Maid of the Mist boat tour and trekking along the Cave of the Winds boardwalk to the base of Bridal Veil Falls.

Utah Go Pro Winner announced

A trivia campaign run by The Utah Office of Tourism, available to travel trade across Australia and New Zealand, has claimed a winner!

With this campaign, agents were asked to test their Utah knowledge and to take a quiz to answer 10 questions on the state and our marketing brands including the Mighty Five National Parks, Road to Mighty and Greatest Snow on Earth. Each agent participating stood a chance of winning a Go Pro Hero 5 sponsored by The Utah Office of Tourism.

We have a winner! – Paula Banks from Venture Far in Adelaide, Australia scored 10 out of 10 and showed that she was in fact a Utah expert being randomly selected in the prize draw.

TTC Weekly Deals

CONTIKI – African Safari

Save $450 per person on Contiki’s NEW East Africa Safari! On this 13-day adventure travellers will visit vast National Parks full of wildlife, an orphanage for elephants, a Maasai village and an ancient volcano: this isn’t a film plot, it’s just a taste of what East Africa has to offer. We’ve included morning and afternoon game drives in the Maasai Mara and Serengeti for your best shot at seeing the Big 5, and even better, you’ll be driving through valleys and plains in open-top vehicles and staying in African lodges for a true safari experience. Your free time is your chance to experience the magic of a Balloon Safari. Drifting silently over the rumbling herds of elephant and giraffe as the sun rises over the horizon and the animals start waking up for the day, the balloon safari is a highlight of any trip to Africa. Starting from $5,165* per person. This offer is on sale now until the 31st of January 2019 with price reflective of select departure on the 12th of May 2019. Other departures available for an alternate price between 9 June 2019 – 5 Jan 2020. For more information or to book call 1300 266 845 or visit www.contiki.com.

ADVENTURE WORLD TRAVEL – Bushman’s Kloof

Book your client in for at least 4 consecutive nights at Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Oasis and they will only have to pay for 3. Nestled in the foothills of the Cederberg Mountains north of Cape Town lies an ecological oasis within a roughly hewn and magical land which offers a distinctive wilderness experience among open plains and ancient sandstone formations. Bushmans Kloof is a multi-award-winning lodge and member of Red Carnation Hotel Collection if your client choose to book a stay here they will have access to a South African Natural Heritage Site that boasts an abundance of indigenous African flora and fauna, more than 130 ancient Bushman rock art sites whilst also having access to a world renowned, award-winning retreat with awe-inspiring activities, unique dining experiences, organic vegetable gardens and caring service. Starting from $1,945* per person. This offer is on sale now until the 1st of May 2019 for travel between the 1st of May and 31st of August 2019. For more information or to book call 1300 363 055 or visit www.adventureworld.com.

TRAFALGAR – Spirit of the South with Air

Your clients can explore The Real America and fly with Trafalgar for just $799* on USA & Canada trips. Redeem this amazing air offer in combination with Trafalgar’s 17 day Spirit of the South travel itinerary; on this trip guests can trace Tennessee’s jazz and juke joints and the bourbon and bluegrass plains of Kentucky horse-racing country along this deep south musical meander from Atlanta to Louisiana through Asheville, Gatlinburg, Lexington, Louisville, Nashville, Memphis and big easy aka New Orleans. Starting from $7,874* per person plus return flights for just $799! This offer is on sale from now until the 31st of August 2018 for travel on the 15th of May & 11th of September 2019. For more information or to book call 1800 787 878 or visit www.trafalgar.com.

UNIWORLD – Burgundy and Provence

A world of luxury awaits your client with the most all-inclusive river cruise finely tailored just for them. Your clients can Fly Free to Europe in 2019 when they book select 2019 European river cruises departing before 15 November 2019. Guests will follow in the footsteps of Van Gogh, Cézanne and Gauguin on this exquisite journey through southern France on Uniworld’s 8-Days Burgundy and Provence luxury river cruise. Cruising the Rhône and Saône rivers, enjoying the region’s incomparable wine and cuisine and discovering its many treasures—from the medieval wonders of UNESCO-designated Avignon to Lyon’s lively Les Halles food market. Guests will stroll the very streets of Arles made famous by Van Gogh and visit Avignon’s majestic Palace of the Popes. Starting from $5,099* per person (including return economy flights). This offer is on sale until the 31st of August for departure on the 31st of March 2019. Other departure dates are available at different prices. For more information or to book call 1300 780 231 or visit www.uniworld.com.

AAT KINGS – Northern Spotlight

Save your client up to $750 per person when you book them on select AAT Kings Last Minute Deals.
The 8 day Northern Spotlight guided holiday allows guests to follow the path of pioneers as they travel across the North Island of New Zealand. From the first European settlements on the shores of the beautiful Bay of Islands, to Rotorua – rich in Maori culture and traditions, through spectacular scenery of Tongariro National Park and down to the modern capital city of Wellington guests will experience the best the North Island has to offer. Starting from $1,500* per person. This offer is on sale now for select departure dates, until sold out. For more information or to book call 1300 556 100 or visit www.aatkings.com.

INSIGHT VACATIONS – Wonders of Turkey

Insight Vacations now has 10%* off Greece & Eastern Mediterranean trips for Autumn, Winter and Spring departures for 2019. Save your clients up to 20% when they choose to travel in these seasons compared to Summer. Gifted with natural and ancient wonders, your clients can discover Turkey’s finest gems on Insight Vacations 11 day Wonders of Turkey travel itinerary. On this trip guests will visit the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, be able to pay their respects at Anzac Cove in Gallipoli and explore underground cities, rock-cut churches, fairy-tale chimneys and the Pasabag Valley in Göreme as they travel on a round trip from Istanbul through Gallipoli, Izmir, Pamukkale, Cappadocia and Ankara. Starting from $1,976* per person (including discount). This offer is on sale now until the 23rd of August 2018 for select departures in November, December, February and March 2019, until sold out. Other departure dates are available however prices may differ. For more information or to book call 1300 727 767 or visit www.insightvacations.com.

BUSABOUT – STOP! Island Time

Book your client on Busabout’s 10 day Thai Island Hopper trip before the 7th of September to save them $100! Travel clichés are the best. Sipping cocktails on a beach feels awesome and somersaulting off boats into clear water never gets old. Nowhere in the world does classic tropical island moments better than the Thai Islands. Your clients will go on epic snorkelling adventures amongst beautiful limestone karsts, hike up to temples and sublime sunset spots, and dance amongst the fire throwers at all night parties. If your clients are looking for the quintessential island holiday they can’t go past Busabout’s Thai Island Hopper! Starting from $1,099* per person. This offer is on sale from the 1st of August until the 7th of September for departure dates between August 2018 and March 2019. For more information or to book contact www.busabout.com or call 1300 287 226.