Venture Holidays and Singapore Airlines lead an exploration of Vietnam and Singapore

A group of travel agents from South Australia travelled with Venture Holidays and Singapore Airlines on a five night educational to Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore.

Highlights of the trip included exploring Ho Chi Minh City on the back of a Vespa on the Saigon at Night by Vespa tour whilst immersing the group  in the local nightlife scene.

Another half-day sightseeing tour of Ho Chi Minh City introduced the group to the buzzing city which amalgamates traditional and modern life. The group visited places such as historic centre, City Hall, the Reunification Palace, and the War Remnants Museum.

The group also took an excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels where they learned about the day to day life of the Vietcong.

In Singapore, the group ventured out and visited the Singapore Flyer, Gardens by the Bay and Singapore Botanic Gardens, as well as acquainting themselves with the city on a sightseeing tour.

Venture Holidays is an independent travel wholesaler established in 1979 with a vast international product range, including being the GSA for Fez Travel, Acacia Africa, and China Links Travel.

Infinity’s Aussie Gold Winners Party it up in the Top End

Last month, FCTG’s top sellers of Infinity Australian and New Zealand product for 2015 flew into Darwin and embarked on an epic trip involving 5 star hotels, luxury train trips through some spectacular Australian scenery, cultural cruising, iconic national park experiences, fishing, crocodile wrangling and of course lots of partying!

Aussie Gold is Infinity’s premier incentive for retail travel agents of their Australian and New Zealand product. This year Infinity sent 64 consultants on a magical adventure to the Top End.

The 14 top agents flew out to Darwin two days earlier and spent their first night at Skycity Darwin, Darwin’s only 5 star beach-front hotel. They had sunset drinks and then headed to Il Piatto Restaurant for a 3 course dinner.

Named after the intrepid Afghani cameleers who traversed this region, The Ghan is one of the world’s most iconic rail journeys. The top 14 experienced The Ghan in the Outback Explorers Lounge from Darwin to Katherine, with lunch in the classy Queen Adelaide Restaurant.

The sophisticated Cicada Lodge, situated within Nitmiluk National Park, hosted our outback explorers for the night. The next morning they were off on a two Gorge Cultural Cruise where they experienced the beauty and history of the national park.

The rest of the Aussie Gold winners joined the top 14 back in Darwin, staying three nights at Mantra on the Esplanade. The opening night saw a huge shindig at Crocosaurus Cove, followed by VIP access to Monsoons Night Club, for those that still wanted to party the night away.

itravel experiences the mighty Indian Pacific

There’s no better way to learn than to experience it yourself and itravel have adopted this wholeheartedly to their famous Masterclasses. Today, the itravel team hopped on-board the AAT Kings coach and the Indian Pacific to experience the products just as guests do.

AAT Kings Product Manager, and previous Tour Director, Lauren Walker presented an insight into the fun life of a Tour Director, and shared her experiences. The group received a thorough product update before boarding the AAT Kings coach bound for Central Station.

Stepping aboard the mighty Indian Pacific, itravel agents were treated to a walkthrough, visiting the various dining rooms and cabins, including the Platinum and Gold Class cabins – where clients can really wine & dine in style!

The day was a great success, with itravel agents learning key selling points, and experiencing the product, which helps to increase their ability to convert bookings.

Global Achievers 2016 major airline sponsor announced 

Qantas Holidays and its associated brands are delighted to announce the appointment of Qantas and Jetstar, as the official airline sponsors for Global Achievers 2016.

The 150 successful Global Achievers and 20 Cruise Achievers for 2016 will depart for Honolulu, Hawai’i on Qantas and Jetstar flights in just under six months’ time, for a week long program of learning and development across Hawai’i culminating in an elegant Gala Awards dinner to be held in Waikiki on Saturday, 15^th October, 2016.

Peter Egglestone, Managing Director for Qantas Holidays said: “We warmly welcome Qantas  and Jetstar to the Global Achievers 2016 program. Both are important strategic partners to Qantas Holidays, each with a long and rich history of working closely with us to create memorable holidays for all Australians. Aligning our leisure air partners with Honolulu – arguably Australia’s favorite holiday paradise, is a perfect fit this year and our lucky Global Achievers are in for a fabulous experience.”

Qantas and Jetstar join Hawai’i Tourism and Starwood Hotels in rounding out the major sponsors for Global Achievers 2016 and together with Qantas Holidays are the key source ingredients for creating aspirational and great value five star holidays to tropical Hawai’i.

Qantas Head of Agency Partnerships Rob Harrison said: “The Qantas Group is delighted to support the 2016 Global Achievers program and  looks forward to welcoming Australia’s top 170 travel and cruise leisure consultants onboard our aircraft as they travel to Hawai’i.”

The Qantas Group including Jetstar offers more seats between Australia and Honolulu than any other airline.

Travellers Choice unveils new General Manager Sales role

Travellers Choice is today pleased to announce the appointment of Nicola Strudwick to its senior management team in the newly-created role of General Manager Sales, effective 16 May 2015.

Strudwick brings more than 20 years’ travel industry experience to her new role, including key roles with some of the industry’s leading wholesale, airline consolidation and tour operator companies. She joins Travellers Choice from Helloworld, where most recently she held the position of Regional Sales Manager (Western Australia/Northern Territory) for Qantas Holidays, Viva! Holidays, Rail Tickets, ReadyRooms and The Cruise Team.

Managing Director Christian Hunter says Strudwick will now be responsible for developing and implementing strategies that optimise sales for preferred suppliers. In addition, she will work with the company’s state-based business development managers to grow the Travellers Choice network across Australia.

“Nicola has an outstanding skillset, as well as extensive relationships with travel agents and suppliers right across the industry,” says Hunter. “She will be a valuable addition to our company and our senior management team.”

The creation of the new General Manager Sales position follows the decision by Travellers Choice Sales Development Manager Leith Poad to step down from her current role in order to work on her family’s business in Western Australia.

Hunter says Poad, who joined Travellers Choice in 2000 and has served on the senior management team since 2011, will continue to consult to the company as a sales analyst.

Flight Centre agents in the ‘entertainment capital of the world’, Las Vegas

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and United Airlines recently hosted 12 Flight Centre frontline agents in the ‘entertainment capital of the world’, Las Vegas.

Over five days, the agents experienced a variety of activities, which showcased firsthand how Las Vegas has transformed into a destination for premium entertainment, dining and accommodation.

The trip kicked off in style, with the group flying on United’s new Dreamliner aircraft, then continued on the ground with luxury accommodation at Bellagio and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

Activities included high performance car racing at Exotics Racing; a flight over the famous Las Vegas Strip at night with Maverick Helicopters; views from the new High Roller observation wheel; a Cirque du Soleil show; Absinthe performance and a VIP experience at one of Las Vegas’ hottest nightclubs.

LVCVA ANZ representative, Bart Druitt, said the agents each secured their place on the famil by booking United and Las Vegas during a recent sales incentive run in conjunction with the Flight Centre Group and that these educational famils are an important element of the LVCVA destination marketing strategy.

“Travel agents are an important distribution channel for Aussies travelling to Las Vegas so we need to continue to support them,” Druitt said.

“Agent familiarisation trips such as this are crucial when it comes to educating frontline staff on how the destination has evolved and changed. Many people have a stereotype of what Vegas is but are really surprised when they experience it for themselves and this in turn is then passed on to their customers and converted into bookings, so a win for everyone,” Druitt added.
 

World Journeys to host a small group journey to Persia & the Silk Road in Sept 2017

For thousands of years the Silk Road was the only link between eastern and western Asia. Its rich history of merchants, pilgrims, monks, soldiers and nomads who travelled this harsh, long road live in our stories and legends.

On this journey, you begin in Uzbekistan where minarets soar into the sky, bazaars bustle with commerce and blue tiled madrasahs sparkle in the sunlight. On to Turkmenistan to see skilled artisans, handcrafted carpets and the power of Darvaza. Finally Iran, its rich legacy recorded over three millennia. Persepolis and Isfahan are bursting with impressive architecture, elegant mosques and graceful palaces.

• Explore the ancient settlement of Afrosiab in Uzbekistan Journey into the ancient core of Samarkand, wandering through an ancient citadel, fortifications, the palace and residential and craft quarters. We’ll catch a glimpse of the ancient settlement, founded in the 7th century BC but destroyed by Genghis Khan in the 13th century.
• Dine with a family in Shiraz In Shiraz, you are warmly invited to have dinner with a local family. The family will prepare two different kinds of Persian style meals, followed by Persian sweets for dessert. You will see how an Iranian dinner is served and enjoy some traditional music.
• Enjoy a visit to the local school in Tehran Visit a local school where the children will be delighted to see you! You’ll see how the children learn and be taught some Farsi by the kids.

Bentours and Hurtigruten host Scandinavian cruise competition

Bentours, Australia’s leading Scandinavian specialists, recently joined forces with Hurtigruten to reward their hard working and dedicated travel agents across the state. 

The competition, which ran from January to March 2016, saw three lucky winners presented with a Samsung Galaxy tablet for simply booking a cruise or expedition through Bentours. 

With an emphasis on rewarding loyal and enthusiastic agents, every Hurtigruten cruise or expedition that was booked over the competition period went into the draw to win one of three Samsung tablets.

Bentours, in conjunction with Norwegian coastal cruising partner Hurtigruten, offer cruises in primary regions including Scandinavia, Greenland, Russia and Antarctica.

Qualifying agent bookings included Hurtigrutens new Antarctica range featuring Patagonia and the Chilean Fjords, which will be featured in Bentours new 2017 expedition, cruising and voyages brochure launching in May. 

With one winner drawn per month, the first winner to be announced, Rebecca Taylor from Flight Centre Birkdale, was visited in store by Bentours representative, Kelly McDonald, to capture the moment. Lesley Famer the second winner, from Phil Hoffman Travel, was visited by our Bentours representative Hasanti Perera.

Matthew Moir, from flight centre Charles Street has also been announced as the third winner and will be visited shortly to be presented with their tablet from Bentours.