Big Fat Agent Wrap

Big Fat Agent Wrap

Here’s all the fun things agents have been doing recently! In other news, we’ve been re-organising our office drawer, which is also pretty fun.

Agents’ luxury polar cruise incentive – Chimu Adventures announce prize winner

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Christmas arrived early for MTA – Mobile Travel Agents’ – Sue Basedow last month when polar specialists Chimu Adventures crowned her the winner of their Ice Ice Baby incentive; landing Sue and her husband a cruise to Antarctica in the 2018/2019 season aboard luxury ship, the Sea Spirit. A huge prize valued at up to AU$30,000!

The premise of Chimu’s agent incentive was simple – each passenger booked between October and December 2017 on any vessel, on any voyage and for any departure on one of Chimu’s 200+ polar itineraries granted the agent one entry into the draw to win a cruise to either Antarctica or the Arctic. The more passengers an agent booked, the more chance they had of winning!

Sue Basedow had made five separate bookings with Chimu Adventures over the last few months and had just been arranging a flight for a client when the lucky number, i26, was selected and the fantastic news was delivered by an office full of Chimu staff on speaker phone. While Sue has been selling Antarctica to her clients for many years, this is the first time she will visit the white continent herself.

DriveAway Earlybirds ENDING!

Whether you have clients driving the Amalfi coast of Italy in a Peugeot, rolling along the countryside of the Cotswolds in the UK in a rental car, or packing up a motorhome and creating your own itinerary through the USA; self-drive specialist DriveAway Holidays have a deal to suit all travellers.

Take advantage of up to 15 per cent off daily car hire prices, with some suppliers even offering free upgrades and equipment. Perhaps you have clients looking for a more unique experience? Look no further than a well-equipped motorhome, which is ideal for independent travellers wishing to create an itinerary with flexibility, whilst having a reputable supplier on hand to assist. Choose from motorhomes in the USA, Canada, France and Australia – SAVE up to 50 per cent!

As the saying goes, the Earlybird gets the worm and this worm doesn’t have long left! Don’t miss out, book by 31 January and save on worldwide car hire, motorhome rentals and European leasing.

TravelManagers participate in unique and moving Flanders Famil

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Many Australians are brought up on stories of Flanders Fields, Ypres and the trenches of World War One, so when one personal travel manager (PTM) Cheryl John representative for Modbury Heights in South Australia was invited to join an exclusive tour of the region that coincided with the 100-year anniversary of the Battle of Polygon Wood, she was thrilled to accept.

Over the course of the seven-day famil, John discovered that although the legacy of the First World War is evident throughout Belgium, this small country has a lot more to offer besides.

The famil was co-ordinated by The Walshe Group for their client ‘2014-2018 Flanders Fields’, and was put together for specialist tour operators, as well as a representative of News Limited. John was one of just two retail representatives invited to join the famil.

Go Further with Excite Holidays and Tourism Fiji

From Monday 29 January – Sunday 11 February, we will take agents beyond the idyllic resorts and picturesque white sand Fiji is famous for, and showcase all that this island paradise has to offer with a curated 10-page guide.

We are also thrilled to be kicking off our ‘14 Days of Fiji’ giveaway in conjunction with the campaign launch. For two weeks, agents will have the chance to win some amazing Fijian-inspired prizes. All they have to do is answer the daily question on the Excite Holidays Facebook page, and the best response will win – easy! Keep your eyes peeled for the questions here: www.facebook.com/exciteholidays/.

PLUS, all agents will receive 500 bonus rewards points for every night booked and paid for in Fiji during the campaign period.

Helloworld Business Travel agents ‘net-working’ at the Australian Open thanks to Emirates

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A group of eight agency partners from the Helloworld Business Travel network were recently offered the opportunity to invite their key corporate clients to the Australian Open thanks to Emirates.

They were able to attend the day session of tennis and experience the impressive Emirates hospitality while networking and exploring business opportunities. A gathering of 23 representatives invited by the network were in attendance to enjoy the first class hospitality in the Emirates Suite before settling in to watch some of the global stars of tennis in action at Rod Laver Arena.

The hosts for the day were Raphael Mannays and Adam D’Ambrosio from Emirates.

APT and Travelmarvel announce Top Achiever Trips

The APT Travel Group (ATG) have announced their APT and Travelmarvel Top Achiever trips with two exclusive experiences up for grabs in 2018! Each year APT and Travelmarvel recognise their top selling consultants with an all-inclusive trip of a lifetime and this year is no exception.

APT leading agents will be amongst the first Australian’s in the world to sail on the brand new, yacht-style Small Ship, Queen Eleganza, as they embark on a seven day cruise up the Adriatic Coast of Croatia.

With only 18 passenger cabins, the Queen Eleganza was purpose-built for the Adriatic coasts tight coves and isolated islands and thanks to the small ship size, the limited number of agents will have the full ship at their disposal ensuring they make the most of the resort style atmosphere, extensive sun decks, bars and swimming deck.

Sailing the picturesque waters of Croatia by day and exploring Croatian hospitality and nightlife on-shore in the evenings, with exclusive chartering of a full ship the APT 2018 top achievers trip is a money can’t buy experience not to be missed!

TravelCube celebrates the Americas by giving agents the chance to Wynn big in Vegas

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What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but first you’ve got to find somewhere suitably stylish to stay, and that’s where TravelCube comes in. To celebrate the launch of Discover the Americas 2018 – the travel agents’ ‘bible’ when it comes to hotel accommodation across North and South America – the company is now giving agents the chance to win a luxury weekend for two in one of the world’s finest hotels, Wynn Las Vegas.

The US$2.7 billion resort and casino offers 45 floors of luxury overlooking the Las Vegas Strip and its legendary 24-hour casinos, nightlife and themed hotels.

Not only will the winner of TravelCube’s latest competition experience a weekend for two at Wynn Las Vegas, they will also enjoy a limousine pick-up from the airport and an unforgettable helicopter ride over the shimmering Strip.

To enter, all agents have to do is make a hotel booking in Las Vegas between 1 February and 31 March 2018 for travel up until 31 August 2018. Any agent making a booking at Wynn Las Vegas or its sister property Encore Las Vegas will receive two draw entries per booking.

Create Your Own Adventure with Innovative New Travel Site The Travel Project

If you’ve ever wanted to create a bespoke travel adventure of a lifetime but just don’t have the time or expert knowledge to get it organised – well now a new online travel company can help.

The Travel Project’s mission is to uncover and present exclusive, bespoke travel packages to unique destinations across the world at affordable prices.

Whether you’re looking to visit ancient wonders in remote destinations in Asia, go island hopping around the idyllic waters of the Aegean Sea or indulge in a bohemian yoga surf camp in Morocco, The Travel Project can provide a custom itinerary to ensure your holiday of a lifestyle is very much of a reality.

For those looking for responsible travel ideas, The Travel Project offers some of the world’s most impactful responsible options including a sustainable coffee tour through Central America, trekking through lush jungles to spy mountain Gorillas in Uganda, working with the resilient women of Kenya or Adventure motorcycle journeys through Sri Lanka, Laos and the Himalaya’s.

Uniworld and U by Uniworld launch ‘River Currents’ online booking engine

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Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is thrilled to announce the Australian launch of “River Currents” its online booking engine exclusively for travel agents. Now live, agents can use the online booking engine to create exceptional experiences for couples, families, friends and solo travellers through the click of a button.

The seamless system, available for bookings on both Uniworld and U by Uniworld itineraries, includes a simple first time log in process whereby agents can simply register by entering their agency’s store phone number.

Uniworld offers truly unparalleled itineraries through personalised programs, quality service and expertise, and a fleet of beautifully designed award winning ships that reflect the destinations in which they sail.

A thousand more reasons to smile in Bhutan, the land of happiness

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World Expeditions have launched a new tour in Western Bhutan, at a fraction of the normal price, to take advantage of a once in a lifetime “friendship offer” between Bhutan and Australia.

To mark 15 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Royal Government of Bhutan has announced a one-time “Bhutan – Australia Friendship Offer” to Australian nationals visiting Bhutan in June, July and August, 2018.

To celebrate the friendship offer, World Expeditions has created a seven-day “Western Bhutan Cultural Tour”, a relatively short, gentle itinerary that will provide a deep impression of the land, its people and history priced from just $2190*per person (around $1000 less than a comparable trip to Bhutan).

Sabre empowers the travel industry to reimagine lodging with new aggregator content

Sabre Corporation, the leading technology provider to the global travel industry, today announced agreements with Bedsonline, TravelBound and the Expedia Affiliate Network (EAN) to make their content available in the new Sabre Content Services for Lodging, a solution that will integrate multiple sources of content to increase efficiencies and improve customer satisfaction.

Answering the industry demand for additional types of rate and inventory options, these agreements will establish a critical mass of new opportunities for GDS consumers and buyers.

Bedsonline brings a portfolio of more than 170,000 properties in 120 countries, while TravelBound reaches customers in 190 countries and offers unique experiences from more than 50,000 hotels. EAN will provide access to more than 350,000 properties worldwide and offer more than 650,000 exclusive deals on accommodations.

Vietnam exploration for Helloworld Travel network agents

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A group of Helloworld Travel agents recently embarked on a whirlwind famil journey from the north to the south of Vietnam with thanks to Vietnam Airlines.

Over a week the agents got to explore Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An and also Saigon. Experiencing walking tours, a beautiful Halong Bay overnight cruise with the Heritage Line, amazing local cuisines and the in-depth history that Vietnam has to offer, the group had plenty to explore and take in.

Special thanks to Vietnam Airlines for providing an opportunity to experience both the amazing country and also their quality product, and thanks also to Insider Journeys who looked after all tour arrangements and the itinerary for the group and ensured all the agents on the trip got the most out of this amazing week in Vietnam.

Flight Centre agents take on Egypt with On The Go Tours

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Out of 300 agents, it was the luck of the draw for ten lucky Flight Centre agents who travelled over to Egypt last December with On The Go Tours.

Led by 2016 Tour Guide of the Year, Momo Saiid, and hosted by Kat Nitarski from On The Go Tours, the Queensland agents experienced the company’s top selling Egypt tour, the nine-day King Tutankhamun tour.

Starting in Cairo, the nine-day guided tour takes travellers to see a plethora of temples and pyramids, including the huge Spinx at Giza Plateau and the Temple of Kom Ombo – dedicated to the crocodile-headed god. A leisurely boat trip takes the group over to Agilika Island to see the romantic Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis. Unique transportation abounds from sleeper train to a traditional felucca cruise. Additional excursions are available too such as seeing Abu Simbel, famous temple of King Ramses II, at sunrise.

Egypt remains the leading tour product since On The Go Tours began here 20 years ago.

Weekly TTC Deals:

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INSIGHT VACATIONS: BEST OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL
Insight Vacations guests can fly for $999 return to Europe, Britain, USA or Canada when booking a 2018 Insight Vacations itinerary before 28 February 2018. Experience the 15-day Best of Spain and Portugal journey from Madrid, through to Porto, Lisbon, Seville and Barcelona. Priced from $5,594 per person twin share (including return flights to Europe) Price reflective of departure date 27 October2018 (other departures available for alternate price). Terms and conditions apply, for further information visit insightvacations.com or call 1300 727 767.

COSTSAVER: Jewels of Italy
Over seven days fall in love with the Jewels of Italy with CostSaver and explore Italy’s sophisticated capitals of Venice, Florence and Rome – the beautiful cobblestone squares, centuries’ old tradition and historic highlights like the mighty Colosseum, Leaning Tower of Pisa and spectacular Duomo must-visits on your open-air museum tour of this fascinating destination. Priced from $217 per person per day twin share over seven days. For more information or a further selection of CostSavers trips where the essentials are taken care of by us and tailored by you visit www.costsavertour.com or call 1800 002 007 (toll-free).

AAT KINGS: Fly Free to Perfect Tasmania
Discover more of your own backyard and FLY FREE with AAT Kings on a selection of their bestselling guided holidays when you book before 31st March 2019. AAT Kings 12-day Perfect Tasmania Guided Holiday will have guests explore The island of Tasmania and its renowned pristine wilderness, abundant wildlife, gourmet food and wine, and friendly locals. On this wide-ranging journey, guests will visit Hobart’s bustling Salamanca Markets, witness the stunning natural beauty of Cradle Mountain and Freycinet National Park, and indulge your tastebuds with local artisan cheeses and other delicious treats. From $4,995 per person twin share (including FLY FREE). This package includes an experienced Travel Director & Driver Guide, quality accommodation, travel in luxury coach, airport transfers, and more! For more information or to book call 1300 228 546 or visit aatkings.com.

ADVENTURE WORLD: MOUNTAINS, LAKES AND GLACIERS
Save up to $700 per couple when travelling through Vancouver, Jasper and Banff with Adventure World on their seven-day Mountains, Lakes and Glaciers itinerary. Beautiful mountains, canyons and rivers await on the VIA Rail journey between Vancouver and Jasper. Search for wildlife in Jasper National Park and travel down the spectacular Icefields Parkway, enjoying stops at Columbia Icefield, Athabasca Falls and Crowfoot Glacier, before exploring the picturesque towns of Lake Louise and Banff. Priced from $1831 per person, twin share, Save up to $700 per couple. Book by 28 February 2018, for travel dates 29 Apr 18 – 9 Oct 18. For more information and full terms and conditions visit Adventure World at www.adventureworld.com or call 1300 363 055.

UNIWORLD: BEIJING TO SHANGHAI
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has 15 per cent off savings on their Exotic voyages when booking by 31 March 2018. Combine this offer with Uniworld’s 11-day Highlights of China and the Yangtze itinerary. From China’s staggering architectural monuments—the Forbidden City, Summer Palace and Great Wall—to the natural beauty of the Yangtze River’s Three Gorges, this itinerary introduces a discerning traveller to China’s highlights. Priced from $5,609 per person twin share (discount included), 11 days of captivating escorted excursions, services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager, 12 nights’ five-star accommodation on the Century Legend, all transfers, all gratuities and more!) For more information call 1300 780 231 or visit uniworld.com

U BY UNIWORLD: THE SEINE EXPERIENCE
Book early, get rewarded with the new river cruising brand U by Uniworld. for 21-45year old’s. U can save 10 per cent when you book select U by Uniworld summer river cruises before 31 March 2018. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, combine this offer with the new eight-day The Seine Experience river cruise & tour from Paris to Paris and SAVE from $250 per person. Pack your bags. You’re going to Paris. And Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, Rouen, Honfleur and Vernon. It will be a week of historic sites, including Notre Dame and the Champs Elysees, late nights offering plenty of time to see a show at the Moulin Rouge and Food so delicious you’ll want to stay here forever. Priced from $2,699 per person, also included on a U cruise is a welcome party, two dedicated U Hots, seven included excursions, 18 U Time optional excursions, local celebrity DJ party and onboard mixology class. For more information call 1300 780 231 or visit www.ubyuniworld.com

BUSABOUT
Design your very own trip with Busabout. Choose your route around our European hop-on hop-off network and stop where you want. Our 9 stop pass is the ultimate flexible Europe travel option, you can choose anywhere you’d like to go and then buy the number of corresponding stops. This is ideal if you really want a true trans-continental flexible tour of Europe or have a clear idea of what cities you want to experience – perfect for backpackers and budget independent travellers. WAS $819 NOW $721 with access to the Hop-on Hop-off between May and October. For more information and a range of other European and Asian trips on sale visit http://www.busabout.com/ or call 1300 287 226.

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