News in Brief: Thursday October 23
International Rail has launched a range of Japan rail passes to welcome the snow season.
There are special rail passes for various regions such as the Japan East Pass, which includes metropolitan Tokyo as well as popular ski regions such as Nagano, Niigata, Sendai, Morioka, Misawa and Akita.
This pass is available for five days of flexi travel over a 14 day period. For pricing and more information click here.
Vancouver Photo Walks are becoming an extremely popular way for visitors to explore the city.
Ranked #11 out of 145 activities in Vancouver and awarded the TripAdvisor 2014 Certificate of Excellence for consistent, great reviews by travellers from around the world, visitors have their cameras at the ready as they explore beautiful Vancouver while learning the basics of photography.
For more information click here.
APT recently partnered with South African Airways to treat a group of its top performing travel agents to an African adventure.
The group of APT Diamond and Platinum agents spent ten days exploring the country, sampling some of the outstanding luxury accommodation and APT Signature Experiences featured as part of the award winning luxury tour operator’s 15-day South Africa Highlights itinerary.
Uniworld will close its “Sip. Savour. Sail” incentive on October 31, 2014.
With less than ten-days remaining, agents are encouraged to finalise any new bookings to be in with a chance to experience Uniworld’s newest cruise, the eight-day Bordeaux, Vineyards & Chateaux cruise for two.
Car Next Door a ‘car matchmaking service’ that connects people who have a car with people who need to borrow one, will offset every kilometre that its customers drive by helping Greenfleet plant native forests.
Greenfleet’s chief executive officer Wayne Wescott said, “There is a strong alignment of values between Greenfleet and Car Next Door – with both companies providing a practical solution that empowers people to take action on climate change."
The RWR Group has announced the appointment of Mandy Scotney as Group CEO.
Mandy brings a strong track record of success to the RWR Group with more than 10 years senior management experience gained in both the recruitment and travel industries.
“I’m so excited to be taking this step in my career,” stated Mandy. “Recruitment is an industry that combines my passion for helping business’ grow with my love of seeing careers flourish. I’m thrilled to be here! ” Scotney said.
Belmond is launching two new journeys onboard the Eastern & Oriental Express in 2015.
The five night ‘Fables of the Peninsula’ from Singapore to Bangkok on March 29, 2015 and the two night ‘The Ancient Temples of Lanna’ on October12, 2015 from Bangkok to Chiang-Mai.
For pricing and more information head to their website.
Royal Brunei Airlines has just celebrated the airline’s return to Ho Chi Minh City with the inaugural flight on October 17, enabling Australians to fly from Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh City via Brunei.
Virgin Australia will be offering a range of unique and personalised services between Sydney and Melbourne in time for this year’s Spring Racing Carnival.
The airline has announced porters will again be on standby ahead of Derby Day and the Melbourne Cup to offer eligible guests a personalised Hat Valet service, ensuring premium handling of the most important part of any race day outfit.
Pre-flight pampering options will also be offered including professional blow-dries and hair styling, make-up kits by ModelCo as well as a dedicated shoe-shining service, all designed ensure guests arrive in Melbourne race-ready.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
apt belmond car next door international rail royal brunei airlines rwr group south african airways uniworld vancouver photo walks virgin australiaLatest News
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Intrepid & Korean Tourism Organisation team up to give agents a cooking masterclass
These guys learnt that Korean cooking is more than just putting kimchi on 2-minute noodles (as we once thought).
Winner, winner! Intrepid reveals the 9 lucky agents that won $2k
Who won the incentive? Which Intrepid trip will they spend it on? What day of the week is it again? Where am I? Huh?
Corporate Traveller reports 42% increase in Easter traffic this year
Business travellers just love Easter! Expect plenty of chocolate stained documents returning to the office on Tuesday.
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Meanwhile, eating tuna at your desk can damage your own personal office brand value by several thousand dollars.
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Click this article to see a man very impressed by a 20-layer chocolate cake. We're not kidding, he loved it!
Oceania Cruises offers sailors free pre-cruise hotel stay
Looking for ways to make your holidays as long as possible? Look no further.
Bonza launches new website to compliment app, agent portal
Does news about an airline's website fill you with ecstasy, glee and joy? Get your hit of the good stuff here.
MTA agents attends ‘Lunch ‘n’ Learn’ with AMA Waterways
When organising the event, Lunch 'n' Learn beat out Dinner 'n' Divulge and Breakfast 'n' Banter. Understandably so.
Travelmarvel reveals 2025 South America tours
If you spot any typos in the newsletter today it is because TW became distracted Googling images of Machu Picchu.
Tourists from 5 countries could be BANNED from visiting Australia
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Just how many passengers will Qantas & Jetstar hop around this Easter?
Airline workers are ready for gleeful Easter travellers! Also prepared for sticky children with chocolate on their face.
Air New Zealand gets ready for bumper Easter weekend
Air NZ gears up for travelling passengers this Easter, while TW looks to beat our egg eating record. 117 here we come!
Four Seasons Yachts reveals first itineraries to the Caribbean & Mediterranean
These trips look so good we wish there were five seasons! Alright, we'll see ourselves out...
FAMIL: Travellers Choice treats top agents to the wonders of Rotorua
This one's got plenty of famil pics and no one looks shockingly hungover in them! Clearly no TW staffers were there.
European Waterways celebrates 50th anniversary with week-long founders cruise
Plan on celebrating your 50th anniversary with a bottle of Moët and fairy bread? European Waterways has better ideas.
100th route! Jetstar celebrates the launch of Brisbane-Avalon with 12 hour sale
Jetstar knocks a ton and celebrates with a sale while TW once scored a ton and celebrated with about 17 beers.
Record-breaking year for NSW as visitor expenditure soars past $50 billion
Enjoy running round the Opera House? Be prepared to elbow even more tourists out the way.
Norwegian Cruise Line makes play for solo travellers
NCL ensuring you don't have to go trawling Tinder to find a cruise partner. Thank goodness, we were sick of catfishing.
Entire Travel Group’s Canada and Europe 2024/25 brochures are out now
Entire's new brochure is bittersweet; it both informs your clients and makes you envious of the holiday they'll take.
Malaysia Airlines adds 3 new destinations & A330neo seats
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Two divine days onboard Crystal Serenity
It's only pure serenity onboard this ship. Anxiety, agitation and anguish have been rejected by the bouncer.
How the Globus Family of Brands elevates coach touring: Travel Weekly TV with Chris Fundell
Chris' here so you don't think coaches mean peeling your thighs off a sticky leather seat every time you stand up!
The Flight Centre Foundation gears up for massive 2024 with 3 new board members
The foundation looks to invest $200k this year, spurring the TW journos to figure out how to qualify as a charity.
Barking Owl Communications to head up Anantara & Avani in ANZ
Fellow PR competitors had been barking up the wrong tree even thinking of bidding for this job!
Amex GBT to purchase CWT for $871m
It's big deals like this that get a firm handshake - hence the sore hands over at the CWT and Amex GBT offices.
1000MTG’s second global conference reminds agents to ‘strive and thrive’
Alongside messages to 'strive' and 'thrive' were those to 'survive', 'drive', 'arrive' and 'jive' (when appropriate).
Qantas A330 makes “loud bang”, pilots forced to shut down one engine
Qantas refusing to let Boeing have all the headlines in aviation world today!
GX Community Tourism Summit 2024 location revealed!
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Visiting the destination my Mum didn’t want me to
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Agents come out of their shells at P&O’s turtle hatchery event
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Boeing cleanout: CEO, chair to go as safety crisis plagues the manufacturer
CEOs are falling thick and fast these days. We should have started up a bingo game with their headshots in the office.
Virgin looks to swap MAX 10 order for MAX 8s amid Boeing delays: Reports
Virgin has changed its order for something smaller. Much like we have to at Maccas following a worrying doctor's visit.
Club Med unveils newest luxury yacht for 2024/25 early bird sale
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Abercrombie & Kent 2024 Asia Portfolio is here
Round up the family and get planning an Asia jaunt. Or, if they're hard to handle, brush them all and go it alone!
Elevate your earnings: Final days to secure double commission with Inspiring Vacations’ March offer
What could inspire you to sell more Inspiring Vacations? Double commission of course! That's all the inspiration needed.