News in Brief: Tuesday January 21
Another four former Jetset Travelworld Group agents have made the move to independent network Travellers Choice.
The agents include: BTC Travel in Aveley, WA; Naracoorte travel n Cruise, SA; Mosman Cruise Centre, NSW and Northwest Cruise & Travel in Windsor, NSW.
Welcoming the new members, Travellers Choice chief executive Christian Hunter highlighted some “valuable” additions to the network over the last 12 months.
"Given our low-fee business model, broad range of support services and unique ownership structure, in which Travellers Choice agents are the Company's sole shareholders, we are constantly approached by prospective members," he said.
"As always, those we accept are high-quality travel businesses with the ability to contribute positively to our organisation, both financially and culturally. In return, we deliver the services our members need to thrive.”
A lucky Australia-based travel agent will be the first Aussie to walk the Glacier Skywalk in the Canadian Rockies thanks to a new incentive from Adventure World.
The winner will fly with a companion to Vancouver with Air New Zealand for a seven-day Canadian adventure with Adventure World, including tickets to attend the opening of the new attraction.
To be in the running, agents must book an Adventure World Canada package that includes the Glacier Skywalk attraction. An additional two entries can be nabbed if they also book international airfares with Adventure World on Air New Zealand to Canada. Entries are only available on new bookings that are deposited before March 31.
Adventure Tours Australia (ATA) has released its new 2014/15 brochure program featuring small group tours around Australia and New Zealand, with its Northern Territory trips now considerably reduced in price.
In addition, departures are now guaranteed when just one person books on a trip.
A range of trips now also have added inclusions at no additional cost as well as accommodation upgrades, with travellers also currently able to save up to 20% on selected trips.
Luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent has launched its second Escapes program for 2014, citing strong sales in its debut year.
The new program features 24 short journeys across the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Fiji and Australia with none of the itineraries longer than eight days.
Sheraton Melbourne Hotel has appointed André Jacques as its new director of sales and marketing ahead of its opening in late March.
Jacques, most recently of the St Regis Washington, will be charged with maximising all revenue streams for the hotel with an emphasis on both domestic and international markets.
Independent review site TripAdvisor was the number one online travel website in Australia, and the world, in 2013, according to the latest comScore report.
The report showed that TripAdvisor grew 32% year-on-year – faster than the Australian online travel market which declined 14% year-on-year.
The new Small Group & Private Journeys 2014 brochure from Cox & Kings features new adventures through Central America and Ghana as well as more departures on its bestselling Classic Russia itinerary.
The program offers over 50 journeys across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Indian subcontinent, Latin America and the Middle East.
Evergreen Tours has released a new brochure dedicated to premium escorted touring itineraries in Western Australia and the Northern Territory Top End.
“Although Evergreen’s international cruising and touring programs have shown phenomenal growth in the last 12 months, we are very proud to continue offering superb, fully escorted tours closer to home in spectacular Western Australia and the Top End,” general manager Angus Crichton said.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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