News in Brief: Friday March 28
Helloworld has confirmed that its 2014 Frontliners Conference will take place at the Adelaide Convention Centre on November 28 to 30.
The annual gathering of consultants brings together the group’s nationwide network of agents and is a major calendar highlight, according to chief executive Rob Gurney.
"Last year’s inaugural Helloworld Frontliners Conference set a new precedent and provided an insight into the potential scale of our Helloworld brand,” he said. “With more than 750 helloworld locations, this will be our best Frontliners Conference to date."
Keynote speakers, supplier workshops and other details have yet to be finalised, with more details to be made available over the coming weeks.
The dates and location of the Helloworld Owner/Managers Conference will also be announced shortly.
AAT Kings has appointed Jody Grossfeldt as its new head of day tours Australia.
Grossfeldt previously worked for APT Day Tours, which was purchased by AAT Kings in Australia in July 2012.
“Jody is well known and greatly loved by our day tours partners already,” AAT Kings managing director Anthony Hayes said. “She is a veteran of the day tours industry, although please don’t tell her I said that, having 14 years of experience working the market in Sydney and Melbourne.”
The operator recently announced its partnership with SeaLink in Adelaide and Aussie Adventures expansion in Sydney, with details of a five-star day tour product under its Inspiring Journeys banner to follow shortly.
Payment solutions company eNett yesterday confirmed it will hold a series of launch events in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney, with early May slated, as it strives to gain a stronger foothold within the Australian travel trade.
Excite Holidays has reported a “dramatic” increase in interest for Greek Island ferry tickets since sales opened at the beginning of March.
Australians are still flocking to Greece despite the county’s troubled economy with agents booking ferry tickets earlier, according to the wholesaler.
“This is a win-win situation for both travel agents and their clients,” chief executive George Papaioannou said. “Travel agents can offer their clients this additional service and eliminate the stress and hassle usually involved in trying to acquire ferry tickets when in Greece.”
Adventure travel specialist World Expeditions has launched a new division, Great Canadian Trails offering a range of Canadian itineraries that explore the destination’s vast wilderness.
Sea Cloud Cruises has unveiled its 2015 sailing program program featuring voyages in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Canary Islands and the Caribbean.
Early booking rates for the 2015 northern summer programme are now open for bookings made before November 30.
Australia and New Zealand have driven record growth from Ireland’s long-haul markets for the period December 2013 to February 2014, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The figures reveal an additional 9,500 overseas visitors more than in the same three month period last year.
Visitors from Australia and New Zealand surged 31% over the period.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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