The Agent Wrap is back to give you all the last minute agent tidbits before the weekend!

Stay in the know and up to speed on specials, appointments and even the funky famil photos, and then kick back and enjoy your weekend.

Here’s all your end of the week agent goodness – is it wine o’clock yet?

APT takes to the wine

Travel agents will be able to book clients on one of nine new wine river cruises, available through luxury travel operator APT.

Some of the leading figures from the Australian wine industry have pledged to become ‘Wine Ambassadors’ for APT, hosting exclusive departures throughout Europe in 2016.

Travelling exclusively aboard APT’s new portfolio of Wine Cruises, these special hosts will oversee tastings of regional wines, host special dinners complemented with locally paired wines, lead excursions to wineries to meet local vintners, and educate guests on European wine heritage and traditions.

APT’s new Wine Ambassador program features Bruce Tyrrell (Tyrrell’s Wines), Thomas Keith Hardy (Thomas Hardy Wines), Cherry Stowman (Taylors Wines), and John Tomich (Tomich Wines) to name a few. Each ambassador will bring with them a combination of their own wines to showcase to guests alongside local wineries located along the cruise itinerary.

Check out more on the program and itineraries here.

Helloworld Frontliners gets Peppered

Pictured ( L to R): Emma O’Sullivan (helloworld Albury), Amy Cherry (helloworld Cowra), Nicole McGuiness (helloworld Endeavour Hills), Mick Boylan (Sunlover Holidays), Chris Northam (Peppers GM), Bridget Bathersby (helloworld Wagga Wagga), Kristen McKenzie (helloworld Wagga Wagga)

Peppers Beach Club & Spa joined forces with Sunlover Holidays to host the pre and post famil activities for the helloworld Frontliners Forum this month, showcasing the tropical north to some of the best travel industry specialists. The helloworld Frontliners Forum took place in Cairns from the 31 July to 3 August 2015, with over 500 top performing helloworld direct selling agents from all over Australia in attendance.

Cruise Down Under bolsters ranks

Cruise Down Under has boosted its team with the addition of four new members, taking the group’s overall membership to 78.

The latest members to join are: Western Australia’s Pilbara Ports Authority; Southern Great Barrier Reef regional tourism agency Gladstone Area Promotion and Development; Perth-based coach operator Adams Coach Lines and Tours and national Australian icon the Sydney Opera House – all indicative of the very varied and broad scope of CDU members.

Great Gatsby down under

P&O Cruises took the glitz and glamour of the Gatsby era to Newcastle last weekend for the Hunter Travel Group’s special cruise expo that drew thousands of interested potential cruise travellers.

P&O Cruises New South Wales Business Development Managers Angus Mackay and Jess O’Brien (pictured) embraced the P&O Cruises’ Gatsby theme on the day and answered many questions about fleet newcomers Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden.

AccorHotels rocks 100% sign up for fast commission

AccorHotels’ Aussie hotels are now 100% covered by the group’s automatic commission payment service, FASTcom, guaranteeing agents fast and reliable commission settlement.

FASTcom is AccorHotels’ automatic commission payment system, introduced to ensure that agents receive their commissions promptly and accurately from all Accor branded hotels.

When an agent partner books via accorhotels.com or GDS the booking is automatically added to FASTcom for review. Each week, every hotel reviews the previous week’s departures and approves the commission payment.

Commissions need to be reconciled within that period or payments are automatically processed. Payment from each hotel is then processed, with agents receiving their commission payments via cheque or direct bank transfer.

Topdeck offers top deals

It’s the last chance to score Europe summer trips in Topdeck’s  “Limited Edition” 2016 Europe summer brochure at 2015 prices, instead of the 2016 prices, plus it includes a further 10% discount for travellers, if booked and paid in full before August 31.

The brochure features 24 epic adventures that will have Topdeckers capturing picture-perfect moments in countries like Italy,
Hungary, Switzerland, France, Austria, Germany, Turkey, England, Belgium and Croatia and more.

Travellers can also score a 10% discount on the Road Trip USA if they book and pay in full before September 31. The 24-day trip starts in New York City and travels to Washington DC, Charlotte, Savannah, Orlando, Miami, New Orleans, Lafayette,
San Antonio, Austin, Amarillo, Santa Fe, Durango, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

Northern West lures in TravelManagers

TravelManagers’ Victoria based personal travel managers Karen Doyle, representative for South Yarra, Katy Hurd, representative for Mount Eliza and Penny Meallin representative for Monbulk, together with Peter Carmichael, representative for Merewether in New South Wales, were recently reminded you don’t have to travel overseas to enjoy a wonderfully diverse holiday: it’s all here in Australia’s North West.

The personal travel managers each recently experienced a unique part of the stunningly beautiful Northern Western Australia on a famil trip hosted by Australia’s North West Tourism.

Participants on the mega-famil had the opportunity to experience one of five different itineraries, from immersing themselves in Broome and Eco Beach to experiencing the best Gibb River Road and Kununurra had to offer.

Scenic seeks best dressed agency

To celebrate the 2016 Europe River Cruising season, Scenic is offering agents $5000 for the best dressed agency plus five runners up cash prizes.

From historical icons to cuisine and unique culture, agents can be inspired by all things European, focusing on Rhine, Main, Danube and Moselle river cruising. Ideas include the new enhancements to the 2016 program – Taste of ‘Oktoberfest’ or the ‘Best of the Sound of Music and Salzburg Show’.

Agents should take a photo or video of their creative efforts and post their entry to the Scenic Travel Agents Facebook page to go into the draw to win $5000.

To join the network and submit entries head to facebook.com/ScenicTravelAgents.

The Incas blossom with Inkaterra

Inkaterra, Peru’s leader in luxury sustainable tourism, has recently opened its sixth property Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba.

Located in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, in-between Cusco and Machu Picchu, this contemporary hacienda-style hotel spans over 100 acres, showcasing 12 stunning rooms including a three-room “Owners Suite”.

Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba offers a variety of in-house activities and ecofriendly excursions, such as bird watching, star gazing, horseback riding, and the rare chance to ride a llama cart.

Bunnik goes bonkers for Europe

Bunnik Tours has launched their 2016 program for Europe, including four new itineraries and an Early Bird Special.

The 2016 line-up features 14 small group tour itineraries, with the four newbies featuring tours to Norway & Iceland, Alpine Discovery, Eastern Europe and Italy & France.

Clients booked on the 2016 program before December 18 2015 will receive a $250 per person Early Bird saving.

Brisbane Airtrain discount offer

Brisbane Airtrain is celebrating the launch of its newly designed, easier-to-use website by offering travellers the chance to save $10 or more on an online return city ticket from now until 17 August.

Just use the promo code: WEBDOLLAR5 (that’s a five (5) not an “S”) when you book your ticket.

X marks the spot

Indonesia AirAsia X has launched sales for its second route into Australia to Sydney from Bali (Denpasar) with the first flight from Sydney taking off on October 17 2015.

This new route for the low cost carrier went on sale August 12 and runs until Sunday August 16 2015 or until sold out, with a fare available from $119 one-way to Bali. Bookings can be made at www.airasia.com. AirAsia X’s Premium flatbed seats will also be on sale from $399 one-way.