Big Fat Agent Wrap
Agents test drive Carnival Vista
A group of Australian agents have enjoyed a fun week in Europe on Carnival Cruise Line’s new ship Carnival Vista, test-driving the new entertainment and thrill experiences onboard.
When they weren’t exploring Naples, Rhodes and Crete as part of Carnival Vista’s maiden season of Mediterranean cruising, the group of 14 key cruise agents were watching Captain America on the first IMAX Theatre at sea, cycling high above the ship’s top deck on SkyRide, sliding down the 138-metre-long multi-sensory Kaleid-O-Slide, and watching the latest Playlist Productions’ America Rocks! and Flick: The Power of Motion Pictures.
Other highlights during the seven day cruise included the multi-dimensional Thrill Theater experience, the Cuban-inspired Havana Bar and fine dining in Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse.
Pictured (L-R): Ivanka Matic (Cruiseabout Shellharbour), Tammy Dennis (Infinity), Sandra Pearce (Flight Centre), Amy Kathleen (Cruiseabout Rouse Hill), Janet Temple (Temple Travel), Leah Temple (Temple Travel), Shane Gibbons (Carnival Cruise Line), Anton Loeb (Carnival Cruise Line), Suzanne Gower-Macdonald (Flight Centre Travel Group), Kate Reimers (Infinity), Amanda Secomb (Our Vacation Centre), Wayne Secomb (Our Vacation Centre)
Infinity enjoy Voyager of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Key Account Manager Tony Soden recently hosted an Infinity Educational group onboard Voyager of the Seas for five nights, cruising from Hong Kong to Vietnam. The group of agents from Flight Centre, Escape Travel and Cruiseabout stores came from locations all over Australia, from Townsville to Hobart.
Highlights of the cruise included a Bridge and Galley Tour, giving a behind the scenes look at the operations of the ship, as well as sampling the menus of the ship’s variety of specialty restaurants, including Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table and the classic American burger joint, Johnny Rockets. Agents spent plenty of quality time carving up the ice skating rink and FlowRider surfing simulator, and off the ship, enjoyed the sights, culture and tastes of Vietnam and Hong Kong.
Pictured from L-R: Heike Duggin – Escape Travel Willows, Zena Duncan – Escape Travel Toronto, Tegen Richards – Flight Centre Robina, Deb Eyers – Cruiseabout Camden, Emily Mitchell – Flight Centre Gladesville, Jimmy Usher – Flight Centre Sandy Bay, Nicole Hogan – Infinity Cruise, Ben Flick – Infinity Cruise, Heather Skelton – Flight Centre Helensvale, Tony Soden – Royal Caribbean, Kathryn Baker – Escape Travel Greensborough, Amber Foster – Cruiseabout Pakington St.
Queensland agent to celebrate in style thanks to TravelCube
Lisa White from Our Vacation Centre in Queensland is set to celebrate her wedding anniversary in Bali after winning a five-night holiday for two at the luxurious Kamandalu Ubud from TravelCube.
Lisa won the major prize in TravelCube’s Asia on Sale incentive – which ran for six-week period in May and June – by booking the most room nights across the company’s extensive portfolio of Asian properties.
“I’ve never been to Bali so I’m excited to be exploring a new destination and to be taking my husband along to celebrate our fourth wedding anniversary in style,” says White.
Travellers Choice ‘frontliners’ sharpen their marketing skills in Melbourne
More than 70 Travellers Choice “frontliners” from across Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia gathered in Melbourne recently to engage with almost 50 key preferred suppliers and receive some wisdom from celebrated “marketing dynamo” Aisla Page.
Travellers Choice regularly holds state-based Frontliner Conferences to enable its consultants to enhance their sales skills, deepen their preferred product knowledge and share ideas and advice with colleagues.
Infinity Takes QLD Retail Agents “Into the Wild”
In May Infinity took their top selling Queensland retail agents to Africa and enabled them to experience the majesty of this great continent. The agents were eight days on the ground in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana and got to experience a myriad of activities including game drives, canoe safari’s, boat cruises and much much more!
Infinity ran an incentive in Queensland for their retail partners to be the top selling teams from 01Oct 2015 to 28 February 2016. The top teams won a place on an African adventure. The 16 agents who represented their teams and the two Infinity hosts arrived in Johannesburg on Thursday 5 May. They were whisked away to the Victoria Falls Rainbow Hotel where they had a traditional African “Boma Dinner” and where the sounds and smells of Africa came alive.
Aussie wholesalers discover Vanuatu
Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) together with Hoot Holidays hosted a group of four wholesale consultants in Vanuatu last week, giving them the chance to experience the beauty of the islands of Efate and Espiritu Santo first-hand, while broadening their product knowledge of the destination.
The itinerary was designed to educate the group on the large range of holiday accommodation at differing price points as well as showcasing the diverse culture, activities and natural beauty of Vanuatu.
Linda Kalpoi, VTO general manager, said they welcome opportunities to partner with wholesalers like Hoot Holidays in order to educate more of their representatives on the real Vanuatu experience.
Agents Get High on the Swiss Tempo
A group of 10 very lucky agents from Tempo Holidays have recently returned from a weeklong indulgent famil to Switzerland. The agents from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide were all treated to selected highlights along The Grand Tour of Switzerland.
Hosted by Birgit Weingartner from Switzerland Tourism AU & NZ and Lorna Groves from SWISS International Air Lines, the group visited the peaks of Grindelwald, Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe, Mt Pilatus and Mt Titlis, as well as the cities of Luzern, Lugano, St Moritz and Zurich.
Major highs included experiencing the adrenaline-inducing walks along the First Cliff Walk, journeying up to the Europe’s highest mountain railway atop Jungfraujoch, riding on the word’s steepest cogwheel train in Pilatus, walking across Europe’s highest suspension bridge in Titlis.
Participants included Annalize Troost, Marissa Parkin, Maxine Adams and Aneeta Curtis from Sydney; Jasmine Tilley, Dijana Pestalic and Olivia Trinchi from Melbourne; Melissa Neville and Sonja Bomhof from Brisbane; and Lauren Watson from Adelaide.
Big Polar Payout! Peregrine Adventures Antarctic earlybird and incentive
Peregrine Adventures has launched the new season of 2017/2018 Antarctic trips with an amazing earlybird offer for travellers – and a massive incentive that will see one lucky store win back the entire cost of a Polar berth.
The Big Polar Payout is available to any store in Australian or New Zealand that books and deposits for a Peregrine Adventures or Intrepid Travel Polar trip before 31 August 2016. There are also weekly prizes of icy cold Friday drinks up for grabs.
“Antarctica is the final frontier – it is a destination so fantastic that it goes beyond the bucket-list.” says Pete Rawley, Australia & New Zealand Regional Director for the Intrepid Group. “To celebrate the launch of Antarctic earlybirds we wanted to do something especially cool for agents. This incentive is huge – and because we love our agents so much, we’re making it super easy for them to help their customers take the Polar plunge by also throwing in an amazing Antarctic earlybird offer.”
Peregrine Adventures is offering travellers up to $8300 off select Antarctic voyages for the 2017/2018 season. The offer is available until 30th September 2016 – or until places are sold out. For more information and T &Cs visit: www.peregrineadventures.com/antarctica-earlybird
To go in the draw to win the Big Polar Payout and weekly icy cold Friday drinks, agents must register and complete the Intrepid Group’s online Polar sales training here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/82J63D6 . For further information on the incentive and full terms and conditions, please contact your Intrepid Group BDM.
Community Spirit Focus for Personal Travel Manager
TravelManagers’ personal travel manager, Annalize Troost, representative for West Pennant Hills has reason to celebrate. Troost donated an Avalon European River Cruise for a couple and arranged for two Qatar Airways business class tickets to Europe, which collectively raised $23,000 at this year’s MonSTaR Foundation’s ten year Anniversary Ball, a fundraiser for motor neurone disease.
“Having the ability to give back within my community is hugely important to me. Sponsoring the MonSTaR Golf PRO AM event at Pennant Hills has just been the beginning of my support of community and charity events. Knowing that I can help raise funds for such a well deserving charity like MonSTaR through my relationships, experience and expertise is incredibly rewarding,” says Troost.
Troost’s relationship with the MonSTaR Foundation began through networking opportunities.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
carnival cruise line Infinity peregrine adventures TravelCube travelmanagers vanuatu tourism officeLatest News
Linkd appoints Carolyn Nightingale and Lawson Dibb to new roles
Linkd Tourism sings praises of Carolyn Nightingale and dubs Lawson Dibb as Kyushu Tourism Office guru.
Celebrity Ascent makes its European debut
Choosing to cruise this northern summer? Celebrity Ascent promises to raise the bar.
NCL opens sales for Norwegian Sun’s APAC debut, announces 14 new voyages
It was to be 13 new voyages we heard, but given the numbers unlucky nature, an extra had to be thought up.
Inside Travel Group appoints Tom Welland Global Trade Marketing Manager
Heidi's Tom Welland heads to Inside Travel Group as its new Global Trade Marketing Manager.
Federal Government rolls out $1.4m program to promote careers in tourism across regional NSW
The Government taking a break from some of its pointier issues with some work in our incredible industry!
Australian visitors to South Korea surge
Japanned out? Aussies are adding South Korea to their bucket list.
G Adventures celebrates Dr. Jane Goodall’s 90th with new wildlife-focused trips
Fancy yourself as a bit of a conservationist? Put your skills to the test on the Jane Goodall collection.
Virgin Australia says suspended flights to Bali result of Boeing MAX delays
If only we had a company like Boeing to blame our mistakes on. Any takers? Get in touch!
Airline Review: Singapore Airlines Business Class – A380-800
The iconic Singapore Airlines' A380-800 is in a class of its own - business class that is.
South African Airways to relaunch Joburg – Perth flights as economic ties strengthen
Bringing two of the world's most distinctive accents closer together, for good or for bad is yet to be determined.
My journey: Before becoming a travel agent I was… a palliative care nurse
Australind Travel & Cruise, Travellers Choice member Saibra Twigg reveals her life as paediatric nurse then to palliative care before a career leap to travel agent. How did you become a palliative care nurse? ST I went straight from school in nursing and initially specialised in paediatrics, working at Perth’s Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. […]
Emirates unveils future plans with new hub at Al Maktoum International Airport
We've also been looking into our future. It involves plenty of famils, we hope.
Australia fails to make top 10 destination list for American travellers
Australia's top cities have failed to make the grade with American travellers this northern summer, with no local city in the top.
APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures
APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]
ANZAC Battlefield travel on the 2025 bucketlist
As Anzac Day dawns, agents prepare for a surge in bookings for the 110th anniversary of the Anzac Cove landings.
Former Channel 9 Getaway host and founder of TRIBE Jules Lund to speak at Travel DAZE
From blond-tipped travel reporter to Travel DAZE speaker, Jules Lund cuts through the BS.
HX’s Roald Amundsen finds aliens in the Antarctic
Forget whales, HX's MS Roald Amundsen captures aliens in the Antarctic - and they're not pretty.
Mayhem in France as 70% of flights face cancellation
I mean it wouldn't be France if there wasn't at least one strike.
Etihad Airways launches double-decker service with world’s only in-air three-room suite
We imagine falling asleep in the three-room suite is superior to falling asleep on your neighbour's shoulder.
Norwegian Cruise Line launches 2024 Europe travel season
Europe certainly has a lot of ports. Its time for Australia to up its game.
“The power of travel for positive change” – Intrepid’s Jenny Gray hails controversial all-women Saudi Arabia trip
There is an awful lot to love about this tour from Intrepid. Where do we sign up?
Princess names the Sun, unveils Sanctuary Collection + Star Princess to Alaska in ’26
A huge bottle of Veuve was smashed into the side of the ship to make things official. So no, we couldn't snag a glass.
Collette special offers across peak northern summer season
If you are craving a trip to Europe then grab this deal with both of your grubby hands.
Air India and All Nippon codeshare between the two countries
Here at TW we agreed that the photo would have worked better if they had swapped planes.
A&K offers minimum 18 weeks paid parental leave
Contrary to what the photo suggests this benefit is only applicable for humans. Back to work Mrs Jumbo.
NH Hotel Group rebrands as Minor Hotels Europe & Americas
Hang around the bends of the hotels. We imagine they will be full of a lot of branded content.
Scenic Eclipse II – the business of creating unforgettable life-changing memories
These cruise brothers from another mother offer a view of cruising on Scenic Eclipse II that is poles apart.
MSC builds new hospital ship with Mercy Ships
If you want to read a story that puts a smile on your face then this is the one for you.
“I peed on myself watching this” – Social media users squirm at Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of The Seas 55ft dive video
TW is not responsible for any involuntary actions your body might have after watching this video.
FLIGHT REVIEW: Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner business class
The real bonus is you're unlikely to be around screaming children. Hoorah!
Traveltek offers travel agents new rapid deploy cruise website
As always, if you have any issue with the platform, just turn it off and on again.
Experience whale watching & classical music at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville
Disappointedly, the whales do not start singing in tune with the orchestra. Opportunity missed.
Fond, very Fond. London hotel famed for James Bond link adds ‘Classic Comforts’ lunch menu
James Bond author Ian Fleming was so fond if this hotel, it inspired the legendary phrase ‘shaken, not stirred’.
What sets Eclipse Travel apart with Africa expert Hilary Dubyk: Travel Weekly TV
If you want to know more about Africa, then Hilary Dubyk is your person.
Surge in Australians visiting Japan
Feel like all of your friends have just returned from Europe? Now it's Japan.
Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit
Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]