Agent Wrap: Agents take in Australian Open, Aurora kicks off agent events, AAT Kings supports locals + MORE!

Agent Wrap: Agents take in Australian Open, Aurora kicks off agent events, AAT Kings supports locals + MORE!

Crawl that last mile towards the weekend with a slew of updates from your favourite agencies, courtesy of your mates at Travel Weekly.

Emirates hosts Helloworld Business Travel at the Australian Open

Helloworld Business Travel agents and clients were recently offered the opportunity to enjoy some of the best global tennis action at the Australian Open thanks to Emirates.

The group attended a day session courtside at Rod Laver Arena and experienced impressive hospitality in the luxurious Emirates marquee on Wednesday 22 January.

A decadent buffet lunch and beverages were served throughout the day as all the live-action was played on big screens around the lounge.

The highlight of the special event was enjoying front row seats at Rod Laver Arena and taking in all the action of day three, with players including Ashleigh Barty, Novak Djokovic and Petra Kvitová taking to the court.

Aurora Expeditions hosts travel agent launch events

On Wednesday night, Aurora Expeditions held the first three of its eight trade launch events for local travel agents in Sydney (at Terrace on the Domain), Melbourne (at The Terrace, Royal Botanical Gardens) and Brisbane (The Gardens Club, Brisbane Botanical Gardens). The events celebrated the launch of the 2021/22 Antarctic and 2021 Global voyages with an early bird off of up to 25 per cent. Despite being on sale for only a month, the team have seen enormous demand and have completely sold out of the 30 per cent offer, less than a  month after going on sale.

Just by attending these events, guests automatically went in the draw to WIN 1 of 2 famil spots on our 11 day Iceland Circumnavigation itinerary valued at AU$10,700p, twin share. Agents who attended the Sydney event were also lucky to be joined by special guest speakers, Greg and Margaret Mortimer, founders of Aurora Expeditions.

Travel agents based in Perth, Gold Coast, Hobart, Canberra and Adelaide can register to attend the trade launch event in their local city in the coming weeks here.

AAT Kings succeeds in its inaugural ‘bushfire relief giveback’ trip to support local tourism

In collaboration with the #EmptyEsky movement and regional tourism businesses, AAT Kings welcomed the industry and wider community to join them on one of their newly launched not-for-profit Bushfire Relief Giveback Experiences which are designed to help provide immediate support directly to tourism communities that have been affected by this season’s devastating bushfires.

Don’t look now – there’s an elephant in the zoom

We’re not 100 per cent sure if MTA – Mobile Travel Agents’ advisor Maria Turra (or should that read terror) was simply posing for a happy snap or she was completely aware that a fully-grown African bull elephant – average weight 7 tonnes – was creeping up behind her during a visit to the world-famous Kruger National Park in South Africa.

Maria visited the game reserve as part of a Singita ‘Ultimate Southern African Safari Experience’ with featured accommodation including the  Singita Pamushana Lodge in  Zimbabwe and the Singita Ebony Lodge and Singita Lebombo Lodge in the Kruger National Park.

Helloworld TV show returns to air 

Season two of the popular Helloworld TV Show will return to our screens on Saturday 01 February, in both Australia and New Zealand.

The remainder of the season will see the team visit destinations including California, South Africa, Fiji, England, Vanuatu, Hawaii, Vancouver, Wales, New Zealand, Chile, Tasmania, Peru and more.

All our favourite lifestyle travel show presenters will be returning including Ray Martin, Vince Sorrenti, Bec Hewitt, Ash Hart, Giaan Rooney and Matt Wilson.

Helloworld season two will resume on Saturday 01 February on 7TWO at 6pm and on Sunday 02 February on 7MAIN at 11am in QLD, 12pm in VIC, NSW and SA and 2pm in WA. The show will also air on Saturday 01 February on Three at 5.30pm in New Zealand.

Personal Travel Manager finds heaven in the Himalayas

Watching the sunrise over the Annapurna Range in Nepal’s adventure capital of Pokhara was a suitably momentous conclusion to 18 unforgettable days in South Asia for TravelManagers’ Kate Bevan. The representative for Croydon, VIC, was in Nepal for the third leg in a three-famil journey which also took in northern India and Bhutan.

Bevan’s week in Nepal began in the capital city, Kathmandu, where she explored some of the city’s most significant landmarks. These included Boudhanath Stupa and Swayambhunath Temple as well as the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Durbar Square.

No famil to Nepal would be complete without seeing the world’s highest peaks, so Bevan was thrilled to have a scenic flight that offered panoramic views of the Himalayas, including around Mt Everest, included in her itinerary.

Back on the ground, she travelled to Royal Chitwan National Park, where she explored the park by canoe, jeep safari and evening jungle walk, accompanied by expert guides. Bevan also experienced a taste of Nepalese culture with a visit to a Tharu village, a traditional bullock cart ride to her hotel and a stick dance performance from local farmers.

Latest News

  • Hotels

Premium hotel operator ERDI launches it’s own academy in heart of Melbourne

ERDI, a private collection of premium hotels and hospitality businesses, has announced the launch of ERDI Academy, the next chapter of hospitality education and the legacy of founders Eva and Les Erdi. Starting in the mid-1980s, ERDI offers hospitality education with a commitment to community enrichment from its base at its Mercure Welcome Melbourne on […]

  • Destinations

Tropical North Queensland action-packed events calendar for adventure enthusiasts

Sporting enthusiasts and adventure seekers are gearing up for an action-packed year in Tropical North Queensland, with a lineup of sports events and adrenaline-pumping experiences set to take centre stage in 2024. Leading the charge is the highly-anticipated return of the Crankworx World Tour ‘Paradise Edition’ to Cairns from 22-26 May 2024. The mountain biking […]

  • Aviation
  • Sustainability

Singapore Airlines Group first to receive SAF from Neste as AU/NZ play catchup

Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group has signed an agreement with Neste to purchase 1,000 tonnes of neat Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel TM. The purchase makes SIA and Scoot the first carriers to receive Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) produced at Neste’s refinery in the country, at Singapore Changi Airport. The milestone will also mark the first […]

  • Aviation

Qantas Red Tail sale discounts more than 200,000 fares

Qantas has launched its latest International Red Tail sale, discounting more than 200,000 fares to Los Angeles, New York, Honolulu and other US destinations, plus Vancouver. The discounted seats are available to book either as a cash fare or as a reward seat using points. Thirty routes are on sale, including 10 for under $1,199 […]

  • Health & Wellness

Bannisters by the Sea unveils retreat style package for new mothers

Boutique hotel Bannisters by the Sea has revealed a brand-new package for new mothers – Bannisters Mummymoon – right in time for Mother’s Day. Designed to nurture and rejuvenate new mothers, this luxurious escape prioritises postpartum self-care and wellbeing in a serene coastal setting. Reconnecting and Recharging: The two-night Mummymoon allows mums to reconnect with […]

  • Destinations

APT offers destination incentives to enjoy the Best of Asia

APT Luxury Travel launches has launched its Asia Sale featuring 20 trips, with journeys through Vietnam and Cambodia as highlights, as well as opportunities to explore Japan, South Korea, India and Sri Lanka. It’s ‘Spiritual Cambodia and the Mekong’ land and river cruise tour for example takes guests on an all-inclusive 11-day journey through Vietnam […]

  • Travel Agents

Disney Days returns with Inside Out 2 showing in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Auckland

Time is running out for agents to register their Expression of Interest to an exclusive screening of the much-anticipated Disney and Pixar film, Inside Out 2, hosted by Disney Destinations Australia/New Zealand team and partner United Airlines. Places are limited and applications must be in by 17 May. In addition to the screening of the […]

  • Cruise

Aranui Cruises slashes prices with No Single Supplement and Half Price offers

French Polynesian cargo cruise line Aranui Cruises is slashing thousands off its 2025 Austral and Marquesas Islands cruises with an autumn sale offering 50 per cent off the second guest in a twin share room and no single supplement for solo travellers. On sale until June 21, 2024, Aranui’s 12-day roundtrip voyage from Papeete to […]

  • Destinations

Raes on Wategos celebrates 30th birthday and guests get the presents

World famous luxury boutique hotel Raes on Wategos, in Byron Bay, has launched its 30th birthday celebrations with a Raes Indulgent Escape package. Available for all stays of two nights or more, from June to August, the curated package offers an invitation to indulge in a shared celebration of Raes 30th birthday, whilst revelling in […]