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27 March, 2020

Agent Wrap: TravelManagers inspires travel dreams in Darwin, agents enjoy Cook Islands before last flights + MORE!

By Alexandra Coulton

This week’s Agent Wrap is full of feel-good stories to give you a solid dose of Friday afternoon serotonin. If that doesn’t work, we recommend gin.

Agents soak up Cook Islands sunshine before last flights home

A group of 10 travel agents managed to enjoy a famil on the Cook Islands in the South Pacific, before border restrictions were put in place, soaking up six days of sunshine, whilst exploring both Rarotonga and Aitutaki.

The agents were hosted for six nights by Cook Islands Tourism sales ambassador, Matt Brookfield who guided the agents on variety of island activities.

Amid the COVID-19 global challenges, direct flights from Australia to the Cook Islands have been temporarily suspended. Cook Islands Tourism said it remains dedicated to the Australian travel trade and will continue with their travel agent hosting program once air access returns to normal.

The team at Cook Islands Tourism also shared with us that’d like to praise Australia’s travel agents who have helped so many destinations convert sales are working countless hours to encourage fewer cancellations and retain bookings.

Cook Islands Tourism has a small team in Australia, meaning relationships with the travel trade is essential to success, not only with wholesalers but also key frontline travel agents talking to potential customers.

TravelManagers inspires travel dreams at Darwin Festival

Four of TravelManagers’ Darwin-based personal travel managers (PTMs) recently joined forces to host their first-ever consumer travel festival.

With 15 partner suppliers in attendance and $8,500 of prizes up for grabs, the quartet had high expectations for the success of their event.

The end result, after three months of planning by Lisa Malnar who is TravelManagers’ representative for Marrara, NT, and her three colleagues (Cara Gardner, Luke Durand and Tom Garnham), was a five-hour festival at Darwin’s Village Central Market.

More than 700 visitors came to hear from a variety of local and international suppliers which included tour companies such as Globus and Intrepid, destination-specific companies such as Inside Japan and Timor-Leste Tourism, and local tourism operators such as Ethical Adventures and Territory Wildlife Park.

These prizes included return flights and a five-night diving holiday for two in Timor-Leste, valued at more than $2300, courtesy of HOTL Association, Compass Diving and Airnorth, and an epic four-day, three-night Rainforest Nature Safari worth more than $2500, thanks to Elephant Hills.

A saintly gesture lifts Travellers Choice member’s spirits

Amidst all the doom and gloom engulfing the travel industry, it was a sweet and unexpected act of kindness that finally made one Travellers Choice member shed a tear last week.

Working hard at her desk, Sue Wynne from Corowa Travel Link looked up to see a couple who own a local caravan park come through the door then hand her a $150 voucher for a meal at the nearby All Saints Estate.

“I’m sitting here surrounded by wine, gin and chocolates from people who have stopped by to say “we know you’re doing it tough, keep your head up,” Wynne said.

Just as important, she said, is the support that has flowed from the Travellers Choice network.

“The corporate office team have been a godsend and the advice and encouragement other members are offering every day is just amazing. It’s genuinely touching to be a part of.”

Travel Counsellors Australia postpones 2020 conference

Travel Counsellors has announced that its 2020 conference scheduled to be held in Perth in June has been postponed.

“The decision to postpone our conference was not taken lightly,” said regional managing director Kaylene Shuttlewood.

“At this moment our focus on caring for people, their welfare and safety, has never felt more important. We have diligently followed the latest advice and measures announced by the Australian government, and we must continue to take appropriate action.

“Without a doubt, our industry is struggling through a very challenging time, and it is important that we support each other and our supplier partners to get through to the other side together.”

A new date for the conference will be announced just as soon as it is feasible.

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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