News in Brief: Friday December 12
Creative Holidays and Dubai Tourism has kicked off the second instalment of its exclusive comp with Travel Today, giving away a $150 spa voucher for this week’s ‘spa & relaxation’ theme.
To enter, answer these five questions and send your answers to competition@themisfits.media by the end of the week. Winners will be notified by Travel Today.
Scoopon Travel has announced its accreditation as a certified member of Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA), which marks a milestone for the group buying travel category in Australia.
Head of travel Gordy Bayne said that milestone reinforces Scoopon as an Online Travel Provider with the scale and service to remain committed to providing customers with a ‘discount model’ that doesn’t compromise on positive experience.
The Macarthur region located 50 minutes from the Sydney CBD, is set to star in Angelina Jolie’s new film, ‘Unbroken’, which includes scenes shot at Onslow Oval on the edge of the heritage town of Camden.
The new film follows recent news that pay TV platform, Foxtel, will produce another two seasons of the popular, former Channel Seven drama, ‘A Place to Call Home’, which was also filmed amongst the hills and dales of Macarthur for the past two years.
Carnival Cruise Lines business development manager Lance Dye celebrated a career milestone this week, after chalking up 10 years with the Carnival Australia head office.
Lance was the first sales member when the Carnival Cruise Lines’ team was established in 2012 and is now the BDM for NSW, ACT and New Zealand, as well as National Account Manager looking after Helloworld Australia.
The Singapore Tourism Board has welcomed Cheryl Wen and Rebecca Lavender to the expanding Oceania team, with Wen taking on the marketing portfolio, and Lavender to be responsible for the travel trade across Australia and New Zealand.
Wen joins the team from Singapore Tourism Board’s international marketing team, while Lavender brings over eight years’ experience in the travel industry, including organising roadshows and famils.
iTravel has announced that the Hurstville store has moved its location into Westfield Hurstville, with managing director Steve Labroski saying it was great to see the store go from strength to strength, moving into the new, prestigious location.
Singapore Airlines has announced its top producing agent award for Victoria & Tasmania for the 2013-2014 year.
The award was presented to CVFR Travel Group and business development manager Gordon Tanner, in recognition of the strong support and contribution to the industry.
In November, Infinity Holidays took representatives from the 25 most improved stores on a five-star luxury trip to Tahiti.
Over the six-days, the group lived it up in Bora Bora, snorkelling, jet-skiing, paddling and diving, as well as enjoying a 4×4 safari in the wild Bora Bora Mountains.
Topdeck Travel has launched the first Snapchat travel show, #TopdeckSnaps, with the inaugural show following vlogger and YouTube star James Hill on a week-long adventure through Europe.
Fans followed him on Snapchat to get all the latest on his trip, with a search now underway to seek out a host for the next #TopdeckSnaps episode.
To enter, people just need to tell Topdeck in a 10-second Snapchat video why they should be given the job, and send it to Topdeck.Travel on Snapchat, with entries closing on December 31.
Travellers Choice members immersed themselves in Norfolk Island’s history, landscape and culture during a recent educational tour led by Norfolk Select.
The agents visited Fletcher’s Mutiny Cyclorama, tasted local cuisine at Puppy’s Point and enjoyed a cooking class with chef Kim Wilson.
The most recent OZ Focus was held on board the Spirit of Tasmania in Port Melbourne, with agents spending the day learning about Australia’s key products and enjoying some Tasmanian delicacies.
The event was hosted in collaboration with OZ Focus suppliers, including Great Southern Rail, Europcar, Sunlover, Excite Holidays and more, coming off the back of recent news that the Tasmanian government will inject tens of millions of dollars into the Spirit of Tasmania next year.
Silversea has released two new brochures detailing a diverse collection of more than 300 luxury cruises that will sail in 2015 and the first quarter of 2016.
The new 180-page Silversea Cruises brochure is devoted to Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper and Silver Spirit, and is complemented by a 140-page Silverseas Expedition guide, highlighting itineraries of Silver Explorer, Silver Galapagos and Silver Discoverer.
The team at Carnival Cruise Lines played Santa’s helpers last weekend to partner with CREATE Foundation to treat 50 young people in foster care to an early Christmas celebration onboard Carnival Legend in Sydney.
During the festivities, the children and their foster families enjoyed a visit from Santa, lunch in Nouveau Restaurant and hours of fun at Carnival WaterWorks, including plenty of time on Green Thunder – the fastest and steepest waterslide at sea.
Be the first to experience the brand new ibis Styles The Entrance when it officially opens on Christmas Day, with the hotel offering industry rates from $109 for a queen standard room and breakfast.
The new 52-room property is located on NSW Central Coast’s iconic beach, with views over Tuggerah Lakes and close drive to the town centre of The Entrance, with the pre-opening special for the industry valid for stays from 1 January 2015 to 28 February 2015.
Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk officially kick off the 2014/15 winter ski and ride season on Saturday December 13, joining Snowmass and Aspen Mountain.
Aspen Highlands will start the season with 700 acres of terrain, while Buttermilk will offer top-to-bottom skiing and riding across 125 acres of terrain served by the Summit Express.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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