News in Brief: Wednesday February 12
Princess Cruises has launched a new competition designed to boost awareness of its new brand positioning among travel agents.
Agents can learn about the Come back new brand message, unveiled last month, through a dedicated module on its Princess Academy online training scheme.
All agents that complete the module, then explain how Princess Cruises can make their clients "come back new' in 25 words or less will be in the running in to win a nine-night Diamond Princess cruise around Japan in a balcony stateroom.
To enter the competition, which runs until April 23, click here.
Qantas’ decision to resume direct services between Sydney and Hamilton Island from July 2 has been welcomed by the Whitsundays’ tourism body.
“The new direct services between Sydney and Hamilton Island are a great boost for our region and will stimulate visitation, particular in the business travel sector,” Whitsundays Marketing and Development Limited chief executive Danial Rochford said.
“The Sydney market is one of the Whitsundays’ key source markets and I am thrilled to see that connectivity has improved allowing Sydneysiders to be in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef by lunchtime.”
Air Canada has halved the price of its fares to London until March 31, making a UK-Canada "two-nation vacation" more affordable for Australian travellers.
Under the offer, prices start from $1200 per person ex Sydney and $1400 per person ex Melbourne or Brisbane (before taxes and fuel surcharges).
Air Canada general manager Australia and New Zealand Paul McLean said the half-price fares – the most competitive the airline has ever offered between Australia and the UK – provide a “rare opportunity” for travellers to take the “scenic route” via Canada to Europe.
The online wholesale division of Innstant Group, Innstant Travel, is offering clients access to more than 20,000 sporting events through its www.innstant.travel portal.
The new Sports Tickets Online offering adds to its existing range of hotels, transfers, events and tours.
“Innstant Travel is constantly adding innovative products to its platform which provides our Global partners with the opportunity to earn additional sales and increase profits,” sales manager Australia Katrina South said.
“In summary, our booking tool enables agents to book events tickets worldwide at competitive prices and all combined with our FAQ tab and 24/7 multi lingual customer support.All the clients need to do is search, book and enjoy!”
Hahn Air has signed an agreement with Italy’s Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori (NTV), linking the Italian rail operator to more than 91,000 travel agencies worldwide through major Global Distribution Systems (GDS).
Now available under the two-letter code 5W, NTV joins the ranks of other high-speed railway providers that have chosen Hahn Air’s speed-alliance in order to be distributed through GDS in more than 190 markets.
The next phase of VisitCanberra's Human Brochure project is now underway with the tourism body recruiting social media savvy locals to fill 101 spots on www.101humans.com.au.
The 101 humans will invite a local and interstate friend or relative to Canberra at the end of October to take part in one of 101 VIP experiences. They will then share their experiences with family, friends and social networks via social media networks with the content to be aggregated onto the humanbrochure.com.au website.
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation and the Adventure Travel Trade Association have signed a new partnership agreement at ITB Berlin desgined to create initiatives to advance adventure tourism globally.
Under the arrangement, the two parties will collaborate on an economic impact study to anaylse the impact of the sector and its potential for regional communities. In addition, they will work together on definitions, market size, trends, training and standards.
Best Western Australasia has appointed Tim Wallis as its new sales manager NSW/ACT.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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