Have you been hankering for a famil opportunity lately? Well, Christmas has come early with this week’s agent wrap!

Winning agent announced for Constellation Journeys’ luxury world tour

Constellation Journeys has announced the winner of its 2019 agents’ incentive, inviting one travel agent to join the tour operator on its next 20-day around the world luxury journey, departing on 30 September 2019.

Mary-Jane Lawless from National Seniors Travel has been named as the lucky winner of two seats on Constellation Journeys’ 2019 global adventure.

With her travel partner, Lawless will join other guests on board Constellation Journeys’ next extravaganza departing Sydney and visiting Seoul, Jerusalem, Valletta, Barcelona, Cartagena, Machu Pichu and Easter Island on a 20-day journey via a privately-chartered Qantas 747.

Dan Kotzmann, founder and managing director of Constellation Journeys, recognised the role of travel agents in the success of his new venture, now in its second year.

“We are grateful for the outstanding support of travel agents for our style of product and for feedback that Constellation Journeys is meeting demand or affordable luxury and grand touring by air,” he said.

“National Seniors Travel is a valued partner of Constellation Journeys, and we are thrilled to invite Mary-Jane and her guest onboard to experience our product and numerous exciting destinations around the world.”

Along the way Lawless and guests will see iconic sights, encounter ancient cultures and befriend a group of fellow travellers while enjoying luxury accommodation, full catering including meals and beverages and a la carte options, the services of the Constellation Concierge for all luggage transport between hotels and airports, and their own private doctor.

TravelManagers PTMs experience the best of Vietnam on ‘Lady Get Together’ famil

Ten personal travel managers (PTMs) recently spent nine days in Vietnam on a TravelManagers exclusive ‘Lady Get Together’ famil specifically designed to showcase some of the experiences and locations most favoured by the so-called ‘she-conomy’.

The group, who were escorted by K J Slater, the Australian-based business development manager for Vietnam Travel & Cruise, began their itinerary in Hoi An – a charming 16^th century merchant town with strong Japanese and Chinese influences.

After a walking tour of the old quarter, they were treated to the first of many delicious Vietnamese meals at Anthony Bourdain’s favourite spot to pick up a classic Vietnam baguette, Banh My Phuong.

While in Hoi An, the group also had the chance to experience traditional Vietnamese culture beyond the cities, cycling along picturesque country roads to a farming village, sharing in daily farm life and trying their hand at traditional fishing techniques using round and cast nets.

From Hoi An, they flew north to the country’s capital of Hanoi, where they had time to explore the city’s Old Quarter on foot, learn about hand-making and dyeing organic cotton and take a cycling tour of the city before heading to World Heritage-listed Halong Bay for an overnight cruise.

The famil group also visited Sapa, a mountainous region in the northwest of Vietnam not far from the Chinese border. Their time here was spent hiking about the rice paddy terraces, shopping in Sapa town’s markets and taking a cable car ride to the peak of Fansipan which, as the highest mountain in Indochina, is known as the “Roof of Indochina”.

TravelManagers’ executive general manager, Michael Gazal, said the famil was organised in recognition of Vietnam’s increasing popularity to women-only groups, noting its shopping, dining and cultural experiences as particularly appealing to this segment of travellers.

“Many of our PTMs are already actively pursuing a range of special interest groups, ranging from cooking schools to health and wellbeing,” he said.

“Recognition that one destination offers a range of itineraries is intrinsic to our PTMs’ ability to tailor diverse and distinct holidays to their clients.”

Final days to win a spot on the Journey to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Mega-Fam!

Disney Destinations, Virgin Australia and Delta Air Lines have announced how agents have the chance to win the fifth and final mini-incentive spot on the upcoming Journey to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Mega-Fam.

Between Saturday 6 July and Friday 19 July (by 11:59pm AEST), agents just need to sell and log at least one qualifying booking of any type, as per the competition terms and conditions found on the www.journeytogalaxysedge.com.au incentive portal for their chance to win.

There are still an additional 10 spots up for grabs as part of the Journey to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Mega-Fam incentive, but the competition ends on Friday 19 July, so this is the final chance to be amongst the first agents to visit the epic resort in California!

How to qualify for Sno’n’Ski’s big new Japan famil

Sno’n’Ski Holidays, in collaboration with Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), has announced a second ground-breaking famil for 2020, which will send 30 top-selling agents to the ski fields of Japan.

The Japan Mega Fam will run in addition to the USA Mega Fam, offering agents more chances to experience the largest international ski famils to operate from Australia.

The eight-night Japan Mega Fam will take agents on a sightseeing and ski adventure through Shizukuishi, Appi, Shiga Kogen and Hakuba mountain resorts on the island of Honshu.

Sno’n’Ski general manager Daniel Walker said Japan ski sales have been booming steadily for the last few years, and adding a second mega-famil to educate dedicated agents on the country’s leading ski product was a no-brainer.

“We’ve been hounded by the agents for a Japan Mega Fam, and thanks to JNTO’s support, we can finally deliver, which means we’re sending over 60 agents away to either Japan or the USA in 2020,” he said.

“Our goal is to educate select agents to be ski experts, and over four years, we will have sent agents to 16 of the world’s best ski resorts.

“With this knowledge and training, agents can confidently talk to customers about planning a ski trip to a new destination.”

The qualifying period for the Japan Mega Fam is officially open, and all bookings made through Sno’n’Ski between July and October count for an entry into the race, although a booking to a Japan Mega Fam destination resort must be made to validate an individual’s entries.

Bookings to these Japan Mega Fam partner resorts are weighted heavily in the entry pool, and agents can also score bonus entries by ticketing their Qantas flights through Sno’n’Ski Holidays.

Sno’n’Ski Holidays are offering value-packed holiday deals to Japan to support the Japan Mega Fam incentive period, including a $1,130 per person Shizukuishi package, which includes seven nights’ accommodation, a five-day lift pass, breakfast daily and a Snowcat Tour.