Here’s all the latest travel agent news from Australia, gathered up for you courtesy of Travel Weekly.

Two more weeks to win a famil to Southern California with Delta Air Lines and Expedia TAAP

West Hollywood Travel & Tourism Board, Greater Palm Springs CVB, and the San Diego Tourism Authority have joined forces with Delta Air Lines and Expedia TAAP to offer agents the chance to win a spot on a famil to these three fabulous Southern California destinations.

To qualify, agents are required to sell the most hotel nights in the ‘Southern California Road Trip’ Destinations via Expedia TAAP or sell the highest number of flights through Delta Air Lines from now until 22 March 2020.

The top four destination sellers for Expedia TAAP Hotels and the top four sellers of Delta Air Lines flights (8 in total) during the booking period will experience a road trip of their dreams between West Hollywood, Greater Palm Springs, and San Diego, departing in May 2020.

For inspiration to sell quicker, agents can check out SoCal trip and package ideas through the lens of Wellness, Art & Culture, and Active Adventure on Expedia TAAP’s consumer website here. There are also interactive maps for all three road trip themes, with recommendations curated by locals, which agents can share with clients to take on the road HERE.

The competition ends on 22 March 2020 and winners will be notified by the end of the month.

Helloworld Business Travel launches aspiring leaders scholarship 

Helloworld Business Travel (HWBT) launching the annual Aspiring Leaders Scholarship.

The scholarship supported by United Airlines and the Travel Industry Mentor Experience (TIME) will open the door for one talented HWBT network member to grow their career each year.

The recipient will continue to develop professionally with the opportunity to be mentored by a senior ranking travel industry leader through the TIME program, which was established to help ambitious and aspiring leaders to accelerate their careers in the Travel, Tourism, Hospitality and Aviation industries.

The scholarship holder will also attend the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) convention in Denver from 25-29 July, the largest annual gathering of business professionals in the world.

Applications are now open to the Helloworld Business Travel network and will close on 31 March 2020.

Travel Partners reveals brand refresh to mark new direction after a record year

On the eve of its annual Conference for mobile agents and member agencies, Travel Partners has unveiled a fresh and contemporary new visual identity.

Taking place this week in Bangkok on Friday 13 March, the annual Travel Partners Conference is a key milestone for the brand which grew 255 per cent in February Year-on-Year.

The timing of the brand refresh is opportune as the total Travel Partners network now has reached 255 Australia-wide, including the member agents and is expected to end the year on a healthy 300.

Sno’n’Ski mega-famil is off again

Sno’n’Ski Holidays is taking another 30 of Australia’s top-selling ski agents on a journey they will never forget, with the support of Brand USA, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Australia. Departing on Friday 6 March, participants embarked to some of the best ski resorts Northern America has to offer.

After four consecutive years of running its mega-famil incentive, this is the first time the ski wholesaler has sent agents to the USA. On this unforgettable eight-night road trip agents will experience four unique resorts scattered throughout Colorado and Utah – visiting Aspen, Snowmass, Steamboat and Park City.

While uncovering an array of jaw-dropping terrain and being hosted by world-class resorts, participants will also have time to unwind with locals at après hot spots, along with creating unforgettable memories with their top-selling peers.

To keep up to date with what these agents are getting up too and marvel at the picturesque vistas of Colorado and Utah, follow the Instagram hashtag #snonskimega2020.

Adventure World Travel presents Wild Showcase to agents

Adventure World Travel hosted the first of six exclusive events at The Mint in Sydney to present it’s ‘WILD Showcase.’

Representatives from Adventure World Travel’s partner brands Explore and Lindblad-Expeditions, as well as tourism board Destination Canada, were also present to share their insights into their brand’s wildlife experiences. Nathan McLoughlin from Destination Canada took part in a Q&A discussion, while Cherie Bowman, from Lindblad-Expeditions, highlighted the importance of sustainable travel and wildlife conservation, in destinations such as the Galapagos and Explore’s Ben Ittensohn spoke on their popular wildlife journeys.

Rodgers also announced Adventure World Travel’s new three-year partnership with the Borneo Orangutan Wildlife Foundation, where every new booking to Borneo will provide a one-year adoption of an orangutan from the sanctuary.

As the evening concluded, Rodgers asked agents them to complete a form and sign the TreadRight Foundation pledge. This form gave the attendees the opportunity to select one of four projects- Wildlife SOS, Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, Wilderness Foundation Africa or Proyecto Titi South America; where Adventure World Travel would donate $250 on their behalf.

The invite-only Sydney showcase launched a total of six events taking place across Australia over the coming week, following three successful events in New Zealand last week.

TravelManagers recognised at Cruiseco awards night

Cruiseco’s annual conference was held recently aboard Royal Caribbean International’s Voyager of the Seas during a cruise from Sydney to Hobart and Melbourne.

One of the highlights of the seven-day event was an Awards Night at which TravelManagers picked up several major awards.

The home-based travel advisor brand is going from strength to strength in the cruise sector, having picked up several awards already this year.

To these, they have now added Cruiseco’s Top five in aales for 2019 – the sixth consecutive year that they have achieved this milestone.