Big fat agent wrap
Want to leave work early but your boss won’t let you? Silently fume away here with this photo-filled agent wrap.
Ynot Concepts Wraps up Big Five Roadshow
Last night at the Art House Hotel in Sydney, industry guests were given a taste of Africa as a part of Ynot Concepts inaugural Australian roadshow.
Representatives from African Bush Camps, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, Lemala Camps and Lodges, Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve and Wild Horizons visited Australia for a series of networking and B2B events in Melbourne and Sydney this week.
Ynot also held networking events in Sydney and Melbourne to assist sales and reservation staff on how best to sell the destinations and products.
Aside from award-winning luxury camps and lodges, the ‘Big Five’ have a common thread of being trailblazers in practices of sustainability, community engagement and conservation.
Individually they have been practicing sustainable tourism long before it became fashionable to do so. Their businesses help empower local communities changing the lives of many and their efforts in conservation have kept natural environments in pristine condition and ensured endangered species will endure on this planet.
Uniworld River Cruises accolade for MTA’s Wendy Gunther
Uniworld River Cruises has recognised MTA – Mobile Travel Agents Wendy Gunther’s outstanding sales performance at a special presentation taking place at the Art Gallery of NSW.
Wendy was flown from Brisbane to attend the event where she was presented with Tiffany jewellery and, along with other guests, treated to a private showing of ‘The Masters of Modern Art’ from the Hermitage in St Petersburg currently on display at the gallery.
The evening rounded off with a Matt Moran-inspired dining experience.
Wendy is pictured second from right with her MTA colleagues attending the event, from left Mandy Patterson; MTA business development manager, NSW/ACT Jackie Pennock; Sally Curtis, Anne Coombes and Robin Stevens.
Playful pachyderms charm agents on Southern Africa famil
Unexpectedly close encounters with wild animals can stir some deep emotions – mostly notably fear. But for Endeavour Travel and Cruise’s Jill Faircloth it led to some sweet tears.
Travelling on an exclusive Travellers Choice educational tour of Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana as guests of The Africa Safari Co., Jill stepped into Nehimba Safari Lodge in Hwange National Park to find herself almost face-to-face with a group of curious elephants.
US consul general meets agents at Visit USA expo in Brisbane
Prizes, presentations and a celebrity vibe brought Brisbane travel agents out in droves to the Visit USA Expo in Brisbane last night with over 250 agents attending.
Held at Howard Smith Wharves, travel agents chanted throughout the prize rounds, celebrating the prize-winners announced by I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here winner and MC Richard Reid.
US Consul General Sharon Hudson-Dean also made a surprise visit to mix with the agents commenting, “The energy and enthusiasm at the Visit USA Expos 2019 is really impressive.”
“The USA has an endless list of top class tourist destinations and we’re thrilled that Australian travellers come for long visits to explore and experience as much as they can, frequently more than once,” commented Hudson-Dean. “Our doors are open and we love to host Australian visitors.”
Hayman Island EXCLUSIVE Deal with Viva! Holidays extended due to popular demand!
With ALL the buzz surrounding the opening of the InterContinental Hayman Island Resort on July 1st it is no surprise that the exclusive Viva! Holidays special deal for the opening of the resort has been selling like hotcakes!! Gorgeous-Luxury-Island style hotcakes that is!
The response has been so good that the original travel dates have had to be extended due to overwhelming demand. And it’s no surprise when you look at the deal itself!
More info here.
High Times in Melbourne at TIME meet up
The lively gathering of ambitious travel, tourism and hospitality professionals were treated to an evening of inspired presentations, tasty victuals and refreshing libations with industry folk with a common passion for mentoring and career development.
Under a perfect evening summer sky with spectacular views over Albert Park lake, leadership & management consultant Sandy Colombo emceed the event. Sandy introduced TIME’s renowned mentoring program to the first-timers, before handing over to the night’s guest presenters, Graeme Riches and Peter Topping.
TIME’s 34th program intake starts its six-month mentoring journey on 10 April 2019, with expressions of interest due on 10 March 2019.
Leading Australian travel insurance provider, Cover-More, has generously committed to fully-fund a placement in the 34th intake.
Interested individuals are encouraged to download a scholarship application HERE.
Visit USA wraps up expo week in Sydney with a full house of agents
As the finale event, Sydney was the strongest of the three shows yet at Visit USA’s Expo Week that wrapped up last night with over 350 agents filling the Hilton Sydney’s ballroom.
Once again entertained by Hollywood celebrity and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here winner Richard Reid, it was a memorable night for agents as they were presented with all the latest tourism offerings by US suppliers, with many winning trips to the USA.
TTC Weekly Deals
TRAFALGAR
Italian Concerto
Save up to $500 per couple of all Italy Trips with Trafalgar including the 11 day Italian Concerto. On this trip guests will travel from Rome to Cassino, Pompeii, The Amalfi Coast, Isle of Capri & Florence before wrapping up their Italian sojourn in Venice. Starting from $3,875* per person, twin share (discount included). This offer is on sale now until 28 February 2019 for select departures from 8 April to 14 October 2019. For more information or to book call 1800 78 78 78 or visit www.trafalgar.com *Conditions apply.
ADVENTURE WORLD TRAVEL
South Africa Panorama
Save up to 15% on tailor-made Africa with Adventure World Travel such as the 14 day South Africa Panorama itinerary. Travellers will journey through the kaleidoscope of South Africa on this locally escorted small group trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town through Mpumalanga, Kruger National Park, Swaziland. Zululand, Durban, Knysna, Oudtshoorn & Franschoek. You’ll enjoy game drives through Kruger National Park, searching for the Big Five before a journey through the Cape Winelands and along the glorious Garden Route, visiting villages and beachside towns along the way. Starting from $4,069* per person, twin share (discount included). This offer is on sale now until 15 March 2019 for select low season travel dates. For more information or to book call 1300 363 055 or visit www.adventureworld.com*Conditions Apply.
BUSABOUT
Morocco Highlights
Save up to $150 per person with Busabout on the 9 day Morocco Highlights trip. Travellers will need to get ready to do things differently – get ready for Morocco. Here they’ll step outside of their comfort zone as they travel from Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Fes, Sahara Desert, Todra Gorge and Ait Benhaddou and camp in the Sahara Desert. Visit one of the world’s largest medieval cities, and gaze upon the tenacious Todra Gorge. Starting from $1355 per person (discount included). This offer is on sale now until 28 February 2019 for departure on 9 March 2019 and 23 March 2019 only. Other departures are available, but prices will vary. For more information or to book contact www.busabout.com or call 1300 287 226. *Conditions apply.
UNIWORLD
Danube Holiday Markets
Save up to 30% on the 8 day Danube Holiday Markets cruise with Uniworld thanks to their Our Best Offer deal. Glorious baroque architecture, delightful concerts and ravishing scenery will make this Christmas season unforgettable, as guests sail through the holidays on the Danube from Budapest to Passau through Bratislava, Vienna, Krems & Linz on the S.S. Maria Theresa. Starting from $3,359* per person, twin share (discount included). This offer is on sale until 31 March 2019 and reflective of departure on 9 December 2019. Other departure dates are available, prices may vary. For more information or to book call 1300 780 231 or visit uniworld.com *Conditions apply.
AAT KINGS
East Coast Islands & Rainforest
Save up to $1200* per couple with AAT Kings Last Minute Deals. Guests can enjoy these savings on the 13 day East Coast Islands and Rainforest itinerary where they will explore the epic coastline of Eastern Australia on a journey that takes them from Sydney to Cairns through Port Macquarie, the Gold Coast, Noosa, Rockhampton, Hamilton Island and Mission Beach. Starting from $4,950* per person, twin share (discount included). This offer is on sale now until sold out or departed for select departures between 7 April and 27 September 2019. For more information or to book call 1300 556 100 or visitwww.aatkings.com *Conditions Apply.
CONTIKI
Berlin to Budapest
Flash Sale! Save 20% off Select Contiki Itineraries booked before April 1, 2019! There’ll be no tired icons on the 13 day Berlin to Budapest trip, and no queuing in lines. Travellers will be too busy sampling Czech craft beer & soaking up Krakow’s salt mines on this adventure through Dresden, Prague, Krakow, Auschwitz, Banska Bystrica and Budapest. In Krakow travellers will get to check out Kazimierz, the UNESCO-listed Old Town & historic Jewish Quarter with its jumble of street art, vintage markets, crumbling cafes & 14th century synagogue before journeying deep underground on a visit to the Wieliczka Salt Mines, with an included tour of the mind-blowing crystalline tunnels, caves & cathedral, all carved out of the salt rock.Starting from $2,440* per person, twin share (discount included). This offer is on sale now until 1 April 2019 for select departures between 6 May and 23 September 2019. For more information or to book call 1300 266 845 or visit www.contiki.com *Conditions Apply.
INSIGHT VACATIONS
Alpine Christmas Markets
Guests can experience the Winter magic, Spring blooms and Autumn colours on their next trip to Europe. If they book now they will enjoy a 5%* Early Payment Discount on Autumn, Winter & Spring departures when paid in full by 29 August 2019. They can then enjoy these savings on the 9 day Alpine Christmas Markets itinerary where they will enter the realm of gingerbread, mulled wine and carol singers as they travel with Insight Vacations from Munich to Salzburg, Innsbruck, the Black Forest, Strasbourg, Freiburg before departing from Zurich. Starting from $2,328* per person, twin share (discount included). This offer is on sale now until 29 August 2019 and valid on the following select departures unless sold out prior; 24, 25 and 27 November 2019. Other departure dates available however prices will vary. For more information or to book call 1300 727 767 or visit www.insightvacations.com *Conditions Apply.
Latest News
Collette goes off the beaten track with Canyon Country tour
To be clear TW is not advocating actually walking off the beaten track. Avoid the coyotes. Stay on the beaten track.
Intrepid & Korean Tourism Organisation team up to give agents a cooking masterclass
These guys learnt that Korean cooking is more than just putting kimchi on 2-minute noodles (as we once thought).
Winner, winner! Intrepid reveals the 9 lucky agents that won $2k
Who won the incentive? Which Intrepid trip will they spend it on? What day of the week is it again? Where am I? Huh?
Corporate Traveller reports 42% increase in Easter traffic this year
Business travellers just love Easter! Expect plenty of chocolate stained documents returning to the office on Tuesday.
Turbulent year wiped $384m off Qantas brand value: Report
Meanwhile, eating tuna at your desk can damage your own personal office brand value by several thousand dollars.
FAMIL: Room-Res & Singapore Tourism Board shows agents the Lion City’s roar
Click this article to see a man very impressed by a 20-layer chocolate cake. We're not kidding, he loved it!
Oceania Cruises offers sailors free pre-cruise hotel stay
Looking for ways to make your holidays as long as possible? Look no further.
Bonza launches new website to compliment app, agent portal
Does news about an airline's website fill you with ecstasy, glee and joy? Get your hit of the good stuff here.
MTA agents attends ‘Lunch ‘n’ Learn’ with AMA Waterways
When organising the event, Lunch 'n' Learn beat out Dinner 'n' Divulge and Breakfast 'n' Banter. Understandably so.
Travelmarvel reveals 2025 South America tours
If you spot any typos in the newsletter today it is because TW became distracted Googling images of Machu Picchu.
Tourists from 5 countries could be BANNED from visiting Australia
Anthony Albanese's immigration laws could impact tourism from certain countries.
Just how many passengers will Qantas & Jetstar hop around this Easter?
Airline workers are ready for gleeful Easter travellers! Also prepared for sticky children with chocolate on their face.
Air New Zealand gets ready for bumper Easter weekend
Air NZ gears up for travelling passengers this Easter, while TW looks to beat our egg eating record. 117 here we come!
Four Seasons Yachts reveals first itineraries to the Caribbean & Mediterranean
These trips look so good we wish there were five seasons! Alright, we'll see ourselves out...
FAMIL: Travellers Choice treats top agents to the wonders of Rotorua
This one's got plenty of famil pics and no one looks shockingly hungover in them! Clearly no TW staffers were there.
European Waterways celebrates 50th anniversary with week-long founders cruise
Plan on celebrating your 50th anniversary with a bottle of Moët and fairy bread? European Waterways has better ideas.
100th route! Jetstar celebrates the launch of Brisbane-Avalon with 12 hour sale
Jetstar knocks a ton and celebrates with a sale while TW once scored a ton and celebrated with about 17 beers.
Record-breaking year for NSW as visitor expenditure soars past $50 billion
Enjoy running round the Opera House? Be prepared to elbow even more tourists out the way.
Norwegian Cruise Line makes play for solo travellers
NCL ensuring you don't have to go trawling Tinder to find a cruise partner. Thank goodness, we were sick of catfishing.
Entire Travel Group’s Canada and Europe 2024/25 brochures are out now
Entire's new brochure is bittersweet; it both informs your clients and makes you envious of the holiday they'll take.
Malaysia Airlines adds 3 new destinations & A330neo seats
More seats means cheaper airfares and more money to spend on overpriced airport sandwiches. Woohoo!
Two divine days onboard Crystal Serenity
It's only pure serenity onboard this ship. Anxiety, agitation and anguish have been rejected by the bouncer.
How the Globus Family of Brands elevates coach touring: Travel Weekly TV with Chris Fundell
Chris' here so you don't think coaches mean peeling your thighs off a sticky leather seat every time you stand up!
The Flight Centre Foundation gears up for massive 2024 with 3 new board members
The foundation looks to invest $200k this year, spurring the TW journos to figure out how to qualify as a charity.
Barking Owl Communications to head up Anantara & Avani in ANZ
Fellow PR competitors had been barking up the wrong tree even thinking of bidding for this job!
Amex GBT to purchase CWT for $871m
It's big deals like this that get a firm handshake - hence the sore hands over at the CWT and Amex GBT offices.
1000MTG’s second global conference reminds agents to ‘strive and thrive’
Alongside messages to 'strive' and 'thrive' were those to 'survive', 'drive', 'arrive' and 'jive' (when appropriate).
Qantas A330 makes “loud bang”, pilots forced to shut down one engine
Qantas refusing to let Boeing have all the headlines in aviation world today!
GX Community Tourism Summit 2024 location revealed!
The new location has arrived and it'll blow your socks off! Time for another trip to Target for more socks then.
Visiting the destination my Mum didn’t want me to
Yet again, this journo has been a stress to his mother. Discover how this trip spurred his mother's anxiety here.
Agents come out of their shells at P&O’s turtle hatchery event
For some, it's a few glasses of bubbles to lure them out of their shell. For these agents, it was a bit more literal.
Boeing cleanout: CEO, chair to go as safety crisis plagues the manufacturer
CEOs are falling thick and fast these days. We should have started up a bingo game with their headshots in the office.
Virgin looks to swap MAX 10 order for MAX 8s amid Boeing delays: Reports
Virgin has changed its order for something smaller. Much like we have to at Maccas following a worrying doctor's visit.
Club Med unveils newest luxury yacht for 2024/25 early bird sale
This yacht is preserved for the early birds! Night Owls may also get onboard depending how late they stay up.
Abercrombie & Kent 2024 Asia Portfolio is here
Round up the family and get planning an Asia jaunt. Or, if they're hard to handle, brush them all and go it alone!
Elevate your earnings: Final days to secure double commission with Inspiring Vacations’ March offer
What could inspire you to sell more Inspiring Vacations? Double commission of course! That's all the inspiration needed.