Industry supports Daniel Morcombe foundation with “Drive 4 Daniel” Day

Every year the whole travel industry in Qld get together for a Travel Industry Golf Day to support the Daniel Morcombe foundation.  This year there were 150 golfers representing the Industry to fund raise for this event.  Dubbed the “Drive 4 Daniel” Day, $17,000 was raised.

Presenting the cheque (photo attached) to Bruce and Denise Morcombe are the D4D Organisers: Peter Balmer (Coach and Cruise World), Sharon Hando (Travel the World), Bruce and Denise, Danny Roche (Escape Travel) Scott Wagstaff (GM Carbrook Golf Club) and Kim Tomlinson (Travellers Choice).

TravelNevada hosts Australian trade mission in July

TravelNevada’s sales mission to Australia later this month will see the first US state Governor to visit the country in over seven years.  Coinciding with an Economic Trade Mission, Governor Sandoval will join TravelNevada and a host of other tourism organizations from the region on a trade mission in both Melbourne and Sydney.

Accompanying Governor Sandoval will be the team from TravelNevada including the Director of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Claudia Vecchio, who will lead the sales mission with support from Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Cirque du Soleil, Caesars Entertainment and Go Tahoe North.

Maldives Famil for TravelManagers Freestyle Holidays’ Top Sellers

A select group of personal travel managers recently enjoyed a seven-night Maldives experience as part of a TravelManagers exclusive educational, hosted by Freestyle Holidays and Singapore Airlines.

The famil was offered to eight personal travel managers in recognition of their top sales in 2015 for Freestyle Holidays. Participating personal travel managers were Victoria based Sylvia Holland, Debra Bean, Sharon Wright and Lea Burford; New South Wales representatives Maree Oxford, Maria Miller and Pamela Baas; and Amanda Anthony from Queensland. Tina Vitelli from the national partnership office also joined the group that was escorted by Leigh Holme, Sales Executive Freestyle Holidays.

TravelManagers’ Executive General Manager, Michael Gazal attributes the company’s exceptional, strong and effective business relationships with key partner suppliers as being integral in their support of incentives.

Rail Plus treats agents to one of the world’s great train journeys

Any itinerary that combines business class on Singapore Airlines and a journey on the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is going to be memorable, but when you add in two of the world’s most celebrated hotels you know you’re experiencing something a little special.

That’s precisely what a group of Travel Associates agents were treated to recently, when Rail Plus partnered with Singapore Airlines, Belmond Hotel Cipriani and Belmond Venice Simplon-Orient-Express to create a luxury famil that began with business class flights to Milan and a high-speed excursion on Trenitalia to Venice.

The group enjoyed two nights in the floating city while staying at Belmond Hotel Cipriani – one of Europe’s most luxurious properties – then stepped aboard Venice Simplon-Orient-Express at Santa Lucia station for a two day journey across Europe and on to London.

Rail Plus CEO James Dunne says the experience exceeded the group’s high expectations.

Peregrine’s ‘Big Polar Payout’ sees Antarctica sales soar

Since launching Peregrine Adventures ‘Big Polar Payout’ on July 1, sales for the adventure travel company’s Polar Trips have increased by 1,100%.

Polar sales have soared in the past 2 weeks, making Antarctica Peregrine’s second biggest selling destination after South America.

Since the incentive launched, there has also been a 264% increase in the number of agents trained per week.

The Big Polar Payout offers an earlybird special to consumers for 2017/2018 Polar trips, as well as one massive incentive that will see one lucky store win back the entire cost of a Polar berth.

Agents also go into the draw to win icy-cold Friday night drinks, for completing the training.

Sandra Worsfold and Tashi Lachman from Thor Travel and Amanda Sansom from Flight Centre Applecross have been the winners of the ice-cold beverages so far.

WANTED: Agents to join Macao’s fun run team

MACAO is calling on travel agents to lace up the joggers and join its team in this September’s Blackmores Family Fun Run in Sydney to help raise funds for charity.

The Macao Government Tourism Office (Australia and NZ) will cover the cost of each entry with each runner who completes the course of about 4kms to be presented a commemorative medal featuring an Australian athlete.

The fun run will take place on the morning of Sunday, September 18 with runners beginning the run at Milsons Point. Suitably decked out in a Macao T-shirt, they will then jog, walk or even skip across Sydney Harbour Bridge ending the race near the steps of the Sydney Opera House.

Team leader, MGTO Australia’s marketing manager Benjamin Zaubzer, said the fact that 2016 was an Olympics year should help encourage agents to compete. “It won’t be a marathon though,” he said. “It will be more of a family outing with scenic Sydney at your feet.”

At the end of the race, team members will regroup to enjoy a well-earned and much-needed refreshment or two. To register, simply email Benjamin Zaubzer bzaubzer@worldtradetravel.com

Eclipse Travel expands operations to New Zealand

Eclipse Travel, specialists in key adventure destinations such as Antarctica, the Arctic, Africa and Latin America, have announced today their expansion of operations to New Zealand. The pioneering travel company is basing their operations out of Christchurch initially with a second north island location to follow later in the year.

With over 15 years combined travel agency experience, Directors Matt McMillan and Tim Farquhar understand ambitious New Zealand travellers are looking for that perfect off the beaten path adventure and they are able to deliver both package and bespoke options, taking the hassle out of overseas travel planning. New Zealanders can now enjoy more choice when it comes to exploring some of the world’s most spectacular destinations thanks to Eclipse Travel’s specialist sales team.

Prior to starting Eclipse Travel in Australia in 2012, McMillan held positions at various specialist travel companies in both Australia and the UK where he developed an extensive knowledge of Latin America and Africa. Farquhar had extensive experience in the financial markets before he combined his love for travel and adventure with helping others achieve their travel dreams and joined the travel industry.