13 Not-So-Unlucky Agents ‘treated’ to a Walt Disney World Resort Mega Fam

Earlier this month, the lucky winners of Disney Destinations, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Australia’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Mega Fam jet-setted from Australia and New Zealand to Florida for six magical nights at the phenomenal Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.

Here the agents spent 6 unforgettable days exploring the 40-square miles of Walt Disney World Resort including visits to all four world-class Theme Parks:  Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.  Some also cooled down at the Resorts Two Water Parks:  Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach.  And all thirteen enjoyed savouring delicious food, and shopping at exciting new retailers such as Zara and Sephora now open at the on-site shopping and entertainment precinct, Disney Springs.

Highlights of the Famil experience included the multiple night-time entertainment offerings such as Illuminations:  Reflections of Earth and the ALL-NEW Star Wars:  A Galactic Fireworks Spectacular.  Agents also took off on a wild ride through the African Savannah on the new Sunset Kilimanjaro Safari Expedition, floated off to Elsa’s Ice Palace in the new ride experience Frozen Ever After and relished in trying some delicious food at the annual Epcot Food and Wine Festival.

Travel Counsellors hit the road for series of state conferences

The Travel Counsellors leadership team recently travelled around Australia delivering a series of state conferences aimed at bringing together Travel Counsellors working remotely on their own travel enterprises.

Attending conferences in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney between Friday 22nd October and Wednesday 26th October, the management team presented an informative program aimed at imparting company updates to the conference attendees as well as motivation, inspiration and opportunities for personal development and networking.

2016 Masters Agents Explore PNG on Pacific Eden

Nearly 40 cruise agents from Australia and New Zealand sharpened their sales skills while cruising the waters of Papua New Guinea last week during the latest CLIA Australasia Masters Conference.

The group set sail from Cairns on P&O Cruises’ Pacific Eden and spent seven nights cruising the Coral and Solomon Sea, while participating in a range of onboard conference sessions.

The sessions, led by US-based travel industry trainer, business coach and motivational speaker Scott Koepf, focused on applying advanced sales and marketing techniques to the cruise retail industry.

One of the participants, I Love Cruising Director Marketing Manager Tim Faircloth said the conference was very beneficial.

“I would recommend it to anyone in the industry looking to give their brand a distinct marketing advantage. The course content was relevant, engaging and cruise specific,” Mr Faircloth said.

Australian wholesalers discover Canada’s wild west

There’s nothing like encountering a grizzly bear catching his salmon breakfast to remind you just how wild Canada’s west really is.

A select group of Australian product managers recently got up close and personal with one of the world’s most impressive predators when they ventured beyond Canada’s iconic west-coast attractions on an 11-night tour of British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.

Boarding a floatplane in Port Hardy, at the tip of Vancouver Island, the group flew over Queen Charlotte Strait to Great Bear Lodge, a celebrated retreat surrounded by a rainforest that is home to grey wolves, otters, mink and bald eagles. As well as daily treks along rivers and estuaries to watch the bears chasing salmon, the Australians enjoyed interpretive rainforest walks and boat excursions to explore the glacier-carved inlet.

Carlson Wagonlit travel gets Delta proud

Travel consultants from Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) had the opportunity to tour an aircraft and an airline catering facility in Sydney recently, as part of an agent incentive organised by Delta Air Lines and airline catering partner, Gate Gourmet.

Kylie Wilson, National Account Manager for Delta Air Lines said the opportunity for travel consultants to see inside a Delta aircraft and learn how inflight meals are made was an invaluable experience.

“Going behind the scenes gives our corporate travel managers the opportunity to better understand the product they are selling. By actually experiencing it for yourself, it opens up a whole new world,” Ms Wilson said.

To celebrate Delta’s seasonal menu change, Gate Gourmet treated CWT guests to lunch and dessert selected from Delta’s own onboard menu cycle. A tour of the flagship catering facility followed.

STA Travel Supports Youth Cancer This #BandannaDay!

Since National Bandanna Day on the 28th of October, STA Travel are encouraging Australian’s to support the 23,000 young people who are impacted by a cancer diagnosis every year.

Through to the 6th November, STA Travel is calling on Australia to share a selfie wearing a bandanna, tag STA travel using the hashtag #BandannaDay to go in the draw to win a $1000 travel voucher.

STA Travel are committed to working alongside CanTeen to raise awareness and funds for those currently battling youth cancer, have successfully overcome it, or are affected through family.  This year, CanTeen is working to raise more than $1.25 million dollars this year to provide practical care for youths in Australia.

You can enter the #BandannaDay competition via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Additionally, if you don’t already have a bandanna, STA Travel stores around Australia will be selling CanTeen bandannas.

STA Travel is the world’s largest student and youth travel company, passionate about inspiring over 2 million travellers a year to start the adventure and experience the world.