Hong Kong Tourism Board and Hong Kong Airlines join forces to promote new Australia route

The Hong Kong Tourism Board has partnered with Hong Kong Airlines on the very first trade famil departing Australia with Student Flights and Escape Travel.

The group of eight marketeers travelled from the Gold Coast to Hong Kong from 1-4 June, staying at the Novotel Nathan Road Kowloon and Novotel Century Hong Kong. They enjoyed exploring the hidden gems of Hong Kong with Backstreets of Hong Kong and Local Street Eats and learnt more about Hong Kong’s ancient culture on the New Territories Tour.

The group then jumped aboard the Lantau Island Explorer Tour where they discovered Ngong Ping 360, a stunning cable car ride up the mountainside with breathtaking panaromic views of the lush mountains and approaching Buddha statue.  And, a highlight of the trip, visiting the historical village of Tai O where Tanka boat people live in their stilt houses above the water.

Hong Kong Airlines launched flights from the Gold Coast to Hong Kong, via Cairns, in January 2016, running twice weekly.  In November, the airline will launch daily direct flights from Auckland, New Zealand.

Aussie Agents Make Island Escape to Tahiti

A group of Australian and New Zealand travel agents enjoyed a relaxing escape to Tahiti’s famed Society Islands with Island Escape Cruises, which is offering its first season in French Polynesia from May to October this year.

The group, including representatives from Hawthorn Travel Melbourne and Mary Rossi Travel Sydney, were among the first to experience a French Polynesian itinerary on the boutique luxury vessel Island Passage, indulging in a five-day taster trip from Raiatea to Bora Bora via Huahine and Taha’a.

The group enjoyed scenic lagoon cruising and fine dining onboard the 42-metre-long vessel as well as a river safari in Raiatea, a 4WD eco-tour of Huahine, and snorkelling safaris in the pristine lagoons of Taha’a and Bora Bora.

Tahiti Tourisme Director Australia New Zealand Robert Thompson said the 24-guest luxury ship offered something different for Tahiti travellers.

Flight Centre agents indulge in Thai hospitality in Krabi and Koh Lanta

11 Flight Centre agents were treated to enjoy the world-renowned Thai hospitality on a recent famil to Krabi and Koh Lanta.

First stop was at the five-star property Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi where, after arriving in style by speedboat, the agents explored some of the resort’s culinary highlights and enjoyed its unique location on a secluded bay, the views over the iconic limestone formations of Krabi and the surrounding nature park.

The agents also got a glimpse of the four-star sister property Centara Anda Dhevi Resort & Spa, located in the heart of Aonang, within easy reach of the soft sands of Nopparathara and Ao Nang Beach. The resort offers different accommodation styles that include pool access rooms and family suites.

MTA ‘Bulas’ from  Fiji

Pictured MTA- Mobile Travel Agents’ Wanita Thompson enjoying a visit to Fiji’s idyllic Likuliku Lagoon Resort and its famous overwater bungalows in the Mamanuca Islands.

Wanita visited the land of the Bula Spirit as part of an Island Escapes study tour designed to showcase Fiji’s key tourism locations and update agents on the ongoing developments on the resort scene taking place within the destination.

Her seven-day program also included a luxury-oriented overview of properties in Pacific Harbour, the Coral Coast and the main tourism hub of Denarau.

CTS and China National Tourist Office famil

CTS china famil late last month in conjunction with China National Tourist office saw the group travel on Air China to Beijing and take in the famous sights of Great Wall, Tiananmen square, Forbidden City as well as having traditional Peking duck.

From there they moved on to Chengdu to experience the Panda breeding centre and also visited Jiuzhaigou in the Sichuan province home of the Jiuzhaigou National Park, the UNESCO World Heritage site.

The group also visited Shanghai before returning home and experiencing the MAGLEV high speed rail system. Participants on famil were: Mr David Hu – CTS, Mr Justin Smythe – CTS, Mrs Liz Galysa – Helloworld Seven Hills, Miss Emily Todorovski – Itravel Carlingford, Mrs Julia Van Huisstede – Italk Travel Newcastle West, Mrs Rebecca Louttit – MTA Travel Young, Miss Gabby Norbury – New England Travel, Miss Trinity Cox – Flight Centre Summer Hill, Miss Klara Illuzzi – Flight Centre Woolhara, Mrs Amber Halleday – MTA Travel Mt.Gambier, Mrs Lucia Guarino – Galaxy Travel Melbourne, Ms Mandy Davis – Andy’s World Travel Maitland, Mr. Lei Fan – Air China and Mr. Weijian Luo – China National Tourist Office.

Dometic to announce ‘Follow the Sun’ winners at QLD Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow

For over thousands of Aussies who registered for the ultimate expenses-paid road trip, the wait is almost over with the winners of the Dometic Follow the Sun competition to be announced at the QLD Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow on Saturday 11 June.

All 30 finalists from across the country will be on the edge of their seats while they wait to hear if they have won. Dometic’s Head of Marketing Justine Schuller will reveal the winners on Saturday the 11th June at 1pm alongside former AFL legend, and host of The Great Australian Doorstep, Peter “Spida” Everitt.

The Follow the Sun Ambassadors will embark on three separate road-trips updating followers with “must see” tourist attractions and destinations, offering off-road and travel tips as well as raising funds and awareness for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Genuine Fiji Smiles Capture Personal TravelManagers’ Hearts

Four Queensland based personal travel managers experienced the very best of Fiji, on a recent mega famil hosted by Tourism Fiji and Fiji Airways. Participants on the mega-famil were split into four, each enjoying a multi-itinerary famil experience of the Mamanuca Islands, Yasawa Islands, Coral Coast and Fiji’s North. The eight-day famil itineraries were designed to ensure all participants, no matter where in Fiji they visited received a great insight into the amazing depth of product and diversity that Fiji represents.

2016 “Amazing Thailand Roadshow” a huge success 

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently hosted its annual “Amazing Thailand Roadshow” in Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney. This year the roadshow was held at The Langham in Auckland, The Crown in Melbourne and the Sheraton in Sydney.

32 Thai hotel and tourism operators and three airlines presented at the Auckland roadshow, with over 100 travel agents attending.

In Melbourne, 49 sellers and four airlines presented with around 80 travel agents in attendance, and in Sydney, 47 sellers and three airlines presented with almost 100 travel agents in attendance.

Representatives from hotels, resorts, tour companies and airlines came from various parts of Thailand, to present at each city. Operators from well-known destinations such as Phuket, Koh Samui and Bangkok were joined by upcoming destinations such as Khaolak, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.