It’s Agent Wrap Friday! That means we have to publish this ASAP to go to the pub as it’s the one day of the week our boss lets us drink on the job.

Tempo discount new Spain, Mediterranean Coast and Italy package

Tempo Holidays have introduced a new and exciting tour combining some of the Mediterranean’s most sought-after destinations; Spain, the Mediterranean Coast and Italy.

As an introductory offer, Tempo Holidays are offering travellers 10 per cent off on bookings made on the new package, Andalucía, Mediterranea Coast & Classic Italy, until 15 Apr 2018.

On this 16 day tour, travellers will journey through Andalucía by coach, stopping at Spain’s most iconic cities, before boarding a ferry along the picturesque Mediterranean Coast. Last, but not least, experience one of the world’s most romantic destinations, Italy, ending in the capital Rome.

Highlights of this comprehensive tour include a visit to the Alhambra Palace and Generalife gardens in Granada, marvel at the grandeur of St Mark’s Square and Basilica in Venice, and enjoy sailing the Mediterranean en route from Barcelona to Rome.

A Close Shave at Helloworld Travel

Two brave staff from AOT Inbound took the plunge and shaved off their locks this week to help beat blood cancer!
The Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave is now 20 years old, and remains one of Australia’s biggest fundraising events. Anita Freitag and Ottilie Puijk, both members of the AOT Inbound FIT Reservations team took part in the annual activity to raise vital funding for research to help more people survive blood cancers and to also provide families facing the battle with practical support.

There’s never been a better time to experience The Red Centre

From trekking its vast canyons, flying high above the sparse beauty of the outback, to immersing yourself in indigenous cultural experiences – the beauty of the Red Centre is a true must do-experience for every inquisitive Australian traveller.

Accessible via a breathtaking flight or scenic drive from Uluru, no trip to Australia’s heartland is complete without a visit to the majestic Kings Canyon Resort, showcasing the best of the outback and the rugged ranges of the Northern Territory.

For those visiting the region for a minimum of one evening’s stay, Kings Canyon Resort has announced that it will offer a $50 credit to guests, to spend on meals, drinks – even fuel – during the course of their visit.

To guests experiencing these amazing landscapes, natural formations and ancient cultures in the world across two nights, the Resort will extend 50 per cent off guests’ second night accommodation.

Personal Travel Managers go from strength to strength in 2018

After wrapping up a record-breaking year in 2017, TravelManagers have hit the ground running in 2018, recording their best ever trading month in February 2018.

Executive General Manager, Michael Gazal, says the pleasing results follow on from an already-strong January, with indicators for March already pointing towards a third consecutive month of high sales.

Gazal says all destinations experienced high levels of growth, with South America delivering the highest growth in percentage terms, and Southwest Pacific following close behind. The Europe market continues to lead the way in terms of contribution to total growth at close to 40%, while North America also continues to grow strongly.

Win a trip to Mexico in TravelCube’s ‘loco’ beach party

TravelCube is throwing a massive beach party over the next six weeks with travel agents given the chance to experience some of the world’s top sun-baked resorts and win a grand prize of seven nights in spectacular Los Cabos, Mexico.

The agency booking and paying for the most room nights across all of TravelCube’s beach destinations between 15 March and the 27 April 2018 will be rewarded with the dream trip to Los Cabos on Mexico’s beautiful Baja California Peninsula.

With mountains and desert meeting the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean, Los Cabos is one of the world’s most alluring destinations, offering visitors stunning beaches, marine parks, world class golf resorts, horseback riding, luxury spas and a vibrant nightlife.

The grand prize includes $3000 towards airfares, four nights’ accommodation at Marquis Los Cabos (including all food and drinks), three nights’ at Grand Solmar Land’s End (including breakfast), return airport transfers and two sightseeing tours from Cabo Adventures.

Savenio affiliates discover high end luxury at DUCO Florence

Two Savenio affiliate advisors are currently attending the DUCO Travel Summit in Florence, a brand new luxury trade show focused purely on Italian luxury.

Sydney based Ariana Wong and Tasmanian Patricia Gordon attended DUCO´s Opening Ceremony & Gala Dinner at the extraordinary Salone dei Cinquecento, in Florence Town Hall.

DUCO gathers together a selection of the highest-level exhibitors from all over Italy.

Images from Biggest ever promotional visit to Australia by Adventure Canada – for agents and consumers

The most extensive-ever promotional visit to Australia this month by eco cruise company, Adventure Canada, attracted more than 400 travel agents and 300 of their clients across the country.

To launch its new 2019-20 brochure, in partnership with its Australian representative, Cruise Traveller, Adventure Canada hosted seven Arctic expedition information events in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast from March 5-13, 2018 as well as private sessions with other agent partners around Australia.

Adventure Canada this year enters its fourth decade of offering expedition cruises to some of the world’s wildest and most remote destinations including Scotland, Iceland, Ireland, Newfoundland, Greenland, the Canadian Arctic and the legendary Northwest Passage aboard its 198-passenger expedition ship, Ocean Endeavour.

Win a $20,000 grand cash prize! Plus $1000 weekly for six weeks!

The Chinese New Year brings fabulous fortune to travel agents selling Wendy Wu Tour’s with Australian consultants in the running to a $1000 Universal Visa card every week for 6 weeks, and the top seller awarded a whopping $20,000 Universal Visa card!

The fourth winner has just been drawn at random, and the winner is….Sharon Brown from Helloworld Jannali in Sydney. Sharons winning booking was a $17K booking to China, on the Exquisite China Tour.

There are two more weeks of $1000 prizes to be won, and a major prize of $20,000, for bookings made before 31st March 2018. Some terms and conditions apply, for full details visit wendywutours.com.au/agents.

Best time to visit Exmouth – The Ningaloo Whaleshark Festival

Big names at the 2018 Ningaloo Whale Shark Festival include Celebrity chef Anna Gare and musicians Ash Grunwald and Blue Shaddy.

The Festival weekend (May 25 -27), in and around Exmouth, highlights the community’s relationship with the annual return of the whale shark. This year’s festival will have a new look with the Whale Shark Marquee, on Talanjee Oval, turned into a rusticand tropical sea life wonderland.

Kicking off the weekend festivities is the Gala Festival Opening, poolside at Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort, just metres from the waterline. Transformed intoa tropical wonderland, it’s the chance to dress up and enjoy decadent food and drink, dance to the DJ and watch exceptional performances from the unique band of artists with Gascoyne In May.

This +18 ticketed cocktail event is $110 per adult. From 10am Saturday activities start at Talanjee Oval. The 35 metre Whale Shark Marquee will hold live entertainment throughout the day with surrounding market and food stalls closing at 5pm.

Win a trip to the Galapagos Islands!

WIN up to A$10,400 worth of prizes with Tempo Holidays Grand Latin Incentive! Every Tempo Holidays Latin America booking you make before the 31st May is an entry into the draw.

There are two prizes to win! Each booking over the value of A$1000 will go into the draw to win a five day cruise for two to the Galapagos Islands worth A$8000. The winner will get to choose between the M/V Galapagos Legend and the M/Y Coral I and II!

PLUS, each week Tempo will draw a winner at random who will receive A$200 cash!

The Galápagos Archipelago is a stunning group of 19 islands located just under the equator, 1000km west of Ecuador. Still forming, the Galápagos Islands are home to a unique range of fauna and flora found nowhere else on Earth. The islands were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1978.

Chimu launch brand new brochure showcasing Latin America and Polar regions

Latin America and the Polar regions are the must-see destinations this year. Australia’s specialists in these areas, Chimu Adventures, have launched their new brochure which outlines their array of personalised itineraries, small group tours and small ship cruises.

The glossy 115-page document features the iconic Torres del Paine in Patagonia on its cover and its pages take potential travellers on a journey to South and Central America, with a visit north to the Arctic and south to Antarctica.

The brochure includes new itineraries, experiences and angles:

• Cuba – new small group itineraries with set departure dates which are ideal for solo travellers and those wanting a group dynamic. Itineraries include cycling, sailing and motorbike tours.
• Galapagos Islands – new sailing options aboard the Daphne, as well as land options for those less keen on boats or for families at Galapagos Safari Camp and Finch Bay Hotel.
• The Arctic – introducing Arctic Unveiled, Chimu’s inaugural exclusive cruise to Spitsbergen as well as the option to add a land option in Iceland.
• Antarctica – Two new Chimu exclusive cruises to the white continent aboard brand new vessel, MV Hondius.
• City discovery tours – these are not just stopovers but a chance to really get to know Latin America’s vibrant cities over a few days.

Tahiti Travel Connection 2018 Trade Incentive

Tahiti Travel Connection (TTC), Australia’s leading travel specialist to the Islands of Tahiti, is giving away an exciting, all-inclusive trip for two to the Islands of Tahiti as part of their latest trade incentive.

The lucky agent with the highest number of booked passengers by 30 June 2018 will be sent to two of French Polynesia’s much-loved islands: Tahiti and Moorea. Epic adventures await in Tahiti’s lush rainforests and rich valleys, while heart-shaped Moorea offers the experience of a lifetime with its white-sand beaches, warm waters and jagged volcanic peaks.

The 2018 TTC incentive package is inclusive of Air Tahiti Nui return tickets, two-night accommodation in the Tahiti Pearl Beach Resort, 5-night accommodation with daily breakfast in the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa, shared transfers and return ferry tickets.

Save on G Adventures’ Big Asia Sale

Getting lost in the colourful chaos of India, exploring the famous geisha district of Kyoto, encountering orangutans in the forests of Borneo – these are just some experiences available with the Big Asia Sale, from G Adventures.

All through March, the leading tour operator is offering savings of up to 20 per cent on select tours through the world’s largest and most diverse continent.

The sale is particularly good news for Aussie travellers, as the operator has revealed that Thailand, India and Vietnam were amongst the top five travelled-to destinations by Australians in 2017.

With Asian tours being so popular amongst Aussie travellers, Ingrid Kocijan, Director of Sales for G Adventures Australia and New Zealand, believes the sale is good news for those agents looking to gain extra points for this year’s UMI in the Islands.

Introducing Australia’s first ever discount surf travel specialist

The best resorts and boat trips, all in one place at a discounted rate.

We are thrilled to introduce Wave of the Day – a new way to book surf travel online and the only website in Australia that focuses solely on discounted surf trips with top operators in Indonesia, The Maldives, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, the Remote Pacific and beyond.

Launching March 2018 during the peak of the Australian surf scene with Noosa Surf Festival, Gold Coast’s WSL/Quicksilver Pro competition, and just in time for the start of the Indonesian Surf Season.

In 2017, 1.18 million Australian’s visited Indonesia alone, many on the hunt for perfect surf. Always in search of a great deal for a surf trip, Wave of the Day founders Chris Wright and Dave Thew noticed a gap in the market for a discounted surf travel agent and the ability to influence a vast amount of people with something close to their hearts; responsible travel.

Australian agents experience Fiji’s exclusive Yasawa Island Resort & Spa

Fiji’s Yasawa Island Resort & Spa recently hosted a select group of Australian travel consultants on a famil to experience the remote northern Yasawa Islands in association with Tourism Fiji and Island Escapes.

During their stay the lucky five consultants explored the famous Blue Lagoon Caves, indulged in SPA treatments at Yasawa’s beachfront Baravi Spa, experienced the culinary delights of the resort’s new 2018 all day gourmet dining menu and enjoyed a private beach picnic on one of Yasawa’s stunning 11 white sand beaches.

Embracing the continuing demand for luxury product, Fiji’s Yasawa Island Resort & Spa have introduced a range of exciting enhancements for 2018. Bringing extensive experience from high profile and award-winning operations across Southern Africa, Australia and Fiji, renowned Food and Beverage Specialists, Brent Assam and Claire Stiles, have introduced fresh ideas, new flavours and creative concepts further enriching the resort’s culinary journey.

Dick Smith offers free flights for Swell Lodge Volunteers

Prominent Australian entepreneur Dick Smith has thrown his support behind a groundbreaking new tourism project unfolding on Christmas Island, offering free flights for volunteer workers.

In a development by intrepid travellers and wildlife photographers Chris and Jess Bray, Swell Lodge will be a gathering of eight glass-fronted, solar-powered, luxury eco-chalets set along a 500-metre coastline stretch of Christmas Island, renowned as the Galapogos of the Indian Ocean. Work is almost complete on the first eco-chalet, with the first guests expected by June 2018.

Swell Lodge owner Chris Bray has put the word out for volunteer tradesmen to come to Christmas Island and be part of the project – ideally for a minimum of two weeks – to help with general building work including laying out sites, mixing cement, cladding, rendering and tiling.

TTC Weekly Deals

INSIGHT VACATIONS  

Best of Germany

Insight Vacations guests can fly for $999 return to Europe when booking a 2018 Europe, Britain, USA or Canada itineraries before 31 March 2018. Enjoy the Best of Germany and embark on a 10-day journey of cosmopolitan cities, picture-book towns and breathtaking natural scenery, as you explore iconic highlights of Bavaria, cruise beneath the fairy-tale castles of the Rhine and watch skilled clockmakers in action in the Black Forest. Priced from $4,174 per person twin share (including discount and air offer). Terms and conditions apply, for further information visit insightvacations.com or call 1800 001 781.

UNIWORLD 

Christmas Holiday markets

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has returned their Best Offer Ever. Live your best life and save up to 40% off select 2018 voyages when you book before 31 March 2018. Combine this unbeatable offer with the 8-day Rhine Holiday Markets 2018 river cruise and SAVE 30% per person and enjoy this festive journey through Switzerland, France and Germany to discover Christmas traditions of Europe’s most charming towns
 Priced from $3,009 per person twin-share (including discount), 8 days of captivating escorted excursions, services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise/Tour Manager and more! For more information call 1300 780 231 or visit uniworld.com 

U BY UNIWORLD 

Deutschland’s Finest

Book early, get rewarded with the new river cruising brand U by Uniworld. U can save 10% when you book select U by Uniworld summer river cruises before 31 March 2018. Combine this offer with the new 8-day Germany’s Finest river cruise & tour from Frankfurt to Regensburg and SAVE from $250 per person.  Cosmopolitan Frankfurt is a city of contrasts, home to bankers and hipsters, avant-garde skyscrapers and ancient abodes. After dark, delve into its dynamic nightlife scene, visiting bars, clubs and under-the-radar hot spots with your U Host. Priced from $2,249 per person twin-share (including discount), with 14 meals onboard, 2 dedicated U hosts, 8 included excursions, a local celebrity DJ party onboard, 10 U time optional excursions, and more! For more information call 1300 730 010 or visit ubyuniworld.com 

TRAFALGAR

A Toast to St Patrick’s Day

St Patrick’s Day has got us thinking all 50 shades of green, and with the holiday that toasts the Emerald Isle coming up this weekend (17^th March), Trafalgar’s Treasures Of Ireland will provide you with taste of the good life and be sure to make your friends green with envy with a 5% discount on this trip. Céad míle fáilte – A hundred thousand welcomes await you in Ireland. Embrace the free-spiritedness of your hosts as you explore soulful Dublin and secure your gift of the gab with a Blarney kiss. Your expert Travel Director will take you to admire inspiring Irish landscapes along the Ring of Kerry and striking Cliffs of Moher, and learn about Cobh’s tragic Titanic history. This trip comes complete with an array of wonderful inclusions including meals and accommodation as well as Trafalgar’s signature Be My Guest dining experience. On sale until 27 April, 2018. For travel on the 22^nd July, 29^th July, 5^th July, 26^th July and 23^rd September, 2018. For more information visit www.trafalgar.com or call 1800 002 007. *Conditions Apply.

BUSABOUT

Iconic Hop-On Hop-Off Pass

Travellers can save up to 10% OFF on Busabou’s iconic 3 stop Hop-on Hop-off pass. Design your very own trip with Busabout. Choose your route around our European Hop-on Hop-off network and stop where you want Busabout’s Hop-on Hop-off network gives you access to 47 destinations across Europe. The 3 stop pass is suitable for shorter trips between 2-4 weeks, when you’re there for a good time, not a long time – perfect for backpackers and budget independent travellers or getting between sailing trips and other adventures. Not everyone is the same. Some people like the social vibe of a dorm room, others prefer the luxury of their own private hotel room. When we drop you off at the door of one of our recommended places to stay, we wanted you to feel just like you got home. Choose the type of your accommodation suited to your budget from 1,000s of possible options. On sale until April 30 2018 for travel between May-October 2018. For more information visit www.busabout.com or call 1300 287 226  *Conditions Apply.

CONTIKI

March Into New Zealand

This March youth travellers can save up to $156 off Contiki’s 7-day Ultimate NZ Ski trip with Contiki’s latest 10% off New Zealand sale, valid on trips 7 days and more departing between June-September 2018. Winter lovers must book before 31 March 2018 to save. On this trip to the ‘World’s Adventure Capital’ Contiki travellers will hit the slopes of the South Island’s dominating Southern Alps in Queenstown, home to New Zealand’s premier ski areas. This adrenaline laced trip is ideal for those with a thirst for adventure. Travellers will create epic memories surrounded by snow-capped mountains by day, and amongst the bustling Après-Ski nightlife – true NZ style. Priced from $1,409 *per person (discount included), 6 nights multi-share lodge accommodation and available for travel between 23 June 2018 – 25 August 2018. For more information visit www.contiki.com or phone 1300 266 845. *Conditions Apply

AAT KINGS

South Island Savings

Travellers can save up to $970 per couple on the Southern Spectacular 10 day guided holiday through the stunning south Island of New Zealand. Guests will Indulge in a delicious home-cooked barbecue lunch when they visit Morelea Farm and meet the Kiwi farming family of Angie and Stan Taylor. They’ll capture breathtaking sights as they journey down into Milford Sound and watch as master carvers create works of art out of the blocks of Pounamu. Highlights also include taking in Franz Josef Glacier and journeying over the Southern Alps on the TranzAlpine train. On sale until the 27^th April, 2018 for travel between 1 October 2018 – 30 September 2019. *Conditions apply.