Matt was celebrating his win last night with champagne.

Insight Vacations celebrates its 40th Anniversary with the launch of a national competition for travel agents

Insight Vacations is kicking off the celebrations for its 40th anniversary with the announcement of a national sales competition for travel agents – the ultimate reward for the award-winning brand’s best supporting agents.

Every guest booked and deposited between now and 30 April 2018 will earn travel agents one entry into the incentive prize draw. Travel Agents must have a minimum of four passengers to be in the draw – with the major prize being a bucket list trip for two with Insight Vacations on the seven-day Christmas Markets of Vienna, Budapest and Prague trip, departing this December.

The Christmas markets has a magical atmosphere; filled with lights, carols and the smell of spiced wine. Agents will delight in sharing stories of their fairytale trip with their clients upon their return.

The top seller of each state (NSW/ACT, VIC/TAS, SA, WA/NT and QLD) will also be in the running for a minor prize of a $500 e-gift voucher.

TravelManagers’ Golf Day raises $16K for Love Your Sister Charity

The morning of TravelManagers’ Charity Golf Day dawned bright and sunny, bringing with it perfect conditions for its annual golf competition fundraising for the cancer charity, Love Your Sister.

The event, which has been held at Victoria’s Mornington Golf Club every year since its inception four years ago, was organised by Kellie Browning, one of two Business Partnership Managers (BPMs) that are responsible for Victoria.

Love Your Sister co-founder, Samuel Johnson, joined one of the teams for the day, playing golf in a team with TravelManagers’ Executive General Manager, Michael Gazal, APT’s Scott Ellis and Gareth Phillips (husband of PTM Sinead Phillips).

Agents discover small town charm on the big slopes of Silver Star

30 travel agents were welcomed into Silver Star’s close-knit community during the recent Sno’n’Ski Mega Famil, hosted by Destination BC.  Silver Star Mountain Resort is famous for its combination of beginner friendly runs and adrenaline pumping advanced terrain.

Despite the big mountain scale of Silver Star’s slopes, the Sno’n’Ski group were welcomed to the resort in a style reminiscent of an intimate mountain chalet. Helloworld Travel Caboolture agent, Chloe Blundell, was especially impressed by the way the hosts bent over backwards to accommodate the Sno’n’Ski group.

The Sno’n’Ski group were wined and dined at a variety of Silver Star’s choicest food and beverage outlets, with the poutine at Red Antler being voted the best feed of the trip to date. The agents who were accommodated in the Snowbird Lodge apartments wrapped up their days with a soak in their slope slide hot tubs, while those staying at Firelight skated on the scenic ice pond in their backyard.

Helloworld Travel Mackay in the medals!

General Manager of Helloworld Travel Mackay Annabel Dolphin was recently given the opportunity to present the Commonwealth Games medals for the Women’s four times 200m relay at the Optus Aquatic Centre on the Gold Coast.

With a games record breaking swimon Saturday nightto take out the gold medal, Annabel presented to Australian swimmers Emma McKeon, Brianna Throssell, Leah Neale and Ariarne Titmus, with silver going to Canada and bronze to England.

An unforgettable Amazonian quest for Travellers Choice Gold

It might be best known for the Galápagos Islands but venture to Ecuador’s interior ­­– as a group of award-winning Travellers Choice members did last month – and you’ll discover an equally extraordinary ecosystem boasting lush Amazon jungle, snow-capped mountains and some of the planet’s most curious wildlife.

The Travellers Choice agents – all recipients of prestigious Gold Choice Awards – explored Ecuador on a custom-made Adventure World itinerary that read like the plot of a Jules Verne novel.

The ‘ripping yarn’ began in the capital of Quito, once the northern hub of the Inca Empire, from where the group flew into the heart of the Amazon for a three-night voyage down the Napo River on Manatee Amazon Explorer. There to greet them were a dazzling array of colourful locals, including monkeys, sloths, toucans, macaws and even some notoriously shy pink Amazon dolphins.

Each year a total of 30 Travellers Choice members are awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze Choice Awards, with winners determined by the level of support they provide the network’s preferred suppliers. As well as dedicated educational trips, recipients enjoy exclusive sales incentives and receive service grants worth up to $1500 per agency, which they can use towards member services.

Agents revealed: find out who is heading to the islands with G Adventures!

The numbers have been tallied, the names have been drawn and the results are in! After four nail-biting and exhilarating months G Adventures has announced the winners heading to the Galapagos as part of their Uber Massive Incentive, UMI in the Islands. G Adventures switched things up this year, giving away 13 (oh no, an unlucky number….we can’t have that!) coveted places on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Galapagos Islands – plus some sweet fortnightly prizes.

Without any further ado, the lucky agents – consisting of both top sellers and random winners from Australia and New Zealand – heading to the Galapagos Islands are (in no particular order of awesomeness):

• Ashley Goldsmith – Global Work and Travel Co.
• Baden Brown – Launceston Travel and Cruise
• Dana Brown – Travel Managers Aus
• Jake Morris – Echuca Travel
• Jamie–Lee West – italktravel Midlands
• Jennifer Voelzke – STA Travel Australia
• Jos Bauk – Summit Travel
• Gerry Tillson – STA Travel Australia
• Kayla Kelly – STA Travel NZ
• Naomi Zerner – Back Track Adventures
• Rebecca Owen – STA Travel Australia
• Rebecca Riley – Adventure World NZ
• Stephanie Jones – STA Travel Australia
• Surprise*…we have another bonus place to give away to a random prize winner!

Travel agents: you could win the trip of a lifetime for you and three of your favourite people

You spend all your days booking holidays for other people, so now it’s time to take one yourself – even better it’s our shout! Plus, because holidaying alone is just no fun, you can take three friends with you!

Starting today, every booking you make over $2500, before 15 June, will get you an entry into our Mega Friends with Benefits incentive. One lucky winner will take three friends or family members on a free private tour – including flights – to your choice of China, India, Vietnam or Cambodia – valued at up to $12,000! Why not take your kids, or your parents, or your mates – whoever you like!

Plus, for the next eight weeks, there’s a weekly $500 mega experience vouchers to win. Simply make a make a booking valued at over $2,500 before 15 June and you’ll go into the draw to win!

Win the ultimate gift of mega happiness and experience one of our mega destinations for yourself. Sounds like it’s time to prep the squad, pack your bags and take off to Mega Asia!

Flight Centre agents experience the Thailand of yesteryear

A group of Flight Centre agents on a recent Infinity Holidays famil experienced Thailand’s yesteryear with a trip to the island of Ko Yao Noi and the boutique five-star Cape Kudu Hotel.

The group were treated to joy rides in the hotel’s vintage car around the island where they cruised past sleepy fishing villages and rubber tree plantations. After relaxing on the balconies of their rustic but chic designed spacious rooms a private sunset dinner was enjoyed on the beach, where they drank cocktails to endless views of the sunset over Phang Na’s unique limestone karsts.

Time is on your clients’ side at Cape Kudu where they can choose to laze by the infinity pool or to entertain them during the day, the hotel has put together a programme of exciting activities, ranging from snorkelling, kayaking and excursions to other local islands, to private picnics and bird-spotting. Take the opportunity to experience the vibrant culture of the local community with activities such as Batik Painting, visiting local fish farms, and watching local bouts of Muay Thai.