Happy hump day travel agents! Half way through the week and the weekend is in sight. We have helped by wrapping up all the updates from the wholesalers this week. Enjoy !

World Journeys new small group options

Buried Roman cities, teetering coastal villages, Venetian palaces, awe-inspiring art and sun-kissed beaches – World Journeys are hosting a new small group “Best of the Med” journey 31 Aug 2017.

Dress code: kilts.  World Journeys say fine dining aboard the Belmond Royal Scotsman train aptly encourages men to wear kilts.  Dine on local produce, wild salmon, and the very best single malts.

Intrepid Travel Unplugs with New Digital Detox Tours

Intrepid Travel has launched a new range of Digital Detox tours that focus on giving travellers the opportunity to disconnect from their devices and connect with the world.

The four new tours will be completely free from technology including mobile phones, laptops, iPads and cameras.  The trips last between 7 to 10 days and will run in four of Intrepid’s most popular destinations; Thailand, Morocco, India and Ecuador.

The trips were designed after feedback from leaders and travellers suggested people are able to develop stronger connections when they unplug and are completely present in a destination.

Inspired by those results, Intrepid Travel conducted its own research in with OnePoll to survey 1,500 Americans on their mobile phone use while travelling. The results show that 38 per cent of people have missed out on a life moment because they were too busy with their cell phones, with 31 per cent admitting to being more concerned with capturing the perfect photo for social media than actually experiencing the moment.

Before departing on the Digital Detox trip, travellers will be asked to sign a pledge committing to the Digital Detox challenge, which includes a full week without Internet, cell-phones, laptops and cameras. In turn, participants will be rewarded with a connection they could never find through Wi-Fi. The trips themselves focus on local interaction and include activities such as homestays and hilltribe visits.

Scenic launches new campaign – The Difference is Scenic

Scenic’s new 2017 Europe River Cruising campaign – The Difference is Scenic, will commence this Sunday (15 May) with the launch of a new 90 second TVC shot in Europe on board the recently launched next-generation Space-Ship, Scenic Amber.

Continuing on from last year’s campaign entitled Wonders Never Cease, which coincided with the brand relaunch, the new TVC gives a clear insight into what differentiates Scenic from its competitors in the luxury river cruise market. Cleverly shot from the point of view (POV) of a Scenic guest on board, it brings to life their Scenic river cruising experience.

The campaign aim is to address what makes Scenic different, and highlights the many premium inclusions Scenic guests can enjoy throughout their cruise with the luxury award-winning travel operator, including top shelf beverages, butler service, exclusive Scenic Enrich experiences and extensive onshore activities.

Tasmanian Walking Company takes a Walk on the Wild Side

The Tasmanian Walking Company (TWC), the largest operator of multi-day walks in Australia, has been awarded the contract to design, build and operate new eco lodges in conjunction with a 46km private walk on the spectacular Three Capes Track in southern Tasmania.

This will make them the only commercial operator entrusted with providing private accommodation and guided walking experiences in the Tasman National Park.

This eagerly awaited announcement was made by Matthew Groom, State Minister for Energy, Environment, Parks and Heritage in conjunction with the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service (TPWS).

The win followed a lengthy tender and due diligence process.  Now known as the Tasmanian Walking Company, the business has more than 25 years environmental experience including amongst its portfolio the Cradle Mountain Huts Walk and award-winning Bay of Fires Lodge Walk in northern Tasmania and Wineglass Bay Sail Walk out of Hobart.  These outstanding credentials perfectly positioned the company to take on this exciting new venture.

For Tasmanian Walking Company owners and Virgin Australia co-founders, Brett Godfrey and Rob Sherrard, this will be their seventh material investment in the burgeoning Tasmanian tourism sector in the past five years. Godfrey commented “We are honoured to have been entrusted with this amazing opportunity to provide access to such a spectacular part of Australia.  We have already completed extensive planning to get to this stage and we are now excited to bring this to reality.”

Contiki makes travelling Europe in winter hot

Youth travel leader, Contiki (www.contiki.com) has launched its 2016-17 Winter Europe program with an expanded offering in Europe’s cool season following hot demand from the Australian 18-35 year old market.

Katrina Barry, Managing Director, Contiki said “For a long time, many young Australian travellers only associated travelling Europe in winter with snow, freezing cold temperatures and predominantly skiing and snowboarding trips. At Contiki we’ve been working to challenge these commonly held perceptions to showcase the diverse reality – the benefit of quieter cities and sights, incredible festivals and in some regions, beautiful winter sun. This has really been gaining momentum, resulting in a strong upturn in demand.

“To showcase the variety of experiences on offer in Europe in winter in a fun and irreverent way, we’ve developed a dedicated video series following the adventures of ‘Sexy Winter Man’. Rather than hibernate during winter, Sexy Winter Man prefers to hibernate in preparation of winter to help would-be winter adventurers understand the breadth of options available in Europe. We’ll be running the video series across www.contiki.com and our social channels. We believe they will not only make our millennial audience laugh, but really change their mindset about winter travel.