Now that things are beginning to open up on a grander scale, the events and incentives are coming in thicker and faster than our office dog when she gets her midday zoomies.

AFTA’s #MeetYourMP campaign 

The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA)’s #MeetYourMP campaign has continued with 5 meetings held in the past week and 22 meetings locked in place as members share their reality and need for support with federal parliamentarians.

These briefings continue AFTA’s campaign over the past two years to make sure that federal Parliamentarians and decision-makers understand the devastating impact of international travel bans due to COVID and related restrictions on Australia’s travel professionals.

Meetings in the last week have included briefings of Pat Conaghan, Anne Stanley, Gladys Lui, Emma McBride, Kate Thwaites, and Angie Bell.

A total of 22 meetings are locked in with more to come as AFTA continues this important outreach program with the support of AFTA members. 
 
The current asks include the distribution of the outstanding $74 million approved for the sector as part of the $258 million COVID-19 Consumer Travel Support Program.

Rediscover the USA to Win $500

Brand USA is giving Australian agents the opportunity to join – or reengage with – the USA Discovery Program, with the chance to win a cash prize for their efforts!

To be in with a chance of winning either a $500 or $100 gift card, Australian entrants must enter HERE and complete at least one Specialist Badge.

If new to the program, agents must register on the site and must complete the USA Regional badge as a first step, before completing their choice of Specialist Badges.

Agents will receive one entry into the draw for every Specialist Badge completed in the USA Discovery Program between now and Friday 20th May 2022. Each entry will give Aussie agents a place in the draw to possibly win one grand prize of a $500 gift card, or one of five $100 gift card spot prizes (with weekly chances to win).

Wendy Wu Tours announces winners of its Tiger’s Den incentive

Agents had the opportunity to snap up $1,500 worth of marketing funds as part of Wendy Wu Travel’s  Tiger’s Den incentive by submitting marketing campaigns to promote WWT’s destinations – with a focus on international touring in 2023.

The successful agencies were National Seniors Travel, Our Vacation Centre and Helloworld Mackay.

“We were extremely impressed with the innovative ideas from many agents across Australia. We are looking forward to being able to see the results from the three winning marketing submissions,” Paul Dymond, managing director of WWT, commented.

“We know how hard it is for all businesses to find upfront funds in areas such as marketing, so being able to fully fund three small campaigns has been a great start for Wendy Wu Tours to start financially supporting agents to promote our products together.

“Thank you to every agent for the time and effort that was put into their proposal. The ideas submitted were well thought out and will be useful for those businesses to promote their own services as travel enquiries keep growing.”

The tour operator has confirmed that there will be another opportunity to secure marketing funding when the incentive runs again later in the year.

Scenic Luxury Cruises launch nationwide showcases

Travel partners and their clients are invited to join Scenic live at their luxury cruise showcases!

The first showcase was at the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney on 11 March, where guests enjoyed travel insights, unique experiences, mingling, food and drinks, sharing their own travel stories and choosing their next option for travels with Scenic.

Scenic will be hosting the following events:

Melbourne – Hyatt Essendon Fields, Thursday 17 March

Canberra – Hyatt Hotel Canberra, Thursday 24 March

Melbourne – Hotel Chadstone MGallery, Tuesday 29 March

Adelaide – Convention Centre, Thursday 31 March

Newcastle – Merewether Surfhouse, Tuesday 5 April

Brisbane – Convention Centre, Monday 9 May

Perth – Crown Casino, Thursday 26 May

You can RSVP HERE.

New improved PR writing workshop

What do Australia and NZ’s top travel media want in news items and story pitches? What format, tone and style do they prefer? How do they want images? What about follow-up? And how has COVID changed the media landscape?

Learn all this and more in a half-day writing workshop for PRs, marketers, agents and operators that includes feedback from Australia and NZ’s leading travel editors, freelancers and digital content creators (including Traveller, Escape, The Australian, GQ & Vogue).

Taught by award-winning travel writer Rob McFarland, the workshop also includes a valuable toolkit of planning, writing and editing techniques plus a detailed post-course review of a press release or story pitch.

When: Thur 7 April 2022 – 10am to 2pm (AEST)
Where: Online via Zoom
How many: Limited to 12 participants.
How to sign up: See www.robmcfarland.org

Carnival hosts 50th Birthday bash with trade partners 

Taking its birthday festivities global this week, Carnival Cruise Line hosted key trade partners at two intimate events in both Sydney and Brisbane, celebrating 50 years of operation in the US. Over one hundred trade partners and the Carnival trade team celebrated 50 years of fun at Beer DeLuxe King Street Wharf (Sydney) and Southbank Beer Garden (Brisbane), where guests enjoyed signature cocktails, themed cupcakes, key speeches and footage from the brand’s 50th Birthday Sailibration.

Mark Richards, National Sales Manager said, “It’s so great to share this evening with our trade partners who are and always have been instrumental in our success in Australia”.

Carnival Cruise Line looks forward to celebrating 10 years in Australia in October, with more exciting news to come.

Jones & Co to host virtual roadshow

As we continue to navigate through this new world of travel, Jones & Co invites agents to set aside an afternoon between 29-31 March 2022, 3:00 to 8:00 pm to join its virtual roadshow.

Speak directly to DMCs along with new partners including V-Unite (Virtual Suites & Events Platform) and Genesys Email Marketing. Learn more about new products, events, conference facilities and programs, new hotels and tours on offer that will ‘wow’ your clients.

Everyone from Africa to Cuba to the UK will be attending and individual meetings with exhibitors are available each afternoon between 3:00 to 8:00 pm.

Presentations with live Q&A sessions will be held daily between 3:00 to 5:00 pm.

More details HERE.

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Featured image: Carnival Cruise Line team celebrates 50 years (supplied)