Incentives & events: CATO launches trivia event, Win a trip to Seattle and Alaska, agent famils return + MORE!

Incentives & events: CATO launches trivia event, Win a trip to Seattle and Alaska, agent famils return + MORE!

Love scoring free stuff, attending travel events and seeing who’s been out and about? Get your fix of industry gossip and freebies right here.

Travel DAZE kicks off next week!

The countdown is on! Trave DAZE is less than one week away and we can’t wait to host you for a blockbuster day (and show off our spectacular line-up!).

Travel DAZE is Travel Weekly’s home-grown remedy for the biggest challenges facing travel, bringing together great minds from across the globe to share ideas and challenge the status quo.

Learn aboutthe health benefits of travelling from Australia’s favourite clever person Dr Karl, discover the importance of meaningful travel with Bruce Poon-Tip, learn how to spot ‘greenwashing’ with B Corp’s Mindy Leow plus LOADS more.

As the travel reboot steps up a gear, the importance of coming together and learning how we can make the future of travel sustainable is more important than ever.

Join us on 9 June 2022 at the iconic Palace Chauvel Cinema and together, we can rebuild better and stronger than ever.

To find out more, and get your ticket, go HERE.

Creative Cruising launches Royal Incentives

To celebrate Royal Caribbean’s return to our shores this October, Creative Cruising has launched some travel advisor incentives.

Throughout June, travel advisors who book a 2022 Quantum of the Seas local sailing will receive an extra $100 BONUS commission per booking (excludes transpacific sailings). The upfront Bonus commission will be paid as an egift card directly to the Travel Advisor.

PLUS Travel Advisors who book and deposit any Royal Caribbean sailings between 1 to 30 June, 2022, will go in for the chance to WIN a holiday on board Quantum of the Seas later this year.

For a limited time, your clients can take advantage of up to 40 per cent off every guest and half-price deposits. For more information, go HERE.

Tourism Fiji is back on the road

Tourism Fiji brought the Bula spirit back to Australia with their first trade roadshow held in two years.

From 24-26 May, the Tourism Fiji team and 20 Fijian suppliers stopped off in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to update and inspire over 200 agents and remind them that Fiji is open for happiness.

Over speed-dating style presentations, supplier showcased their products, telling agents of their news and updates since the reopening on 1 December 2021.

One agent from each city took home a lucky door prize on the night.

ATTN cruise agents: win a trip to Seattle and Alaska!

In celebration of the return to cruising, the Port of Seattle in partnership with Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and Norwegian Cruise Line, are offering CLIA Australian and New Zealand member agents the chance to win a trip of a lifetime to the Pacific Northwest.

Member agents who complete the 30-minute training module between now and 2 September 2022, will automatically go into the draw to win the grand prize of a trip to Seattle as well as a seven-night cruise to Alaska on board Norwegian Cruise Line.

In addition to the grand prize, six bonus fortnightly prize draws of a $50 Visa gift card will also be given away by the Port of Seattle.

The first bonus draw will take place on Friday, 10 June 2022, whilst the grand prize winner will be announced in the CLIA member newsletter on Wednesday, 7 September 2022.

To register for the CLIA agent training and complete the Port of Seattle training module, go HERE.

Agents return to Hawaii for fam trip

Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania recently hosted a joint trade fam trip with Outrigger Hotels & Resorts and Hawaiian Airlines relaunching the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort after a major $80 million transformation.

During the duration of the visit to O‘ahu (22 – 27 April), attendees completed site inspection tours at all Outrigger properties enjoying the aloha hospitality and attended a relaunch event at Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort on April 25 showcasing the beautiful property with newly renovated guestrooms and enjoying local produce from across the islands.

They also had an opportunity to experience unique places and diverse activities such as visiting Kualoa Ranch Private Nature Reserve where they participated in the Malama experience, visiting Iolani Palace to learn some important pieces of Hawaii’s history, visiting Pearl Harbor and exploring world-class cuisine in downtown Honolulu.

CATO launches travel trivia masters 

The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) has today announced the launch of a new event – the inaugural CATO Travel Trivia Masters, set to take place at the Hyatt Regency Sydney on Thursday 4 August 2022.

As the peak industry body representing the land-supply sector, CATO is keen to re-engage industry-wide relationships through this inaugural event on the travel industry calendar.

In the true spirit of collaboration, CATO is inviting retail travel agents, CATO members and other travel industry partners to come along, have some fun and rekindle the social and spirit of our industry, and the camaraderie we all enjoy at this inaugural event.

The event will be themed around your favourite ‘culture or country’, with prizes for the winning team and ‘best-dressed’ as well.

Attendees are encouraged to enter their own team of 8 for the trivia night, which will include a two-course sit-down dinner and drinks.

To register for this event please click HERE.

Austrian Tourism gathering in the name of Future Tourism

Pictured from left to right: Lynda Schmitt (APT), Priscilla Aster (Bunnik Tours), Peter Needham (Journalist), Astrid Gruchmann-Licht (Director ANTO Australia), Ankica Banic (Intrepid), Frank Cheshire (Intrepid)

Under the motto ReDesign Tourism Now more than 1,200 national and international participants gathered in Vienna to take part in the three-day event which not only sent a strong “Welcome Back” message from Austria as a tourism destination but also discussed the future of the industry.

From 16-19 May the Austria Centre Vienna was the venue for one of the first post-pandemic international tourism conferences of this scale worldwide.

At the ATB trade fair 390 international buyers and trade journalists from 45 countries, including five from Australia, met 260 local exhibitors to discuss new product ideas.

In 27 keynotes at the e-Campus, 44 national and international speakers put a spotlight on future-oriented, sustainable strategies for tourism discussing Austria’s perspectives as a green tourism destination, the recovery of city tourism, solutions for data pooling and future mobility concepts.

The Convention Campus, together with the Austrian Convention Bureau (ACB) was dedicated to the recovery and future of the conference industry in Austria.

Viking announces dates for 2022 info sessions 

Viking has announced the dates for their first round of 2022 information sessions in Sydney on Wednesday, 22 June and Brisbane on 7 July 2022.

The complimentary Viking Explorer Sessions are the perfect opportunity for agents and their clients to learn about Viking’s showcase of river, ocean and expedition voyages.

With seven information sessions to choose from, each covering an extraordinary Viking experience, guests will have the opportunity to interact with like-minded guests and ask questions specific to their situation.

Locations include:

  • Sydney – Wednesday 22 June 2022, The Hilton Sydney
  • Brisbane – Tuesday 18 May 2021, Emporium Hotel

Session times:

TIMEROOM 1ROOM 2
10.00am – 11.00amRiver CruisingWhat’s new in the world of Viking
11.30am – 12.30pmOcean CruisingExpedition Cruising
1.00pm – 2.00pmRiver CruisingOcean Cruising
6.30pm – 7.30 pmOcean and Expedition Cruising

Places are limited and will book out fast, so RSVP is essential.

Agents can register themselves and their clients online HERE

Snag a Coles Myer voucher with every Designer Journeys booking!

Simply deposit a booking before 30 June 2022 and you will instantly receive a $10 Coles Myer voucher for every $500 in booking value.

For example, on a booking to the value of $2000, you will receive a $40 Coles Myer voucher from Designer Journeys!

Not only do you instantly win a voucher for every booking deposited, but you also go in the draw to win one of three $2,500 Designer Journeys vouchers for your very own trip!

For more information on the incentive, click HERE.

Australian and New Zealand travel trade wandered out west

Golden Outback Kangaroos

Over 30 travel trade partners from Australia and New Zealand were welcomed back to Western Australia as participants in Tourism Western Australia’s ‘Wander Out West Mega Famil’ between 3-8 May 2022.

Everyone began their adventure at a welcome event in Perth where their secret famil locations and itineraries were revealed.

Participants were assigned to one of 6 teams who explored Western Australia’s five vastly different regions, Australia’s North West; Australia’s South West; Australia’s Golden Outback; Australia’s Coral Coast and Destination Perth.

With team names such as Kimberley Camels, South West Carnabys, Golden Outback Kangaroos, Coral Coast Whale Sharks, Perth Dolphins and Perth Quokkas, teams set off around the State the following morning for a 4 day/ 3-night itinerary where participants engaged with more than 50 operators and suppliers.

Throughout the famils, facilitators from Corporate Challenge Events arranged team challenges and activities including WA based quizzes, beach games, Street Scrabble and a “pitch” on the final night to everyone why their regional was the best!

On the final night, all six teams reconvened back in Perth for an exquisite closing event, where the Coral Coast Whale Sharks were crowned the winning team and Anthony Mace, Flight Centre’s contracting manger, was crowned the ultimate West Aussie All-Star.

Avalon Waterways launch trade incentive, book three passengers and cruise for free!

Avalon Waterways has launched a two-month trade booking incentive for agents and selling consultants to win big throughout June and July.

For agents who book and deposit three Avalon passengers between 1 June – 29 July 2022, Avalon Waterways is offering a free Suite Rewards cruise for 2022. The incentive applies to new bookings only and excludes groups and charters.

As part of Avalon Waterways Suite Rewards programme, one travel companion sharing the cabin can also access and pay a discounted Suite Rewards rate to join the winning agent abroad!

Virtuoso’s Australia and NZ forum signals optimism in 2022

Virtuoso Forum’s regional member advisory board members

Global luxury travel network Virtuoso held its annual Australia & New Zealand Forum on May 9 and 10 in Adelaide, Australia.

The event brought together 150 attendees, including owners and managers from Virtuoso’s travel agency members in Australia and New Zealand, as well as preferred partners, for in-person networking and professional development.

The 2022 Forum opened with a moving performance by Australian singer/songwriter Bonny Twigg and Virtuoso’s Chairman and CEO Matthew Upchurch outlined the key activities and opportunities that exist within the Virtuoso ecosystem.

“In a world of commoditisation pressures, what enables us to succeed is combining the power of emotional intelligence and digital intelligence. We all work in service of the traveller, and the foundation we’ve built together enhances the connections we have with travellers, with our agencies and advisors, and with external partners that can add value to this ecosystem,” said Upchurch.

Virtuoso’s Australia-New Zealand Forum is the last in a lineup of global Forums that included the US and Canada on January 26-28; Asia, held virtually on February 22; Europe, Middle East and Africa, held on March 29-30 in London; Latin America, Caribbean and Brazil, held on April 25-28 in Cartagena; and Canada, held on April 28 in Toronto.

MTA advisors prove 13 is lucky 

Pictured left to right: Cathy Lenehan, Jenny Lonergan and Jenny Pursehouse of MTA Mobile Travel Agents.

Number thirteen is lucky for some and definitely proved to be lucky for three MTA Mobile Travel Agents who attended the Virtuoso on Tour event at the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour.

Seated at table thirteen, all three were fortunate to win amazing prizes from Virtuoso partners – Cathy Lenehan won a stay at the Shangri-La Singapore, Jenny Lonergan – a stay at The Royal Hawaiian and Jenny Pursehouse – a stay at The Reef House Palm Cove.

“We were thrilled,” said Pursehouse.

“It was such an informative evening with plenty of opportunities for networking and to come away with a prize was fantastic.”

PONANT’s business development team demonstrates commitment to Australian travel industry at national conferences

Since welcoming the resumption of cruising in April 2022, PONANT’s newly restructured Asia Pacific business development team have been making an impact on the Australian travel industry through a variety of dedicated partnership opportunities.

As major sponsors of Helloworld Travel Owner Manager Conference on the Gold Coast and the Virtuoso Symposium in Adelaide, PONANT conducted personal business planning sessions with over 500 travel professionals.

In addition, PONANT announced 12 exceptional giveaways, presenting 10x $2,000 marketing funds to invest in advertising and procuring incremental sales to trade partners, as well as awarding prizes of two complimentary luxury staterooms onboard the newly renovated Le Ponant for departures in Seychelles in 2022 and the Kimberley in 2023 for two lucky managers.

PONANT’s announcement of new sailings in the Kimberley onboard Le Ponant for 2023 was met with a round of applause at both conferences.

Travel Associates spend a fabulous week in Mykonos

Pictured: Elia Beach at the Panopsis Escape L-RnCraig Farrell (La Collection), Louis Teng, Jenni Davis, Ashley Cutting, Becky Kent-Perchalla, Alan Reis (Travel Associates).

Five Travel Associates leaders enjoyed a fabulous week on Mykonos on behalf of Myconian Collection, the family-owned luxury hospitality group represented by Lea Seguier & Craig Farrell’s ‘La Collection’ in Australia and New Zealand.

A tantalising taste of Asia for Melbourne PTMs

Pictured: L-R Kellie Browning, Carolyn Pitt, Huyen Thanh (director Vietnam Travel & Cruise), Melanie Carter, Tanya Patterson, Kate Bevan, Debbie Tripp, Nicole Edgar, Justin Smythe (NSW business development manager Vietnam Travel & Cruise), KJ Slater (business development manager Travel Sapphire), Despina Madden, Sharon Wright, Sandii Pink, Theresa Kwong, Jessica Krammer, Karen Doyle, Lyn Watkins and Allen Suss.

A mouth-watering Vietnamese banquet dinner at Melbourne’s Tran Tran restaurant provided an inspiring finale to a product training session organised by TravelManagers in conjunction with Vietnam Travel & Cruise and Travel Sapphire last week.

Thirteen Victoria-based personal travel managers (PTMs) and two Business Partnership Managers (BPMs) attended the event, eager to refresh their knowledge of the various south and south-east Asian destinations represented, as demand for holiday travel in these regions continues to accelerate post-COVID.


Featured image: agents at Kualaoa Ranch, Malama, during Hawaii fam trip

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