Road & Rail Wrap: Avis’ charity auction, Busabout’s Asia deal, TrekAmerica’s new tours + MORE
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This week’s Road & Rail Wrap is much like The Ghan or the Trans-Siberian Highway… in that it’s long.
Avis raises over $15K for charity at ‘Art of Discovery’ auction
Car rental provider Avis has raised over $15,000 at a charity auction for R U OK? and Cure Kids.
The Sydney event saw Avis auction off the artwork from its ‘Art of Discovery’ campaign, heroing creative work from 12 local artists who this year embarked on road trips in Avis rentals across the Tasman to inspire their artwork.
The auctioned pieces included Jacob Spokes’ take on Lightning Ridge in north-western New South Wales, where he retraced his father’s footsteps as a miner, and Rachel Hirabayashi’s trip to Southland, where she was inspired to capture the calmness of the landscape.
Other art featured included work by Australian-based artists Sally Willbanks and Belynda Henry, as well as New Zealand artists Angela Maritz and Kris Waldin.
The highest-selling piece on the night was Lake Pukaki with Aoraki/Mt Cook in the distance by New Zealand artist Holly Zanbergen, selling at $2,700.
Busabout encourages travellers ‘Lose Yourself to Asia’ with new deal
Busabout is offering 10 per cent off 2020 Asia trips when booked and paid for in full by 18 December 2019.
Travellers can save on some of Busabout’s most popular and newest Asia adventures, including the ‘Ultimate Vietnam Adventure’ (17 days starting from $1943 per person) and the ‘Cambodia Adventure’ (eight days starting from $962 per person).
The ‘Lose Yourself to Asia’ deal is on sale now until 18 December 2019 for departures between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021 (excluding Halong Bay). The promo code is ‘ASIAEB’.
TrekAmerica unveils new tours for 2020
Small-group youth road trip specialist TrekAmerica has announced a treat of new adventures for 2020.
Trekkers will be able to get their spooky on during a Halloween-themed tour of the Deep South, island-hop around Hawaii, camp and cook-out in Texas, and drive along the legendary Pacific Coast Highway.
Bookings until 4 November will receive up to 15 per cent off tours departing before 31 March 2020, while tours departing between 1 April and 30 September 2020 will receive 10 per cent off.
To add an extra sweetener for those travelling during the North American summer period, Trek have halved the deposit, meaning your clients only need to front-up NZD$90 to secure their place.
For more info and/or to book, email sales@trekamerica.com.au or call 1300 157 153.
Nomadic Knights announces new southern India motorbike tour
Adventure seekers and motorbike enthusiasts can see the origins of the iconic Royal Enfield motorbike before taking the company’s 500cc Bullets on a brand new 14-day ride through south India to the golden beaches of Goa on Nomadic Knights’ ‘Bullets to Beaches’ tour in 2020.
For a limited time, Nomadic Knights is offering a US$500 discount on its new 14-night ‘Bullets to Beaches’ ride, beginning on 31 October 2020 in Chennai, India. The discount is available for bookings made before 30 November 2019. The promo code to use when booking is ‘BTB500’.
Railway Adventures takes inaugural Capertree Valley Explorer private journey to Mudgee
Taking a privately-chartered heritage train to NSW wineries, museums and a secret mountain retreat has proved a huge success for Australia’s exclusive rail-themed tour operator, Railway Adventures.
Hosted by owner Scott McGregor, 90 guests enjoyed the rare opportunity to journey through the Blue Mountains and Capertee Valley on the privately chartered retro-restored train Capertee Valley Explorer (also known as The Blue Zephyr) from Sydney to Mudgee during the October long weekend.
The classic train, complete with dining, lounge and sitting cars, transported guests to the heritage town of Rylstone and onto Mudgee for a food and wine extravaganza, culminating with a sunset soiree at McGregor’s private rail-themed retreat, Ruwenzori, on top of the Great Dividing Range.
Utracks offers opportunity to meet Camino expert and author John Brierley
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John Brierley
Are your clients considering a Camino experience next year and want advice and tips?
UTracks has announced an evening of inspiration and reflection on Wednesday 23 October with universally respected Camino expert and author John Brierley as keynote speaker.
Brierley will discuss the many Camino routes that exist across Europe and how pilgrims can spread economic and environmental impacts by exploring less well-known paths.
He will also explore how taking time out from everyone’s normal lives to walk a Camino leads to self-discovery and reflection.
UTracks Camino expert Jaclyn Lofts will also be on hand to present a wide range of Camino trails on offer for walking and cycling, including new trips such as Sicily’s Magna Via Francigena and Spain’s Camino Sanabrés and the Lighthouse Way.
Interested attendees must register to attend and can do so here.
Taxi service in Mackay region boosted through new partnership
Taxi company 13cabs has teamed up with Mackay Whitsundays Taxis in order to deliver a better-resourced and service-focused offering for the people of Mackay and The Whitsundays in Queensland.
Mackay Whitsundays Taxis’ new partnership with 13cabs will see all local taxis enhanced with distinctive 13cabs branding, along with a dedicated 24/7 contact centre and a way to book, track and pay for their next cab ride via the 13cabs app.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
13cabs avis busabout Mackay Whitsundays Taxis Nomadic Knights Railway Adventures trekamerica UTracksLatest News
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Low-cost Indian carrier SpiceJet continues to burn cash
It’s not just low-cost Australian carriers that are facing hardship. SpiceJet, India’s version of Bonza, recently announced a 72 per cent reduction in its net loss versus last year. But, despite this improvement, the airline has posted losses for six straight years. But it has secured board approval to raise up to INR 30 billion […]
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SAKA Museum recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024
AYANA Resort Bali’s newly-opened cultural and events centre, SAKA Museum has been recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list for 2024. Part of AYANA Bali’s resort destination, the museum integrates Bali’s rich history with state-of-the-art facilities, making it the centrepiece for the island’s spiritual and cultural heritage. TIME magazine’s inclusion of SAKA Museum in […]
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Journey Beyond launches first brand-led campaign during Paris Olympics
Journey Beyond is pushing the boundaries. On The Ghan, you can't even see them!
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Ascott Australia partners with Hotels for Trees
Hoteliers can take a 'Lyf' out of this book and improve their green credentials.
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Victoria’s TAC Top Tourism Town Award winners for 2024
Keep looking in our own backyard. There are plenty of places to go.
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Uniworld partners with Camilla Franks with Egyptian-inspired collection
We are in de-Nile about making puns combining Crocs and leopard prints, given this luxe partnership.
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Aussies at Paris Olympics anxious about travel risks, with incidents already recorded
Fortunately one of our biggest gold medal hopes still held onto his pedals.
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Banyan Tree Seaview Villas elevates Laguna Lang Co
If you've ever played golf in the tropics, start early. LIke way early. It's hot! Damn hot.
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Silversea taps Barbara Biffi as senior vice president for global sales
Ultra-luxury and expedition cruise travel brand, Silverseas, has announced Barbara Biffi as its new senior vice president of global sales. Biffi joined the company in 2007, holding numerous positions and gaining a deep understanding of the brand, the preferences of its guests and its strategic goals, the company said. An Italian national with a wealth […]
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Wendy Wu unveils new Japan travel brochure and itineraries
Get outta town! Off-beat Japan will be a lot less congested we figure than the usual tourist hotspots.
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UK and Europe event organisers look to venues with sustainability integrity, ICC Sydney survey finds
Here in Sydney, you can even eat the table centrepieces. Although we advise they be cooked first.
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Renos Rologas new general manager ANZ for FCM Travel
Two decades in the travel game! Let's hope Renos is in for the long haul at FCM.
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Untamed Escapes to offer Cultural Day Tour from Port Lincoln in partnership with Maba Idi
International visitors travel thousands of kilometres for this experience. Time to share.
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Luxe Finish Line Penthouses offer the best vantage point for the finish of the Sydney-Hobart
Long have we been following the yachts leavings Sydney Harbour and one day, we will see the finish, from this place!
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In a busy world, proximity to nature is the new luxury
Forget Raffles, treat your nearest and dearest to a stay at the local campsite. They'll be super close to nature.
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Circular Quay welcomes new Korean dining experience to Sydney Place
We once took Korean-American chef David Chang around Koreatown, Eastwood. Not happy about driving rain, loved the food.
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MSC Cruises unveils a new outdoor kid-friendly attraction on World America
Drop your kid down the jaws of a shark and they come out 11 decks below. Sounds good to me.
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Amadeus welcomes FCM Travel as new reseller partner of Cytric Easy
Cytric Easy, the travel management tool embedded in Microsoft Teams, is to be integrated into FCM Travel portfolio. Amadeus and FCM Travel have extended their Cytric distribution agreement to include Cytric Easy. With this new agreement, global travel management company FCM Travel, becomes a reseller of the innovative travel management collaboration solution embedded into Microsoft […]
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Australian travellers abandon peer-to-peer stays and gravitate back to big hotels, survey finds
Doom scrolling Airbnb for the best-possible stay options two days out from departure was wearing us down, apparently.
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Quark Expeditions launches the Ultimate Summer in the Arctic sweepstakes for travel advisors
Summer in the Arctic still means it's freezing. But hopefully a winning sweepstakes tickets will warm your cockles.
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‘I bet it smells weird’ – Internet divided over floating restaurant in China
I you are still feeling peckish at the end of your meal, their fish tank is full. But can you eat koi?
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‘Turn up in the Northern Territory this Spring’ campaign deals
Agents and airlines get all hot and sweaty over these enticing deals. Or did someone just turn the air-conditioning up?
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‘Like nothing on earth’: Saudi Arabia’s new Treyam resort set in a Star Wars-style landscape
As long as Jar Jar Binks is not there, we would like a seat at the Mos Eisley Cantina please.
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Raffles Hotels and Resorts is set to open in Tokyo in 2028
Time to get your vision boards at the ready! Raffles is landing in Tokyo!
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‘A true honour’ – Andrew Stark wins Flight Centre Director’s Award for the second time
Congratulations Andrew! If you're a fan of British reality TV you might notice a familiar face.
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Club Med debuts travel agent portal 2.0 with bonus prize for tops sales
See those people by the pool. That could be you. Start selling through the portal people!
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Envoyage announces 2024 Australian Icons and rewards event in the Maldives
We were going to edit our name into the list but we chickened out.
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HIF Global signs collaboration agreement with Airbus on eFuels
We know it's a good thing but can a jet fuel geek out there send in a diagram explaining this please.
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Crystal announces release dates for 2026 itineraries
If you have started collecting 2026 itineraries then here is another one for you.
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Cairns Airport unveils display of support for FNQ youth
If you were craving some winter sun now you have a cultural reason for booking a flight to Cairns.
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Viking announces six new cruise itineraries
Now's the time to start learning Putonghua, Nihongo and Lhasa. Or maybe even know where these are spoken.
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Join Qatar Airways, Celebrity Cruises & Klook – Showcase Your Brand at Click Frenzy Travel August 2024!
Clicking calmly will also be welcome when it comes to this particular deal. Click calmly here to find out more.
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InsideAsia Tours launches new incentive that doubles agent commission
Double commission! We like the sound of that. Hope their system doesn't crash as a result.
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Push to revive Parramatta’s iconic Roxy Theatre into entertainment destination
Long have we wished for this iconic heritage cinema to be revived as a tourist destination. Still waiting.
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Qatar Airways signs an expansion to Boeing 777-9 aircraft order
Known as a quiet rural town in England, the entire global aviation industry now has its eyes on Farnborough.
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Flight Centre shares down following revised profit guidance
The stock market moves fast. What will the rest of the week hold for Flight Centre?