Road & Rail Wrap: DriveAway’s new call centre, Amtrak Vacations sale + MORE!
![Road & Rail Wrap: DriveAway’s new call centre, Amtrak Vacations sale + MORE!](https://www.travelweekly.com.au/wp-content/themes/bandtv1/img/default.png)
Yes, it’s our weekly dose of news covering all things on the railway tracks and on the road. We’ve even gone off-road for this wrap!
DriveAway opens second call centre
Self-drive specialist DriveAway recently opened an additional office to adhere to business growth and to better service its travel agent partners.
Led by reservations manager Deborah Stark, the new Gold Coast office has been in operation since October 2019 and serves as an enquiries hub, currently with 11 reservations sales agents, and is soon to acquire a team of approximately 20 to 25 staff members by the end of June 2020.
Amtrak Vacations launches ‘Upgrade and Save Sale’
Amtrak Vacations, Amtrak’s national tour operator and the leading supplier of rail vacations in North America, has announced its Upgrade and Save Sale.
For a limited time, when couples upgrade to a private bedroom on the train, they will save $300, and when they upgrade to a private roomette accommodation, they will save $200.
This special offer is valid for booking through to Friday 28 February. For more information on the sale, visit the Amtrak Vacations website.
International Transfer bookings jump 81 per cent
International Rail has revealed that retail bookings for its global booking system, International Transfer, rose a massive 81 per cent in 2019, which was equivalent to over 8,500 bookings on its partner booking platform, Mozio.
International Transfer’s global successful pick-up rate for 2019 was 98.5 per cent, with the highest successful pick-up rates being for its business-class private vehicle category, and the lowest for economy-type vehicles such as mini cabs.
The international airports of Rome, London and Paris came in as the three most popular for airport transfers for the booking system, with the most successful pick-up rates for those transfers that included a meet-and-greet service.
Ola introduces new safety feature
Ridesharing platform Ola has unveiled a new safety feature, Start Code, to ensure users never get in the wrong car.
Once a user has booked their ride, a four-digit code will appear above their ride details. All they need to do is share this code with their driver to start their ride.
Grand American Adventures offers 25 per cent discount
North American small-group specialist Grand American Adventures (GAA) is offering 25 per cent off departures (excluding third-party trips) through to 30 September 2020.
Whether your clients are looking to explore the national parks of the western states, the Rocky Mountains of Canada, the big cities of the east or the incredible music in the south, GAA offers more than 50 itineraries across the US and Canada.
The offer is available until 3 March 2020. GAA brochures are available to order at TIFS, or agents can call its Melbourne-based team for more details on 1300 030 714.
World Expeditions offers savings of up to $400 per person
Adventure travel specialist World Expeditions is offering savings of up to $400 on a range of its international trekking adventures.
Book a 100 per cent carbon offset adventure before 14 March and help your clients take advantage of the Mountain Lovers’ Sale. Visit the World Expeditions website or call 1300 720 000 for more info.
Mary Moody to accompany UTracks’ food-lovers experience in France
UTracks has announced that Aussie author Mary Moody will be accompanying its ‘Food Lovers Way of St James’ guided walk in France, departing in May and September 2020.
Each departure is restricted in number to ensure an immersive experience. Interested travellers should act quickly, as the May 2020 departure is almost full. The 12-day guided walk is priced from $6,790 per person (twin share).
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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?