Holy smokes, it’s almost Friday!

What wonders a short week does for the workplace productivity levels.

Well, in case you’re lagging, we’ve done the rounds and dished up the dirt from the travel industry. Here’s to another weekend very soon!

Agent celebrates 90 on Norfolk

Norfolk Select’s David Bantoft recently celebrated his 90th visit to Norfolk Island by taking nine Travellers Choice members on an exclusive tour featuring some of the island’s top restaurant and wineries.

Highlights of the tour included dining at Norfolk Blue and Dino’s, a murder mystery themed eventing, and a visit to the boutique Two Chimneys Winery, which the group reached at the end of an entertaining car rally.

Bantoft, who founded Norfolk Select in 2000 with his wife Kylie, also took the agents on a breakfast bush walk, a Pinetree Tours ‘Progressive Dinner’ of Norfolk Island homes, and a tour of the new Discovery Centre in Norfolk Island’s Botanical Gardens.

What’s new at Wendy Wu?

Wendy Wu Tours has launched its most comprehensive and largest China program yet for 2016 with the introduction of four styles of touring which includes seven new tour itineraries, and a greater selection of private tours and independent travel options, allowing customers to see China in every possible way.

The freshly re-designed China brochure, includes the new ‘Discovery  Tours’ which have been introduced  to offer an experiential program with up close and personal cultural experiences in lesser visited locations with intimate groups of up to 18 people. There are five new packages ranging from 11 days to 28 days in duration.

Wendy Wu Tours has also launched its most comprehensive program to date for 2016 including the introduction of a new destination to the India brochure the Maldives and to celebrate are offering a fantastic incentive for agents to win a five night package to the Maldives.

To be in the running agents must make a booking on one of Wendy Wu Tours 2016 Classic, Discovery or Deluxe tours before October 31 and answer in 25 words or less: Outside of the Maldives, what is your favourite NEW Wendy Wu tour/product and why?

Entries can be emailed to maldivesexperience@wendywutours.com.au. Please be sure to include your booking number and passenger’s name to qualify.

APT rewards the best

APT recently treated a group of its most successful travel agents to an all-inclusive 12-day Douro Delights luxury river cruise and tour from Portugal to Spain.

The APT International Top Achievers trip for 2015 saw the group enjoy three glorious nights in Lisbon before setting sail along the Douro River from Porto to Madrid aboard the company’s luxury vessel, MS AmaVida.

The group spent 12 days experiencing for themselves APT’s all inclusive itinerary which offers the contrast of two vibrant cities in two very different countries, against the backdrop of Portugal’s Douro river, one of the most picturesque regions of western Europe.

Helloworld gets scholarly

Helloworld is excited to announce 60 agents have jumped on board the inaugural cruise training program hello ScholarSHIP.

With Australia being the fastest growing cruise market in the world, helloworld has joined forces with CLIA for hello ScholarSHIP to support agents new to cruise and further entrench helloworld as experts in everywhere.

The six month program will allow participants to gain a unique insight into, and firsthand knowledge of, the world of cruising and aims to assist agents in boosting their knowledge and expertise with cruise sales.

The 60 participants will gain invaluable experiences in all aspects of cruising including tailored modules, ship inspections, seminars at sea, business development meetings with cruise line executives, webinars from helloworld’s Head Office and valuable tools to enable them to excel at cruise sales.

Topdeck 20% Aussie discount

It has never been a better time to book an Aussie adventure, thanks to Topdeck Travel offering a 20% discount on all its down-under trips this October. From the wide opened plains to the crystal clear waters and hinterland vineyards, young explorers can get a taste of the Australian landscape.

Bucket list items include sailing in the Whitsunday Islands, seeing the sunrise and sunset over Uluru, taking an alligator river cruise in Kakadu and wine tasting in the Hunter Valley.

A must do trip is Topdeck’s 22-day Spirit of Pacific trip which will have Topdeckers travelling up the east coast of Australia. To book your adventure check out www.topdeck.travel.

Globus goes golfing

The Globus Family of Brands this week hosted some of the golfing greats of the Australian travel industry, with more than 100 players taking to the greens at Sydney’s Pymble Golf Club for the annual Globus Golf Day.

The event involved 29 teams in a hotly contested Elimination Ambrose competition, with players including Avalon Waterways Brand Ambassador Deborah Hutton and Globus Family of Brands Managing Director of Australasia Stewart Williams, as well as industry leaders and travel agents from around the country.

The winning team included Matthew Hickey of Helloworld Katoomba, Tim Poulter of Your Workshops, Chris Fundell, the Globus Family of Brands National Marketing Manager and Jon Bromhead, a guest of Helloworld Katoomba.

Photograph (from left): Peter Williams, Phil Hoffman Travel; Phil Hoffman, Phil Hoffman Travel; Deborah Hutton, Avalon Waterways Ambassador; and Stewart Williams, Globus Family of Brands Managing Director of Australasia.

Win an Apple Watch or $10k with Insight!

Insight Vacations launched its all-new Luxury Gold collection last month and is celebrating by offering agents the incredible opportunity to win their choice of an 18-carat Apple Watch, $10,000 in cash and one of eight Luxury Gold France tours in 2016.

The top seller of Insight’s 2016 Luxury Gold journeys will have the choice between a coveted Gold Apple Watch or $10,000 in cash. Plus, the top eight sellers will each earn a Luxury Gold trip to France. The booking window for agents to potentially win these great prizes is now until 31 May, 2016. The grand prize and runner up winners will be determined by highest total guests booked on journeys featured in the 2016 Luxury Gold brochure.

As an additional bonus, Insight Vacations is also offering travel agents $100 for every single Luxury Gold journey that they sell. This offer is available on every booking made until 31 October, 2015.

Victorian Tourism makes friends

Politicians and industry heavyweights mingled last night at Parliament House in Melbourne to celebrate the Victorian Friends of Tourism.

Pictured L to R: Trevor Jones – Director, Magellan Travel Group; Brooke – Flight attendant, Virgin Australia; John Borghetti – CEO, Virgin Australia; Kevin Dale – Director, Magellan Travel Group.

Getaway goes to Japan

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) Sydney Office was proud to support a recent trip to Japan by Nine Network’s Getaway.

The first of the Japan stories will air on Nine Network at 5.30pm on Saturday October 10^th and Saturday November 21^st. The remaining stories will air in 2016 on dates to be announced.

It was presenter Jesinta Campbell’s first trip to Japan and the country “really turned it on” for her despite some rainy days at the start of the trip. The crew visited the world heritage listed and recently restored Himeji Castle; experienced traditional Japan in Kyoto with a maiko experience and rickshaw ride; indulged in delicious cuisine including ‘fire ramen’; and got adventurous in Nara, training at a ninja village and attending a sushi making lesson.

LA Tourism launches Museum Season

From October through to November, Australian travellers who book a minimum of two nights at a Los Angeles hotel can save more than AUD$600[1] (USD$450) in admission fees or gift shop discounts at 25 of L.A.’s top museums during L.A. Museum Season, courtesy of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (L.A. Tourism) and the city’s leading museums.

Over 65 per cent of Australian visitors to L.A. in 2014 took in a museum or gallery during their visit, a three per cent jump on the previous year, demonstrating an increasing trend in the ANZ market for cultural tourism.

To take advantage of the deal, visitors must book two or more nights on Hotels.com to receive a complimentary voucher for two adult admissions or gift store discounts at participating museums for the season.

PTMs connect with Luxperience

When close to 300 of the world’s luxury travel providers come together with more than 400 of Australia’s most high-end travel buyers for a fabulous showcase of worldwide luxury destinations, travel products and experiences, the outcome, known as Luxperience, is guaranteed to be fruitful.

TravelManagers’ Melanie Whyte, representative for Devonport, Tasmania, was one of ten personal travel managers (PTMs) who attended the luxury business exchange for the first time this year, and she was suitably impressed.

“I was quite unaware about what I was in for,” explains Whyte.  “Colleagues had mentioned that it was a worthwhile thing to do and I have to agree.  For me, the main highlight was the opportunity to network – I learned a lot about upsell options and new products on the market that I can’t wait to share with my clients.”

Held in Sydney over three days, Luxperience 2015 has been described by its founder, Helen Logas, as “our most inspirational and productive to date, with numerous leads generated and key relationships fostered in face-to-face meetings.”

Tamanu appoints new marketing rep

Cook Islands’ Tamanu Beach Resort is pleased to announce the appointment of Tropics Tourism & Marketing Services as their Australian marketing representative.

In making the announcement, Tamanu Beach Resort General Manager, Nicholas Henry, said  “Australia is a major market for us and with Tropics’ extensive experience in promoting the Cook Islands, we look forward to welcoming more Australian guests to our shores.  With 22 bungalows, reached by 45-minute flight from Rarotonga , on picturesque Aitutaki, we offer a truly unique Polynesian experience”

Industry training and awareness programmes will be taking place over the coming months.

Travellers Choice wind Etihad exclusive

Elizabeth Clarke from Queensland luxury travel specialist Savenio is set to explore Europe after winning two return tickets on Etihad Airways as part of an exclusive Travellers Choice incentive.

Elizabeth, who also took home $3000 in spending money in the sales promotion, can use her tickets to travel anywhere on Etihad Airways’ network, which currently includes more than 100 destinations across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas and Oceania. However, she says her heart is set on flying the award-winning carrier to Paris.

Elizabeth received her prize from Etihad Airways’ Queensland-based Account Manager, Fiona Lawless, and Travellers Choice Business Development Manager, Queensland & Northern NSW, Kim Tomlinson.

Cannes launch Hervey Bay special

Hervey Bay is the setting of a new documentary being launched this week at the major international television convention MIPCOM in Cannes France.

Produced by veteran program maker Greg Grainger, THE WHALE WHISPERER features the humpback whales of Hervey Bay and their interaction with whale guide Vicki Neville.

The program has been supported by Tourism and Events Queensland, and Fraser Coast Opportunities, with principal filming off the whale watching vessel Tasman Venture.

As the program is premiered in Cannes, keen interest has been expressed by the giant international network, National Geographic, with negotiations underway for broadcast to territories around the world.