We’ll try not to mention coffee or alcohol in this week’s intro to the Wholesaler Wrap, even though we’re three shots into a very long, long black.

Contiki teams up with Alexa for voice-assisted bag packing tool

Contiki has teamed up with Alexa to unveil the first-ever Amazon Alexa Skill that creates bespoke, voice-assisted holiday packing lists.

Contiki: Pack My Bags is now available to download on Amazon, and was designed in response to the studied rise in the use of voice-enabled technology by Gen-Z and millennials.

The Contiki Alexa Skill aims to make packing a breeze by creating personalised packing lists that are perfectly tailored to traveller’s holiday destinations, with the aim of preventing travellers from overpacking.

Abercrombie & Kent releases advance notice for 2021/22 cruise program

Getting in early, luxury adventure travel purveyor Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) has released dates for its 2021–2022 luxury expedition cruise portfolio.

The preliminary schedule is as follows, but is subject to change:

• Japan – March 2021
• Kimberley Cruise – Australia’s Last Frontier: May 2021
• Cruising the Baltic Sea – Copenhagen to St. Petersburg – June 2021
• Cruising the Greek Isles – June and September 2021
• Arctic Cruise Adventure – In Search of the Polar Bear: July 2021
• Italy Cruise – Hidden Treasures from Florence to Venice – August 2021
• Classic Antarctica – December 2021 and January 2022
• Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falkland Islands – December 2021 and January 2022.

Travellers are encouraged to register their interest with A&K now in order to lock in the best suites and staterooms.

Grand American Adventures launches 2020 brochure

North American Small group specialist Grand American Adventures (GAA) has released its 2020 brochure, covering both Canada and USA, including Alaska as well as a limited number of Central and South American departures.

With an average traveller age of 45 years, GAA offer more than 70 tours from active to in-depth cultural experiences whether city or national park, with a maximum of 13 passengers per group in its custom vans.

The TreadRight Foundation and TTC acknowledge World Recycling Week

In celebration of World Recycling Week, last week, The TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative between The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) family of brands, hared its sustainable initiatives.

TTC has pledged to remove as many unnecessary single-use plastics across all operations by the end of 2022 within its Red Carnation Hotels, onboard Uniworld ships, at AAT Kings, Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, Contiki, Busabout, and within the TTC offices where all staff are encouraged to recycle.

AAT Kings, Inspiring Journeys and Down Under Tours, is the first in Australia to replace water bottles with pure Australian water packaged in an eco-friendly carton, using Carton & CO’s recyclable and renewable boxed water.

Uniworld has reduced plastic waste by 27,374kg, and claims to have decreased chemical waste by 80 per cent over the last two years across all its ships. The brand has also reduced paper waste by 110,278kg in the last two years, and reduced biodegradable waste by 16 per cent in 2017.

Uniworld has also initiated the brand’s “One Tree Planted” partnership, planting one tree for every electronic-document issued by Uniworld.

Beyond Travel launches dedicated Scandinavia & Beyond website

Beyond Travel has launched a dedicated website for Scandinavia. With more than 25 years expertise in Scandinavia, the Beyond Travel team has been working hard on its new Scandinavia & Beyond website since early in the year, on the back of sales growth for the Scandinavian range.

The company has reported growth of over 30 per cent year on year for the past three years.

In addition to the Scandinavia & Beyond website, Beyond Travel’s new 2020 Russia, Scandinavia & Beyond brochure is ready to go and features the company’s largest selection to date, with more than thirty pages of Scandinavian product.

Latitude 33 releases ‘Raffles, Tea Plantations and Golden Triangle’ journey

Latitude 33 has released an itinerary covering Singapore, Sri Lanka and India.

The luxury travel specialist’s exclusive 22-night ‘Raffles, Tea Plantations and Golden Triangle’ tour, limited to just 20 guests, commences on 3 January 2021, with an itinerary that includes a stay at Singapore’s Raffles Hotel.

The tour then continues with four nights exploring Sri Lanka’s Galle and Colombo, an eight-night cruise onboard Ponant’s Le Laperouse from Colombo to Mumbai, and finishes with a tour of India’s famed Golden Triangle, staying exclusively at Oberoi Hotels.

New short breaks released for Bruce Munro’s ‘Tropical Light’

To celebrate Bruce Munro’s newest art installation in Darwin, ‘Tropical Light’, AAT Kings has announced a new Short Break journey with departures on Wednesdays and Saturdays to experience the one-of-a-kind installation: Kakadu, City Sights & Tropical Light.

Tropical Light is a 2.5km outdoor exhibition featuring eight illuminated sculptures by Bruce Munro, in the city of Darwin. The exhibition is Munro’s first city-wide exhibition in the world, with the collection reflecting the artist’s personal history of visiting Australia and the Northern Territory. It aims to celebrate the city’s tropical climate and encourage locals and visitors to embrace the tropical summer as a vibrant and exciting time to visit.

AAT Kings claims to be the only operator to give guests exclusive dawn access to Munro’s famous Field of Light installation at Uluru.

The Travel Corporation’s weekly deals

U River Cruises

Rolling on the Rhine

Save 20 per cent on select 2020 cruises with U River Cruises, including the eight-day ‘Rolling on the Rhine’ journey. Starting from $3,199 per person, twin share (discount included), this offer is on sale now until 3 January 2020 for departures on 24 April, 22 May and 17 July 2020.

Other departure dates available however prices may vary.

Inspiring Journeys

Tasmania’s Footsteps & Trails

Save up to $979 per couple with Inspiring Journeys Early Bird Savings on the seven-day ‘Tasmania’s Footsteps & Trails’ journey. Starting from $4,406 per person, twin share (including discount), this offer is on sale now 31 January 2020 for departures from 19 September to 12 December 2020.

Adventure World Travel

Cape Horn & the Falklands

Receive a complimentary two-night package at The Singular Patagonia valued at $2420 per person when booking the eight-day ‘Cape Horn & the Falklands ‘itinerary. Starting from $7,497 per person, twin share (discount included), this offer is on sale now until 31 December 2019 and valid for travel on 26 September, and 17 and 24 October 2020.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

Gems of Northern Italy

Uniworld’s Parent company, The Travel Corporation, turns 100 in 2020, and to celebrate Uniworld is offering up to 30 per cent off selected 2020 cruises. Guests can enjoy these savings on the 10-day ‘Gems of Northern Italy’ journey. Starting from $5,039 per person, twin share (discount included), this offer is on sale now until 3 January 2020 for departures on 7 & 14 August 2020.

Other departure dates available however prices may vary.

Contiki

Thai Island Hopper East

Guests can enjoy savings of up to 20 per cent on the nine-day ‘Thai Island Hopper East’ journey. Starting from $1,180* per person (discount included), this offer is on sale now until 30 November 2019 for departures from 8–29 January 2020, 2 May to 20 June 2020, and 5–26 September 2020.

Insight Vacations

Easy Pace Budapest, Vienna & Prague

Fly return to Europe for $799* per person when you book a Europe and Britain journey with Insight Vacations. Now extended for a limited time, guests can enjoy these savings on the 10-day ‘Easy Pace Budapest, Vienna & Prague’ journey.

Starting from $4,474* per person, twin share (return economy flights to Europe included), this offer is on sale now until 18 December 2019 or until sold out for departure on 14 August 2020. Other departure dates available however prices may vary.

Trafalgar

Contrasts of New Zealand

Save 10 per cent on 2020 New Zealand holidays with Trafalgar’s early payment discount, on tours like the 10-day ‘Contrasts of New Zealand ‘holiday.

Starting from $3,595 per person, twin share (discount included), this offer is on sale now until 31 January 2020 for departures between April to October 2020.

Busabout

Thai & Laos Adventure

Guests can enjoy a 10 per cent saving on Busabout tours for travel in 2020/21, including the 14-day ‘Thai & Laos Adventure’ tour.

Starting from $1,592* per person (discount included), this offer is on sale now until 18 December 2019 for travel between 9 January 2020 to 19 March 2021.