Get your weekly fix of webinars, updates and deals from the wholesaler world with this handy news round-up.

G Adventures’ Bruce Poon Tip to host online event for agency partners

Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures, is inviting agency partners to join him online for Unlearn: Live, a virtual event and inspirational Q&A session addressing the future of the travel industry post-pandemic. 

Unlearn: Live will be a hosted session where Poon Tip will freely answer questions sent in by travel agents in advance, as well as via a live Q&A function on the day.

He’ll be addressing topics such as when and where he sees travel opening up first, what new protocols for health and safety might look like, as well as the changed psychology of the post-pandemic traveller.

The webinar will take place on Thursday 4 June at 11.00am AEST. Those who are interested in attending can register here.

AAT Kings and Inspiring Journeys launch agent webinars 

AAT Kings and Inspiring Journeys have launched ‘Let’s Pav a Chat’, a series of Travel Agent webinars to help assist agents with the domestic focus, in preparation for when the borders reopen.

With the running theme of Pavlova, info on the two great nations takes place online every fortnight from Tuesday 2 June at 2pm EST. The name came from the group wanting to create something for agents to look forward to.

Agents are encouraged to share what they would like to see on the next Let’s Pav a Chat, as the team moves swiftly to monitor and design the forum to benefit and suit the needs of their partners.

Those interested in attending can register here.

AAT Kings Group CEO Matt Cameron-Smith will be joining the next webinar to share his views on the future of domestic travel, border openings and how we as an industry can take this difficult challenge and change it into an opportunity.

Have a burning question for Matt? Join the AAT Kings agents-only Facebook page and comment on his video.

APT releases 2021 Kimberley and outback 4WD adventures at 2020 prices

APT has released a selection of 2021 Outback and Kimberley itineraries at 2020 prices. This means your clients can now book to explore our own backyard in 2021 and pay the same price as 2020.

From 4WD small group journeys around Australia, including the Kimberley and Cape York, to small-ship expedition cruising off the remote Coral Coast and Kimberley Coast, popular APT itineraries are now available to book for 2021 at a limited release price for all bookings taken up to the 30 June 2020.

APT partners with the Wunan Foundation, a community-based initiative that represents the Indigenous communities in the East Kimberley. For over 15 years, APT has been working with Wunan to deliver its touring program and assist with financial investment in the region, including a network of owned wilderness eco-lodges as well as through employment opportunities for local Indigenous people.

World Expeditions introduces COVID-19 prevention policies in preparation for a return to travel

With travel restrictions likely to be lifted in coming months, World Expeditions has announced further enhancements to its operating procedures and practices, designed to ensure travellers’ safety and minimise the risk of spreading COVID-19.

The new protocols, which build on World Expeditions’ existing safety and risk mitigation strategy, will be adopted initially by the company’s domestic brands, Australian Walking Holidays and Tasmanian Expeditions, as well as its New Zealand brands, Adventure South and Trail Journeys.

The new COVID-19-specific measures include new screening procedures for clients pre-departure as well as new operational procedures, such as having all passengers equipped with a mask when travelling on our short-distance transfers to trailheads or camps in our vehicles.

The new protocols have been developed in consultation with World Expeditions’ medical advisor, Dr Ross Anderson, and include new practices around deep cleaning of vehicles, along with heightened food preparation and serving protocols.

Stringent hand washing and sanitisation and regular disinfecting of all camp surfaces are long-established practices on group trips and will be complemented with participants being issued with their own utensils for their personal use throughout the entire trip.

Exodus Travels integrates Grand American Adventures Tours

After being sister companies at the Travelopia group of brands for the past four years, followed by the formal acquisition of Grand American Adventures last year, Exodus Travels has integrated Grans American Adventures into its product offering following its formal acquisition last year.

As the next step of the plan announced in October 2019, prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, agents will now be able to access nineteen Grand American Adventures tours under the one Exodus Travels banner.

The integration of the Americas product offering means agents can now access over 500 responsibly run small group adventures in 100 countries globally via Exodus Travels.

From a reservations perspective, nothing changes, as the teams were integrated in late 2019. Agents can continue to call and email the same expert team at the Exodus Travels office in Melbourne.

Ormina Tours partners with The Grand Wine Tour

Ormina Tours has partnered with The Grand Wine Tour (TGWT), bringing clients unparalleled access to Italy’s premium wineries that produce some of the country’s highest-rated wines.

The partnership strengthens Ormina’s expertise in the fast-growing wine tourism market through in-depth experiences and access to top winemakers.

The Grand Wine Tour is an association of top wineries across seven regions of Italy, offering exclusive wine tastings, Michelin-starred restaurants and unique activities dedicated to a luxury clientele. Focusing on the best of the best, they created the very first quality certification for Italian wineries.

Ormina Tours will be showcasing the TGWT’s associated top wineries to the Australian, New Zealand and US markets as part of their Small Group Tours and Private Itineraries. These include Piedmont, the Amalfi Coast, the Marche Region, and Prosecco tasting in Veneto.

When international travel resumes, Ormina Tours will work closely with clients and the GWT to help build customised itineraries focused around their flagship 22 wineries.

The Travel Concierge Sri Lanka offers no deposit on new bookings from Aussie agents

To support the Australian travel trade, The Travel Concierge Sri Lanka is offering all agents the facility to book future holidays without the need to pay a deposit.

To further assist agents, The Travel Concierge Sri Lanka has created a selection of sample itineraries with customisable flyers and updated training will be available from 1 June.

The no deposit offer is available only through travel agents and not available to work in conjunction with TTC SL’s Early Bird offers (which will start being released next week). Payment for all holidays booked through TTC SL are due 30 days prior to arrival.

Beyond Travel launches ‘Beyond Corona’ campaign with 15 per cent commission for agents

Beyond Travel has launched its ‘Beyond Corona’ campaign to support the industry and assist agents looking for 2021 travel opportunities.

This includes a 15 per cent commission on select 2021 Croatian cruise bookings during the promotional period until the end of August 2020.

The company has released a snap offer on selected Cruise Croatia small-ship itineraries for 2021, with savings of 20 per cent up to a huge 75 per cent available on 2021 products, plus a bonus $49 per person ‘risk-free’ deposit offer. This deposit is fully refundable until the end of August 2020 should clients change their minds for any reason.

Featured image: iStock/halock