Incentives and expos and famils, oh my! Get the latest update on all the fab perks your agent mates have enjoyed this week, and get in on a few of them yourself, with this week’s Agent Wrap.

AFTA/ATAS members and industry partners invited to attend national roadshow

The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) invites members and key industry partners to join them as they embark on a National Roadshow to discuss the most pertinent issues affecting travel business from across the travel value chain including; travel agencies – corporate and leisure, wholesalers, tour operators, consolidators and the broader industry stakeholders.

The AFTA Management Team will present across matters related to the compliance and operations of ATAS including the new Advertising Guidelines and how it applies to ATAS accredited entities.

Joining AFTA will be guest speaker and chief economist of the St George Bank, Besa Deda who will discuss the Ups, Downs and Roundabouts for Australia’s Economy in 2020.

For a comprehensive overview of the topics covered or to register, clickhere.

‘Campioni Di Silversea’ recognises top selling agents of 2019

Silversea Cruises is delighted to announce that its travel agent appreciation program, ‘Campioni di Silversea’ (Champions of Silversea), has officially commenced.

Designed to annually reward Silversea’s top 20 agencies for the highest sales made each year, the ultra-luxury cruise line has invited its 2019 top-selling agents to an exclusive, invitation-only event.

Visit USA Australia kicks off expos in Perth

Perth travel agents have kicked off the first of six Visit USA Expos across the country this month.

The Expo, held at the Hyatt Regency, was a lively evening with over 100 agents and 17 exhibitors mingling and sharing their love of the US.

Richard Reid was in town to wow the agents, and select the ‘Visit USA Expos Top Agents’, and special guest, US Consul General in Perth, David J. Gainer, thanked the agents for their support of the US.

MTG stay connected conference supports regional NSW

The fourth annual My Travel Group Stay Connected Conference is just around the corner with members, partners and industry leaders heading to Wollongong from 12-14 March.

The event will take place at the Novotel Wollongong Northbeach and will see the biggest attendance yet with more agents registering daily.

MTG council members will champion the first exercise and partners and sponsors will deliver valuable product insights and strategies designed to boost sales performance and customer satisfaction. A round table discussion on important industry topics will take place equipping members with a personal action plan to implement in their workplace.

Keynote presenters Jorge Fernandez and Carlii Lyon will also take members through interactive masterclasses focusing on “Professional Intimacy” and “Master the Art of Putting Yourself Out There”.

Cook Islands Tourism brings Kia Orana spirit to Aussie travel agents

Kia Orana spirit was in full force for the Little Piece Of Paradise that is The Cook Islands this week, as Aussie travel agents were treated to a series of educational breakfast functions in Sydney and Melbourne.

The Sydney’s event held this week at the Four Points by Sheraton in Chippendale, up to 60 travel agents gathered for a sizzling hot breakfast to hear from key presenters representing the most iconic of the Cook Islands’ being Rarotonga and Aitutaki.

Following presentations, travel agents dropped their business cards into a lucky holiday box for the chance to win a range of Cook Islands offerings.

Prizes included a Cook Islands hamper with bottle of wine from Pacific Resort Hotel Group, an accommodation voucher for 5 nights at Cook Islands Holiday Villas, plus two self famil trips including return international airfares on Air New Zealand’s direct Sydney to Rarotonga service, plus accommodation vouchers at The Edgewater Resort and Spa for 6 nights and Moana Sands Lagoon Resort for 3 nights.

Riviera Travel River Cruises visits Aussie agents

Riviera Travel River Cruises is visiting Australian travel agents in three States this week and next to promote the line’s five-star river cruises across Europe.

Riviera Travel’s sales and marketing executive for Australia, Gina Squirrell, is meeting with agents on the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney and is also attending the CLIA Awards this Saturday night in Sydney.

Riviera Travel will carry 45,000 passengers on 13 ships over 300 sailings on 15 different cruise itineraries across Europe this year. Five-star cruises are available from A$1,069 per person, twin-share or solo, for an eight-day sailing, including daily excursions and Wi-Fi.

Help your clients explore the world with Viking’s information sessions

Viking has announced the first locations for its 2020 Information Sessions, commencing 3 March 2020 in Adelaide followed by Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

For agents with clients considering a voyage with ‘The Thinking Person’s Cruise’ line, a Viking Information Session is the perfect way to showcase the leading line’s global range of cruise products, including ocean, river and expedition voyages.

Designed for new-to-Viking guests, seasoned cruisers, as well as their agents, Viking’s complementary showcases, will be taking place at multiple locations around Australia, with separate sessions for river, ocean and expedition running throughout the day and evening.

Information for agents:

• If you’d like to invite your clients, you can access our event flyers and Facebook tiles and post copy here.
• RSVP is essential – register here. When registering, make sure your clients let us know you’re their preferred agent so we can contact you about your custom marketing package.

MTA family magic in Abu Dhabi

MTA – Mobile Travel Agents Advisors and five of their children were recently invited to Abu Dhabi as guests of the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture & Tourism and Etihad Airways as part of a unique study tour concept to showcase the United Arab Emirates as a major attraction for Australian families.

Highlights of the program included a desert safari, a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Abu Dhabi’s world-famous Falcon Hospital, the Abu Dhabi Louvre and Yas island, home to Ferrari World, Warners Brothers World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld – not forgetting camel riding at a traditional Bedouin camp.

Featured accommodation partners for the program included the Park Hyatt Saadiyat Island and the Emirates Palace.

TravelManagers partake of Air NZ and Tourism NZ’s mouth-watering mega-famil

Take 100 travel professionals and drop them into one spectacular destination. Gently scatter them across a selection of 10 incredible itineraries and leave them to soak up world-class scenery and experiences for seven days.

This was the recipe followed by Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand when they created the ‘Pure New Zealand mega famil’, which was attended by seven of TravelManagers’ personal travel managers (PTMs).

Dreaming of a blissful Thai wellness retreat?

The team at Health and Fitness Travel, the wellness holiday specialists, along with the Tourism Authority of Thailand want to make life easier on all fronts and reward you with an award-winning wellness retreat as part of their 2020 ‘Sell Your Way to Wellness’ famil & incentive program.

With seven spots up for grabs, the first five agents will guarantee themselves a place in the July 2020 famil, plus there are two wildcard spots.

The ‘Sell Your Way to Wellness’ incentive runs through to 31 May 2020.