This week’s agent wrap is brought to you by three cups of coffee and an entire carton of Berocca, following last night’s frivolities at our Women in Travel Awards.

Join a Luxury Famil to Machu Picchu and the Atacama Desert

Eclipse Travel has announced further details of their luxurious small group famil to Chile and Peru this August in partnership with LATAM. Selected agents will be treated to boutique accommodation including the stunning Aranwa properties in Cusco and Machu Picchu as well as spectacular Alto Atacama.

To be in the running to join this famil simply sign up for Eclipse Travel’s monthly newsletter and register your interest.

Travel agents treated to luxury trip through Peru

Six lucky agents from Australia and New Zealand recently finished up a luxury 10-day excursion through the coastal and highland regions of Peru. The agents were led by Gate 7 host Alexandra Sparr who is the Account Director of Peru’s national tourism board, PromPeru, in Australia.

Attending agents were either selected at PromPeru’s roadshow events last year or had won a spot through last year’s training incentive on PromPeru’s e-learning platform: https://perutraveltraining.com.au.

The group spent two nights in Lima discovering everything the city has to offer from Plaza San Martin to Colonial churches, modern day museums, and the fresh coastal food that has given Lima the title of Latin America’s gastronomic capital.

After Lima, they flew to the historic city of Arequipa – known as “the White City” for its buildings made from volcanic stone. The group travelled out to the Colca Valley, passing through the highest point of at 4,900 metres above sea level, and adjusted to the altitude at Belmond Las Casitas, where they got to feed the baby llama and alpacas that live on the property! While here, they visited the Colca Canyon and were treated to a show with over a dozen Andean Condors in flight.

Finally, they flew to the Incan Capital of Cusco and headed out to the Sacred Valley, where they visited the remarkable Salty Ponds of Maras, Incan agricultural laboratory of Moray, and of course, Machu Picchu. They joined their Peruvian adventure guides to kayak and paddleboard on the remote and Huaypo Lake before heading back to Cusco to explore.

Finnair and Visit Finland take Aussie agents to the Midnight Sun

Visit Finland and Finnair were the main sponsors of the Midnight Sun Workshop that took place in Tampere in Finland, last week.

This was the perfect opportunity for 6 Australian agents to meet with local suppliers, and admire the beautiful lakes surrounding Tampere.

The Midnight Sun Workshop is an event designed to bring together buyers from around the world to meet suppliers from Finland and the Nordic/Baltic countries.

After the Workshop, the Aussie team went to the Kittilä region for a quick tour on the theme “Activities and Wellness from the Artic Nature”.

Kayaking, canoeing, meeting elves and huskies, and the obligatory sauna session were part of the program… all of that under the midnight sun!

Sell three with Azamara Club Cruises and sail for free

Azamara Club Cruises is spoiling its travel partners by offering an incredible experiential travel opportunity for one complimentary double-occupancy stateroom on a 24 March 2020 sailing from Darwin to Singapore when an Australian travel agent books three staterooms on any Azamara 2019 voyage between 15 May – 30 June.

Eligible bookings of three staterooms made between 15 May and 30 June 2019 on the ‘Sell 3 and Sail Free’ offer will receive one complimentary double-occupancy stateroom on Azamara Journey sailing from Darwin to Singapore on 3 April 2020.

The remarkable offer lets Australian travel agents explore Azamara’s incredible localization, exclusivity, and experiences all up close and personal on a free Azamara Club Cruises voyage. Be spoilt for choice with unique voyages on sale ranging from 2019 bucket-list Asian itineraries like Myanmar’s Mysteries Voyage to 2020 European Country Intensive Voyages.

Bench Africa pays it forward

The staff at Bench Africa recently used their 50^th anniversary trip to Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve in South Africa as an opportunity to donate much-needed supplies to the Swa Vana Children’s Projects, a community program long supported by Sabi Sabi.

Focusing on at-risk youth as well as those affected by the HIV epidemic this program gives these youth physical, emotional, social and educational support and enabled many to reshuffle the hands that life dealt them.

The Bench Africa staff donation consisted of everything from female sanitary supplies and infant nappies to items of clothing, school bags and medical supplies, all basic items in urgent demand. Bench Africa chairman Mike Kirkland thanked everyone for their personal donations and then on behalf of the company announced a further ongoing monthly donation to the program to enable more children to have a better start to life.

TravelManagers announces keynote speakers for 2019 Conference

With less than two months to run before their 2019 National Conference gets underway, TravelManagers are applying the finishing touches to the event, which will take place in Perth from 9 to 11 August. Three keynote speakers have just been announced for the conference, for which this year’s theme is “Customer”.

As TravelManagers’ Executive General Manager, Michael Gazal explains, the intention is for all attendees to leave the conference with one goal: to recognise each customer as an individual with their own reasons for travelling and their own expectations when it comes to their travel experiences.

The first of three speakers is Peter O’Donohue, who is currently the head of Qantas’ Boeing 787 program. O’Donohue will be joined at the conference by Amanda Stevens, a renowned thought leader on the customer experience; and Samuel Johnson, an actor, big brother and accomplished unicyclist who created the ‘Love Your Sister’ charity with the support of his sister, Connie.

Temperance TIME for Fiona Dalton and Trish Shepherd

Travel industry Mentor Experience (TIME) mentors Fiona Dalton and Trish Shepherd are raising funds for TIME by abstaining from alcoholic libations for 90 days.

Dalton and Shepherd’s abstinence from alcohol will be followed closely by Martin Cowley and Steve Mackenzie, chairman and CEO of TIME sponsor The Lido Group, who undertook a similar activity last year. The pair from Lido set a goal of raising $3000, but exceeded that mark by some measure, ultimately reaching $3700.

Dalton and Shepherd plan to see the Lido team’s $3,700 and raise it to a neat $5,000. Both passionate advocates for making pathways to the ranks of travel industry leadership more inclusive, funds raised by the ladies will open doors to the program for people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to participate.

Five thousand dollars will go a long way, covering the full participation for two participants, or partial fees for many more.

Just a few days in, Dalton and Shepherd are off to a great start with donations ticking over, but there’s a long way to go to.

Show your support here.

Wendy Wu winners announced

Wendy Wu Tours’ has announced the winner of their latest agent incentive, gifting the lucky winner, Isabelle Tremblay from Flight Centre Buderim a luxury escape for two to Vietnam.
Isabelle was crowned the winner of the seven-week incentive’s grand prize which includes return business class airfares, 7 nights luxury accommodation in Vietnam, private touring and transfers.

In addition to the luxury vacation, six weekly winners were each awarded a $500 gift card: Rebecca Croft from Flight Centre Booval, Merryn Booth from Helloworld Mount Barker, Tash Murray from Helloworld Travel Belmont, Janet Liao from Flight Centre Lindfield Village, Jess Young from Flight Centre Smithfield and Tracy from Cloud 9 Travel.

Sell EXPLORE and get a free trip!

Explore has launched a new incentive for agents: book 5 passengers between 1 June – 31 December 2019 and clients will have the chance to experience an Explore Worldwide trip for .

Now is the perfect time to make a new Explore Worldwide booking – with more than 600 trips to choose from, and whether they’re into cycling the backroads of Kerala, walking Amalfi’s Walk of the Gods, or sleeping under the stars in Jordan’s desert, your clients will create stories to tell for a lifetime. Sell them an authentic travel experience, with the leader in small group adventure holidays, and you’ll benefit by receiving your own unforgettable experience from Asia to Africa or the Americas.

Bookings must be registered online here to be eligible for the free trip.  All bookings must be paid in full before requesting your free trip, and this trip must be taken by 31 October 2020. Further conditions apply.

Helloworld Travel agents visit the Sacred Valley

The amazing famil included accommodation for 3 nights at Luciano K Hotel, 3 nights at Chiloe – OCIO Territorial, and 3 nights at Explora Valle Sagrado Peru in the Sacred Valley.
For many of the participants, the highlights included the breathtaking day tour of Machu Picchu and Chiloe Island.

Special thanks to LATAM Airlines for supplying the air arrangements, including the international leg and internal flights while in South America, and special thanks to Nomade Unique Experiences and Luciano K Hotel, Ocio Territorial and explora, who organised all incredible land arrangements.

How to win the 4th spot on the Journey to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Mega-Fam!

Today, Disney Destinations, Virgin Australia and Delta Air Lines are pleased to announce how agents have the chance to win the 4^th spot on the upcoming Journey to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Mega-Fam!

Between Saturday 22 June and Friday 5 July (by 11:59pm Australian EST) agents just need to sell and log at least 1 (one) qualifying Disney Destinations ticket, hotel or package booking sold in conjunction with a Virgin Australia or Delta Air Lines return flight to the USA into the www.journeytogalaxysedge.com.au incentive portal for their chance to win!

Plus, the more qualifying Disney Destinations, Virgin Australia and Delta Air Lines combo package bookings they sell between the 22 June and 5 July mini-incentive period – the more chances they have to win this 4^th spot!  The lucky winner will be notified via email the week commencing 8 July, 2019 and will join Stevey-Lee Ginger from Flight Centre Byron Bay and Jessica Nielsen from Infinity Holidays who have already won their way to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!

As a reminder, there are still an additional 11 spots up for grabs as part of the Journey to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Mega-Fam incentive, and agents are encouraged to visit www.journeytogalaxysedge.com.au to register and learn more about how they could win a spot on the most sought after Famil in the Galaxy!

Creative Cruising’s Bubbles Bonus Travel Agent Exclusive to Creative Cruising

Creative Cruising, Australia’s leading independent cruise wholesaler, launched an exclusive travel agent luxury campaign that rewards agents with French champagne!

Travel agents who book and deposit Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Silversea and Silver Expeditions sailings by 31 July 2019 will receive two bottles of the cruise line’s signature French Champagne featured on-board!

Creative Cruising is offering two bottles of French champagne, one for the travel agent and one for their guest! Creative Cruising will send travel agents that have eligible bookings two bottles of either Jacquart Brut Mosaique of Crystal Cruises; Montaudon Brut Champagne of Regent Seven Seas and Pommery of Silversea Cruises. Sailings must be booked and deposited between 21 June and 31 July 2019.

Creative Cruising has tailor made some spectacular packages with incredible savings and inclusions for their travel agent partners with exclusive savings such as reduced fares in conjunction with in market offers including bonus fiver per cent bonus commission with Silversea Expeditions until 30 June and fly free business class airfares with selected Silversea sailings!

 Entire Travel Group’s upcoming webinar

Entire Travel Group has an upcoming webinar dedicated to all things Vancouver! Taking place on 27 June, the webinar will shine a light on Canada’s most diverse city. To register for ‘Vancouver, a city like no other’, and for more details go here.

One Viking gold ticket remaining

Two lucky travel agencies have opened their boxes of brand new Viking 2020-2021 Ocean Cruises brochures to discover a Golden Ticket: St Ives Travel in NSW and Helloworld Redbank in Queensland.

To celebrate the launch of the 2020-2021 Ocean Cruises brochure, Viking announced that three Golden Tickets would be randomly placed in boxes of brochures, distributed nationally.

Agencies who find one of the three Golden Tickets will receive an incredible 15-day Far East Discovery ocean cruise prize, when claimed before 19 July 2019.