Welcome to the week, readers, where you’ll find all the wholesaler and product info you need to sharpen up for the week ahead. Only 4 days til Friday…

MasterChef Australia to feature Japan and its picturesque sites

For the first time in MasterChef Australia’s history, the judges and contestants visit Japan to feature a week of exciting new episodes focusing on Japanese cuisine and local favourite dishes. Sponsored by Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) in partnership with Qantas, MasterChef’s top 9 contestants will travel to locations across Japan, featuring local produce such as fruit and tea from a plantation overlooking Mt Fuji, as well as an encounter with Michelin starred sushi chef Kagehisa Imada.

The backdrops to the week include some locations well known and some locations even the most well-travelled Japan enthusiast may not know, including:

• Various locations across Tokyo, which boasts a record 227 Michelin starred restaurants
• The Obuchi Tea Plantation in Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture
• Tateyama Castle in Tateyama City, Chiba Prefecture

In what promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience, Japan Week will showcase the best of Japan’s fresh produce, innovative local chefs, cooking styles and some of the best culinary destinations.

Follow MasterChef Australia Japan Week from this Sunday, 2 July at 7.30pm on Network TEN to explore and experience the culinary side of Japan.

Bentours Announce Winner to see the Northern Lights

Bentours has announced the winner of their Travel Associates competition. The lucky winner, Jo Kennedy from Kennedy & Turner Travel Associates was the highest seller for Bentours and Hurtigruten product for the competition period.

In celebration of this, Jo wins the signature small group trip from Bentours, Follow The Lights. Bentours bestselling 15 day tour, is especially designed to give the ideal opportunity to see the Northern Lights.

Jo will experience this magical wonderland sailing on a six-night cruise through Norway’s picturesque fjords, as the Hurtigruten ship heads north to the arctic circle. Later, the tour takes in Finnish Lapland where travellers experience an overnight stay in a specially heated glass igloo.

Brand USA Releases “Travel USA” Travel Magazine 2017

The 2017 edition of Brand USA’s “Travel USA” travel magazine is now available to order for travel agents in Australia.

A comprehensive guide to travelling to the US, Travel USA is brimming with breathtakingly beautiful images and inspiring editorial content about hundreds of destinations in the US – from the individual states to the famous metropolises to the small towns.

The 200 page magazine is a must-read for any Australian traveller considering a trip to the US this year, covering legendary road trips, adventures in the great outdoors, unforgettable cultural highlights, iconic USA travel experiences and thrilling family vacations.

Australian agents can order their copies via Tifs at www.tifs.com.au.

Highlights of South Africa – SAVE $875 per person

The Bench Africa 14-Day package starting from $3,365 per person,  showcases all the highlights that South Africa has to offer. The tour will travel through Cape Town, Oudtshoorn – ostrich capital of the world, Port Elizabet and Johannesburg. The tour concludes with 2 nights on a ‘Big Five’ safari in the Greater Kruger area.

Included is 13 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 6 dinners, road/airport transfers, game drives in a 4X4 vehicle, and English speaking guide, numerous excursions including a Soweto Tour, Cape Winelands Tour and a visit to the Cango Caves – to name a few.

Price is per person twin share based on travel on 03 September 2017. Conditions apply. To book, call 1300 AFRICA (237 422) and quote “Highlights of South Africa”, or visit www.benchafrica.com.au

New Madagascar tour part of 2018 line-up of Adventure Trips

Extreme Bike Tours unveil the 15-day adventure in Madagascar as one of eight tours the company will offer around the world next year. To mark the release of its 2018 range of rides, Extreme Bike Tours is offering a 10 per cent early bird discount on all its eight tours next year, if booked by August 15, 2017.

The all-inclusive, 2000km motorcycle expedition departs June 23, 2018 to Madagascar, a spectacular island country boasting huge volcanoes, mountains, canyons and waterfalls, dense jungle and the island’s famous mascot, ring-tailed lemurs.

If booked by August 15, the fully supported Madagascar tour on June 23, 2018, costs US$4725 for riders and US$3915 for pillion passengers, including hotel and cabin accommodation along the route, all meals on the tour, fuel and motorbike hire, an internal flight in Madagascar and local transfers. Flights to Madagascar are extra. After August 15, 2017, the tour is priced from US$5250 for riders and US$4350 for pillion passengers. Other trips Extreme Bike Tours will offer in 2018 include rides in Cuba, Bhutan, Mongolia, Rajasthan in India, the Indian Himalayas and two adventures in Sri Lanka.

Qantas Holidays launch new Maldives Luxury Collection Brochure

Qantas Holidays has launched their first brochure under their new “Luxury Collection” brand featuring the Maldives. With a number of new destinations to be introduced over the coming months, the brand new Maldives brochure features 31 stunning properties from Noonu Atoll in the north to Addu Atol in the South, offering an array of accommodation options.

As a bonus for eligible customers, bookings made through Qantas Holidays for the Maldives can earn 1 Qantas Frequent Flyer Point per $1. The full Maldives product range is also available to book through Viva! Holidays in Australia, with travel agents benefiting through earning TRIP Dollar$ for all Maldives packages booked through either Viva! Holidays or Qantas Holidays.

The Qantas Holidays Maldives Luxury Collection brochure will be distributed to retail agency partners throughout Australia under the Qantas Holidays brand, and will feature a special cover wrap in the Helloworld Travel branded stores. The brochure can be viewed via www.qantasholidays.com.au.

Find an Immersive Journey with an Impact

Atma Immersive Journeys is an Australian not for profit social enterprise which runs small group tours to India with a purpose. Atma Immersive Journeys is a unique travel experience that is unlike any regular travel itinerary.

At Atma, they strongly believe in giving back to the community. The parent company, Atma Cycles gave away a hundred bikes to girls in a small village in India (Mhaswad, Maharashtra) in 2015 so that girls could receive a proper education.

With the United Nations declaring 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism Development, Atma Immersive Journeys is going to promote a better world through tourism to India. They want to make these journeys about sustainable economic growth for the local regions, reducing poverty, encouraging peace, security and environmental protection.

The company wants travellers not just to see India, but to immerse themselves in this magical country, experience the sights and smells like a local, and leave behind an indelible essence of giving and sharing in a community they have visited.

This 9-night, 10-day trip leaves on the 27th January 2018 and includes all your accommodation, meals, activities, on ground transport and guides. The trip is $2,890.00 twin share land only. For more information, please contact Alex Carpenter at alex@atmajourneys.org.

Commemorate the ANZACS in 2018 with Tempo Holidays

Annually on the 25th day of April, Australians and New Zealanders honour and commemorate the sacrifice and courage of the combined force of the First Australian Imperial Force and New Zealand Army troops who landed on Turkey’s Gallipoli Peninsula nine months after the outbreak of World War I in 1915.

Nowhere is ANZAC Day more poignant than at the key ANZAC battlefield sites in France and Belgium. For a limited time, travellers can save a 10% discount with Tempo Holidays, to take part in the moving Anzac Day Dawn Service at Villers-Bretonneux.

Western Front ANZAC Tour 2018 is a 9-night first-class tour that includes a specialist Battlefield guide, nine breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners, and entrance fees included. The tour also explores Paris, Champagne, Reims and Bruges in the lead up to your ANZAC day experience. Prices now start from A$4375//NZ$4570 and departs 18 Apr 2018 from Paris. Conditions apply, offer ends 31 Aug 2017.

Visit tempoholidays.com/specials or call 1300 362 844 for more information or to book. New Zealand visit tempoholidays.co.nz/specials or call 0800 836 764.

Dine Around Japan, From Agedashi to Zosui

Australian travellers are having a shunkan – that’s “moment” in Japanese. Our new short-stay snow sports capital is the perfect place to escape the Aussie winter, and head to warmer climes with decadent dining.

For Wendy Wu Tours have released a new Trails of Japan tour for 2017, giving visitors the change to meet Snow Monkeys in Yudanaka. Australian travellers are on the hunt for unique experiences and to embrace our innate love of the great outdoors.

Take your tastebuds on a journey through Japan’s finest, on the 14-day Discover Japan tour from Wendy Wu Tours, travelling to Tokyo, Takayama, Kyoto and Osaka. Priced from $10,560 per person twin share, including flights with Cathay Pacific, fully inclusive from SYD/MEL. To whet your appetite for Japan, here’s a video from Wendy Wu Tours.

On The Go Tours Offers Worldwide Sale!

On The Go Tours is offering a worldwide sale of 10% to 25% off tours across the globe. From Jordan to Thailand, discounts will be offered for tours booked between the 3rd July to 17th July, valid for travel on selected departure dates until 28th February 2018.

Totally Jordan – 25% off – 8 days from $1,722
Great Wall & Warriors – 25% off – 9 day from $1,497
Totally Morocco – 25% off – 9 days from $1,422
Road to Casablanca – 25% off – 9 days from $1,497
Time for Thailand – 25% off – 9 days from $1,808

To find out more and book, please visit www.onthegotours.com.au or call 1300-855-684.