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18 September, 2017

Big Fat Wholesaler Wrap

By laurencroft

Here are 15 steps to becoming a travel wholesaler expert. Hang on, no, it’s only 11. Even better, really!

On The Go Tours Expands their Europe portfolio

Europe 2017 - 19 cover

On The Go Tours, the award-winning tour operator specialising in locally-led group tours and tailor-made holidays to worldwide destinations, have added Italy, Spain and Portugal to their Europe portfolio with several new touring itineraries.

Travellers can now enjoy tours in Western Europe taking in picturesque countryside, famous cities, historic art and architecture led by local guides. Each itinerary has an emphasis on local cuisines and cultures and is filled with immersive activities and overnight stays in unique, charming hotels.

The new Italy tours, Italian Expresso and Renaissance & Riveria, give travellers the full ‘Italiano’ experience, offering seven-day and 10-day itineraries respectively.

Tempo Holidays and Switzerland Tourism announce early bird deals

Switzerland_GlacierExpress_Train_shutterstock_120796261sml

Stunning mountain scenery, fairy-tale villages, buzzing cities and the world’s best cheese and chocolate are just a few of the reasons to view this charming, compact nation. We’re talking about Switzerland of course!

Switzerland is blessed with great beauty, from its snow-capped alpine ranges to stunning lakes, and a unique mix of cultures. Imagine relaxing on the Glacier Express, one of Europe’s most awe-inspiring train journeys, and making your way through petite, picturesque villages into the iconic Alps!

Tempo Holidays and Switzerland Tourism are offering agents early bird discounts on a range of Switzerland rail packages until 31 Oct 2017.

Take Flight at Scenic World these school holidays

Get the kids off the couch and into nature these school holidays, with an exciting chance to meet some of Australia’s most unique bird species at Scenic World in the Blue Mountains.

Set among the ancient rainforest of the Jamison Valley, Take Flight is a free interactive bird show that showcases some of Australia’s most spectacular bird species as they fly overhead in an outdoor amphitheatre.

Led by the founder of the Feathered Friends bird sanctuary, Ravi Wasan, Take Flight takes a closer look at the behaviour of unique bird species and provides a glimpse into their distinctive personalities in a hands-on family-friendly performance.

Built on a foundation of future learning, the show aims to educate the audience about avian conservation and dispel common misconceptions about how to treat sick and injured birds in the wild. Visitors will also be able to meet a few scaly friends after the show and hold reptiles in their own hands.

Need to know details:
• Take Flight runs for 20 minutes at 1pm & 3pm during the school holidays from September 25-29 & Oct 3-6
• Entry to the show is free with admission to Scenic World
• Visitors are encouraged to allow one hour to travel to the show area, which is accessed via the Scenic
Railway or Scenic Cableway
• Earlybird specials apply for visitors who arrive before 10am during the school holidays, with family passes for
two adults and up to five children priced from $88

&Beyond contributes to lion conservation throughout Africa

Lion

Conservation-led travel company &Beyond recently celebrated World Lion Day, a global initiative to raise awareness for the conservation and preservation of these majestic cats. Part of Africa’s famous Big Five, the lion is an iconic species that, like so many others, is now in grave decline. Classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, lion populations the world over are under threat.

&Beyond remains committed to saving the lion, not only by conserving the populations on its own game reserve but also by helping to diversify the species’ gene pool through regular translocations. The company’s successful lion management programme has meant that many of &Beyond’s lions have been translocation not only to neighbouring reserve but also to other African countries in an effort to ensure a future for the species.

The company’s flagship reserve, &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa, has been involved in several critical lion translocations, all aimed at strengthening and diversifying the genetic makeup of current lion populations.

Tempo release all new Worldwide brochure

Tempo Holidays’ have released the first of their 2018/19 brochures with the introduction of their new Worldwide brochure.

This inaugural brochure is the first of its kind for Tempo Holidays with a bit of everything. From the best of Latin America, India & Subcontinent, East Africa, the Middle East and Europe, Tempo Holidays’ new Worldwide 2018/19 brochure is full of incredible content all in one convenient place.

The brochure features new product in India with a tiger spotting tour and Charming Kerala Spicelands independent tour. While in Latin America, new Amazon cruises are introduced, packages with stays in an Amazon ecolodge and packages to explore the lakes and volcanoes of southern Chile.

Tempo Holidays’ Signature Range features throughout the brochure providing travellers options in Peru, Sri Lanka and Mexico with experience rich packages.

Earn double Qantas points while exploring Asia with Intrepid

Nepal_Mount Everest_Intrepid

Intrepid Travel is offering travellers the chance to double their Qantas Points simply by taking advantage of an Asian holiday deal.

Qantas Frequent Flyer members who book an eligible Intrepid Travel trip in Asia for $1000 or more per person – including last minute deals – will earn 5,000 points, instead of the usual 2,500.

The double Qantas Points deal is available until 30 September 2017 on amazing Asian adventures including a 15-day trek to Everest Base Camp in Nepal departing 23 October 2017, and priced from $1533 per person twin share (reduced from $2045).

Intrepid’s 15-day Classic Rajasthan itinerary, which combines the opulence and splendour of Maharajahs’ palaces with bustling markets, a safari to find the elusive Bengal tiger and a sunset camel safari, is also valid for bonus points. The trip departs 17 October 2017 and is priced from $1597 per person twin share (reduced from $1775).

Wendy Wu tours celebrates the China-Australia year of tourism

Xian Award2

On September 14, 400 guests of Wendy Wu Tours’ travelled to Xian in China as part of a fortunate few to attend an exclusive Chang’an Impression Tang Dynasty Welcoming Ceremony, courtesy of the China National Tourism Administration.

Held only on very significant occasions to welcome official dignitaries in previous years, including former President Bill Clinton, this prestigious ceremony celebrated the 2017 partnership of China and Australia, in an official “Year of Tourism”, recognising the important relationship between the two nations.

Although a full calendar of activity commenced earlier in 2017, this ceremony was the biggest event of this special year. A fortunate 600 Australian visitors – 400 of those attending as guests of Wendy Wu Tours – were the honourable guests of the Gala Dinner, hosted by the Shaanxi Province Government. The guests were treated to an extravaganza of music and dance at the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Xian City Walls.

On the evening, Wendy Wu Tours received an exclusive award for Special Contribution to the Year of Tourism for China and Australia. Accepting the award in person, Wendy Wu was overwhelmed by the huge show of respect and support.

G Adventures and National Geographic Expeditions Appeal to Travellers’

National Geographic Expeditions and G Adventures continue to grow their joint travel line, National Geographic Journeys—and their partnership—with more itineraries and ways to connect with the inspiring community programs and fieldwork that each supports.

Starting in 2018, the National Geographic Journeys collection of 83 tours will include compelling destinations such as Borneo and Mongolia, as well as less-traveled wildlife parks in Tanzania and Botswana.

Travellers will have the opportunity to spend time with a nomadic family in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert and try out traditional archery, meet with Buddhist monks and yak farmers, and learn from park rangers about efforts to reintroduce native Takhi horses to the wild. A new tour in Borneo will have travellers encountering orangutans, pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys and other unusual wildlife on excursions to nature reserves and a wildlife rehabilitation center.

The National Geographic Journeys line, launched in January 2016, offers hands-on exploration with an emphasis on storytelling, local immersion and social good. These itineraries are designed for travellers who appreciate having flexibility and choices, but value the structure and security that come with group travel.

Each trip is filled with opportunities to forge meaningful connections with local people and cultures and is led by a knowledgeable, local G Adventures guide known as a Chief Experience Officer (CEO) and, whenever possible, travellers visit projects and community initiatives associated with National Geographic or G Adventures that improve local livelihoods and protect natural or cultural heritage.

The new and updated tours for 2018 include:

Best of Borneo (12 days, from AUD $4,599)

Discover Mongolia (14 days, from AUD $5,549)

Southern Tanzania Safari (six days, from AUD $4,299)

Wildlife Parks of Tanzania (12 days, from AUD $8,249)

Botswana & Zimbabwe Safari (10 days, from AUD $6,299)

Southern Africa Safari Experience (18 days, from AUD $9,069)

The Great Southern Africa Safari (21 days, from AUD $10,269)

Discover Bali and Java (15 days, from AUD $3,799)

See the unusual in Africa

Turning of Bones- removal from the crypt

One of the world’s most unusual and rarely seen community rituals, the Turning of the Bones in Madagascar, the art of self-proclaimed Republic of Somaliland and the undiscovered natural beauty and wildlife of Southern Ethiopia are all part of a new 30-day African itinerary, ‘Africa: The Last Frontiers’ being staged by Travel Directors in 2018.

An event conducted in the Central Highlands region in Madagascar every five to seven years by the Merina tribe, it involves the exhumation of ancestors so the remains can be turned over and wrapped in fresh shrouds amid great festivities before being re-entombed until the next “Turning”.

This inaugural tour also delves into Somaliland which has restored law and order within its boundaries. Here the safety of Westerners is taken very seriously and foreigners are welcome by locals and tour operators alike. Discover the famous rock art of Somaliland’s Laas Geel, the camel market of Hargeisa and the ancient port of Barbera on the Gulf of Aden before moving to Ethiopia.

Bentours and Hurtigruten engage agents with national roadshow

Bentours and Hurtigruten roadshow_Melb evening

Bentours in partnership with Hurtigruten undertook an exciting new venture recently which saw them tackle a national roadshow across Australia.

Held over two weeks in Aug and Sep, the roadshow consisted of 15 events in five cities: Tasmania, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide.

The information packed events left attendees inspired with tales from the worlds northernmost town, Svalbard, a documentary on stunning Norway and a powerful presentation on Antarctica and the Arctic.

With a desire to educate agents on the thrill and all the ins and outs of the remote destinations that Hurtigruten and Bentours’ sell, the events were designed to be packed full of first hand knowledge that they could take back to their clients.

It’s show-time! Kakadu to stage Australia’s most spectacular natural expo as Bird Week takes wing – Kakadu Bird Week 2017 (1 – 7 October)

Rainbow Bee Eater Yellow Water photo Bob Burnet

Kakadu is set to host the largest gathering of bird watchers and nature lovers for the annual Kakadu Bird Week 2017, with special birding activities, events, a new photographic competition and special sessions for children being offered from October 1 to October 7.

Whether it is graceful sea eagles ‘fishing’ on Yellow Water Billabong, the remarkable ‘Jesus Bird’ seemingly walking on water, or local favourites such as the Jabiru and the tiny, but vividly beautiful, Kingfisher birds, Kakadu is Australia’s most spectacular location for lovers of exotic birds.

Kakadu Bird Week is the perfect time for nature lovers to discover Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. The Festival is being held from 1 – 7 October and while particularly popular with ‘twitchers’ (the technical name for a bird watcher) a special new program – The World of Birds for Kids – aims to introduce this remarkable spectacle to a new generation of nature lovers.

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&Beyond Bentours and Hurtigruten intrepid Kakadu Bird Week on the go tours tempo holidays Travel Directors wendy wu tours