Looking for a way to get your working week off to a flyer? The latest Wholesaler Wrap is here to provide that kickstart you’re after.

Travelmarvel opens 2021 bookings for Canada and Alaska

APT Group’s Travelmarvel has expanded the range of tours available to book for its 2021 holidays to North America.

The Rocky Mountaineer train, Holland America Line cruises, Canadian lodge experiences, rail journeys and the chance to spot polar bears and beluga whales or view the northern lights are just a few of the highlights available for agents to book.

Early bird offers are available across all itineraries and include Fly Free and ‘2 for 1 Airfares’, a $1,000 discount for solo travellers, premium economy airfares for $1,495 and business class flights from $5,295 per person.

Explore’s COVID-19 refund promise

Explore has announced a new COVID-19 refund promise that sets out to reimburse the full costs of any customer’s trip where they are required to self-isolate due to COVID-19 and are therefore unable to travel.

Customers who have booked through a travel agent can cancel on these grounds, which might include a diagnosis within a month of their planned departure or confirmed contact with a case, up to the day of travel itself (terms and conditions apply).

Explore has also reminded agents that while international travel is currently restricted by the federal government, the wholesaler has two 19-day New Zealand journeys on offer for when the Trans-Tasman bubble opens.

Both trips depart from November 2020 with a maximum of 15 travellers. Agents can discover these trips for themselves using Explore’s Agent discount, which gives 50 per cent off for agents and 30 per cent off for travelling companions (conditions apply).

Intrepid supports project to empower Moroccan girls’ education during pandemic

With critical funding from The Intrepid Foundation, Intrepid Travel’s not-for-profit arm, Moroccan NGO Education For All (EFA) has launched ‘Project Tablets’.

The initiative distributes technology tools to girls in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains after months in lockdown without access to the internet and remote learning.

Earlier this month, Intrepid’s general manager for Morocco, Hala Benkhaldoun, together with the EFA team, hand-delivered 25 tablets and SIM cards to the girls who are now able to resume their education.

Since then, they have reported increased confidence in their studies, a more productive learning environment and new access to online tutorial resources.

Exodus creates Travel Safety Charter, introduces flexible booking policies

Exodus Travels has announced its new 2020 Travel Safety Charter and increased booking flexibility as part of its ‘Book & Travel with Confidence’ message for the travel trade.

As part of Exodus’ new enhanced booking flexibility, the tour operator is offering refunds for all trips that it has to cancel for any reason.

Full refunds will also be given to those that are asked to self-isolate or have been diagnosed with COVID-19, if it coincides with their holiday dates.

Exodus has also moved to introduce more flexible terms on how long before travel customers can cancel or transfer their trip without penalty.

Customers will now be able to receive a refund on the balance of the land portion of their trip if they need to cancel for any reason up to 42 days before the tour.

Exodus’ new 21-day no-fee flexibility guarantee enables customers to transfer to a future departure free of charge up to 21 days before their trips departure date.

Created in line with local government agencies, as well as the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Safe Travel protocols for tour operators, Exodus’ new four-tier charter outlines the requirements that all of its trips will meet in order to operate.

Crooked Compass unveils 2021-2022 digital brochure

In the interest of sustainability, Crooked Compass has moved to only producing a digital brochure.

Check it out here.

World Expeditions’ Northern Territory operations to resume

Adventure travel specialist World Expeditions will resume its range of guided and self-guided walks on the Larapinta Trail in the Red Centre and a guided experience along the Jatbula Trail in the Top End from 1 August 2020.

World Expeditions CEO Sue Badyari said the company is doing all it can to help travellers get back to domestic travel, while being cognisant of safety factors, by introducing a range of COVID-safe operational measures, accepting no deposit bookings and delaying timeframes for the payment of trip balances.

Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours diversifies with launch of new book

Tour operator Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours has branched into publishing with the launch of its first book, The Gallipoli Evacuation, by historian and battlefield guide Peter Hart.

The book documents the untold true story of the Anzacs’ and allies’ escape from the Gallipoli Peninsula.

Available for pre-order now for delivery September 2020, all orders made by 31 July 2020 will receive an exclusive audio conversation with Hart, including recorded interviews with Gallipoli veterans.

To register for the free virtual launch event or pre-purchase the book, click here.

andBeyond WILDchild goes virtual

Conservation-led luxury travel company andBeyond has innovated its highly successful WILDchild program so kids can enjoy the excitement of a safari holiday from home.

Each weekly episode of WILDchild TV is accompanied by a ‘Ranger Mission’ designed to teach kids entertaining new skills to use at home, inspired by activities from the regular program.

Featured image source: APT Travel Group