Wholesaler Wrap: TravelMarvel’s new rail partnership, World Expeditions launches new brand + MORE

Wholesaler Wrap: TravelMarvel’s new rail partnership, World Expeditions launches new brand + MORE

Wholesalers appear to have been more active than usual in recent weeks. However, that’s not to say they’ve been wearing spandex and power walking around the block.

Full steam ahead for Travelmarvel’s 2021 rail journeys

Travelmarvel has launched its Great Rail Journeys for 2021, offering a choice of 32 unique itineraries, which have been made possible through an exclusive partnership with UK-based rail travel company Great Rail Journeys.

To celebrate the new program, Travelmarvel is offering a range of ‘Earlybird Specials’, including discounts of up to $3,000 per couple. Those who book European Gems cruise and rail combinations can receive free return economy flights, inclusive of air taxes.

For additional savings, Travelmarvel has an early payment discount of up to $1,000 per couple when locking trips in 10 months prior to departure. All offers are limited and available until sold out.

 

Travelmarvel has also released the latest issues of Travel Insider, exploring Rotorua’s blend of Maori culture and natural wonders in New Zealand, the Margaret River region and Europe’s mighty Danube and Douro rivers as you discover their influence on the local wines.

APT a winner at the UK Silver Travel Awards taking home footprint award for responsible travel

APT has won ‘The Silver I – footprint award for Responsible Travel’ at the recent Silver Travel Awards 2020 held in the UK.

The event is run by Silver Travel Advisor, the holiday reviews and advice site for mature travellers. This was the sixth year of the Awards ceremony, which received a record 225,000 votes across the 22 main awards.

The Footprint Award went to APT on behalf of its in-house charitable fund, OneTomorrow, in recognition of the company’s support for Responsible and Sustainable Travel across the world.

World Expeditions launches Great Walks of New Zealand

The World Expeditions Travel Group has launched a new Great Walks of New Zealand brand, comprising 21 self-guided and guided walks of varying degrees of challenge and duration on New Zealand’s South Island.

Great Walks of New Zealand is World Expeditions’ third New Zealand brand, joining the long-established and successful cycling brands, Adventure South and Trail Journeys.

Great Walks of New Zealand is the 12th member of the World Expeditions Travel Group.  Other brands include Tasmanian Expeditions, Australian Walking Holidays, Australian Cycle Tours and the Blue Mountains Adventure Company in Australia.

Overseas, its brands include Great Canadian Trails, UTracks and Sherpa Expeditions.

Yalago makes Maldives resort and transfer bookings easier than ever

Yalago has improved its booking systems and processes to enhance customer experience.

The company’s latest innovation enables travel agents and tour operators to easily book Maldives accommodation and transfers from Malé airport to the resort at the same time, without leaving the application, contacting other suppliers or starting a separate booking process. The new functionality also allows users to add optional extra services, such as water sport activities or even romantic dinners, to the booking with only one click.

London meets Melbourne at 69 tours 

Melbourne based small group and private tour operator, 69 Tours, has developed a quirky tour to be launched in Melbourne this summer.

The London Taxi Melbourne Tours are family-friendly sightseeing tours that take participants to a number of beautiful locations, during the day, evening, or night, depending on the selected tour.

Tour routes differ, depending on the time of day, since the aim is to show guests Melbourne’s best features at different periods during the day, or night. The London Taxi Melbourne Tours provide a great opportunity for people of business to get together for a couple of hours outside of the office or loud venue.

Unmapped launches gift boxes 

To celebrate World Tourism Day and the UNWTO Year of Tourism and Rural Development, Unmapped Travel has launched the first of a series of Unmapped Giftboxes aimed at supporting local communities in their featured destinations.

The Unmapped ‘The Gift That Gives’ series will feature boxes from Sri Lanka, Morocco, Mexico, and Colombia, which have been designed to provide a taste of the destinations we have missed out on this year. Sales of the gift boxes will also help vulnerable people in Australia.

The first box is ‘A Taste of Sri Lanka’ and includes products made by local, home-based craftspeople in Sri Lanka using recycled materials and sustainable practices. Included in each box is:

  • A guide to ‘Sri Lanka’s Best Ethical Adventures’.
  • A shopping bag made from recycled saree material.
  • A travel wallet.
  • A journal made with a beautiful upcycled material and recycled pages.
  • A travel pack with a bamboo toothbrush, stainless steel straw, straw cleaner with natural bristles and stainless-steel spork.
  • Four recipe cards from Sydney restaurant and social enterprise Colombo Social.

Latest News

  • Aviation

Philippine Airlines and VietJet look to community connection near Western Sydney Airport

Both Philippine Airlines and VietJet will explore services from Western Sydney Airport with the airport’s proximity to the Filipino and Vietnamese diaspora in Sydney potentially beneficial to both carriers. Philippine Airlines VP revenue management and commercial planning Alex Featherstone, speaking at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit Australia Pacific, said the carrier would “explore” the potential […]

  • Tourism

Australian Cycle Tours adds new cycle trip to the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail

Australian Cycle Tours has added a new, extended cycle trip that includes all sections of the popular Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail. The new trip commences in Beechworth with the first two days cycling with a transfer back to Beechworth, before continuing to Myrtleford and Bright, with a cycle on the newest sections of […]

  • Events
  • News

Anangu Communities Foundation raises $75,000 at its third annual Sydney fundraiser

Generous supporters gathered at the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour for the third annual Anangu Communities Foundation Sydney fundraiser to help raise $75,000. Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia administers the Foundation which so far has funded over $3 million in projects to support Anangu communities of Central Australia with a focus on building community capacity in healthcare, […]

  • News
  • Travel Agents

‘Virtuoso on Tour’ photos: Virtuoso showcases its best to agent base

Virtuoso hosted its second annual Virtuoso On Tour,  a destinations event at the ICC in Sydney showcasing tour operators, tourism boards and more to its agent family. The event is designed for travel agency members in Australia and New Zealand to network with Virtuoso partners across the globe. It housed six destination-themed pavilions (Australia & […]

  • Destinations
  • Tourism

The NT tops list of hidden gem attractions out of Aussie states

As Australia steps into spring with temperatures set to rise above average, new research has revealed the states with the most must-see hidden gem attractions with the great outdoors proving a winner! The study, conducted by travel and luggage experts at Bounce, used Tripadvisor and search data to uncover Australia’s most treasured destinations. The Northern […]

  • Health & Wellness
  • Hotels

Fusion Hotel Group celebrates World Wellness Weekend

Vietnam’s wellness-inspired Fusion Hotel Group is celebrating World Wellness Weekend from 20-22 September with yoga and other healthy living activities. Fusion Hotel Group has introduced a series of events and activities for guests at five of its luxury beachfront resorts in Vietnam to World Wellness Weekend. The exclusive offers include yoga, meditation, onsen baths, Zumba, […]

  • Hotels

InterContinental Wellington unveils new Health Club and Classic Rooms makeover

InterContinental Wellington has announced the completion of its newly revamped Health Club and a stylish makeover of its Classic Rooms. Bringing a new level of luxury to its 79 Classic Rooms, including eight accessible rooms, the hotel has meticulously re-styled these spaces in collaboration with Y-6, an acclaimed Interior Architecture and Design studio based in […]

  • Cruise
  • Cruise Lines

Celestyal Journey celebrates its first anniversary

Celestyal Journey has notched up one year with Celestyal, travelling 66,100 nautical miles in its first year, mostly around the Greek Islands. The 55,877-tonne ship joined the Celestyal fleet following a multi-million-dollar refurbishment made her maiden voyage for the Greek cruise line on 2 September 2023, a seven-night Idyllic Aegean cruise to Thessaloniki, Kusadasi, Heraklion […]