TravelBulletin for July 2018 - IATA is not a four letter word - the low down on the new regulations

outside front JULY 2018

2019 EUROPE COLLECTION LET US TAKE YOU CLOSER TO THE TIMELESS TREASURES OF EUROPE

Nyhavn Canal, Copenhagen, Denmark

#ThisIsSilversea

2019 MEDITERRANEAN HIGHLIGHTS Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper are two of the smallest luxury cruise ships in the Mediterranean with a strong following from our guests allowing access to ports not accessible by larger vessels such as Amalfi, Trapani and Portimao.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN & IBERIA

Key highlights include: • Iberia: Southern coast of Spain and Portugal, including Lisbon and Barcelona (voyage sample 3922, 3923, 3932, and 4923) • Western Med: in different configurations Spain and South of France: 5914; islands of Italy and Spain: 5912; South of France and Italy: 4911; Spain and South of Italy: 3921) • Overnights and late nights in iconic ports like Monte Carlo, Sorrento, Barcelona, and Venice • Grand Prix Cruise on Silver Shadow (V3912) on 22 May 2019

BARCELONA TO LISBON Silver Whisper - 7 Days 10 Sept - 17 Sept 2019 Voyage 4923

Rossio Square, Lisbon, Portugal

Offering a stunning array of voyages along stunning coastlines with late departures in Dubrovnik, Split, Siracusa, Korcula, Kotor and Valetta these cruises will take your breath away.

Our boutique ships provide enviable access to smaller ports such as Patmos, Hvar, and Hydra.

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN, ITALY, & THE ADRIATIC

Key highlights include: • Italy & the Adriatic: mostly voyages from/ to Venice with numerous overnight stays (sample voyages: 3916, 3927, 3928, 4920, 4919, and 5930) • Eastern Mediterranean: normally between Venice and Athens-Piraeus (sample voyages: 3917, 3929, 4918, and 5931)

Venice, Italy

All Ocean-View Suites • Butler Service Throughout • Complimentary Unlimited WiFi • Included Beverages •

MONTE CARLO TO VENICE Silver Shadow - 11 Days 17 June - 28 June 2019 Voyage 3916 Included Gratuities

SILVERSEA 2019 EUROPEAN COLLECTION Silversea provides more choice than ever for your 2019 Europe voyage. Not only do we offer you the flexibility of three different options to book, but also more options than any other cruise line both on board and on land. Experience whispered luxury on our intimate ships, calling on exciting new ports with numerous overnight stays and late night departures allowing you to get closer than ever before.

#ThisIsSilversea

JULY 2018

IATA IS not A

4

LETTER

WORD

SOUTH AFRICA

USA

SOUTH AMERICA

WELLNESS

AUSTRALIA’S TRAVEL IND USTRY EXHIBITION IS HERE!

21 – 22 AUG UST 2 018

TAILORED

EXPERIENCE

Mobile, MICE & Luxury Seminars

Networking Drinks, Live Demonstrations & Fantastic Prizes!

thetravelindustryexhibition

@travel_industry_expo

@thetravelexpo

travelindu st ryex p o.co m .au

the-travel-industry-exhibition

CONTENTS

18 40 34

54 FEATURES

COVER STORY

34 South Africa

18 IATA is not a 4 letter word

Brian Johnston experiences luxury in the wild in South Africa

40 USA There’s more to Texas than just cowboys as Craig Tansley discovers

54 South America Nina Karnikowski gives us the lowdown on Peru’s must-sees

58 Wellness Find out why you need to know about wellness travel

Bruce Piper investigates IATA’s major incoming changes

28 Cruise 32 Industry in Focus 39 Brochures 62 Last Word

MONTHLY

COLUMNS

02 From the publisher

06 Steve Jones

02 State of the industry

08 AFTA View

08 Issues and trends

10 Minister View

22 Business view

26 AACB View

24 Business Events News

30 CLIA View

This month’s contributors Steve Jones, Joel Katz, Jayson Westbury, Richard Savva, Bruce Piper, Nina Karnikowski, Kristie Kellahan, Brian Johnston, Ben Piper, Craig Tansley, April Selby, Melanie Landick, Andrew Hiebl, Steven Ciobo, Geoff Brooks, Sarah Fairburn, Jasmine O’Donoghue, Adam Bishop, Jon Murrie, Sarah Beyer Above – Horse riding image © Travel Texas; Peru image © Nina Karnikowski

www.travelbulletin.com.au travelBulletin is part of the Business Publishing Group family of publications

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EDITORIAL Editor in Chief and Publisher – Bruce Piper bruce.piper@travelbulletin.com.au Co-ordinating Editor – Sarah Beyer Ph: 1300 799 220 or 02 8007 6760 sarah.beyer@travelbulletin.com.au

www.travelbulletin.com.au

ADVERTISING National Sales Manager Lisa Maroun Ph: 0405 132 575 or 02 8007 6760 lisa.maroun@travelbulletin.com.au Production Co-ordinator Sarah Beyer Ph: 1300 799 220 or 02 8007 6760 sarah.beyer@travelbulletin.com.au

DESIGN TEAM Sarah Beyer, Wendy St George ART DIRECTION and FINANCE Jenny Piper jenny.piper@travelbulletin.com.au Suite 1, Level 2, 64 Talavera Rd Macquarie Park NSW 2113 Australia PO Box 1010 Epping NSW 1710 Australia Tel: 1300 799 220 (+61 2 8007 6760)

1 Apr Reporting Period: 16 Apr2017 2016––30 16Sep Sep2017 2016 - Publisher Statement

travelBulletin JULY 2018

1

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

From the publisher Bruce Piper

IN BRIEF

2

THIS month’s National Travel Industry Awards will once again celebrate the best and brightest of the Australian travel sector, and also gives an opportunity to reflect on the nature of awards themselves.

It’s the 25th year of the NTIAs, and in this issue of travelBulletin we have been fortunate to be able to feature a first-hand account of the genesis of the awards from Geoff Brooks, who in 1992 came up with the concept that has stood the test of time.

Awards are definitely important – they are key marketing tools and a way for everyone in the industry to recognise and celebrate success.

But there’s a danger when they are based on the opinions of unqualified “industry experts” or the result of an online poll where there is little assurance that those voting are even real people, let alone being part of the industry.

Let’s not make the mistake of devaluing the concept of awards to the industry equivalent of “everyone gets a trophy because that’s fair”.

By contrast, the long evolution of the NTIAs has seen the process repeatedly refined. There is no anonymous voting – nominees are truly being evaluated by their industry peers. A panel of esteemed and highly experienced judges is involved

Qantas and Air NZ partner up AIR New Zealand’s previously rosy relationship with Virgin Australia plumbed new depths last month when VA rival Qantas announced a wide-ranging codeshare agreement with the NZ flag carrier. Air New Zealand and Virgin had already announced that they didn’t intend to renew their long-running Tasman joint venture, leading to much conjecture about how Air NZ would maintain its feed of passengers from across Australia. That question was answered in early June with the new Qantas deal, which includes codeshares on 30 Air NZ domestic routes as well as 85 QF routes within Australia, along with coordination of check-in and handling at airports to shorten connection times. Eligible customers will also have access to a combined 36 domestic lounges on both sides of the Tasman.

Those with long memories will recall previous attempts

by Air New Zealand and Qantas to form a tie-up. In 2006 a trans-Tasman codeshare deal was knocked back by

travelBulletin JULY 2018

in a rigorous (and nerve-wracking) process which is conducted without fear or favour. And submissions to the judged categories are evaluated by academic experts.

AFTA is rightly protective of the long heritage of the NTIAs, and the finalists and winners this year and every year should be immensely proud of their achievements. I, along with the rest of the industry, look forward to celebrating excellence at the Sydney International Convention Centre later this month.

MEANWHILE the changing industry landscape was further highlighted as this issue of travelBulletin went to press with the revelation that Oman Tourism would close its Australian office after 16 years.

The news came just weeks after confirmation that Dubai Tourism was also closing down locally, while India Tourism is also set to cease Australian operations despite the countries having just completed a new bilateral aviation agreement.

Each tourism agency claims it will continue to service the local market from head office, and it will be fascinating to see how the lack of a physical presence here will impact travel patterns – particularly to a niche destination such as Oman without direct flight access.

the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission after fierce opposition from several quarters including Melbourne, Christchurch and Wellington airports all of which argued that the pact would reduce passenger choices and lead to higher airfares. This time around, 12 years later, the carriers have made it clear they don’t intend to codeshare on trans-Tasman routes. But watch this space as they begin to reap the benefits of their new agreement, with Qantas chief Alan Joyce and his Air NZ counterpart Christopher Luxon both noting “potential to explore areas of mutual interest, including research into biofuels, freight and ground-handling opportunities”.

Travel Counsellors investment TRAVEL Counsellors looks set for further expansion after the company last month received a second round of private equity backing. The “secondary management buyout” by investment group Vitruvian Partners follows the acquisition

of the business from founder David Speakman four years ago, in a deal led by the company’s CEO Steve Byrne which was backed by Equistone Partners Europe. Financial details revealed with this latest deal indicated that since 2014 the company’s global TTV had grown by £130 million (34%) to £512 million. Profit had also grown by more than 20% annually, the company said, reaping the benefit of significant investments by Equistone including more than £6 million this year alone on IT developments.

Vitruvian Partners has a strong track record of supporting travel businesses, with previous successful investments including Skyscanner, airline tech firm OAG and online B2B accommodation specialist JacTravel, which was acquired

by Webjet earlier this year. Byrne said the fact that Travel Counsellors had secured the secondary buy-out was “testimony to the confidence in the long term growth prospects and plans for the company”. He said Vitruvian would help the company “realise the many opportunities we have to grow in both the leisure and corporate markets globally and provide the platform for each of our franchisees to accelerate and future proof the growth of their own businesses”. The buyout also followed the recent appointment of former Travelport GM Australia Kaylene Shuttlewood as managing director of Travel Counsellors’ Australian operations.

Borghetti to leave Virgin IN WHAT may turn out to be the longest of goodbyes, Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti has confirmed that he will not renew his current contract which expires on 1 January 2020. Borghetti has led the carrier for more than eight years through tumultuous times, including a bruising capacity war with Qantas, a very much up-and-down relationship with Air New Zealand and a succession of deep-pocketed foreign airline investors including Etihad, Singapore Airlines, HNA Group and Nanshan Group. Under his leadership VA has morphed from its former upstart mode as Virgin Blue into a full-service rival to his former home at Qantas, where he left after missing out on the top job in favour of current CEO Alan Joyce.

CATO FOUNDER RETIRES

“

[The secondary buy-out of Travel Counsellors was] testimony to the confidence in the long term growth prospects and plans for the company

”

Steve Byrne, CEO, Travel Counsellors

PETER Baily, the founder and long-term general manager of the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) was farewelled at an event last month as he heads into retirement having devoted more than 50 years to the Australian travel industry. Dignitaries heaped praise on Baily, thanking him for his contribution. “I am both humbled and honoured,” he said. Baily is pictured with CATO chairman Dennis Bunnik (left) and the organisation’s managing director Brett Jardine (right).

Announcing his prospective departure, VA chair Elizabeth Bryan said Borghetti had signalled his desire to give the company ample time to recruit a replacement and allow for an appropriate transition, with a global search for a new CEO now under way.

“I would like to acknowledge John’s enormous contribution to the Virgin Australia Group to date and thank him for his continued dedication,” she said. Until a successor is found, Borghetti said he looked forward to “continuing in the role of CEO and I remain focused on delivering the goals of the Virgin Australia Group”.

Those goals include delivering a profit and boosting the share price which continues to languish around 22c – while Qantas has soared to levels around $6.50.

BridgeClimb era ends LAST month’s announcement that BridgeClimb Sydney had been unsuccessful in securing a new 20 year contract from the NSW government came as a shock to the Australian tourism sector, with the company rightly noting that the now world-famous climb had “turned the Sydney Harbour Bridge from a postcard to a global bucket list experience”. Founder Paul Cave has every right to be angry at losing the

rights to operate on the Bridge, having developed the concept and brought it to the government in the early 1980s prior to the climb’s opening on 1 October 1998. Since then, more than four million people have experienced Sydney in all her glory from the top of the ‘coathanger’ with BridgeClimb hailed for its unblemished safety record and unparalleled levels of customer satisfaction.

The state government’s tender for the operation attracted global interest, with Merlin Entertainments seen as a strong bidder among a field also believed to include Dreamworld operator Ardent Leisure and the owner of the Cairns Adventure Park zipline attraction. However the successful contender turned out to be a company associated with the Sydney-based Hammon family which also operates the Scenic World attraction in the Blue Mountains. The NSW government’s Roads and Maritime Services said Hammons Holdings had outlined a “strong and clear vision” for new climb routes as well as integrating the latest technology and boosting the attraction’s accessibility. It’s also understood the winning tender provided for a significantly higher payment to the state than the $1.9 million paid annually by BridgeClimb.

Continues over page

travelBulletin JULY 2018

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STATE OF THE INDUSTRY Continues from previous page

HEADLINES 24 May Cruising growth slows 24 May QF renews AF codeshare 25 May Travel storms the rich list 25 May Airlines slam monopolies 28 May Millennials to travel more 28 May SYD puts Africa in sights 29 May HLO renews Trav Choice 29 May SQ makes first NDC link 30 May Darwin-China link debuts 30 May Airports “taking credit” 31 May SQ goes direct to NYC 31 May Airlines put heat on NZ 01 Jun

QF/NZ codeshare deal

01 Jun

IATA slams airport costs

04 Jun

JetGo into administrations

04 Jun

oneworld adds Fiji Airways

05 Jun

VA Hainan c’share launch

05 Jun

Best Western goes direct

06 Jun

HLO plots NZ expansion

06 Jun

Qld “cruise powerhouse”

07 Jun

AC/CA sign partnership

07 Jun

QF joins Amadeus NDC

08 Jun

Trafalgar takes on Africa

08 Jun

Malindo MEL takes off

12 Jun

Borghetti to depart VA

12 Jun

Travel figures honoured

13 Jun

IHG launches new brand

13 Jun

Qld $180m Budget boost

14 Jun

$165m revamp for ADL

14 Jun

Green light for W Sydney

15 Jun

RCL takes Silversea stake

15 Jun

Etihad mitigates losses

18 Jun

Adv World to Europe

18 Jun

NZ to charge tourism tax

19 Jun

Travel’s biggest spenders

19 Jun

AFTA surplus increases

20 Jun

NTIA People’s Choice

20 Jun

Oz enjoys local travel

21 Jun

New Tramada itineraries

21 Jun

Intrepid bares all in AR

22 Jun

Collette Australian surge

22 Jun

Airport inquiry widened

4

travelBulletin JULY 2018

Fiji Airways pioneers new oneworld tier THE oneworld airline alliance has opened the door to a new class of members with the creation of its “oneworld connect” tier, starting with Fiji Airways. The move is the first significant change to the alliance’s membership structure since its creation 20 years ago and recognises the fact most of the world’s biggest carriers are already signed up to one of the major global air partnerships. The group’s CEO Rob Gurney outlined the initiative, saying the alliance still had regions of the world it wanted to expand in.

“With fewer potential new candidates available to recruit based on our established membership criteria, oneworld connect enables us to link up with other airlines whose networks are relevant to a subset of our members, who cannot meet oneworld’s full membership requirements at this stage or who are not interested in full membership at present,” Gurney said. “This enables us and them to offer our customers more services and benefits across an even wider network and strengthen our relationship going forward, with a streamlined and rapid path to full membership later on where it makes sense for all parties.” Qantas will act

as a mentor to Fiji Airways through its oneworld implementation process, while “talks are progressing” with other potential carrier additions around the world.

Green light for W Sydney MARRIOTT International is ramping up the expansion of its high-end brand W Hotels, revealing details of its long-anticipated W Sydney at Darling Harbour. Currently under construction on the site of the city’s former Imax cinema, the 593-room hotel will occupy a futuristic building known as The Ribbon and will feature a “Wet Deck” pool area with “Insta-worthy” views of Darling Harbour and a series of bars and restaurants in which to “see-and-be-seen”.

Set for an opening in 2020, the hotel is being developed by the Grocon Group, funded by Greaton Group, and is one of almost 20 properties under development in Australia for Marriott brands. It will be the W’s third hotel in Australia, with W Brisbane now open and W Melbourne also due in 2020. It also marks a return to Sydney for the W brand which previously operated a hotel at Woolloomooloo in the early 2000s, now branded Ovolo. “Sydney – with its glamorous energy, cultural diversity and statement architecture – is the perfect match for W Hotels,” said Anthony Ingham, global brand leader for W Hotels Worldwide.

ABU DHABI HITS THE ROAD THE Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways Roadshow came to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney last month.

The delegation showcased Abu Dhabi to a total of 620 travel agents, with highlights of the events including gold leaf welcome drinks and a spectacular chocolate model of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

Pictured are Monique Safayan, Jennifer Gaskin, Anood Khalifa and Suzanne Tobin, Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi.

DATA ROOM

All the latest statistics from the ABS and BITRE to keep you in the loop.

DOMESTIC ON TIME PERFORMANCE

ARRIVALS

April 2018

Jetstar

Qantas

Arrivals on time Departure on time Cancellations

79.9% 77.3% 1.0%

Arrivals on time Departure on time Cancellations

DEPARTURES

Top 10 destinations, Apr 18

83.0% 81.8% 1.4%

Source

Trend (000)

Original (000)

New Zealand China USA UK India Singapore Malaysia Japan Korea, South Hong Kong ALL INBOUND

113.2 118.2 66.9 62.8 28.8 35.3 31.4 38.3 23.7 24.7 759.9

111.4 109.0 57.4 52.6 31.2 28.3 28.0 26.9 21.5 21.1 679.7

Trend Mar 18/ Apr 18 % -0.4 +0.6 -0.8 -0.5 +1.2 -0.7 +0.0 +0.7 -1.0 +0.5 +0.1

Top 10 destinations, Apr 18

Trend Apr 17/ Apr 18 % +1.0 +5.9 +0.9 +3.1 +20.3 -6.2 -6.3 +5.5 -1.2 +7.2 +4.0

Source: ABS

Destination

Trend (000)

Original (000)

New Zealand Indonesia USA China Thailand Japan Singapore UK India Vietnam ALL OUTBOUND

117.5 106.2 91.2 47.8 48.4 37.7 33.6 55.8 32.7 26.6 910.5

131.8 104.4 88.0 63.1 58.7 56.3 43.0 37.9 33.5 31.6 929.0

Trend Mar 18/ Apr 18 % -0.2 +3.0 +1.1 +1.0 -0.4 +1.1 +0.2 +0.9 -0.1 -0.1 +0.8

Trend Apr 17/ Apr 18 % -3.3 +6.4 +1.0 +7.0 +0.7 +14.9 -0.3 +5.4 +11.6 +7.9 +3.3

Source: ABS

ENDED DECEMBER 2017 All airlines

Arrivals on time Departure on time Cancellations

83.2% 83.1% 1.2%

-0.7%

85.2% 85.6% 0.9%

.8%

Virgin Australia

Arrivals on time Departure on time Cancellations

+0

International Passengers Carried (thousands) - December 2015 to December 2017

+5

DOMESTIC AIR MARKET

.3 %

April 2018

+3 .5%

+ 2.

Dec-17

Nov-17

Oct-17

Sep-17

Aug-17

Jul-17

*Percentage points difference

Jun-17

May-17

Apr-17

Mar-17

Feb-17

Jan-17

Dec-16

Nov-16

Oct-16

Sep-16

Aug-16

Jul-16

Jun-16

May-16

Apr-16

Mar-16

Feb-16

Jan-16

5.10m 5.97bn 7.50bn 79.6 52.2

.7 %

4.94m 5.82bn 7.31bn 79.5 51.8

Yr to Yr to Growth Apr 17 Apr 18 % OUTBOUND 59.14m 60.65m +2.6 69.43bn 70.72bn +1.9 88.60bn 88.53bn -0.1 78.4 79.9 1.5* 640.7 638.1 -0.4

+3

INBOUND

Growth % +3.1 +2.6 +2.5 0.1* +0.8

-3.8%

Total pax carried Revenue pax km (RPK) Avail seat kms (ASK) Load factor (%) Aircraft trips (000)

Apr 18

+2.2%

Apr 17

+3.6%

4%

-1.2%

Source: BITRE

INTERNATIONAL AIR MARKET SHARE

International Passengers by Major Airlines - Year ended December 2017

International passengers by major airline – year ended Mar 2018 Qantas Airways, 16.4% Qantas Airways,

Others, 31.0%

Jetstar, 9.1%9.1% Jetstar,

Emirates, Emirates, 8.2%8.3%

Etihad Airways, 3.1% China Southern Airlines, 3.1% China Southern Etihad Airways, 3.2% Airlines, 3.1%

Singapore Airlines, 8.0% Singapore Airlines, 8.1%

AirAsia 3.7% AirAsia X,X,4.0%

Top 10 city pairs, Mar 2018

City pair

16.4%

Others, 30.7%

INTERNATIONAL AIR ROUTES

Cathay Pacific Air New Cathay Pacific Air New Zealand, 6.6% Airways, 4.6% Zealand, 6.6% Airways, 4.6% Australia, 6.1% VirginVirgin Australia, 6.0% Source: BITRE

Auckland-Sydney Singapore-Sydney Singapore-Melbourne Auckland-Melbourne Singapore-Perth Hong Kong-Sydney Auckland-Brisbane Los Angeles-Sydney Denpasar-Perth Singapore-Brisbane Top 10 City Pairs Other City Pairs ALL CITY PAIRS

Year ended

Year ended

Year ended

Passengers YE Mar 18 1,565,951 1,506,470 1,424,261 1,245,916 1,151,958 1,084,764 978,439 880,485 847,550 827,215 11,513,009 28,714,160 40,227,169

% of total % change 18/17 3.9 -1.2 3.7 +3.7 3.5 +3.5 3.1 +3.6 2.9 +2.2 2.7 +0.8 2.4 +2.4 2.2 -0.7 2.1 -3.8 2.1 +5.3 28.6 +1.6 71.4 +7.9 100.0 +6.0

Source: BITRE

International Passengers by Uplift/Discharge City Pairs Australian

Passengers YE Mar 17 1,585,334 1,453,258 1,376,016 1,202,131 1,127,269 1,076,365 955,417 886,891 880,646 785,527 11,328,854 26,614,716 37,943,570

travelBulletin JULY 2018

% of

% Change

5

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY MAIN DOMESTIC ROUTES Top 10 domestic city pairs, Apr 2018

City pair

MelbourneSydney Brisbane-Sydney BrisbaneMelbourne Gold CoastSydney AdelaideMelbourne Melbourne-Perth Gold CoastMelbourne Adelaide-Sydney Perth-Sydney Hobart-Melbourne

MOST POPULAR WEBSITES IN TRAVEL - AGENCIES May 18 compared with Apr 18

Passengers Passengers % change YE Apr 17 YE Apr 18 (000) (000) 8,918.1

9,235.6

+3.6

4,673.0

4,775.5

+2.2

3,497.4

3,549.1

+1.5

2,698.3

2,766.3

+2.5

2,403.1

2,487.9

+3.5

2,053.2

2,044.9

-0.4

1,984.4

2,038.0

+2.7

1,875.7 1,739.5 1,593.5

1,909.0 1,717.6 1,645.8

+1.8 -1.3 +3.3

Rank Website

Visits % share May 18

Relative Rank % dif May Apr 18 to Apr

1

Webjet Australia

13.36

+4.70

1

2 3

Expedia Australia Skyscanner Australia Wotif.com Flight Centre Velocity Frequent Flyer Luxury Escapes Lastminute.com.au Cheap Flights Aus & NZ I Want That Flight!

10.23

-4.50

2

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

9.22

-3.18

3

7.79 6.14

-1.33 +2.50

4 5

4.09

+6.11

6

3.35 2.45

-1.18 -0.63

7 8

2.20

-7.73

9

2.00

+6.39

10

Source: Hitwise

Source: BITRE

AUSTRALIAN AIRPORTS

International passengers through Australia’s major international airports, Mar 18 City pair Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Perth Gold Coast Adelaide Cairns Darwin Canberra (a) Townsville (b) Sunshine Coast (c) Port Hedland (d) Norfolk Island (e) ALL AIRPORTS

Passengers YE Mar 17 15,252,717 9,750,879 5,483,232 4,376,142 1,097,662 942,528 642,002 279,876 44,255 42,717 13,728 7,749 10,083 37,943,570

(a) Scheduled services recommenced Sep 2016 (c) Seasonal services only (e) Scheduled services ceased May 2017

Passengers YE Mar 18 16,277,776 10,581,998 5,829,245 4,370,193 1,079,568 985,748 675,727 265,732 87,670 50,207 13,719 7,620 1,966 40,227,169

% of total % change 18/17 40.5 +6.7 26.3 +8.5 14.5 +6.3 10.9 -0.1 2.7 -1.6 2.5 +4.6 1.7 +5.3 0.7 -5.1 0.2 +98.1 0.1 +17.5 0.0 -0.1 0.0 -1.7 0.0 -80.5 100.0 +6.0

(b) Scheduled services recommenced Sep 2015 (d) Scheduled services recommenced Apr 2015

Source: BITRE

Steve Jones’ Say AKBAR Al Baker rarely disappoints.

Not for reporters anyway.

His appearances are invariably entertaining, his remarks eminently quotable. I’ve yet to meet a journalist who doesn’t look forward to his press conferences, and the stories they frequently deliver.

I also regard Al Baker as media savvy. Unlike many CEOs, the boss of Qatar Airways knows what makes journalists tick. He is aware of what they want; strong opinions, controversy, the impromptu release of “under wraps” news that leaves his PR team exasperated but which

6

travelBulletin JULY 2018

generates blanket media coverage.

I remember covering a press conference at the Arabian Travel Market some years back, when Al Baker declared he would not talk about alliances. Within minutes, the most gentle of probings had him revealing all about the airline’s likely future plans. He couldn’t help himself.

So it was at the annual IATA gathering in Sydney. Moments after assuming the role of IATA board chairman, Al Baker responded to a question about equality in the aviation workplace by suggesting that only a man could do his job “because it is a very challenging position”.

Oh dear. Cue almighty groans and plenty of Al Baker bashing, understandably so.

Al Baker later claimed his remark was made in jest.

Only he knows if it really was an ill-conceived “joke” or genuine sentiment. I suspect the former, if only because no one in his position, and with his presumed intelligence, can surely believe a woman is incapable of holding down such a role. To suggest otherwise is, indeed, laughable.

What reaction did Al Baker expect, other than derision? Journalists and the rest of the IATA summit to laugh along? We can assume he did, which demonstrates surprising naivety and severe misjudgment.

He compounded his failings by blaming the media, as so many do,

“

No one in [Al Baker’s] position, and with his presumed intelligence can surely believe a woman is incapable of holding down such a role

”

for blowing it out of proportion.

Critically, whether his comment was a joke or not is largely irrelevant. For starters, a comment or behaviour is defined by how it’s received. In this case, not very well.

Secondly, what such a “lighthearted” throwaway remark illustrates – if that is what it was – is that gender equality, particularly in senior positions, is still not taken all that seriously. To relegate the issue to flippancy is disrespectful and misunderstands the immense frustration felt by many women.

Meanwhile, frustration is a common emotion felt in Australian cruising, as it struggles to develop ports to attract larger ships.

Figures just released show 1.34 million Australians took an ocean cruise in 2017, up 4.4%, a healthy increase but way down on the growth in 2016 of 21%.

CLIA suggested infrastructure constraints were impacting growth and will continue to do so unless there is sufficient political will to support the sector. That may be so, but only to a point.

Targets of two million cruisers by 2020 was always optimistic, and not just because of capacity issues. With market penetration approaching 6%, far higher than other major markets which hover around 4%, you have to wonder if cruising is starting to plateau.

all the

SEASON’S BEST

CRYSTAL INSIGHTS WITH KAREN CHRISTENSEN

Crystal invites your clients to savour the sweetness of the Christmas season with mulled wine, strudels and blintzes. There is nothing like hearing the strains of music echoing from the cathedrals and losing yourself in the twinkle of lights throughout Europe’s magical Christmas markets. As Crystal River Cruises embarks on 2018 holiday sailings along the Danube and Rhine rivers, guests will be wrapped in the merriment that kisses the shorelines of Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and other enchanting locales during this dazzling time of year.

Karen Christensen Senior Vice President & Managing Director Australia & New Zealand

ALL

2 018 C H R I STMAS MA R K E T SA I LI NGS

TAKEN CARE OF

DANUBE CHRISTMAS MARKETS

RHINE CHRISTMAS MARKETS

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ISSUES & TRENDS

RCL BUYS MAJORITY STAKE IN SILVERSEA

ROYAL Caribbean Cruises is set to invest in the ultra-luxury space, with the company announcing it will acquire a majority stake in Silversea Cruises.

The $1 billion deal aims to propel the growth of the luxury and expedition brand and brings together “two companies with bold, long-term visions for the cruise industry”.

Manfredi Lefebvre D’Ovidio will remain as Silversea’s executive chairman and will work with the existing management team.

He will also qualify for an estimated contingent consideration of approximately 472,000 RCL shares, payable upon achievement of certain 2019-20 performance metrics.

“Silversea is a crown jewel, and the acknowledged leader in luxury and expedition cruising, two key markets that are poised for growth,” said Royal Caribbean Cruises chairman and CEO Richard Fain.

“Uniting our two companies presents an extraordinary opportunity to expand vacation options for guests and create revenue in strategic growth areas.”

D’Ovidio said the deal would bolster the growth of Silversea.

“This new partnership gives Silversea the opportunity to accelerate the growth of the most successful luxury and expedition cruising brand in the world,” he said.

The partnership has identified four key goals, including driving long-term capacity growth in the luxury and expedition markets at a much larger scale than what Silversea would achieve independently and diversifying Royal Caribbean’s portfolio and increasing its expedition offerings by adding an ultra-luxury brand.

It also aims to leverage the global footprint of the combined companies to generate demand and increase vacation and destination options for the guests of both companies and realise significant synergies related to global market access, supply chain, purchasing power and other economies of scale.

The close of the deal is expected to be completed later this year, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Silversea Cruises sails to more than 1,000 global destinations with its ultra-luxury and expedition vessels.

Earlier this year it declared it was plotting “ambitious plans for growth” in the Australian and New Zealand markets when it appointed current Royal Caribbean Cruises associate vice president and managing director Australian and New Zealand Adam Armstrong as its next local head.

Armstrong has been with Royal Caribbean since 2009 when it first opened an office in Sydney.

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AFTA VIEW Jayson Westbury, chief executive AFTA

IATA MAKING HEADLINES LAST month, IATA held its 74th Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit in Sydney. It was a very well attended event and brought with it some very interesting debates and discussions on a range of global aviation matters.

Curiously, and somewhat disappointingly, there was no discussion about indirect distribution or travel agents. From my perspective, this was a missed opportunity as travel agents remain extremely relevant and important to the on-going successful viability of airlines across the globe. Nevertheless, the event was still a very big success and has been well received across the industry and in fact the globe.

The aviation industry has been described by the senior leadership of IATA for several years now as a ‘force for good’ and when you look to the numbers perhaps that is a sign: this year will be the 9th consecutive year that the global airlines have been in profit, and it is estimated that The new in 2018, the IATA airlines will make US$33 billion in profit. They arrangement brings will also carry some 4.3 billion with it substantive passengers which is a lot of changes to IATA people moving all over the world accredited agents and does support the ‘force for good’ label.

Within the agency community globally IATA is in the middle of rolling out the NewGenISS. This new arrangement brings with it substantive changes to IATA accredited agents, but also without question places a further squeeze on all travel agents here in Australia and across the world, as credit provided by the BSP airlines will be controlled with a razor sharp approach.

For the first time IATA agents, including consolidators, will have a weekly credit limit applied to their BSP sales and will have to manage this far more closely than ever before. At this stage it is planned for Australia to move to the new arrangements later this year and from the reports that have been provided to IATA at a global level from those countries who were implemented in wave 1, things don’t look so good.

A number of significant issues have occurred in markets in wave 1, from Canada to Norway, and the global agency community has rallied together to get assurances from IATA that these operational issues can be rectified.

One could ask of course, how some of the issues that have occurred were allowed to happen in the first place. Discussions with IATA about the roll out of NewGenISS have been going on for years and the agency community has provided an enormous amount of intelligence and feedback to support IATA in the hope that the roll out would go well.

From my perspective, that has not been the case and all eyes are now on IATA to see if they can get the problems resolved and ensure a smooth transition for the markets in which the new resolution will be applied.

“ ”

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ISSUES & TRENDS

NZ TOURISM TAX PLAN REVEALED

SIMMERING concerns over the impact of tourism in New Zealand have prompted government promises for greater spending on infrastructure – and a new tourist tax to help fund it.

The country’s Tourism Minister Kelvin Dale last month announced a consultation period over a planned International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) of between NZ$25 and NZ$35 (A$23-33), which would be used to raise up to NZ$80 million (A$75m) a year for new infrastructure spending.

The charge is likely to be levied when visitors apply for an electronic travel authority or a visa, with the government ruling out any tax applied to airfares or charged on arrival at the airport.

“As a Government we need to find a way to provide sustainable funding to invest in both our tourism infrastructure and our conservation estate,” Davis said.

“We don’t believe that the financial burden should rest purely on the shoulders of New Zealanders – we do believe that visitors should pay their fair share,” he said.

Australians are likely to be spared the charge, with Davis assuring it “will not affect our major short-haul markets, Australia and the Pacific Islands”.

The move comes amid ongoing debate in New Zealand over the impact of tourism on local services and infrastructure, including complaints of “over tourism” in some communities. While the tax plan has largely been welcomed, tourism figures have stressed [The tax] will not its proceeds should be directed affect our major back into supporting the industry. short-haul markets, Tourism Export Council of New Zealand chief executive Judy Chen Australia and the said a recent member survey Pacific Islands indicated tentative support, but only if it was reinvested in tourism.

“Our members are saying there is much more that needs to be done to improve New Zealand’s tourism offering and any additional funding should go toward enhancing and developing tourism attractions and infrastructure,” she said.

She also warned that increasing costs to tourists would increase expectations. “The world of tourism is highly competitive and New Zealand is already one of the more expensive destinations,” Chen said. “This means there is an expectation that we will deliver a premium product and more cost on the visitor will increase this expectation.”

“

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MINISTER VIEW Steven Ciobo MP, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment

GOVT SUPPORTING TOURISM AUSTRALIA is welcoming record numbers of international tourists who are staying longer and spending more than ever before.

Last year 8.81 million international tourists visited Australia and spent a record $41.3 billion. However we – and I’m sure you do too – want more. More tourists mean more business, more jobs and a better economy.

That’s why the Turnbull Coalition Government is working to grow the tourism industry. The 2018-19 Budget delivers for the industry, with record funding for Tourism Australia, a new $45 million program to build regional tourism infrastructure and the continuation of the Approved Destination Status Scheme which allows Chinese tourists to travel to Australia in guided groups.

The Budget measures build on the Turnbull Coalition Government’s recent announcement to create the first ever Federal Government-funded business events bid fund.

The Boosting Business Events In 2017, more Bid Fund, to be managed by Tourism Australia, will help provide than one million Australia with a competitive international advantage when bidding to secure business events new high-value international visitors spent $4.75 business events. The impact business events on both the billion in Australia of industry and wider economy is far reaching, with these visitors often extending their visit to regional parts of Australia and likely to return for a holiday in the future. In 2017, more than one million international business events visitors spent $4.75 billion in Australia.

Tourism Australia is targeting key markets to attract more visitors to Australia with record funding from the Turnbull Coalition Government. One such market that holds significant opportunity for tourism is the United States. Whilst Australia ranks highly among Americans in terms of desirability and awareness of our tourism offerings, we lag behind our competitors when it comes to actual bookings. That’s why earlier this year TA launched its Dundee campaign, the largest marketing investment we’ve made in the US, to address this conversion challenge.

The campaign – with the help of Australia’s stars such as Chris Hemsworth – puts Australia at the forefront of travellers’ minds in the same way that the original Crocodile Dundee film did 30 years ago. While it is undoubtedly still very early stages, the feedback we have received from both industry and media has been overwhelmingly positive.

These are just a few examples of how the Turnbull Coalition Government is working to grow Australian tourism as we move closer towards reaching the target of over $115 billion in overnight visitor spend by 2020.

Of course, this will only be possible with the continued efforts and support from members of the industry, who are its lifeblood and such a critical part of its current success.

“ ”

ISSUES & TRENDS

row, L to R): Carole e, Luky and Tony Wilson, then Eliza Travel; (front L to R): Liz Cincotta, Multimedia; Mario Perron row, ell, GET Travel (back Mitch s Marie award Anee2002 and the trade; from Travel table A guest and Maree Brooks, Multimedia; Ian Marshman, Geoff Wilks; Suzie lee; Brown Neil how; Brownlee, Village Roads

By Geoff Brooks THE National Travel Industry Awards program may never have marked its quarter century of birthdays this year had it not overcome a pitched battle in its early years between AFTA and my former company, Multimedia Creations, a communications and marketing consultancy.

Although it was a bottle of perhaps not so high quality red shared between my late mate and then managing editor of Traveltrade, Ian Marshman, just before Christmas 1992 that inspired the NTIA idea, its success is down to the support of some of the most iconic figures in the industry.

It is the collective support and vision of these people to whom the industry owes its thanks for NTIA. Bottle of red completed and being in entrepreneurial mode, Ian and I signed a contract. Not literally, but with Ian’s simple words: “I’ll tell Woolley we’ve done the deal, so he has to support it.” The person to whom he referred was, of course, Michael Woolley, publisher of Traveltrade, then one of the

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industry’s two major trade publications.

It wasn’t the first time the diplomatic Mike found himself sandwiched in what would emerge as a politically charged battlefield.

We’ll get to that later. Suffice to say, I had the ‘media deal’ in the bag for the awards night.

At this juncture, it is appropriate to note our first approach to AFTA. At that time, AFTA only had a state-based awards program.

I offered the association a free category sponsorship. No deal.

Rather than ‘get with the program’, AFTA’s John Dart took the view that we were essentially usurpers and had no place in commercialising industry awards. He may have had a point, but we did anyway and our next sponsor was therefore carefully targeted.

We confirmed our first key sponsor: Graham ‘Skroo’ Turner jumped at the chance to sponsor a category in a program that would bloody the nose of AFTA. At that time, Flight Centre was the upstart retail group reportedly excluded from AFTA membership

by John Dart due to his association’s dislike of Flight Centre’s business model.

I knew that with Flight Centre’s involvement

secured, the support of industry suppliers would tumble into place.

Next into the fray was young Ansett marketing up and comer, Geoff Dixon. He wasn’t going to settle for second best and signed up for naming rights sponsorship for three years. We were on a roll. For the sake of name dropping, I’ll name the dominoes that dropped into place very quickly: Hertz’ John Butler, Avis’ Russell Butler, P&O’s Colin Fossey, Qantas’ John Borghetti, and iconic Sydney hotelier, Ted Wright. Ted always had an eye for publicity and couldn’t resist jumping in with the Sydney Regent (now Four Seasons) as the awards venue. In fact, in the decade that I ran NTIA, it was held seven times at the Regent.

With NTIA we also decided to up the ante with the quality of hosts, entertainment and audiovisual. It was 1993, but we weren’t quite prepared to forgo the excesses of the 80s.

Our first host was Ian Leslie, a highly respected journalist and founding presenter on 60 Minutes. Ian was interesting to work with.

He’d turn up at the hotel and immediately ramp up the bill by booking himself into the

Regent’s business centre all day, so he could retype all the presentation notes in 24pt font and not have to wear glasses.

Despite blowing our budget he was a great presenter until one night in 1995, when P&O had one of those gastro outbreaks that meant returning to Sydney and disembarking all its passengers. As the cruise operator’s representative arrived at the podium to present an award, Ian reverted to 60 Minutes mode asked the poor guy whether they had got to the bottom of the cause of the gastro.

James Bowyer, then CEO at Hertz and a client of mine, was due up next and leaned over to my table to anxiously ask what his question was likely to be. That was the last year we used Ian. The next few presenters were an eclectic bunch. Channel 10 sports presenter Tim Webster followed Ian. Catriona Rowntree from Getaway was our first move to glamour. She hosted for three years until we held our first Melbourne event.

It coincided with the Spring Carnival and the Crown Palladium was decked with brightly coloured flowers. Aligned with the theme, I hired family friend and then leading racing commentator, Bryan Martin, to host it. I told him we needed to keep it moving. He did.

When he hit the podium the gates opened and they were away. One presentation after the other. All ushered through racing style in about 40 minutes. Plenty of time for dancing and drinks.

Naomi Robson and Suzie Wilks followed, introducing a somewhat different pace and style to the event.

NTIA also cracked the mould in 1994 by launching the first online voting system. To be

Woolley that he should declare AFTA morally bankrupt in his regular column and, in particular, in the edition published in Lenehan’s first week in office. Mike reluctantly agreed to pen the words.

Being an ex-politician and former South Australian government minister, Susan was quick to understand that moral bankruptcy and industry associations are not naturally sustainable bed fellows. One of her Geoff Brooks presenting with Naomi Robson. first acts was to summon the principal of her event management contractor, honest it wasn’t Darryl Washington, and I to a small really online as we know it now. The internet meeting room at Melbourne Airport – a sort of had been invented but not deployed. Our FIFO negotiation. online voting system was programmed by TIAS, By the end of the meeting, we’d essentially then a commonly used reservations system agreed to merge the awards. It was game that preceded Sabre, Galileo and others. over. The AFTA National Travel Industry Meanwhile, back in Sydney, AFTA’s brains Awards as we know them now were born. trust had decided to set up in opposition.

This resulted in a tendering process for the Their first move was to copy all our awards trade media deal, with Ian McMahon trumping categories with our ‘XXX of the Year’ tags. I rival Marshman to align Travel Week (now sought legal advice on whether we had any Business Publishing Group’s travelBulletin) with prospects of challenging what I believed was AFTA-NTIA, an association preceded by Travel theft of our intellectual property.

Week’s sponsorship of the rival AFTA awards.

Jack Scanlon’s (of Scanlon Carroll) wise Of course, the awards under my guidance counsel to me was “unless you’ve got the evolved on a much different trajectory than pockets of Kerry Packer, you’ve got no chance they did under AFTA, as I offered fewer of challenging this in court. These things are awards. Under AFTA they have emerged, I usually won through PR. We just provide the think appropriately, as the industry’s leading ammunition.” Lucky I was a PR bloke. program for recognising excellence.

I sent AFTA’s first BDW legal response I sold off various bits of my business in to Ian Marshman to publish in Traveltrade.

2002, including my half share of AFTA-NTIA Transparency was good. Despite the through negotiation with an AFTA CEO for challenge, AFTA continued with its inaugural whom I had great respect, Mike Hatton. I program in 1994. knew that in his hands, the program would Early in 1995, Mike Woolley rang me out of prosper, as it has. the blue. “Are you going to the AFTA meeting with all the sponsors on Tuesday week?”

I was unaware of it and Mike continued to inform me that John Dart had called a meeting of all the awards sponsors to “sort the awards programs out”.

“That’s interesting, Mike,” I responded.

“I’ll tell you what, don’t say anything and just go to the meeting.” I still think me walking totally uninvited and unexpected into that meeting was a career highlight.

“I think you left me off the invitation list John”, I said as I sat down. It was one of the few meetings I ever attended where no one really said anything before leaving.

Ultimately, John Dart moved on from being CEO, but the battle over intellectual property continued. The game changer was the arrival of Susan Lenehan as AFTA CEO. Ted Wright, general manager Regent Hotel, presents Sarina Bratton, CEO Cunard Line We had a plan but the challenge was with the Cruise Operator award in 1994. persuading the increasingly nervous Mike

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ISSUES & TRENDS

COLLETTE CELEBRATES CENTENARY IT’S only three years since Collette launched in Australia, but that was just the latest step in a proud century-long history which was celebrated in Providence, Rhode Island last month. The touring company, which now operates to all seven continents, debuted in 1918 with a three-week tour taking 14 intrepid passengers from New England to Florida and back in a ‘Jitney’ van purchased by founder Jack Collette. The tour cost the princely sum of $68.50 per person!

The company was led by Jack Collette for the next 44 years, but really started growing in the 1960s after it was purchased by Dan Sullivan Sr and his brother-in-law, Arthur McWilliam. Sullivan took the then small business global, expanding its portfolio with the help of his family, who continue to lead the business to this day. Sullivan’s son, Dan Sullivan Jr took over in 1990 and just last month he in turn appointed his daughter, Jaclyn Liebl-Cote, as the company’s president to lead the business into the future.

Collette now has more than 600 employees across the globe, including about 380 in its Providence head office plus sales operations in Canada, the UK and Australia and tour managers in its worldwide portfolio of destinations. The walls of the company’s Rhode Island headquarters are adorned with constant reminders of Collette’s mission “to enhance life’s journey by creating extraordinary travel experiences” across a host of departments including product development, marketing, reservations, administration and sales. The operation also has a strong focus on “giving back” with the non-profit Collette Foundation currently supporting child nutrition and education projects in Cambodia, Fiji, Canada, Kenya, Egypt, Peru, South Africa and Australia.

Left to right: The original Collette ‘Jitney’ van; Collette CEO Dan Sullivan Jr; statue of Dan Sullivan Sr in Providence, Rhode Island

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“

Liebl-Cote confirmed global growth was in the double digits last year, with Australia significantly outstripping other markets in terms of its performance

“

Last month’s centennial saw several hundred key worldwide partners invited to join the party, including travel agents, wholesalers, suppliers and media. As well as a gala dinner the major event at the Rhode Island Convention Centre included a Global Travel Forum, with expert speakers and panels discussing the current industry state of play and the future of travel distribution. Australia also had a strong presence, with presenters including Flight Centre executive GM of product, Nick Lucock and Fairfax travel editor Anthony Dennis.

Clearly Collette is optimistic about what is ahead, with the company’s head of global business, Christian LieblCote, telling travelBulletin 2017 had been a “fantastic year for touring”. The privately-held Collette doesn’t reveal details of its finances, but Liebl-Cote confirmed global growth was in the double digits last year, with Australia significantly outstripping other markets in terms of its performance. And looking forward that is expected to continue as Collette innovates its product range including the pending launch of its new ‘Explorations’ small group product which has been revamped to have a maximum of just 19 passengers per departure. Explorations complements Collette’s other product ranges including classic, river cruising, faith-based and ‘spotlight’ city stays. An office in New Zealand is also firmly on the agenda once the Australian operations are bedded down, Liebl-Cote confirmed.

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ISSUES & TRENDS

AIRPORT MONOPOLIES UNDER FIRE AUSTRALIA’S privatised airports have become the aviation sector’s latest battleground as airlines and consumer advocates express alarm over rising costs at the country’s key departure points.

With the Productivity Commission set to investigate the impact of privatisation on Australia’s major gateways, locally based airlines have joined the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in voicing concerns over the monopoly powers of the airports.

Gripes have covered everything from the cost of parking to excessive landing charges, amid calls for more stringent regulation from the Federal Government and greater policing powers for the ACCC. The consumer watchdog set the scene back in April when the ACCC released its annual airport monitoring report, in which it expressed concern over the “unconstrained monopolies” of Australia’s four main privatised airports and highlighted their rising profits.

The ACCC said Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney airports earned a combined $757.6 million in operating profits (EBITA) in 2016-17, up 9.9% on the previous year, with SYD alone earning $360.8 million.

“We remain concerned that the current regulatory regime... doesn’t constrain the market power of four of Australia’s major airports,” ACCC chairman Rod Sims said.

“Unconstrained monopolies often have an incentive and ability to charge excessive prices while lacking strong incentives to improve services,” he said.

The ACCC has since been joined by Airlines for Australia and New Zealand (A4ANZ), which slammed airport profit levels and called for greater government intervention.

“

Australian passengers and our economy are paying the price of airport privatisation...

”

The group released a report of its own, which blamed “light-handed regulation” for high costs and profits that were in some cases more than double those of other airports overseas.

“Australian passengers and our economy are paying the price of airport privatisation in the absence of appropriate constraints on monopoly power,” the A4ANZ report said.

“More effective regulatory pressure is required to prevent excessive profits by airports and return more value to consumers and the economy.”

A4ANZ argued the promised benefits of privatisation had been overshadowed by high costs for airlines and passengers, without

© Qantas

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any improvement in the quality of airport service. It said the ACCC should be enlisted to arbitrate in negotiations between airports and airlines, in a method similar to those currently used in the US and Canada.

The issue has also erupted on the other side of the Tasman, where New Zealand’s Commerce Commission is conducting its own inquiry. In a submission to the commission, A4ANZ singled out Auckland International Airport for its “excessive profits”, saying the gateway has set prices that were “not in the long-term interests of consumers”.

Despite the criticisms, the airports weren’t without defenders. Airports Council International world director general Angela Gittens told an aviation gathering in Sydney last month that Australia’s airport regulatory framework was a “global role model”.

She said over the past 20 years Australian airports had delivered better terminals, better services, and more choice for passengers.

The airports had invested $11.5 billion in airport improvements over the last decade, without taxpayer funding.

While the representative bodies focused on the upcoming inquiry, tensions between airports and carriers have in recent weeks spilled over into mainstream media.

Qantas and Canberra Airport continued a public stoush in which the airline has been criticised for its high rate of flight cancellations in the capital. In return fire, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce made public an incident in which one of the airline’s planes was allegedly blocked from departure by an airport vehicle while payment was sought for its unscheduled landing, the result of a diversion from Sydney.

With characteristic colour, Joyce likened the airport’s operators to Somali pirates. In an earlier run-in with Perth Airport, Qantas reportedly scrapped plans to launch flights between the WA capital and Johannesburg, apparently over the airport’s refusal to allow departures from the airline’s preferred Terminal 3.

TOLLMAN ROLLS HIS SLEEVES UP

Iraq Al-Amir Women’s Cooperative in Amman, Jordan

THE Travel Corporation’s global CEO Brett Tollman has highlighted the need for senior industry executives to “roll up our sleeves as CEOs and industry leaders” in order to understand the key role tourism plays in developing communities around the world.

Speaking to travelBulletin in his hometown of Los Angeles, California last month, Tollman said a recent trip to Jordan as part of a Tourism Cares delegation had provided key insights, leading to a new project under the auspices of the TreadRight Foundation, a charitable organisation established by the Tollman family which is funded by contributions from the various Travel Corporation brands.

Tollman, alongside other senior industry executives, participated in volunteer projects highlighting some of the remarkable social enterprises emerging in Jordan, with TreadRight aiming to provide economic empowerment to local women and helping them build a sustainable future. The virtuous circle of support for the Iraq Al-Amir Women’s Cooperative outside of Amman will help upgrade facilities – in turn providing a better experience for customers on Trafalgar, Insight Vacations and Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection holidays, who will visit the project as part of their trips and hence provide ongoing support for the community.

That’s just one of many initiatives being undertaken by TreadRight, with Tollman serious about the long-term Plastic document impact The Travel Corporation is wallets, plastic straws having on the world. The company and even single use has significantly reduced its use of natural resources in the last water bottles are on 12 months, with electricity usage their way out... down a hefty 31% along with major savings of water by the introduction of waterless urinals. The company is phasing out all “single-use” plastics on its tours, and working with the huge network of hotels it uses across the globe to also assist them in reducing their environmental footprint. Plastic document wallets, plastic straws and even single use water bottles are on their way out, and TTC also encourages its staff to make a difference individually by providing two paid days of leave per year to undertake volunteer work – either individually or through activities coordinated by the company’s HR teams.

“ ”

travelBulletin JULY 2018

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travelBulletin JULY 2018

The International Air Transport Association is currently undertaking a global rollout of the most radical shake-up of the airline payments ecosystem in almost 50 years. Australia is in the next wave of deployment for the so-called NewGenISS platform, which will be implemented locally before the end of 2018. Bruce Piper looks behind the scenes at what this momentous change means for the Australian travel sector.

HE numbers involved are staggering. In 2017 IATA’s Billing and Settlement Plan and other facilities processed more than US$326 billion in transactions, enabling the issue of millions of tickets to literally keep the global traveller community flying. But the systems currently in use launched in the early 1970s, and the world has changed a lot since then. The rise of new technology and the evolving industry landscape has seen IATA undertake a huge amount of work to create the New Generation of IATA Settlement Systems, or NewGenISS. There are massive implications for IATA-accredited agencies, and Jayson Westbury, head of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents, has been fighting the good fight on behalf of agents globally in IATA’s key offices in Madrid and Singapore to minimise the disruption and limit the impact of unintended consequences of the changes.

IATA, as the representative body for the vast majority of the world’s airlines, is often seen as being at loggerheads with the interests of travel agents. In fact, however,

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All those acronyms!

IATA – International Air Transport Association NewGen ISS – New Generation of IATA Settlement Systems TIP – Transparency in Payments RHC – Remittance Holding Capacity NDC – New Distribution Capability LFC – Local Financial Criteria BSP – Billing and Settlement Plan CCCF – Credit Card Charge Form TMC – Travel Management Company PSAA – Passenger Sales Agency Agreement VAN – Virtual Account Number GDC – Global Delivery Centre

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COVER there’s a pragmatic recognition of the key role the third party distribution network plays globally, and NewGenISS, along with other innovations such as IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC), actually creates significant opportunities for the agency community. The key is to understand the changes and be ready for them, because like it or not, they are coming to Australia in the third week of November this year.

TRANSPARENCY IN PAYMENTS In the end, it’s all about payments.

To lay the groundwork, in parallel with the introduction of NewGenISS, IATA has launched an initiative called Transparency in Payments or TIP. The Billing and Settlement Plan, which covers cash settlements from agency bank accounts, is actually a highly efficient system, estimated to only cost about US$240 for every million dollars in sales – or 0.024%. By contrast if agents use credit cards for settlements IATA claims these costs will skyrocket to 2.9% – or $29,000 per million dollars – so it’s not as simple as just allowing solutions such as dynamically generated credit card Virtual Account Numbers. The Transparency in Payments initiative enables all forms of payments – including agents’ own credit cards – but ensures the costs are made clear, while airlines are newly empowered to set individual commercial policies for the methods used.

During the recent IATA AGM in Sydney, the organisation’s CEO Alexandre de Juniac noted that since TIP was launched last year, significant competition had emerged among payment providers, leading to price drops in a range of products. IATA is also undertaking a pilot program with

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“

Regulatory changes in Europe have made possible instant payments directly from a customer’s bank account to the airline

”

German financial institution Deutsche Bank and an innovative company called ipagoo. “Regulatory changes in Europe have made possible instant payments directly from a customer’s bank account to the airline,” de Juniac said, noting that several European carriers are already using such a system. “If successful, our pilot program will create an industry service that will potentially benefit all airlines,” he said.

Also new on the payment front is an option called IATA EasyPay – essentially enabling pre-payment in the form of an electronic wallet into which agents can pre-deposit funds.

Single-use IATA EasyPay numbers can be entered into GDS during ticket issuance, and if there are sufficient funds available in the e-wallet they will be transferred to the BSP and settled to the airlines.

ACCREDITATION The key change under NewGenISS is the introduction of three levels of IATA accreditation – replacing the longstanding “one size fits all” arrangement. Because the issuing of airline tickets involves the provision of credit to IATA agencies, the accreditation process aims to ensure their credit-worthiness by imposing Local Financial Criteria, or LFC. That generally means agency accounts must be audited, and in some cases a bond must be lodged, to provide confidence for airlines when dealing with agents that they will be paid for the tickets issued. Currently in Australia there are 525 accredited head office locations under these arrangements.

NewGenISS maintains this existing type of accreditation, which is described as “GoStandard”.

GoStandard applies to agents operating in a single country, and

requires agents to comply with the LFC of the countries in which they operate, and undergo annual financial reviews. These agents have access to all of the BSP forms of payment including cash, client credit cards as well as IATA EasyPay. To assist large agencies – generally TMCs – operating in multiple jurisdictions, NewGenISS has introduced “GoGlobal” accreditation – a one-stop solution which covers multiple BSPs. Multi-country agents are required to meet a single global set of requirements and criteria, and can accredit all their locations worldwide under a single Passenger Sales Agency Agreement.

The third type of accreditation offered under NewGenISS is called “GoLite”. This innovative solution offers a new option for agents that do not require access to cash sales and who ticket only using credit

cards or IATA EasyPay. The financial requirements for GoLite agents are minimal, because there is limited risk so the accreditation process is much less rigorous.

AFTA CEO Westbury believes this could provide a realistic option for many existing IATA agents, particularly those with a significant proportion of corporate clients. “A lot of the mid-size TMCs that remain IATA accredited would have anywhere between 70% and 85% of their transactions going across on the customer’s credit card,” according to Westbury. “So what that means is, for the other 15% they are currently ensnared in this archaic accreditation process that requires them to have audited accounts, requires them to potentially post a guarantee and so on. The introduction of Transparency in Payments in the Australian BSP could allow alternative transfer

methods, meaning a corporate TMC could go with IATA GoLite and give up its auditing and any bond requirements,” he said, noting that customer credit cards would be used for the majority of transactions, with alternate methods – such as the agent’s own credit card where permitted – for transactions currently settled using BSP cash.

REMITTANCE HOLDING CAPACITY The other key plank of NewGenISS is the Remittance Holding Capacity or RHC – an IATA term for what is essentially a travel agency credit limit. The RHC uses a formula based on the agency’s three largest billing weeks in the previous year, adding them together, dividing by three and multiplying by 100. That basically means in a single week agents can issue tickets worth up to roughly double their largest previous weekly turnover. Once that limit is reached, the agent’s ability to settle to BSP cash is turned off. IATA noted that airlines lose millions of dollars annually as a result of agent defaults in the BSP, and until now there had been “no effective mechanism to limit airlines’ risk exposure”.

“The RHC is a key feature of the risk management framework under NewGen ISS,” IATA said, with the credit limit applying to all agents with access to cash as a form of payment in the BSP. The three major GDS providers – Amadeus, Travelport and Sabre – have all implemented the necessary functionality to allow IATA to switch off the ability to ticket to cash settlements for the agent.

TEETHING PROBLEMS Despite lofty aspirations and a huge amount of investment, the initial rollout of NewGenISS hasn’t been as smooth as promised. NewGen ISS has seen IATA create a new Global Delivery Centre (GDC) operating around the clock in four locations: Madrid, Beijing, Montreal and Singapore. De Juniac described it as a “massive change, impacting about a quarter of our total staff”. And now that the GDC is up and running, NewGenISS is being progressively rolled out in a series of “waves” forecast to be completed in early 2020.

“Wave 1” countries, where the system started to be deployed in March this year, included Canada, Norway, Singapore, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Australia is part of “wave 2” after concerted lobbying

by Westbury who pushed hard for the local market to not be part of the initial implementation. And that has definitely been to the benefit of Australian agents who have so far been insulated from some of the consequences of the system. Despite IATA’s assurances that things are running smoothly, there have been several major glitches, including one instance where a Canadian agency had its ticketing authority completely turned off – rather than just its ability to settle to BSP cash – while servicing the requirements of a large group booking because it had reached the Remittance Holding Capacity limit.

Despite procedures requiring agencies to be notified as they approach the cap so other arrangements can be made, in this case the tap was

RESOLUTION REVOLUTION IATA’s arrangements are governed by “Resolutions” which are voted on by the world’s airline leaders at the organisation’s regular gatherings – such as the World Air Transport Summit and AGM which wrapped up in Sydney early last month. NewGenISS is the result of IATA Resolution 812 – which replaces the old arrangements under Resolution 818G. And the other major change, the XML-based New Distribution Capability, is detailed in Resolution 787.

“

Despite IATA’s assurances that things are running smoothly, there have been several major glitches including one instance where a Canadian agency had its ticketing authority completely turned off...

”

simply turned off late on a Thursday afternoon, with the agent in question ending up having to issue the tickets with payment on his own credit card through a third party consolidator.

Questionable retrospective elements of the GoStandard accreditation scheme have also reportedly seen hundreds of agencies required to post bonds, where previously they had been exempted.

IATA has “demonstrated an incapacity to make NewGenISS happen successfully in their wave 1 markets,” Westbury said, adding that the agency community globally remains gravely concerned about how well IATA can implement the new systems after the “disastrous” first wave. Westbury also noted that Australia is one of the most successful BSPs in the world, with not a single cent of airline moneys lost to agent default in the last three years.

Similarly in wave 1 market Norway there has not been an agent collapse for a decade, with Westbury saying some aspects of IATA’s new systems are “like an outsider interfering in a perfect marriage” by upsetting existing strong and robust relationships between agents and airlines in these markets. He also noted the imbalance of the relationship, with IATA strenuously protecting itself from agent default, while a succession of airline failures in recent years have in many cases left agents holding the bag. “One of the key failings of NewGenISS from our perspective is they have wrapped the travel agents up in shackles because they are so worried about them going broke, and yet every time an airline goes broke it seems to be OK,” he fumed.

Questioned about the teething problem with NewGenISS, IATA chief de Juniac was dismissive of the issues, telling travelBulletin: “now it works perfectly well”. Only time will tell.

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BUSINESS VIEW

CAREER IN

FOCUS JUSTINE LALLY

to go where I wanted, professional success would also come from personal development, building my emotional intelligence and adapting my personal communication style where needed.

1. What does your role involve and how long have you been in your current position?

As General Manager Marketing, I lead a fantastic team in all aspects of modern day marketing. We are responsible for ensuring the APT Travel Group’s brands retain their market-leading presence, through brand strategy, marketing mix plans, campaign development, all brand aesthetics and communications, and of course lots of budget management, analysis and reporting. I’ve been overseeing the team for six years now – over this time we have grown two-fold, though we are still a tightly integrated team spanning every marketing touch point.

7. What factors were central to your success?

Hard work – really looking for ways and opportunities to deliver above and beyond what my boss or colleagues were expecting (and to achieve that required focus and hard work). I also haven’t been shy about sharing where I wanted my career to go with senior management over the years. When opportunities did came up, and the selfdoubt crept in and I didn’t step up to apply, it was the push and support from these same managers who ensured I didn’t let such an opportunity slip by.

General Manager Marketing, APT Travel Group

2. How did you start out in your career?

My first role out of uni was inside sales with P&O Resorts – and I couldn’t have asked for a better training ground to the travel industry than providing support (and learning from) three amazing sales managers, each looking after a different sector of the industry.

3. Were you always destined to work in the travel industry?

My first passion was advertising (I was the annoying child who talked all the way through the TV program and would then be fixated on watching the ads). Falling in love with travel after an around the world trip prior to uni, I discovered I could combine marketing with the joys of travel and there was no turning back.

4. Did you complete formal qualifications, and do you think they are important?

My one piece of advice is never stop learning.

You could be inspired and learn something new from a customer, a colleague or a mentor – always be open to listening and

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learning from everyone whether it be in a formal setting or not. In saying that, I do think formal study and qualifications is the perfect complement to on the ground training. Particularly in a discipline like marketing, the principles and marketing tools learnt through my formal qualifications (an undergrad degree in Business and more recently a Masters of Marketing), provide the foundation for much of my day-to-day or strategic planning and decision-making.

5. What do you love about your job?

What’s not to love; the people in our industry are second to none, our customers are amazing and trust us with delivering unforgettable experiences, and I really love and thrive on the competitive nature of our sector.

6. What are some of the greatest challenges you’ve faced in your career?

My biggest challenge was really more selfawareness and acknowledging that while I had the technical knowledge and skill-set

8. Did you have a mentor, and if so, how did you find them?

Not formally – though I’ve always made sure I’ve been surrounded by smart, inspiring leaders who have been willing to share their knowledge and experience. I also come from a role-reversal family where my mum was an 80’s ‘Girl Boss’ at EY and dad was stay-athome carer. The premise around ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’ is true for us all – and I was lucky to have such a role model in my every day. Mum is still my go to and mentor when struggling with a challenge or situation.

10. What advice would you give to others in the industry who would like to follow in your footsteps?

Know that your career path may not be as straight and linear as you envision – the side steps and experience from such diversions can be just as beneficial. Also don’t forget you can ‘choose your boss’ … we spend a lot of time in the office, so if you see someone who you’d love to learn from and work with every day with – find out how to get into their team or into their organisation.

HARNESSING TECHNOLOGY

By Richard Savva

T

ECHNOLOGY is evolving at such a pace it can be daunting and scary trying to keep up with it. That’s the case for personal use as much as within your business.

Everyday there is a new innovative solution launch involving artificial intelligence (AI), voice recognition, blockchain and the recent one to completely blow my mind is Google Duplex!

So how can we manage our travel agency and compete with all these new whizz-bang solutions? Instead of being overwhelmed by them I would suggest you take the time to see which of them will affect your business.

Look at how you transact business today from the following focus points: • Are you losing clients and prospects to online solutions?

• Is it harder to employ experienced consultants and managers?

• Are your internal administration processes using up significant time?

• Is your three to five year business plan (yes you must have a plan to allow your business to survive & grow) including technology either as a sales tool, automating internal processes or customer engagement (CRM tool)?

These are areas you need to review as

a minimum.

It is relatively easy to incorporate an online booking tool to your website and thereby capture any clients or ‘tyre-kickers’ for a lower cost and means your office can be open 24/7.

Employing & retaining quality staff is tough.

Travel is not as glamourous as it used to be so allow your team to focus on the client and remove boring repetitive actions that don’t add value and are fraught with potential errors. Invest in robotic automation at as many stages of your business as possible.

What is your plan for the company? Be sure that although there will always be those loyal clients that will visit your office or call you, if you are too succeed in the future there

has to be a keen focus on technology.

Cashflow can be the hardest issue to deal with and with ever decreasing IATA airline payment terms you need to consider alternative payment solutions and that might include virtual cards. It’s not as daunting as it might seem.

Blockchain, New Distribution Capability (NDC) and AI will affect your business so it’s much better to learn how you can benefit from using these solutions rather than letting them overrun you. There are numerous learning opportunities at travel technology events and industry associations.

It won’t cost a fortune to engage with these technologies, but it could cost you your business if you don’t.

Richard Savva is the director of Changing Times, and has led a boutique travel company to become the largest independent travel management company in Australia. With over 30 years’ travel industry experience, he now acts as mentor, business coach, subject matter expert & facilitator for the travel industry including corporate, airlines and hotels. Get in touch with him at hello@changingtimes.net.au or visit www.changingtimes.net.au.

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business events news

HONG KONG PLAYS THE LONG GAME THE MICE sector in Hong Kong enjoyed steady growth in 2017, with arrivals to the city rising by 1.9% to reach 1.93 million for the year. Most of that increase was driven by mainland and short-haul visitors, comprising 51.2% and 27.8% of the visitor profile respectively.

Last year was also fertile ground for Hong Kong in the bidding stakes, securing 30 major events for the year including a range of large-scale medical conferences. The biggest of these was the 33rd Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress 2018 held earlier in the year which attracted over 15,000 medical professionals from all over the world.

MICE infrastructure has also been on the move in Hong Kong, with a host of hotels opening during the year and offering large

meeting spaces. The 546-room Kerry Hotel boasts extensive meeting facilities that include 17 separate event spaces. Opening to the public late 2017 was the Harbour City Ocean Terminal expansion which offers a large lobby area equipped for 1,000 guests to attend product launches and other events.

SINGAPORE GROWTH IN FULL SWING

THE latest figures available for Singapore’s MICE industry paint a mixed picture. On the one hand the country has experienced a 3.4% increase in visitor spend for Q3 2017, however this is offset by a 5% decline in international visitor arrivals recorded for the same period.

Drilling down further on those numbers, the country saw 1.75 million people arrive for business events in Q3 last year, with S$3.15 billion spent on accommodation and shopping activities.

Despite the varied results, the broader life signs of Singapore’s business events sector look healthy as last year saw a very busy period of growth for MICE infrastructure development, with many new hotels opening their doors equipped with spaces dedicated to hosting business events of all sizes.

Some of these hotels included Huone Singapore, which offers an all-in-one business events venue catering for groups of six to 150 delegates across 11 meeting spaces. The luxurious Andaz Singapore was also welcomed to the market in September featuring two meeting rooms, a 583m² glass ballroom, and a 203m² Garden Studio ballroom.

The last 12 months was also fruitful for Singapore in respect to securing major events, with a host of large-scale conferences to be hosted over the next five years.

Some of these big wins included Campus Party running this month, the world’s largest technology-based festival which is tipped to attract more than 1,000 attendees and includes talks from industry heavyweights such as Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. This year marks the first time an Asian nation has hosted the event.

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The major incentives for meeting planners to host events in Hong Kong, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, include the city’s politically stable environment, its allure as an economic gateway to mainland China, and its blend of both business and leisure attractions on offer.

Thailand flags ambitious growth THE Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has set the country’s business events industry some lofty targets for 2018, forecasting 1,340,231 international MICE travellers who will bring with them an economic value of $4.49 million.

Those ambitions aren’t without merit, with the TCEB’s figures showing a steady upward trend of events since 2010, over that time recording close to double the number of visitors from 679,585 to 1.28 million in 2017.

Even more impressive than those numbers are the financials which show revenue over the same period more than doubled from $1.92 billion to $4.1 billion.

The breakdown of event type hosted in Thailand shows meetings made up 20.3%, incentives comprised 20.7%, events at 21.4%, conventions logged 23.4%, and exhibitions rounded out the rest with 14.1%.

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business events news Melbourne plugs into digital future MELBOURNE’S growing reputation as a technology hub is set to be further solidified with the city gearing up to host three major tech events in the latter half of 2018.

The first of the major digital events will be the VidCon, a major day on the calendar for online video creators. Hosted at the MCEC, the gathering kicks off 31 August and is set to attract 7,500 attendees including a sprinkling of YouTube stars and social media celebrities.

Online gamers will descend on several major sporting venues shortly after to attend The Melbourne Esports Open. Thousands of visitors from interstate and overseas will attend to compete.

In November more than 900 of the nation’s tech leaders from industry, government and education will gather at the MCEC Australian Computer Society’s (ACS) Reimagination Thought Leaders’ Summit & Digital Disruption Awards. The forum will discuss leading technical and ethical questions in the digital space.

Gold Coast charms THE Gold Coast recently held the This Is Gold Coast Business Exchange, attracting a record number of meeting influencers and professional conference organisers. Wrapping up in early June, the conference sought to highlight the best features the city has to offer planners including its natural tropical attractions, modern hotels, and vibrant city life.

“Post-Commonwealth Games, the city is buzzing with a revitalised spirit and infectious new energy, with so much on offer for conferences and meetings,” said Gold Coast Business Events director Anna Case.

Delegates were treated to a welcome reception at street market Miami Market before meeting with a range of local suppliers.

ICC looks at big picture THE ICC Sydney is clearing a path to hold even more prestigious, largescale events in the future following its successful hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in March.

“We are starting to attract a number of major Asia Pacific technology conferences that have traditionally been held in South East Asia – Salesforce and Amazon are just a couple of examples,” said ICC Sydney chief executive Geoff Donaghy.

He believes the reason largescale planners are being lured to ICC Sydney is because of the venue’s “flexibility” and proximity to “one of the world’s most beautiful harbours”.

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AACB VIEW Andrew Hiebl, CEO, Association of Australian Convention Bureaux

POSITIVE BUDGET FOR BUSINESS EVENTS AS AUST SETS SIGHTS ON WORLD TOP 10 A FEW weeks ago, we welcomed the Federal Government’s modest increase in funding for Tourism Australia as we set our sights on returning to the world top 10 of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Country Rankings.

The federal budget confirmed that funding has been secured for Tourism Australia, with an increase of approximately $17 million over the next four years, taking into account positive foreign exchange impacts.

But more could be done, noting that the Government currently over-collects taxes on the tourism industry. In order to realise continued growth in tourism exports across the next decade, stronger investment in the nation’s tourism agency is required. Enhancing Australia’s position as a leading business events destination relies on this.

The ICCA Country Rankings show that Australia has moved from 16th to 14th with a total of 258 international association meetings held in 2017 (up 47).

While we have our eye on returning to the top 10, the position last held in 2006, we are operating in a highly competitive industry with strong regional competition from Japan (7th), China (8th) and the Republic of Korea (13th).

However, we are confident that policies such as the $12 million national bid fund announced by Minister Ciobo in March will help Australia secure more lucrative business events, especially when competing against its Asian rivals.

business events news 02 May Darwin turbocharges ahead 02 May Geelong cash boost 09 May ICC Sydney dreams big future 09 May Sydney claims top spot 16 May Australia on stage at IMEX 16 May MCEC signs C2 pact 23 May BCEC hosts international robotics forum

Australia’s star performers include Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Adelaide and Cairns, all increasing the number of international association meetings held year-on-year, with Brisbane holding on to 3rd position in Australia.

We are pleased to see the success of these destinations. A core function of the AACB is to facilitate collaboration amongst its members. This allows them to share performance data and best practices to grow the overall business events industry in Australia.

While Sydney and Melbourne made it to the top 10 in the Asia Pacific rankings, at 7th and 9th respectively, Australian destinations are still facing strong competition from Singapore, Seoul, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Tokyo, Beijing, Taipei and Kuala Lumpur. Australia ranked 4th in the Asia Pacific region for 2017, holding against the previous year.

Australian ICCA World City Rankings 2017 (compared against 2016) Country rank

City

No.of meetings

26 ( 15)

Sydney

76 ( 15)

35 ( 9)

Melbourne

67 ( 9)

91 ( 15)

Brisbane

29 ( 6)

148 ( 131)

Gold Coast

18 ( 9)

165 ( 91)

Adelaide

16 ( 16)

165 ( 159)

Cairns

16 ( 9)

193 ( 24)

Perth

14 ( 1)

HEADLINES MAY TO JUNE 2018 30 May Gold Coast’s next big event 30 May Venues on rich list 06 Jun Victoria tackles a tech trio 06 Jun Sydney mega incentive 13 Jun Industry revenue on the rise 13 Jun Mornington debut 20 Jun Jewel reveals event plans 20 Jun EEAA takes eco lead

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CRUISE

NORWEGIAN BLISS

what a sweet ride!

Kate Hansen, Norwegian Cruise Line, Michael Middleton, Bicton Travel, Randall Deer, Ignite Travel, and Norwegian Cruise Line sales manager Nicole Costantin.

It’s a tough job, but someone had to do it. Bruce Piper takes a trip on board the brand new Norwegian Bliss.

MY MISSION – which I gladly accepted – was to check out the brand new Norwegian Bliss, which has just commenced her inaugural season cruising weekly voyages to Alaska, homeporting out of Seattle. And while the scenery is spectacular, so is the array of onboard dining, entertainment and activity options aboard this stunning 4,000 passenger newbuild.

But first things first. As I perused the huge array of eateries on board – there are no-less than 20 outlets offering a staggering variety of options – one in particular caught my eye.

Could this be what I’ve always dreamed of?

Yes – Coco’s is an a-la-carte dining venue which only serves dessert! Located on deck six, Coco’s has something to satisfy any sweet tooth, from simple pralines through to decadent milkshakes with all the trimmings, crepes and even a personal chocolate fountain. Challenge accepted!

Bliss is Norwegian Cruise Line’s 16th vessel and reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to providing great holidays.

Our inaugural voyage – a two-night “cruise to nowhere” out of Los Angeles – carried a mixture of travel trade, media and consumers, and although everyone was keen to explore the ship, its clever design meant it didn’t seem crowded. Flagship family attractions include an on-board go-kart track,

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Norwegian Bliss and one of Coco’s decadent milkshakes with all the trimmings.

a laser-tag arena and video arcade, as well as two thrilling waterslides and an aqua park on the pool deck. There’s also an array of age-appropriate kids clubs offering a host of exciting activities for tots to teens.

But there’s plenty for adults too. Those seeking the ultimate in serenity can book staterooms in the exclusive ‘Haven’ where

“

Could this be what I’ve always dreamed of? Yes, Coco’s is an a-la-carte dining venue which only serves dessert!

”

there are penthouses, villas, a private restaurant and a concierge. The onboard spa is the biggest I’ve ever seen, with 24 treatment rooms, a full-service hair salon and barber shop along with a huge “thermal suite’ which has a steam room, sauna, salt room, therapy pool and even a “snow room”.

Passengers can buy passes to the thermal suite, with a limited number of guests given access on each sailing. The onboard fitness centre features the latest in treadmills, ellipticals, rowing and weight machines, and offers regular yoga, aerobics and spin classes to work off all that delicious cruise cuisine. There’s also Spice H20, an adultsonly daytime escape featuring hot tubs and a soothing waterfall feature, which transforms

into a nightclub in the evening.

Broadway-style shows are becoming a staple of onboard entertainment, and Norwegian Bliss is no exception, with our cruise featuring the blockbuster Jersey Boys. Also making its world debut on Bliss is HAVANA!, a musical which celebrates Cuban culture, created by Tony Awardwinning director and choreographer Warren Carlyle. Another performance, ‘Happy Hour Prohibition: The Musical’ takes guests back to the early 20th century for a “rowdy good time” complete with a selection of Prohibition-era specialty cocktails. There’s plenty of live music, with bands playing on the pool deck as well as in several other venues across the ship including ‘The Cavern’, a replica of a venue in Liverpool, England featuring Beatles hits. For those wanting a flutter there’s an on-board casino, and to spend your winnings a huge array of retail outlets offering perfume, watches, clothing, handbags, artworks and more.

But for me, one of the best features of Bliss is the observation lounge, a huge, comfortable area offering sweeping vistas of the surrounds – perfect for relaxing while you watch the world go by. Bliss has been cleverly designed with a huge amount of glass providing views from scores of vantage points across the ship, giving it an open, airy feel.

The design extends to several of the eateries which offer al fresco dining options, with the onboard cuisine including French, Italian, Indian, BBQ, steak, Mexican and more.

BRISBANE’S MASSIVE CRUISE BOOST BRISBANE’S cruise business is set for a major shake-up, with the city set to have a new cruise terminal operating at Luggage Point in the second quarter of 2020.

The Port of Brisbane and Carnival Australia have shaken hands on a deal which was subject to a lengthy review by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

The pair reached a commercial agreement which will see Carnival Australia committed to purchase a maximum of 100 “foundation” berthing days of no more than four in any week for 15 years, to underwrite the construction of the new terminal.

In exchange, Carnival Australia would receive priority berthing rights.

Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia president Sture Myrmell said the new terminal was a “win-win” for cruising as well as the Queensland economy.

“It means Brisbane can take its place on the world cruising map for some of the globe’s most iconic cruise lines with ships too large to use existing facilities at Portside,” Myrmell said.

Carnival Cruise Line will deploy Carnival Spirit

Artist’s impression of the new cruise terminal

to the new terminal, with the vessel becoming the brand’s first to home port in Brisbane.

Carnival Spirit will sail year-round from Brisbane to the archipelagos of Vanuatu and New Caledonia, as well as offer shorter cruises to destinations in North Queensland.

Cruising heavyweight Royal Caribbean Cruises has welcomed the project, noting it had always supported the Port of Brisbane’s Luggage Point Cruise Terminal.

“We are looking forward to providing our guests with the improved facilities the terminal will bring,” Gavin Smith, senior vice president of international for Royal Caribbean Cruises said. “We will also evaluate the merits of future home based cruising from Brisbane – as we do with all new cruise terminals and which, of course, we have done in the past with Brisbane-based Legend of the Seas.”

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CRUISE Crystal Debussy debuts CRYSTAL Debussy is the newest ship to join Crystal River Cruises fleet, with the big unveil held in Amsterdam late May. The ceremony took place during the ship’s 10-day ‘Splendours of the Rhine’ voyage with Crystal’s president and CEO, Tom Wolber, Crystal River Cruises’ vice president and managing director, Walter Littlejohn, and Crystal Debussy’s godmother, Broadway star Rachel York, attending the celebrations.

Throughout 2018 and 2019, the ship will sail routes of seven and 10 days between Amsterdam and Basel along the Rhine and Moselle rivers, visiting Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands and Belgium.

ACA speakers announced THE Australian Cruise Association (ACA) annual conference, themed “Forging Stronger Relationships”, will be held on 12-14 September in Broome.

Sture Myrmell, president of Carnival Australia and chairman of CLIA will kickstart the event with a talk on the global and national state of the industry. Susan Bonner, managing director Australia and New Zealand for Royal Caribbean International, will share the challenges of operating big ships in Australia. Captain Mike Drake from Carnival Australia will discuss the challenges of infrastructure and where Australia can make changes to increase port calls.

MSC Seaview debut THE new MSC Seaview was christened last month in the Italian port of Genoa, becoming the 15th vessel in the MSC Cruises fleet.

In a ceremony attended by European TV and music stars, industry VIPs, key travel partners and international media, the ship was launched by MSC’s longstanding godmother, screen icon Sophia Loren.

The 5,429-pax MSC Seaview is the second of two sister ships in the Seaside generation – the first being MSC Seaside which entered service in December.

MSC Seaview will cruise out of six ports in the Western Mediterranean – Genoa, Marseille, Barcelona, Naples, Messina and Valetta. It will also sail to South America in November for a series of Brazilian departures before returning to the Mediterranean in April.

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CLIA VIEW Joel Katz, managing director CLIA Australasia

ANOTHER STRONG YEAR OF GROWTH During May, CLIA launched its annual Australian ocean passenger Source Market Report for 2017. With more than 1.34 million Australians taking an ocean cruise, cruising has cemented its place as a quintessential modern Australian holiday.

Almost one in every 18 Australians cruised last year and Australian penetration rate remains well ahead of more mature markets.

While the growth wasn’t as dramatic as recent years, it was more than two and a half times higher than the rate of Australia’s inbound holiday arrivals growth rate of 1.7%. This growth rate puts Australia on par with the world’s largest cruise market, the USA, which experienced growth of 4.7%.

As long as we can solve the lack of cruise infrastructure development in Sydney and across the region, we’ll see further increases in passenger numbers.

It is encouraging that the Port of Brisbane has settled commercial terms for the new Brisbane International Cruise Terminal and expects to begin operating by mid-2020.

One of the great success stories of the booming cruise industry is the valuable cruise dollars spread right around Australia’s vast coastline.

the same time last year.

Cruise360 2018 promises not to disappoint, with a full day of learning with keynote speakers, breakout sessions, the highly anticipated trade show, and ample networking opportunities.

This year, for the first time, Cruise360 activities will take place over two days. On Thursday 30 August we are offering a ship inspection of Carnival Spirit in the morning, followed by an inaugural Cruise360 Cruise Destination Showcase in the afternoon.

This not-to-be-missed showcase will add further value and create additional learning opportunities for our travel agents, and brings together a fantastic group of cruise destinations. Cruise destinations presenting include Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, Monaco, Singapore, Japan, and New York as well as local tourism bodies from Queensland, Western Australia, Northern Territory and New Zealand.

The main Cruise360 Australasia conference will take place on Friday 31 August. CLIA president and CEO Cindy D’Aoust, and Norwegian Cruise Line president and CEO Andy Stuart have been confirmed as speakers, with more speakers to be announced soon.

Delegates attending Cruise360 Australasia can register for the Ship Inspection and Cruise Destination Showcase at no additional cost on a first come first served basis, and additional CLIA points will be awarded to those agents.

Spaces are limited so book early to avoid missing out. Visit www.cruising.org.au

CRUISE360 As cruising goes from strength to strength, we are experiencing a record uptake of travel agents buying tickets to attend the Cruise 360 conference in Sydney during August, with numbers already exceeding

HEADLINES MAY & JUNE 2018 24 May Infrastructure impedes cruise growth 24 May Dream cruising Japan 29 May Bliss a game-changer for Norwegian 29 May CLIA tackles regulation 31 May Crystal celebrates Debussy debut 31 May Making Mekong memories 05 Jun ACA speakers to talk up mutual gains

05 Jun 07 Jun 07 Jun 12 Jun 12 Jun 14 Jun 14 Jun

RSSC’s Turkey return Brisbane cruise terminal finalised Princess polishes jewel in the Crown MSC celebrates its latest Seaview Princess set for kick off Carnival goes big with 2020 program Oprah on board with HAL

INDUSTRY IN FOCUS To celebrate the relaunch of flights from Brisbane, Malaysia Airlines hosted a group of Flight Centre agents on a trip to Kuala Lumpur, staying at Berjaya Times Square Hotel for two nights.

Carnival Australia invited travel agents from far and wide to officially launch its 2019/20 cruise program, held at Holey Moley in Sydney late last month.

vel agents these Helloworld Tra Bench Africa hosted ica Airways Afr uth So ing ica. Fly on a trip to South Afr pe Town.

Ca ed wildlife and enjoy the group spotted

Six Helloworld Travel agents were treated to a London and Monaco educational

by British Airways, Societe des Bains de Mer and The Goring London.

These hard-working travel agents earned themselves a spot on a recent Club Med famil visiting Club Med Bintan Island, Indonesia and Club Med Kani, Maldives, by growing their sales over the year.

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JULY 2018

The Croatia played host this year to Globus family of brands’ annual Supertour.

Slovenia, nearby Park, National Plitvice visited agents g group of 30 top-sellin and Dubrovnik, finishing with a masquerade ball inside Revelin Fortress.

Bunnik Tours took this gro up of travel agents on a trip to beautiful Sri Lanka. The seven-day trip took in a diverse range of sights that the nation has to offer, includ ing Lion Rock in Negem bo (pictured above).

Platinum Travel’s directors Carl Buerckner, Sarah Szubanski and Andrew Buerckner were all smiles at the opening of the group’s new head office in Canterbury, Victoria.

as the perfect opportunity for Vivid Sydney last month served aphy skills in a workshop togr these agents to hone their pho tt Regency and Canon. hosted by British Airways, Hya

Japan Airlines (JAL) recently hosted Travel Partners from Victoria on a famil in Tokyo. The four-day trip included MW sightseeing tours, land arrangements with Price Hotel Group.

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SOUTH AFRICA

Cheetahs ©SAT

Buffalo(©SAT)

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve (©Brian Johnston)

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SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa’s landscapes and animals are impressive, but Kwandwe Private Game Reserve adds luxury to provide one of travel’s great wildlife experiences, writes Brian Johnston.

I

’M WILLING to bet that Kwandwe is one of the world’s few hotels where guests risk being eaten by a lion while walking to their room. True, a guard with a torch accompanies me, but he seems rather amused by my nervous scanning of dark, rustling grass. He’s also a very skinny guard, whereas I’m an overweight tourist given added flavour by a tasty ostrich-steak dinner and accompanying glass of red wine. I feel sure the lion will consider me the choicest titbit.

Staff are clear that I should never walk to my lodge alone, but they fail to suggest what I should do should a lion pounce. Do I freeze, or push the skinny guard in its direction as I flee? Such thoughts run through my head at Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, sending a delectable frisson of fear down my spine.

After all, just that afternoon from a safari car, I saw a lion lurking in a thicket, looking in need of a good feed.

Such is the yin and yang of staying at Kwandwe, which scares you with lions and yet lulls you with luxury. The game reserve is located in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, a two-hour drive northeast of Port Elizabeth, and makes a fine add-on to the well-travelled Garden Route, which stretches along the coast between Mossel Bay and Storms River, bracketed between big access points Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. Accommodation is in individual lodges full of timber and settler furniture. I have a private deck and plunge pool overlooking the Fish River, though admittedly I’m too anxious to use them.

I don’t even open the windows for fear of leaping lions.

At the communal lodge and dining room, guests have meals and sit around the fire with whiskeys, swapping tales of the day’s adventures. Nobody has seen an elusive leopard yet, but we’ve all seen lions, eland, springbok and giraffes lurching against the horizon. Only that afternoon, a group of guests

was stopped on the track by a rhino bigger than their vehicle, with a horn like a battering ram. Later tonight, we’re off to track down those elusive beasts that haunt the first page of our dictionaries, aardvark and aardwolf.

It’s the wildlife, of course, that brings people to Kwandwe and South Africa’s other game reserves and national parks. The meals are great, the bar is open and I can snuggle down in Egyptian cotton for the night, but the luxury is just a mere incidental pleasure to the wilderness all around. Kwandwe is about animals, and a lot of them.

Two excellent daily safaris to view the wildlife are part of the package. I set off with other guests in an open-top Land Rover early in the morning and again before sunset, when the wildlife is at its most active, on four-hour explorations. We’re accompanied by guide Owen and tracker Dali, who perches on the front of the vehicle and acts as a spotter. We certainly need him. Sometimes I’m just metres from an animal before my unaccustomed eyes pick it out against the dry, golden grasses of the background.

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve (©&Beyond)

Owen is an encyclopaedia of information.

As we admire a herd of elephants we learn they spend all but six hours of the day eating, and can devour 200 kilos of vegetation. The effort wears down six sets of molars after which, with no more functional teeth, the animals will starve to death – a reminder that nature in Africa is cruel as well as beautiful.

Tension mounts as the radio splutters with a message that there are lions not far away. Watching a pride of lions, or cheetahs lolling under a shady tree, is one of the great thrills of Kwandwe. Along with giraffes, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes and zebras, such animals are at the top of most people’s must-see list. Kwandwe also has a magnificent range of small critters, from bright butterflies to malachite sunbirds that sip nectar from flowers in a flurry of emeraldcoloured wings.

Of course, one of the best wildlife experiences in South Africa, coupled with allinclusive, luxurious accommodation, doesn’t come cheap. Still, it’s worth saving up for the adventure of a lifetime and a close encounter with Africa’s astonishing creatures – as long as it isn’t too close, of course. Whether you get your money back if you’re eaten by a lion is unclear. Each evening, as I walk to my lodge through shivering grasses, I feel the same creeping fear, even though common sense tells me that nobody at Kwandwe has ever been eaten. Not yet, anyway. Where else in the world can you have such a thrill just walking to your hotel room?

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SOUTH AFRICA

&BEYOND ADDS PHILANTHROPIC ITINERARIES

Travel with Purpose trip in Kenya © &Beyond

Indaba expands in pan-Africa format THE expanded pan-African format of South Africa’s Indaba travel industry expo has paid dividends, helping to boost the number of buyers at the show by 14% this year. Held in May in Durban, this year’s show attracted 7,000 overall registrations, a 4% increase from last year, with more than 1,100 exhibitions, up 5.7% on 2017.

“When we took the decision to make Indaba a pan-African event, it was a deliberate strategy on our part to boost the African economy,” said South African Tourism’s CEO Sisa Ntshona.

“The growing number of African countries at Africa’s Travel Indaba has bolstered their commitment to being here,” he said. “They are seeing the benefit of the expo and being part of a show that focuses only on Africa.”

The success of this year’s event reflects growing interest in African tourism, with a record 62 million people visiting Africa in 2017, an 8% year on year growth.

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LUXURY specialist &Beyond has introduced a series of philanthropic itineraries in Africa, aiming to give guests first-hand experience in the company’s conservation and community initiatives.

Available in South Africa as well as in Tanzania and Kenya, the tours combine high-end accommodation with an opportunity to contribute to the local people and wildlife that make Africa such an extraordinary destination.

Among options is the 10-day Travel With Purpose in South Africa adventure which combines a safari at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve with the sights of Cape Town and the seaside town of Hermanus on the Western Cape. At the game reserve, travellers will be able to get a close look at one of Africa’s most iconic species as they participate in a rhino notching conservation project, in which a veterinary team gives an ear-notch and microchip to a rhinoceros for research and monitoring purposes.

They will also gain insight into the challenges facing rural communities as they visit education and healthcare projects, as well as local small business initiatives supported by &Beyond. This is also contrasted with projects in Cape Town, one of South Africa’s largest urban areas, which include early learning centres, urban agricultural and environmental programs.

A similar tour in Kenya offers a chance for guests to “adopt an elephant” at the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and hand-feed a giraffe at the Giraffe Centre. In Tanzania, guests can spend time with disabled works at the Shanga project in the city of Arusha.

SUPPORT FOR LEOPARD CONSERVATION

THE Travel Corporation’s TreadRight Foundation has joined efforts to protect South African communities and their livestock from leopards, while at the same time aiming to protect the endangered predator.

The philanthropic initiative involves a partnership with the Cheetah Outreach conservation group and the Cape Leopard Trust, targeting the Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat and surrounding areas.

Located in South Africa’s Cederberg Mountains, the area has seen an increase

in attacks on livestock. In response, there has been an increase in incidents of farmers killing cape leopards. Three Anatolian shepherd dogs have been introduced at Bushmans Kloof as livestock guardian dogs, with more to follow. The dogs are being offered as a natural solution that aims to both protect livestock and conserve leopards.

“Not only will these canine caretakers keep indigenous wildlife alive, they keep alive the spirit of living in balance,” said Bushmans Kloof general manager Rory du Plessis.

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*All fares in Australian dollars, per person, twin share based on Inside Cabin category L & including promotional savings, onboard gratuities & port taxes (correct as of 6 June 2018). Valid for new bookings only. All Cruise tour offers are capacity controlled and can be withdrawn or modified at any time without notice, and subject to availability at time of booking. Hotels and transfers offered are on dates specified on itinerary only, at the discretion of Voyages to Antiquity.

Cancellation penalties & conditions apply. Prices based on payment by cash or cheque only. Travel agent service fees not included. Voyages to Antiquity reserve the right to change, correct errors, withdraw from sale any or all fares, itineraries, excursions & fees. For full terms & conditions visit www.voyagestoantiquity.com or visit your local preferred Travel Agent.

SOUTH AFRICA

Q&A

South Africa offers adventure, wildlife, culture and renown wine regions, just to name a few. travelBulletin asked Helloworld Travel’s Africa specialist April Selby from Waurn Ponds Travel how agents can get the most from this market.

Is there a lot of interest among Australians for travel to South Africa?

Yes, airfares have never been cheaper so that has created a lot of interest. It is often on people’s wish list. They regularly think that it is out of their reach but when I give them the quotes they are usually pleasantly surprised.

What sort of travellers are visiting South Africa?

Any kind of traveller can find their niche in South Africa. There is such a variety of activities and things to see from the wild to the tame. Accommodation can vary from the cheapest campsite to luxurious five star lodges. Self-drive holidays are popular as well as the myriad of tours on offer.

What are the must see highlights?

Kruger National Park is a must. It can’t be beaten for diversity and for those wanting

to see the ‘Big Five’ (leopard, elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo). The nearby Panorama Route is spectacular as well.

Cape Town is the ‘Mother City’ flanked by the imposing Table Mountain Range and just beyond the Winelands area. The V&A Waterfront precinct is a fabulous place to stay and visit – restaurants, shops, markets entertainment and much more.

One of the hardest decisions is which winery to visit in the Winelands area, a decision made easier by the fun hop-on hop-off Franschhoek Wine Tram which is a great way to visit many wineries!

What is the best time of year to travel?

Anytime of the year is great in South Africa but if you want to avoid the hot and rainy season in Kruger then March through to October is best. Being in the southern hemisphere like us, it is warmer in the north and cooler in the south. I find that many

people prefer the more moderate months of April/May and August/September when the weather is great, animal viewing is at its best and prices are good.

Are FIT or tour groups more popular?

I have a good mix of both. Tour groups are very popular with those who enjoy the company of others and the ease of travelling with a guide, and I love putting together tailor made itineraries for those who are more specific in what they want to do.

What advice do you have for other agent selling South Africa?

Use the specialist wholesalers like Bench Africa. They know Africa so well and they will make you so knowledgable that it will be easy to sell to your clients.

And if you have the opportunity, go and experience South Africa first hand.

Adventure lives inAfrica

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BROCHURES CUNARD’S latest brochure outlines all of the new and exciting voyages lined up for the 2019/20 season.

The brochure focuses on their voyages in the Baltics and Northern Europe, as well as Cunard’s longest ever Australian season with Queen Elizabeth deployed down under for more than 100 days. Perhaps most impressive is the extensive offering of Alaskan voyages, which marks the first time the line has sailed to the region in over 20 years.

DUE to a huge spike in demand, Evergreen tours have launched their new Canada, Alaska and USA brochure featuring a plethora of itineraries spanning the North American Continent. Some of the highlights include megacity life in New York, or southern charm in Savannah, and everything in between; not to mention the stunning wildlife and natural beauty of the Alaskan wilderness. Touring with Evergreen also means that everything’s included.

LUXURY cruise line Oceania Cruises has just released their comprehensive new Atlas brochure aimed at Australian and New Zealand agents. Being a culinaryand destination-focused cruise line the brochure showcases more the 350 different voyages across the world, most featuring overnight stays or extended port visits as well as Oceania’s world class dining options. Itineraries range throughout the world’s waters, including Alaska, the Mediterranean, South Pacific and of course Australia, with departures from November this year.

CRUISE along Europe’s most serene rivers with luxury river cruise and tour operator Tauck releasing its 2019 European River Cruising brochure.

Featuring itineraries along the Rhine, Seine and Danube, guests can experience a range of different cultural experiences on any of the all-included shore excursions, from cycling along through Amsterdam to romantic dinner and wine tasting in Basel. Smaller groups means larger cabins and more comfort, with the Tauck fleet also only 4-years young.

SKIMAX is celebrating the end of summer with the release of their new 2018/19 Northern Hemisphere brochure. The brochure showcases all of the northern hemisphere’s best resorts, and breaks down what each has to offer, whether it be pillows of powder, or a pumping après ski atmosphere. It also includes the hotel recommendations, insider tips and the latest information and developments on the most popular ski resorts in Japan, South Korea, North America and Europe.

YOUTH travel specialists Top Deck have announced five new trips in the launch of their new USA and Canada 2019/2020 brochure. The additions widen the diversity of itineraries already on offer in North America with Top Deck, and they include regionfocused trips such as a 10-day Pacific Northwest tour exploring Portland and Seattle, or the nine-day Alaskan Adventure. Of course there are trips which cover the US more broadly, and all of the Top Deck classic itineraries.

WITH 172 pages filled with stunning imagery and a diverse range of cruise itineraries, Ponant’s brand new brochure is some serious travel inspiration. There’s a variety of laid back cruises, mixed with some edgier expeditions to some of the most remote places on the planet. Ponant’s cruises range from short seven-day getaways to Grand Voyages lasting almost two months, and everything in between. There’s an expedition or getaway for everyone.

FEATURING more than 30 different but equally incredible journeys across Canada, the Rocky Mountains and wild Alaska, Travelmarvel’s 2019 Canada and Alaska brochure has an itinerary to suit every traveller. The premium tour operator has curated a list of unique programs that include cruise, rail and overland transport that is designed to showcase the natural beauty of the American continent’s wild north.

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USA

© Brandon Trevino

Craig Tansley discovers there’s a lot more to Texas than cowboys…

EXAS is famous for a lot of things: cowboys mostly, and country and western music… this is where Willie Nelson hails from, after all. But no-one ever picked Texas as a place for wine lovers, right?

But right now I’m in the second most visited wine region in all of America, and yet I’m here in a state where a quarter of its 254 counties ban the sale of alcohol. Texas holds a lot of surprises; I’m only part way through a week-long stay based around the city of Austin in the centre of Texas, and I’m already figuring that out.

Texas’s wine country – centred around the town of Fredericksburg – is the fourth biggest producer of wine in the US, and it’s also 40

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© nouglyphotos.com

where the very first wine in the country was ever made, over 350 years ago.

US wine magazine Wine Enthusiast calls this region one of the 10 best wine travel destinations on earth to visit. It’s pretty as a picture here, set out in a huge valley beneath limestone and granite mountains. It’s where Lance Armstrong used to come to train for the Tour de France. The wine here used to be about quantity over quality – it got the job done but it was cheap and nasty; but these days some of it’s even served up at the White House – you’ll taste some of America’s best wines here.

But it’s the things unmistakably Texas that make Fredericksburg for me. Wine towns can start to look awfully familiar once you visit enough of them, but here after I spend a day at the tasting rooms of wineries on the eastern fringe of town, I’m taken to the most iconic cowboy music destination in the southern USA. At 4:30pm (which coincides nicely with wineries closing, doesn’t it?) each day

guitarists play out under an old oak tree for free at Luckenbach, one of the world’s premier country music settings, which was once was a trading post in the mid-1800s.

Willie Nelson played here every 4th Of July – with Waylon Jennings – the two of them wrote songs about this place. Country music lovers travel from all over the country just to get their picture taken here. To them, this is the equivalent of Graceland.

There might be a lot more to Texas than cowboys and their cowboy songs, but then again, that’s a big reason why you’d want to come here. Only 55 minutes south of Fredericksburg (and two hours south-west of Austin) you’ll find the Cowboy Capital Of The World (the town of Bandera). They actually trademarked it. It’s a pretty drive here, past sprawling ranches and tiny farming communities.

I stay on a dude ranch just outside town – these are the only real form of accommodation you’ll find around here. Generations of

USA

© Travel Texas

© Travel Texas

the same family run these places, and generations of the same families come back each year to visit. I muster long-horned cattle right through town with a group of cowboys because that’s the kind of thing you do round here. Through the summer months there’s a rodeo on every weekend on the northern edge of town, and there’s even a bar here – the 11th Street Cowboy Bar – where people tie their horses up outside. One day, I ride a mule right into the bar with one of the country’s leading mule trainers. Around here they dip their steak in oil and batter it – they call it chicken fried steak; and if you want to sit at the bar, chances are you’ll be sitting in a saddle (“straddle a saddle”, they’ll tell you).

You won’t meet a friendlier kind of people than those around here. I ride my mule through the wide streets of town where locals sit on their porches and holler greetings, as white-tailed deer chase each other around.

But then once you’re done riding horses

© Travel Texas

© Travel Texas

and mustering cattle, you can head on east back into one of America’s hippest cities.

While Austin these days is as cosmopolitan as it comes, there’s still the same small

“

Once you’ve done riding horses and mustering cattle, you can head on east back into one of America’s hippest cities

”

town heart as Bandera. It’s billed as the live music capital of the world – there’s over 250 live music venues in town and two of the biggest music festivals on earth here each year. The US News Report voted Austin the number one place to live in the US, and

I can see why. The city buzzes with energy.

There’s over 300 parks in town each with their own groups of locals strumming guitars in the sunshine. Locals plead to ‘Keep Austin Weird’, it’s the home of quirky, unique businesses – no chains – and residents are made up of college students, sports stars, musicians and tech industry workers who helped turned Austin into what became dubbed ‘Silicon Hills’.

There’s far fewer long-horn cattle on the streets here – but still the same Texan energy flows through the air; and while international sports stars and some of the world’s most famous musicians live here now, there’s still something homey about just being here. Travellers needn’t venture further out than two hours from Austin to get to Fredericksburg and Bandera and everywhere in between. And yet, in those 150-or-so kilometres there’s everything that’s good about Texas. travelBulletin JULY 2018

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USA

CALIFORNIA’S DREAM DRIVE: HIGHWAY 1 VISIT California is showcasing one of the world’s iconic road trips, with the imminent “grand reopening” of Highway 1, the coastal drive between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The famous road has been closed for more than 12 months, after a series of landslides in the Big Sur region which impacted the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge – the region’s only connection to the north.

The epic road trip will once again be possible after extensive maintenance, giving visitors the opportunity to experience more than 1,000km of uninterrupted highway.

Billed as California’s Dream Drive, the trip takes in majestic redwood forests, hidden coves and stunning scenery, interspersed with more than 20 wine regions as well as art galleries, hotels, campgrounds and restaurants. Evocative stops along the way include Malibu, Santa Barbara, Pismo Beach, Monterey and Santa Cruz, as well as Big Sur. Properties will be eager to welcome guests after a year which saw some take such extreme measures as chartering helicopters to bring in supplies and visitors.

The reopening of Highway 1 will also underpin a wider drive tourism strategy encouraging Australian visitors to take in less explored regions of California. To that end, some travellers may be interested in the newly launched Mighway RV Platform, a system that matches RV owners with travellers. Mighway is owned by NZ-listed Tourism Holdings Limited and Thor Industries, and sets itself apart by offering full emergency road service, $1 million in liability coverage and a price match guarantee.

Musical MegaFam SIXTY travel agents from across Australia and New Zealand will head to the USA next month, courtesy of Air New Zealand and Brand USA. The week long MegaFam will see participants split up into six hosted groups, each spending five nights exploring itineraries in various US destinations before gathering in Las Vegas for a grand finale gala dinner.

Brand USA director Australia/NZ Matt Fletcher said the trip would be themed around American music, showcasing the nation’s diversity and collision of cultures.

Participants are being selected through an incentive campaign that kicked off last month, with Air New Zealand regional general manager Kathryn Robertson saying the trip was a fantastic opportunity to promote both the Air NZ experience as well as the diversity of the USA. Air NZ currently flies daily from Australia to four US ports via Auckland – Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco – and will add Chicago on 30 November.

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Get to know your BDM Name and title: Alexandra Morton, Area Sales Manager – VIC South/TAS How long have you been working as a BDM for the Globus family of brands?

I have been with GFOB for two and a half years.

What is your favourite destination?

In this industry, how do you choose just one? I love Europe for the diversity, culture and history that it offers. But I must say, there was nothing quite like travelling to Peru for the first time (on the 2015 Supertour). It is a country that is simply is breathtaking (pardon the pun).

What do you love about your job?

In any facet of the industry, no one day is the same. I think this is even truer in this role!

Representing four different brands means that each day, and at any time during the day, you could be talking about the waterways of France, a religious tour through the Holyland, a group travelling through the Rockies or a panoramic tour of the British Isles.

I love interacting with a variety of people on a daily basis.

What destinations are on your bucket list?

I think the better question is where isn’t on my bucket list! I’m excited to tick off Sri Lanka next in August, after that I might look toward more of Central/ South America!

USA

US Road trip Itineraries The United States is so vast and full of ‘must see’ locations, that it’s easy to miss some of the hidden gems it has to offer. In some ways the best way to really explore the States is on the road, where you might stumble across people and places that can be more memorable than you would ever expect. We’ve curated three road trips in different parts of the country to help your clients take the road less travelled…

y a w h ig H t s a o C ic Pacif

olden Gate o. See the G sc ci an Fr an S t of the rt your trip in ring in and ou de an w Day one: Sta y da e th r. az or spend F has to offe Bridge, Alcatr d bars that S an s ndly beach op ie fr sh a ue anta Cruz, S many boutiq to h ut so Bigfoot e your way ardwalk and Day two: Mak beaches, bo ul tif au be d for its town renowne ated with mountains co !

Museum here rugged w , ur S coastline. ig ia B rn ead to atic Califo am dr e Day three: H th ok lo Morro Bay, d forests over ia’s wildlife at rn ifo iconic redwoo al C of e counter som otters.

Day four: En irds and sea gb in m d grab a bite m hu its r fo e to stop an s ac ou pl m y fa nk fu bars. a is aurants and nta Barbara different rest Day five: Sa of ds d or re oo nd w ly hu y of the stars in Hol to eat from an alk with the w s, le ge An p in Los Day six: Sto ly Hills.

Diego, where drop in Bever u yo ecca of San l m rf su shop til e th in od. nish your trip s Mexican fo Day seven: Fi e world famou th y tr or o zo the you can visit

Classic Great Lakes

Day one: Start your journe y in Milwaukee, Wiscon sin and visit any of the many craft bre weries that populate this riverside city.

Day two: Drive to the Win dy City! Chicago is known for its worldclass museums and pub lic art.

Day three: Grand Haven is a beautiful town offering ample space to walk and bike ride alo ng the lake; if it’s sunny make time for a fishing trip or beach day !

Day four: Head to Detroi t and learn about the city that was once the automotive centre of the world.

Day five: Enjoy glimpse s into Midwest small-tow n life as you make your way to Colum bus, where you might che ck out the city’s lively music scene at a local bar.

Day six: It’s just a short drive to Cincinnati, try and catch a Reds baseball game, they're the oldest professional team in the USA. Day seven: Finish your trip in Indianapolis, wh ere you might take a break from your car with a gondola ride along the city’s central canal.

a

Santa Barbar

Chicago

Southern Atlantic Coast

Day one: Begin your journey at Virgi nia Beach, a beautiful city on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Spend your day hiking, padd le boarding or kayaking.

Day two: Drive south to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina where you’ll swim at one of the area’s stunning beaches, or sample fresh seafood from one of the local resta uran ts.

Day three: Enjoy some authentic sout hern charm in Charleston where you can wander the cobbled streets and take in the old-w orld architecture.

Day four: Head to Savannah, Georgia, a town world famous for its ‘Southern hospitality’ and rich history.

Day five: Spend a day outside in Jack sonville taking advantage of the abun dance of activities available here: go boating, biking or golfing, or perhaps spend a day at the beach.

Day six: Wander Miami’s art deco buildings and beautiful beaches befo re making the most of the coastal city’s famous nightlife.

Day seven: Finish your trip at the sout hernmost point of the Continental USA. Key West is a fantastic place to wind down with Caribbean vibes, cocktails and fresh seafood.

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Savannah

Parade across America.

Join The 4th of July Independence Day Celebrations.

As Australians we love to celebrate Australia Day with a unique sense of what it means to be Australian but Americans take it to another level…

Americans love a grand red, white and blue street parade and lighting up the night sky with amazing fireworks to celebrate Independence Day in style.

No matter where you are, a country town or a thriving metropolis like New York City, you’ll feel the energy of locals celebrating the biggest day of the year.

People are partying on streets, on beaches, on lakes, in parks and in hotel roof-top pool bars.

So no matter where you are it’s easy to join in an Independence Day celebration.

Everyone should experience the excitement of Independence Day, it’s the middle of Summer, where the day extends into the night.

Here are some of our favourites that would be perfect for your clients…

First stop is Philadelphia where the declaration of independence was signed in 1776. Celebrations run for six days, starting 29th June with events across the city like Wawa Hoagie Day or the travelling beer garden ‘Parks on Tap’. Definitely don’t miss Philadelphia’s Historic District Block Part with the fireworks finale.

Next stop New York city with Manhattan and the five surrounding boroughs coming alive to celebrate in classic New York style. Join 40,000 New Yorkers for Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest held on Coney Island or head over to Staten Island for a traditional street parade with marching bands and floats. And to finish the day don’t miss the Macy’s Fireworks spectacular held over the East River.

Last stop Los Angeles, so there’s two ways to celebrate 4th of July in LA and that’s either family style or heading to a party. Spend the day with the family at the Rose Bowl with traditional Americana food, inflatable rides and a fireworks finale. Or perhaps celebrate the day away with a rooftop pool party, where the music pumps and the drinks flow. Just remember to book an LA style hotel with an amazing rooftop pool.

PHILADELPHIA

NEW YORK

LOS ANGELES

BOOK TRAVEL TO THE USA AND CELEBRATE THE AMERICAN WAY, WITH AMERICAN AIRLINES DAILY FLIGHTS FROM SYDNEY TO LOS ANGELES.

DENVER SEEKS NEW NON-STOPS DENVER, Colorado’s “Mile High City”, has set it sights on even loftier ambitions, with strong suggestions during its hosting of the recent IPW trade show of new non-stop flights from Australasia. There’s no doubt such a route would be a success – certainly on a seasonal basis – with Denver providing the gateway to some of the world’s best ski resorts in the Rocky Mountains including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain and more. While the new flights are the subject of conjecture at this stage, what is concrete is the Such is the growing burgeoning tourist offering in Denver which is an extremely convenient, popularity of walkable destination with plenty of Denver for tourists public transport. that CityPASS has Such is the growing popularity of Denver for tourists that CityPASS added the city as its has added the city as its newest newest destination destination. The new Denver CityPASS C3/C4/C5 ticket is a mobile ticketing concept allowing users to select any three, four or five attractions from a choice of eight such as the Denver Zoo, Denver Art Museum, Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum and the Downtown Aquarium Denver.

Another great way to see the city is to take a motor scooter tour.

Scootours Denver offers rentals of low-powered scooters or mopeds, as well as guided tours each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Visitors don’t need a motorbike licence to participate, with full training provided before you hit the road. You need to have a valid driver’s licence, be over 18 and able to ride a bicycle, and there is nothing quite like the freedom of zooming around the city on a scooter – see scootoursdenver.com.

“ ”

A scootour on Denver Capitol steps

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SMALL GROUP TOURING

®

NORTH AMERICA 2019

MAXIMUM

GROUP SIZE

EARLYBIRD SPECIAL

SAVE

Washington

Small Groups

Montana

$

Our North America 2019 Small Group Oregon Touring program is out now and available with an earlybird saving ofIdaho $500 per personWyoming for a limited time.

Our maximum group size in North America is 20 people, because smaller groups make for a better holiday experience.

Return International Flights Included with the world’s leading airlines, with flexibility to extend or upgrade to business class.

Minnesota

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PER PERSON Nebraska

UNITED STATES Yosemite National Park 2

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Enjoy a stunning sunset and stargazing jeep tour along the San Andreas fault line Learn more about Arizona's desert with a visitOklahoma to Mexico the DesertNewBotanical Garden Share a special Navajo BBQ dinner in the desert under a blanket of stars Meet five of the world's largest trees, including General Sherman (the largest of all), TexasNP on a guided tour of lush Sequoia See some of Yosemite NP's most iconic sights 2019 DATES: 31 Mar, 5 May, 9 Jun, 29 Sep & 3 Nov

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Enjoy a private distillery tour of Mile High Spirits Wash the day away with a relaxing soak in Glenwood Spring's famous hot springs An amazing sunset jet boat ride from Moab to Canyonlands NP Explore Yellowstone NP with a specialist guide and search for its wolves and grizzly bears Full day sightseeing in Rocky Mountains NP

Stop in Charlottesville to visit Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's primary plantation Visit the Gettysburg Museum to learn more about America's Civil War, including a guided tour with a Civil War historian Discover New York City's Little Italy on a food tour down Arthur Avenue in the Bronx Enjoy Martha's Vineyard Island breathtaking scenery

2019 DATES: 2 Jun, 21 Jul & 1 Sep

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For a list of departure dates, detailed itineraries and other tours go to bunniktours.com.au Call

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*To be eligible for our $500 North America earlybird savings you need to book, pay a deposit and applicable airfare payment by 14th Sept 2018 ($250 savings if payment made between 15th Sept 2018 and 30th Nov 2018). Savings are applicable to new bookings with travel dates from 2019 program only. All prices shown are per person based on twin share & incorporate $500 early bird discount. Singles rooms are available at a supplement, check our website for details.

Prices are correct at time of printing but are subject to change. Note air supplement may apply depending on airline availability and departure cities. Bunnik Travel Pty Ltd. ATAS accreditation #A10484 • CATO Registered Operator No. TO1078.

Arkansas

Louisian

USA

HUDSON YARDS – NYC’S NEWEST PRECINCT AS ALWAYS there’s a lot going on in New York, but 2019 is set to be bigger than ever with the opening of the new Hudson Yards project which is set to become a landmark neighbourhood all on its own.

Constructed on the lower west side near the Jacob Javits Convention Center, Hudson Yards (hudsonyardsnewyork. com) is being built on top of a working rail yard and comprises a host of new office buildings alongside a hotel, apartments, shopping areas, art galleries and cultural offerings. It is the largest private real estate development in the history of the USA and also features The Shed (theshed. org), an architectural masterpiece designed to “commission, produce and present all types of performing arts, visual arts and popular culture”.

2019 will also see an expansion of New York’s Museum of Modern Art and

Hudson Yards from the High Line © Steve Freihon

the opening of the new Statue of Liberty Museum. NYC & Co CEO Fred Dixon has also highlighted New York’s hosting of WorldPride 2019, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion. It’s the first time WorldPride will have been hosted in the USA, with the celebration comprising two months of events along with NYC’s annual Pride March and PrideFest in June 2019.

Accommodation shouldn’t be a problem in New York, which has 117,300 hotel rooms at present and a pipeline which will add almost 20,000 more by the end of 2019. Openings will include the Six Senses New York, Westin New York Staten Island and the Equinox Hotel Hudson Yards, a “lifestyle hotel” where it will be possible to book a personal trainer at the same time as you book your room.

Postcard from... Oregon

rick’s Day and After landing on St. Pat h style we got celebrating in typical Iris s Oregon has to ure straight into the advent wing on the ries, notably Pelican Bre we bre offer. We stopped at troit Pistons De the eat d Trail Blazers def beach, watched Portlan coast and bbed along the stunning at home in the NBA, cra ure. ent adv gy bug e filled dun experienced an adrenalinere the roads wh s ain unt mo the into Then we drove ourselves ty valleys really giant pines. With the mis were lined with snow and a dormant e, re greeted by Crater Lak setting the scene we we ctacular view spe st mo ng blue water, the volcano that holds stunni ft above 00 7,0 und aro can expect at and crisp clean air, as you ess and acc und r-ro yea rs tional Park offe sea level. Crater Lake Na and snowball ntry skiing, snowshoeing activities from cross-cou hiking, and s to camping, boat tours, fights in the winter month I will never forget lake as things warm up. scenic tours around the h. the people I shared it wit this part of our trip and Beckies Cafe a don’t forget to stop at If you’re ever in the are pie including ade em ir world famous hom on the way out to try the the charts. off is it – pie kleberry seasonal the famous Oregon huc

opia From Melanie Landick, travelut

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Be captivated by the sights of the

USA & CANADA

Come and share our world.

We’re here to create experiences our guests have always dreamed of, and make real ‘wow!’ moments they’ll fall in love with and re-live again and again.

ONTARIO Niagara Falls 2

NEW YORK Corning

2 New York City

PENNSYLVANIA

NEW JERSEY 1 Philadelphia

Atlantic Ocean

Americas tours start from just $183 per day and include all the essentials, making it easy for our guests to get out there and turn their travel dreams into reality!

2 Washington DC Area

MARYLAND

NEW YORK, NIAGARA FALLS & WASHINGTON DC

8 days | New York City to Washington DC

From $1,899*

per person twin share departing 22/03/19

2019 Brochure

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*Terms & Conditions: All care is taken to promote correct pricing at time of printing (08/06/18), is subject to tour availability and will be confirmed at time of reservation. All prices are per person, twin share and include any applicable charges. Tours from $183 per day price is based on Highlights of the Canyonlands (tour code: 8520) tour departing 12/11/19. Non-refundable deposit of $250 per person per tour is required within 7 days to secure reservation. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Applicable to singles - single supplement applies.

Additional restrictions may apply, refer to the 2019 Cosmos North America brochure or visit www.CosmosTours.com.au.

Tours from

$183 PER DAY*

Denali National Park 2

ALASKA

Talkeetna

Anchorage 1 1 Whittier Seward

Denali Highway Thompson Pass

1 Valdez

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Prince William Sound

Gulf of Alaska

7

Snow Canyon State Park Glacier Bay

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Zion Bryce Canyon National National Park Park 1

UTAH

1 St. George

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BRITISH COLUMBIA

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ALASKAN DISCOVERY BY LAND & SEA

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From $3,792*

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13 days | Anchorage to Vancouver per person twin share departing 28/05/19

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Tours Include: Comfy hotels | Coach with Wi-Fi | Knowledgeable guides | Must-see sights | Plenty of free time

For bookings call 1300 130 134 or visit CosmosTours.com.au

USA

Peek behind the Cirque curtain LAS Vegas’ famous entertainer, Cirque du Soleil, is expanding its offering by giving visitors the opportunity to look behind the scenes of three of the city’s largest productions – The Beatles LOVE, Mystere and KÀ.

Each show will offer opportunities to attend open rehearsals, giving a glimpse at the technology which allows the productions to come to life.

Also new for Cirque du Soleil is a range of VIP experiences, available in varying forms at shows including “O”, KÀ, The Beatles LOVE and more.

The packages are on offer for individuals and groups, and offer exclusive performer meet and greets, VIP seatings, hospitality and more.

NEW AT UNIVERSAL HOLLYWOOD UNIVERSAL Studios Hollywood is set for a brand new dinosaurthemed thrill ride, with the 2019 opening of the “Jurassic World Ride” which will replace the current “Jurassic Park – The Ride” after a complete makeover. The existing attraction will close on 3 September this year for a total reimagining, with Universal promising enhanced storytelling, state-of-the-art technology and never-before-seen dinosaurs.

Universal’s newest additions include “Kung Fu Panda: The Emperor’s Quest” which opened just last month. The adventure takes guests on a journey combining projection mapping and LED lighting effects to provide a highly immersive and engaging theatre-style experience.

Also new is the “Animation Studio,” a retail

outlet featuring a collection of merchandise including the popular Hello Kitty character. A range of parkexclusive items are on offer as well as delectable Hello Kitty treats which are prepared daily. Other merchandise features Universal titles such as Jaws, ET, Back to the Future and more.

HOTEL BEACON SHINES IN NYC THE Hotel Beacon is one of New York’s hidden gems, this landmark hotel is the perfect place to stay when visiting New York, and has everything an Australian traveller could hope for. One of the only apartment-style hotels in the city, the Hotel Beacon offers spacious and comfortable rooms with kitchenettes, sitting areas and all the amenities you might need to make you feel at home.

Located in the heart of the vibrant Upper West Side on the corner of Broadway and W75th St, the Beacon is close to a plethora of local stores, bars and café’s for you to explore. You also have the option of cooking for yourself with a Fairway Supermarket just across the road, and any utensil you might If you’re lucky, you might require in your room’s kitchenette.

You can spend your afternoons catch Jerry Seinfeld or wandering Central Park just two blocks any number of other away, or you can walk two blocks to the closest subway station, and have the rest world class acts just downstairs at the attached of Manhattan at your fingertips, letting you experience the hustle and bustle of the Beacon Theatre... world busiest city, while staying in a much more quaint and quiet neighbourhood.

If you’re lucky, you might catch Jerry Seinfeld or any number of other world class acts just downstairs at the attached Beacon Theatre; but don’t worry if there’s no one playing, it’s just as nice to enjoy a drink and watch the New York locals go about their evenings at the charming and sophisticated Beacon Bar. The Hotel Beacon caters to any traveller who likes to feel at home in the New York, with friendly service, spacious, well-appointed rooms and one of the best locations in the city; there’s no better place to spend a night or two in the city that never sleeps.

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SOUTH AMERICA

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SOUTH AMERICA

PERUVIAN ADVENTURE

By Nina Karnikowski

F

OR anyone wanting to foster their sense of wonder of the planet, there’s no better destination than Peru. A country where the locals believe gods called apus live in the mountains and where said mountains can be mistaken for rainbows, this wild South American destination is abundant with natural beauty and history from the ancient Inca empire. With some of the highest altitudes in the world, it’s also guaranteed to quite literally take your breath away.

CUSCO Your Peruvian journey will begin in Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca empire and South America’s oldest continuously inhabited city.

Set high in the Andes at 3,400m above sea level, you’ll need to take it easy on day one to avoid altitude sickness. Which is a wonderful excuse for spending a day roaming the cobbled laneways, where ornate cathedrals sit atop Inca temple ruins and where locals clad in colourful traditional outfits wander the streets with their pet llamas.

Cosy up in Greens Organics with a bowl of quinoa soup and a cup of coca leaf tea to help you acclimatise to the altitude as you take in the views over the main square, Plaza de Armas. Thus fortified, you’ll be ready to continue exploring the trendy San Blas neighbourhood. First, a turn about the excellent Pre-Colombian Art Museum, before shopping for alpaca ponchos, colourful knitted beanies and beaded bracelets woven by local women – the perfect ensemble for your Sacred Valley debut.

THE SACRED VALLEY A one-hour drive from Cusco lies the windswept Sacred Valley. Slung between the peaks of the Andes at 3200m above sea level, this is the place to come for the most

authentic taste of Inca culture.

If you’re lucky, your Sacred Valley visit will begin with a native coca leaf ceremony offering thanks to the mountain gods and ensuring you safe passage on your hike through the fertile valley. En route, you’ll pass villages of thatched-roof adobe houses and terraced farmland where local farmers work the fields with methods unchanged since the time of the Inca. Soon you’ll reach the archaeological remains of Huchuy Qosqo, from where the 15th-century Inca royal estate ruled. Wander through its ochrecoloured stone buildings, seeing first-hand how the Inca’s intricate irrigation systems and masterful masonry transformed the mountainside into a work of art.

Maras is another Sacred Valley must-visit, with its impressive collection of salt mines that have been used since the time of the Inca.

The more than 5,000 terraced salt pools are still maintained by local families, covering the hillside in a tapestry of varying shades of brown, cream, yellow and white. Another of Peru’s best examples of Inca landscaping awaits in Moray, where you’ll find mysterious concentric circles of terraced farmland resembling ancient Roman amphitheaters.

There are myriad more Sacred Valley sites to visit including Pisac’s famed artisan market for Andean pottery, weavings, elaborate jewellery and more, and the ruins of Ollantaytambo, where the Inca’s greatest military victory over the Spanish took place in 1536. The best part about the Sacred Valley, however, is how few other tourists you’ll see while you’re there.

MACHU PICCHU Any Peruvian pilgrimage wouldn’t be complete with a visit to the 15th century Inca citadel Machu Picchu, one of the most fascinating archaeological sites on the planet. A threeand-a-half-hour train ride northwest of Cusco, this World Heritage site is one of the few wellpreserved remnants of the Inca civilization

since it was hidden from the outside world, including the Spanish conquistadors, for hundreds of years until the early 20th century.

Today it’s anything but a secret, with up to 5,000 visitors descending onto the site each day. But take one look at the sprawling ancient city, with palaces, temples and terraces surrounded by those stunning Andean peaks, and you’ll understand why. Especially when your guide tells you the entire complex was created using meticulously cut stone, without mortar or wheels or tools made of steel or iron – proof of the Inca’s skill and ingenuity.

Machu Picchu was abandoned about 100 years after it was built, and because the Inca had no written language there was no way of ever verifying what the site was actually used for, making this site as mysterious as it is enchanting.

TREK THE RAINBOW MOUNTAIN Striped turquoise, yellow, ochre and lavender from mineral deposits, Peru’s Rainbow Mountain is the stuff psychedelic dreams are made of. A four-hour drive from Cusco and a few hours’ hiking will get you there for a day trip. But taking five days to trek the Ausangate trail there will make it truly life-altering.

Expect the hike, which crosses wildly remote passes of more than 5,000m, to be difficult. But the scenery en route – including windswept pampas, snow-capped mountains and glacier-flanked valleys smattered with llamas and alpacas – will make every painful step worth it. As will the hot showers, roaring fires and cups of coca leaf tea awaiting you at the traditional mud-brick lodges you’ll bunker down in each evening. Watching the stars sprinkle themselves over those rugged mountains and glaciers from the warmth of the lodge at dinnertime – well, that’s just the icing on an already delicious cake.

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SOUTH AMERICA

A perfect South American welcome FOR virgin travellers to the South America, Contours Travel offers Aussies the perfect first-timers itinerary by exploring some of the most popular destinations on the continent including attractions in Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Brazil, and Argentina. The 27-day small group adventure canvasses a host of diverse cultural experiences in each country, from fishing for fearsome piranhas on the Amazon, learning to tango with Latin dance masters in Buenos Aires, or learning to sculpt your own South American masterpiece under the guidance of acclaimed Andean artist, Pablo Semina. The next trip departs from Sydney on 9 September costing $15,299 per person.

OFF THE BEATEN TRACKS

Cementerio de Trenes, credit Ana Elisa Ribeiro

A HUGE trend in travel right now is the notion of seeking out unique travel experiences, and there perhaps is no finer example of an unconventional tourist destination than the peculiar Cementerio de Trenes (Cemetery of Trains) located in the small Bolivian city of Uyuni.

The former transportation hub of the late 19th century was abandoned in the 1940s following a mining collapse, leaving behind a rusty legacy of countless ageing locomotives that now roast their cylinders and pistons in the hot Bolivian salt flats.

The site has since become the subject of fascination for a growing band of tourists who are not merely keen trainspotters, but those wanting to encounter the rugged terrains of South America with a quirky historical twist.

To heighten the haunting ambience and avoid the large tourist crowds, it is recommended to visit the graveyard in the evening or early morning.

The best part is this is one hidden gem you won’t need to scour for days with a treasure map to find – simply follow the deserted train tracks to the ghostly metallic necropolis.

All aboard!

MACHU PICCHU STILL ESSENTIAL TO VISIT

VISITING South America without visiting Machu Picchu would be like taking a holiday to Alice Springs and not checking out Uluru.

The breathtaking 15th century Inca citadel situated on a mountain ridge 2,430m above sea level is located in the Cusco Region of

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Peru and was declared a Peruvian Historic Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

There are many tour operators that will take travellers to this amazing Incan ruin, however, luxury small group operator Abercrombie &

Kent is currently offering Aussies a way to visit the site in style in 2019.

The eight-day Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley small group tour offers an immersive cultural adventure of Peru that spans the Sacred Valley in the Andean highlands, the cultural wonders of Peru’s capital Lima, and most importantly, two whole days exploring the must-see sights of Machu Picchu.

Highlights of the journey includes sampling some traditional Peruvian cuisine, visiting Casa Aliaga – the country’s oldest colonial mansion, learning about the ancient agricultural methods of villages in the Sacred Valley, enjoying a private performance from an authentic Andean musician, and trekking up to Huayna Picchu, the high mountain peak that forms the backbone of the site and provides the best vantage point to view the surrounding area.

The trip departs Australia every month of the year in 2019 and is priced from $3,195 per person.

SOUTH AMERICA

SOUTH AMERICA’S VIBRANT CITIES BOGOTA, COLUMBIA The capital of Columbia, once known for corruption, violence and drug lords, has had a distinct transformation over the last decade, turning into the vibrant and bustling city it’s known as today. Bogota is an eclectic mix of culture and architecture that doesn’t seem to make sense: high-rise buildings are neighbours to centuries old colonial churches, and funky bars and restaurants sit next door to old homes or museums showcasing ancient relics. La Candelaria in the city’s heart is a must-see, with narrow cobbled streets lined with boutique shops and some of the country’s most historical buildings. Bogota is a fantastic spot to visit, and situated high in the mountains it is positioned perfectly for further travel throughout the Andes, Columbia or South America.

SANTIAGO, CHILE

en o or M rc ia Ga

Quito is in the middle of the world, sitting on the equator, nestled high between dense green mountain peaks. The streets creep onto the sides of the mountain, with a mix of modern high rise and traditional construction making a feast for the eyes as you stroll through the city. The Ecuadorian capital is notoriously lively, with streets bustling with overflowing market stands and people piling in and out of hole-in-the-wall cafés and restaurants.

Quito’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the buzz of everyday life pulses through the 17th century architecture filled with colonial monuments, picturesque churches and active plazas. All through the city is an abundance of culinary delights, whether from street vendors or high class restaurants.

©

QUITO, ECUADOR

Almost half of all Chileans call their capital home; unsurprising considering it’s not only the political and financial centre of the country but also the cultural centre, with treelined streets, funky neighbourhoods and a plethora of different things to do. A pleasant mix of cultures, this cosmopolitan city has everything a traveller could ever want. Take in the grand and diverse architecture and eclectic art scene, or browse the shops and restaurants as you stroll through one of the city’s many pedestrian malls. Santiago is situated close to both ski resorts and beaches making it a fantastic place to stop over for a few days on a South American sojourn.

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WELLNESS

The wellness sector of the travel industry is booming, writes Kristie Kellahan.

D

O YOU know your shaman ritual from your myofascial therapy? How about the ins and outs of organic bedding? Wellness travellers are seeking new and better experiences for their health and wellbeing on the road, and travel agents are advised to keep up with the trends.

Wellness travel is defined as that which allows the traveller to maintain, enhance or kick-start a healthy lifestyle, and support or increase one’s sense of wellbeing. It’s a very personal concept, and

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travellers are looking for many, varied things.

The definition comes from the president of the Wellness Tourism Association, Anne Dimon, who says the sector has grown substantially in both supply and demand.

“A decade ago, the term ‘wellness travel’ was primarily associated with the spa experience,” Dimon says. “While a spa visit, especially those associated with stress reduction, can certainly enhance any type of travel, it is not now considered mandatory for wellness travel.”

Dimon says agents need to educate themselves on the growing sector, preferably by joining industry associations and having first-hand experiences at retreats and healing hotels. They should have a portfolio of suppliers that offer what clients are looking for, whether that is yoga and meditation, healthy cooking classes or spiritual adventure. She says agents should be helping clients find the right fit by listening carefully to their needs.

“Wellness travel and tourism mean different things to different people, but one thing is clear: everybody wants it,” says Rona Berg, spa and wellness expert and the editor-inchief of Organic Spa Magazine.

According

to the Global Wellness Summit research, consumers around the world spend US$3.7 trillion annually on their wellness, including yoga and fitness classes, meditation classes and downloads, sleep apps, vitamin supplements, and organic food. The ability to access that when we travel is a growing part of what consumers want. So it’s not surprising, Berg says, that wellness tourism is now valued at US$494 billion globally.

“We are living in a state of what’s been called “permanxiety”, a constant state of anxiety, with a constant low hum of stress and sleep-deprivation that leaves many people feeling overwhelmed, exhausted and anxious,” Berg says. “Travellers are looking for help, and many spas and resorts are going beyond traditional experiences to create programs with a more holistic wellness experience.”

It used to be that hotels only had to offer massages and facials at the in-house spa as a way to attract wellness travellers. They are now going beyond that to find ways to help travellers sleep better, clean up their diets, become more mindful and learn to be happier. That could mean anything from yoga mats supplied in guestrooms, to plentiful vegan and gluten-free options at the breakfast buffet, to dedicated “spiritual wellness” managers to help curate memorable family experiences. Inns of Aurora in upstate New York has even employed a director of serenity.

WELLNESS

Wellness rooms in hotels including the Four Seasons Beverly Hills offer air purification systems, meditation videos

by Deepak Chopra, circadian lighting, dechlorinated showers and sleep therapy sound machines. Holland America Line has teamed up with O, The Oprah Magazine to create cruise itineraries that feature educational and inspirational sessions with

“

Guests are looking for a break that can provide quietness for their mind, support for their body and soul and the chance to slow down

”

the magazine’s experts. And in the spa world, ‘healing’ is the word on everyone’s lips, including energy healing and programs that promise to change lives through the healing and reprogramming of poor sleep habits.

Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, located on Queensland’s Gold Coast hinterland, is one of Australia’s most awarded eco-tourism wellness retreats. With its organic food, natural setting and high-calibre practitioners, the retreat attracts guests who seek to improve their health and wellness.

Operating for the past 12 years, the retreat has just opened a $1.7 million custom-built Wellness Education Complex to enhance the guest experience.

“There is an increased awareness of the importance of lifestyle in our overall health and so people look for travel opportunities to help them feel better,” says Sharon Kolkka, general manager and wellness director. “Guests are looking for a break that can help provide quietness for their mind, support for their body and soul and the chance to slow down.”

Kolkka says the wellness travel sector grew more than 10% from 2013 to 2015.

The Global Wellness Tourism Economy report predicts a growth rate of 9.9% on average per year for the next several years, which is almost twice the rate of global tourism overall.

Many Australian travellers are choosing wellness retreats and hotels domestically to reduce the time and stress of international travel, and for the follow-up access they can

more readily have with practitioners in the same time zone.

Travel agents booking guests at Gwinganna receive a 10% commission on fully inclusive packages. Kolkka says guests are choosing longer stays of a week or more, which in turn increases the commissionable amount.

“A key benefit would be the guest returning home happy, relaxed and more likely to go back to the agent for other travel requirements, especially if the agent has introduced them to Gwinganna,” Kolkka says.

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WELLNESS

REJUVENATE AT SEA ON CELEBRITY EDGE CELEBRITY Cruises has dedicated a sprawling 2,000m² to relaxation and rejuvenation at sea on its new ship set to debut in December, Celebrity Edge.

Called “The Spa”, the space is “inspired by the soothing elements of nature” and will provide guests with more than 124 treatments, 31 therapists and signature offerings such as the Ocean Spa Wave Massage, Hot Mineral Body Boost, Poultice-Powered Muscle Release and Zero Gravity Wellness Massage.

“Our aspiration for The Spa was the same aspiration we have for Celebrity Edge – to provide our guests with a deeper and more profound connection to the sea,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, president and CEO, Celebrity Cruises.

Features include The SEA Thermal Suite, which is an evolution of the Persian Gardens on the brand’s current fleet and features eight therapeutic experiences.

Offerings include The Hammam, Salt Room, Steam Room, Rainfall Water Therapy Room, Float Room, heated tile loungers,

Infrared Sauna and Crystalarium.

Passengers can sit back in the Relaxation Lounge, where every treatment starts with “a unique welcome ritual to prepare one’s mind, body and spirit for the pampering to follow”.

Guests can also indulge in aesthetic services such as Dysport Wrinkle Treatments and Restylane Dermal Filler Treatment.

The Spa offers traditional hot shaved and

fresh men’s cuts at The Barber, while The Fitness Center offers a range of classes including hot yoga, Technogym Group Cycle, Fitness on Demand, cardio boxing and “the first Bungee Fit and Peloton bikes offered at sea”.

Celebrity Edge will spend her inaugural season sailing alternating seven-night eastern and western Caribbean cruise itineraries before heading to the Mediterranean.

A sanctuary in the mountains

FRESH APPROACH FOR QANTAS QANTAS’ new Perth-London Dreamliner flights have prompted the airline to take a fresh approach to long-haul travel.

The carrier partnered with the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre to introduce a range of initiatives to improve the health and wellness of its travellers.

This includes a new transit lounge at Perth Airport, where passengers can benefit from stretching classes, jetlag-reducing lights and an outdoor terrace.

The lounge has a range of unique features, including “light therapy” in the shower suites to help adjust the body clock, a wellbeing studio with stretching

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classes and a refresh area providing hydrating face products. Customers can dine in an open-air terrace with a BBQ serving gourmet dishes by Neil Perry.

The partnership marks the first integrated, multidisciplinary collaboration between an airline and a university around health pre-, during and post-flight.

Other wellness-boosting initiatives include tailoring the menus for the flights to maintain hydration, aid sleep and reduce jetlag.

Qantas has also considered the timing of the food and drinks service en route, cabin lighting and temperature in the 787.

CHINA’S Gaoligong Mountains has a new hot springs resort following the recent debut of Banyan Tree Tengchong.

A sanctuary for health and wellness, the resort boasts breathtaking scenery, three geothermal pools of different temperatures and an Onsen Garden featuring four outdoor mineral pools.

With neutral texture, taste and colour, the resort’s thermal water is one of the few local hot springs that can be used for drinking, bathing and therapy.

Banyan Tree Tengchong is a 30-minute scenic drive from Tengchong Airport and features 37 hot spring retreats and villas, located away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

WELLNESS

AGENT EXPERIENCE

Wellness at Amatara Phuket Anne Rogers, Wings Away Travel

A

five-night stay at a wellness retreat in the tropics would be the dream of most hardworking small business owners, but for a retail travel agent, used to daily promotion and selling of such things, it is especially enticing.

So, to win a five-night stay at the Amatara Wellness Resort in Phuket was a bit “lotto-like” for me, and gratefully redeemed earlier this year.

Reception is warm and inviting; beginning with an airport meet and greet, and a one hour road transfer, throughout which there is much to remind us that Phuket is definitely not the sleepy paradise it once was. But this is very quickly forgotten when we drive into the beautiful Amatara compound, located in the extreme south of the island – a wonderful haven, and a world away from the madness outside.

Check-in takes place in a giant open air pavilion looking over the resort and out to sea. Nearby is the enormous wellness centre with its hilltop position – and 100 stairs to and from!

“

I signed up for everything I felt I could benefit from – from a one hour session with a nutritionist, Pilates and Qi Gong, to a wonderful one-on-one cooking class – a total of 25 activities

”

Traditional hotel-style acommodation is combined with villas which tumble down to the waterfront along winding pathways, lined with gorgeous tropical vegetation.

Ours is an Ocean View Pool Villa, and it is superb – enormous, beautifully designed, and blessed with a private courtyard and plunge pool – we wish to

stay forever. Our package is all-inclusive with a number of beautiful restaurants and bars around the resort serving outstanding meals and drinks.

Fellow guests are a mix of those following the various wellness programs, and others simply relaxing in a fine resort.

This is a wonderful thing about Amatara: it is designed for exactly that. My husband accompanied me, and I was able to pay a hotel-only rate for him – an option available to all guests.

Eager to do justice to such a wonderful opportunity, and my first experience of such a holiday, I diligently completed the questionnaire sent to me on confirmation, and signed up for everything I felt I could benefit from – from a one hour session with a nutritionist, pilates and Qi Gong, to a wonderful one-on-one cooking class – a total of 25 activities.

I don’t want to leave our villa, but my hard core daily program runs to two A4

pages, with concurrent appointments beginning at 8am each morning. It resembles a job, and I treat it as such, keen to experience all of the “wellness” activities. Some were familiar, others totally foreign; some were pleasant; others less so. Most of my experiences were a success and insightful; others an abject failure (my first ever yoga lesson, and a session with a flaky cosmic healer were firmly in this category, and worthy of a stand alone story!). The resort staff are outstanding, especially the highly qualified therapists, consultants and instructors in the wellness centre.

We are so fortunate as agents to enjoy experiences such as this, and on such occasions, I always apply my “would I spend my own money on this”? test. The answer this time is very definitely “yes” and we are already planning a return fully paid visit to Amatara – not least for my very favourite activity – the Hammam treatment!

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LAST WORD

Unusual Experience: Chocolate Touring Attention chocoholics! If you’re looking for a unique tour experience that also satisfies your sweet tooth, look no further than this chocolate focused tour of Columbia.

Wild Frontiers Travel offers a 14-day tour of the nation hosted by an actual chocolatier. On this tour you’ll see all the sights you would expect, with full city tours of Bogota, Popayan, Santa Marta and Cartgena, experiencing Columbian culture, and cuisine.

In addition you’ll spend days in cocoa plantations, markets, and chocolate factories, seeing how chocolate is made from start to finish and meeting the people behind the creation of some of the world’s best cocoa products.

The tour gives you the chance to experience Columbia from a new perspective, understanding the history of this incredible culture.

If you’re interested in this unusual touring experience head to www.wildfriontierstravel.com to find out more!

Image: Wild Frontiers Travel

SUDOKU

The aim of Sudoku is to complete the entire grid using the numbers 1-9.

Each number can only be used once in each row, once in each column, and once in each of the 3×3 boxes.

www.sudokuoftheday.com – visit them and get a new Sudoku every day!

Gadget: Travel Door Alarm IF you’re staying in a strange hotel, somewhere unfamiliar, or just concerned with the quality of the security in wherever it is you’re sleeping, its always nice to have a bit of extra peace of mind.

The Lewis N. Clark travel door alarm can provide just that. For $11.99, you can get a reliable and powerful alarm.

It is hung from a door handle while the sensor is slid into the gap between the door and the door frame. When the door is opened the motion sensor triggers and the device emits a very loud, high pitched alaram that will be heard throughout the room, alerting you to any intruders as well as startling the would be imposter.

Easy to set up, small and highly portable, the Travel Door Alarm is also versatile, able to be used for sliding doors, windows or any other entry point you deem to be vulnerable to break-in. As a bonus, the alarm also has an integrated LED flashlight so you can see in the dark without having to turn on any lights.

For an added sense of security whilst travelling, this alarm is compact, lightweight, and highly effective in alerting you to any unwanted guests. It is an ideal form of extra security to ensure you feel safe and comfortable wherever you might be.

Head to lewisnclark.com to check it our for yourself.

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MEDIUM

Image: Lewis N. Clark

2019 NORTHERN EUROPE HIGHLIGHTS SCANDINAVIA & RUSSIA

Flåm, Norway

• Sailing through the Tower Bridge, a signature Silversea feature, to dock in the heart of London is an extraordinary experience that no other cruise line can offer. In 2019, we will have 11 voyages on Silver Wind arriving or departing from Tower Bridge, plus two on Silver Cloud.

• Three Iceland cruises from/to London and Reykjavik (2921, 2922, and 2924). Combine voyages 2921 + 2922 for an unmissable London Tower Bridge roundtrip with Iceland circumnavigation and the best of Ireland and Scotland (including Dublin and Leith/ Edinburgh) • The route between London and Lisbon (or Barcelona) offers some of the most interesting European itineraries, featuring destinations like Bordeaux, St Malo, Bilbao, and Oporto ( 4909, 4910, and 5916)

LONDON (TOWER BRIDGE) TO REYKJAVIK Silver Wind - 11 Days 20 July - 31 July 2019 Voyage 2921

With four ships our ships sailing this region in 2019, the options are endless: Silver Wind, Silver Whisper, Silver Spirit or Silver Cloud Expedition.

Key highlights include: • Norwegian Fjords & North Cape : North Cape (along the coast of Norway) is offered both on Silver Wind (2919) and Silver Spirit (5917), between London and Copenhagen.

Voyage 5922, a 10 day round sailing from Copenhagen offers a comprehensive fjords programme.

• The Baltic: our stunning Silver Spirit has 10 voyages between Stockholm and Copenhagen, visiting the most important Nordic capitals: Stockholm, Copenhagen, Tallin, Helsinki, and always with one or two overnights in St. Petersburg. (Sample voyages 5918, 5920, and 5923)

COPENHAGEN ROUNDTRIP Silver Spirit - 10 Days 25 July - 04 August 2019 Voyage 5922

BRITISH ISLES & ATLANTIC COAST

Silver Wind, Tower Bridge, London

Extensive Gourmet Dining And Gastronomic Excellence • Whispered Luxury • Service Ratios Of Almost 1:1 • Intimate Ships Of Less Than 608 Guests

SILVERSEA - THE LUXURY OF CHOICE Expect choice with Silversea. Every aspect carefully curated and tailored to meet your every need. As part of our ongoing desire to bring you closer to the authentic beauty of the world, our 2019 Europe collection will include Economy Class Air Roundtrip and overseas transfers on select voyages. Upgrade to Business Class Air Roundtrip from AU$6,998pp, or choose cruise only and save up to $4,000 per suite.* Also, book by 31 August 2018 and save an additional 10% on all sailings 1 January 2019 onwards.

LET US TAKE YOU TO OUR HOME - THE LUXURY OF CHOICE Our 2019 European voyages offer your clients more choice than ever before with our four intimate ships visiting up to 40 different countries over a long season from April to October.

Highlights include not only a number of new ports such as Oban (Scotland), Allborg (Denmark), Milos (Greece), or Porto Santo Stefano (Argentario, Italy), but numerous overnight stays in favourite ports such as Venice, Sorrento, Rhodes, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome, Lisbon, and Bordeaux.

SILVERSEA EUROPE 2019 FLEET SILVER SPIRIT 608 GUESTS | 412 CREW

SILVER SHADOW

Late departures in the most desired ports allow guests to fully immerse themselves in each destination: Livorno (Tuscany), St. Tropez, Portofino, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Palma de Mallorca, and Patmos.

382 GUESTS | 302 CREW

Our elegant and luxurious ships can access smaller ports and offer unique experiences such as the Signature Silversea experience of sailing from London Tower Bridge. We offer an extensive collection of enriched voyages include culinary or wine voyages, Ballet, Opera, or Bridge sailings.

SILVER WHISPER

Our 48 day Mediterranean Grand Voyage on board the intimate 382 guest Silver Shadow: departs Barcelona on 10 June visiting 9 countries and 39 ports, none of which will be repeated on the itinerary.

382 GUESTS | 302 CREW

SILVER WIND 296 GUESTS | 222 CREW

For more information contact Silversea on 1300 306 872, email APRes@Silversea.com, or visit Silversea.com Terms and Conditions apply, visit https://www.silversea.com/terms-and-conditions.html

SILVER CLOUD EXPEDITION 254 GUESTS | 223 CREW