Grab yourself a coffee and catch up on today’s news in brief – the latest updates from the industry and everything you need to know in bite-size pieces.
Agents can win a Greek Islands cruise
Travel Agent Finder has a new specialist badge partner and, to celebrate, members can win a spot on a Celestyal Cruise famil in the Greek Islands. Travel Agent Finder works with suppliers and tourism partners to verify agents who have completed their specialist training programs and adds a ‘verified’ specialist badge to the agent’s profile page.
“I am thrilled to announce the first official cruise line partner in the specialist program, Celestyal Cruises,” said Travel Agent Finder owner, Anna Shannon.” Cruise searches are our biggest source of website traffic at present and one of our highest listed specialist categories, with over 200 agents listed under the various cruise categories we offer as search criteria. It is a crucial strategy for the platform to better highlight cruise experts and help those travellers elevate their holiday experience.”
Agents who complete their Celestyal Stars specialist training can enter to win a spot on a famil with Celestyal Cruises on their ‘Idyllic Aegean’ itinerary around the Greek Islands. This will be hosted on the new JOURNEY ship this October and this spot is exclusive to Travel Agent Finder members, including those who have already completed this training. With thanks to our partner Celestyal Cruises.
Agent members are invited to login to their account for the training links and famil entry form now, entries close 10 August 2023.
NCL appoints Leanne Fonagy as PR Manager for APAC
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has appointed cruise PR professional Leanne Fonagy as Public Relations Manager for the APAC region. Leanne brings a wealth of travel PR expertise to her new role, including more than six years with Silversea Cruises and the past two years as Senior Account Director with specialist travel and lifestyle PR agency Anne Wild & Associates (AWA), where she was the lead on the NCL account. AWA has been NCL’s PR representative agency in Australia and New Zealand since the brand’s local launch in 2015.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with NCL over the past two years, and I am delighted to join the team in a new capacity to further strengthen the brand in the APAC region, whilst continuing to work hand-in-hand with the expert team at AWA,” Leanne said. “With a raft of milestone moments and projects in the pipeline, such as the imminent launch of new ship Norwegian Viva and the return of Norwegian Spirit for her second local season later this year, this is an exciting time to come on board.”
Lower prices on Royal Caribbean’s transpacific sailings October 2023
Royal Caribbean is offering a range of 17-and 18-night last chance deals for October 2023 aboard Quantum of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas to destinations including Hawaii, French Polynesia, the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia. w
October Transpacific Sailings
T&Cs apply
Marriott Hotel Awards name Fiji resort Hotel of the Year
Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay has received three prestigious and highly-competitive awards at the annual Marriott International General Management and Hotel Awards 2022, held on 19 July 2023. The hotel won Hotel of the Year along with top hotel sales growth and highest food and beverage revenue growth in the premium category. The Hotel of the Year Award recognises hotels with the best business performance across key metrics and BSC elements – benchmarking leadership initiatives, training and development of associates, guest satisfaction, sustainable practices and community engagement.
The annual awards cover General Management and Hotel Amenity across a range of categories and are designed to recognise Marriott General Managers and individual properties for outstanding leadership, innovation, guest service, community engagement and business success. The awards are open for entry to 520 Marriott International properties across 24 brands in the Asia Pacific region excluding Greater China. In a highly competitive field, the win marks the significance of a Marriott resort in Fiji winning the award and is very motivational for all their associates.
“I am truly delighted that Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay has been recognised for our outstanding business success in 2022,” said Silvano Dressino, General Manager of Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay. “The resort has overcome significant obstacles, including emerging from the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Working closely with our local talent to cross-skill and up-skill via the Fiji Marriott Training Academy, we have successfully navigated these challenges to be positioned as a leading premium resort on the Asia Pacific stage, outside of China – and winner of the APEC overall Hotel of the Year for best performance.”
“I congratulate all our Associates at Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay and the wider Marriott International Fiji team who have exhibited such dedication to delivering exceptional guest experiences that has led to our outstanding business success.”
Following a strategic partnership with celebrity chef Matt Moran, the food and beverage offering at Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay has seen significant uplift in enquiry and bookings. At the invitation of Marriott International Fiji, Moran hosted a dinner series bringing his paddock to plate philosophy to Marriott’s Fiji Resorts. Working collaboratively with the highly skilled chefs at Momi Bay and Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort, Moran also designed a special dish featuring local Fiji produce that remains on the menu until 31 August 2023.
Reflections adds five new Tiny Homes experiences in NSW
Reflections has added five new Tiny Homes locations across NSW – Scotts Head, Shaws Bay and Evans Head with Bermagui and Lake Keepit (soon to come online) – plus, some are pet friendly, so you can bring your furry friends, too.
With a smaller footprint, these compact cabins leave more space for the stunning environment they are situated in, allowing holiday-goers to get closer to nature and rest assured that their stay is sustainable.
GM of Marketing & Sales Peter (Pete) Chapman said the Reflections tiny homes were designed to maximise the flow through to the outdoors and offer a unique, nature-immersed experience in some of the most amazing destinations NSW has to offer. “Imagine sleeping to the sound of the ocean waves breaking on the shore and relaxing on a spacious deck a stone’s through from water.”
Caring for 37 holiday parks and one unique lighthouse cottage accommodation, Reflections Holiday Parks take pride in providing travellers with a nature-filled stay surrounded by Australian wildlife. Reflections also reinvests profits into the nature reserves on behalf of the people of NSW allowing guests to feel a sense of giving back when staying.
Murray Regional Tourism Board launches new campaign
The Murray Regional Tourism Board has launched a new marketing campaign to attract visitors back to the region over the coming months following a summer season disrupted by devastating floods.
Designed to support the local tourism economy and drive bookings, Murray Regional Tourism (MRT) has developed a PR and Marketing campaign targeting regional VIC/NSW/SA as well as Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra visitors. Encouraging visitors to create their own ‘Murray Moment’, the new marketing campaign is focused on rebuilding consumer confidence and raising awareness of the region while inspiring consumers to book a short break to the Murray.
As part of the new campaign, consumers have the chance to win one of three unique ‘Murray Moments’ packages valued at $2000. Entries are available via social media channels from now until 20 August 2023.
TOP IMAGE: Murray Regional Tourism
New TTC appointment
Tammy Van Exan has joined TTC Tour Brands as National Groups Sales Manager. Tammy’s appointment comes as Groups business ramps up and TTC gears up its dedicated Groups division to align with the demand and sales opportunities currently being seen in both the Australia and New Zealand markets.
Tammy is an experienced travel sales professional with over 15 years in the industry and, no stranger to TTC, she has previously been in the business as a sales manager across many of the TTC brands. Tammy’s experience also includes five years as a travel agent.
