Reopening of Australia sparks ‘bookings flurry’


Harry Kemble and Hanisha Sethi


Operators are “working overtime” to convert demand for Australia into bookings after the country announced it was reopening its borders later this month. Vaccinated travellers will be


welcome to return from February 21, provided they test negative before departure. Gold Medal saw its Australia sales


increase by 10% week-on-week after it “increased intensity” of its social media and sent e-shots to agents. Three-quarters (75%) of bookings are due to depart by May. Sales director Nick Hughes


said: “Monday’s news sparked a real flurry of bookings for holidays Down Under. This is the one we’ve been waiting for. “We’re now working overtime


to help agents convert the enquiries they’re receiving into bookings.” Intrepid Travel added more


Australia tours. A spokeswoman for the operator said: “We know there is pent-up demand among our customers. We’ve already seen an uplift in enquiries.” APT released a new sales


campaign within 24 hours to cater


for demand, with savings of £500 per couple offered until February 28 and £40 Love2shop voucher codes for agents making bookings this month. Paul Melinis, UK and Europe


managing director, said the operator may extend the incentive “if demand is still there” in the coming weeks. “Australia reopening is a really big


deal,” he said, adding that the touring and river cruise specialist had sought a reopening date “for a long time”. However, Melinis warned


2022 capacity “could be a little bit challenging” as many Australians were choosing to travel domestically rather than overseas this year. Scenic is offering agents £15 for every land booking made. Brand and


Sydney


marketing manager Sarah Lancashire said the operator anticipated Australia demand to “spike”. Advantage Travel Partnership


chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said was among agents to welcome the “symbolic” reopening date, as Australia has been among the countries with the strictest Covid border policies. Advantage and Flight Centre both


warned states have different entry requirements, but stressed this was another reason for customers to book through an agent. Western Australia, for example,


has halved the quarantine period for positive Covid cases to seven days but is expected to keep a cap on arrivals.


Not Just Travel signs 40 suppliers to new scheme


Not Just Travel has introduced a programme to offer “collaborative plans” for suppliers who sign up as “key trade partners”. Forty suppliers have signed up to the scheme, which aims to increase agents’ product knowledge and improve access to homeworkers. Meanwhile, recruitment for senior management roles and Not Just Travel’s trade team has begun. Chief of staff Cherie Richards is leaving to pursue “a fresh challenge”.


Advantage creates logo ‘brand toolkit’


The Advantage Travel Partnership has created a ‘brand toolkit’ to give agent members access to different versions of its logo. The consortium said consumer awareness of the group had risen during Covid. Head office staff are also helping with admin, calls and filing to support members dealing with a spike in enquiries.


Cunard reveals name of fourth ship in fleet


Cunard’s new 3,000-passenger ship, due to launch in 2024, will be called Queen Anne and will go on sale in May. Once in service, it will bring the Cunard fleet to four ships for the first time since 1999. The ships’ names honour the four English queens to have reigned in the last millennium.


Perfect Getaways expands with Birkenhead acquisition and Isle of Man opening


Northwest-based agency Perfect Getaways has expanded by acquiring office-based agency Above & Beyond and opening a shop in Douglas, Isle of Man. Managing director Nicola Palmer said Birkenhead-


based Above & Beyond was the “perfect add-on” to its growing business. She said: “All our other travel agencies are walk-ins, but this is high-end, more specialised and gives us access to the tailor-made market.” Six new jobs have been created at Perfect Getaways,


8 10 FEBRUARY 2022


David and Nicola Palmer


which now employs 28 people. The company made no redundancies during the pandemic after using the furlough scheme and deploying agents from home. Director David Palmer said: “We became one big team


rather than five different shops, and are grateful for core members of staff sticking with us.” The family-owned business now has seven locations,


having opened its first store, in Little Sutton, Cheshire, in May 2017. It is a Midcounties Co-operative member.


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: Shutterstock/Taras Vyshnya


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