FORMER Intrepid Travel and G Adventures senior executive Pete Rawley has today announced the launch of the “Evolution Travel Collective (ETC),” which he has established after spotting a gap in the industry for an “innovative sales and marketing representation company”.

Rawley, who left Intrepid as GM of Sales for Asia Pacific in Mar this year, said he believed it was time for the representation sector to evolve, with ETC a hybrid model that is new to the Australian and New Zealand travel industry.

“We are not a traditional GSA business, nor are we a representation company that only offers day-to-day sales calls,” Rawley said.

“The ETC model is built on providing the highest quality representation for wholesalers and tour operators looking for a cost effective solution within the region…it will also increase sales conversion with all enquiry directed back to the partner’s own specialised reservations team,” he added.

Rawley said in the coming weeks further additions to his team would be unveiled, along with ETC’s first wholesaler/tour operator partnerships, including “several well known global and Australian businesses”.

See evolutiontc.com.au.

Source: traveldaily

AIR New Zealand has signed an agreement to bring the first autonomous electric air taxi service to New Zealand.

The long-term deal with technology company Zephyr Airworks will see the carrier collaborate on further developing Zephyr’s Cora electric taxi.

“Zephyr Airworks is leading the way in re-defining personal mobility…both companies see the potential for our airspace to free people from the constraints of traffic and its associated social, economic and environmental impacts,” said Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon.

“One day, everyday people across the globe will be able to use Cora to bring flight into their lives,” he added.

Zephyr Airworks has been working on bringing the Cora taxi to market for eight years and Air New Zealand has not yet earmarked a launch date.

MEANWHILE, Air New Zealand has revealed it will eliminate a further 14 single-use plastic products from its supply chain over the next 12 months.

The move will reduce the airline’s waste by more than 24 million items annually, with single-use plastic products such as water cups, cafe cups, lids, plates and plastic bags to be phased out over the next 12 months by substitute paper and wooden alternatives.

Source: traveldaily

AIR New Zealand is offering prizes of 50 return flights for two to New Zealand as part of an incentive encouraging agents to complete the Air NZ “Flying to New Zealand” online training module.

Consultants can also win lounge passes, and access discounts from accommodation and tourism operators by becoming part of Tourism NZ’s Explore New Zealand program.

See the cover page for details.

Source: traveldaily

VIRGIN Australia has been granted a 99-year approval to operate unlimited flights to Fiji from points in Australia other than Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

The International Air Services Commission has also finalised capacity rulings to Indonesia for Qantas, Jetstar and Emirates, and for VA to the Cook Islands.

Source: traveldaily

RAIL Plus is offering an Australian travel agent with a knack for writing, photography and social media a chance to join a 10-day Grand Train Tour of Italy to document their experiences.

Agents also have the chance to win one of 50 pizzas if they answer two quiz questions correctly, & can join a Trenitalia webinar at 8.30am on 31 Oct for more knowledge on Italian rail.

CLICK HERE for more details.

Source: traveldaily

THE annual Travel Daily/travelBulletin Australian Airline Guide for 2019 is set for departure soon, but there’s still time to be involved.

Any airlines that have not confirmed a listing should contact advertising@travelbulletin.com.au.

Source: traveldaily

HERTZ has become the first non-air affiliate of SkyTeam, allowing frequent flyers of the group’s 20 member airlines to enjoy car rental benefits and accrue miles (except Alitalia and Aerolineas Agentinas).

Source: traveldaily

Caravan park OTA fightback, Virtuoso to step up Asia, Austria, Rawley’s new venture, Air New Zealand, Travel Associates & much more

Click here to download Travel Daily for Tuesday 16th October 2018

Source: traveldaily