The surprise announcement by Western Australia that it would open its hard borders to residents of New South Wales and Victoria from next week, coupled with the reopening of the Queensland/NSW border earlier this week (see more below), has been applauded by travel groups.

Flight Centre Travel Group has partnered with technology platform Livn to streamline the booking process for global Day Tours & Activities across its leisure and wholesale brands.

The battered global cruise industry will “come back stronger than ever”, with seasoned cruisers eager to board a ship and sail away, says Flight Centre Travel Group’s GM of Premium Brands, Danielle Galloway.

Travel Associates has named Donna Elliott (nee Grant) to the newly created role of General Manager of its six-month-old Cruise Boutique division.

Nicole Costantin has been appointed as the General Manager of Travel Associates’ new brand and product platform, ASPIRE. Costantin, who has a strong history in the leisure, travel and tourism industry, will be responsible for developing, launching and managing a comprehensive range of curated luxury leisure products and client benefits under the newly-created ASPIRE brand.

Last month, 14 Travel Associates advisers experienced a magical eight-day, festive themed Romantic Rhine River Cruise hosted by Avalon Waterways National Account Manager Mitch Spencer.

Travel Associates has announced its 2020 inaugural Advisory Board, comprised of 10 experts, selected to represent their State and Territory stores, with each member having clocked up a minimum of 15 years’ experience with the Travel Associates brand across domestic, international or cruise travel.

Close to 300 Travel Associates delegates and 46 suppliers attended the Travel Associates Showcase last weekend, which is one of the brand’s most important events for connecting their preferred product partners with the TA adviser base. Travel Associates’ newly launched Cruise Boutique business was also a key focus of the event with representatives from brands including Azamara, Celebrity, APT and Seabourn in attendance.

Flight Centre Travel Group’s Travel Associates brand this week officially launched its Travel Associates Cruise Boutique concept, a business specialisation designed to offer clients cruise expertise, curated cruise and travel experiences, and unrivalled service.

Travel Associates showcased the world of Luxury Cruising to valued clients last week at the Perth Convention Centre.

Travel Associates’ businesses in South Australian teamed up with Trafalgar and TV Chef Adam Swanson this month to create a local version of an Italian Culinary Adventure, hosting 35 clients to a tantalising taste of Italy.