Song Saa Private Island Announce Festive Flash Promotion – Stay 4, Pay 2 Song Saa Private Island is pleased to announce a special Festive Flash Promotion of all-inclusive stays – Stay 4 nights, Pay 2 nights.  This offer is bookable from 1 January 2019 through 5 February 2019 and applies to stays January 15 – December 22, 2019. Additional nights may be booked with a 30% discount.  This offer is valid on all villa types for all-inclusive bookings only.  Bookings for a maximum of 7 night stay.  Black out dates 1-9 February; 18-25 April; 2-6 May; 1-7 Oct; 26-30 November.  This applies to new requests and bookings submitted and pre-paid by 5 February 2019. Song Saa Private Island is a haven of sustainable luxury nestled in the undiscovered beauty of Cambodia’s Koh Rong Archipelago. For more information please visit www.songsaa.com or contact Jo@hiddendoorwaystravel.com

Competition time and Merry Christmas from Taiwan Tourism Bureau! With a rugged interior featuring 286 peaks topping 3,000 meters, Taiwan’s railway system is shoehorned onto the coastal margins where most of Taiwan’s cultural life is concentrated. Whether you ride the high-speed service from Taipei City in the north to the city of Kaohsiung in the south, or spend a week exploring the island by local train, all journeys are within eyeshot of either the cobalt-blue Pacific Ocean, flatlands of verdant rice-paddies, or towering mountainsides. Learn more about why travelling by train is one of the best ways to explore the Formosa island and remember to enter the competition: Taiwan Tourism Bureau in collaboration with China Airlines are offering the opportunity to visit the heart of Asia with 2 x return flights courtesy of China Airlines. To enter the competition you just need to watch a 30-sec video and answer the question here! Good Luck! Also, if you want to learn more about Taiwan and be in the chance to win £100 Love2shop vouchers and a lovely Taiwan goodie bag complete the Taiwan OTT course by the 31st December! Great news for all the foodies, Din Tai Fung has opened its […]

Download NEW Australian Events Calendar 2019 Food and Wine, Fashion, Sport, Culture – Australia’s annual calendar of world-class events has something for everyone! From cheering on the world’s top tennis players at the Australian Open to interacting with spectacular light installations at Vivid, sampling fine food and wine at various gourmet festivals to celebrating Australia’s indigenous culture at Tjungu Festival at Uluru. Events can be an absolute highlight of your customer’s holiday to Australia so check out the new events calendar for 2019 on the Aussie Specialist website.

“Hop It; A Journey to New Zealand” – new game designed especially for Travel Agents Tourism New Zealand, Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand have launched a fun, interactive game designed especially for Travel Agents. Highlighting what your clients can expect when flying with Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand from Heathrow or Manchester to Changi in Singapore and then onwards to Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch, the game also features some of the experiences your clients can “snap up” while travelling across both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. As well as the game, agents can also complete the Hop It Quiz to be in with a chance to win lots of prizes, including a pair of Business Class return flights to New Zealand, so make sure to enter today! For more information, Click Here!

Western Australia’s a trending destination for 2019 ABTA, the UK’s largest travel association, has named WA as one of the 12 destinations to watch as part of its 2019 Trends report. The destinations to watch are independently selected by ABTA’s experts and inclusion is based on a range of factors such as new flight routes, major events and celebrations, and areas that are experiencing a revival. The 2019 Trends report cited the introduction of the Qantas non-stop flight from London to Perth, recent developments in Perth, the bohemian charm of Fremantle, the state’s dramatic coastline and its outstanding natural attractions such as Ningaloo Reef and the Bungle Bungle Range as reasons for WA’s inclusion. WA was the only Australian destination to be included on the list. This comes off the back of Perth recently being named by National Geographic and Conde Nast Traveller as one of the top places to visit for 2019. Download the full report here.

VR Time Travel: Step into Old Hong Kong up sky100 The Hong Kong Tourism Board has partnered with sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck and TimeLooper to introduce the new ‘VR Time Travel: Step into Old Hong Kong’ experience. The new experience recreates scenes from the ‘60s and ‘80s and enables visitors to ‘step into’ the historical settings of Hong Kong and explore the old days of the city. Taking visitors through Hollywood Road outside Man Mo Temple in the 60’s plus, showing a plane coming into land at the famous Kai Tak International Airport in the 90’s, which was famed for dramatic landings close to residential buildings. Check out the preview video here! http://www.discoverhongkong.com/uk/see-do/highlight-attractions/harbour-view/sky100.jsp

Great Southern Explores New Territory A new train is set to launch onto Australian tracks late 2019, linking Adelaide and Brisbane for 16 departures in its much-anticipated inaugural season. The new Great Southern train will explore the incredible landscapes and experiences across Australia’s diverse south-eastern corner with the option of a three-day northbound itinerary or a four-day southbound itinerary. It will be the newest addition to the internationally-regarded suite of great Australian rail journeys, which includes The Ghan (Adelaide-Darwin) and Indian Pacific (Sydney-Perth). Great Southern’s maiden travel season will extend from 6 December 2019 through to 27 January 2020. Comprising 28 carriages and two locomotives, Great Southern will accommodate up to 214 guests per journey. Onboard accommodation will include the option of Gold Single and Gold Twin cabins, as well as premium Platinum cabins. As travellers have come to expect from The Ghan and Indian Pacific, exceptional food and wine and world-class hospitality will be at the heart of the Great Southern experience, along with many opportunities to explore beyond the tracks. The two-night, three-day journey from Adelaide to Brisbane features opportunities to step off the train to experience the spectacular Grampians National Park, the nation’s capital – Canberra, and […]

“Fantastic Beasts of Asia” In the latest movie from the mind of author JK Rowling, the Indonesian Naga has a starring role.  Have your own magical experience with the Naga throughout south east Asia with these excursions: Spend the day with Balinese artists, including intricate artworks of dragons.(Click Here!) See the multi-headed serpents at the Temple of Doi Suthep in Chaing Mai, Thailand. (Click Here!) For the more petrol-headed, a day touring the temples of Bali in a classic convertible Volkswagen might be just what is needed to see these cultural icons and the stories behind them. (Click Here!) For more information, please contact Chris Crampton – chris@is-intl.com

Taiwan’s Exciting Upcoming Celebrations Christmasland: 16th November 2018 – 1st January 2019 Rivalling the best Christmas markets Europe has to offer, each festive season Christmasland transforms the Banqiao District of New Taipei City into a spectacular winter getaway. With delicious food stands, fun-packed rides, concerts, parades, glitzy light shows, markets selling handmade goods and a neon tree, the twinkling festivities of Christmasland are sure to add a sparkle to any festive trip to Taiwan. For more information, click Here!   New Year’s celebrations in Taipei: 31st December 2018 Taipei is famed for its spectacular New Year’s celebrations which culminate in an impressive firework display which lights up the famous 101 building – the largest countdown clock in the world. As the countdown begins, the building lights up floor by floor until the final level is reached and a spectacular display of fireworks is set off in an unmissable show that is sure to make a cracking Instagram video. Another crowd pleaser is the New Year’s Eve Countdown Concert where internationally renowned artists entertain a crowd of thousands from 6pm until midnight. For more information, click Here!

COMO The Treasury awarded best hotel in Australia and New Zealand Perth’s COMO The Treasury has been awarded the Best Hotel in Australia and New Zealand for the third year in a row in Conde Nast Traveler’s 31st annual Readers’ Choice Awards. Known as ‘the best of the best of travel,’ the awards are considered the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry. COMO The Treasury’s exclusive suites occupy the top floors of the immaculately restored 19th century State Buildings, located in the revitalised historic heart of Perth. Dining options at the precinct include the award-winning Wildflower, serving contemporary dishes revolving around the indigenous ethos of a six season calendar; Post, an all-day osteria serving Italian classics; Petition Kitchen and Long Chim. Also making the exclusive list for top hotels in Australia and New Zealand was InterContinental Perth City Centre – coming in at number 13. Opened in October 2017, the hotel offers guests a luxury five-star experience, with an ideal location in the charming King Street precinct in Perth city. For more information click Here!

City and Beach the Perfect Combination  On 25th January 2019 Bangkok Airlines are launching direct flights from Thailand to Cam Ranh in Vietnam.  Opening up a fantastic opportunity for the perfect twin centre.  Enjoy the busy vibe of Bangkok before heading for rest and relaxation at The Anam on beautiful Long Beach. For more information click Here!  

Destination Asia Indonesia Recognized for Sustainability Achievements Audley Travel held their annual supplier breakfast meeting in London on Thursday 8 November following WTM 2018. This year they added an awards ceremony to highlight those suppliers who are doing something extraordinary. There was one award for each Audley Value and also one for responsible tourism. Destination Asia Indonesia was presented with the responsible tourism award. James Pook, Southeast Asia Regional Product Manager at Audley Travel commented, “This is for their great work on policies such as, reducing plastic (clients now receive glass bottles of Balinese volcanic water), and introducing eco-friendly cold towels. Lots of their product development helps local people benefit and is sensitive to issues such as animal welfare. Audley is also working on this but in some ways Destination Asia are probably ahead of us. Everything they do has a responsible focus as they are Travelife accredited.” Product Manager David Nuetzel visited the offices in London to receive the award. A second award was handed to Destination Asia Indonesia just a few days prior at the WTM when David collected their Travelife Partner certificate. Congratulations Destination Asia Indonesia! For more information click Here!