Ignite Escape deals

It took hardly any time at all for Flight Centre’s 49% acquisition of Gold Coast-based Ignite Holiday Group to gain traction, with the launch of a new ‘Get Luxe’ product range already in store at Escape Travel outlets. The packages allow travellers to access package deals – in the vein of coupon-based sellers such as Luxury Escapes and Scoopon Travel – but with the support of their local travel agent. Ignite managing director Randall Deer told travelbulletin another significant difference is that travellers don’t have to check availability directly with suppliers, with the fulfilment all managed through the Ignite Travel operation. Get Luxe offers “high end all-inclusive” product, packaged with value adds to make it unique and not easily comparable through other channels. While it’s initially only available through Escape Travel, Deer flagged the expanded rollout of the offering across the Flight Centre network. The product is also being sold through a dedicated website which highlights the fact that Get Luxe is an “Australian owned ATAS accredited travel agency that makes booking your holiday easy”. general manager Jonathan Nelson saying the move is “further endorsement of the great opportunity that many agents around Australia have before them through partnering with Express Travel Group in either the ITG or italktravel brands”. Smethurs said joining ITG was “a clear choice for us based on the high level of transparency, common values and superior commercial terms coupled with a strong value added model,” she said. Bicton is one of Australia’s top performing agencies, having won a swathe of awards including being named Best Retail Travel Agency in the National Travel Industry Awards for the last three years. She is expected to be among several hundred Independent Travel Group members who will gather this month in San Francisco for the group’s annual conference. responsibility for individual travel decisions,” she said, adding this included obtaining comprehensive insurance and being aware of insurance policy conditions. Bishop also released a new Consular State of Play 2015-16 document, which provides an enlightening statistical snapshot of recent consular cases. The report found that DFAT provided assistance to more than 1,500 Australians arrested overseas, as well as a further 1,700 who were hospitalised while abroad. “Designed for use by travel agents, the insurance industry, the media and the general public, the State of Play lays out the data we need to optimise our consular operations,” she said.