AFTA update
From AFTA’s chief executive, Jayson Westbury
MELBOURNE Cup day has arrived once again and the Spring Racing Carnival is off and running like never before. Australians and indeed people from all over the world have fallen in love with Spring Racing and the Emirates Melbourne Cup remains the pinnacle of the week. It has become a fantastic event, no question, for the travel and tourism industry with plenty of people moving around the country domestically and of course from overseas.
The race that stops the nation is set to be a very interesting contest this year with the usual bucket loads of speculation and anticipation. As TD goes out to the loyal readers, my tips this year may be on the somewhat dodgy side, but nevertheless here is my best shot. I am taking a boxed trifecta this year with Almandin, Marmelo and Red Cardinal. Others that seem to me to have a chance (like I have any idea) are Single Gaze and Wicklow Brave.
As is the case each year the travel industry embraces the spirit of Melbourne Cup with all sorts of hospitality events and opportunities for people from the industry to take part. The week in Melbourne is truly an international festival and each year somehow it just gets better and better. So whatever you are doing today, including those who have a public holiday, I hope that you manage to back a winner, think about something other than the daily grind and enjoy the events of Melbourne Cup and the Spring Racing Carnival.
On a final side note, I have just returned from the World Travel Agents Association Alliance (WTAAA) board meeting held in Valencia Spain, along with the 4th summit of the Presidents of Travel Agents Associations. Having never been to Valencia, I can now say it is a wonderful Spanish city with amazing galleries and art installations of a world-class nature. Highly recommend to anyone thinking Spain.
As to the subject of the WTAAA, our focus was on the pending IATA Passenger Conference which is due to take place on 21 Nov in Geneva, at which it seems changes to the program and implementation of NewGenISS is set to take place. Stay tuned for the detail over the coming weeks.