SmartFlyer has marked a decade of partnership with SmartFlyer Australia (SmartFlyer AU), celebrating ten years of deepened global connections, shared community, and collective success. Since 2015, the joint venture with Goldman Travel Corporation has served to bridge between markets, enhancing destination expertise and fostering new, global perspectives.

Link Travel Group’s evolution continues to gather momentum, with the collective reporting rising interest in agencies interested in joining thanks to its strong partnerships and future focus.

Goldman Group was honoured last week with the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts ‘Legendary Partner Award 2024’ for Asia Pacific at their Four Seasons Preferred Partner event in Seoul.

Two international guests will attend Goldman Group’s Conference being held in Melbourne in November. Jo Bailes, CEO of Singita and David Kolner, Executive Vice President of Virtuoso will grace the stage at Crown Melbourne to address over 170 attendees including teams from Goldman Travel, Travelcall, The Cruise Centre by Travelcall and SmartFlyer Australia.Over 50 supplier partners will join advisors for a special Melbourne dinner experience, plenary session, supplier networking and a gala dinner.

Ultra-luxe rail travel and five-star cruising are tipped to be the “major products” of choice for high-net-worth-individuals over the next five years, says Erina Pindar, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner at SmartFlyer. Pindar, who also serves on Travel + Leisure’s Travel Advisory Board and who was recently named, again, on T+L’s A-List of Travel Advisors, suggests ‘slow travel’ in the sense of rail journeys and serene ocean voyages, will continue to grow in popularity over the coming years.

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.

Social media activity by cruise lines, tourism boards and tour operators has been identified as crucial in influencing the minds of the Australian luxury travellers. According to Goldman Group’s recently released Australian Luxury Traveller 2019, nearly two-thirds (63%) of Australia’s affluent travelling public indicated they use one of the major social media networks: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.