Around 60 VIP travel agents received a triple treat, with great food at hot restaurant Gilda’s, a flamenco performance, plus key information from Eurail and Turespaña (Spain Tourism Board) representatives in Sydney’s Surry Hills last night.
The showcase, also to be presented in Brisbane today and tonight, was part of a joint information session hosted by Eurail and Spain Tourism Board, in partnership with Rail Europe, and MC’d by local representative Andrew Cavallaro from Helm.
Following a record-breaking year in 2023, where 1.2 million Eurail and Interrail Passes were sold worldwide, travellers to Europe in 2024 continue to preference rail as a more environmentally conscious mode of transport.
“After the US, we are a huge market. Aussies love the Eurail pass,” Cavallaro said last night. “Last year we saw a 93 per cent growth on pre-COVID sales. So, from 2019 to 2023 sales, a huge jump of 93 per cent. That is massive.”
“(Eurail) is a flexible rail pass that gives you unlimited hop on and hop off travel across 33 different countries in Europe. There’s more than 30,000 destinations that you can choose from. There’s so much choice, so many options, 35 different railway carriers that are part of the Eurail pass.”
As guests feasted on pintxos, from baby octopus to bacalhau croquetas, at Lennox Hastie’s Basque Country, guests listened in to Cavallaro’s presentation before handing over to representatives from each of the brands, some of whom were visiting Australia for the first time.
Visiting presenters included Marta Fernandez Martin from Spain Tourism Board, Silvia Festa from Eurail, and Esther Romero from Andalucia Tourism who had flown in from Malaga just the day before. Also present were local reps Rich Leonard and Grant Robertson from Rail Europe.
MC Andrew Cavallaro from Helm.
The showcase uncovered more rail and sustainable travel options throughout Europe, as well as lesser-known destinations within Spain. To help travellers make more conscious choices when planning their trip, Turespaña also recently launched a dedicated sustainable travel microsite featuring responsible travel tips and ideas, and inspiration from the country’s leading sustainable tourism operators. For more information click HERE.
Cavallaro also encouraged the agents present to enroll on the Spain Specialist Program to not only learn more about the destination but also be in the running to win famils throughout the country.
The evening concluded with an inspired flamenco performance and prize giveaways.
A selection of pintxos offered at Gilda’s.
Cavallaro offered key takeaways for advisors to offer to clients including:
Slow Travel
- Carve your own path – go one stop further and visit less-congested, off-the-beaten path (and often more authentic) destinations, rather than just the touristy hotspots.
- Avoid the high-season crowds and prices– travel during the shoulder-season or off season for a more pleasant and affordable holiday.
- Be inquisitive and ask questions– take time to research, listen and learn about the local culture, being conscious of any cultural sensitives.
- Think and support local where you can – find ways for your money to be funnelled into the local economy (small businesses), rather than just big multi-nationals.
What does it look like…
- Look for alternatives to plane and car travel where possible– consider sustainable and
active travel modes such as trains, public buses, cycling and walking - Be present in the moment– put your phone down and save some memories just for
you, chat with locals and fellow travellers, and pause to savour each and every flavours - Plan less-crammed itinerary days– avoid just list-ticking; spend an extra day or two in
each destination to wander local streets and people watch, to get a true sense of a
place
New train routes for Eurail Pass
- DB and SNCF will launch a new ICE route from Paris to Berlin, starting 15 December 2024.
- NS and SNCB will launch a new fast train between Amsterdam and Brussels, competing with Eurostar in terms of travel time, starting 15 December 2024.
- CD (Czech Railways) will launch a new four-daily service called ‘Baltic Express’ between Prague, Wroclaw, Poznan, Gdansk and Gdynia, starting 15 December 2024.
- European Sleeper will expand its current overnight train route, travelling from Brussels to Venice via Netherlands and Austria, from 5 February 2025.
The stunning flamenco performance at Gilda’s last night.
This post was originally published on here
