World Expeditions is adding to its North American adventure offering with the launch of a two week hiking trip in Hawaii. World Expeditions CEO Sue Badyari (Sydney) joined New Zealand general manager Natalie Tambolash in a launch event for travel agents and media at Auckland's Conservatory Bar & Restaurant last night.

'Hiking the Aloha Isles is a soft adventure, off the beaten track experience taking in the Big Island, Maui and Kauai,' says Tambolash. Highlights include hiking trails within Kauai's scenic Na Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon, and Maui's lava desert - Haleakala National Park, plus up close volcanic encounters in Volcanoes National Park on Big Island.

'We are excited to be able to support this new product that takes in Hawaii's beautiful back country,' says Hawaii Tourism Oceania's Darragh Walshe.

The next departure is in September and the maximum group size is 13, click here for full trip details.

Sue Badyari and Natalie Tambolash, World Expeditions with Megan Hornblow and Darragh Walshe, Hawaii Tourism Oceania	Hilda Bloomfield, Air New Zealand and Natalie Tambolash, World Expeditions	Michelle Carelis and Russell Willis, Hawaiian Airlines with John Willson, United Travel

After a three year absence, Adventure World held a South America Fiesta roadshow at Auckland's Hopetoun Alpha on May 15. Eleven exhibitors were on hand to update the travel industry on what's hot in the continent and most travelled from their respective South American homeland to attend the fiesta, which  headed to Tauranga after the Auckland event.     Ola! Santiago Garcia Muniz, Adventure World South America and Davina Bicker, Adventure World in full fiesta mode

Adventure World is celebrating 30 years of operation in July this year and NZ general manager Dave Nicholson says South America was the only destination the company sold back then. 'How things have changed. Today, bookings to South America are booming with our figures reflecting a 23% increase from last year. Peru, in particular Machu Picchu, continues to be the number one destination visited, but we are seeing second time travellers heading to Patagonia in Chile and cruising through the glaciers and fjords. The landscape of this region is so dramatic and different from the rest of South America.'

Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands are also seeing record numbers of visitors. Nicholson suggested that interest could be drawn from David Attenborough's TV programmes and other documentaries surrounding South America. 'Last years Rugby Championship (previous the Tri- Nations), where Air New Zealand took their black painted aircraft to Argentina, boosted interest and placed exposure on South America. This has helped generate bookings not only to Argentina, but all South American countries and many travellers extended into neighbouring countries,' says Nicholson.

Getting to South America and then around the continent is now easier with the merger between LAN and TAM. Katherine Mason, sales and marketing manager LATAM says agents are seeing a positive shift as a result of the merger. 'With the combined network of the LATAM Airways group, the company now flies to 135 destination in 22 countries, operates 310 aircraft and employees 51,000 staff. We are enhancing our service and our VIP lounge in Santiago is now available for all passengers travelling on LATAM at a cost of USD30 for up to five hours or USD50 over five hours,' says Mason.

Hopetoun Alpha set up for the South America fiesta	Time to catch up for Francisco (Pancho) Dousdebes, Metropolitan Touring Ecuador and Katharine Mason, sales and marketing manager LATAM

Lara Kamionka and Lisa McCallum, Adventure World greet arrivals to the fiesta	Dee Leggat and Belinda Paterson, Event Travel Office discuss pre and post touring options with Francisco (Pancho) Dousdebes, Metropolitan Touring Ecuador	Salute from Amy Chavez, Condor Peru; Melissa Harris, Adventure World and Sue Kindred Smith, United Travel Mairangi Bay as they sample Pisco Sour
Susie Cassels-Brown, United Remuera; Javier Echecopar, Akorn Destination Managerment and Jenny Kerr, United Travel Remuera	Colleagues Maria Matara and Marcheta Hansen, Air NZ Holidays Manukau City with Michelle Mohaupt (centre) representing Australis Patagonia Cruises	Anne Allen, Travel World Kumeu; Dave Nicholson, Adventure World and Roxana Crespo, Transturin, Bolivia
Anshuli Kakhan, Travel Managers meets with Theresa Colbeck, Adventure World Argentina	Corporate Traveller's Brooke Mattock and Gareth Manuel	Laurne Chappell, CWT Auckland and Angela Peters, QANTAS get the lowdown from Katharine Mason, sales and marketing manager LATAM

The Thailand roadshow showcased hotels (mainly from Phuket, Ko Samui and Bangkok) as well as a theme park, arilines and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau when it was held at SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre on May 14.

Sarah Bedford, Hayley Willis, Samantha McQueen, all STA Travel.	Tony Smith, Francis Travel Marketing; with Jacqui Hansen, Emma Robertson and Kelly Tawhai, all Go Holidays	Milena Bossa, Thai Airways International; Cindy Kapea, Infinity Holidays
Doug Gordon, Gina Marsich, Aaron Marsh, FCm Travel Solutions	Fiona Kemp, The Travel Brokers; Janeane Park, Manukau United Travel	Welcome to the Thailand Roadshow say Kerry Cook, Bruce Watson and Kelly Bates – all Francis Travel Marketing

Australian Tourism Exchange - ATE 13 kicked off with media briefings and market dinners on April 26, with the exhibition proper commencing on April 27. Business, networking and some good old partying are all part of the programme

Batman, Sally Holyer, Tourism and Events Queensland; Marilyn Munro on the expo floor at ATE	Kiwi Night Out is an ATE tradition and this year the New Zealanders were treated to wine, beer and delicious food at Salt Meats Cheese. Gabrielle Brown, House of Travel; had a meeting of her own - with Stefano De Blasi, Salt Meats Cheese; and Helen Fraser, Ultimately Sydney	Promoting Sailing Sydney… Dominik Strobel, Lucy Wang, Daniel Favaloro

Jenny Aitken, Tourism Australia; Sally Holyer, Tourism and Events Queensland at Kiwi Night Out	Chad D'Souza, Australia Pinnacle Tours; Sarah Turner, Air New Zealand during Kiwi Night Out at Salt Meats Cheese	The people you meet on the exhibition floor… Gordon Bayne, Mondo Travel, Maja Smithson, GO Holidays, Wayne Deed, Destination New South Wales; Sharon Martin, Lifestyle Holidays; Jenny Wallis, Infinity
Lisa Keogh and Kylie Stever ready to bed down appointments with New Zealand buyers at ATE 13	Qantas is a big supporter of ATE 13… Gerard Lee, Anthea Sommerville, Kylie Reynolds	Sarah Turner and Tim Swan on the Air New Zealand stand
The T Bar in Adelaide Central Market and Rundle Street is a South Australian institution that has also been showcasing its variety of teas at ATE 13 for 10 years - Peggy Veloudos, T Bar (second from left) with South Australian Tourist Commission’s Stacey Cant, Jessica Playford and Jane Wilson	Go west.. Lydia Leung, Australia's Golden Outback; Louise Frend, Tourism Western Australia; Jasmine Meagher, Australia's South West	At the media room… Louisa Aherne, Wine Australia; Michelle Jackson and Kim Moore, both Tourism Australia
Maja Smithson, GO Holidays; Gabrielle Brown, House of Travel during the Destination NSW buyer function for the New Zealand market at Gowings in QT Sydney	Entrée is served… Sharon Martin, Lifestyle Holidays; Gordon Bayne, Mondo Travel at the Destination NSW dinner in QT Sydney	Kate Clifton, Accor; Chelsea Sheppard, gta at the Destination NSW buyer function
On the harbour - Jeff Ellison and Anthony Haworth of Sealink and Captain Cook Cruises	Kristy Bailey, Eco Beach; Louise Frend, Tourism Western Australia; Alice Ralston, Kimberley Quest Pearl Sea Coastal Cruises	Jennifer Yuan and Leanne Paige, both Destination NSW, at the information desk

The Asia Now roadshow completed its final seminar at Auckland's Waipuna Conference Centre on April 23. After visiting Hamilton, Tauranga, Napier, Palmerston North and Whangarei, the busy exhibitors still had the energy to enthuse the 70 travel agents who attended the Auckland event.

Rod Griffith, Peregrine Gecko's, introduced the team and explained that the new name of the roadshow - Asia Now (formally know as Asia Travel Marketing Seminars) is meant to update the industry on what is happening in Asia now. The eight minute presentations by each exhibitor contained product updates, destination awareness and what's hot in Asia now.

The Asia Now team - back left Davina Bicker, Adventure World; John Crouch, Wendy Wu Tours; Lyn Rapley, SQ; Ross Tutin and Jacqui Brook, Brunei Tourism; Nicky Berriman, GO Holidays; Sheree Myers, SQ and Wendy Thomson, Active Asia. Front -  Lisa McCallum, Adventure World; Rod Griffith, Peregrine Gecko's; Kelvin Chak, Acrossia and Julie Rice, Macau Tourism

Nicky Berriman, GO Holidays and Rod Griffith, Peregrine Gecko's checks in Raewyn Higham, Harvey World Travel Pukekohe	And Anne-Marie Butler and Jayde Morris from Harvey World Travel Botany Town	Lisa McCallum, Adventure World chats with the team from Air New Zealand Holidays of Susan Owens, Zarine Ali and Michael Brown
Julie Rice, Macau Tourism catches up with Richard Fetcher, Luxe Edition	Kelvin Chak, Acrossia; Sheree Myers, SQ and Linda Nettar, House of Travel, Parnell	The Travel Brokers team of Chrissy Ashby, Vesna Fahn and Patwinder Kaur enjoy the noodle boxes
Rod Griffith, Peregrine Gecko's with David Boyce, Mondo Remuera	Richard Fetcher, Luxe Edition (centre) with Sue Sutherland and Len Carpenter Harvey World Travel, Mairangi Bay	Lisa McCallum, Adventure World; Sue Mist Travel Managers and Kristen Edgeworth, Kristen Edgeworth Travel
Wendy Wu's John Crouch and Cherry Roughton, Flight Centre Head Office	Margy Twigden and Steph Daji, Travelsmart Meadowbank with Melanie Nicol, GO Holidays (centre)	Kicking off the presentations for Active Asia is Wendy Thomson
Davina Bicker, Adventure World makes the most of the eight minute speed dating sessions	Julie Rice, Macau Tourism starts her session with Q&A's	Singapore Airlines Lyn Rapley in action
	Continuing around the room, Griff, Peregrine Gecko's  explains the product differences to his group, including Margy Twigden and Steph Daji, Travelsmart Meadowbank Right - Wendy Wu's John Crouch

Kitchen restaurant at Hotel DeBrett was the location for a three course dining experience between Gold Coast suppliers and Kiwi travel and event managers this week. Representatives from Gold Coast Convention Bureau, Village Roadshow Theme Parks, McLarens Landing, QT Hotels and Resorts, O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat, Tangalooma Island Resort and Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach were there to update the Kiwis on the latest on the Coast.

Peter Dunn of Gold Coast Convention Bureau says of all the developments going on in the city at the moment, one of the most exciting is the Rapid Transit Light Rail system, a first for Queensland. Set to be operational by mid 2014, stage one runs for 13 kilometres, from Southport to Broadbeach. Dunn says for large conferences held at the convention centre in Broadbeach, the rail system will be able to run a short transfer to Surfer's Paradise, accessing a wide range of accommodation, leisure and dining choices.

Other developments in the pipeline include the Broadwater Marine Project, which will encompass an integrated resort with a casino, cruise terminal, residential space and a hotel (or hotels). Undertaken by the Gold Coast city council, decisions are still in the making, but work is predicted to begin next year.

Meantime, the city council has shortlisted three worldwide entrants to design a cultural precinct planned for Evandale. It is envisaged the precinct will incorporate a new arts museum, living arts centre and a subtropical outdoor landscape.

'Cities leverage off cultural elements,' says Dunn. 'Canberra and Brisbane had done well on that front, there's no reason why Gold Coast can't too.'

April 4 marked exactly five years until Gold Coast Hosts the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Lesley Aldridge, Chimaera Group & Sales Incentive Travel; Lisa Thomas; Village Roadshow Theme Parks; Ruth Turner, Destinations Travel Management and Ella Jones, O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat	Janette Lewis, Fletcher Aliminium and Heather Shaw, The Events Group	Victoria Wales, HOT Events Christchurch; Sophie Kilgour and Keith Sumner, Gilpin Travel Events
	Left: Ruth Turner, Destination Travel Management; Lesley Aldridge, Chimaera Group & Sales Incentive Travel and Mike Clancy, Eden Events   Right: Andrew McSweeney; QT Hotels & Resorts and Winnie Fong, GO Conference and Incentive Management
	Left: Keith Sumner, Gilpin Travel Events and Peter Dunn, Gold Coast Convention Bureau Right: Adam Leslie, Graffiti Events and Felicity Hughes McLarens Landing

The Joint Airlines Workshops (JAWS) have been touring the country for two decades, and this year included an appearance at the Commerce Club in Remuera.

	Left: Adryon Smith, Flight Centre; Marieanne Ouwehand, Tourism Authority of Thailand; Mike Van Beekhuizen; Flight Centre Right: Christine Wynne-Jones and Kylie Masters, House of Travel Remuera
	Left: Jennifer Denekamp, Malaysia Airlines; David Boyce, Mondo Travel Remuera Right: Marieanne Ouwehand, Tourism Authority of Thailand; Felina Wright, Delta; Suzanne Conradie, South African Airways