It was less formal and possibly a bit more subdued than usual, but at least SKAL Auckland found a bit of normality with a catch up at The Good George bar at North Wharf late last week.

About 20 members of the travel fellowship and friendship organisation shared Covid lockdown stories and talked about what the future has to hold.

• Gaye Wood, Regency Tourism; Megan... Gaye Wood, Regency Tourism; Megan...
• Anmole Gulati, Park Hyatt Auckland;... Anmole Gulati, Park Hyatt Auckland;...
• Richard Froggatt, Regency Tourism; Tony... Richard Froggatt, Regency Tourism; Tony...
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The founder of A Force for Good says she will bring the event back to Auckland if it can attract the needed sponsorship.

It was somewhat of a swansong for the organiser of the trade’s annual Travel Industry Golf Day on Friday.

After driving the event for 25 years, industry personality Mike Hogan of Hogan & Associates has passed the golf baton (or should we say golf club) to Dennis Payne of House of Travel, Orewa. With temperatures in the late 20s, cold liquid refreshments were sponsored oncourse by TRAVELinc Memo. A sausage sizzle sponsored by Allianz provided pregame sustenance. Steve Woods from Jet Park Hotels won the spot prize of flights to Fiji complete with accommodation courtesy of Fiji Airways, Marriott and Treasure Island.

• Steve Woods, Jet Park Hotels;... Steve Woods, Jet Park Hotels;...
• Daron Gray, Waipuna Hotel &... Daron Gray, Waipuna Hotel &...
• Pacific Destinations’ Mark Badlands, Graeme... Pacific Destinations’ Mark Badlands, Graeme...
• Dennis Payne, House of Travel... Dennis Payne, House of Travel...
• Richard Elliot, retired (second from... Richard Elliot, retired (second from...
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The mood was festive at Metrolanes Bowling in Auckland on Wednesday night when the Visit Anaheim crew hosted agents to tenpin bowling and dinner of American fare.

Accommodation news from the city includes the new Cambria Hotel & Suites with its own waterpark; and the October opening of The Westin Anaheim Resort. A 15-minute walk (or even shorter shuttle ride) to Disneyland, the four-diamond Westin will have 120 suites among its 618 rooms and a family travel programme.

‘Children are recognised at check-in with a travel journal and stuffed toy,’ says director of sales and marketing, Cynthia Ordyke. ‘We have a rooftop bar exclusive to in-house guests and from which they’ll be able to see the night-time fireworks at Disneyland.’

• Heather Brodersen, Howard Johnson Anaheim;... Heather Brodersen, Howard Johnson Anaheim;...
• helloworld’s Lizz Pongi and Victoria... helloworld’s Lizz Pongi and Victoria...
• Fiona Taimana, First Travel Group;... Fiona Taimana, First Travel Group;...
• Flight Centre’s Julia Hindman and... Flight Centre’s Julia Hindman and...
• Let’s bowl… Mike Afram, Karmel... Let’s bowl… Mike Afram, Karmel...
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Brand USA held its premium trade show, the Travel Trade Expo, in New Zealand this week, attracting some 350 agents in Auckland and just over 100 in Christchurch.

• Renee Macdonald, Fuzion Travel, Cambridge;... Renee Macdonald, Fuzion Travel, Cambridge;...
• Erica Banks, House of Travel... Erica Banks, House of Travel...
• Jenny Wilson, Target Travel; Chriss... Jenny Wilson, Target Travel; Chriss...
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