ALDI's push into travel leaves agents on the fence

ALDI is moving into the travel space, but you won’t find trips in the centre aisle. Instead, as it has launched the ALDI Holidays online portal. Agent's say a travel portal is not a box of cereal, in response.

ALDI says it will bring value to the travel category, with holiday deals that still have all the frills but with options including room upgrades, tours, customisable experiences and flights at some of the most sought-after travel destinations around the world. But options will vary depending on the package.

Read the agents responses below:

One of the biggest stories of the week comes in the way of Qatar Airways which is getting closer to securing its desired 25 per cent stake in Virgin Australia . Virgin was taken private after it was purchased out of administration by Bain Capital in 2020 for $3.5 billion. the Australian carrier says the stake – subject to regulatory approval – will offer a deeper strategic relationship and will drive increased competition in Australian aviation.

Still in aviation, we caught up with Doreen Burse , United Airlines senior vice president of worldwide sales to chat about the future of the airline in Australia. From technology to sustainability and partnerships to expansion, we cover it all in this profile.

We also caught up with Monique van Gelder from Flight Centre ahead of our 2024 Women in Travel awards to talk about the importance of not taking the easy road! Monique Van Gelder started her career at Flight Centre in 2003 as a state marketing manager and is now the global head of products for cruises and tours. With that impressive CV, it is fair to say she knows a thing or two about travel both at a national and international level.

As tensions in the Middle East continue to grow, Australian government body – Smartraveller – says many regions within the Middle East are still considered safe to visit. In fact, many popular tourist destinations such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan have the same Smartraveller rating as countries generally considered safe such as England and France. While the situation is changing every day, here is the current Smartraveller categorisation of destinations within the region (published 1st October 2024).

On a lighter note, this week's Travel Weekly TV episode featured David Clark , Tauck 's managing director in Australia who took us behind the scenes of Tauck’s unique approach to guided tours. Dive in as we unpack how Tauck has actively reduced the average group size of its tours and creates intimate, interactive experiences and exclusive access to unique people and places.

The Australian Airports Association s Association (AAA) has appointed Simon Westaway away as its new CEO. Westaway has previously held executive positions at Qantas Group’s Jetstar, Tourism Australia, regional airline Impulse, and as executive director of the Australian Tourism Industry Council.

And finally for your weekend read this week, it's time to catch up on all things PONANT with our deep dive into the French luxury cruise provider where guests can experience a truly exceptional voyage with unforgettable moments.