McLachlan's Ovation Travel

31/01/2024

INTERNATIONAL TOUR OPERATIONS (MANLY, but is this you, or do you know someone who would love it?)
Hybrid home and in office (or only office if preferred),
Mum-friendly,
Part time (or possibly full),
Friendly professional team,
Hugely gratifying niche product.
We are a successful and long established niche tour operator with an enriching global product and a small fun team based in Manly. Main destinations are France and Belgium, but we also cover Turkey, Vietnam, Thailand and some other destinations.
Mum-friendly. Full time or part time. Most staff are home-based, but catch up one day a week in the office. The office is available five days if your prefer to be there instead of at home.
This is a new position. Your primary responsibility will be to manage special groups such as school groups and others, taking responsibility for putting all components together and ensuring a flawless tour. You will work with the existing Ops team and manager who will provide guidance on the model.
ESSENTIAL: You must have had prior experience in tour group operations or retail travel. Please don’t apply unless you have worked in the industry previously.
CV to Gil [email protected]
Looking forward to hearing from you 🙂

28/11/2022

Don't Miss the Final Days
of Our Early Booking Discount!
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LAST DAYS FOR EARLYBIRD BOOKINGS! As the year draws to a close, we look ahead to all the adventures and excitement that 2023 holds! We're proud to offer a luxury hotel experience with authentic, culturally engaging itineraries made complete with immersive optional excursions. Book any 2023 AMADEUS River Cruise by 130 NOV 2022 and save $150 per person! There are only a few days left, so be sure to take advantage of our Early Booking Discount and book now! (Ask us why we believe Amadeus to be the best value true luxury class experience on the European waterways). Agent feedback: "The ships are beautiful and the staff so lovely". Our family company is the Australian distributor for Amadeus.
www.amadeus-rivercruises.com.au

10/06/2022

OUR MOST AMAZING TRIP EVER! (ONE SUITE ONLY! Was booked out but we have a cancellation). If you have been hanging out to travel again this might be your chance to catch up. Cairo to Lisbon, 46 nights, 9 countries, 5 stunning Uniworld river ships. Our longest river package yet. 20th May 2023.

Dedicated Travelling Concierge for your entire journey
Internal flights, porterage and transfers included throughout.
Price twin share: $68,359pp fully inclusive – the only thing not included is flight to Cairo and flight home from Lisbon. Deposit is 10% or you can pay in full at time of booking to get an extra 10% saving.

Please email [email protected] and I will attend to your enquiry personally. Best regards, Gil McLachlan. CEO.

Overview below:
PART 1
Ship: S.S. Sphinx
Destination: Egypt
Days: 11
The Nile was home to the world’s first river cruises, so it’s apt that we start our voyage here. Join us as we celebrate our inaugural Rivers of the World Cruise in style at our opening event in Cairo. Then embark on the first part of your epic journey with luxury hotel stays in Cairo and onboard our newest Super Ship–S.S. Sphinx. Along the way, you’ll be joined by an expert Egyptologist and explore such fascinating ancient wonders as the temples at Abu Simbel.
PART 2
Ship: S.S. La Venezia
Destination: Italy, Switzerland
Days: 11
Cross the Mediterranean Sea as you fly into the Swiss Alps to stay at the beautiful Lake Town of Lugano, situated on the border of Switzerland and Italy. Then move onto a land tour in chic Milan before setting sail on the Venice Lagoon and Po River for your cruise through Northern Italy on the newly transformed S.S. La Venezia.
PART 3
Ship: S.S. Maria Theresa
Destination: Hungary, Austria and Germany
Days: 7
Cruise through the heart former Holy Roman Empire onboard a ship inspired by its most famous queen, Maria Theresa. Expect stunning natural landscapes, hidden gem villages and awe-inspiring regal architecture—which you’ll get VIP access to on such experiences as a private tour of the Schönbrunn Palace.
PART 4
Ship: S.S. Joie de Vivre
Destination: France
Days: 7
Head to the Seine for the penultimate leg of our trip. Here, you’ll indulge in the casual elegance of Paris, enjoy sumptuous wine and cuisines, explore a unique array of charming local towns in Northern France and form a profound emotional connection with the historic beaches of Normandy. Culminate your time in France with an iconic show at the Moulin Rouge, sure to be a highlight.
PART 5
Ship: S.S. São Gabriel
Destination: Portugal, Spain
Days: 11
Experiencing the spectacular Douro River Valley onboard the new S.S. São Gabriel is the perfect ending to this once-in-a-lifetime cruise, with no shortage of colorful cities and lush river views. Cap off your incredible journey with a land tour in Lisbon, during which you’ll visit the one-of-a-kind cities of Sintra and Cascais, and a glamorous Farewell Event in Lisbon.
Please email [email protected] and I will attend to your enquiry personally. Best regards, Gil McLachlan. CEO.

09/11/2021

You’re invited. Special Event for Remembrance Day:
This year for Remembrance Day, I would like to invite you to join me for a very special online event that will take you to the battlefields of the Western Front, Vietnam and Kokoda to chat about some of the most significant battles in Australia’s history.

DATE: 11 November 2021
TIME: 5:30pm – 6:30pm

Special guests joining me will be historian and battlefield guide Pete Smith from the Somme; Vietnam veteran and Military Cross recipient Gary McKay; and historian and Kokoda specialist David Howell – who has undertaken over 60 crossings of the Kokoda Track.

Please register to attend: https://synergyevents.eventsair.com/battlefield-tours/registration

I hope that you can join me to honour our Anzacs.

Mat McLachlan

You will receive an email confirming your registration and a separate email containing instructions on how to access the online event.

05/11/2021

SOMETHING SPECIAL! Here is a 39 second preview of what is coming up on Remembrance Day with the restart of Mat's battlefield tours. On 11 November 5.30pm AEST, Mat and Synergy Events will introduce some of Australia's most prominent historians to discuss the Western Front, Vietnam, Kokoda and more.
https://vimeo.com/642522444
I promise this will be special, and you can register at
https://synergyevents.eventsair.com/battlefield-tours/registration/Site/Register?fbclid=IwAR11D9giXpSDCc_o7aelBIAwwp8deR5Es9MCosAOuaSwIv6xIdVwAKp-Hik

This is "2021-11-03 Battlefields PROMO MASTER" by MCR on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

31/10/2021

You are invited! Here is one of the most exciting media events with which we've ever been involved, as Synergy Effect create an extraordinary presentation where on Remembrance Day, 11 Nov 2021, Mat will be announcing the new Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tour program for 2022. Just go to this link to register: https://synergyevents.eventsair.com/battlefield-tours/registration/Site/Register?fbclid=IwAR33P-P8Zm37Mwbf0ELEQgeHi7nMY2NBjFq1zXFvu88hdI21KKbRIW2ArnE

23/10/2021

Yay! No more incoming passenger cards to fill in. You just need this app. Yes … I know it sounds weird but soon you will be coming home from a fabulous trip overseas so you need to know this stuff! 😊 Welcome back to the world.

14/09/2021

If your answer is "Not enough of them!" the time to correct that is getting close. And demand for travel in 2023 is huge.

We are advising people now on whether or not their travel plans are realistic in the current situation, especially when it comes to which operators have the best no-risk early booking policies.

Noting we are swamped, we request that you send a detailed email on your needs, with your phone number, and we will get back to you as soon as possible (meaning fairly quickly!).

Looking forward to hearing from you and assisting with that long-overdue trip. [email protected]

14/09/2021

VIEW THE SOLAR ECLIPSE FROM ABOVE ANTARCTICA, with no cloud obstruction.
A one day flight from Melbourne on 4th December 2023. Fares from $1999 to $12,955 depending on package and seating.

Please email your interest urgently to [email protected] with your phone number.

OVERVIEW
This exclusive scenic flight from Australia will fly into the path of totality of the solar eclipse, providing lucky passengers with unparalleled viewing of this incredible phenomenon, far above cloud cover, from the comfort of a Dreamliner 787.
The 2021 total solar eclipse will occur in one of the world’s most inaccessible yet beautiful locations – Antarctica. A total solar eclipse in Antarctica is a rare event (happens approximately every 18 years) and may prove to be the most magnificent total solar eclipse ever seen. Don't miss this unique opportunity to experience something few people will ever witness in their lifetime.
As we fly into totality, cruising at 40,000 feet above the pure white of Antarctica, the earth will be thrown into darkness, the solar corona will glow around the edges of our moon's shadow, and a garland of silky light from the sun will decorate the lunar edges as the shift of sun and moon in the universe occurs.
During the event we'll have the privilege of being entertained and wowed by the science behind the phenomenon outside our window, as eclipse and Antarctica experts share their specialist knowledge, all presented by our entertaining emcee, Adam Spencer.
Travellers who book dedicated eclipse seats will have unobstructed views of the eclipse, whilst the other side of the aircraft will view the shadow crossing the pure white below and the sky dramatically changing colour.
A dual purpose flight, the first leg of this flight will spend time at low altitudes sight seeing over Antarctica for travellers who have purchased an Antarctica sightseeing seat, before a seat swap when the Eclipse travellers take the window seats and the plane will climb to position for the best light and shadow show on earth!
For travellers who want to enjoy the entire sightseeing experience over Antarctica and witness the eclipse or the shadow, the option to purchase a row of seats is possible, thus avoiding the seat swap

14/09/2021

REGISTER NOW BEFORE BOOKINGS OPEN! Regent Seven Seas is a leader in luxury accommodations at sea, and their newest vessel, Seven Seas Grandeur, is no exception.

Bookings for her inaugural voyage from Barcelona to Miami in November 2023 open 21 September 2021, but, noting that Regent’s 2023 world cruise sold out in 48 hours, and her 2024 version sold out in two and a half hours, if you don’t want to miss any of Grandeur’s first year of voyages (including the Med and Caribbean) we can arrange pre-registration for you now. But you will need to be quick.

Click here for more information including fares, then contact us to discuss options, connecting travel, and covid protocols. We are here to make your life easier, and your journey richer.

https://www.rssc.com/Seven-Seas-Grandeur-Inaugural-Collection

Email reception@ovationtravel and provide your phone number so we can have a quick chat about your needs.

31/08/2021

TWO AT ONCE! 28 countries in 138 days!
Just to show what life will be like once our borders open, cruise sales are booming. Regent Seven Seas' world cruise for 2023 sold out in 48 hours and the 2024 departure sold out in less than three hours!

And Viking's 138 day 2023/24 world cruise has been so popular they have announced a second departure, with both ships sailing identical itineraries within three days of each other.

Many cruise lines, including the ones based in Australia, are considering accepting fully vaccinated passengers only (and all crew of course) and there is obviously no shortage of demand, including people booking now from Australia, in anticipation.

McLachlan's Ovation Travel has been providing expert advice since 1979 and we are looking forward to assisting you further but early booking is essential as the rest of the world snaps up the best products. We can guide you on safety protocols and which suppliers have the best risk-free booking policies so email us at [email protected]

26/08/2021

THE NORTHEAST PASSAGE:
Sail from Norway to Alaska via the Northeast Passage on this
24-night luxury PONANT expedition. Be one of the lucky few to travel this legendary maritime route that is covered by ice for much of the year.

On this expedition you will navigate the Arctic seas, meandering between the Siberian archipelagos: a voyage in search of little-known lands, rich in countless natural wonders.

For expert advice and to book, please contact your multi-award winning travel advisors at McLachlan's Ovation Travel [email protected]

National Travel Office of the Year

"Turning every journey into a smoothly orchestrated, magical experience"

02/08/2021

A one minute vid from Sirisha, who was on the recent Virgin Galactic flight. We are proud to say we were the first travel company in the world appointed by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic to represent their space product.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0EK3XEXO6M

Vice President of Government Affairs and Research Operations at Virgin Galactic, Sirisha Bandla, evaluated the human-tended research experience in space, usi...

22/07/2021

WHAT’S MISSING? (Apart from yourself of course!). Seabourn is one of the worlds top cruise lines, famous for miracles of personalised service, yet in this photo they seem to have achieved the impossible. Can you see what seems to be missing?

11/07/2021

WATCH THE LAUNCH LIVE TONIGHT: After a decade of waiting, at 11pm EST tonight the first commercial flight of Virgin Galactic launches. There is a sense of global connection as people from all around the world tune it to see Richard Branson board this historic first flight. All going according to plan, VG aimed to take more people to space in the first year than have gone to space during the entire history of the space industry. It’s a short flight but the real thing and you can watch it live here:

11/06/2021

Oo la la! Is it time to start thinking about France again?

It's clear that the government will relax border restrictions once the vaccination rate is high enough. Other countries are well ahead of us, with travel colleagues in the USA referring to demand as "a deluge".

France is now opening up again, and Australia is listed as a Green Zone, meaning we can enter freely subject to vaccination. France considers full vaccination is two weeks past a second Pfizer, Moderna, or AstraZeneca injection -or- four weeks past a single Johnson & Johnson injection.

Presently, travelers from green countries must provide proof of vaccination or a negative test, though the rules are constantly updating. Travellers from orange countries must provide proof of vaccination and a negative test.

Unvaccinated travelers from orange countries and all travelers from red countries require an essential travel motive. This does not include tourism.

So even if we can't leave just yet, we can at least start thinking about it more seriously. As your trusted travel advisors we will be excited to help out.

Whilst we are working adjusted hours the most convenient way to contact us is a quick email with your phone number and request to
[email protected]

Merci!

31/05/2021

RIVER CRUISES ARE BACK!
Amadeus River Cruises, APT's Ama cruises and others have
detailed their plans for a restart on Europe’s rivers.
Sailing in Portugal from 03 Jul aboard AmaDouro, AmaWaterways will also return to France’s rivers, such as the Danube, Saone, Seine, Rhine and Rhone throughout the rest of the month.
Amadeus River Cruises is also rolling out departure details for their wide range of Europe cruises. ** We represent Amadeus in Australia so you can call us to be dealing directly with the local office.
All the above is great news for UK, Europe and USA travellers but, alas, until Australians get vaccinated in sufficient numbers our borders will stay tightly closed. Still, it's exciting to see that the world is opening up again! Our turn is coming.
YOU CAN BOOK NOW but please ask for our advice regarding refunds and credits in the event that you have to defer the date.

31/05/2021

Coming in at #46 it’s off to Dubbo, where you’ll find , an immersive experience with open range exhibits. Experience 1 night at Zoofari Lodge in a Bushland View Lodge including an African inspired banquet breakfast & dinner, plus two-day entry from $364* pp twin share.

29/05/2021

Soon it might be easier to get to space than New Mexico! When we became the first travel company in the world appointed to represent Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, we had no idea it was going to be such a long wait but, as Richard said, "It's a safe race, not a space race". And since he intends the first commercial passengers to be be him and his family, I guess that makes sense! It's now getting closer. Thank you to our very patient passengers who will soon be able to go to space ... if they can only find a way to leave Australia to board! 🙂

https://youtu.be/1TVs2lWk_GI

On May 22, 2021, Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity spaceship completed the first-ever human spaceflight from Spaceport America, New Mexico, with two pilots reachin...

29/05/2021

Soon it might be easier to get to space than New Mexico! When we became the first travel company in the world appointed to represent Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, we had no idea it was going to be such a long wait but, as Richard said, "It's a safe race, not a space race". And since he intends the first commercial passengers to be be him and his family, I guess that makes sense! It's now getting closer. Thank you to our very patient passengers who will soon be able to go to space ... if they can only find a way to leave Australia to board! 🙂
https://youtu.be/1TVs2lWk_GI

On May 22, 2021, Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity spaceship completed the first-ever human spaceflight from Spaceport America, New Mexico, with two pilots reachin...

15/05/2021

As the vaccination rollout accelerates the world is starting to look closer, so ...

14/05/2021

at #57 is one of the most popular beachside holiday destinations in .
Spend 4 nights at located on the crest of with stunning and water views from $439* pp twin share. 🏖👙🕶

04/05/2021

20/04/2021

New Zealand is now open. More bubbles to come. Woo hoo!

17/04/2021

Ready for a hidden delight? , North Coast is yet to become the next … with its world-famous surf breaks, perfect beaches and a town with the right amount of buzz, it’s only a matter of time before it becomes Australia’s favourite escape. 🤫⛱🍃

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26/03/2021

To many people, the travel industry looks to be shut down, so what has it been doing? In truth, it is immensely busy and has contributed strongly to the below:

* 480,000 safely people returned to Australia, including direct and government charters
(40,000 still trying to get back)
* $10 billion in refunds being chased ($6 billion successfully, $4 billion to go)
* Constant booking, cancelling and rebooking domestic travel as state borders opened, closed, opened, closed ...
* Lots of international bookings for late 2021, but especially for 2022 and later. (Many popular ships and destinations are already heavily booked)

So the travel industry has contributed hugely to the wellbeing of people during covid and, despite the challenges of the last year, we are still here and going nowhere! We are looking forward to helping plan your next fabulous holiday.

(Pictured: Gil with Amadeus Brilliant at Miltenberg, Germany. We are Australian representatives for Amadeus River Cruises www.amadeus-rivercruises.com.au)

18/03/2021

Looking for something different? Have we got different for you! , , home of the , is one of our favourites and just 2 hours flight from .

Seriously, how cool is it staying in luxury accommodation underground! Sure, the views aren’t much, but the construction is solid as a rock!

Contact us for more information
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