B2B Partner Newsletter • August 2026 • Issue #15
As July closed with record visitor numbers and $57.6B in total spend, August opens with the landmark launch of Kiwi Grand Tours — and a full season of opportunity.
A Note from our MD
"July confirmed what we believed — Australia's inbound tourism has not merely recovered, it has entered a bold new era. With 8.5 million international visitors and $57.6 billion in total spend, the market is firing on all cylinders. For AGT, July was our strongest booking month in three years across both leisure and MICE. India continues to accelerate beyond every forecast. And as we open August, I am proud to announce the official launch of Kiwi Grand Tours — a moment years in the making. Two extraordinary destinations. One exceptional team. Let's make this month count."
— Chetan Gupta, Managing Director, Aussie Grand Tours & RGD Travel Group
July 2026 in Review
Verified data from Tourism Research Australia and ATEC — and what it means for your India, USA and Europe clients.
Australia's 5th largest inbound market. Forecast 523,000 arrivals in 2026, on track for 4th by 2030. Aviation at 293% of pre-pandemic. Indian travellers now drive luxury leisure, weddings and corporate events — not just VFR. TRA projects spend reaching $9B annually by 2035.
One of the cleanest growth stories in 2026. NFL Melbourne (11 Sep, 49ers vs Rams, MCG) has pushed US Melbourne flight searches up 150% and hotel bookings 4x higher. AGT has tailored sports + touring packages ready to deploy now.
UK Ashes series brought 40,000–50,000 visitors. Virgin Australia–Qatar Airways codeshare boosted seats. However ATEC flags 64% of exporters expect demand to soften from July 2026 due to Middle East route disruption. Convert your European pipeline now.
Trade Intelligence
What opened, what launched, and what to tell your clients before your competitors do.
First Radisson in NZ. 322 rooms. Rooftop "Aka" — Australasia's largest outdoor dining, 300 guests, harbour views. Strong leisure & group sell.
First Andaz in Australia (Hyatt). Resort-style, connected to The Star. High-conversion sell for US and European leisure FIT clients.
277 rooms + 114 residences. 1,000-seat function space. Eco-luxury SH Hotels. Short walk to MCEC. Premier MICE accommodation, fully operational.
Historic estate post $10M refurbishment. 44 heritage rooms. 90 mins from Sydney. Perfect India + European FIT NSW touring add-on.
Marriott's first Moxy in NZ. $75M, 190 rooms, 16-level modular tower. Good value for group and education market segments.
Post-Cyclone Fina rebuild. Max 30 guests — true exclusivity. New Kimberley Spa, Barefoot Barbecue, refurbished interiors. Fly-in only. Premium incentive product.
Three new direct routes from Christchurch. Singapore 28 Oct; Tokyo 28 Nov; Perth 30 Nov. Game-changer for South Island itineraries and India/SE Asia routing.
Air NZ is first international airline into Nancy-Bird Walton Airport. Auckland–WSI 3x weekly. Opens trans-Tasman access for 2M+ Western Sydney residents.
72,000 additional seats to Auckland and Christchurch via Singapore Changi. Direct benefit for India, UK, SE Asia and European markets.
Canberra–Bali 3x weekly. Australia's capital gets its first ever international service after 18 years. Adelaide–Shanghai also now operating.
Private suites with butler, marble bathroom, panoramic outback views — 3x size of Platinum. India's luxury clients booking as bucket-list incentive rewards. Limited allocation.
Luxury lodge inside Australia's largest open-plains zoo. African game reserve feel in South Australia. 1hr from Adelaide. Powerful differentiator for Indian and US clients.
Land + small-ship coastal cruise combo. Freycinet, Wineglass Bay, Maria Island, Port Arthur. Tasmania is fastest-growing inbound state for premium travellers.
Direct CHC–Rarotonga 3x weekly. Easy Pacific add-on for South Island NZ programs. Kiwi Grand Tours building packages around this now.
AGT in the News
Aussie Grand Tours has received its second consecutive nomination for the Global Tourism Awards — Best Inbound Operator, Australia & New Zealand. This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire team and the trust our B2B partners place in us every day. Winner announced at the Delhi ceremony, September 2026.
Launching This Month
Kiwi Grand Tours officially launches August 2026 — a dedicated NZ inbound vertical built on the same expertise, values, and partner relationships as AGT. Seamless AUS + NZ dual-country programs — one proposal, one contract, one team. The Great Barrier Reef to Milford Sound. Melbourne MICE to Queenstown incentive. Sydney Harbour to Bay of Islands.
Rotorua, haka, hangi, wharenui stays. Authentic, premium, deeply moving experiences.
Adventure, luxury lodges, scenic cruises. The world's most dramatic landscapes.
One brief, one contract, one team. Two countries, one exceptional operator.
Air NZ's CHC–Singapore/Tokyo/Perth routes make South Island-first itineraries easier than ever.
15 August 2026
To all our wonderful partners, clients and friends from India — the AGT and Kiwi Grand Tours family wishes you a proud and joyful 80th Independence Day. India's spirit of discovery, ambition and cultural richness mirrors everything we love about travel. We are honoured to bring Australia and New Zealand to the world's most exciting outbound market. Jai Hind.
Feature of the Month
No brochure sells a destination better than lived experience. Our FAM program — inspired by Creative Travel's Be Our Guest philosophy — gives your team curated, hosted journeys across Australia and New Zealand, open to all partner staff at every level.
Story of the Month
Priya and Rajan from Mumbai had Australia on their bucket list for a decade. Like most Indian travellers, they pictured the Opera House, Bondi Beach, Melbourne's laneways. AGT suggested something different — a 14-night itinerary that started where they expected, and ended somewhere they never anticipated.
After three days in Sydney and two in Melbourne, they flew to Alice Springs. Standing before Uluru at sunrise — that immense, burning ochre presence in the silence of the desert — Priya felt something she couldn't name. Their Yankunytjatjara Elder guide spoke about Tjukurpa. Rajan sat quietly on the red earth for forty minutes after the walk ended.
"We are booking the same trip for Rajan's parents, my sister's family, and our friends from Pune. Please save the same guide."
This story represents the journeys AGT designs every day. Client names changed for privacy.
Festivals in Australia & New Zealand
Add these to your client itineraries now.
22 artists • 15,000 campers • Mundi Mundi Plains near Broken Hill. Headliners: The Teskey Brothers, Jessica Mauboy, John Butler, Boy & Bear, Leo Sayer, Troy Cassar-Daley. Gold Winner — Best Major Festival NSW 2025 Tourism Awards.
Signature live music and arts evening at the beautifully restored Christchurch Town Hall. Perfect for Kiwi Grand Tours South Island clients. Pair with Milford Sound for a memorable circuit.
ATEC B2B event connecting inbound operators with North Queensland's export-ready product. Business appointments, destination showcases, networking in Port Douglas. AGT team attending — contact us to meet.
Iconic Things to Eat
The flavours of Australia are as diverse as its landscapes.
Australia's de facto national dish. Gravy-filled pastry, best at Harry's Cafe de Wheels, Sydney.
Born in Melbourne. Smashed avo on sourdough, whipped feta, chilli. Any Melbourne laneway cafe.
AUS vs NZ. Meringue, cream, passionfruit. Taste it in both countries and let your clients decide!
Australia gave the world the flat white. Melbourne's coffee culture is among the world's finest.
Australia's iconic seafood duo — grilled fresh at Sydney Fish Market or any coastal restaurant.
Australia's original bread from native wattleseed — nutty, coffee-like. 100% vegetarian, entirely Australian. Find at Indigenous dining experiences across NT, SA and WA.
Looking Ahead