B2B Partner Newsletter • September 2026 • Issue #16
August closed with Kiwi Grand Tours officially live and NFL Melbourne six weeks out. September opens with news worth reading twice — the jury's verdict is in, and it's ours again.
A Note from our MD
"We opened August by launching Kiwi Grand Tours — a moment years in the making — and closed the month with news we're still genuinely proud of: Aussie Grand Tours has been named Best DMC, Australia & New Zealand at the Global Excellence Tourism Awards 2026, for the second consecutive year. Last issue I wrote that this recognition would be decided by an independent jury, not a popularity contest. That's exactly what happened, and it's why this one means more to our whole team than the trophy itself. As September opens, our focus shifts to converting the momentum we've built. NFL Melbourne brings a wave of American interest we need to act on this week, not next. India's Q4 wedding and holiday season is opening its booking window right now. And two new Air New Zealand routes give every partner building a South Island itinerary a genuine reason to start planning early. Thank you, as always, for building your Australia and New Zealand programs with us."
— Chetan Gupta, Managing Director, Aussie Grand Tours & RGD Travel Group
August 2026 in Review
Verified data from Tourism Research Australia and the ABS — and what it means for your India, USA and Europe clients.
Australia's 5th largest inbound market, forecast at 523,000 arrivals for 2026 and on track for 4th by 2030. Aviation capacity sits at 293% of pre-pandemic levels. October through December is India's peak outbound booking window for weddings, milestone travel and family holidays timed around Diwali — if a client has been considering Australia since earlier this year and hasn't confirmed, this is the month that conversation needs to become a proposal.
11 September, MCG, 49ers vs Rams. US Melbourne flight searches were already up 150% and hotel bookings 4x higher heading into the game. The six-week conversion window flagged last issue is now down to days — if you've got US sports-and-touring enquiries still sitting in "maybe," this is the week they either book or move on.
ATEC's most recent Inbound Tourism Pulse flagged that a majority of exporters expect European demand to soften into the second half of 2026, largely tied to Middle East route disruption affecting connecting itineraries. The read for partners is the same as last month: qualify European enquiries early and keep in regular contact through the consideration phase — slower decisions are not the same as lost decisions.
Trade Intelligence
What's launching, what's imminent, and what to tell your clients before your competitors do.
Three new direct routes from Christchurch: Singapore from 28 Oct, Tokyo from 28 Nov, Perth from 30 Nov, all 3x weekly on 787s. Start building South Island-first itineraries around these now, before the booking window compresses.
Air NZ becomes the first international carrier into Nancy-Bird Walton Airport, Auckland–WSI 3x weekly. Opens genuinely new routing options for Western Sydney-based itineraries.
49ers vs Rams. Tailored sports-plus-touring packages are ready to deploy now for US clients — pair a game-day itinerary with a Great Ocean Road or Yarra Valley extension either side.
Hobbiton Movie Set's biggest single day of the year, full activities and a traditional feast on site. A strong, specific hook for any North Island itinerary landing in that window.
AGT in the News
Last month we told you we'd been nominated. This month we can tell you what the jury decided: Aussie Grand Tours has won Best DMC, Australia & New Zealand at the Global Excellence Tourism Awards 2026, for the second consecutive year. The panel included two former Secretaries of India's Ministry of Tourism, a former UNWTO Governing Council member, and the founding and consulting leadership of FAITH — judged on merit, not sponsorship. The ceremony was hosted this month by ExpoInn Suites & Convention in Greater Noida.
Read the Full Story & Jury ListOne Month In
A month since launch, this is the North Island story we've fielded the most questions about — and it's one of the shortest, easiest New Zealand add-ons an agent can pitch alongside any Australia booking. If a client has watched Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit, this itinerary sells itself.
One of the most recognisable film locations in the world. Consistently one of the highest-rated single-day experiences in New Zealand, any season.
Geysers, mud pools and Te Puia's Maori cultural experience, under 3 hours from Auckland. Easy to add without reworking a whole itinerary.
Sky Tower views, harbour cruises and a genuinely walkable city centre as an easy start or end point.
The Shire's biggest day of the year lands mid-month — a specific, timely reason to pitch this now.
Booking Window Now Open
October through December is India's peak outbound booking window — weddings, milestone travel and family holidays timed around Diwali. Aviation capacity to Australia sits at 293% of pre-pandemic levels, and the demand is there. If you've got India clients who enquired earlier this year and never confirmed, this is the month to reopen that conversation. Ask us about current Q4 availability across every itinerary in this issue.
Feature of the Month
No brochure sells a destination better than lived experience. Our FAM program gives your team curated, hosted journeys across Australia and New Zealand, open to partner staff at every level — now including dedicated Kiwi Grand Tours itineraries following last month's launch.
Story of the Month
Meera and Vikram from Bengaluru had been planning an Australia trip for their twins' tenth birthday for over a year, gathering ideas from friends who'd already been. They told their agent they wanted the classic trip — Sydney, the Gold Coast, maybe Cairns if there was time. She asked one more question before she quoted anything: what does a perfect week actually look like for your family, not what do you think you're supposed to see.
What their agent built instead, working with AGT, opened in Sydney as expected, but the middle of the trip went to the Gold Coast's theme parks for two full, unhurried days, no city touring squeezed in between.
"We'd have never guessed that going in. If you'd asked us before we left, we'd have said the harbour was the whole point."
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.
US flight searches to Melbourne already up 150%, hotel bookings 4x higher. Tailored sports-plus-touring packages are ready to deploy now.
A strong pairing with any Adelaide or wine-region itinerary landing this month.
Australasia's leading art fair, 10th anniversary this year, over 100 galleries and 500 artists. A strong add for culturally-inclined FIT clients already in Sydney.
The Shire's biggest day of the year — full activities and a traditional feast on site. See Trade Intelligence above.
Iconic Things to Eat
The flavours of Australia and New Zealand are as diverse as the landscapes.
The unofficial national pub dish. Every local has a strong opinion on the best one in town — ask a bartender, not a guidebook.
Sponge cake, chocolate, coconut. A genuinely Australian invention, best from a proper bakery, not a supermarket shelf.
Traditional Maori earth-oven cooking, meat and vegetables steamed underground for hours. Book through a cultural experience, not a tourist buffet.
Tell clients about the "Tim Tam Slam" — bite both corners, use it as a straw for hot coffee. Always gets a reaction.
Australia's iconic seafood duo — grilled fresh at Sydney Fish Market or any coastal restaurant.
Australia is the macadamia's original home. Paired with native bush honey, an easy, entirely local, entirely vegetarian gift or tasting stop.
Looking Ahead