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The agents – all winners of Travellers Choice’s annual Gold Choice Awards – were touring Latin America on an exclusive educational organised by Adventure World and Qantas. While crossing into Chile one of the group, Jim Cooper from Queanbeyan City Travel & Cruise, was found to be carrying a rotten apple in his backpack, sparking an intense interrogation.
Travellers Choice Chief Executive Christian Hunter says the squashed apple had mistakenly slipped beneath Cooper’s camera bag earlier in the trip in Buenos Aires. “That means it had travelled out of Argentina to Iguazu Falls, then on to Rio de Janeiro and finally into Chile without being detected by other customs officials or Jim himself,” says Hunter. “It was only the swift intervention of our local guide that prevented a $250 fine and a starring role on the Chilean version of Border Patrol.” With the exception of Cooper’s infamous apple, Hunter says South America’s food and wine were a big hit with this year’s Gold Choice winners, particularly the Argentinean Malbec and the 500g “small appetite” steaks the group worked their way through in Buenos Aires. The agents also attended a soccer match in Buenos Aires featuring legendary football club River Plate, and enjoyed Copacabana Beach and the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. However, the “number one highlight” was a helicopter flight over spectacular Iguazu Falls, on the border between Brazil and Argentina. Travellers Choice presents Gold, Silver and Bronze Choice Awards (10 in each category) each year at its Annual Shareholders’ Conference, with winners determined by their level of support for strategic suppliers. This year’s Silver Choice Award winners will travel to Thailand, while Bronze Choice Award recipients will explore the Red Centre. Image caption: Travellers Choice Gold Choice Award winners enjoy Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian side (L-R): Gillian Connors (Ucango Travel & Cruise, QLD), Sharmila Patel (Adventure World), Carol Evans (Bay Travel & Cruise, VIC), Sue Fessey (Stodarts Travel & Cruise, WA), Christian Hunter (Travellers Choice), Denise Falsay (Discover Travel & Cruise, QLD), Michelle Barker (Jayes Travel, NSW), Carol Shaw (Tour de Force Travel, WA), Michelle Everson (Jamison Travel, ACT), Jim Cooper (Queanbeyan City Travel & Cruise, NSW), John Hancock (City Beach Travel & Cruise, WA). Absent: Brian Slater (Maria Slater Travel, ACT). |
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