Travel information at the Holiday and Travel Show, Brisbane

WHETHER it's a major overseas trip or a short break somewhere in Australia, the experts on hand at the Holiday and Travel Show will be able to assist your planning.

The Brisbane Holiday and Travel Show is a great place to find out about all the possible destinations, and types of travel on offer.

DOZENS of travel experts will gather under one roof at the Holiday and Travel Show in Brisbane on March 22 and 23.

Visitors will be able to get first-hand information on domestic and international trips from a range of agents and specialist travel companies.

Wander around the hundreds of stalls and get inspiration for your next holiday - a cooking trip in Italy, trekking the Inca Trail in Peru, a river cruise through Europe or a relaxing break in the South Pacific.

The 59 travel companies will be tapping into the Australian appetite for exploration, which represents a multibillion-dollar industry. Aussie travellers spend an average of $3715 on a trip - more than double the global average of $1507, according to the latest Global Travel Intentions Survey by Visa. And more than 44 per cent of Australian travellers intend to increase their holiday budget this year.

In Australia alone, we spent $68.4 billion on travel in the year to March 2013, making the domestic travel industry a booming venture. Many stands at the show this year will showcase the amazing holiday experiences travellers can have right in their own country. Visit stands by Adventure Wild Kimberley Tours, APT, Cairns Dive Centre, Stradbroke Island Holidays and more and discover what Australia has to offer travellers.

One of the features of this year's event will be the 2015 Anzac Centenary Cruise, the only such trip endorsed by Australian Geographic. Discover how you could be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime voyage, which will depart from Athens bound for Istanbul and follow a 10-day itinerary. The highlight will be the dawn service at Gallipoli exactly 100 years after the historic battle.

One of the most popular features at the annual travel show is the seminar rooms, which will feature a series of talks, short films, photographs and Powerpoint displays on a range of international and domestic destinations. The seminar rooms seat up to 40 guests at one time and are free to attend.

Throughout the weekend, a daily cultural performance showcasing the history and culture of different destinations will be shown in the hope of inspiring potential travellers beyond Australia. You can also visit the Flavours of the World Cuisine Stage and discover recipes and cooking techniques from around the world presented by chefs and cooking personalities.

Celebrity chef, author and television presenter Dominique Rizzo will showcase the foods of Italy and Spain in cooking demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday. The chef of Sicilian heritage combines her passion for cooking with travel and has taken several groups on her Pure Food Wine & Cooking Tours to Italy, Greece and Spain.

She will share her cultural cooking tips and recipes on the stage and talk about her travel experiences. Her unique and personally escorted food and wine tours will be available for sale on the day and you'll get a chance to chat with her about these special itineraries.

As well as the great prizes on offer, prospective travellers can grab offers and deals when they book with the travel companies. For example, at the Nexus Holiday stand you can get a $500 discount a person on the 22-day Grand Tour of China package when you book before April 5.

At the Croatia Tours stand, inquire about their 2014/15 trips, they are offering $200 off the package price.

Or pop over to the Travel Managers stand and ask about select APT and Insight Vacations tours, they are giving travellers a $400 saving a couple.

VISITOR INFORMATION

THE Holiday & Travel Show is open on Saturday March 22 and Sunday March 23 at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, South Bank.

The show will be open from 10am to 4pm on both days.

Entry to the show is free with an entry coupon, which can be found at holidayandtravelshow .com.au. Without your free coupon, entry will cost $10 each.

Parking is available in the carpark beneath the Exhibition Centre. Entry to the carpark is on Merivale St. See bcec.com.au for parking prices.

Catch a train to the South Brisbane station across from the Exhibition Centre. Buses also service the area regularly, or you can catch a ferry or CityCat to the South Bank Ferry Terminal, which is a short walk from the Exhibition Centre. Call TransLink on 13 12 30 or see translink.com.au for more information on public transport.

Cafe facilities are available at the show or you can bring in your own food.

PRIZES

Visit the stalls and go into the running to win one of several domestic and international trips.

● Visit the Stradbroke Island Holidays stand and enter to win a two-night stay at the Allure Stradbroke Resort on North Stradbroke Island. The prize is valued at more than $700 and includes a stay in a two-bedroom villa for four people and return vehicle ferry transfer.

● Check out the Global Jamboree stand for your chance to win a Dirty Girls 4x4 weekend on Moreton Island. Valued at $870, this girls-only package includes accommodation, vehicle transfers, food and beverage packages and island activities.

● Stop at the Encounters Travel stand and sign up for their eNewsletter to gain an entry to win a seven-day tour of Nepal for one person.

● At the Battlefield Memorial Travel stand, fill in a form to go into the running to win two nights' accommodation on the Gold Coast.

● Visit the Croatia Tours stand and enter to win a seven-day Essential Croatia tour scheduled in the 2014/15 program.

For more information on the Brisbane Holiday & Travel Show, see holidayandtravelshow.com.au

--

"Like" Escape.com.au on Facebook

Follow @Escape_team on Twitter