Two of the South Pacific’s most authentic destinations, the Solomon Islands and the Kingdom of Tonga, are joining forces for the first time in a landmark Travel Trade Roadshow that promises to re-ignite agents’ love for the Pacific’s unspoiled beauty.
The roadshow, taking place in Auckland (17 November), Sydney (18 November), and Brisbane (19 November), will give frontline agents a rare chance to rediscover a region that’s delightfully unhurried, genuinely welcoming, and refreshingly free of the mass-market polish that has turned so many tropical escapes into clichés.
“This collaboration is the first of its kind, bringing together the best of Melanesia and Polynesia in a single showcase,” said Richard Skewes, the Australia-New Zealand Trade Manager for both destinations. “It’s an opportunity for the trade to learn directly from the people who come from these destinations and to discover new reasons why their clients should holiday in the Solomons and Tonga in 2026.”
A Pacific Partnership with Heart
While much of the Pacific now caters to travellers armed with selfie sticks and cocktails in coconuts, Solomon Islands and Tonga remain staunchly proud of their heritage and hospitality. Their beaches are empty enough for footprints to feel meaningful, and their coral reefs look like they’ve never met a sunscreen-slicked snorkeller.
In an age when travellers crave authenticity, this partnership could not have come at a better time. As the global appetite for “real” experiences grows, both nations position themselves as the Pacific’s last bastions of natural charm.
Tourism leaders from both destinations will travel together to present destination updates, offer cultural insights, and, in classic Pacific fashion, throw in some infectious music and dance to remind guests what hospitality really means when sung from the heart.
What to Expect
The roadshow evenings will feature:
-
Destination updates direct from Solomon Islands and Tonga tourism leaders and operators
-
Cultural entertainment, bringing the rhythms, laughter, and warmth of the islands alive
-
Exciting prizes, including return flights with Fiji Airways, Solomon Airlines (Auckland and Brisbane events), and Qantas (Sydney event)
Each event will run from 5:45 pm to around 8:30 pm, giving agents time to mingle, sip, sample, and soak up a touch of island spirit without leaving the city.
Event Venues:
-
Auckland – Monday, 17 November | Grand Millennium Hotel
-
Sydney – Tuesday, 18 November | Paradox Hotel
-
Brisbane – Wednesday, 19 November | Pullman King George Square
Attendance is strictly limited, and early RSVPs are encouraged via www.ptm.net.au/events.
Rediscovering the Pacific Spirit
For agents, this isn’t just another networking night. It’s a rare opportunity to sell a new story where the Pacific feels again like the Pacific.
The Solomon Islands, with their WWII relics, lush rainforests, and dive-worthy lagoons, and Tonga, where time runs slower and smiles wider, offer something the all-inclusive resorts can’t: an authentic connection.
This roadshow aims to remind the trade that paradise is not a theme park, it’s a living, breathing place filled with song, history, and heart.
In a world where travel trends come and go faster than a tropical downpour, this partnership between Melanesia and Polynesia feels delightfully old-fashioned, and that’s precisely why it matters.
So, if your clients have “been there, done that” across the Pacific, perhaps it’s time they discovered what hasn’t been done yet.
By Alison Jenkins
BIO
Alison Jenkins has spent much of her career at thirty thousand feet or at least close to it. Having worked in several sales roles with several airlines, she built a reputation for knowing her clients and flight schedules. Quick with a smile and sharper still with a deal, she became one of those rare people who could charm passengers and partners without losing her professional edge.
Trade shows and FAMILS were all part of the territory, and Alison became a regular on the circuit, with suitcases, smiles, and a notepad never far from reach. Somewhere between airport lounges and hotel lobbies, she discovered she loved telling the stories behind the journeys. Her post-FAMILS reports, meant for internal newsletters, began to take on a life of their own, lively, observant, and unmistakably hers.
That’s when Alison realised she wasn’t just selling travel, she was meant to write about it.













