We’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to! Read on for our top ten travel industry news stories of the day we think you need to know.
1. Fiji Airways’ new campaign captures the island’s welcoming spirit
Fiji Airways, Fiji’s National Airline, has launched its new brand campaign designed to showcase the warm nature of Fijian hospitality.
The brand campaign, called “Welcome To Our Home”, captures the unique Fijian experience travellers have on-board Fiji Airways and, by extension, in Fiji. That is, according to the airline, a very personal, human experience, the familiarity of home, where visitors are treated as extended family, not tourists.
Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO Stefan Pichler, who recently announced his departure from the airline, said that treating visitors like family is an inherent quality of Fijians.
“Our people at Fiji Airways naturally extend this same courtesy to all our guests on board. They are far more than just a seat number, they are part of our extended Fijian family,” he said.
Read on for more.
2. Global Achievers wraps up most epic weekend ever
150 Travel Agents from all over Australia flew in to Queenstown on Friday afternoon thanks to major partners Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia to kick off two fun filled days of reward, recognition, celebration and adventure as part of the Global Achievers program.
The leading agents from Australia’s metro cities and regional areas to as far-away as Kununurra in Western Australia all qualified individually to become this years Global Achievers by being the top sellers of Qantas Holidays, Viva Holidays, Rail Tickets, Travel Indochina and ReadyRooms for Agents.
Blessed with beautiful weather to show off one of the most spectacular places one earth, the event began in fine style on Friday evening with a traditional Maori welcome, sunset food and drinks and some serious luge racing action up at the iconic Skyline complex high up above the lakeside town.
Read on for more.
3. Latest industry report: luxury hotels back on-trend in Aus.
Industry market researchers, IbisWorld, have recently released a Luxury Hotels in Australia Industry Market Research report.
The report claims that while hotel occupancy fell to 63 per cent over the past few years, it is set to rise by 3.6 per cent over the next five, generating 3.3 billion in revenue.
Over the last five years the luxury hotel industry has been volatile. The onset of the global financial crisis caused a downturn in guest numbers, with the effects lingering into 2009-10.
However, with the impact of the GFC subsiding, the demand for luxury hotels is revitalising. The growth in demand for luxury hotels has mainly been driven by international tourists, with domestic tourism playing a smaller role.
The depreciation of the Australian dollar since mid-2013 will give domestic tourism a boost, as international travel has become more costly. Over the next five years, similar trends are expected to affect the industry, with inbound tourism sustaining industry growth.
4. APT announces extended and new deals
Christmas has arrived early for Travel Agents, with APT delivering a special gift in the form of extended and new SuperDeals on European River Cruise bookings made before 15 December 2014.
The offer includes its popular ‘Fly Free to Europe, including taxes of $950’ which represents a saving of up to $6,400 per couple.
In addition, APT has introduced two new air offers which will apply to any itinerary that currently qualifies for a Fly Free offer.
The first new air deal offers a choice of ‘Fly Premium Economy from $1,795 per person’ or ‘Fly Business Class from $4,895 per person’. This is valid on all departures between 1 March to 5 April and 1 October to 31 December 2015, as well as all category E and D cabins across the season.
The second new deal offers ‘Fly Premium Economy from $2,995 per person’ or ‘Fly Business Class from $5,995 per person’ available on selected cabins and tours departing 6 April to 30 September 2015.
Premium economy flights and Business Class flights are with Lufthansa and all are inclusive of air taxes of up to $1,200 per person.
5. Globus’ new website awarded for customer service
The Globus family of brands has been named Australasia’s top travel company for online innovation after launching a suite of new websites for its Australian travellers and travel industry partners.
Globus and its digital agency, Gruden, won the top honour in the Travel and Hospitality category of the recent Sitecore Customer Experience Awards for 2014. The award was presented by software company Sitecore to recognise the best customer experiences created with its web content management and marketing automation platforms.
Globus family of brands National Marketing Manager Adam Mussolum said the award provided welcome recognition for the new websites created for Globus, Cosmos, Avalon Waterways and Monograms.
“We’ve introduced websites that are clearer, more informative and provide a much better user experience,” Mussolum said.
“Gruden and Sitecore have helped us create sites that are not only more relevant and enjoyable for the user, they are able to respond to each customer and create a more personalised offering.”
The new websites allow easy navigation between all four of the Globus family brands, showcasing a portfolio that includes affordable touring, premium touring, deluxe river cruises and independent holidays.
6. Qantas’ new brand campaign makes travel “feel like home”
http://youtu.be/16RhgfA662k
Qantas has on Sunday unveiled its new brand campaign.The airline says that the series of five, 60 second, videos and social media communiqué reflects the special pull of home, the love of family and friends and the way Qantas has helped bring Australians together around the country and across the globe.
The ‘Feels Like Home’ series tells the real stories of five Qantas passengers and their journey home to Australia being welcomed at the airport by loved ones.
Filmed in London, Santiago, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, the Pilbara and Sydney, the series features Qantas employees.
Qantas Group CEO, Alan Joyce said the campaign was designed to celebrate the unique place Qantas has in the lives of many Australians.
“We often hear that seeing the Qantas red tail at an airport, or stepping on board a Qantas aircraft, makes Australians feel like they’re halfway home already. That’s the spirit we wanted to capture,” he said.
7. W Hotels opens in Beijing Chang’an
W Hotels Worldwide, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., announced the highly-anticipated opening of W Beijing – Chang’an. With a sensory-rich contemporary design, inspired by Beijing’s storied traditions, the hotel brings the W brand’s distinct interpretation of modern luxury, including its 24/7 vibrant energy, cutting edge design
Owned by COFCO Property Investment Co., Ltd., W Beijing – Chang’an marks the 45th W Hotel worldwide and the second W Hotel in mainland China after W Guangzhou.
“The opening of W Beijing – Chang’an is a milestone in the W brand’s dramatic growth around the globe,” said Paul James, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels, St. Regis and Luxury Collection.
“Long on our shortlist of the world’s most dynamic destinations, we are proud to bring W to Beijing, and the hotel will no doubt ‘rock the empire’ as we set a new scene in the Capital for both our global jet-set guests and locals alike.”
W Beijing – Chang’an is the latest addition to Starwood’s growing portfolio of nearly 140 operating hotels in Greater China, with a strong pipeline of more than 130 hotels to come.
8. Emirates Stakes Day tops off a week of spectacular style
Pictured: Neighbours’ Olympia Balance with her mother Tania Gogos-Wilson.
The Emirates marquee marked a fantastic end to the Melbourne Cup Carnival with a week of German fun and festivity.
Special guests of the German themed Emirates marquee on Emirates Stakes Day included Olympic swimmer Michael Klim, his wife and Balinese princess Lindy Klim, X-Factor’s Jason Heerah, Australian basketballer Liz Cambage, Winners and Losers’ Melanie Vallejo, Neighbours’ Olympia Balance, Chris Milligan and Jenna Rosenow, former Geelong player Billy Brownless and Miss Universe Olivia Wells.
Jockey Dom Tourneur took out not only the $1,000,000 Group One Emirates Stakes race in impressive fashion with Hucklebuck but also the last race of the Carnival week in the Emirates Airline Handicap on Éclair Big Bang.
Emirates’ Divisional Vice President Australasia, Rob Gurney, says Emirates’ Stakes Day sponsorship mirrors the airline’s commitment to Australia.
“Emirates has been the title sponsor of Emirates Stakes Day since 1998 and is proud to play such an integral and ongoing role in what is a wonderful day for the whole family,” he said.
9. Barossa ad wins world’s most prestigious tourism film award
http://youtu.be/MoMp-V_CRdc?list=PLamG0bx2wOPavuoltLMfFIqjvm5ffeE93
The multi-award winning Barossa. Be Consumed television ad has won the highest accolade at the world’s most prestigious tourism film festival, the Festival of Festivals in Vienna.
As part of the CIFFT (International Committee of Tourism Film Festivals), the awards recognise the industry’s leading tourism films.
The ad was last Friday night named ‘The World’s Best Tourism Film of 2014’ for its representation of the Barossa – combining spectacular landscapes and enchanting food and wine with distinctive music from Nick Cave.
SA Tourism Minister Leon Bignell said the ad had catapulted South Australia to a world-wide audience and positioned the Barossa as a leading tourism destination.
“This ground-breaking advertising campaign captures the diversity of the Barossa and gives viewers a sense of what it would be like to immerse themselves in the region,” he said.
10. Sting sings to the tune of his latest album on the Queen Mary 2
Multi-award winning musician, Sting, dazzled a bevy of selected guests aboard the Cunard’s flagship, Queen Mary 2.
During the performance, the noted song bird performed songs from his latest album The Last Ship and new Broadway musical of the same name.
While his performance aboard the Queen Mary 2 was a one-off, his broadway musical certainly won’t be with critics pegging the performance a must-see.
The musical delves into Sting’s upbringing. He was brought up near the Swan Hunter shipyard, renowned for the construction of many a Cunard ship.