We’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to! Read on for our top ten travel news stories we think you need to know today.
1. Flights resume as Pam passes Vanuatu
The storm may have passed but now comes the task of rebuilding as the people of Vanuatu pick up the pieces left behind by Cyclone Pam.
On Friday, category five Cyclone Pam brought winds of up to 300 kilometres per hour to the Pacific island nation, forcing locals and tourists to seek shelter in evacuation centres.
Around eight people have been confirmed dead and 20 have suffered serious injuries, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
2. Nicole Kidman – the new face of Etihad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXlmF3eI9R0
First it was Dani Minogue and now it’s Nicole Kidman, Etihad is luring Aussie travellers with the ultimate selling weapon – celebrities.
While Dani is being paid to promote ‘The Residence‘, Kidman has been recruited to provide face and narrative for the airline’s new ‘Flying Reimagined’ brand campaign.
Launched worldwide, the video campaign shows the ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ actress experiencing the Etihad difference on the new flagship A380 and at a number of locations around the world, including various landmarks in Abu Dhabi.
3. MSC arrives Down Under
Welcome to 1st ever visit to Aust by @MSCCruisesAUS MSC Orchestra with 2500 on board, at Port of Brisbane tonight pic.twitter.com/mZvrV0LyKI
— Mark Bailey MP (@MarkBaileyMP) March 15, 2015
It may have been a rocky start, but MSC Orchestra finally made her first call in Australia, arriving in Brisbane over the weekend.
The vessel arrived in the early hours of the morning with some 2,500 passengers onboard to mark MSC’s first visit to Australia ever.
MSC Orchestra docked in Brisbane.
Orchestra’s original itineraries would have seen Cairns be her first port of call, however, Cyclone Nathan forced her to cancel the visit.
Following her visit to Brisbane she will head down to Sydney followed by Melbourne, Adelaide and Fremantle.
Click here for more information.
4. Where are the Chinese headed? To Aus
We all know they’re coming to Australia in bigger numbers, but do you know exactly how large the Chinese market is expected to be?
According to a new IHG study, by 2023 Chinese arrivals in Australian cities are expected to more than double, making them the largest inbound market.
In the next eight years, Chinese arrivals in Melbourne are expected to increase by 109 percent, while Sydney is expected to see a 98 percent rise.
Brisbane is likely to see it’s Chinese visitors spike by 90 percent and the Gold Coast by 86 percent.
IHG Chief Executive, Richard Solomons said the information demonstrated the importance of the China market to cities and local economies in Australia and around the world.
“With 30 years of experience in China, the recent launch of our new Chinese brand, HUALUXE Hotels and Restaurants, and the roll-out of our China Ready programme, IHG is well-placed to meet this growing demand.”
Richard Solomons, IHG CEO
5. Agents are off the USA
The inaugural Brand USA and Hawaiian Airlines MegaFam departed yesterday, with 57 lucky agents – 39 from Australia and 18 from New Zealand – flying with Hawaiian Airlines to the USA via Honolulu.
Agents will be split into groups, and spend five days exploring one of five mainland destinations and surrounding areas.
Team New York will visit The Rockefeller Center and a dinner cruise; Team Las Vegas and Nevada will head to Death Valley and Boulder City; Team Sacramento and San Francisco will cycle over the Golden Gate Bridge, while Team LA and San Diego will ride on horseback around the Hollywood sign and Team Portland and Seattle will try a craft beer tour.
The entire group will then meet in Honolulu for the final two nights, to share their MegaFam stories and experiences and attend a Grand Finale event hosted by Brand USA, Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaii Tourism Oceania, Mastercard and The Modern Hotel, Honolulu. All agents will arrive back home on 24 March.
During the MegaFam, each team will have the chance to try their hand at filmmaking, making a short movie to showcase their U.S. adventures.
These films will premiere at the Grand Finale event and be judged by an expert panel, with each member of the winning team receiving a $100 shopping voucher courtesy of Mastercard’s cash passport program.
6. New itinerary in India
APT has announced the addition of a new itinerary to its India River Cruising program for 2016, which also includes small group land touring for a maximum of just 28 people.
The new 20-Day Wonders of India is an all inclusive itinerary combining a 12-night land journey that showcases all the icons of India – from bustling Mumbai and India’s Lake City of Udaipur, to the Taj Mahal, Delhi and the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur and the spiritual hub of Varanasi – with a seven night lower Ganges river cruise aboard the luxurious RV Ganges Voyager.
Priced from just $16,195 per person, twin share, guests stay at India’s leading luxury hotels, including The Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur and The Oberoi Amarvilas in Agra, with its views of the Taj Mahal.
Sightseeing highlights include seven APT Signature Experiences, such as a unique cooking demonstration with a local Delhi family; and the chance to see a fire-lit Aarti ceremony during an evening prayer cruise in Varanasi.
The new RV Ganges Voyager features well appointed suites, all with private ensuites, flat-screen televisions, on-demand movie systems and Panoramic balconies. It also features a sun deck, grand dining room, stylish air-conditioned lounge, spa and gym and is designed to accommodate just 56 guests.
7. Agents are invited
Travel agents have been invited to register for an exclusive webinar about Insight Vacations’ itineraries in India.
Presented by Rohit Kohli, Managing Director of Insight Vacations India, the session will help dispel the myths and eliminate concerns about travel to the country, as well as advise on how to sell this unique destination to clients with confidence.
The Webinar will take place on 18 March from 1.30 pm and 6.00pm AEDT.
To register your interest click here.
Insight Vacations will also be announcing an exclusive Webinar deal that agents will be able to offer clients who are booking Insight tours to India, Nepal and Bhutan.
8. Little bit of Italy comes to Aus
‘A Little bit f Italy’ is coming to the Broke Fordwich Wine Region in the Hunter Valley this April to offer travellers and locals a taste of all things Italian.
Known as the picturesque and more tranquil side of the Hunter Valley, Broke Fordwich will have an array of gourmet delights and world class wines, on offer to provide the ultimate Italian experience, without the hassle of overseas travel.
The renowned event was initially born in 2005 from an intimate Italian dinner that was hosted at a local home and catered by Italian chef Bruno di Sarno.
Growing immensely each year through word of mouth largely, the festival now attracts more than 3,000 people to the region during the weekend, as it authentically celebrates the traditional Italian lifestyle revolving around food, music, wine, family and community.
The price of entry is a $10 souvenir tasting glass to be used for a complimentary sample of local wines from each of the region’s top 12 producers.
9. Take your selfie sticks elsewhere
Image: Marcos Mesa Sam Wordley/Shutterstock
The selfie stick – you either love it or your hate it and unfortunately for travellers, a number of destinations are starting to really hate it.
Popular tourist spots around the world are banning the product, saying it is obnoxious and potentially dangerous.
Among them is the Louvre in France and Versailles as well as Musee d’Orsay, which has banned photography in general.
In Italy, the Colosseum has banned them as a security measure and the Smithsonian Museum in Washington has told travellers they can’t enter with selfie sticks, tripods and monopods.
In Austria, Vienna’s Albertina museum prohibits the product as does the National Portrait Gallery in Britain.
But if you’re still keen to use the selfie stick on holidays, KarryOn is giving away 11 3SIXT Selfie Sticks. Click here to find out how you can be in the running to win.
Know any other destinations opposing the selfie stick? Let us know below.
10. Poo-ey, what’s that stench?
A British Airways flight was reportedly forced to turn around and let people off because of a foul odour coming from an overflowing toilet.
A councillor from Hertfordshire, Abhishek Sachdev said cabin crew attempted to fix the problem, but after an unsuccessful attempt decided to abort the seven-hour flight from London.
According to the councillor, when the plane took off on Thursday everything seemed fine, but about 30 minutes into the flight the Captain made an announcement requesting senior cabin crew.
That’s when the stench took over and the decision was made to turn back around.
Have you ever been stuck on a smelly aircraft?