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. Sabre cuts hotel booking time in half
Sabre Pacific is looking to help travel agents save time, with a new Red app featuring 350,000 pre-paid boutique and branded hotels.
Available now, RoomDeal was created by Sabre in conjunction with 25 aggregators such as GTA, HotelBeds and Expedia.
The travel tech company says using information provided by online booking sites, it has captured and qualified non-GDS options from all over the world for Australian agents to book, adding their own discretionary fee.
2. Agents drive rail success
Agents have been recognised for contributing to the growth of rail from the Australian market, which International Rail says the sector is booming.
According to the Melbourne-based rail specialist, figures show sales have increased by four times with agents using its services, compared to the same time last year.
International Rail Director, Jonathan Hume said that the rise comes after signing a number of new preferred agreements with boutique niche retail operators and offering travel agents unique benefits, which have not been available to them in the past.
He also believes agents are growing more aware of the need to have a choice of rail supplier, especially when there are significant differences in fare availability and prices.
3. Hold up! Ryanair is not flying to the US
Days after the Internet (almost broke) went crazy for cheap Ryanair fares to the US, the budget airline has done a u-turn saying it was all fake.
Last week, the low-cost carrier is said to have revealed that its board had approved transatlantic flights that would see passengers paying as little as £10 or $19 one-way
The alleged agreement would last for five years and operate from 12 to 14 European cities to the same number of US cities.
4. NTIA tickets on sale!
Tickets are officially on sale for the 2015 AFTA National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA).
But get in quick, AFTA is expecting demand to exceed last year’s, which sold out early on.
Tickets can be purchased through the AFTA site. Click here
The NTIA Gala Dinner will be held on Saturday 18 July at the Dockside Pavilion Darling Harbour.
Nominations are also now open. Click here to see the full list of nominees.
4. SilverLeaf drops in the Rainforest
Your clients can now book Rocky Mountaineer’s SilverLeaf Service on the company’s Rainforest to Gold Rush route.
The luxury service offers guests seat-side service; more beverage choices; gourmet snacks; and customisation, with entrée options at breakfast and lunch and servings to suit the ravenous as well as those with a lighter appetite.
On board the Rainforest to Gold Rush Route, guests are treated to a myriad of breathtaking landscapes, including coastal rainforest and arid desert-like conditions.
They will travel through Quesnel, the Rocky Mountain Trench, Mount Robson and even the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, taking in the views through the oversized picture windows of Rocky Mountaineer’s custom-designed single-level dome coach.
The addition of the SilverLeaf Service on the route will introduce an additional 1,680 SilverLeaf seats with 840 seats on both East Bound and West Bound trips.
5. IHG adopts the sights of Bangkok
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has taken its Indigo brand to Southeast Asia, with the opening of Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road.
Indigo is the company’s ‘globally branded boutique brand’, where each property is designed to reflect its immediate neighbourhood.
This is done through local design, food, beverage, amenities and services.
The 192-room Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road is designed to reflect the city’s iconic Lumpini Park through street art style murals and custom art pieces such as a wall of wireless radios.
Guest rooms feature spa inspired bathrooms, locally-sourced toiletries, private balconies and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi. There’s also an open air infinity edge pool and deck providing unparalleled views of the city.
6. Carnival keeps on giving
Carnival Australia’s team is pictured above delivering much-needed humanitarian aid to the people of Vanuatu.
Earlier this month, the island nation was hit by category 5 Cyclone Pam, which left almost 70 percent of the population displaced.
Since, the industry has worked to support locals, with donations and supply deliveries.
Carnival Australia has equipped four vessels – Pacific Dawn, Pacific Pearl, Carnival Legend and Carnival Spirit – with bottled water, generators and other goods.
The supplies were shipped to Santo, which received minimal damage and is operating as normal.
The company has also contributed around $300,000 to Save the Children’s relief efforts comprising of $150,000 from Carnival Australia and $150,000 from Carnival Corporation Chairman Micky Arison.
7. More buyers head to TRENZ
Around 320 buyers from 24 different markets will make their way to Rotorua next month for the annual trade event, TRENZ.
Held on 17-20 May, CEO Chris Roberts said so far there has been a 10 percent increase in buyers at the event compared to the 2007 peak.
Attendees can expect to see new buyers from some of New Zealand’s emerging markets, such as Indonesia, Brazil and Argentina – Air New Zealand’s newest destination.
Over the four day event, exhibitors and buyers will have a total of 15,000 15-minute meetings, negotiating contracts worth tens of millions of dollars to the New Zealand economy.
8. MTA’s shave for charity
Mobile Travel Agents’ (MTA) Air Product Supervisor, Remus Gheorghiu has raised over $600 for the Leukaemia Foundation’s ‘World`s Greatest Shave’ promotion.
A normally hirsute Remus surpassed his initial target of $560 to raise a total of $606 for the foundation and has saved himself a fortune in hair products into the bargain.
All fun to one side, taking part in the event was extremely personal for Remus who lost his father to the disease when he was just five years old.
Check out the new ‘do’ above.
9. Enter the world of Don Draper
Your clients can enter the advertising world of Don Draper, at a limited time ‘Mad Men’ exhibit in New York.
Titled ‘Matthew Weiner’s Man Men’, the exhibit takes attendees behind the scenes of the TV sensation, with hundreds of props, costumes, full-scale sets, notes and scripts.
Among the props is a 60s cigarette machine and ashtrays; Don’s totemic lighter; Betty’s cigarette case; and Don’s agency ads such as ‘We’ll meet you anywhere. Hilton’.
The exhibit commences 5 April and runs until mid-June at the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens.
Meanwhile, New York’s Mayor, Bill de Blasio said he’s hoping to bring another 10 million more visitors to the city in the next six years.
‘Road to 10 Million More Visitors’ was announced during NYC & Company’s annual meeting with some 800 tourism and hospitality industry members in attendance.
Last year, New York City welcomed 56.4 million visitors, beating the projection of 55 million visitors by the end of 2015.
The destination marketing group aims to have a record 67 million annual visitors by the end of 2021.
10. Etihad pumps more Diesel into Furious aircraft
Ladies, breathe.
The Diesel ‘guns’ were out last week as the actor helped Etihad Airways and Universal Pictures unveil the new Fast & Furious 777 aircraft.
The Boeing was painted in ‘Furious’ decal as it arrived in Los Angeles with Vin Diesel onboard.
Designed to kick off the world premier of the Franchise’s new flick, the aircraft will be used on direct flights between the UAE and LA.
According to Universal, the UAE served as the backdrop for Furious 7, which comes out on 3 April.
“When we began filming The Fast and the Furious in 2000, if you told me that we would one day have our logo on a wide-body jet, I would have said you were crazy.”
Neal H. Moritz, Fast & Furious 7 Producer
“We are so honored that Etihad has partnered with us to support this very personal film, and we thank the people of the United Arab Emirates for all the kindness and graciousness they showed throughout production.”
The Fast & Furious decal will remain on the plane for the next four to six months.