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. Branson’s space odyssey ends in adversity
Fifteen Federal US investigators have begun combing through the Mojave desert after Virgin Galactic’s Space Ship Two test flight ended in the death of a co-pilot. The craft crashed shortly after take-off. The pilot on board was also injured.
According to initial reports, Ground controllers lost contact with the SpaceShipTwo just after 10 am local time following the rocket ship’s release from the WhiteKnightTwo jet that carried it aloft. Sources are suggesting, though it is not yet confirmed, that the cause of the crash can be found in the craft’s use of a hybrid propulsion system, nitrous oxide and plastic fuel, in contrast to the orthodox carbon-based fuels that have powered most rockets for decades.
Branson immediately released a heart-felt statement regarding the incident: “I am writing this as we refuel on one of the most difficult trips I have ever had to make. I will be in Mojave soon to join the Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composite teams involved in the SpaceShipTwo flight test program. Mojave is also where I want to be – with the dedicated and hard-working people who are now in shock at this devastating loss.” Read on for more.
2. Tourism Aus. appoints new CMO
Tourism Australia has confirmed that Lisa Ronson will be joining Australia’s national tourism organisation as its new Chief Marketing Officer. She replaces Nick Baker who recently announced he will be leaving Tourism Australia to pursue new opportunities early next year.
Ms Ronson joins Tourism Australia from Westpac, where she is currently the financial services company’s Head of Marketing Services. Lisa has 18 years marketing experience, in a career which has seen her hold senior brand marketing, advertising and sponsorship roles working across a range of diverse industries and global brands, including David Jones, Telstra, Visa International and Carlton and United Breweries.
“I’m delighted we’ve been able to complete the search for a new chief marketing officer so quickly and, in Lisa, believe we have found the right person to take our marketing strategy forward,” Tourism Australia managing director, John O’Sullivan said.
Read on for more.
3. Carnival Cruises gets into the spirit of Melbourne Cup
Carnival Spirit will sail into Australian racing history tomorrow when it makes Carnival Cruise Lines’ first Melbourne Cup start. Thousands of cruise punters were greeted by staff and crew in racing silks as they boarded Carnival Spirit in Sydney yesterday for the cruise line’s inaugural Melbourne Cup voyage.
En route to Melbourne, punters are enjoying last minute tips from well-known racing identity Richard Callander and fashion stylists Campitelli Clarke and enjoying a wide field of other race-related activity including champagne brunches and fashion stakes. The ship is due to dock in Melbourne by 5am tomorrow.
In an exciting quinella, Carnival Spirit guests will also have the option of attending the Crown Oaks Day races during the ship’s three day stay in Melbourne. Carnival Spirit will again line up for the Cup in 2015 with fares from $1474 per person twin share for an eight-night cruise departing Sydney on 30 October, 2015.
4. Qantas to sell extra, extra leg room on their A-380
Qantas has now started selling extra legroom seats in economy of its A380 flights, for $180 each in the emergency exit row. The three seats – 71D, 80A and 80K will add as much as nine extra inches of comfort for the longer legged flyer.
Under pressure Qantas is also introducing the extra legroom category onto its A330 flights, with passengers able to book four more spacious seats for an extra $60 or 7,500 Qantas Points.
5. Cathay Pacific reveals new look logo
Cathay Pacific have been working on a new brand image, albeit subtle, for the past few months. The new design philosophy “softly spoken, strongly felt” paves the way for a new livery concept, to sit along the new brand image of the airline.
“The key driver behind this commitment to and investment in this brand refresh work has been to refocus on our customers and define how we can elevate their travel experience with us. Cathay Pacific will continue to put our passengers at the heart of everything we do as we move forward into this next exciting stage in our journey,” states Cathay Pacific.
The iconic ‘Brushwing’ will stay. However the icon is decluttered, the line of red being removed, along with the background box. The wing is also simplified, an easier to utilise design means less feathering and a higher rise in the tail of the logo. The logotype has also been simplified, removing the now somewhat dated ‘Small-Caps’ treatment, instead offering for a more powerful and aesthetically pleasing ‘All-Caps’ style – it’s a simple yet effective way of refreshing the brand.
6. WTM London opens tomorrow, 35 years strong
World Travel Market (WTM) is this year celebrating its 35th event. Over the past three and a half decades WTM has established itself as the event where the industry conducts business its deals.
The event has also been renowned for pushing the boundaries and attracting celebrities. In 1980 WTM’s launch event at Olympia was opened by the Duke of Kent and Miss World, Kimberly Santos of Guam.
The event was attending by 350 exhibitors and 7,753 trade visitors. In 1981 Princess Alexandra opened WTM to a near riot among Sun newspaper readers when a consumer promotion went wrong. The 1985 opening ceremony was standing-room only drawing its biggest crowd to date to watch Princess Diana opened the event. Princess Diana had just given birth to the youngest of her sons, Prince Harry.
In 1987, the WTM made waves by ushering in a ‘naked’ Lady Godiva riding a white horse on behalf of Coventry Tourism outside Earls Court. As the Gulf War came to an end in February of 1991, the effect it had on the travel industry was huge. The collapse of ILG and its UK-based subsidiaries, including Air Europe and Air Europe Express and the group’s two UK airline subsidiaries created a knock on effect with many jobs and businesses closing. By the turn of the millennium, the event rose in notoriety and has been on the list of must-gos for all top international business execs.
7. Australian ballet pirouette’s over the Great Barrier Reef
Seven of The Australian Ballet’s leading dancers, including principals Madeleine Eastoe and Lana Jones, last night performed the seventh annual pas de deux in paradise under the stars at Hamilton Island’s luxury resort, qualia located at the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. The intimate, behind the scenes qualia experience began with the exclusive viewing of the morning barre session set up on a purpose built stage at the resort’s Pebble Beach, overlooking the idyllic Whitsundays.
Hosted by the company’s Artistic Director, David McAllister AM, guests watched in awe as the dancers warmed up for the evening’s performance. As the sun began to set, guests took their seat at the supper club style dinner setting around qualia’s Pebble Beach pool. Three thousand garden roses in blush, peach and cream and 400 phalaenopsis orchids were flown in for the occasion with the floral arrangements delicately floated in the pool among candle light.
Guests sipped on Charles Heidsieck champagne and lychee martinis as emcee Catriona Rowntree and David McAllister introduced the five acts as choreographed by Stephen Baynes. The dancers then performed in between courses prepared by qualia Executive Chef, Alastair Waddell.
The evening concluded with a standing ovation for the dancers and a surprise fireworks display organised by the Oatley family, owners of Hamilton Island and long standing supporters of The Australian Ballet, to celebrate the national dance company and their extraordinary talents.
8. Tiger’s $13 Halloween fare a shrieking success
Travellers snapped up Tiger Airlines’ $13 Halloween fares, with a number of dates sold out of the low price tickets within the first 30 minutes. Weekend flights from Brisbane to Cairns were no longer $13 just 25 minutes into the sale, which began at 7pm Queensland time.
Similar results were seen for many of the other routes available including Brisbane to Darwin and the Gold Coast to Sydney. And while the website took longer than usual to load, it held true to Tiger’s word and did not crash under the pressure.
The airline offered 2500 seats for the sale, which finishes at 11pm Queensland time. Earlier, Tigerair assured travellers its booking system was robust enough to cope with a four-hour Halloween sale offering fares for just $13.
9. Malaysia Airlines recruits Poh to serve up a treat
Malaysia Airlines has signed up MasterChef fave, author and TV presenter Poh Ling Yeow to create the airline’s latest signature meal – an aromatic Nyonya Chicken Curry.
The dish will be served with “a roti-style croissant” in business and economy class on all MAS flights from Australia to Kuala Lumpur from 1 December 2014 through to the end of February 2015.“Nyonya Chicken is a definite crowd pleaser,” Poh explains. “Australians appreciate Malaysian gastronomy because it’s a very unpretentious, inclusive food culture and the fusion of Malay, Indian and Chinese influences has created an incredibly diverse, vibrant and unique cuisine.”
It’s the third such collaboration under the watch of Malaysia Airlines’ airline executive chef Zahiddin Dris which sees chefs in each country create ‘signature dishes’ for the flights to Kuala Lumpur.
10. Etihad Airlines logs on
Etihad’s fleet of Boeing 777 aircraft is now fully-equipped with mobile phone and Internet connectivity, allowing passengers in economy, business and first class to catch up on work, emails or to stay in touch with family and friends while in the air.
A number of the airline’s other aircraft are also kitted out with the fetchingly-named ‘Etihad Wi-Fly’ service – including select Airbus A340s serving between Abu Dhabi and both Sydney and Melbourne, plus a number of A330s that run from Perth and Brisbane to Abu Dhabi, with the latter stopping via Singapore.
By the year’s end, all of Etihad’s 89 passenger aircraft will offer travellers in-flight connectivity, ranging from mobile phone calls through to live satellite television and of course, broadband Internet. Did we hear someone say #nomophobia? Read on for more