We’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to! Read on for the top ten travel news stories we think you need to know today.
1. helloworld rolls out new initiatives at the Forum
helloworld unveiled a range of new initiatives and products to a record number of delegates at this year’s Frontliners Forum held in Cairns over the weekend.
Around 505 agents made the most of a jam-packed weekend with informative sessions, workshops, presentations and business updates.
helloworld CEO, Elizabeth Gaines, said the Forum was an ideal location to update agents on investment in technology, training, product and profile.
2. What’s driving up Amadeus’ business?
Amadeus’ business continues to move from one level to the next right alongside its profits, which increased by 14.2 percent during the first half of the year.
The company’s latest financial report shows that for the six months ending 30 June 2015, adjusted profits for the period grew 10.3 percent to €419.6 million.
This was driven by an increase in revenue of 14.2 percent, to €1,976.8 million, and EBITDA growth of 10.8 percent, to €778.8 million.
3. Qantas rebrands the Link
The Flying Kangaroo’s regional subsidiary has started flying under new livery with the first repainted QantasLink Network Aviation Fokker F100 aircraft touching down in Perth last week.
Over the coming months, the new livery (seen in the image below) will be painted across the Fokker F100 fleet.
QantasLink Chief Executive Officer John Gissing said the rebranding of the aircraft was an important step for Network Aviation as a member of the broader Qantas Group.
4. MH370 search continues around Reunion Island
New debris found on island in hunt for MH370 answers http://t.co/XCmDj57Tb9 pic.twitter.com/THwf5so1PE
— Astro AWANI (@501Awani) August 2, 2015
Investigators have ruled out a connection between two pieces of ‘metallic debris’ found on Reunion Island over the weekend and flight MH370.
An AFP photographer saw police collecting one piece of debris over the weekend. Reports say the piece measured around 100-square centimetres.
Another piece was handed to police on Sunday and is said to be around 70 centimetres long.
5. Mercure Newcastle Airport officially opens
The highly anticipated Mercure Newcastle Airport has officially opened with a ceremonial ribbon cutting led by Hilton Grugeon of GWH Build, the Mayor of Port Stephens Bruce MacKenzie and Rear Admiral Peter Ross Sinclair (AC, AO, KStj) former Governor of NSW.
The event was attended by the CEO of Newcastle Airport, RAAF representatives, leaders of Port Stephens, Newcastle and Hunter Valley tourism bodies, AccorHotels executives as well as local dignitaries and business owners, keen to welcome the new hotel – the only accommodation offering located at Newcastle Airport.
The $15 million, 95-room new build hotel features contemporary sound-proofed guestrooms with high speed wireless broadband, blackout blinds, iPod docking stations, Foxtel and smart TV’s. Spacious family rooms which can sleep 4 people are also a feature.
A modern gymnasium saturated by natural light will be available for guests 24-hours a day and the hotel’s Mach One Restaurant and Bar will offer a seasonal, locally sourced menu and will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
There will be four purpose-built conference rooms which can hold up to 150 delegates and all rooms are bathed in natural light, come with 3m high ceilings and feature the latest in audio-visual technology.
The addition of Mercure Newcastle Airport will strengthen AccorHotels footprint in the region, with 5 hotels in Newcastle and 14 in the Port Stephens/Hunter Valley/Central Coast region. The hotel will join a network of over 40 Mercure hotels in Australia and more than 520 worldwide.
6. Early changes to AIME’s 2016 program
Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) and Reed Travel Exhibitions (Reed) have released select details of the program for the leading business events trade show, the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME), to be held in Melbourne 23 – 24 February 2016.
Returning due to high demand, a new-look welcome function offering unprecedented networking opportunities will be hosted by MCB and take place on Monday evening 22 February 2016, replacing the gala event on the Wednesday evening.
A networking hour on Tuesday 23 February 2016 will take place on the show floor and the lively Saxton Showcase event will return, to be held on Wednesday morning 24 February 2016.
AIME Knowledge, the events education program will be even more accessible with its new home within lecture theatres on the show floor, and will include relevant content for buyers and exhibitors.
Other changes to the AIME 2016 program include keeping Tuesday evening free from official obligations to offer time for Exhibitors to host their own private functions.
The Hosted Buyer appointment system has also been revisited and 2016 will see the total transition to Reed Travel Exhibitions’ tried and tested platform, which delivered approximately 75,000 appointments for customers at ibtm world in Barcelona last year.
7. Mudgee food & wine returns to Balmoral
Balmoral Beach will be transformed into a pop-up wine destination for the annual Mudgee Wine & Food Festival.
Held on 9 August from 11.00am to 5.00pm, the event is expected to attract thousands of food and wine lovers who will have the chance to chat to Mudgee-based producers.
Among the food and wine providers coming on board this year include Baker Williams Distillery, Mudgee Honey Haven and Murrungundy Pistachios.
Some of the exhibiting wineries include Huntington Estate, Robert Stein Vineyard and Gooree Park Wines.
The longest running regional wine and food fair in Sydney, Mudgee Wine & Food Festival at Balmoral Beach is the perfect introduction to the Mudgee Region ahead of its gastronomic event of the year, the Mudgee Food & Wine Festival (12 September – 5 October 2015).
8. A winning streak for Fraser Suites Sydney
Fraser Suites Sydney has taken home the title of Apartment Hotel of the Year at the 2015 Tourism Accommodation Australia Awards.
The five-star Sydney hotel was honoured at the annual gala dinner last night in front of a crowd of 700 political, business and industry leaders.
General Manager, Ben Nesbitt said winning the award highlighted the ‘hard work and commitment’ from staff.
Fraser Suites Sydney has 201 fully furnished luxury residence include Deluxe Studio, One Bedroom, Two Bedroom and two Penthouse Suites.
Apart from the glamorous rooms and attentive staff, guests also have easy access to Chinatown, Sydney’s Spanish Quarter and Darling Harbour.
9. Silver Anniversary packages to the Galapagos
To celebrate twenty-five years of operating out of Ecuador, G Adventures is offering a special cruise package to Ecuador’s famous Galapagos Islands.
The seven-day package will see guests cruise for four nights onboard the Queen of Galapagos, a yacht with nine luxury cabins all with private views, as they discover the unique wildlife which the archipelago is famous for.
A highlight will be a visit to the island of Floreana, where G Adventures has partnered with locals in a new initiative under its Planterra Foundation to offer low impact, community-based ecotourism.
Guests on the cruise will board the ship at Puerto Ayora after flying from Ecuador’s capital, Quito, on the mainland.
A visit to the island of Floreana will include guided nature walks, an excursion to a lava cave and a stop at Post Office Bay – where 18th century whalers left letters for passing ships to deliver to their loved ones, a tradition continued by Galapagos visitors today.
Guests can spend the afternoon snorkelling at an underwater volcanic cone, where they can spot tropical fish and sea turtles.
The yacht will then travel to Española, home to several sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls and the endemic Espanola mockingbird.
10. Are pink-coloured ‘women-only’ airport spaces sexist?
A German airport is in the middle of a sexism debate after unveiling its women’s only car parking spaces featuring pink paint and wider bays.
While gender-only designated spots would be enough to cause outrage, the airport added insult to injury by painting the spaces pink and making them wider for easier maneuverability.
But that’s not all. The spots have received brighter lighting and are located closer to the terminal at Frankfurt Airport.