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Mon 6 July: 10 travel news stories you need to know today

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.

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. 8 awesome pics from Flight Centre’s end-of-year celebrations

Flight Centre ball

Flight Centre agents put our weekend celebrations (*cough* TV show marathon) to shame, as hundreds of consultants gathered for their annual end-of-year parties.

Held in different cities across the country, the evenings were organised to commemorate the end of another financial year.

Dressing to the nines, ladies wore glamorous cocktail dresses, sky high eyelashes and nine-inch heels while handsome fellas dusted off the suit jackets and slipped on the ties and bow ties.

Read on

 

2. Reho Travel expands with new acquisition

Reho Travel

One of the most innovative Australian business, Reho Travel, is expanding its corporate offerings with the acquisition of NGT Travel.

NGT Travel is a 26-year-old Melbourne-based corporate travel company with extensive experience in conferences, incentives and events.

The purchase results in a combined team of 36 and annual turnover of $45m.

Read on

 

3. COMPETITION: Cheer on Nick in Malaysia

Nick

Australians are being invited to cheer on tennis player Nick Kyrgios at the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur 2015 with complimentary trips for two on offer in a major promotion courtesy of Malaysia Airlines.

Now ranked No. 29 in the world, the 20-year-old rising star is fresh off a thrilling victory over his childhood hero and world No. 2 Roger Federer at the Madrid Open.

World No. 7 David Ferrer, No. 11 Grigor Dimitrov, and No. 16 Feliciano Lopez are just a few of the game’s stars to confirm their participation at the Open, South East Asia’s only ATP event.

Inspired by his accomplishments, Malaysia Airlines is offering three lucky Aussie fans and their companion the opportunity to soar like Nick. Each prize, valued at $3,200, includes Economy Class flights to Kuala Lumpur, tickets to watch him play in person in September and three nights in the country’s beautiful capital city.

To enter the competition, customers must purchase a Malaysia Airlines ticket between 2 July and 24 August 2015, click here to enter.

 

4. Frankfurt training & webinar incentive

Frankfurt

The German National Tourist Office and Frankfurt Tourism, together with Thai International Airways, will host a Frankfurt training webinar.

The webinar will be held on Wednesday July 29 at 4.00pm AEST.

The purpose of the webinar is to educate the travel trade about Germany’s biggest hub, and to show agents that there is much more to the city than just the business district.

Read on

 

5. Solomon Airlines adds online features

travel news Solomon Islands

Solomon Airlines has partnered with Bookings.com to give travellers the option of booking flights and their accommodation via the airline’s website.

Under the agreements, holidaymakers can book a total of 14 Solomon Islands properties currently available on Booking.com. More properties will added over time.

Accommodation includes eight in Honiara, four in Gizo, one in Munda and one in Buala. They range from five star hotels to boutique resorts, eco lodges and even self-catering apartments.

Solomon Airlines General Manager Operations and Commercial, Gus Kraus said the Booking.com agreement was a further example of where the national carrier was employing the latest in online technology to further enhance overall client service delivery.

The agreement is also part of plans to increase tourism to the Solomons over the next five years.

It comes after launching direct flights between Sydney and Honiara, plus the unveiling of Solomon’s first big plan to attract more tourists.

 

6. APT rolls out new USA brochure

travel news APT

APT celebrated Independence Day over the weekend, with its new USA 2016 brochure featuring popular Mississippi and New England Island cruising alongsidel and journeys covering all the highlights of the East and West coasts, as well as the Deep South.

The new APT USA 2016 brochure offers a total of 15 all-inclusive holidays, two of which feature new land journeys.

Among the new itineraries is the 16-night luxury land journey of Atlanta, Savannah, Charleston, Washington DC and New York City combined with a seven-night Mississippi river cruise to create the new 24-Day Grand Southern Charm.

The itinerary includes APT exclusives such as an after hours tour of Graceland followed by a dinner at the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum; a private dinner at the Country Music Hall of Fame, along with a performance of Johnny Cash’s music by one of his relatives; a behind-the-scenes tour of CNN; and a tour of America’s oldest landscaped gardens, Middleton Place, complete with a Plantation Stableyard Dinner.

 

7. Fiji Airways appoints David Bowden as Acting CEO

post

Fiji Airways Group Chairman Nalin Patel has appointed David Bowden as Acting Chief Executive, effective immediately.

Bowden, who is the airline’s Chief Financial Officer, will act as CEO until Andre Viljoen takes office by 1 October.

Bowden is a qualified chartered accountant having trained with Ernst & Young in the UK who has over 10 years airline and holidays & leisure experience.

He has previously held senior finance positions at Air2000, First Choice Airways, Thomson Airways, AstraZeneca and was most recently Chief Financial Officer with bmi a privately owned airline post the acquisition from IAG.

“David’s appointment will ensure there’s business continuity and alignment in the interim period before Andre takes up the role.”

Nalin Patel, Fiji Airways Group Chairman

“He will lead the senior management team with the full support of the board as necessary,” he said.

“David is an experienced aviation executive who has the necessary qualities to lead our National Airline in this interim period.”

 

8. Air NZ extends All Blacks sponsorship

travel news Air NZ

Air New Zealand will sponsor New Zealand’s national football team for another five years.

The ‘Crazy about Rugby’ airline, which has been a sponsor of rugby in New Zealand for more than two decades and an official partner of the All Blacks since 1998, has also signed on for the first time as primary sponsor of the kids’ Rippa Rugby National Championships.

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon said the airline is thrilled to be taking its commitment to New Zealand rugby even further.

Under the new sponsorship agreement Air New Zealand will be known as the Official Airline of the All Blacks and the All Blacks Sevens.

The announcement comes a week after Air New Zealand created and held up New Zealand’s longest ‘fan’ banner to showcase its support ahead of the team’s historic match with Manu Samoa.

The All Blacks vs Manu Samoa game in Apia will be held today. It is the first time the All Blacks will play in Samoa and the first All Blacks match of 2015.

 

 9. Mudgee one of NSW’s best

travel news Mudgee_KarryOn

Mudgee Region Tourism has been recognised by the industry for excellence in tourism, having been named a finalist in Travel In Inland Tourism Awards for its Reset Your Senses campaign.

Russell Holden, Chairman of Mudgee Region Tourism, said last year’s destination rebrand was designed to help showcase the area by bringing together produce, people and places.

“Being named in the finalists category of Travel In Inland Tourism Awards reaffirms that we are hitting the mark in marketing our region to others, and that our key messages are resonating strongly with the travel industry.”

The Mudgee Region is a 3.5-hour drive from Sydney in Central NSW or a 50minute flight from Sydney with FlyPelican, and is one of the state’s first established wine regions.

It is renowned for its food and wine with more than 40 family-run boutique wineries, as well as excellent art, music, nature and history experiences.

 

10. MTA agent has ‘Ankh-ering’ for Egyptian Study Tour

travel news MTA

Pictured holding an ‘Ankh’, the Egyptian symbol of life at the World Heritage-listed Temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel in Egypt, MTA – Mobile Travel Agents’ Gina Edwards who recently visited the destination as part of a Bench International Study Tour.

A well-paced itinerary saw her visit the Pyramids of Giza, the ancient city of Memphis, Aswan and Abu Simbel where she visited the Old Cataract, now a Sofitel Legend of the World hotel, where Agatha Christie wrote ‘Death on the Nile’ and whose guest book lists Winston Churchill.

The nine-day visit concluded with a visit to Luxor and finally Cairo, a highlight of which was a visit to the famous Egyptian Museum of Antiquities.

What are your thoughts on today’s travel news stories?