Skill up on all you need to know with bite sized travel news to help you be your best today and tomorrow.
1. Politics & air wars expected to hit Flight Centre’s profits
Elections, air competition and investments are believed to have impacted Flight Centre’s profits for the full 2015/16 financial year.
This week, the travel group downgraded its underlying profit before tax (PBT) guidance for the 12 months to be about four-to-eight percent under the initial guidance and around two-to-five percent down from the $366.3 million PBT earned during 2014/15.
This comes despite emphasising that the company is on track for another record year in sales, as all countries and regions track towards new milestones.
2. Star Travel Counsellors scoop the big ones
WINNER: Suzanne Watson
Travel Counsellor’s celebrated their annual awards as part of their two day ‘Good to great’ Conference held at luxurious Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast this weekend.
This year’s conference was the UK owned and home based Travel Group’s biggest ever with 200 Travel Counsellor’s, staff and suppliers from all over Australia and Head Office in the UK in attendance.
Frocked up and ready to party Travel Counsellor’s graced the elegant Ballroom on Saturday night and the bubbles, gongs and good times flowed on late into the night.
3. Another cruise line enters the Australian market
Clients with a passion for cruising have another line to add to the bucket list, as Dream Cruises opens sales in Australia and New Zealand.
The luxury Asian cruise line is the newest brand to the Genting Hong Kong fleet, the same group that founded Crystal Cruises, Star Cruises as well as Resorts World Manila, AND it has a generous share in Norwegian Cruise Line.
Catering to upscale consumers, the cruise line will officially launch on 6 November 2016 when its first ship, Genting Dream, enters service.
4. Hawaiian Airlines raises the Premium bar
Hawaiian Airlines has upgraded its Premium cabins to feature a little more comfort for its guests.
The carrier just upped the Premium game by making introducing fully lie-flat seating to its A330 Business cabins.
The carrier today unveiled its first Airbus cabin featuring fully lie-flat seating.
5. APT announces new series of expos
APT will once again host its free consumer Expos in June, July and August to showcase its portfolio of products and boost sales.
Dates and locations for the free of charge event are: Sydney – Tuesday, 7 June 2016 at The Westin; Melbourne – Thursday 16 June 2016 at The Grand Hyatt; Perth – Tuesday 28 June 2016 at Crown; Canberra – Wednesday 20 July 2016 at Hyatt Hotel; Brisbane – Tuesday 26 July 2016 at Rydges; Gold Coast – Wednesday 27 July 2016 at Sharks Events Centre; and Adelaide – Wednesday 31 August 2016 at Hilton.
APT Regional Expos: Bendigo – Tuesday 21 June 2016 at All Seasons; Bundaberg – Thursday 23 June 2016 at Burnett Riverside Motel; Mornington – Thursday 23 June 2016 at The Rocks; Wollongong – Tuesday 28 June 2016 at Wollongong Golf Club; Coffs Harbour – Wednesday 29 June 2016 at Opal Cove Resort; Port Macquarie – Thursday 30 June 2016 at Rydges; Nowra – Friday 1 July 2016 at Quest; Rockhampton – Tuesday 12 July 2016 at Travelodge; and Toowoomba – Friday 22 July 2016 at City Golf Club.
Your clients can register here.
6. Hong Kong Airlines relocates its Sydney base
Hong Kong Airlines’ Sydney-based office will be closed on 27 May 2016 from 3.00pm as the airline relocates its local HQ.
For any urgent inquiries, agents can refer to the carrier’s website of contact the international call center: 852 3916 3666.
The new office will be located at: Level 9, 338 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000 and will operate Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm.
7. Winter (ski) is coming
Queenstown’s Coronet Peak and The Remarkables ski areas have been blanketed with snow in the first major snowfall for 2016.
Coronet Peak received around 20cm at the summit and up to 15cm at the base of the ski area. The snowstorm couldn’t have been more timely, as the ski area’s scheduled to open for the season on Saturday June 11.
The snowfalls are just in time for winter evening flights scheduled to touch down at Queenstown Airport this week.