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. Travellers are ‘loving’ those Air NZ Houston services
Air New Zealand’s new Houston flights are proving to be popular amongst flyers, with the airline reporting strong sales within their first four months of launching.
In a monthly financial update, the airline’s Chief Sales and Commercial Officer, Cam Wallace, said both Kiwi and Aussie travellers are ‘loving’ the service.
Popularity is so high, he even attributed passenger enthusiasm for the new route to the 19.5 percent increase in demand on the airline’s Americas/UK routes.
2. Helloworld puts Expedia into Orbitz
Helloworld is saying its farewells to online travel group, Expedia, (kind of) by announcing the end of an agreement with Expedia-owned platform, Orbitz.
The travel group’s CEO, Andrew Burnes, revealed in an ASX update that the group’s Strategic Alliance Agreement with Orbitz Worldwide has ended, allowing the business to move its website to a new platform from 31 August 2016.
The decision came after discussions with Expedia found that not only had the alliance struggled to deliver the revenue steams initially envisaged by both parties, but it created conflict with Helloworld’s branded and associate members.
3. Flight Centre gives the gift of travel
One incredibly lucky traveller attended Flight Centre’s annual Travel Expo in the hopes of booking a discounted holiday, but instead she walked away with a free trip.
Completely free – all expenses, all flights, all accommodation and even all meals PAID.
Queenslander Donna McCarthy was named the winner of the ‘Once in a Lifetime’ major prize, which gave her the choice of five holidays – an African safari with Bench International; an Everest Base Camp trek from Intrepid; a Rio Carnival Tour with Toucan Travel; the Luxury India escorted journey with Insight Vacations; or a Hurtigruten Northern Lights voyage.
4. More Innstant apartment options for agents
Innstant Travel has added some 30,000 services apartments to its portfolio, in a bid to give agents more choice in key locations across the globe.
New ‘home from home’ properties have been added in the USA, UK, Europe, Middle East and Australia and are ideal for families, couples and business travellers.
Joe Karbo, Innstant General Manager, said the additional apartments give agents extra product to increase sales. Innstant now offers bookings for over 275,000 properties worldwide from hotels, apartments, holiday homes and villas.
5. YOU’RE INVITED to the Japan Snow Travel Expos
Travel agents have been invited to meet with snow experts from Japan and learn about the country’s fast-growing powder season.
Held in Melbourne and Sydney this year, the snow and adventure trade events will feature more exhibitors than ever before including those from resorts and tourist bureaus.
The Melbourne event will be held on 23 May from 1.00pm at the Novotel Melbourne; and the Sydney event will take place on 30 May from 1.00pm at the InterContinental Sydney.
6. LATAM strengthens connectivity for Aussies & Kiwis
LATAM is hoping to give Australian travellers easier connections to Mexico through its a codeshare agreement with Interjet.
With this agreement, LATAM Airlines Group passengers will be able to connect quickly and efficiently to 25 destinations in Mexico, including Acapulco, Cancún, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos.
Tickets for the flights operated by Interjet are already available.
7. Sabre is the latest NTIA sponsor
Sabre has signed up to sponsor Category 9, Best Business Events Travel Agency, at this year’s NTIA Awards.
The 2016 Category 9 Nominees are; All Occasions Travel, American Express Global Business Travel, cievents, Event Travel Management and Platinum Event Solutions.
The NTIA voting process has now closed. Finalists will be announced on Wednesday 27 April and a special webinar will be held on Wednesday 5 May to help finalists in judged categories with presentation preparation.
8. A winning start for this personal travel manager
Start a new job, WIN a famil.
Kathy Myatt literally had a perfect start to her career at TravelManagers, winning a European river cruise for two within weeks of joining the company.
The lucky agent won the business card draw at a Tauck World Discovery brochure launch and recently used her two tickets to take her husband on the ‘Romantic Rhine – Basel to Amsterdam’ river cruise itinerary.
9. itravel agents explore All Nippon Airways
A small group of itravel agents were invited to inspect one of All Nippon Airways’ 787-9 this week and learn first-hand what their clients get on board.
A highlight for the team was the gel dimming windows. The pull-down plastic shade has been replaced with a larger, dimming window that can be adjusted to let in various amounts of light.
Economy class is equipped with a slim LCD touch-panel monitor, making the seat space feel bigger, while each seat in Business Class is an aisle-side seat so guests are never disturbed by others.
10. Are these the worst hotel guests ever?
Hotel front desk workers were asked to share their oddest interactions with guests and what they revealed is really odd.
Sharing on a Reddit thread, among the oddest stories was one that told of a guest who got high while taking a bath. He’d forgotten to switch off the tap before he fell asleep and water started leaking into the lobby below.
There was one guest who got angry at staff when they couldn’t stop the ‘pitter-patter’ noise coming from the rain hitting his window.
Then there was the stalker guest who demanded staff tell him whether someone in particular was staying in one of the rooms. Of course staff wouldn’t give out personal information and the guest used the F word.