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. Former QBT GM joins Travel Counsellors
Travel Counsellors appears to be on a mission to capture more MICE with the appointment of corporate pro David Hughes.
Announced today, Hughes will step into the newly created role of Managing Director for Travel Counsellors Australia.
He will work alongside Tracy Parkinson, who remains as General Manager.
Hughes has over 25 years leadership experience with roles at the Jetset Travelworld Group and Qantas. Additionally, he’s held held senior positions with leading corporate travel companies such as the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and QBT.
2. A ‘small tax is a bad tax’ for NZ tourism
New Zealand’s tourism leaders aren’t just urging the government, they’re now telling them ‘they must rethink’ the new Travel Tax.
The border levy has been the topic of debate in New Zealand since it was introduced during the May Budget.
The Coalition Against Travel Tax (CATT), led by the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) says the decision to introduce the tax was rushed and not researched.
3. Three days to go!
There’s only three days until helloworld’s top travel consultants make their way to Cairns for this year’s two-day Forum.
Commencing on 31 July, delegates will be given the chance to receive updates from helloworld business leaders including Head of Associate and Affiliate Networks David Padman, Head of Branded Network Julie Primmer and CIO David Hassan.
There’ll also be key suppliers on-hand this year discussing update plus keynote speaker Sebastian Terry will talk to agents about living life to the fullest, with his inspirational and motivational story of setting goals and how to achieve them.
4. How P&O plans to takeover Sydney Harbour
When P&O’s bosses said they were planning a big spectacle for the arrival of Pacific Eden and Pacific Aria they weren’t kidding.
The Australian cruise line is so excited its fleet will increase to five in November this year, it has recruited some of Australia’s biggest music acts to help welcome the new vessels.
Jessica Mauboy, The Veronicas, Samantha Jade, Justice Crew and Stan Walker will headline a musical extravaganza when all five P&O ships sail into Sydney Harbour on the 25th.
5. HRG unites consulting & corporate
Global travel management company, HRG, has this week announced plans to combine its Consulting and Business Intelligence divisions.
The decision will result in a global team of consulting and analytic experts able to provide clients with a range of services to optimise their travel programmes.
These include strategic programme evaluation, sourcing, process and policy advisory, and utilising new reporting solutions to help drive compliance and improve traveller buying behaviour.
6. GTI wins Butterfield & Robinson
GTI Tourism has been appointed as the Australian public relations representative for active travel company, Butterfield & Robinson.
Effective immediately, GTI Tourism will be responsible for driving awareness of the company’s portfolio of high-end, travel experiences through a proactive and creative press office, familiarisations and profiling opportunities.
GTI Tourism founder and managing director, Sarah Anderson said GTI Tourism is thrilled to be representing Butterfield & Robinson, a client that will further diversify the agency’s client list.
7. Travelport & TTS team up
Travelport has announced a new agreement with TTS which will allow Travelport to resell and distribute TTS Consolidator, TTS Corporate and TTS WeBook products in the Middle East, Africa and APAC regions.
Effective immediately, Rabih Saab, President and Managing Director of Travelport, AFMESA said TTS products will complement the tech company’s product suite as well as address some of the unique requirements of customers across Africa, the Middle East and APAC.
“We hope that together with Travelport we can help travel agents in Africa, Middle East & APAC to be more productive, provide a great service to their clients and grow their revenue.“
Pedro Barata, TTS Founder and CEO
8. Expensify integrate with Locomote
Australian travel tech company, Locomote, has integrated with global expense management platform Expensify, to simplify business travel.
The partnership aims to make corporate travel a more integrate experience by connecting all the tools needed to plan, book and report business trips in real-time.
How will it work?
Expensify’s SmartScan that captures payments data directly from receipts will sync with Locomote’s travel solution, which enables companies to manage every aspect of their business travel, including authorisations, duty of care, budgets, expenses and more.
This will allow businesses to have complete control and visibility of their employee travel spend, will import all transactions into the accounting package and create a report-based on itinerary dates and incurred expenses.
“The Locomote platform, which now includes a seamless integrated expense management system, will simplify business travel for employees, travel managers, financial departments and everyone in between.”
Philip Weinman, Locomote CEO & Executive Chairman
9. Discover America expos an Infinity hit
The low Australian dollar has not dampened Australian travellers’ enthusiasm for North America, according to Infinity Holidays.
The company’s statement comes after receiving high amounts of interest at the Flight Centre’s Discover America Expos in Brisbane and Adelaide over the weekend.
Infinity Holidays says it’s a bit of a guessing game when you go to set up travel expos, especially the first ones in the series.
10. Now that’s a rough landing
This KLM pilot deserves an aviation award after he successfully landed a sharply banking passenger jet in the middle of a rough storm.
The Boeing 777 is seen in the video above shaking violently from side-to-side at its approached Schiphol airport.
Despite the rocky ride, the pilot managed to safely land the aircraft on the runway with some 300 passengers onboard.
According to the Daily Mail, the pilot was flying in ‘Code Red’ conditions with winds of up to 75mph – the most violent storm ever recorded in Amsterdam during July.