We’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to! Read on for our top ten travel news stories we think you need to know today.
1. Flight Centre shares bruised by lower earnings
Flight Centre’s Managing Director, Graham ‘Skroo’ Turner is said to have taken a $90 million wealth hit yesterday after the travel agency group’s shares fell by up to 16 percent.
The dive in the market came after the company downgraded its profit expectations and warned full-year earnings for 2014/15 would fail to meet record profits of the prior 12 months.
In a market update, Flight Centre said based on current trading results, it expects to report an underlying profit before tax of between $355 million and $365 million. The mid-point ($360 million) is at the bottom of the company’s targeted range of $360 million to $390.
2. helloworld agents respond to Gaines’ departure
With the news that helloworld Ltd CEO Elizabeth Gaines is to depart the business, we asked some of the networks agents to share their personal thoughts on the impact Ms Gaines has made.
Ms Gaines was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Helloworld Limited (formerly Jetset Travelworld Group Limited) on 28 March 2014 and has played an integral part in what has been a huge journey of transformation to become helloworld that began back in 2013 under then CEO Rob Gurney.
Prior to that, Ms Gaines had served as Chief Financial Officer of Jetset Travelworld Group Limited and from October 2010, as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Ms Gaines was appointed to the Board on 30 June 2011.
3. NZ flights resume after radar glitch
Flights are back up and running in New Zealand today after a radar fault prevented flights from taking off yesterday afternoon.
Air New Zealand apologised for the international network failure this morning, which resulted in the grounding all commercial airlines at airports across the country.
The fault occurred at around 2.40pm yesterday, cancelling a number of services and leaving passengers waiting at various gateways.
4. Taking travel marketing to the next level
The travel industry should never be underestimated when it comes to effective and innovative market – we have incredible product to move and we do it well.
Just look at Air New Zealand. It’s an airline that offers flights on routes that are operated by a number of carriers, but it sets itself apart with creative, fun and pop-culture inspired safety videos.
Then there’s the team at helloworld Hunter Travel Group, which surprised the industry last week with a pop-up store inside Costco Auburn.
5. Qantas takes stretching to the skies
We’re a little behind on this one, but we’re glad we found Qantas’ ‘inflight experiences’, a video of exercises designed to keep the circulation flowing mid-flight.
Released in April this year, the video is the first of its kind from an airline and was created to help travellers prevent the secret killer – deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
If you’re contemplating closing this story because you think you’re immune to DVTs or blood clots, think again.
6. Luxperience & Traveller Made clink the Cristal
Luxperience has announced a strategic partnership with Traveller Made, the elite community of luxury travel designers.
The alignment of these two professional luxury travel industry specialists will bring together some of the best bespoke travel designers of the world – members of the Traveller Made community – with the some of the world’s most unique experiences exhibiting at Luxperience.
Quentin Desurmont, President of Traveller Made said the company will use the partnership to provide agents more information ‘to match the refined travellers’ needs’.
Meanwhile, consultants invited to attend Luxperience this year have less than five days left to secure their spot.
7. Scenic cruises the Seine with Getaway
Join Scenic ambassador Catriona Rowntree as she steps aboard Scenic Gem for a luxury river cruise along the Seine.
Tune in to Getaway on Saturday 27 June and 4, 11 and 18 July to enjoy a recap of the incredible sights Catriona and the Getaway team experienced last year as they meandered along the historic and picturesque waterways of the Seine River.
Starting and ending their cruise in the country’s magnificent capital, the team journeyed along some of the most celebrated sights in Northern France. From the historic city and patisserie delights of Rouen to the picturesque coastal town of Honfleur; the fascinating Somme Battlefields and Normandy’s D-Day landing beaches to an adventurous cycling tour through the beautiful French countryside at Giverny; and an exclusive Scenic Enrich experience at Chateau-de-Châmplatreux.
8. Macau on the move
The Macau Government Tourist Office in Australia is set for a move, to the building it occupied six years ago.
After a lengthy stay in its Sydney Bathurst Street address, the MGTO is moving its headquarters to a new office within the nearby Sydney Town Hall precinct.
From 29 June 2015 the leading Asian specialist will open a new contemporary operation on the 17th level of 456 Kent Street.
MGTO general manager Helen Wong urged travel agents and customers to be patient as on the days before and after the move phone disruptions may occur.
The office address, telephone numbers and email and website addresses will remain unchanged.
9. Walters appointed GM of InterContinental Sydney Double Bay
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has appointed Paul Walters as General Manager of InterContinental Sydney Double Bay, Sydney’s newest luxury hotel.
Sydney native, Paul, who will relocate from London to take up the role, has 30 years’ experience in luxury hotels and resorts, including over 15 years as a General Manager.
Paul joins IHG from the Langham Hospitality Group. He was most recently General Manager of their flagship property, The Langham London, where he played a key role in positioning it as one of the top ten luxury London hotels.
Prior to that Paul was Vice President, Brands for the company based in Hong Kong.
10. 3 reasons we’re excited MSC Seaside is coming
When MSC announced last year it was planning to build a mass-market vessel that would ‘revolutionise the industry’, we found it a little hard to believe.
Don’t look so surprised. Can you really blame us for expressing some doubt when Royal Caribbean is cruising around with Bionic bartenders and public spaces that transform from basketball courts into circus schools?
It wasn’t until details of the next generation of ships started to roll out that we started to believe MSC may actually be onto something.