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Thurs 27 Nov: 10 things you need to know today

We’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to! Read on for our top ten travel industry news stories of the day we think you need to know.

We’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to! Read on for our top ten travel industry news stories of the day we think you need to know.

1. We’re bringing the A380 back to Sydney: CZ

In the story

China Southern Airlines has announced it will replace the A330 with its flagship superjumbo A380 on flights to Sydney next month.

From 5 December to 28 February, the airline will operate the 506-seat aircraft on one of two daily services (CZ326) between Sydney to Guangzhou.

The second daily Sydney departure (CZ302) was boosted in October this year, with the A330-200 replaced with an A330-300. This provided an additional 66 seats between Australia and China.

Read On

 

 2. New 5-star hotel eases Sydney’s accommodation woes

pullman for article

Accor’s new five-star hotel opening in the new $100 million multi-use precinct near Sydney Airport will help ease the city’s constrained accommodation sector, according to the company’s boss.

Simon McGrath said over the last two years Sydney’s hotel market has been “considerably constrained” with occupancies sitting at 80- to- 90-percent.

“Hence the urgency for new inventory to service the high corporate and leisure demand in the city.”

Simon McGrath, Accor Pacific chief operating officer

Read On

 

3. Happy Thanksgiving! Expect flight delays

thanksgiving delays

It’s the time to give thanks, but for many travellers in the US it’s time to let out some frustration.

A storm moving from North Carolina to New England has caused delays on some 3,000 flights departing or heading to US cities. Another 650 have been cancelled – 200 on Tuesday alone, according to the LA Times.

Flights from Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Philadelphia International are said to have experienced the majority of cancellations.

Meanwhile, flights into Boston Logan Airport and John F Kennedy International Airport were experiencing delays of nearly an hour and half.

Travellers at La Guardia were experiencing delays of up to two hours, while at Newark International one in five flights were delayed.

Airlines like American Airlines, Delta, Southwest and United have offered to waive ticket change fees for impacted passengers.

 

4. No hope for an MSC out of Aus

orchestra

If you were hoping MSC Orchestra’s visit to Australia in March next year was an indication the line would base a ship out of the country next season – then you may be a little disappointed to find out it’s not going to happen.

Speaking at a media gathering in Sydney last night, the cruise line’s Australia and New Zealand general manager Lynne Clarke said it will be a while before MSC bases a ship here, if it’ll happen at all.

She said in addition to Australia, the line is considering other emerging markets such as Asia and the Middle East.

 “We look at programs when we are making a commitment as well as cruise terminals. But things change and we’re always looking at opportunities but I think there’s still a lot that has to be done in this market.”

Lynne Clarke, MSC Cruises Australia and New Zealand general manager

MSC Orchestra’s arrival in Cairns during March next year will be the line’s first foray into Australia. During her visit she will call at Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Fremantle. Following her visit she will head off on a 33-day Anzac Centenary cruise.

 

5. Agents have a Princess Mexican fiesta

CLIA group 2

Around 50 Australian and New Zealand agents enjoyed a Mexican fiesta aboard Crown Princess during this year’s Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia Masters Conference.

The first time held on a Princess vessel, the group spent six nights sailing around the Mexican Riviera. There was also two-night pre-cruise accommodation aboard Queen Mary – the legendary ship turned into a floating hotel at Long Beach.

During the onboard conference participants received tips on applying advanced sales and marketing techniques to the cruise industry.

Between seminars, agents were able to relax and explore the 3,080-passenger Crown Princess and Mexican ports – Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.

 

6. TravelManagers get a little luxury inspiration

Luxperience

Eight personal travel managers from around Australia made their way to Sydney earlier this month to attend Luxperience – the three-day luxury travel business exchange.

Representing the TravelManagers group, the eight agents participated in business sessions, presentations and discussed unique luxury products with some 228 exhibitors.

“As personal travel managers we are hugely interested in the luxury market as it fits with our ethos of bespoke travel arrangements that are truly tailored.”

Michelle Michael-Pecora, Personal Travel Manager

Other travel managers in attendance were Kim Mason, Christopher Cogan, Luke Vaughan, Allen Suss, Samantha Temple, Kirsty Whittaker and Simon Tinkler.

The dates for Luxperience 2015 are already, with the event being held from 6- to- 9-September.

 

7. Jared Leto tags a Rhino with &Beyond

American actor, singer, songwriter and heartthrob, Jared Leto took time out of celebrity schedule to ‘protect the planet’ with &Beyond.

The ‘Thirty Seconds to Mars’ band member posted a picture to Facebook taken on &Beyond’ Phinda Private Game Reserve where he ‘tagged a rhino’.

The picture was captioned: “tagging a RHINO #ProtectThePlanet”.

According to &Beyond, Jared contributed to the #Rhinoswithoutborders program, which hopes to conserve African wildlife through monitoring and research.

 

8. Mantra meets profit forecasts

Mantra

Earning for the financial year were announced at Mantra’s first annual general meeting held in Brisbane this week.

Less than five months after publicly listing the company on ASX, the Mantra Group has reported a 5.7 percent increase in earnings to $454.7 million.

At the group’s inaugural General Meeting in Brisbane this week, the company reported prospectus forecasts for each of its operating segments were achieved, including a 4.3 percent increase in the resorts sector and a 20 percent rise in the central revenue and distribution sector.

Chairman Peter Bush said meeting annual forecasts indicated that the group is improving its occupancy levels and average room rates.

Looking ahead, Mantra is forecasting $490.9 million in revenue during FY15. This will be achieved through enhancing the Mantra Group brands through refurbishments and marketing initiatives.

There will also be expansion via new properties throughout Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia.

 

9. MTA agents visit Kenya’s tribal warriors

Africa

MTA agents were taken on a private tour to an authentic Samburu village in Kenya earlier this month where they met a tribal elder.

Samburu people are a warrior-race known for herding cattle.

The tribe’s warriors typically have long braids, but shave it off when they become an elder.

MTA agents Carol Foord and Natalie Miller described the visit as ‘life changing’.

The two consultants were in Kenya as part of an East African Safari.

 

10. Is this 50 shades of too romantic?

50 shades

Image: Poznyakov/Shutterstock

Strawberries dipped in chocolate, fluffy handcuffs, a feather tickler and a champagne bath.

No, this isn’t KarryOn’s kinky Christmas list, but rather a hotel packaged designed to offer a ’50 Shades of Grey’ holiday experience.

The two-night ’50 Plaids of Wahay’ package is available at the Nira Caledonia hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland from £995 (AU$1,837) and includes a ‘Black Box’ with the handcuffs, chocolate strawberries and feather tickler.

For a few extra dollars – AU$3,693 to be exact – guests can book a champagne bath.

Other romantic activities available on the holiday include a couple’s aromatherapy massage, Jacuzzi and butler.

There’s only one catch, it’s BYO Christian Grey.

What’s your reaction to today’s news? Share your comments below and start the conversation.