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Wed 22 Apr: 10 travel news stories 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 news stories we think 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 news stories we think you need to know today.

1. Carnival Spirit update – ship returns to Sydney

Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed Carnival Spirit and its 2,500 passengers returned to Sydney this morning following the reopening of the port.

The ship was scheduled to return to Sydney early yesterday morning but was instead told to sail off Sydney’s coast because strong winds and heavy rain had forced the port to close for the day.

Port closure meant the Harbour Pilot was unable to board the ship before it entered Sydney Harbour – this is a requirement for all cruise ships sailing into the city.

Read on

 

2. Fill up and earn Velocity points

Image: PHOTOCREO Michal Bednarek/Shutterstock

Image: PHOTOCREO Michal Bednarek/Shutterstock

Filling up on petrol won’t just get you around on the ground, but also up in the sky.

Virgin’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program has launched a new partnership with BP to offer members two points for every litre of fuel purchased.

Members will also earn two points for every dollar spent in-store.

Andy Holmes, President BP in Australia and New Zealand, said this was the first time an Australian fuel provider had brokered a direct partnership with an airline loyalty program.

“The loyalty program is another way BP is committing to growing our retail business in the Australian market by improving our customer offer.”

Andy Holmes, BP President Australia and New Zealand

 

3. New-build Sofitel coming to Adelaide

Sofitel hotel

The South Australian city is really taking off with tourism, so-much-so that plans have been released for a new-build Sofitel – the first internationally branded luxury hotel to be built in the city for nearly three decades.

Adelaide developer and investor, Palumbo, will develop the new property, which will be located on Currie Street in the heart of the city.

Accor, will manage the hotel under its luxury Sofitel brand and will be the sixth Sofitel in Australia and the first in South Australia.

Costing over $140 million to construct, Sofitel Adelaide is scheduled to open in 2018 with 250 rooms and suites and 80 apartments.

Standing 32-storeys high, it will be the tallest residential development in South Australia and will have leisure and business facilities such as a restaurant, four bars, ballroom, swimming pool, health and fitness centre, meeting and conference rooms and a signature Sofitel Club Lounge.

“It has been nearly 30 years since a hotel development of this status and quality has been announced in Adelaide’s CBD and it will help attract significant increases in tourism, business travel and conferences to the city.”

Simon McGrath, Accor Pacific Chief Operating Officer

 

4. New online travel seller launches

scammed online header

There’s a new online competitor in the travel selling market and it’s headed by online shopping giant, Amazon.

Rolled out this week, the service called ‘Amazon Destinations’ is an extension to Amazon’s ‘Lifestyle’ page and is designed to help online shoppers plan and book a weekend getaway.

Focusing on providing holiday information for short-term trips, the website offers hotel bookings, information on dining and attractions and discounts.

Read on

 

NTK Extra: WIN a $15,000 holiday!

Image-to-resize-header

There’s nothing like putting together your dream holiday itinerary. Now imagine getting it practically for free.

Creative Holidays is celebrating the launch of its new website by giving travel agents the chance to win a $15,000 holiday.

By using content in Creative Holidays’ extensive list of brochures, agents can enter simply by building their dream holiday at creativeholidays.com/agents

After adding flights, hotels, transfers and experience in a shopping cart, agent then need to tell the company in 25 words or less what their favourite feature of the new website is and why?

Entries are coming in quick so be sure to get yours in by 29 May 2015 to be in the running.

Click here for more information.

 

5. TravelManagers pick up new marketing ideas

travel news TravelManagers

Personal travel managers gather at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne’s Docklands for their Victoria State Meeting.

Technology, marketing and brand refresh were on the agenda and the latest round of the bi-annual state meetings for TravelManagers.

The home-based agency group’s meetings were held over two weeks in seven locations around the country and attended by a total of 251 personal travel managers (PTMs).

Executive General Manager, Michael Gazal described the meetings as inspiring and stimulating as agents learned about the company’s latest updates and new technology.

Representative from East Perth, Carl Retschlag said the most informative part of the meeting was obtaining new marketing ideas, while for Karin Tunbridge, representative from Craigmore in South Australia it was witnessing support and sharing knowledge with peers.

The meetings were also an opportunity to brief PTMs on key technology updates, including the transition to Tramada NextGen for the back and middle offices, and on two new technology system developments that are to be introduced to the PTM network in the second half of this year.

PTMs that couldn’t attend the state meetings in person were able to take part in a webinar to still feel part of the team process and receive updates on new developments.

 

6. AirAsia X commits to compensating passengers

travel news Air Asia_middle

AirAsia X has agreed to compensate passengers who were affected by flight cancellations earlier this year, following action by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

Last year, the low-cost carrier announced it would not fly direct flights between Adelaide and Kuala Lumpur from 24 and 25 January 2015.

Passengers were advised to either cancel their flights, rebook or make their way to an alternative city and use other AirAsia X flights to travel to Kuala Lumpur.

The Australian watchdog said this disrupted customers travel arrangements and caused additional costs to some.

After receiving a significant number of complaints, the ACCC filed a case against the budget airline.

Following discussions between the two parties, AirAsia X published a notice on its website advising passengers affected by the cancellation that all outstanding requests and alternative flights, credits and refunds have been processed.

It also committed to processing any future requests for alternative flights, credits and refunds within 14 days.

AirAsia X said it will also process valid claims for reasonable out of pocked expenses in a fair and reasonable manner.

 

7. PAL looks to increase NZ services

travel news  Philippines for website

Philippine Airlines is looking at expanding its international operations and has its eyes on New Zealand.

The airline’s President, Jaime Bautista, said the carrier is conducting research on the possibility of commencing operations in Auckland.

He told the Philippines Star that the go-ahead will be given if numbers between the Philippines and New Zealand are strong.

Currently, the airline has three unused entitlements per week to operate services to the country.

Auckland Airport wouldn’t comment on the situation except to say that it is in discussion with a number of international airlines.

 

8. Art Series gets ‘smarter’

travel news Smart Cars Art Series

Art Series Hotel Group is keeping its business green and ‘smart’, with the delivery of a further 13 customised Smart Cars.

The vehicles form part of the Group’s luxury passenger fleet, which also include a private helicopter and a further 4 chauffeur driven options.

The convoy, now made up of 35 cars, offers guests the chance to self-drive during their visits.

The Smart Cars can be hired across each of the six properties at a rate of $30 for a half day, $50 for a full day or an hourly rate of $8, with complimentary access with all penthouse and two bedroom suite reservations.

The 35 Smart Cars are shared amongst the six hotels, located in the hottest art and cultural hubs of Melbourne, Bendigo and Adelaide.

The helicopter provides a first-class form of travel, available to whisk guests away from Melbourne’s airport, directly to one of the four hotels in the heart of the city.

 

9. SIA sponsors NTIA Supper Club

NTIA awards

Enjoy the music and views at the NTIA Supper Club this year because it’s all on Singapore Airlines again.

The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) has announced the airline will be the exclusive sponsor of the Supper Club, which will follow the NTIA Gala Dinner.

This year, the Supper Club will be held at the same venue as the NTIA gala – the Pavilion Darling Harbour – which will allow award attendees to continue partying without changing locations.

“This is a new twist to how the travel industry can celebrate the best of the best on the night with thanks to Singapore Airlines.”

Jayson Westbury, AFTA Chief Executive

The NTIA gala dinner will be held on 18 July in Sydney.

 

10. Busted! Steward caught selling lost items

Ryanair

A Ryanair crew member has been busted trying to sell an item left behind by a passenger on eBay.

Aaron Galloway, said he went onto the online shopping site to find a replacement for the $1,000 Nikon camera he’d recently forgotten on a plane in Prague

That’s when Galloway found his camera on sale with only 33 minutes before the auction was scheduled to close.

He swiftly contacted the seller, who turned out to be 34-year-old steward, Fernando Miguel Andrade Viseu.

In the email, Galloway told the air crew member that he had a choice either ‘lose your job for theft and get prosecuted. Or you can give it back to me”.

“I’ll tell the police there must have been a mistake and it turned up in Prague. Up to you buddy. I’ll meet you in the Stansted terminal, heck I’ll even give you £50 providing everything’s OK with it. You’re £50 richer and still have your job.”

The steward responded to email with an apology, but it was after finding out the crewmember had sold 118 lost items in only a few months that he decided to notify authorities.

Needless to say, Viseu was fired and given 100 hours of community service.

What are your thoughts on today’s travel news stories?