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. Prayers go out to victims of Germanwings crash
Two Australians are among the 150 travellers killed in the Germanwings A320 aircraft, which crashed into the French Alps.
Flight 4U9525 was flying from Barcelona to Dusseldorf when it fell from the sky near Digne-les-Bains.
Search and rescue operations and images of the accident show debris thrown over a wide area.
2. 10 top destinations your clients want to visit
What we as industry professionals love, may not necessarily be what clients are looking for – it may not be on their top destinations list.
That’s why TripAdvisor has turned to the travellers themselves and asked them for their take on what they consider to be ‘hot’.
Through the information compiled, TripAdvisor has listed the top destinations travellers are keen to visit over the next 12 months.
3. Cruise Team expands with offshore team
The Cruise Team has revealed plans to offload its overflow phone calls and cruise administration tasks to a base in the Philippines.
Revealed this week, the offshore set up launching in June is designed to provide additional support for the existing Cruise Experts in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
helloworld Head of Wholesale, Peter Egglestone said the move will allow the Aus-based teams to focus on engaging with agency partners and offer cruise packages to clients.
“By integrating some additional off phone support for cruise operations we will be free to focus on our operations sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth and we will continue to invest in supporting and expanding the increasing cruise business in Australia.”
Nigel Brohier, The Cruise Team Head of Operations
4. Viking fleet grows by a dozen
RT@CruiseLog Our correspondent @PKnego reporting live from @VikingRiver‘s christening in Ams http://t.co/5owXKZdJwv pic.twitter.com/0DgSiJ7tAr
— Viking Cruises (@VikingRiver) March 24, 2015
It may not have been a Viking record, but it was still a spectacular day for the river cruise line as it christened a dozen new ships.
Last year, Viking River Cruises broke the Guinness World Record for the number of cruise ships christened in 24 hours, when it broke 16 bottles of champagne over 16 ships.
The line already held the previous record, when it christened 10 in a single day in 2013.
5. Emirates adjusts seats from Perth
Emirates is adding capacity and taking a little away on flights between Dubai and Western Australia.
A week out from launching its first jumbo jet to Perth, Emirates says it will introduce more capacity on services between Dubai and Western Australia by replacing the aircraft on its evening daily flight.
The first A380 is scheduled to fly into Perth on 1 May on flight EK420/421.
6. Modern makeover for Mercure Brisbane
The hotel has relaunched its restaurant and bar after undergoing a ‘fresh, light and contemporary’ makeover.
Mercure Brisbane’s dining spot – formerly known as ‘Quay’ and renamed to simply become the Mercure Restaurant & Bar – is the final installment of a multimillion dollar renovation undertaken at the Mercure Brisbane over the past two years.
The refurbished restaurant presents a slightly different colour palette for diners, offering subtle blues and greys – a departure from the powerful pink tones and more energetic vibe of the hotel’s bustling reception area.
Reconstituted stone bench tops, black laminate frames and shelves, and mirrored back panels, complete the cool and contemporary look of this urban dining room.
Mercure has also incorporated a buffet niche which can be used as a private function space on request.
Mercure Restaurant & Bar serves buffet breakfast daily and transforms in the evenings to an intimate dining room, offering an la carte menu that specifically highlights fresh produce sourced from the South East Queensland region.
The new menu features a selection of small bites (including pan seared local scallops, pan fried quail, and Szechuan & lemon grass infused calamari), big bites (such as pork ribs, traditional Northern chickpea and potato curry and lamb rack) plus fresh fish, great sides and a fantastic sweet bites dessert and cheese list.
7. It’d be a CINZ to miss out
Industry professionals are being urged to book their spot at CINZ Meetings 2015, as hosted buyer spots fill fast.
The annual event is this year being held in Auckland from 10-11 June.
Buyers applications close on 10 April, but according to organisers are already almost sold out.
8. Royal Caribbean goes Prime Time
Cruise lines continue to work with Australia’s TV channels to bring more guests onboard their ships.
Earlier this month, the Today Show filmed live onboard one of Cunard’s Queens, while Scenic took the hosts to Peru.
Now, Royal Caribbean has announced a special one-hour television special filmed onboard Voyager of the Seas.
Starring Tom Williams, Rachael Finch and Tim ‘Rosso’ Ross, the ‘first-of-its-kind’ program will premier during prime time on Seven on 31 March at 8.00pm.
The program sees Tom, Rachael and Rosso experience cruising for the very first time, helping to debunk some common myths many people have about cruising.
“From surfing on the FlowRider, to rock climbing, ice skating, spa treatments, 10 different places to eat and more, there is definitely no chance of boredom.
Rosso
Filmed in January, the stars sailed for 10-nights on Voyager of the Seas’ Fijian Delight cruise.
The program will showcase Royal Caribbean’s onboard offerings including its world class dining options; innovative staterooms including the industry first virtual balcony staterooms with real time sights and sounds of the ocean; the DreamWorks Experience and signature Royal Caribbean features such as the FlowRider surf machine.
9. APT staff train for new river ships
Pictured above, APT and Travelmarvel’s 60-strong team of European Cruise and Tour Directors, along with colleagues from the regional Operations team, are seen commemorating the end of their pre-season training in Arnhem, Netherlands.
With both brands welcoming new vessels to their fleets in 2015, the teams have now set sail on another busy river cruise season across the continent’s waterways.
APT expands its fleet this year with the debut of two new river ships – MS AmaVista and MS AmaSerena.
AmaVista will operate APT’s Royal Collection itineraries and AmaSerena will host guests on APT’s ‘Voyages’ itineraries.
Both 164-passenger vessels will sail the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers in 2015 and feature innovative design features including twin balconies (an APT exclusive) and spacious suites that measure up to 300 sq. feet.
Meanwhile the MS Travelmarvel Sapphire sails its first full season on European Gems itineraries between Amsterdam and Budapest and on Danube cruises in 2015.
Newly refurbished, it has capacity for 164 guests and features French Balconies on all category C staterooms and above, as well as a restaurant, bar and lounge, sundeck and beauty salon.
10. SpongeBob to attract Nickelodeon tourism
Children’s television and movie creators are taking their battle for toddlers off screen and into tourism.
Disney is known for having successfully transformed its popular animations into travel, through Disney Parks, Resorts and cruise ships.
But now Nickelodeon is looking to cash in on the family holiday business, with plans for a themed hotel.
Miami developer, Karisma Hotels & Resorts has taken out a licence for a collection of properties, which will be named Nickelodeon Hotels.
The properties will of course feature popular characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
The first hotel is expected to open next year and will be located in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
A second hotel is scheduled shortly after for Mexico.