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. Young people want to see Australia: Contiki
International airfares may be extremely appealing right now, but that hasn’t distracted young Australians from setting off on a domestic adventure.
According to research commissioned by Contiki, intention to travel Australia or New Zealand is high amongst the 18-35 year market, with 74 percent saying they’re planning a local trip in the next three to four years.
The figure, although high, is still slightly below the 88 percent that said they’re keen to travel overseas and the 93 percent planning a trans-Tasman holiday.
2. Singapore Airlines ups its stake in Virgin Australia
Singapore Airlines has picked up a few extra shares in Virgin Australia, less than a week after Air New Zealand said it was considering selling off all or parts of its stake.
In a statement uploaded to the Singapore Stock Exchange, the airline’s Company Secretary, Brenton Wu, explained that the carrier now owns 23.11 percent of Virgin Australia, up from 22.91 percent.
The extra shares cost Singapore Airlines around AU$318 million and was funded by the Company’s internal sources. The carrier doesn’t expect the purchase to impact its net tangible assets and consolidated earnings per share of the Singapore Airlines Group for the current financial year.
3. The best luxury sellers in Australia are…
The stars of luxury travel were gathered yesterday in Sydney for the Virtuoso APAC Luxury Awards – aka the Oscars of luxury and high-end travel advisors and products.
Held at the stylish Waterfront Restaurant at The Rocks, the inaugural Virtuoso APAC Luxury Awards recognises the performance of travel advisors and luxury product in the last 12 months in 16 different categories.
Key measures include overall revenue and growth.
4. Tigerair becomes Velocity-friendly
Velocity Frequent Flyer members are now able to use their Velocity Points as part or full payment for Tigerair base fares, optional extras and taxes across Tigerair Australia’s network.
Velocity members now have the option of using either Velocity Points or a combination of Points and credit card payment, when making a booking on the Tigerair Australia website.
To redeem Velocity Points on Tigerair services, members simply select their flights on tigerair.com.au, log in to their Velocity account on the payment page and select the number of points they would like to use as part or full payment of their total booking fee (minimum of 3,100 points must be used).
From 13 April 2016, Velocity members will also be able to spend their Velocity Points on any flight changes and post-booking ancillary purchases they wish to make via the ‘Manage My Booking’ function on the Tigerair Australia website.
5. Oh Harry! Potter makes Hollywood a little more magical for travellers
Get your wands, throw on an invisibility cloak, straddle a broomstick (or book a United air ticket) and fly on over to Los Angeles where The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has officially opened at Universal Studio Hollywood.
Finally!
The magical attraction opens to the public today, a few days after celebrities blessed it at the exclusive preview.
6. Amadeus repairs the ‘fragmented’ way agents connect to hotels
The industry ‘had no standards’, its back-end systems were outdated, fragmented and unable to deliver the choice or content required for agents to stay ahead of their competition.
That’s how one in the IT world would have described the state of the hospitality sector – only a few months ago.
But like a brunette in knee-high boots and golden bangles, Amadeus stepped in to utilise its expertise, fix the sector and deliver more benefits to both suppliers and sellers.
7. Avalon celebrates its newest ship
Kiwi broadcaster Judy Bailey has launched Avalon Waterways’ newest river cruise ship Avalon Imagery II at a ceremony on the Rhine in Germany.
Becoming the first New Zealander to name an Avalon vessel, the former TVNZ newsreader christened Avalon Imagery II and gave a blessing in Maori at the scenic town of Engers.
Avalon Imagery II offers two entire decks of all-suite accommodation and 30 percent more cabin space than the industry average. Each of its suites features wall-to-wall panoramic windows that can be opened to turn the entire cabin into an open-air balcony, or closed to create an inviting living area.
At 110m in length, Avalon Imagery II will cater to no more than 128 passengers, providing a more intimate and spacious cruise. The ship will operate primarily on the Rhine, offering Avalon’s eight-day Romantic Rhine itinerary between Amsterdam and Basel.
8. MICE planners experience the Metro Hotel Mirage Newport
Conference planners and business event organisers from 10 businesses attended a PCO Famil at Metro Hotel Mirage Newport last weekend to showcase the hotel, its conference facilities and enjoy a small taste of what Pittwater has to offer.
The famil included overnight accommodation, a sunset evening cruise on Pittwater with drinks & canapés followed by a three-course a la carte dinner served in The Mirage Restaurant, and a tour of the hotel to view its conference and event facilities.
Located just 45 minutes from Sydney CBD, Metro Mirage Hotel Newport offers accommodation, including waterfront spa suites, an outdoor swimming pool and spa, a restaurant overlooking Pittwater, a casual poolside area perfect for post-event networking, complimentary WiFi, 24 hour reception and a private jetty for arrival by water.
9. Excite Holidays announces fourth USA incentive winner
Congratulations to Christine Sprake, Voyager Travel, the fourth and final winner of the USA Live Like a Local campaign.
For every two weeks for eight weeks, travel agents had the chance to win a trip to one of four destinations in the USA. To be in with a chance of taking home the prize, consultants simply had to make a paid booking on Excite Holidays’ booking platform in the destination specified.
Sprake said she’s “excited and grateful” for the prize.
10. Visit USA Travel Week winners are…
During the recent Visit USA Travel Week a film crew captured the essence and vibrancy of a typical Visit USA Travel Week expo and highlighted why the many travel agents attend the popular events each year. Check it out above.
The short video really captures the excitement of the events and showcases why the evenings are so enduringly popular with the travel trade and the Visit USA members.
This week, Lisa Priestly of Sylvania Travel & Cruise was named the questionnaire competition winner and was given her Walt Disney World package donated by Travel House of America.
