Skill up on all you need to know with bite sized travel news to help you be your best today and tomorrow.
1. Air Canada launches Brisbane’s first non-stop flight to Canada
Queenslanders waited almost 12 months for it, and now it’s finally here – they have their first direct connection to Canada through Air Canada.
The airline kicked off the service this morning when its 787 Dreamliner touched down in Brisbane, making it the first commercial non-stop link between Canada and Queensland’s capital.
The direct flights will operate three days a week (departing Vancouver on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) until 17 June when it will increase to daily. On the same day, the service will also extend to continue on to Newark, providing Aussies with same plane service to New York.
2. Royal Caribbean cuts its second season from Brisbane short
It may only be Royal Caribbean’s second time cruising out of Brisbane, but the cruise line will have to cut the season short because it’s selling off Legend of the Seas.
Thomas Cruises purchased the vessel from the line this week, less than year after acquiring Legend’s sister ship, Splendour of the Seas.
In order for Legend to make its way to its new owners, five of her roundtrip Brisbane cruises in February and March next year have been cancelled and a sixth cruise on 9 April will also be rescheduled, bringing forward her repositioning from Brisbane to Asia to 20 February 2017.
3. Sneak Peek at Australia’s largest independent airport lounge
Want the luxury and comfort of an airline lounge but aren’t flying Business Class and don’t hold a frequent flyer membership?
Then this may be the place for you.
Plaza Premium Lounge, the world’s largest independent airport lounge network, is transforming the Brisbane Airport experience for all travellers with the soft opening of its first Plaza Premium Lounge in Australia.
4. Should everything pilots say in the cockpit be streamed live on land?
Image: Tyler Olson/Shutterstock
There’s at least one airline that’s already in the habit of streaming its black box data live, but is that the right safety solution for all global carriers?
International Air Transport Association (IATA) says it’s currently working with airlines to find a new and faster way of retrieving data from inflight recorders in order to shed light on disasters such as the recent EgyptAir flight 804 disappearance.
Currently, investigators rely on a plane’s last known location and flight trajectory to estimate the recorders’ whereabouts. They then need to work through the data before revealing their findings to the public.
5. INCENTIVE: Win accommodation in Thailand
Asia Escape Holidays has launched a Triple Thailand incentive, giving Agents the chance to WIN big by selling.
Consultants who book a minimum of seven nights in Thailand over the value of $1,350 will receive a $30 Coles/Myer gift voucher (there’s 100 to giveaway).
Those who book the most packages betwen 1 June to 31 July 2016 for travel to 31 March 2017 will be in the running to win three nights at Bandara Suite Silom and four nights at Bandara Samui.
All other agents with qualifying bookings will go into a draw to win one of two prizes: five nights at Katathani Phuket or five nights at Banthai Beach Resort.
6. Bicton Travel sides with Sabre
Bicton Travel has signed a multi-year technology and contact agreement to make Sabre it GDS provider of choice.
The agreement will see the retail group utilise a suite of Sabre technology solutions, including data analysis and reporting tools, to support the Perth-based cruise and luxury travel specialist as it pushes a more personalised service for customers.
Owner of Bicton Travel, Carole Smethurst, said the agency needs to leverage off the right technology to create efficiencies in the “highly competitive marketplace”.
7. Visit USA’s Secretariate up for grabs
The tender for Visit USA’s secretariat position is up for grabs and the company is taking submissions from travel industry experienced management consultants.
The successful tender will be required to: have strong understanding of running a not-for-profit organisation and its statutory requirements; be highly tech savvy, including Word Press, CRM management and Microsoft Office; have a strong grasp of the Australian travel industry, an understanding of the America market will be an advantage; and be financially savvy.
They’ll also be required to have the ability to organise small to major industry events with flair and eye-for-detail.
Submissions for the initial 12 months contract close on 29 July 2016. The full proposal document is available by contacting from the Visit USA Organisation Australia president via president@visitusa.org.au.
8. Live la dolce vita with Trafalgar’s September sale
Trafalgar celebrated Festa della Repubblica (Italian National Day) with the launch of its September sale, offering savings of $600 per couple on September trips booked with flights to Italy.
The offer is valid on seven of the company’s best-selling Italian itineraries booked by 14 June. But it’s limited to the first 100 bookings only.
Among the itineraries linked to the offer include the Rome and Tuscan Highlights, which follows the footsteps of Audrey Hepburn and embraces a Roman holiday, and venture to the olive groves, vineyards and medieval cities of la bella Italia; or there’s the Southern Italy and Sicily trip from Sorrento through to Sicily.
9. TTC gets behind the Rainbow Challenge
The Travel Corporation (TTC) joins people from Virgin Australia, Helloworld, Flight Centre and KarryOn, as members of the industry to get involved in the Rainbow Challenge and help find a cure for Vanishing White Matter Disease.
The team printed out their rainbows from the Saving Chloe Saxby Facebook page (under ‘events’ or by clicking here to download it) and will be donating $3,000 to the Saving Chloe Saxby.
The Saving Chloe Saxby appeal was launched in the hopes of finding a cure for the rare disease and save the life of seven-year-old Chloe Saxby (the niece of a Virgin Australia employee) who was diagnosed with the terminal illness when she was only three.
“Hearing about the Saving Chloe Saxby campaign really touched everyone at TTC and we were eager to get involved in such a great cause.”
John Veitch, TTC CEO
“We hope that our donation will give Chloe and all other sufferers of this rare disease the help that they so desperately need and we urge fellow members of the travel industry to get involved in #SavingChloeSaxby.”
Click here to donate today.
