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. Quantum of the Seas set to be christened in a lavish ceremony
Join me for @RoyalCaribbean‘s #QuantumoftheSeas naming ceremony on 11/14! I’ll be singing too! http://t.co/oKkG8BKUcS pic.twitter.com/ZNqKN61312
— Kristin Chenoweth (@KChenoweth) November 12, 2014
Royal Caribbean International’s newest cruise ship Quantum of the Seas has arrived into her homeport of Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, NJ, bringing with her a wave of unprecedented first-at-sea features and amenities.
Superfast wireless connectivity, the world’s first robotic bartenders, a skydiving simulator, bumper cars, futuristic entertainment, and partnerships with celebrated chefs Jamie Oliver, Michael Schwartz and Devin Alexander, are just a small sample of what the modern age of cruising looks like onboard Quantum of the Seas.
“Quantum of the Seas isn’t just changing cruising, it’s changing how today’s traveller holidays,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
“It’s not just how you travel; it’s the experience from start to finish. With Quantum we are empowering our guests to customise every aspect of their journey, providing them an unprecedented level of freedom and flexibility.”
The official naming ceremony for Quantum of the Seas will take place tomorrow during the pre-inaugural celebration hosted by the ship’s godmother, Kristin Chenoweth.
2. Emirates posts a healthy half-yearly result
The Emirates Group has announced its half-yearly results which show steady performance and growth, despite a challenging business environment marked by ongoing health pandemic concerns, regional conflicts, and weakening global markets.
The Emirates Group revenues reached US $ 12.9 billion for the first six months of its 2014-15 fiscal year, up 12 per cent from US $ 11.5 billion from the same period last year.
Net profit for the Group rose to US$ 607 million, an increase of 1 per cent over the last year’s results.
The Group’s cash position on 30th September 2014 was at US $ 4.4 billion, compared to US$ 5.2 billion as at 31 March 2014. This is due to ongoing investments mainly into new aircraft and other airline related infrastructure projects.
Read on for more.
3. New study reveals value of cruising in Australia
A landmark study, commissioned by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), has revealed that cruise passengers spend an average of AUD $371 a day in Australian ports, helping push the cruise industry’s total economic contribution in Australia to an impressive AUD $3.2 billion last year.
Topping the list of big spenders are international passengers who ring up an average $756 a day on accommodation, shopping, dining and transport before they board their ship. During their cruise they spend AUD $204 a day in the ports they visit, mostly on shopping and tours.
Australian cruisers also like to splurge, spending an average $450 a day before they board their ship as well as AUD $156 a day in ports they visit during their cruise.
4. The hunt is on for London’s Guest of Honour
Pictured: London’s iconic Tower Bridge.
Today VisitLondon.com, the official Visitor Guide to the capital, together with the GREAT Britain campaign, have launched an international search to find London’s Official Guest of Honour.
The lucky traveller will have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience London as never before. The capital city and its most famous residents and locations are rolling out the red carpet and have together created a city break made up of amazing magic moments.
To apply to be London’s Official Guest of Honour, entrants must go to Visitlondon.com, submit a short film or image and in 70 words describe their perfect day in London.
The closing date is 9 December 2014 and participants must be aged 18 and over. For all terms and conditions see the visitlondon.com website.
Read on for more.
5. Free travel in London this Friday
Just when the Opal card has been introduced to commuters in Sydney, the Brits are one step ahead with the equivalent in London – the Oyster card having to give way for contactless travel this Friday.
Anyone in London with a MasterCard can swipe in and make a contactless payment to the value of £21.80 on the various public transport vehicles including Transport for London bus, tube, London overground and DLR routes.
Any payment up to this amount made on November 14 and 28 will automatically be refunded. If you don’t feel comfortable using your credit card then you can also make a payment with Cash on Tap, which is a smartphone app available through EE.
Read on for more.
6. Australia among China’s top 20 travel destinations
Tripadvisor today released a list of the top 20 most popular destinations for outbound mainland Chinese travellers.
Australia’s diverse tourism offering continues to be a huge draw for Chinese travellers looking for a combination of cultural, natural and laid back experiences, with the country ranking 17th amongst the most popular destinations for outbound Chinese travellers.
While short haul destinations within the Asia Pacific region continue to draw tens of millions of mainland tourists a year, increasingly discerning Chinese travellers are looking at far-flung holiday destinations in Australia, North America and Europe, driven by their desire to broaden their worldview.
Based on total page views recorded between September 2013 to September 2014 on daodao.com, TripAdvisor’s official website in China, the top 20 most popular destinations for outbound Chinese travellers are as follows:
1. Hong Kong
2. United States
3. Thailand
4. Taiwan
5. Japan
6. South Korea
7. France
8. Italy
9. Indonesia
10. Malaysia
11. United Kingdom
12. Spain
13. Macau
14. Singapore
15. United Arab Emirates
16. Germany
17. Australia
18. Canada
19. The Netherlands
20. Vietnam
7. Qantas Holidays celebrates 40th birthday with a sale
Today marks a significant occasion for Qantas Holidays as the wholesaler celebrates its 40th Birthday.
To mark the occasion Qantas Holidays has announce its 40th Birthday Celebration Sale starting today and continuing through to 29 November.
The 40th Birthday Celebration Sale offers 40 great holiday deals to most of Qantas’ domestic and international leisure destinations. Packages include Qantas airfares, special hotel offers and a range of extra value adds including extra nights for free, hotel and resort credit offers, meal discounts and sightseeing deals with every package offering Qantas Points for Qantas Frequent Flyer Members.
And as a reward for selling these great Qantas Holidays offers, travel consultants are being rewarded with Triple Trip Points.
To assist in selling, all Qantas Holidays preferred trade partners will receive campaign support through an 8 page tactical brochure that will be delivered to offices in the coming days along with a campaign toolkit containing a range of collateral, customisable with agents own call to action and available at www.qhv.com.au.
8. Air Canada treats agents to a two-nation vacation
Pictured: hello world agents on Air Canada famil in Vancouver.
Air Canada showed just how easy it is to seamlessly combine Canada and the US to create one unforgettable holiday when recently it took a select group of Helloworld agents on a six-night educational to Vancouver and Seattle.
The consultants experienced Air Canada’s International Business Class – with its lie-flat beds – on the journey from Sydney to Vancouver, where they quickly cleared US customs and flew south to the largest city in the Pacific Northwest.
After a night in Seattle they returned to British Columbia for a stretch limo ride from Vancouver to Whistler. Back in Vancouver the group crossed the 140 metre Capilano River suspension bridge (hanging 70 metres above the water), and experienced FlyOver Canada, a breathtaking flight simulation ride in which visitors soar over some of Canada’s most beautiful scenery.
9. Qantas upgrades economy in-flight dining
Pictured: barramundi poached in spiced coconut sauce with noodles. Image Source: www.traveller.com.au
Qantas unveiled details of its new inflight dining offering, which is set to re-define the travel experience for international Economy customers when it rolls out across the network from 25 November.
Customers will enjoy a wider choice of meals, fifty per cent larger servings and faster service.
Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said the dining experience will set a new standard for the five million Economy customers travelling across the airline’s international network each year.
“We have worked closely with Australia’s leading producers and suppliers to deliver what we believe to be the best inflight economy dining experience offered by any international carrier,” he said.
Some of the new dishes on the menu include smoky barbecue beef with roasted sweet potato, broccoli and corn; honey roasted chicken farro salad and seasonal vegetables with pumpkin and sesame seeds; scrambled eggs with chicken sausage, tomato, hash brown and baked beans; and Ruby & Roy’s traditional Greek yoghurt with granola.
10. Miss World Aus. cuddles up to a koala
While the hopes of Australia will be riding on the shoulders of Miss World Australia, Courtney Thorpe as she prepares to depart for London on Saturday to compete in the Miss World Final, the Queensland beauty and Oaks Hotels & Resorts ambassador has today paid one last visit to another little Australian whose hopes are riding just as high on her shoulders, too.
Oasis is a tiny eight month-old Koala joey who, through a recent partnership forged between Australia Zoo’s Wildlife Warriors Program and Courtney’s major sponsor Oaks Hotels & Resorts (a division of Minor Hotel Group), will reap the benefits from a generous donation and awareness campaign supporting critical conservation work over the next five years.
Oasis has been named after Oaks Hotels & Resorts’ popular family-friendly Sunshine Coast resort Oaks Oasis at Caloundra. The partnership will also see Oaks Hotels & Resorts appointed as an official accommodation partner of Australia Zoo and proactive steps taken at the property to increase koala conservation awareness by offering accommodation packages, tickets to Australia Zoo and sneak peek passes to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital to its guests.
