We’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to! Read on for the top ten travel stories you need to know today.
1. Qantas is meeting and exceeding expectations
The Flying Kangaroo, Qantas is back in black, after earning an underlying profit of $367 million and statutory profit of $206 million for the six months to December 2014.
The result is a $619 million improvement over the same period the prior year.
Chief executive Alan Joyce said growth met and exceeded the company’s targets and attributed success to the airline’s $2 billion transformation program.
2. What’s in store for Travel Counsellors this weekend?
Travel Counsellors’ agents will unite over the weekend for some travel inspiration, goal setting and networking at the annual TC Conference.
Commencing 27 February, delegates from around the country will convene at Canberra’s newest five-star hotel, Hotel Realm.
Throughout the weekend agents will hear about a host of innovative plans and developments in order to support them further in building flourishing travel businesses and delivering an unparalleled level of personal service to their customers.
3. Virgin Australia cruises into CLIA
Virgin Australia has become the third airline to dive into Australian cruising, by becoming Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia’s new executive partner.
The airline joins Emirates and Air New Zealand, which currently holds Diamond and Silver executive roles with the cruise association.
As part of Virgin’s Silver Executive Partner rank, the airline will actively be involved with the Australasian cruise industry as well as assist in delivering benefits to the association’s 55 members and the public.
4. CTM’s ‘excellent’ half year
New clients and company acquisition are boosting Corporate Travel Management’s business and contributing to record profits.
According to the company’s financial update, profits for the six months to 31 December increased to $11 million, while total transaction value (TTV) more than doubled to $1.1 million – up 127 percent on the corresponding period in 2013.
Managing Director Jamie Pherous said the increase comes despite ‘tough business conditions’.
5. Sydney hotel gets a $200 million makeover
The Four Points by Sheraton Sydney in Darling Harbour is set to undergo a $200 million redevelopment that will see 222 new guestrooms added to the current portfolio.
With the expansion, the hotel will soon have 905 rooms in total in addition to its expansive convention.
There’ll also be a 4,800 square metre convention, meeting and event space with floor-to-ceiling glass to maximise natural light and uninterrupted water views of Darling Harbour.
The first-rate facilities will include two pillarless ballrooms, the largest with seating up to 1,100 theatre-style, breakout and meeting rooms, dedicated pre-function space and state-of-the-art audio visual technology.
Scheduled for completion by May 2016 for the convention space and August 2016 for the new tower, the new look hotel will also include a contemporary lobby area, offering new bar and restaurant concepts and design elements with sandstone accents, in keeping with the property’s heritage and the Four Points by Sheraton brand.
6. More pics & awards from AIME
Trixie from Crowne Plaza Manila shared a picture with her new giant friend.
The winners of the AIME Awards 2015 all shared one thing in common – excellence in presentation, stand-design and innovation on the show floor.
Winners were announced yesterday on the second and final day of the two-day event.
The Industry Person of the Year was awarded to Kate Smith, Founding Director at Waldron Smith: Conference & Event Management at the 2015 AIME CEO Summit.
7. Viking to the Mississippi
The European river cruise giant has announced it is launching operations in the US, with plans to homeport in New Orleans.
The news comes less than two months before the company launches its first ever ocean ship, Viking Star.
According to Viking chairman Torstein Hagen, the new homeport will allow the line to operate its first river cruises on the Mississippi River, joining American Cruise Lines, American Queen Steamboat Company and AmaWaterways.
In total, the cruise line plans to have six new ships cruising along the Mississippi, with the first launching in 2017. The rest will commence operations in 2018 and 2019.
The new ships will accommodate up to 380 passengers.
Unlike current paddlewheelers sailing on the popular river, Viking ships will maintain the line’s European style.
Itineraries will take guests to destinations like Memphis, Tennessee; St. Louis; and St. Paul, Minnesota.
8. Cheers to industry partners
L-R: Yi Sun Bentours, Ryan Bennett Bentours, Karnail Gill-Hurtigruten, Catherine Tan Bentours, Marcus Dunn Bentours, Donald Yip Bentours, Molly Twentyman Bentours, Kelly Hutchinson Cox & Kings, Marina Amato Bentours, Meri Lazerova Cox & Kings, Osnat Geron Cox & Kings, Cyril Bricaud- Hurtigruten
Bentours and Hurtigruten celebrated their close partnership with a special dinner at Bluetrain in Melbourne.
The ‘thank you’ meal organised by Hurtigruten was hosted by Hurtigruten’s Director of Sales & Marketing, Cyril Bricaud – and his colleague Karnail Gill, International Sales Manager.
Bentours Product and Commercial Manager Ryan Bennett presented Hurtigruten with the Appreciation Award re-iterating the strong partnership between the two companies.
The Appreciation Award underwrites Bentours longstanding position as a Best Global Partner and as a primary provider of Hurtigruten bookings in Australia.
9. The race around the UK and Ireland continues
Around 60 of Australia’s very own travel agents continue to race around the UK and Ireland courtesy of Qantas Holidays.
The 2015 mega famil was organised by the tour operator as a thank you to its top selling agents.
Working with local tourism bodies, Qantas Holidays is taking agents to Ireland, Scotland, Wales, London and more.
Consultants were selected based on points accrued during November 2014 – January 2015 from selling Qantas Holidays packages and Qantas Airways international tickets.
10. Investigations underway over an air crew argument
An investigation has been launched after a Norwegian Airlines flight flew from New York to Stockholm with only five staff onboard.
According to the Daily Mail, four of the nine cabin crew refused to board the aircraft and got into a heated arguement with the plane’s captain because they felt it was unsafe to fly in a snowstorm.
Since the incident last month, the American crew members have been suspended while an investigation looks into staff allegedly disobeying the captain.
The director of operations for Luftfartstilsynet Einar Schjolberg said the incident was a breach of regulations because the aircraft wasn’t flying with the minimum required staff.
However, Tomas Hesthammer, Norwegian’s head of flight operations said the legal minimum for a flight of 196 passengers is five crew.
“What seems clear is that the four cabin crew chose not to follow the captain’s orders, and eventually left the plane. This is extremely unusual and it is very serious when cabin crew doesn’t obey the captain’s orders,” he said.
“The flight to Arlanda was a perfectly normal flight despite fewer cabin crew members on board than usual. It is correct that the captain chose to fly with five cabin crew.”
