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. Flight Centre’s confidence returns
Flight Centre’s head honcho has renewed faith in the domestic leisure market after seeing an increase in customer enquiries and forward bookings.
According to Graham Turner, the company was among the agency group to benefit from a 4.4 percent increase in short-term overseas trips booked in July this year.
Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics last week, found 822,200 Aussies secured a holiday during the month, which was above the 2.9 percent average growth rate in the last financial year.
2. The best hotel operators in Aus, NZ & the Pacific are…
Around 67 hotel operators with properties in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific have been recognised for accommodation excellence at this year’s HM Awards.
Held last Friday night at Sydney Town Hall, the annual awards night attracted some 600 industry people keen to congratulate the finest staff, properties and brands.
The event was hosted by TV personality Lisa Wilkinson who helped congratulate the Mantra Group for taking out the big title ‘ Accommodation Chain of the Year’ just hours after being named in the ASX Top 200 Companies List.
3. Luxperience kicks off in Sydney
Hundreds of luxury travel suppliers and agents have converged at the Australian Technology Park today to kick start Luxperience 2015.
The event opened this morning with consultants eager to connect with the world’s most exclusive travel providers dealing in luxury and experiential travel.
According to organisers, more than 30,000 meetings are set to take place over the 3.5 day event and each attendee’s appointment schedule can be accessed through the new LUXE Concierge App, which includes personal travel itineraries and a playful guide to Sydney’s hotspots.
4. China Southern flies to Christchurch
Indicating new-found confidence in tourism to Christchurch, China Southern said it will add services to the rebuilt city to its network.
Commencing 16 December, the Guangzhou-based airline will fly to The Garden City every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
China Southern will dedicate one of its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners on the route.
Also new to the airline’s network is a new air service from Baiyun International Airport Guangzhou to Rome and Dubai.
Starting 16 December, the carrier will fly Guangzhou-Wuhan-Rome. Meanwhile, Guangzhou-Wuhan-Dubai services will kick off from November.
5. Princess takes Aussies direct to the Arctic
Clients will be able to visit the Arctic Circle without boarding a plane as Princess Cruises’ Sea Princess embarks on the first-ever cruise from Australia to the colder region.
The itinerary called ‘Land of the Midnight Sun’ will leave Sydney on 20 May 2017 sail via the Middle East to Europe and the UK before making calls to the Lofoten Islands (Gravdal), Tromso, Honningsvag and Akureyri in the Arctic Circle.
The cruise will then stop by North and South America as it heads back to the Pacific and then Australia.
Roundtrip departures are available from Sydney, Fremantle and Auckland with fares priced from $20,999 for the full world cruise.
The Arctic itinerary is the second first-of-its-kind sailing the line will make from Australia during 2017. The other is an 84-night circumnavigation of South America from Australia.
Also in 2017, Princess will sail on a 75-night Circle Pacific itinerary which for the first time will be offered on a Grand-class Princess ship, Golden Princess.
Sailing from Sydney on 19 May 2017, the itinerary will take holidaymakers to China and Japan before heading north to the waters of Alaska.
Roundtrip options are available from both Sydney and Brisbane with fares from $14,299 per person twin share.
6. A day to discover Travel Counsellors
Travel Counsellors will host a Discovery Day event this Wednesday following an increase in agents joining the company to run their own home-based travel businesses.
This ‘open day’ style of event allows interested travel agents to meet the company’s support team in order to learn about everything from how the team use technology to stay connected while working remotely to the support systems in place to ensure Travel Counsellors thrive in their businesses.
Guests will also have the opportunity to link up via webcam to one of the company’s Travel Counsellors for a live Q&A session to find out more about what life is like running their own travel business.
Travel Counsellors Managing Director David Hughes said informal events enable the group to “demonstrate the marketing, business development and IT support it provides”.
The Discovery Date event is free and will be held at Travel Counsellors’ head office in Melbourne this Wednesday – 9 September from 12.00pm.
7. San Diego books new local reps
Gate 7 is slowly becoming the go-to for all things California after adding San Diego Tourism Authority to its list of tourism bureaus.
The PR and marketing group will head up sales and marketing, public relations, consumer marketing, social networking, MICE services and brand development for the bureau in the local market.
The Tourism Authority’s CEO, Joe Terzi, said it’s vital for the region to have representation in Australia ‘which is an important Pacific Rim market’.
“This exciting new opportunity allows us to continue building our reputation as a leading international destination.”
Joe Terzi, San Diego Tourism Authority CEO
Australia is a primary target market for both the United States and California. In 2014, over 544,000 Australian travellers visited California, and visits are projected to rise 12 percent to 610,000 in 2018. As a result of this growing volume, San Diego has seen a rise in the number of travellers from Australia making it now the fifth largest international market to the region with 82,000 visitors in 2014.
8. ‘My Time’ in Hong Kong with Flight Centre
Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and Qantas Airways took some of Flight Centre Marketing’s management team to Hong Kong for a five-day famil.
Held from 21-25 August, highlights of the trip included an authentic local food tour, sunset cruise on an old Hong Kong junk on Victoria Harbour, sightseeing at The Peak and Stanley Markets, a new evening walking tour around Kowloon and an interactive Kung Fu Experience with Wing Chun.
Hosting the group was Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel and Gateway Hotel.
Image [L-R]: Gary – Tour Guide; Jill Santry, Jason Wolff, Michael York, Cassandra Laffey – Flight Centre; Lisa Lee – HKTB; Christina Kerr, Ashleigh Fallon – Flight Centre; Alison Riordan – Infinity Holidays; Jenny Viali – Qantas; Joanne Heggie, Jordan Albury and Jeanna Manifold – Flight Centre.
9. Who won United’s Fast & Furious incentive?
United Airlines has revealed Michelle Nagy from Flight Centre will be heading off on a holiday to Los Angeles after winning the carrier’s Fast & Furious incentive.
To celebrate the release of the new ride at Universal Studios Hollywood, Nagy won two return flights from Sydney or Melbourne with United Airlines, a three night stay at the Sheraton Universal and a VIP Experience for two at Universal Studios Hollywood.
According to the carrier, Nagy was put in the running to win one of two trips after gaining the most points for selling United Airlines and Universal Studios Hollywood.
As part of her trip, Nagy will get to experience Universal’s newest ride as well as United’s Dreamliner, which will replace older aircraft on Australian routes early next year.
10. A special little picture for The Queen
British Airways pilots, cabin crew and ground staff – past and present – released a special little message for the Queen ahead of her official celebrations as the longest reigning Monarch.
Her Majesty The Queen will officially become the UK’s longest reigning Monarch on 9 September when she celebrates 63 years in service.
To commemorate the special occasion, British Airways gathered staff that had the honour of flying the Queen over the years for a special photo message.
