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. Could Jetstar connect Cairns to China?
Low-cost carrier, Jetstar is already planning to connect the Gold Coast to China, but could the airline be considering another new route to bring more Chinese travellers into the Sunshine State?
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning, has hope his city will be the next to receive low-cost operations to the booming country and says the possibility was raised during recent talks with Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce.
The Mayor explained that before flights from the city could be considered, a lot of work would be need to be done to convince the carrier that flying from the city is worth the risk, Cairns Post reported.
2. How the industry has inspired bookings through Instagram
There’s no doubt Instagram has led a cultural shift towards visual communication, connections people around the world and even creating new marketing opportunities for the travel industry.
Everyone from Tourism Australia to helloworld has used the mobile tool to spread the travel word and create some of the most successful marketing campaigns through photosharing alone.
As the app celebrates its fifth anniversary today, we take a look back at Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger’s masterpiece and how it has been utilised by the industry to inspire and promote travel.
3. Etihad named best for business
With increased baggage allowance and a flying apartment, it’s no wonder Etihad has been named the Best Airline – Business Class at the 26th Annual TTG Travel Awards.
Etihad’s Chief Commercial Officer, Peter Baumgartner, said the award was an ‘important accolade’ for the airline especially considering the extent of competition in the region.
“The ground-breaking new Business Studios on our fleet of A380s and B787 Dreamliners, in particular, have redefined luxury air travel by offering an unprecedented level of style, comfort and hospitality that sets a whole new benchmark for business class travel worldwide,” he said.
Business Class guests on all Etihad Airways wide-body flights enjoy fully flat beds, with guaranteed direct aisle access. Inflight, dedicated Food and Beverage Managers, handpicked from some of the world’s best establishments, oversee an extensive ‘dine anytime’ a la carte and snack menu.
On ultra-long-haul flights, the airline offers a full turndown service, amenity kits, cotton loungewear and slippers. On the ground, guests have access to airport lounges and chauffeur-driven limousine services at more than 40 locations worldwide.
The premium lounge in Abu Dhabi features a Six Senses Spa and Style and Shave by Etihad facility, both offering a range of services, including a selection of complimentary treatments.
4. The Travel Corporation ‘treads’ the right way
Animal rights are now at the top of the list for any of The Travel Corporation’s brands after signing a new joint initiative with the TreadRight Foundation.
Effective immediately, Contiki, Trafalgar, AAT Kings, Uniworld, Insight Vacations, Creative Holidays, Adventure World and more will adopt the TreadRight Animal Welfare Policy.
The policy promotes the Five Freedoms – rights for animals under human control and asserts that animals under human control should have freedom from hunger and thirst; freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain, injury, and disease; freedom to express normal behaviour; and freedom from fear & distress.
5. Travel Counsellors cruising towards records
Cruise month brought in the bookings for Travel Counsellors, with the group experiencing record-breaking sales in September.
On the back of Travel Counsellors’ Cruise brochure and a combination of regular emails featuring cruise offers, weekly live broadcast cruise-focused webinars, social media posts and internal incentives and competitions for selling cruise products has resulted in Travel Counsellors posting the largest amount of cruise bookings in the history of the company operating in Australia.
Cruise bookings were up 57 percent for the month of September YOY and up 32 percent for the first nine months of the year.
Travel Counsellor Matt Schmitz said he’s experienced a ‘huge spike’ in cruising, particularly river cruising in Europe.
“Cruise Month was a great opportunity to focus on selling cruising to new and existing clients. From cruising veterans to first time cruisers, cruising offers a truly relaxing holiday experience for people keen switch gears and wind down,” he explained.
Danielle Cutrupi of Barrack Heights, NSW said she found the webinars helpful in increasing product knowledge and giving her the ability to sell cruise more confidently.
Congratulations Travel Counsellors. Click here for more news from the group.
6. Applications open for AIME hosted buyers
The AIME Hosted Buyer® portal is now open, inviting applications for Hosted Buyers to attend the 24th Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME), 23-24 February 2016 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Applications are invited from those responsible for managing, organising or influencing business events, business travel, conferences, meetings, exhibitions or incentives, from Australia and around the world.
Hosted Buyers are able to meet with Exhibitors through a dedicated and exclusive diary where they can organise appointments prior to the show, plus numerous other benefits including flights, four to five star accommodation, social events, regional Victoria pre-touring options and access to the Hosted Buyer Lounge on the show floor.
AIME Hosted Buyer Manager, Melissa Casey, said changes have been introduced for the 2016 program based on feedback from previous years.
Changes include the return to pre-touring and a new look welcome function. Other changes to the Hosted Buyer program offering extra value include a breakfast hosted by each buyer’s hotel and a new and exclusive education program.
Click here to apply.
7. Find out why everyone is talking about this ad
Everyone is talking about Tourism New Zealand’s new ad and it’s not because it highlights the incredible adventure and imagery one can only get in the Land of the Long White Cloud.
The five-minute ‘Ultimate Road Trip’ video has gained widespread attention because it features a campervan driving on the wrong side of the road.
According to Tourism NZ spokesperson, the campervan was actually on the correct side of the road during filming, however, it was flipped by the video’s producer because ‘it looked better’.
The video was created by American Youtuber Devin Graham and signed off by the bureau last month.
Since, it has received more than 300,000 views, which is above some of Tourism New Zealand’s other videos – proving all PR is good PR.
8. A new online portal to Ecuador
Travel agents will have an easier time selling Ecuador to their clients after learning everything they need to know about the destination through a new online desk training platform.
Available for Australian consultants, the site has been uploaded with a breadth of experiences and attractions as well as documents, guides and maps.
The material covers all aspects of destination Ecuador throughout the different regions and allows travel professionals to learn at their own pace. The platform is user-friendly and new content will be uploaded on a regular basis.
Emilie Groleau, director of Ecuador Tourism for Australia, said the launch of the new platform comes after increased interest from travel professionals to learn about the destination.
“We want to provide as much support with interesting training and valuable information and tools.”
Click here to access the online platform.
9. An Explorer is on the way
She’ll be the largest ship to sail around our shores when Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas arrives next month.
The 3,100 passenger vessel departed Southampton for Australia last week, making her way through Europe and via Dubai, India and Asia before arriving in Perth on 13 November for her first Aussie visit.
Her first itinerary departing from the country will be a 16-night tour around the bottom end of Australia and New Zealand. She’ll then arrive to her new home, Sydney, on 28 November.
In the Harbour City she will meet up with twin sister, Voyager of the Seas, for a rare rendezvous.
Click here for more information on the ship.
10. Air France staff ‘rip’ into executives, literally
What do around 100 airline staff do when management announces thousands of layoffs? Some strike with signs, others accept the change and then there are those that storm into an executive meeting and tear into management, literally.
At Air France around 100 workers decided to choose the most violent option and took demonstrations to an all new level over the weekend by storming into an executives meeting and ripping the shirts right off their backs.
But it didn’t stop there, photos of management being led by guards through an angry swarm, show one executive had been stripped of his shirt and suit jacket and forced to walk through the mod half naked.
NTK Extra: Palm Cove dishes up Reef Feast
Palm Cove is giving its visitors a culinary experience they’ll never forget during the Palm Cove Reef Feast running from 8 to 11 October.
Featuring tasting plates of Atherton Tableland orange and finger lime arancini balls, the incredible food will be accompanied with home brewed beer and an array of local entertainment.
To top it all off, the Feast will take place alongside the destination’s palm-fringed beach.
According to Tourism Palm Cove President Francetta Bridle, the event will give local farmers the opportunity to showcase their diverse produce and allow visitors to experience the best of the destination.
Click here for more information.
