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. Sleepovers at the Opera House – this could be a thing
Travellers are increasingly looking for ‘cool’ travel stories to take home and the Sydney Opera House may have just delivered a super cool story for future generations.
The Queen of Sydney’s Harbour isn’t just looking to invite ‘the next generation’ to take a gander inside, she’s considering asking them to stay the night.
Crew that manage and run the Opera House announced a new partnership with Airbnb that according to Chief Executive, Louise Herron, will move the iconic building into the future.
2. Melbournites can soon fly like Nicole Kidman
Melbourne-based travellers with around $27,000 to spare will soon be able to put those extra dollars towards five-star flying in Etihad’s A380 Residence.
From 1 June 2016, the Abu-Dhabi-based carrier will move its jumbo jet onto one of its twice daily services from Melbourne. The aircraft will replace the three-class Boeing 777-300ER currently deployed on the route.
The A380 service, EY460, will leave Abu Dhabi at 9.45pm everyday to arrive in Melbourne at 5.20pm the following day. The aircraft will then return on EY461 at 10.40pm to arrive in the Emirati city at 6.45am the following day.
3. Aussies & Kiwis tackle for flights to the RWC
Trans-Tasman competition isn’t just heating up in aviation, it’s set to reach all new levels on Sunday when the Wallabies and All Blacks meet on the football field.
The two teams knocked out their opponents over the weekend to win a spot in the finals at this year’s Rugby World Cup (RWC).
Stepping on the field on Sunday at 5.00am, the game has been dubbed by several sports websites as a ‘historic’ one, with the All Blacks defending their World Cup title, while the Wallabies fight to take home the Webb Ellis trophy for the first time since 1999.
4. Clear skies in Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta’s tourism board is assuring travellers with upcoming trips to Mexico that its hotels, restaurants and airports remain 100 percent operational after Mexico was hit by category five Hurricane Patricia.
All domestic and international airlines as well as buses, taxis and other ground transport companies have resumed their normal service schedule.
Tourists transferred to shelters and hotels outside of Puerto Vallarta during the storm were safely returned yesterday.
A few airlines scheduled recovery flights over the weekend to get travellers home.
No cruise ship schedules have been affected by the storm – Disney Wonder is expected to dock at Puerto Vallarta today followed by Norwegian Jewel and Ruby Princess on Wednesday.
5. Visitor numbers just keep climbing to the Solomons
The Solomon Islands continue to experience an influx of tourists with international arrivals increasing for the third consecutive month this year.
According to Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB) figures, a total of 2,131 travellers visited the destination during June this year – an increase of 9.3 percent over the 1,949 achieved during the same month in 2014.
The June 2015 result follows a 15.5 percent visitor increase in April and a 14.9 percent visitor increase in May.
Australian visitors dominated tourism to the destination as the largest contributing market (49.7 percent). This is likely driven by increased access between Australia and the Solomons thanks to Solomon Airlines’ recently launched direct services between Sydney and Honiara.
Aussie arrivals into the Solomons could continue on its record-breaking growth as a result of Qantas adding the island nation to its network through new codeshare flights with Solomon Airlines.
Click here to read more about the partnership.
6. Another preferred supplier for Virtuoso agents
Virtuoso consultants will be able to offer their clients a range of exclusive opportunities on luxury cruises thanks to the group’s new preferred supplier partnership with Uniworld.
Announced today, Virtuoso Asia Pacific Managing Director, Michael Londregan, said the partnership will broaden Virtuoso’s brand offering with a cruise line that offers ‘outstanding product’.
“Ultimately it is the client who will be the major beneficiary of this new relationship.”
Michael Londregan, Virtuoso Asia Pacific MD
Uniworld is the first cruise line to be added to the Virtuoso network in nearly five years.
Click here for a picture tour of Uniworld’s five-star vessel, SS Maria Theresa.
7. Register for the Fijian Tourism Expo (FTA) today
Registrations has officially opened for the Fijian Tourism Expo (FTE) to be held at the Sheraton Fiji Resort on Denarau Island from 3-6 May.
The annual event is designed to showcase hotels, tours and activities available in Fiji and promote the destination to the global travel market.
During the three-day event international buyers will attend meetings with local exhibitors and experience the destination.
According to Director of Events, Sally Cooper, FTE 2016 is expected to be bigger and better than any prior event thanks to increased interest from industry stakeholders.
Click here to register as an exhibitor or click here to register as a buyer.
8. Woolworths adjusts Qantas loyalty arrangement
Qantas’ Frequent Flyer program will change slightly over the coming months, as Woolworth ends its eight-year partnership with the Flying Kangaroo.
As of 31 December this year, instead of earning Qantas Frequent Flyer points on groceries at the major supermarket chain, Woolworths customers will be issued with ‘Woolworths Dollars’. Fuel discounts at Caltex Woolworths petrol stations will continue, however, drivers will no longer be able to earn Qantas points per litre – this will be in place from 2016.
While the carrier’s Frequent Flyer club loses Woolworths, it did gain one valuable partner this month – taxi booking app, goCatch.
Click here for more information on the new partnership.
9. A helicopter ride over Hawaii
A Group of Magellan agents were recently swept up from Australia and flown to Hawaii with Pinpoint and Hawaiian Air.
During the trip, the group experienced the true ‘Aloha Spirit’ and enjoyed a Kauai helicopter flight.
Pictured [L-R]: Kerry Mansell-Pinpoint travel Group VIC; Gay Johnston-Travel Diversity NSW; Sallie Carroll-Brighton Travelworld VIC; Danielle Fisher-East Burwood Travel VIC; Cassandra Muhlhan-Where2Travel VIC; Natalie Hadikin-Travel Specialists NSW; Fiona Potter-Travelsuperstore SA; Adriana Sultan-Pollock-Northern Beaches Travel NSW; Chloe Austen-Balwyn travel VIC; and Jo Vella- Hawaiian Airlines VIC.
Click here for more Magellan news.
10. Drunk plane passenger demands sex
A man on a recent Sun Express flight was so desperate to join the mile high club, he reportedly started demanding sex from flight attendants.
The drunk man was flying from Dublin to Turkey when he started insulting crew and even tried to physically attack inflight workers, a spokesperson for the Serbian Interior Ministry said.
The Ministry described the man as ‘visibly intoxicated, aggressive and very rude’ and said he needed to be detained by guards.
While he ‘sobered up’ the plane made an emergency landing in Belgrade, Serbia.
According to reports, the man wasn’t the only one on the flight behaving disorderly, there was also an intoxicated female who was allegedly offering sex to airport employees.
