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 breaks a record in Queensland
Flight Centre has just done what no other company has ever done in Queensland – successfully completed the largest data migration in the state’s history.
Finishing the transfer this month, the travel group migrated some 300TBs of data, 170 hosts and 1,600 virtual machines.
The move was made with Australia’s largest privately owned IT services company, Interactive, who handled the data and will continue to partner on further tasks including management of end-to-end responsibility over the data centre environment and legacy compute from IBM and Cisco, as well as Dell storage and CommVault backup.
2. Star Alliance ‘connects’ with budget airlines
The Star Alliance has started opening its arms to low cost and hybrid airlines in order to offer its customers a wider choice of destinations and flights.
The group’s CEO, Mark Schwab, launched its ‘Connection Partner Model’ – a program which allows the Alliance network to connect to routes operated by select budget airlines.
Connecting Partners will be assessed for their fit into the existing network and will be asked to comply and adhere to the group’s high operating standard. However, the low cost and hybrid carriers will not become a member of the Alliance itself.
3. Qatar goes global with new campaign
Qatar Airways is sending out the message that it has connections pretty much anywhere around the world in its newest global brand campaign.
Revealed at a press conference in New York, the campaign titled ‘Going Places Together’, takes a new and fresh direction for the carrier by focusing on the new theme of achieving things together whether for work, family or adventure.
Running for one minute and ten seconds, the clip showcases Qatar’s wide network, its aircraft, service and its appeal to people from all walks of life and all travel markets, whether it be families, couples, culture enthusiasts, sports or business.
4. Scenic, APT & Silversea are winners
Scenic, APT and Silversea have received awards for excellence in cruising in this year’s Cruise Passenger Awards.
Scenic took out the ‘Best Luxury River Cruise Line’ for the fourth year running; APT was named ‘Best Overall River Cruise Line’ and ‘Best Adventure Cruise Line’; while Silversea was named ‘Best Luxury Cruise Line’.
Scenic’s GM of Sales and Marketing, Michelle Black, said it is a ‘huge honour’ to have won.
“This is a fantastic achievement and we are so grateful to our loyal past guests for taking the time to vote for us year after year.”
Michelle Black, Scenic GM of Sales and Marketing
APT’s Executive General Manager of Global Sales and Marketing, Debra Fox, concurred, saying the receiving the award is no easy feat.
“It can only be achieved through exceptional service delivery from all parts of our business around the globe.”
Debra Fox, APT Executive General Manager of Global Sales and Marketing
Silversea’s Australian General Manager & Director Sales/Marketing, Karen Christensen added that the cruise line was honoured to receive the award.
5. INDUSTRY RATES in Thailand
Bandara Group has revealed its 2016 industry rates to the Australian and New Zealand travel industry.
Agents can stay at one of the company’s properties from AU$58 or NZ$63 a night.
The Bandara appeal is a broad one with the group operating a range of exclusive 4- and 5-star properties in some of Thailand’s most sought-after city and beach locations: Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Samui.
Properties include the Bandara Villas Phuket featuring 33 private pool villas with sea views; Bandara Phuket Beach Resort – a 116-spacious spot located five minutes from the beach; Bandara Suites Silom, Bangkok, where rooms and suites offer an amount of space that can only rarely be found in Bangkok; and Bandara Resort & Spa Samui – a laid back beachfront resort.
6. Antarctica is hot, hot, hot
Not literally, but in terms in sales it’s definitely heating up.
According to Chimu Adventures’ Boss, Greg Carter, passenger numbers to the Antarctic Peninsula have more than doubled since 2008, with a spike over the past 18 months.
Carter said people are keen to experience the destination which is still ‘untouched by humans’.
“This is one of the most wildly beautiful places to travel in the world and it is back on the bucket list for Australian travellers.”
Greg Carter, Chimu Adventures Boss
With limited cabins left for the 2015-16 Antarctica cruise season between now and March, Carter says bookings should be made soon.
7. Cathay’s new Gatwick service offers more choice
Cathay Pacific Airways has announced a new four-times-weekly service to London’s Gatwick Airport on 2 September 2016, subject to government approval.
The new service will complement the airline’s current five-times-daily service to Heathrow Airport for a total of 39 flights a week between Hong Kong and London – more than any other carrier. In addition to serving London, Cathay Pacific also offers a four-times-weekly service between Hong Kong and Manchester in the United Kingdom.
Cathay Pacific will operate the Gatwick service with its brand new Airbus A350-900 aircraft featuring a refreshed Business Class cabin as well as new Premium Economy Class and Economy Class seats. Together with the premium service provided by Cathay Pacific’s cabin crew and a state-of-the-art inflight entertainment system in all classes, passengers will be assured of the best inflight experience when they travel between Hong Kong and London.
8. Infinity bulks up for charity
Infinity Holidays is getting into the spirit of Christmas by launching a charity incentive to collect food and toys for less fortunate families.
Kicking off at the group’s annual conference, the charity will help four domestic charities supported by the Flight Centre Foundation: Youngcare, Bush Heritage, Foodbank and Redkite.
An afternoon at the conference revolved around harnessing the small business skills of the 300 people involved and creating business plans to raise $1,000,000 for their nominated charity. The group was divided into 28 teams, with each team focusing on one of the four charities. Their main activity was to create a two minute video to pitch their idea. Team 26 won with their clever Dylanesque video supporting Youngcare.
Click here to watch it.
9. Air China arrives in NZ
Stock photo of an Air China aircraft.
Air China’s first flight has arrived in New Zealand, officially kicking off the carrier’s alliance with Air New Zealand.
Flight CA783 touched down in Auckland last night from Beijing.
Under the alliance, Air China operates a daily direct A330-200 service between Auckland and Beijing and Air New Zealand continues to operate daily B787-9 Dreamliner services between Auckland and Shanghai.
Together the two national carriers will boost capacity between Auckland and Mainland China by more than 25 percent year round.
The airlines will celebrate the occasion with a gala dinner in Auckland tonight.
10. Agents take a culinary journey of Alberta in Melbourne
Travel Alberta, Rocky Mountaineer and Air New Zealand brought a taste of the Canadian Rockies to Melbourne last Wednesday night, with 150 travel agents attending a hands-on culinary event at the Plaza Ballroom at the Regent Theatre.
Rocky Mountaineer’s award-winning Executive Chef, Jean Pierre Guerin made a special trip to Australia, taking guests on a gourmet journey and showcasing the delicious cuisine available on the train, as well as in the Canadian province of Alberta.
After a short cooking demonstration, guests rolled up their sleeves and tested their culinary skills, preparing their own Canada-inspired dishes including Maple-Cured Salmon, Creamy Canadian Barley Risotto, Roasted Beef Tenderloin and Gorgonzola Potato Mash.
Attendees were also given the opportunity to enter a draw to win a fantastic trip for two, including return flights and seats on-board the luxurious Rocky Mountaineer in GoldLeaf Service. Travis Graham from Adventure World is the lucky winner who will be jetting off to Canada in style to experience the fine dining, exceptional service, breathtaking mountainous landscapes and of course exciting wildlife-spotting that the Rocky Mountaineer and Alberta are famed for.