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. Trafalgar is ‘Simply The Best’
Trafalgar has released its 2016 Europe and Britain programme announcing the company’s launch into Iceland and says goodbye to ‘tours’ and hello to ‘guided holidays’ with a new brand positioning.
Trafalgar also re-iterated the importance of the recent introduction of Feefo, a programme that enables guests to post their own reviews on their website.
2. How does Contiki stay so cool?
The things Generation X and Generation Y found funky and fashionable back in the day is deemed as old school and ‘not so cool’ by today’s hipsters and yuccies.
There are very few things in this world that survive the generation gap and maintain relevance 50, 40, 30, 20 or even 10 years later.
It wouldn’t take more than one hand to number off the things in popular culture that today’s early-twenty-somethings have in common with the generations before them.
3. Come dine with Qantas in the sky this spring
Qantas has launched its new Rockpool inspired spring menu in First and Business Class with a host of mouthwatering new seasonal ingredients to enjoy up in the ultimate ‘Restaurant in the sky’.
KarryOn was invited along yesterday to the Qantas Centre of Service Excellence (COSE) in Sydney to hear from Rockpool’s Master Sommelier Sebastian Crowther about the new menu, accompanying wines and the complex process of the crew serving up the finest, freshest food at altitude. Oh and sample it all of course.
“Together, Qantas and Rockpool have changed the inflight dining experience.”
Neil Perry, Qantas Ambassador and Rockpool Founder
“We cook using fresh produce, literally cooking and blanching inflight and don’t simply reheat like other airlines.”
The all-Australian menu is available now and features delicious and innovative cuisine created from sustainable and locally sourced produce with dishes like this one pictured – the white cut chicken salad with hot and numbing dressing. Nom nom indeed.
4. Etihad increases baggage allowance
Never mastered light packing? Well now you won’t need to because Etihad has just added 16kgs in baggage allowance on select routes, giving passengers up to 46kgs of luggage weight to fly with.
The new baggage policy, which is applicable on tickets issued on or after 14 September 2015, allows travellers with Economy Value and Economy Freedom tickets on certain routes to fly with two pieces of baggage at 23kg per bag – a total of 46kg.
Also on selected routes, the Economy Class allowance has been increased for all fare choices from 30kg to to pieces of 23kg per bag.
5. Sheraton’s million dollar campaign
Sheraton continues on with its 10-point ‘Sheraton 2020’ plan, by launching a new $100 million multi-channel campaign that will see the brand return to TV for the first time in nearly a decade.
Titled “Where Actions Speak Louder,” the new campaign, which is slated to run through 2017, is designed to boldly communicate ongoing enhancements to the Sheraton guest experience, including new products and partnerships, a renewed focus on service, and an elevated look, feel and design for the flagship brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.
According to Adam Aron, Chief Executive Officer of Starwood Hotels & Resorts on an interim basis, “Where Actions Speak Louder” is a comprehensive plan to solidify Sheraton as a leading global hotel brand of choice, everywhere.
6. Britain scores billions from football fans
Australian football fans are taking their love for the sport and their money over to Britain, making it an increasingly valuable asset to the local economy.
According to VisitBritain’s latest research, around 800,000 international visitors went to at least one football game in Britain last year.
In total, the 800,000 visitors spent round £684 million or $1.4 billion – an incredible 15 percent rise compared to five years ago.
7. These are the first #APTtheBest competition winners
APT says its #APTtheBest trade campaign is heating up with more agents sending in their #APTtheBest photos and entries in a bid to win one of five luxury river cruises.
The incentive running through September is one of two being offered in celebration of APT’s recent trifecta of National Travel Industry Awards.
The first winner to be announced for the travel agency incentive – which grants automatic entry into a special weekly draw for each and every APT booking made and deposited in September – is helloworld Camberwell. They receive a $1,500 marketing voucher with APT.
Scarlett Trewavis from Flight Centre Watergardens (VIC) is the first winner and receives an all inclusive luxury Mekong cruise for her picture and entry that said: “APT’s reputation precedes them, long synonymous with words like luxury and exclusivity. To their customers, they’re much more, they’re everything. That’s why they’re the best.”
To enter the photo competition, agents simply need to take a photo incorporating the campaign hashtag #APTtheBest and send it, along with an explanation as to why they think APT is the best (must be 25 words or less), to competitions@aptouring.com.au Entries should include entrants’ contact details.
The #APTtheBest incentive campaign and photo competition runs from 1-30 September 2015 inclusive.
8. Taiwan Roadshow returns to Australia
Industry friends have been invited to attend the annual Taiwan Tourism Bureau Roadshow to learn about new developments and attractions in Taiwan.
Commencing Monday in Sydney, the roadshows are open to all industry people including airlines, travel agents and online travel partners.
As well as looking at the latest updates on Taiwan Tourism, agents will also be able to learn how to customise travel packages for the Australian market as well as network with key partners.
The Sydney event will be held at the Westin on Monday 14 September from 5.30pm. This will be followed by Auckland – 15 September; Melbourne – 16 September; and Brisbane – 17 September.
To RSVP email: nichole@ndmtravelmarketing.com.au or pearl@taiwantourism.org
9. Five Star PR gets a new client
After twelve years, Five Star PR will no longer represent &Beyond but has instead picked up a new Africa-based client, Angama Mara, the luxury lodge owned and operated by Steve and Nicky Fitzgerald – former &Beyonders.
&Beyond has moved its business to Mango PR to handle UK PR, Asian PR and Australian PR.
Five Star PR’s Nicole Lenoir-Jourdan said while the company has loved working with &Beyond, they’re now looking forward working with Angama Mara and assist them with PR to launch the lodge in the Australian market.
10. MTA out at Luxperience
MTA – Mobile Travel Agents – were among the hundreds of agents that attended this year’s Luxperience which took place at Sydney’s Australian Technology Park.
Members from the agency group that took time out to speak to luxury operators and suppliers include Beate Carr; Debra Gray; Linda Kiernander; Kerrie Kaesler; Maxine Adams; John Adams; Carine Griffiths; MTA Luxury Product manager, Margaret Lange (centre front) ; Marian Stanley; Sonia Jones; Alycia Papadopoulos; Patricia Gordon and Chris Hopton.
P.S: Steward mocks ‘mile high’ couple over the loudspeaker
Next time you’re thinking about joining the ‘mile high club’ you may want to keep it in your pants and wait until after your flight otherwise this may happen to you.
A flight attendant successfully embarrassed a couple of lovebirds during a Norwegian Air Shuttle flight when she mocked the pair for allegedly having sex in the plane’s lavatory.
According to the Daily Mail, the steward used the aircraft’s loudspeaker to congratulate the couple and wish them a ‘happy reproduction’ on the two-hour flight from Paris to Stockholm.
A woman on flight DY4314 said passengers weren’t aware of what was going on until the announcement came on, however, it did result in fits of laughter and cheers.
“We’d like to send our best wishes to happy reproduction to the couple that ventured into the toilet earlier on.”
Norwegian Air flight attendant
Although much isn’t known about the couple that took their love-making to 35,000-feet, a Norwegian Air spokesperson confirmed the incident and said the carrier expects passengers ‘to refrain from this type of behaviour on board’.
