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. Qantas & American Airlines flights take off
Two new Qantas and American Airlines services will take off in the next 24 hours, giving the airlines’ customers unrivalled choice of flights across the Pacific.
Qantas Flight 73 will depart from Sydney to San Francisco this afternoon, marking the Flying Kangaroo’s return to the popular route, followed by the departure of American Airlines Flight 72 from Sydney to Los Angeles tomorrow morning.
The new services have been made possible by an expanded commercial partnership between national carrier Qantas and American, the world’s biggest airline, and form part of a broader trans-Pacific network spanning Australian, New Zealand and the United States.
2. helloworld sets a date for AOT merger vote
Helloworld Limited’s shareholders have until next month to decide whether they’ll vote in favour of the company’s proposed merger with AOT.
The date was set today in an ASX update, with a meeting to vote on the proposal scheduled for 10.00am (AEST) on 22 January 2016.
The proposed merger will see the privately owned travel services provider, AOT, blend into the Helloworld group, creating a more competitive travel company.
3. Etihad sends the Dreamliner to Perth
Etihad is sprucing up its services to and from Western Australia, by sending its Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Perth form June next year.
The aircraft will replace the Airbus A330-200, adding 14 percent extra capacity on the route and giving travellers access to the latest inflight technology and entertainment.
The first 787 flight from Abu Dhabi will depart on 1 June to arrive in the Australian city on 2 June, making Perth the second Australian gateway to be served by the aircraft after Brisbane.
4. What do agents & Game of Thrones have in common?
Travel agents and Game of Thrones – they’re worlds (and realities) apart but they both have one big thing in common – they’re both major draw cards for Tourism Ireland in 2016.
According to latest statistics, some 180,000 Australians visited the destination last year – up 40 percent in four years.
Speaking to KarryOn, Tourism Ireland’s General Manager of Australia, Amanda Burns, attributed growth to ongoing commitment from agents and the cult fantasy series.
5. Celebrity Solstice returns to Australia in 2017/18
Celebrity Cruises confirmed it is sending Solstice back to Australia and New Zealand for the 2017/18 cruise season.
Her sixth time cruising from out shores will see her offer 17 sailings ranging from two- to- 18-nights in Australia, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Hawaii, New Caledonia, Fiji, Loyalty Islands and Vanuatu.
Highlights include a two-night weekend sampler cruise on 20 October 2017 as well as a 12-night roundtrip New Zealand cruise departing Sydney on 22 January 2018 with stops at the Bay of Islands, Auckland, Tauranga, Akaroa, Dunedin, Dusky/Doubtful/Milford Sound and Sydney.
A 16-night Auckland to Fremantle cruise departing on 17 February 2018 takes guests to the north island of New Zealand including Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Picton as well as Sydney, Hobart and Adelaide.
There’s also the 16-night Fremantle to Sydney cruise departing on 5 March 2018 which visits the south island of New Zealand.
6. INCENTIVE: Win a trip to Southern Italy
Where do I sign up to be a travel agent? Ya’ll have the chance to win a nine-day trip to the south of Italy as part of Trafalgar’s 2016 Acclaim Achievers incentive.
Top achievers will be taken on a nine-day itinerary exploring the sights and sounds of Alberobello, Sorrento, Positano, Pompeii and Rome.
To be in the running, agents need to sell Trafalgar’s 2016 guided holidays. Consultants will receive one point for every holiday booked from now until 30 May 2016.
The top 30 agents with the most points will secure a space on this exclusive trip of a lifetime with an additional five selected through a wildcard draw.
7. Wendy wraps up Wu-nderful brochure launch
Wendy Wu Tours has officially wrapped up its brochure launch, with 35 events being held across Australia reaching more than 1200 travel agents in both metro and regional areas.
The events were designed to not only inform agents of the new and exciting program for 2016 but to also say thank you to valued agents for their continued support.
Agents were rewarded with numerous spot prizes valued between $50 and $500 at each individual event, a $1000 gift card per state (NSW, VIC, QLD, WA and SA) just in time for Christmas and a national booking incentive was held to celebrate the introduction of the Maldives with the prize being a five night Maldives package in an over water villa at the Centara Ras Fushi Resort and Spa which was won by Megan Hermann at Phil Hoffman Travel Barossa Valley in South Australia.
Wendy Wu Tours managing director Alan Alcock said he acknowledges that although outbound travel for Australians is evolving from standard group tours, the structure of their program has as well and the adaptions made in 2016 shows how well their product works after 21 years of service in the Australian market.
The new program consisted of four styles of touring- Classic, Discovery, Deluxe and Private and included 15 new tour itineraries as well as the addition of one of the hottest destinations- Maldives.
8. An unforgettable Quest for agents
Two groups of Infinity Holidays’ top agents were flown to Asia this year for their first ever Azamara Cruise educationals.
The cruise was split into two sailings, so both groups were able to experience a week onboard Azamara Quest.
Not only did they get to enjoy seven days cruising from either Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City, or Ho Chi Minh to Hong Kong, they had a taste of some Infinity land products pre and post cruise as well.
From Street Eats tours and breakfast at Singapore Zoo, to Kung Fu classes in the park and shopping in Hong Kong, these 23 agents had the trip of a lifetime.
9. Ecruising treats Platinum members like Stars
Ecruising’s 23 Platinum members were given the Star treatment last week with a POST Club loyalty programme on a two-night cruise from Sydney to Brisbane aboard Superstar Virgo.
Collectively the well-travelled group accounted for over 200 cruises booked through Ecruising, with many customers having been with the cruise holiday specialists since their launch in 2000.
Star Cruises Vice President of Australia/New Zealand Brigita Devries was on-board to ensure everything went smoothly.
“Ecruising has been a great supporter of Virgo’s ‘Tour Down Under’ and we value the fabulous working relationship we have together.”
Brigita Devries, Star Cruises VP of Aus/NZ
The group were welcomed at a private cocktail party on the deck while the ship was berthed at White Bay with a wonderful view of the Sydney skyline.
The following day the group enjoyed the unusual experience of an early morning sail away, watching the sunrise over Sydney Harbour as the Virgo sailed under the Harbour Bridge and out to sea.
10. Airport worker suspended for screening Bishop
A female worker at Melbourne Airport was reportedly suspended for a short period after conducting a ‘non-random’ screening on Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
According to the gateway, the woman was taken off duty for ‘not adhering to standard security screening procedures’ because she specifically requested to scan Ms Bishop after discovering her identity. She was allegedly prompted by a co-worker.
Although no official complaint was made by the Minister or her staff, the employee was suspended and recently reinstated after receiving additional ‘process and customer service training’.
P.S. Backpacker doesn’t access FB for a week – parents go into a panic
‘Mum and dad stop worrying’.
There comes a time in every parent’s life when it’s time to let the reins go a little – and that time was now for a British pair.
The couple reported their son, who was on holidays in Thailand, missing less than a week ago when they hadn’t heard from him.
Fearful for his life, they had everyone out looking for him, including Thai police, who happened to spot him happily strolling down a beach in Phi Phi this week, BBC reported.
Jordan Jacobs was last seen at a restaurant on the island of Ko Phi Phi on Saturday. His family reported him missing a few days later when they failed to get in contact with the 21-year-old.
However, Thai police say he is ‘fine and healthy’ and was walking around looking for a job.
“We took him to the police station and contacted the embassy and explained everything.”
Thai Police
Jordan was walking around with enough money to last him a few days and he claims he had been without internet access for days, which explained the lack of communication.
He posted to his Facebook shortly after the incident, saying he was fine and his parents were just ‘over reacting’ because he told them he wasn’t coming home.
P.S. Where does Qantas’ CEO go on holidays?
Where does ‘CEO of Year‘ and the man responsible for successfully bringing Australia’s biggest airline back to profits spend his down time? Palm Beach apparently.
Alan Joyce has reportedly used a portion of his 2015 $12 million pay packet to purchase a designer holiday home worth $5 million in the Northern Beaches.
The purchase was revealed by Domain, however, real estate agent, Peter Robinson from LJ Hooker Palm Beach declined to confirm any details of the purchase including buyer identity.