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 ramps up its Hong Kong services
Qantas has managed to squeeze in three extra services per week to Hong Kong, bringing its total weekly offerings up from 11 flights to double daily.
The additional services will operate from April or the ‘northern summer’ on the both the Boeing 747 and the Airbus A330. Flights will be scaled back to 13 per week for about two and a half months from 1 May before picking back up to double daily from 18 July to 29 October.
Qantas revealed in October last year that it was keen to expand its operations to Hong Kong but was unable to due to a lack of available slots, Australian Aviation reported.
2. First pics from Qantas Holidays’ Race Around Northern Cali
Four teams of Australian travel agents are well and truly covering some ground in their Race Around Northern California famil this week.
Upon touching down in Northern California the 4 groups set off on separate itineraries to discover different regions in Northern California including Napa Valley, Sonoma, North Lake Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and Sacramento.
The Race Around Warriors team had the ultimate American lake experience in South Lake Tahoe on mountain gondola and tubing rides before enjoying the local cuisine and landscape of Sonoma country.
3. New Caledonia’s plan for more visitors & flights out of Australia
New Caledonia’s tourism leaders have ambitious growth plans to not only double the number of Australian visitors over the next five years, but perhaps even land a few extra flights.
Speaking to KarryOn, New Caledonia Australia Sales and Marketing Director, Caroline Brunel said ambitious growth plans come after seeing a strong rebound in Aussie visitors over the last two years.
She said due to growing interest and increased marketing activity, last year some 21,000 Aussies travelled to the French island, up 16 percent on the prior year. This year, she’s anticipating Australian arrivals to reach around 25,000, which is half the projected 50,000 by 2021.
4. Helloworld steps onto the court with Volleyball Australia
Helloworld has scored a coup, locking down the major sponsorship of Volleyball Australia, including naming rights to the national men’s and women’s teams which will now be known as the helloworld Volleyroos.
The four-year sponsorship for both indoor and beach volleyball coincides with the high-profile pre-Olympics preparation, commencing with Volleyfest, one of the biggest beach volleyball events in Australia since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Helloworld CEO Andrew Burnes said the sponsorship would drive significant and high-level profiling across international, national and local media.
“Helloworld will also support the Australian indoor volleyball teams, as they head to Japan for the Olympic qualifiers in May.”
Andrew Burnes, Helloworld CEO
“The helloworld Volleyroos will face off against Japan, Iran and China to hopefully book a spot at the Rio Olympics in August.”
Volleyball Australia President Craig Carracher said Helloworld’s sponsorship deal was a major boost to the sport, given the network’s national reach.
5. Time is ticking! Become a Global Rail Expert today
The exam clock is ticking but there is still time for travel agents to complete this year’s Global Rail Expert program and put themselves in the running to win an unforgettable journey to Europe flying Qatar Airways.
With Rail Plus’ celebrated training program set to close on midnight on 23 March 2016, CEO James Dunne says agents need to act now if they want to accomplish the course’s 10 training modules.
“This program is the perfect way for agents to build their confidence and expertise in selling rail, and any consultant who wants to graduate can still do so.”
James Dunne, Rail Plus CEO
“The feedback we have received from agents completing the modules has been fantastic, so don’t miss out.”
The highest-performing graduate – judged by number of questions answered correctly and overall time taken to complete the course – will win a Eurail Pass and a return ticket on Qatar Airways to Europe. The second and third placed graduates will also be rewarded with Coles Group and Myer gift cards valued at $750 and $250 respectively.
This year’s Global Rail Expert program’s 10 modules cover a broad range of topics, including Amtrak, VIA Rail, Rocky Mountaineer, Qatar, Swiss Travel System, Eurail, France-Spain High Speed, France rail pass and TGV.
6. Enter now to WIN with Air New Zealand
The inaugural Air New Zealand Hawke’s Bay International Marathon will be held on 14 May 2016, showcasing the spectacular Hawke’s Bay wine-growing region to runners and supporters from around the world.
Air New Zealand are offering six trade partners the chance to win a trip to run the full or half marathon, taking in the best highlights of the region.
With flat easy running through local cycle trails, vineyards, olive groves, quiet country roads the course finishes at the impressive Sileni Estates Winery where runners can celebrate your efforts in style.
Winners receive return flights, accommodation, a Garmin vivosmart HR to track their training, and entry into the Marathon, plus return flights for a support person of their choice.
Click here for more information.
7. Uniworld partners with Butterfield & Robinson
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has partnered with active tour operator, Butterfield & Robinson, to bring their shared ‘slow down and see the world’ philisophy to their guests.
Both companies have curated an itinerary on Uniworld’s popular eight-day Enchanting Danube departures, taking travellers on a journey from the Hungarian capital of Budapest to Passau in Germany.
Debuting in 2016 on select Enchanting Danube departures, travellers wishing to enjoy the best of river cruising paired with a more active exploration of the region can join an exclusive biking excursion led by the experts from Butterfield & Robinson. Guests will cycle along the Danube River bike path, Europe’s longest dedicated bike path, from Germany to Bratislava.
Throughout their cycling adventure, they’ll be treated to an incredible backdrop of rich culture and stunning scenery with medieval strongholds, towering castle ruins and gorgeous vineyards. In addition to discovering extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage sites in Budapest and Vienna, and countless gems in between in Salzburg, Linz, Melk, Durnstein and Passau, they’ll delve deeply into the flavours of the region with exclusive events ranging from an organic wine tasting of the Wachau Valley’s famous Rieslings to a saffron workshop to beer and bratwurst in Bavaria.
Join Uniworld and Butterfield & Robinson on select September 2016 departures onboard the elegant River Beatrice and select sailings between May and September 2017 sailings onboard the regal S.S. Maria Theresa.
8. Agents dine with Visit West Hollywood
Visit West Hollywood hosted over 100 travel agents and industry partners from agencies, airlines and wholesalers last night at a cocktail reception held at O Bar and Dining.
The tourism bureau’s Director of Business Development, Jaimie du Bois, said the event was an opportunity to thank industry partners for keeping the Australian market at number one for international visitors.
Attendees were presented with an added incentive on the night – by describing which West Hollywood pool they would want to be relaxing in and why they went into the draw to win one of four prizes.
Prize winners were: Chenoa Everett from Hoot Holidays (seven-night trip to WeHo including flights & accommodation at Ramada and Mondrian); Nick Richards from Egencia (seven-night trip to WeHo including flights & accommodation at The Standard, The London and Sunset Marquis); Bridget Scott from Travel Beyond (a sunnylife inflatable Gold Swan); and Penny Godron from Concierge Traveller (a sunnylife inflatable Flamingo Drinks Holder).
9. DriveAway Holidays is celebrating…
Hands up, balloons out – DriveAway is celebrating its recent nomination in this year’s National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA)
The car rental company was nominated in Category 17: Best Specialty Wholesaler.
The company attributed the nomination to its team, particularly its sales team who have also been nominated in Category 31: Best Sales Executive – Angus Ratcliffe (NSW BDM), Julia Taylor (SA, NT and Tasmania BDM) and Kelly Grace (VIC BDM).
10. 6 reasons Vivid Sydney will be better than ever in 2016
The Vivid Sydney 2016 line up has just been announced and it’s clear to see that it’s going to shine brighter than ever before (no pun intended).
From the Lighting of the Sydney Opera House Sails on 27 May, Vivid will enthrall visitors for 23 nights with over 80 light installations, 1,500 hours of music and 500 speakers.
In 2015 the festival of light, music and ideas generated over $63 million for the economy and attracted over 26,000 international visitors thanks to clever product packaging to markets like China, Japan and New Zealand. This year the marketing push will be even stronger and includes two new precincts (Botanical Gardens and Taronga Zoo).
