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. Helloworld, AOT merger approved
Introducing Australia’s “leading integrated travel group”.
Helloworld has received shareholder approval to merge with the AOT Group and form what Chairman Rob Marcolina describes as “a leading integrated travel group in the Australian market”.
The announcement for the merger was originally made back in November last year, in a bid to create a more competitive company.
2. Air NZ bets on new Houston flights
It may only be one month since the carrier touched down in America’s south, but Air New Zealand is feeling so confident about its new route that it’s already willing to boost it.
The airline is apparently looking to extend its initial five-times weekly Auckland-Houston flights to fly five times per week on a permanent basis, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The extension is expected to take place in March to meet expected demand from wealthier travellers flying between the south and New Zealand.
3. Is Gumtree the next Airbnb?
Step aside Airbnb, home owners are apparently turning to another online site to rent out their properties to holidaymakers.
Gumtree, the website made popular in the early 2000s for adopting eBay’s peer-to-peer selling concept but taking it one step further by allowing users to pretty much use it for anything (even job ads), is apparently picking up steam in the ‘short term real estate’ department.
Similarly to Airbnb, account holders are uploading their properties to the website and offering travellers the chance to rent out entire houses for a relatively cheap price.
4. The travel gods keep shining on the Sunshine Coast
Visit Sunshine Coast hosted a lunch yesterday at a chic Sydney venue to say thanks for a stellar 2015 and to brief media on an exciting year ahead for the region.
“We want people to visit the Sunshine Coast” – that’s the core message behind yesterday’s industry lunch at new Sydney venue Kansas City Shuffle – a soon-to-open restaurant housed within the old Cadbury factory.
And judging by the latest stats, travellers around the country and indeed the world are listening, flocking to this stunning region just one hour’s drive north Brisbane.
5. Is this the end of the UK working holiday?
A new visa regulation that comes into effect in April is threatening to shatter the dream of working in Britain for thousands of Australians.
The new rule states that Aussies working in the UK need to be earning at least £35,000 per year (around $72,000) in order to remain in the country.
The change to the visa law will no doubt impact the number of young Aussies keen on spreading their wings and spending a year working in the UK – a significant market for Flight Centre‘s Student Flights brand as well as STA Travel.
6. Feel the wind in your hair with Norwegian & Pitbull
This girl’s hair blowing in the wind is really giving us #NorwegianCruiseEnvy – #WeWantToEscape!
You can find her in Norwegian Cruise Line’s new TVC, which promotes the message of freedom while cruising.
And who better to help promote the message of freedom than a girl with awesome hair and Mr Worldwide himself, aka Pitbull, who has a fun and relaxed public image.
7. How Japan plans to attract 20M visitors by the end of 2016
Japan’s tourism leaders are expecting the country to welcome more than 20 million people by the end of this year – four years ahead of schedule.
The announcement was made after arrivals to The Land of the Rising Sun increased by an incredible 47.1 percent last year to reach 19.7 million – only 262,600 short of the big 2020 target.
According to Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO), the big jump in visitors was attributed to ongoing marketing efforts as well as new airline routes (such as Qantas’ Brisbane-Narita and ANA’s Sydney-Haneda).
8. Spain & Portugal are heating up at Albatross
Due to popular demand Albatross Tours has announced the release of an additional departure for their ‘Magnifico’ Spain & Portugal tour.
Departing 20 September 2016, agents are encouraged to book their clients as soon as possible as space is strictly limited.
With leisurely two and three-night stays and a maximum group size of just 28, travellers will have time to explore the metropolitan cities of Madrid, Seville, Porto and Toledo plus the towns of Ronda, Evora and Salamanca.
Fully escorted by an experienced tour manager, the tour includes transport in a first-class touring coach, 17 nights accommodation in authentic style hotels with porterage, breakfast daily, 11 dinners, all sightseeing, excursions and entrances as per the itinerary plus more!
The tour is priced at $7,769 per person twin share.
9. Youth still want to see Africa & Mid East: Topdeck
Political disruptions and ongoing violence in the Middle East and Africa haven’t deterred travellers from visiting the two regions this year, according to Topdeck.
The youth tour operator said it is expecting bookings to places like Egypt, Jordan and Zanzibar to grow in 2016/17 off the back of increased bookings in 2015.
According to the company, last year the Australian and New Zealand markets to the Middle East and Africa increased by 24 percent and 16 percent respectively.
10. CTM represents more Ocean Resort Group properties
Ocean Resort Group has appointed Complete Travel Marketing as their official Sales and Marketing Representative in Australia and New Zealand for three additional properties.
The newly represented properties part of the agreement are Best Western Phuket Ocean Resort, Best Western Premier Bangtao Beach Resort & Spa and Sensimar Khao Lak Beachfront Resort adding to the already represented properties Sunwing Resort Kamala Beach, Sunwing Resort & Spa Bangtao and Kamala Beach Resort (a Sunprime Resort).
Ocean Resort Group’s speciality are mid-sized beach resorts with superior facilities catering to a wide range of travellers.
Best Western Phuket Ocean Resort is already a popular property for Australia and New Zealand due to its location – close to the beach front at Karon.
Best Western Premier Bangtao Beach Resort & Spa has a beachfront location with accommodation being in a range of deluxe rooms, villas, bungalows and suites that appeal to both couples and families.
Sunwing Resort Kamala Beach and Sunwing Resort & Spa Bangtao offers family-friendly accommodation with rooms specially designed for families with younger children such as the resorts’ famous ‘Happy Baby Studios’.
P.S. Airline charges people to apply for jobs
Spanish airline, Air Europa, has reportedly been charging its job applicants 60 euros or $95 to apply for jobs as pilots or inflight crew.
A representative of Spanish trade union, Union Sindical Obrera, and a spokesperson for the Spanish Guild of Commercial Aviation Pilots said it was “immoral” to charge people to apply and stressed it could lead to increased charges in the coming years as more applications are received.
News.com.au reported that the Spanish Guild of Commercial Aviation Pilots has filed a complaint with the local labour leaders.
An Air Europe spokesperson has alleged refused to confirm the fee but said the company was “very pleased” with the selection process for staff.