We’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to! Read on for the top ten travel stories you need to know today.
1. Selfies, are they safe enough for passports?
Could the horrifying hair behind your shoulders, expressionless ID pictures be on their way out? It may very well be the case.
Official groups – even governments – are slowly jumping on the selfie trend by allowing travellers to use them for photo identification.
Royal Caribbean kicked off the trend last year when it announced ‘Smart Check-In’ for its newest ship, Quantum of the Seas.
2. MH370, it was an accident: MAS
Malaysia Airlines has formally declared MH370 as an accident and all those on board are now officially presumed dead.
The announcement comes almost a year after the plane disappeared from the skies.
The Boeing 77-200ER carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members lost contact with ground control on 8 March last year during a flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Beijing Capital International Airport.
Last contact with officials was made less than an hour after takeoff while it was flying over the South China Sea.
3. G’Day Thor!
Unfortunately for ladies, but fortunately for Australia, Chris Hemsworth aka Thor will cover up his assets with a tux (or suit, we’ll see) to attend this year’s 2015 G’Day USA Gala.
The annual event presented by Qantas is a celebration of Australia’s talent in the United States.
The former Home and Away turned comic superhero, Hemsworth will be this year’s G’Day USA honoree.
4. Agent Alert: Scenic’s first pre-release information sessions
River cruising in Europe is hot, hot, hot and Scenic has responded to demand by launching its first ever series of pre-release Europe river cruising information sessions.
In partnership with local travel agents, fifteen free information sessions will be held in metro and regional centres around Australia. The sessions will cover Europe, France and Portugal river cruising programs.
The sessions will educate guests on life onboard the line’s ‘Space-Ships’ as well as learn about new itineraries and discoveries in the 2016 program.
Sydney will hold the first session on 24 February, followed by Brisbane – 26 February; Melbourne and Gold Coast – 3 March; Mooloolaba and Canberra – 5 March; Perth and Newcastle – 10 March; Terrigal – 11 March: Adelaide –
12 March; Parramatta and Geelong – 17 March; Hobart – 18 March; and Wollongong and Frankston – 19 March.
Anyone unable to attend will be able to access the sessions through two free webinars.
All sessions are free but seats are limited so pre-booking is essential. Agents are encouraged to register their clients online and attend with them on the day.
5. Minor property acquisition
Minor Hotel Group is expanding its operations in South America and Europe, with the purchase of six properties in Brazil and Portugal.
The EUR 168 million investment saw the hotelier collect 1,600 room keys in what it has described as ‘strategic’ countries.
The Brazil acquisition comprises of two properties: the 220-key Tivoli Sao Paulo Mofarrej in Sao Paulo and Tivoli Ecoresort Praia do Forte, a 287-key resort in the heart of an ecological reserve on the coast close to Salvador in Bahia.
In addition to the two properties, the acquisition comprises a strong hotel operating platform and the intellectual property rights to the Tivoli Hotels & Resorts brand for Brazil.
In Portugal, the company took ownership of four Tivoli properties – one in the country’s capital and three in the Algarve.
The properties are the 306-key Tivoli Lisboa in the capital city of Lisbon; the 383-key Tivoli Marina Vilamoura; the 196-key Tivoli Marina Portimao and the 293-key Tivoli Carvoeiro.
The six hotels will continue to operate as Tivoli and Tivoli Collection, the two brands within Tivoli Hotels & Resorts. Owners of Tivoli Hotels & Resorts brands in Brazil and Portugal have existing co-marketing and co-distribution agreements which see a combined Tivoli portfolio of 14 hotels and over 2,900 keys in Brazil and Portugal.
Minor Hotel Group chief executive Dillip Rajakarier said the purchases were a ‘highly strategic’ move for the company, and could be considered the start of ‘scalable expansion’ in both destinations.
6. Witness the new Insider Journeys
With only three days left until Travel Indochina officially converts over to Insider Journeys the company has shared a one minute 40 seconds video showcasing the new, refreshed brand.
Travel Indochina officially announced the rebranding earlier this week after 18 months of research found the former title didn’t reflect the company’s philosophy and focus.
The tour company’s founder Paul Hole told KarryOn as well as a name change, Insider Journeys will come with a new logo. All Travel Indochina product will be changed to reflect the new look and feel from paraphernalia to buses [see the new logo on the bus below]
The Insider Journeys team with Paul Hole [right] standing by the newly branded tour bus.
The change comes into effect on 2 February. Agents will be updated through the online portal. The company is also planning future famils.
As well as a new look and name, Mr Hole told KarryOn Travel Insider would also look at expanding its business outside of Asia.
Click here for more on the rebrand.
7. Meetup at Travel Massive
Industry professionals looking for events worldwide can now find them on TravelMassive.com.
Live now, the new site caters to the global Travel Massive community, offering an events and interaction tools to connect members around the world.
Although all Travel Massive events will run through the new website, the process of signing up to events, seeing what’s on and contacting organisers will remain the same.
The company will send out a letter to all current members notifying them of the change, however, you can sign up now at www.travelmassive.com.
8. Could snails delay Sydney’s second airport?
Politics, permits and a snail – they’re just some of the factors that might delay the construction of Sydney’s second airport.
According to the Daily Telegraph, a threatened species of snail that has held up other projects around NSW has been linked to the gateway’s site in Badgery’s Creek.
Although it may resemble an exotic garden snail, the cumberland species is recognised as high-risk because of its dwindling numbers.
The federal government was quick to distance itself from the threatened species yesterday, with a ‘source’ saying it would not impact progress of the airport.
The source also added that despite listed as a high-risk species, the snail is not under Commonwealth Laws. Meaning it won’t be get special treatment on the site.
What do you think? Should there be special consideration for the threatened snail?
9. Fun travel news Friday
What the? Find out what’s going on in the pic in Fun Travel News Friday.
Find out what’s going on in that picture above plus read about Delta Air Lines’ apology after staff stopped a woman from bringing her breastfeeding pump onboard.
There’s also an incredible tale about a hotel that delivered not one, but two Nicholas Cage pics for a guests [weird right] and people are still praising Aerolineas for defending its ‘short and fat’ staff.
10. 50 bomb threats in 2 weeks!
Image: Iryna Rasko/Shutterstock
Bomb threats are dropping a lot more frequently these days and they’re coming through new channels.
According to a US official, airlines received 50 online threats in less than two weeks from 17 January to 28 January 2015, CNN reported.
The official said most incidents are believed to have been copycats and so far, none have proved credible.
Regardless, the threats have impacted flights, including Southwest Airlines’ Flight 2492 and Delta’s Flight 1156 earlier this month.
The two services were escorted back to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport by fighter jets on 17 January and were searched for any devices. Nothing was found.
“Threats of this nature can and do result in costly responses from a multitude of law enforcement and airport entities and greatly inconvenience travelers. Individuals responsible can be prosecuted federally.”
An FBI spokesman told CNN
