We’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to! Read on for our top ten travel industry news stories of the day we think you need to know.
1. Industry says: ACCC Expedia Wotif approval will drive up consumer prices
Yesterday the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said it will not oppose the proposed acquisition by Expedia, Inc. of Wotif.com Holdings Ltd. However, the decision has done little to appease concerns among the travel industry sector.
The Australian Hotel and Accommodation Industry (AHA), the Accommodation Association of Australia (AAoA) and the Tourism Accommodation Association (TAA) have all voiced their concerns over the acquisition and its impact on the Australian accommodation industry.
“The acquisition may trigger major commission rate increases, flowing onto consumers and the Australia tourism industry,” Industry Spokesman, Bradley Woods, said.
Read on for more.
2. Sea dogs set for our sunny shores
Federal Minister for the Arts, Senator the Hon George Brandis QC, Queensland Premier Campbell Newman and Queensland Minister for the Arts Ian Walker today welcomed The Walt Disney Studios’ decision to film the fifth instalment of The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise in Queensland, Australia.
“The Australian Government is delighted to have secured high-profile movie franchise Pirates of the Caribbean to film in Australia with a contribution of $21.6 million,” Senator Brandis said.
“The fifth film in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise will be the largest international feature film ever to shoot in Australia and will focus the world’s attention on Australia as a leading film destination. Our investment in attracting the film to Australia will result in substantial benefits for the screen industry and economy.”
Read on for more.
3. helloworld Owner Managers Conference in LA to kick off in style
The 2014 helloworld Owner Managers Conference is about to commence with delegates to focus on contemporary retailing, culture, excellence and optimising results. CEO Elizabeth Gaines will open OMC, sharing her vision for helloworld and her strategy to cement the network’s leadership position with consumers, suppliers and agents.
In addition to keynote speakers, leading motivator Dr John Izzo, bestselling author Debbie Mayo-Smith, Woolworth’s Director of Business Transformation Julie Coates and entrepreneur Chris Bashinelli, delegates will benefit from workshops tailored to capture and amplify the expertise of the helloworld agent base. One of the world’s top 60 motivational speakers, Terry Hawkins will lead a powerhouse session on creating consumer champions and transformational service culture.
“There’s no doubt that this has been a year of remarkable achievements for helloworld and our agents,” Ms Gaines said.
Read on for more.
4. Starwood relocates Global HQ to India
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that it will relocate its global headquarters from the United States to India in March 2015 for a month-long immersion.
“Global trends are revolutionising travel,” Starwood President and CEO, Frits van Paasschen said.
“Rapidly growing markets and a more interconnected world are bringing high-end travellers to new markets like never before. As a company with operations in over 100 countries, we at Starwood know that there is no substitute for witnessing firsthand this huge transformation.”
Over the course of the relocation, Starwood executives from around the globe will conduct business in India, nearly 8,000 miles and 10 time zones away from the company’s Stamford, Connecticut headquarters.
“This is a particularly exciting time for us relocate to India,” he said.
“Its renewed focus on travel infrastructure is much needed, as travel demand is fuelled by economic growth and a population expected to overtake China by 2030. This is the third relocation the company has initiated. It has conducted relocations to China in 2011 and Dubai in 2013. During the month, the team will also travel to cities throughout India to meet with associates, customers, owners and prospective developers, including Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, and Kochi, and also throughout South Asia to Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Maldives where Starwood is seeing many new growth opportunities unfold.
5. Travel Indochina invites agents to join them in Asia
Travel Indochina is celebrating the launch of its latest Small Group Journey brochure with a travel agents’ “Join Us in Asia” incentive. Book and deposit a Travel Indochina Small Group Journey before 31 October and earn an entry in the weekly draw for a five night stay in Saigon.
Each week, two eligible agents will win spots on a ‘mini’ Small Group Journey, departing 15 November 2014 ex Sydney to Saigon.
The journey will give participants a personal insight into Travel Indochina Small Group Journeys – they will experience the value of the tour guides and the intimacy of the ‘insider experiences’, helping them better understand what a Small Group Journey can provide their clients.
The travel agent incentive complements Travel Indochina’s ‘second person flies free’ deal being offered for bookings ticketed between 1-31 October 2014 on valid Small Group Journeys of 14 days or longer to Indochina, and for travel from 16 October – 7 December 2014 and 16 January – 7 December 2015.
For more information, or to place a booking contact one of their experts.
Or follow their adventures on their twitter feed:
6. APT expands its scope of the Kimberley in 2015
APT has announced it is introducing its Freedom of Choice touring concept across all Kimberley Wilderness Adventures tours of 11-days or longer as part of its new small group 4WD program for 2015. For the first time, guests will have the opportunity to choose their sightseeing activities in Kununurra, El Questro Wilderness Park, Monkey Mia and Wyndham, enabling them to tailor their journey to suit their needs.
The choices are featured in the new APT Kimberley Wilderness Adventures 2015 brochure which is available now. Examples include, for El Questro Wilderness Park, a Chamberlain Gorge Cruise, a birdwatching tour or a Barramundi fishing trip; or for Monkey Mia the option of Wulu Guda Nyinda cultural tour, a Shotover Cruise or a trip to the Blue Lagoon Pearl Farm.
As well as new touring options, the new brochure includes a greater choice of dates and departures, with APT growing its program by 20 percent compared to 2014. Guests can choose from 19 itineraries ranging from two to 25 days in length.
“We’ve spent years building and refining our program in the Kimberley,” Rob Tandy, General Manager for APT’s Kimberley portfolio.
“With a continual focus on improving our delivery and significant investment in marketing our product and the destination at large across Australia, we hope our 2015 Kimberley product will be the number one choice for travel agents when selling the destination to clients.”
7. ACCOR ups the market in Myanmar
To celebrate its opening, The Lake Garden, Nay Pyi Taw, Member of the MGallery Collection, is offering a special introductory rate starting from (US) $90. This special rate is valid until 29 October 2014. This newly built, upscale hotel is considered one of the finest hotels in Nay Pyi Taw, welcoming world leaders, dignitaries and discerning travellers visiting the country’s capital.
The hotel combines lavish facilities and amenities with Myanmar’s exquisite touches of cultural heritage and is surrounded by a tropical landscaped garden overlooking a tranquil lake. The hotel is only a five-minute drive away from Myanmar International Convention Centre (MICC) and 20 minutes from Nay Pyi Taw International Airport.
“We are delighted to add The Lake Garden, Nay Pyi Taw to the MGallery Collection of memorable hotels. This hotel opening will officially mark Accor’s return into Myanmar,” Mr Patrick Basset, Chief Operating Officer of Accor Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines said.
8. Brisbane airport can mean big bucks for passengers
Figures prepared by Flight Centre based on European early bird fares, show travellers pay more to fly out of Brisbane than any other Australian airport. In contrast, Perth offers the best deals for cost conscious jet-setters followed by Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide.
The average early bird fare to Europe costs $1635 from Brisbane compared with $1596 from Perth, $1607 from Melbourne and $1618 from Sydney. Even Adelaide, which is geographically further from European destinations than Brisbane undercuts the Queensland airport by an average of $9 a fare.
The figures are based on those offered by six international carriers including Qantas, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Malaysia Airlines.
9. South African tourism encourages Aussies to fall in love with SA
Australians have the chance to travel to South Africa just like the personalities of popular reality television show, The Bachelor Australia and follow in the footsteps of Bachelor Blake and his Bachelorettes Sam, Lisa and Louise.
The personalities of the show recently experienced the best of South Africa thanks to South African Tourism and South African Airways.
Now, Australian travelers can follow on their journey and experience South Africa’s beauty and diversity with South African Tourism offering the most romantic holiday packages including Romance of South Africa, An African Romance, Gourmet Body and Soul South Africa, Honeymoon Heaven and Romance in South Africa.
South African Tourism’s General Manager of Australasia, Lalie Ngozi, is thrilled that Australian travelers can experience what the personalities and the crew of The Bachelor did.
“The Romance of South Africa Package along with our other romance packages truly offer travelers the perfect balance of sun, safari and city; where six days of luxury, wildlife, adventure and world-class food and wine await,” Ms Ngozi said.
Or be seduced by South African travel:
http://youtu.be/zv1MU_Nh8ck
Read on for more.
10. HK pro-democracy protests to threaten travel
Pro-democracy demonstrations that have gripped Hong Kong could put a brake on some of the crucial, weeklong tourist splurge that China’s National Day usually brings to the city. While official estimates aren’t yet available, Ricky Tse Kam-ting, chairman of the Hong Kong Inbound Tour Operators Association, said that normally the industry would cater to 350 tour groups daily from mainland China. Each group has as many as 35 tourists, many of whom flock to the city’s high-end boutiques and restaurants.
This year, he said, that figure could be lower by half.
“For Hong Kong it is a big problem,” he said.
Governments of other countries including the U.S., the U.K, Canada, France, Italy, Germany and Australia, have issued travel warnings regarding Hong Kong, advising tourists to avoid public demonstrations and to follow media reports for updates.
Still, representatives for Hong Kong Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways and its subsidiary Dragonair said their flights are operating as scheduled.
“There is no obvious change in the number of bookings or cancellations observed in the past days,” a spokesman for Cathay Pacific said.