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. Flight Centre’s destination predictions for 2016
Things change fast in the world of travel, and destinations that were less travelled in 2015 are expected to rank at the top of the ‘must-visit’ charts in 2016.
Flight Centre has pulled out its crystal ball, tuned in, and distilled its visions of the travel future in a top 10 list – with the help of previous years’ booking data, what customers are enquiring about and what the travel industry is set to offer in the new year, of course.
Interestingly, a number of the destinations that made the cut were the ones that performed poorly this year (we’re thinking of you, Greece), and it just goes to show you that travel is as unpredictable as ever.
2. Virgin Australia needs Etihad: ACCC
Virgin Australia and Etihad received good news this morning with the Australian watchdog approving their joint alliance for another five years.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) reauthorised the relationship on the grounds that it delivers public benefits by promoting competition, especially on flights to the UAE.
Chairman, Rod Sims, said the ACCC accepts that with Etihad, Virgin wouldn’t be able to fly guests to Abu Dhabi, which would give Qantas the upper hand on Australia services to the Middle East.
3. Australia expands biometric passports to US citizens
It’s now even easier for our friends across the Pacific to visit our shores, with the Australian Government expanding its trusted traveler program “SmartGate” to U.S. Citizens with ePassports.
Smartgate, which utilises facial recognition technology and information in electronic passports, will allow American citizens (over 16-years-old) to self-process when landing at Australian international airports much faster than before.
It’s also slated to be a more secure way of identifying passengers – a task that was previously performed by Border Force officers.
4. AccorHotels expands in the NT
AccorHotels has increased its presence in the Northern Territory by taking over two existing hotels in Darwin – Rydges Darwin Airport Hotel and Rydges Darwin Airport Resort.
From March 2016, Darwin Airport Resort property will be rebranded to Mercure Darwin Airport Resort, while the Darwin Airport Hotel will undergo an extensive refurbishment and rebranded as Novotel Darwin Airport.
The re-branded Novotel Darwin Airport and Mercure Darwin Airport Resort will complement the existing Novotel Darwin Atrium as well as support the growing network of AccorHotels in the Northern Territory which include: Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel, Kakadu Lodge Cooinda, four properties at Ayers Rock Resort, ibis Styles Katherine and ibis Styles Alice Springs.
Chief Operating Officer of AccorHotels Pacific, Simon McGrath said considerable investment is going into both properties to bring them into line with the company’s midmarket brands Novotel and Mercure.
5. China Southern launches morning flight to Melbourne
China Southern has kick started its new Melbourne flights featuring 18 return flights per week.
The new schedule has an additional morning service CZ610, which will operate from 6 December 2015 to 1 March 2016.
The newly added flight will be every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and is operated by A330-300 with 30 business class seats and 243 economy seats on board.
Extra services come after seeing an increase in demand between Melbourne and Guangzhou. According to the airline, since Hong Kong introduced the 72-hour visa-free transit, arrivals from Australia and New Zealand accounted for 40 percent of travellers taking a stopover in Guangzhou.
6. Disney brings more magic to Aus & NZ
We love the parks, the resorts and the cruises and now Aussie agents are going to have access to even more Disney as the company builds its local presence.
Disney Destinations – responsible for Disney Parks & Resorts and Disney Cruises – has appointed David Clark, a former helloworld and Carnival Australia employee, to head up its Travel and Business Development in Australia and New Zealand.
Effective immediately, Clark is responsible for building the brand’s presence around the two countries while also searching for new business partnership opportunities that will benefit sales.
7. Rail around the US with Rail Plus
Rail Plus is now offering a range of independent rail packages across the US combining some of Amtrak’s iconic journeys with top-quality hotel accommodation, sightseeing tours, transfers and selected meals.
Ten of the most popular independent rail packages now feature on the Rail Plus website, including the Jazz, Blues and Rock n Roll tour – an eight-night voyage from Chicago to New Orleans via Memphis; or there’s the 11-night Great American Majestic Landscapes rail trip that starts in New York and ends in San Francisco with stops in Chicago and Denver.
A number of itineraries include overnight rail journeys, with passengers having the option of upgrading from Coach accommodation to either a private Roomette or a Bedroom with a self-enclosed toilet and shower.
The release of the new rail packages comes just two months after Rail Plus unveiled an exclusive connection to live Amtrak inventory on its website, giving travel agents the ability to search, book and ticket Amtrak’s North American services online, 24/7.
8. MTA partners with eNett
eNett Virtual Account Numbers (VANs) has been selected by MTA – Mobile Travel Agents (MTA) as its preferred form of supplier payment.
The Australian owned and operated travel agency group will partner with eNett International, to enable its national network of MTA Expert Travel Advisors, to realise the benefits of a more efficient, rewarding and secure payment solution with VANs.
A VAN is an automatically generated 16-digit MasterCard number used for supplier payments. Because a unique number is used for each new booking or payment transaction, VANs are a secure way to pay or be paid, and are welcomed in each of the 35.9 million locations worldwide where MasterCard is accepted online.
MTA CEO Don Beattie, said the move to partner with VANs was a further example of where the company continues to add functionality to its in-house developed IT Systems.
Backed by the MasterCard guarantee and allowing users to set defined booking and payment parameters, VANs reduce the risk of fraud while providing protection from supplier default.
Sophisticated chargeback capabilities complement MTA’s recently launched Zero Flight Risk guarantee which protects MTA’s clients’ funds in the event of supplier insolvency.
9. Pacific Aria arrives in Cairns
One of Australia’s latest ships, Pacific Aria, made her visit to Cairns this week for a two-day visit.
Bringing some 1,250 passengers with her, the ship docked at the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal in the heart of the city.
Pacific Aria will return to Cairns on two further occasions this year (20-21 December and 30-31 December), while her sister ship Pacific Eden will make her maiden call to the city on 22 December, in advance of her first season of cruises from Cairns in late 2016.
Pacific Eden will be the first cruise ship to ever be based in Cairns when she sails from the city on a series of nine cruises between September and November 2016, including new seven-night cruises to Papua New Guinea.
The ship will return to Cairns in 2017 for a second season of sailing, offering 10 cruises from Cairns from August to November 2017, including the first ever international sea break, a four-night cruise from Cairns to Papua New Guinea.
10. G Adventures brings South Africa to Aus
Around 27 agents were taken on an exploration of South Africa around Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane late last month.
The group took part in G Adventures’ micro-famils where they get a taste of a destination without leaving the country.
Brisbane-based agents climbed ‘South Africa’s Table Mountain’, otherwise known as Storey Bridge, Melbourne agents were treated to a ‘Safari Walk’ on the search for the Big 5 and Sydney saw agents enjoying traditional South African food at a local Shebeen restaurant.
Growing in popularity, past G Adventures micro-famils have seen sales in the destinations ‘explored’ on the day increase by almost 50 percent as a direct result of agents taking away valuable knowledge/insights presented to them through a range of innovative training methods.
Belinda Ward, Managing Director for G Adventures Australia and New Zealand, said G Adventures is always thinking of new ways to inspire both their agency partners.
“Travel agents really are one of the most important parts of our business.”
Belinda Ward, G Adventures Managing Director Aus & NZ
“They are the front line to our travellers on a day-to-day basis. If G Adventures can help inspire agents by learning from our experts on the ground then we know travellers will be inspired too.”
P.S. Take your Xmas tree with you on holidays
airberlin has adopted the holiday spirit and is offering guests flying on all international routes the chance to bring their Christmas tree along at no extra charge.
The tree can be up to two metres in length and must be declared at least 48 hours before departure by calling the airberlin service centre at +49 30 3434 3434 (local charges apply).
The offer comes less than one week after the airline unveiled its new Santa-inspired aircraft. Click here to check it out.
P.P.S. Princess Cruises knows how to make you drool
Heading out for Friday lunch? Before you do, check out this seriously enticing video Princess Cruises has released featuring some of its delicious chocolate treats.
The video promotes the line’s ‘Chocolate Journeys’ – a series of select desserts created by Master Chocolatier, Norman Love, and served only onboard Princess ships.
In 2016, the two will ramp up their partnership by adding new chocolate pairings such as tea with a new signature chocolate soufflé dessert.
#Yum #ChocolateCraving #GetMeOnboardaPrincess
