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Fri 7 Nov: 10 things you need to know today

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.

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. Global Achievers take Queenstown for a spin

global achievers
Celebrating it’s 21st anniversary this year, the Global Achievers Program will today see 150 of Australia’s top International selling agents make the trip over to New Zealand’s South Island playground for a weekend of fun, adventure and rewards.

The official Global Achievers event kicks off in Queenstown tonight with a welcome reception and sunset drinks up at the landmark Skyline complex, which boasts stunning panoramic views of The Remarkables, Coronet Peak and Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown below.

The adventure continues through the day on Saturday with six different activities to entertain and invigorate everyone including the infamous Shotover Jet, zip lining, bungi jumping, a 4WD safari through Lord of the Rings country, inflatable canoes down the Dart River and high country sheep station exploring.

Read on for more.

 

2. New film promote SA to India

The first of three new films by the South Australian Tourism Commission, aimed at encouraging visitors to Adelaide during the Cricket World Cup, have premiered in New Delhi.

The film stars, including Indian Cricketer Ajay Jadeja, encourage Indians to visit South Australia when it will host the opening game of the ICC Cricket World Cup – a blockbuster limited overs cricket match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan on February 15, 2015.

SA Deputy Premier John Rau is currently in India for a trade mission and launched the film this week.

“The India versus Pakistan game is a real drawcard for Adelaide and will reach an anticipated global television audience of over one billion people,” he said.

Read on for more.

 

3. Emirates celebrates Ladies’ Day with German-themed shindig

emirates - karryon

Pictured: Big Brother’s, Tully Smyth and Genevieve Day. Photo Credit: SDP Media.

While watching the race from the best seat at Flemington, celebrities from the world of TV, sport and music were taken on a culinary journey of Germany and devoured delicious dishes including honey roasted venison, schnitzel and kartoffelsalat, Hamburg panfish and an array of fine German desserts.

German Slap Dancers also entertained guests throughout the day with two ‘Schuhplattlers’, while the ladies relaxed with hand and foot massages on offer in the Timeless Spa, as well as hair styling from Joey Scandizzo and make-up touch ups at the exclusive Lancôme lip and eye bar.

German model, Ann Kathrin Brommel and girlfriend of Germany’s World Cup hero, Mario Gotze, was said to have enjoyed the fine dining, fashion and beauty trackside alongside actor, Adam Garcia.

They were joined by former Miss Universe Australia, Renae Ayris and Olivia Wells, celebrity chef Karen Martini and AFL players Matt Cooper, David Rodan, Brendon Goddard, Matthew Pavlich.

Read on for more.

 

4. Princess Cruises Pays Tribute to The Love Boat, Launching Regal Princess in Star-Studded Ceremony

princess cruises - karryon

Princess Cruises, the cruise line made famous as the backdrop of the iconic Love Boat television series, christened its newest ship Regal Princess today with a tribute to the show as all six of the original cast members served as the ship’s godparents.

The star-studded Love Boat themed festivities, which also launched the line’s 50th anniversary, celebrated the role the show played in Princess Cruises’ five-decades-long history and featured 25 of the show’s past guest stars

All six Love Boat cast members – Gavin MacLeod (Captain Stubing), Fred Grandy (Gopher, the chief purser), Ted Lange (Isaac, the bartender), Bernie Kopell (Doc, the ship’s doctor), Lauren Tewes (cruise director Julie) and Jill Whelan (Vicki, the captain’s daughter) – pulled a lever that first sent a record-breaking 50 champagne bottles smashing against the ship’s hull as a nod to the company’s anniversary celebration, followed by the breaking of a giant Nebuchadnezzar-size 51st bottle signifying Princess Cruises’ continued success into the future.

“The Love Boat put Princess Cruises on the map, bringing the romance and adventure of our cruise vacations into millions of viewers’ homes for the decade it was on air. So it was fitting that the cast was selected as godparents for Regal Princess as we begin our 50th anniversary celebrations,” Princess Cruises President Jan Swartz said.

 

5. TripAdvisor offer instant bookings for independent hotels, bed & breakfasts

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TripAdvisor  announced that 31 hotel connectivity providers have already achieved premium certification by offering TripConnect instant booking to independent hotels and bed & breakfasts.

Sabre Hospitality Solutions, Innlink, SiteMinder, Freetobook, TourOnline, Cubilis and WebHotelier were among the first to come on board as Premium Partners, with Siteminder, Globekey and update247 noted as the Australian Premium Partners.

Initial commitment for TripConnect instant booking has been strong, with Premium Partners extending their existing TripConnect certification to allow independent hotels to participate in TripConnect instant booking on the site. This new development builds on the TripAdvisor wide initiative to introduce instant booking in an effort to make it easier for travellers who want to make a hotel booking without leaving the TripAdvisor site experience.

“It’s very encouraging to see the interest and commitment from so many booking engines, central reservation systems and channels managers who recognise the opportunity that TripConnect instant booking presents for hoteliers,” said Marc Charron, TripAdvisor for Business.

Instant booking on TripAdvisor is currently available for US travellers with a gradual roll out to additional markets expected in the coming months.

A full list of Premium Partners can be found here.

 

6. Abu Dhabi food festival to wow audience with three-course extravaganza

abu dhabi food festival - karryon

Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) is to serve up a three-course celebration of food this February with the inaugural Abu Dhabi Food Festival. Running emirate-wide from February 5-21 next year, the festival will incorporate the annual Gourmet Abu Dhabi event, the new Emirati Kitchen and the Gulf region’s first StreetFeast.

Spread over two weeks and three weekends, the Abu Dhabi Food Festival will reach out to residents and visitors alike and will be supported by a full range of activations and promotions in the emirate’s hotels, restaurants, malls and main attractions,

“Over the past six years we have seen a considerable transformation in cuisine quality and service levels within the Emirate’s food & beverage scene which Gourmet Abu Dhabi played a role in,” explained Sultan Al Dhaheri, Acting Executive Director Tourism, TCA Abu Dhabi.

“We now want to expand the reach of our food celebrations to take in a wider audience.”

Gourmet Abu Dhabi was launched in 2009 with the dual aim of raising f&b standards within the emirate and promoting Emirati hospitality traditions.

 

7. Aussie agents see more of Canada with Travelmarvel famil

travelmarvel famil - karryon

The group at Butchart Gardens, where they enjoyed a special farewell dinner.

A group of Australian Travel Agents recently found out just how much more a Travelmarvel holiday delivers as they embarked on a famil taking in some of the highlights of the premium tour and cruise operator’s popular Canada program.

The first port of call was Banff where the group were treated to a surprise helicopter ride enroute to their hotel. Following two days spent exploring in Banff, the group then headed to the the picture-perfect Lake Louise before stopping in Jasper where they experienced rafting on the Athabasca river and took a trip to Maligne Valley and Lake. Some of the group also opted to take a Harley Davidson Sidecar tour.

Other trip highlights included a western-style evening BBQ at Jasper Stables, the chance to travel on the Rocky Mountaineer and stops in Vancouver and Whistler before culminating their tour with a two-night stay in Victoria at the beautiful Parkside Hotel and Spa.

 

8. TNQ to woo meeting and incentive buyers

TNQ - karryon

The extraordinary Cairns hospitality enjoyed by the G20 and Australian Tourism Exchange delegates has created strong interest in the region’s key familiarisation for Australian and New Zealand meeting and incentive buyers.

Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef Director Rosie Douglas said the annual Sell TNQ event in Cairns on November 7-12 would show the business events industry that Tropical North Queensland is the perfect location for business events.

“Sell TNQ will bring 31 Australian and New Zealand meeting and incentive buyers, trade media from Australia and Hong Kong and a representative from Tourism Australia to learn about what our destination offers and experience our products,” she said.

“Tropical North Queensland’s reputation is very strong after successfully becoming the first regional destination to host the Australian Tourism Exchange and then delivering a seamless G20 meeting for the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors this year.

 

9. Kakadu Tourism offers red-hot deals for the green season

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The wet season has yet to arrive in the Northern Territory, but it is already raining down special accommodation deals in the Kakadu region.

During the ‘green season’ – from November to the end of March – Kakadu Tourism’s Cooinda Lodge Kakadu and the Mercure Crocodile Hotel have launched special dinner, bed and breakfast packages that offer outstanding value and comfort while visitors enjoy the rich range of attractions available in Kakadu National Park.

The packages are available for $209 AUD per night per room at Cooinda Lodge Kakadu and $199 AUD per night per room at the Crocodile Hotel.

The package includes a choice of main course for dinner, overnight accommodation and buffet breakfast for two. Valid till 31 March, 2015, subject to availability. Accommodation-only rates are available from $159 per night.

Kakadu Tourism operates daily Yellow Water Cruises and the Spirit of Kakadu 4WD tours, which provide exceptional opportunities for visitors to appreciate the spectacular natural attractions and diversity of the destination.

 

10. JFK wall art to insight neighbour visitation

JFK art - karryon

NYC & Company today announced the launch of a stunning visual welcome campaign in JFK International Airport that highlights the City’s five unique boroughs with local iconography.

“The JFK Welcome Campaign puts every borough in front of the more than 15 million visitors who go through selected terminals every year,” said Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC & Company.

“It’s a great complement to our worldwide promotion of borough neighbourhoods and attractions.”

This campaign is NYC & Company’s most recent promotion of travel to the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. Other campaigns include Neighbourhood x Neighbourhood, which features a different local neighbourhood every month; See Your City, which encourages residents to explore boroughs besides their own, inspiring tourists to follow suit; and hosting press and tour operator trips to encourage travel media coverage and commercial tours of the entire city.

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