We’ve done all the hard work so you don’t have to! Read on for the top 10 travel industry news stories of the day that we think you need to know.
1. Australian aviation in crisis
Regional Express (REX) has posted a $7.725 million net profit for the year ending June, down 44.9% year-on-year declaring that Aviation in Australia was in “deep crisis”. The airlines CEO, Lim Kai Hai blamed the carbon tax and record fuel prices for the profit slump, whichalso saw revenue falling from 1.9% to $253.3 million. Despite passenger numbers also declining, Mr Hai said REX was still “Australia’s most profitable airline group”.
“Aviation in Australia is in deep crisis with Qantas and Virgin Australia losing a combined $4.4 billion at pre-tax level for FY14,” Mr Hai said.
“This clearly demonstrates the prolonged and endemic crisis that is gripping Australian aviation,”
he said.
Mr Hai said that “God willing” the airline will be able to “weather the storm”, referring to the current aviation outlook.
“Our high efficiencies have enabled us to continue to be profitable, and our very strong foundations allowed us to make a significant investment of over $56 million even during these difficult times in the same way that we invested heavily when the Global Financial Crisis hit,” Mr Hai said. The airline has forecasted a similar FY15 outlook.
2. Magellan celebrates profits
The Magellan Travel Group has reported a 45% increase in net profit to $6 million for the year ending 30 June.
“We are very pleased with the increase in profit which, in our model, goes directly back to our members,” Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Macfarlane said.
“This is the sixth consecutive year of double digit growth in membership and profit and clearly the word is spreading about the value we offer Independent Agents”.
“We are the fastest growing Group in Australia with a further 40 Travel Agencies joining us in the last year taking us to 116 Member Agents around Australia. Our niche strategy is unchanged and our members are all mid-size and above, high-end leisure, corporate or both”
“We will keep growing with the right Agents” he added.
Magellan Agents will gather in Canberra late October for their Annual Conference with over 100 member delegates and 90 supplier delegates registered to attend.
3. Australia sails into another bumper year
Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth Salutes Sydney Mardi Gras earlier this year (Credit: James-Morgan)
Australia is set to be the scene for yet another bumper summer cruising season, with 642 ships planned to visit ports around the country. Latest figures compiled by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia show that its member cruise lines will have 36 ships cruising Australian waters between October and April 2015 making a total of 642 calls to Australian ports.
Cruise lines will also make 38 maiden port calls to a range of cities and regional towns including Busselton, Eden, Esperance, Albany, Port Hedland and Geelong. Read more
4. Berlin now has no idea when airport will open
According to the latest news reports there’s no telling when Brandenburg International, Berlin’s new gateway, will open. Originally earmarked for a debut in 2010, skeptics now say it’s more likely to open in 2018. Air Berlin had planned to expand with the airport opening, but in 2013 it lost around US$332 million in doing so.
Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit last week declared he would resign in December, following years of sharp criticism over delays and cost-overruns for the airport.
5. Melbourne gets family-focussed
Melbourne’s first specialised family tour provider – I Heart Melbourne Tours – has launched to “fill a gap in the market”, according to founder, professional tour guide James Owens.
The company, run by Mr Owens and his wife will offer family guided tours of Melbourne and surrounds with no restriction on children’s age. “Itineraries are designed with the family unit in mind,” according to the company. I Heart Melbourne Tours operates a “just turn up” approach, with “everything needed for a day out, from strollers and bottle warmers, to toys and kites to fly on one of Victoria’s spectacular beaches, is on board”.
6. Hop aboard a Great Train Journey
Rail Plus, Golden Chariot
Rail Plus has expanded its Great Train Journeys with the addition of a luxury chariot ride through Southern India, a voyage to the ‘Lost City of the Incas’ and an excursion through Dear Old Blighty. The 2015 Great Train Journeys program brings together a selection of the world’s greatest luxury voyages – from Venice Simplon-Orient Express and the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian to the Rocky Mountaineer and the opulent ‘Pride of Africa’.
“Luxury rail journeys are expected to account for 15 per cent of Rail Plus’ total sales this year across Australia and New Zealand – up from 5 per cent just two years ago,” General Manager – Sales & Marketing, Greg McCallum, said.
“Our latest Great Train Journeys collection is an outstanding sales tool designed to ensure all our valued travel agent partners continue to share in that growth.”
Rail Plus operates a dedicated phone line for Great Train Journeys bookings.
7. Egypt losing out big time
Revenues from visiting ancient Egyptian monuments such as the pyramids have dropped a whopping 95% since Egypt’s 2011 revolution, according to its antiquities minister. The revenue in 2014 is reported at £10.5m, a drop £250m in 2010. Tourism to Egypt has dropped considerably to just 9.5 million staying in the country’s hotels compared with 14.7 in 2010, before travel warnings and social unrest was declared in 2011. The drop has left the ministry struggling to pay staff working at monument sites, their wage largely subsidised by income derived from tourist visits.
“It’s dead,” Mena Melad, the editor of the Luxor Times, told ETN.
“It’s even worse than in 1997 after the massacre of the tourists,” at the Hatshepsut temple in the Valley of the Kings. “There are lots of people who have given up working in tourism and are trying to find new work.”
8. Globus key appointments
Globus has appointed three senior positions to head up its sales, marketing and inbound teams. Peter Douglas has been appointed National Sales Manager, he was previously National Sales Manager at Excite Holidays and will work closely with Regional Sales Manager Nigel Balm and the national sales team. Meanwhile, Adam Mussolum has been appointed National Marketing Manager, having joined Globus two years ago as Digital Marketing Manager. He will be responsible for all marketing initiatives associated with the Globus, Cosmos, Avalon Waterways and Monograms brands in Australia. Gabrielle McCarthy has been appointed to the position of Inbound Manager, having joined Globus more than three years ago as a Product Manager. She will oversee the Australian, New Zealand and Asian tour products offered in markets overseas and in Australia.
9. Rumour has it agents get to Go Platinum
Platinum villa
Rumours Luxury Villas & Spa, Cook Islands is giving Australian & New Zealand travel agents the opportunity to Go Platinum with its Rock Star Agents incentive. Until the end of the month, agents who make 3-night bookings at Rumours will go into the draw to win a 3-night stay in the resort’s NZ$1800.00/night Platinum Beachfront Villa. Agents will get one entry for every Beachside villa night booked, two entries for every Beachfront villa night booked and three entries for every Platinum villa night booked. Flights are not included.
10. Industry challenged to Sidetember
Sidetember the national campaign to raise awareness of brain injury has kicked off fundraising activities with organisers challenging Australia’s Travel Industry to get involved. There are a number of ways to join in, whether through growing sideburns for the month of September, or by wearing the charity’s official jewellery, or doing ‘something on the side’ like holding a morning tea or by participating in sporting or family events throughout the month. Fundraising details are available here.