Mon 18 Aug: 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 news stories we think you need to know today.

1. Chinese theme park for NSW

NSW’s Central Coast is about to get a cultural injection after plans to build a massive, $500 million Chinese theme park called – Chappypie China Time – was unveiled last Friday. Billed as “Chinese Disneyland” news reports state the theme park will be developed in Warnervale, an hour north of Sydney and will integrate “culture and happiness, nature and spirit.” The site will include performance spaces, cultural experiences, eateries, accommodation and shops, news.com.au reports. Further plans also include building traditional Chinese temples, classic theme park rides, statues of oriental Gods and a section devoted to the Panda.

The Mayor of Wyong Shire, Doug Eaton, is reportedly thrilled about the project being developed in the area, and is said to have proclaimed “that the park will be a tourist attraction to rival the Sydney Opera House or Harbour Bridge”, according to the paper.

The company behind the 15.7-hectare development, Australia-Chinese Theme Park Pty Ltd, bought the land next to Warnervale Airport in 2012 for $10 million. If approved, the first stage of the park could open as early as 2016.

2. Tourists snubbing Aussie icons

International tourists to Australia are on the rise, but they are choosing to stay close to big cities instead of venturing into the Outback, according to a new report by Tourism Research Australia.

Regions which have been affected with tourist decline include Victoria’s Upper Yarra district, down 30%, Queensland’s Bundaberg region with a 20% decline, a 17% drop in tourists to Kakadu, NT, and Central NSW has reported 14% fewer tourists compared to last year, news.com reports.

Michelle Hutchison from comparison website finder.com.au told the newspaper 21 of the country’s 83 travel regions had a fall in overseas tourists. Read more

3. TravelManagers reveal new brand

TravelManagers have unveiled a new brand strategy for the home-based group at their 2014 national conference held over the weekend in Singapore.

Produced after “many months of research, collaboration and finalisation” with Australian brand creation agency, Principals, the brand strategy was said to have been developed due to a rapidly changing industry, according to TravelManagers’ General Manager, Michael Gazal.

The 2014 TravelManagers’ conference attracted 39 partner suppliers, a record attendance.

4. Bestjet.com taking on OTA’s

Despite leaving investors, creditors and travellers out of pocket almost $100 million when Air Australia and Strategic Airlines folded in 2012, the wife of the failed airline boss, Rachel James, has launched a travel website in competition with popular OTA’s. The news report said within 2 weeks of the airline folding, Bestjet Travel had been registered by Ms James, and now operates out of Brisbane offering airfares online “cheaper prices than the airlines direct”.  Their first booking was made in May 2013. It is unclear whether her husband, Michael, is part of the venture.

“The travel industry in general is a highly competitive market but most markets are these days and the element of difference has never been more important,” Ms James told the newspaper.

5. MTA gets Virtuoso honours

MTA-Mobile Travel Agents has been named Virtuoso – Luxury Travel’s‘ Top Producer Australia and New Zealand’ for the second year in a row.

Sara Merricks was on hand to accept the prestigious award announced in front of more than 4,000 international travel advisors and global suppliers, including a 23-strong MTA team, at the Bellagio Hotel & Resort in Las Vegas, venue for this year’s Virtuoso Travel Week.

“To take this extremely prestigious award two years running is beyond anyone’s expectations, especially when you look at the extremely high calibre of the other companies nominated this year,” MTA co-managing director, Roy Merricks said.

A record 77 Australian and New Zealand travel advisors attended Virtuoso Travel Week and participated in the event’s nearly 354,000 appointments. Virtuoso’s member agencies across 20 countries generate over US$12.5 billion annually in travel sales.

Virtuoso also revealed the latest destination trends, showing where their international clients from 20 countries will be travelling in the next six months with New Zealand topping the list.

6. Bali hot, LA not

The latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index shows Aussie leisure travellers are continuing their long love affair with Bali, with the Indonesian island taking out the top spot in the list of most popular holiday destinations for Australians in the first half of 2014.

In May 2013, 89,900 Australians visited Indonesia, which is a 15% increase from the same period in 2012. Data from the first six months of 2014, compared to the same period in 2013, saw Bali moving up four places to take out top spot, knocking New York down to second position. Meanwhile, Singapore remains a staple holiday destination for Aussies, taking out third spot, but London has slipped from second to fourth place this year. The weaker Aussie dollar was cited for reasons why US destinations dropped in popularity this year – with Las Vegas taking out 9^th spot, dropping from 4^th spot last year, and LA disappearing entirely from the top 10 list.

7. Costs challenging cruise lines to NZ

New Zealand’s fuel and port costs are among the highest in the world potentially hindering growth for the market, according to international cruise line representatives speaking at Cruise New Zealand’s annual cruise conference.

“More than ever, established products and ports are competing globally. Auckland is competing with Port Canaveral and Barcelona. Napier is competing with Cozumel, Palma and Ushuaia,” Royal Caribbean Cruises Associate Vice President – Deployment & Itinerary Planning Christopher Allen said.

“Combined with the trend of increasingly bigger ships, there are significant implications for New Zealand as a cruise destination”.

“New Zealand must be prepared to host the next generation of cruise ships in order to remain competitive”, Mr Allen said.

Despite the costs, Royal Caribbean Cruises are expecting a record number of New Zealand port visits and passenger numbers for the 2015-16 cruise season, up 600% from the 2010-11 season.

“Our customers are your customers and when the cruise lines deliver guests to New Zealand ports, it is imperative that we all focus on maximising each opportunity,” Crystal Cruises Vice President – Land Programs, John Stoll said.

8. Priority Guests revamped

Australian and New Zealand complimentary hotel loyalty program Priority Guest Rewards (PGR) is boasting a new partnership with Global Hotel Alliance, giving members greater choice and privileges across more than 450 properties in 62 countries through the 26 upscale and luxury brands affiliated with GHA including QT Hotels & Resorts, Kempinski Hotels, Anantara Hotels & Resorts, Alila Resorts and Omni Hotels & Resorts.

PGR members will continue to receive a minimum 10% off best available rates online (15% for Platinum and Black card members) when staying at QT, Rydges, Art Series and Atura Hotels and Resorts.

“PGR is about bringing a global network of hotels to our  Australian customers which offers a host of benefits across 5 continents and 62 countries whilst offering unparalleled value right here in Australia and New Zealand through our best available rates online for members coupled with benefits and faster rewards,” said David Seargeant, Group Managing Director Amalgamated Holdings Limited said.

9. Agents training online

Scott Ellis, APT and Travelmarvel State Sales Manager, VIC & TAS, with Rachel Sperring, Flight Centre Stud Park, Rowville.

Jumping on the webinair bandwagon, Travelmarvel are set to host an industry in-depth product training session on Friday 22 August between 9 and 9:45am.

The webinar is said to “provide agents with all the detailed information they need to help clients make the right choice of itinerary”.  To register, agents simply need to click here. 

Travelmarvel are also promoting their Africa 2015 ‘earlybird’ deals, in particular its companion fly free deal (excluding air taxes).

10. Second tallest tower in the world to open

Makkah Clock Tower

The Makkah Clock Tower, the second tallest tower in the world, will open for visitors after Hajj 2014, according to officials. The gigantic Makkah Clock project was constructed on top of Tower No. 5 of the King Abdul Aziz Endowment Project, which consists of seven towers. The tower includes hotels on which the clock is situated and overlooks the Grand Mosque.

“A large number of visitors of different nationalities will be allowed to visit the tower to get a close look at the interior of the Clock Tower,” an official said.

Makkah Clock Tower is just a meter taller than Canton Tower in Guangzhou, China, which held the distinction as the world’s tallest from 2010 until it was dislodged by 634 meters tall Tokyo Skytree in Japan.

Tokyo Skytree is the world’s second tallest structure, surpassed only by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (launched in 2010), which stands at 829.8 meters.

What’s your reaction to today’s news? Share your comments and feedback below or send us your news stories for the next edition of Need to Know.