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. Gwyneth Paltrow rocks up to FC’s Global Gathering
To say we’re somewhat jealous of all the agents that attended the annual Flight Centre Global Ball in Las Vegas over the weekend would be an understatement.
Why you ask? What could have been so special you wonder?
Well, for starters they had American actress, food writer and mother of two adorable children, Gwyneth Paltrow on stage as this year’s keynote speaker.
2. NTIA 2015 winners & pics
The night went as quickly as it came but left much to be remembered as old faves and a few new names were recognised for being among the best at this year’s NTIA 2015 Awards.
Held at The Pavilion Darling Harbour on Saturday night, hundreds of travel agents and industry professionals dressed to the nines attended the annual Gala Dinner hosted by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA).
This year, 37 travel industry individual and businesses were awarded for their excellence and contribution to the travel industry over the last 12 months.
3. TAA calls for regulations on Airbnb rooms
The Australian hotel sector’s representation is calling on the local government to introduce regulations on properties distributing through channels such as Airbnb.
In submissions to Federal and State Governments, the Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) urged politicians to back the introduction of legislation that would require the registration of rooms being used on a commercial short term basis.
Submissions come after a recent explosion of unregulated accommodation providers around Australia due to the rise of easily-accessible online distribution channels such as Airbnb.
4. These people just can’t wait to see Australia
Despite having what former PM Paul Keating describes as outdated tourism infrastructure, Chinese travellers are still more keen than ever to visit Australia.
According to a new study conducted by booking website, Hotels.com, Australia is number one amongst Chinese travellers for the second year running, with many saying it’s on the bucket list to visit over the next 12 months.
Main cities, Sydney and Melbourne were number one and two on the list of top cities Chinese travellers say they would live to visit in the next year. This puts Australia’s two biggest cities ahead of other major global cities like Paris, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
5. Agents earn commission with Boomers
The recently launched travel insurance company targeting over-50s has launched a new partner program which will give travel agents 10 percent commission on sales.
The program provides agents with easy online access to Boomers Travel Insurance, which features no upper age limit for general policies and automatic cover for more than 30 of the most common types of pre-existing medical conditions.
Boomers General Manager Ian Jackson said the new partner program recognised that agents sometimes have difficulty finding a travel insurance product to cover clients because of their age or pre-existing medical conditions.
Travel agents wishing to register as a Boomers partner can visit the Boomers affiliate program here and complete the online application.
Once approved, each agent is issued with an individual code to use during online sales as well as a quick link to the Boomers’ site for their desktop. All transactions are tracked and a 10 percent commission fee is transferred to the agent’s nominated bank account the following month.
6. Shannan Ponton heads back out to sea
Celebrity trainer Shannan Ponton kept Carnival Spirit guests in ship shape during a recent cruise to New Caledonia.
The cruise is part of the fitness expert’s agreement with Carnival Cruise Line to make sailing a little healthier for its guests.
The former Biggest Loser trainer made his debut with Carnival last year with the ‘Bootcamp at Sea’ – a program designed specifically for the line’s cruise passengers.
7. Magical Kenya heads to Diani Beach
Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has announced that this year’s Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) will be held on Kenya’s south coast from 15 to 17 October.
Industry professionals will be able to network and exchange in business transactions at the annual event.
In its fifth year, the theme will be ‘Sustainable Tourism: Keeping the Magic Alive’, in line with KTB’s tourism revival strategy, aimed at rebuilding confidence in the destination and reassuring the markets that Kenya is still open for business.
Diani Beach on the south coast was selected to showcase the coastal region
The Expo will be held at the Leisure Lodge Resort and will run over two days for the trade, with the final day open to the general public. The trade days are expected to draw over 150 local and international travel agents, tour operators and media.
8. Air Mauritius smiles at TIE
The Australian Air Mauritius team was all smiles at last week’s Travel Industry Exhibition.
Emilie Groleau from AVIAREPS and Brian Christou from Air Mauritius were among the dozens of operators showcasing product to agents at the event held at Sydney’s Luna Park on 16 and 17 July.
9. Port Stephens & Hunter Valley in Adelaide
The appeal of Newcastle, Port Stephens and the Hunter Valley as conference destinations will be showcased at nine major convention industry expos around Australia and New Zealand over the next nine months, with the first in Adelaide last week.
Three representatives of the Altogether Perfect joint team representing the Newcastle, Port Stephens and the Hunter Valley travelled to Adelaide for the Associations Forum National Conference on 14 and 15 July with the message that its three diverse destinations offered business event organisers a winning trifecta.
Drawing more than 200 delegates from Australia and NZ, the Associations Forum National Conference is a premier event drawing together industry and charity associations, with many seeking new destinations and venues for their own conventions and events.
Altogether Perfect spokesperson, Georgia Lazzari, said the Adelaide Forum had proved a highly successful showcase for the greater Hunter region and would be the first of nine industry expos Altogether Perfect would attend in the 2015/16 financial year.
10. Aussie surfer’s close call in South Africa
Aussie surfer, Mick Fanning, was left scared and emotional yesterday after coming face-to-face with a shark during the world tour final in South Africa yesterday.
The footage, which was aired live to millions of surf fans, saw Fanning knocked off his surfboard by a Great White Shark at Jeffreys Bay. He was forced to fight for his life before safety crew on jet skies fished him out of the water completely unharmed.
Opening up to media after the incident, Fanning said the shark was pulling him underwater by his leg rope, which thankfully broke, giving him enough time to punch the animal and swim away.
“I was just about to start paddling again and all of a sudden I had this instinct that something was behind me.”
Mick Fanning
“Then I started getting pulled under water and the thing came up and I was on my board and it was right there and I saw the whole thing, it was right there. I was getting dragged under by my leg rope.”
“I felt like it was dragging me underwater and then my leg rope broke so I started swimming and screaming … I just can’t believe it, I’m just tripping out.”
Following the incident, organisers decided to cancel the final and split the money between Fanning and his opponent fellow Australian Julian Wilson.
