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. Six Month Anniversary of MH370
Today marks the six-month anniversary of the disappearance of MH370.
With no remains located, investigators have turned to probing the 1000 potential flight paths the plane may have taken before allegedly crashing into the Indian Ocean.
While there is yet expansive ground to be covered, officials are warning families not to raise their hopes in regard to finding the wreckage or plane debris.
“I don’t want to create a false hope,” Martin Dolan, Chief Commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety told the Telegraph.
However, at this stage, officials don’t want to write off the potential either.
“Because we do think we have a reasonable prospect. We just don’t have a guarantee,” Dolan said.
Read full story here.
2. helloworld for Business greets Manly in first symposium
More than 100 helloworld for business members attended the inaugural helloworld for business symposium on 4 and 5 September.
The symposium, held at the Q Station Manly, provided a powerful platform for the group to strategise and plan for ongoing success.
helloworld CEO Elizabeth Gaines addressed delegates, highlighting the multiple benefits that flow from being part of Australia’s largest independent TMC group.
“In creating the framework for helloworld, we took a long-term, agent-centric view of our industry’s future. The end result is a model that provides support, injects innovation and delivers long-term sustainability across all of our agency models, including our helloworld for business members,” Ms Gaines said.
3. Papua New Guinea Up in Smoke
Footage released by Phil McNamara, on Friday 5 September, shows Papua New Guinea’s Mount Tavurur exploding in a plume of smoke.
The explosion, taking place on August 29, rerouted flights and prompted an evacuation of the town of Rabaul, which had been rebuilt after it was decimated by a 1994 eruption.
The footage, shot from a boat, captures the calm before the storm and the after shock of the blast.
Local newspapers are reporting no injuries or deaths.
However, officials are keeping a close eye on the ash, which could affect locals and travelers.
4. Emirates bustles into Brussels
Emirates made its first trip into Brussels on Friday 5 September, marking the inauguration of the airline giant’s 145th worldwide route.
The new daily service will see up to 16,000 Emirates customers travelling on the daily Boeing 777-200LR between Dubai and Brussels each month.
Emirates estimate that it will provide the Belgium tourism sector with a much-needed boost.
“We’ve had lots of customers asking us to fly to Brussels over the years so this really is fantastic news for them. Belgium’s tourism is thriving and we believe that we can drive demand even higher by providing great competition with our multi-award winning product and service,” said Thierry Aucoc, Emirates’ Senior Vice President Commercial Operations Europe and Russian Federation.
The latest Emirates move may also help further the burgeoning European travel market, with Belgium being a popular jumping point for other destinations within the old continent.
5. Luxperience rates high on delegates list
Luxperience, the renowned Australiasian experiential trade symposium, was held in the first week of September and provided delegates with a “never seen before” experience.
Held at Pier 2 and 3 at Walsh bay, Sydney, visitors were treated to custom-made meeting suites, breathtaking floral arrangements and a touch of class with strategically-placed crystal chandeliers.
“This unique venue required a bold visionary design which was executed for us by Decorative Events & Exhibitions,” said CEO Lindy Andrews.
Special mention was given to the Tourism New Zealand Buyers and Media lounge, which was decorated to look like a country garden, with a putting range in one corner and giant 3-dimensional map of New Zealand in another.
“Designing and installing Luxperience 2014 has been the most exciting project I have personally been involved with. Our creative team worked solidly on the project for the past 12 months from the initial concept to this week’s installation. We were so excited to have been given the opportunity to work with such luxury brands and to witness the success of the show,” said Decorative Events Mark Magennis.
6. Skytrans snubs Towoomba
Following last week’s QantasLink announcement, which positioned Qantas as the first airline to use Wellcamp airport for its Sydney to Queensland returns, Skytrans has made the decision to cancel its Sydney services.
“Unfortunately, we are a small family airline and our cost structure does not allow us to compete,” Skytrans managing director, Simon Wild told The Sydney Morning Herald.
7. Abercrombie & Kent for the win
Luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) has been voted Africa’s Leading Luxury Tour Operator for the fifth consecutive year at this year’s World Travel Awards (WTA).
Established in 1993 to celebrate excellence in the travel and tourism industry, the World Travel Awards are one of the highest accolades a travel company can receive.
Voting is conducted online by travel and tourism professionals worldwide.
“A&K is honoured to once again receive the title of Africa’s Leading Luxury Tour Operator. We consider it a great privilege to be held in such high esteem by the industry globally andthank our industry colleagues for this recognition,”A&K Australia’s Managing Director, Sujata Raman said.
8. New Golf Resort in Scotland is Par for the Course
A consortium of British businessmen has put its weight behind a development of almost 500 acres on the outskirts of the Scottish capital.
The development will include a 240-bedroom luxury resort hotel along with a championship golf course designed in conjunction with golfing legend Sandy Lyle who says the development has potential to rival any in Scotland.
Planners have also given the green light to a phased development of 250 chalet style villas on the site, which will feature lakes and forestry, an equestrian centre, and other popular outdoor leisure facilities.
“Scotland is crying out for a resort hotel with conference and leisure facilities on a grand scale and this development will help the country compete better internationally,” Alexandra Hayward of Debutesq Group, who are handling international sales, said.
9. Dubai Legoland thinking outside the box
A development company, controlled by Dubai’s ruing Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has outlaid plans for a new entertainment and resort complex in Dubai, which promises to be the Middle East’s first Legoland experience.
The $US2.7 billion dollar project will include a Bollywood-themed park, celebrating the coveted Indian film industry.
Another section promises to bring Hollywood characters to life.
The plan comes in wake of the region’s push to host 20 million visitors by 2020 when it will host the World Expo.
10. New Sunshine Village in Banff National Park Aims to go sky-high
Sunshine Village in Banff National Park has received approval from Parks Canada to construct a new high-speed quad chairlift to replace the existing Tee Pee Town double chair that was built in 1979.
The new chair will include heated seats, footrests and orange bubbles for wind and weather protection and will be the first chairlift of its kind in Canada.
“We are thrilled to announce that construction has started on the “hottest chairlift in Canada”, said Dave Riley, Chief Operating Officer for Sunshine Village. “Sunshine is committed to delivering exceptional guest experiences and this addition to the resort will clearly demonstrate our focus on providing comfort and value to our guests.”
Construction is already underway on towers one through six as well as the lower terminal foundation and will be finished in the coming weeks, before Canada’s snow season arrives. The balance of the construction work will be completed in the spring of 2015, over the snow to protect the fragile high-alpine vegetation. The chairlift will be fully operational for the 2015/16 season.