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. Aussies love affair with Hawaii stronger than ever
In true ‘Aloha’ spirit Hawaii Tourism invited guests to meet with exhibitors as well as get an update on the growing number of Australian travellers to Hawaii.
Hawaii Tourism Oceania together with Hawaiian Airlines hosted Hawai’i Mākeke (market) in Sydney yesterday presenting growing numbers of Aussie travellers to the destination.
Ashlee Galea, Country Manager Australia at Hawaii Tourism Oceania was presenting a market update revealing a strong demand for the destination amongst Australian travellers resulting in a significant increase of 5.9 percent in visiting numbers for the first quarter of 2015 compared to previous year.
2. How CIGAR could help ease boarding stress
Embarking and disembarking a plane – they should be two of the most exciting parts of the journey, but with long queues, they often end up being the most annoying.
We all have little tricks we like to think get us on and off a plane quicker (like apparently the right side moves faster when disembarking), but ultimately we’re always stuck waiting around for the people in front to move their derrières.
That is until now.
3. I LOVE NEW YORK comes to Aus
Empire State Development (ESD) announced the appointment of Global Group by JG, an international marketing firm specialising in travel, tourism and lifestyle brands, as New York State’s Tourism Promotion Agency in Australia.
New York State’s outreach to Australia is a result of the 2014 New York State Tourism Summit, where Governor Cuomo made the commitment to expand the state’s global reach through increased representation and partnerships in key international markets.
Empire State Development Division of Tourism Executive Director Gavin Landry noted the importance of increasing New York State’s presence in Australia, saying: “As part of Governor Cuomo’s Global Tourism Initiative, we are strategically expanding into new international markets.”
“The Australian traveler is an affluent traveler, with large expendable income and the ability to take international vacations that last 20 or more days.”
Gavin Landry, Empire State Development Division of Tourism Executive Director
To engage partners across the state in the effort, I LOVE NEW YORK is offering Becoming Australia Ready workshops to educate the private sector, government agencies and other tourism/hospitality organizations on how to best promote themselves to the Australian market.
Key topics covered during the workshops in Albany, Syracuse and Buffalo will include understanding the Australian visitor and how to work with Australian tour operators. The workshop will be presented at three locations across the state as follows:
The interactive workshops will include presentations by six tour wholesalers from Australia, while three from the I LOVE NEW YORK Australia will provide specifics on how to identify and work with the industry entities and merchants.
4. Scenic appoints celebrity ambassador
Scenic has appointed television presenter, Catriona Rowntree, to sell its products to the Australian and New Zealand markets over the next 12 months.
The celebrity ambassador is already familiar with the Scenic brand, having travelled on numerous cruises with the operator as part of her job on Channel Nine’s ‘Getaway’.
The new role is an extension to her existing relationship with the line, which also saw her act as Godmother to Scenic Sapphire in 2008.
As part of her ambassador duties, Catriona will appear across various elements of Scenic’s 2015/2016 marketing campaign including event appearances, videos and social media.
Catriona said she’s a ‘huge fan’ of the river cruise specialist and is keen to represent the brand.
“There is so much happening for them over the next 12 months, with the launch of new ships and new destinations, so it will be an absolute pleasure for me to showcase their ever growing product offering to Australian and New Zealand travellers.”
Catriona Rowntree, Scenic Ambassador
5. Check out United’s revamped website
United Airlines has unveiled a beta version of its new website, which features a sleek, modern and touch-friendly design.
As well as a new face, the website has been fitted with additional functionality including a new search and sort filter for flights; quicker view of fare and data combinations; easier upgrade views; widgets that are customised to remember users’ travel histories; and it’s touch friendly.
Customers can browse and book on the preview site by visiting beta.united.com.
The airline will officially launch the new united.com this summer after additional customer feedback and further refinements.
6. Air New Zealand’s new safety video is here – it’s rad dude
The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, Sports Illustrated and now surfing. Air New Zealand is moving out of the fantasy world and into the ocean for its newest video.
Featuring some of the world’s greatest surfers, this is the airline’s latest creative film designed to keep passengers engaged during the safety briefing.
Dubbed the ‘Surfing Safari’, the video features 2014 world champion Brazilian Gabriel Medina, three time world champion Australian Mick Fanning, American big wave legend Laird Hamilton, popular American surfers Alana Blanchard and Anastasia Ashley plus some of the greatest surfing talent from Asia and New Zealand.
7. See what’s new at &Beyond’s South Africa lodge
Clients can enjoy a completely refurbished game reserve lodge in South Africa following the recent reopening of &Beyond Exeter River Lodge.
Located on the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, the property’s public spaces have been completely redesigned to incorporate organic shapes as well as new layers and natural textures.
There’s also a new roof, which is designed to blend into the natural landscape around it and the new entrance opens out onto unobstructed river views.
The dining area now has an interactive kitchen for made to order food, plus the eight luxury suites have been fitted with ensuite bathrooms and al fresco showers.
8. Intrepid turns agents into coffee connoisseurs in Colombia
A group of small travel agents enjoyed some of the best South American coffee during an eight-day ‘Cafe Colombia’ trip with Intrepid Travel.
The group flew to the country with LATAM before joining Intrepid BDM, Cara Blyth in Bogota where they explored one of the biggest and highest cities (sitting 2,640 metres above sea level) in the world.
Next up was Solento, which charmed everyone with its cobbled stone streets and colourful stalls and satisfied stomachs with its various trout dishes – a local speciality.
Cartagena’s UNESCO listed Old Town provided a history lesson on early Spanish settlement as well as a swim in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea.
And although Medellin used to be one the world’s most dangerous cities thanks to Pablo Escobar’s infamous drug cartel, it has recently transformed itself into one of South America’s most exciting cities where the nightlife is particularly pulsating.
The highlight of the trip was a stay at a local coffee estancia in the serene highlands of Colombia’s famed coffee region.
Here, the group learned firsthand about the ins and outs of an industry that has catapulted the country’s economy during the last century.
They sampled different types of coffee grains and perfected the perfect cup of coffee.
The group returned to Australia as coffee connoisseurs.
Click here to read about how coffee is heating up in emerging
9. Is this Australia’s wackiest hotel?
Who needs five-star suites with multiple rooms and en-suites when you can spend the night in a cell?
YHA is arresting its guests in Western Australia, with a new property that offers a nineteenth century prison experience.
It may seem wacky to some, but to others (*cough* me) it’s a little like living on the edge, without actually living on the edge.
Fremantle Prison YHA opened this week in the World Heritage-listed building that was used over 100 years ago as a jail.
10. Would you get married here?
Sunny beach side weddings are so yesterday, today is all about glacier weddings.
Iceland has dug deep inside a large block of ice to open the world’s biggest man-made ice cave featuring a chapel.
Stretching 2,642 feet into the Langjökull glacier, the glacier gives visitors the chance to stand with 1,900 feet of ice below their feet.
Set to open on 1 June, guests will not only be able to tie the knot but also see west Iceland scenery during the helicopter trip to the glacier.
The idea for the ice cave came from adventure tour operators, Baldvin Einarsson and Hallgrímur Örn Arngrímsson in 2010.
They wanted to give travellers the opportunity to not only see the glacier but experience this remote natural wonder.
So what do you think? Ideal wedding location?
