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. Virgin Australia’s racy hat service for Melbourne Cup
Carry your own Melbourne Cup hat at the airport? That’s absurd! Virgin Australia will take that for you.
The airline has launched a Hat Valet service in time for Melbourne Cup which provides first-class handling of the most important fashion accessory for customers travelling from Sydney to Melbourne.
As part of the service, the airline will hand-deliver hats and fascinators as well as provide personalised services to ensure guests arrive in Melbourne in style and race-day ready.
2. How Eurail has changed over the last 10 months
If there’s one thing that’s always a top priority for Eurail it’s adapting product to meet the evolving needs and desires of the modern day traveller.
Speaking to media in Sydney earlier this month, Sales and Marketing Manager, Silvia Gorlach explained that the company is always looking at new ways to improve its product because ‘not all tourists are the same and they have different objectives’.
In over 30 years of business, the rail company has expanded its network from only a handful of countries to 28 in 2015.
3. Air New Zealand extends electronics usage
Air New Zealand guests will have fewer opportunities to get bored mid-flight now that they have approval to keep their mobile phones and tablets on during their journey.
New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority granted permission for the carrier to extend use of electronic devices on regional services, so long as they are switched to flight mode.
Previously, inflight electronics use throughout the entire journey (including taxi- take-off and landing) was only permitted to international services and a few domestic operations.
4. Royal Caribbean extends Call Centre hours
Royal Caribbean has responded to increased questions and bookings from agents by extending its Call Centre hours over the wave season.
The Centre will now be open from 9.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday and 10.00am to 2.00pm on Sundays.
The new operating hours will run until April 2016.
5. Harry Potter, Alcatraz, Legoland & more
Agents will receive their copy of the new Infinity Holidays USA brochure next month packed with new sections, new suggestions and new additions.
Arriving in stores on 9 November, Infinity has rolled out new sections in the program with tips on where to eat, drink and shop.
Santa Monica now has its own dedicated section within the Los Angeles pages and LEGOLAND Hotel at Legoland Resort is featured in the San Diego section.
Other great additions include Alcatraz, which is within the San Francisco section and a hipster tour in Portland.
Plus everyone’s favourite wizard, Harry Potter makes a huge appearance on the back cover.
Click here for more information on why Potter is such a huge feature for the tour operator.
6. Destination Canada sticks with DC & Associates
Sydney-based tourism marketing company, DC & Associates Worldwide (DC & A), has once again been selected to carry out the travel trade and media relations activities for Destination Canada within the Australian market.
Led by Managing Director, Donna Campbell, DC & A won the contract following an open and highly competitive government RFP process.
Nathan McLoughlin and Philippa Macken will manage the trade and media respectively, to engage industry and entice Australians to choose Canada as a travel destination, year-round.
The contract takes effect from 1 January 2016, with the current arrangement set to expire 31 December 2015.
Click here for more information on Canada.
7. Chanel Iman lands on Jetstar runway
Jetstar has entered the fashion world and has recruited Sunglass Hut and international model, Chanel Iman, to help launch a bespoke sunglasses range.
The entire collection of capsule glasses will be available at all Sunglass Hut stores around Australia from 18 November – select styles will be available to pre-purchase from Jetstar Duty Free or on Jetstar.com.
To promote the new range, Jetstar has painted one of its A320s with two supermodels wearing the new accessory. It will be used on flights around Australia and on international services to Bali and Fiji.
Jetstar’s Head of Product, Carly Povey, said sunnies and travel go hand-in-hand and launching a the carrier’s own range will give passengers the chance to purchase ‘great quality travel essentials’.
“That’s why we’re so excited to be partnering with Sunglass Hut to offer this new fashionable range of sunglasses curated by a top model.”
Carly Povey, Jetstar Head of Product
8. Packers buys into De Niro’s Nobu
James Packer’s Crown Resorts Limited purchased 20 percent of the international Nobu restaurants and hotels for around US$100 million.
The announcement comes two days after the company opened a new casino in Macau.
Crown Resort’s Chairman, Rob Rankin, sees Nobu restaurants as a complimentary brand to the company and expects it could lead to new restaurants (maybe in Parker’s new Sydney casino?) and hotels.
The other 80 percent of Nobu is owned by Japanese chef, Nobu Matsuhisa, actor Robert De Niro and Meir Teper.
9. Digging into Peru with Air New Zealand
Over 80 travel agents joined PROMPERU, Air New Zealand and the Intrepid Group this week for ‘A Taste of Peru‘.
The event, held in Air New Zealand’s Sydney offices marked the first time the three partners have come together to promote and educate agents on the inspirational destination that is Peru.
Air New Zealand’s direct flights from Auckland to Buenos Aires, commencing 1 December, will provide easy connections with partners Aerolineas Argentinas and Avianca for Australian travellers looking to experience the excitement of Peru.
Agents were treated to traditional Peruvian cuisine including ceviche, tamales and causa limena (a Peruvian dish of mashed potato stuffed with chicken and spicy sauce) as well as Peru’s signature cocktail, the Pisco Sour.
They also received updates from all three partners – and were immersed further into the destination with three competitions.
Click here for more information on Air New Zealand’s new service.
10. Singapore & Malaysia take a bite into NSW
More than 350 travel agents, product managers, airline partners and frontline travel staff will get a taste for travelling in Sydney and New South Wales (NSW) when Destination NSW kicks off its South East Asia Trade Mission 2015 with award-winning Black Star Pastry Chef, Christopher Thé, in attendance.
The Trade Mission, which started this week in Singapore and concludes on Friday, 30 October in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, will showcase the depth and diversity of tourism products and experiences in Sydney and NSW, Australia.
Ten tourism operators will join Destination NSW staff to showcase Sydney and NSW including BridgeClimb Sydney, Grand Pacific Drive, Hunter Valley Resort, PJ Tours, Moonshadow Cruises & Port Stephens 4WD Tours, Sand Dune Adventures, SeaLink & Captain Cook Cruises, Sydney – Melbourne Touring, Sydney Out Back and Tamboi Queen Cruises.
Click here for more information on NSW.
