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. Travel is going to get pricier in 2016
Oh gosh no say it isn’t true.
But apparently it is, according to a new study.
A new forecast predicts an increase in the cost of travel next year, the result of gradually improving economies and stronger demand.
2. Travellers should be warned about US gun risks
Australia’s former deputy prime minister, Tim Fischer, says travellers should be warned of potential gun risks when travelling to the US in the wake yesterday’s shootings.
Some 14 people were shot dead and 17 others injured in Southern California when three gunmen opened fire inside a conference room at a center for people with development disabilities.
The room was believed to have been reserved for a Christmas lunch with dozens of employees enjoying a bite to eat before the holiday period when the three men reportedly dressed in army uniform and wearing bullet-proof vests entered the room.
3. Ponte goes up to the Topdeck as new GM
It’s the way of the travel industry – one day you’re working for one company and the next you’ve taken your experience and knowledge over to another.
The latest heavy hitter to make a big (and unexpected move) this week is Joe Ponte – the soon-to-be former General Manager of Global Sales and Marketing at Insider Journeys.
Ponte has accepted the role of Country General Manager for Asia Pacific at Topdeck where he’ll be in charge of leading the company’s APAC operations into the future and contribute to the company’s overall global direction.
4. Travel bookings are about to get easier for QBT
helloworld subsidiary, QBT, has entered a new non-exclusive agreement with Expense8 to integrate their technology and ‘drastically’ simply the booking process.
It’s good news for QBT’s consulting team who will have access to faster automation for every booking from pre-trip approval to expense reconciliation process.
Other benefits to agents will be greater client satisfaction because Expense8 tech will allow agents to book through a single interface from the end-to-end booking process as well as access more accurate currency conversions and greater efficiencies with expense policy enforcement.
4. Qantas adjusts North & South American services
Agents are being advised of minor changes to Qantas’ North and South American flights which may affect clients already booked to travel to the destinations.
Effective 25 April 2016, Qantas is moving its Monday Sydney to Santiago service to Tuesday and the Saturday services to Sunday.
Melbourne to Los Angeles flights operated by the Boeing 747 will be moved to Monday and Wednesday from 25 April 2016 and the Tuesday Sydney to San Francisco flight will become a Saturday service from 26 April 2016.
Meanwhile, Qantas’ new seasonal service between Brisbane and Wellington flight begins today. The carrier will operate 36 return services from now until 22 February 2016, meeting demand over the busy travel period.
5. Flight Centre’s career wing wins for top employment
Flight Centre’s Careerwise – twice judged Australia’s Best Employer – is flying high yet again after bagging another major award.
The internal mobility framework of Flight Centre Travel Group (FLT) has just won the Australian Human Resources Industry (AHRI) Award for Talent Management, which was collected at an awards event by Peopleworks leader Carole Cooper and her team.
It’s a coveted award that recognises the contribution of FLT’s Careerwise initiative to promote from within and help individuals acheive their career goals, whatever they may be.
6. Additional insurance options at World2Cover
Australian travel insurance provider, World2Cover, has expanded its offerings for both domestic and international holidaymakers with three new products available for budget-conscious travellers.
The company now offers Essentials, Basics and Domestic travel insurance that vary in coverage and pricing.
The Basics Cover includes full medical and hospital coverage plus other essentials desired by those under 30’s, backpackers, budget holidaymakers and families.
Essentials Cover delivers cover for rental car excess, full medical and hospital cover plus ski, and zero excess options.
And finally, the Domestic Cover includes zero excess option, cover for rental car excess and ski cover.
7. New Scenic additions in New Zealand
Scenic has added new itineraries and extended old ones across the Tasman as part of its new New Zealand 2016/17 program.
Released this week, the program features seven tours ranging from six to 24 days including a new 10-day Day Southern Delights itinerary – a shortened version of the popular 18-day Royal New Zealand trip. Highlights include a trip to Franz Josef Glacier, Queenstown and Fiordland National Park.
New inclusions in Rotorua on the 24 Day Ultimate New Zealand include a tour and lunch at the Hobbiton Movie Set, which is surrounded by pristine farmlands – guests don’t have to be a fan to enjoy this experience and understand and appreciate Tolkien’s story, plus a visit to Kiwi Encounter for a tour of a working kiwi nursery and hatchery.
Scenic is offering earlybird offers on bookings made by 30 April 2016. Click here to check out the brochure.
8. Experience Uniworld in the virtual reality
Uniworld has become one of the first river cruise lines to offer potential guests the opportunity to experience its ships in a ‘virtual reality’.
The five-star line launched its first virtual reality app this week featuring its newest luxury ship, SS Maria Theresa.
Using the app, digital travellers can inspect the ship and explore its many social spaces such as the Baroque Restaurant, Lipizzan Cinema and Bar du Leopard with 360-degree images.
The app also introduces guests to some of the characters on board, from the in-suite butlers, to the barmen and even the Captain.
John Molinaro, General Manager for Uniworld, said the line is proud to be at the forefront of technology and expects it will be a ‘brilliant new platform’ for guests to experience the ship’s level of luxury.
“By affording a more immersive and tangible flavour of the fabulous on-board experiences of the SS Maria Theresa, we aim to harness this powerful new tool to engage prospective clients and educate them in our product on a far deeper level.”
John Molinaro, Uniworld GM
The app is available to download for free from the App Store or Google Play.
9. Express Travel’s exclusive famil
A selection of very lucky agents from italktravel, the Select and Independent Travel Groups were among the first to experience Emirates’ new Dubai to Bologna flight during a recent exclusive famil.
The group flew to the Italian city before travelling onwards to Florence and then Rome.
Highlights of the trip included walking tours around the historic cities, driving Fiat 500’s around Tuscany, attending pasta-making classes and Sundowner 4WD safari in Dubai.
10. Pregnant woman ‘forced’ to sleep on airport floor
Our flight from Brisbane was cancelled tonight due to “weather” & not being able to board the flight & land in Sydney in…
Posted by Meghan-Rachel Cochrane on Sunday, November 29, 2015
A 21-year-old heavily pregnant traveller has gained a fair bit of attention on social media after claiming she was forced to sleep on the floor of an airport when her flight was cancelled late one evening.
The woman said in a Facebook post (which has received over 2,731 shares) that the flight was cancelled due to weather, leaving herself and fellow passengers stranded at Brisbane Airport.
She claims the airline she was flying with had offered to put everyone up at a hotel for the night and arrange a transfer back to the airport the following morning.
However, this was later retracted by staff who allegedly said weather wasn’t the carrier’s fault and so therefore accommodation would not be provided.
Seeking out alternative refuge, Meghan-Rachel Cochrane’s travel companion requested for the 36-week pregnant woman to lay up in the airport’s lounge, however, staff said it ‘was only available for those who were flying with business boarding passes’.
Meghan said this left her with ‘no other option’ except to sit and wait it out on the floor of the main check-in terminal.
“I understand that the weather wasn’t your fault, but it also wasn’t mine, and a little compassion can go a long way.”
Meghan-Rachel Cochrane
