Tue 19 Aug: 10 things you need to know today

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. Sabre to offload Lastminute.com

Sabre Holdings are reportedly trying to dispose of lastminute.com, after taking over the dotcom nearly a decade ago for £577 million (approx US$1,020M).

According to Sky News, Sabre has appointed an advisory firm “to sound out potential buyers” and oversee the auction if it proceeds.

This isn’t the first time Sabre has tried to sell lastminute.com – attempting to offload it for next to nothing during 2012 and 2013 when it sold off much of Travelocity’s global assets, including Zuji and Holiday Autos, but failed to secure a buyer at that time for the UK start-up it purchased in 2005. Read more

2. Seaworld gets junk rating, puts money to research

Credit rating agency, Standard & Poor’s, has downgraded USA’s SeaWorld Entertainment’s credit rating to junk status, after the company posted a low second quarter earnings guidance last week.

The agency attributed the ratings downgrade to “significant challenges” the brand faces into improving its operating performance in 2014 amid negative publicity surrounding its treatment and captivity of star performers – the killer whales.

The credit rating agency lowered SeaWorld’s corporate credit rating to “BB-” from “BB,” which makes it more costly for SeaWorld to borrow, according to Skift.

SeaWorld’s profits declined 20% in the first half of 2014 and attendance at its parks declined 4.3% year on year.

SeaWorld announced it will increase the size of the orcas’ tanks and donate US$10 million into killer-whale research but it hasn’t appeared to make any impact on investors. 

3. Malaysia ups commissions

Malaysia Airlines are increasing commission to 11% across all cabin classes for travel originating in Australia for sales made for one month only. News.com reports the new commission represents almost a doubling from its previous, 6%, which it will reinstate after September 15.

4. Toll profits soar

Australia’s largest transport company, Toll Holdings, has reported a 5.7% increase in net profit before significant items to $298.5 million, up from its 2013 figure of $282.5 million and ahead of market expectations. The company said it expects to deliver earnings growth to shareholders in the coming fiscal year, despite a weak business environment and proposes savings of between $40 million to $50 million in 2015. The company’s revenue for the year was $8.8 billion, up 1.1% year on year. Toll said it would continue its cost improvement initiatives amongst restructuring to offset a weaker mining sector and flat volumes in the retail sector.

5. A budget Monarch set for Europe’s skies

Britain’s Monarch Airlines are slashing about 1000 jobs, cutting its workforce by a third and closing off its charter operations to reinvent the carrier as a budget airline. The privately-owned airline plans to focus on scheduled European services, and compete with the likes of Ryanair and easyJet. Reuters reports that Monarch said it aims to complete its transformation to become a scheduled European low-cost carrier by the time a new narrow-bodied aircraft fleet of 30 Boeing 737 MAX 8s start entering service in 2018.

6. HIV passengers suing airline

Two HIV positive passengers are suing Spring Airlines, a Chinese carrier, for refusing to let them on board. The pair were travelling with a friend from Shenyang to Shijiazhuang, south of Beijing, but were stopped by the airline’s staff and refused entry on the plane after revealing their illness to staff, AFP reported.

Airline staff told the two travellers, plus their HIV-negative friend, that their tickets had been cancelled. The three are now accusing the airline of discrimination and are seeking an open apology and compensation of 48,999 yuan (A$8551). This is the first lawsuit against an airline for discrimination against HIV-positive persons in China, Global Times reports.

The president of Spring Airlines, Wang Zhenghua, told Global Times the company did not discriminate against HIV carriers and said that this incident occurred because the staff in the airport felt nervous. He then went on to blame the passengers for bringing their illness to the attention of staff, as the airline did not deny HIV-positive travellers transport, as long as they did not make themselves “overly noticeable” to avoid scaring other customers, Global Times reports.

Under Chinese law airlines can deny transport to infectious patients, but the trio are expecting to win the lawsuit as the company’s refusal was an obvious violation of China’s AIDS prevention and control regulations, which state that no organisations or individuals can discriminate against HIV carriers.

7. Smartphone holidays  – the new way to releax

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has revealed that for more than 10,000 travellers across 13 countries worldwide, the must-have item for a holiday is a smartphone. The new research by IHG Rewards Club, shows nearly 40% of travellers agree that their smartphone is the most important item to take on holiday – and 67% say they will use it every single day.

As a result, 1 in 10 travellers clock an average 70 hours online whilst on holiday – which amounts to almost 20% of the actual time spent on a two week holiday. The surevy shows smartphones are fast replacing the traditional postcard with 64% of respondents saying they use it to text friends and another 32% to Skype friends and family back home, while on holiday. The study also revealed that planning was nearly half the fun of a holiday with 45% of all travellers saying it is the best part of their time-off, and more than a third – 37% – spend over a day researching a holiday.

The survey also uncovered that 42% of travellers check social media every day while on holiday, with 25% of them even saying they always check Facebook before going to sleep. Taking selfies is also increasingly becoming one of the most popular ways to share holiday experiences, with 25% of travellers surveyed saying they use their smartphones for holiday selfies. 

8. Orion reno’s

Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic Orion will undergo renovations to its two public spaces during dry dock this September.  The Lounge (main) and the Observation Lounge, are being “redesigned to better serve the dynamic, learning-oriented community for guests and the staff aboard,” the company said. The renovations will be completed by ICF Singapore for competition in time for the September 16, 2014 ‘Camp Leakey: Faces in the Forest’ expedition.

Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic launched the 102-guest National Geographic Orion in March 2014, previously the Orion.

9. Pierced man denied entry into Dubai

Rolf Buccholz

The world’s most pierced man, Rolf Buccholz, was denied entry into the UAE where he was set to perform at a show in Dubai due to “security reasons”, local papers report. Sporting 453 piercings on his body, including multiple ones on his ears, nose and lips, German-born Buccholz was to appear at Cirque Le Soir at a Dubai Hotel last week and was put on a flight back to Istanbul. The club, famous for its peculiar shows including dwarfs and trapeze artists, is based in Dubai.

Buccholz holds the Guinness World Record for maximum piercing on a human.

“Airport authorities stated they could not allow him to enter the country due to security reasons,” local papers quoted a source as saying.

“The club did their best to try and get him through – even the Director of Government Relations and Director of Security from Fairmont went to try and resolve the situation,” a source said to local papers.

Buchholz said on Twitter: “At the end I got an answer why I can’t enter Dubai.

“The immigration thought I am Black Magic.”

As well as the piercings, Buccholz also has horns implanted on his forehead and magnets inserted into his fingertips.

10. Last chance to travel free

Travelmarvel are reminding travel agents there is just under two weeks left to qualify for its special industry incentive scheme. Through its Book Three, Cruise for FREE incentive Travelmarvel are offering travel agents who book and deposit any three Travelmarvel cruises and/or tours departing in 2014, the chance to win a free self famil river cruise through Vietnam and Cambodia aboard the luxurious La Marguerite for themselves and a friend. The incentive, which has been running since 1 June, will end on 31 August 2014.

What’s your reaction to today’s news? Share your comments and feedback below or send us your news stories for the next edition of Need to Know.