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. Qatar Airways books Kylie Minogue for Sydney launch
Middle Eastern carriers are loving our female entertainers, with Qatar Airways being the latest to team up with a local celebrity.
The carrier confirmed it has booked our pop princess, Kylie Minogue, to perform at its big Sydney-Doha launch.
A Qatar spokesperson confirmed the rumour to KarryOn this morning, saying Minogue will be the guest of honour at the Gala Celebration evening held on 3 March – the same day the airline’s first commercial flight from Doha touches down in the Harbour City.
2. Qantas & Jarryd Hayne are the Golden tickets for San Francisco tourism
While Australians may love the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles, they’re also looking for a new way to experience the United States and that may very well be through recently re-opened air links to San Francisco.
San Francisco Travel’s Director of International Tourism Asia Pacific, Antonette Eckert, said she’s expecting visitor numbers from Australia to climb in the coming months as more Australians take advantage of Qantas’ relaunched direct flights from Sydney.
Speaking to KarryOn, she said her on-the-ground partners are already seeing an increase in Aussie arrivals, with many choosing to travel to San Francisco before hiring out a car or planning travel onwards to other parts of California.
3. Norwegian won’t rule out a Sydney-based ship
We have P&O Cruises, we have Carnival Cruise Lines and during peak we have Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Holland America, Seabourn… and the list goes on.
We’re pretty spoiled for cruising choice but just like a chocaholic on a Mars-bar-a-day-diet we want more!
And what do we want? Ask the big ship lovers and the avid cruising agents and they’ll say there’s demand for a permanent presence from Norwegian Cruise Line.
4. SilkAir flies direct to Cairns & Darwin
No longer will your clients have to stopover in Darwin from Singapore before travelling onwards to Cairns, because SilkAir is delinking all its Northern Australia flights and giving the two cities their own separate services.
Currently, the carrier operates from Cairns and Darwin to Singapore on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Passengers booked on the Monday or Thursday Singapore-Cairns service have to stopover in Darwin.
However, from 30 May, Cairns passengers will no longer have to stopover, shortening the travel time and indicating growing demand for travel from the northern areas to Singapore.
5. WIN a trip to Nevada
Excite Holidays has revealed the second destination for its ‘Live Like a Local‘ campaign, giving agents the chance to win a trip to… Nevada.
To enter, consultants need to book accommodation with Excite in the American state.
In addition, travel agents will also earn 1,000 bonus rewards points for every night they booked in the destination.
The winning prize will be three nights in Las Vegas, one night in Tonopah and three nights in Reno. Car hire and tours will also be included.
Agents are also be able to access the campaign website, which has all the information they will need to find those off-the-beaten-track experiences and local secrets that will wow their clients as well as downloadable destination flyers to give to their clients.
6. A new TravelCube brochure specialises in beach-y holidays
Is your client looking for a beach getaway but can’t settle on a destination? That’s exactly the kind of dilemma TravelCube is aiming to resolve with its new ‘The Beach Collection 2016’.
Unveiled this week, the digital and printed program could be described as the bible of beach resorts, with information on over 6,600 beach hotels from across the globe.
TravelCube said the decision to launch the specialised brochure came after seeing a need for agent assistance in making the right recommendations to their clients on beach properties.
7. Qantas Holidays upgrades the wallet
Your clients will feel fancy taking a holiday with all their tickets and booking details nestled safely away in Qantas Holidays’ new documentation compendium.
The wholesaler unveiled the new design today, which replaces the old pink and red with the sleek all-black look. The wallet is tucked away inside a red box and has enough space for tickets and itinerary, vouchers, the 24/7 customer care card and a place to keep boarding passes, passports and frequent flyer cards.
The new wallets remain free of charge for agency partners on eligible bookings, for which the threshold moving forward will be a booking value of $6,000.
And to assist with including them for bookings under $6,000 Qantas Holidays and Viva! Holidays have reduced the cost to $30.00 commissionable for agents that would like to purchase a set for their clients.
“After extensive feedback from the trade we’ve designed this new look solution keeping in mind the essential elements our agents love in a more user friendly and practical design.”
Peter Egglestone, Qantas Holidays & Viva! Holidays Managing Director
“We think they are going to be a bit hit with agents and consumers alike.”
Viva! Holidays bookings will continue to be dispersed in the old documentation solution until the current stock is fully exhausted.
8. Aircraft & scheduling changes at Solomon Airlines
Solomon Airlines has pulled its Airbus A320 from service after the aircraft experienced onboard electrical issues while preparing to fly 120 students on a special charter service.
The airline says with assistance from Qantas and Air Vanuatu, it has rescheduled affected passengers and will move forward by using Qantas’ Boeing 737 on flights from Australia.
The aircraft will be utilised on Flight IE 4711 departing SYD 10.00am – arriving BNE 10.25am; Flight IE 4711 departing BNE 11.15am – arriving HIR 3.15pm; Flight IE 4710 departing HIR 4.00pm – arriving BNE 6.00pm; and Flight IE 4710 departing BNE 6.50pm – arriving SYD 9.10pm.
In the meantime, the Solomon Airlines’ Airbus has been ferried to Brisbane where it is currently being inspected by engineers who have yet to isolate the issue.
Solomon Airlines has apologised for the inconvenience, saying they regret the disruption but “passenger safety was paramount”.
“We are working to ensure that all our passengers affected by this situation are uplifted to their destinations with as little disruption as possible.”
Gus Kraus, Solomon Airlines General Manager Operations and Commercial
9. Industry gets a taste of Hobbiton
New Zealand is sending a slice of Middle-earth to AIME 2016 in Melbourne to give the local industry a taste of the Hobbiton movie set based in the Hamilton and Waikato region.
This will be the first time Hobbiton Movie Set has attended the tradeshow and the fifth time Claudelands Conference and Exhibition Centre has exhibited.
Claudelands’ Business Development Manager, Wendy Harrison, said the event is a “great opportunity” to meet more people and introduce them to what is on offer.
A major draw card of the region, Hobbiton Movie Set (from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies) allows visitors to discover the real Middle-earth on the most picturesque private farmland.
The attraction boasts several function spaces including the unforgettable surrounds of The Green Dragon™ Inn which is ideal for offsite conference dinners.
10. San Francisco Travel takes the ‘Blue Steel’ to the top of Sydney
Eat your heart out Zoolander, we think San Francisco Travel, Gate 7 and other industry friends pulled a better Blue Steel at the top of the Sydney Harbour Bride.
The small delegation from San Francisco travelling from one iconic bridge to another while in Sydney for this week’s Visit USA expo.
Prior to embarking on the two-hour walk to get the best view of Sydney, San Francisco Travel’s Director of Asia Pacific Tourism, Antonette Eckert, said it’s the best time for Australians to visit San Francisco with new Qantas flights and major sporting events such as the recent Super Bowl 50.
Click here for more news from San Francisco.
