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. Teen charged with threats to the Opera House
Remember last week’s Opera House debacle? The one where tourists were evacuated and ferries were cancelled to allow a police inspection of the area?
Police said the inspection was undertaken after receiving information on social media. They didn’t elaborate on the information received but many speculated it may have been relate to a bomb threat.
Well, apparently speculations may have been correct, but we’ve now discovered that the threat is believed to have been posted by a 17-year-old teenager.
2. Turkish Airlines cancels 400 flights over heavy snowfall
Turkey’s tourism sector is off to a rough start this year, with Turkish Airlines cancelling 400 flights due to heavy snowfall in Istanbul.
Cancellations come a week after 10 tourists were killed in a suicide bombing in the city’s popular Sultanahmet square.
Around 250 flights, including 120 international services, were cancelled for Monday. Another 150, including 70 heading overseas, are expected to be cancelled today.
3. South America is caliente for STA Travel right now
2016 is shaping up to be a good year for travel, with a second travel company reporting strong sales during the first few weeks of the year.
New figures from STA Travel revealed a 26 percent increase in total sales during the first two weeks compared to the same fortnight 2015.
A mix of popular and rising hot spots contributed to the growth, with trips to North America seeing a seven percent spike in sales while Europe grew 20 percent and Africa up 26 percent.
4. Coombes takes the helm at Flight Centre NZ
Flight Centre operations in New Zealand will be headed by a familiar face, with David Coombes returning to the country as the new Managing Director.
Coombes makes a comeback in Land of the Long White Cloud from the US where he held the title of Senior Vice President of Product.
He replaces Chris Greive, who steps down from the MD role in February after 30 years with Flight Centre.
5. INCENTIVE: Rock Around the World with Contiki
It’s one of the hottest tickets of the year and it’s back earlier this year, giving agents more time to be in the running to ‘Rock Around the World’ with Contiki.
The agent agent quiz will launch at 8.00am (AEDT) on 22 January.
Click here for more information.
6. Emirates’ ballsy marketing in Australia
If you think sports sponsorship is just forking over a big cheque and setting up some well placed banners then you’d be right in most cases but not this one.
Emirates – an active sponsor in Australian sports – has this year taken its sponsorships to the next level to not only give its brand more exposure but offer sports fans the chance to really get hands on with the airline.
How you ask?
7. ‘Wondering’ about Scenic’s first expedition yacht?
Agents and their clients will be able to get answers for all the questions they have about Scenic’s first expedition yacht, Scenic Eclipse, at the 2016 Ever Wondered sessions.
The sessions will run nationwide from 16 February to 22 March in partnership with agents, who are invited to bring their clients along.
Driving guests to book with their local Scenic agent, the free sessions will take place over four weeks and will be hosted by the local Scenic team of experts who will be on hand to answer any questions and help guests decide which itinerary is right for them.
Special offers are also available on the day. For anyone that is unable to attend, Scenic is also holding free webinars.
The first session will be held on 16 February at Stamford Plaza in Adelaide. This will be followed by Convention Centre, Perth – 18 February; Merewether Surfhouse, Merewether NSW – 23 February; Sofitel, Melbourne – 25 February; Radisson Blu, Eastern Beach, Geelong – 1 March.
For more dates contact Scenic.
8. Family of kidnapped Aussies plea for release
Two Australians who were kidnapped from a West African country earlier this week are still being held hostage, according to family members.
The family is pleading for the release of the Perth couple and expressed gratitude for all the messages of support received from Australia and internationally.
Surgeon Ken Elliott and his wife Jocelyn went missing in Burkina Faso where they ran a medical clinic for some 40 years.
“The Elliott family wish to express their gratitude for the messages of encouragement they have been receiving from around Australia and abroad during this difficult time,” a family spokesperson said.
“The Elliotts have been particularly heartened by the tremendous support of the Burkinabe people who clearly consider Ken and Jocelyn to be one of their own after all these years of providing surgical services to the region.
“The family would like to urge the Burkinabe people to continue to show patience as they share in our feelings of loss at this time.”
9. Fly to Ireland from $1,575 return
British Airways is kicking off 2016 with a massive sales on European flights, including return fares to London from $,1702 in economy of $3,506 for World Traveller Plus premium economy.
Clients can pick up discounted fares to Ireland from around $1,575 for a return fare in World Traveller economy or $3,228 in World Traveller Plus.
Fares are available for booking from now until 1 February 2016 for travel from 1 March until 6 June 2016.
Ireland’s Reykhavik made the list of top 10 destinations to visit this year in British Airways’ annual list.
Click here to find out what other destinations made the cut.
10. China Southern builds ties with Sydney
China Southern says its recent sponsorship of the 2016 Sydney Festival was a “success” and helped build its relationship with the Harbour City.
The carrier said the highlight of its participation was the annual Symphony in the Domain, which saw the Sydney Symphony Orchestra take the audience on a ‘best of’ musical journey, with everything from Mendelssohn to Dvořák and Tchaikovskyy and a special appearance by Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.
As well as building ties, sponsorship allows the airline to promote its local services, including its new Sydney-Shenzhen route kicking off 28 January this year. Read more.
P.S. TravelManagers come to the rescue across the globe
What happens when a client needs urgent assistance, but you’re half way around the world, away from your desk and with absolutely no access to Amadeus?
Some may be stuck for a solution, but Penny Stansfield from TravelManagers turned to her supportive peers to find a solution.
The representative for Beaumaris in Victoria posted an urgent shout out on the TravelManagers Facebook page asking for assistance from her fellow personal travel managers.
It took only four minutes for fellow personal travel manager Melanie Whyte, representative for Devonport in Tasmania to step in and help.
Although it took a fair bit of work over holiday period, Whyte was able to assist both Stansfield and her client.
The power of support!
P.P.S. Introducing the Bridget Jones of travel
What do you do when you get dumped at the altar? You quit your job, sell your car, give up the house and book a one-way trip to anywhere.
That’s what the once heartbroken, Katy Colins, did and now she’s living out her childhood dreams.
The former publicist for Manchester Airport has successfully PR’d her way onto the front page of a number of frequented publications thanks to her tragic tale which she transformed into a happy ending.