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. Australian watchdog knuckles down on drip pricing
Travel and tourism companies selling products online will be under closer observation as the ACCC promises to crackdown on ‘drip pricing‘ practises.
Announced this morning, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said it had joined an international initiative that includes sweeping a range of websites and mobile apps for any misleading prices.
The initiative will particularly focus on honing in on drip pricing practises – the act of introducing fees and charges incrementally during the booking process, resulting in a much higher price than initially advertised.
2. Hunter heads up Travellers Choice
Effective immediately, Christian Hunter assumes the role of Managing Director of Travellers Choice and joins the Board.
Hunter joined Travellers Choice in 2004 as Company Accountant and held a number of senior management positions before being appointed CEO in January 2012.
He has since overseen one of the most successful periods in Travellers Choice’s history, culminating this year with the Company’s announcement of a third consecutive year of record profits and its win as Best Travel Agency Group at the prestigious 2015 National Travel Industry Awards.
3. Air NZ welcomes Alan Joyce to the #AirNZFanClub
Air New Zealand really does have the best marketing and PR team in the aviation sector – I’m going to go ahead and say they’re almost as good as Beyonce’s marketing guys.
The team over at the Kiwi carrier has a knack for turning even the smallest of situations into a major promotional opportunity to drum up further brand awareness and potentially even land extra sales.
Just look at what they’ve done over the years with inflight safety videos or how they turned the All Blacks rugby victory into an opportunity to promote the airline’s fun and cultural spirit.
4. One country Lonely Planet highly recommends for 2016
The land of the rising sun has been ranked the number two destination to visit in 2016 by Lonely Planet, with the latest statistics released by the JNTO showing visitor numbers at an all-time high.
Held at a traditional izakaya in Sydney last night, the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) put on a stellar cocktail reception for travel media and industry professionals to celebrate Japan’s selection as the number-two travel destination in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2016 publication.
Released annually in late October, Best in Travel is all about setting the agenda of travel for the year to come, with very specific criteria used to determine which countries make the cut.
5. Get your cameras ready Sydney, Eden & Aria are coming
Reminder to all Sydneysiders, P&O’s two new ships will make their inaugural visit into Sydney Harbour in record-breaking style tomorrow morning.
Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden will be joined by their three P&O sister ships – Pacific Dawn, Pacific Pearl and Pacific Jewel – for a five-ship spectacular.
As well as astounding locals with the rare site of five vessels in the Harbour, Aria and Eden will also be the first ever vessels to be christened in life and on social media as godmothers Jessica Mauboy and Kate Ritchie simultaneously break champagne on the ships’ bows and tweet.
Following the unique christening, the five ships will berth in the Harbour and host live concerts for guests onboard.
Click here for a closer look at the new ships.
6. Qantas Holidays & Viva Holidays wins with Traveller Choice
Yay for @Qantas_Holidays @viva_holidays : @TravChoiceAU partner of the yr for 5yrs in a row! #tcconference pic.twitter.com/HuYWD0ekLF
— KarryOn (@karryontravel) November 21, 2015
Travellers Choice agents are loving the product available through Qantas Holidays and Viva Holidays and even named the company ‘Supplier of the Year’ at this year’s conference.
This is the fifth year in a row the wholesaler has taken home the award.
General Manager, Sales, Fiona Dalton, said winning the award meant a ‘great deal’.
“We’ve been working hard in every area of QHV to build a long-term sustainable partnership that can endure the test of time, and to be acknowledged in this way is a great signal that we continue to add value to the agencies and shareholders in Travellers Choice.”
Fiona Dalton, Qantas Holidays & Viva Holidays GM Sales
“That it was for the 5th year in a row is very humbling and a wonderful testament to all our team.”
7. oneworld AIMEs to support industry
Airline alliance, oneworld, has signed up as an alliance partner for 19 of Reed Travel Exhibitions’ events, including the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meeting Expo (AIME).
As part of the agreement, AIME visitors will be able to make flight reservations via oneworld.com.events and secure discounted fares for themselves and a companion.
AIME will be held from 23-24 February 2016 at the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB).
Booking codes for AIME via oneworld will be available via aime.com.au from December 2015.
8. #LiveIntrepid winners are…
‘Finding a little piece of yourself where you go’ – ‘food for the soul’.
These were just two of the five winning responses agents submitted into Intrepid Travel’s latest agent competition.
Consultants were asked to answer the question ‘what does travel mean to you’ for the chance to win an Intrepid Travel voucher.
All agents had to do was answer the question in a creative post and share it to social media with the hashtag #LiveIntrepid and #IntrepidAgent.
The five winning entries went to: Chloe Smith – Helloworld Vermont South; Rebecca Norberry – Kempsey Travel & Cruise; Sofia Zanone – Peter Pans Travel St Kilda; Cassandra Mccollum – Flight Centre Bendigo; and Louise Brock – Helloworld Tamworth.
They each received a $1,800 Intrepid Travel voucher to use on an Intrepid trip. Cassandra has already said she’ll be using her voucher to go to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
9. APT treats agents like royalty
A group of Australian travel agents were recently swept away to experience one of APT’s most sought after Royal Invitations – an exclusive classical concert at the City Palace in Vienna, owned by the princely family of Liechtenstein.
Regarded as one of the city’s most exquisite buildings, the group visited the palace as part of an unforgettable week sailing aboard the award-winning luxury river cruise operator’s MS AmaVerde between Budapest and Nuremberg.
On arrival at the palace the guests were treated to a cocktail reception, before enjoying an evening of culture and captivating entertainment.
Other highlights of the special eight-day itinerary cruise included the chance to journey aboard the Majestic Imperator train between Passau and Linz, also an exclusive APT Royal Invitation.
[L-R]: Natalie Thompson – helloworld Moe; Fiona Borserini – helloworld; Jodie Pellegrino – helloworld Wangaratta; Elyse Hebblewhite – helloworld Shellharbour; Jane Thistlethwaite – helloworld Bankstown & Drummoyne; Kristine Fisher – APT; Jenaya Soster-Kath – helloworld Helensvale Westfield; Janelle Ramsey – APT; Corinne Ellis – helloworld Strathpine; Vivienne Seery – helloworld Bullcreek; and Kerry Holmes – Balnarring Travel & Cruise.
10. Bindi dances for the Sunshine Coast
Bindi Irwin will be representin’ the Sunshine Coast tonight when she competes in the final of the US ‘Dancing with the Stars’.
The daughter of Australia Zoo founder Steve Irwin and a force in its current operation, is down to the final four after eight gruelling weeks of preliminary rounds, during which she captured the imagination of millions of American viewers.
She will be competing against former Backstreet Boy Nick Carter, soldier Alek Skarlatos and actor Carlos PenaVega.
The Sunshine Coast has rallied behind her efforts, and the team at Sunshine Coast Destination (SCDL) has posted a ‘Go Bindi’ video to show her that everyone back home is wishing her success for the finals. Click here to check out the video.
“She’s one of Queensland’s and the Sunshine Coast’s greatest global ambassadors and to compete at such a high level against incredibly talented competition shows the sort of drive and personality that she has.”
Simon Ambrose, Sunshine Coast Destination CEO
