We’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to! Read on for the top ten travel stories you need to know today.
1. Why do Aussies keep returning to the UK?
It’s almost an entire day’s journey for Aussies to travel to the UK, but the long distance travel doesn’t seem to waiver their desire to return in large and growing numbers.
And the figures prove it.
Between January and September last year, Australians stayed around 12.48 million nights in the UK and spent around $1.89 billion.
We’re currently in the UK’s top ten inbound visitors and the fourth biggest spenders. Click here for more stats.
In fact, Australian visitors are so grand and important to the UK, VisitBritain has dubbed it the destination’s ‘two billion pound’ market.
2. Will Aus tourism win the Oscars?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBBB6HYw848
Aussie actors may not be leading the Oscar nominations this year, but we’re expecting to win in the tourism department.
Tourism Australia and Virgin Australia have launched a $4 million joint marketing campaign aimed at luring Americans to Australia.
The digital and TV campaign started yesterday in the lead up to the big Academy Awards night (22 February) and will run until 24 March 2015.
3. Icelandair brings the Northern Lights to you!
Want a guaranteed look at the Arctic’s famous aurora borealis or Northern Lights? Then book a flight with Icelandair.
The airline is bringing the natural phenomenon to the air, with a new northern lights-themed plane called ‘Hekla Aurora’ – a traditional Icelandic girl’s name and reference to the incredible lights.
As well as aurora borealis livery (see above) the Boeing 757’s main cabin has been fitted with LED mood lighting that offers a Northern Lights-like show.
Hekla Aurora made her debut this week when she flew from London’s Heathrow to Reykjavik airport. Along the way she flew over Reykjavik’s Hallgrimskirkja church, which was celebrating the annual Winter Lights Festival.
For the moment, the plane will be used on flights to Reykjavik, Amsterdam, Seattle and London.
4. Things get Fast & Furious at Universal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChhwKN0zplI&feature=youtu.be
‘Get ready, set and go’ on an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride on Universal Studios Hollywood’s new ‘Fast & Furious–Supercharged’ ride.
Although the supercharged ride won’t shift into high gear (launch) until later this year, Universal has given thrill seekers a sneak peek in the 30 second promo that aired during Super Bowl this year.
The ad features pop singer, Rita Ora as well as Fast & the Furious’ elite heroes – Vin Diesel (Dominic “Dom” Toretto); Michelle Rodriguez (Letty Ortiz); Dwayne Johnson (Luke Hobbs); Tyrese Gibson (Roman Pearce); and Luke Evans (Owen Shaw).
5. Cairns on sale with United
Your clients can pick up a United flight from Cairns to Guam from $795 including taxes and surcharges during the month of February.
The sale is on economy fares sold during February for travel between 10 February to 19 June and 21 July to 11 December 2015.
Sale ends 28 February 2015. Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights/dates, and may sell out. Other terms and conditions apply.
Meanwhile, United Airlines is allegedly looking to add an additional row in the economy section of its long haul Boeing 777-200.
According to Aviation Week, United is considering adding a tenth row – up from the current nine.
This would give the airline up to 100 extra seats one each plane.
A United spokesperson told KarryOn in an email:
“We evaluate lots of options across out fleet and haven’t made any further announcements specific to the 777 fleet.”
6. Australian explorer joins cruise to the Solomons
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic has announced that Australian explorer Ben Cropp will be joining its Global Perspectives Speakers Program in October for the Palau to Solomon Islands: Along the Pacific Equator expedition.
Cropp has produced some 150 marine and wildlife adventure documentaries that have been televised throughout the world. He has discovered more than 100 shipwrecks, including the 1977 discovery of HMS Pandora, the prominent Australian shipwreck.
In 1999 he was awarded an Order of Australia AM for his marine and coastal conservation work and promotion and awareness of the Australian marine environment as a documentary filmmaker. In 2000 he was inducted into the International Scuba Divers Hall of Fame.
During the voyage he will join guests on daily expeditions and hold presentations throughout the journey.
The cruise departs on 1 October 2015 and includes activities such as fire dance performances of the Baining tribe in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea; snorkeling and scuba diving the World War II wrecks of Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon; and visiting a village in Marovo Lagoon.
7. INDABA books 400 exhibitors
Industry professionals will have access to over 400 travel and tourism products and services at Africa’s major trade show INDABA.
Taking place from 9 to 11 May 2015, so far companies that have already confirmed their exhibiting space at INDABA include andBeyond; Fair Trade Tourism; the Tanzania Tourist Board; The Blue Train; Tourism KZN; Hilton Worldwide; MalaMala Game Reserve; Cape Town Tourism; Tsogo Sun and British Airways (operated by Comair).
This year, INDABA has also teamed up with We Are Africa to host ‘Two Shows One Africa’. This collaboration will be to bring the very best Africa has to offer to the world’s leading travel and tourism buyers.
As part of the collaboration, industry professionals can attend We Are Africa at the Cape Town Stadium from 4 to 7 May before heading to Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban for INDABA from the 9th.
South African Tourism chief executive Thulani Nzima said the partnership gives buyers focus on selling Africa the ‘best exposure possible’ to the destination’s tourism products.
8. New mega ship on way
Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, chairman of Genting Hong Kong signing on the first steel-cut of Genting World.
Your clients will soon be able to cruise Asia on a mega cruise ship designed for Asian travellers as Star Cruises commences production on the first of two new mass market ships.
Scheduled for delivery in 2016 and 2017, the new ships will weigh more than 151,000 gross registered tonnes with more than 1,600 cabins, accommodating approximately 4,500 passengers – around 1,000 passengers less than the world’s current largest ships Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.
The 21-deck luxury cruise ships will be the new flagships under the Star Cruises brand and feature a wide range of accommodation options, including villas.
In addition, the mega cruise ships will offer over 30 food and beverage outlets such as gourmet restaurants, bars and cafes specialising in international and Asian cuisines.
For the families there are an array of aqua slides and a kids’ waterpark.
Both ships will be homeported in Asia, further details will be announced closer to the launch.
9. Watermark hotel takes home Gold
It may not be a Grammy, but the Gold Coast’s Watermark Hotel & Spa has won a 2014 Gold Circle Award from online hotel booking site, Agoda.com.
Awards are given to accommodations around the world that embody the best qualities of the online hospitality industry.
The selection criteria for the Awards covered a number of key factors including hotels that have received consistently high customer reviews, competitive pricing in that marketplace and a deep understanding of the online booking industry.
Watermark Hotel & Spa Gold Coast revenue manager Russell Petts believes the acknowledgement is a reflection of the high standard of product and competitive pricing the hotel provides its guests.
The Hotel recently invested millions of dollars in the development of a new dining precinct – Clifford’s Grill & Lounge and Walrus Social House, under the Watermark – which opened in December 2014.
2015 will also see additional capital investment allocated to a significant upgrade of the Hotel’s rooms, aligning them with the new dining precinct, to deliver a refreshed and re-invigorated guest experience.
10. The sexiest accents in the world – do you agree?
Does the Irish accent do it for you?
Whether its the sultry Spanish spin, the fiery French or exotic Italian – there’s something about a foreign accent that makes a person that much more attractive.
And while we all have our own opinion of which is sexiest, a new study has been conducted to find which accents gets most people going. Let us know if you agree or if your Valentine’s Day date next week has one of these accents.
According to Time Out’s Global Dating Survey, the British accent is the most attractive, with 26.7 percent of people from 24 cities around the world saying it is the most attractive.
