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. Is Tigerair really that bad?
If you ask Australia’s ombudsman, they’ll tell you that based on incoming complaints and investigations, Tigerair is the lowest-performing airline in Australia.
The government-appointed group designated with the task of handling customer complaints, conducting investigations and performing audits has found the budget airline not only received the highest number of customer grievances, but the number of incoming complaints is rising.
Published in the 2014 Airline Customer Adovcate report, it was the third time the airline received the number one position as the lowest-performing Australian airline.
2. Aussie hospitality certified as ‘excellent’
Australian tourism businesses topped this year’s 2015 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence awards, with some 8,892 local hospitality companies walking away with the winning title.
Now in its fifth year, the award celebrates excellence in hospitality, including hotels, attractions and restaurants, and is handed to establishments that consistently achieve great traveller reviews on the review website.
For the second consecutive year, New South Wales businesses won the most awards, taking home some 2,538 awards – a 126 percent increase on the prior 12 months.
3. Big profits for the Magellan Travel Group
It’s a big week for the Magellan Travel Group!
Less than a day after launching a new consumer and agency protection solution, the company has revealed a major spike in its profits.
According to CEO Andrew McFarlane, for the year to date, the group has achieved a net income rise of 41 percent compared to the same period last year.
This incline will see Members exceed $8 million in profit by the end of the year.
McFarlane attributed the company’s strong performance to cost control and Member performance.
“Our Members continue to prosper in mixed market conditions because they are the high performers of the industry and they don’t focus on the heavily competed and low-yield mass market.”
Andrew Macfarlane, CEO
The announcement was made at the company’s Magellan Members Dinner held.
Click here for more from the dinner or click here to read about Magellan’s new consumer protection solution.
4. 11 reasons Catriona Rowntree loves cruising with Scenic
We’ve travelled with her to exotic locations in South America, the finest wine vineyards in Europe and more. But did you know that a fair bit of that international touring was done with Scenic?
Everyone’s favourite TV presenter, Catriona Rowntree, may have only received the title of Scenic’s celebrity ambassador last week, but she has a long-standing relationship with the line that Australian travellers have watched evolve over the last two decades.
Back in 2008, Catriona received the honourable title of ‘Godmother’ to Scenic’s 167-passenger Scenic Sapphire.
5. Qantas lets you recline from takeoff to touchdown!
The Flying Kangaroo invited some 100 travel agents to experience its new A330 aircraft, which features a new specially designed lie-flat Business Class seats.
Designed in collaboration with Marc Newson, the unique feature allows customers to recline in their seat from take-off through to landing.
It also offers direct aisle access for every Business Class customer.
Meanwhile, Qantas’ aircraft also offers passengers in all cabins all the latest inflight entertainment technology.
Check out the video above for more.
Earlier this week, Qantas signed a new agreement with international supermodel, Jessica Hart, to be the carrier’s new ‘Trend Consultant’.
Click here to find out how Hart is keeping Qantas trendy.
6. INCENTIVE to WIN an APT Royal Experience
Agents are being reminded that they could be in the running to win a Royal Experience with APT through the company’s latest trade incentive.
The competition was announced earlier this month in conjunction with the new 2016 European River Cruising brochure.
APT is giving five lucky travel consultants the chance to win their very own Royal Experience for a weekend in their respective state.
With one prize on offer for each state, each lucky winner will be able to invite five colleagues along to join them as they spend the weekend in true APT style, being pampered and given the royal treatment.
As well as being chauffeur driven around, the winning team will be pampered, have tickets to the hottest show in town, stay in the most sought after hotel and spend the weekend being treated like royalty.
There’s still plenty of time to enter, with entries closing on 6 July 2015.
To be in the running, agents simply need to book and deposit an APT Europe River Cruise for their clients between 1 May – 30 June 2015 and they will automatically go in the draw to win APT’s all inclusive once in a lifetime Royal Invitation.
Last week, APT also launched a new ship on the European rivers, MS AmaVenita.
7. Chatswood lights up for Vivid
The spectacular light display went live for the very first time in Chatswood this week, giving locals and visitors a sneak peek of what they can expect during the upcoming winter festival.
From Friday, Sydney will become a beacon of colour for Vivid Sydney.
For the first time this year, the festival has expanded to new areas outside the main city including Chatswood, which will be transformed into an aquatic wonderland, with light displays featuring sea creatures and a 3D animation.
The first sea creature was lit up last night. See pic below.
According to Destination NSW, Chatswood tells the story of Nautilus and the Sea, and takes visitors on a journey to an underwater fantasy from Chatswood Interchange to The Concourse in the bustling suburb to the city’s north.
“Vivid Sydney at Chatswood is not only colourful and entertaining, but also offers an enthralling story. There is no doubt that the tale of Nautilus and the Sea told through magnificent lighting installations and projections will attract visitors who, I am sure, will be as mesmerised as I was.”
Stuart Ayres, NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events
Vivid Sydney runs for 18 nights from 22 May until 8 June.
8. ibis Hotels get singing
ibis Hotels has unveiled a new campaign that highlights its musical side.
The promotion, which was unveiled this week, was launched alongside a brand partnership with international music streaming service, Deezer.
The partnership will see ibis, ibis styles and ibis budget guests have access to an exclusive microsite called ibis PLAY, which will grant guests access to regularly updated geo-localised gig guides, tastemaker curated playlists, reviews, music community news, artist interviews, photo galleries and exclusive ibis Hotels created content.
Reputable boutique wine producer and known supporters of the Australian music community, Cake Wines has also joined the party with a series of out-of-the box ideas that the hotel group says it ‘certain to cause a stir’.
“Our ibis hotels across Australia can now cleverly play the role of trip planner, enabler and host, while providing exclusive opportunities that no other hotel group can provide.”
Bridie Commerford, Accor Australia Vice President of Marketing & Communications
9. Stinky tweets to rail boss
Twitter has come to the rescue once again after a second rail passenger experienced ‘difficulties’ in a carriage toilet.
In January, a 16-year-old blogger took to the social media site to advise Virgin Trains that he’d run out of toilet paper.
Catching the tweet early, the rail company came to the rescue with a quick delivery of paper rolls.
Now another desperate train passenger has turned to Twitter after he accidentally locked himself in the loo.
The 38-year-old was travelling on a Southeastern train from London Blackfriars to Orpington, Kent, when the incident occurred.
Steven Staples says he was unable to open the door and when he tried calling out to other passengers – nobody heard.
He then pulled out his mobile device and opened trusty Twitter.
“@Se-Railway I’m stuck in a toilet – just pulling to Elephant and Castle, please help. Going to Orpington.”
The social media team spotted the tweet and told the passenger they were trying to get a hold of somebody to help.
It wasn’t too long after that the driver used a stop at south east London to go check on the trapped traveller.
Has Twitter ever come to your rescue?
10. 9 things you didn’t know you could do in the French Alps
If you think it’s just skiing and snowboarding then think again. These French Alps offer more than you’d ever expect and a lot of is actually quite surprising.
Speaking to KarryOn, Megève’s General Manager, Marithe Crozet, said there are a number of people that visit the popular French ski area and find they don’t actually hit the slopes.
She said around 50 percent of her visitors are not skiers and simply come to enjoy other aspects of the resorts.
