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. Lufthansa introduces surcharge on GDS bookings
It’s going to be costlier for agents to book Lufthansa product through a GDS system, as the airline introduces a new levy on outside channels.
Rolling out across all the Lufthansa Group’s airlines – Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Swiss International Airlines – the group will add a ‘Distribution Cost Charge’ (DCC) to tickets purchased through a GDS such as Amadeus.
The DCC will not be added on tickets booking through the company’s website or its service centers and ticket counters at airports.
2. North Korea’s tourism plans – is it on your bucket list?
It’s the most secretive country in the world & one of the most mocked – but North Korea is hoping travellers will look past all that & book a holiday to the destination.
The country’s leaders have released an ambitious plan to increase arrivals from just 100,000 per year to around one million by 2017.
In other words, the destination that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) is urging travellers to reconsider travelling to, is hoping to see a ten fold increase in tourism within two years.
3. Sheraton brands get a massive makeover
Starwood has set into motion a 10-point plan, that will see its Sheraton brand moved ‘back into the global spotlight’.
Revealed by the company’s interim CEO this week, the plan will see the well-known brand renovated and turn into the ‘go-to brand’ for meeting planners.
Dubbed ‘Sheraton 2020’ proposal, the hotel chain will be given a completely new visual identity; there will be a new $100 million marketing campaign; and the launch of a new premier tier, the ‘Sheraton Grand’.
4. Coral Princess heats up adventure cruise competition
Watch out Lindblad and Silversea – competition in the adventure cruise market is about to heat up.
Coral Princess Cruises, an expedition operator with cruises in the Australasia region, has revealed plans to step up its marketing efforts to Australian and New Zealand travellers.
The announcement comes less than a week after Cruise Lines Industry Association (CLIA) Australasia’s latest industry report found the number of Australian cruisers has hit a new record of one million cruisers.
5. Government to discuss open skies in the Top End
The Australian government is looking to ‘quash’ a controversial plan that would allow international airlines to operate domestic flights in northern Australia.
The plan came to light last week, when former Qantas boss Geoff Dixon slammed the idea for ‘undermining’ Australian airlines. Read on
If approved, the proposal would see foreign airlines flying domestic routes around northern Australian, including Cairns, Darwin, Broome and Port Hedland.
Currently airlines are only allowed to operate triangular flights in Aus.
However, the proposal seeks to allow airlines such as AirAsia and Scoot to pick up passengers and carry them from one state to another.
Now, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, Prime Minister Tony Abbott and his minister are hoping to discuss the proposal at an expenditure review in the coming week.
“They will consider it and deal with it and move on.”
Joe Hockey, Treasurer
6. Ryanair workers strike in Spain indefinitely
The good news over at Ryanair didn’t last too long.
Baggage workers have walked off the job for the last four days at Madrid’s main international airport over a pay dispute.
According to the Daily Mail, the airline wants to slash their pay by up 20 to 30 percent and make changes to shifts, annual leave and safety equipment.
The group’s union said workers are also facing rough ‘working conditions, abuse and threats’.
A Ryanair spokesperson said operations from the airport continue to operate as normal, however the airline is requesting people try to travel with cabin baggage only.
“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
Ryanair spokesperson
The walkout comes less than a week after the budget airline revealed a 66 percent increase in profits last year. Read on
7. Sneak peek at the Encore
In the lead up to the debut of Seabourn Encore this summer, Seabourn Cruises has released renderings of what guests can expect to see inside one of ship’s lounges: The Club.
As envisioned by design icon Adam D. Tihany, who is fashioning interiors throughout Seabourn Encore, The Club will unfold as an elegant and inviting lounge with striking elements and a world-class program of music, dancing and entertainment.
Describing it as a ‘very social and friendly atmosphere’, Seabourn’s Senior VP of Marketing and Sales, John Delaney said it will be the ideal spot for pre-dinner drinks to late night dancing.
The multifaceted lounge, located on Deck 5 of the 12-deck vessel, will include contemporary seating with yachting references visible in the furnishings, design elements and balustrade.
Modern illumination will highlight the line’s extensive array of complimentary spirits and liquors and will provide a central focal point for the bar.
The Club will feature custom-crafted cocktails and fine wines, canapés served at cocktail hour, and live music before and after dinner. In addition, The Club will house an intimate, full-gaming casino.
From The Club, guests will have direct access to the Club Terrace, an exclusive aft pool lounge area set immediately behind The Club with a plunge pool, two whirlpools, and an illuminated fountain.
Seabourn Encore is scheduled to debut in December 2016 and will cruise Australian waters during her first season. Click here for more.
8. TripAdvisor gets ticking on the Watch
TripAdvisor has become the latest travel related company to launch an app for the Android Wear Smartwatches.
The free app is available on Google Play. It assists travellers in finding nearby things to do with access to TripAdvisor traveller reviews and ratings of hotels, restaurants and attractions.
It features recommendations for nearby restaurants, attractions and hotels: displays a list of top-rated points of interest based on the person’s location (using GPS) along with ratings and review titles to help them pick a great spot.
There’s also point of interest details: shows addresses, price range, hours of operation and distances of points of interest from the user.
‘Saves’ for easy access: feature allows travelers to save their favorite restaurants, attractions and hotels and view them later on another Android device or TripAdvisor.com.
And there are direct links to the phone: allowing travelers to easily access more information on their Android device about points of interest viewed on their smartwatch.
The launch of the new TripAdvisor Android Wear app follows the company’s launch of its Apple Watch app in April 2015 and Pebble smartwatch app last week.
9. Vivid turns blue for Chelsea
Koalas, a roaring crowd and now an incredible light show – Sydney is really putting on a show for visiting soccer champions, Chelsea FC.
The English Premier League champions arrived in Sydney on the weekend for a special match against our very own Sydney FC held last night at ANZ Stadium.
Although our boys played well, Chelsea proved to be too strong for Sydney, defeating us by 1-0.
10. Woman files complaint against fellow air passenger
Plane arguments just went to the next level.
A Sydney mother is said to have lodged a formal complaint after a fellow Jetstar passenger that allegedly hit her one-year-old child when she reclined her seat.
The woman, Sunny, told the Sydney Morning Herald, that the other passenger intentionally reclined the seat to come in contact with the child.
She said the passenger was getting irritated with the noise her daughter was making while flying from Melbourne to Sydney.
“It was really vindictive. My impression was she just wanted [Lily] to shut up.”
She said her daughter had been tapping on the tray table.
Sunny claims that she tried to stop her and get her to go to sleep, but she wouldn’t.
“After about half an hour [the other passenger] just kind of lost it and basically pushed her seat back as hard as she could and her seat went right back and it just slammed into my daughter’s head.”
“And my daughter screamed and she started crying and then I just kind of lost it and I just stood up and I was like: ‘you know you just hit my daughter in the head’. And her boyfriend was like: ‘well, we told you to stop that tapping.”‘
Sunny then admits to pushing the chair in front of her, before the other passenger turned around saying she has spinal injuries.
Air tension between the two parties continued and apparently the airline was forced to separate them for the rest of the flight.
