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. A new lounge that could make Virgin even more popular
Virgin may have just found the perfect way to encourage those frequently flying miners to choose its services over others and it’s by giving them their own dedicated airport space.
While they may not embody your typical airline business lounge guests, miners travel so often around the country that many have earned access to special airline lounges.
They bring a relaxed air to the often upscale environments with their casual attitudes.
2. New ships, new itineraries & new destinations
Welcome to the new wave season.
The days are longer, the sun is shining brighter but more importantly the cruise ships have started making their way into Australian waters for the 2015/16 wave season.
And what a season it’s going to be!
We’ve got several new ships coming in, seven new homeported vessels, new onboard activities, new itineraries and new destinations. It’s going to be crazay (sic).
3. Is this the solution to avoiding baggage fees?
A US businessman is turning travellers’ annoyances into a personal profit by offering to pay baggage fees in exchange for promoting companies.
The unique barter system involves entrepreneur Gary German’s Orlando-based Orion Travel Tech company giving away free luggage and paying checked baggage fees for millions of passengers who are willing to travel with suitcases imprinted with corporate advertising.
German said sponsors would be willing to pay a premium for such a service that would literally see their brands reach millions of consumers across the globe every day.
4. Money can buy happiness: Insider Journeys
Who said money can’t buy happiness? According to new studies and Insider Journeys, money is the key to happiness because it can give people one of the big things they’re looking for.
Travel experiences.
Speaking to media in Sydney this week, Joe Ponte said increasingly people are placing travel, in particular experiential travel, ahead of other areas of life including family and health.
5. The storm passes in Taiwan
Taiwan’s locals are heading back to work and students returning to school as Typhoon Dujuan moves away from the island.
Yesterday, the government had advised all residents and travellers to stay in doors, even declaring all work places shut while the worst of the storm passed.
Speaking to KarryOn, Taiwan Tourism’s Pearl Lee said the typhoon was only medium sized and the destination had taken proper precautions to ensure minimal losses and damage.
Two people were confirmed dead yesterday and a couple of hundred injured due to flying debris. Electricity to certain parts of the island were also cut while the local railway network experienced temporary issues earlier today.
Click here to read more of our chat with Lee.
6. WIN $500 for your favourite USA tip
To mark the launch of Visit USA’s sales guide and online training tools the bureau is offering $500 to agents who have the best trip for travelling in the USA.
The sales guide is designed for Australian travel agents to use and full of tips from our members. However, the bureau says it knows travel agents are a great source of information and full of hints for selling travel to the USA.
In exchange for that insight, the bureau is giving agents the chance to submit their best tip to be in the running to win $500 cash.
To enter, log onto Facebook or Twitter, look up Visit USA and leave your tip on their social media pages.
Handlers are:
Facebook: Visit USA Australia – Twitter: @VUSA_Australia
Competition closes 31 October 2015. Click here for more information.
7. ACT found a way to regulate Uber
Looks like the ACT may have found a way to regulate companies distributing services through non-regulated channels.
This week, Canberra declared that drivers who want to join ride-sharing service Uber will have to get government accreditation, including a criminal and driving history check.
The announcement comes one month ahead of Uber’s launch in the ACT, making it the first territory to regulate the ride-sharing service.
According to The Australian, rules will be introduced in two stages with the first requiring drivers to be accredited and registered. They will have to agree to drive alcohol and drug free and have customer complaint mechanisms. Surge pricing during emergencies will also be banned. During the second stage, drivers will be required to have compulsory third party and property insurance.
These requirements will likely make the price of booking an Uber on par with travelling via taxi.
Meanwhile, Tourism Australia Accommodation (TAA) has been calling for regulation on sites such as Airbnb, which are selling properties without regulation around the country and allegedly impacting the hotel industry. Read on
8. World Journeys books a milestone
World Journeys may have only officially launched in Australia three months ago but it’s already proving to be a success.
The high-end tailored and small hosted groups company this week celebrated its 100th booking.
Tina Almond from The Village Travel in Wilston, Queensland secured the milestone transaction yesterday.
As a thank you and a congratulations, Almond received a lovely bunch of flowers from the World Journeys team.
Congratulations guys!
Click here for more information on World Journeys’ move across the Tasman.
9. Agents get their Samurai on in Japan
Five travel agents were invited to experience the best of the best in Japan during a eight-day famil hosted by Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) Sydney Office.
The tour saw the group explore Japan’s Golden Route, stopping at Osaka, Nara, Kyoto and Tokyo.
Throughout the tour they were treated to exclusive cultural experiences such as an up-close-and-personal experience with a maiko (apprentice geisha), samurai lesson and tea ceremony.
They even stopped by Nara Park, which JNTO says best encapsulated Japan best all in one location. It features ANCIENT (amazing temple), NATURE (deers peacefully wandering around), and MODERN (plenty of selfie sticks on display).
Plus the group got to play dress up in kimonos and traditional samurai gear.
Click here for four reasons you’ll want to send your clients to Japan.
10. PTMs take-in Kangaroo Island
Following three days of learning, socialising and updates, TravelManagers from around Australia took time out to absorb Adelaide’s wonders during post-conference famils.
Itineraries this year included Port Lincoln & Coffin Bay, the Fleurieu Peninsula, the Adelaide Hills and Barossa Valley, but Gazal says the most popular choice was a three-day, two-night visit to Kangaroo Island (pictured), with thirty PTMs and eight of their partners taking this option.
Debra Deane, representative for Port Macquarie in New South Wales, was one of the group. She says she and her husband chose Kangaroo Island because it was somewhere they’d never been and that they were unlikely to ever choose if left to their own devices.
Marta Fergusson, representative for Reedy Creek in the Gold Coast, who joined Deane, said experiencing the region herself will ‘definitely influence’ the way she sells the destination to her clients.
“Having seen first-hand the relative pros and cons of a self-drive itinerary and a guided tour (freedom to set your own schedule but the chance of getting lost versus expert local knowledge but reduced flexibility) means I can match the right option to my individual clients’ needs.”
Marta Fergusson, Personal Travel Manager
Did you miss the TravelManagers Conference? Get an update by checking out the top nine hilarious moments.
