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. Malaysia Airlines’ business is shaping up
Malaysia Airlines’ boss seems to be feeling confident for the first time in around two years after reporting ‘continued progress’ in select areas of the business.
In a quarterly update, Christoph Mueller, revealed that the carrier is seeing “steady progress” despite “a challenging environment” thanks to an ongoing restructure, which commenced in May last year to increase the airline’s competitiveness following the two 2014 air tragedies and financial loss.
At the time of the announcement, the CEO said Malaysia Airlines was spending 20 percent more than its competitors and a new business model would help reduce costs while still improve areas of the business.
2. Le Boat gives 2016 one final push in Australia
Le Boat’s Managing Director says the company has a “massive job” to do in the Australian market, not only to educate locals but recover 2016 sales after a dip in business late last year.
Speaking to KarryOn, Cheryl Brown, said canal and river boat hire amongst Australians was “absolutely flying” for the 2015/16 financial year, until the attack in Paris in November, during which 130 people were killed at a rock concert.
She explained in the month after the shooting, people stopped travelling and business fell from Australia by around 70 percent.
3. Which Australian city do Kiwi travellers REALLY love?
Think the answer is Sydney? Think again.
A recent study conducted by Emirates revealed which of Australia’s three biggest cities Kiwis most want to visit, and it’s… Melbourne.
The city was selected by 41 percent of respondents ahead of Brisbane, which received 30 percent of the votes and then Sydney, with 29 percent of votes.
In reverse, Australians said of Auckland’s experiences, they were most keen on visiting Waiheke Island followed by a tour of the city itself.
“It’s interesting to see what inspires Australian and New Zealand travellers when they consider a trip across the Tasman.”
Barry Brown, Emirates Divisional Vice President for Australasia
The study was done in conjunction with the Emirates ‘Good Things Come in Threes’ campaign, which focused on Emirates’ three daily Trans-Tasman services from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Auckland.
4. Women in tourism pledge for parity over lunch
Unconscious discrimination, the ‘boys club’ and gender bias pay were just a few of the topics discussed yesterday during the first Women in Tourism Leadership Lunch of 2016.
Held in conjunction with International Women’s Day, the event attracted some 100 Sydney-based females keen to discuss and debate gender equality and pledge their support for parity.
Event organiser and MC, Holly Galbraith, told attendees this month’s theme was particularly fitting after a recent study revealed women in Australia are earning around 17 percent less than their male counterparts.
5. The countdown is on for the Race Around Northern California
There’s now less than a week to go until four lucky groups of Aussie travel agents will be Northern California bound to partake in Qantas Holidays’ Race Around 2016.
Departing from Sydney on 15 March, the 60 lucky participants will Race Around Northern California in four teams visiting iconic locations including Napa Valley, Sonoma, North Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and Sacramento before crossing the finish line and attending a glitzy, gala dinner together in San Francisco on 20 March.
Qantas Holidays’ popular annual Race Around incentive awards consultants with the highest points accrued during 1 September 2015 –15 December 2015 from selling Qantas Holidays packages and Qantas Airways international tickets.
Fiona Dalton, Qantas Holidays Head of Sales said Qantas Holidays is proud to invest in development opportunities like the Race Around famil and looks forward to showcasing Northern California to some of Australia’s best travel agents.
Qantas Holidays Race Around Northern California marks the celebration of Qantas recently recommencing daily flights from Sydney to San Francisco.
6. INCENTIVE: Receive $1,000 cash back
Coral Expeditions is enticing agents to book clients on its first itineraries to South East Asia by offering a $1,000 cash back for each sale confirmed between 8 March and 8 April 2016.
The cash back offer is valid for any of the seven itineraries during the 2016-17 Asia season. The trips cruise along Asia’s diverse coastlines in Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Each sailing will be conducted on the 72-passenger flagship, Coral Discoverer, and features activities and off-shore excursions that are suitable for guests of all ages and fitness levels, and slower-paced alternatives are included.
Click here for full itineraries and pricing.
7. Seabourn Encore sails out
Seabourn celebrated a major milestone in the construction of its newbuild ship, with Seabourn Encore touching water for the first time last week.
The ship ‘floated out’ to the Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy where she will undergo final construction ahead of her delivery at the end of the year.
Richard Meadows, Seabourn President, said it was a “special moment” seeing the ship in the water because it makes another step towards her completion.
Seabourn Encore will be able to carry around 600 guests and feature new expanded public areas. Every suite will feature a private veranda.
8. Singapore Airlines relocates Sydney check-in
Singapore Airlines will reduce the walking distance check-in and security at Sydney Airport by relocating the check-in counter.
The counter will move from Row K (counters 15-28) to Row E (counters 13-24), effective 1 April this year.
The centrally located counters are close to the emigration and security entrance, reducing walking distance by at least three minutes. Being in close proximity to the curb side drop off points, the move will provide Singapore Airlines’ customers a more seamless check-in experience.
9. Carnival has the best bartender at sea
Carnival Cruise Line’s master mixologist Miroslav Kljajic has been named “Bartender of the Year” at the 2016 Bacardi Legacy Cruise Competition.
Kljajic, who helped launch Alchemy Bar on the Australia-based Carnival Spirit last year, earned top honours for his custom-created libation, “Elixir Fizz,” a refreshing mix of Bacardi Carta Blanca rum, Tawny port, vanilla/thyme syrup, Prosecco and Fee Brothers Cherry Bitters liqueur.
His win marks the third time in the past five years that a Carnival mixologist has earned the coveted award.
Congratulations Kljajic!
10. Agents ride around Thailand
A group of lucky agents were able to ride around parts of Thailand during a recent eight-day famil with Buffalo Tours and the Thailand tourism board.
The trip started in Bangkok where attendees visited temples and visited Bangkok’s Street Eats by Tuk Tuk.
They then made their way to Chiang Mai where they received a traditional Thai massage followed by half a day at the Lanna for a bike and boat ride.
Click here for more images.