Welcome to the hot or not travel news of the week, detailing the highs and lows of this week’s headlines.
WHAT WAS HOT?
1. Air New Zealand’s dreamy new Dreamliner
Air New Zealand’s Dreamliner 787-9 will be making its maiden voyage from Auckland to Perth tomorrow evening (Friday 12th of September). It is scheduled to arrive on Australian soil at approx 8:10pm Sydney time (6:10pm Perth time). This is to celebrate its first scheduled commercial route between Auckland and Perth on the 15th of October, followed by services to Shanghai and Tokyo later this year.
2. These guys sure know how to party
Iconic youth travel brand Contiki held an exclusive launch event in Sydney that hosted close to 200 agents from around Australia.
The star studded night included a sneak peek of the Contiki Europe 2015/16 brochure with new itineraries scheduled to be released next week. Agents dined out with food courtesy of Eat. Art. Truck and danced well into the night with an exclusive performance by Australian duo Peking Duk.
3.Travel Industry takes on Ice Bucketeering
Pictured:Expedia’s CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi.
CEOs, Vice Presidents and Managing Directors of the travel trade have decided to take the super-trending campaign, designed to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease, to the next level.
Air Canada General Manager Australia and New Zealand, Paul Mclean was completely snowed under and not by work this time.
McLean copped a walloping from a fully laden zamboni, completely covering the GM in ice.
Tourism Australia’s, John O’Sullivan, was drenched by a koala and a kangaroo in chilly 18 degree weather.
Expedia’s CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, also got wet and wild for the charity.
Even Atlantis, The Palms in Dubai joined in on the fun.
Efforts to raise awareness and promote the cause have been a success, with $(AUD) 700, 000 thus far raised in Australia.
WHAT WAS NOT?
1. Stocks say no to iPhone 6
Image Source: www.nowhereelse.com
Apple has finally released their next generation iPhones (iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus) and a smart watch (available in early 2015) and a new mobile payments system, Apple Pay, that will allow people to make purchases by holding a phone near a sensor.
Thus far, the reaction to the launch has been mixed.
Many of the tech-obsessed have claimed that the new releases, particularly the wider screens, have reestablished Apple as an industry trail-blazer.
Others haven’t approved of the watch, stating that it was created in favour of the right handed. Apple was quick to issue a rebuttal to Newscorp, claiming that the phones will be able to be worn by both ‘lefties’ and ‘righties’.
The most ungracious response was from the markets. Apple shares dipped, 0.38 per cent, after the release. However, they picked up slightly after Apple Pay was announced.
1.Sky-rocketing insecurity levels
Image Source: North News & Pictures Ltd.
Twenty year-old, Abbie Barlett decided to go to great lengths to assure her man keeps faithful on his holiday to Ibiza.
The mother of a five year-old had a t-shirt printed, featuring four photos of the couple doting over each other, and included the words:
“I love my girlfriend, I hate girls in Ibiza, so please stay away from me.”
Her partner, Leon Connolly, was handed the t-shirt as he was packing for the trip.
While the couple claim it was a joke, we think that in every joke there is a half-truth and if a woman needs to try so hard to keep a man in check, is the relationship worth keeping at all?
2.Council treating humans like waste
The Honolulu City Council has resorted to several measures to attempt to clean its streets of the houseless.
One of the measures bans sitting and lying down on the city’s sidewalks.
The measures have come into place after tourists complained of the ample human waste found on the streets and fear for the safety.
While a bill had been passed earlier the prohibited public urination and defecation, the council did not believe it was enough to tackle to ongoing issue.