1) Aussie aide record profit for Flight Centre
Australian’s love of travelling has boosted Flight Centre to a record breaking 22 percent rise in first-half net profit to $111 million after tax. The travel agency group reported it will pay a 55 cent share dividend on 17 April, up from 46 cents in the prior half, taking the total dividend payout since Flight Centre first listed in 1995 to more than $1 billion. Flight Centre Managing Director Graham Turner said fluctuations in the value of the dollar had not stopped Australians from travelling overseas en masse. ”The company sees growth opportunities in all markets and while we are making sound progress and first-half trading results are promising, it is too early to amend full year guidance,” Mr Turner said.
2) Etihad adds daily flights to Phuket
Etihad Airways will add a non-stop daily flight to Phuket as the second destination in Thailand after Bangkok. Beginning 26 October, the service from Etihad Airways hub in Abu Dhabi will operate on an Airbus 330-200 jet, configured with 22 seats in business and 240 in economy. Phuket will be the seventh city in Southeast Asia served by the airline, along with Bangkok, Singapore, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta.
3) Lindblad Expeditions selling fast
National Geographic’s Lindblad Expeditions are experiencing high booking demand, as it announces its last remaining availabilities for 2014 sailing to the Pacific Islands and Australia aboard the 102 guest National Geographic Orion. The expeditions to the Kimberley, Papua New Guinea and Tahiti explore the undersea and natural history, as well as the diverse and fascinating cultures of each destination visited.
4) IHG Brazil expansion for Olympic Games
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) will return to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil with the signing of Holiday Inn Porto Maravilha and Holiday Inn Express Porto Maravilha hotels. Restoration plans on the properties will be completed for opening by July 2016, in time for the Rio Olympic Games. The new properties will be designed in line with the Holiday Inn Brand Family’s $1 billion global brand relaunch, the largest project of its kind in hospitality history.
5) PEPR Publicity appointed to Viator
Worldwide booking agent Viator has appointed PEPR Publicity to look after their media relations in Australia and New Zealand. To promote the ease of booking tours and activities through Viator, PEPR will roll out a pro-active PR program of media and stakeholder relations. The Australian market accounts for more than 15 percent of Viator’s global customer base.
6) Queen of the Harbour dazzles for Mardi Gras
In celebration of this weekend’s Mardi Gras in Sydney, Cunard’s Queen Elizabethwill razzle dazzle with the other queens with a performer poised on a giant stiletto on the liner’s top decks and a spectacular 126-metre long cape billowing behind her as the ship arrives in the city. Well-known Mardi Gras performer Vanity Faire will be poised on a 2.2 metre high glittering stiletto at the front of the liner, with the multi-coloured cape flowing behind her. Organised by Cunard Line to mark Queen Elizabeth’s arrival during the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival, the show-stopping arrival is expected to draw the crowds to the Sydney foreshore as she cruises into the Harbour.
7) European Waterways culture rich 2014 season
Luxury hotel barge cruising company European Waterways has added rich cultural experiences to its new 2014 season. The new onshore excursions in Burgundy, Southern France and Scotland aim to highlight the beauty, charm and local customs of the regions that complement the culture-rich itineraries already on offer for each cruise. European Waterways Managing Director Derek Banks said Aussies love to travel on the barges, with every one in five guests being Australian. “The feedback we are getting is that they love the immersion in local culture and gastronomy and we know that they’ll love the new onshore excursions this year which will give them a real taste of every region we visit.”
8) Rydges to manage Surry Hills hotel
Rydges Hotels & Resorts has been appointed to manage Surry Hills hotel as of 8 April 2014, replacing the 4-star hotel’s current operation under the Accor for the past two years. The 271 room hotel is famous for being Australia’s first hotel to feature an in-ground glass aquarium. Director of the Schwartz Family Company that own Surry Hills Hotel, Dr. Jerry Schwartz, thanked Accor for their management and said “with Sebel becoming an apartment-style brand, it was decided to change the hotel branding to Rydges and ‘hub’ the hotel with his other Rydges-managed hotel, at nearby World Square.”
9) Korea invites you to ‘Discover Unexpected Adventures’
A new brochure released by Korea Tourism Organization tempts travellers to Korea to enjoy adventurous and fun times, from adrenalin charged sports like paragliding, ice climbing, river-rafting or scuba diving to a more sedate pace on a cycling adventure. The e-brochures are available to download on the Korea Tourism Organization website or you can request a hard copy of the brochure/cycling maps from the Sydney office of Korea Tourism Organization via email at visitkorea@knto.org.au
10) Discover the World partners with Traveltek
TravelTrek has joined forces with Discover the World who will represent the travel technology company throughout its global network of 85 offices across six continents. Discover the World CEO Jenny Adams said the partnership was a natural fit to combine the strengths of both companies. “There are numerous retail chains and tour operators who would benefit significantly from the sophisticated technology solutions provided by Traveltek,” Ms Adams added. The two companies plan to work closely in selling its services in the global marketplace.
11) MSC signature series explores South America
Travellers can now explore the beauty of fourteen stunning ports of call between Italy and Brazil on MSC’s Preziosa with the cruise company’s 28 night Heart of the Mediterranean cruising holiday.
The cruise is just one of a host of itineraries from the exclusive MSC CruisesSignature Series of fly/land/cruise packages for 2014-2015. The package starts 30 October, with passengers flying from Australia to Venice for an overnight stay before boarding the newest ship in the MSC fleet the 2013-launched MSC Preziosa for 7 days bound for Italy’s Bari, Katakolon in Greece, Turkey’s Izmir and Istanbul and Croatia’s Dubrovnik before returning to Venice to explore the city for the day, before the 18 night second leg of the voyage commences.
12) YTL’s Vistanas Hotels move with the times
YTL’s Vistana Hotels have been given a complete facelift to offer a brand new experience for business and MICE travellers under their theme ‘Times Change, So Do We’. Re-launched in three simultaneous ceremonies in Kuala Lumpur, Kuantan and Penang where the refreshed Vistana Kuala Lumpur Titiwangsa, Vistana Kuantan City Centre, and Vistana Penang Bukit Jambul. The Vistana brand’s new ethos of ‘Vibrance, Verve and Value’ promises a modern and comfortable ambience coupled with great services offered at competitive prices.
13) The Star gets kitted out for baseball
Sydney’s The Star has become popular for its ever-changing THE STAR sign that sits out the front of the complex, however this week the sign will kit up in baseball theming for the arrival of the LA Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks for the Major League Baseball opening series in Sydney. The theme was appropriate as The Star will literally be taken over by Major League Baseball fever as will both of The Star’s hotels, Astral Towers & Residences and The Darling are booked to capacity with baseballers. The Star will also host to a number of Major League Baseball events during the time, including a media welcome at rooftop bar Sky Terrace for US journalists making the trip down under; as well as an exclusive welcome event for the baseball players, also on Sky Terrace.
This article was sourced from carryon
This article was sourced from carryon
