1) Agents win with JQ new Agent Hub
Jetstar has launched an agent incentive in conjunction with the new Jetstar Agent Hub (JAH). Travel agents in Australia and New Zealand have the chance to win one of 20 $100 Jetstar flight vouchers, while also enjoying easier access to Jetstar’s range of flights and products for their clients through the new Jetstar Agent Hub. The new streamlined online booking site is designed to make it faster to quote, book, research and manage Jetstar bookings for agents. Travel agents can use their existing Tradesite usernames and passwords to access the JAH. To be in the running for a $100 voucher, create a booking on the JAH and email the booking reference and your contact details to prizewinner@jetstar.com before close of business AEST on the 3rdof April, 2014.
2) Industry supports NZ Tourism 2025 framework
The travel and tourism industry has supported the launch of a new framework to significantly grow the contribution of tourism to New Zealand’s economy. Named Tourism 2025, the framework sees stakeholders work together with the New Zealand tourism industry to align and capitalise on growth opportunities, ultimately increasing tourism revenues to $41 billion by 2025. Air New ZealandChief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon said the new framework goes hand in hand with Air New Zealand’s Go Beyond strategy as it also focusses on growth and supercharging New Zealand’s success. Holiday Accommodation Parks Association of New Zealand (HAPNZ) Chief Executive Fergus Brown also favoured the move for growth, saying “it’s an extremely competitive world and we need to work together to achieve our long-term goals.”
3) Cargo queries, new satellite images, but still no MH370
As the search for missing MH370 enters the third week, attentions have shifted to a remote section of the Indian Ocean, 2,500km southwest of Perth. Satellite images have been released over the weekend by French authorities, adding to the Australian and Chinese images that picked up what might be large pieces of debris from the missing aircraft. Meanwhile, Malaysia is accused of further hampering efforts to find the missing aircraft as they now are refusing to share cargo manifest for Flight MH370 with the Australian-led search and rescue operation.
4) QF on-time tops in ten years
Qantas has recorded an on-time result in February for flight arrivals and departures of 91.7 percent and 92.5 percent respectively. This is the best monthly result for any major airline in the past decade, according to the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics, further cementing the airline’s reputation as the most punctual and reliable major domestic airline. Record punctuality was made in both Perth and Darwin, while Brisbane, Adelaide and Townsville recorded their best results in seven years. Qantas Domestic Chief Executive Officer Lyell Strambi said despite the Qantas’ current financial challenges, the airline’s operational performance has never been stronger.
5) TG cuts back BKK to SYD services
Starting 29 April 2014, Thai Airways will reduce their Bangkok – Sydney operations for 12 flights weekly to 10. The reduction will extend for the Northern Summer Season 2014, until 25 October 2014. In addition to this, the flight schedules for Sydney departures will be revised starting 30 March 2014. These include TG471 BKK0800 – 2000SYD, TG475 BKK1920 – 0720+1SYD, TG476 SYD1000 – 1620BKK and TG472 SYD1540 – 2200BKK.
6) Dubai aims for 1 mil cruisers
Dubai is looking to attract more cruisers to their shores with the Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) in talks to attract two additional cruise companies in the coming five years. According to DTCM Executive Director of Business Tourism Hamad Bin Mejren, companies such as US-based Carnival Corporation and PLC, which has Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Aida Cruises and Costa Cruises, have been contact. Last year the country attracted some 400,000 cruise passengers, a figure they hope to grow to one million by 2020. Royal Caribbean International exited the Dubai market in 2013 due to lack of expected revenue, however will return for the 2015/2016 season.
7) Star Wars Tunisia video to boost tourism
Following a turbulent past three years of tourism, Tunisia is relying on the help of online media and a few Star Wars characters to boost its tourism. The end game is to change traveller’s perception of the North African country from being one that’s cheap to one that is ‘fun’ by exhibiting the desert settings used for many scenes in the Star Wars films and a Tunisian version of the music video hit “Happy’’ by Pharrell Williams, replicated on YouTube by people around the world dancing to the tune. The video “Happy (We are from Tatooine),’’ commissioned by the ministry, features a range of characters from Star Wars boogying in and around the city of Tataouine, including the iconic droids R2-D2 and C-3PO, a storm trooper and Darth Vader himself. The “Star Wars Tunisia’’ edition of the Pharrell Williams video has already received nearly 1.5 million hits.
8) Luxperience suggests keep your eggs spread
With the opening of Luxperience 2014 on 31 August, the worldwide team has provided insight into what buyers will be looking for, according to the trends prevailing in their particular markets. With over 300 luxury and high end experiential travel specialists seeking inspiration for new products, Luxperience Director of Marketing and Buyer Relations Michelle Papas says “there is no doubt that Asia-Pacific is now the engine of growth in international travel both within Asia and also the rest of the world.” However, Ms Papas’ suggestion to clients is not to put all their eggs in one basket. Inner Asia remains the most popular destination for luxury experience seekers from China; however they are also looking for places further afield, including Italy, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. This also aligns with what US luxury travellers, who favour New Zealand, Europe and Australia.
9) Cape Nidhra Hotel ranks in Top Ten for Thailand
UK publication The Guardian has ranked Cape Nidhra in Thailand’s top 10 beach hotels. Recognising Cape Nidhra’s hotel rooms as being lavish, large designer suites completed with a private pool, the publication also ranked the property on the affordable luxury the hotel offers making it ‘an excellent honeymoon bargain’. Other attributes of the hotel that impressed includes ‘a beautiful white-sand beach, huge bathtubs and a massive breakfast buffet.’ The Cape Nidhra Hotel is an all pool suite property and as part of the prestigious Cape Hotel Collection, is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
10) New Caledonia trade support
In addition to the kick-off of a series of New Caledonia Tourism ‘Soirées’ trade roadshows across Australia, they are launching a number of trade initiatives within Australia. A new travel trade website and online training programme is set to launch later in April, giving the Tourism Board the chance to communicate effectively with the industry. For those agents who have not yet registered for a fun filled New Caledonia Soirée, visit https://web.tifs.com.au/rsvp/events/NCT_LaSoiree_2014.htm
11) ATAS Workshops Confirmed for registration
The Australian Federation of Travel Agents registrations for the May “Becoming Travel Accredited” workshops are now open. In support of the opening of applications for the AFTA Travel Accreditation Scheme (ATAS), AFTA is urging travel intermediaries across Australia to register, as the workshops will demonstrate the new online application process, showcase the new AFTA website, share ATAS marketing initiatives, deliver an overview of the supporting consumer awareness activities and provide opportunity for question and answer.
Was sourced from carryon
