Flavour of the Week
Take a look at the industry’s newest movers and shakers. Though that’s not to say they’re dance champions.
Travellers Choice welcomes new BDM in Sydney and Canberra
Travellers Choice members gathered in Sydney and Canberra last week to give a warm welcome to Paula Moylan, the network’s new Business Development Manager for NSW and the ACT.
In Sydney Travellers Choice General Manager Sales Nicola Strudwick officially welcomed Moylan with drinks overlooking Darling Harbour, and in Canberra Managing Director Christian Hunter introduced the group’s new BDM with some Barefoot Bowls at The RUC Turner Bowls Club.
SmartFlyer Australia Appoints New Operations Manager
The Goldman Travel Group is delighted to announce the appointment of Naomi Peel as Operations Manager for Australia’s leading travel network, SmartFlyer Australia.
Peel joins the travel collective with more than 17 years of experience in the travel industry including working directly with officials in consulates, embassies and high commissions. Most recently, she coordinated fully escorted tours (Asia and South Pacific) with the Globus Family of Brands and worked for TravelManagers Australia as an operation executive.
Peel will be based in Goldman’s Bondi Junction office and will oversee all aspects of business operations. This includes troubleshooting for the “Smarties”; Goldman’s team of remote travel advisors, liaising with key suppliers and managing SmartFlyer Australia events – including a series of pop up offices launching in Sydney and Melbourne throughout the year.
Castaway Island, Fiji lifts conservation awareness with appointment of environment officer
As the United Nations designates 2018 as the third International Year of the Reef, Castaway Island, Fiji has appointed an environment officer as part of its ongoing commitment to preserve and protect its pristine marine environment.
A graduate of Fiji National University with a bachelor’s degree in environmental management, Kolinio Mataiyaga Vulaono will be responsible for the environmentally sustainable use of both the marine and land-based resources of the resort.
Vulaono will work in partnership with other tourism operators, communities, government and non-government organizations while also promoting OZONE, Outrigger Resorts’ global conservation initiative, centred on protecting the health of the world’s coral reefs and oceans.
He sees his role as focusing on education and training to prevent degradation of the environment, working closely with the resort’s PADI dive, water-sports and activities department to deliver the Outrigger-Zone (OZONE) environment initiative and collaborating with the Mamanuca Environment Society.
Event Hospitality & Entertainment appoints QT Hotels & Resorts Communications Manager
Event Hospitality & Entertainment, parent company to QT Hotels & Resorts, this week announced Jessica Fornito as the new Communications Manager across QT Hotels & Resorts, nationally.
Fornito joined QT Hotels & Resorts in 2014 and throughout her four years at QT she has held positions as PR Executive and PR Manager covering QT Hotels in Sydney, Canberra & Melbourne.
In 2016 Fornito transferred to the Melbourne office to spearhead the successful opening of QT Melbourne. Fornito oversaw partnerships including a successful collaboration with Vogue Australia and GQ to host a Melbourne spring racing breakfast, positioning the QT Melbourne Rooftop as the must-visit destination across the popular carnival.
Fornito was also fundamental in partnering QT Melbourne with the 2017 delicious. Produce Awards as well as collaborating with The World’s 50 Best Restaurants to become the ‘Official Hotel’ of its 2017 program and subsequently hosting the All Star Yum Cha brunch.
Scenic Announces its World-Class Operations Team for Scenic Eclipse
Scenic has announced the appointment of four key operational roles in preparation for the maiden voyage of Scenic Eclipse on 31 August 2018.
Hans Heger – General Manager Operations, Scenic Discovery Yachts – assumes responsibility for all operations relating to the Scenic Eclipse fleet
Guillermo Muro – Culinary Director – will oversee the menu development across the 10 on board dining experiences, as well as manage operations for the ship’s extensive culinary department in conjunction with V Ships
Frederik Ekelund – Hotel Director – will be responsible for managing Scenic Eclipse’s on board operations
Sonja Altmann – Operations Manager – will oversee all shore-based guest operations, including shore excursions and supplier relationships
With the build of the first Scenic Eclipse nearing completion, the appointments within this senior team will ensure Scenic deliver a truly world-class, six-star luxury cruise experience for guests.
Amadeus creates NDC-X program to drive industry innovation
The travel industry is moving towards increased personalisation, as merchandising techniques drive new revenues and business opportunities, and as travelers expect brands to know them and adapt offers accordingly.
It is against this backdrop that Amadeus today announces the creation of a dedicated program to drive the industrialisation of NDC and ensure its success for all travel players.
Gianni Pisanello, who has held a variety of leadership roles within Amadeus’ airlines business, both on the IT and the distribution side, will lead the new NDC-X program.
“We are at a critical moment in terms of the development of the standard, and the readiness of the industry,” says Gianni Pisanello, VP, NDC-X program. “For NDC to truly take off, we need to create a real standard not only for the protocol itself, but also for how it’s implemented. We also need to ensure that it responds to travel seller requirements, and that it has the right economics to drive investment. At Amadeus, we recognise that we have a responsibility to make NDC work for all travel players, and that’s what we will be doing through our NDC-X program.”
GHM Appoints Moukarzel to Lead Al Bait Opening
General Hotel Management Ltd. (GHM) has named Patrick Moukarzel general manager of the Al Bait Sharjah, a 53-key hotel scheduled to open later this year in a historic district of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) third largest city.
A French national fluent in three languages, including Arabic, Moukarzel’s appointment is a homecoming of sorts. Between 2006 and 2012, he rose through the ranks from a food and beverage manager at The Chedi Muscat to general manager positions at the luxury hotel group’s properties in Thailand and China.
Since his last role with GHM as a general manager in Suzhou, Moukarzel has managed luxury hotels in Penang, Malaysia and in Maldives where he shepherded the Soneva Jani from the final stages of construction to full operation.
Tourism Authority hires Jennifer Davies as Director of Cultural Tourism, Balboa Park
The San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA) announced today that Jennifer Davies has been named Director of Cultural Tourism, Balboa Park. A recognized local leader in public affairs and communications, Davies is the first person to occupy the newly created position.
In her new role, Davies will oversee the SDTA’s Balboa Park-focused cultural tourism initiatives, working to promote Balboa Park as a nationally recognized cultural icon and generate travel to the San Diego region.
Davies has a robust record of leading communications, marketing strategy and program development for prominent San Diego organizations. Prior to joining the SDTA, Davies served as the Assistant Dean of External Affairs for UC San Diego Extension and Vice President of External Affairs for the Downtown San Diego Partnership. She also served as Director of Communications for former City Council President Sherri Lightner and worked as the Marketing and Communications Manager for the Centre City Development Corporation.
Davies also has a background in journalism, having served as a staff writer for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
amadeus Balboa Park Castaway Island Fiji GHM QT Hotels & Resorts scenic smartflyer travellers choiceLatest News
Collette goes off the beaten track with Canyon Country tour
To be clear TW is not advocating actually walking off the beaten track. Avoid the coyotes. Stay on the beaten track.
Intrepid & Korean Tourism Organisation team up to give agents a cooking masterclass
These guys learnt that Korean cooking is more than just putting kimchi on 2-minute noodles (as we once thought).
Winner, winner! Intrepid reveals the 9 lucky agents that won $2k
Who won the incentive? Which Intrepid trip will they spend it on? What day of the week is it again? Where am I? Huh?
Corporate Traveller reports 42% increase in Easter traffic this year
Business travellers just love Easter! Expect plenty of chocolate stained documents returning to the office on Tuesday.
Turbulent year wiped $384m off Qantas brand value: Report
Meanwhile, eating tuna at your desk can damage your own personal office brand value by several thousand dollars.
FAMIL: Room-Res & Singapore Tourism Board shows agents the Lion City’s roar
Click this article to see a man very impressed by a 20-layer chocolate cake. We're not kidding, he loved it!
Oceania Cruises offers sailors free pre-cruise hotel stay
Looking for ways to make your holidays as long as possible? Look no further.
Bonza launches new website to compliment app, agent portal
Does news about an airline's website fill you with ecstasy, glee and joy? Get your hit of the good stuff here.
MTA agents attends ‘Lunch ‘n’ Learn’ with AMA Waterways
When organising the event, Lunch 'n' Learn beat out Dinner 'n' Divulge and Breakfast 'n' Banter. Understandably so.
Travelmarvel reveals 2025 South America tours
If you spot any typos in the newsletter today it is because TW became distracted Googling images of Machu Picchu.
Tourists from 5 countries could be BANNED from visiting Australia
Anthony Albanese's immigration laws could impact tourism from certain countries.
Just how many passengers will Qantas & Jetstar hop around this Easter?
Airline workers are ready for gleeful Easter travellers! Also prepared for sticky children with chocolate on their face.
Air New Zealand gets ready for bumper Easter weekend
Air NZ gears up for travelling passengers this Easter, while TW looks to beat our egg eating record. 117 here we come!
Four Seasons Yachts reveals first itineraries to the Caribbean & Mediterranean
These trips look so good we wish there were five seasons! Alright, we'll see ourselves out...
FAMIL: Travellers Choice treats top agents to the wonders of Rotorua
This one's got plenty of famil pics and no one looks shockingly hungover in them! Clearly no TW staffers were there.
European Waterways celebrates 50th anniversary with week-long founders cruise
Plan on celebrating your 50th anniversary with a bottle of Moët and fairy bread? European Waterways has better ideas.
100th route! Jetstar celebrates the launch of Brisbane-Avalon with 12 hour sale
Jetstar knocks a ton and celebrates with a sale while TW once scored a ton and celebrated with about 17 beers.
Record-breaking year for NSW as visitor expenditure soars past $50 billion
Enjoy running round the Opera House? Be prepared to elbow even more tourists out the way.
Norwegian Cruise Line makes play for solo travellers
NCL ensuring you don't have to go trawling Tinder to find a cruise partner. Thank goodness, we were sick of catfishing.
Entire Travel Group’s Canada and Europe 2024/25 brochures are out now
Entire's new brochure is bittersweet; it both informs your clients and makes you envious of the holiday they'll take.
Malaysia Airlines adds 3 new destinations & A330neo seats
More seats means cheaper airfares and more money to spend on overpriced airport sandwiches. Woohoo!
Two divine days onboard Crystal Serenity
It's only pure serenity onboard this ship. Anxiety, agitation and anguish have been rejected by the bouncer.
How the Globus Family of Brands elevates coach touring: Travel Weekly TV with Chris Fundell
Chris' here so you don't think coaches mean peeling your thighs off a sticky leather seat every time you stand up!
The Flight Centre Foundation gears up for massive 2024 with 3 new board members
The foundation looks to invest $200k this year, spurring the TW journos to figure out how to qualify as a charity.
Barking Owl Communications to head up Anantara & Avani in ANZ
Fellow PR competitors had been barking up the wrong tree even thinking of bidding for this job!
Amex GBT to purchase CWT for $871m
It's big deals like this that get a firm handshake - hence the sore hands over at the CWT and Amex GBT offices.
1000MTG’s second global conference reminds agents to ‘strive and thrive’
Alongside messages to 'strive' and 'thrive' were those to 'survive', 'drive', 'arrive' and 'jive' (when appropriate).
Qantas A330 makes “loud bang”, pilots forced to shut down one engine
Qantas refusing to let Boeing have all the headlines in aviation world today!
GX Community Tourism Summit 2024 location revealed!
The new location has arrived and it'll blow your socks off! Time for another trip to Target for more socks then.
Visiting the destination my Mum didn’t want me to
Yet again, this journo has been a stress to his mother. Discover how this trip spurred his mother's anxiety here.
Agents come out of their shells at P&O’s turtle hatchery event
For some, it's a few glasses of bubbles to lure them out of their shell. For these agents, it was a bit more literal.
Boeing cleanout: CEO, chair to go as safety crisis plagues the manufacturer
CEOs are falling thick and fast these days. We should have started up a bingo game with their headshots in the office.
Virgin looks to swap MAX 10 order for MAX 8s amid Boeing delays: Reports
Virgin has changed its order for something smaller. Much like we have to at Maccas following a worrying doctor's visit.
Club Med unveils newest luxury yacht for 2024/25 early bird sale
This yacht is preserved for the early birds! Night Owls may also get onboard depending how late they stay up.
Abercrombie & Kent 2024 Asia Portfolio is here
Round up the family and get planning an Asia jaunt. Or, if they're hard to handle, brush them all and go it alone!
Elevate your earnings: Final days to secure double commission with Inspiring Vacations’ March offer
What could inspire you to sell more Inspiring Vacations? Double commission of course! That's all the inspiration needed.