QantasLink announced as of 28 November it will start direct flights between Brisbane and Hamilton Island. The four return services per week will be operated by the 74 seat Q400 aircraft.

QantasLink chief executive officer John Gissing said this was great news for customers and Whitsunday tourism, “especially in the lead up to the summer months when we know people are planning holidays.”

Travellers who can't get enough of airplane food can now enjoy the pre-packed meals at home with a new service launched that will provide home delivery of airplane meals.

Online German grocery store Allyouneed.com is launching the service — called Air Food One— to deliver either a "classic" or "vegetarian" meal once a week. The grocery store is teaming up with LSG Sky Chefs, the food provider for Lufthansa airlines.

Rarotonga’s upscale property Nautilus Resort will open its doors on 1 October. The property features 18 premium villas, a massive infinity pool, Polynesian spa and beachfront restaurant in a prime location on beautiful Muri Lagoon. 

To celebrate the opening, Nautilus is offering until 31 March 2015 a stay 7, pay 5 nights offer including complimentary return airport transfers, bottle of Nautilus wine and tropical fruit platter.

Australian travellers can now avoid hefty international roaming fees with a new solution from Roaming Abroad.

Roaming Abroad has introduced to the market the broadest range of international prepaid SIM cards so Australians will be able to generously use fast data and to call and text locally and back home while on their holidays on a budget.

Each Roaming Abroad prepaid international travel SIM card comes pre-activated, with a user guide to help customers make the most of all the benefits preloaded on each card and with Roaming Abroad’s complete satisfaction guarantee. 

Mobile Travel Agents (MTA) has announced ATAS general manager, Gary O’Riordan; Life Strategist Shannah Kennedy; Pitcher Partners managing partner, Nigel Fischer and Virtuoso executive general manager Australia, New Zealand and Asia, Michael Londregan as keynote speakers for 2014 National Conference.

The 2014 ‘Imagine-Believe-Achieve’ themed National Conference is shaping up to be the biggest event in the company’s 14-year history.

MTA brand ambassador since November 2011, sailing legend Jessica Watson OAM will also join the MTA team.

Sydney staged a spectacular welcome this morning to mark the maiden arrival of the latest ship to call Australia home – Carnival Cruise Lines’ superliner Carnival Legend. 

Kicking off Australia’s biggest ever cruise season, the 88,500-tonne ship enjoyed a legendary entry into Sydney Harbour with the Australian Girls Choir performing a medley of well-known Australian tunes, along with the American and Australian national anthem, with 3000 guests and crew singing along.

China Southern Airlines has announced competitive earlybird fares to Europe in 2015, with return flights now on sale from as little as $1274. The new fares are among the best available in Australia and take advantage of the airline’s Canton Route via Guangzhou.

They offer travel on China Southern services to London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Moscow and Istanbul, as well as to 25 other European destinations via codeshare partners. 

Flights are available from the airline’s four Australian gateways – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth – as well as from Adelaide travelling via Melbourne.

Quest Serviced Apartments opened a brand new property in the Northern Territory today, the Quest Berrimah.

The property is ideally positioned to meet increasing demand from the corporate sector for high quality, long-stay accommodation in Darwin’s eastern suburbs as a result of significant investment and development in the area.

Quest chief executive officer, Zed Sanjana said strengthening Quest’s presence in the Northern Territory was an important part of the serviced apartment operator’s growth strategy, especially given the unprecedented level of activity currently underway.

Garuda Indonesia has won the “Gold Award” for outstanding service at the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Awards 2014.

The recognition came as a result of two service concepts, the “Immigration on Board” service product for “Marketing – Carrier” category, and the “Garuda Indonesia Experience” for the “Heritage and Culture” category.

The award was presented to Garuda Indonesia’s Director of Service Faik Fahmi during the “The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Awards 2014” in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.