News in Brief: Tuesday June 24
The Travel Corporation (TTC) has underlined its support for the AFTA Travel Accreditation Scheme (ATAS), with Trafalgar, Contiki, Insight Vacations, Creative Holidays, AAT Kings, Uniworld, Adventure World, New Horizons Holidays and Busabout all now successfully accredited.
Chief executive Australia John Weeks commended AFTA for its efforts in establishing the new scheme.
"The Travel Corporation is pleased to play its part in setting the benchmark for quality and professionalism for the benefit of Australian consumers," he said.
Tourism Fiji has confirmed that Fiji Tourism Exchange 2015 will take place on the archipelago's main island of Viti Levu from June 15- to 19 2015.
The dates have been selected because they fall just before the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) 2015, to be hosted in Melbourne, making it easier for buyers from key long haul markets to "make the most" out of their visit to the Pacific region.
Tourism Fiji acting chief executive Ken Freer said the inaugural FTE, which took place last month, had “exceeded all expectations.”
"Our opportunity for 2015 is to build on that success and enhance the event, to showcase the great diversity and quality of product available in Fiji to our existing and new international industry partners."
Tasmanian state tourism is set to benefit as expressions of interest open for new tourism experiences in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, says the Tourism and Transport Forum.
“Supporting sensible and appropriate tourism ventures in these wilderness areas will create new reasons to visit and new revenue for conservation while dispersing the benefits of tourism to regional areas,” chief executive Ken Morrison said.
Agents have less than two days to enter Star Alliance’s Round the World tickets incentive by completing its new online training course.
To be in the running, agents must complete the course, launched last month, by midnight June 25.
Meanwhile, each week the alliance is rewarding three new graduates with $100 Westfield vouchers. The latest winners are: Louise Hill of Scenic Tours; Tina Gojani of Adelaide Travel; Charlotte Taylor of Wall Street Travel; Troy Conley of Flight Centre; Britta Gileno of Corporate Travel Management and Cheryl Ryan of Susan Martin.
The Langham, Auckland has appointed Michael Shah to the role of director of sales and marketing.
Shah has most recently worked in general management roles at Qualia Resort, Hamilton Island and Pacific Resort, Aitutaki.
The eco-friendly resort, located on South Long Island, features 10 beach front bungalows, a fully-licensed gazebo bar, restaurant, infinity edge resort pool and day spa facility.
“The boutique resort has a maximum capacity of just 20 guests at any one time, making it a high-end private getaway nestled between natural rainforest and some of Australia’s finest waters,” CBRE Hotels’ Don Watson-Brown said.
“While there is opportunity to further develop the resort, it will most likely be purchased as a trophy asset, only available to specific high end clientele as a means of securing holding income.”
Current owners Barry and Julie Pickering have spent approximately $2.5 million upgrading the resort with a shabby chic theme.
The Grand Hotel and Casino Vanuatu is on track to complete its refurbishment program by the end of June when it will unveil a revitalised restaurant, pool, lobby and conference facilities.
“As a result we are now positioned as a perfect short-haul, four-star destination for the Australian, New Zealand and Pacific MICE, corporate and holiday-seeking couples markets,” general manager Carey Norton said.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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