News in Brief: Tuesday September 2
‘Sidetember’, the national campaign to raise awareness and funds for brain injury, kicked off on Monday, encouraging Australia’s travel industry to get behind the various fundraising activities.
The campaign provides a number of ways for people to get involved, from growing sideburns for the month, wearing the official jewellery, or doing ‘something on the side’ such as holding a morning tea or participating in sporting or family events throughout the month.
Sidetember co-founder and director Stuart Matthewman said few people realise that acquired brain injury actually affects up to one in 12 Australians, with many people having an ‘it won’t happen to me’ attitude.
“The results of 2013’s Sidetember fundraising assisted Brain Injury NSW in hosting a respite camp for 35 people in early August,” Matthewman said, encouraging people in the travel industry and beyond to rally behind the cause in 2014.
Sasy n Savy has teamed up with Dubai Tourism to offer a Luxe Pamper Lounge experience in conjunction with Dubai Tourism at the Luxurious Travel Show in Sydney.
The Pamper Lounge will have an Arabian theme with large sofas, ottomans, relaxing music and cocktails, as well as a range of Sasy n Savy products for everyone to use and therapists on hand to offer ten minute treatments.
The event will be held at Pier 3 and 4 at Hickson Road Walsh Bay from September 1 to 3.
Hong Kong-based Shangri-La International Hotel Management has unveiled a new brand of hotel today, known as Hotel Jen, which caters to a market of independently minded business and leisure travellers.
The brand launch expects to take off quickly, with ten Hotel Jens opening in major cities in Asia Pacific by March 2015, and the first property, Hotel Jen Orchardgateway, opening in Singapore on September 15.
Tigerair is gearing up for Father’s Day by offering a two for one ticket sale, available until midnight on Wednesday September 3.
The offer extends across the airline’s network, including Adelaide to Melbourne, Gold Coast to Sydney, and Melbourne to Hobart, with prices starting from $49 for two people travelling each way.
The Telekom National Tourism Forum (NTF) was held recently at Heritage Park Hotel in Honiara, marking the biggest tourism conference in the Solomon Islands over the last three years.
Officially opened by the Minister for Culture & Tourism the Honorary Samuel Manetoali and attended by more than 200 delegates, the event focused on the tourism challenges facing the Solomon Islands as it moves into the future.
The forum involved a series of presentations, a Q&A session and intensive workshops, and despite an overall successful event, several contentious issues, including accommodation supply and the development of international cruise market potential and regional air access yet to be resolved.
Queenstown’s jet boat Shotover Jet has once again been rated amongst the best in the world for tourism experiences, with CNN recently publishing an article listing the top 19 most amazing travel experiences in the world.
Shotover Jet was the only New Zealand activity to make the global list, with the 85km per hour ride topping the charts amongst other experiences such as swimming with blue whales, sledding in Antarctica and renting Richard Branson’s private island.
P&O Cruises has revealed that its three ships Aurora, Arcadia and Oriana will sail a total of 90,000 nautical miles and visit more than 20 countries as part of its World Cruising’s 2016 World Journeys Program.
The three special voyages around the globe include the adults-only 115-night roundtrip voyage on-board Arcadia, stopping at destinations such as Salvador, Santiago, Papua New Guinea and South Korea, the 114-night world cruise aboard Aurora, from Southampton to Sydney, Malaysia and Hawaii, and the 50-night cruise on Oriana taking in the best of the Caribbean and America.
Prices range from $6449 per person to $22,949 per person, with the cruises on sale from September 10.
The Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) Sydney office has launched its annual E-learning Workshop ‘Extraordinary Japan’ for travel agents.
The online training program consists of a few short modules that ensure consultants become experts in Japanese products and experiences, allowing them to sell Japan confidently.
To celebrate, Jetstar is giving one lucky travel agent the opportunity to win two return economy tickets from Melbourne to Tokyo, with agents eligible if they complete the program by 5pm on Friday October 17.
Tucan Travel has released three new Budget Expeditions group tours to India and Nepal, with the trips building on a range of tours already operating in the area.
The Budget Expeditions tours are designed for the younger traveller between the ages of 18 and 35, with travellers able to pick and choose activities to do, with the tours including accommodation, transport and tour leader.
Rocky Mountaineer has announced the addition of Julie Rogers to the APAC Sales Team in the role of group sales manager.
The role has been created to accommodate the company’s vast growth in the APAC market, with Rogers to focus on growing group sales as well as maintaining relationships in the industry.
Four Points by Sheraton Perth has announced that the multi-million dollar refurbishment of the hotel’s guest rooms and public areas is now complete, including the latest addition of new bar and dining venue The Best Brew Bar & Kitchen.
Since entering the Perth market in 2012, the property has transformed the hotel, with all 278 guest rooms and suites reflecting an interior design inspired by Western Australian landscapes, and featuring Wi-Fi access, a large walk-in shower and a work desk.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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