News in Brief: Monday October 13
Brisbane’s Airtrain is making it more convenient for fans heading to the final Bledisloe Cup match at Suncorp Stadium on October 18, with new deals connecting travellers to the city centre.
For rugby fans travelling to the game, a 10% discount is available for all online bookings made in advance, as well as discounts for groups of two or more.
RAC Travel Carousel has become the first RAC retail store in Western Australia to reach Diamond status as part of APT’s VIP agent reward and recognition program.
As well as achieving the highest level of sales across APT, Travelmarvel and Botanica’s products, the team has also worked in partnership with APT’s business development team to market each brand to clients.
Park Hotel Group has won “Best Regional Hotel Chain” for its third consecutive year at the recent TTG Travel Awards 2014 held in Bangkok.
“Travellers have much higher expectations than before, and for service excellence at a scale requires us to rethink problems and approach it in a never done before manner,” CEO Allan Law said, citing his team innovation as integral to the group’s win.
Victoria-based Travel Counsellor Matt Schmitz has become the latest agent to be awarded ‘Gold’ status by the company, which is awarded to top performing Travel Counsellors who achieve gross commissions of $146,000 or more over a 12 month period.
Schmitz is now listed in the top 10% of Travel Counsellors worldwide, joining fellow Australian Gold Travel Counsellors Nadine Kutz and Michelle Tavli.
Ponant’s range of luxury expedition has expanded to include both Viking and Tsar territory in its Baltic and Northern Europe cruises in June 2015.
Exploring highlights of the Baltic and Northern Europe region, including coastal Sweden, Finland, Poland, Estonia and Russia, the itineraries range between seven and 10 nights in length, and feature onboard specialists who offer specialist insight on each destination.
DocuSign and Sabre Pacific have partnered up to integrate DocuSign’s DTM platform into its CRM system to provide over 2000 Sabre-connected customers with a seamless, online sales agreement process.
Sabre Pacific connects travel buyers and sellers through a travel marketplace, while DocuSign is a global travel technology company, with the partnership aimed at helping travel agents in the South Pacific merge to completely online processes.
DocuSign will help Sabre staff to accelerate the manual process of finalising paperwork, which is especially beneficial for team members who travel or work for regional businesses.
StayWell Hospitality Group has unveiled plans for its $3 million renovations to the Park Regis Singapore and Park Regis Dubai properties, with a focus on both new and renovated conference and event spaces.
Park Regis Singapore works are expected to be completed by November, and include new meeting areas for up to 50 guests, a relocated reception, new dining area and lounge, and renovations to the gym and rooftop bar.
The Park Regis Dubai renovations will aim to improve the flexibility and options within its conference and meetings spaces, allowing for events ranging from intimate dinners to large cocktail parties.
StayWell Hospitality Group’s CEO and managing director Simon Wan says “this investment, representing several million dollars, will deliver enhanced facilities for our guests – be that for a special event or conference in Dubai or guests in Singapore wanting supper at 2am or to host drinks at the rooftop bar.”
Crowne Plaza Canberra has announced the appointment of Tina Fisher as the new general manager, bringing with her a strong marketing and sales background, including 25 years’ experience in hotels, travel and membership organisations.
Fisher’s last role was as general manager for sales and marketing at the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia, with other positions including overseeing IHG franchises while working with Southern Sun Hotels.
Celebrity Century sailed to Australia for the last time on Friday October 10, arriving after the 23-night Trans Pacific voyage from San Francisco, and offering just 11 more cruises before repositioning to Singapore.
The ship’s three-month Australian season will feature 11 sailings, ranging from seven to 23 nights in duration, and will leave Sydney on a 14-night cruise to Singapore on January 11 2015, where the ship will then operate a new Southeast Asia program until April 2015.
Princess Cruises will celebrate 10 years of signature long cruises from Australia by launching two world cruises in 2016, including its first circumnavigation that incorporates the Baltic region.
The cruise line will host a new 104-night world voyage itinerary, including trips to South America and Scandinavia, as well as bringing back the 75-night Circle Pacific voyage, with four new port calls to China and San Francisco.
On Thursday night United Airlines and the Sydney Kings Mighty Mite celebrated the official launch of the season, with over 300 VIP guests at Café Del Mar, with spring inspired canapés and drinks.
Attendee Carlie Platt from Nudie Australia walked away with the winning Business First ticket to Los Angeles with United Airlines, with the start of the season coinciding with United’s upcoming launch of a new route between Melbourne and LA, the hub of NBA.
The partnership will continue over the 2014-15 NBL season, with several opportunities for consumers to win giveaways through attending games and engaging with the Kings’ social media networks.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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