News in Brief: Monday April 28

News in Brief: Monday April 28
By admin


Recent growth of the Select Travel Group, Independent Travel Group and ITG italktravel franchises has prompted Express Ticketing to make three management appointments.

National sales manager and state manager VIC/TAS Jonathan Nelson becomes national sales manager with former network manager Independent Travel Group VIC Vito Romeo promoted to the role of national sales manager VIC/TAS.

Meanwhile, former Virgin Atlantic national corporate account manager Roni Trieu has been appointed Select Travel Group network manager NSW/ACT from May 5.

The appointments will “enhance the controlled growth of the business into its next phase of national development,” Express Ticketing executive general manager Ari Magoutis said.

 

Australian travel agents can now book instant purchase fares on Italian rail network Trenitalia 120 days before a train's departure under new changes from the Italian rail operator.

Until now, the competitive point-to-point rates could only be booked a maximum of 90 days prior to a Trenitalia train's departure.

Rail Plus General Manager Sales & Marketing Greg McCallum described the extension as a "welcome development" for travel agents, enabling them to "wrap up" all elements of a European itinerary simultaneously.

"Until now agents have regularly had to lock in accommodation and airfares, but sit on the rail component until they entered the 90-day booking period," he said. "Now an Italian rail journey is far less likely to hold up the process."

 

Adventure Associates is offering a 9-day expedition of the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, the wildlife capital of the High Arctic, on board the historic 12-passenger ice-strengthened Swedish vessel M/S Malmö.

The expedition will be led by Danish-born Henrik L√∏vendahl who has worked in both the Arctic and Antarctic for the past 20 years.

Prices for the Svalbard Explorer Voyage start from $9490 per person twin-share. This once-only voyage departs on July 29.

 

APT has launched its new European river cruise program for 2015, featuring the addition of three new ships.

There is also a 25% increase in Magnificent Europe departures, 20% more land departures, and a range of new Signature Experiences and Freedom of Choice touring options.

 

P&O Cruises is offering a record number of sailings to Victoria in 2015-16, with the program on sale today.

It features five Melbourne P&OMainEvents itineraries including the cruise line’s first Melbourne Cup three-ship trifecta and a maiden cruise to the city’s Food and Wine Festival in March 2015.

Meanwhile the regional areas of Mornington Peninsula and Portland are also set to experience the economic benefits of the cruise industry, with P&O Cruises making its first visits to both areas next year. 

In total, P&O Cruises’ Victorian visits in 2015-16 are estimated to inject around $15 million into the state’s economy.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

Latest News

  • Conferences

IPW 2024: 960,000 Aussies took the trek to the Land of the Free last year

Travel Weekly is on the ground at the IPW launch in Los Angeles, and goes in search of those states that want us to grace their shores. Chris Thompson, the president and CEO of Brand USA opened the U.S. Travel Association’s IPW 2024, with a bullish estimation of the year ahead and to a packed […]

  • Aviation

Nauru Airlines offers new direct flights from Brisbane to Palau on ‘Paradise Express’

Nauru Airlines is offering new direct six-hour flights from Brisbane to Palau on the ‘Palau Paradise Express’ to the 300-island archipelago, with launch fares from $999 return. Nauru Airlines will commence direct flights between Brisbane and Palau from 21 May 2024, opening the new non-stop air route to this archipelago nation of more than 300 […]

  • Cruise
  • News

Search underway for missing cruiser of Sydney Heads

Carnival Cruise Lines have confirmed a search is underway for a passenger who went overboard P&O Cruises Pacific Adventure about 20 kilometres off Sydney Heads this morning. Pacific Adventure was due to dock at Sydney Harbour at 6am this morning but is now searching the waters after a man went overboard around 4:15am. One passenger told 2GB […]

  • Partner Content

Wendy Wu Tours ‘Wonderlust Sale’ offers the wonders of the world for less

Wendy Wu Tours opens the month of May with some very special deals across its most sought-after destinations. From Japan, China and South Korea to Southeast Asia, Central Asia and across India and Latin America, the ‘Wonderlust Sale’ sees all destinations on sale.  The ‘Wonderlust Sale’ is an offer too good to resist with incredible […]

Partner Content

by Travel Weekly

Travel Weekly
  • Technology

Booking.com launches AI Trip Planner in Australia and New Zealand

Booking.com has announced its AI Trip Planner (Beta) is now available for travellers in Australia and New Zealand, the first markets to launch in Asia Pacific. Until now, AI Trip Planner was only available for US and UK travellers after it was launched in the Booking.com app in June last year. Built using Booking.com’s existing […]

  • Products

Embrace the journey: Traversing the world with the Shokz OpenRun

If you’ve been on the wrong side of a final call in the airport, or missed the stop on rail journey, it might be time to invest in a pair of Shokz OpenRun headphones. Originally marketed as headphones for fitness fanatics, runners or cyclists with a keen to steer clear of a prang with a car, […]

  • Tour Operators
  • Tourism

TTC: Deals are driving up demand for September trips

The latest market research from TTC Tour Brands shows interest in international leisure travel remains high for 2024, with 77 per cent of Australians over 18 still planning trips this year. Notably, 28 per cent of those travellers are eyeing September for their journeys. Europe continues to be the most popular destination, with 68 per […]