January saw a strong increase in demand for global air travel, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Global passenger traffic results for the month showed revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) rose 8.0% compared to January 2013, an improvement over the December 2013 growth of 6.8% and the full year 2013 growth of 5.2%. January capacity climbed 6.7%, pushing load factor up 0.9 percentage points to 78.1%.

“2014 is off to a strong start, with travel demand accelerating over the healthy results achieved in 2013, in line with stronger growth in advanced economies and emerging market regions,” said IATA chief executive Tony Tyler said.

Mantra Group continues to grow its regional network with the signing of a new management agreement in Wollongong – its first property on the NSW south coast.

The Best Western Wollongong will rebrand to Mantra Wollongong mid-March after acquisition by new owners Moss Capital.  

G Adventures has expanded its family travel program for 2014/15 as it reported 300% growth in family bookings last year.

The operator will introduce seven new trips in its latest Family brochure designed to offer parents a taste of the exotic, while offering educational elements for kids.

New product includes cycling around hundreds of pagodas in Burma, seeing the world’s highest sand dunes in Namibia, learning how to rope cattle at a Cowboy ranch in western USA and chowing down at a buffalo mozzarella farm near Amalfi, Italy.

VisitBritain and STA Travel have teamed up for the month of March to inspire Australian travellers to Britain this year to attend a local music festival or gig.

Recent research found that 44% of incoming tourists to the UK considered music to be one of Britain’s key cultural activities, VisitBritain marketing manager Australia Mark Haynes revealed.

“This is no surprise given the UK is one of only three countries that exports more music than it imports,” he said. “From world renowned festivals & indie pop-ups, to Brit bands & music incubators, Britain’s contribution to the global music scene cannot be understated.”

As part of the campaign, music fans can nominate their favourite British festival song at www.facebook.com/STAtravel.AU for the chance to win a trip to London for two, plus tickets to the now sold out Wireless Festival in London. 

Global  airline alliance SkyTeam has welcomed Garuda Indonesia as its 20th member and its second member airline from Southeast Asia.

Garuda’s membership adds Jakarta as an alternative gateway to and from South East Asia, as well as 40 new destinations to SkyTeam’s global network served uniquely by the alliance.

Bunnik Tours has launched a new incentive today giving agents the opportunity to earn a $50 Coles/Myer voucher for every passenger they book on one of the operator’s small group tours or cruise and tours to South and Central America.

The incentive runs until April 17. Vouchers will be rewarded to those agents whose clients book, and pay a deposit before this date, for travel between now and April 30 2015.   

Sydney will become the first city in Australia to host the Major League Baseball’s opening season games.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks will play their first two games of the season at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday March 22 and Sunday March 23 – only the sixth time it’s been held and broadcast outside of the United States.

The Pinctada Cable Beach Polo Festival will be held in Broome on the weekend of May 24 and 25, with special accommodation packages released for the long weekend.

 The event will feature leading overseas and Australian polo players, and their ponies, competing across two days of beach polo action that culminates in an international clash.

The Cable Beach Polo is sponsored by Pinctada Hotels and Resorts, which has released special weekend packages for the Festival at its boutique Pinctada Cable Beach Resort.

New Zealand’s Lake Rotorua Lodge has become the fourth South Island hotel to join the Heritage Boutique Collection.

The property is located just 90 minutes’ drive or a short helicopter ride from Nelson in the Nelson Lakes National Park at the northern tip of the Southern Alps, with views over Lake Rotorua across to the Travers Range.

“The lodge is the most expansive property in our inventory, covering over 1,500 hectares. We are excited to offer this unique location to our guests, for either a leisure visit or a corporate retreat,” group development manager Ronnie Ronalde said.

Avani, the upscale brand from Minor Hotel Group, has added a fifth property to its portfolio –Avani Sepang Gold Coast Resort in Malaysia.

Located on the country’s west coast, the 392-room property is close to Sepang International Circuit, home to the Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix, and 45 minutes drive from Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

With a beachfront setting, much of the resort is built over water and designed in the shape of a palm tree. Facilities include five restaurants and bars, a spa, an extensive selection of activities and a large ballroom.

Indian carrier Jet Airways has launched a new daily flight  from Hyderabad to Abu Dhabi.

The airline currently operates a daily flight each from Delhi, Kochi and Chennai and 11 flights a week from Mumbai to Abu Dhabi.

Jesus Parrilla, former chief exeutive of eco-adventure operator Explora, has joined California-based social media marketing company, Titan SEO.

As vice-president of international business strategy, Parrilla will be in charge of the company’s expansion activities in global markets with Australia highlighted as a high priority as the company expands internationally.