On The Go Tours are offering a 10% discount on all of its Russia group tours departing in 2015, with everything from a six-day Vodka Shot tour to a four-day Night at the Museum tour on offer.

The discount is valid on all new group tour bookings deposited between October 30 and November 30, and for travel dates between January 1 and December 31 2015.

Emirates has announced it will launch a fourth daily service from Dubai International Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, beginning March 8 2015.

 The new service EK 207 will depart Dubai at 14:50 hours and arrive in JFK at 20:35 hours. The return flight, EK 208 will depart JFK at 16:30 hours and arrive in Dubai at 13:15 the following day, with the service to be operated by one of Emirates’ fleet of A380 aircrafts.

FlySafair has established itself as South Africa’s first true low cost carrier, with the recent announcement of a second base and new routes this week.

The first flights launched were in October between Cape Town and Johannesburg, followed by the launch of the Cape Town to Port Elizabeth route last week, and soon to be followed with a Cape Town to George route on November 13.

From December 3, FlySafair will launch their second base at Johannesburg O.R. Tambo airport, allowing passengers to fly from Johannesburg to George and Port Elizabeth from AUD$51 one way.

Over ten thousand LOT clients have purchased tickets for the new travel class, LOT Economy Plus, which was introduced in June and has proven very popular up in the air.

LOT Economy Plus is offered on short and medium-haul distances, and offers customers a higher comfort level akin to Business Class, at more affordable rates, with inclusions such as Business Class check-in, luggage and boarding priority, extensive inflight menus and a seat in the front of the cabin.

LOT Economy Plus is automatically available for LOT Premium Class passengers traveling on-board Dreamliner on all long haul flights to and from New York, Chicago, Toronto and Beijing.

Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) is set to serve up a three-course celebration of food in February with the inaugural Abu Dhabi Food Festival being integrated into the annual Gourmet Abu Dhabi event, the new Emirati Kitchen, and the Gulf region’s first StreetFeast.

Running from February 5-21, the festival will encourage visitors and locals alike to engage in the range of activities, restaurants, malls and attractions featured in the program, including masterchef classes, celebrity chef appearances and themed dinners.

 “Food from a range of countries and of different types will be served up by a kitchen caravan of food trucks. It will be affordable food for all to enjoy,” TCA Abu Dhabi’s acting executive director of tourism Sultan Al Dhaheri said.

“Abu Dhabi Food Festival has been designed to appeal to all price points and tastes and will serve up the world on our plates.”

Adventure Associates has released two ‘From Persia to Iran’ tours, which aim to take travellers and educate them about the ancient treasures of Persia and understand the Iran of today, including experiences such as home visits and bazaar visits.

Fully escorted by an Arab scholar, and staying in 4-star hotels, Adventure Associates 15-day ‘From Persia to Iran’ tours depart 3 March and 1 November 2015, with director Greg Mortimer saying the company hopes to appeal to the “thinking traveller.”

A group of Australian travel agents were recently treated to a famil taking in some of the highlights of Travelmarvel’s popular Canada program, including visits to Banff for a helicopter ride, Lake Louise in Jasper and stop-offs in Vancouver and Whistler.

The group also had the chance to travel on the rocky Mountaineer, before ending the journey with a two night stay in Victoria at Parkside Hotel and Spa.
 

Rockdale travel agents Nadine Portelli and Kathryn Bonaretti were among 90 special guests to join in the festivities of Flight Centre’s NSW southern region’s November Buzz Night at Panorama House Restaurant, Bulli Tops.

Co-sponsored by the Macau Government Tourist Office and Helen Wong’s Tours, this monthly event recognised top achievers of October, with many in the running for an invitation to next year’s annual global event which this year was held in Macau.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) is aiming reinvigorate the Japanese market with the appointment of Sam Sakamoto.

Sakamoto has specialised in the Japanese market for 23 years with 13 of them based in Cairns as director of sales at Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, the manager of Wasabi Marketing and most recently as product manager for online company Hot Holiday.