Balwyn Travel has joined the Magellan Travel Group. Formerly known as Jetset Balwyn the agency has now been acquired by Melanie Ford, who has been in the travel industry for more than 25 years.

Ford and her team have travelled extensively and have experience in all aspects of leisure, cruising and corporate travel. 

DoubleTree by Hilton has celebrated the opening of it’s latest addition to its growing London portfolio. DoubleTree by Hilton London – Islington is the brands 10th hotel in the capital area, located in the heart of fashionable Islington, offering an ideal base for exploring London's many attractions.

DoubleTree by Hilton global head John Greenleaf said, "since 2007, the brand has grown from no presence in the UK to nearly 25 properties, with 10 of these in the London area. The DoubleTree brand resonates with the UK traveler by offering a friendly, approachable service experience, which starts with the presentation of our signature, freshly-baked chocolate chip cookie at check-in." 

“HinterLand – a celebration of place, arts and creativity” will be staged across the Sunshine Coast Hinterland region from 19 September to 26 October. It will offer a spectacular festival of artists, makers and performers to suit all tastes and levels of experience

Much of the action will again be centred on the township of Kenilworth, in the Upper Mary Valley.  An hour’s drive from Sunshine Coast Airport, the town will celebrate two weeks of art and entertainment suitable for anyone interested in the arts, Kenilworth

Tourism Australia in partnership with STA Travel is promoting the Working Holiday Visa to potential ‘gappers’ with a cinema campaign booked around the release of ‘The Inbetweeners 2’ across the UK.

The 30-second advertisement, which features before the movie, explains how British citizens aged 18-30 can apply for the Working Holiday Visa to live, work and travel across Australia for up to two years. Find out more about the Working Holiday Visa on Australia.com.

Rail Plus has expanded its range of Great Train Journeys with the addition of a luxury chariot ride through Southern India, a voyage to the 'Lost City of the Incas' and a charming excursion through Dear Old Blighty.

Selected by Rail Plus’ team of specialists, the 2015 Great Train Journeys program aims to bring together a selection of the world’s greatest luxury. Each train offers its guests first-class service, the finest cuisine and some unique travel experiences, along with the added convenience of having to unpack just once. 

Cunard has released highlights for its 2016 world voyage program that including maiden visits to Kangaroo Island, Adelaide and Newcastle and Queen Victoria’s first roundtrip cruise from Sydney.

On sale from 10 September, the program will see the three Cunard Queens make history by departing Southampton on the same day – 10 January 2016 – then returning together on 10 May 2016.

Collectively the ships will visit 92 ports across 49 countries and make 35 maiden ship calls as flagship Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria complete world circumnavigations and the Queen Elizabeth sails an East-West world voyage.

APT has announced it is adding two more departures to its Kimberley Coast Cruising program for 2015. The new dates are both for the 11-day Kimberley Cruise itineraries, one of which is from Darwin to Broome, departing 5 August 2015; and the other Broome to Darwin, departing 23 August 2015.

The new sailings are both aboard the MS Caledonian Sky – a 55-suite vessel with a capacity for 110 guests. According to Rob Tandy, general manager for APT’s Kimberley portfolio, the new dates reflect renewed interest in the Kimberley region as a cruise destination that will “cater to the needs of their clients.”

UnionPay International, a subsidiary of China UnionPay focused on the growth and support of UnionPay's global business, and Amadeus sign an agreement to integrate UnionPay debit and credit cards into the Amadeus Payment Platform (APP).

Amadeus travel providers, including airlines and online travel agencies worldwide can now offer China's preferred card as an online payment option directly via the APP across over 140 countries where UnionPay is accepted.

With this agreement, Chinese travellers will now find it easier to travel overseas as they pay with their preferred payment card, allowing travel providers to gain a strong foothold into Chinese outbound and domestic tourism.