News in Brief: Wednesday August 21
Quest Serviced Apartments today opened a new property in the centre of Wodonga on the border of New South Wales and Victoria, in response to "booming" business conditions in the area.
The 80-apartment property aims to cater to the accommodation and conferencing needs of the growing number of business travellers to the region.
Service is the key to the survival of travel agents in a digital age, according to TravelManagers personal travel manager John Gazal.
In an interview with ABC's The Business program, Gazal said the service offered by the firm offers the best of both worlds – "a go to you business model and personal service all in one" that harness the power of the internet,
"Providing individual tailor made experiences, and having your own personal travel manager is what sets a personal travel manager apart from a traditional travel agent," he said.
Confirmation that China Southern will increase its Brisbane service to daily is an endorsement of Queensland's tourism industry, according to the Tourism and Transport Forum.
"The new daily service will add more than 33,000 seats each year and more visitors mean more jobs and greater spending across the state on accommodation, entertainment, dining, shopping, transport and more," chief executive Ken Morrison said.
The increase, effective from November 21, represents a 75% increase in capacity on the Guangzhou-Brisbane route.
Jordan Tourism Board has launched a new food website as it expands its range of tourism products to cater to more niches and markets.
The website aims to promote Jordan as a gastronomic destination for foodie travellers.
Bali Tours has released its 2013/14 Bali and Beyond brochure entitled Discover the Beauty.
The 68-page brochure features a range of new hotels including the Maharani Beach Hotel and the Sheraton Bali Kuta along with dedicated villas and weddings sections and a range of activities and cruises.
Excite Holidays has seen a rise in the number of Australian travel agents boking fully serviced apartments for clients travelling overseas.
A sense of value, space and access to kitchen facilities are behind the trend according to the wholesale firm.
The launch of an apartment search feature for agents four months ago has seen a 55% spike in apartment bookings year on year.
The number of passengers travelling in premium class cabins climbed just over 4% in June, latest figures from the International Air Transport Association have shown.
The growth is higher than the 3.2% increase recorded in the first half of 2013 but behind the 4.8% rise in 2012.
IATA said the June figure has "helped contain any further loss in [premium cabin] share" after a "slight dip" in recent months as economic confidence wavered.
The aviation governing body added that the outlook for July was more encouraging with indications of an improvement in business confidence and export orders.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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