Two Accor Hotels in North Queensland have ‘swapped’ general managers, with Peter Richardson and James Murphy switching to Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort and Mercure Townsville respectively.

Richardson had worked at Mercure as general manager from 2005, while Murphy was general manager at Novotel since 2011, before swapping to their new roles.

Best Western has launched a competition for travellers, aimed at raising awareness of the three hotel types: Best Western, Best Western Plus and Best Western Premier.

Travellers are invited to upload favourite holiday snaps to www.bestwestern.com.au/3types to win one of three holidays before September 30, with each winner receiving a $3000 Webjet voucher, $1500 Best Western Travel Card and $500 experience voucher to redeem at over 4000 Best Western hotels worldwide.

The Langham Sydney has commenced an exciting $30 million revamp expected to drastically improve some features of the hotel. After closing its doors on the 24 July 2014, the project has been estimated to take four months to complete before officially reopening its doors in December 2014.

Some of the new features will include a remodelling of its lobby, dining areas, guestrooms and ballroom, as well as the introduction of the Langham brand’s luxurious Chuan Spa and Palm Court, its famous afternoon tea room.

Tigerair has launched a 48-hour sale to welcome the month of August, offering travellers a chance to purchase early summer mid-week $48.00 tickets to a range of popular destinations.

The sale ends tonight at midnight and is perfect for travellers on a budget or for those who like to secure a good deal. Selected routes include Melbourne and Mackay, Sydney and Whitsunday Coast, Brisbane and Cairns, Brisbane and Melbourne, Melbourne and Gold Coast and Adelaide and Sydney.

P&O Cruises have unveiled its new 2015-16 program, offering a wider range of travel destinations including Honiara in the Solomon Islands, Jakarta in Indonesia, and Ko Chang in Thailand as well as local gems like Queensland’s Hamilton Island and Gladstone, Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula and Esperance in Western Australia.

The record program will kick off on 25 November 2015 in an Australian first, bringing together a five ship display in Sydney harbour bringing together the Pacific Eden, Aria, Dawn, Jewel and Pearl.

Riding off the back of the TV show The Amazing Race, Kings Canyon is offering an experience package starting from $558.00.

The limited time two-night Kings Canyon Experience in a standard room with breakfast daily entitles the guests for a few added extras that include a signature outback dinner under a Desert Moon and a Helicopter Dash over Kings Canyon. The experience is on sale now and will run until 31 March 2015.

Ruth Watson has been appointed the Sales and Marketing Manager of Kakadu Tourism based in the groups Darwin office.

Watson had led a well-establish career in a variety of customer service roles and has been working in the Northern territory for the past three years.

MSC cruises has themed a number of Mediterranean cruises in November and December this year around two fundamental holiday aspects- wine and shopping.

The MSC Splendida will embark on a three exciting yet very affordable seven night cruises that entice passengers to discover a “whole win experience. Offering visits to wine cellars in Italy, France, Spain and Tunis this is not an offer wine lovers will want to miss. Prices start at A$549 (NZ$769) per person, twin share.

China Southern Airlines have launched is first ever direct service from southern China to the US east coast. Flight CZ399 will travel from Guangzhou and New York City using the four-class Boeing 777-300ER.

China Southern is a proud member of the well-respected Sky Team, which offers passengers more than 19,000 daily flights spanning more than 1000 destinations in 187 countries.

Updating the devastating air tragedy of flight MH17, Prime Minister Najib Razak addressed the grief stricken families at a joint press briefing in the Netherlands, offering his condolences of the 298 lives lost on board.

Razak also addressed the continuing conflict in Eastern Ukraine stating that “it may not easily be resolved.”

As for the crash site, a team of 68 Malaysian have arrived in Kiev today to work with both Dutch and Australian officials in securing the crash site.

Ultra –luxury Silversea Cruises’ Silver Cloud will host a never before seen jewellery exhibition created by the legendary Buccellati family.

This one-of-a-kind, nine-day eastern Mediterranean cruise will take place on the 13 October 2014 and will offer Silversea guests an intriguing and exclusive insight into the world of both rare and exclusive jewellery.

Hawaiian Airlines will waive reservation change fees and differences in fares for customers who need to change their travel plans because of Hurricane Iselle and Tropical Storm Julio.

Effective immediately, customers who are ticketed for travel on Hawaiian Airlines on 7 and 8 August 2014 will be permitted to change their reservations without charge to flights through 12 August 2014.

Change must be made prior to the departure of the originally scheduled flight and ticketed on or before 12 August 2014.