October

Tourism Fiji launches new trade show

Tourism Fiji has confirmed it will launch a new international trade show in 2014, following its withdrawal of support from the annual Bula Fiji Tourism Exchange this year.

Azamara to make Australian debut

Royal Caribbean’s upmarket cruise line, Azamara, has revealed plans to visit Australia for the first time – but Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne will not be among the initial ports of call. The 694-passenger Azamara Quest will sail in local waters as part of a 14-night voyage between December 22, 2015 and January 5, 2016.

Backlash warning over consumer protection

Travel Counsellors chairman David Speakman has warned the industry that it faces a public backlash if travel agents fail to safeguard customers’ money in Australia’s new-look regulatory landscape.

The Travel Corporation acquires Adventure World

The Travel Corporation will acquire Adventure World as part of a new strategic alliance with NRMA, with Contiki Australia managing director Fiona Hunt to take on the top role at the wholesaler.

Jetstar takes delivery of first 787 Dreamliner

The first domestic services to be flown by Jetstar’s new Boeing 787 Dreamliner have been confirmed as Melbourne to the Gold Coast and Cairns, as the low cost carrier took delivery of the long-awaited aircraft in Seattle.

Tourism Australia MD quits

Andrew McEvoy will step down from his position as the managing director of Tourism Australia at the end of the year to take up a role with Fairfax in January.

Phil Hoffmann Travel joins Helloworld

Phil Hoffmann Travel has confirmed it will join Helloworld, describing the new Jetset Travelworld Group retail brand as an “ideal fit” for its stores.

Magellan looks beyond 100 agent target

Magellan Travel Group has abandoned plans to limit membership to 100 agents as it outlined ambitions to expand beyond that target over the next three years.

Attracting more corporate agents’ will feature among the network’s growth strategy with management expecting combined total transactional value to rise 25% to $1 billion by 2017.

Qantas ends 35-year ATE partnership

Qantas has not lodged a bid to become Tourism Australia’s preferred airline partner for next year’s Australian Tourism Exchange in Cairns, ending a 35-year collaboration on the event. In a further sign that relations between Qantas and TA remain icy, the flag carrier did not submit a tender for the event – the largest Australian tourism trade event in the calendar.

 Comment: Hoffmann deal could be vital for JTG

So Jetset Travelworld got its man. And boy, how it needed him. Quite what inducements JTG offered Phil Hoffmann Travel to join Helloworld as an associate member may only ever be known to the parties involved. But joined he has, to the considerable relief of JTG

AFTA launches accreditation brand as criteria draws near

The criteria for joining AFTA’s accreditation scheme is likely to be finalised in the next two weeks before the public get a chance to comment on its code of conduct and charter.

 JTG's "Flight Centre" model not for me, says Penny Spencer

 One of Australia’s most respected travel agents, Penny Spencer, has spoken of her decision to leave Jetset Travelworld, explaining its impending transition to a “Flight Centre scenario” was not right for her business.

IATA underlines agent benefits of distribution overhaul

The New Distribution Capability (NDC) under development by the International Air Transport Association will help travel agents close the gap on the number of sales made direct with airline websites, chief executive Tony Tyler has promised.

Helloworld ahead of targets as network hits 100

Jetset Traveworld has grown its fledgling Helloworld network to 100 stores as it claimed expansion was ahead of targets. Agreements for a further 150 stores are underway, with the growth “a signal for the future success of the brand”, chief executive Rob Gurney said.

November

Mobile restrictions to be lifted

Airline passengers will soon be able to use mobile devises and laptops during take-off and landing under new rules announced yesterday. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said electronic equipment no longer poses the danger to aircraft that it used to.

Darwin agent pleads guilty to ripping off clients

A respected Darwin travel agent has pleaded guilty to robbing customers of almost $170,000 while suffering from a gambling problem and stress.

Tourism projects under threat amid grant review

Regional tourism is facing a body blow as fears mount that millions of dollars of already-approved grants will not be honoured by the Abbott Government. Almost 100 operators and tourism organisations shared in $8.5m of T-QUAL grants awarded by the Labor administration in July, money the successful applicants may now be denied.

Relief as T-QUAL grants to be honoured

The Government has confirmed that it will, after all, honour the T-QUAL grants awarded to 89 tourism businesses in a move that will bring tremendous relief to the industry.

TravelManages reveals consumer protrection plan

While it remains committed to helping ensure the success of the Australia Federation of Travel Agent’s new accreditation scheme, home-based firm TravelManagers has stressed that it will not hesitate to provide its own consumer protection scheme if considered necessary.

Catalogue of issues force Aerolineas Sydney axe

Aerolineas Argentinas has admitted it didn’t have the product to compete in the market as it prepares to bring almost three decades of flying to Australasia to an end.

Westbury chastises accreditation critics

The Australian Federation of Travel Agents has stood by the voluntary nature of its new accreditation scheme (ATAS), accusing companies questioning the ongoing reform as doing so for their own commercial gain.

Webjet takes on agents in packaging game

Webjet has warned travel agents to expect their share of the package market to dwindle as consumers become comfortable with booking dynamic product online.

Reform becomes reality with insurance launch

Australian travel agents will be able to sign up new insurance products providing a commercial safeguard from end supplier failure from December 1, with the launch marking a significant step in the implementation of the Travel Industry Transition Plan.

JTG confident of Helloworld growth as brand takes shape

Jetset Travelworld Group chief executive Rob Gurney is confident that there will be a burst of signings to its new Helloworld network in the wake of the 2013 Owners/Managers Conference held in Melbourne at the weekend.

Helloworld seeks to innovate with store design

The removal of clutter and simplified instore messaging are fundamental to the design of the new Helloworld stores, as Jetset Travelworld Group attempts to break from the traditional travel agency mould.

Virgin stands firm amid Qantas investment rage

Virgin Australia has hit back at Qantas’ objection to its $350 million foreign capital injection by three state-owned airlines, insisting the investment will ensure it continues to bring “much needed” competition to the Australian aviation market.

Blume takes second stab at packaging venture

Wotif chief executive Scott Blume is nothing if not brutally honest. “You are looking at the man who failed spectacularly with the first dynamic packaging product in Asia Pacific,” he revealed to Travel Today. “I launched it in Singapore in 2005 [while CEO at Zuji] with 400 airlines and 100,000 hotels and told consumers, ‘go for your life and make your own package’.

Bratton to spearhead Ponant's Asia Pacific growth

The founder of Orion cruises, Sarina Bratton, will join French cruise line Compagnie du Ponant with growing the Asia Pacific markets to be a major part of her new role.

December

Quest begins process of international expansion

Quest Serviced Apartments has begun the process of spreading its brand into international markets, although it will employ caution in its approach because of difficulties encountered when it entered New Zealand.

Virgin ramps up war with Qantas

Virgin Australia has come out fighting in the latest round of bitter exchanges between the airline and Qantas. In an open letter to the Government, Virgin Australia chief executive John Borghetti accused the flag carrier of pursuing a strategy of “flushing” Virgin out of the market.

Cover-More IPO set to raise $521 million

Cover-More travel insurance will raise $521.2 million through an initial public offering with 260.6 million shares on offer, each costing $2.

Travellers Choice to expand through "word of mouth"

Travellers Choice will seek opportunities to grow its membership base but will not actively target disenchanted Jetset Travelworld agents, its chief executive has insisted.

Helloworld silent on Best Flights job cuts

Helloworld – formerly Jetset Travelworld – has refused to confirm or deny reports that 40 Best Flights jobs have been axed as part of plans to scale back the business.

Qantas hit by credit rating downgrade

Qantas earlier today announced a trading halt for its shares on the Australian Stock Exchange as it awaited a decision on its credit rating by Standard and Poor's, which the airline considered "likely to be materially price sensitive".

Consumers introduced to Helloworld brand

The launch of a nationwide integrated marketing and advertising campaign yesterday has introduced the Australian public to the new “multichannel” Helloworld retail brand.

Flight Centre to appeal Federal Court ruling

Flight Centre has confirmed it will appeal Friday’s decision by the Federal Court to uphold the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s test case against it in the long-running price fixing case.

New hotel network prepares for Australian launch

Alpha Hotels & Resorts has confirmed it will enter the Australian market at the start of 2014, signalling its intention to develop a “significant Australian footprint” of upper and midscale properties in a variety of CBD, urban and resort areas.

Etihad confirms launch of Perth flights

Etihad has cranked up competition between the Middle East and Western Australia by confirming the launch of daily flights to Perth from July 15.