Destinations
One-on-one with Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau boss Paul McCallum
by Sponsored by Canuckiwi
If Travel Weekly had an award for the industry’s best beard, Aussie expat Paul McCallum would be the clear winner.
Destinations
Destination Wrap: Queensland’s $50m tourism boost, Spain and Greece to welcome back international travellers + MORE
There are plenty of good signs for the tourism industry judging by this week’s Destination Wrap. Here’s Travel Weekly’s roundup of what’s been happening domestically and internationally.
Hotels
Hotel group to return at least $91 million in COVID-19 relief funding
A luxury hospitality group has agreed to return millions to the US government after accessing it from a COVID-19 relief fund for small businesses.
Events
IPW 2020 has been cancelled
The United States’ flagship inbound travel tradeshow has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Destinations
Washington, DC inspires travellers to keep the dream alive with a virtual vacation
Even though trips to America’s capital are off limits for now, there are still plenty of ways for your clients to stay inspired.
Aviation
Scott Morrison says intelligence received shows Iran shot down Ukrainian passenger plane
by Christian Fleetwood
Scott Morrison said he has received intelligence that shows Iran shot down the Ukrainian International Airlines flight that crashed on Wednesday.
Aviation
Passenger plane crashes in Iran, killing 176 people
by Christian Fleetwood
A Boeing 737 aircraft has crashed shortly after take-off in Iran, killing all on board. Here’s what we know about the incident so far.
Tourism
Trump administration bans US travel and cruise ship stops in Cuba
The US has imposed a travel ban on its citizens visiting Cuba, in a move that would stop thousands of would-be travellers visiting the island from America.
Tourism
China issues US travel alert, following incoming visa changes for visitors to America
China has issued a travel warning for its citizens travelling to the States, citing concerns travellers have been “interrogated, interviewed and subjected to” forms of harassment by US law enforcement.
Destinations
Technology
Tourism
Aussies requiring US visas will be forced to disclose social media account info
Fortunately, travellers will not be required to disclose their internet search histories to US immigration authorities.
Aviation
Destinations
Commercial airlines warned Iran military could target flights due to “miscalculation or misidentification”
Are you or a client flying over the Persian Gulf in the near future? You may want to give this a read.
Hotels
Marriott launches premium home-rental competitor to Airbnb
by Christian Fleetwood
In a case of ‘anything you can do, I can do better’, Marriott has unveiled its very own premium rental platform to take on Airbnb.