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  • News: Qantas introduces iPads on flights to Honolulu

    Qantas’ Boeing 767 services from Sydney to Honolulu are actually fitted with refreshed interiors and inflight entertainment technology, Q Streaming.
    Q Streaming utilises onboard WiFi during the aircraft to stream entertainment programs direct to iPads in every seat supplied by Qantas.
    The implementation of Q Streaming on board flights to Honolulu follows the successful introduction of the technology on B767 services around the Qantas domestic network – forming a part of the broader B767 refresh program.

    The B767 fleet’s cabin interiors were refreshed with a recent design that comes with leather seat covers in Business and a brand new appear and feel within the Economy cabin. Other enhancements include new carpet, lighting, curtains and cabin dividers.

    Executive Manager of International Customer Experience Alison Webster said the airline was excited to increase Q Streaming to customers travelling on refreshed B767 flights to Honolulu.

    “Q Streaming was very popular with Qantas customers at the domestic network and we’re now pleased to provide it to our customers travelling to Honolulu.”

    “We know on average customers spend about 80 per cent of an extended haul flight using in-flight entertainment, so providing customers travelling to Honolulu with the choice to select what they watch and when, will add a brand new dimension to their on board experience.”
    “The entertainment options were carefully selected following real-time customer feedback which helps us to repeatedly improve the decisions we provide.

    “We continue to explore how to evolve the technology and inside the near future customers may also have the opportunity to exploit their very own device to stream our inflight entertainment content.”

    The technology streams over 200 hours of flicks, television and music on to an iPad in every seat. This will likely gradually expand over the following couple of months to check the vast range of TV and music content offered on our flagship in-seat entertainment systems – including as much as 50 movies, 500 TV programs and 1000 CDs.

    Qantas could also be working to feature interactive games, a ramification of travel and business related apps in addition to digital newspapers and magazines.
    The refurbishment of 15 B767 aircraft with new interiors and individual in-flight entertainment began in October 2012 and is scheduled for completion on the end of April.

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  • China’s new national tourism strategy set to extend outbound tourism

    The Outline for National Tourism and Leisure (2013-2020)’, recently issued by the govt of China, sets the bottom for the redefinition of tourism development and management inside the country, including a sturdy support for outbound tourism in addition to a focal point on a better distribution of the industrial, socio-cultural and environmental benefits of tourism.

    The Outline for National Tourism and Leisure (2013-2020), issued by the State Council of China, makes a speciality of promoting the taking of paid annual leave days and boosting the healthy development of the tourism sector in China, particularly by ensuring the coordination of various sectors.

    Where previously cultural norms have stopped many in China from taking an annual leave, the description, which enhances existing Regulations for Paid Annual Leave for workers, encourages government agencies, social organizations, enterprises and public institutions to advertise using leave days, giving moreover Chinese workers more freedom and suppleness at the issue of where and when to travel.

    “The successful implementation of the hot Chinese national tourism strategy would definitely impulse both domestic and outbound tourism in China and we particularly welcome the verdict to advertise travelling at different times of the year” said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai. “This document calls on a lot of sectors to strategically consider their actions in view of the advance of tourism; it’s another proof that China fully understands that sustainable tourism growth requires cross-cutting policies at a countrywide level”, he added.

    The Outline, advocated for a very long time by the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), comes four years after the tourism sector in China was acknowledged as a ‘pillar’ industry of recent services and among the many major social and economic sectors at the government´s agenda.

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  • News: Air Astana and Turkish Airlines to set up codeshare agreement

    Air Astana and Turkish Airlines have completed step one towards a large-ranging co-operation, including a codeshare agreement on routes operated by both carriers between Kazakhstan and Turkey. The Letter of Intent was signed at an event in Istanbul by Peter Foster, President of Air Astana, and Temel Kotil, PhD, President and CEO of Turkish Airlines.

    Codesharing on flights between Istanbul – Almaty and Istanbul – Astana may even include a different prorate agreement to destinations beyond their respective hubs in Almaty, Astana and Istanbul. The agreements are intended to take effect as of May 2013.

    “The strength of the extensive and rapidly growing network of Turkish Airlines from its hub at Istanbul Ataturk Airport will let us offer a much broader range of destinations to our customers. Our passengers will enjoy increased travel flexibility and improved connectivity profiting from the combined frequencies that we’ll offer throughout the codeshare. Our passengers will benefit from the codeshare services of the 2 airlines respectively rated Best Airline of Europe and Best Airline Central Asia and India by Skytrax,” said Peter Foster, President of Air Astana.

    “We are extremely delighted to sign the Letter of Intent with Air Astana, as we aim to enhance our partnership to maximise the travel opportunities offered to passengers during the extensive networks of both airlines. Air Astana continues expanding successfully, offering services at highest standards with a tender fleet. Together we’re going to offer better connectivity for our customers at the two airlines` networks. We believe this partnership with Air Astana will bring benefit for either side, not just in commercial aspects in rapidly growing Kazakhstan but in addition in technical and coaching areas.” said Temel Kotil, PhD, President and CEO of Turkish Airlines.

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  • Royal Demeure Hotel Group singlas growth with investment

    Royal Demeure Hotel Group has opened new offices in Belgravia, London, moving its headquarters from Rome and appointing a brand new senior team to steer the Italian luxury hotel group.

    The company’s investment in a London-based headquarters demonstrates its desire and commitment for growth and investment, specializing in boutique luxury hotels.  Because the luxury travel and hospitality industry continues to grow, the Royal Demeure team intends to capitalise in this trend, developing the emblem and future focus and building at the reputation of the famous Hotel d’Inghilterra in Rome whilst also opportunities for future expansion and investment in all the six properties that make up the gang of hotels.

    Part of TDA Capital Ltd, an individual Italian-owned investment company that specialises in luxury hospitality, Royal Demeure is headed up by TDA Capital Group Chief Executive Officer Professor Luigi De Simone Niquesa, who has moved from Rome to be based in London. His newly appointed team includes Group Sales & Marketing Director Greg Ward, Chief Financial Officer Colin Castelino, and Marketing & Communications Manager Charlotte Gray.

    With an intensive and successful career in luxury hospitality, CEO Luigi De Simone Niquesa has held quite a lot of hospitality industry and academic leadership roles including President of the Institute for Tourism Marketing and Research, President of UNICA (Union of Italian Hotel Chains), and Executive Advisor/Council Member of Federalberghi-Confcommercio (the leading association of hotels in Italy).

    Colin Castelino have been appointed as Chief Financial Officer. With a successful career in finance Castelino spent 11 years with Deloittes before joining the Cliveden Group, where he took the company’s luxury hotel and clubs to a whole listing at the London Stock Exchange and eventual successful sale. He has also worked with Pacific Investments Ltd and sooner than TDA Capital Ltd was Financial Director for the ESPA Group.

    Charlotte Gray joins the hotel group as Marketing & Communications Manager. Gray has spent the past eight years with the historic Pall Mall private members’ club, The Royal Automobile Club and Singaporean-owned 5* COMO Hotels & Resorts.

    Greg Ward is the newly appointed Group Sales & Marketing Director and has an intensive international background with an emphasis on luxury sales & marketing.  Ward has held a lot of senior positions with international companies during his 20-year career, including Westin Hotels & Resorts, Rafael Hotels and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. More recently, Ward has frolicked with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, the von Essen hotel Collection and Clarenco.

    Greg Ward, Group Sales & Marketing Director said: “I’m thrilled to be working for such an iconic group of hotels as Royal Demeure. Situated in cultural capitals like Rome and Florence, each property has many individual qualities, which i glance forward to highlighting for the good thing about travellers trying to find a really memorable luxurious experience, Additionally, with plans for future growth and investment, it’s a particularly exciting time to affix the corporate.”

    CEO Luigi De Simone Niquesa said:  “We have created a dynamic and experienced new team which will lead us in the course of the next stages of our development plans. The experience in luxury customer experiences and robust commercial background that every new team member brings makes them instrumental in developing and shaping the expansion of the hotel group. They join us at a time after we need to strengthen the collection’s positioning in the industry.”

  • Tourism Australia report back to help guide future tourism distribution strategy

    The findings of a comprehensive review of ways Australian tourism product is shipped internationally had been published by Tourism Australia and its state and territory tourism partners.

    The “Distribution 2020: Situational Analysis” report provides industry with an outline of current distribution approaches and potential models for the longer term across Australia’s key holiday markets.

    Tourism Australia Managing Director Andrew McEvoy said the report, compiled with the aid of PricewaterhouseCoopers, was portion of the continued Tourism 2020 work as Australian industry looks to double the worth of overnight tourism to A$140 billion by 2020.

    “It’s a partnership with the states and territories that appears at how persons are planning and booking holidays globally and the way we will influence this for Australia’s benefit.

    “Global tourism is amongst essentially the mostsome of the most competitive and fastest changing industries, heavily influenced by advances in technology and changes in consumer behaviour. We recognise this fact and that’s on the heart of this review to make certain we’re doing our job within the top of the line and effective way possible,” Mr McEvoy said.

    The project involved extensive consumer research and interviews with greater than 60 travel agents, wholesalers, inbound tour operators, online agents and direct sellers.

    One of the most important industry bodies to have provided input for the report was the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC).

    ATEC’s Manager Director, Felicia Mariani, said the project and the following report could be a good tool in assisting the industry to navigate the complex world of distribution in today’s tourism landscape.

    “The report shows that to be effective in today’s world of product distribution, operators need to be engaged with and connected across all of the touch points that buyers use in booking their holiday,” she said.

    Mr McEvoy said that the review has further reinforced the advantages of governments and industry working closely together and speaking with “one voice” when promoting Australia and Australian tourism product to the area.

    “Industry feedback has indicated a robust desire for all levels of presidency to work more collaboratively on the subject of international distribution, that’s certainly something we’re very focused upon,” Mr McEvoy said.

    Some of any other key insights from the report include:

    Clear trend towards increasing digitalisation of the patron purchase cycle with greater planning, booking and sharing happening online;
    Traditional distribution channels remain important. In mature markets the extent of internet use for planning and booking seem to have reached a plateau;
    46% of holiday travellers to Australia are booking some aspect in their trip online sooner than arrival, 54% through traditional channels;
    Price, complexity and level of familiarity are barriers to online booking, though consumers desire to do more online. Consumers are actually using a much broader range of sources

    “The report confirms that the foremost elements of the distribution strategy for Australian tourism product are in place. But whilst, there are opportunities to perform a little things better, including monitoring future ‘game changing’ technologies,” Mr McEvoy said.

    In response to the report, Tourism Australia and its State and Territory tourism partners are actually engaged on an integrated plan of trade activities for Australia’s key international markets. This will likely include a review of existing distribution activities, including trade events and missions, to searching for potential efficiencies and higher value for industry.

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