TravelBulletin for April 2015 - Special cruising edition, Skiing down south, Thailand awaits,

APRIL 2015

HIGH WATER MARK

RIVER CRUISING FOR

skiing down south thailand awaits adventure travel finds a new edge china – best under heaven

SPECIAL CRUISING EDITION

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

I

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Venezuela Colombia

Peru Brazil Bolivia Paraguay Chile

Buenos Aires Argentina

Uruguay

contents

From the managing editor Bruce Piper

COVER STORY

26

high water mark for river cruising

features 42 48 54 60

Thailand Southern hemisphere ski Adventure travel China

monthly 02 09 18 22 24 32 39 40 64

State of the industry Issues and trends Technology Careers Travel management Cruise report Brochures Industry in focus The last word

columns 02 06 09 15 33

Ian McMahon Steve Jones AFTA View NTA View CLIA View

www.travelbulletin.com.au Travel Bulletin is part of the Travel Daily family of publications

This is the sixth issue of travelBulletin since the magazine was taken over by the Travel Daily group, and I would once again like to thank the industry for your ongoing support, comments and suggestions.

Subscriptions and readership have surged (particularly among frontline and home-based consultants), our readers are thrilled at the publication’s makeover - and it’s been lots of fun too! 2015 is going to be a big year for the TD group, which is now in its 21st year. We’re planning to celebrate in a big way during the Travel Industry Exhibition in July, while Travel Daily and travelBulletin are proud to continue as media sponsors of the National Travel Industry Awards which are shaping up to be bigger and better than ever. I am also thrilled to announce that editor Louise Wallace has accepted her nomination in the Best Travel Writer category at the NTIA, a recognition of her hard work and dedication to bringing the magazine to you each month.

Meanwhile it was intriguing to see Helloworld ceo Elizabeth Gaines basking in the glow of a surge in the company’s share price during an interview on Sky Business last week. Host Peter Switzer cited the 65% jump from 23c to 38c, gushing to Gaines “you must be thrilled!”

Of course she is – but what Switzer missed was the primary reason for the increase, which was the $12 million purchase of 7% of the company by an investment vehicle owned by industry doyen Spiros Alysandratos – the owner of Consolidated Travel and a 50% shareholder in the Express Travel Group.

It was no secret that the vendor of the shares, UBS, wanted to sell down its stake. But the move – and the generous price paid – has prompted the question of “what’s Spiros up to?” The Alysandratos family now holds about 19.7% of Helloworld – just below the 20% threshold which would require them to declare a formal takeover bid.

Such a move would not be the first time for the wily Greek, whose previous takeover in 2002 saw him as the majority owner of Jetset Travelworld – before his stake was repeatedly diluted through the various MFS, S8, Qantas Holidays and Stella deals.

Despite his substantial stake in the business, Alysandratos currently doesn’t have any representation on the Helloworld board, and at the very least this is something that is surely set to change after this latest move. The Helloworld share price has dipped back to about 34c as the company’s shareholders wait with bated breath to see the next development.

This month’s contributors Steve Jones, Jayson Westbury, Brett Jardine, Juliana Payne, Kris Madden, Gary Walsh, Rachael Oakes-Ashe, Matt Lennon (images)

EDITORIAL Managing Editor – Bruce Piper bruce.piper@travelbulletin.com.au Co-ordinating Editor – Louise Wallace Ph: 02 8090 3125 louise.wallace@travelbulletin.com.au Editor at Large – Ian McMahon Ph: 03 9568 4464 or 0414 320 321 imcmahon@travelbulletin.com.au

Advertising National Sales Manager Lisa Maroun Ph: 0405 132 575 or 02 8007 6760 lisa.maroun@travelbulletin.com.au Production Co-ordinator Sarah Piper Ph: 1300 799 220 or 02 8007 6760 sarah.piper@travelbulletin.com.au www.travelbulletin.com.au

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travelBulletin APRIL 2015

1

state of the industry No new US routes for VA, DL

Ian McMahon’s perspective

baird’s major events stand off AS election stunts go, NSW Premier Mike Baird’s promise to commit $180 million to winning the Australian Grand Prix away from Melbourne to Sydney pretty much ticked all the boxes.

It grabbed the headlines for a day. It appealed to voters’ parochialism. And it was pitched well into the future (2020).

It also focused attention on events tourism as a means of luring visitors to a destination whether for huge occasions like the Olympics or the Soccer World Cup. Adelaide was a pioneer. The South Australian capital established the Adelaide Festival of Arts as a highly respected event on the world’s cultural calendar; regionally it marketed the Barossa Festival with outstanding success.

And when no one else was interested, the state picked up the rights to run the Formula One Australian Grand Prix. So successful was this move that Victoria – then a johnnycome-lately to events tourism marketing, and now probably the Australian leader – waved a big cheque book and snatched the rights to stage the Grand Prix.

The success of this move is the subject of lively debate given the estimated $1 billion cost to Victorian taxpayers over the past 20 years. While most probably agree there has been a net benefit, particularly when international exposure is taken into account,

there are those who ask what if that billion dollars had been spent on other attractions.

What is not up for debate is that Victorian taxpayers’ money has helped make GP supremo Bernie Ecclestone one of the world’s richest men. How he must be relishing the prospects of the NSW and Victorian governments using their citizens’ money to outbid each other for his product.

Which brings us to the clear distinction to be made between events bought in from overseas and those generic events that grow from the hard work of inspirational locals.

The former can involve huge outlays for duchessing (if not outright bribing) officials from bodies such as FIFA and the IOC. The latter are manufactured by locals with such expertise that they attract visitors from around the world. NSW examples include Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Importantly, no one can buy them and transplant them elsewhere. In retrospect, which investment has provided the better dividends for South Australia; the money spent on the GP or the funds allocated to the Adelaide and Barossa festivals?

Perhaps Premier Baird could better spend $180 million developing local products like these rather than cannibalising the events of another state and lining the pockets of an overseas billionaire.

VIRGIN Australia and Delta Airlines have hosed down speculation on plans to add new services to the US, fronting the media in Sydney last month to stress the airlines are going to stick with what they’ve got – for now.

The alliance partners – which currently hold more than 20% market share on the trans-Pacific route – applied to the ACCC in January to renew their alliance for another decade. Speculation has been circling that the extension would see Delta launch a Melbourne to LA route and ramp up its Sydney to LA schedule.

But DL president Edward Bastian wouldn’t budge when questioned by the media, insisting that the airlines were going to “keep with what we’ve got and see how we can grow the market over time”.

Both VA and DL are confident the ACCC will give the extension the green light, with VA claiming the tie up has brought its loss making US operations back from the brink and DL expecting the weaker Aussie dollar will boost leisure inbound traveller numbers.

The ACCC is expected to deliver its decision on the application in May or June.

helloworld stymied in NZ Helloworld’s single-brand strategy took another blow this month, when the longawaited decision about whether Helloworld retail would be implemented in New Zealand came to a head. In NZ the company operates about 45 Harvey World Travel outlets alongside around the same number trading under the United Travel brand. The sticking point is that United Travel is 50% owned by its franchisees, and after much deliberation the United board decided to stick with its existing

business monitor ACREDITED AGENTS 17 March 2015

ACT 52 New South Wales 857 Northern Territory 18 Queensland 586 South Australia 208 Tasmania 37 Victoria 657 Western Australia 295 total 2710

Got something to say?

We’re all ears, so share your thoughts at haveyoursay@travelbulletin.com.au 2

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

AUSTRALIAN AIRPORTS

International passenger through Australia’s major international airports* – Dec 2014 Airport Passengers

YE Dec 13 Sydney 12,933,885 Melbourne 7,312,143 Brisbane 4,669,141 Perth 3,919,840 Adelaide 799,585 Gold Coast 864,905 Cairns 492,091 Darwin 333,217 Norfolk Island 11,304 Sunshine Coast* 8,405 All Airports 31,344,516

Passengers YE Dec 14 13,315,924 8,022,466 4,965,066 4,136,282 967,265 880,971 460,910 318,670 11,335 10,248 33,089,137

% of % change total 14/13 40.2 +3.0 24.2 +9.7 15.0 +6.3 12.5 +5.5 2.9 +21.0 2.7 +1.9 1.4 -6.3 1.0 -4.4 0.0 +0.3 0.0 +21.9 100.0 +5.6

* Total passenger numbers also include Townsville (scheduled services ceased October 2011) and Sunshine Coast (scheduled services from July 2013-Sept 2012, June 2013-Oct 2013 and June 2014). Source: BITRE

MAIN DOMESTIC ROUTES

Top 10 domestic city pairs at December 2014 City pair

Passengers Passengers % change YE Dec 13 YE Dec 14 13/14

Melbourne-Sydney Brisbane-Sydney Brisbane-Melbourne Gold Coast-Sydney Adelaide-Melbourne Melbourne-Perth Adelaide-Sydney Perth-Sydney Gold Coast-Melbourne Hobart-Melbourne

(000) (000) 8,244.0 8,322.3 4,425.1 4,447.9 3,198.8 3,317.1 2,559.1 2,596.4 2,195.1 2,272.0 2,209.7 2,160.7 1,751.9 1,813.0 1,800.4 1,798.9 1,675.4 1,754.2 1,388.8 1,400.2

Source: BITRE

+0.9 +0.5 +3.7 +1.5 +3.5 -2.2 +3.5 -0.1 +4.7 +0.8

state of the industry branding rather than switch to Helloworld.

Helloworld NZ CEO Greg Leighton confirmed the decision, saying the company had been “working for some time on a proposed integration of its retail operations” under the Helloworld brand. Despite strong support from the Harvey World Travel members, Leighton said the proposal won’t go ahead because of the United Travel decision. However the company is “still considering the available options to introduce the Helloworld brand into the New Zealand market”, he said.

Meanwhile in Helloworld’s Australian retail operations the non-branded division has been restructured, with head of associate networks David Padman now also in charge of the affiliate and Concorde Agency Network groups. The shuffle sees Michelle Ryan, national manager of Affiliates and CAN reporting to Padman, along with Kate Cameron as national manager of Helloworld for business, and Steve Brady (ex Travel Indochina/Insider Journeys) as national manager Associates.

Club Med puts on a show These agents stopped for a quick happy snap on a packed six night famil to Mauritius courtesy of Club Med. Staying at Club Med Albion, 10 agents from NSW and Victoria were pampered

Cruise consolidation

to the max complete with evening entertainment, golf excursions, and use of the resort’s spa facilities over seven days.

Agents travelled courtesy of Virgin Australia and Air Mauritius.

travelBulletin had an exciting ship inspection on board Crystal Serenity in Sydney and Oceania Cruises last year. In Australia all of these brands are represented by various last month, with the visit coinciding with the GSA arrangements and it would seem logical shock announcement that Crystal Cruises to bring them all together under a single was being sold to Asian cruise giant Genting company owned office.

Hong Kong. Clearly a surprise to many on YEAR ENDED In fact Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Frank board, the DECEMBER move will see a2014 long-awaited del Rio hinted at such a move, telling third vessel added to the Crystal fleet – but Chart I International Passengers Carried (thousands) - December 2012 to December 2014 analysts at a recent briefing the company more intriguing are the possibilities the new 1950 could have enough “critical mass” in ownership opens up for its local operations.

INBOUND OUTBOUND Australia to open up an operation here.

Genting Hong Kong is the owner of Star 1700 Norwegian is targeting international growth, Cruises – and is also a 28% shareholder in 1450 and recently purchased its GSA in Brazil – Norwegian Cruise Line, which itself purchased another fast-growing market for the company. the parent company of Regent Seven Seas 1200

New spot for travel show THE relocation of the 2015 Travel Industry Exhibition to Sydney’s Luna Park has been welcomed by the industry, with the inaccessibility of the previous location at the temporary facility at Glebe Island seen as a significant impediment to attendees.

The show, which launched last year at Moore Park, is again taking place in the lead-up to the National Travel Industry Continues over page

950

business monitor

Chart II

International Passengers by Major Airlines - Year ended December 2014 Qantas Airways, 15.9% Others, 26.3% Emirates, 9.7% Thai Airways International, 2.5% Malaysia Airlines, 4.3%

Singapore Airlines, 8.7%

AirAsia X, 4.3% Cathay Pacific Airways, 4.8%

Air New Zealand, 7.4%

DOMESTIC AIR MARKET – December 2014

Total pax movements Revenue pax kms (RPK) Avail seat kms (ASK) Load factor (%) Aircraft trips (000)

Dec Dec Growth 13 14 (%) 4.98m 4.93m -1.0 5.91bn 5.85bn -0.9 7.63bn 7.57bn -0.8 77.4 77.3 -0.1* 53.0 5.8 +1.4

Virgin Australia, 7.8%

Yr to Yr to Growth Dec 13 Dec 14 (%) 57.54m 57.52m +0.0 67.74bn 67.86bn +0.2 88.53bn 88.97bn +0.5 76.5 76.3 -0.2* 644.5 641.3 -0.5

Source: BITRE * Percentage points

Domestic On Time Performance – January 2014

Departures on Time Arrivals on Time Cancellations No. % No. % No. %

Jetstar 6,719 Qantas 7,921 QantasLink 8,423 Tigerair 1,748 Virgin Australia 9,515 All Airlines 39,913

Jetstar, 8.3%

Source: BITRE Table I

Dec-14

Oct-14

International passengers by major airline – year ended December 2014

Nov-14

Sep-14

Jul-14

International Air Market Share

Aug-14

Jun-14

Apr-14

May-14

Mar-14

Jan-14

Feb-14

Dec-13

Oct-13

Nov-13

Sep-13

Jul-13

Aug-13

Jun-13

Apr-13

May-13

Mar-13

Jan-13

Feb-13

Dec-12

700

82.3 6,809 83.4 89.4 7,878 88.9 86.0 8,289 84.7 83.9 1,719 82.5 91.5 9,419 90.6 87.4 39,517 86.5

184 83 225 24 146 693

2.2 0.9 2.2 1.1 1.4 1.5

International Passengers by Uplift/Discharge City Pairs (a)

Foreign

Australian

Port

Port

Year ended

Year ended

Year ended

% of

% Change

December 2012

December 2013

December 2014

Total

2014/13

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

3

state of the industry Continues from previous page Awards, but this year is on the Thursday and Friday (16-17 July) prior to the NTIA gala dinner which takes place on Saturday 18 July.

As a key tourist attraction Luna Park also provides a great setting for a travel show, and will also allow for a more compact format combined with some intriguing event possibilities for exhibitors.

NTIA goes off – again AFTA CEO Jayson Westbury is justly proud of the National Travel Industry Awards, which have once again registered record interest during the nomination phase this year.

More than 100 travel agents have been nominated for the Best Travel Consultant category, with similar high levels of interest in the other 36 categories in the awards.

Details of confirmed nominations were released last month, with voting now open via the AFTA website at afta.com.au ahead of the industry’s big night in July.This year travelBulletin will have a significant presence at the awards, with tickets now on sale, so don’t miss out.

Still no stats The long-running saga of Australia’s official inbound and outbound visitor numbers continues (travelBulletin Jan/Feb 2015), with the Australian Bureau of Statistics last month issuing its best guess of the figures for October-December 2014. Without accurate data the industry is effectively flying blind, with analysts having to garner information from airport traffic figures in order to figure out what’s actually going on.

The ABS preliminary estimates are based

on “modelled statistics” rather than actual traveller numbers, due to the ongoing issue of outbound and inbound passenger card processing. The interim figures are derived from a combination of historical data and information from the Department of Immigration’s passenger processing system.

The “final, full set” of monthly statistics for October-December are now not expected to be released until May, while preliminary estimates for January-March are expected to be available from 2 June.

“Normal monthly releases will resume with the May 2015 release on July 7th,” the ABS said in a statement.

Outrigger stressed that the Mantra deal does not include the Outrigger brand locally.

“This move by no means is an indication that Outrigger is leaving Australia,” the company said in a statement.

The sale is set to be completed by June.

HEADLINES 02 Mar Travel Counsellors focus on Au

Back to the future for Mantra and Outrigger Mantra’s domestic portfolio keeps getting bigger, with the hotel group set to swallow Outrigger’s entire Australia portfolio - again.

The Hawaiian hospitality group has just offloaded its four Australian properties – all in Queensland – to Mantra Group in a $29.5 million deal being billed a “strategic realignment” which will see Outrigger focus on premier beachfront destinations.

Mantra hopes to raise $50 million through the issue of 16.4 million additional shares to fund the acquisition as well as “new pipeline opportunities”, with Mantra Group CEO Bob East branding the deal as a “natural fit” for the company.

Intriguingly, it’s not the first time that Outrigger has sold its Australian properties, with Mantra’s predecessor, Stella Hospitality, purchasing the former 19-strong Outrigger portfolio in Australia and New Zealand for $91 million in 2006.

As with this previous sale eight years ago,

02 Mar Commission queries TA’s value 03 Mar Crystal Cruises $550m sale 04 Mar Marcia-effect hits Qld tourism 05 Mar New industry show venue 05 Mar AirAsia X DPS/MEL CASA nod 06 Mar No Helloworld brand in NZ 06 Mar Walshe parent takeover 10 Mar Helloworld network restructure 11 Mar NVS shows domestic surge 11 Mar CATO member concerns 12 Mar New hotel for SYD T2/T3 12 Mar Qantas int’l share slipping 13 Mar AirAsia repairing damage 13 Mar ATEC/NTA rally for EMDG 16 Mar Amadeus solution hits market 16 Mar Vanuatu in recovery mode 17 Mar NTIA nominations out 18 Mar WEX wins Flight Centre 18 Mar PVG competition ‘intense’ 19 Mar VA, DL to maintain capacity 19 Mar Mantra to buy Outrigger Oz 20 Mar QF/EK $99 Europe add-ons

business monitor

Week ending 28/02/15 ranked by visits Rank Company Market share

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Rank

W/E 28/02/15 W/E 31/01/15 W/E 27/12/14

Webjet 14.62 Expedia 9.86 Wotif.com 9.59 Flight Centre 7.12 Skyscanner 6.24 Lastminute.com.au 4.13 au.edreams.com 1.96 FareCompare 1.52 STA Travel Australia 1.47 Student Flights 1.43

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 *

* Not in top 10 Source: Experian Hitwise Australia – www.hitwise.com.au

4

Rank

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

1 3 2 4 5 6 7 9 8 *

SHARE PRICES

INTERNATIONAL AIR

INTERNET AGENCY MARKET SHARES

17 March 2015

Top 10 city pairs (at December 2014) City pair

Passengers YE Dec 13

Passengers YE Dec 14

% of % change total 13/14

Flight Centre FLT

$40.33

Helloworld HLO

$0.335

Auckland-Sydney 1,429,839 1,483,183 4.5 +3.7 Singapore-Sydney 1,358,395 1,363,816 4.1 +0.4 Singapore-Melbourne 1,094,534 1,146,575 3.5 +4.8 Singapore-Perth 1,010,539 1,047,892 3.2 +3.7 Auckland-Melbourne 984,954 1,040,922 3.1 +5.7 Hong Kong-Sydney 927,354 925,337 2.8 -0.2 Auckland-Brisbane 871,033 913,165 2.8 +4.8 Kuala Lumpur-Melbourne 777,602 899,054 2.7 +15.6 Los Angeles-Sydney 903,367 895,393 2.7 -0.9 Denpasar-Perth 856,694 869,442 2.6 +1.5 Top 10 city pairs 10,214,311 10,584,779 32.0 +3.6 Other city pairs 21,130,205 22,504,358 68.0 +6.5 ALL CITY PAIRS 31,344,516 33,089,137 100.0 +5.6

Webjet WEB

$3.86

Disruptive Investments DVI

$0.01

Qantas QAN

$3.02

Virgin Australia VAH

$0.51

Ardent Leisure AAD

$2.17

Air New Zealand AIZ

$2.77

Auckland International Airport AIA

$4.31

Regional Express REX

$1.01

Source: BITRE

Sealink SLK

$2.45

Sydney Airport SYD

$5.18

Corporate Travel Management CTD

$12.11

Cover-More Insurance CVO

$1.955

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Steve’s Say

Are wholesalers being elbowed out?

By Steve Jones

When I first began reporting on the travel industry in the UK almost 20 years ago – yes I know I don’t look old enough – the industry structure was a relatively simple one.

There were early indications that change was coming as the dot.com boom gathered pace, with travel websites at the forefront of such technological advances, but by and large the industry was stable and straightforward.

A wholesaler or tour operator sent brochures to travel agents who passed them onto customers who, assuming a kitchen renovation or new car didn’t get in the way, booked a holiday. It could hardly have been simpler.

It wasn’t all plain sailing, of course.

Alliances, directional selling, direct to the public operators and vertical integration added a layer of complexity. Yet players in the industry broadly knew where they stood – and, crucially, who they could trust. There was a level of loyalty that could be relied upon.

How things have changed.

Members of the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO), that affable group of independent wholesalers who must yearn for the days of old, were asked in a recent self-commissioned study what keeps them awake at night.

What emerged was a fundamental issue that strikes at the very heart of what has always been a relationship-focused industry.

Their major fear is the increasing propensity of travel agents to bypass wholesalers and to forge direct relationships with overseas suppliers. Such a practice has the inevitable – and entirely intentional

consequence – of eliminating one link in the supply chain. The wholesaler.

Should it continue, and there’s no reason to suggest otherwise, it will, over time, render wholesalers redundant.

It’s not a new phenomenon for CATO. The subject was thrust into the spotlight in controversial circumstances some time back when former CATO chairman Simon Hills launched Maestro Travel, an operation unashamedly set up to act as the conduit

else a living, that much is clear, and ‘weNoalloneknowowestheanyone Internet has empowered consumers who have access to pricing, product and the ability to book it ’ between retailers and overseas suppliers.

Rarely in business has the phrase enemyfrom-within been so appropriate.

That’s not to criticise Hills. Whatever the moral arguments of his venture, he saw an opportunity and exploited the trend for agents to connect and do business with overseas suppliers.

As CATO general manager Peter Baily told me, loyalty, once a bedrock of business, “has gone out of the window” as agents and suppliers strike deals and forge relationships wherever and with whoever they can, often to the detriment and at the expense of long serving partners.

No one owes anyone else a living, that much is clear, and we all know the Internet has empowered consumers who have access to pricing, product and the ability to book it.

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travelBulletin APRIL 2015

However, the fact it is now the key concern of CATO members demonstrates the time has come for wholesalers to fight back.

But how? It is a question CATO must ponder, and ponder long and hard, if it is to protect its members’ interests.

In the absence of any power to force agents to stop dealing with suppliers, what can it do to ensure wholesalers remain a key part of the distribution chain?

I don’t pretend to have the answers. That

is for CATO and its members to resolve.

Baily reckons it may come down to smarter packaging, and drawing up product that agents would not otherwise have access to.

In other words, differentiation.

I’m not so sure. I can’t help feeling something more radical is required to safeguard the long term future of wholesalers.

My feeling is that CATO could spearhead the creation of an agency version of itself, comprising independent retailers who are genuinely committed to working hand-inhand with knowledgeable, independent Australian wholesalers.

Cut off the supply of product to those who prefer to go direct, and work exclusively with like-minded agents. Surely it must be worth a discussion.

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ISSUES & TRENDS

AFTA view Jayson Westbury, chief executive AFTA

let the votes roll in

Mixed results for 2015 first half Persistently weak consumer confidence was a recurring theme in financial results for the six months to 31 December, although some listed travel companies managed to defy the trend and post record sales – albeit with weaker results than previous forecasts.

Flight Centre’s overall profit result for the six months was $141 million, down 9% on the previous corresponding period despite an 8.8% rise in global TTV for the period to $8.138 billion. MD Graham Turner said the first half of the prior financial year had produced a record due to “superior trading conditions” particularly in the Australian leisure business. The Flight Centre profit figure was also impacted by ongoing investment in the business, which included a number of new hyperstores opening in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Delhi, Mumbai, Darwin and Abu Dhabi.

Helloworld put a brave face on its result, which saw drops in TTV (down 9% to $2.3b), revenue (down 8% to $139m) and “Adjusted EBITDAI” which fell 44% to $10.6 million. The company’s result for the half was a $200,000 loss – a significant improvement on the $3.9 million loss for the first half of 2013/14. Helloworld highlighted a 1% increase in TTV on a “like for like basis” in its retail network, saying this was an achievement in the subdued trading environment.

The company also recorded declining TTV in its wholesale operations, with the overall profit result affected by the company’s heavy program of consumer marketing, costs associated with establishing the helloworld.com.au OTA operation and, interestingly, “improved agent incentive payments”.

Webjet, which has enjoyed a strong rise in its share price in recent months, declared a “stellar result” which saw TTV surge 22% to $620 million during the half. Pre-tax earnings were up 7% to $12.1 million, and CEO John Gucsic confirmed the company had seen record TTV every month during the half.

Qantas reported strong results from its ongoing transformation program. An after-tax profit of $206 million was the carrier’s “best first-half performance since 2010”, with all parts of the business profitable on an underlying EBIT level – the first time Qantas International had been in the black since the GFC seven years ago.

As well as $374 million in Qantas Transformation Program benefits the carrier also reported improving yields, a $33 million benefit from lower fuel prices and $59 million in savings due to the abolition of the carbon tax.

Virgin Australia was in the red to the tune of $47.8 million for the half – however that was a $27 million improvement on the previous corresponding period. On an underlying profit before tax the VA result was a $10.2 million profit.

It is very clear that the travel industry is alive and well if the record number of nominations for this year’s National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) is any indication, as we have been overwhelmed by the interest. For the NTIA 2015 program, AFTA introduced the requirement for some categories that nominations must be ATAS accredited or work for an ATAS accredited business to be eligible.

Wow, that works! As ATAS heads towards its first year of operation and reaches the 3000 location target it is so pleasing to see how much accreditation has been embraced and how the idea of including this eligibility has underpinned the professional standard of the NTIAs. All industry awards need to be constantly reviewed to ensure they are relevant, responsive to industry change and add value to everyone that chooses to get involved. Clearly the NTIAs is doing this in spades for the industry and I am really delighted that 2015 will be yet another great year for the industry to celebrate and recognise the achievements of so many. The voting is now open and we have already seen an incredible take up of this process with the AFTA website abuzz with people casting their votes.

This year we have made a change to the venue for the gala event which was brought about as a result of the shortage of event space availability in Sydney during the construction of the $1 billion International Convention Centre (ICC) planned to be completed in December 2016. So the NTIAs will be held at Dockside Pavilion Darling Harbour for the next two years. In 2017 the NTIAs will move to the ICC at which time the event will be open to many more as the venue sits a maximum capacity of 2000.

I am confident that by 2017 there will be 2000 people wanting to attend as we go from strength to strength every year with so many fabulous sponsors. With the introduction this year of several new categories the field that has been nominated is vast. As with every year I wish all the nominees every success for this year and look forward to building excitement in the lead up to July 18th.

Not to let a political moment pass, March will see another election, with the NSW state poll set to run on 28 March. As with Victoria and Queensland, the outcome of this pending election could go either way, and AFTA has continued to ensure our engagement across both sides of the political spectrum in NSW. It will be interesting to see the outcome because if the current NSW government is voted out it will mean the three east coast states will have Labor in charge. Some say that the balance of federal state relations are best served when states are of one inclination and the federal government is of another. The only problem is that all three east coast states will remain in place until the next federal election, so we might well be in for some interesting political times if we see a change in NSW.

All industry awards ‘need to be constantly reviewed to ensure they are relevant

’

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

9

issues & trends

damage control for airasia

AirAsia’s A330

AirAsia has had a rough trot over the past 12 months. The low cost carrier hit a low point last year with the suspension of AirAsia X flights from Adelaide to Kuala Lumpur and the last minute cancellation of direct flights from Melbourne to Bali, topped off by the tragic AirAsia Indonesia crash just after Christmas.

The airline’s troubled Australian operations also haemorrhaged $128 million before tax for the year ending 2014 – a loss that founder and CEO Tony Fernandes largely attributed to the MH17 and MH370 tragedies and the “dramatic” discounting that followed from low cost carriers.

But during a visit to Sydney last month in an attempt to improve the airline’s reputation in Australia, Fernandes remained upbeat about the airline’s future, claiming its bottom line would be in a “better position” within the next six months.

With plans to ramp up Perth and Melbourne routes to double daily, and resume flights out of Adelaide – which it ditched earlier this year due to mounting losses – he’s clearly confident the airline is poised to

turn a corner. “We are going to be aggressive for sure,” he told the media.

bottom fares are ‘partRockof Fernandes’ strategy, such as the 24 hour ‘Lowest Fares Ever’ sale...

’

AirAsia’s commitment to the Australia market topped the agenda of Fernandes’ visit, as he branded it a “key market” for the carrier.

Rock bottom fares are part of his strategy such as the 24 hour ‘Lowest Fares Ever’ sale on flights to Kuala Lumpur last month including $87 flights from Sydney, $67 from the Gold Coast and $78 from Melbourne.

Additional services are also central to his plan with AirAsia X likely to restart London services next year, and Trans Tasman flights from Kuala Lumpur to Auckland are in the pipeline for later this year.

But the major issue with AirAsia

in Australia appears to be that many passengers affected by the Adelaide and Melbourne cancellations are yet to receive any recompense from the carrier.

While the Melbourne to Bali service has since taken off after receiving the green light from CASA, passengers hit by last minute cancellations are still waiting for refunds.

Fernandes was apologetic on the topic and made it clear that the company is on the case, with refunds and a $50 credit to spend with the airline to be deposited in the coming months. But he stopped short of admitting the airline was in the wrong, claiming it had done nothing wrong in taking bookings before receiving regulatory approval.

“We were really unlucky. What we’ve done is no different to any other airline, we’ve done it before,” he told the media.

Fernandes is the first to admit that the airline’s reputation has taken a battering, particularly in the Australia market. Whether aggressive airfares and new routes will translate to more bookings remains to be seen, but Fernandes is on the case.

air canada still pondering aus market AIR Canada has big plans over the next 5 years, with the Asia Pacific featuring highly on the agenda as the airline looks to build its brand presence on the global stage.

The airline has ramped up its expansion strategy following the delivery of its first Dreamliners last year, with new routes and classes on the agenda for 2015 and beyond. Air Canada general manager Australia and NZ Paul McLean told travelBulletin that the new 787s formed the “foundation” of the airline’s growth, with the airline now in a better position to expand. He also signalled that the Asia Pacific was on the cards but was tight lipped on details.

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travelBulletin APRIL 2015

The airline has been “considering” Brisbane and Melbourne for some time, but McLean hinted that Brisbane was gaining favour as a key contender. “We are targeting other markets in the South Pacific and Brisbane is of real interest,” he said, adding that a 787-9 would make the distance of a direct Vancouver flight.“We now have more capabilities and are assessing our options.”

“We want to take on new routes and Australia has long been a strategic market for us that we want to grow,” he added. McLean said Air Canada was also looking at options to connect Australians to int’l ports such as London with direct flights through Vancouver.

issues & trends

Anzac milestone sets stage for 2015 The battlefields of Gallipoli are among the most visited places in Turkey for Australian travellers. But 2015 marks a milestone of special significance with the passing of 100 years since Australian and New Zealand troops landed on the beaches of Gallipoli and helped to define Australia as a nation.

Some 8000 Australians received ballot passes to attend the Anzac Day ceremony on the Gallipoli peninsula, with a further 2000 tickets allocated to New Zealanders. However, hundreds more are expected to make the trip to Turkey to pay their respects.

No expense has been spared on Turkey’s part with seven new apartment blocks built in Eceabat alone in addition to new roads, shops and signage to cater for the tens of thousands expected to descend on Gallipoli for the occasion.

Tourism operators have reported a significant increase in interest for Turkey ahead of the Anzac Day commemoration with all tours sold out well in advance. But with the ballot wait list currently standing at around 35,000, operators are also expecting a solid increase in visitor numbers well into next year and beyond.

Trafalgar Tours, which has almost 100 Australian ballot and non-ballot guests secured on Anzac Day tours later this month, has reported a “significant rise” in interest for Turkey, particularly from guests who want to travel outside of the major commemoration period. “Based on the significance of Anzac Day we expect the large number of Australians travelling to Turkey to continue to grow in 2016,” MD Matt Cameron-Smith told travelBulletin. “Australian visitation numbers

‘

Australian visitation numbers to Turkey continue to grow year on year

’

to Turkey continue to grow year on year and Trafalgar expects this pattern to follow in the post centenary year.”

Tempo Holidays, which will operate two Anniversary Pilgrimage tours this month, is also expecting a spike in bookings for the Lone Pine centenary in August.

While not as well known as the Anzac commemorations, all operators have openings for tours to commemorate the battles of Lone Pine in which more than 2200 Australians were killed or wounded by the Ottoman Empire.

“Many people who are unable to make the

Anzac pilgrimage are taking the opportunity to head to Lone Pine,” Tempo Holidays general manager NZ Greg Osbourne said, adding that younger Australians were also particularly drawn to the region.

In line with Cameron-Smith, Osbourne also expects that tourism to Turkey will see a sustained increase in the coming years.

“People have a natural curiosity to understand what went on in Gallipoli and to understand our wartime history,” he said.

“We believe as time passes interest will increase as the legend remains such as integral part of the Australian persona.”

Beyond Travel has also reported a 17.5% increase in bookings for 2015 with the commemorations, with national marketing manager Bryce Crampton confident that the media coverage from the Anzac commemorations will put Turkey on the map.

Travel reps to sweat it in Vienna The winners of the Austrian Airlines competition are in, with four industry representatives set to take their running shoes all the way to Austria to compete in the Vienna Marathon.

Representing Austrian Airlines (pictured bottom left) are American Express Global Business Travel manager corporate travel strategy Elinor Prevost, Flight Centre air specialist Jess Bradly, Austrian Airlines Australia head of sales Gianni Di Stefano and Helloworld Middle Brighton manager Dina Head (pictured right).

Prevost will tackle the 9km race, with Bradley to run the 11km event and Di Stefano to lace up for the 5.7km.

Head from Helloworld will bring her A-game for the 16.1km event on 12 April.

The competition, run in conjunction with travelBulletin last month, will see all runners travel to Vienna including five nights’ accommodation courtesy of Courtyard by Marriot Wien Schonbrunn. Good luck!

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

11

issues & trends

World Aviation’s new airline model When World Aviation’s managing director James Vaile took the job 18 months ago, he joined the Helloworld offshoot after a stellar career in IT. After starting out in airlines, he switched to technology via a number of senior global roles with Microsoft, and was part of the genesis of the business which eventually became Expedia.

Such was the success of these roles that Vaile retired very young and keeps his hand in the online world via a board membership of NZ housing website realestate.co.nz.

However like many who start out in travel, the lure of the industry was such that it drew him back in – albeit with a unique perspective from his time with Microsoft which has seen World Aviation reinvented.

Four years ago World Aviation and its sister business Global Aviation Services had operations across the country, with state offices, sales managers, and all of the associated costs. “In the old days consolidators were ticketing on their associated GSA carriers for cashflow,” he told travelBulletin. “That model no longer exists”.

Instead, since coming into the business, Vaile has restructured things and “thrown on a layer of analytics”, introducing a transparency which sees the company work collaboratively with its clients which include Hawaiian Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, TAP Portugal, Air Botswana, Royal Jordanian, Alaska Airlines, Aer Lingus, Hong Kong Airlines, MIAT Mongolian Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Jet Airways on the World Aviation side, as well as Delta Air Lines, Kenya Airways and Egyptair within Global Aviation.

In particular the old method of tracking performance via “flown revenue” – which meant key information often wasn’t available

centres in Sydney and Auckland. “We have virtual offices across the region with account management run out of Sydney,” he said.

Interestingly, the close codeshare association between Air New Zealand and Virgin Atlantic

We can also allocate ‘shared resources across

our clients meaning each airline’s cost base is reduced

’

James Vaile

for some months because of long booking lead times – has been expanded to include ticketed sales, meaning the business can react to market conditions much more quickly. The company can provide much more accurate feedback to its clients, and according to Vaile, this – as well as an ability to use technology to do things differently – was a key factor in World Aviation taking on the Virgin Atlantic (VS) account last year when it suspended its Sydney flights and closed its local office.

In fact, World Aviation represents Virgin Atlantic in seven south east Asian markets, all of which have a BDM presence, and all of which are serviced via the company’s call

means the Auckland office is VS’ largest point of sale in this region.

Vaile sees significant opportunities to grow the business using this model, citing other major successes such as Jet Airways which operates strongly via a codeshare on Qantas flights over Singapore. Improved use of data means the Australasian operation can fill empty off-season seats, strategically planning activity throughout the year to meet client carrier needs.

“We can also allocate shared resources across our clients meaning each airline’s cost base is reduced,” he said. They also get the benefit of sharing best practice, while commercial negotiations with key partners are still “ring-fenced” to ensure confidentiality, he added.

According to Vaile, a number of airlines are looking closely at how they operate in the Australian market, with a significant number of prospects to grow the World Aviation and Global Aviation operations.

“It’s a great little business,” he concluded.

SkyTeam steps up its focus on customer experience SkyTeam has no plans to expand its network of carriers, instead turning its focus to streamlining processes and improving synergies with member airlines.

SkyTeam Alliance Australia country chair Vince Arnone said the alliance’s global footprint had reached a “good point” with strong presences in the US, Europe, China and Asia, with the alliance now turning its focus to improving the customer experience.

With the roll out of SkyTeam lounges in London and Sydney now complete, SkyTeam

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travelBulletin APRIL 2015

plans to open lounges in Beijing, Hong Kong and Dubai later this year. It is also forging ahead with plans to introduce fast track lanes at security and immigration at 60 airports, with 39 currently in operation.

“The alliance already has a strong network in some of the world’s biggest markets so rather than picking up more carriers the focus is on getting the basics right within the alliance for the customer,” he said.

Arnone claimed the number of member airlines was “not of relevance”.

“Instead the question is, are you in the relevant markets with relevant market shares? And we believe we are,” he told travelBulletin.

Arnone highlighted “major priorities” as the opening of airport lounges in Beijing and Hong Kong and implementing a multiairline booking tool allowing passengers to use frequent flyer points on different member carriers more seamless. The alliance is also heavily investing to standardising elite passenger benefits, Arnone concluded.

A&K FP

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

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issues & trends

Egypt recovery making headway Egypt’s tourism industry fell off the radar in the wake of the Arab Spring in 2011, but signs of a revival are starting to emerge.

Tourists are returning to Egypt in droves with the latest government figures showing tourist arrivals shot up nearly 70% in the third quarter of 2014 compared with the same period the previous year. Total arrivals peaked at 14.7 million in 2010 prior to the political upheaval, with numbers dipping to 9.4 million last year.

But tourism operators are confident that 2015 holds all the markers of a strong recovery, with visitors from Europe and the US returning in numbers. Australians, however, have been slow to return.

Speaking with travelBulletin, A&K managing director Sujata Raman said there was “strong growth” for Egypt coming out of the US market as discount airfares and travel specials caught the eye of American travellers. But interest was still lagging among Australian travellers, she added.

“All operators are saying they’re back in Egypt and business is growing strongly, but what really surprises me is that the US is doing well and we are not seeing the same with Australians,” she said.

“This is one of the first times that I have noticed this happen as Americans are generally more cautious than Australians.”

Australian arrivals are on the rise, with A&K reporting a 56% bump in visitor numbers over the past 12 months. But Raman said the figures leave much to be desired.

“A 56% increase in growth to any destination is great, but we’re talking about small numbers and revenue is down to about 10% of what it was in the past,” she said, adding that visitor

Sujata Raman

numbers had dwindled to just 100 passengers from around 1000 since 2010.

Raman was confident Egypt would reclaim its glory days. However with the Egyptian government last month pulling the pin on tourist visas on arrival for individual travellers, she said it may be some time until Egypt’s tourism industry finds its feet.

“I’m not sure what it will take for Australians to return, but I don’t think more aggressive specials will make much of a difference because price point is not a determining factor for Australians,” she said. “People need to feel that it is a stable destination and it will take time for people’s perceptions to change.”

Bunnik Tours agreed that the Australia market was slower to return to Egypt than other destinations, with European arrivals outshining Australian numbers.

While Australian bookings are still down on 2010 levels, Bunnik Tours reported a 40%

The Sphinx and Pyramid of Khafre, Filip Maljkovic CC: http://bit.ly/1CJVsT1

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travelBulletin APRIL 2015

need to feel that it ‘isPeople a stable destination and

it will take time for people’s perceptions to change

’

increase in arrivals for the first five months of 2014 compared to the previous year.

“The European market has been the first to return to Egypt and it has come back stronger, but we are now seeing the Australia market is coming back,” he said.

Bunnik conceded that all markets were still struggling on previous levels, but said Australians were taking up discount offers.

The operator also has secured “strong” forward bookings for 2016 following the recent soft launch of its latest Egypt brochure.

Bunnik was unconcerned about Australia’s subdued booking numbers compared to international markets, insisting that Europeans consider Egypt to be a short beach holiday while Australians see it as a bucket list item.

“We’re expecting Egypt to finally turn the corner, and if anything, now is a good time for Australians to travel to see the sights before the crowds return,” he told travelBulletin.

Travel Corporation brands Trafalgar, Insight Vacations and Contiki all returned to Egypt in recent months, with all operators reporting “strong growth” in interest from Australian travellers. All operators agreed that political instability in Egypt had stabilised and the country was now ready to welcome tourists.

“The time is right and demand is high,” Contiki managing director Katrina Barry said.

issues & trends

NTA view Juliana Payne, CEO National Tourism Alliance

GREAT CANAL JOURNEYS in Provence, Champagne, Burgundy, Alsace & Paris

workplace relations scheme needs tweaking The Federal Government has asked the Productivity Commission to look at how it can improve Australia’s workplace relations framework. The current framework is very restrictive for businesses like those in tourism and hospitality who need to operate in a 24/7, highly competitive global marketplace. The National Tourism Alliance will be asking the Commission to improve workplace regulation to open up opportunities for both businesses and employees in tourism and hospitality, across the whole country. Around 90% of 280,000 tourism and hospitality businesses in Australia are small businesses, and about half are in regional areas. Improving workplace regulation will boost these businesses’ ability to grow and bring prosperity to their communities. These businesses already employ one million people across Australia, or one in 12 employees, and could employ a lot more.

Small businesses also carry a disproportionate regulatory burden which affects their ability to grow and employ people, so we ask the government to cut workplace red tape to encourage growth and innovation in small businesses. Workplace regulation compliance for conditions of employment and employing workers is complex and time consuming for SMEs. Businesses are not trying to avoid their obligations; the issue is that the complexity in finding information, understanding what is required, and preparing the information is imposing huge costs in time and stress on small business people.

In the service-oriented tourism and hospitality sector, the compliance burden can be a disincentive to employing staff and is a serious constraint to growth. It can also affect service quality.

Another good reason to improve the workplace relations framework is that what’s good for tourism is good for the whole economy. For what every dollar tourism earns directly in the Australian economy, it value adds an additional 92 cents to other parts of the economy.

Another reason to improve the employment framework is to ensure the industry can deliver high quality customer service at the times customers expect it, and that’s 24/7 in tourism and hospitality. Under the current workplace restrictions, it is difficult for businesses to deliver the service levels needed on a 24/7 basis because the cost of doing so is prohibitive. And tourism is by nature a highly labour intensive service industry, so it needs reforms to workplace regulation to ensure that it remains competitive in a global market. Let’s not forget that in regional areas, tourism and hospitality businesses are also affected by seasonality, as well as a smaller pool of available labour. The restrictive workplace relations framework makes it difficult to find workable solutions.

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Small businesses ‘carry a disproportionate regulatory burden ’

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

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issues & trends

The great Wi-Fi free for all

By Kris Madden The debate about free Wi-Fi continues to challenge hoteliers. The question is: can hotels afford to provide free Wi-Fi – or can they afford not to?

Today’s ‘must-always-be-connected’ guests, especially business travellers, are making decisions about where to stay partially based on the internet service a hotel provides.

A number of surveys show that free Wi-Fi takes pole position in customer ratings of the most important room amenities. Research

by Hotels.com found Wi-Fi access ranked higher than any other hotel amenity, including complimentary breakfast and free parking.

But as hotels know, Wi-Fi is never really “free”. There is a cost in providing internet access be it to the hotel, guest, or both. In its 2012 Hotel Wi-Fi Report, industry website HotelChatter estimated the cost of wiring up a 250-room hotel to be around US$125,000.

These days, guests are carrying multiple devices, and their demands for bandwidth are continually rising. So the issue is not simply one-size-fits-all ‘free WiFi’, it’s more complicated than that.

estimated ‘theHotelChatter cost of wiring up a 250-room hotel to be around US$125,000

’

Not all guests have the same connectivity requirements so some hotels believe not all guests should receive the same service or pay the same price. Bandwidth based on speed, data, or time is a way for hotels to tailor the connectivity service based on what a guest wants to do. Examples might be those who want to simply check emails get access for free, while guests wanting to stream movies might pay a fee.

Brands like Hilton and Hyatt have announced that they’re offering free Wi-Fi access in their guest rooms. But only their higher-tier loyalty members will get premium, high-speed service for free.

Marriott has announced free, basic Wi-Fi for its lower-tier loyalty members. But to qualify, guests have to book directly through the hotel’s website, app, or reservations line.

Accor has chosen to provide unlimited free internet for its loyalty club members who have reached silver status and above.

“Accor is always looking for ways 16

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

to provide improvements to the guest experience and leverage developments in technology,” says Accor guest technology manager, Grant Ironside.

“Offering Wi-Fi to our guests is the combination of two technology components: the supply of ISP services, or the internet “pipe”, and the hardware and support to connect our guests’ devices.

“While we are seeing better value in supply of ISP links, this is being matched by an increasing guest appetite for these services.

The hardware required for the distribution of internet service throughout the hotel still requires a large investment in infrastructure and ongoing maintenance.

“We are considering the future need for guest bandwidth requirements and investigating tiered offerings with packages for everyday browsing, and packages for upcoming services such as high definition video on demand.

“These are the conversations we are having with our guests and members along with our technology partners to deliver value to our guests and our hoteliers,” says Ironside.

Technology solutions provider for the hospitality industry iBAHN Australia says whether hotels charge or offer free Wi-Fi, it should be part of a well thought out strategy.

Fifteen years ago Internet access was not available to most, if any guests, and it was certainly not high-speed. Looking back a decade or so ago, most hotels charged for wired Internet access, but even then there was still a debate around whether access should be free or whether hotels

were overcharging guests. The company says hotels have to ask themselves what they are trying to achieve; something better than their competitors, the fastest connection, the cheapest connection, or the most reliable connection. In theory these should all support putting more heads on beds.

An important thing to remember, particularly in the 4- and 5-star hotel sectors, is price is not always the determining factor when it comes to Wi-Fi. A satisfactory experience, speed and security often rank higher for many guests, particularly for business guests who want to connect easily, at high speed, and have peace of mind their connection is secure from hackers and viruses.

Ryan Bowman, managing director of SocialFi, says part of the problem is that hotel owners have been reluctant to turn off that revenue stream because until recently no alternative existed to monetise Wi-Fi. “At SocialFi, we believe a better option is to use Wi-Fi as a conduit to create a deeper relationship between a hotel and its guests, using social networks as a key part of the solution. Social networks represent an opportunity to create, nurture and leverage these relationships like never before, and Wi-Fi is an ideal conduit to achieve these goals,” says Bowman.

With the pace of consumer technology moving at breakneck speed, it seems keeping up with customers’ demands while finding a return on investment is an issue that will continue to challenge the accommodation sector for some time yet.

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travelBulletin APRIL 2015

17

technology

SITA sets its sights high

By Bruce Piper

O

ne of the global travel industry’s quiet technology achievers, SITA has begun to take some welldeserved credit for its ongoing innovation which has seen it significantly improve the travel experience for both passengers and airlines over the years. And the rapid advances afforded by the internet and mobile devices are continuing to create opportunities to streamline and simplify the passenger journey, according to the company’s regional chief Ilya Gutlin.

SITA is owned by a collaboration of airlines, and is totally dedicated to technology enhancements both in the air and on the ground. As a global business SITA has operations around the world, but Australia is a key part of the company because of the thirst for technology solutions exhibited by airports, airlines and governments here. The wide-ranging SITA business offers solutions both on the ground and in the air such as automated baggage handling, crew tablets, communications services, immigration and border control, and much more.

The company has been operating in Australia for around 40 years, and airports and airlines here are particularly innovative, according to Gutlin, who cited areas such 18

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

as the Common Use Self Service (CUSS) systems implemented at Brisbane and Melbourne airports. Australia is also a SITA “centre of excellence” for its government services business due to a strong

You can only move the ‘walls so many times...

using technology to process passengers better is a much better solution

’

engagement by immigration and border control officialdom here.

The rise of mobile technology means the industry is “poised on a huge precipice of self service”, Gutlin said. Ubiquitous smartphones provide a plethora of opportunites, from passenger location management, baggage notifications and airport traffic flows. Airports are key because with global passenger numbers increasing each year they are constantly having to manage growth. “You can only move the walls so many times… using technology to process

passengers better is a much better solution.”

SITA is keeping a close eye on technological developments, and the launch of Apple’s iBeacon technology is seen as a game changer for airports. iBeacons are battery-operated devices which emit a unique ID on a periodic basis which can be detected by smartphones in their immediate vicinity.

Apps can be created which will use this detailed location information to, for example, advise passengers which carousel their baggage is on, or even provide a coupon for a free coffee or retail discount. In turn the information from the app can be sent back to airport operators who can use it to manage passenger flows in real time, allowing them to respond to queuing issues before they arise.

SITA is managing a “common use” registry of iBeacons so that they can be used by a multiplicity of apps within each airport.

Immigration and border control is also a key focus, with SITA providing a range of solutions including, for example, the preclearance of passengers entering the USA on long-haul flights from Abu Dhabi.

SITA solutions can also help to improve the bottom line, Gutlin said, with research showing retail operations at airports are correlated to the passenger experience.

“It’s been proven that the relaxed traveller spends more,” he said.

technology

Mobile wave prompts online shift Traveltek has warned that travel agencies who fail to equip their websites with mobile capability will lose out to their competitors as consumer habits change and search engine rankings favour mobile friendly websites.

As consumers increasingly connect with handheld devices, Google has turned its focus to mobile capabilities, indicating back in February that it would start ranking mobilefriendly websites higher within mobile search results from as early as this month.

With many travel agencies currently operating websites tailored to desktop users, Traveltek Asia Pacific regional manager Paul Millan said pressure was mounting for agencies to update their websites.

“Google’s change just reflects the way people are using the web,” he said. “Users are increasingly turning away from sites that don’t work well on their mobile device and returning to search results to find a competitor who does.”

Millan made a special mention of cruise bookings, with potential cruise customers increasingly browsing itineraries on phones

as opposed to desktop monitors.

“More visitors than ever before are visiting travel websites from something other than a desktop PC [and] designing your website from any perspective other than mobile first

is likely to leave your visitor disappointed and looking elsewhere.”

Millan added that Traveltek was “ready” for Google’s algorithm changes and urged cruise retailers to follow suit.

bi provides insights, but agents must act Tramada CEO Jo O’Brien has branded business intelligence as the most valuable tool for travel agents in the future, but stressed the need for agents to act on data insights to improve their service to clients.

Tramada has been active in the data analytics space, rolling out its own Business Intelligence (BI) solution in 2013 which analyses data on metrics such as margin and market share and provides actionable insights to grow travel businesses.

O’Brien said the solution had been well received to date, but added that agents

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need to “look past the hype” of business intelligence and implement action plans based on BI data to improve their business profitability.

“Technology must empower travel businesses to thrive now and in the future.

It can no longer be a cottage industry,” she told travelBulletin.

For instance, O’Brien said the client database was one of the most “important and overlooked” assets in travel business, adding that there was a great opportunity for agents to use BI information within the

database to improve marketing.

“Marketing efforts must harness the information in the client database to predict behaviour to market relevant products to the right people at the right time,” she said.

O’Brien predicted that agents would increasingly look for process efficiencies in the future as they look to reduce or eliminate manual intervention.

Tramada’s Offline Automation is one such example that includes auto application of service fees, auto receipting, auto invoicing and auto itineraries.

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technology

Virtual payments take centre stage While the dust settles following deregulation and the industry gets on with business, eNett International is seeing an upswing in interest for virtual payment options as agencies and suppliers look for more certainty in the payment process.

In an extensive interview with travelBulletin, eNett International CEO Anthony Hynes (pictured) spoke at length of the changing travel environment, claiming that the B2B environment has “dramatically” changed over the last five years.

As firms increasingly look to do business online, he said the entire value chain was looking for more efficiencies in the payment process, particularly with the rise of dynamic pricing and instant payments. Integrated payment methods that feed into distribution platforms were also gaining ground to minimise time lag with traditional payment options, he added.

But Hynes singled out deregulation as the greatest opportunity for eNett in Australia as agents and suppliers take a more proactive role in the payment process.

“Issuing tickets in a deregulated environment comes with an increased risk,

Issuing ‘tickets in a

deregulated environment comes with an increased risk

’

so protection is more important than ever,” he said. Noting that eNett’s virtual payment options provided protection across the entire value chain, he said traditional options such as store cards did not provide adequate coverage in the instance of agency or supplier failure. Nor did the Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP), Hynes added.

“The BSP is a very efficient mechanism but there is still risk involved with that,” he said.

“There is also a lot of risk for hoteliers with a lot of credit card fraud going on.”

Hynes said existing payment methods

were “not working” for many agencies and added that the use of virtual numbers was now coming to the foreground as agents and suppliers become more “cautious” in how they do business following deregulation.

“Agencies are being really selective with suppliers, and suppliers are more selective of distribution. They are also more proactive than ever before in implementing procedures in how they interact with each other,” he said.

With a host of payment providers on the market, Hynes said there was “significant” competition in the market.

However, he stressed that eNett’s travel domain knowledge set it apart from major competitors. “We know how airline accounting systems work. Many of our people are ex-travel industry representatives who bring that knowledge into our business, and that translates to product innovation,” he said.

Hynes also flagged plans to expand the company’s global footprint to better connect with its expanding global client base. “It’s increasingly difficult to run a global business out of Melbourne,” he confided, adding that eNett plans to expand into a further 12-15 countries in the next 18 months.

New GDS solution emerges Amadeus has rolled out a new online travel agency platform that is said to cater for the “changing requirements” of travel agencies with greater flexibility and round the clock access.

Launched last month, the Amadeus Selling Platform Connect mark’s the company’s first fully mobile online booking platform, designed to provide consultants with more freedom and flexibility to work on their own terms.

Benefits include new search features to source information faster, the capacity to view multiple bookings concurrently, and simplified workflow shortcuts. Content can also be seamlessly integrated across air, hotels, cars and profiles, and “smarter” search and interactive maps have been introduced.

Billed as the “next generation” of the Amadeus Selling Platform, more hotel content has also come online, and virtual credit card payment capabilities are now available with hotel bookings.

First rolled out to TravelManagers Australia, executive general manager Michael Gazal said the platform had proven to be a great success. “We can already see the benefits of Amadeus Selling Platform Connect; greater choice to work wherever and however we like,” he said.

20

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

20

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

25 Berry Street North Sydney NSW 2060

www.traveltek.net

enquiry@traveltek.net

Tel: 02 8030 7050

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

21

careers

Dare to be

different

Creativity is scarce when it comes to job ads and the copy-and-paste job description is all too common.

But adding a little sizzle to job specs could be the secret to reel in the best talent, as Louise Wallace writes.

R

ewarding, challenging and diverse are everyday words for job seekers. They’re littered in job ads and pasted on careers pages – but they’re hardly attention grabbers. They’re more like the usual suspects in boring job ads that cause job seekers to glaze over and move on with their job hunt.

Staffing issues remain the single greatest challenge for business owners across the globe thanks to recruitment economics which haven’t budged in decades -- the demand for intelligent job applicants is consistently high while supply is often low.

22

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

No doubt employers want the crème of the crop, but reeling them in is where most businesses fall short.

JITO managing director Helene Taylor says the solution is in the sell and marketing the business more effectively to job seekers. Rather than rattling off KPIs and requirements in job ads, she says breaking the mould by crafting catchy job titles and role summaries attracts the best talent.

“The mistake most companies make when advertising a job is to make it sound like a job description. They focus on the title and what they are looking for. Gone are the days where we can be that arrogant. Job seekers have a choice, so why should they choose your company?” she says.

Talented employees are spoiled for choice, meaning the chance of catching their attention with stale job ads is pretty slim.

If anything, it’s unlikely. Companies such as Adidas and Google are talent magnets, receiving over a million job applications a year. Australian company Red Balloon – an experiential gift retailer online – is another up and comer which receives 55 times more

job applications than it has workers because of its relaxed work culture and sassy vibe.

Employees naturally have different reasons for joining or leaving an employer, but Taylor says the key is to make the company and the job description sizzle by reinforcing benefits such as the work culture, flexibility and environment.

“You can double the amount of quality applications you receive with some simple changes to how well you write your advert,” Taylor says, pointing to Airbnb as the golden standard.

The rental accommodation site – which has more than 2200 employees worldwide – features the following blurb on its online careers page: “Life is what happens when you’re busy working. We make sure you enjoy it. Together, we work hard, we laugh a lot, we brainstorm nonstop, we use hundreds of Post-Its a week, and we give the best highfives in town.”

Founded in 2008, the number of staff on the books after just seven years is nothing short of impressive. And as Taylor puts it, the company’s success comes down to the

www.travelbulletin.com.au EDITOR Ian McMahon (03) 9568 4464 or mobile 0414 320 321 imcmahon@travelbulletin.com.au FEATURES EDITOR Kate Atherton – 0412 254 762 language in job descriptions katherton@travelbulletin.com.au

careers

travelBulletin is published by Business Publishing Group Pty Ltd ABN 47 112 661 613

DIRECTORS AND ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS: Eddie Raggett (Sydney) and teamed with (Melbourne) clever marketing.

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tone of NATIONAL SALES “Emotive words sell your company and not manyOFFICE sell it better than SYDNEY MANAGER (02) 9969 6683 Airbnb,” she Eddie says.

Raggett (02) 9969 6683 PO Box 492 Mosman 0408 289 599 According or tomobile recruitment specialist RecruitLoop, four times as NSW 2088 eraggett@travelbulletin.com.au OFFICE many peopleHAWAII read job headlines before MELBOURNE continuing on to read the (03) 9568 4464 Raggett (02) 9969 6683 The US-based body copy, soEddie the hook is crucial. company also pins Box 818, Carnegie or mobile 0408 289 599 Victoria eraggett@travelbulletin.com.au innovative design as a major selling point for 3163 job seekers, along with PRODUCTION videos embedded into job ads or even a competition such as Tourism CO-ORDINATOR Marlene 676 177 Queensland’s BestPoon Job– 0407 in the World campaign back in 2009. mpoon@travelbulletin.com.au Australian Human Resources ART DIRECTOR Institute research consultant Wendy St George CAB Audited – circulation 5918* wstgeorge@travelbulletin.com.au *Average net circulation Apr 2012-Mar 2013 the Victoria Johnston sings same tune as Taylor, insisting that businesses need to go beyond the norm to market jobs to potential employees.

And like RecruitLoop, she says grabbing their attention by reflecting the image and culture of an organisation is a sure bet.

But it is a balancing act, Johnston says, as employers also need to include concise information thearole so that job **And travel agents pay onlyabout $30 for full year’s seekers can assess whether it’s the right fit for their career. subscription to travelBulletin “You need to create a desire for candidates to want to apply for Join the including rush to subscribe to travelBulletin, the monthly publication that such the role. Consider benefits your organisation can offer makes sense of the electronic news bombardment. as flexible work options, development opportunities, reward and Why pay $149 a year for a travel industry newspaper when travelBulletin recognition programs,” she tells travelBulletin. provides comprehensive industry coverage for only $50 a year As Taylor points out, not(even all less job ifseekers have their eye on the you’re a travel agent). money and candidates are often lured by workplace culture, attractive benefits and work flexibility. Training and career progression is another To: travelBulletin subscriptions ABN 47 112 661 613 leading motivatorPO forBox job7043, movement the travel Banyule in Victoria 3084 industry. But she also notes that many companies fail to highlight the perks at the get go, I am a travel agent and enclose cheque or money order for and ultimately toGST) reeltoincover the12real talent. $30fail (inc. months subscription to travelBulletin She suggests highlighting factors such as the company’s I am not a travel agent and enclose cheque or money order for reputation, inclusion in leadership opportunities, $50 (inc. GST) to cover 12 months subscriptionrecognition to travelBulletin programs, career development programs and family friendly policies in Name ................................................................................................................... job descriptions – but to surround them with thought and emotion.

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xx 23

travel management

the power of

personal branding

By Judith O’Neill

W

hile most executives recognise the power of personal branding, many employees and managers do not.

Simply put, employee branding is the image projected by employees through their behaviours, attitudes and actions.

It is an indirect branding effect in which the communication of company employees serves to characterise their company’s employer brand. The term also refers to the effects that employees have on the image of their employer and the company brand by publicly voicing their opinion on their place of work.

This image is impacted by employee attitudes and engagement towards the employer brand image promoted through the culture of the organisation. Importantly, employee branding can influence the perception of the employment experience offered to current and future employees.

I recently had a conversation with the managing director of a large corporate travel agency who was taken aback with two interviews with two male consultants. Both were quite clear that they would negotiate their new salary, and that what she was offering was too low. They had good track records and were aware of their brand value.

Confidence and culture are the major determinants of how far people will go with 24

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

their personal brand. However, there are those who feel genuinely uncomfortable singling themselves out for special attention.

It can be an uphill struggle to convince them that, in a global world, personal visibility is important for their careers. This particularly applies to women who are often reluctant to push their brand value and ask for higher salaries.

By avoiding negotiation, women sacrifice more than money. They also sacrifice visibility, training, and career growth.

Research shows that men are much more likely than women to negotiate for pay and promotions. There are also gender disparities in negotiation which can lead organisations to underutilise the skills of most talented women. This all leads to low morale, high turnover and additional costs. So why the change, and why is it more important than ever to develop your own brand?

I like John Borghetti’s advice to graduates of the TIME program: “Be the best you can in whatever job you do and you’ll take people with you.”

Employees can gain a competitive edge by establishing a personal brand that allows them to differentiate themselves from the competition. Their audience may be their current employer or the hiring managers of desired companies, but the goal is to stand out through delivery and reliability, and in doing so, employees will land their dream job.

There are a number of fundamental elements to personal branding:

Personality – Values, goals, identity and behavior.

Competencies – Cognitive, business, communication and technical skills that enable employees to perform their job responsibilities.

The Differentiator – Offering a unique value proposition or benefit such as a reputation for always delivering the best results; honesty, loyalty, integrity and reliability.

Personal branding is an ongoing development that exists throughout an entire lifecycle, and as employees’ experience, competencies, physical and emotional attributes grow, so too will their brand.

Again referring to John Borghetti who was recently described by the Sydney Morning Herald as having a “strong desire to succeed in whatever he does”, having a brand which combines a mixture of the elements outlined above has a positive effect on people around you.

The “John Borghetti” brand is personal and effective. Establish yours and become a powerful role model.

Judith O’Neill is a management consultant, business and executive coach, and has provided business solutions to travel businesses and companies for the past 20 years.

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Have an informal, confidential chat on 03 9034 7079 Find out more at www.travelcounsellors.com.au or email the team at connect@travelcounsellors.com.au

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

25

cover story

HIGH WATER MARK FOR

RIVER CRUISING

The river cruise industry is booming and operators are throwing their weight behind the sector with new ships, itineraries and destinations – and lots of them. Questions are mounting as to whether the growth is sustainable but operators are confident the boom will continue, as Louise Wallace writes.

26

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

cover story

A

ustralian travellers – and travel companies – have fallen in love with river cruising. And as the love affair shows no signs of abating, new vessels, itineraries and destinations are emerging in blink-andyou’ll-miss it succession as operators pull out all the stops to woo passengers aboard.

Consumers are the big winners as operators push hard to stay one step ahead, and their efforts are catching the eyes of consumers and pushing bookings up year after year.

The river cruise market has exploded in its two decade history with a whopping 500,000 passengers now boarding a river cruise each year. While the number may be a drop in the ocean compared to the 23 million ocean cruise passengers expected to set sail this year, it’s come a long way in recent years, more than doubling the market’s capacity back in 2007 and increasing sevenfold since 2001.

Australians are a key part of the growth with CLIA’s latest Cruise Industry Source Market report finding that the number of Australian river cruise passengers jumped 25% from 2012-13 to just shy of 50,000 passengers. Much of the local credit can go to Australian travel industry giants APT and Scenic who have been duking it out with their own vessels in Europe for years – but there are other big players hot on their heels.

The surge in capacity is now prompting the question as to whether the growth is sustainable, but those close to the coal face are confident river cruising is set for an ever-brighter future.

Boom or gloom River cruise companies have been rubbing their hands together at the increase in demand as the sector gains ground on its bigger cousin, ocean cruising. But as the boom showed signs of flat lining late last year, whispers began circling as to whether the sector had peaked and the anchor had been thrown overboard.

The major players in the river cruise market have been quick to douse any suggestions that the sector is tapering. Whether it’s the billions of dollars that they have collectively thrown behind new ships, upgrades and product developments, they’re convinced the river cruise boom has only just set sail.

Scenic general manager product Aleisha Fittler is among them, telling travelBulletin that the river cruise industry has found its way onto the radar of Australian travellers.

“River cruising is a pretty new segment, but it is booming and we don’t see that slowing

down at all,” she says. “Ocean cruising has opened up the world but there is a place for river cruising and customers are really catching onto that.”

Somewhat unsurprisingly, it’s a view that is also shared by APT, Avalon, Pandaw Cruises and Viking River Cruises who all spoke at length with travelBulletin of the sterling future ahead for river cruising. APT marketing manager Justine Lally predicts the sector will “surge as word of mouth continues to spread”, while Avalon national marketing manager Adam Mussolum pinned river cruise as one of the “strongest performers” in the tourism sector as travellers look for more intimate all-inclusive experiences. “Everything we look at suggests the market is poised for growth,” he says.

Uniworld general manager John Molinaro, meanwhile, said river cruising was the “fastest growing industry” as consumer perceptions change and it becomes a more mainstream option for travellers.

is not a chance ‘inThere hell that river cruising has reached its peak ’

“Consumers are seeing what the segment has to offer and the choice, options and destinations now available, and they are fuelling more growth,” he says. But APT general marketing manager Debra Fox put it most succinctly in a panel discussion at the recent Cruise3sixty conference in Sydney: “There is not a chance in hell that river cruising has reached its peak.”

Cash on the line The major players are clearly upbeat about the future of river cruising, and even if their claims of confidence seem somewhat overplayed, they are putting their money where their mouths are.

Scenic upgraded its entire fleet in 2013, handing over about $20 million for a refurbishment program to bring its average fleet age down to two years, while Avalon is investing more than ¤20 million to add six new ships to its fleet in the next two years.

Viking River Cruises also has 12 new vessels in the pipeline for Europe on the back of 18 vessel launches in 2014, 10 in 2013 and six in 2012, bringing its fleet size to a whopping 64 vessels in 2015.

Continues over page travelBulletin APRIL 2015

27

cover story

Avalon Artistry ll Panorama Suite

Continues from previous page Add to the list APT’s MS AMAVista and MS AmaSerena which will debut on the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers this year, Uniworld’s new 150-passenger boutique ship SS. Maria Theresa, and AmaWaterways’ two new vessels this year, and it quickly becomes clear where the industry is heading.

“River cruise is booming across the globe and the industry is doing what it can to cater for continued growth,” APT’s Lally says. “Word of mouth is prompting a shift in perceptions of river cruise and the industry is really lifting its game.”

The latest CLIA State of the Industry report puts it into perspective, showing that the number of river cruise builds more than doubles that of ocean cruise this year, with 16 new vessels in the pipeline for 2015 compared to just six for ocean cruise. Another six new river vessels are slated to enter the market from 2016-2017 – and that’s just the ones that have been announced at this stage.

Fleet fit-outs As the market becomes increasingly crowded, cruise companies are answering to the call with ship improvements and add-ons to lure travellers onboard. And as Scenic Tours general manager product for Europe Aleisha Fittler explains, “the devil is in the detail”.

Scenic is standing by its Spaceship model which, Fittler says, delivers all-inclusive 5-star luxury with private butler service, all weather 28

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

Budapest

balconies, full windows and large cabin spaces. Uniworld, meanwhile, bills its fleet as an ultra luxury boutique cruise line complete with on board antiques, original artworks from Picasso and Matisse, luxurious furnishings and professionally trained butlers.

Then there’s Scenic offshoot Evergreen Tours – marketed abroad as Emerald Waterways – which touts its swimming pool that converts to a cinema as a unique selling point, and Avalon’s Suite Ship with open air balconies, floor to ceiling windows and larger bathrooms is its claim to fame.

Viking also stands by its model of pumping out virtually identical Longships with amenities such as balconies, a large range of cabin categories and public spaces like the Aquavit Terrace and Observation Lounge.

Singling out the differences between high end river cruise lines is an exercise in semantics, and the major players are well aware that the separation is often paper thin.

Avalon’s Mussolum says the competition is rife and the noise from competitors can be deafening at times.

“There are so many competitors with similar offers out there. All claim to offer a cruise on a river with a luxurious state room, and it’s a real challenge to rise above that noise,” he admits.

Destination portfolios have suffered much the same outcome, with cruise lines following the beaten path in impressive fashion.

Europe has led the charge with its massive waterways, popularity with tourists and impressive historical and cultural attractions

making it a no brainer. However, river cruising has now spread its grasp across the globe with operators now in Asia, the Mississippi, and beyond.

In Europe the iconic Amsterdam to Budapest route is the stand out favourite for passengers. The Rhine, Main and Danube rivers reel in the most bookings, including Australian travellers with the latest Cruise Industry Source Market Report showing the number of Australians who travelled on a European river cruise in 2013 topped 41,800 compared to a more modest 4511 passengers for Asian river cruises.

Europe holds the most interest from cruise lines who have announced a wave of new itineraries on the Rhone, Seine and the Danube as interest creeps higher. Uniworld’s move to launch into Bordeaux has also prompted a wave of other operators including APT and Scenic to follow suit.

Others, such as Viking, have stepped into more regional areas such as the Elbe in northern Germany, with operators also now cruising in Italy and Portugal. All the major players have also expanded their grasp to more “exotic” destinations such as Russia, Egypt, China, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Scenic’s Fittler says the company’s decision to launch into Portugal has “exceeded initial forecasts”, while APT’s Lally said its launch into Myanmar was warmly received, selling out 12 months in advance.

“There is absolutely demand for Asian river cruising, as many areas are inaccessible by any other mode of transport. It’s all about

cover story creating options that are innovative and different, and cruise companies are really tapping into that,” she says.

Other companies are expanding their reach into “under tapped” markets such as the Irrawaddy and the Mekong in Asia, and the Ganges in India. The Mississippi is another up and comer that has found its way onto the map of many river cruise companies.

The next step While river cruise companies stand firm in their belief that the sector will continue to grow, they also agree that the limited number of “passable” rivers presents a challenge.

Not only is the competition fierce, but limited docking space is also giving rise to serious congestion on popular ports in Europe such as Budapest and Amsterdam.

With a flooded market of operators who are all going after the all-inclusive high end market at the same ports, the question remains – who is going to step up and change the game?

As the number of ships on Europe’s rivers continues to grow, the opportunity to venture into lesser known ports is opening up. But port infrastructure is limited and entering new ports is no easy feat – often requiring

APT AmaLotus

cruise lines to collaborate with municipalities to improve infrastructure. AmaWaterways and Tauck have made some headway, developing strong relationships with lesser known towns in Germany, while Viking has taken a different approach by privatising many European ports and taking a cut from the bevy of cruise lines who traffic them.

Cruise companies have been actively looking at new avenues to boost their competitive edge including shorter cruise

durations, more inclusions, themed cruises and new destinations. Others have tossed up options such as multi-river cruise packages connected by land tours, while others have weighed up the idea of introducing more affordable options with less inclusions – much like low cost airlines.

Cruise lines unanimously agree that the sector has to think fast in order to progress, Continues over page

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cover story Continues from previous page and they have their eyes on the future. But for now, it seems innovation is on the tamer end of the spectrum with a strong focus on additional capacity and itineraries.

Avalon’s Mussolum says the company’s current focus is on delivering more intimate experiences in destinations such as France.

“It’s hard to predict the next trends in the river cruise industry, but destinations are what drive the growth,” he says. Meanwhile, Uniworld has its eye on ship builds and Scenic Crystal, Budapest

creating more spacious cabins, with new itineraries in India also on the cards for next year.

Scenic is stepping up its game with more themed cruises and exclusive itineraries, with Scenic’s Fittler telling travelBulletin that product, rather than being the first into a destination, secures repeat clients.

“We’re not the first in many destinations, but we don’t have to be. We want to wait until we can deliver a product in a certain way to make sure we get the guest experience right,” she says. Meanwhile, for Viking it appears that capacity is key, with the line progressing its aggressive expansion plan with 12 new river vessels this year alone.

Paving the way forward There is no denying that river cruising has come a long way since the 1990s as cruising catches the gaze of more consumers worldwide. Cruise operators attribute the boom to investment and new innovations, but they also agree that river cruising is leveraging off the buzz of ocean cruising.

While baby boomers continue to dominate in the river cruising stakes, Avalon’s Mussolum says millennials are driving the sector as more people come onboard for intimate experiences that take travellers into the “heart” of a destination. It’s a trend that

he believes is here to stay, and one that will continue to change the demographic and bring the average age down further.

“River cruising is catching on with the younger demographic. Ocean cruising grows the industry for us and river cruising feeds off that,” he says.

Scenic’s Fittler concedes that river cruising is still in its infancy compared to the likes of ocean cruising, but with continued investment and innovations from cruise operators, she’s hopeful it will grow. Flagging plans to step up the company’s focus in Asia and launch itineraries in India, she says industry growth is by no means a given. But she’s quietly confident, insisting there is a “place for river cruising in the market”.

Industry stalwart Molinaro was less reserved in his comments, claiming that river cruising is blossoming as the segment becomes more accessible. “We are well on our way to getting river cruise to the next level.

The segment is continuing to grow and as the demographic changes, that will continue. The segment has changed,” he says.

Much to the delight of cruise operators, the boom is showing no signs of slowing with record figures pouring in year after year.

Certainly questions over the sustainability of the boom will continue to do the rounds, but for now, the river cruise sector is continuing to float at high tide.

Comparing the key players The river cruise industry is flooded with operators in the high end market, so here’s a quick comparison chart to nut out the facts.

Class

Max pax no.

Balconies

Gratuities included

Ships in fleet Regions Covered

Scenic 5-star luxury 167

Private balcony Yes 15 vessels Rhine, Main, Danube with sun lounge France and Russia

Viking River Luxury 190 Cruises

Full verandahs and french balconies

In Europe, Russia 64 vessels Europe, Russia, China and China and Southeast Asia

Avalon Premium

Between 128 and No balconies but Yes 16 vessels in 2016 All major rivers in Europe, 166 in Europe, but floor to ceiling Southeast Asia, India and 72 in Asia and windows in suite South America 32 in Sth America

Travelmarvel Premium

170 in Europe, 92 Most suites have Yes 9 vessels Europe, Russia, China, in Mekong, 72 in french balconies Southeast Asia Burma, 40 in India and 378 in China

APT 5-star luxury

Europe 164, Panoramic windows Yes 21 vessels in 2016 Europe, India, USA, Mekong 124, twin balcony suites Amazon, China, Thailand Burma 60 and Laos

Pandaw Colonial 60

Walkway outside Yes each cabin

15 by the end of Burma, Vietnam, 2015 Cambodia, Laos, India

Uniworld 5-star luxury 130 Depends on ship On European itineraries 14 ships in Europe Europe, Russia, Egypt, Asia and India in 2016

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travelBulletin APRIL 2015

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For full terms and conditions see the 2016 Avalon Waterways brochure or visit avalonwaterways.com.au Licence No. 2TA000637

cruisE Report

infrastructure woes continue

I

nfrastructure shortfalls were singled out as the leading frustration among global cruise lines at the second Australasian Cruise3sixty conference in February, with senior executives warning that Australia’s growth will plateau without more action.

Carnival Cruise Line vice president Australia Jennifer Vandekreeke explained how infrastructure limitations were standing in the way of Carnival Cruise Line’s plans to bring Carnival Legend to Australia year round.

With Sydney “too crowded” for additional capacity, Vandekreeke signalled that Brisbane was the most likely candidate, but again pointed to infrastructure shortfalls.

“We would love to have Carnival Legend year round in Brisbane, but we haven’t made a decision yet. We can get into Brisbane, but we can’t get out,” she said.

When questioned on the prickly topic of Sydney’s infrastructure, Vandekreeke was

quick to respond: “There are not enough berths [so] of course it’s busy, especially on the other side of the bridge.”

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines vice president commercial Sean Treacy also branded infrastructure bottlenecks as the single greatest challenge for the Australian cruise industry in the next decade: “Anything is possible [in the next 10 years] but we need to see major changes in infrastructure to bring bigger ships like Oasis of the Seas to Sydney.”

But Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines regional vice president Gavin Smith was particularly outspoken on the subject, claiming that the infrastructure debate had lost momentum in recent years and now stands in the way of future growth.

“Cruising is plateauing, it’s flat lining and we need to facilitate our part of the bargain because Sydney is full,” he said. “It’s tough, it’s a hard place to work, and it’s full. But it’s

up to us to change it.”

With current solutions such as the opening of Garden Island and regional ports representing only minor improvements on the current state of play, Smith said improvements had to be made on a much greater scale.

“The problem is that we haven’t found the language. There’s no one to blame, but it’s about re-setting the agenda and it’s by no means easy. We have to find the urgency and we have to find a solution,” he said.

“We’ve been dilly dallying about getting a few calls to port here and there, but we need another 100 calls. We need to talk it up to get urgency in the debate and make it happen.”

The Asian and Australasian cruise sectors are currently the fastest growing of any international market, together comprising approximately 12% of cruise capacity in 2015.

Oceania cruises new release Oceania Cruises has rolled out its most comprehensive program featuring more than 120 sailings, 90 new itineraries and 20 new ports of call.

Outlined in the 2016 Collection advance preview brochure are also 50 new Grand Voyages and Extended Journeys ranging from 14-90 days. Rates for Grand Voyages lead in from $11,390 for the 40-day Vancouver to Montreal itinerary, while Extended Journeys include the 14-day Barcelona to Venice Ramblas & Relics

32

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

itinerary priced from $3350.

Also outlined in the brochure is the launch of the 342-suite Sirena. Set to join the Oceania Cruises fleet in March 2016, the ship will undergo a 35-day $40 million refurbishment before the inaugural sailing on April 27 2016. The inaugural Barcelona to Venice voyage visits Spain, Provence, Monte Carlo, Saint-Tropez, Rome and Italy over 14 days with prices leading in from $6230.

The program also sees Nautica sail northern Europe and the Mediterranean;

Insignia will commence the new 18-day Northern Crossing voyage from Miami to Reykjavik; and Riviera will call the Mediterranean home offering itineraries from 7-14 days. Bookings are now open with savings of up to $3180 per guest on offer.

cruisE REPORT

CLIA view Brett Jardine, general manager CLIA Australasia

Cruise3sixty another great success The cruise industry certainly had its moment in the spotlight in late February, with 500 industry members attending the second Cruise3sixty Australasia conference as well as our 14th annual Cruise Industry Awards gala dinner.

Cruise3sixty featured a number of very senior cruise industry executives who took time away from their busy schedules to engage with the Australasian market. I believe Australian and New Zealand-based travel agents can rightfully feel very proud of the role they have played in capturing the attention of these industry stalwarts.

In the week following Cruise3sixty, one of our keynote speakers, Andy Stuart, was promoted to President of Norwegian Cruise Lines. Those who had the chance to hear Andy’s presentation would appreciate what a charismatic individual he is. I am happy to share part of a personal email I received from Andy following the event where he stated that the conference was “extremely well produced” and he hoped to be invited back. Someone else described our event as “showbiz quality” which is a huge compliment to all of us as it demonstrates the energy of the industry when we work collectively.

Just one day after Cruise3sixty, many of us returned to The Star for the 14th Annual Cruise Industry Awards dinner which gave us an opportunity to recognise the cruise industry’s high achievers from 2014.

We enjoyed some dazzling entertainment from gold sponsors World’s Leading Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International, which was complemented by a sensational performance from two of the 2014 “The Voice” finalists, Kat Jade and Sabrina Batshon.

Whilst we had 19 different award categories to present I would like to acknowledge three that stood out for me.

Bicton Travel has now won the Gold Agency of the Year Award for four of the last five years. This is an outstanding achievement for a suburban Perth-based

COMMUNIQU É FROM… KAREN CHRISTENSEN General Manager & Director Sales/Marketing, Australasia

INTRODUCING THEMED EXPEDITION VOYAGES Recognising the broad variety of passions of adventure travellers, Silversea Expeditions has launched specialty expeditions, each with a focus on such activities as wellness, photography, diving, birding and gastronomy.

agency and demonstrates to me that reaching this level of success is possible if you are genuinely hungry.

Our Hall of Fame inductee this year was travelBulletin editor at large, Ian McMahon.

Ian is not a cruise boffin, but a journalist who has always delivered balanced reporting on the cruise industry with the utmost integrity – clearly at a level that is well respected and appreciated by the CLIA Board who bestowed this honour upon him.

I’d also like to recognise our good mate Shannon Currie who was given a posthumous award for his service to the New Zealand cruise industry. CLIA Chairman Gavin Smith did a remarkable job delivering this acknowledgement, demonstrating emotion and deep respect for Shannon whom so many of us knew.

His passing is a true tragedy.

Returning as our co-hosts for the evening were Hamish McLachlan and Melanie Vellejo, who brought the evening together beautifully, with Hamish also emceeing the Cruise3sixty conference. Many would know that four weeks out from Cruise3sixty, our original MC Glenn Wheeler was involved in a horrific motor cycle accident. When we approached Hamish about taking on the MC role over two days, he was there to help without hesitation. Whilst Hamish does not share Glenn‘s intimate knowledge of the cruise industry, the time he spent in preparation to understand the nuances of our industry then deliver such a polished performance at Cruise3sixty and the awards, showed the hallmarks of a true professional and helped ensure the success of both events.

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

The new themed expedition voyages are offered aboard Silver Explorer, Silver Galapagos and Silver Discoverer throughout 2015 and 2016.

To download one of the six mini-brochures available, visit silversea.com/brochures.

For more information or to book, phone Silversea on 1300 306 872 or email salesap@silversea.com.

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travelBulletin APRIL 2015

33

CRUISe Report

Goldstein delivers sterling forecast CLIA chairman Adam Goldstein kicked off Cruise3sixty in February with an upbeat address on the future of cruising ahead of the record 23 million cruise passengers expected to set sail this year.

Addressing around 500 agents and industry representatives at The Star in Sydney, Goldstein leaned heavily on the latest CLIA State of the Industry report which penned 2014 as the most successful year in cruising history.

Released late last year, the report showed that global cruise passengers increased from 17.8 million in 2009 to 22.1 million in 2014, with further growth forecast for 2015.

Noting that Australia had seen a $3.2 billion economic boost from the cruise sector, Goldstein dubbed growth in the market as “incredibly exciting”, with the sector now delivering 14,000 full time jobs in Australia and $940 million in wages.

“Business is growing amazingly in Australia… I’m incredibly gratified that Australia is taking such a leading role in cruising,” he said. “We never would have expected that the Asia and Australasia sector of cruising is now the fastest growing sector with 12% of cruise capacity by 2015.”

Goldstein was the first of many to make reference to infrastructure shortfalls during the one-day conference, claiming that Australia had some way to go to deliver appropriate infrastructure for the burgeoning market. “The future is bright though we need more infrastructure in order to realise the full benefits of what the future can do,” he said.

He also made special mention of the trade, noting that agents have embraced cruising with over 70% of cruisers now using a travel agent to plan and book their cruise holidays.

never would ‘haveWe expected

that the Asia and Australasia sector of cruising is now the fastest growing sector...

’

Adam Goldstein CLIA chairman “There is a lot going on in our industry, but nothing is more encouraging than how agents tailor their business model for cruising,” he said, stressing that travel agents were set to become more influential as options for consumers continues to grow.

“It’s too bewildering for consumers to get through all of the information available, and they need you [agents] to make sense of it all,” he said.

CLIA member lines now reach 490 destinations globally, but Goldstein was confident of breaking the 500 mark in the near future.

“There is now an endless array of ships to choose from and this is happening because people love to cruise, and they love to cruise in every nation,” he claimed.

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cruisE Report

Heavy discounting comes under fire Senior cruise representatives have defended moves to aggressively discount fares to attract customers, while others have signalled a need to change the dialogue surrounding cruise marketing to increase yields.

Bringing the prickly topic of discounting to the fore during a panel discussion at Cruise3sixty, travelBulletin publisher Bruce Piper questioned the sustainability of cruising in the face of heavy discounting such as $99 fares for six and seven-night cruises offered

by Webjet earlier this year.

APT earlier this year also offered a twofor-one river cruise deal with savings of over $13,000, but APT later stressed the deal was a “limited sale on out of season cruises” released through retail and online partners.

Moderating a panel on sustainable growth, Piper questioned how cruise lines could make a profit off such lean margins. But cruise lines were quick to hit back.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines vice president commercial Sean Treacy said discounting was simply a tactical move to gain a competitive advantage in a crowded marketplace, while Princess Cruises vice president Australia and NZ Stuart Allison described attractive pricing as a “marketing device to create demand”.

But P&O Cruises senior vice president Tammy Marshall – who is set to exit the company following a recent restructure – was more vocal on the topic, noting that sustained lower yields could hamper industry growth.

While P&O’s yield has remained higher than usual in recent years, Marshall

to add value ‘forWetheneed customer because

there’s nothing cheap about the price point for APT

’

Debra Fox, APT global head of sales and marketing

highlighted the need for increased investment to facilitate meaningful growth.

She also stressed the need to change the dialogue with consumers and focus marketing on the cruising experience rather than the price point.

“As an industry we need to stop selling the hardware and start selling the experience,” she said. “To keep yield up we need to increase investment. We are looking at the full package and hopefully we won’t see yield drop lower than $99 for a quad cabin.”

Carnival Australia director of marketing and distribution Simon Cheng also weighed in on the matter during a later panel discussion, claiming that competitive deals were the “commercial reality” of the cruise sector.

But he was more candid on the reality of aggressive fares and the sentiment whereby cruise lines price to fill.

“Our dream would be not to discount as much as what’s happening at the moment.

We need to improve the value proposition and stop promoting how cheap we are and focusing on the value we offer,” he said.

APT global head of sales and marketing Debra Fox echoed his calls, claiming cruise lines have to “break the misconception of cruising”. “We need to add value for the customer because there’s nothing cheap about the price point for APT,” she said.

Carnival Cruise Line vice president Australia Jennifer Vandekreeke focused on the potential of the cruise sector, claiming there was “lots of room to grow”. However she added that discounting would be an ongoing reality of the cruise industry and stressed that selling discount fares was more favourable than empty cabins.

“I hope we don’t focus on those two cabins that were cancelled and we needed to fill,” she concluded.

Pandaw adds to 2015/16 program Pandaw River Expeditions has added a number of new itineraries to its 2015/16 program including a new tour exploring the Upper Mekong in Laos.

Travelling onboard RV Laos Mekong, the 10-night river cruise covers the remote jungle of Laos from Vientiane to Luang Prabang and Chiang Kong.

Priced from US$2925 per person, departures are scheduled from 11 November 2015.

Also new this year is the 10-night Halong Bay and The Red River cruise itinerary. Covering Halong Bay, Hanoi and Viet Tri, prices begin from US$2340 per person with departures from July 2015 to March 2016. Bookings secured 300 days prior to departure receive savings of 10%.

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travelBulletin APRIL 2015

CRUISE headlines 03 Mar Crystal Cruises to be acquired by

Genting Hong Kong 03 Mar Industry shines at CLIA Awards 05 Mar Encore to head to Australia 05 Mar Avalon’s Suite Asia debut 10 Mar Virgin ship order coming 10 Mar Sherry rallies agent power 12 Mar Baird promises cleaner air 12 Mar Aus climbs Cunard ladder

CRUISe Report

Cruise lines pledge agent support Direct cruise bookings may be creeping higher, but cruise companies maintain that travel agents are at the core of the cruise sector and remain crucial in driving consumer bookings.

A host of speakers touched on the subject of booking trends at the Cruise3sixty conference, with the general sentiment strongly favouring travel agents in the consumer experience.

With the latest CLIA State of the Industry report noting that over 70% of consumers use a travel agent to plan and book cruise holidays, P&O senior vice president sales Tammy Marshall said agents were “critical” in driving cruise bookings.

“Consumers in this market like to deal with agents, and agents are dominant in the cruise sector because the consumer needs guidance,” she said. “Direct is insignificant in the cruise industry.”

Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean Cruises all conceded that cruise companies reach deep into their pockets for direct marketing advertising, but insisted that direct marketing spend does not detract from the agent focus.

idea that the agent ‘isThe redundant is ludicrous.

Consumers are getting ever more demanding...

Andy Stuart, Norwegian Cruise Line president

Norwegian Cruise Line senior vice president Francis Riley was particularly on side with agents, noting that 90% of the cruise line’s business comes from agents, while Hurtigruten international director sales and marketing Cyril Bricaud described travel consultants as a “crucial” part of the business mix.

Delivering a key note address on the development of the cruise sector, Norwegian Cruise Line president Andy Stuart said agents were in fact becoming more influential in the

’

booking process as travellers become more savvy in planning their holidays.

“The idea that the agent is redundant is ludicrous. Consumers are getting ever more demanding and the need for an agent is more than ever. The reality is that travellers are more experienced, but they are also more confused,” he said.

Stuart said the trade would continue to be the gateway to the cruise sector for consumers despite ongoing growth in direct bookings.

“The reality is that it’s just as, or more, efficient to by with a travel agent. There is no way we can get our reach to consumers without agents. We need them,” he said.

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37

cruise report

princess steps up aus commitment Princess Cruises has stepped up its commitment to the Australia market, announcing that selected ships will operate in Australian currency on board from next summer.

While Princess ships based in Australia currently have local currency on board, Princess’ seasonally deployed visiting ships Diamond Princess and Golden Princess will also operate in local currency while sailing from Australia. The changes are set to come in to effect from next summer season, with Diamond Princess to return to Australian waters in September 2015 and Golden Princess to debut in October.

Announcing the move at Cruise3sixty in February, Princess Cruises vice president Australia and NZ Stuart Allison said the shift from US to local currency marked a “big investment” for the cruise line that followed continued success in the Australia market.

“Australia is now a big piece of our business… and moving to Australian currency helps to give customers more confidence in what they spend on board,” he said.

Meanwhile, Princess Cruises has partnered with Singapore Airlines Holidays to package competitive land, air and cruise

ngs Exceptional Bonus Savi PLUS

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Pictured from left are: Princess Cruises head of sales, Brett Wendorf, Princess Cruises key account manager Nate Picone, Wendy Wu Tours managing director Alan Alcock, Wendy Wu Tours/Singapore Airlines Holidays general manager James Hewlett.

packages tailored for the Australian market.

The deal comes ahead of expected “substantial growth” in cruising out of Asia, according to Princess Cruises head of sales Brett Wendorf, who added that the tie up would see Princess Cruises deliver more “innovative and dynamic” product to consumers.

The ‘Treasures of Asia’ on Dawn Princess is one of the feature trips following the tie up, departing Fremantle on 25 July. With calls to port in Bali, Phuket, Penang and Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur, prices lead in from $4490 including meals, on board activities and oneway economy fares back to Perth.

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1300 ✆ 02 9959 travelBulletin APRIL 2015

INFORMATION ONLINE: OCEANIACRUISES.COM

TO BOOK: CONTACT YOUR TRAVEL AGENT

brochures

Travelmarvel has streamlined its India River Cruising brochure for 2016 with four itineraries covering India and Sri Lanka. All tours now include a range of iconic sights on new vessels, with options ranging from 12 to 31 days in length. The flagship 14-day Authentic India itinerary travels from Patna to Kolkata aboard the 22-suite RV Rajmahal, priced from $5495. A number of earlybird specials are now available including free flights on holidays of 20 days or longer.

A selection of day tours, coach travel and self-drive itineraries are highlighted in Greece and Mediterranean Travel Centre’s latest Spain program. The new standalone brochure features expanded itineraries, advice and travel information. The seven-day Essential Spain coach tour covers Madrid, Cordoba, Seville and Granada including accommodation, guided tours and some meals. Prices start from $1623 twin share.

APT has expanded its New Zealand program with the addition of a new 16-day rail and cruise itinerary.

Outlined in the 2015/16 New Zealand Luxury Escorted Journeys brochure, the Great New Zealand Rail and Cruise Experience covers the North and South islands on a luxury coach and includes eight individual rail experiences. An overnight cruise is also included. Bookings secured and paid within 12 months of departure receive earlybird savings of 10%.

Infinity Holidays has ramped up its selection of rail packages with new product covering Germany and Vietnam, and travel on Golden Eagle rail journeys. Outlined in the 34-page 2015/16 Rail brochure are dozens of itineraries covering North America, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe and the UK. New to the offering is the 9-day Southern Germany Highlights tour including a Rhine day tour and stays in three-star accommodation.

Creative Holidays has expanded its focus on the central coast of Vietnam and ramped up its range of regional itineraries in the region. The 2015/16 Vietnam and Cambodia brochure also includes a number of two and three night ‘modules’ allowing travellers to cover more destinations in one trip. Itineraries include the 12-night Vietnam Foodie Experience which features cooking classes and demonstrations from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh from $5823 per person.

New hotels and itineraries have been added to Scenic Tours’ 2016 South America program, with guests now able to delve deeper into Patagonia with the addition of three new itineraries.

Also new to the line-up is the Treasures of Central and South America tour which showcases Cuba, Panama, the Galapagos Islands and Patagonia over 14 or 25 days. A new cultural experience where travellers toast the end of the day with a cocktail reception has also been added to the books.

Mauritius Seychelles • Morocco • Reunion • Madagascar • Zanzibar

BE

H COM AC B

MAURITIUS

ER

New properties and experiences have been added to Asia Escape Holidays’ Singapore line up, with segway tours and visits to the new Alive Museum now on the agenda. Five new properties have also been added, and the brochure cover has received a makeover. Also new to the 2015/16 brochure is a special feature on the Gardens by Bay including a calendar of floral events and attractions.

SINGAPORE

& AFRICA

Indian Ocean

SP

ECI

Islands

ALIST

S

2015 - 2016

Beachcomber has rolled out its latest 2015/17 Mauritius brochure including a range of escorted tours and day trips. The seven-day escorted Mauritius tour includes travel to the Pamplemousses Gardens and Port Louis, and gives travellers the option to walk with lions. Including flights, accommodation, some meals and inclusions, prices lead in from $4399.

Earlybird offers include a ‘book 2016 stay at 2015 prices’ deal.

Freecall 1800 624 268

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Council of Australian Tour Operators

Integrity & Commitment

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

39

industry in focus cruise special

e ique River Cruis m Uniworld Bout fro ro na oli M on John rst of Bict ts Carol Smethu Collection presen e Year Award. th of cy ld Agen Travel with the Go

Around 500 cruise aficionados dressed up to the nines for the CLIA Awards in late February, with entertainment, fine dining and a host of awards presented on the night.

Rocky Mountaineer national sales manager Steve Farrelly worked the floor with industry colleagues before the awards presentation.

It was smiles all round on the night, mixed with some of the good stuff.

40

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

Silversea hosted travel agent partners for a cocktail event onboard Silver Spirit before the CLIA Awards - getting there via a stretch Hummer convoy.

Oceania’s Marina put on a show for Greg Wilson, Cruiseco; Craig Owens, Oceania; Marita Lam, Cruiseco; Dean Sinclair, Cruiseco; David Bunn, Oceania; Jeff Temple, Cruiseco; and Tanya Zimmerman, Cruiseco.

travelBulletin’s Ian McMahon accepts the prestigious Hall of Fame award.

Hurtigruten director of sales and marketing Cyril Bricaud put on a show for the cruise line’s key partner Bentours on a trip down under in February. What better way to say thanks than with a banquet feast at Bluetrain in Melbourne?!

APRIL 2015

Hundreds of travel agents heard dynamic panel sessions and keynote addresses at the second Australasian Cruise3sixty conference.

Cruise3sixty an

d CLIA Awards

mc Hamish McL

achlan.

McLachlan Travel Group CEO Gil McLachlan caught up with industry colleagues from P&O, Globus and Cunard before moderating a panel discussion on the current state of play for the cruise sector.

LEFT: Representing Scenic Tours at the awards night were Michelle Black, Aleisha Fittler, Robert Kalemba, Nicole Henry and Jane Moggridge.

Oceania Cruises’ Craig Owens takes some time out for a quick photo with his favourite colleagues.

These happy TravelManagers joined forces for a photo at the Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises stand at Cruise3sixty.

More than half a dozen awards were presented, with travelBulletin founder and editor at large Ian McMahon also inducted into the CLIA Hall of Fame.

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

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thailand

By Gary Walsh

B

Y 8PM on the May night that a military coup was declared in Thailand last year, the queues had almost disappeared at Ploenchit Skytrain station and the normally bustling Sukhumvit Road was all but deserted. Even the street vendors were scurrying into the night. The curfew that had been ordered for 10pm had not yet begun, but Bangkok was emptying. And the view from Hotel Novotel Bangkok Ploenchit Sukhumvit was positively eerie.

The Skytrain system shut down before 9pm to give its employees a chance to head home before the curfew, and within just three hours of the general handing down his edict, Bangkok was closing down. A city that never sleeps was lapsing into a sort of coma.

The coup was announced two days after the imposition of martial law in Thailand, and two weeks after the elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra was removed from power by the constitutional court.

This followed months of street protests and conflict between ‘yellow shirt’ supporters of the monarchy and ‘red shirt’ supporters of Shinawatra and her populist government.

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Tourism was immediately impacted by the ongoing protests and even before the effects of the imposition of martial law could be assessed, the coup caused major disruptions.

The curfew – which was slowly lifted in Bangkok and more quickly elsewhere in the country – had a significant impact on tourism, particularly in areas such as Phuket and Pattaya where nightlife is a mainstay of the economy.

Nine months later, tourism has rebounded, but the recovery is patchy.

While Asian tourism is strong, some other source markets including Australia have struggled. China has become Thailand’s biggest market, but business from Russia (most recently the second largest source market) has slumped with the decline in the value of the rouble due to the situation in war-torn Ukraine.

But Thailand is no stranger to political unrest and tourism operators are confident the coup will barely make a dent on the tourist market. Among them is Insider Journeys managing director Paul Hole who says it is unlikely to curb traveller habits in the popular tourist mecca, with forward bookings currently in good shape.

“Traditionally any political unrest has been geographically isolated and has only marginally impacted tourism,” Hole says. “In most areas, tourists would not be aware of anything happening and immediately after the most recent coup we saw a rush on cheap holidays from bargain hunters.”

Hole notes that booking habits “quickly” returned to normal levels post-coup, with overall sales currently performing “well” year on year. While overall visitor numbers slumped about 10% immediately after the coup came to a head – totalling around 24 million annual visitors in 2014 – Tourism Authority of Thailand has vowed to increase tourism numbers this year which is music to the ears of tourism operators.

“Official overall numbers are reported as being down, but with TAT’s commitment to increasing tourism numbers this year we’ll hopefully see sales rebound quickly – as it always does,” Hole says.

thailand

Need to know Getting there Air access to Thailand is a breeze, with a selection of major carriers offering direct flights to Phuket. THAI Airways flies 45 weekly non-stop services from Australia to Thailand, while Jetstar offers non-stop flights to Phuket from Melbourne and Sydney. Singapore Airlines also offers services from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne which connect to Thailand.

Getting around Luxury tour operator A&K has reported a similar trend, with sales on par with previous years. Looking forward, managing director Sujata Raman is also expecting “steady sales” for Thailand in 2015 with no adverse effects from the political upheaval.

Australian arrivals fell from around 908,000 in 2013 to 836,000 last year – a far cry from 2012 figures when a record 931,000 Australians entered the country. Overall arrivals topped 24.7 million in 2014, down almost 7% on the 2013 record which followed sustained periods of growth.

Political unrest presents enormous challenges to tourism – Egypt is a prime example. But increasingly, evidence shows that Hole’s assessment is in fact correct and the Thai tourism industry is extraordinarily

resilient.

As with previous crises in Thailand ranging from political unrest through to the Boxing Day tsunami, an immediate impact is to be expected. But tourists, it seems, are willing to forgive and forget where Thailand is concerned.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has responded with vigour, launching the ‘Discover Thainess’ campaign to put Thailand back on the map for international tourists. TAT Australia director Khun Rujiras Chatchalermit says the campaign is part of a broader push to promote the country’s unique history, culture and lifestyle.

“The word ‘Thainess’ is a way to describe Thailand’s unique cultural treasures and the Thai way of happiness,” he tells travelBulletin.

As part of the campaign, TAT is suggesting tourists explore 12 “hidden gems” across the country to discover or rekindle their affection for Thailand. Each provincial area included in the campaign is renowned for its history, culture and lifestyle, including Lampang, Petchabun, Nan, Buriram and Loei and extending to Trat and Chanthaburi. n www.tourismthailand.org

Bangkok has an extensive city bus system while other provincial capitals have some bus services. Motorbike taxis known as tok toks are the most affordable way to get around when travelling short distances, but standard taxi rates can be negotiated.

Currency One Australian dollar buys around 25 Thai baht.

When to Go The best time to travel is November to March during the cool and dry season. April to June is hot and dry, while monsoon season runs from July to Oct.

On the Ground Insider Journeys’ eight-day Taste of Thailand tour covers Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Kanchanaburi including the River Kwai from $2690, while Intrepid’s Explore Northern Thailand itinerary includes travel from Bangkok to Sukhothai, Lampang and Chiang Mai from $875.

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thailand

Insider’s Thailand push Krabi Transportation, Mike Behnken

Insider Journeys has singled out Thailand as one of the key markets for Australian travellers as the operator forges ahead with an aggressive expansion into Asian markets.

The small group tour operator has made a strong push to expand its portfolio, earlier this year rebranding from Travel Indochina to “better reflect” its expanding portfolio.

Following continued success in Thailand, the operator has outlined a number of key itineraries in its new look brochure, ranging

from eight to 21 days.

The eight-day Southern Thailand Revealed tour covers Bangkok, Khanom, Kao Sok National Park and Krabi from $2865 with all tours capped at 16 passengers.

The 21-day Thailand & Laos Experience caters for travellers with more leisure time, taking in Bangkok, Pakbeng and the 4000 Islands region, including a Mekong river cruise. Prices lead in from $5965 per person.

Bangkok Airways fleet boost Bangkok Airways has expanded its fleet to 29 aircraft after taking delivery of its latest 70-seater ATR72-600 aircraft.

Fitted with larger overhead compartments, the aircraft will service domestic routes between Bangkok and Koh Samui, Sukhothai, Trat and Siem Reap.

The airline has also announced new direct services linking the northern city of Chiang Mai with Phuket, Undo Thani and Mandalay and Yangon in Myanmar.

Bangkok Airways expects the new services will support “growing demand” for air travel

Q&A

Did last year’s coup have any effect on sales, either in the short or long-term?

The coup had a limited effect on our office. Passengers still wanted to travel to Thailand so we took them with Singapore Airlines via Singapore or Malaysia with Malaysia Airlines.

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

THAI Airways has cut all fuel surcharges by up to 20%, but the struggling Australian dollar has largely negated the benefits for Australian travellers.

Introduced at the start of last month, flights to Bangkok are reported to have dropped US$125 in economy and US$188 in business or first class. But THAI Airways marketing executive Kevin Fisher said the plummeting exchange rate has largely swallowed the benefits for Australian travellers.

“Unfortunately savings have been chewed up by the current rate of exchange.

There is a bit of a saving on long haul travel, but it’s nothing huge at the moment,” he told travelBulletin..

The airline has also removed insurance surcharges to improve its competitiveness on the global arena and launched an ‘transformation plan’ to offset business losses.

Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations for Australian travellers, but with so much product on offer, tailoring the right trip can be a challenge.

Gary Walsh spoke with Toorak Travel senior travel consultant Anna Rizzi for some top selling tips.

How well does Thailand sell at your agency?

We sell quite a bit of Thailand as it’s a popular destination for Australians. Most consultants have been to Thailand and travelled extensively, and consequently have seen quite a few regions in Thailand from Chiang Mai to Phuket and Koh Samui.

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and an increase in passenger numbers ahead of the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community later this year.

It will also provide better flight connections for passengers travelling to the north eastern and southern part of Thailand and on to Myanmar without having to back track to Suvarnabhumi Airport, the airline said.

Meanwhile, Bangkok Airways last year announced code share agreements with Garuda and Aeroflot to improve connectivity between Thailand and Indonesia.

THAI slashes surcharges

Passengers only wanted to avoid Bangkok during this time.

What are the most popular destinations within Thailand?

Phuket is always popular, as is Koh Samui, Krabi and Surat Thani.

Is the country seen mainly as a beach destination, or does it have wider appeal?

Most people think of Thailand as mainly a beach destination, however when they diversify and take in the Golden Triangle in the north they get a real taste of the culture and other jewels that Thailand has to offer, including the amazing forests.

What are its strengths as a destination?

Well-priced resorts, fantastic people and amazing culture.

What advice would you give to other agents in selling Thailand as a destination?

I would advise them to add a little cultural touring to their itinerary – a true Thailand experience is not only the resorts and the beaches, but also the people and local culture. I would encourage them to go into the mountains – this would give them a great overall experience of the real Thailand and what it truly has to offer.

THAILAND has always been among Australia’s top five favourite international destinations during the last decade.

Besides the internationally renowned Bangkok, Phuket, Ko Samui, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Kanchanaburi, there are many more destinations waiting to be explored.

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has developed a “Discover Thailand Workshop,” an online training site provided for travel professionals to expand their knowledge of the amazing country, highlight products and destinations and share travel tips.

Upon completion of the workshop, participants will be eligible to win Famil spots to experience Thailand first hand.

Learn about Thailand from the Experts Simply join Discover Thailand Workshop at www.thailand.net.au/training

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

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thailand

Agent Know-How The Tourism Authority of Thailand shares some tips on how agents can improve their product knowledge and score a place on a famil.

Hotel options emerge

How can travel agents get up to speed on their Thailand product knowledge?

Agents can access useful information on the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) website, the Hug Thailand Facebook page, and brochures on various destinations in Thailand which can be obtained from TAT Sydney. n www.tourismthailand.org.au n www.facebook.com/HugThailand n www.thailand.net.au/training

As annual tourist arrivals to Thailand nudge 24 million, a range of new accommodation options are coming online in city centres and provincial hubs.

The 224-room Novotel Phuket Karon Beach Resort and Spa opened its doors in October last year complete with a kids club, round the clock room service, three swimming pools, a sports bar and in-house spa.

Citadines Grand Central Sri Racha in Pattaya also welcomed its first guests in January. With 135 studios and one to two bedroom fully serviced apartments, rooms cater for short and long term stays, with free wireless internet also included.

Novotel Bangkok Ploenchit Sukhumvit is another long time favourite among Australian travellers, situated on Bangkok’s main shopping and entertainment artery, Sukhumvit Road. The hotel has 370 rooms and suites, with executive rooms and suites able to access the excellent executive lounge. There is free wifi in all rooms and public areas.

A whopping 30 properties opened their doors in 2014 including Le Meridien Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Golf Resort & Spa, Ibis Krabi on the southern tip of Thailand’s Andaman coastline and the 4.5 star Holiday Inn Pattaya.

Where is the best place to start for Thailand novices?

A great way to learn more about the destination is to study a map of Thailand and identify the top destinations of each region. Start with well known destinations such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi and figure out where each destination is geographically. Then move on to researching the key activities and festivals at each destination.

Any recommendations for destinations that cover all bases for travellers?

Phuket, Trang and Krabi and other neighbouring provinces in southern Thailand offer almost everything in Thailand that one can ask for. In these provinces your clients can dive under pristine water one day and go rock climbing or visit a temple the next. After a long day of exploring, travellers can also enjoy great seafood or local cuisine.

What kind of training is available for Australian agents wanting to sell Thailand, and how can they sign up?

TAT Sydney will be launching a new look agent online training platform later this month. Keep your eyes on the travel news website, TAT e-newsletter and your inbox for further information on how to sign up and the rewards available.

And finally, how can agents join famils to Thailand?

The Thailand agent mega famil is coming up in September 2015. Agents will be selected upon the completion of online agent training. More information will be released when the famil itinerary has been finalised.

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travelBulletin APRIL 2015

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expedia-au@discovertheworld.com.au travelBulletin APRIL 2015

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SOUTHERN SKI

POWDER AND THE Passion THE

Image By Miles Holden

By Rachael Oakes-Ashe

T

he mercury is dropping and the autumn colours are starting to show. Summer is gone. But skiers and boarders are rubbing their hands together, hoping for record snowfalls ahead.

And who can blame them, with plenty to get excited about in Australia and New Zealand this year. Upgraded facilities, new chairlifts and expanded terrain are among the highlights this season, along with new on-mountain restaurants and something for everyone from beginner to expert.

First time skiers and boarders at Thredbo in New South Wales can look forward to increased terrain on the First Timer lift passes, with the Merritts and Cruiser areas now included. But that’s not all. The resort’s Snow Play Area will also double in size with more tobogganing, tubing and snowmen on the cards.

Thredbo has beginners covered this season with the new Burton Riglet program catering for kids aged 3-6 years of age. Designed to introduce youngsters to snowboarding in a fun environment, the program uses specially designed snowboards and programs for little shredders.

But if that’s not enough to lure beginners, children’s pricing will this year apply for everyone under 18 years of age.

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Further south in Victoria, Lake Mountain Resort is continuing its stronghold as a cross country skiing mecca and this year introduces new snow shoe trails, a Nordic Ski Centre and an expanded Snowman Village. Meanwhile, the beginner and intermediate alpine ski resort of Mt Baw Baw this year launches a new snow play park featuring igloos and ice sculptures Also in Victoria, Mt Buller regulars will be chomping at the bit for the new Asian Food Court offering Japanese, Chinese and Korean cuisine for lunch and dinner. Located on level three of the Mt Buller Chalet Hotel, the area covers an expansive 625 square metres, catering for hundreds of famished shredders.

The resort has also stepped up its game in the powder department, investing in their snowmaking system with a submersible pump that increases snowmaking capacity by 30%. It has also introduced eight new snowmaking guns to expand snow coverage which is sure to catch the attention of avid skiers and boarders.

A new PB400 Snow Groomer will expand the grooming fleet, and the popular Tirol T Bar has been upgraded to electric to improve the reliability of the once diesel-fuelled lift.

But beyond the snow fields, clients travelling by road or air through Albury to the Victorian and NSW snow fields have a new place to rest

SOUTHERN SKI their heads. The 140-room Atura Albury opened its doors earlier this year, complete with an in-house bar, pool and free wireless. Developed by the names behind QT Hotels, the forward thinking property has loads of contemporary guest meeting places with lounges, in-room coffee pods and a Roadhouse Bar & Grill. But arguably the most attractive factor is the price point, with room rates leading in from $159 per night in a deluxe room.

Across the ditch in New Zealand, Porters Ski Area will this year celebrate the opening of a new four-seater chairlift – the first to be installed in the Canterbury region in almost a decade, and the closest chairlift to Christchurch. A new beginners slope and café sun terrace will also join the ranks, positioning the resort as an all rounder for all skiing abilities.

Mt Hutt – also in Canterbury – is upgrading its Sky High Café and the Hutt Base Coffee Bar with more space and improved menus. The mountain will also open a new intermediate to advanced groomed trail off the Virgin Mile and a new intermediate groomed track below the lower half of Highway 72.

Also new this year is a base lodge down south at The Remarkables near Queenstown, marking the second stage of the resort’s redevelopment following the new six-seater Curvey Basin chairlift and new terrain last year. Visitors can expect all new purpose built facilities, new food and entertainment offerings, an expanded beginner area and more.

Across the Crown Range near Wanaka, Treble Cone ski area opens the doors to a much anticipated on-mountain alfresco café at the top

5

WAYS TO ENJOY THE SNOW AWAY FROM THE SLOPES

of Home Basin with incredible views of Lake Wanaka and the Southern Alps. The resort will also open new intermediate trails in the Saddle Basin, much to the delight of skiers and boarders.

For travellers hoping to lock in their holiday plans early in the game, family friendly Cardrona on the Crown Range between Wanaka and Queenstown is extending its 2015 season by two weeks, kicking off from 13 June until 11 October.

The resort has also announced a new Flexi Pass in conjunction with Treble Cone for the upcoming season. Tailored to travellers who want to shake up the terrain on their ski travels, the Flexi 3- and Flexi 5-day pass allows skiers and boarders to decide which of the two resorts they will ski or board on the day.

Die hard skiers and boarders who want to make the most of the time they’ve got can team up with New Zealand snow tour operator Haka Tours which will launch three guided trips this season. New to the table is the seven-day South Island Snow Safari covering six different mountains – Mt Hutt, Ohau, Treble Cone, Cardrona, Coronet Peak, and the Remarkables. Hard core skiers can also take their pick from the 12-day Snow Odyssey featuring the club fields of Canberbury, and the five-day Queenstown Snow Fix tour, all with hosted guides catering for beginner to advanced.

It’s too early to predict when or where the snow will fall in Australia and New Zealand, but the buzz is already mounting and die hard skiers and boarders are marking down the days until the June long weekend which traditionally marks the beginning of winter.

Now, how many sleeps to go?

1 2 3 4 5

Wine and dine. The region surrounding Queenstown is a world class wine destination. To fend off complaining muscles, your clients can sample some of the famous Central Otago wines from cellar door locations, a short drive from Queenstown.

Up the ante. If boarding black runs leaves your clients begging for more, Queenstown’s adventure activities will suffice. Bungy jumping, whitewater rafting and jet boating, it’s all there waiting to be sampled.

Throw in a line. With milder temperatures often the norm for southern hemisphere ski destinations, lakes and rivers rarely freeze over. Fishing near Jindabyne in NSW is in prime form during winter, particularly for trout.

Get scenic. Many of the ski resorts in the southern hemisphere are within national parks with stunning scenery. Milford Sound in New Zealand is sure to please, along with the iconic Kosciuszko National Park in Australia.

Snow Grooming. Most ski resorts offer snow grooming tours where visitors can see first hand what it takes to achieve those perfectly groomed corduroy slopes, all from the comfort of a heated groomer.

Image By Jilian Apse

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

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SOUTHERN SKI

Infinity into Queenstown SkiMax backs solid year

Image By Miles Holden

INFINITY Holidays has stepped up its footprint in Queenstown by adding ski product, stand alone accommodation and packages to its portfolio.

Announced earlier this year, the wholesaler now offers lift passes, equipment hire and transfers, in addition to tour packages and accommodation. Tours are operated by Nomad Safaris and Haka Tours, with basic ski packages operated via Kiwi Discoveries.

Dedicated New Zealand ski specialists have also been added to each of Infinity’s Australia and New Zealand sales teams, and additional accommodation has come online ahead of expected increases in demand.

SKIMAX Holidays remains unperturbed by Australian currency fluctuations, with managing director Rodney Muller reporting “strong demand” for New Zealand packages ahead of the 2015 winter season.

While New Zealand sees consistent visitor numbers year on year, Muller told travelBulletin that the softening Australian had impacted the price of New Zealand ski holidays, making them more expensive than the 2014 winter season.

But demand remained unchanged, he said, with competitive pricing likely to see visitor numbers continue to rise.

“New Zealand packages are more expensive than in the past, but it remains popular with the younger market, families and the school holiday market,” he said, adding that forward bookings had been bolstered by strong earlybird airfares and additional capacity into Queenstown.

With the average length of stay remaining at 7-10 days for Australian travellers, Muller said Queenstown and Wanaka also remained the most popular destinations in New Zealand largely because of the selection of non-skiing activities such as sightseeing and dining.

Looking forward, he said the 2015 winter season depended heavily on weather events, in line with previous years.

However, early indications pointed to a strong winter season ahead: “We have just started selling but early indications are that it’s going to be a solid season that is on par with last year.”

NZ weighs in on Australian winter

Air NZ direct to Argentina ACCESS to South America’s ski fields is set to receive a boost later this year with the launch of Air New Zealand’s direct flights from Auckland to Buenos Aires.

Subject to regulatory approvals, three weekly return services will commence from 1 December, operating on a Boeing 777-200 aircraft. Flight time is expected to clock in at around 12 hours.

Marking the airline’s 28th international port, Air NZ CEO Christopher Luxon said the move was part of a broader expansion strategy in the Pacific Rim. “Argentina is an exciting new destination for New Zealanders, and with seamless one-stop connectivity through Auckland it will provide a fantastic opportunity for Australians as well,” Luxon said.

The announcement follows the recent launch of flights to Singapore, and the airline is also set to rubber stamp a code share agreement with Aerolineas Argentinas to provide convenient connections to Brazil.

Tickets are now on sale.

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TOURISM New Zealand is hopeful of luring more “undecided” Australian skiers over the ditch to punch above the current benchmark of 120,000 annual winter travellers.

Tourism NZ general manager Australia Tony Saunders told travelBulletin that Australians had a strong affinity with New Zealand, particularly over the winter season which was experiencing ongoing growth in visitor numbers.

With a variety of winter activities such as golf, wineries and adrenaline activities within easy reach, he said the Canterbury region was particularly popular among Australian travellers.

Queenstown had also seen “exponential” growth following a boost in air capacity and competitive land packages, Saunders added.

He said the winter season remained

the tourism board’s key focus in the Australia market, noting that it was also the segment which showed the most potential for growth.

“There are over 500 casual skiers in Australia who are undecided on where to take a winter holiday who we can target more effectively,” he said. “We see great growth beyond the 120,000 Australians who are coming over and we will continue to up the ante with our support and messaging.”

Tourism NZ plans to release its winter deals in the coming weeks to generate more interest, with most deals set to be released through Flight Centre.

“There’s a big pull to NZ for undecided skiers in Australia, and we want to convince them to come to New Zealand for a winter holiday,” he said. “There is much more scope for growth.”

SOUTHERN SKI

Q&A

Selling ski holidays is a cinch for powderhounds, but it can be tough going for non-skiers. Skiing diehard Donna Sheather, who is also an itravel consultant, shared her top selling tips to take the guesswork out of selling ski holidays.

What do Australians look for when deciding on a ski destination in the southern hemisphere?

Snow consistency is important, particularly for hard core skiers and boarders, so mountain height and snow making facilities are important considerations in Australia and New Zealand. On-snow accommodation with ski-in ski-out capacity also adds to the ‘snow experience’. Of course, this is in addition to transport, cost of tickets, child care and lessons.

Which resorts target Australians the most effectively, and how do they do it?

Perisher has taken over in NSW as the most popular resort for skiers as the four merged resorts of Perisher, Smiggins, Blue Cow and Guthega provide a huge variety of terrain.

Perisher offers great rates for season lift passes, but there are still many skiers that prefer Thredbo as it has the longest runs and advanced skiing than any other resort.

It also has the central village atmosphere, complete with Tyrolean style lodges.

What is the most popular southern hemisphere destination for Australians?

With the decline in the Australian dollar, I would have to say the Australian ski resorts are just scraping past the New Zealand resorts. However, most of my clients also like to have ski-in, ski-out resorts which are difficult to find in New Zealand.

Which months are the most popular for ski holidays in the southern hemisphere?

July is the most popular, but August has the best snow consistency.

Which resorts are best suited to families, singles and romance?

Charlotte Pass offers a unique experience

for families but is only accessed by overlander. Thredbo and Perisher offer good lessons and child care options, but are larger than Charlotte Pass so it depends on what clients are after.

Queenstown in NZ is the most popular option for singles, and most resorts offer a romantic side to the ski experience, particularly those with on-snow accommodation.

What is the number one selling point for Australians looking to ski overseas?

Always cost and snow quality.

Any selling tips for agents who are nonskiers but have clients who ski?

All resorts offer different experiences so it’s very important to research your mountains and make sure they suit what your clients are after.

Ski Australia and New Zealand with Skimax!

Skimax are the ski holiday specialists, we can organise everything your clients need for their ultimate ski holiday!

Photo credit: Cardrona Alpine Resort

travelBulletin APRIL 2015

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SOUTHERN SKI

THE BEST OF THE SOUTH Image By Miles Holden

The number of ski resorts in the southern hemisphere may be a fraction compared to the north, but the offering is no less impressive. New Zealand, South America and Australia receive their share of the white stuff, but some destinations are off limits to beginners. Sending clients to the wrong resort is a sure way to make the firing line, so here are our top picks as Louise Wallace writes.

HARD CORE - Portillo, Chile

FREERIDERS - Las Lenas, Argentina

CHILE’S reputation is up there for its scenery, uncrowded runs and grade A powder. Located in the Andes at 10,860 ft, the powder is dry and light, and the terrain is like no other. With many ski areas located in non-controlled avalanche terrain, Portillo is best suited to die hard skiers who shrug their shoulders at black diamond runs.

There is no ski town for skiers who want to stray from the crowds, just private hotels surrounded by fluffy white snow and just 450 beds. The backcountry skiing, heli skiing and advanced ski runs are legendary, but the rocky terrain makes this one best left to skiers rather than boarders. Andes Ski Tours offers a range of guided tours which take in Portillo including the 11-day Adrenaline Briefing which also covers Santiago and Valle Nevado from US$6150.

ARGENTINA has found its way onto the tourist map for its natural beauty and old world European charm, but the mountains have caught the attention of skiers across the globe. Las Lenas Resort is what they come for, but this one is best reserved for the die hards with steep black diamond terrain and stellar off-piste skiing with gullies, ridges and waist deep powder. Intermediates are also covered with around 45% of the resort’s terrain at their fingertips, but the challenging terrain is where Las Lenas shines.

As the locals say, good things come to those who wait and it’s not uncommon for travellers to make the pilgrimage to Las Lenas to find that storms have closed down the upper part of the mountain. The safest bet is to send clients in September when the chances of the Martes Chairlift being open for action are at their best. Patagonia Ski Tours offers a number of multi-day ski tours including the 8-day Adventure Ski Tour which covers the Cerro Catedral Ski Resort, snowcat skiing in Los Baguales and a Buenos Aires city tour from US$7995 per person.

APRES-SKI - Queenstown, New Zealand

FAMILY FRIENDLY - Perisher, Australia

QUEENSTOWN is a destination that covers all bases, but skiing tops the list. As a popular base for the four main ski fields - Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Treble Cone and Cardona Alpine Resort - Queenstown comes alive when winter falls. And it arrives with a bang every year with the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival which this year kicks off this year on 19 June. The 10-day event attracts thousands of visitors each year with a packed line up of events, entertainment and celebrations. The skiing is world class in Queenstown, and the vibe is loose with night boarding and live music. It’s much the same off the slopes with extreme activities, endless night life, frisbee golf and an indoor ice bar. Ski Travel Company offers seven nights’ shared accommodation, daily breakfast a three-day superpass and a two-day Wanaka flexi pass from $700 per person for bookings made before 30 June.

PERISHER in NSW is the largest resort in the southern hemisphere, meaning there’s terrain for all abilities and plenty to do for nonskiers. The facilities are world class, there are 50 runs catering to varying skill levels and access is easy from Sydney and Melbourne.

Accommodation options leave nothing to the imagination, which is matched by the array of entertainment activities including night time skiing, ski tubing and free fireworks displays. Over 20% of the mountain is suited to beginners, 60% to intermediates and 18% for the more adventurous. A range of earlybird discounts are now available such as Ski 5 for 4 lift tickets available via Sno’n’Ski Holidays.

Image By Miles Holden

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WHERE BECOMING A 100% PURE NEW ZEALAND SPECIALIST TURNS HOLIDAYS INTO MAGIC. Join the 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist Programme Members of the programme gain significant advantages when promoting New Zealand, through increased knowledge of the country and its regions as well as special events and ongoing training provided by Tourism New Zealand.

www.traveltrade.newzealand.com travelBulletin APRIL 2015

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ADVENTURE

YOUR

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ADVENTURE

By Kris Madden

T

HERE was a time when adventure travel meant climbing mountains in the Himalaya, running the rapids of a raging river in Asia, or skiing to the South Pole. Adventure tourism used to be a relatively fringe or small niche of the overall tourism sector but it’s now become one of the fastest growing segments of the industry, raking in an estimated US$263 billion according to the latest UNWTO Global Report on Adventure Tourism.

Today, there is quite literally an adventure for everyone ranging from the travel veteran to the newbie travelling abroad for the first time.

Better yet, adventure travel no longer means that you must sacrifice creature comforts while you’re on the road. Luxury hotels, spas, and even up-scale campsites cater to the needs of those travellers who want to experience a wild adventure, but also have a hot shower and a gourmet meal waiting for them at the end of the day.

The US-based Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) defines adventure tourism as a trip that includes at least two of the following: physical activity, natural environment, and cultural immersion - with the core of an adventure trip involving all three.

It’s a subjective term for travellers themselves as it’s related to one’s individual experience. Adventure to one traveller may seem mundane to another.

Adventure tourists push their own cultural, physical, and geographic comfort limits, and those limits differ for each person.

Adventure World MD Fiona Hunt says the beauty of adventure travel is that it means different things to different people.

“For some, an adventure is exploring new frontiers – exotic destinations that no one in their peer group has heard of, much less visited,” says Hunt. “For others it could be taking on an iconic physical challenge such as trekking Machu Picchu or Spain’s Camino de Santiago.

“New frontiers in adventure travel are constantly opening up, whether it’s new destinations that were previously shut off from the rest of the world, or time-honoured villages in well-known destinations that are largely undiscovered.”

Hunt sees a big future ahead for adventure travel as people revisit destinations they know and love, but go beyond the bucket list hotspots to “hone in on small towns and villages that really reflect the destination’s true essence”.

Insider Journeys managing director and co-founder Paul Hole agrees that ‘adventurous’ travel will evolve to move

beyond the traditional perception of physical challenges into more experiential challenges – people pushing to really immerse themselves into the culture and develop a deeper understanding of destinations they’re visiting.

“The adventure travel landscape will continue to push to new destinations where few people have been, but even more importantly, it will feature in-depth experiential journeys where people can experience a real insight into the people and their lives,” he says.

And as travellers continue to seek out untrodden ground and unique holiday experiences, Hole expects adventure travellers will increasingly look to immerse themselves in culture by connecting with locals to understand their traditions and the reality of the destinations.

Adventure tourists ‘push their own cultural,

physical, and geographic comfort limits

’

“They’ll move beyond the stunning picture postcard experiences into genuine ‘insider’ experiences,” he says.

Last year, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) released a global report on adventure tourism with data collected from more than 300 companies in 69 countries. It stated that the top four trends in adventure tourism are the softening of adventure travel, customisation of trip experiences, multi-generational groups, and cultural experiences. In other words, the trends indicate the broadening of adventure as a choice of travel by the larger market.

“The industry’s perception of adventure travel is already changing,” Hunt says. “More and more people are realising that adventure doesn’t just mean extreme, there is lots to offer on the softer side and with that, opens up a world of opportunity.”

Meanwhile, mountaineer, Antarctic explorer and owner of niche travel company Adventure Associates, Greg Mortimer, says he believes the search for true ‘new frontiers’ in travel is just beginning.

“Frontiers of travel continue to open – and there is still much of our planet to explore. A good adventure not only shakes us out of our daily routine, it often sends us off to faraway lands to experience things that few people even dream about.”

As travellers continue to search out meaningful travel experiences, the breadth of product in the adventure travel market represents a great opportunity for agents.

And there’s no time like the present. travelBulletin APRIL 2015

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walk on the wild side Sleep with an Emperor ADVENTURE Associates’ 9-day Emperors & Explorers trip offers two extraordinary experiences in Antarctica combining camping with Emperor Penguins at Union Glacier, followed by a flight to the South Pole by ski aircraft. Prices start from US$68,500 per person and include round-trip flights from Punta Arenas to Antarctica. Meals and accommodation, guided trekking and climbing around Union Glacier, and a certificate after returning are also included. n www.adventureassociates.com

Camp out in Mongolia INSIDER Journeys’ 16-day Trans-Mongolian with Naadam Festival tour departs 29 June 2015. Priced from $5680 pp twin-share (ex-Beijing) it includes four nights’ hotel accommodation, domestic flights, 10 nights in a Ger camp, overnight travel on the Trans-Mongolian Railway. Most meals are also included in addition to transfers, a tour leader and local Englishspeaking guides. Guests will meet nomadic families, swim in alpine lakes, and ride camels through the dunes. n www.insiderjourneys.com.au

Hike, bike and eat through Croatia ADVENTURE World’s 10-day Hike, Bike & Eat through Croatia trip follows the path of famous culinary adventurer Anthony Bourdain across Zagreb, Gorski Kotar, Učka, Brtonigla, Veliki Brijun, Paklenica, Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik. Travellers will enjoy authentic dining experiences in each region, with hiking, cycling, kayaking and total cultural immersion.

Prices start from $7270 per person including accommodation, some meals, transport by air-conditioned vehicle, an experienced English speaking guide, bike hire, sea kayaking, and entrance to national parks.

The final frontier SPACE Adventures ZERO-G Experience gives travellers the opportunity to experience true weightlessness. ZERO-G’s modified Boeing 727-200, G-FORCE ONE performs parabolic arcs to create a weightless environment allowing you to float, flip and soar as if you were in space. Flights are available in cities across the US and start from US$4,950 per person. n www.GoZeroG.com

To the ocean depths Lindblad Expeditions’ Undersea Program is a pioneering expedition feature designed to enrich guests’ experiences and understanding of the region they’re exploring. Using a high-definition camera, a Cousteau-like undersea specialist dives frequently during voyages to show images of the seldom-seen world beneath the ships. Both National Geographic Explorer and National Geographic Endeavour are also equipped with a remote underwater vehicle capable of depths of around 300 metres - beyond the range of the divers. Undersea specialists are on expeditions to Alaska, Baja, the Galápagos, and nearly all National Geographic Explorer sailings. n www.expeditions.com

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ADVENTURE

Q&A

Often called the final frontier, space is the ultimate in extreme travel destinations. MTA head of product Sara Merricks tells travelBulletin’s Kris Madden about the latest developments in space tourism.

Why would you want to go into space?

To have an adventure, your experience must be unusual, daring and exciting. Space travel is certainly all of these things, and more. It is the ultimate exploration to a place where very few people have had the opportunity to go, up until now.

Realistically, how close is space travel to becoming a travel option?

We are close. Commercial space travel is becoming more of a reality every day with more than 400 engineers, rocket scientists and designers working on Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Serial 2 (SS2II).

Virgin Galactic is entering an exciting time in the program where the completion of SS2II is in its advanced stages and the test flight schedule has been planned. This year Virgin Galactic will also begin manufacturing a third SpaceShipTwo which will bring it one step closer to becoming the world’s first commercial spaceline.

Can you currently book a space in space?

The process requires the completion and submission of a Virgin Galactic Future Astronaut Application Form, which can be found on the company’s website. A seat to space with Virgin Galactic and membership of the Future Astronaut community requires the full price of US$250,000 to be paid as an upfront deposit.

MTA are a Virgin Galactic Accredited Space Agent and can answer any questions about the project and the application process. MTA is one of only eight Virgin Galactic Accredited Space travel agencies in Australia, so if travelling into space is your dream we can make it a reality.

What type of traveller does this appeal to?

The reason people sign up varies from person to person. Some long for the adrenalin of travelling at Mach 3.5 (supersonic speed) and hearing the rocket motor fire, while others want to experience the ‘silence of space’ and to float effortlessly around in zero gravity. Many Future Astronauts (a term used to describe Virgin Galactic customers) who have signed up are fanatical about aviation and see this as the ultimate flight, while some just love adventure.

How many bookings have you received so far?

MTA has sold three tickets to date for space flights, all by MTA consultant Caroline Ferguson. Currently 700 ‘Future Astronauts’ are signed up to fly.

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ADVENTURE

Australian appetite for adventure increases Africa is shaking its reputation as an adventure destination and transitioning to a more “mainstream” holiday option for increasingly savvy Australian travellers, according to Bench International general manager Martin Edwards.

As travellers take a more proactive approach to planning holidays, Edwards said Australian travellers had “matured” in recent years and were now looking for more bespoke travel experiences.

Perceptions of Africa had also changed as misconceptions about the destination’s safety dissipated, he told travelBulletin.

“The days where Africa is seen as the deepest, darkest destination are long gone and it is now becoming more mainstream as travellers become more educated,” Edwards said. “Australians now identify with Africa as more of an experiential destination with luxury and self-drive holidays rather than just adventure alone.”

Edwards predicted that travellers’ perceptions would continue to evolve as air access opens up and more product comes online. He also remained confident that the country’s array of adventure activities would continue to see visitor numbers edge higher.

“A locally escorted tour to Africa may no longer be classified as adventure, but self-drive holidays, climbing Kilimanjaro and gorilla trekking are continuing to gain popularity among Australian adventure travellers. Shark diving is another popular add on to traditional African experiences,” he said.

Edwards also reported an increase in interest for Rwanda as access increases and gorilla trekking tours capture the interest of global travellers. Average spend has been “steadily increasing”, Edwards said, but added that the next 12 months remained uncertain as the US dollar continued its stronghold on the Australian dollar.

North Pole expeditions continue

QUARK Expeditions has announced that North Pole icebreaker expeditions aboard the nuclear-powered 50 Years of Victory will continue for a further three years through to 2018.

Previously to be retired at the end of this year, the vessel remains one of the largest and most powerful nuclear icebreakers ever constructed. It carries 128 passengers in basic but comfortable accommodation, all with exterior views. Public spaces include a dining room, lecture room for presentations, bar and lounge, library and gym, two saunas and a swimming pool with heated seawater.

The ship also has its own clinic and doctor.

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Once at the North Pole, passengers can enjoy helicopter excursions and champagne celebrations, and take an optional hot air balloon ride for a true once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“We are delighted to be able to continue our signature Victory voyages to the North Pole,” Quark Expeditions president Andrew White said. “Victory has enjoyed an almost celebrity status with Quark passengers, and we are thrilled she will continue to be such a large part of our Arctic expeditions.”

Voyages start at US$25,995 per person twin share. n www.quarkexpeditions.com

Cuba tops curious travellers list Adventure travel companies are reporting an increase in enquiries for Cuba, with adventure travellers keen to discover the region before commercialisation sets in.

Locked in a time capsule since the 1960s, travelling to Cuba today is like stepping into a time machine. But, as the country opens up and the Castro grip loosens, all is set to change.

Intrepid’s Steve Wroe says the company has seen an increase in bookings to Central American destinations from travellers looking for untouched regions.

“Central America has experienced growth across all of our brands year on year – up to 72% for Peregrine – because it still seems relatively untouched and exotic,” he said. “Cuba is extremely popular at the moment, particularly since the US changes to the embargo.”

Adventure World MD Fiona Hunt says the company is also seeing a large increase in interest for Cuba as adventure travellers look to discover the region before the inevitable influx from the US changes Cuba’s charm.

Intrepid’s 14-day Best of Cuba tour covers the historic streets of Havana to the shores of the Caribbean. Highlights include travel to Baracoa and Trinidad with prices starting from $1895 per person twin share. Adventure World’s 8-day Handpicked Cuba itinerary takes in the historic capital of Havana, the city of Cienfuegos, Trinidad and the tobacco region of Vinales. Prices lead in from $2526 per person twin share.

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CHINA

Dong Minority dress

ABOVE: Li River, Guilin (image courtesy Ken Duncan and Helen Wong’s Tours).

RIGHT: Longji rice terraces (image courtesy Wendy Wu Tours).

Bottom left: Li River Fisherman bottom Right: Beer Fish with chillies is a regional specialty.

Cormorant Fisherman, Li River.

Below: Brilliant embroidery is a feature of Guilin.

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CHINA

By Kris Madden

T

here is an ancient saying in China that “East and West, Guilin scenery is best”. This picture-postcard location in the northeast of China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has inspired Chinese poets and artists for centuries who described its landscape as “the best under heaven”.

The thousand year-old saying can be found inscribed on the cave entrance at Solitary Beauty Peak, the first stop on our tour of this enchanting region. Beauty abounds everywhere in Guilin, and as we walk around the city, it’s easy to see that the adage rings true. For one, the city’s name literally means ‘Forest of Sweet Osmanthus’ after the fragrant trees which line its streets. There’s Seven Star Park, the largest and oldest park in the city, while Diecai Hill is so-called because it looks like mountains of silk. And then there’s the aptly named Elephant Trunk Hill, the symbol of Guilin city, which (with some imagination) looks like an elephant drinking at the river.

But it’s not just above ground that Guilin shines.

The 180-million year old Reed Flute Cave is like an underground fairy kingdom filled with incredible rock formations that stir the imagination. Guilin has made it even more spectacular with multicoloured lighting creating effects such as the Crystal Palace, Dragon Pagoda, and Flower and Fruit Mountain.

Fishy business Exploring Guilin’s finest, we take an evening cruise of the city’s four interconnected lakes which feature dazzling illuminations teamed with singing and dancing along the shoreline. The lakes are also home to local fishermen who use traditional fishing methods such as using trained cormorants which dive under the water and catch fish by swallowing them whole.

With so many waterways, fish is one of the specialities of Guilin, especially Yangshuo Beer Fish along with Guilin Rice Noodles and Ginger Duck. Guilin cuisine is known for its use of spices – especially chilli – and chilli sauce is considered one of the city’s ‘Three Treasures’. Rice roasted in bamboo tubes sealed with banana leaves and baked on a charcoal fire is another regional specialty.

The jade ribbon The Li River (or Lijiang) curls like a jade ribbon through the stunning limestone karsts that tower above it. The most scenic part is the

stretch between Guilin and Yangshuo, creating an 80-kilometre long natural art gallery which is featured on the Chinese 20 RMB note. Mystical fairy tales and love stories are associated with almost every feature along the river, with intriguing names such as ‘Forest of Odd Shaped Peaks’ and ‘Yearning-for-Husband’s-Return Rock’. Fishermen on bamboo rafts float past onlookers against the backdrop of steep gorges and mountains.

While Guilin’s scenery may be the best under heaven, Yangshuo’s is considered the best in Guilin. We spend the evening strolling around the cobblestone streets and indulge in some shopping at the local market, particularly admiring the brilliantly coloured fine embroidery of the hill tribes.

Guilin is home to a number of ethnic minority groups including the Maio, Yao, Dong, Hui and Zhuang. But while they may be lesser known to some, they have also earned international acclaim; Huang Luo Red Yao village at the foot of the Longji rice terraces is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for its women who grow their hair down to the ground. The customs and costumes of all the different groups can be seen at the impressive nightly ‘Impression Liu San Jie’ performances in Yangshou, with the Li River forming the stage for the world’s largest open-air theatre with around 1000 performers.

The dragon’s backbone From Yangshou we head to Longsheng, also known as the Dragon’s Backbone, where the famous Longji Rice Terraces created with superb craftsmanship cling to the steep hillsides. It’s a gentle three-hour walk through the rice fields to the cosy Star Wish Guesthouse, our home for the night. It’s summer when we visit and although a bit hot, the giant green waves formed by the terraces have a cooling effect. It’s said that in spring they look like stacks of silver belts; in autumn, golden seas; and in winter, a soaring silver dragon. We stop to rest at some of the most impressive viewpoints such as ‘Seven Stars Accompany the Moon’ and ‘Nine Dragons, Five Tigers’. At Ping’an Zhuang Village, in the centre of the terraced fields, we meet Zhuang families and barter hard for silver bracelets and local crafts.

Guilin will give your clients the opportunity to experience rural China at its best. True to the ancient sayings, closer to heaven would be hard to imagine. n The author travelled courtesy of Wendy Wu Tours. travelBulletin APRIL 2015

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Aussies challenge the status quo Australians are becoming more savvy when they’re on the road, with an increasing hunger for new and authentic experiences which go beyond the main tourist track in China.

Aussies are intrigued by China, with recent figures from the China National Tourism Administration showing that 720,000 Australians visited the country’s shores in 2013. Wholesalers are also reporting that Aussies are becoming more adventurous when planning their travels.

Wendy Wu Tours managing director Alan Alcock says Australian travellers are becoming more selective when visiting the land of the rising sun, favouring lesser known regions once they’ve experienced the BeijingShanghai-Xian triangle.

Emerging destinations that appeal to Australians include the Sichuan Province, Three Gorges and Yangtze River, Yunnan, or the Nine Villages Valley, he says, adding that a number of areas are also opening up including ancient towns such as Pingyao.

Shangxiaji, Guangzhou

Helen Wong’s Tours managing director Helen Wong agrees that Sichuan Province and Jiuzhaigou are increasingly popular, along with river cruising on the Yangtze River.

Meanwhile, Adventure World managing director Fiona Hunt says today’s travellers are seeking curated experiences tailored to their own interests. “Instead of just hearing or reading about the ancient culture, they want

to visit villages where these traditions remain preserved,” she says.

Trafalgar managing director Matt CameronSmith echoed Hunt’s calls, claiming that Aussies are no longer looking to tick off a bucket list of sights: “Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai remain perennially popular with Aussies, however more authentic experiences are emerging in each of these cities.”

What’s New New HW’s brochure

Adventure World’s Yunnan Adventure World’s new 13-day Classic Journey to Yunnan itinerary offers an in-depth discovery of the region which borders China and south-east Asia. The soft adventure begins in Beijing before travelling through Dali and along the shores of Erhai Lake, home of the Bai fishermen and the UNESCO listed city of Lijiang which is famed for its traditional architecture and Naxi minority group.

Prices start from $3437 pp twin share, including accommodation, some meals, sightseeing with a local English-speaking guide, transportation by private air-conditioned vehicle and entrance fees. n www.adventureworld.com.au

Guangzhou network boost China Southern Airlines has announced a number of new routes connecting the city of Guangzhou with cities in southeast Asia, Europe and Africa.

A new route linking the hub Guangzhou with Nairobi will kick off in August, while new direct links to Rome, Sabah, Laos and Krabi are expected to commence by the end of the year.

The airline is also set to operate twice daily flights between Auckland and Guangzhou from 01 August following continued success on the route.

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Helen Wong’s Tours has released its latest group journeys brochure to China and Vietnam for 2015/16 which is not only brimming with a range of new and exciting itineraries, but offers an insight into the destination and its traditions and cultures.

Helen Wong’s Tours has also merged its list of China itineraries with Vietnam and Cambodia due to popular demand. A range of ‘Helen’s Choice’ inclusions are built into the tours at no extra cost, along with automatic access to a loyalty rewards program and exclusive offers. n www.helenwongstours.com

QF-MU join forces Qantas and China Eastern announced a new joint venture late last year which will strengthen links between Australia and China. Through the partnership, the airlines hope to open new routes between Australia and mainland China.

A major benefit of the agreement will be the co-location of both carriers at Shanghai International Airport Terminal 1 which will cut transit times by about one hour and open up a wider range of onward connections. Subject to regulatory approval, the agreement is expected to kick off in mid 2015. n www.qantas.com.au; http://au.ceair.com

CHINA

Q&A

More than 700,000 Australians travel to China each year, presenting a great sales opportunity for agents. Melissa Demetriadis, manager at Flight Centre Southgate in Sylvania NSW, took some time out of her schedule to share some of her tips for selling China.

Is there still much interest in China from Australian travellers?

Absolutely!! China has grown over the last few years and is now a very popular tourist destination. People are not only going as first time travellers but are also returning as frequent travellers because they loved it so much the first time.

What places and activities would you recommend to clients?

The Great Wall of China, the Terracotta Warriors and the Forbidden City. The Yangtze River and Chengdu is also a must. Don’t be scared to recommend places that aren’t advertised as much, as this is where your clients will find hidden gems.

What would you recommend for a luxury holiday in China?

To guarantee a luxury holiday, I would recommend doing a tour. Helen Wong’s, Wendy Wu and Travel Indochina have great luxury products and tours that will make clients feel like royalty while taking in everything China has to offer.

What are China’s top three selling points from an agent’s perspective?

Whether they are looking at independent travel or on a tour, people are looking for a great price.

Recommending a tour will mean less work for you as most tour companies will include international and domestic flights,

accommodation, transfers, meals and visas. If you’re putting a package together for a client, call a wholesaler and do it with the client in front of you.

This will help if you have never been there and they can help with suggesting add-ons, which also means more revenue.

And finally, what do you love most about travelling in China?

The history, the people and the food are amazing. Learning the history from local guides is something that everyone will enjoy. I can’t wait to go back!

ON THE GROUND Wendy Wu Tours has a range of fully escorted group tours of China, as well as a selection of itineraries for independent travellers which include Guilin, Yangshuo and Longji. Short stay packages are priced from $650 pp twin share and include four nights’ accommodation, touring with English-speaking guides, entrance fees and some meals. The all-inclusive 17-day Southern Odyssey also includes Guilin and is priced from $6780 pp twin share including international flights. n www.wendywutours.com.au

Helen Wong’s Tours have nine group itineraries ranging from 14-25 days that include a three-night program in Guilin and a cruise on the Li River. A 25-day Grand Tour also features Guilin, Yangshuo and Longji priced from $6250 pp twin share ex Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. n www.helenwongstours.com

W Beijing – Chang’an is the latest addition to Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ growing portfolio of nearly 140 hotels in Greater China, with another 130 in the pipeline. The 349-room W Beijing is located on Chang’an Avenue, with easy access to some of Beijing’s greatest attractions including Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, the National Museum of China, and the Silk Market. Opening rates which are valid until the end of April start at RMB 1,288 (around A$252) per night, plus taxes.

The 306-room Sunrise Kempinksi Beijing which opened in December is nothing short of an architectural wonder.

Perched on the edge of Yanqi Lake, 60 kilometres from Beijing, the hotel is built in the shape of the rising sun and is said to symbolise harmony, unity and infinity. The new Yanqi Island leisure complex is made up of 14 hotels including the Yanqi Hotel with 111 guestrooms and suites, in addition to 12 boutique hotels with 178 guestrooms and suites. Facilities include 14 restaurants and bars, landscaped gardens, a private marina, spa, recreational and a Kid’s Club. n www.kempinski.com

Hilton Worldwide continues to expand its offering throughout China.

The latest property to open is the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel QinghaiGolmud (pictured left), the first international hotel in Golmud in Qinghai Province which is on the Tibetan Plateau. The 112-room hotel is centrally located along the Kunlun Mountain Pass and offers easy access to nearby attractions such as the Chaerhan Salt Lake (the largest salt lake in China) and the snow-covered Geladandong Peak. Hilton has also recently announced plans to bring the Hampton by Hilton brand to China, with the first hotel expected to open by the end of 2015. travelBulletin APRIL 2015

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the last word

Celebrity spotting

FUN Facts: Did you know…

The Snowy Mountains in NSW receives more snow on average than Switzerland.

Nauru has been dubbed the fattest country on Earth, with over 95% of its population considered overweight or obese.

Canada has more lakes than any other country on the planet with over 3 million within its borders.

Malta has made the record books for having the most citizens that live abroad. Currently more Maltese live outside the country than within it.

Papua New Guinea is said to have the most diverse array of dialects, with over 820 languages spoken.

Where in the World?

There are some pretty impressive mosques scattered across the globe, but any idea where this one stands? If you have any clue, send your answer to comps@travelbulletin.com.au and go in the draw to WIN a double movie ticket. Congrats to Lauren Lovell from HRG Australia who won our January comp for correctly answering Abu Dhabi’s Aldar Headquarters.

Krystal Fysh from Runaway Bay Cruise & Travel brushed shoulders with none other than Robert Irwin at Australia Zoo on a recent trip. At just 11 years old his cheeky grin is hard to miss, but he is also following in his father’s footsteps, starring in his own Australia Zoo TV channel, Robert’s Real Life Adventures.

Send your celebrity pics to celebrity@travelbulletin.com.au and keep your eye out for the next issue of travelBulletin.

gadget corner Lost luggage ain’t no fun, but the Trakdot Luggage Tracker has travellers covered. This nifty device tucks into any bag and monitors mobile networks to pin point the location of luggage at any time. It goes to sleep during the flight and sends an email or text upon landing with detailed information on where the bag has been. Users can monitor the whereabouts of their luggage through the Trakdot website or app which will sends alerts when the bag is nearby. Made in New Zealand, prices lead in from NZ$119 plus an annual service fee.

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