September 2018
CRU ISE SA LE
FREE
FREE
UPGRADE WITHIN STATEROOM CATEGORY
SAVE UP TO
UPGRADE VIKING HOMELANDS
ISLANDS OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC
STOCKHOLM — BERGEN or vice versa
SANTIAGO — SYDNEY
15 DAYS | 11 GUIDED TOURS | 8 COUNTRIES
32 DAYS | 8 GUIDED TOURS | 4 COUNTRIES
SET SAIL APR – SEP 2019 & 2020
SET SAIL 12 FEB 2019
FROM $8,295 PP IN VERANDA STATEROOM
FROM $12,995 PP IN VERANDA STATEROOM
FROM THE CARIBBEAN TO THE AMAZON
MEDITERRANEAN & ITALIAN SOJOURN
SAN JUAN — SAN JUAN round trip
BARCELONA — VENICE or vice versa
22 DAYS | 11 GUIDED TOURS | 8 COUNTRIES
15 DAYS | 12 GUIDED TOURS | 5 COUNTRIES
SET SAIL DEC 2019 | FEB 2020
SET SAIL APR – AUG 2020
FROM $9,295 PP IN VERANDA STATEROOM
FROM $8,790 PP IN VERANDA STATEROOM
1,200
$
PER COUPLE
V I K I N GC RU I S ES .CO M . AU | 13 8 747 S EE YO U R LO C A L T R AV EL AG EN T
TO DELUXE VERANDA
FLY FOR
795PP
$
ECONOMY
FREE
2-NIGHT EXTENSION BARCELONA OR VENICE
September 2018
Race to the
poles
the e s i u cr e issu
Ocean Cruising Africa Solo Travellers Hong Kong & China Family Holidays
Earn 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent on APT holidays~
SMALL SHIP EXPEDITION CRUISING 2019
Small Ship Expedition Cruising is all about your client uncovering the world’s hidden treasures in typical APT style. With no more than 118 guests, our fleet of small ships can access some of the world’s most pristine and far-flung destinations. Dock right in the middle of town or use Zodiac vessels to explore normally inaccessible locations • THE SMALL SHIP EXPERIENCE – Venture where larger ships cannot aboard APT’s award-winning expedition ships as one of only 118 guests • TAILOR-MADE SHORE EXCURSIONS – All small group excursions are included and hosted by knowledgeable local guides • EXPEDITION TEAM – Learn about the landscapes, culture, history and wildlife of the places you visit with an expert Expedition Team of up to 10 members • ALL-INCLUSIVE LIFESTYLE – All meals and a range of beverages on board, Zodiac excursions, tipping and airport transfers are included
aptouring.com.au/SmallShips2019 1300 390 562 | See your local travel agent
BEST RIVER CRUISE OPERATOR 2015-18
BEST INTERNATIONAL TOUR OPERATOR 2014-15
BEST DOMESTIC TOUR OPERATOR 2012-16 & 18
National Travel Industry Awards
National Travel Industry Awards
National Travel Industry Awards
~QANTAS FREQUENT FLYER: You must be a Qantas Frequent Flyer Member to earn Qantas Points. A joining fee may apply. Membership and Qantas Points are subject to the Qantas Frequent Flyer Terms and Conditions, available at qantas.com/terms. Qantas Frequent Flyer members can earn 1 Qantas Point per AU$1 spent on all APT holidays. See aptouring.com.au/Qantas for full conditions. Australian Pacific Touring Pty Ltd. ABN 44 004 684 619. ATAS accreditation #A10825. APT7129
Contents
16 36
46
32 Features
56 Family holidays
24 Business Events News
The lowdown on kid-friendly cruises
32 Ocean cruising Jenny Piper discovers a cruise that any non-cruiser will enjoy
36 Africa Ben Groundwater explores African ports of call
46 Solo travellers Kristie Kellahan gives us tips on how to cruise solo (but not alone)
52 Hong Kong & China A cruise on China’s Yangtze river is a lesson in history and the future writes Brian Johnston
26 Cruise
Cover story
30 Industry in Focus
28 Race to the poles
62 Last Word
51 Brochures
Find out why polar regions are the next frontier for luxury cruising
Columns
Monthly
06 Steve Jones 08 AFTA View
02 From the publisher
09 AusChamber View
02 State of the industry
25 CCB View
08 Issues and trends
28 CLIA View
20 Business view
This month’s contributors Steve Jones, Joel Katz, Jayson Westbury, Mark Carter, Michael Matthews, John Hart, Damian Perry, Brian Johnston, Jenny Piper, Ben Piper, Ben Groundwater, Kristie Kellahan, Candy Penesis, Katrina Katich, Deb Long, Brian Meads-Barlow, Kathy Pavilidis, Robyn Sinfield, Sarah Beyer Above – Beach image: Lucky Bay, WA ©Tourism Australia
EDITORIAL Editor in Chief and Publisher – Bruce Piper Co-ordinating Editor + Production – Sarah Beyer Ph: 1300 799 220 or 02 8007 6760 sarah.beyer@travelbulletin.com.au
904 5,355
Avg Net Distribution per Issue
This publication is independently audited under the AMAA's CAB Total Distribution Audit.
1 Apr Reporting Period: 16 Apr2017 2016––30 16Sep Sep2017 2016 - Publisher Statement
Advertising National Sales Manager Lisa Maroun Ph: 0405 132 575 or 02 8007 6760 lisa.maroun@travelbulletin.com.au
Contributing Editor – Jon Murrie
ART Design – Sarah Beyer, Wendy St George Director – Jenny Piper
Editorial team – Jasmine O’Donoghue, Adam Bishop, Anastasia Prikhodko, Sarah Fairburn
FINANCE accounts@traveldaily.com.au
Suite 1, Level 2, 64 Talavera Rd Macquarie Park NSW 2113 Australia PO Box 1010 Epping NSW 1710 Australia Tel: 1300 799 220 (+61 2 8007 6760
www.travelbulletin.com.au travelBulletin is part of the Business Publishing Group family of publications
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
1
State of the industry
From the publisher Bruce Piper
IN BRIEF
2
AS I write this column today, I have just discovered that Australia has a new Prime Minister. Heaven help us. The embarrassing ructions in Canberra not only make us a laughing-stock across the globe, but more seriously are likely to create a policy paralysis which will impact the entire economy. I fear that large companies will be reluctant to make important investment decisions because of a lack of certainty, and in turn that will affect their employees – who may in turn be reluctant to spend on their holidays. Let’s hope these clowns can get their act together and get on with governing the country as soon as possible. Enough of the doom and gloom. On a brighter note, the last few weeks have seen most of Australia’s ASX-listed travel companies release their 2017/18 results, and by and large they have been crackers. Records have fallen left, right and centre, with Qantas, Flight Centre, Helloworld, Corporate Travel Management and Webjet all claiming their best underlying profit figures ever. The strong performances have been reflected in growing share prices, with Corporate Travel Management and Flight Centre particularly outstanding, despite a post-result dip for FLT attributed to a
Helloworld rewards shareholders A strong 2018 financial year for Helloworld saw the company declare an 11c per share final dividend along with its results announcement, bringing the total payout for the year to 18c per share. The company recorded a 3.5% increase in total transaction value (TTV) to $6.1 billion and a strong 49% increase in pretax profit to $46.2 million, saying the figure was underpinned by “strong air ticket sales volume growth,” although international fares declined by 6.6% on average, hampering yield growth. The company saw its Australian agency network grow to 1,854 members, a year-on-year increase of 139 which was primarily driven by the acquisition of the Magellan Travel Group. The Helloworld results announcement also provided detail around a number of other acquisitions, including the revelation that HLO paid a total of $1 million for a 12% stake in the Hunter Travel Group – comprising $400,000 in cash plus a 75% share in seven wholly-owned company
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
brutal ABC exposé of the company’s salary and sales policies. Webjet has also continued its relentless rise, claiming to be Australia’s number one online travel agent with a 5% domestic market share and 3% of international. CEO John Gucsic says flight bookings continue to grow at more than three times the underlying market, with “substantial headroom for ongoing bookings growth as the B2C market continues to shift online”. But an interesting a side note in the Webjet announcement confirmed a fall in cruise bookings through its Online Republic offshoot, with the company citing a “material slowdown in the regional cruise market”. Despite that comment, there certainly doesn’t appear to be any slowdown in the construction of new passenger ships across the globe, with a massive pipeline of capacity under construction – including a succession of newbuild announcements for expedition ships such as Scenic’s highly anticipated and now delayed Eclipse. This month’s special cruisethemed travelBulletin includes a phenomenal precis of the polar production line courtesy of Steve Jones – so pop some appropriate ice in your drink and enjoy the read!
stores, valued at $600,000. During the year Helloworld also purchased 20% of Helloworld Mackay, paying $800,000 in cash and shares for the stake in the Queensland agency. The dividend payout rewards all of the company’s shareholders, with CEO Andrew Burnes and executive director Cinzia Burnes’ 44 million shares garnering them almost $8 million in dividends during the year. Interests associated with Consolidated Travel owner Spyros Alysandratos hold 22 million Helloworld shares, so he received around $4m, while 17.1% shareholder Qantas will have a full year payout of $3.8 million for its stake. The former Magellan Travel Group directors, who received a total of 2.4m shares as part of their payout from the acquisition, will also split about $267,000 as a result of the final 11c dividend.
Qantas continues to fly high Qantas set a new record with its 2017/18 financial results, with an 18% increase in pre-tax profit to $1.4
billion. The excellent outcome reflected a strong market as well as the benefits of ongoing work to improve the business and build long-term value, according to CEO Alan Joyce. Non-executive employees shared in the success via a $67 million bonus for 27,000 staff, while customers will benefit from ongoing investments such as upgrades to six lounges including the flagship Sydney International First lounge as well as in Auckland, Tokyo Narita, Brisbane International and two regional lounge refurbishments in Tamworth, NSW and Hobart, Tasmania. Joyce noted that work on QF’s “Project Sunrise” which aims to unlock direct flights from the east coast of Australia to London and New York by 2022, advanced to a Request for Proposal stage with Airbus and Boeing, while the Qantas Group also committed to a second Pilot Academy to help meet the “unprecedented global demand for skills as the aviation sector continues to grow”. The Qantas board declared a 10c per share final dividend, as well as an on-market share buyback of up to $332 million.
SRI LANKA’s AUSSIE PUSH
SRI Lankan Tourism has flagged plans to aggressively target the Australian market and appoint a third-party destination representative. The organisation’s MD Sutheash Balasubramaniam made the announcement while attending the Travel Industry Exhibition (TIE) in Sydney last month, where Sri Lanka was the show’s key destination partner. Pictured above are SriLankan Airlines country manager Sanjeeva Jayatileke; Lal Wickramatunge, Consul-General of Sri Lanka for NSW; and Sri Lanka Promotion Bureau MD Sutheash Balasubramaniam at the media event opening TIE.
“
company had also moved to introduce a new wage model for its leisure sales people, expected to be introduced in the coming year as part of a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. Just before the results announcement, the ABC aired a report where several disgruntled employees complained about low base salaries and high pressure sales tactics, which led to a slump in the company’s share price despite the record profit figure.
We see great value in Flight Centre sets record supporting a trade Flight Centre last month unveiled partner who its best ever full year results, with deals with a $384.7 million underlying profit before tax – up 16.8% year on year its existing and $8.2 million higher than its and potential previous record set in 2013/14. customers Total transaction value increased TravelManagers signs 8.5% to $21.8 billion, with CEO on a face-to- with Luxury Escapes Graham Turner hailing “new sales face basis Travelmanagers last month milestones established in all countries” for the company. Flight Centre’s international businesses generated almost half of the company’s TTV, while the year also saw the deployment of the new Sabre GDS in Australia and New Zealand which “adversely impacted TTV in the short term while training was underway and normal recruitment activities were placed on hold”. The company also initiated its massive “Rebrand & Grow” plan which saw the demise of the Escape Travel and Cruiseabout brands and the redeployment of some 1,200 consultants from 250 impacted shops. Turner noted that in Australia the
”
Adam Schwab, CEO, Luxury Escapes
confirmed a new agreement with Luxury Escapes, giving the company’s home-based Personal Travel Managers (PTMs) access offers from the fastgrowing deals site. The move was announced at the TravelManagers annual conference in Hawaii, where the group’s finance and commercial manager, Tanyu Cilek, described it as a “real coup for both our PTMs and our clients”. Cilek said more than 500,000 travellers will enjoy a Luxury Escapes experience this year, with the pact giving PTMs the opportunity to add value via flights, insurance and pre- and post-arrangements. Luxury Escapes CEO Adam Schwab
said he was excited about the pilot program. “Luxury Escapes is not only a travel e-commerce site: we see great value in supporting a trade partner who deals with its existing and potential customers on a face-toface basis”. The agreement has attracted some raised eyebrows across the industry, with ATAS-accredited TravelManagers now associating itself with a nonATAS supplier. Luxury Escapes announced its withdrawal from the AFTA Travel Accreditation Scheme earlier this year, with Schwab at the time claiming the pullout was a “value-based decision,” because the company could not justify the fee for being an ATAS member.
Goway probes Australian office Canadian travel firm Goway has launched an investigation into so-called “family and friends” deals provided through its Sydney Outbound Retail Travel Division. The company, which is also a major inbound operator, has appointed industry veteran Ian Johnston to manage the issue, along with legal advisors Continues over page
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
3
State of the industry Continues from previous page
HEADLINES 26 Jul
Scenic sales teams merge
26 Jul
Rezdy seals Hotelbeds pact
27 Jul
Cathay pruge hits Aus
27 Jul
Champion losses tallied
29 Jul
NSW govt unveils cruise plan
30 Jul
Goway probes irregularities
30 Jul
Helloworld Global Stars
31 Jul
HLO confirms Nine show
31 Jul
Serko seals deal with FC
01 Aug VA confirms Tasman wifi 01 Aug New Trafalgar sales head 02 Aug Hamilton Is hotel confirmed 02 Aug Emirates expands in Italy 03 Aug Tramada US client debut 03 Aug QBE joins World Nomads 06 Aug Int’l mobile check-in OK 06 Aug QF Amadeus hackathon win 07 Aug Japan appoints local rep 07 Aug Lombok flights boosted 08 Aug ATAS awareness “critical” 08 Aug Click Frenzy targets travel 08 Aug Ponant partners with National Geographic
PKF Forensic & Risk Services to undertake a complete audit of all bookings and payments. The issue came to light via social media, as some of the “too good to be true” deals came unstuck and clients were unable to redeem the offers. The packages were allegedly sold via private emails out of the Sydney office, offering ludicrously generous passes providing domestic and international flights and accommodation. Goway founder Bruce Hodge told travelBulletin he first heard about the issue in late May and immediately froze all bookings, with many payments not made directly to Goway. He stressed the issue only related to Goway’s Sydney outbound business. “Once we have all the facts it may then be necessary to refer the matter to the NSW Police for possible criminal prosecution,” he said.
QBE joins SureSave as an nib subsidiary Listed insurance firm nib has expanded its focus on the travel
sector with the $25 million acquisition of QBE Travel Insurance. The deal includes the distribution and claims capability of QBE Travel, but “excludes capital supporting the business and the QBE brand,” the company said. The transaction is part of nib’s strategy to grow its World Nomads Group travel insurance business, which includes other brands such as SureSave Travel Insurance, Travel Insurance Direct, nib Travel Insurance and World Nomads. “QBE Travel has an extensive distribution network including partnership with well-known Australian brands, as well as a national network of more than 2,000 travel insurance agents,” said nib managing director Mark Fitzgibbon. QBE Travel is Australia’s fourth largest travel insurer, with several key partnerships including a deal with Express Travel Group. Fitzgibbon said the QBE travel insurance business would rebrand to nib Travel Insurance once the deal is completed. However “there will be no changes to its high customer service standards...for QBE Travel customers, clients and employees it will be business as usual,” he promised.
09 Aug PTM enters bankruptcy 09 Aug Alliance flags charter growth 10 Aug QF int’l mobile check-in 10 Aug Industry shows support 13 Aug VA flags Sth Pacific Tiger
Jetstar’s Uluru debut
13 Aug Sal Salis resort for sale 14 Aug Webjet boosts B2B focus 14 Aug TA seeks digital partner 15 Aug Star confirms Ritz-Carlton 15 Aug Biz travel begins to surge 16 Aug InterContinental for AKL 16 Aug Melb hotel projects sols 17 Aug AirAsia hits out at ADL 17 Aug SYD capacity in spotlight 20 Aug Lux Esc turns to trade 20 Aug Dubai office disconnects 21 Aug HLO reports profit jump 21 Aug Silversea set to overtake 22 Aug CTM profit up 41% 22 Aug Fleet changes for P&O Aus 22 Aug SeaLink’s Ellison to retire 22 Aug FC mark-ups questioned
4
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
JETSTAR celebrated its inaugural flight from Brisbane to Uluru early last month, heralding the beginning of three times weekly services between the two destinations which will inject over 55,000 return seats into the market. “We are seeing great demand for this new service with travellers, including many families, taking advantage of the new direct flight to Uluru, one of Australia’s most iconic destinations,” said Jetstar executive manager, Alan McIntyre.
Data Room
All the latest statistics from the ABS and BITRE to keep you in the loop.
Domestic On Time Performance
ARRIVALS
July 2018
Jetstar
Qantas
Arrivals on time Departure on time Cancellations
68.5% 67.2% 3.5%
Arrivals on time Departure on time Cancellations
RETURNS
Top 10 destinations, June 18
75.1% 77.7% 2.2%
Source
Trend (000)
Original (000)
New Zealand China USA Singapore Malaysia Indonesia India UK Japan Hong Kong All inbound
115.0 120.9 62.7 35.6 31.4 16.0 30.1 61.0 38.2 25.9 765.0
112.0 77.7 58.45.3 37.9 37.7 29.3 28.8 23.1 20.6 646.7
Trend Apr 18/ May 18 % +0.4 +0.4 -1.5 -0.3 +0.6 -0.8 +1.3 -0.5 +0.3 +1.3 +0.2
Top 10 destinations, June 18
Trend May 17/ May 18 % +2.4 +2.3 -6.1 -5.6 -10.1 -6.3 +19.6 +2.9 +6.3 +7.9 +3.1
Source: ABS
Destination
Trend (000)
Original (000)
Indonesia USA New Zealand UK China Thailand Singapore Italy Fiji Japan All outbound
108.1 94.0 118.8 57.0 51.7 46.6 36.3 20.8 28.5 41.2 930.6
104.5 91.3 79.0 66.7 45.3 39.7 30.7 27.3 27.1 27.0 808.7
Trend Apr 18/ May 18 % +0.9 +1.0 +0.3 +0.8 +1.8 -0.7 +2.3 -0.6 +0.3 +2.1 +0.6
Trend May 17/ May 18 % +7.5 +3.9 -1.5 +9.7 +15.4 -4.9 +12.6 +8.8 -0.4 +25.0 +5.7
Source: ABS
ENDED DECEMBER 2017 All airlines
Arrivals on time Departure on time Cancellations
73.5% 75.3% 2.3%
-0.8%
71.2% 74.1% 2.1%
.3%
Virgin Australia
Arrivals on time Departure on time Cancellations
+0
International Passengers Carried (thousands) - December 2015 to December 2017
+4
DOMESTIC AIR MARKET
.7 %
June 2018
+2 .8%
+ 0.
Dec-17
Nov-17
Oct-17
Sep-17
Aug-17
Jul-17
Jun-17
May-17
Apr-17
Mar-17
Feb-17
Jan-17
Dec-16
Nov-16
Oct-16
Sep-16
Aug-16
Jul-16
Jun-16
May-16
Apr-16
Mar-16
Feb-16
Jan-16
.5 %
*Percentage points difference
+4
Jun 18
-1.6%
Total pax carried Revenue pax km (RPK) Avail seat kms (ASK) Load factor (%) Aircraft trips (000)
Growth Yr to Yr to Growth % Jun 17 Jun 18 % INBOUND OUTBOUND 4.70m 4.72m +0.5 59.30m 60.77bn +2.5 5.46bn 5.50bn +0.7 69.49bn 70.87bn +2.0 7.06bn 7.00bn -0.8 88.67bn 88.53bn -0.2 77.4 78.6 1.2* 78.4 80.1 1.7* 52.0 49.9 -4.1 641.7 635.1 -1.0
+0.3%
Jun 17
+2.7%
7%
-2.8%
Source: BITRE
International Air Market Share
International Passengers by Major Airlines - Year ended December 2017
International passengers by major airline – year ended May 2018 Qantas Airways, 16.7% Qantas Airways,
Others, 31.2%
Jetstar, 9.1%9.1% Jetstar,
Emirates, Singapore Airlines,8.3% 8.1%
Etihad Airways, 3.1% China Southern Airlines, 3.1% China Southern Etihad Airways, 3.2% Airlines, 3.1%
Singapore Emirates, 8.0% Airlines, 8.1%
AirAsia 3.6% AirAsia X,X,4.0%
Top 10 city pairs, May 2018
City pair
16.4%
Others, 30.7%
INTERNATIONAL AIR ROUTES
Cathay Pacific Air New Cathay Pacific Air New Zealand, 6.6% Airways, 4.5% Zealand, 6.6% Airways, 4.6% Australia, 6.1% VirginVirgin Australia, 6.0% Source: BITRE
Auckland-Sydney Singapore-Sydney Singapore-Melbourne Auckland-Melbourne Singapore-Perth Hong Kong-Sydney Auckland-Brisbane Los Angeles-Sydney Denpasar-Perth Singapore-Brisbane Top 10 City Pairs Other City Pairs ALL CITY PAIRS
Year ended
Year ended
Year ended
Passengers YE May 18 1,552,608 1,523,141 1,433,840 1,246,491 1,141,279 1,076,660 968,827 876,071 860,579 833,004 11,512,500 28,924,149 40,436,649
% of total % change 18/17 3.8 -2.8 3.8 +4.5 3.5 +2.8 3.1 +2.7 2.8 +0.3 2.7 +0.3 2.4 +0.7 2.2 -0.8 2.1 -1.6 2.1 +4.7 28.5 +1.1 71.5 +6.8 100.0 +5.1
Source: BITRE
International Passengers by Uplift/Discharge City Pairs Australian
Passengers YE May 17 1,597,923 1,457,607 1,395,074 1,214,254 1,137,548 1,073,556 961,744 883,410 874,481 795,642 11,391,239 27,081,262 38,472,501
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
% of
% Change
5
State of the industry MAIN DOMESTIC ROUTES Top 10 domestic city pairs, June 2018
City pair
MelbourneSydney Brisbane-Sydney BrisbaneMelbourne Gold CoastSydney AdelaideMelbourne Melbourne-Perth Gold CoastMelbourne Adelaide-Sydney Perth-Sydney Hobart-Melbourne
Most popular websites in travel - agencies July 18 compared with June 18
Passengers Passengers % change YE Jun 17 YE Jun 18 (000) (000) 8,974.5
9,250.8
+3.1
4,695.7
4,788.1
+2.0
3,500.5
3,556.9
+1.6
2,712.7
2,752.4
+1.5
2,413.4
2,487.3
+3.1
2,048.1
2,057.8
+0.5
1,992.2
2,045.6
+2.7
1,886.5 1,737.8 1,598.7
1,908.6 1,719.9 1,638.6
+1.2 -1.0 +2.5
Rank Website
Visits % share July 18
Relative % dif Jul to Jun
Rank Jun 18
1
Webjet Australia
13.34
-1.08
1
2 3
Expedia Australia Skyscanner Australia Wotif.com Flight Centre Velocity Frequent Flyer Luxury Escapes Cheap Flights Aus & NZ Lastminute.com.au Google Flights Aus
10.50
+0.76
2
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
8.99
-1.04
3
7.78 5.88
+0.00 -7.13
4 5
4.37
+13.79
6
3.33
-1.55
7
2.49
2.23
9
2.40 1.92
-10.61 -6.69
8 10
Source: Hitwise
Source: BITRE
Steve Jones’ Say They are part and parcel of the industry, but I have a problem with preferred deals. Or at least in the concept of preferred deals. From a wholesaler and tour operator perspective they are, of course, sought after and cherished. Which company wouldn’t want the might of 800 Flight Centre shops behind them, recommending and selling their product, even with the costs of servicing a network considered? But can a travel agent really characterise themselves as independent, as many do, when they are only selling a select band of
6
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
AUSTRALIAN AIRPORTS
International passengers through Australia’s major international airports, May 18 City pair Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Perth Gold Coast Adelaide Cairns Darwin Canberra (a) Townsville (b) Sunshine Coast (c) Port Hedland Norfolk Island (d) ALL AIRPORTS
Passengers YE May 17 15,457,682 9,907,413 5,573,628 4,415,605 1,107,013 950,727 644,826 282,491 57,174 44,684 13,728 7,555 9,975 38,472,501
(a) Scheduled services recommenced Sep 2016 (c) Seasonal services only
Passengers YE May 18 16,378,668 10,688,574 5,872,161 4,347,409 1,071,827 993,292 673,291 255,802 91,482 43,006 13,719 7,418 .. 40,436,649
% of total % change 18/17 40.5 +6.0 26.4 +7.9 14.5 +5.4 10.8 -1.5 2.7 -3.2 2.5 +4.5 1.7 +4.4 0.6 -9.4 0.2 +60.0 0.1 -3.8 0.0 -0.1 0.0 -1.8 .. .. 100.0 +5.1
(b) Scheduled services recommenced Sep 2015 (d) Scheduled services ceased May 2017
Source: BITRE
preferred suppliers? I mention Flight Centre only because Chimu Adventures recently struck an agreement with the retailer that will make the polar specialist its “one-stop shop” for those regions and beyond. Little wonder that Chimu described itself as “so happy” as it looked forward to “the opportunities that it will bring both parties”. Good on them. Flight Centre agents in particular will rarely stray from their preferred list, so an uplift in support would seems inevitable for Chimu. But it reignited my scepticism about preferred arrangements. Is effectively turning your back on product because there is no formal commercial relationship compatible with being an independent retailer? Agency head office always talk about leakage, those agents who sell outside the list of commerciallynegotiated deals. But they can’t have it both ways. They can’t champion the independence of their agencies, and in the same breath clamp down on non-preferred sales. Looking at all options, not just what you’re told to sell by head office, is what makes agencies truly independent. The travelling public have little understanding of these arrangements of course. Yes, the internet has provided transparency in that consumers can do their
“
Looking at all options, not just what you’re told to sell by head office, is what makes agencies truly independent
”
own research and book with whoever they choose. But many Australians are still buying their travel through bricks and mortar agencies, and relying on their advice and recommendations. This isn’t to suggest consumers are getting shoddy service, or being coerced into booking holidays that are unsuitable. But they are not being offered the full gamut of available options. For traditional wholesalers, unless they have an extremely strong and visible online presence, a failure to secure a preferred deal with at least one agency network clearly limits distribution, and possibly their viability. It’s a tough game. Meanwhile, full marks to TravelManagers which has struck a deal with e-commerce firm Luxury Escapes (LE). I couldn’t agree more with TravelManager’s chief operating officer Grant Campbell who told the industry at its annual conference that it needs to “stop looking at these kinds of business as travel disruptors to the industry” and see how it can work with them. What a refreshing change to hear some maturity in the industry rather than the infantile, anachronous and frankly conceited view held by some that everyone else is a charlatan unless you’re a traditional travel agent. It’s 2018, not 1978.
Introducing
Artist Impression
CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR CRYSTAL INSIGHTS WITH KAREN CHRISTENSEN Introducing Crystal Endeavor, the world’s largest and most spacious luxury expedition yacht featuring Crystal’s legendary service and welcoming hospitality. With a sleek design and anchor-free dynamic positioning technology, she is built to PC6 Polar Class specifications and will offer all-suite, butler-serviced accommodations, and unmatched choices for bold adventure in the world’s most remote destinations. Crystal Endeavor is now open for reservations for her 2020 inaugural season with expeditions to the farthest reaches of Earth, from the Russian Far East to the Antarctic, and remote lands in between.
FEATURED CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR SAILINGS ISLAND EXPLORATIONS OF JAPAN Tokyo to Taipei | 16 Days | Sep 13, 2020
Himeji Castle, Japan
Artist Impression
From sandstone cliffs and ravines in Doro-kyo Gorge and ethereal forest hikes through Yakusugi to the UNESCO-designated Kumano Hayatama Taisha Grand Shrine, this journey blends Japan’s rugged natural beauty with its deeply rooted spiritual heritage.
ALL
TAKEN CARE OF All-suite, butler-serviced accommodations Michelin-inspired cuisine
Fares from US$16,799pp*
Unlimited select fine wines, champagnes and premium spirits
ANTARCTICA & THE ROSS SEA EXPEDITION Hobart to Christchurch | 22 Days | Jan 6, 2021
Onboard expedition lectures, and enrichment
Sail south to the white wilderness of Antarctica. Iceberg prisms and glittering glaciers, historic explorers’ huts, bellowing elephant seals and the world’s largest penguin colony are just a few of the highlights.
Small-group exploration 18 zodiacs, kayaks, submersible*, and 2 helicopters*
Fares from US$34,249pp*
FO R M O R E IN FO RM ATIO N , TO BO O K O R TO YA C H T E X P E D I T I O N C R U I S E S
Karen Christensen Senior Vice President & Managing Director Australia & New Zealand
R E C E I V E A B RO CH URE , CO N TACT CRYSTA L.
1300 059 262
C R YS TA LC R U I S E S .C O M
*Fares are cruise-only, per person, in U.S. dollars, based on double occupancy in category S6 on YEN200913-16 S5 on YEN210106-22, apply to new bookings only, made by 30 Sep 18, and include book now savings, taxes, fees and port charges. Solo Traveller Fares available on request. Optional dining in the Vintage Room attracts an additional fee. Cruise-only fare does not include land programs, submersible and helicopter experiences charged at an additional cost. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. All offers may not be combinable with other promotions, apply to first two full-fare guests in stateroom or suite, are capacity-controlled, subject to availability and may be withdrawn or changed at any time without notice. All fares, itineraries, programs, policies and shore excursions are subject to change and correct at time of printing. Restrictions apply. For complete Terms & Conditions, visit crystalcruises.com/legal. ©2018 Crystal Cruises, LLC. Ships’ registry: The Bahamas.
Issues & trends
AFTA view Jayson Westbury, chief executive AFTA
Credit cards continue to dominate discussion within the travel industry but for two very different reasons. First is the credit card surcharging rules that have now been in place for 12 months and the issue these new rules can create for travel agents and more broadly travel companies if they are not adhered to fully. In recent times the ACCC brought an action against a car rental company in the Federal Court and won the case for what was deemed “excessive” credit card surcharging. The new rules are in fact relatively simply to follow. In short, a credit card surcharge for a particular card type cannot exceed the actual cost of acceptance of that card type. AFTA has done a great deal of work on this subject with members and you will find plenty of information on the AFTA website about how to approach this. We are always available to assist and guide if there remains any confusion about this. The second, and from my perspective the more significant issue around credit cards, was the change this year to IATA resolution 890 which allows travel agents to use a credit card issued in the name of the agency in the BSP as a form of payment with the consent of the airline (each individual airline needs to consent to each individual agent). What is disappointing is that many airlines have been swift to push out policies giving a blanket ‘no’ to the use of the agents’ cards. This reform formed a significant part of the changes made to the IATA BSP program (NewGenISS). The new resolution brings in changes that were meant to be win-win for both agents and airlines. Yet these changes to Resolution 890 have been quickly batted away by many airlines. NewGenISS is due to come into effect in the Australian market sometime later this year and without the option of the agent card being usable I do not see the package that was Without the option of the agreed upon really working. Given the credit card agent card being usable surcharge rules that are in I do not see the package place in Australia, I fail to see how airlines can differentiate that was agreed upon between a customer card really working and an agent’s card if the surcharge is applied. An airline would be well within their legal rights to indicate that agents’ cards can be used, provided the surcharge is paid by them. This would allow agents to manage their businesses the way they want to manage them, and use the credit card as a tool. It is why the global agency advocacy group, WTAAA, spent two years ensuring that the Resolution 890 changes formed a fundamental part of the NewGenISS package. I hope that as the NewGenISS does get rolled out in the Australian market, those responsible within the respective airlines have another think about the benefits that will flow to them should they reconsider their approach to the use of credit cards in the name of an agency.
“ “
8
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
©Destination NSW
Bound for Botany Bay Thousands of Sydney’s future cruise passengers look set to alight among the container wharves of Port Botany under the NSW Government’s recently released Cruise Development Plan, which closes the door on any new facilities within Sydney Harbour. After more than a decade of debate and a worsening bottleneck at Sydney’s existing cruise terminals, the government has now ruled out any shared facilities at the Garden Island Navy base, despite the recommendations of a reference group headed by former Liberal leader and naval officer Peter Collins. Instead, the government will examine the feasibility of two other sites highlighted by the reference group – Molineaux Point and Yarra Bay, both further south at Port Botany. The NSW Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Melinda Pavey, said Garden Island was no longer an option, based on word from Canberra. “The Commonwealth Government has confirmed Garden Island is not a viable option for a cruise terminal due to the significant challenges in sharing berth space alongside the Navy, so it is vital we now do our homework and scope other alternatives,” she said. The Cruise Development Plan involves preparing a strategic business case for a third Sydney cruise berth at one of the Port Botany sites, while also exploring options to maximise the use of the existing Overseas Passenger Terminal and White Bay Cruise Terminal within Sydney Harbour. The plan will also look at using Hayes Dock – also at Port Botany – as an interim solution to Sydney’s cruise capacity constraints. While cruise lines have welcomed the plan, there has been disappointment among those who had championed the more central and scenic location at Garden Island. CLIA Australasia Chair Sture Myrmell said the industry would work constructively with the NSW Government in relation to the feasibility studies. “Our industry has been advocating for a solution to Sydney’s infrastructure constraints for some years and having a clear plan of action with the NSW Government is a step forward to achieve greater certainty and a platform for growth,” Myrmell said.
Auschamber view John Hart, executive chair Australian Chamber – Tourism If you have ever eaten out in a restaurant in a regional center anywhere around Australia you will appreciate what a vital role backpackers play in the tourism workforce. The truth is they not only sustain hospitality employment throughout the country but also form a very large proportion of visitation and spend in our regions. What is of great concern right now is the decline in our two largest traditional markets, the UK and Germany. Both markets are around 8% down for the last financial year. Off a base of 50,000 all up, this is a huge decline. Because of the scale, this is a significant problem for visitation and also in terms of the workforce implications. The challenge, however, is not restricted to these markets. Whilst off a lower base, Italy, Sweden, Hong Kong, Finland and Canada also saw a decline last year. The question is whether this is a hiccup or whether something has changed that may limit the opportunity for working holiday-makers (WHMs) for years to come. Tourism Australia has undertaken some research in this area this year and What the Tourism has determined, quite Australia work did understandably, that the pay question was whether and tax issues (arising from Backpacker Tax debacle) the changing nature of the were non-issues, given work globally meant the high-paying nature of that the concept of a employment in Australia. What the Tourism working holiday was a Australia work did question thing of the past was whether the changing nature of work globally meant that the concept of a working holiday was a thing of the past. To some extent there appears to be an element of truth in this hypothesis. Young people are subject to much greater financial and social pressure today to start their career earlier. Taking time out for a working holiday may just not be worth the impact on career progression for some of today’s youth. It may also be that the e-generation or millennials don’t need to travel to experience the world when they are connected to it 24-7. This may be particularly so when there is a down-side to the interruption it represents to their career trajectory. One characteristic that the countries in decline have in common is that they have GDP growth above the OECD average. This may be a signal that more competitive labour markets in home countries are placing pressure on propensity to travel on a working holiday. This could be a turning-point in successive generations of the more footloose and fancy free. Trend or aberration, this is something all of us in the tourism sector need to keep an eye on. Over $3 billion in spending and a workforce of over 200,000 is vital to Australian tourism. Long may it continue!
“
“
W, You’ll never KNO until YOU GO imagine it now
UP TO 35%
THE CONFIDENCE OF PARTNERSHIP MELIÁ PRO CORPORATE
MELIÁ PRO AGENTS
BOOK NET PRICES DIRECTLY
EXCLUSIVE RATES FOR BUSINESS & LEISURE TRIPS MELIÁ PRO MEETINGS & EVENTS
THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS THE PERFECT EVENT
MELIÁ PRO WHOLESALERS
BOOK YOUR CONTRACTED HOTEL ONLINE
OUR TOOL FOR PROFESSIONALS FOR FLEXIBLE AND PROFITABLE MANAGEMENT OF ALL YOUR BOOKING AND THOSE OF YOUR CLIENTS
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
9
(+34) 91 315 32 46 · meliapro.com
Issues & trends
Money, money, money! The travelBulletin survey results are in….
Does the income of retail travel agents vary depending on where they work? Which sectors of the industry provide the best outcomes for employees - both financial and lifestyle? The 2018 travelBulletin/Travel Daily industry salary survey has revealed some intriguing insights into pay rates, bonuses and job satisfaction. Bruce Piper unpacks the results.
I
f you feel like you haven’t had a pay rise for a while, you’re not alone. Like the wider economy, there appears to have been little wage growth in the Australian travel industry over the last twelve months. The latest iteration of the Travel Daily/travelBulletin salary survey has revealed about half of respondents (49%) have not had a pay rise, and in fact the average salary has dropped slightly from last year’s figures. Conversely of course, the figures revealed that 46% of the industry are now earning more than this time in 2017, while just 5% have had a decrease. This year the survey garnered almost 1,300 responses from people working in retail, wholesale, aviation, corporate, cruise, MICE and travel technology companies. There was also a good mix of experience and seniority, as well as from both metropolitan and regional parts of Australia. As in previous years the
survey highlighted differences between men and women, and once again demonstrated that those working in aviation, cruise and accommodation on average earned more than their counterparts in retail, wholesale and corporate travel. For the first time this year, the survey analysis has enabled a comparison of the income received by retail travel agents in different groups – and the results are fascinating, particularly given recent mainstream media coverage making allegations about Flight Centre’s working conditions, salaries and selling techniques. The figures confirm that out of all the agency groups, Flight Centre remuneration is much more skewed towards bonuses, with lower base salaries but potential for top achievers to earn much more. However on average, across all of the retail agency groups there was no statistically significant difference between the total income
“
There was no statistically significant difference between the total income of consultants... regardless of where they worked
“
Total salary – retail travel agents $54,140
NET
$53,313
Helloworld
$54,101
Flight Centre
$52,977
ETG
$60,627
Travellers Choice
$59,086
TravelManagers $50,979
Other
00
0,0
$6
00
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
0,0
00
0,0
00
10
$5
$4
0,0
$3
00
0,0
00
0,0
$2
$1
Base salary Bonus
of consultants (including base salary and bonuses) regardless of where they worked. The average overall income for the 415 travel consultants who responded to the survey was $54,140, with Flight Centre agents reporting a total almost bang-on that average, with $54,101 in total income. Helloworld agents who responded earned $53,313 on average, while Express Travel Group consultants received $52,977. The Travellers Choice agents in the poll were slightly ahead at $60,627 on average, while TravelManagers earned $59,086. While there was some variation in these figures, the sample sizes meant there was no statistically significant difference between travel agent income by travel agent group, so it doesn’t really matter where you work when it comes to total income. However differences did appear between the groups when base salary was separated from bonuses. Flight Centre agent base salary was $43,413 on average, compared to $50,259 for Helloworld consultants, $50,714 for those at Express Travel Group and $54,436 for those working at Travellers Choice agencies. Flight Centre agents had the potential to earn much more – one respondent took home more than $100,000 – but of those from Flight Centre who responded to the survey, 42% said they had received no bonus at all in the last year. Of course, we also all want to be happy at work, and it was also interesting to note the “net promoter score” for retail agents based on where they worked. Agents at Helloworld, Express Travel Group, Travellers Choice, TravelManagers and other groups were significantly more likely to be a “promoter” of
Net promoter score – retail travel agents 100 80
“
60 40 20 0
NE
er
T
Oth
ana
elM Trav s ger
ce
re
hoi
ent
rs C
tC
their employer than those who work at Flight Centre, and the converse was also true – more Flight Centre consultants who responded to the poll felt negatively about the company than
elle Trav
ETG
h Flig
or ld llow He
-20
those who worked in other parts of the travel industry. The survey once again highlighted the gender pay gap, with some interesting trends including the fact
Top female travel industry managers earned slight less on average than their male counterparts, and the gap was also very small at entry levels...
“
that the difference between what men and women were paid varied significantly depending on their seniority. Top female travel industry managers earned slightly less on average than their male counterparts, and the gap was also very small at entry levels of the industry where men and women are paid roughly the same. However when it came to middle management, the earnings gap between men and women was significantly bigger. And finally, the poll also demonstrated differences between the various sectors of the industry. Respondents who worked in aviation, cruise and accommodation earned about 25% more on average than those in retail and wholesale. But it’s not just about money, because retail consultants were among the happiest in their workplaces. In fact the figures showed that people in the travel industry generally feel pretty good about what they do, with the only sector showing a negative net promoter score being wholesale.
DISCOVER IRELAND’S WILD ATLANTIC WAY A visit to Ireland - at the rugged edge of Europe - is like an epic journey through an ever changing landscape and history, the perfect beginning or end to any European trip. Experience the untamed west coast of Ireland, and start an adventure you’ll never want to end. The 2,500 km Wild Atlantic Way route is the longest defined coastal drive in the world accompanied by the elemental roar of the Atlantic and the warmth of the Irish people.
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
11
Issues & trends
TRAVELMANAGERS SAY MAHALO TO SUCCESSFUL AGENTS THE annual TravelManagers conference kicked off in Honolulu amidst a blaze of colourful Hawaiian hula dancing and soothing folk music, with the locally inspired entertainment clearly signalling the group’s intention to leverage as much of the natural beauty and culture of Hawaii as possible during its three-day event. Once the cultural dancing had subsided and the last string of the ukulele was skilfully plucked, day one of TravelManagers 12th conference got underway, with more than 350 people in attendance at the Prince Waikiki Luxury Resort located in Hawaii’s sunny capital. Executive general manager Michael Gazal set the tone for the gathering, delivering an upbeat opening address that sought to define the term “success”, and what the concept truly meant in the context of the company’s ethos. “Success in life is about realising your full potential and we all know that balance is the key,” Gazal told the audience. “Success is about eating well, exercising, making a contribution, connecting with society and most importantly, having a positive attitude,” he added. Proving that this was much more than rhetoric designed to inspire, Gazal followed his remarks up by announcing a major wellness initiative. “We’ve decided this year to invest in our own community and introduce for the first time our very own Network Assistance Program. From 1 September our PTMs will have access to a national network of clinical psychologists for up to six consultations absolutely free,” Gazal said. The announcement was the culmination of a new tie up with human resource consultancy PeopleSense, furthering TravelManagers’ desire to assist its network of agents to better negotiate the common pitfalls associated with
12
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
working remotely. TravelManagers chairman Barry Mayo took some time out from the conference to sit down with travelBulletin and explain the initiative in more detail. “I was recently chatting with a PTM from the Riverina region and she was talking about how isolated she felt down there and why she loves to get involved in our online webinars and cluster meetings,” Mayo said. “Every year we’ve had our conference we have looked to invest in a charity initiative…so this year we thought the cause could be investing in the wellbeing of our own people,” he added. Mental health awareness remained a recurring theme throughout the conference, with TravelManagers director Chris Paulsen delivering a moving keynote speech about his own family’s battle with mental illness to close day two of the event, while bushfire survivor and long-distance runner Turia Pitt was called in at the end of day three to describe her battle with depression during the recovery from her injuries. Juxtaposing this serious message was a myriad of fun highspirited team-building activities and workshops which included a scavenger hunt through the streets of Honolulu, where groups competed against each other in a race to some of the city’s most famous landmarks. The national conference wrapped up with a dazzling Gala Awards night which saw the company’s best and brightest honoured with a series of awards in recognition for their efforts over the past 12 months. Taking out the top prize of the night was David Hull from Mount Martha in Victoria, who walked away with the coveted Personal Travel Manager of the Year award for 2018. The next host destination for the TravelManagers conference will be Perth in 2019.
“
Every year we’ve had our conference we have looked to invest in a charity initiative…so this year we thought the cause could be investing in the wellbeing of our own people
“
Barry Mayo, chairman TravelManagers
Issues & trends
Trivago hit by court action
D CO ES I T F N AN IN TIN OR TAC AT E AN IO RA OT T U TA NS RI HE S RC ! C ES R TI OM AN CA B D VO I N YA E W GE IT ! H
Australia’s consumer watchdog has launched Federal Court proceedings against online aggregator Trivago, the latest in a string of high-profile actions against travel companies. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) alleges Trivago has made misleading pricing representations in TV ads dating back to 2013, which it says were in breach of Australian Consumer Law. It says Trivago has presented its website as “an impartial and objective price comparison service that would help consumers identify the cheapest prices for hotel rooms”, when instead it prioritised advertisers who were willing to pay the highest fee per click. The ACCC also alleges that Trivago’s online price comparisons were false or misleading because they often compared an offer for a standard room with a price for a luxury room at the same hotel. “This case highlights growing concerns the ACCC has in relation to comparison platforms, and on how algorithms present search results to consumers,” said ACCC
chair Rod Sims. The commission has also reportedly taken a close interest in a UK investigation into hotel booking sites, after the British Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) raised concerns about result rankings, pressure selling, discount claims and hidden charges. Other recent moves by the ACCC have
included action last month against Europcar, which is alleged to have over-charged credit card fees, while in July campervan operator Cruisin’ Motorhomes was fined more than $12,000 over similar concerns. The ACCC also secured a Federal Court victory against Meriton in July over its role in “masking” TripAdvisor reviews, resulting in a fine of $3 million for the hotelier.
INTRODUCING AURORA EXPEDITIONS’ AMERICAS Prices start from
US$6,075 was US$8,100 per person*
SAVE up to
25%
*
Chile • Peru • Ecuador • Colombia • Panama • Costa Rica • Nicaragua • Honduras • Mexico • Cuba • East Coast Canada THE AURORA DIFFERENCE Introducing the Greg Mortimer, featuring the environmentally-friendly patented Ulstein X-Bow® allowing for smoother sailings
WILD CHILE
FEAT. ROBINSON CRUSOE ISLAND departing 2nd April 2020 | 16 days
Multiple excursions means more encounters with wildlife, nature and local people Highly acclaimed expedition team will enrich your adventure with their extensive experience, knowledge and passion
Valparaiso
Robinson Crusoe Island
CHILE
ARGENTINA
South Pacific Ocean
• Experience the expansive wildernesses and marvel at the granite spires in Torres del Paine National Park • At Robinson Crusoe Island, step into the fantastical world of writer Daniel Defoe and encounter endemic flora and enchanting hummingbirds.
For more information, contact your preferred wholesaler or Aurora Expeditions:
1800 637 688 agents@auroraexpeditions.com.au auroraexpeditions.com.au
INCLUSIONS: • One night’s hotel accommodation with breakfast in Ushuaia, Argentina on Day 1
Puerto Chacabuco
YEARS
• Half day Ushuaia city tour on Day 2
Australian-owned expedition specialist with over 25 years of experience in the polar regions
• 14 night expedition aboard the Greg Mortimer
Torres del Paine
• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner including house wines^, beers^ and soft drinks
Small ship expeditions means more flexibility and more time ashore Ushuaia
Personalised photo book~, Complimentary dry bag or 3-in-1 polar jacket^, ‘Track My Trip’ GPS Service
HIGHLIGHTS: • Traverse the narrows and fjords filled with glaciers in Patagonia
OF
EXPLO RATION
• Shore excursions, guided walks and Zodiac cruises • Educational lectures and guiding services from expedition team
Aurora Stateroom from
Was $8,100pp Now $6,075pp
• 3-in-1 waterproof polar expedition jacket • Personalised photo book (post voyage), plus more!
*Conditions apply. Save up to 25% is the maximum saving available and valid for a short time only on limited cabins. Offers are strictly limited, subject to availability at time of booking and valid for new bookings on selected Aurora Expeditions ‘Americas Voyages’ aboard the Greg Mortimer including Wild Chile (WCH001G) in 2020. Offer valid on Aurora Stateroom and Balcony Stateroom categories only, on twin share basis. Not available on triple share priced cabins. Offer valid until 30 September 2018 or until sold out, whichever comes first. Price advertised, US$6,075 per person, based on an Aurora Stateroom category aboard Wild Chile voyage departing 2nd April 2020 and includes the saving. Normally US$8,100 per person, twin share, reduced to US$6,075 pp, twin share. For solo traveler pricing, contact us. To confirm a booking, a completed booking form and non-refundable deposit of $2,500pp in the booking currency is required. Offers, prices and availability are correct at time of print and are subject to change. All bookings are subject to Aurora Expeditions’ full terms and conditions as per our website. Ship images are artists impressions only and may vary. ^Complimentary 3-in-1 polar jacket is dependent on the voyage booked and subject to change. ~Personalised photo book (one per booking). See our website for up-to-date booking and payment T&Cs. Additional T+Cs may apply.
Cover
Race to the
poles
16
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
A new battle front for the cruise industry is taking place in these higher latitudes, as super-luxury vessels and reinvented polar class ships come in an explosion of Arctic and Antarctic travel options, writes Steve Jones.
E
rnest Shackleton, Captain Scott, Roald Amundsen, Douglas Mawson. The names roll off the tongue in a manner a cricket fan might list the Australian test match greats of years gone by. They are names synonymous with exploration and adventure, of courage and heroism, of triumph and tragedy. And just as it beckoned and beguiled these pioneers in the early years of the 20th century – an era known as the heroic age of polar exploration – these icy regions continue to seduce us more than a century later. According to the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO), 356 Australian tourists out of a global total of 8,210 stepped foot on Antarctic soil, or ice as the case may be, in 1994/95, the first year data was recorded. A decade later that had climbed to 2,295 out of 22,926. Although numbers dipped during the GFC, only just nudging 2,000 in 2009/10, arrivals have continued to steadily rise. In 2017/18, the number of Aussies who ventured south hit 4,759, a huge 24% increase on the year before. Taking cruise-only passengers into account – those who sail to Antarctica but don’t go ashore – the numbers climbed from 4,488 in 2016/17 to 6,310 last year, a whopping growth of 40%. These figures gave Australia an 11% share of the near 44,000 who made land globally, and the 58,000 including cruise-only. While figures for the Arctic are harder to come by, anecdotal evidence suggests demand is also growing for the northern ice fields and the chance to see one of its major drawcards, the polar bear. According to IAATO, no fewer than 57 vessels headed to Antarctic waters last season, 44 of which had Australians on board. From the lone Aussies on the MY Hans Hansson and Corinthian to the 561 who travelled on Celebrity Infinity and 961 on Holland America Line’s Zaandam, such statistics illustrate the fierce competition that
exists in polar cruising. And it’s about to get a whole lot tougher. Over the next three years, an industry buoyed by an increasing desire for immersive and experiential travel and adventure will welcome no fewer than 27 new-build expedition ships. Not all, of course, will visit polar regions. But many will. And many are being constructed with the cashed-up consumer in mind. It is this luxury sector where the battle lines are really being drawn, all claiming to cater for true expedition-hungry consumers who are also partial to a spot of on-board opulence. Not that it seems to bother Silversea, now in its 10th year of expedition cruising. Not publicly at any rate.
“
It is this luxury sector where the battle lines are really being drawn, all claiming to cater for true expeditionhungry consumers...
”
Conrad Combrink, senior vice president strategic development expeditions and experiences, insisted Silversea was the pioneer of luxury expeditions, with others now trying to play catch up. “We are, I think, undeniably the leader in luxury expeditions. I don’t think anyone can deny that,” he told travelBulletin. “You now have Ponant, Scenic and others using the word luxury to promote their experiences and that is absolutely fine. Competition is good and the market is definitely not saturated – it’s not even close to being saturated. Even with the number of ships on order it only equates to about 5,000 berths which is roughly the same as one mega liner. There’s room for everyone.” Relaxed and confident as he is, Combrink acknowledged Silversea will face stiffer competition when the new-builds from Crystal, Scenic and others enter service. “With more brands offering the same destination, competition will get a little tougher and certainly our clients are very similar in that luxury market,” he said. To illustrate the nature of Silversea’s challenge, look no further than the bellsand-whistles approach of Scenic and
Crystal, whose ships will boast submarines and helicopters when they enter service in January 2019 and August 2020 respectively. Yet Combrink, predictably maybe, was dismissive of what he has described as “gimmicks”. Silversea, he said, will let the destination do the talking. “We feel they don’t need distractions. We believe we strike the right balance between the luxury element on the ship and the true destination. We are quite happy with that. That is our model and we will continue to develop that.” Explaining further, Combrink painted an evocative picture of what awaits tourists to the Great White Continent – and it doesn’t include a helicopter. “It is an incredibly humbling experience to see a 45-tonne humpback whale come up to your zodiac,” he said. “It is incredibly humbling to see your first iceberg, and to experience the emotion of standing on deck at one in the morning beneath an incredible Antarctic sky. That is what draws people to these regions, and inspires them. “Every day we are surrounded by noise, and to experience the silence of such a landscape is extraordinary. I dread the day when I’m in Antarctica and I see or hear a helicopter. These destinations don’t need toys.” Nevertheless, whatever your opinion, such “toys” are coming. And with competition intensifying, eye-catching differentiation is the name of the game. While much of the additional capacity is heading to established expedition players, the growth of the sector has tempted new entrants to throw their hats into the ring, and expensive hats at that. With such a blank canvas, boundaries are being pushed. For Crystal Cruises, the construction of the 183m, 200-guest luxury yacht Endeavor, was the “natural response” to demand from super wealthy travellers who want to extend their horizons “without sacrificing the standard of excellence and luxury of the Crystal brand”. The ship, which makes its first foray to polar regions in January 2021, boasts a submarine, two helicopters, a two-storey solarium and six dining options. It also promises “extreme adventure”, a phrase which may raise eyebrows among the more down-and-dirty operators who will argue they are the true custodians of “real expeditions”. “I believe Crystal is playing a part in Continues over page
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
17
Cover Continued from previous page motivating this segment by offering a level of luxury…. that hasn’t been seen before,” Australia and New Zealand vice president and managing director Karen Christensen said. “It will be ideal for the traveller who wants an overall experience that is engrained in luxury and comfort even while in the midst of an extreme adventure. I truly believe this innovative ship will uncover a new class of luxury traveller, those who are looking for that immersive experience but with a flair for adventure and discovery.” Addressing Combrink’s “gimmick” jibe, Christensen said strict regulations were in place to govern activity in the polar regions. “When and where it is permitted, helicopters will be utilised to provide our guests with an enhanced experience that is truly unforgettable,” she said. Crystal is not alone in harboring such grand ambitions. Scenic has described the 228-passenger Eclipse – a second vessel is due in 2020 – as “setting a new benchmark in design, innovation and luxury” that “has to be seen to be believed”. At 168m in length, it is being marketed as the “world’s first discovery yacht” with the brand convinced it will tap into an under-serviced market. “Scenic founder and owner Glen Moroney identified an opportunity in the market to offer small ship expedition cruising with the very best in luxury and once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” explained Lisa Bolton, Scenic’s general manager of product, luxury cruises and tours. “Thanks to its size, Scenic Eclipse will be able to dock in small ports that take you right into the action of a range of destinations. Our philosophy for Scenic Eclipse is where luxury meets discovery – the conjunction of expedition and luxury cruising where our guests get the best of both worlds.” As with Crystal, Bolton highlighted Scenic’s helicopter and submarine as key draws in an era where consumers are seeking new
experiences. They will offer ”a completely new perspective on the world”, she said. Scenic has also ensured that its helicopters are some of the quietest around, utilizing the H130 model whose sound levels are seven decibels below the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requirement, and is quieter than the most restrictive sound limits defined for flights over national parks, animal and nature reserves across the world. Pushing boundaries in polar cruising has become both metaphoric and literal. As companies strive to out-do each other in ship design and on-board amenities, so too are they looking to expand their geographic reach. In 2021, French cruise line Ponant will launch what it described as the world’s first luxury icebreaker. It will be last of seven newbuilds to join the Ponant fleet in just three years. The 135-suite ship – also featuring a helicopter pad but apparently only for ice navigation purposes – will, as the company
“
[Ponant’s Sarina] Bratton welcomed the raft of new product believing it may spell the end for some of the older vessels plying polar routes
”
claims, become only the second ship with paying passengers to push through to 90 degrees north; the North Pole. The only vessel with paying passengers currently venturing so far north is Russian scientific icebreaker, 50 Years of Victory, Ponant Asia Pacific chairwoman Sarina Bratton told travelBulletin. “That is our future. More in-depth itineraries, going further north in the Arctic and further south in the Antarctic,” she said. It will also feature a scientific lab, tapping
into a growing desire to not just marvel at the polar regions, but to understand them. “The more knowledge you have about something, the more you become an ambassador,” Bratton said. The icebreaker is being sold as faster and steadier than many others in the market, providing more flexibility and comfort when mother nature comes knocking in the extreme polar regions. Bratton welcomed the raft of new product, believing it may spell the end for some of the older vessels plying polar routes. “I think it’s healthy,” the founder of Orion Expeditions said. “There are some very old ships trading, the average age of the expedition fleet globally is around 32 years. They will start to retire and guests will gravitate to new technologically capable and more environmentally sustainable vessels.” Less-travelled routes to the frozen south are also on the horizon. While expeditions do leave from Hobart bound for the Ross Sea and the sites of past explorers’ icy makeshift accommodation, such voyages are few compared to the number which head to the Antarctic Peninsula. Crystal Endeavor’s inaugural Antarctic voyage will be a 22-day trip taking in the Ross Ice Shelf, while Ponant will also extend its reach into relatively unchartered southern waters. Christensen said it would provide an “alternative to the Peninsula sailings”, with guests able to visit the huts – sanctuaries may be a better description – left behind by Shackleton, Scott and Mawson. Silversea, too, has recognised the need to keep developing its itineraries, with Combrink revealing the Silver Explorer will begin operating from New Zealand to the Ross Sea and Commonwealth Bay from 2020. “That will be a first for us,” he said. “I see people pushing the boundaries that little bit further, exploring different regions.” Fly cruise is also expected to grow, with exploratory talks underway to improve the
Aurora Expeditions’ Greg Mortimer
Scenic Eclipse
18
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
One of Silversea’s expedition ships
Ponant in Antarctica
Scenic Eclipse
currently limited air infrastructure in such remote locations. Another company looking at the future of polar cruising with anticipation is Australia’s own Aurora Expeditions. Aurora will dispense with the 54-passenger Polar Pioneer next year and welcome the Greg Mortimer, named after the Australian explorer who founded Aurora in 1991. The ship, the first new-build commissioned by Aurora, will enter service for the 2019/20 Antarctic season. It will carry up to 132 passengers in the Antarctic and 160 in the Arctic and feature X-Bow technology that Aurora claims will make the ship more efficient, faster and smoother. Managing director Robert Halfpenny said while Aurora does not consider itself a luxury program, it “was beneficial to include a number of features that are comparable to some luxury operators”. Balconies in 65 of its 80 cabins will, at 6.6m2, “be larger than most luxury ships”, he claimed. “However, we are not afraid to scratch the paint to get us into remote destinations,” Halfpenny added in a light-hearted, though pointed, dig at the luxury end of town. He claimed Aurora had sold 70% of its debut Antarctic season 18 months in advance and 50% of its 2020 Arctic season. “Our current issue with the Polar Pioneer is not having the capacity to meet demand,” Halfpenny said. “The X-Bow will also be hugely beneficial. We have 25 years of experience and what excites our expedition leaders is going to places they know about but have not had the opportunity to visit.”
Hurtigruten is also gearing up for expansion with the MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen joining the fleet in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Both will be equipped with hybrid powered engines that, according to the expedition firm, will be the most efficient, sustainable and environmentally friendly on the market.
“
We operate premium vessels, but no butlers, no suites. The only ones wearing tuxedos on an Antarctic trip with us would be the penguins
”
Damian Perry, MD APAC region, Hurtigruten The company has long-pressed its green credentials in fragile environments, a positioning it believes will set it apart from rivals and become “very attractive to travellers worldwide”. While stressing the quality of its vessels, Hurtigruten Asia Pacific managing director Damian Perry branded the destinations as the “luxury” component of an expedition. “It’s all about the destinations,” he said. “We operate premium vessels, but there are no butlers, no suites. The only ones wearing tuxedos on an Antarctic trip with us would be the penguins.”
Crystal Endeavour
Perry’s view leads to a fundamental question often raised: can luxury really be a true expedition, a genuine down-and-dirty exploration of a destination? Are they not contradictions in terms? Not according to the luxury operators, or to Intrepid Group which, in combination with Chimu Adventures in which it has a 50% stake, books an estimated 40% of Australians travelling to Antarctica. For Intrepid Group chief executive James Thornton, the size of ship determines its expedition status. “I think you can have an expedition regardless of comfort level,” he said. “ But many of the new-builds are larger ships and if you have more than 200 passengers you’ll struggle to call it an expedition. In the Antarctic you can only have 100 people on land at any one point and if the ship is too big it won’t be able to get to the smaller landing spots. For us, we like this focus on luxury because it may mean other ships become available to charter.” With the popularity of polar exploration on the rise, the general consensus is that future capacity growth is sustainable. As Combrink suggested, there will room for everyone. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean everyone will get it right in terms of product, pricing and itineraries. As for consumers, they will be spoilt for choice like never before. Ships with six restaurants, helicopters and huge balcony cabins? The only things those remarkable early explorers were toying up was a little more rudimentary. Shall we have seal blubber or penguin meat for dinner? travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
19
Business View
Career in
focus Damian Perry
history and are pioneers, explorers and innovators. I love having a talented, skilled, selfmotivated and engaged team. And finally; I am grateful to have the privilege to work across multiple source markets. No day is the same which satisfies my interest in business and of course my passion to travel. China is polar opposite to Australia and other markets sit somewhere in between. The complexity of these markets and partnerships deliver daily lessons and challenges.
Managing director APAC region Hurtigruten
1. What does your role involve and how long have you been in your current position? I have been with Hurtigruten as managing director APAC region for less than one year but in the industry for over 20. My role is part of the global commercial management team and we are responsible for leading a group of regional sales and marketing managers across Asia Pacific. The team is based in Hong Kong, in addition to me in Melbourne and another team member in Tokyo. Together we develop and execute the APAC business strategies, sales and marketing strategies and partnerships strategies across the APAC region for Hurtigruten.
“
The travel industry is one of the few places that can genuinely allow you to personally develop by travelling the world
2. How did you start out in your career? Were you always destined to work in the travel industry? I paid my way through university as a rafting guide and realised that making travellers’ holidays fantastic was a truly rewarding role. I spent a fair amount of time with Intrepid in various roles, which gave me the opportunity to work offshore and to move into a joint venture with Flight Centre, a great grounding and broad industry experience. I led the sales strategies of a DMC and was CEO of a wholesaler but on reflection I believe the experience rich, purpose driven “adventure” sector of the market is the place for me.
study I started with everyone else in sales and worked around the business, learning on the job. Further internal training really came throughout my career as employers offered leadership training, coaching and mentoring. I believe if you have the opportunity for formal qualifications then you should take it. Make an investment in yourself.
3. Did you complete formal qualifications, and do you think they are important? I studied business with a masters in marketing and tourism. The formal qualifications gave me the backing to enter in my chosen sector of the industry. Post
4. What do you love about your job? The travel industry is one of the few places that can genuinely allow you to personally develop by travelling the world. I love working for great brands, like Hurtigruten, who have an incredible 125 year
20
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
”
5. Did you have a mentor, and if so, how did you find them? Yes, many formally and informally. I participated in The Executive Connection (TEC) in a more formal mentoring structure and informally I have been surrounded by many successful Industry leaders. I believe having a number of mentors over time to lean on is greater than the opinion of only one. 6. What are the keys to good business? Purpose, direction and vision! Remain nimble while being consistent with your own purpose and value that you bring. Partnerships are also vital, and transparency and honesty is key at a time when trust in businesses is lower that it has been for a long time. I believe a good business today will look after and invest in people for their personal and professional development. 7. What advice would you give to others in the industry who would like to follow in your footsteps? Be flexible and take the time to connect and reach out to partners. Get out of your comfort zone and be willing to work offshore in new markets if the opportunity arises. You give so much of your time to an organisation so make sure it is a fit for you and for them. Build your knowledge with training. Embrace the good people and have fun while travelling as much as you can.
Sabre’s Beyond NDC program announces new partners Sabre Corporation has enlisted American Airlines, American Express Global Business Travel, Carlson Wagonlit Travel and Flight Centre Travel Group as launch partners for its new “Beyond NDC” technology program. Beyond NDC is a “collaboration initiative chartered to drive the industry forward” through the development, integration and testing of capabilities to process offers and orders under IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC). “By partnering with the world’s largest airline and several of the world’s leading travel management companies, we will bring to market NDC-enabled solutions that go beyond shopping and booking to integrate with the retailing, distribution and fulfillment systems that support the travel ecosystem,” said Dave Shirk, Sabre president of travel solutions. The partnership illustrates that “we are looking past the near-term goals of NDC to define the future of intelligent airline retailing
at scale in both direct and indirect channels,” Shirk said. The four launch partners will participate with Sabre in the solution design process, leverage beta testing capabilities and establish their global leadership position as
drivers of NDC. Vince Chirico, senior vice president global network & technology partners at Carlson Wagonlit Travel, said “we look forward to working with our industry partners to help shape the future of business travel”.
New Distribution Conversations We’ll manage IATA’s NDC. So you don’t have to.
In today’s exciting world of evolving distribution strategies, as the first NDC Level 3 Certified aggregator, we don’t believe the conversation should be about any single source of content whether that’s IATA’s NDC, API, classic ATPCo connectivity – or whatever new technology comes next. Instead, we believe that we should all be around the tech table, talking about ways to ensure that we continue to make the experience of managing and buying travel continually better for everyone.
To find out more visit travelport.com/NDC
Business View
Using social media to sell By Mark Carter
T
he travel sector, ever since I’ve worked in or been associated with it, is an arena where success comes through relationships, conversation and connection. It’s because of this that businesses in the travel sector are well placed to both embrace and maximize the concept of ‘social selling.’ Businesses with successful social selling usually have three things in common: • Acceptance that ‘social’ and digital is now a part of the landscape • Having an actual digital ‘strategy’, or road map, rather than just winging it • Making sure your ‘social’ strategy blends and integrates with existing strengths and an end to end sales process – online to offline Here are five pillars that my own digital collaborators have given me, that they use as their bible:
Social isn’t a ‘product’ push. It’s a platform for storytelling and engagement. Great reviews from others also to help you be chosen.
Be Contacted The best presence in the world becomes less relevant if there’s confusion or friction in being contacted once the intrigue kicks in. Are your calls to action clear? Make the process smooth for both initial contact and follow up.
Conversion The best social strategy falls apart if the skills and real world presence in your business aren’t in place or aligned.
Track And Measure You wouldn’t throw money away to relive the same terrible holiday time and time again. Make sure you can measure what’s working and what isn’t. Where are the dollars, percentages, numbers or time improvements coming from? If they’re not, rethink and rework the strategy. In closing I’d say this: think about your digital presence the way you would that perfect destination you would revisit time and time again. Your digital presence is the equivalent of the perfectly located hotel within the surrounding city of your business, which ultimately delivers the total experience.
Be Found Bolster your presence in places your audience/market are to be found. In the same way grandparents or kindergarten kids aren’t best candidates for a Contiki tour, target audiences within platforms that used by those you are aiming to reach.
Be Chosen Identify the unique qualities of your product, service or brand. Then ask yourself honestly: is it clear? What would others perceive?
FINALIST 2018
Twenty years ago, Mark Carter worked for Contiki Holidays as industry trainer and leader across Europe. Today he’s a sought after speaker with global experience. He’s accredited in a plethora of behavioral science, leadership and sales tools. You can access more of Mark’s content via his website & social channels: www.markcarter.com.au
Amadeus buys TravelClick Amadeus has confirmed its acquisition of hospitality global provider TravelClick for US$1.52 billion. TravelClick offers a range of services including cloud-based guest management solutions and a Central Reservation System for independent and mid-sized hotels and has been purchased from private investment firm Thoma Bravo. Amadeus said the addition would “create a hospitality leader providing a broad range of innovative technology to hotels and chains of all sizes across the globe”. TravelClick is headquartered in New York City and has over 25,000 customers in 176 countries across the globe, with the deal to see over 1,100 TravelClick staff join the Amadeus team. Amadeus senior vice president strategic growth businesses Francisco Perez-Lozao said alongside existing
Sell travel your way Enjoy more as a personal travel manager Join TravelManagers, Australia’s premium home-based mobile travel network and have the freedom to work the way you’ve always wanted to. TravelManagers gives you the opportunity to work with your choice of suppliers to deliver the very best travel experience, whatever type of travel you like to specialise in. With the latest technology and marketing tools, you’ll be able to work from anywhere, with more free time to see the world. Join over 500 personal travel managers in our community who are already enjoying a better way to work. It’s time for you to enjoy travel more.
Earn. Travel. Live. More. For a confidential chat, call or email us today
1800 019 599 Visit Email
join.travelmanagers.com.au
graciela.craig@travelmanagers.com.au
strong relationships with large hotel groups such as IHG, the TravelClick deal gave Amadeus access to the mid-chain and independent hotel segment that made up almost threequarters of the market. “We can now serve the entire industry with a very broad portfolio of solutions and we are looking for significant growth in the years ahead.” TravelClick CEO Larry Kutscher said the deal marked the next stage in the company’s journey. “I couldn’t be more proud of our team or more excited about the impact our combined companies will have on the hospitality industry as we begin to deliver the next generation of innovation for hoteliers,” he added. Amadeus and Thoma Bravo expect to close the acquisition in the fourth quarter of the calendar year 2018, following regulatory approvals.
business events news
Canberra’s record growth Canberra is undergoing a revitalisation, with more hotels, new developments and a focus on bringing in business events. The national capital has welcomed a record number of international visitors for the year ending March 2018, and international visitors are spending more time and money when they stay. “Market demand is incredibly strong and the bureau is well on track to achieve the target of $52 million in economic contributions annually,” said Michael Matthews, the CEO of the Canberra Convention Bureau. “We’re also seeing real confidence in the accommodations sector with multiple hotel developments underway and increases in experiences in nature, food, wine and unique venues.” Statistics released by the ACT Government showed that for the year ending Mar 2018, the number of international overnight visitors climbed to 248,428, a 15.8% increase from the previous year. China remains Canberra’s largest source market at 18.4% of international visitors, followed by the US (9.5%), United Kingdom (8.9%), New Zealand (7.1%) and India (4.8%). To cater to increasing numbers of visitors, Canberra’s accommodation sector has invested in expanding its room capacities, with Matthews confirming the city is seeing “unprecedented growth” in development and will welcome almost 20 new hotels in the next two years. Many of the properties will be linked to the newly renovated National Convention Centre via light rail, commencing in late 2018. One of the new properties is a $15 million development by Sandran Property Group which will see an existing commercial office building transformed into an 84-room Quest Apartment Hotel when it opens for
©Tourism Australia
business in early 2019. The city’s second Quest property, it will be located between Canberra Centre, Glebe Park and the National Convention Centre. “As Australia’s capital, Canberra is bustling with government workers, conventions and corporate meetings,” said Quest general manger – growth, James Shields. “The public sector generates a significant proportion of economic output and contributes to a sizeable proportion of travel, with over 30% of trips generated being for business travel. “Quest Canberra City Walk will cater to the increased demand for corporate accommodation in this expanding hub,” he said. The property’s ground floor will be upgraded to house reception and the lobby, while the existing mezzanine will be reconstructed with a new entrance and stairwell to service a business lounge and conference facilities. In addition, the hotel will feature studio, one and two-bedroom
“
Quest Canberra City Walk will cater to the increased demand for corporate accommodation...
”
24
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
apartments, onsite parking and a gym. The Canberra Convention Bureau is also working to support one of its strongest markets – the academic sector – by employing a director of international bidding. “This platform will enable the bureau ground-up access to some of the most widely travelled and globally engaged university academic staff in Australia,” said Matthews. He said that the business events market continued to see demand across association and corporate sectors, and through PCOs. To continue Canberra’s development, the bureau plans on “balancing strong national demand with goals to grow international meetings, that support daily direct air access through Canberra Airport with Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways”. Matthews also added that the bureau was seeing its work in developing corporate incentives paying off, as it delivered high-yield groups with shorter lead times. This year, Canberra plans to host Rome: City and Empire at the National Museum of Australia in conjunction with the British Museum from 21 September; along with the commemoration of the Centenary of Armistice from 5 October - 11 November at the Australian War Memorial, where an installation of 62,000 knitted red poppy flowers will be placed on the Memorial’s grounds. Also, Love + Desire will be on at the National Gallery of Australia from 14 December until 28 April 2019.
business e Howard’s Hall to open in Nov Developers behind the Howard Smith Wharves project on the banks of the Brisbane River have confirmed the city’s newest events venue, Howard’s Hall, will open in November. Designed by Woods Bagot, the 1,100m2 space already has bookings until 2022. Howard’s Hall has a capacity of 1,200 guests for cocktails, with the ability to use outdoor spaces to extend capacities. Other features include retractable floor-to-ceiling windows, rooftop terraces and rooms of varying sizes that allow multiple events to be hosted at once. Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the Howard Smith Wharves “will become a vibrant leisure destination with public parkland, riverside dining and an exciting mix of entertainment and cultural experiences that will enhance Brisbane’s status as a New World City”.
Four Points opens Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Central Park, located within a retail, dining and residential precinct on the site of a former brewery in Chippendale, officially opened its doors last month. The 297-room hotel features two luxury suites, an al fresco bar and restaurant, 553m2 of conference space consisting of flexible rooms and an outdoor terrace, along with a gym and parking. “Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Central Park, will open up a vibrant and unique Sydney hub to interstate and international visitors,” said Mick Caddey, project director, Frasers Property Australia. Guests and locals can enjoy contemporary cuisine at Central Quarter restaurant and a selection of craft beers, spirits and wines at Malt Bar, near the heritage-listed Kent Brewery.
New Sunshine Coast Centre The Queensland Government has committed $700,000 to develop a business case for the Sunshine Coast Entertainment, Convention and Exhibition Centre via the Maturing the Infrastructure Pipeline Program. Visit Sunshine Coast CEO Simon Latchford said the news was encouraging, “but it is important for the study to include a detailed analysis of future demand as well as identifying other supporting infrastructure and services” to ensure the success of the centre. The proposed Centre will have a 1,800-person plenary hall; a reconfigurable 3,900-person exhibition hall and adjoining concourse; seven meeting rooms for 580 people; and 1,500m2 of external plaza space.
CCB view Michael Matthews, CEO, Canberra Convention Bureau
Times have changed, so has the city Canberra is no longer a one-employer helping to bring to light our city’s town. Now, only 30% of us work in public silent achievers and connect them administration. Through demographic and their research to a wide and change and efforts by the ACT interested audience. Government, the business community and We have welcomed international and the university sector, this city is now a national researchers from a broad range whole lot more diverse. of disciplines at conferences in Canberra, Our city has many silent achievers from biodiversity to cyber-security. This city in the business, government and has also hosted important discussions and university sectors. These are the people forums across diverse issues including bringing in new ideas, new jobs and new education research and the wellbeing of people. The cross-collaboration thriving our First Nations peoples, children and in Canberra is what will drive Australia’s families. In the future, we will be hosting future development and specialists in aircraft prosperity. We attract engines, space research some of the best minds and cytogenetic science. from around the world All these conferences We are working on in the sectors of the have immediate tangible creating lasting future including cyberbenefits to the city, security, information legacies that build on but their true legacy technology, health and goes much further than Canberra’s strengths... that. It’s too easy to medicine, space research, agriculture and food. focus on the number Canberra now also has of room nights that a very strong reputation as a university this can translate into; last financial town. Higher education and research year, bureau conferences brought in institutions support 16,000 full time 65,299 room nights and the bureau positions in the city. The Australian secured $45.7 million in sales. This is National University is ranked Australia’s not to say that those numbers are not top university and in the top 20 in the important – those room nights directly world. The country’s largest patent holder, translate into jobs for Canberrans, and the CSIRO, is here. We are a strong diverse jobs too, not just public service destination for international students, and jobs. But we are working on creating have the highest participation rates in lasting legacies that build on Canberra’s higher education in the country. strengths, making the most of what we At the Canberra Convention Bureau, have. By bringing together the many we are working with this incredible groups from diverse fields, we encourage combination of research and business real world partnerships and networks that expertise right here in our city. Several change the future. With the sharing of years ago, we formed the Research and information and real world connections, Learning Institutes Group (RALIG) to we can help direct the future social and encourage strong relationships between economic development of our city and the 19 institutions and conferences, our country.
“ ”
business events news 01 Aug Howard’s Hall to open 2018 01 Aug Boost for TTNQ biz events 08 Aug Hamilton Island says hello 08 Aug New Sunshine Coast centre
Headlines August 2018 15 Aug Tasmania CEO sets course 15 Aug AACB’s next wave 22 Aug Brisbane delivers trifecta 22 Aug Budgets, unique events up travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
25
Cruise
Ponant partners with National Geographic Luxury expedition cruising company Ponant has signed an agreement with National Geographic Expeditions that will involve a series of new itineraries and expedition cruises to Australia, New Zealand and Asia-Pacific passengers. Under the new partnership, Ponant will create a range of voyage experiences to some of the world’s most remote and inaccessible places, while National Geographic Expeditions will offer a range of expedition resources on board, including hosting a selection of leading experts and National Geographic photographers who will travel and interact with guests to create “an immersive and quality experience.” Ponant’s ships will carry between 180 and 240 passengers at a time, with a total of 130 itineraries due for release over the next four years, covering locations such as Antarctica and the Arctic. “The partnership brings together two highly respected global organisations with shared values and a common goal to inspire guests to live curiously, explore our planet and become ambassadors for sustainability,” said Ponant chairman Asia Pacific, Sarina Bratton.
Seabourn’s green light for Cuba Ultra-luxury operator Seabourn has become the latest cruise line to gain approval for sailings to Cuba, having announced a series of departures from Miami and Puerto Rico late next year. The line has revealed details of four itineraries aboard the 458-passenger Seabourn Sojourn, ranging from 11 to 14 days and departing between 4 November and 12 December 2019. “We are excited to finally be able to include Cuba in our itineraries, and our guests and travel partners have been anxiously awaiting an ultra-luxury travel experience with a wider selection of destinations in this relatively undiscovered Caribbean treasure,” said Seabourn president Richard Meadows. The approval for Seabourn to sail to Cuba means parent company Carnival now has three brands offering cruises to the Caribbean nation. Bookings are now open.
26
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
OCEANIA MAPS OUT UPGRADE STRATEGY Norwegian Cruise Line Holding’s (NCLH) Oceania Cruises brand has embarked upon its OceaniaNEXT initiative, a US$100 million refurbishment program that will see four of its 684-guest Regattaclass ships have their accommodation, dining and bar areas upgraded and redesigned for a more luxurious feel. In what the cruise line refers to as a “re-imagining” of its fleet, the Regatta, Insignia, Sirena, and Nautica vessels will all receive major upgrades under the scheme. “OceaniaNEXT will be the most extensive and comprehensive suite of product and guest service enhancements that we have ever undertaken,” said Oceania Cruises chief executive officer Bob Binder. “We have opened a new chapter, innovating in every way as we look to the future and the way our guests want to travel – we can’t wait for our ‘new’ ships to launch,” Binder added. The first vessel to undergo the lavish makeover will be Insignia, which is scheduled to flaunt her new look to the public by 7 December this year. Coming closely behind are her sister ships Sirena in May 2019, Regatta in September 2019 and finally Nautica in June 2020. Stylistically, the foursome of smaller Regatta-class ships will be inspired by the aesthetics of the brand’s Marina and Riviera vessels, with finer touches to be added such as furnishings from Baker and Donghia, a sparkling new grand staircase framed by intricate railings and inset with crystal accents, as well new bathrooms outfitted with carrara marble and polished granite. Managing the refurb is the Miami-based Studio DADO, which specialises in luxury residential redesign. “The guests we spoke with kept telling us how dearly they loved the ships, so it was important that we kept the intimacy and warmth in the redesign,” said Studio DADO’s founding partner Yohandel Ruiz. By the numbers, the renovations will entail the installation of 1,400 new marble bathrooms, 12,000 new sofas and chairs, 8,000 new light fixtures, and 1,368 refreshed suites and staterooms.
Cruise Silversea revamp plans Silversea Cruises has announced plans to upgrade several of its ships under a program named “Project Invictus”, with initiatives ranging from culinary offerings through to cabin refits. Improvements are planned for Silver Whisper beginning in December when the ship will undergo a partial renovation of guest cabins. At the same time, Silver Wind is scheduled to enter a dry dock renovation that will take inspiration from the design of the cruise line’s flagship, Silver Muse. The works were announced as Royal Caribbean Cruises confirmed it had finalised its two-thirds acquisition of Silversea last month.
Triumph prepares for Sunrise Carnival Cruise Lines has announced that its 1,300-pax Carnival Triumph will be renamed Carnival Sunrise when it emerges from dry dock after a major overhaul next year. The $200 million two-month makeover will include the redesign of two Captain’s Suites, extended balcony suites and a refresh for other staterooms. Other new features include eight new restaurants, four new bar and lounge areas, three new recreation and sporting areas, an expanded Cloud 9 Spa, larger retail spaces and a selection of new kids’ activity areas. “Carnival’s investments are part of an overall plan that is raising the bar on ship amenities and features, itineraries and offshore excursions that our guests are loving,” said Gus Antorcha, chief operating officer for Carnival.
Millennial cruising rising The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has released a report outlining key cruising activity, with results suggesting there is strong growth in cruise demand by millennial travellers who are “choosing cruises in increasing numbers to visit bucketlist destinations.” The results of the Travel Agency Cruise Outlook Study came from interviews with more than 1,300 travel agencies across the USA, with 79% of respondents stating their total cruise sales were increasing. Reasons for the rise included the addition of new routes and destinations, more techenabled ships and onboard innovations, which are attracting both young and old passengers alike. A strengthening economy was also considered to have had an impact.
28
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
CLIA view Joel Katz, Managing Director CLIA Australasia
New Executive Committee
Under the plan, the much-needed facility will ease port congestion which currently constrains industry growth, and together with the existing terminals at Circular Quay and White Bay will mean that Sydney Harbour remains a major cruise hub. Other actions laid out in the Government’s plan include support for regional ports to improve as cruise destinations, and their commitment to work with the Federal Government to remove regulatory barriers affecting the cruise industry are also positive developments. Having a clear plan of action is a step forward to achieve greater certainty and a platform for the continued growth of our industry across the region.
At CLIA’s recent AGM, a new executive committee was elected. On behalf of all our members, CLIA acknowledges and thanks these cruise line executives for their commitment to provide guidance and support to the activities of CLIA. Newly elected were Sture Myrmell, (Carnival Australia) as chair, Susan Bonner (RCL Cruises) and Ben Angell (NCLH), who will also lead the trade relations sub-committee. Sarina Bratton (Ponant) was re-elected as deputy chair and to lead the advocacy sub-committee. Outgoing chair Steve Odell (NCLH), Andrew Millmore (Travel The World Group), Jennifer Vandekreeke (Carnival Cruise Lines), and Lynne Clarke (MSC Cruises) were all re-elected. Karen Christensen of Crystal Cruises stepped down from the executive committee after a long association with CLIA, and we thank her for her dedication over many years.
Cruise360 again a success
NSW Cruise Development Plan The past month saw the long-awaited release of the NSW Government’s Cruise Development Plan. CLIA has been advocating for a number of years for the NSW Government to recognise the growth and importance of the cruise industry, and specifically to address the Sydney infrastructure constraints. Following the Federal Government ruling out shared use of Garden Island during the peak cruise season, the NSW Government will now focus on the feasibility studies required for the development of an additional cruise facility at Port Botany.
The end of August once again saw CLIA’s Cruise360 Australasia Conference and Trade Show, the southern hemisphere’s largest cruise industry event, now covering two full days of activities. Cruise360 brought together almost 580 travel professionals, cruise line representatives, industry suppliers and CLIA preferred partners for an educational event designed to equip agents with the best practice, tips and knowledge to continue to grow their cruise business. On behalf of the CLIA executive committee we’d like to thank our travel agents who choose to attend Cruise360. By making the decision to attend you commit yourself to become better cruise sales agents. In addition, we’d like to acknowledge our sponsors, trade show exhibitors and media partners, without whom we would not be able to provide such a successful event.
Headlines July & August 2018 26 Jul Asian cruise sector sets new record 26 Jul RSSC world voyage sail 31 Jul NSW Cruise Development Plan 31 Jul Sky Suite sneak peek 02 Aug Silversea launches Project Invictus 02 Aug Tauck revels in upturn 07 Aug “Cruising is the new cool” – CLIA
09 Aug Ponant seals Nat Geo deal 14 Aug Oceania reveal $100m upgrade 14 Aug Seabourn set for Cuba 16 Aug $200m ports investment for Tas 16 Aug Aria’s new look on song 21 Aug Silversea set to boost trade focus 21 Aug Coral’s Geographic deal
Industry in Focus These TravelManagers brushed up on their New York insider tips on a recent famil to the state that included a stay in the Big Apple and visits to the Finger Lakes wine region and Niagara Falls.
Will Brandon (Hyatt), Tom Goldman, Anthony Goldman, Tristan Dowell (Hyatt) and David Goldman were all smiles at the recent Virtuoso Travel Week held in Las Vegas where Goldman Travel Group took home the 2018 Top Virtuoso Producing Agency in Asia Pacific.
50 Australian Flight sm recently hosted South African Touri ited popular vis ich mega-famil wh Centre agents on a untry’s nine across all of the co tourist destinations ed to Camp’s Bay. ad he t this group tha provinces, including
Silversea Cruises celebrated 10 years of expedition cruising with a series of ind ustry events held in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney last month.
The Oz Focus team headed to Tasmania last month to complete three training sessions for agents on products such as the Tiwi Islands and Tasmania, along with Christmas Island and Fraser Island.
30
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
September 2018
A group of Travel Partners’ top performing mobile travel partners and member agencies enjoyed a unique view of the Katy Perry concert when they were hosted by Qantas in their corporate box at the Qudos Bank Arena event.
nt Viking e the top prize winners in a rece Travel Centre Coffs Harbour wer n using paig cam ng keti mar a ther put toge Cruise competition. The team e. priz the h social media to clinc print, video, window displays and
ATEC’S 2018 ELITE (Emerging Leaders in Tourism Excellence) Program was launched last month at Pullman Sydney Hyde Park, with the class and their mentors pictured.
What better way to spend the weekend than exploring the Canterbury region, like these agents did recently hosted by Christchurch Airport and Emirates.
Tramada’s Mary Ellen Geo rge-Hess was part of a gro up of panellists at the recent Global Busine ss Travel Association 2018 convention in San Diego, which had ove r 1,300 business travel buy ers attending. travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
31
Ocean cruising
Cruising for the non-cruiser Jenny Piper discovers a cruise that may turn even the most reluctant traveller into a cruise lover.
I
have to start by confessing that I don’t love cruising! I know, hard to believe in the travel industry? In this job I do get to see plenty of cruise ships though, of all varieties – river, ocean, expedition, the lot. My first proper cruise was eight years ago on one of the ‘mega’ ships and frankly I hated it. It took six years to get me back on another cruise ship for a holiday to see if I could stand it and it turns out I can, in fact I quite enjoy it these days. But that’s because I now know there is a cruise ship for every taste - you just have to find the right fit. This year I have been lucky enough to experience two amazing cruises which were my ‘fit’. Both were amazing products and fabulous itineraries but one stood out as something different from the norm. Viking Cruises’ new fleet of ocean cruise ships has changed the landscape of cruising. For those who love no kids and no casinos and not too many people then this is the cruise for you. The fleet of ships are all practically brand new, with the oldest being built in 2015, and all with a maximum of 930 guests. I was on the latest edition to the fleet, the Viking Orion, on the seven-day Italian Sojourn itinerary. My first impression of the ship was a massive WOW! You walk on board and are knocked over by the lightness and the airiness of the ship. No dark wood, no bright No dark wood, no bright colours or neon lights, just colours or neon lights, just “understated elegance and “understated elegance modern Scandinavian design” and modern Scandinavian as they boast, and well they design” as they boast, and should as it is just beautiful. The biggest wow factor well they should would have to be the threestorey Atrium area, an open space within the middle of the ship stretching from deck one to deck three. You can grab a drink at the Viking Bar or the Viking Living Room on deck one, or venture upstairs to level two or three which look down over the Atrium. Here you can find a spot to just sit, or play on one of the electronic games tables – think Scrabble and chess, or join in with the communal jigsaw puzzle. Then there are the staterooms to drool over. All are verandah cabins so no ‘claustrophobic hell holes’. Every detail has been thought of – from USB and power points on both bedside tables, to
“ “
32
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
Ocean cruising
plenty of storage not just in the wardrobe but with drawers in the other cabinetry as well. The decor is classy like all of the ship. The bathrooms are a decent size, and in our Deluxe Verandah stateroom and higher level rooms the mini bar is replenished daily. When it comes to the food and drinks (which I have found way too much of is consumed on a cruise), a plethora of choice awaits. From the main dining room, The Restaurant, to the buffet at the World Café both with familiar favourites and a changing menu daily. For lighter meal options there is the Pool Grill, The Living Room and Mamsens all spread across the ship so you can have a different view at each meal if you try them all, as we did. The specialty restaurants are also fabulous with Italian themed Manfredi’s and The Chef’s Table. These are no extra charge but you do need to book ahead as they are very popular. One lovely touch on board is the high tea served daily in the Wintergarden on deck seven with its glass roof. As for the places to grab a drink, well again plenty of options are on offer – sit outside at the pool bar or the Aquavit terrace and watch the sea go by. Or head to my favourite the Explorers Lounge on deck seven. This brilliantly decked out area makes you feel like you are in Scandinavia with reindeer skins draped over comfy Or head to my favourite lounges and fabulous views with floor to the Explorers Lounge on ceiling windows. deck seven. This brilliantly With all the food decked out area makes consumed a visit to the gym was a must for me. you feel like you are in The fitness centre is Scandinavia with reindeer located on deck one with skins draped over comfy the Spa. There is plenty of equipment for guests lounges and fabulous views to use so really no excuse with floor to ceiling windows not to. The Spa offers a great array of treatments, some with a Nordic edge. A lot of space has been devoted to the Spa area – with treatment rooms, change rooms, a plunge pool area with adjacent sauna, snow grotto and of course the cold bucket of water to pour over yourself! The ship has so much to offer one really doesn’t need to do the massive choice of shore excursions available to guests – though these were fabulous too. I never felt like there were over 900 passengers on board – there are so many spaces to sit and relax, whether it be by the main pool or the infinity pool for the sun lovers, in the lovely glass Wintergarden area or the various other lounges spread across numerous decks. For the more active there are the usual activities on the Sports Deck like shuffle board and table tennis. If you’re a reader, there are well-curated libraries across the lounge areas. Or for those with an interest in art, you can learn all about the diverse Scandinavian collection on the ship’s app. There was so much to experience on this ship that we cancelled our final day shore excursion just to stay on board. I’m already planning when I can next get on board, perhaps I am becoming a cruise lover after all.
“
“
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
33
Ocean cruising
What’s so great about cruising? When you consider the huge variety of cruise ships and itineraries that are on offer it can be easy to be overwhelmed. We’ve asked some top cruise agents their tips and recommendations to make that sale extra easy.
ield, Home f n T Si
What do you love about ocean cruising? A new country almost every day, variety within itineraries and days at sea.
Kat hy
ston C , We ru g n
Rob yn
2. Build your relationships With so many offers and promotions in the space, get to know your cruise line BDMs who want you to succeed and are there to help.
3. Know your client Understand their likes and dislikes, preferences and expectations and tailor your recommendations of ships to them personally.
4. Promote the value Build your database and share the knowledge that cruising is great value. A client who stays in a Four Seasons Hotel is a potential cruise client when presented with the right choices.
rlow, Donn a a -B
w Trav rlo el Ba
Become an accredited CLIA agent, learn from your returning customers and take as many cruises as you can.
Brian Mead s
Travel
What’s your favourite cruise line? Any of the all-inclusive lines. It’s too hard to choose as they all have their good points and so many different itineraries.
1. Training, training and more training
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
What’s your favourite cruise line? I have a few favourites, but at the moment it is Regent Seven Seas as I have an upcoming voyage with them.
What do you love about ocean cruising? Unpack once. It’s a moving hotel room so you get a different view each day. Plus value for money as they include all meals and accommodation (and sometimes beverages).
Top tips for selling:
34
What do you love about ocean cruising? I love the way I can disconnect from the real world. Stay in beautiful accommodations, see amazing places, eat all my favourite foods and only unpack once.
p ou Gr
e& is
Deb Lo
, lidis Trave v l Pa
ciates Ke so w As
Compan vel y ra
What's your favourite cruise line? I’ve learnt it’s not about the cruise line but the destination – where it’s going, and when you want to go. In saying that we all have a first love, and for me that will always be Seabourn.
What do you love about ocean cruising? Definitely the one day (or overnight) in each port, you get to see so many more cities. Plus having so many facilities around you. What’s your favourite cruise line? It’s a tie between Seabourn and Windstar.
Africa
Cruising the
dark continent By Ben Groundwater There are few sights more thrilling than Table Mountain as it appears on the horizon, this famous visage rising from the sea. Africa. The Dark Continent. This place of romance and intrigue, this huge and sometimes intimidating mass of land and people, lies beyond Table Mountain. This is the beginning. For many cruise passengers, Table Mountain represents the first step of the adventure, the signal that this is real, this is happening. Africa, in all its beauty and its glory, is ready to be explored. South Africa, that mountain’s home, is a microcosm of the entire continent, a place of multiple cultures and almost incredible natural beauty, a place to be surprised by and to fall in love with. Each cruise port offers something different, something unique, and plenty of the attractions on offer can be enjoyed in a single day.
Cape Town
Cape Town Bo-Kaap Cape Town
36
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
You’ll have to search long and hard to find a city as aesthetically blessed as Cape Town. The beaches here are stunning, the hills that provide their backdrop are ruggedly beautiful, and even urban areas like Constantia and Claremont possess enviable good looks. Visitors who are calling through just for the day won’t be able to experience every facet of the city, but they will be able to appreciate the beauty of Cape Town in its entirety with a cable car trip to its highest point: the top of Table Mountain. Once that has been checked off, it’s a case of deciding whether to concentrate on the city’s culture or its natural charms. For the former, begin in Bo-Kaap, the area once known as the Malay Quarter, with its brightly painted houses in the shadow of Table Mountain. From there, continue on to the District Six museum to learn about Cape Town’s chequered past, before enjoying its exciting future in Woodstock, where the Old Biscuit Mill is home to several world-class restaurants, as well as a weekly market. For natural beauty, meanwhile, it’s worth jumping in a taxi and heading down Cape Town’s stunning coastline, calling past Sea Point before ending up in Camp’s Bay, the perfect spot for a swim and a bite to eat at one of the seaside restaurants.
Africa
Durban
Moses Mabhida Stadium
There’s much to love about bustling Durban, even if the city doesn’t possess the same renown as Cape Town. This is the seat of South Africa’s Indian community, a place that can sometimes feel as subcontinental as it does African. For the easiest way to tap into the local Indian culture, call into one of the city’s many restaurants for a “bunny chow” – a hollowed out loaf of bread filled with rich, meaty curry. And there’s more on offer here than just food. Check out Moses Mabhida Stadium, a rugby venue built for the 2010 World Cup, which these days doubles as an adrenalin sport centre. Visitors can either travel to the top of the huge Y-shaped arch above the stadium in a “SkyCar”, hike up on an “Adventure Walk”, or jump off it, from a height of 106 metres, on a bungy swing. For a more sedate afternoon, Durban’s Golden Mile is a long stretch of beach perfect for some time in the sun.
St Blaize trail
Mossel Bay It’s not so much what’s in Mossel Bay, but what’s around it. This is the beginning (or end) of South Africa’s famous Garden Route, a scenically spectacular spot that’s perfect for exploring on foot. The most popular hike is the St Blaize Trail, a 13.5-kilometre track that hugs the rugged coastline to the south of the city. From here you’re likely to spot plenty of whales and dolphins out at sea, as well as dassies – small native animals – by the side of the track. Alternatively, take a boat from Mossel Bay out to Seal Island to view the wildlife, relax on one of the stunning, windswept beaches, or park yourself at one of the many seafood restaurants that overlook the water.
Garden Route
Durban coast (©SAT)
Port Elizabeth South Africa’s sixth-largest city is a lively coastal hub with plenty of history, as well as natural attractions in the water and on the land. The Donkin Heritage Trail is the main sight for those curious about the area’s past, a 5km walk that takes visitors past 51 areas of interest in the city’s old Hill area. Port Elizabeth also has some excellent museums, both artistic and historical, and a vibrant café and restaurant scene. Most people who call through here, however, are interested in the wildlife, which can either be spotted in the ocean – by taking a whale watching cruise, or a boat trip out to penguin island; or going scubadiving and seeing the area’s famous raggy-tooth sharks – or on land at one of the nearby game reserves. Addo Elephant National Park is one of the best of those, home to more than 350 of those eponymous pachyderms, as well as rhinos, buffalos, and plenty of native antelope species. The park is only a half-hour drive from the centre of Port Elizabeth, and a perfect day trip.
Addo Elephant Park
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
37
Africa
Trafalgar’s Africa move
a family affair
The recent launch of Trafalgar’s first African tour program is the culmination of a longstanding family ambition for the brand’s chief executive officer Gavin Tollman. South African-born and raised, Tollman had always known “the rhythm of Africa, and the sounds of Africa” would one day offer an enormous potential for Trafalgar. “Africa will change you forever,” he says. “It just changes your entire perspective.” Yet until this year, the continent had been missing from Trafalgar’s offering, other than limited programs in Egypt and Morocco. “We always wanted to go to Africa, but I wanted to make sure we could control every element of the experience delivery ourselves,” Tollman told travelBulletin. “You cannot just plug and play. Trafalgar travellers today have real expectation of what they need to get when they travel with us and so that consistency in what we do is vital.” Tollman had decided Trafalgar would not enter the African market unless it had the opportunity to deploy its own ground operations or purchase a significant partner. That opportunity
38
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
arose in March when Trafalgar’s parent, the Travel Corporation, purchased South African-based Cullinan Holdings and its Thompsons Africa destination management company, after several years as a major shareholder.
“
We always wanted to go to Africa, but I wanted to make sure we could control every element of the experience delivery ourselves
”
“That enabled me to really get under the hood of Thompsons and really give very firm direction as to what I wanted them to deliver for the Trafalgar brand,” Tollman said. The result is a choice of 10 guided holidays in nine countries, ranging from “mini stays” of four or five days up to “country explorer” and “regional explorer”
options of up to 15 days. The program is on sale now, with discounts of up to 10% for tours paid in full by 1 November. A symbolic inclusion in the Africa program is The Oyster Box five-star hotel in Durban, where The Travel Corporation chairman (and Gavin’s uncle) Stanley Tollman took his now wife Beatrice on their first date. Legend has it the ambitious Stanley decided on that night he would one day own The Oyster Box, a goal since fulfilled by The Travel Corporation. Gavin Tollman said the company aimed to establish its Africa presence rapidly and that he expected take-up from the Australian market to rival that of its Asia program. “I’m hoping to meet our Asian numbers in year one, and I believe that is our opportunity,” Tollman said. He also noted the serendipitous timing of Trafalgar’s Africa launch, coinciding with commemorations marking the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela. “How poetic that it’s the same year,” Tollman said. “All the stars are aligned.”
Africa
Bunnik launches new Africa program Small group touring specialist Bunnik Tours has launched its latest Africa program for 2019/20, arriving with four new adventures as well as the return of seven popular journeys from last year across a range of countries such as Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa. New explorations on offer this time around include a 22-day Kenya & Ethiopia tour that features game drives through many of the iconic national parks such as the Maasai Mara National Reserve in southwest Kenya. Further highlights include the chance to meet with the people of the Samburu Tribe of central Kenya and sampling some of the culinary delights available in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa. Other new destinations include the Ethiopian cities of Axum and Jinka, where guests can explore ancient relics from the region and meet members of the fascinating Mursi tribe. For those after more a mainstay package, Bunnik has brought back its popular 25-day Cairo to Zanzibar adventure, providing the opportunity to retrace the footsteps of the
Okavango Delta
pharaohs before heading to the exotic spice island of Zanzibar off the coast of Tanzania. Also returning is the 24-day Namibia, Botswana and Victoria Falls journey, exploring the wildlife of Okavanago Delta of North Botswana, the salt pans of the Etosha National Park in Namibia, and the majesty of Victoria
Falls on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. All safaris on the tours are capped to six people per group, guaranteeing great views when aboard the operator’s seven-person 4WD vehicles. An earlybird discount of $500 per person is available for all bookings made before 25 January 2019.
WINNER
2 BRO 019 OUT CHURE SOON !
BENCH AFRICA The Africa travel experts since 1969. We set the benchmark for African safaris. 1300 AFRICA (237 422) | benchafrica.com.au | or contact your travel agent TAILOR-MADE SAFARIS | HONEYMOONS | LUXURY TRAIN JOURNEYS | SMALL GROUP TOURS | FAMILY SAFARIS | ADVENTURE SAFARIS | SPECIALIST SAFARIS | ESCORTED TOURS J408
Africa
Bench expands suite of adventures Fresh from winning the Best Specialty Wholesaler award at the 2018 National Travel Industry Awards, Bench Africa has announced it will be holding a series of exclusive events this month for agents in Sydney (12 Sep), Brisbane (13 Sep), Melbourne (11 Sep) and Perth (10 Sep) to launch its new 2019/20 brochure. One notable addition to the latest set of itineraries will be a range of new Kenya tours. The operator says it has experienced a spike in enquiries and bookings for Kenya in recent times, and has responded by introducing a new budget-friendly, seven-day safari in the Tsavo East National Park, one of Kenya’s oldest nature reserves. Other packages include the Deluxe Kenya product, a luxury safari circuit that includes stays at iconic Giraffe Manor. Bench Africa has also bolstered its credentials by hiring ex Adventure World award winner Eric Vos as its first nonSydney based reservations expert. Vos has a long history of African travel planning and his appointment will allow the central and western states to have access in a similar time zone. “It’s just another small addition to further help out our travel agents and make life easier for them,” said trade relations manager Cameron Neill. To mark the company’s 50th anniversary celebrations, Bench Africa has launched two luxury safari specials, one in South Africa and the other in Kenya. Discounts will be available throughout the year. For further information visit the company’s Facebook page.
Giraffe Manor, The Safari Collection
Contiki taps Africa market Contiki has introduced a new range of trips to Africa, representing the first expansion to a new region since the operator launched adventures in Latin America in 2010. The decision was inspired by research conducted by the company via passenger surveys, social media and third parties that the youth operator needed to introduce an African offering. New trips have now been added across South Africa, Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kenya, in addition to five extension trips to either climb the iconic Mt Kilimanjaro, relax on the beaches of Zanzibar or get up close and personal with the gorillas in Uganda. One of the new products is the seven-day Taste of Tanzania tour priced from $2,932 per person which includes a sunrise ride in a hot air balloon over the Serengeti, as well as explorations of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. An 11-day Cape, Safari, and Falls journey is also on offer which includes trips through the Kruger National Park in South Africa, and the opportunity to take in a view of Victoria Falls. The package is priced from $2,932 per person. Group sizes are no larger than 20 people and prices include most meals and all entry fees.
40
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
OUT NOW
2019 AFRICA BOOK EARLY & SAVE UP TO
$1,071
*
SAVE 5% ON TOURS
Chobe National Park (Extension)
Samburu National Reserve 2
Lake Nakuru National Park Nyahururu Falls 1
Lake Victoria
Serengeti National Park
2
ZIMBABWE
Mount Kenya
1
Nairobi
2
Ngorongoro 2 Crater Tloma
TANZANIA
Victoria Falls
▼
We travel to feel alive, not to think about what’s going to happen next, or how you’re going to get there. Globus go beyond just being there, and make it come together in the most special way, so guests can invigorate their senses with the spectacular display of wildlife and breathtaking landscapes of Africa.
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Equator
1
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
2
Okavango Delta (Extension)
Lake Manyara National Park
BOTSWANA
KENYA
Makalali Private Game Reserve 3
Hoedspruit Kruger
▼ 1
2
National Park
Amboseli National Park
Johannesburg 2
Arusha SOUTH AFRICA
ZANZIBAR
Stone Town
2
Dar es Salaam
4
Cape Town Cape Point
Indian Ocean
Globus tours include: • Superior accommodation • Deluxe Coaches & 4-Wheel Drive Safaris • Immersive experiences • Expert Tour Directors
KENYA & TANZANIA: THE SAFARI EXPERIENCE
SPLENDORS OF SOUTH AFRICA & VICTORIA FALLS
15 days • Nairobi to Arusha
12 days • Cape Town to Johannesburg
NOW FROM $8,762
NOW FROM $6,859
per person twin share (based on 02/11/19 departure)
per person twin share (based on 21/04/19 departure)
• Regional Cuisine
For bookings and more information, call 1300 130 134 or visit globus.com.au *Terms & Conditions apply. All care is taken to promote correct pricing at time of printing, is subject to tour availability and will be confirmed at time of reservation. All prices are per person, twin share and include any applicable charges and the 5% Early Booking discount. 5% Early Booking discount applies to new bookings made and deposited by 30/04/19. Save up to $1,071 per couple is based on Kenya & Tanzania: The Safari Experience (tour code: QB) departing 06/07/19. Non-refundable deposit of $250 per person per tour is required within 7 days or by 30/04/19 (whichever comes first) to secure reservation and offer. Early Booking discount is not combinable with any other offer other than Second Tour discount (multiple tours must be booked at the same time for travel within the same calendar year) and Welcome Back Credit. All discounts based on land-only portion of core tour on twin share price, not including extra night accommodations, extensions, upgrades, taxes/fees, tips and, supplements/reductions. Offers applicable to singles - single supplement applies. Offer reliant on space availability and applies to new 2019 bookings only. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Offer may be withdrawn or amended at any time without notice. Additional restrictions may apply, refer to the 2019 Globus Asia & Africa brochure or visit www.globus.com.au.
Africa
Peregrine sails into Senegal Peregrine Adventures has extended its adventure cruise program to West Africa, having announced a new itinerary travelling between Senegal and The Gambia. “Our travellers have responded to a style on the water that is akin to our style on the land – authentic and low-impact travel,” Peregrine Adventures’ general manager marine Filippos Venetopoulos said. “These are cruises for travellers who would never normally choose a cruise,” he said. To debut next year, Peregrine’s new itinerary is an eight-day round-trip from the Senegal capital Dakar, travelling south along the country’s coast before exploring the Gambia River, priced from $3,140pp. “Our West Africa voyage visits villages and towns untouched by the notion of tourism,” Venetopoulos said. “Take Kuntaur, where we enjoy a cinema night with the locals. Kuntaur lacks electricity
King Fahad Mosque, Gambia © Peregrine Adventures
for the most part so our guests get to experience cinema with popcorn that has been made by locals,” he said. Among other highlights of the itinerary is a visit to the Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve where woodlands, mangroves and salt marshes are home to wildlife including hyenas and crocodiles. Guests will also sail past an island chimpanzee colony
for a chance to glimpse the primates in their natural habitat as part of a chimp rehabilitation project. The introduction of an Africa itinerary follows Peregrine’s initial launch of adventure cruising in Europe last year. Having experienced a 35% growth in its cruise bookings, the operator is also planning an expansion in Asia at the end of this year.
Cosmos expands in key destinations
Maasai Mara, Kenya
A&K tips Egypt resurgence Luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) believes the Egyptian market is currently undergoing a “remarkable resurgence” and continues to invest heavily in having a strong and active presence in the country. The company maintains nine offices and operates a fleet of small ships on the Nile, private docking facilities in Luxor and Aswan and a stable of highly qualified Egyptologists on the ground. One of its most popular packages
42
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
is the Egypt & the Nile tour that enables guests to learn about the ancient world of emperors and conquerors that existed along the Nile. The trip takes place aboard the company’s Sanctuary Sun Boat IV and visits the ancient cities of Esna, Edfu, and Aswan. Experts in Egyptian archaelogy regale travellers with historical stories of ancient tombs in the Valley of the Kings and the many antiques and gems on display at the Egyptian Museum. Prices start from $8,110 per person.
Cosmos has announced two additional itineraries in its newly released African program, introducing new experiences in South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania. The low-cost touring brand last month launched its 2019 Africa program, covering key destinations across the continent. New options include a nine-day Best of South Africa itinerary, which offers two nights in Johannesburg, three nights in Kruger National Park and three nights in Cape Town, priced from $3,316. Also new is an 11-day On Safari in Kenya & Tanzania, offering opportunities to spot wildlife in some of Africa’s top natural locations. The tour includes visits to Nairobi, the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli National Park and Lake Manyara National Park in Kenya. In Tanzania, it visits the spectacular Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti, and is priced from $5,276 per person.
SMALL GROUP TOURING
®
AFRICA 2019/20 MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE
12 ®
SAVE
EARLYBIRD SALE
500
$
Our Africa 2019/20 Small Group Touring program is out now and available with an earlybird saving of $500 per person for a limited time.
*
PER PERSON
Small Groups Our maximum group size in Africa is 12 people, because smaller groups make for a better holiday experience.
Rwanda, Tanzania & Zanzibar
Return International Flights
19 16,895pp
2019 DATES: 27 Jul & 7 Sep 2020 DATES: 11 Jan & 15 Feb
Unique Itineraries
Kenya & Ethiopia
now from
days
2019/20 BROCHURE AVAILABLE TOUR SMALL GROUP
2019 | 20 www.bunniktours.com.a
Order through Tifs.
ING
Africa
MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE
12 ®
u
SAVE $500
Visit a nearby tea plantation and chat with the local farmers Visit an award-winning gorilla conservation initiative run by former poachers Admire the scenery, monkeys and birds from high in the beautiful forest treetops on the Manyara Treetop Walkway Get a unique taste of Tanzanian culture, visiting Mto wa Mbu, an authentic Tanzanian village
We include all the must see sights plus unique local experiences. Even taxes and tips are included where appropriate.
®
was $17,395 pp
$
No Hidden Extras
Designed to give your client the perfect balance between sightseeing and leisure, and enough time to really get to know the places we visit.
now from
days
Included with the world’s leading airlines, with flexibility to extend or upgrade to business class.
New Tour
22 13,195pp $
New Tour
was $13,695 pp
SAVE $500
Visit a Samburu village and school to learn about ‘a day in the life’ of a Samburu woman Enjoy a special bush dinner under a beautiful blanket of stars Explore Addis Ababa’s best restaurants on a culinary walking tour Hike through the stunning Simien Mountains in search of the area's endemic animals 2019 DATES: 13 Aug & 15 Oct 2020 DATES: 18 Feb & 17 Mar
Kruger & the Panorama Route
days
14
now from
9,995pp
$
New Tour
was $10,495 pp
SAVE $500
Visit Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre, which focuses on the conservation of rare, vulnerable and endangered animals Spend time at the Jane Goodall Chimpanzee Eden Sanctuary, that cares for and rehabilitates rescued chimpanzees 2019 DATES: 17 Apr; 15 May; 12 & 26 Jun; 17 & 31 Jul; 21 Aug; 18 Sep; 16 Oct; 20 Nov 2020 DATES: 26 Feb; 11 & 25 Mar
For a list of inclusions, detailed itineraries and other small group tours go to bunniktours.com.au
Call
us on
1300 125 007
email sales@bunniktours.com.au
www.bunniktours.com.au
We do the work Phone answered in 3 rings - no queues One stop shop Personal service & commitment
*To be eligible for our $500 Africa earlybird savings you need to book, pay a deposit and applicable airfare payment by 25th January 2019. Savings are applicable to new bookings with travel dates from 2019/20 program only. All prices shown are per person based on twin share & incorporate $500 earlybird discount. Singles rooms are available at a supplement, check our website for details. Prices are correct at time of printing but are subject to change. Note air supplement may apply depending on airline availability and departure cities. Bunnik Travel Pty Ltd. ATAS accreditation #A10484 • CATO Registered Operator No. TO1078.
Africa
Ancient sites of Africa Its wildlife and luxury lodges are legendary, but Africa is also home to an incredible array of ancient sites that offer a fascinating insight into the continent’s diverse history. From the Roman ruins of the north to the origins of humanity in the east, here are some of Africa’s most extraordinary windows to the past:
Roman ruins X The of Volubilis In the north of Morocco stand the ruins of a once-great Roman outpost, expanded under the reign of Augustus in 25 BC and ruled by a Berber king who married the daughter of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. The ancient city of Volubilis is now one of the most important archaeological sites in Morocco and an excellent alternative to other Roman sites in countries like Libya where Australians are advised not to travel. Visitors today can explore its stone columns, triumphant arches, rows of colonnades and the elaborate mosaics that decorated the villas of the wealthy.
rock-hewn X The churches of Ethiopia In the mountainous interior of Ethiopia are a series of 11 medieval churches that were carved out of solid rock in the 13th century. Listed collectively as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the rockhewn churches of Lalibela represent one of the most sacred locations in Ethiopian Christianity and remain an important site of pilgrimage. Located about 645km from the capital Addis Ababa, their construction was orchestrated by King Lalibela of Ethiopia who set out to construct a “New Jerusalem” when pilgrimages to the Holy Lands were halted by Muslim conquests.
X Olduvai Gorge As historic sites go, it’s hard to find anything older. To the north-east of the Ngorongoro Crater – Tanzania’s renowned hotspot for African wildlife – is a craggy ravine that has revealed some of the greatest secrets of human history. The Olduvai Gorge is part of Africa’s Great Rift Valley and an important site for paleoanthropologists who have found here hundreds of fossilized bones and stone tools from the early ancestors of humans. They include Paranthropus boisei, an early hominin from between 1.4 million and 2.4 million years ago.
44
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
PIONEERS OF THE EXTRAORDINARY Handcrafted Private & Small Group Journeys | Luxury Expedition Cruises Born on safari in East Africa in 1962, Abercrombie & Kent has been reinventing luxury travel for more than half a century. Now with 55 offices and more than 2,500 travel experts on the ground around the world, we take the world’s most discerning travellers to the ends of the earth on unforgettable adventures. This is luxury travel redefined – exquisite, creative, courageous and enriching journeys – taking travellers out of their comfort zones, in comfort, to more than 100 countries and all seven continents. Your clients will see the world in a new light and find themselves somewhere amazing on an A&K private or small group journey or expedition cruise. Call Abercrombie & Kent on 1300 851 800.
www.abercrombiekent.com.au
All aboard!
Solo travellers
46
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
Why cruising solo can be double the fun The cruise industry is finally taking notice of the needs of single travellers, writes Kristie Kellahan.
Solo travellers
T
he dreaded single supplement may soon be a thing of the past for solo cruise passengers, as the industry moves to keep pace with the growing demand for cabins-forone without the price tag for two. It’s just one of the improvements cruise companies are introducing to attract the burgeoning solo sector of the market. Hefty single supplements of up to 200 per cent for a singleoccupant double cabin have been a turn-off for many aspiring solo cruisers until now. The enthusiastic response to recent purposebuilt single studio cabins and select departures with no single supplements bodes well for the future of sailing solo. Here are four tips for booking the best solo cruise holiday.
1
Hunt for a bargain More and more cruise lines are announcing sailing dates with cabins earmarked for solo occupancy with no single supplement. The advice is to get in early, as these cabins are often the first to book out. APT has great solo bargains in their Super Deals, specials that come out with every brochure launch. Current offers include no solo supplement on several European river cruises if booking before 30 November and travelling in March, April, October, November and December 2019. This includes APT's most popular river cruise, Magnificent Europe, from Amsterdam to Budapest. They are also offering 50% off the solo supplement on similar itineraries if travelling from May to September 2019. APT representative Kat Polan said agents are encouraged to book their clients as early as possible in order to have their choice of cabin. Early payment discount can save clients even more. Single travellers can also take advantage of Riviera Travel’s two upcoming Europe river cruises. One is an eight-day Danube cruise from Budapest departing on 1 November 2018, priced from $3,119 per solo-use cabin, and the other is an eight-day Burgundy, River Rhone and Provence cruise on 6 November 2018, priced from $3,529 per solo-use cabin. While the line ensures some cabins on every cruise throughout the year incur no supplement for solo occupancy, these two cruises will be exclusively for singles (or couples and friends who want to sail together, but not in the same cabin). Closer to home, Pandaw operates a fleet of small luxury river steamers in Burma, Vietnam, India and other parts of Asia. Popular with adventure seekers, Pandaw has seen an increase in the number of younger travellers setting out on solo voyages. With a large following of solo travellers and many returning guests, Pandaw offers several select sailings year-round with no single supplement. Outside of these dates, a modest 10% surcharge is applied to singleoccupancy bookings.
2
Choose the right ship The addition of purpose-built single studio cabins is top of the agenda for many new ships currently under construction or undergoing dry dock renovation. Holland America Line reports the 12 single ocean view staterooms on its Koningsdam ship have been well-received, while Cunard recently added nine single staterooms to the Queen Elizabeth. Newer ships such as Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge (to be launched in November) will have cabins designed with the needs of
solo travellers in mind. On Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas, solo travellers are not relegated to the inferior interior cabins with no windows. The ship offers single staterooms with balconies, as well as virtual balcony cabins that project real-time views of the outside sights on interior walls.
3
Singles should look to mingle Choosing a cruise holiday instead of land-based itinerary can be a smart choice for those who want to meet new people while away. Agents are recommended to familiarise themselves with the range of services for solos available onboard. Holland America Line’s Single Partners program connects singles through special events and activities onboard like mixers, cocktail parties and dinner seating with other singles. P&O Cruises makes sure coffee morning mixers for solo travellers are organised regularly. On other cruise lines, busy daily itineraries of activities and enrichment programs provide a wealth of opportunities for singles to mix and meet with other passengers, many of whom will become lifelong friends.
Enjoying solitude onboard Crystal Bach
4
The power of one Solo doesn’t have to mean solitary. Crystal Cruises and Cunard employ gentleman hosts, aged 55 and older, who serve as dancing companions to partnerless ladies. Enquire about roommate-matching services, where the cruise line matches passengers of the same sex with another who wants to share a cabin. Princess Cruises runs one such program. Themed cruises – country and western music cruises, or those dedicated to wine appreciation or tennis, for example – magnify the chance of meeting like-minded travellers with similar interests. Cruiseco partners and wholesales over 50 cruise lines in Australia and New Zealand, as well as chartering the Cruiseco Adventurer on the Mekong. Take a look at their site, cruising.com.au, for themed cruise suggestions.
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
47
Solo travellers
Tailored Travels To further accommodate solo travellers Intrepid Travel has started to offer solo-only tours, where travellers can avoid a single supplement by sharing a room with a likeminded traveller. “Intrepid started with just three departures in 2017, and now we have 12 solo trips spread across six destinations; Morocco, India, Peru, Mexico, Vietnam, and Indonesia,” said Intrepid Group CEO James Thornton. Some of the popular tours include the 15-day Best of Morocco adventure priced from $1,232, where travellers get to travel from Casablanca to Marrakech; Mexico Unplugged from $1,270 – a two-week experience of Mexico's Aztec, Zapotec, Mayan and Spanish cultures; and the 12-day Vietnam Real Food Adventure from $2,223 which allows travellers to indulge at the street food markets in Hanoi and spend time cooking some of the country’s local dishes. Intrepid also revealed that after conducting a national survey, it found that 58% of women and 52% of men are jetting off in small group adventures with fellow singletons, not to meet someone new, but to connect with themselves.
Intrepid’s Best of Morocco trip visits the historic town of Ait Benhaddou
Cruise solo minus the surcharge Captain Cook Cruises Fiji offers an intimate experience for solo travellers on board the MV Reef Endeavour, a small ship, accommodating up to only 120 passengers. The company also only charges a 25% single supplement. “Our three-, four-, seven- and 11-night Fiji cruises and itineraries are ideal for the solo traveller and in the year 2017/18, compared to 2016/17 we have experienced a 17% increase in solo passengers, a 25% increase in solo room nights and a 73% increase in solo revenue,” said Jackie Charlton, managing director at Captain Cook Cruises Fiji. For all activities – onshore and in the water – passengers remain in a group. This includes excursions snorkelling, glass bottom boating, visiting Fijian villages and schools and even hiking. Dining is also done in a large group seating and for dinners everyone is assigned to the same table each evening.
On tour // Ketchikan Tour: Rainforest Canopy & Zipline Expedition, Ketchikan, Alaska Operator: Alaska Canopy Adventures Duration: 3.5 hours Accessible from: The tour departs from Ketchikan, Alaska and we joined in as a shore excursion from Oceania’s Regatta. Details: Great for the adventurous and those wanting a more active excursion, this tour begins with a short bus ride from downtown to the base of the zipline centre. From there guests are transferred into an all-terrain custom 4x4 Unimog which takes you up a steep hill to a chalet at the top of the rainforest canopy. Enthusiastic
48
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
expert guides quickly help you to kit up in a full body harness, helmet and gloves. After a short orientation and safety briefing you are divided into smaller groups and commence your adventures. There are eight ziplines and three suspension bridges of varying lengths. Guests are clipped into safety wires twice, providing great peace of mind for the more nervous zipliners. A real stand out on this excursion is the incredible views that being at the top of the canopy affords you, with plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife. The tour finishes with a rappel to the ground and a complimentary beverage and participation medal. Guests will have an opportunity to check out the gift shop, totem pole workshop and eagle rescue centre before heading back into town.
EXPERIENCE MAGNIFICENT EUROPE IN 2019
Voyages to Antiquity invites you to enjoy an intimate, inclusive Cruise Tour experience! OUR AWARD-WINNING JOURNEYS INCLUDE: • Sightseeing shore tours in most ports of call • Hotel stays & transfers - as per the itinerary • Many evening & overnight stays in port • Experienced team of guest speakers • All meals on-board Aegean Odyssey • Wine & beer with dinner onboard • Gratuities for onboard cabin & restaurant staff ASK ABOUT OUR SOLO TRAVELLER FARES!
TOUR EXCITING NEW DESTINATIONS IN 2019 WITH OUR AWARD-WINNING SMALL SHIP CRUISES LONDON Guernsey
Vigo
Geiranger Hellesylt Olden Flam Bergen Oslo Stavanger Ulvik Kristiansand
Honfleur
La Rochelle Bordeaux
Edinburgh
SEVILLE
Honfleur
COPENHAGEN
CRUISE TOUR
LONDON
Oporto
CRUISE TOUR
Rouen
La Rochelle Bordeaux
La Coruna
Aarhus
Oporto Lisbon
LONDON
San Sebastian
LISBON
CRUISE TOUR
European Connoisseur
The Norwegian Fjords
- Seville to London -
- Copenhagen to London16 July 2019 - 16 nights
12 August 2019 - 16 nights
2 night hotel stay & transfer in Seville 12 night cruise onboard Aegean Odyssey 2 night hotel stay & transfer in London 9 included shore excursions
Overnight onboard in Copenhagen 14 night cruise onboard Aegean Odyssey 2 night hotel stay & transfer in London 12 included shore excursionsW
2 night hotel stay & transfer in London 12 night cruise onboard Aegean Odyssey 2 night hotel stay & transfer in Lisbon 8 included shore excursions
4 June 2019 - 16 nights
The Three Rivers - London to Lisbon -
FROM $5,345*pp, twin share
FROM $6,270*pp, twin share
FROM $5,612* pp, twin share
SOLO TRAVELLER FROM $6,662*
SOLO TRAVELLER FROM $8,220*
SOLO TRAVELLER FROM $6,662*
MEDITERRANEAN • AEGEAN • SCANDINAVIA • BALTIC • BLACK SEA REQUEST OUR EUROPEAN 2019 BROCHURE TODAY 02 9959 1345
•
info@vta.net.au
•
www.voyagestoantiquity.com
*All fares in AU dollars, per person, twin share based lowest available category & includes onboard gratuities & port taxes (correct as of 10 August, 2018). Valid for new bookings only. Hotel & transfers between airport, port and hotel offered on dates specified on itinerary only, at the discretion of Voyages to Antiquity. London airport transfers are from Heathrow airport only. Offers are capacity controlled and can be withdrawn or modified at any time without notice, and subject to availability at time of booking. Airfare additional. Cancellation penalties & conditions apply. Single supplements for twin occupancy cabins are calculated on the applicable full fare pricing as displayed in our current brochure and on our website www.voyagestoantiquity.com. Prices based on payment by cash or cheque only. Travel agent service fees not included. Voyages to Antiquity reserve the right to change, correct errors, withdraw from sale any or all fares, itineraries, excursions & fees. For full terms & conditions visit www.voyagestoantiquity.com or visit your local preferred Travel Agent.
Solo travellers
G Adventures tailors for solo travellers G Adventures is seeing growth across the globe of solo travellers, who “make up around 40% of our total passenger numbers, globally, and 38% of total Australian passengers” said Louise Laing, director of marketing Australia and New Zealand. The number of travellers who prefer or choose to travel by themselves has “increased by 4% in the last five years, demonstrating that there is a growing trend to travelling alone”, Laing explained. “We expect to see solo travel continue to rise in 2019 and we're predicting that the Middle East – specifically Egypt, Jordan and Morocco – will emerge as a trending destination for those travelling solo, who are looking for the comfort and security that a smallgroup tour can provide,” she said. In addition, solo travellers “are big fans of taking up last-minute travel deals, year-round”. Some of the itineraries tipped to be popular with solo travellers include the eight-day Amman to Amman, where travellers trek through the rocky hills to isolated villages along the trails near Ajloun, hike down canyons toward the Dead Sea, and discover the Dana Biosphere Reserve. Another is the 22-day Cairo to Tel Aviv tour, with sights including the Nile, the Great Pyramids of Giza, along with a trip to Jordan to stay overnight in a Bedouin tent and the chance to explore the historic towns of Jerusalem and Nazareth, before heading to Tel Aviv. “Small-group tours are a great last-minute option for solo travellers, as they offer confidence to explore destinations you might not have considered experiencing on your own,” Laing added.
Cruising Solo Voyages to Antiquity offers a range of dedicated single cabins from inside, ocean view and balcony class – without any single supplements. Accommodating only 350 passengers, Aegean Odyssey is perfect for solo travellers. Some of the 2019 offers include the 31-night cruise from Cape Town to Malaga, where travellers will get to visit South Africa, Namibia and the Skeleton Coast, departing 13 March. The single inside cabin is priced from $10,685, with an inside cabin twin-share from $9,712pp. The Norwegian Fjords, a 16-night cruise tour from Copenhagen to London on 16 July is priced from $8,220 for a single inside cabin and a twin-share inside cabin from $6,687pp; and the 16-night cruise tour from London to Lisbon from 12 August is priced from $6,662 for a single inside cabin and $5,945pp for inside cabin twin share. All prices include shore excursions, city and overland tours and hotels pre- and post-cruise, lecture program, all meals and wine and beer with dinner.
Get to know your BDM Name: Katrina Katich, sales manager for WA & SA How long have you been a BDM? Nine years working at Dream & Star Cruises What is your favourite destination? Italy – for the food! What do you love about your job? I love all aspects of my job, the constant change of this industry, engaging with agents and contacts.
Amman, Jordan
50
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
What destinations are on your bucket list? I would love to go to Maldives or Bora Bora one day…. and do absolutely nothing with no Wi-Fi!
Brochures
ANTARCTICA & THE ARCTIC
2019/20
Aurora Expeditions has released a brochure showcasing some of the unique destinations it’s set to explore once its brand new world-class expedition ship Greg Mortimer arrives in 2019. Aurora will branch out from the polar expeditions that they are known for with new itineraries exploring some of the lesser known parts of Latin America, Canada’s East Coast and the Caribbean. In addition to the new voyages, Aurora continues its mountaineering legacy with inspiring treks and land-based tours.
FROM the majesty of the Great Pyramids of Giza, to the luxury of boutique Nile cruising, to the Serenity of the Red Sea, combining the magic of both Egypt and Jordan in brand new cruise and tour brochure, Scenic has an itinerary for every style of traveller. Explore the Abu Simbel and Lake Nasser or the beauty of the desert at Wadi Rum. With itineraries different from the average Egypt tour, Scenic offers a unique experience for its travellers, with exclusive hotel stays, and out of the ordinary destinations.
Experience the world’s Great Rail Journeys with Travelmarvel’s new brochure outlining 30 incredible rail tours across Asia, Europe, Australia and the USA. Highlights include the perennially popular Edinburgh, the Highlands and Islands itinerary, which includes rail travel aboard an iconic steam train of Harry Potter fame; and rail journeys across China in high speed bullet trains. Itineraries include accommodation in premium hotels and meals that reflect the destination’s cuisine.
lindblAd Expeditions has launched its 2019 Galapagos brochure with a myriad of trips offering once in a lifetime encounters with exotic animals unique to these islands. Explore the rich natural beauty of the region on board one of Lindblad’s purpose built expedition vessels, designed to showcase the best of the hard to reach places of the world. With less than 50 passengers on board, travellers can more fully immerse themselves in their environment, with a plethora of activities available.
Silversea has launched its 2019 Wild Expeditions brochure, which features ‘Voyages of Distinction’ offering travellers authentic experiences and interesting itineraries. One of the voyages sails from Japan to Alaska via eastern Russia and the Bering Sea, a route not often travelled by other cruise lines. Another takes passengers from the bottom of Argentina to Cape Town. Each of them of them aims to offer travellers the opportunity to create unique memories in unique places.
Nordic travel specialists 50 Degrees North has released a new brochure outlining everything available for travellers hoping to experience the top of the world. Focussing on Northern Europe, Scandinavia, the Arctic, the Baltic States and Russia, and with the majority of their guides being local to each region, customers can benefit from a lifetime of regional knowledge. 50 Degrees North offers a wide variety of itineraries, plus bespoke journeys.
Natural Focus Safaris (NFS) has released its new 2019/20 Antarctica and the Arctic brochure. All NFS operators have been specifically chosen for their sustainability, safety, and intimacy with an array of different adventures in the polar regions of the world. Explore the Arctic or Antarctic aboard a range of purpose built ships, with voyages for every budget and time frame. Land-based journeys through some of the remote parts of Canada and Russia are also available for those who prefer dry ground.
Celebrating 25 years of operation, Star Clippers has released a new brochure for 2019/20. Now offering Borneo, and Mamma Mia Greek island itineraries, travellers can experience the exotic natural beauty of this world from ultimate comfort of a charming clipper ship. Star Clippers offers a unique cruising experience, both in its fleet of sailing ships, its laid back feel and of course small authentic ports.
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
51
Asia: Hong Kong & China
River Deep, Mountain High
A river cruise on the mighty Yangtze River through China’s heartland mixes ancient landscapes and modern engineering marvels with dramatic scenery. Brian Johnston reports.
C
hina is a country of superlatives, with the world’s oldest continuous civilisation, largest population and fastestgrowing economy. Its mighty Yangtze River, 6,300 kilometres in length, is the longest river within a single country. Along its banks you’ll find the world’s largest engineering project, a mega-city and the remnants of 5,000 years of history. A river cruise here is an epic journey. Most Yangtze cruises start or finish in Chongqing. Some sail 10-day journeys 52
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
downstream to Shanghai near the ocean, but most sail to Wuhan (six days) or Yichang (three or four days). You’ll find differences to European river cruising. Ships are much larger, since there are no restrictive locks or low bridges, which means more generous cabins and public areas. Most ships are Chinese-owned so, even if chartered by western companies, don’t imitate the usual brand mould. If you cruise upstream, big river port Wuhan is your embarkation port. It has a spectacular bund of riverside parks, glitzy hotpot restaurants and neon-lit hotels looming over colonial-era embassies. Its greatest asset, though, dates from 400 BC. The 7,000 treasures unearthed from the tomb of Marquis Yi rank as one of the world’s great archaeological finds. Musical instruments, jade, weapons and golden bowls are beautifully showcased in Hubei Provincial Museum.
Passengers board to a welcome of drums and dancing lions. Many cruise companies offer on-board cultural entertainment such as lessons in calligraphy and mah-jong, tea ceremonies, or early morning tai chi on the deck. From the deck, you also get passing vignettes of Chinese life: farmers tilling fields, mudbrick villages under upturned eaves, temples teetering on crags. You’ll equally be astounded by contemporary China’s dynamism as you slip under vast new bridges, past entire new cities and between container ships and passenger ferries. A third of all Chinese live in the Yangtze Basin, and it throbs with the energy of a country in the throes of transformation. Talking of energy, the Three Gorges Dam is a symbol of China’s sometimes controversial can-do attitude. The world’s largest construction project displaced two million people and was finished in 2009. You could fill a whole Guinness Book of World Records with statistics about its size, volume of cement and energy output, enough to power 15 million homes. It also controls flooding and makes navigation easier. Seeing it up close is astounding. Passengers disembark
Asia: Hong Kong & China
at Sandouping to observe the massive dam from the hilltop and visit exhibition rooms to learn how this modern engineering feat was achieved. This is where the Yangtze River’s most famous 250-kilometre stretch begins. The river is forced between a series of gorges and misty mountains in a landscape celebrated for millennia in Chinese poetry and painting. The plunging landscapes of scroll paintings
”
– improbable cliffs, tiny human figures, age-darkened temples – are brought to life. As you sail, look out for those very temples and shrines clinging to cliff faces, and for giant Chinese characters carved into rock faces, quoting classical (and sometimes revolutionary) poetry. The Three Gorges will have you patrolling your ship’s decks for the whole day, especially as each is distinctly different. Majestic Xiling Gorge is the first if you’re travelling upstream.
os ot Ph
“
The plunging landscapes of scroll paintings – improbable cliffs, tiny human figures, age-darkened temples – are brought to life
It’s the longest and deepest of the gorges, with 1,200-metre cliffs and looming peaks, each associated with ancient legends. Next, the 40-kilometre-long but very narrow Wu Gorge is almost oppressive, zig-zagging between cloudy peaks. Finally, Qutang Gorge is the shortest but most dramatic, framed by massive, oddly-shaped mountains. At Wushan, cruise ships pause to decant cou rte sy passengers onto smaller boats that sail up a of Br tributary of the Yangtze River into the Lesser ian Joh Three Gorges. The Yangtze’s mega-dam has n st on made these narrow gorges less dramatic than they once were thanks to higher water levels, but they’re stunningly beautiful. Dramatic cliffs Chongqing, surrounded draped in monkey-haunted forest plunge into by mountains and clinging to steep limpid green waters, and occasionally open hillsides above the Yangtze, is your cruise’s into patches of farmland where oxen wallow final destination as you sail upriver along and villages hunker under giant bamboo. the river. It’s one of China’s mega-cities: You’ll also spot ancient plank walkways and energetic, crowded, changing by the day suspended coffins high on the cliffs. and graced with mindboggling architecture One of the Yangtze’s more amusing such as the Chongqing Grand Theatre, which destinations is Fengdu, the ‘City of Devils’, resembles a sailing ship and whose cloudwhere a macabre and colourfully kitsch reflecting glass angles sometimes seem to temple complex outlines the punishments of make it disappear. Most shore excursions hell, overseen by pop-eyed demons. Cruise head to the zoo to see giant and red pandas, companies might also take you to Shibaozhai, and to a restaurant to experience that other a more refined, 17th century temple often great regional icon, its spicy, tongue-numbing rather romantically shrouded in mist. but delicious Sichuan food. travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
53
Asia: Hong Kong & China
Tips to pass on
Pass on a few tips to your clients on getting around the bustling city of Hong Kong and they could be seamlessly darting across the city with the locals: • The key to Hong Kong’s public transport system is the Octopus card. The card can used across the MTR (Mass Transit Railway), buses, ferries, trams or the Airport Express and can be purchased at the MTR Customer Service Centre by the airport train station, or at a convenience store. It can be easily topped up at station kiosks, can be used for small-value payments and comes with a refundable HK$50 deposit. • Tell your clients to use Google Maps as a tool for navigating the network. It will specify which underground exit is the closest to their destination and takes into consideration the underground and aboveground walkways. • Visitors should jump on the humble Star Ferry, which has been carrying passengers between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon since 1888. The charming ferries are an ideal way to soak up the iconic harbour views. • Taxis in Hong Kong are plentiful, and their colour indicate their geographical area. Red taxis operate throughout most of Hong Kong, green taxis only service the New Territories and Blue Taxis are on Lantau Island. Ensure your clients know they are required to pay the exact fare recorded by the taximeter in cash.
Hong Kong’s new landmark property There’s a stylish new address on Hong Kong’s North Point waterfront which caters to both business and leisure customers. The five-star Hotel VIC provides luxury and opulence, with panoramic views of the harbour and city from all 671 guestrooms and suites. The newly built property comes with all the glamour and fine service which could be expected from a five-star hotel, but it’s the technology which sets the property apart. Hotel VIC has built in all the technology trimmings, with the hotel the first in Hong Kong to provide a key card kiosk, allowing guests to access their room key with a QR code sent to them following online check-in prior to arrival. Visitors can map out their trip with the help of an interactive touchscreen in the lobby which highlights local attractions and makes recommendations based on preferences. In addition, there’s an app with in-room services, chat, and reservation capabilities and a “handy” smartphone which guests can take on their adventures for free while 54
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
The Farmhouse
they say, eliminating the need to worry about roaming charges or getting lost. The property also features three fabulous dining options, a 24-hour gym, rooftop outdoor swimming pool, sauna and steam rooms.
To top it off, the property is located mere steps from a train station, making it easy for guests to use the hotel as a base to explore the neighbourhood brimming with fashion, food and culture, or zip through the city.
Asia: Hong Kong & China
Travellers opt for group tours Asia holiday specialist Wendy Wu Tours has seen a massive growth in travellers opting for China group tours, with 2018 passenger numbers boosted by 40% this year. The company’s fastest growing tours in popularity are the Classic China Tour (up 124% on the same time last year) and the Glories of China Tour, which has seen an 88% rise during the period. The 21-day Classic China tour takes travellers from Beijing to Shanghai, featuring a cruise along the Yangtze and Li Rivers to soak up the landscapes of Yunnan province. Highlights include the chance to saunter the cobbled streets of Lijiang, explore the Stone Forest and gaze over the Tiger Leaping Gorge. The 14-day Glories of China combines the urban destinations of Shanghai, Beijing and Xian with the sights of the Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors and the Li River.
Xian City Wall
IN FLIGHT Cathay Pacific – HKG-SYD Class Business The seat Cathay Pacific’s Business class seat provides travellers with a comfortable nook to rest, refuel or catch up on business. Arranged in a herringbone formation, the seat reclines into a lie-flat bed and allows for smaller adjustments. Each passenger receives a soft and cosy blanket and pillow, completing a snug sleeping pod which is particularly welcome on the overnight flights. The legroom extends into the bench space of the passenger in front, allowing ample room to stretch out. There is also enough side storage to house all the necessities for a comfortable flight. The seat is equipped with a reading light, power socket and USB charging ports. Entertainment The on-demand entertainment system can be controlled by an entertainment handset, while headphones are tucked away in the side cabinet. Guests can
settle in for a selection of movies, TV, music, games, options for kids and navigate an “explore” section, providing destination information, health videos and yoga and meditation instruction. Food and beverage Cathay Pacific’s Business class menu provides dishes to suit varying tastes, ranging from a steamed ling fillet, with soy sauce, stir fried vegetable and egg rice to ricotta ravioli, sun-dried tomatoes, asparagus and lime caper herb cream sauce. This is along with cheese and fruits and desserts including chocolate mousse slice. Meals are served on a fold-away table which is set with a white table cloth. Service Cabin staff were attentive and helpful, materialising when travellers were seeking assistance and retreating when it was time to rest. The added pre-flight benefit of Cathay’s multiple luxurious and wellequipped lounges ensured guests board their flight fresh, well-fed and relaxed.
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
55
Family Holidays RCI Seaplex
NCL
Carnival Dr Seuss
Cruising with kids Cruising is becoming more and more popular with Australian families. And when you consider all the bells and whistles that ships include to tempt young cruisers, it’s not hard to see why. Adam Bishop has done the leg work so you can focus on selling: here are all the kid-friendly features of ships visiting Australia in 2018/19 season. Norwegian Cruise Line Ship – Norwegian Jewel Norwegian Jewel is equipped with a wide range of entertainment for children of all ages. The Splash Academy is a dedicated area for kids aged from six months to 12 years, with children divided into age-based activity groups to enjoy active games and arts and crafts. Parents can also take advantage of group babysitting services for those aged three to 12, or the specialised “nursery at sea” service for the little ones aged six months to two-years-old.
Teenagers are taken care of with a variety of amenities catering to the whims of 13 to 18-year-olds. These entertainment offerings are all contained within Entourage, which combines a hangout lounge, as well as dance, game and party zone. Activities range from shooting hoops and dancing under the stars at the White Hot Party.
Royal Caribbean International Ships – Ovation of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas All of Royal Caribbean International’s ships that visit Australia feature the Adventure Ocean program onboard including a range of interactive, educational and fun activities for babies right through to teenage passengers. The broad categories for RCI’s kids’ clubs include: n Royal Babies (6-18 months) – Interactive classes with activities developed by early childhood experts. n Royal Tots (18-36 months) – Playground sessions furnished with activities and toys.
Carnival Waterworks
56
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
n Aquanauts (three to five years) – A chance for kids to brush up on their science skills and play around with fun junior experiments. n Explorers (six to eight years) – Kids can enjoy themed parties, star in Adventure Theatre and create adventure art projects. n Voyagers (nine to 11 years) – Flexing the competitive muscle of kids through sports tournaments, video game showdowns and talent shows. n Teen (12-17 years) – Teenagers on board can hang out in a range of “teen-only” spaces hosted by teen focused staff with activities such as teen discos, karaoke parties, open mic nights, and toga parties.
Holland America Line Ships – Noordam and Amsterdam While HAL doesn’t offer any specific amenities for children under the age of three (except for babysitting services), the cruise line does have plenty on offer for kids between three and 17 years-old. The kids’ program (Club HAL) is split up in to three main categories: n Kid Programs (three to six years) – Activities include painting, story time sing-alongs and
NCL Splashdown Kids Club Princess Camp Discovery
Family holidays HAL
treasure hunts. Theme parties are also thrown on such as “Dino-Might Night”. n Tweens Program (seven to 12 years) – Plenty of competitive play is on display here with ice cream eating contests and gaming tournaments held. For more educational experiences, BBC programming tailored specifically for kids is also available. n Teens Program (13-17) – Teenagers are well catered for with activities including mocktail making classes, trivia contests, jewellery design and hard-fought grudge matches between staff and teens playing volleyball.
Princess Cruises Ships – Sun Princess, Majestic Princess, Golden Princess, Diamond Princess and Sea Princess Princess Cruises differentiates itself in the market by placing a greater emphasis on the “edu-tainment” value of its kids’ facilities. The cruise line boasts three major spaces on its ships for kids to enjoy: n The Treehouse (three to seven years) – This space is chock-full of hands-on activities that are set to the fun backdrop of a whimsical forest-themed play centre. n The Lodge (eight to 12 years) – A curated space inspired by the great outdoors that caters to the more active interests of kids
P&O Edge trampolining
including sporting activities and nooks and crannies to explore. n The Beach House (teens) – Engaging educational activities are on offer in The Beach House with fun animal games and MythBuster challenges. However more mainstream teenager activities are also available with ship-wide scavenger hunts, computer game tournaments, and hip-hop dance classes.
Carnival Cruise Line Ships – Carnival Legend and Carnival Spirit Children who are fans of the Dr. Seuss books will find themselves in literary heaven as Carnival’s partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises means ships are loaded with character parades and interactive stories. The kids’ clubs are divided into two major categories: n Camp Ocean (two to 11) – Younger children (two to five years) can join Carnival’s Penguin colony and have fun with some sea-themed activities such as Musical Icebergs and Ocean Bingo. Kids who are a little bit bigger (six to eight years), can enjoy a few more creative pursuits such as designing their own aquarium. The “big fish” (nine to 11 years) have the option of either playing some Marine Life Trivia or getting the lead out and playing some volleyball on deck.
n Teenage entrainment is broken up into two age brackets, Circle C (12-14 years) offer younger teens activities like dance parties, games and watching outdoor movies. Teens hanging out at Club 02 (15-17 years) join a karaoke jam session or relax at a pool party.
Cruise Line – P&O Cruises Ships – Pacific, Eden, Explorer, Aria and Dawn P&O Cruises has four age-specific kids’ clubs available on board its ships: n Turtle Cove (two to six years) – The youngest passengers on board P&O’s ships can enjoy a range of toys and games in this fun space such as playing with Duplo and taking part in theme night and talent shows. n Shark Shack (seven to 10 years) – The area the company describes as “big bites of fun”, this club is home to scavenger hunts, jewellery making, dance lessons, and many fun LEGO activities. n HQ (11-14 years) – The ultimate chill zone features movie sessions, filmmaking lessons, and playing in their very own rock band. n HQ+ (15-17 years) – Leaving their younger siblings behind are the late teens who get to hang out at HQ+. This zone is supervised by youth staff who coordinate activities such as Stop Motion Pro high quality movie-making.
RCI iFly
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
57
Family Holidays
Superb Sri Lanka
©Disney
Disney brings pixar to life Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has brought some of Hollywood’s best-loved animated characters to life in the latest attractions to open in its US parks this year. At Disneyland Resort in California, the theme park operator has introduced its new Pixar Pier celebrating the digital stars and movies of the Pixar animation film studio. Opened in June, the Pixar Pier is a reimagined land for the Anaheim park and is made up of four distinct neighbourhoods. The first is Incredibles Park, themed around The Incredibles movie and home to the Incredicoaster ride involving characters from the superhero family. Alongside is a second neighbourhood, the Toy Story Boardwalk, which involves the Toy Story Mania! attraction with its “4D” carnival games. Nearby is the Pixar Promenade which celebrates a range of different movie stories and incorporates Disneyland’s
iconic Mickey’s Fun Wheel. The fourth neighbourhood is the Inside Out Headquarters, inspired by the emotions turned into animated characters in the movie Inside Out. Across the country in Florida, Walt Disney World Resort has introduced its “joyfilled, toy-filled” Toy Story Land, featuring Woody, Buzz Lightyear and a host of other characters from the Toy Story series. Also opened in June, its highlights include the new Slinky Dog Dash, a familyoriented roller coaster involving Slinky Dog dachshund cars, and the Alien Swirling Saucers in which the movie’s little green aliens spin about in toy rocket ships while “the claw” looms overhead. Toy Story Land is part of a long-term revamp for Walt Disney World Resort which will next year see the launch of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and another new land, the 14-acre Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Fun on the ocean Finding activities to cater for the whole family while on holidays can be tricky, but travellers on board Dream Cruise Line’s World Dream out of Hong Kong certainly won’t have that problem, with the ship’s exclusive ESC Experience Lab activity centre ensuring kids of all ages are kept busy. The state-of-the-art virtual reality experience offers everything from racing, flying and rollercoaster simulators to arcade games, live action motion theatres, a maze and an e-sports zone, ensuring kids of all ages can find something to keep them entertained. In addition, the ship offers a waterslide park, ropes course, mini golf, rock climbing and an overwater zipline, along with over 100 connecting or adjoining accommodation rooms.
58
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
ESC Experience Lab
Three new family-friendly Sri Lankan experiences have been launched by On the Go Tours, offering children over five and teenagers the chance to indulge in the diverse cultural destination alongside their intrepid parents. Departing from October 2018, the tours aim to give young travellers the perfect introduction to the region, offering families the ability to choose their itineraries based on the age and interests of their children. The eight-day Sri Lanka Family Adventure Tour caters for children over five years old, taking families on a climb to the top of Sigiriya Rock before heading down to the Minneriya National Park for an exciting search for elephants, sloth bears and langur monkeys. For those with teenagers, the Sri Lanka Adventure for Teens is a busy nine-day tour offering bike rides, cave explorations, white water rafting and hiking along the Kinchigune Nature Trail.
©On the Go Tours
Family Holidays
Prepare for take-off Taking a long-haul flight with kids in tow is no longer the daunting deal as it once was, with a range of international airlines going above and beyond to keep kids calm and happy on route to their holiday destinations. To make the check-in process easier for families with little ones under the age of 12, British Airways has become the first UK airline to open a permanent family check-in area at Heathrow’s Terminal 5. The airline has also introduced family boarding passes that allow multiple passes to be shown on the one device, eliminating any last-minute panic that comes with kids wielding their own paperwork. When it comes to taking to the skies, tiny travellers on board long-haul Air France flights not only have access to the airline’s upgraded range of kids’ activities - including their own personal stash of colouring pencils, books and even an anti-stress ball - but they can also tune in to a range of meditation and reading apps with the airline’s entertainment program. And if that’s not enough to tickle a toddler’s fancy, then perhaps a demonstration from the resident magician will do the trick! Other airlines with child-friendly offerings include Qatar Airways, which is working hard to make on-board life a little easier for little people with the launch of its dedicated kids’ program on long-haul routes. The Oryx Kids’ Club provides a range of plush toys, activity packs and meal boxes, which feature the airline’s own super heroes, “Orry” and “Orah”.
Q&A
Air France
When it comes to travelling with kids, many imagine the horrors of toddlers screaming for entire flights and shudder. But travelling overseas with your children (of any age) can be a wonderful experience for any family. We asked Travel Counsellor Candy Penesis how agents can best sell family holidays.
Which destinations are most popular for family holidays? I would say the most popular destinations right now are Fiji, Bali, Phuket, Hawaii and Los Angeles. Apart from being relaxing and full of warmth and sunshine, these destinations are only one plane trip away. No lengthy transits at various airports. A huge plus when travelling with small children. What sort of activities do travellers want to do on a family holiday? Most travellers are looking for a balance where they can do some sightseeing along with the chance to ‘flop and drop’ for a while to simply relax. For many, after seeing the popular tourist sites like a monkey forest, a Buddhist Temple or a historical site it’s time for fun parks and water parks. These parks are a huge plus for a family as it gives them the opportunity to have fun together.
60
Qatar
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
What are your suggestions for a good inter-generational holiday, a family with young kids and teenagers? It’s always good to consult your kids and get them involved in the planning experience. If each child picks something they want to do, they’ll all be happy. Cruises are a fantastic way to please the entire family regardless of age. Choose a great ship and you won’t be disappointed with the endless food, pools, kids clubs, night clubs and amazing shows each night and there’s plenty more. Are FIT holidays more popular than all–inclusive packaged options? FIT (Free Independent Travel) is more popular than ever before particularly with Australian travellers. With access to research what they want, clients are able to plan their own vacations. Setting up their own experiences like local cooking classes and enjoying the culture of the country they
visit is important on their to do list. However, there is still a market for the all-inclusive package for those that want ease in planning and no fuss vacations. What are your top tips for selling family holidays? I love to paint the picture for the family when booking their holiday and get them excited about their chosen destination. I encourage them to choose the right type of holiday and help them to make the right flight and accommodation choices from my recommendations. Once they are booked, my top tips would be to pack light and sensibly, to check-in online, get to the airport early, make sure the kids have plenty of entertainment for a long flight and take a change of clothes and your toiletries in your cabin bags and take lots of photos.
“AGENT SPECIFIC” package rates now on TAAP.
Just another way TAAP makes you the best agent.
ENJOY TODAY
www.expedia.com.au/taap
Last word Gadget: Protect your shirt! Do you ever feel like no matter how well-ironed a collared shirt is, or how well it gets packed, it somehow manages to get crumpled in your suitcase? PackTidy have devised a solution to ensure your finest shirttails remains crease free, with their Shirt & Tie Commuter Travel Organiser. This durable hardshell case is the perfect size for a dress shirt, with a form to accommodate the collar and a heavy duty zipper that keeps the shirt secure. Slim and lightweight, the compact design means that it can fit into any bag, so that you can stay looking sharp in every situation, whether its a long haul flight or an everyday commute.
Capital Crossword 1
2
5
6
3
4
7 8
10
9
11
12
13
14 15 17
16
18
19 20
21
22 www.puzzlechoice.com– visit them to view hundreds of different puzzles, with new ones frequently added!
Each of the answers in this crossword are the Capital city of the country in the clue. See if you can get them all! Across 1. South Africa (8) 6. Peru (4) 8. Morocco (5) 10. Lebanon (6) 11. Tunisia (5) 13. Iceland (9) 14. Namibia (8) 16. Bermuda (8) 18. The Philippines (6) 20. Maldives (4) 21. Sweden (9) 22. Paraguay (8) Down 1. France (5) 2. Norway (4) 3. Fiji (4) 4. Qatar (4) 5. Italy (4) 7. Uruguay (10) 9. Thailand (7) 10. Argentina (6,5) 11. Japan (5) 12. Bulgaria (5) 15. Afghanistan (5) 17. Kenya (7) 19. Jordan (5)
Spaced Out...
With the final frontier beckoning, the last decade has seen a new race to reach space, only this time the goal is to indulge the wealthy consumer looking for an ‘out of this world’ travel experience. Elon Musk’s Space X is already running commercial space cargo operations and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos is funding a luxury space capsule through his own private space company Blue Origin. Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic is perhaps the closest to making a trip to space viable, with plans to offer suborbital joy flights in their purpose-built spacecraft by the end of this year. At $250,000 per seat it’s not for everyone, with reports that a number of musicians and movie stars have already bought their tickets.
62
travelBulletin SEPTEMBER 2018
Perhaps Virgin is slightly out of your price range, but you’d still like to experience what its like to float in zero gravity? The Zero Gravity Corporation might have you covered... Using a specially modified Boeing 727, the aircraft takes you up into the air and performs 15 parabolic arcs per flight. The sudden downward flight pattern offers minutes of weightlessness giving the effect of zero gravity, so you can soar, float and flip as you hurl towards the earth from the safety of an aeroplane. At a starting price of almost $5,000 its not exactly cheap, and it’s not exactly space. But compared to the alternatives, it’s as close to the real deal as most of us will ever get.
SAVE UP TO
SAVE UP TO
1,400
2,000
$
PER COUPLE
FLY
FREE ECONOMY
SAVE UP TO
1,400
$
PER COUPLE
$
WATERWAYS OF THE TSARS
GRAND EUROPEAN CRUISE
ST PETERSBURG TO MOSCOW or vice versa
AMSTERDAM TO BUDAPEST or vice versa
13 DAYS | 10 GUIDED TOURS | 1 COUNTRY
15 DAYS | 12 GUIDED TOURS | 4 COUNTRIES
SET SAIL MAY – OCT 2019
SET SAIL MAR – NOV 2019
FROM $7,395PP IN STANDARD STATEROOM
FROM $5,995PP IN STANDARD STATEROOM
FROM $8,895PP IN VERANDA STATEROOM
FROM $8,995PP IN VERANDA STATEROOM
LYON & PROVENCE
PORTUGAL’S RIVER OF GOLD
LYON TO AVIGNON or vice versa
LISBON TO PORTO
8 DAYS | 7 GUIDED TOURS | 1 COUNTRY
10 DAYS | 8 GUIDED TOURS | 2 COUNTRIES
SET SAIL MAR – NOV 2019
SET SAIL MAR – DEC 2019
FROM $3,395PP IN STANDARD STATEROOM
FROM $3,795PP IN STANDARD STATEROOM
FROM $3,795PP IN VERANDA STATEROOM
FROM $4,895PP IN VERANDA STATEROOM
FLY FOR
995PP
$
ECONOMY
PRICES ARE PER PERSON, IN AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS, BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY, SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY AND CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PRINTING. PRICES INCLUDE ALL ADVERTISED DISCOUNTS. VALID ON NEW BOOKINGS ONLY ON SELECTED DEPARTURES. FLIGHTS ARE EX MAJOR CITIES IN AUSTRALIA ON VIKING’S CHOICE OF AIRLINE AND SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. MUST BOOK BY 30 NOVEMBER 2018 UNLESS SOLD OUT PRIOR. FOR FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS VISIT VIKINGCRUISES.COM.AU
PER COUPLE
FLY
FREE ECONOMY
SAVE UP TO
1,400
$
PER COUPLE
FLY FOR
995PP
$
ECONOMY
V I K I N GC RU I S ES .CO M . AU | 13 8 747 S EE YO U R LO C A L T R AV EL AG EN T
WORLD OF VIKING Welcome to the World of Viking, a world that will exceed your expectations. Viking ships are small to get guests closer to their destination, with more time in port and more over-nights. With an extensive selection of Ocean and River cruises to choose from, you’ll be spoilt for choice. You can experience ocean cruising to Scandinavia, Asia, the Caribbean, North and South America or cruise the historic waterways of Europe on our award-winning river ships.
SAVE UP TO
$
4,000 PER COUPLE ON SELECTED CRUISES
For the journey of a lifetime, you can circumnavigate the globe on a world cruise. Viking fares are highly inclusive, offering dining in a range of venues, wine and beer with meals and an excursion in every port at no extra cost. As the Thinking Person’s Cruise line, Viking offers everything you need, and nothing you don’t. Step into our very special world and discover the Viking difference.
FREE CABIN
FREE
FLY FREE
UPGRADE
EXTENSIONS
ON SELECTED CRUISES
ON SELECTED CRUISES
ON SELECTED CRUISES
2-NIGHT
E N J O Y, I T ’ S A L L I N C L U D E D • Private Veranda stateroom with king-size bed (Ocean) • River-view stateroom (River) • Shore excursion in ever y por t • Onboard meals & beverages (with lunch & dinner) including wine, beer or sof t drink s • Complimentary 24-hour room service (Ocean) • Choice of 8 dining venues – no charge for specialty dining (Ocean)
• Unlimited Wi- Fi • Specialty coffee, tea & bottled water any time • Nordic spa facilities (Ocean) • All onboard tipping & gratuities • All port charges & government taxes • Culture Curriculum: lec tures on or per formances of music, ar t, cooking, dance & histor y • No credit card surcharges
CRUISERS’ CHOICE CRUISERS’ CRUISERS’ CHOICE CHOICE
N O K I DS | N O C A SI N OS | VOT ED WO R L D’ S B E S T V I K I N GC RU I S ES .CO M . AU | 13 8 747 | S EE YO U R LO C A L T R AV EL AG EN T