Wednesday 27 May 2015 Issue 3082

I n c o r p o r a t i n g Ta b s o n Tr a v e l

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Disney’s focus in New Zealand for the coming year will increasingly be on travel agents, as well as pro-moting the destination to consum-ers around events such as the new Diamond Celebration.Disney Destinations has two key pri-orities in the New Zealand market, says Australia-based travel business development director Lee Siefken.“First, helping travel agents across New Zealand to create the perfect Disney holiday for their client. Second, stimulating interest and demand from New Zealand consumers and driving them to visit their travel agent for a perfect Disney holiday,” says Siefken. “With this in mind, we have a single call-to-action across everything we do—visit your travel agent.”Siefken says guests don’t have the best

Disney experience when they book online or buy at the gate, as they often visit for just a day or book accom-modation too far away. “But if a guest visits an agent, they receive valuable practical advice that ensures they have the best holiday experience—such as, you can’t see Disneyland in a day and don’t go in Jul.”That advice is often what makes or breaks a holiday, says Siefken, and the team will be working more with agents to ensure they are confident in selling a Disney holiday. “We are chan-nelling our resources to support travel agents,” says Siefken.

. . . Incentive, WorkshopsUpcoming plans include an all-new Disney Days agent workshop format rolling out in the second half of 2015, and an incentive for Kiwi and Aussie agents. Disney is also partnering with Qantas in promoting the Diamond Celebration to consumers in both Australia and New Zealand.New Zealand continues to be one of the fastest growing markets in-ternationally, with attendance for Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort showing double-digit growth year-on-year. “So it’s impor-tant we help nurture this growth,” says Siefken.Going forward, Disney will continue to focus on the top three destinations for the New Zealand market—Disney-land, Walt Disney World and Aulani.

Disney To Increase Trade Focus Here

Win A Trip To SpainAgents attending the Spain Product Update in Auckland next month will be entered into a draw to win a trip for two to Spain, flying Emirates, and a host of other Spanish inspired prizes.Emirates is again partnering with the Spanish Tourism Board along with Rail Plus and Galicia for the event (on 15 Jun) which will include product and destinational updates as well as the opportunity for B2B sessions.There is a limited number of places available, and following the demand last year EK is urging interested agents to register now to avoid missing out.“Our Spanish points, Barcelona and Madrid, now both double daily from Dubai are increasingly becoming key European gateways for New Zealand travellers,” says EK New Zealand man-ager Chris Lethbridge. “We have seen strong growth to both destinations over the past year and forward book-ings suggest that this growth is set to continue.” To register CLICK HERE

From The Airport Files Airports around the globe have been making headlines overnight. In Texas a runway was closed at Dal-las/Fort Worth after a sink hole was found just off one of the runways. Meanwhile, widespread reports claim that US authorities are now investigating ‘at least 11’ threats made against specific international flights on Mon (local US time). The threats were reportedly made by the same person. Over in Libya, the nation’s three main airports were forced to cancel flights after ground staff went on strike. And in Vienna, police are said to be investigating the airport’s private security staff who are accused of smuggling refugees, through secu-rity checks and on to flights to the US and UK.

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NZ Houston CodeshareAir New Zealand’s code will be placed on 33 routes operated by United Air-lines/United Express from Houston when NZ’s new direct flights launch, according to the GDS. From 15 Dec, NZ’s code will be placed on routes from IAH to ABQ, ATL, AUS, BOS, CLT, CHI, CVG, CLE, DFW, DEN, DSM, DTT, FLL, IND, MKC, MIA, BNA, EWR, MSY, LGA, OKC, OMA, ORL, PHL, PHX, PIT, SLC, STL, TPA, TUL and IAD.

EK Fare IncreasesEmirates advises its economy class round trip fares ex New Zealand to long-haul destinations will increase by $10, effective immediately. In-creases apply to all return economy market and wholesale fares; excluded from the increase are one-way fares, South East Asia fares, Tasman fares and long haul tactical MTPNZ1 and MUPNZ1 fares.

Sri Lanka FamilAgents are encouraged to register for Adventure World’s upcoming Classic Sri Lanka famil departing 07 Sep. Highlights include the ancient cities of Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa and Dambulla as well as visiting the Pinnawela El-ephant Orphanage. Priced at $1450pp s/t, including return airfares on Sin-gapore Airlines including taxes, twin share accommodation throughout, all sightseeing and entrance fees as speci-fied, meals as specified, local English speaking guide and tips for guides/driver. Places are limited to 10 partici-pants. To register, CLICK HERE

QF: Get ReadingQantas customers can now access almost 4000 of the world’s leading newspaper and magazine titles with PressReader, which is accessible via the Qantas app. PressReader will en-able passengers to download maga-zines and newspapers from a range of titles across 100 countries prior to their flight. To access the publications, clients need to open the Qantas app, select Download Newspapers and Magazines (this will appear on the app trip timeline from 24 hours before departure) and open PressReader. Passengers will have 12 hours of un-limited access to download content from this time.

EK, Airways Team UpEmirates Aviation University and Airways New Zealand have teamed up to open a purpose-built air traf-fic control training facility in Dubai. Airways will deliver ATC training for up to 200 students per year at the campus over the next five years.

Strikes In PeruStrikes and demonstrations against the proposed Tia Maria copper min-ing project are expected in various regions of Peru including Arequipa, Cusco, Ica, Piura and Puno on 27-28 May, Chimu Adventures has advised. The demonstrations may turn vio-lent, and protestors have in the past blocked major roads and restricted transport movement, says Chimu. So far the strike appears to be mild in Cusco and Puno but ‘quite strong’ in Arequipa, and Perurail has cancelled trains running from Puno to Cusco and vice versa, it has advised. Trains in Cusco are currently running normally. Travel to Colca Canyon is not pos-sible due to roadblocks in the region. Chimu says it is in contact with all clients in the region and will ensure their safe passage.

Air New Zealand saw double-digit growth in passenger numbers, de-mand and capacity in Apr, boosted by new Singapore routes and the 787-9 operating Auckland-Shang-hai.NZ carried 1.167 million passengers in Apr, 11.2% more than Apr 2014. Demand increased 16.0% on a ca-pacity increase of 12.7%, and group load factor was up 2.4 percentage points to 85.5%.While Asia routes saw the largest in-creases, demand was up across both short- and long-haul routes.Short-haul passenger numbers in-creased 9.5%, with domestic demand up 11.5% on capacity increases of 3.6%, leading load factors to climb 6.0 points to 85.9%.Tasman/Pacific demand rose 5.7% on capacity increases of 4.5%, which saw load factors grow 1.0 points to 85.1%.

. . . Long-HaulLong-haul passenger numbers grew 25.8% year-on-year in Apr, with a 24.1% increase in demand, while capacity rose 21.1%, leading to load factors of 85.6% (up 2.1 points).Capacity increased 46.6% on Asia

routes with the new AKL-SIN route and B787-9 operations, but this in-crease was more than matched by demand increase of 53.8%, leading to load factors of 87.7% (up 4.1 points).North American and UK routes also saw growth, with demand up 9.4% and capacity up 8.5%. Load factors increased just 0.8 of a percentage point to 84.2%.

. . . YieldsGroup-wide yields for the financial year-to-date are up 0.6% on last year, with short-haul yields up 2.3% while long-haul yields, which were nega-tively impacted by foreign exchange movements, are down 0.8%. Remov-ing the impact of foreign exchange, group-wide yields are up 1.6%.

QF South America FaresQantas is offering special economy fares to South America from $1699 to Santiago and $1719 to Buenos Aires, on sale to 15 Jun. Agents who book Qantas flights to South America by 31 Jul can also go in to win business class flights to Santiago and a land package. See qantas.co.nz/agents

Double-Digit Growth For NZ In Apr

New At World JourneysWorld Journeys has announced the appointment of Vanessa Hibbard to their team at Travel Design-ers, to look af-ter their range of small group escor ted jour-neys, as well as agents’ group travel requirements. Vanessa can be contacted at vanessa@ worldjourneys.co.nz

Small Group SavingsAdventure World reminds agents this is the last week for clients to take advantage of a 15% saving when booking small group journeys. The deal is valid until 31 May for selected 2015 departures, excluding Polar Adventures.

DL ExpansionDelta Air Lines is adding service from its hub at Seattle-Tacoma Inter-national Airport to Boston; Orlando; Pasco, Wash; and Victoria, British Columbia. Victoria is a new destina-tion in DL’s network and is subject to foreign government approval. DL will also expand its existing Bozeman, Mont. service from Seattle. See delta.com for further information.

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Viva Awasi DealsViva Expeditions has savings of up to $2665 when booking a minimum of seven nights combined at Awasi Atacama and Awasi Patagonia ho-tels. Clients can receive 5% off rack rates, and receive two free nights in Santiago at either the W Hotel or Re-naissance. The offer is valid for stays 25 Sep-30 Apr (except 20 Dec-02 Jan), for bookings made on a double occupancy basis. Awasi offers all-inclusive packages with tailor-made services.

EK’s New Android AppOn the heels of the successful launch of its Apple Watch app, Emirates has announced the debut of the Emirates App for Android. The app enables users to book flights; review travel itineraries; manage every aspect of booking, such as seat selection and the on-board menu; download their boarding pass di-rectly to Google Now or send it to a phone via SMS or e-mail; receive updates on flight boarding and gate changes; get notifications about the Chauffeur-drive service; verify the status of a flight and sign up for alerts to know when it has departed or arrived; and manage all the de-tails of their Skywards account. To download the app visit the Google Play store.

Motorcycle Grand PrixGO Holidays has four-night packag-es for the 2015 Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix. Accommodation, trans-fers and event ticket from $745pp s/t on sale to 22 Sep for travel 22-26 Oct. Contact GO for more.

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Fiji Airways has welcomed a fifth 737-800 to its fleet, and says the aircraft will allow it to increase frequencies on Wellington, Christ-church and Auckland routes.FJ has leased the Island of Ovalau, which features FJ livery, eight busi-ness class seats and 162 in econ-omy. “The new aircraft comes at an important time for us,” said FJ chairman Nalin Patel in Nadi this morning. “It will contribute straight-away to our network, as we prepare to start direct services between Wel-lington and Nadi from 25 Jun on Thu and Sun all year around. This aircraft will also allow us to add an extra service from Christchurch, also making that a twice-weekly connec-

tion to Fiji all year round as well.” FJ will also be able to add extra fre-quencies on Auckland and Sydney routes, and more daylight Brisbane flights, adds Nalin.The aircraft, which will undertake its first flight on Fri, ‘aids us in develop-ing partnerships within the region, like the recently announced code-share with Air Vanuatu and partner-ships we are looking to put in place in Tonga’, he says.

KUL Taxi AppA new taxi app similar to Uber has launched in Kuala Lumpur allowing customers to book a taxi, find out its status and track the progress of their driver, says Tourism Malaysia. MyTeksi is free and for clients who want to save on roaming charges, there are 14 MyTeksi terminals locat-ed at attractions around the city of-fering tablets loaded with the app. All drivers are licensed and customers will receive a price estimate before boarding. The app is also available in Penang , Putrajaya, Kuchin, Malacca and Kota Kinabalu. See grabtaxi.com/myteksi

FJ’s New Aircraft To Fly To New Zealand

CHC Conference OfferC h r i s t c h u r c h’s n e w e s t h o t e l BreakFree on Cashel is offering a Day Delegate Package, from $58 per delegate, including complimentary WiFi, morning and afternoon tea, lunch, room hire plus pens, pads, mints and water, and standard audio visual. Plus, stay the night from $88 per night, single share. See breakfree.com.au

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News & Product

If you are motivated, hard working and ready for this exciting challenge, please send us your application including a current CV

to: Karen Raines, Operations Manager at kraines@goholidays.co.nz on or before 5pm Monday 08 June

DO YOU KNOW

Calypso? GOnet Helpdesk Consultant needed!Due to expansion a new opportunity exists in our wholesale team for someone to help and support our valued agents using GOnet (our on-line “Calypso” reservations tool). As part of the GO Holidays family the successful applicant will enjoy working in a successful team with a great culture and over 35 years’ experience at providing outstanding customer service.

We are looking for someone with: • Excellent customer service skills• “Can DO attitude”• Knowledge of Native Calypso and/or GOnet/Calypsonet • Self-managed and professional, able to do the job without

supervision• Broad range of product knowledge • Past selling consultant experience • Strong analytical skills• Attention to detail• Strong written and oral communication skills• Excellent problem solving and decision making skills• This is a role that is consistently evolving, so the need to be

flexible is a definite

MAYSabre Tech SummitAuckland: Thu 28, Langham, 1500-1800.

JUNEScenic Information SessionsHamilton: Mon 15, Hotel Novotel.Tauranga: Tue 16, Mills Reef Winery. Auckland East/South: Wed 17, Waipuna Hotel. Auckland North: Thu 18, The Spencer on Byron Hotel.Nelson: Mon 29, Rutherford Hotel.Timaru: Tue 30, Landing Services Building.

Globus Family of Brands and Rocky Mountaineer 2016 North America LaunchHamilton: Tue 23, Jukebox Diner, 11 Railside Place, 1745.Tauranga: Wed 24, Rye- American Kitchen, 19 Wharf Street, 1745. Napier: Thu 25, Hogs Breath Café, 49 Marine Parade, 1745.

Globus Family of Brands 2016 North America LaunchAuckland Central: Tue 23, MetroLanes, Level 3, 291-297 Queen Street, 1800. Auckland North: Wed 24, Xtreme Wairau Park, 10 Target Crescent, 1800.Auckland East: Thu 25, Xtreme Botany Park, 500a Ti Rakau Drive, North Park, 1800.

JULYScenic Information SessionsDunedin: Wed 01, Hotel St Clair.Invercargill: Thu 02, The Kelvin Hotel.

Nepal Fundraiser In conjunction with South African Airways and Adventure WorldAuckland: Wed 01, Sky City Convention Centre, 1730-1800 Drinks/Nibbles,1800-1930 Travel Quiz.

Globus Family of Brands 2016 North America LaunchNelson: Wed 01, Action Indoor Sports Stadium, 30 McPherson Street, Richmond, 1745.Pukekohe: Tue 21, Pukekohe Cosmopolitan Club - Ten Pin Bowling Centre, 78 Nelson Street, 1745.

Globus Family of Brands and Rocky Mountaineer- 2016 North America LaunchLower Hutt: Mon 06, Strikenz, 399 Hutt Road, 1745.Palmerston North: Tue 07, Bowlarama Ten Pin Bowling Centre, 94 Cuba Street, 1745.Christchurch: Tue 21, Tequila Mockingbird, 98 Victoria Street, 1745.

Hawaii Tourism MCI RoadshowMon 27, Dates and venue tba.

AUGUSTBula Marau Fiji Roadshow – Around Viti LevuChristchurch: Mon 3, Novotel Christchurch, 1730-2030. Wellington: Tue 4, InterContinental, 1730-2030. Auckland: Wed 5, Stamford Hotel, 1730-2045. Hamilton: Thu 6, Novotel Tainui, 1730-2030.

Industry Diary

Tahiti-based charter company Dream Yacht Charter has expanded its local fleet of cata-marans to include three 62ft double-deck cata-marans. Three Lagoon 620 vessels will sail into the fleet in 2016, joining two Eleu-thera 60ft sailing catama-rans in offering cabins on dedicated charters. Tahiti Tourisme Australia and New Zealand direc-tor Robert Thompson says sailing is becoming an increasingly popular

Tahiti Yacht Charter Expansion

way to see Tahiti because it is such an easy and affordable way to travel between the islands. “It makes a lot of sense to see Tahiti by the sea—it really is a stunning way to explore the picturesque atolls and islands of the Tuamotu and Society archipelagos,” he says. Dream Yacht Charters says the new catamarans are being introduced in response to growing demand in the luxury cabin cruise category. The five dedicated cabin cruise vessels will of-fer a guaranteed departure every week

For more see Monday’s Travel Today

in 2016 on itineraries rang-ing from four to 11 days in the Tuamotus and Society Islands, as well as private charters in all of the French Polynesian achipelagos. The Lagoon 620 catamarans come with a professional crew and feature six ensuite cabins with air condition-ing as well as public spaces including a luxe saloon and trampoline on the bow. See tahitinow.co.nz

. . . Tahiti EspaceEnjoy a 10-night sojourn in Tahiti in-cluding three nights on a deluxe cata-maran with full board, three nights in an overwater villa at Le Taha’a Re-sort with daily three-course dinner, two nights and Raiatea Lodge, two nights at Aggie Grey’s Le Meridien Tahiti, return economy flights with Air Tahiti Nui, and transfers includ-ing inter-island flights, priced from $6275pp s/t. On sale to 30 Jun for travel 01 Jun-12 Dec. T&C’s apply. See tahitinow.co.nz

Pic: Nicolas Claris

Mariah Las VegasMariah Carey has announced nine more shows, scheduled for Feb 2016, alongside her first run of sell-out performances, ‘Mariah #1 to infinity’ at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

Osaka MarathonEntries are now open for Japan’s second biggest marathon. The Osaka Marathon takes place 25 Oct and last year drew 32,000 runners, over 3000 of who were foreigners. The urban event takes in Osaka Castle, Dotonbori entertainment district and Midosuji Street, the main street of the city. Entry to the 42.195km event is restricted to 29,000 participants (7 hour race) this year including 1000 wheelchair racers (2hr 20m), while the 8.8km Challenge Run (1hr 50m) is open to just 2000 runners. Cost is $146 pp (JPY13000) for the main event and wheelchair division and $73 (JPY6500) for the Challenge. NZD dollar value is approx. and based on the current exchange rate. A foreign helpdesk is available. See osaka-marathon.com

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We have a greatline up on showCelebrate our proud history at Air New Zealand’s 75th anniversary exhibition at Te Papa. Free entry.

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Trafalgar is offering limited time deals on 14 of its Aug, Sep and Oct Italy holidays—as Kiwi demand for the company’s more experiential Italian itineraries continues to build.“The feedback we are getting on our Italy pro duc t i s f a nt a s -tic. Just last week, we had our Kiwi group travelling there with foodie Chelsea Winter (pictured)—the food and sightseeing photos are amazing and show the colour and vibran-cy of the destination with Trafalgar,” says local Trafalgar general manager Scott Cleaver.Italy is Trafalgar’s top selling destina-tion year after year, he adds.

. . . SavingsDiscounted itineraries including the 13-day ‘Best of Italy’ itinerary, de-parting Rome 01, 06 or 22 Sep. With savings of up to $1026 per couple, it is now priced from $3718pp and includes Florence, Venice, Assisi, Lake Maggiore and Sorrento. The ‘Be My Guest’ dining experience is at Lake Maggiore on a private boat trip with a local host, and there’s visits to the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, the Isle of Capri and more. The 11-day

‘Italy Bellissimo’ is now priced from $3236pp s/t for the 03 Sep departure and the 11-day ‘Italian Concerto’ is now from $3263pp s/t for the 14 Sep departure. T&C’s apply. For more, see trafalgar.comPictured: 1 Chelsea Winter with three Trafalgar guests in Cinque Terre.2 Lorenzo Saraceni, Libero Sara-ceni, Marija Tolj, Chelsea Winter and Matteo Saraceni getting ready for a cooking lesson after shopping at the markets.

New SYD DiningThe newly-launched, 19th century-style restaurant 117 Dining at the InterContinental Sydney offers the next instalment of its A Taste Of se-ries, with the first of three themed degustation menus available in May. Running set months throughout the year, each of the three A Taste Of menus comprise five courses matched with a selected wine. The menus all focus on a different culinary element, with Wagyu Beef (01–31 May) fol-lowed by Black Truffle Delights (25 Jun–25 Jul) and White Truffle Delights (01–30 Nov). Cost is AUD135 pp for six dishes and matching wines or AUD95 pp for just the six dishes. See, interconsydney.com.au

Jupiters ChefThe Gold Coast’s Jupiters Hotel & Casino has appointed Steven For-rester as executive sous chef, advises Gold Coast Tourism. Steven takes on the position with 17 years’ experi-ence in the hospitality industry, and was previously the executive chef at Parliament House Canberra and Stamford Plaza Brisbane.

Italy Savings From Trafalgar

Win For MEL WyndhamOccupancy rates of over 90% in the f irst six months of open-ing have made the Wyndham Ho-tel Melbourne one of the strongest competitors in the city’s accommo-dation market, says the property. The mixed-use highrise on the corner of William St and Little Bourke St has 531 apartments across two tow-ers, and is ‘one of the only premier hotel-style apartment options in the city’. Accommodation is shared between hotel guests and Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific’s 50,000 timeshare owners in the WorldMark South Pacific Club.

. . . Region StrongAcross Wyndham’s 26 resorts in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, the brand has achieved a 86%, well above the global average occupancy rate of 76 says parent company WorldMark South Pacific Club.

New Milford Sound CatSouthern Discoveries has launched a purpose-built catamaran for a two-hour Milford Sound Nature Cruise aimed at coach groups. Al-though rated for 200 passengers the cruises will be capped at just a few groups to guarantee space and comfort. In addition, the company’s flagship vessel, Spirit of Milford, is undergoing a refurbishment, due for completion in Sep.

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