Tuesday 07 March 2017 Issue 3495

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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Win With NZ GroupsAir New Zealand is giving agents the chance to win flights by com-pleting its new Guide to Groups training module. In Apr, agents who complete the on-line module will go in the draw to win flights for two anywhere on the domestic network. Every group booking made across the Tasman/Pacific Island shorthaul network for travel before the end of May will go in to win flights to Australia; and bookings made in Jun, for travel before the end of Jun, will give agents an extra chance in the final prize draw for flights to any NZ Pacific destination, including space available upgrades and lounge ac-cess. For details see airnzagent.co.nz/groups-agent-incentive

JQ’s Feb PerformanceAn average of 85% of Jetstar’s domestic A320 flights arrived on time in Feb, and the carrier oper-ated 99.4% of its scheduled flights for the month. For peak flights, on-time performance averaged 89% on Auckland-Christchurch, 85% on Auckland-Wellington and 78% on Wellington-Christchurch.

Expensive Stays Don’t Deter KiwisKiwi travellers sought out intrepid adventures in 2016, despite the changing economic and political climate, according to the latest Ho-tels Price Index from Hotels.com.Compiled by data from bookings on the site, the report reveals Australia and the United States were the top two choices for Kiwis in 2016, despite a majority of the destination cities rising in price. Of the 13 least afford-able cities reported in the Hotels.com data, 11 were located in the US, with Santa Monica hotels charging an av-erage of $486 per night, followed by Lahaina ($439), Boston ($368) and New York ($364).On the other end of the scale, plenty of Kiwi travellers made the most of cheap hotel prices in Southeast Asia,

with the region recording 15 of the lowest 20 averages paid per hotel night. The index revealed Chiang Mai and Phnom Penh as the win-ners, with hotel prices averaging $64 per night. Siem Reap ($69), Pattaya ($74), Cebu ($75) and Hoi An ($76) were the other top Southeast Asian favourites that offered Kiwis the best bang for their buck. Also interesting to note is that Lon-don remained the favourite European destination, a feat Hotels.com has linked to the fact that New Zealand travellers paid 15% less to stay there, likely due to British pound dropping to its lowest level in more than 30 years and the New Zealand dollar buying close to 53p. Meanwhile, Istanbul topped the list of European destinations that saw the steepest decline in hotel prices (-27%), where a room set travellers back just $106 per night. The average price for a room in Zurich also fell, with rates down an average of 18% to $287 per night; and in Paris, despite hotel occupancy rates slumping in the wake of terrorism attacks, the city’s average price for Kiwis reduced by 2% to $209 per night, according to the report.

New DXB Mega ParkPlans are underway to build Dubai’s largest public park, as big as Lon-don’s Hyde Park, to be located in DubaiLand, advises Dubai Tourism. The park will provide a number of spaces that allow for year-round ac-tivity, including 30km of pedestrian pathways, 20km of jogging track, over 14km of cycle tracks and over 7km of nature trails. It will also include 55 playgrounds, 45 sports grounds, five major events areas and retail space for shops, restaurants and coffee shops. Dubai Holding and Dubai Municipality will develop the 1,430,000m² park.

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Changes At AKL AirportAuckland Airport has announced Graham Matthews, general manager airport development, is leaving at the end of the month to focus on family matters in the UK, and Steven Crook, programme manager airport devel-opment and delivery, will be acting general manager while a permanent replacement is recruited.Also due to family matters in Ger-many, Shakeel Adam is now unable to take up the general manager aero-nautical commercial role as planned. Scott Tasker will continue as acting general manager aeronautical com-mercial.

NZ Fiji WholesaleAir New Zealand has extended its shortlife economy class wholesale fares to Fiji, effective for sales to 13 Mar. Travel periods and closeout pe-riods have been amended. Wholesal-ers have details.

AI Gets A320neosAir India has become the latest A320neo operator after taking deliv-ery of the first of 14 aircraft leased from ALAFCO, says Airbus. The A320neo will join Air India’s existing fleet of 66 A320 family aircraft.

Qantas Aussie FaresQantas has flights to Australia on sale to 08 Mar, with one-way fares from $199 to Melbourne, $209 to Sydney and Brisbane, $265 to Adelaide and $299 to Cairns. Fares are in the GDS.

Portland Airport TheatreC l i e nt s f ly i ng f rom Por t l a n d International Airport can kill some time by visiting the new Hollywood Theatre. The 17-seat micro-cinema is located post-security in Concourse C and will offer short films from Pa-cific Northwest filmmakers, includ-ing documentaries, music videos, animations and short fiction. The free-to-access cinema will also host special events and occasional live performances.

AM, SITA Partnership Aeromexico has selected SITA to provide network connectivity across more than 50 international loca-tions, in a three-year agreement. The carrier will have full access to all of SITA’s IT applications for back and front-office activities, including check-in and departure control, as it expands its routes across the world.

ISSN 1176-5275Travel Today (incorporating Tabs on Travel) is published by Tabs on Travel Ltd, New Zealand. Ph +64-9-415 8111.news@traveltoday.co.nz tony@traveltoday.co.nzadsales@traveltoday.co.nz

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Nationals of Iraq, as well as those who already have a valid visa, will be able to travel to the US under a revised version of the Trump Ad-ministration’s executive order on immigration—or travel ban, as it’s more commonly known.Foreign nationals from Sudan, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia and Yemen will still be banned from travelling to the US under the order, unless they have a valid visa. The order comes into effect for 90 days from 16 Mar (the original order was effective immediately with no notice given), and doesn’t apply to certain individuals, including green card holders and dual nationals. New Zealand passport holders who are dual nationals aren’t affected, provid-ed they travel on their New Zealand passport and have a valid visa.The US will now review the identity and security information each coun-try provides to the US, with countries given 50 days to comply with requests from the US to update or improve the quality of the information they provide.For a list of Q&As around the new executive order, CLICK HERE

. . . Is It Enough?Trump’s administration deserves some credit for the more cautious and deliberate introduction of the revised order—but hasn’t done enough to differentiate between the potential security risks targeted by the order, and legitimate business and leisure visitors to the US, says US Travel As-sociation boss Roger Dow.“Clearly this revised order is very encouraging news if you’re looking to come to the US from Iraq. The question remains whether the re-

Who Does Trump’s New Ban Impact?

vised order did enough to mollify the prospective traveller from Canada, Europe, or elsewhere around the world who may have been put off by the initial travel ban,” says Dow. “If un-decided voters need to hear certain things to be motivated to get out and vote, then the same is true for unde-cided travellers.”Meanwhile ForwardKeys says it shared data with the White House ahead of the new ban, which showed a 6.5% slump in bookings to the US in the wake of the original ban. “The slump was reversed when the courts struck down the ban but Donald Trump’s promise of a new ban has triggered a second 4% slump,” says ForwardKeys boss Olivier Jager.

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Rocky Stay/Play ExtnRocky Mountaineer has extended its Stay and Play offer through to 31 Mar, with bookings of seven nights or more eligible to receive up to CAD600 per couple in added value to spend. In celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday, clients can use the credit on the likes of extra hotel nights, additional meals and activi-ties like the Victoria Excursion with whale watching. The offer is applicable for select journeys for select travel dates and must be requested at the time of booking.

Accor Grand Prix DealsAccorHotels in Melbourne are offering a range of accommodation options for the 2017 Grand Prix weekend (23-26 Mar). They include the ibis Melbourne Hotel and Apartments, which still has rooms from AUD197pn over Grand Prix weekend; Mercure Mel-bourne Treasury Gardens has rates from AUD284pn; Novotel on Collins from AUD330pn; and Pullman Mel-bourne on the Park has rates from AUD350 a night. Serious Grand Prix fans can book Pullman Melbourne Albert Park, the lobby of which will be decked out with old racing cars for the weekend.

Cont ik i has launched a new eLearning programme which it says is an ‘invaluable resource to travel agents’ as more millennials look to agents for advice.ContikiU provides insight into the brand’s 18 to 35 demographic, and gives agents in-depth training on Contiki’s worldwide trips, destina-tions and travel styles. “We know millennials better than

Contiki Launches Agent Training

anyone else and we’ve noticed they are more and more willing to seek the expertise of travel agents,” says The Travel Corporation director of marketing and communications Tony Laskey.“We want to help agents understand the millennial audience and ensure they know their Discoverer trips from their High Energy.”The new ContikiU portal gives in-sight into the brand, values, history, philosophy, facts and product of Contiki. There’s also incentives for agents to complete the ContikiU education programmes, including famils, agent discounts and more. C ont i k i U i s p a r t of t h e T TC Age nt Ac ade my. S e e t tc . com / agentacademy

Skyrail WebinarFollowing high demand from Kiwi travellers, Cairns’ Skyrail Rainforest Cableway reminds agents that it’s important to pre-book clients. In line with this, the company is set to host a training update webinar 07 Apr at 1300 NZST. To register, CLICK HERE

MEL Kids’ MuseumAfter months of redevelopment, Melbourne Museum has opened a new Children’s Gallery. Filled with multi-sensory, play-led ac-tivities, it features a dinosaur dig to excavate, fossils, a dis-covery garden, museum objects and an immersive ‘camouflage disco’ where children can turn into spotty and stripy animals. Open daily 1000-1700. Entry is included in general admission. See museumvictoria.com.au

25Hours ExpansionFollowing the successful opening of the first 25Hours Hotel in Zurich West in 2012, the second 25Hours Hotel (ninth in Europe) will open 01 Apr in central Zurich. Located just 700m from Zurich Central Station, 25Hours Hotel Langstrasse will of-fer 170 rooms in five categories and two penthouses. It is also home to a restaurant and bar, living room, event spa, spa, a fleet of cars that are avail-able for use as well as bike. Rates for the month of Apr start from AUD207. See 25hours-hotels.com for further details.

Following Belle And The Beast At Disney ParksDisney is celebrating the upcoming release of its new Beauty and the Beast movie by highlighting ways guests can experience the tale at its parks.Disneyland Paris, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, is the obvious choice for the tale which is set in France. As part of its celebrations, the park has new features including a new show, Disney Illuminations, which uses lights, projections and special effects to bring Disney stories (including Beauty and the Beast) to life.At Disneyland in California, guests can experience the props and costumes from the new movie, then meet Belle and enjoy a live version of the show at Fantasy Faire.At Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, clients can watch Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage, explore Maurice’s (Belle’s father) cottage and workshop and the Beast’s library, where they can meet Belle and may be invited to play a part in her famous story re-enactment.

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Industry DiaryHamilton: Tue 14, Distinction Hotel & Conference Centre, 0830.Tauranga: Wed 15, Trinity Wharf, 0830.Auckland Central: Tue 21, Wintergarden Pavillion, Auckland Domain, 0830.Auckland North: Thu 23, The Spencer on Byron Hotel, 0830.

Tourism Fiji RoadshowNelson: Mon 27, Grand Mercure Monaco Hotel, breakfast.Wellington: Mon 27, Rydges Wellington, evening.Christchurch: Tue 28, Addington Raceway & Events Centre, evening.Auckland, CBD: Wed 29, Pullman Hotel, evening.Hamilton: Thu 30, Ferrybank Reception & Conference Centre, evening.Auckland, North Shore: Fri 31, QBE Stadium Albany, breakfast.

APRILTourism Fiji RoadshowTauranga: Mon 03, Club Mt Maunganui, 1730-1930.Rotorua: Tue 04, Novotel Rotorua, 0700-0845.Taupo: Tue 04, Lonestar Taupo, anytime between 1200-1400.

Napier: Tue 04, Crowne Hotel, 1730-1930.Palmerston North: Wed 05, Distinction Hotel, 1730-1930.Wanganui: Thu 06, Stellar Restaurant and Bar, anytime between 1200-1400.New Plymouth: Thu 06, Novotel New Plymouth, 1730-1930.

Avalon Waterways 2018 Launch Lower Hutt: Tue 04, The Dowse Art Museum, 1745.Wellington: Tue 04, Lone Star, 1745.Pukekohe: Tue 04, Townmouse Cafe, 1745.Blenheim: Wed 05, Watery Mouth Cafe, 1730.Whangarei: Wed 05, Dickens Inn, 1730.Palmerston North: Thu 06, Distinction Palmerston North, 1745.Nelson: Thu 06, Bacco Restaurant, 1730.Hamilton: Mon 10, Hamilton Gardens Cafe, 1745.Christchurch: Mon 10, Dux Central, 1745.Auckland East: Mon 10, Pakuranga Golf Club, 1745.Tauranga: Tue 11, Macau, 1745.Auckland North: Tue 11, Takapuna Boating Club, 1745.Timaru: Tue 11, Mocca Cafe, 1730.Napier: Wed 12, East Pier Hotel, 1745.

MARCH2017 Adventure World Roadshow Bay of Plenty: Tue 07, Mills Reef Winery Tauranga, 1800.Wellington: Wed 08, Mac’s Brewbar & Restaurant, 1800.Christchurch: Thu 09, Novotel Christchurch, 1800.

JAWS Roadshow 2017Christchurch: Tue 07, Rydges Latimer Hotel, 1700-2000. Nelson: Wed 08, Rutherford Hotel, 1700-2000. Whangarei: Tue 14, Forum North, 1700-2000. Auckland North: Wed 15, Spencer on Byron, Takapuna, 1700-2000. Napier: Mon 20, Napier Sailing Club, 1700-2000. Wellington: Tue 21, Rydges Wellington, 1700-2000. Palmerston North: Wed 22, Distinction Hotel, 1700-2000. New Plymouth: Thu 23, Novotel Hotel, 1700-2000. Tauranga: Tue 28, Tauranga Yacht Club, 1700-2000. Hamilton: Wed 29, Novotel Tainui, 1700-2000.

Lufthansa Agent Training DaysAuckland East: Wed 08, Waipuna Conference Suites Highbrook, 0830.

Dunedin: Wed 12, Luna Bar, 1745.Auckland West: Wed 12, The Falls, Henderson, 1745.New Plymouth: Wed 19, Waterfront Hotel, 1745.Queenstown: Wed 19, Mercure Hotel, 1745.

MAYLufthansa Agent Training DaysWellington: Wed 03, Intercontinental Wellington, 0830.Nelson: Thu 04, Rutherford Hotel, 0830.Christchurch: Tue 23, Ilex Botanic Gardens, 0830.Dunedin: Wed 24, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 0830.

2017 Amazing Thailand RoadshowAuckland: Mon 08, Sky City Convention Centre.

Asia Now RoadshowWellington: Wed 10.Christchurch: Thu 11. Tauranga: Mon 15.Hamilton: Tue 16. Auckland Central: Wed 17. Auckland North Shore: Thu 18. Venues, times tba.

JUNELufthansa Agent Training DaysQueenstown: Thu 22, Double Tree by Hilton Hotel, 0830.

Sculptures On ShowMore than 70 sculptures are now on display at Perth’s Cottesloe Beach for Sculpture by the Sea, advises Tourism Western Aus-tralia. One of Perth’s largest free public events, the event (03-20 Mar) sees Cottesloe Beach trans-form into a sculpture park. See sculpturebythesea.com

V i v a E x p e d i -t i o n s a n d C h i m u Adventures are to ow n a n d m a n a g e their own boutique h ote l i n L i m a — a move Viva’s Rachel Williams says was the next logical step for the company, which also operates a three-star guest house in Cusco.Around $5 million is being pumped into the 22-room Casa Republica to transform the 1920s heritage-listed mansion into a four-star hotel catering to local and international clientele, including Viva and Chimu’s own guests. Work is well under way

on the project, which is scheduled for completion by Jul 2017. When com-plete, the former beach retreat of a wealthy local family will also feature a restaurant and rooftop bar with ocean views.“We are very excited, there’s a short-age of good hotels in Lima, especially for travellers who want to stay in hotels with charm and character, a boutique hotel with modern facilities in a great area, and this ties in per-fectly with our retail and wholesale operations,” says Williams.The hotel is located in Barranco, 200m from the beach on Saenz Pena. “Barranco is a really trendy neigh-bourhood, it is safe and has a lot of charm, with lots of great restaurants, cafes and galleries,” says Williams.

Viva’s New Lima Property Underway

Bird’s-eye View In VICP r o m h e l i s i s a n e w s e r v i c e offering scenic flights over Victoria’s Wilson’s Promontory National Park. Promhelis offers five scenic options over ‘The Prom’ starting at AUD85 per person for eight minutes over Shal-low Inlet, up to the extended Wilsons Promontory and surrounding islands tour at AUD495 for 45 minutes. See promhelis.com.au

Eclipse In OregonThe first coast-to-coast total solar eclipse in the US since 1918 will pass directly through Central Oregon around 1000 on 21 Aug. Most places in America will be able to partially see the eclipse but for total darkness view-ers will have to be within a 100km band of the shadow, which includes the towns of Sisters, Redmond, Prin-eville and Madras. The latter’s eleva-tion and climate make it the best place to be for the event. Several events are planned within The Oregon SolarFest (17-22 Aug) including heli tours, hot air balloon rides, entertainment, food and beverage, adventure, science and kid’s fun. Most hotel accommodation has been booked out for several years but there are still beds available in resorts, college dorms, camping and glamping. See oregonsolarfest.com

New Tassie ToursN e w m u l t i - d a y w i l d e r n e s s experience, Wild Pedder is the brain-child of best mates Cody McCracken and Lou Balcombe, who met while guiding the Bay of Fires. The small group tours offer a wilderness ex-perience in South West Tasmania near Lake Pedder, start and finish in Hobart and include guided hiking and kayaking, Tassie produce and beverages, as well as overnight accom-modation at the Pedder Wilderness Lodge. Details, wildpedder.com.au