Travel Industry Optimistic For 2011

WTM's Meridian Club buyers positive about 2011

The travel and tourism industry is extremely optimistic 2011 will see it leave the global financial downturn behind, reveals a survey of World Travel Market's Meridian Club - the industry's most senior buyers.

Almost eight out of ten (78%) Meridian Club members polled say they are optimistic for the industry's prospects in 2011.

Furthermore, more than half (54%) of the 330 senior buyers polled say the industry will perform better in 2011 than in 2010, with 37% believing the industry's performance will be on par with 2010.

"It's been a great start to the year so far following on from a good finish to last year," One Meridian Club member revealed.

Another senior travel industry buyer added: "People in general still have a good appetite for travel and London in particular will be boosted by the Royal Wedding."

A large majority of the Meridian Club members polled revealed more bookings have been made already this year compared to recent years, helping to instil confidence for the rest of 2011.

Meridian Club members are even more confident about their company's prospects with a massive 89% feeling optimistic for their organisation's prospects in 2011 - this compares to only seven out of ten members when asked the same question 12 months ago.

Furthermore, nearly 70% of the members believe their company will perform better in 2011 than it did in 2010 with a mere 4% expecting their organisation to perform worse this year than it did last year.

"Having had a growth strategy during the recession the company continues to grow and make positive returns on investments," one Meridian Club member responded.

Another buyer added: "So far it has been very busy and as long as interest rates do not go up it should stay that way."

Meridian Club Marketing Manager Ajay Ahluwalia added: "It is great news that the industry's senior buyers have such a positive outlook for 2011.

"It would appear the industry is leaving the tough times behind and has optimism for the future. Meridian Club members are the industry's most senior buyers and the people purchasing the tourism product making them the first group to see an uplift in consumer demand."

Kiwi Collection Launches Mobile Website For Luxury Hotel Bookings

Kiwi Collection, the world's most trusted booking resource for exceptional hotels, has just launched a mobile version of its website.

Taking notice of a recent Morgan Stanley study that mobile device computing will overtake notebook computing by 2012, Kiwi Collection partnered with Mobify, the leading mobile web platform for e-commerce, to create an elegant mobile website that delivers all the functionality of its desktop site. 

Optimized for smaller mobile screens, the Kiwi Collection mobile site retains all the functionality of the desktop site, including search, booking, full mobile payment, and its signature gorgeous image galleries. 

"At Mobify we believe that mobile web is a key part of a great travel experience," says Mobify CEO Igor Faletski, "and Kiwi Collection is an outstanding example of that."

"Using Mobify allowed Kiwi Collection to go mobile quickly, without losing our focus" says Philippe Kjellgren, President and CEO at Kiwi Collection,  "we've already seen an increase in mobile revenue."

To start using the mobile website visit kiwicollection.com on your iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry 6 mobile device. 

A video presentation is also available on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCnh4xHqhwg

ABOUT KIWI COLLECTION

Kiwi Collection is the world's most trusted booking resource for exceptional hotels. The trust in our unbiased opinions and reviews is our most coveted asset.
 
Our team members review and rate each of our selected hotels on a regular basis without regard for brand, size, or affiliation. The collection caters to all tastes and budgets, and ranges from affordable and hip urban hotels, to lavish palaces and resorts in far-off locales.
 
Kiwi Collection delivers amazing hotels, the best rates guaranteed, and free perks including Kiwi Advantages and exclusive benefits for Visa Premium cardholders.
 
Hotels that fall below our rigorous standards are diligently removed. As an absolute rule, no hotel is ever allowed to buy its way into Kiwi Collection. This keeps our collection fresh, honest, and dependable.
 
With offices in Vancouver, London, and Sydney, and over 2,200 hotels in 131 countries, Kiwi Collection acts as a global guide for those who care where they stay. Learn more at kiwicollection.com
 
ABOUT MOBIFY 
 
Mobify was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Its solutions optimize web sites for mobile and tablet devices. Mobify's customers include global leaders in e-commerce, online publishing, and digital advertising, such as Wired, Threadless, and the GAP.  By using Mobify's mobile web platform, these companies have achieved significant growth in mobile traffic and revenue. Learn more at mobify.me.
 

Ninth Edition of Moon Fiji

Avalon Travel Publishing has launched the 9th edition of Moon Fiji, the original travel guide to the 322-island Fiji archipelago. Since 1985, Moon Fiji has been the leading travel guidebook to Fiji. Author David Stanley has been writing about the South Pacific since 1979, and over the years tens of thousands of Pacific travelers have used his guides to Fiji, Tahiti, Tonga, Samoa, Micronesia, and the South Pacific.

Moon Fiji's 419 pages are packed with photos and maps. Unlike the maps in other guidebooks, the 53 maps in Moon Fiji are clearly labeled without confusing numbered keys. To allow for detail, there are three street maps of Fiji's capital Suva and two of the gateway city Nadi. Most of the 170 photos are new to this edition and many of them are in color.

The 24-page color section at the front of the book has been expanded with a pair of 10-day suggested itineraries and four travel strategies.

Summaries of sports and recreation, beaches, natural attractions, and culture will help you plan your trip. Moon Fiji's 122 pages of reference material are tucked unobtrusively into the back of the book. The Background chapter provides an in-depth introduction to Fiji, while Essentials has everything you'll need to know about transportation and practicalities. Tips for Travelers caters to those with special needs.

The nine travel chapters offer specific advice on sightseeing, lodging, food, transport, and facilities throughout Fiji with exact prices are quoted. Tiny Must See and Top Pick symbols help readers choose among the many things to see and do. David Stanley researches his books incognito and eschews the "hospitality" many other travel writers enjoy and the
listings are thorough and critical. Moon Fiji has been designed to compliment other media, and internet addresses and emails are provided whenever possible. There is much information not found on commercial websites or in the free brochures.

Rob Kay of FijiGuide.com had this to say about Moon Fiji: "Stanley excels at getting accurate information on hotels, inexpensive restaurants, and tourist sites. However there is another reason why his guide is valuable.

Stanley does not simply list the properties in alphabetical order and expect the reader to determine what's best. Based on personal visits and feedback from visitors, he will actually offer you an opinion and the straight facts."

About Moon Fiji

The 9th edition of Moon Fiji (ISBN 1598807374 or 978-1598807370) was published by Avalon Travel Publishing of Berkeley, California, in January, 2011. Priced at US$19.95, this book is distributed worldwide by The Perseus Books Group. To order online, visit
http://www.southpacific.org/fiji.html

AIRLINE UPDATES

Air Asia cabin crew

* AirAsia now allows online booking up to four hours prior to departure

* Qatar Airways plans to increase Doha - Kuala Lumpur service, offering two daily flights

* Malaysia Airlines has launched thrice-weekly non-stop service linking Kota Kinabalu and Perth

* AirAsia has launched Medan-Bangkok service

* Garuda Indonesia has increased its Jakarta-Sydney schedule from thrice-weekly to daily

* Turkish Airlines will launch thrice-weekly Istanbul - Guangzhou service beginning Jan. 30

* All Nippon Airways will resume daily Tokyo - Jakarta service this month, and will launch daily Tokyo - Manila flights in March

* Jetstar Airways will commence new Manila - Darwin flights Feb. 9, and Singapore - Auckland service in March

* Korean Air plans to launch A380 service from its Seoul hub to Hong Kong and Tokyo in June, and to Bangkok in July

HYATT CHECKS OUT OF AUCKLAND AS PULLMAN CHECKS IN

A new era has begun for Auckland's most prominent 5-star hotel, with Hyatt Regency checking-out of the city and Pullman Auckland Hotel & Residences checking in.

The Hyatt was New Zealand's first 5-star hotel and commands a central position in the heart of Auckland's commercial and retail district.

Accor management took over at the hotel following the sale of the hotel to new owners. The change-over also marked Accor's ascendancy to New Zealand's largest hotel group, with a total of 29 hotels and 4017 rooms across the country – 500 rooms more than its nearest competitor. Accor will increase its network further in mid-year when it adds Novotel and Formule 1 hotels at Auckland Airport.

Accor Vice President New Zealand, Paul Richardson said that the new owners would undertake some minor upgrades of the hotel, but as all rooms had received a NZ$7 million refurbishment just two years ago, the hotel was in excellent condition and is an ideal addition to the Pullman network.

"The launch of Pullman will be very beneficial for Auckland's tourism sector with a fresh approach to upscale hospitality," he said. "Over the coming months, we will be enhancing the hotel to bring the property up to Pullman standard, providing a complete array of personalised services and innovative technologies including a Connectivity Lounge and the groundbreaking 'Co-Meeting' concept which ensures flawless success for meetings and events."

The Pullman hotel offers 267 rooms, suites and apartments, with three Pullman Executive levels, all of which were refurbished in 2009. The hotel is one of Auckland's leading hotels for conferences and events with facilities capable of hosting functions for up to 1000 delegates. Facilities range from a grand ballroom to the Top of the Town boardroom, one of Auckland's most exclusive venues, which is located on the top floor of the hotel, providing superb views of the harbour, city and parks

A feature of the hotel's facilities is the Spa and Health Club, one of the largest of its kind in New Zealand. Available to hotel guests and external clients, the Spa includes six treatment rooms, gymnasium, a 25 meter heated lap pool with a retractable roof, steam room, jacuzzi, juice bar and spa boutique

While making its debut in New Zealand, Pullman has a rich heritage in the global hospitality and tourism world. It is the fastest growing 5-star brand in the Asia Pacific region, with major additions in countries such as Vietnam, China, India, and Malaysia, building on the existing network in Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea and China as well as in Europe. The Pullman network already extends to over 50 hotels in some of the world's most renowned cities and is set to double in size over the next three years.

ABOUT PULLMAN

Pullman is Accor's upscale hotel brand designed with the requirements of business women and men in mind.

Located in the main regional and international cities, Pullman hotels provide an extensive range of tailored services, access to groundbreaking technologies, and "Co-Meeting", a new approach to organizing meetings, seminars and high-end incentives. At Pullman hotels, business travelers can choose between being independent or choosing help from our staff available round the clock.

By the end of 2010, the Pullman network will include 60 hotels across Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. In time, we anticipate a network of over 150 establishments around the world.

Further information concerning Pullman hotels is available on the website www.pullmanhotels.com.

Quest Serviced Apartments opens new Cheltenham property

Quest Serviced Apartments will open a new property in Cheltenham, Victoria on Friday 28 January 2011. The serviced apartment property will employ approximately eight locals and is expected to contribute around $3 million to the local economy.

The new $14 million property is the first purpose-built accommodation in the area offering flexible, comfortable and spacious serviced apartment accommodation for business and leisure travellers visiting Cheltenham.

Paul Constantinou, Chairman Quest Serviced Apartments says the development will provide much-needed accommodation to help support growth in the area.

"Cheltenham is a major commercial and industrial hub with a thriving retail sector and the largest concentration of small to medium sized industrial projects in Melbourne. It also boasts world-class sporting and educational facilities and has grown in popularity for weddings and events due to its bayside location," he says.

"Quest Cheltenham will accommodate the increasing demand for business accommodation as well as growing numbers of people visiting the area," says Mr Constantinou.

The anticipated 4.5 star AAA Tourism rated property is located at 37 – 39 Station Road, Cheltenham 15km from the Melbourne CBD. It is also in close proximity to Royal Melbourne, Victoria and Kingston Heath golf courses, Moorabbin Airport and Flying Services, Monash University and surrounding business hubs.

The property offers a combination of 49 studio, one, two and three bedroom serviced apartments and conference facilities which cater for up to 30 people.

Each spacious apartment features kitchen and laundry facilities, a separate work desk, living and dining areas, broadband internet access and a multi-device charger.

In addition, the property offers on-site underground car parking, on-site gymnasium, local restaurant chargeback arrangements and a pantry shopping service.

For reservations call 1800 232 384 or visit www.questcheltenham.com.au

Queensland Flood Update And Travel Info: 18 January 2010

Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Agnes Water, 1770, Whitsundays, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns and Tropical North Queensland are accessible and tourism operations are normal.

All Queensland airports with the exception of Rockhampton, are currently open and operating normally.

The Bruce Highway, the main road link from Brisbane to Cairns, is now open. Brisbane, the Darling Downs, Southern Downs and Granite Belt and Capricorn Coast are now recovering with most tourism operations open and affected tourism operations returning to normal as quickly as possible. There are however still some local road closures in some areas. Visit http://131940.qld.gov.au/ for the latest road conditions.

Parts of Central Queensland, Queensland's Outback, Western Downs and the Lockyer Valley continue to be affected and access to these areas is restricted.

Please contact your travel agent, accommodation, attraction or tour provider directly for latest conditions or with concerns about any current or upcoming bookings you may have.

For the latest travel information visit www.queenslandholidays.com.au For the latest conditions Tourism Queensland recommends visiting the Queensland Government's official Queensland floods webpage: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/ or visit the Bureau of Meteorology http://www.bom.gov.au/ to check weather forecasts for your holiday destination. Visit http://131940.qld.gov.au/ for the latest road conditions.

How can you help?
You can help Queensland recover by taking a holiday in Queensland - in the areas that haven't been affected by floodwaters, and in the affected areas once they are up and running again.

If you already have a Queensland holiday booked - don't cancel as most tourism regions and operations are now up and running.

If you don't have a Queensland holiday booked, book one!

Queensland's tourism industry has the welcome mat rolled out ready to receive visitors, so come see us!

People wishing to directly help flood victims can donate to the Queensland Government Flood Assistance Appeal at www.qld.gov.au/floods

What damage will the floods have on the Great Barrier Reef?

• There have been recent media reports concerning possible damage to Great Barrier Reef as a result of floodwaters transferring from the river systems into the oceans around Central Queensland.
• Tourism Queensland is not a scientific expert qualified to speak on the health of the Great Barrier Reef, however our understanding is that the effects of the flood waters on reef systems is currently unknown. However, fresh water runoffs are a natural part of the ecosystem and some plant and marine life actually thrive in these situations.
• The Great Barrier Reef is 2300km along with thousands of reefs, coral cays and islands. The vast majority of these are likely to remain unaffected.
• Currently tourism operations along the Great Barrier Reef including the Southern Great Barrier Reef,Whitsundays, Townsville and Cairns and Tropical North Queensland are operating normally, including dive operators, sailing operators and daytrip operators.
• Anyone concerned about a Great Barrier Reef booking an individual operator, should check with the accommodation provider, tour operator or attraction for the latest conditions.
• Refer to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority for further information.