British Airways Uses Comedy to Support Charities

Last year British Airways launched 'Flying Start' - its global partnership with charity Comic Relief, to support vulnerable and disadvantaged children in the UK and around the world.

As part of this partnership, the airline is supporting Comic Relief UK's bi-annual fundraising event - Red Nose Day. The event will be taking place on Friday 18th March, when the great British public will be asked to Do Something Funny For Money.

To date, twelve Red Nose Days have raised more than £500m. That money has helped, and is helping, to give extremely vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the UK and Africa a helping hand to turn their lives around.

To mark the occasion, British Airways is undertaking a number of fundraising initiatives; this includes hosting the Guinness World Record for the 'Highest Stand-Up Comedy Gig in the World' (taking place in the UK), as well as painting red noses on a number of its fleet, that will fly around the world.

Furthermore, the airline recently hosted a trip to visit some of the projects funded by Comic Relief UK in Cape Town, South Africa.

British Airways chief executive, Keith Williams, who attended the visit, said: "Having recently seen first-hand where the money goes, I am more enthusiastic than ever about Flying Start.

As a global airline, it is important for us to spread the positive message about Comic Relief and do our best collect loose change from customers. Every penny, cent and dime will go towards helping the most vulnerable children in the cities we fly to."

Keith Williams and the Comic Relief UK teams visited a number of projects in Cape Town last month, including mothers2mothers - a mentoring program offering comprehensive support for HIV-positive pregnant women and new mothers - and Grassroots Soccer, which uses the power of football to educate, inspire and empower communities to stop the spread of HIV.

Customers can get involved by donating money on board flights, as well as online at www.ba.com/flyingstart.

Comic Relief UK is a UK wide charity, which aims to create a just world, free from poverty. It launched in 1985 and is perhaps best known for two major fundraising campaigns in the UK that take place in alternate years - Red Nose Day and Sport Relief. Thanks to the incredible generosity of the British public, Comic Relief UK has raised over £650million to help change lives.

Tucan Travel Announces this Year the One to Turn Your Easter into an Adventure Holiday

With Easter approaching, anyone looking for something a little different this year can experience an adventure holiday with Tucan Travel, almost anywhere in the world. By taking just a few extra days off over the Easter holiday, the adventure of a lifetime awaits.

Tucan Travel offers adventure holidays as short as three days for those looking for an independent adventure. But as an adventure is best shared, Tucan Travel specializes in escorted group tours and has many adventures for anywhere between one and two weeks. Your adventure this Easter could be anywhere from the wilds of Costa Rica to the majesty of Vic Falls in Zambia. Two weeks, and you could witness the mountain gorillas in Rwanda or marvel at the isolated grandeur of Patagonia.

One person never to turn down the opportunity for an adventure holiday is Tucan Travel General Manager Bec Whiffin. This Easter Whiffin is making the most of the break and venturing to the Far East, responding to the allure of Japan and the start of the cherry blossom festival.

"Along with everything else there is to see and do in this country, being there when the cherry blossoms bloom gives a great adventure holiday something extra special." said Whiffin.

More and more people want to leave behind the all-inclusive resort for their vacations and see what so many tourists don't by really getting a feel for the mood and culture of a country. And no matter where in the world you want to visit, be it a tour through Asia or just a Peru tour, an adventure holiday with Tucan Travel will always take you to into the thick of it.

Tucan Travel is a specialist adventure tour operator with hundreds of high quality, affordable and exciting adventures to worldwide destinations. Choose from over 470 group tours, Independent Travel packages and Expedition Cruises to Europe, the Middle East & North Africa, Asia & Russia, East & Southern Africa, Latin America and Antarctica.

Kim Kardashian And Betty White Help California Tourism Shatter California Misconceptions

California Travel and Tourism Commission Uses A Talent Line-Up Including Kim Kardashian and Betty White to Shatter California Myths In Their New TV Advertisement.

California is the land of legend: doesn't everyone drive a convertible, own a winery, surf, live in a bikini or act like a rock star?

Well, not everyone - and the California Travel and Tourism Commission's (CTTC) new "Misconceptions" television advertisement pokes fun at many of these stereotypes, while showcasing the state's abundance of attractions for visitors.

Following on from CTTC's first Australian TV spot, "Serious Business" which was launched in September 2010, the new advertisement again features an all-star cast including Betty White, Kim Kardashian, Olympic skier Shannon Bahrke, chef Michael Chiarello, LA Philharmonic conductor Gustavo Dudamel, and musicians Jonas Brothers and Jason Mraz.

"We're encouraging travellers to 'find yourself here' in California," said Caroline Beteta, CTTC president and chief executive officer. "And we've chosen personalities for this campaign that represent the California lifestyle in world-class sports, great cuisine, the outdoors, music and entertainment."

Launching across Australia's commercial networks Seven and Ten on Sunday 20 February 2011, the ad features locations around California from Squaw Valley ski slopes to San Diego beaches, the Golden Gate Bridge to the redwoods, and wine country to Venice Beach. Spectacular scenery and friendly faces abound.

"'Misconceptions' brings together some of the most famous icons in pop culture celebrating the vast diversity of the California experience," said Beteta. "The broadest appeal of this ad is the compilation and contrast of these personalities together on screen. Much like these diverse celebrities, California has something for everyone."

About the cast:
• Betty White has won seven Emmy awards and received 20 Emmy nominations over the course of her career, including being the first woman ever to receive an Emmy for game show hosting. In May 2010, she became the oldest person to guest-host "Saturday Night Live," for which she also received a Primetime Emmy Award.

• Kim Kardashian is a television personality, producer, actress and model, known for her family's E! reality series, "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." Kim has launched multiple fragrances, guest starred on numerous shows and competed on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars."

• American pop boy band the Jonas Brothers have sold more than eight million albums worldwide, having gained popularity from the Disney Channel. Brothers Kevin, Joe and Nick also starred in the Disney Channel original movies Camp Rock and its sequel, Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam. And in 2008, the group won the Breakthrough Artist Award at the American Music Awards.

• Jason Mraz's stylistic influences include reggae, pop, rock, folk, jazz, bossa nova and hip hop. With "Make It Mine" and "Lucky," Jason won two awards for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 2010 52nd Grammy Awards. Jason owns an avocado farm in Northern California.

• Two Olympic medals (bronze in 2010 and silver in 2002) crown Shannon Bahrke's freestyle skiing career. Bahrke started skiing at the age of three and has been a member of the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team and three Olympic teams (Salt Lake City, Torino and Vancouver Winter Games). She is the founder of Silver Bean Coffee.

• Michael Chiarello is an award‐winning chef, Emmy‐winning Food Network host, tastemaker behind the NapaStyle retail company, highly rated vintner and noted cookbook author. Throughout his career, Michael has combined his Southern Italian roots with Napa Valley living to pioneer culinary and lifestyle trends.

• Gustavo Adolfo Dudamel Ramírez, 29-year-old Venezuelan conductor and violinist, is currently music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic; principal conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony in Gothenburg, Sweden; and artistic director of the Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar in Caracas, Venezuela.

"Find yourself" in California by viewing "Misconceptions" at www.visitcalifornia.com.au/misconceptions.

Sea World's New Baby Dolphin Jumps for Joy!

Sea World's 'Name the Baby Dolphin' eBay auction is going extremely well, with the current bid just shy of $9,000 and the new little baby is jumping for joy!

On Friday 11 February Sea World launched a 'Name the Baby Dolphin' E-Bay auction with all proceeds going towards a research trip to assist the flood effected marine life of Brisbane's Moreton Bay and to check on the health of its 1000 Dugongs.

The auction which ends on Monday 21 February at 6am (AEDT) offers the highest bidder the right to name the new calf, a three night stay at Sea World Resort & Water Park, four VIP Passes with unlimited entry into Sea World, Movie World and Wet'n'Wild, four tickets to Australian Outback Spectacular and a back stage tour of Dolphin Cove where they will get to meet the little calf.

Sea World Director of Marine Sciences Trevor Long said that he is delighted with the response to the 'Name the Baby Dolphin' auction.

"It is wonderful to see Australians supporting the marine life of Moreton Bay and the work of the Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation".

"The floods have and will continue to have a huge and damaging effect on Moreton Bay, especially the Dugong population.

"There is a huge concern that silt from the floods have covered many of the Bay's sea grass beds, depriving the Dugongs of their only food source".

"Sea World, in partnership with the University of Queensland is planning to conduct their third annual Dugong research trip into Moreton Bay as well as Hervey Bay in the coming months and the funds raised from this auction will be of great benefit to Dugongs".

"This research trip will assess the short and long term effect of the floods on the Dugong population as well as complete an overall health check of the Dugongs".

ABOUT THE CALF:
Date of birth: 8 January 2011
Gender: Female
Parents: Squeak (Mum) and Sirius (Dad)
Weight: 20kg
Length: One metre

ABOUT THE AUCTION:
Link: Visit www.eBay.com.au and search for 'Sea World Baby Dolphin'
Closing date: 6am AEDT Monday 21 February 2011
Prize: Naming rights to the new baby Dolphin, 3 nights accommodation at Sea World Resort in a Resort room, 4 VIP Passes, 4 tickets to Australian Outback Spectacular and a VIP backstage tour of Dolphin Cove. Terms and conditions apply.

Sea World visitors can see the new mum and calf in the park's Dolphin Cove Nursery pool after the morning Imagine Dolphin Show. The best way to see Sea World's newest dolphin is with a VIP Pass which offers unlimited entry to Sea World, Movie World and Wet'n'Wild until June 30 2011.

Call to cruise agents to boycott overpricing players

A Sydney travel agent is urging his colleagues to withdraw support for cruise lines and GSAs which inflate prices for the Australian market.

RICHARD DAVEY, MANAGER OF THE CRUISE DIVISION at Harvey World Travel Mosman, is calling on the industry to stand up for its rights against those that give Australian travel agents a bad
name.

Read full story in today's Cruise Weekly (Why not subscribe?)

Qantas Announces Profit Result - Half-Year Ended 31 December 2010 and Qantas Group to Boost Aircraft Fleet

Solid recovery from GFC and other events

Strong growth across all operating segments

Highlights :

􀂃 Underlying Profit Before Tax of $417 million - up 56 per cent on prior corresponding period
􀂃 Revenue of $7.6 billion - up 10 per cent on prior corresponding period
􀂃 Operating cash flow of $743 million - up 54 per cent on prior corresponding period
􀂃 Cash balance of $3.3 billion

See attached for the full report

The Qantas Group also announced it would boost its domestic, resources charter and international fleets to support ongoing growth and operational efficiencies across its flying businesses.

Qantas Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alan Joyce, said a combination of new aircraft orders and leases, as well as lease extensions, would position Qantas, Jetstar, and the recently acquired Network Aviation, to take advantage of new market opportunities.

"The Qantas Group has a very strong, but still flexible, domestic and international aircraft order book,"Mr Joyce said.

"Today we are announcing significant moves that will build on this strength and meet our strategic needs in the short to medium across, particularly in the domestic and Asian markets."

Key points of the fleet plan update, which covers the period through to the end of FY13:

􀂃 the lease of five additional B737-800s, and the extension of leases on two B737-800s, for Qantas
􀂃 the lease of 10 additional A320s, and the extension of leases on 11 A320s, for Jetstar
􀂃 the lease of one A330-200 for Jetstar
􀂃 the purchase of 10 Fokker 100s for Network Aviation
􀂃 the lease of two additional B717s for QantasLink

"With the domestic market continuing its strong post-GFC recovery and growth, the Qantas Group will need additional capacity to participate in this growth and maintain its profit maximising 65 per cent domestic market share," Mr Joyce said.

"Much of these fleet additions will be directed to this key part of our operations - across each of our premium and low fare airlines, as well as Network Aviation operating fly-in-fly-out resource charter services in Western Australia.

"More A320s, as well as another wide-body A330-200, will ensure Jetsar maintains its place as the country's largest low fare airline and, along with Jetstar Asia, is best positioned to continue to drive the Group's Pan-Asian strategy.

"Our intention from day one has been to grow Network, and today's announcement will increase its F100 fleet five-fold."

Last year Qantas launched a wide-ranging domestic refresh which includes inflight product changes, the roll-out of faster, smarter Next Generation Check-in and lounge upgrades.

"Qantas now has 33 B737-800s on order, including the five announced today," Mr Joyce said.

"Operating primarily on Australian domestic routes, but also across the Tasman, all will have this latest product offering, including individual seat-back inflight entertainment screens for all customers, further cementing the airline's 'best for business' market position."

Qantas' first domestic B737-800 with this new offering will be delivered in April, and the first to also feature new Boeing Sky Interiors, including mood lighting and improved overhead luggage space, will
arrive later this year.

QantasLink's B717 fleet will grow to 13 aircraft, ensuring Australia's leading regional airline is able to take advantage of new opportunities.

See attached for table of Qantas Group firm aircraft deliveries.

Note: For breaking Qantas news via Twitter, go to http://twitter.com/qantasmedia

How Journalists Really Want You To Pitch

The best way to understand how to pitch is to ask an editor how they like to be pitched to and what they like to be pitched about. But not all editors pick up their phones, return emails or have time to discuss this with you.

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Both the So You Think You Can Pitch pitching workshop and the Write On press release workshops are led by leading journalist, Rachael Oakes-Ash and are being held in Sydney on Thursday, March 24 from 2pm to 5pm and in Melbourne on Thursday, March 31 from 2pm to 5pm.

Combine the afternoon pitching workshop with the morning press release workshop for a full understanding of how to get your product into the media.

Visit www.pitchit2me.com.au for workshop outlines, dates, venues and testimonials.