Silversea appoints Adam Armstrong as MD Australia & New Zealand

Adam Armstrong

Adam Armstrong will join Silversea Cruises as Managing Director Australia & New Zealand.  Currently Associate Vice President & Managing Director Australia & New Zealand for Royal Caribbean, Adam joins Silversea at an exciting time of growth and a period of significant investment in Australia and New Zealand for the ultra-luxury cruise line.  This announcement follows the resignation of Amber Wilson, Managing Director Australia & New Zealand, from Silversea to pursue other opportunities.

Having started his career at the Carnival Corporation, Adam has spent the last decade driving the growth and success of the Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises brands in Australia and New Zealand.  He is well placed to lead the future growth and development of Silversea in the region.

Roberto Martinoli, CEO Silversea comments: "Adam is a terrific addition to Silversea. His experience and achievements in the Australian and New Zealand cruise markets will support our ambitious plans for growth and develop closer relationships with our travel agent partners.  On behalf of Silversea, I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Amber Wilson for her great contribution to our cruise line over the past two years and wish her well in the future."

Australia and New Zealand is now Silversea's third largest market and continues to lead the way as the fastest growing cruise market in the world.  Silversea has ambitious growth plans, with its new flagship Silver Muse to sail to Australian and New Zealand waters for the first time in early 2019.  Additionally, an unprecedented deployment of 10 cruises has just been announced between November 2019 until March 2020, featuring Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

Adam Armstrong comments: "I am delighted to be joining Silversea at such an exciting time in its long history as a leading luxury brand.  I look forward to working with the local team and our valued agent partners to grow the business and take Silversea to the next level."

Adam will join Silversea on Monday 13 August 2018, based in the Sydney office and reporting directly to Roberto Martinoli.

Peter Shanks, Managing Director United Kingdom, Ireland, Middle East & Africa will oversee the Silversea team in Sydney on an interim basis until Adam joins in August.

(Editor notes: Armstrong replaces Amber Wilson who took up the position in August 2016 after 12 years with Cruiseco.)

The Whitsundays is a Winter Wonderland for Cruising

#queensland

The Whitsundays has always been known as a boating mecca but now the region is also home to not one, but two, award-winning Aquila44 power catamarans – just in time for the winter cruising season!

The charter boat industry in the Whitsundays is thriving and the region has the largest bareboating (crew-yourself) fleet in the Southern Hemisphere, with 1,133 beds available out on the water every night.

Now, with the arrival of Cumberland Charter Yachts' second Aquila44 power catamaran last month – following their first acquisition last year - the area boasts the only two luxury Aquila44's in the country available for charter.

Tourism Whitsundays General Manager Tash Wheeler said the Whitsundays was one of the best cruising grounds in the world and the region's bareboat operators were continually innovating and introducing new boats to their fleets.

"With calm waters, thanks to the protection of the Great Barrier Reef, and 74 islands to sail around with line-of-sight navigation, the Whitsundays is known as one of the best cruising grounds anywhere in the world," she said.

"It is fantastic to see Cumberland Charter Yachts extending their fleet into luxury power catamarans, which are becoming very popular with families and groups of friends.

"With five bareboating companies in the region, all united through the shared GoBareboating brand, the Whitsundays can offer a boating option for every kind of holiday as we head into the peak period, when sailors down south are searching out warmer waters. The Whitsundays really is a cruising winter wonderland."

Cumberland Charter Yachts General Manager Sharon McNally said demand for the Aquila44 – which won the Active Interest Media (AIM) Editor's Choice Award for 'Best Multihull' in 2014 - was strong as it offered customers a whole new level of luxury, space and comfort.

"The two Aquila44's are a brilliant addition to our fleet and give customers more choice under our Luxury Yachts Whitsundays brand," she said.

"The design lends itself perfectly to the cruising waters of the Whitsundays, with three large entertaining areas and very spacious accommodation, something you would normally only see on a 60-foot motor cruiser, but with more stability."

For more information about bareboating in the Whitsundays visit www.gobareboating.com

#Gobareboating #lovewhitsundays

AMANOI Vietnam launch new wellness retreats for 2018

Stepping away from everyday life to relax and return restored is no longer seen as an indulgence – it is a necessity in this fast-paced world. The chance to learn something new – breaking free from known routines and providing an enriching growth experience is also being increasingly recognised as key to renewed focus and stress release. With this in mind, Amanoi has expanded its wellness offering with the introduction of three new holistic retreats, which follow the successful unveiling of two new Spa Houses and Wellness Immersions in 2017. The only resort set in the starkly beautiful Nui Chua National Park on Vietnam's dramatic Vinh Hy Bay coastline, Amanoi is an ideal destination for reflection, recalibration and reconnection. Cocooned in a pristine natural environment, its remote location encompassing a secluded white-sand beach, a lotus-strewn lake and cliffs plunging into the East Sea, the resort provides a host of settings in which to pursue wellness goals, learn a new skill such as Qigong, and enjoy a peaceful pause.

Amtrak celebrates 47 years and looks to the future

Numerous customer improvements completed, more underway

Amtrak celebrates 47 years of providing passenger rail service across the nation by looking ahead, continually improving the customer experience and making Amtrak the preferred choice of the 21stcentury for business and leisure travel.

“While we celebrate our history, we have a keen eye on the future and are making necessary changes to provide our customers with an unparalleled travel experience,” said Amtrak President & CEO Richard Anderson. “Many customers have already noticed these improvements, and can look forward to several more upgrades that are on the way.”

Some of the customer-focused improvements underway include:

• Refreshed trains: Refurbishing the interiors of more than 450 coaches for trains serving the Northeast and Midwest – all by the end of this summer.
• New Fares: Restructured fare discounts and expanded the use of targeted and flexible sales.
• Upgraded connectivity: Enhancing Wi-Fi on Northeast Corridor (NEC) trains and at select stations.
• On-time service: Improving on-time performance on the NEC, updating charter and private train guidelines to minimize impact on operations, and re-doubling our work with freight railroads hosting Amtrak on their lines.
• Improving schedules: Working with our state partners, Amtrak is providing customers more flexibility and options for travel on the Piedmont, Pacific Surfliner and San Joaquin
• Seat assignments: Introducing assigned seating on select routes to improve the boarding process and allow customers to select their preferred seat before traveling.
• Improved facilities: Rehabilitating and improving the passenger areas of major stations and increasing staff on board trains to keep busy NEC trains clean.
• Expanded communications: Offering real-time and frequent information via social media, specifically @AmtrakNEC.
• Enhanced connectivity: Added Thruway connections and will continue to expand to more cities this summer. Amtrak is also working toward providing seamless ticketing for mass transit services and ride providers to make “last mile” connections.
• Maximizing mobility options: In the last year, nearly 50,000 small pets and more than 55,000 bikes have traveled with customers, with additional options coming soon.
• New Onboard Experience Options: Starting in June, Amtrak will offer contemporary and fresh dining choices and amenities for sleeping car customers on the Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited.

These immediate changes are occurring in advance of more long-term upgrades such as: buying modern train equipment, including Acela trainsets; ongoing Concourse Management Strategy studies of New York Penn Station and; further development of stations in Chicago Washington, D.C., Baltimore-Penn, Philadelphia 30th Street, and the new Moynihan Train Hall in New York.

Yering Gorge Cottages: Wildlife on your doorstep

Yering Gorge Cottages provides a stunning natural setting where bushland intersects with the Yarra River against the backdrop of the Christmas Hills and Dividing Ranges. Guests have the rare opportunity to get up close and personal with some of Australia’s most iconic wildlife during their stay.

Discover kangaroos, wombats and echidnas roaming wildly in their natural habitat; and with three kilometres of the Yarra River running through the property, our family of breeding platypus have been known to make special appearances. With over 200 species of native bird life within the 120-acre private nature reserve including Eastern and Crimson Rosellas, Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos, Kookaburras, Rainbow Lorikeets, several Grass Parrots and Owl species, Kingfishers and nesting Wedge Tail Eagles - a pair of binoculars should be at the top of the ‘to pack list’.

“Yering Gorge Cottages provides an idyllic setting within an hour of Melbourne - perfect for nature lovers and those wanting to escape the city. Surrounded by birds and wildlife, kangaroos roam freely throughout the property; guests might find a cockatoo landing on their railing as they start-up the barbeque or have a wombat join them on their morning walk along the river. Our guests always depart wishing they’d stayed an extra night or two”, said Sales & Marketing Manager, Tracy Hore.

With over 12km of bush walking trails through our 120-acre Nature Reserve, walkers and bikers will find many species of native flora along the way whilst enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding Yarra Valley upon reaching the summit. Experience the unique geological structure and natural beauty of Yering Gorge and discover the perfect picnic spot on the banks of the Yarra River. For those with a current Victorian Fishing Licence, the Yarra River is home to many native fish species including the Macquarie Perch.

Located in the heart of Melbourne’s food and wine playground, Yering Gorge Cottages is Trip Advisor’s #1 rated boutique property in the Yarra Valley. Nested into the hillside of a 120-acre Nature Reserve, alongside the Yarra River, Yering Gorge Cottages features 13 self-contained, luxuriously appointed, one, two and four-bedroom cottages.

For more information on Yering Gorge Cottages please visit www.yeringgorgecottages.com.au

Outback stargazing in South Australia

A family-owned eco-tourism business plans to bring visitors deep into the desert of South Australia to experience the night sky in all its glory.



Opal prospector Conan Fahey has turned to crowdfunding to raise money to design and build an astronomy observatory, education centre and viewing platform in the South Australian mining outpost of Andamooka.

Located 600km by road north of Adelaide, the tiny Outback town of Andamooka is best known for it opals, but now Fahey and his family want to show off the sparkling night sky to visitors.

Fahey has begun a GoFundMe campaign to raise AUD$68,000 to build a star deck and an education centre to help kickstart an eco-tourism industry in the isolated community of 600 people.

“We want to attract more tourists and work with our community to build an amazing tourist attraction with heaps of educational and employment opportunities for our locals,” Fahey said.



The goal is to build a centre where children can discover science through the night skies as well as develop and partner with the Aboriginal bushfood and cottage art industries.

“The Andamooka Observatory will provide tools and infrastructure for Aboriginal rangers and tour guides and host a local group of astroholics who love to promote the night skies of the South Australian Outback,” Fahey said.

Andamooka was first settled in 1933 when opals where discovered in the area. In the years since the settlement, which is located at the end of the last bit of paved road in the far north of South Australia, has attracted a mix of prospectors and adventurous tourists from around the world. The town, which resembles a Mad Max set, once boasted a population of 2000 people, but less than 600 now call it home.



South Australia is renowned for its pristine environment and there is a growing appreciation for its dark skies that make it a perfect place to observe the Milky Way.

Further south, environmentalists and astronomers are working up a case to have a vast tract of land just 120km from the South Australian capital Adelaide declared a Dark Sky Reserve.

If successful, the 2000sq km River Murray Dark Sky Reserve, which has a dark sky reading of 21.9 (22 is total darkness), would become just the second officially sanctioned International Dark Sky Place in Australia and the fifth in the Southern Hemisphere.

In Andamooka, Fahey and his family have hosted telescope nights on the hill beside their property to observe astronomical events.

“One of our ‘moonie’ nights included the use of the town’s portable screen (pictured above). We were able to hook it up to a telescope and show the super blue moon on the big screen,” Fahey said.

Fahey said they were also selling used books at their property to help raise the necessary funds.

Tragedy strikes Solomon Islands tourism family

Solomon Islands tourism industry mourns tragic loss of SIVB Officer

- official statement -

The close-knit Solomon Islands tourism community is in shock following the tragic death yesterday of Solomon Islands Visitor Bureau (SIVB) marketing officer, Stella Lucas.

Ms Lucas and three other SIVB colleagues had been assessing a hiking program in the Mataniko River region close to Honiara when the incident occurred.

One of those, Mr Chris Nemaia is still reported missing.

A devastated SIVB chairman, Wilson Ne'e said he was unable to comment on the exact circumstances until local authorities released an official report.

In the meantime, he said the SIVB team was being provided with counselling while they try to come to terms with the tragedy and the organisation was doing everything it could to help both Mr Nemaia and Ms Lucas' families at this time.

Visit: www.visitsolomons.com.sb

Facebook: www.facebook.com/visitsolomonislands