CLIA statement on COVID-19

CLIA and its cruise line members are responding to evolving circumstances swiftly and in consultation with governments and health authorities internationally in relation to COVID-19. As always, the health and safety of passengers and crew is the highest priority.

As the Australian Government has announced, all international arrivals by cruise ships to Australian ports will be suspended for 30 days, with provisions for vessels currently in operation.

As many cruise lines had previously announced voluntary suspensions of their operations, the industry is already well advanced in returning ships to port. CLIA has been working closely with the government in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, and has been consulting with state and national health departments over the extensive measures enacted by the cruise industry globally.

Cruise lines are now focused on a safe and smooth return for affected ships at sea, and on arrangements for the disembarkation of passengers.

While we acknowledge these suspensions will cause inconvenience and disappointment to many, cruise lines are working around the clock to maintain a focus on the health and safety of passengers and crew.

This is an unprecedented situation and we are conscious not only of the impact upon on guests but also on the destinations that cruise lines visit and the many businesses that depend upon cruise tourism. Despite challenging times, we are confident our industry has the resilience to overcome this situation in the longer term.

Intrepid Suspends International Tours until 30 April 2020

Intrepid Group is suspending Intrepid Travel and Peregrine Adventures tours globally* from Monday 16 March until Thursday . 

Customers booked to travel on an Intrepid Travel or Peregrine Adventures tour during this time will receive a credit valued at 110%, which will be valid for two years. 

Intrepid Travel and Peregrine Adventure tours that are currently operating will continue until 3 April 2020. Any customers that opt to leave their tour early will receive a credit for the remainder of their itinerary. 

The only *exception is to Intrepid’s Australia tours, which at this stage, will go ahead as planned.

CEO James Thornton says that the decision to suspend Intrepid Group’s global operations comes as a result of the increasing number of national and international travel restrictions that have been announced by governments in the past 48 hours. 

“The rapid spread of Coronavirus and subsequent travel shutdowns has created a situation which is unlike anything that Intrepid has seen in our 31 years in business. We have now made the difficult decision to pause our global operations until the end of April,” says Thornton.

“The health and wellbeing of our customers, our people, and the local communities that we visit is our priority. As a responsible travel company, we look forward to resuming trips when we can once again operate trips that benefit both our travellers and the people they visit along the way.”

For more information, please visit https://www.intrepidtravel.com/covid19 or https://www.peregrineadventures.com/en-au/covid19

16-Day Egypt and Jordan Tour for Solo Travellers only

Solo Travel experts and award-winning tour company, Two’s a Crowd, has just released final seats for their 16-day Egypt and Jordan Discovery group tour, departing 1 April 2020. The escorted tour is for solo travellers only, and forget sharing rooms, every traveller has their own!

Designed specifically for solo travellers and led by a Two’s a Crowd tour host, explore Egypt and Jordan in the safety of a group of 15 like-minded people. Enjoy personalised attention, space and even free time to explore.

Over 16 days this amazing tour will visit Egypt and Jordan’s much-loved towns and cities including Egypt’s capital – Cairo; Aswan, Egypt’s southernmost city and gateway to Africa; Luxor, famous for its ancient monuments and Tombs; Jordan’s capital, Amman; the beach resort of Aqaba; Wadi Rum and its stunning desert scenery; and the fabled city of Petra.

From the Valley of the Kings to digging for obscure treasure in ancient marketplaces, this tour is packed with unforgettable experiences.

Visit Egypt’s classic icons, the Sphinx and King Tut’s tomb. Discover the fascinating story behind the Valley of the Kings and its unusual burial tradition. Spend three nights cruising down the Nile River and falling under its spell. Encounter Nubian communities and relax on the riverboat’s sun deck.

Discover Wadi Rum, a geologically intriguing town built into a vast boulder with sweeping desert and echoing formations and experience the turquoise haven and healing powers of one of the world’s saltiest bodies of water –the Dead Sea.

Journey through the desert to a luxury camp and spend the night under a staggeringly beautiful starry sky. Travel to Abu Simbel’s monumental temples by plane and marvel at the sheer scale of these stunning structures. Enjoy a home cooked meal with a local Egyptian family and discover the hidden and hand-hewn facades of Petra and the ancient Roman ruins at Jerash.

Accommodation includes 11 nights in a range of 3.5 to 4-star hotels, one night in a luxury desert tent, three nights in a cabin onboard ‘Dolphin Nile cruise’ and one night in a cabin onboard the Luxor to Cairo Sleeper Train. Every guest has their own room, tent and cabin.

The 16-day Egypt and Jordan Discovery tour is $7,597 per person and includes a Two’s a Crowd tour host from Australia, English speaking local leader in Egypt and Jordan, all accommodation in own room/cabin/tent, all meals included as per itinerary, some meals, all transport, all tour activities and tour entrance/admission fees, group arrival and departure transfers, tips and gratuities and Comprehensive Travel Insurance provided by CHI Travel Insurance (Underwritten by Allianz).

For further information and for bookings visit: https://twosacrowd.com.au/

Coronavirus: ITB Berlin Cancelled, IPW 'All systems go'

While the shockwaves of the coronavirus scare are now being felt as far away as Italy and Germany, we learn this week that organisers have decided to cancel the huge ITB travel trade fair, throwing into disarray the plans of 160,000 visitors and 10,000 exhibitors.

US Travel's massive annual IPW, on the other hand, is planning to go ahead and Malcolm Smith, General Manager IPW, has written to all delegates and exhibitors to reassure them.

Malcolm Smith, General Manager, IPW
"all systems go"

"While IPW is several months away, we're presently on track to host an outstanding event in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 30-June 3. It's "all systems go" and planning for all scenarios is well underway. Registration is strong from both domestic and international attendees.

"U.S. public health and security officials, as recently as yesterday, have been clear in stating that the threat of COVID-19 in the United States remains low. We will continue to follow the guidance offered by these leading health authorities and be guided by the most up to date information available. Any alternative decisions will be informed by expert advice. We aim to react properly to this current situation, but not to overreact.

"Our concern is for all who are affected by this health challenge, and we are hopeful for a swift resolution that keeps travelers to and within America safe and secure."

SO Melbourne to grow Accor luxury presence in Australia

Today, Accor announces the continued expansion of its luxury portfolio in Australia, with the debut of the vibrant and playful SO/Hotels & Resorts luxury brand in Melbourne, Australia. Slated to open in 2023, SO/Melbourne is set to be a bold, fashionable and luxurious designer hotel, located in a prime CBD position overlooking Flagstaff Gardens.

Positioned on the corner of William and Franklin Streets, the hotel is within close reach of Melbourne's key commercial, retail and leisure attractions. The first SO/ branded hotel for Australia and second in the region following SO/Auckland, will boast 288 avant-garde guestrooms and suites, some with outdoor terraces, combined with exceptional signature services, social events and opulent experiences. The hotel will form part of a mixed-use development including 20,000sqm of office and co-working space.

Simon McGrath, Chief Operating Officer Pacific, Accor, says “The demand for quality luxury hotels is at an all-time high, so the timing is right to introduce Australia to the audacious and fashionable SO/ Hotel brand.

“SO/Melbourne will bring a bold and playful energy to Melbourne, blending the brand's vibrant luxury services with the heart and soul of the destination. This flagship hotel will be the place to be seen to socialise, appealing to chic travellers and Melbourne's savvy early adopters who are renowned for having their finger on the pulse.

“Guests today are looking for travel experiences that excite the senses and they want to stay in places where they feel connected to the heart of their destination. We look forward to opening this exciting flagship hotel in 2023,” concluded McGrath.

Daring and exuberant design is at the heart of the SO brand, and like all other SO/ properties around the world, SO/ Melbourne will be brought to life by a celebrated fashion designer who will lend their artistic vision to the property.

SO/Melbourne is being developed by MIT Group Holdings Pty Ltd, the property arm of private tertiary educational institute, Melbourne Institute of Technology. The project is part of a multimillion-dollar mixed-use urban regeneration project across two towers and a podium comprising a luxury lifestyle hotel, commercial workspace and a high-end ground floor retail space. An existing heritage building will be retained and incorporated into the lower level design to reflect the diverse history of the site.

The Elenberg Fraser architect-designed hotel is positioned in the upper levels between level 11 and level 34 with a tapering form to capitalise on views to Flagstaff Gardens and the Queen Victoria Market. The hotel, with interiors by P49, will feature a signature club lounge & private meeting room, specialty restaurant/bar & sky deck, all-day dining & outdoor terrace, lobby lounge/café, and a ballroom. Next generation Grade-A office space and co-working areas will feature from level 1 to level 10. Consultants involved in the development include project managers Sinclair Brook and hotel advisor Savills.

Wellness facilities will include a SO/SPA and SO/FIT wellness and fitness centre as well as a swimming pool. Sky gardens and lush landscapes will adorn the walls and interiors of the hotel, bringing a breath of fresh air into Melbourne and shaping the next chapter in architectural history for the city.

With fashionable properties located in the most dynamic destinations worldwide, SO/ Hotels & Resorts is one of the fastest-growing lifestyle brands in Accor's luxury portfolio. In addition to the upcoming opening of SO/ Havana Paseo del Prado in Havana, Cuba (2020) and SO/ Los Cabos Hotel & Residences (2021) in Mexico, the brand will soon unveil hotels in desirable locations worldwide including Kuala Lumpur (2020), Samui (2020) and Jakarta (2021). These additions will expand an eclectic SO/ portfolio which already includes two stunning properties in Thailand, SO/ Bangkok & SO/ Hua Hin, as well as SO/ Mauritius, SO/ Singapore and recently opened properties including SO/ Berlin Das Stue, SO/ Vienna, SO/ St. Petersburg and SO/ Auckland.

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What's New in Tasmania in 2020

New Hotels in Hobart and Launceston
Tasmania welcomes top players

Standby for an influx of powerhouse global hotel brands. Coming in Q3 2020, the Marriot Luxury Collection opens The Tasman, its $50 million five-star Hobart hotel in a restored heritage building in Parliament Square. The InterContinental Hotels Group opens Crowne Plaza, a 278-room hotel above the ICON Complex in Hobart CBD, featuring Aura, an inner-city rooftop bar (a first for Hobart, cocktails for everyone!). Also scheduled for a Q1 opening in the CBD is Mövenpick (Accor Group) 196-room hotel, and the 142-room Vibe Hotel. Meanwhile, an extra 21 rooms have just been opened at Moss, the botanically themed hotel that blossomed at Salamanca Place last year.

Launceston, too, has a raft of new accommodation due soon. Following newcomers Stillwater Seven and Change Overnight, work is well underway on the brand new 86-room Hotel Verge in Launceston city centre and refurbishment of the former Clarion Hotel now City Park Grand on Tamar Street.

Cradle Mountain Gets Some TLC
New lodge and experiences rock the Cradle

Stay tuned for the roll-out of new accommodation and experiences at Tasmania’s popular Central Highlands national park. Leading the charge is the established wilderness retreat Cradle Mountain Lodge, which has recently refurbished its five luxurious King Billy suites. Phase one of the renovations span the Highland restaurant, Tavern bar, Waldheim spa, and reception. For thrill seekers, the new Cradle Canyons Phoenix Gorge experience involves abseiling the Big Cheese, a 30-metre high waterfall. Don’t believe us? Watch this. The McDermott Group and S Group are developing 62 luxury self-contained apartments in the Cradle valley featuring a viewing platform for stargazers. And, to top it off, the national park’s visitor information centre is being upgraded.

Everything Old is New Again
Heritage stays crafted with care

Tasmania is the place to experience the nation’s most inspiring heritage conversions. Textbook examples include Stillwater Seven, a super-stylish boutique hotel of just seven rooms in Launceston’s 1830s flour mill; the storied Ship Inn Stanley in the shadow of The Nut on Tasmania's north-west coast; and the gloriously green Moss hotel, a converted Georgian-era sandstone warehouse on Salamanca Place in Hobart.

Forage for a Feast
The art of hunting and gathering

Agri-tourism is a dominant vibe in 2020, with a suite of agri-tours coming online. Off the Table Tours, in and around working farms northern Tasmania offers a range of behind-the-scenes experiences linking food lovers with Tasmania’s top farmers and producers. Choices include truffle hunting, cooking your own Cape Grim beef, a garlic and heirloom tomato tasting, and an eggs-pedition at the island’s largest free-range egg farm. King Island is world-renowned for its beef, the Meat Your Beef Tour allows you to go behind the scenes of 1500 hear of cattle farm offering a tailored farmgate experience on the gourmet island. Pull-on a pair of waders and learn how to shuck your own with tuition from an oyster farmer at Oyster Bay Tours at Freycinet Marine Farm. The Flinders Island Wharf stages its fly-in-fly-out Catch ‘n’ Cook Crayfish Lunch experience until April 2020. Take a scenic flight (from Melbourne, Launceston, Freycinet and Hobart), land at Killiecrankie Beach and catch crayfish with your personal local fisherman straight from the sea. Head to Flinders Island Wharf with said crayfish for a meal to remember, teamed with Flinders Island’s own wines and gins.

Destination Dining
Take a day trip for top eats

Tassie’s best paddock-to-plate eating is often just a country drive away from the island’s gateways. Long lunches in picturesque locations are the best way to relax into the Tasmanian way of life. Joining the likes of Agrarian Kitchen and Eatery (New Norfolk), the Tasmanian Food and Wine Conservatory (Sassafras) and Fat Pig Farm (Cygnet) are new regional eateries including Port Cygnet Cannery in an old apple-canning factory; the first stage of the restaurant includes a wood-fired eatery, bar, beer garden and event space, beside the cellar door of Sailor Seeks Horse. And at the former Potters Croft Lodge in the Tasman Peninsula town of Dunalley, Van Bone will focus on seasonal menus inspired by its onsite permaculture market garden.

Winter is Hot in Tasmania
Off-season is prime time

As the stresses of peak-season travel pile up - price hikes, delays and queues – the appeal of shoulder and off-season travel sweetens. Tasmania is Australia’s leading off-season destination from the snowy, Narnia-esque wilderness of Cradle Mountain, to secluded retreats with roaring fires (Pumphouse Point on Lake St Clair, Thousand Lakes Lodge in the Central Highlands among them). Winters here are lit by the energy of the bacchanalian winter festival Dark Mofo - including the traffic-stopping Nude Solstice Swim – and fuelled by scores of experiences and events that celebrate the season. Tassie’s winter walks are as brisk as they are wild - embark on hikes designed for winter conditions along the Overland Track, or Three Capes Track, or the Maria Island Winter Walk. Indoor types, meanwhile, can luxuriate in hot tubs or beside fire lit hearths at boutique boltholes including Ship Inn Stanley, The Granary and Stillwater Seven. Tassie’s food regions come alive with seasonal celebrations, too. Among them is the Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival, a pagan-inspired gathering in the Huon Valley that promises fire, feasting, and folklore. Winter is coming.

Transformative Tasmanian Aboriginal Experiences
Discover island people and stories in a truly immersive way

Some believe Tasmania’s position at the confluence of several tectonic plates contributes to a unique sense of calm and connection felt by many who live here. For new arrivals, there’s a growing collection of guided Tasmanian Aboriginal experiences that may help them feel this energy, too. The Nohioner Adventure is a trailblazing collaboration between Sheldon Thomas, a Tasmanian Aboriginal healer, cultural and ceremonial guide, and a local adventure tourism operator, Ben Rea, of Tasmanian e-Bike Adventures. Guests on this day-long Aboriginal on-country adventure have exclusive access to the meeting point on Forestier Peninsula where European explorers encountered Tasmania’s First People. In this wild and powerful landscape, guests are immersed in cultural lore and healing ceremonies, and a seasonal picnic featuring local bush foods. On Tasmania's east coast wukalina walk explores the cultural home of the palawa. The lands of the larapuna/Bay of Fires and wukalina/Mount William areas are you home over three-nights and four days, sleep beneath star scattered skies in bespoke domed huts, walk in the footsteps of the palawa, participate in cultural practices like basket weaving and creating shell necklaces, feast on traditional fodder like mutton birds and locally harvested shellfish. Kooparoona Niara Tours host bespoke day tours of Tasmanian Aboriginal cultural sites, stories, and food stops of the Meander Valley region. Connect to Tasmania like never before, these unique experiences promise to be like no other.

Unconform at The Unconformity
Wonderful and wild festival on Tasmania’s west coast

Save the date: 16-18 October 2020. A former mining town on the edge of Tasmania’s southwest wilderness is an unlikely location for an arts and cultural festival, yet that’s only part of the international buzz. This biennial festival on the west coast is courageously “mining new cultural experiences at the edge of the world” – part festival, part community development project with a special sense of place. The Unconformity takes its name from a rare geological formation found in the region, the Haulage Unconformity, but it also embodies Queenstown’s reputation for being different. The town’s main street, shop windows and the restored art deco Paragon Theatre are transformed as immersive art venues. Otherwise, expect the unexpected.

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Introducing Two’s a Crowd - Travel Solo But Never Alone

Multiple award-winning tour company, Two’s a Crowd, specialise in Solo Travel having created a huge range of small group itineraries dedicated to solo travellers visiting different destinations throughout the world.

According to founder and owner, Ken Morgan, “Two’s a Crowd celebrates solo travellers. We make it easy and safe for them to travel the world at a fair price and share amazing experiences with like-minded people.”

“We have been successfully operating since 2012 and so many of our solo travellers return to travel with us time and time again. Some have even booked their tenth tour.” Continues Mr Morgan.

Tours are customised for groups of 10-20 solo travellers, ensuring they always feel safe in a small group environment, while still receiving personalised attention, space and free time to explore along with the chance to enjoy authentic cultural experiences.

All Two’s a Crowd group tours offer:

• Great value with low single supplements
• Your own room always – no sharing!
• Fully escorted by a Two’s a Crowd tour host
• English speaking, hand-picked local tour guides

Two’s a Crowd operate over 30 group departures a year with tours ranging from seven to twenty-three days.

Tours visit over 35 different destinations including Chile, Argentina and Brazil, Sri Lanka, Peru and Bolivia, Egypt and Jordan, Laos, Morocco, Tanzania Zanzibar, South Africa, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Russia and Eastern Europe, Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary, France Canal Barge, Portugal, Scandinavia, Spain, Southern India, Prague to Budapest, Budapest to Amsterdam, Northern India, Holland, Italy, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia, Germany and Vietnam and Cambodia.

Two’s a Crowd also operate river and ocean cruise charters, launching the world's first solos-only river cruise in 2017 from Budapest to Strasbourg. Like with their regular group tours, everyone had their own cabin and there were no couples on board.

Two’s a Crowd will operate their fourth river cruise charter from Budapest to Amsterdam in August this year. Other ocean and river cruise charters have included Fiji, Vienna to Black Sea and back to Budapest and French rivers.

For further information and for bookings visit: www.twosacrowd.com.au, telephone from Australia:
1300 55 45 01, telephone from New Zealand: 0800 895 145.

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