It has been a cracker year in travel and the team and I were reminded of that this week when we released our Year in Review special report. It’s all killer, no filler, if I do say so myself.
The report is jam-packed with analyses on the major news that broke, the game-changing moments of the year, and the hottest travel trends you should know about.
A big shout-out to our sponsors for their support: CVFR, Viking, Norwegian Cruise Line, Tourism New Zealand, and APT.
Travel Daily Editor Adam Bishop and Cruise Weekly Editor Myles Stedman took a deep dive into some of the year’s major industry moments, from the closure of P&O Australia to the launch of the Aviation White Paper.
Meanwhile, Deputy Editor Matt Lennon examined how some of Australia’s biggest ASX-listed businesses succeeded and struggled this year.
Off the back of their presentation at TD’s new event, Travel 24, Accenture cultural analysts Victoria Loutas and Michelle Newton returned and discussed the major trends to keep on your radar.
Some of these include the rise of holiday hacking, whereby Australians use certain strategies to manage costs, from choosing to travel during off-peak season to using credit card rewards and seeking out “dupe destinations”. Choosing Paros over Santorini. Swapping Kanazawa for Kyoto. Heading to Memphis instead of Nashville. You get the idea. Meanwhile, responsible tourism also continues to rise.
In fact, now is a good time to segue into this week’s launch of Crooked Compass Lodge located above Mando Village in Papua New Guinea’s Asaro Valley. The eight traditional handwoven huts were crafted by local villagers.
According to Crooked Compass founder Lisa Pagotto, the lodge will also create employment, teach skills and empower the local community.
“Crooked Compass Lodge is a testament to what can be achieved when tourism is inclusive and community-driven. It’s a space where traditions meet opportunities, fostering ownership and pride among locals,” Pagotto said in a LinkedIn post.
“The pride of the Mando community is evident in every aspect of this project. From the handcrafted huts to the thoughtful relocation of the village church to the lodge’s grounds, the locals’ dedication shines through.”
From handwoven huts in Papua New Guinea to struggling airlines, it was revealed on Wednesday that embattled carrier Rex is facing legal action from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), which is alleging the carrier has engaged in deceptive conduct.
According to ASIC, Rex released a misleading ASX announcement on 28 Feb 2023, stating the company was “optimistic” about having a positive operating profit for the full FY23 – which was far from the reality.
Having said that, news came out today that the Australian Government is preparing to purchase debts in Rex held by PAG Asia Capital, which will give it more control over the carrier’s future.
In other aviation news, travellers can now book Virgin Australia’s upcoming codeshare flights with Qatar Airways, operating from Sydney, Brisbane and Perth to Doha.
Virgin has also launched the Journey Tracker, a nifty new tool that travellers can use to receive real-time flight information, including gate changes and delays directly on a device’s lock screen.
In the world of cruising, Carnival Corporation has renamed its private island Half Moon Cay to RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay. It signifies the company’s plans to expand the Bahamian destination with Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line, featuring a beachfront experience, lunch venues, bars, a newly-constructed pier, a new beach club, train service and more.
Meanwhile, Celestyal Cruises made its inaugural sailing into Dubai this week marking the start of the line’s seven-day ‘Desert Days’ itinerary, sailing round trip from Dubai and visiting Khasab, Sir Bani Yas, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Bahrain.
Moving on, the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) is now giving its members access to Individual Financial Benchmarking Reports, which can evaluate their business’ performance against comparable ATIA-credited businesses within the industry.
“Data-driven insights are essential for staying competitive in today’s fast-paced travel industry. These benchmarking reports give our members the clarity they need to make informed decisions and adapt to market conditions with confidence,” said CEO Dean Long.
As plenty of time-poor travel agents are managing booming businesses with high demand and not enough resources, these reports come at the perfect time to help empower business owners.
Enjoy the weekend,
Jo.
