Cathay Pacific has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The plane is fitted with 280 seats, 38 of them in business class and 28 in premium economy. The Hong Kong airline’s chief operating office, Rupert Hogg, said: “We understand that for our passengers, sleeping well, enjoying first-class entertainment and using products that have been designed with them in mind are of the utmost importance. The new A350 will provide the very best of all these.” Meanwhile, Delta Airlines has announced a year-round nonstop flight from Edinburgh to New York JFK.
Iceland may pass a law restricting the number of days homeowners can open their property to Airbnb bookings. The Guardian reports that it is one of several measures aimed to curb increasing tourist numbers spurred in part by people wanting to visit sites featured in the TV series Game of Thrones.
Visitors to Shanghai Disneyland have been advised how to behave properly. An official Chinese government publication tells them “to drop litter into trash cans, not to deface public facilities, take care of plants and trees, not to lie down on the greens [presumably the grass], stand in a queue and maintain decorum”. More here.
UAE-based Etihad Airways has distributed VR glasses through newspapers and other outlets for people to watch its Reimagine virtual reality film where Nicole Kidman shows guests around the airline’s A380 aircraft. You can see the film trailer here.
In case you missed it, 28 May was Hamburger Day, and people around the world – especially in the United States celebrating by eating burgers (of course). Even British Airways got in on the act with its own burger (pictured below). There’s some hamburger trivia here. It’s time now to start planning where you’ll be for Hamburger Day next year.
The Great British Food campaign has published an online interactive map featuring some of the best British regional specialties. It’s here.
Authorities in Thailand have restricted tourist visits to four islands: Koh Khai Nok, Koh Khai Nui and Koh Khai Nai islands near Pukhet, where designated area will be set aside for come-and-go boat trips, and Koh Tachai in the Andaman Sea. The bans have been attributed to coral damage caused by too many visitors.
Etihad has officially launched its new campaign, featuring a 360 degree perpective of flying on its A380 aircraft, and starring actor Nicole Kidman. There’s some video here. The virtual reality video will be launched on 29 May.
Hotels in the UAE dominated the winners’ list in the 2016 Middle East Hotel Awards. Winners included: Citymax Al Barsha (best budget hotel), Premier Inn Abu Dhabi International Airport (best airport hotel), XVA Art Hotel Dubai (best boutique hotel), Al Faisaliah Hotel (best five-star business hotel), Banyan Tree Al Wadi (best resort hotel), Atlantis The Palm (best family-friendly hotel), Palazzo Versace Dubai (best new hotel), Traders Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi (best four-star hotel), Sofitel The Palm Dubai (best five-star hotel), Waldorf Astoria, Ras Al Khaimah (best luxury hotel).
References to Australia have been removed from a UNESCO report on climate change because “it could cause confusion and negatively affect tourism”, according to this ABC report.
With more than 20 million visitors in 2015, Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Florida is the world’s busiest theme park. It was followed by Disneyland at Anaheim, Disneyland Tokyo, Universal Studios Japan, Tokyo DisneySea, Epcot in Florida, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disneyland Paris and Universal Studios Florida.
The Tunisian ambassador to the UK has called on the British government to relax its warning against all but essential travel to the country. The BBC reports that there has been a 90 per cent drop in tourism from Britain since the killing of 31 Britons at a beach resort in Sousse in 2015.
Canadian airline WestJet and Australia’s Qantas have announced a reciprocal frequent flyer agreement where members of the airlines’ frequent flyer programs can earn their choice of WestJet dollars or Qantas points when travelling on flights of either airline. A Qantas media release says this agreement expands on the existing code-share relationship between the airlines that was announced in 2014.
The family-friendly Disney Cruise Lines has announced plans to recommence sailings from New York to the Bahamas and the Canadian coast. San Diego will be Disney’s home port for cruises to Mexico, and Galveston will be a home port for Caribbean and Bahamas sailings. More here.
An onboard fire is the suspected cause of the recent crash of an EgpytAir flight from Paris to Cairo, although there remains some confusion in the investigation. The loss of Flight MS804 is the latest in a string of misfortunes to have hit Egypt’s travel industry, undermining confidence in what has been — and deserves to be — one of the world’s greatest tourist attractions.
Marriott International has opened its fifth hotel in Pune, India, The Pune Marriott Suites features 199 suites located in the Koregaon Park area. Close to the Pune Airport and business and IT hubs, it will cater to longer stay, business and leisure travellers.
The largest cruise ship ever, Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas, has taken its first paying passengers. The Harmony, which is larger than its similar sisters Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas and is one of a fleet of 25, set sail on 22 May for a four-night trip from Southampton, England, to Rotterdam in The Netherlands.
The crash of Egypt Air flight 804, remains under investigation. Whatever its cause, it will do damage to Egypt’s already troubled tourism industry. Those of us who have been there and experienced its wonders can only hope that the country recovers.
No more “ugly Aussie” abroad? The Australian government has launched an advertising campaign urging its citizens to be more responsible when travelling overseas. It is urging them to sign up to its Smartraveller website, which offers advice on travel precautions, and allows the authorities to make contact with Australians who get into trouble. “When Australians travel without adequate preparation, or make irresponsible choices, there can be very serious consequences for themselves and their family,” the foreign minister, Julie Bishop, said.
Feel like splurging on accommodation? The upscale Milaidhoo Island on Baa Atoll in the Maldives; Naman Retreat in Da Nang City, Vietnam in Mahana Villa in Upper Moutere, New Zealand; Althoff Hotel Villa Belrose inSt Tropez, France; and Elite Spring Villas in Anxi, China have all joined the Small Luxury Hotels of the World marque. Details are at www.slh.com.
Some good news for tourists and locals alike. Ferry fares to some of Hong kong’s outlying islands, including Cheung Chau, Peng Chau and Mui Wo on Lantau, have been cut by up to 20 per cent, according to a report in SCMP.com. The fares, which are subsidised by the government, were reduced because of cuts in the world oil price. Is this a first? Should other public transport operators follow suit?
Machu Picchu, the 15th century Inca temple in Peru, has been named the world’s favourite landmark by Trip Advisor users. It was followed by the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, the Taj Mahal in India, the Great Cathedral in Córdoba, Spain, the Church of the Spilt Blood in St Petersburg, Russia, and the Alhambra in Spain.
Most major cruise lines have banned smoking on ship balconies, but not Holland America Line, which has reportedly reversed a decision to follow the pack. Columnist Trevor P Smith from cruise.co.uk wonders whether this is a good idea in his blog post here.
Virgin Australia has introduced a new class of seating on its long haul flights yo the United States and Abu Dhabi. Economy Space + seats will give passengers who pay a little extra more leg room priority check-in and meal service, and noise-cancelling headphones.
Greece expects to welcome a record 27 million tourists this year, according to reports. A government spokesman said: “Greece is a brand name in tourism. It was always, and I think it will always be.” Greece is expected to benefit from tourists’ reluctance to visit troubled destinations including Egypt and Turkey.
It seems tourists from the Middle East can’t get enough of Thailand. Emirates airline has announced that it is adding a new daily flight from Dubai to Bangkok, bringing it’s total to seven — four on A380s and three on B777 aircraft. EtihadAirways, Qatar and Oman Air also fly regularly to the Thai capital, and Thai Airways flies to the Middle East.
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation has named Luxor in Egypt as the world tourism capital for 2016. Luxor will also host the UNWTO conference in October-November.
Fancy a holiday in Iran? Turkish investors will build a total oh 10 hotels in the cities of Tehran, Shiraz and three other Iranian cities, according to a Reuters report. There is also a deal for more charter flights between the two countries.
A high number of professionals from Britain are leaving their homeland for greener pastures. The list of countries they are choosing to move to is topped by Australia, followed by America, Spain and France. There’s more information from the global migration report here. The reasons why some of us leave home have been explained in the 2016 Global Moving Trends report. What are they? Well they include a better quality of life, family ties, economic pressure, wanderlust and politics. The full report is here.
Emirates airline is set to sign off on new first class seats that promise luxury and total privacy. However, they won’t be on a plane near you until October next year. More here.
China has narrowly overtaken the United States in terms of the value of business-related travel. According to the Global Business Travel Association, both countries generate more than $290 billion worth.
Air Serbia has taken delivery of its first wide-body aircraft, meaning more flexibility for the Etihad-affiliated carrier. The Airbus A330 will be used on its Belgrade to New York route.
Overall satisfaction with American’s airlines has reached a ten-year high according to the annual JD Power satisfaction survey. The surgery ranked Alaskan Airlines as the full-service airline with the highest satisfaction rating, followed by Delta. Among budget carriers, Jet Blue led the way, followed by Southwest. The report also said that business customers were in general more satisfied that leisure travellers, and that passengers were more tolerant of extra airlines charges than previously.
Genting Hong Kong has ordered 10 new ships for its Star and Crystal cruise brands, including river boats and mega cruise ships. More here.
Australian celebrity chef Neil Perry will be creating an exclusive pop up dining experience at One&Only, Hayman Island in Queensland, in July, and later in the year at Emirates Wolgan Valley in New South Wales. Food, wine and travel blogger Winsor Dobbin has the details here.
I can tell you from experience that the norovirus is not pleasant. There was a minor outbreak on the Mariner of the Seas a few years ago, and I was one of dozens who acquired it, had a needle and some other meds to treat the symptoms, and then spent a day and a half in quarantine in my cabin. So I can image what the 250 people aboard the Fred.Olsen ship Balmoral have been experiencing these past few days. And I also know that the crew will be working frantically to deep clean the vessel. As I’ve said before, don’t let the chance of getting sick deter you from taking a cruise, but do follow the standard, simple advice about washing your hands. Sadly, it takes everybody to follow that advice and I’ve noticed that many people simply don’t do it — and as fate would have it, they are not necessarily the ones who get sick. But they are the ones spreading the germs.
It should come as no surprise that it’s legal in the US to travel with a gun. But it’s not a free for all, so the TSA has issued guidelines about how to do it. As Travel Pulse reports, basically it must be packed in a hard case, unloaded, and put in the hold. Well, that’s a relief. Oh, and if a gun aficionado accidentally takes it through a checkout security point, the rest of us are in for a long wait, because it’ll be treated as a major incident and the whole of security is shut down.
Want to try before you buy? The latest tourist attractions available for virtual tourism include the Q1 Tower and Dreamworld theme part on The Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. More here.
Viking Cruises has christened its second ocean-going vessel, Viking Sea, at a ceremony in Greenwich, England. The 930-seat vessel features all balcony cabins and a “snow grotto”.
Friday night at the Vatican museums. No, it’s not the latest Ben Stiller movie, it’s a real thing. The museums will be open until July 29 and from September 2 to October 28, 2016, every Friday from 7pm to 11pm, with last entry at 9.30pm.
It seems you are never safe from thieves — even at 30,000 feet. A man claims goods worth $260,000 were stolen from him during a flight from Turkey to Hong Kong. Police in Hong Kong said they investigated 60 incidents of in-flight theft last year.
Norwegian Cruise Lines has signed a deal to provide faster internet speeds on its fleet of Norwegian, Regent and Oceania cruise ships. Fast internet is one of the new battelgrounds in cruising, with Roya Caribbean recently improving its offering, too — although across the board, prices are still very high.
Yet another innovation in cruising: the French speciality cruise line, Ponant, is introducing underwater lounges. Essentially part of the hull will be made of glass, allowing passengers to get a fish-eye view of the ocean. In this story, the (UK) Telegraph’s cruise editor Teresa Machan is quoted as saying: “This is the latest in a raft of exciting developments for cruisers. Passengers will soon have access to purpose-built submarines, on-board amenities akin to those found on a luxury yacht and the ability to cruise to some of the most exciting destinations on the planet.”
London Heathrow airport is celebrating its 70th anniversary this month. The Independent has a fascinating picture gallery here.
Rihanna and the Chemical Brothers will be the headline artists for this year’s Yasalam After-Race Concerts, at the du Arena in Abu Dhabi during the Etihad Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix. Tickets and information here.
Officials at Bob Hope Airport in Los Angeles County have voted to change the branding to “Hollywood Burbank Airport”. They said the move was designed to increase its recognition outside of southern California. One of them said that the current name –which has been in place since 2003 and references the late comedian and actor Bob Hope, who died in that year – “isn’t doing it”. So, once again, it’s farewell, Bob, and thanks for the memories.
Royal Caribbean is offering an improved internet service across all its ships, allowing video and music streaming and the use of services such as Skype. According to Cruise Critic, there are two pricing tiers: basic email, social media and web browsing from US$12.99 a day for one device, while all the bells and whistles will cost you $17.99 a day. There are discounts for extra devices, but it’s by no means cheap considering other cruise lines are offering packages with free internet.
Winners have been announced in the Business Traveller Middle East Awards 2016. The full list is here, but highlights include: Best airline worldwide – Emirates; Best low-cost airline in the Middle East – Air Arabia; Airline with the best frequent-flyer scheme – Etihad; Best airport in the world _ Singapore Changi; Best airport in the Middle East – Dubai International; Best car rental firm in the Middle East – Hertz; Best travel app – Uber; best hotel brand in the Middle East – Jumeirah; Best hotel brand in the world – Marriott.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has launched its 2016 winter schedule, which adds two intercontinental destinations – Miami in the United States and Colombo in Sri Lanka. KLM wil also operate a daily service to Havana, Cuba, and continue to operate extra flights to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. The airline is preparing to launch two other new destinations: Astana, Kazakhstan and Salt Lake City, US.
Fancy a treasure-hunting holiday? It’s not as crazy as it sounds; there’s an unknown amount of treasure — coin hordes, precious texts and the like — out there to be found. Construction worker in Tomares, Spain, have found a trove of nearly 600 kilograms of 3rd Century Roman bronze coins. If you are planning on scavenger hunting, though, it’s best to know the rules. You can’t just dig stuff up and claim it as your own — but many jurisdictions will allow you a share of the booty.
The first direct cruise from the United States to Cuba in 50 years has set sail. The Adonia, part of Carnival Cruises’ Fathom subsidiary, will be the first of many. With Miami, a major US cruising port, so close to Cuba, and with curiosity about the communist enclave at a high, demand is expected to be very heavy. Details here. Other cruise companies will be adding Cuba to their itineraries very soon. My advice: go early, because the experience you have now will be very different to the one you have in five years.
Results are in for the 2016 Freddie Awards, which showcase the best of the best in travel loyalty programs. The winners are all listed here. Among those who won in several categories are Virgin Australia’s Velocity, Air France/KLM’s Flying Blue, Southwest Airlines’ Rapid Rewards and, among hotel groups, Le Club Accorhotels, Marriott Rewards and IHG Rewards Club.
You may never have heard of it but Woolacombe has been named Britain’s best beach for 2016 by Trip Advisor users. Given that Britain is not best known for its beaches, it might be worth checking out. You’ll find Woolacombe at the mouth of the Bristol channel in Devon, not far from Ilfracombe. It’s said to boast “a three-mile long stretch of golden sand and rolling, unbroken surf, which makes it the ideal hotspot for surfers”. The runners-up were Weymouth, St Brelade’s Bay, Rhossili Bay and Porthmeor beach. Here’s my take on the “best of” phenomenon and a compilation of “world’s best beaches” lists from various sources.
The travel news for April, 2016 is here Start spreading your news: email me here.
