Australia

House of Travel is expanding its cruise strategy with a new dedicated team to meet the surge in demand for that type of travel.

NSW plans to raise $75m a year from a new levy on platforms like Airbnb.

More than 300 delegates including 200 travel agents are gathering in Auckland this week for the Travel Managers Australia conference at Te Pae Christchurch.

Qantas has posted an underlying profit before tax of A$2.47bn (NZ$2.68bn) for the year to June 2023.

However, its reported net profit was only $8m after nearly $100m in provisions and impairments over the SkyCity Adelaide probe.

SkyCity Entertainment has allocated A$45m ($49m) for any penalty arising out of the probe into its Adelaide casino.

Helloworld has upgraded its FY23 earnings guidance to between AU$42m – $45m (NZ$45.3m – $48.5m) for the year to 30 June 2023, up from a loss of A$10.6m last year.

Tourism Industry Aotearoa says the government’s effort to explore a more seamless travel experience between New Zealand and Australia could lead to benefits for business and leisure travel.

Napier’s Winter Deco Festival is an international affair this year, with ticket sales attracting visitors from the United States and Australia.

Operators will need to be on their game this spring and summer as competition heats up for Kiwi and Australian visitors.

Qantas is increasing the number of its flights between Sydney and Melbourne and New Zealand for Kiwi fans of Taylor Swift heading across the Tasman for the singer’s concerts in February 2024.

Air New Zealand services between Australia’s Sunshine Coast and Auckland are back in the skies.

AirAsia is offering sale fares between Kuala Lumpur, Sydney and Auckland as part of a new promotion.

Malaysian-based airline Batik Air, formerly known as Malindo Air will launch six direct flights weekly between Auckland and Perth from 24 August 2023.

A review into SkyCity Adelaide will soon resume once a new independent expert is appointed to lead the investigation.

Millennium & Copthorne NZ hopes the purchase will open doors to further deals across the ditch.

Wellington Airport has welcomed the reintroduction of Qantas’ Wellington – Brisbane service, set to start in October.

Qantas Group has appointed Vanessa Hudson its next CEO and MD.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is travelling to Australia and the United Kingdom on trade missions and King Charles’ Coronation over the next two weeks.

Auckland is once again calling Australian visitors to take a trip across the Tasman this summer and explore what the city has to offer.

Tourism New Zealand is ramping up its winter campaigning to the Australian market with a complementary take on the If You Seek campaign.

International consumers actively considering New Zealand as a destination are at an all-time high across key markets, according to new research from Tourism New Zealand.

The importance of Australia as a trade partner for New Zealand’s tourism and other industries has been recognised as part of the 40th anniversary of the Closer Economic Relations free trade agreement between the two countries.

Explore Group is boosting its product range in Australia with a new ship providing expedition-style weekends for groups, events and incentive trips around the Whitsunday Islands.

Key visitor experiences in Dunedin and Clutha will take the spotlight in an episode of Australian television road trip series Roads Less Travelled.

The NZ hotel operator is in a joint venture to acquire a 5-star Sofitel for around $190m.

David Gaimster is taking up a new role at an Australian museum.

YOU Travel Bethlehem, Zest4Travel, helloworld Strandon, Bon Voyage Cruises & Travel, Live Breathe Travel and House of Travel have all received accolades at the 20th Cruise Industry Awards in Sydney.

Air New Zealand is restarting its flights between Australia’s Sunshine Coast and Auckland on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 25 June.

Former Air New Zealand chief commercial and customer officer Cam Wallace has been appointed head of international at Qantas.

Air New Zealand has signed on as the major sponsor for The Australian Federation of Travel Agents’ Women in Travel Summit.

An investigation into SkyCity Adelaide has been put on hold while a separate case against the operator goes through the Australian Federal Court.

Jetstar Airways will start new direct flights between Auckland and Brisbane in time for next year’s Easter school holidays, with launch fares starting from AU$239 / NZ$229 one way.   

Financial crime regulator AUSTRAC launched civil proceedings on Wednesday against SkyCity Adelaide for allegedly breaching anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws.

The carrier’s recovery comes as a rapid rebound in airline capacity is seen across Australia and NZ.

Entrada Travel Group has secured a twenty-year contract to operate the Noosa North Shore Vehicle Ferry, on behalf of the Noosa Council in Queensland, Australia.

AirAsia X resumes its service between Kuala Lumpur and Auckland, via Sydney, today with a $169 trans-Tasman special.

Destination marketing organisations need to become more sophisticated and adaptable, says the CEO.

New Zealand and Australian trade and tourism ministers have reaffirmed their commitment to boosting trans-Tasman cooperation.

But they may remain relatively high while airlines grapple with capacity uncertainty, says Graham ‘Skroo’ Turner.

Tourism Australia has launched its first global campaign since 2016 with a new 9-minute hero film, Come and Say G’day.

Air New Zealand is making changes to its Tahiti, Perth And Honolulu fare offerings, with the abolition of the seat and seat+bag options.

“We now have much greater confidence that the merger will proceed,” says Tourism Holdings chair Cathy Quin.

The Within your Wildest Dreams campaign promoting New Zealand as the top holiday destination for Australians has generated significant engagement, says Tourism New Zealand.

The operators will sell 310 of Apollo’s motorhomes in NZ and Australia to secure merger approval, with a ComCom decision expected today.

Indigenous tourism and an enhanced sense of connection to local communities can help people fight the destruction of sites of environmental and cultural significance in Australia.

An Auckland connection between Qantas’ upcoming Sydney to New York service will begin in June 2023, including flights and an upgrade of the airline’s international lounge at Auckland Airport.

Kiwi tourists are not the only ones being lured across the ditch, with tourism and hospo staff sought to plug Australian labour gaps.

The sector has an opportunity to cultivate a fresh NZ story to attract Australians across the ditch.

Fitzgerald will join cruise industry leaders at the Cruise360 Australasia 2022’s State of the Industry panel.