Corporates are being warned that travel websites promising the ‘lowest rates’ could actually result in travellers spending more rather than less in the long term.

Online travel booking websites don’t provide flexibility, instead, they make customers book air travel, hotels, car hire and rail travel that all require pre-payment with no flexibility on tickets which then shows the ‘real’ cost of using such websites.

This may be tenable for companies whose travel plans never change. But for most this is not a realistic approach and some degree of flexibility is needed in most travel itineraries.

We have seen companies forfeit thousands of dollars in lost room nights or air fares when their travel plans have changed, after booking and paying for tickets that could not be amended and were non-refundable.

Lost employee productivity is also a potential ‘cost’ where employees spend hours on the internet looking for “perceived” best rates that could change every hour. That’s time and productivity impacting the real cost of the ticket and the company’s bottom line.

Similarly, tracking corporate travellers in an emergency as well as their expenditure are something web bookings do not provide.

The alternative is to use TMCs which allowe point-to-point booking and provided total transparency in terms of cost control.

Corporates need to ultimately weigh up whether they want short-term gains or long-term consolidation, which is value that can only be driven by strategic travel management with a holistic approach to their travel and purchasing activity.

Finnair covers the globe with 52 destinations and connects Asia and Europe with its network of 200 flights a month to 10 Asian destinations.  Finnair's schedules are designed for smooth business travel.

In Finnair's business class you travel in a state-of-the-art lie-flat seat that guarantees your own personal space and a refreshing flight.

Finnair operates its flights through Helsinki - travelling through Helsinki is convenient and saves time, with short transit times and smooth connections.  Helsinki is a pocket size trendy metropolis  and is an ideal gateway to rest of Europe, Scandinavia, Baltic and Russia.

Finnair offers 'combination class' airfares, flying economy to Asia and business class to Europe from $4800 plus taxes.  Finnair is part of the One-World Alliance so you can clock up your frequent flyer points every time you fly Finnair!

FEDERAL tourism minister Martin Ferguson officially launched Tourism Australia’s ‘No Leave No Life’ campaign which is encouraging Aussies to use up some of their stockpiled annual leave on a domestic holiday which will in turn keep Aussies in jobs. He urged the tourism industry to make the most of the release of the government’s latest stimulus package, saying consumers should consider some “holiday therapy, instead of retail therapy” with the payments. 

‘No Leave No Life’ focuses on the 123 million days of accrued
annual leave in Australia. Ferguson said the campaign would “remind both employers and employees about the importance of taking annual leave and having a break."


          Traffic jam in Fiji!


Click here for some of our "No Leave No Life" Packages!
 

On March 9, Stockholm opened a new design hotel featuring rooms personally decorated by the owner in a hotch-potch of shabby New York and bohemian Paris.  The 82 room Story hotel is situated in an attractive location in downtown Stockholm. It combines design and innovation and is inspired by down-at-heel New York restaurants, Bohemian-chic Parisian hotels and the progressive spirits of artists and musicians who once inhabited the building.   Story hotel offers a smart, stylish and new kind of hotel for today’s traveller. The new hotel is situated on Riddargatan 8 and also has a great restaurant.

Quincy, Singapore’s newest boutique hotel, has opened in the
city’s Orchard Road area. In what the hotel describes as an ‘industry-first’ in Singapore, Quincy offers an all-inclusive product, with room rates including limousine airport transfer service, with free Wi-Fi access, three daily meals, all mini-bar amenities, and cocktails and drinks each evening.  The 108-room hotel is located on Elizabeth Walk and forms part of the Far East Hotels stable of properties.  Rate in a King Studio from $241 and includes an airport limo pick-up, set breakfast, lunch and dinner, and evening drinks cocktails. 

IBIS Hotels has a special accommodation deal offering a full buffet breafast for just $1pp, valid from 01 Apr to 30 Jun 2009.
Ibis also has rates from $99 if booked 30 days ahead for stays in
May and June 2009.
 

Jetstar confirmed plans to operate flights between Cairns and Western Japan, returning to the route it suspended in Dec last year.  The carrier described the move as a “major boost to the Far North Queensland tourism industry” which would further grow Qld to Japan flights to 25 weekly services by the end of the year.  The four proposed weekly A330 flights to Osaka from Cairns follow confirmation of a new far north Queensland pilot base for the carrier.

Air France has announced its adding a Premium Class cabin to
its entire international long-haul network on Boeing 777s and
Airbus A340s and A330s flights.  ‘Premium Voyageur’ will go on
sale from 01 Apr, commencing with services from Paris to New
York, Tokyo and Osaka, as the product is gradually phased in.

Virgin Blue Group will increase its services to Bali from Monday June 1, introducing two new routes, one direct from Sydney, and the other from Melbourne to Denpasar.  Pacific Blue will also ramp up its direct flights from Adelaide to Bali from twice weekly to three times a week.

Virgin Blue has revised its Australian domestic schedule in line with the removal from service of five Boeing 737 aircraft from May 7.  The airline said the capacity reduction equated to the removal of 28 flights daily from a total of over 330 domestic daily services.  The schedule changes are effective for flights from May 7, 2009.

Pacific Blue Airlines is increasing its international route network, announcing plans to begin non-stop services between Adelaide and Fiji and also Melbourne and Fiji.

Malaysia Airlines has introduced web check-in for pax at most destinations, including destinations in Australia. Pax can now check-in 24 hours prior flying, right up until 90 mins before departure. Pax can also select their preferred seating and print their boarding pass from home.

THAI International Airways has announced all its domestic flight operations have moved under the one roof at Suvarnabhumi Airport, effective 29 Mar 09. The changes will see 23 flights move from Don Mueang Airport (DMK) to BKK, with THAI saying an average of 3500-4000 extra pax will pass through Bangkok’s gateway airport each day.

The Dutch government has made a decision to abolish the recently introduced departure tax. The levy added between EUR11.25 and EUR 45 for every passenger departing Dutch airports.

Combine some of the the worlds best festivals with a tour for the ultimate experience.  Upcoming festivals include: 

• Oktoberfest Munich, Germany
• Rio Carnival, Brazil
• Salvador Carnival, Brazil 
• Loi Krathong Festival of Lights, Thailand
• Kandy Perahera Festival, Sri Lanka
• Festival of the Desert, Mali
• Surin Elephant Round Up Festival, Thailand 
• Loi Krathong Festival of Lights, Thailand

As Easter fast approaches, Etihad Airways is offering Australians some truly sweet deals to the world’s favorite chocolate capitals.  Indulge in Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies in the most famous and historic chocolate haunts in the world!

Etihad Airways recommends the following five sweet spots for a truly memorable Easter getaway:

Brussels, Belgium
Considered by many as the home of the finest chocolate in the world, Belgium is a chocoholic’s paradise. Producing over 172,000 tons of chocolate per year, the country boasts over 2,000 chocolate shops, each displaying the beautifully handcrafted pralines that Belgium is famous for. Etihad connects through to Brussels from Australia nine times a week.

Geneva, Switzerland
Switzerland is a land of chocolate lovers. Boasting the highest per capita chocolate consumption rate in the world, Switzerland is the birthplace of milk chocolate and home to iconic chocolate brands Toberlone and Lindt. Etihad connects through to Geneva from Australia five times a week.

Paris, France
Since the French court at Versailles embraced chocolate in the 17th century, Parisians have enjoyed an enduring love affair with the popular Easter treat. From the couture pâtisserie Ladurée, with chocolate offerings that include Eblouissant (dazzling), Bouleversant (moving) and Troublant (stirring desire), to French chocolate company Richart’s luscious and colourful Easter bonbons, visitors to the city of lights will be truly spoilt for choice. 
Etihad connects through to Paris from Australia 13 times a week.

Milan, Italy
Italians take their chocolate seriously. Italian chocolate maker Domori was the first company in the world to create a “tasting code" for chocolate, defining the characteristics of extraordinary chocolate as being aromatic, smooth, fresh and lingering on the palate. Italians are also credited with creating Gianduja, a hazelnut chocolate paste, and are the masterminds behind Baci Kisses and Gelato. Etihad connects through to Milan from Australia 12 times a week.

London, England
A relatively new player on the chocolate scene, London should not be underestimated. Following the city’s edgy code of style, avant garde chocolate shop Choccywoccydoodah create quirky chocolates aptly named Chocolate Tattoo Hearts and Chocolate Buddhas.  Etihad connects through to London 25 times a week.

P&O Cruises has confirmed that its 2010 itineraries will include five visits to Norfolk Island.  Pacific Sun will call at the island four times between March and June as part of itineraries ex Auckland while superliner Pacific Jewel will also visit during September.
Sun Princess reveals west coast itinerary 

Princess Cruises’ superliner Sun Princess will return to Western Australia in May 2010 for its biggest ever season, with six cruises on offer including a new odyssey to Asia.  Departing Fremantle on August 15, 2010, the 30-night journey will sail to Bali, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Cambodia and Brunei.

P&O Cruises will become the first cruise company to base a ship in Newcastle, New South Wales.   Pacific Sun will offer a total of six cruises from Newcastle, including four voyages to the South Pacific and a 10-night exploration of the Queensland coast, when she begins sailing from the city in September 2010.

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