INDUSTRY NEWS
Qantas Launches Indigenous Reconciliation Plan
Jetstar and Virgin to Expand to Long-haul Routes
Virgin Atlantic Upgrades In-flight “Meditainment”
U.S. Routes Face New Airline Competitors
BUSINESS HOTEL NEWS
Featured business hotel: Intercontinental Dubai Festival City
Dubai World Trade Centre to Add 10,000 Rooms by 2015
EVENTS AND CONFERENCES
Melbourne’s New Convention Centre Awarded 6 Stars by Green Council
Hong Kong Voted Asia-Pacific’s Top Events and Conferences City
Hawaii Convention Centre’s 10th Anniversary Package
Edge Conference Venue Famils – March 2008
EDGE INTELLIGENCE
Great Deals for Serviced Apartments
INDUSTRY NEWS
Qantas launches indigenous reconciliation plan
Qantas has formally launched an action plan committed to reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. Given Qantas’s status as a national icon, Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon believes the position includes a responsibility to ensure the business reflects values of inclusion and diversity. To exemplify this commitment, Qantas has established goals and objectives which aim to foster reconciliation by working with indigenous people and communities. The general goals of the Reconciliation Action Plan are to develop ways for the Qantas workforce to gain knowledge and respect for Australia’s indigenous cultures, explore tourism partnerships with indigenous businesses and provide improved opportunities for indigenous persons’ careers. In order to carry out these objectives, Qantas plans to double indigenous recruitment efforts, create cross cultural awareness training and support culturally-appropriate education through in-flight communications and other promotional initiatives.
Jetstar and Virgin to expand to long-haul routes
International routes have yet to see low-cost models applied, but this will now change as the 5th Annual Asia Pacific Low Cost Airline Congress revealed. According to the Congress, Jetstar and Virgin intend to examine the prospect of expanding their budget services internationally to include long-haul routes. Virgin seems to be setting their sights on an Australia-North America route whereas Jetstar seems focused on Europe and Asia.
Before plans can begin internationally into Europe and Asia for Jetstar, the delays of the 787 Dreamliners and the location of their Asian hub have to be resolved. Jetstar is currently in negotiations with Boeing to discuss the delays on the 787 aircrafts. As for the Asian hub, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City are all being considered. Virgin, on the other hand, wants to launch an Australian-North America carrier later this year.
Virgin Atlantic upgrades in-flight “Meditainment”
Virgin Atlantic Airway’s entertainment system, voted the world’s leading in-flight system, has added another element to its already superior repertoire. ‘Total Relaxation’ is a 30 minute ‘Imagination Reality’ experience which uses the latest in special audio effects and stunning on-screen visuals to create a meditative journey of relaxation. The idea is for passengers who use Meditainment to leave the flight relaxed, refreshed and uplifted. This particular experience (Total Relaxation) blends traditional meditation techniques with audio and visual entertainment specifically tailored to aid in sleep and overcome stress and anxiety. The physical benefits are numerous and include reduced blood pressure and an enhanced immune system. The Total Relaxation program was designed for the business traveller; however, all travellers whether corporate or leisure will benefit from the program.
U.S. routes face new airline competitors
The monopoly on the West Coast US routes currently held by Qantas, American Airlines and United may be faced with new competition. In light of the new Rudd government, Senior Industry Analyst Roman Zwolak predicts bilateral talks will likely begin with the US over deregulating the air space between Australia and America. Currently, the air space arrangement allows only two airlines from each country to fly. In the case of Australia, United Airlines and Qantas have a duopoly on the Sydney-L.A. route.
In anticipation of a lift on the air space treaty, V Australia, an offshoot of Virgin Blue, claims it expects to launch services in late 2008 between the East Coast of Australia and the West Coast of the US. The new airline will have to release more details soon as the fares for the northern winter season have to be published by March. Virgin America is also suggesting that they will be launching services from San Francisco, which will ultimately give Australian customers a viable competitor to Qantas, American Airlines and United.
BUSINESS HOTEL NEWS
Featured business hotel: Intercontinental Dubai Festival City
The Intercontinental Dubai Festival City is the latest addition to the Red Sea metropolis. Located on Dubai Creek with stunning views in every direction, the Intercontinental is being dubbed as the newest landmark in the city ever under construction. With 498 exquisitely designed rooms and suites, all rooms have amazing views including Dubai Creek, the Festival Marina or the world-class shopping centre. Even the bathrooms feature panoramic views and flat screen televisions with separate wet zone areas incorporating showers and free standing bathtubs. The technology of this Intercontinental has been taken to a new level with the designers’ goal for technology to “enhance the customer hotel experience.”
Business visitors in particular will appreciate the high-speed broad band internet access as well as the impressive 40,000 square foot conference centre across two levels and the meeting space that can be divided into 8 meeting rooms servicing anything from smaller VIP board meetings to a reception style banquet catering up to 1600 guests.
Also of interest to the business traveller will be the Intercontinental Residence Suites within the Marsa Plaza – 212 stylish high-rise apartments which are also available on short-term leases. All apartments come with top-of-the-line facilities including high-speed broadband Internet, 37” plasma screen TVs and a fully equipped kitchen as well as complete maid and laundry services and 24-hour in-room dining. www.intercontinental.com
Dubai World Trade Centre to add 10,000 rooms by 2015
Dubai World Trade Centre has two major commercial destination projects which will increase the thriving metropolis’s hotel room quotient by 10,000. Dubai Exhibition City and Dubai Trade Centre District will add these rooms to the UAE’s overall capacity when all the phases of development are completed by 2015. The city of Dubai, once again, is showing its strength for sheer development with a hotel room increase of this quantity. Ultimately, this DWTC project will enable the future growth of both tourist attractions and business events. The DWTC’s Director made his ambitious plans clear in a speech outlining his mega-projects’ goal to accommodate huge exhibitions and even the busiest trade events and ensure they have suitable hotel room space conveniently located in the same DEW venue. The hotel rooms will offer a range of options from the business economy category to the luxury segment. Both developments are designed to be totally integrated commercial lifestyle destinations capable of hosting the most prestigious conferences, exhibitions and events.
EVENTS AND CONFERENCES
Melbourne’s new Convention Centre awarded 6 stars by Green Council
The Green Building Council of Australia has just awarded the 2009 Melbourne Convention Centre development 6 stars for its use of environmentally friendly initiatives. The development situated in central Melbourne’s South Wharf (estimated cost $1 billion) has been given this high honour for its groundbreaking environmental design in reducing energy consumption and its efforts to reduce non-renewable resource usage through energy saving facilities including a water treatment plant to recycle water, large glass and solar hot water systems. It is the first convention centre of its kind to be granted the 6 star environmental rating which is the GBCA’s highest rating.
Hong Kong voted Asia-Pacific’s top events and conferences city
In the Asia Pacific Magazine’s 2008 Industry Awards, Hong Kong has been recognised as the Best Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Event city. The top global market information provider, TNS, collected the view and opinions of Asia Pacific readers and determined that 48% of readers choose Hong Kong as their favourite city for conferences, etc. Pleased by the results, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourist Board Hon James Tien said, “The awards recognised our world-class conferences support services and ascertain Hong Kong’s attractiveness for events even though we were up against intense competition in the region.”
Hawaii Convention Centre’s 10th anniversary package
On the beautiful island of Oahu, the Hawaii Convention Centre has just announced its new 10th anniversary conference package for groups. For meeting groups over 2,500 people during 2011, 2014 or 2016, the lucky group will receive $175,000 worth of promotional and destination programs. The package also includes the Centre’s offset in rent, pre-event promotions and may be invited to attend an international attendance building program. For more information please contact info@hccsmg.com. Bookings must be confirmed by the 1st of December, 2008.
Edge Conference Venue Famils – March 2008
Jane Ouvaroff, our Events and Conferences Manager at Edge, will be conducting a 1 day regional Victorian conference famil in March 2008. If you are considering running a conference or event in the upcoming calendar year but are uncertain as to the details, this informational tour will be an ideal opportunity to familiarize your team with all the diverse options Victoria has to offer.
Please register your interest with Jane by emailing your details and questions to: info@executiveedge.com.au
EDGE INTELLIGENCE
Great deals for serviced apartments
The sector of the accommodation industry that is booming as of late is hotel, serviced apartments. Here are a few summer specials in this sector:
- Medina Apartment Hotels: Rates at the Medina Executive Brisbane are from $130; Media Grand Harbourside, Sydney from $220; Media Executive Sydney Central from $155, Medina Grand Adelaide Treasury from $170 and Media Grand Melbourne from $150. Rates are valid to February 28th.
- Quest Serviced Apartments: Quest Alice Springs has a studio from $128 per night for stays between January 14 and February 14; Quest Mascot Sydney has a $145 nightly rate for a studio from January 31st.
- The Sebel Harbour Lights Cairns: One bedroom with a view for $160 and two bedrooms from $250. Offer valid from January 2-31.
EDGE BRAIN TEASERS
December Answers to last months teaser:
- Dawn, Darn, Dark, Dirk, Disk, Dusk
- D31 The sequence is made up of the initials of the months and the number of the days in each month.
Jan/Feb Teasers:
- Solve the anagram in brackets to correctly complete the quotation by Freidrich Nietzsche.
"There are no facts, only......"
- Jim, Sam and Gary supplied capital in a new business venture of $25,000, $35,000 and $40,000 respectively and agree to share the profits in proportion to the capital invested.
Last year the profits were $180,000. How much of the profit was allocated to each man?
|
