News in Brief: Thursday December 5

News in Brief: Thursday December 5
By admin


A new dedicated website to assist organisations planning business events in Toowoomba has been launched featuring venues, accommodation and services.

The website, www.toowoombaconferences.com.au, also features a range of leisure activities for delegates and comes in response to strong demand for business events in the south-east Queensland country destination.

Of visitors to Toowoomba, one in five comes for business purposes, staying longer and spending more.

 

Sunshine Coast Destination Ltd (SCDL) has held a tourism forum in partnership with Tourism and Events Queensland to develop a plan to achieve targets set by the State Government to the year 2020.

SCDL chief executive, Simon Ambrose explained the strategy would take into consideration the needs and requirements of the “broader visitor economy” including events, conferences, education, sports and leisure.

“The Plan is expected to be completed in early 2014 and will inform future Sunshine Coast tourism initiatives,” he said.

 

President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau will reopen Fiji's Treasure Island Resort on December 17 marking one year since Cyclone Evan wrought destruction across the Mamanuca Islands.

The resort is now fully operational and accepted its first guests on December 1.

 

Starwood's hip W Hotels brand has opened its 45th hotel, W Verbier, 15 years after its 1998 debut in New York City.

 

Pan Pacific Hotels Group has announced the appointment of Bernold Olaf Schroeder, formerly of Jin Jiang International Hotel Management Company, as its new chief executive effective 2 January 2014.

 

Travellers flying with Air New Zealand on both domestic and international services can now check-in using a mobile app enabled for both iPhone and Android.

With the app, customers can check in up until 90 minutes before an international flight and 30 minutes before a domestic service.

 

Starwood Hotels and Resorts has made its Samoa debut with the signing of the two Aggie Grey’s properties.

Both hotels join the portfolio with immediate effect and will relaunch as the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey’s Hotel and the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey’s Resort by mid-2014 following extensive renovations.

 

Secluded islands and cities in Indonesia will be served by Garuda’s new Explore subsidiary using ATR72-600 aircraft.

From December 3, the new carrier will commence flights from Bali to Labuan Bajo, Ende and Bima thanks to the aircraft’s ability to land on runways of less than 1,600 metres.

The new services are expected to be particularly popular with Australians who are “very curious and confident travellers”, according to vice president Australia, New Zealand and South West Pacific Uun Setiawan.

 

Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has opened ts first resort in Africa – Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort & Spa.

The resort is located thirty kilometres east of mainland Mozambique on Africa's east coast on the Bazaruto Archipelago, an area with many protected national park islands reached via a 15 minute flight from Vilanculos Airport. 

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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