In an extraordinary move for someone who should be smoothing the way in the halls of power, Brent Thomas, the Head of Public Policy at Airbnb in Australia, has effectively told the Premier of NSW, Gladys Berejiklian, that she has no idea about innovation and that her predecessor, Mike Baird, would be doing a much better job. More
Gold Coast Overnight Visitor Nights Breach 5m But Spend Down
Overnight visitor nights to the Gold Coast exceeded five million in a year for the first time but the average visitor spend was down. The number of day trips also fell, largely due to the River Rapids accident at Dreamworld last October in which four people died. More
Cute Orphans a Tourist Attraction but the Truth is Much Uglier
Tourism is not always a force for good, or indeed spreading the economic love, as is so often claimed by industry advocates. Orphanage tourism is a case in point. In Cambodia, for example, there are less orphans than in 2005 but since then the number of orphanages has increased by 75%. How can this be? The simple answer is demand and supply. More
Forget the Gravy Train, Take Tigerair to Canberra
Low cost carrier Tigerair Australia has expanded its services on the rapidly evolving and historically high-yielding Canberra route, where planes come stuffed with political fat cats and corporates, launching three return services between Brisbane and the national capital each week. It’s also boosted its Melbourne-Canberra service by an extra weekly flight. Tigerair’s Canberra expansion is good for competition but not for yields. Fares start at $49 ex-Melbourne and $69 ex-Brisbane.
Yet More Rooms on the way for Singapore as AccorHotels Prepares to open 800th Asia Pacific Property in the Lion City
The number is big but the timing could be better. Just one day after STR revealed that room rates in Singapore have declined for 18 consecutive months, AccorHotels has announced the Sofitel Singapore City Centre will become its 800th property in Asia Pacific region when it opens in October. More
Vietnam Tops Outbound Growth for July – Italy, China Also Strong
Vietnam was the fastest-growing international destination for Australians during July. More
China Propels Asian Cruise Growth, Numbers Double in a Year
China has been confirmed as the world’s most dynamic cruise market with annual growth of 76% between 2013 and 2016, according to an Asia Cruise Trends report from industry association CLIA. The report reveals that 3.1 million Asians took cruises in 2016, 55% more than in 2015. “Of these, 68% (2.1 million) were from mainland China, a market which almost doubled as it grew by 99% last year.” More
Australia Odd One Out – Domestic Demand Drop
Australia was the only major aviation market where domestic demand dropped during July, according to the International Air Transport Association. “Domestic travel demand grew by 7.9% year-on-year in July, in line with 8.0% growth recorded in June. China led all markets (+15.0%).”
| July 2017 (% year-on-year) |
World share¹ | RPK | ASK | PLF (%-pt)² |
PLF (level)³ |
| Domestic | 36.3% | 7.9% | 7.1% | 0.6% | 85.0% |
| Australia | 1.0% | -0.8% | -1.9% | 0.9% | 80.1% |
| Brazil | 1.2% | 3.9% | 4.3% | -0.3% | 84.2% |
| China P.R | 8.7% | 15.0% | 12.7% | 1.8% | 84.8% |
| India | 1.3% | 12.5% | 14.5% | -1.5% | 82.6% |
| Japan | 1.1% | 6.6% | 1.4% | 3.4% | 69.6% |
| Russian Fed. | 1.3% | 9.1% | 9.6% | -0.4% | 90.3% |
| US | 15.0% | 5.1% | 5.0% | 0.1% | 87.2% |
Steady as she goes at Expedia says new CEO
Don’t expect much to change at Expedia following the departure of online travel savant Dara Khosrowshahi, who has taken the top job at Uber.
That’s the message from his replacement, Mark Okerstrom, the former Expedia CFO, pictured, who says the company will focus on building out its accommodation inventory and take advantage of opportunities as they arise. See Skift story.
The Winter That Never Ends – The Blizzard of Oz 3.0
Thoughts of global warming have been cast aside as Australia’s snow resorts enjoy the best late season since at least 2012 as the third blizzard in a month pounds the mountains. More
‘Cheap’ Decision Could Cost Scenic Tours $16m
A decision to make customers take a bus tour instead of the luxury European river cruise they were promised could cost Scenic Tours up to $16m. More
New Properties Boost Mantra Group Profits
Hotel and resort company Mantra Group boosted its net profit by more than 22% to $45.6m for the year to June 30, 2017. CEO Bob East said: “The majority of this improvement was driven by six new property acquisitions during the year supported by strong revenue growth from the key markets of Sydney, Melbourne, ACT, and Sunshine Coast.” More
Getting High and Making Money in the Aussie Alps
Lots of snow, blue sky and a gentle breeze. The view from 2000 metres at Thredbo, which has just posted an $18m profit More
Investors Buy The Future at Flight Centre
Flight Centre shares rose another 10% yesterday to $49.10 – the highest in three years – despite posting a profit before tax ( $325 million) that was -5.7% down on last financial year. The shares have risen from just $28.53 in late March. So why the surge? More
AOT – Helloworld’s White Knight Delivers
Retail and inbound travel company Helloworld has reported a $31 million net profit for 12 months to June 30 – up from $3.5 million last financial year – largely driven by by revenue growth of 8.7% in its Australian business and the contribution of recently-arrived AOT businesses. More
Steady Inbound Growth Trend Continues in June
Inbound tourism into Australia continued its steady growth through June. The United States + 13.7%, India +12% and China +11% were the fastest-growing major markets. More
Intrepid Travel Buys 50% of Chimu Adventures
Intrepid Group has bought 50% of Chimu Adventures and its subsidiaries from co-founders Chad Carey and Greg Carter, pictured, who will continue to run the business independently. More
Airbnb Listings Crack 4m, Hits Booking Record
Accommodation booking platform Airbnb has just recorded its busiest ever night with more than 2.5 million people staying in listed properties on Saturday, August 5.
“On any given night, 2 million people are staying in other people’s homes around the world on Airbnb,” the company added. More
Priceline Ramps Up Online Ad Spend, Profit Follows
Priceline Group spent a record US$1.147 billion on “performance advertising” in the three months to June 30, increasing its online ad spend across all brands by 24% over the previous corresponding period. More
Storm Chasers Rejoice in The #Blizzardof Oz
Australia’s ski fields have been given a massive boost with up to 135cm of snow falling in a four-day storm dubbed the #Blizzardofoz. More
You Win Some, You Lose Some
Just after 10am yesterday, Mantra Group announced it had bought the Art Series Hotels Group brand and management rights of its seven art-themed properties in Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide for $52.5 million. More
Japan, China, Technology – The Future for Jetstar
Japan, China and technology represent enormous opportunities for Jetstar, CEO Jayne Hrdlicka told the CAPA aviation summit in Sydney this week. More
Webjet Hits The Big Time With JacTravel Buy
Webjet has made the biggest move yet in its impressive segue from one-trick-pony OTA to diversified global travel company by agreeing to buy JacTravel for GBP200 million. More
Sabre Cutting 900 Jobs, Operating Income Plummets
Travel tech company Sabre is embarking on a cost-cutting program that will culminate in the loss of 900 jobs – about 9% of its workforce. It appears the heaviest cuts will be made to middle management at the company strives for a flatter structure. More
Expedia Diversifies Its Southeast Asia Growth Strategy, Invests $350 million in Traveloka
Indonesia online travel agent Traveloka has now raised $US500 million in the past year following the $US350 million investment from global travel giant Expedia announced late last week. East Ventures, Hillhouse Capital Group, JD.com and Sequoia Capital invested approximately $US150 million in two earlier rounds in the last 12 months. More
onefinestay: AccorHotels Consolidates Its Holiday Rental Companies Under Single Brand
AccorHotels will merge its holiday home/villa rental companies Travel Keys, Squarebreak and onefinestay. The combined business will operate as onefinestay and offer 10,000 properties over six continents for rent. AccorHotels recently agreed to buy 100% of Squarebreak following its acquisitions of Travel Keys earlier this year and onefinestay in 2016. More
Relax, Breath Deeply, EVEN Comes To Auckland
EVEN is a wellness hotel brand (“home grown” by InterContinental Hotels Group) cloaked in buzzwords the way some women wear Lululemon. More
Australian Video Travel App Wins Govt Funding
Video blogging app Vloggi by Ciné Souk has announced it’s been selected for program funding by Jobs for NSW. Founder Justin Wastnage said “this funding will enable us to refine the minimum viable product through to commercialisation. More
