News

Hawaiian Airlines suspend flights

Hawaiian Airlines has suspended Australian and New Zealand flights

In response to the coronavirus and recent travel restrictions in Australia and New Zealand, Hawaiian Airlines has today announced that it will temporarily suspend nonstop services between Honolulu and its Australian and New Zealand gateways. The suspension will come into effect later this month, temporarily halting flights extending to numerous services. The five-times-weekly between SYD…

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Vivid Sydney

Statement released regarding Vivid Sydney’s cancellation in response to coronavirus

As most people now know, Vivid Sydney will not be on for this year. The event, which in 2019 attracted 2.4 million visitors, has been cancelled in response to the growing thread of the novel coronavirus Covid-19. The NSW Government has made this decision following recommendations by the Federal Government and health authorities to limit…

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Qantas

Qantas and Jetstar introduce new measures in response to Coronavirus

As more airlines adapt to the current crisis surrounding coronavirus (covid-19), prospective passengers are being granted more flexibility. Today, Qantas Group – which is Qantas, QantasLink and their LCC Jetstar – have announced further measures to bring anyone with bookings peace of mind. The new measures follow increased travel restrictions being introduced by various government…

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Six Senses

Six Senses Ninh Van Bay introduces “The Water Retreat”

Acclaimed luxury brand Six Senses, with 18 hotels and resorts, and 30 spas in 21 countries, have recently revealed the newest addition to their renowned Six Senses Ninh Van Bay resort in Vietnam. Titled “The Water Retreat,” the new lodging seek to further immerse guests in the resort’s unforgettable location. The brand new property is…

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Alex Dyson

Tour Talk: Alex Dyson is hosting a music-themed tour of Europe this year

Former Triple J host Alex Dyson has been tapped by ever-adventurous tour operators Busabout to help launch a music-inspired Eurotrip. Alongside the ever-growing trend of music tourism, the epic 11-day trip will scour the continent for contemporary music highlights from cities like Paris, Amsterdam and Berlin. It’ll conclude with a full four days at the…

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Boys on Bikes at Mardi Gras

Sydney celebrated ‘What Matters’ at the 2020 Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade.

Oxford Street became a rainbow river running through the centre of Sydney last night as the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2020 parade chorused through the city. Over 300,000 spectators flocked to the Surry Hills street to watch the celebration of “What Matters”, the theme of this year’s LGBTIQA+ festivities. Leading the parade were…

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AirAsia

AirAsia now has an unprecedented ‘all-you-can-fly’ unlimited pass

AirAsia has long been the go-to for affordable travel. The carrier’s extensive network has played a huge role in democratising adventure, connecting dots from little known regions of Vietnam to the big cities of Australia. Now, they’ve taken that further with the “Unlimited Pass”. Announced today, and subsequently sending social media into overdrive, the all-you-can-fly…

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so melbourne

Accor’s trendy SO/ brand set for Australian debut in Melbourne

SO/, the sleek, stylish and design-forward spin-off brand of Accor’s iconic Sofitel, is finally coming to Australia. Debuting down under with SO/Melbourne, the new 288-room hotel is slated for a 2023 opening date and, in-line with other SO/ properties around the world, promises to be bold, fashionable and luxurious. The hotel will be positioned on…

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Air NZ

Air New Zealand want to put bunk beds in Economy Class

Air New Zealand is currently working on a world-first lie-flat prototype for economy class travellers. Dubbed the “Economy Skynest”, the product has spent three years in R&D, with the input of more than 200 customers at the airline’s Auckland-based Hangar 22 innovation centre. Now it seems like what is essentially six Economy bunk beds is…

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Mardi Gras: QT Sydney is going full RuPaul for partygoers

From today and throughout Sydney’s Mardi Gras celebrations, the seductive-glam of QT Sydney will be a hotbed of rainbow love letters, glitter stations, DJs and more. That’s for from it though. Between 4pm and 6pm on 29th February, QT will be leveraging their partnership with MINI Australia to zip guests straight to any Mardi Gras…

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LAX ferries rideshare & taxi passengers away from the terminal with “LAX-it”: Three months in, does it save time?

The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has been undergoing a number of welcome changes over the last couple of years: long overdue upgraded terminals, new walkways connecting terminals post-security, and a wide range of enhancements designed to make the experience of being at one of the world’s busiest airports all that better. Higher quality food,…

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Contiki Vegan Tour

Tour Talk: Contiki launches first-ever vegan-only trip to Europe

Stalwart tour operator Contiki have announced their first-ever vegan-friendly European itinerary, conceived in response to the growing health movement which has seen an estimated 500,000 Aussies turns towards a vegan lifestyle. Travellers wanting to head out on guided tours around Europe without having to worry about the lack of animal-free alternatives can rest easy knowing…

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What You Need To Know About Your 2020 Eurovision Australian Contender Montaigne

Last weekend on the Gold Coast, Australia voted for its Eurovision 2020 Contender. In its second year running, the Gold Coast hosted Eurovision 2020: Australia Decides live on SBS. The results ended up being neck and neck between Montaigne and Casey Donovan – but in the end, no one could stop Montaigne with her song…

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Tour Talk: Coral Expeditions plan wellness tours to the Great Barrier Reef

One of Australia’s most awarded cruise operators, Coral Expeditions, have announced that in 2021 they will commence a “Revitalise on the Reef” program focusing on mixing wellness with in-depth experiences in the Great Barrier Reef. Curated in collaboration with wellness expert Kris Abbey, the 7-night voyage will travel onboard the yacht-like small ship Coral Discoverer…

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LA’s Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will open this December

A December 2020 has been set for the opening date of the long-awaited Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Announced by film legend and co-chair Tom Hanks at the 92nd Academy Awards, the date will see an historic new institution come to life, celebrating the art and science of movies through exhibitions, screenings and public and…

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Tour Talk: Intrepid Travel launches sustainability focused tours in Pakistan

Following their recently announced partnership with Lonely Planet, Intrepid Travel have revealed a major growth to their leading sustainable tour portfolio with the addition of adventures in Pakistan. A 17-day expedition from Islamabad to Lahore, travelling through the remote reaches of the Karakoram Mountains and searching for snow leopards, bears, wolves and rare Marco Polo…

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Tour Talk: Busabout launches “design your own trip” booking platform

Busabout have just changed the way they approach their popular guided tours around Europe, launching a world-first “design your town trip” booking platform in response to a new survey suggesting 8 in 10 travellers prefer to move away from set itineraries and take control. Titled Adventure Planner, the newly launched platform will allow travellers to…

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Theatrical UK music festival Boomtown just dropped an incredible 2020 line up

So, who’s coming to the UK with us in August? Boomtown, an annual multi-day music festival held at the Matterley Estate in Hampshire has got us feeling all kinds of envy (and hope – we want to go to there) with their 2020 line-up, which was just announced and has subsequently been plastered all over…

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Nike announces four new running shoes for 2020

Unveiled at the Nike 2020 Forum in New York City, the unstoppable brand will be bringing four new running shoes to the masses in 2020. All part of Nike’s ambition to engineer footwear with measurable performance benefits for athletes, the forthcoming styles are each shaped to bush boundaries in sports and will be released at…

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Australia to L.A. return flights are going for as low as $765 right now

Travellers keeping a key eye on cheap flights from Australian the to U.S. today might have noticed a particularly exciting pop-up over at trusty deal-slinger iknowthepilot.com.au. The bargain tracker regularly comes with the goods, but this one seems almost too good to be true. A return flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles on Air Canada…

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Best hostels in the world named at the 17th annual HOSCAR awards

Dubbed the “HOSCARS”, HostelWorld’s annual crowd-voted round-up of the world’s best hotels has been released. Once again, it’s a deep-drive into hostels around the world that are a cut above the average, named across various categories which give budget-conscious travellers greater insight into the quality and reliability of properties. The awards are based on more…

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Lonely Planet launches 300 tours worldwide focusing on sustainable travel

The shift towards travelling more responsibility has been gaining steady traction over the past few years, but never has it felt more pervasive. It’s now common knowledge that socially conscious travel trends resonate with a wider number of people, especially younger generations who have come into a world ravaged by overtourism and careless daily practices….

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Qatar Airways confirm May launch date for new Dubrovnik flights

As if one of the most popular destinations in Europe wasn’t accessible enough already, Qatar Airways have confirmed 18th May 2020 as the official launch date for a new three-times weekly service to Dubrovnik. Operated with an Airbus A320, the route will join Zagreb to become Qatar Airways’ second destination in Croatia. The service will…

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The Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane brings new life to a restored Heritage-listed building in the CBD

A little over a month ago, the Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane finally opened its doors on the edges of the Brisbane River in the city’s CBD. It’s in the walls of a grand, heritage-listed building on George Street, a short walk from the Queen Street Mall and the South Bank. The history of the building itself is…

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Important changes to visa process for Australians entering Chile

Chile’s National Tourism Service has today announced a postponement of the planned visa requirement for Australian tourists wishing to enter the country. Between now and May 9, 2020, Australian passport holders will not be required to hold a visa when entering Chile. As of May 9, 2020, Chile will introduce a new electronic visa, which…

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The world’s first Ink Hotel makes Melbourne debut

Melbourne is now the location for the world’s first Ink Hotel, a personality-focused brand from Singapore-based Next Story Group, best known for their elegant NEXT Hotels and forward-thinking ‘Members Only’ club Kafnu. Ink adds another distinctive element to the group, focusing on lifestyle hotels that shape their own social scenes and provide a comfortable guest…

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Qatar Airways will add Dubrovnik, Santorini, and Osaka to rapidly expanding network

2020 is going to be a big year for Qatar Airways and their ever-expanding network, if the airline’s most recent announcement is anything to go by. As part of a massive network expansion, the five-time “World’s Best Airline” winner are introducing numerous seasonal flights and new destinations to make some of the world’s best destinations…

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An entire year of Scottish music and arts is coming to Australia for 2020

They might not be bringing the wild landscapes and unparalleled whiskies (although there will be some of that) with them, but the great country of Scotland will be sending some of their best musicians and creatives over to Australia for “The Year of Scotland”. Charmingly abbreviated to (#)YOSA2020, the year-long 2020 program will build a…

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Qantas has a new frequent flyer partnership with KLM and Air France

There’s some big news for Qantas Frequent Flyers as the Australian airline has been announced as the latest partner of Flying Blue, the loyalty program of KLM and Air France. This of course means that passengers can and spend QFF points and receive tier benefits on both major airlines. The announcement builds upon a previous…

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