News in Brief: Friday October 10

Scoot’s first 787-9 Dreamliner is undergoing its final assembly at the Boeing Factory, revealing its distinctive, streamlined look.

Scoot CEO Campbell Wilson said, “Seeing our first 787 as one complete structure is a further reminder that delivery isn’t too far away.  Anticipation is certainly building within Scoot, and we can’t wait to see our first 787, dubbed “Dream Start”, in the bright and cheerful Scoot livery, and to soon introduce greater comfort, better amenities and continued fantastic value fares to our guests.”

Qantas will be introducing a "retro" livery on one of its brand new Boeing 737 aircraft as a flying tribute to 70 years of its iconic kangaroo logo.

Group Executive for Brand, Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Olivia Wirth said the kangaroo that now features on the tail of every single Qantas aircraft is well and truly part of the Australian story.

“For 70 years the flying kangaroo has been a symbol of aviation innovation around the world, driving higher standards in safety, technology, product and service.” Wirth said.

Travelmarvel is offering a deal on its 8-day ‘Delightful Danube’ river cruise sailing between Budapest and Vilshofen on April 20, 2015 or Vilshofen and Budapest on April 27.

The cruise includes a private ‘Oktoberfest’ with the locals in Vilshofen, the chance to explore Vienna, a guided tour of Melk Abbey and a traditional Slovak folklore demonstration in Bratislava.

For more information click here.

Luke Vaughan, has been recognized as TravelManagers most awarded personal travel manager for 2014.

Vaughan was awarded the most improved personal travel manager of the year, most personal travel manager representative for Hawthorn East in Victoria, most improved travel manager by State, was one of the top ten personal travel managers and received the personal travel managers choice award as announced at its recent National Conference.

Morris Media Network (MMN) has established a presence in Sydney to create Australia's largest travel-specialist newstand, custom and guide book publisher.

As part of a global expansion into Australasia and the Asia Pacific region, MMN has acquired Vacations and Travel Magazine previously owned and edited by Anthony Gallagher, of Global Publishing Pty Ltd.

Travel Counsellor, Matt Schmitz is celebrating his achievement of receiving a ‘Gold’ status as an agent. The elite title is awarded to the company’s top performing Travel Counsellors who achieve gross commissions of $146,000 or more, over a 12 month period.

The Victoria based travel counsellor has now been placerd amongst the top 10% of Travel Counsellors worldwide, joining fellow Australian Gold Travel Counsellors Nadine Kutz and Michelle Tavli.

Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) in Philippines is launching a sale from October 9-13, which will include $199 seats on flights from Sydney to Manila.

The sale is available on non-stop flights to Manila, with a travel period from November 1 to March 15 2015, with domestic flights to Palawan and Boracay also on sale for the same period.

Off the back of its inaugural Asia Pacific Roadshow, Creative Holidays is reminding agents of its upcoming Newcastle and Sydney events, where agents are invited to learn about product updates and destinations of the operator.

The events will showcase a range of Creative’s key partners from the Asia Pacific region, including the Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vanuatu, with prizes and famil opportunities also up for grabs.

The events will be held on October 17 and October 20 in Newcastle and Sydney respectively, with agents encouraged to RSVP soon to reserve their place.

The 2013 Avis Scholarship recipient Anne Hobbs, who won two return Qantas business class flights to the US, recently redeemed her prize, extending her trip to visit New York, Niagara Falls, Disneyworld Florida and Las Vegas.

Hobbs embarked on a road trip from Nevada to California’s Yosemite National Park, and exploring Highway 1, however still insisted the highlight of the trip was New York.

Now in its 18th year, the Avis Travel Agent Scholarship recognises consultants who demonstrate consistently outstanding customer service, with this year’s winner to be announced on October 21.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) recently held its global awareness and fundraising event in support of IHG Shelter in a Storm, the company’s disaster relief program.

The annual IHG ‘Race Around the World’ event also took place recently, with almost 200,000 colleagues from IHG’s corporate offices and hotels across 67 countries carry out activities pledged to raise funds for the program.

For each activity, IHG made a contribution of US$1 to the IHG Shelter Fund, a pool of resources ready to support and respond to disaster emergencies.

In Sydney, activities pledged by the corporate office included a Botanic Gardens walk and a baking competition dubbed The Cake War.