News in Brief: Thursday November 14

Flight Centre has appointed Yela Wilson to lead the expansion of its Escape Travel franchise network.

The 25-year veteran of Flight Centre has held several roles with the company and is currently area leader in NSW and the ACT.

"Yela is one of the company's most experienced leaders with a 25-year record of success and had in-depth knowledge of the business and of the industry in general," Flight Centre chief operating officer Melanie Waters-Ryan said.

"She is the ideal person to work alongside prospective franchisees to develop their businesses and to ensure they gain the full benefits from their association with Flight Centre."

Eight of Escape Travel's 140 stores are franchised.

From November 15, Singapore Airlines customers will be entitled to more free checked-in baggage for all SQ and SilkAir flights, with allowances to rise by 10kg.

Customers will be entitled to free baggage allowances of 50kg in suites and first class, 40kg in business class and 30kg in economy class.

Those travelling in suites, first class and business class to and from the United States, where a per-piece allowance applies, will be entitled to check-in two pieces of luggage of up to 32kg each, up from 23kg previously.

The Globus family of brands has made four new appointments, with Mark Windsor to join as groups business development manager Victoria and Shaun McIntosh to become area sales manager Western Australia.

In addition, Laura Hewitt has been appointed area sales manager New South Wales West while Chris Hill has been names area sales manager New South Wales North.

The purchase of New Zealand’s Peppers Carrington Resort by Shanghai CRED Real Estate will see the Chinese property developer invest millions of dollars in the North Island hotel over coming years.

As it announced the acquisition, the firm committed to progressively invest in the resort, located four hours north of Auckland, in a bid to attract more high-income tourists, boost wine exports and create new local jobs.

Mantra chief executive Bob East welcomed news of the sale and the subsequent commitment to further develop the property.

“It is a significant time in the evolution of the Peppers brand as the network is set to expand in the Asia Pacific, so to see this level of interest in foreign investment from an established group like Shanghai CRED is an encouraging sign for the brand and tourism in general,” he said.

The resort’s current general manager, Simon Jones, has been appointed chief executive of the resort and its associated companies which will retain all staff along with the Peppers name.