News in Brief: Monday February 17
International Airlines Group, the parent company of British Airways, has renewed a multi-year, full content distribution agreement with Travelport.
The deal will give Travelport-connected agents access to published fares and inventory on all BA, Iberia and Iberia Express flights.
The technology firm said it was also working with the airlines to add ancillary content through its Merchandising Platform which allows carriers to control how their content and ancillaries are visually presented and described to travel agents.
IHG will no longer manage two hotels in Kakadu National Park from March 31, it has been reported.
Accommodation publication, HM, said the hotel firm and Kakadu Tourism have decided to end the contract for Gagudju Crocodile Holiday Inn and Gagudju Lodge Cooinda by mutual consent.
A new management company for the properties will be announed on Wednesday, HM reported,
Virgin Australia has partnered with Starwood Hotels and Resorts in a deal to expand the carrier's Velocity Frequent Flyer program.
The agreement will allow Velocity members to transfer points earnt through Starwood's Preferred Guest loyalty scheme into Velocity points.
The owners of accommodation provider check-in.com.au, Disruptive Investment Group, has acquired 50% of holiday web business Escape Lounge.
The company said the packages, tours, activities and other add-on product offered through Escapelounge.com.au will complement the database of 150,000 hotels available through check-in.com.au.
Rail Plus is extending the operating hours of its Live Chat service to 7pm AEST in a move designed to give Western Australian agents longer access to the firm's consultants.
Upmarket Longitude 131 has released packages offering free flights to mark the launch of charter services between Melbourne and Ayers Rock.
From April to the end of June, Alliance Air will operate a 9am Friday service from Tullamarine, returning at 3pm on Sunday. The two night package at Longitude costs from $2200 per person including all dining and open bar.
The return flight from Ayers Rock will be extended to the Monday over the Queen's Birthday long weekend between June 6-9, allowing a three night stay from $3300 per person.
Oaks Hotels & Resorts is forging ahead with its Australian expansion as it revealed plans to open its fifth Melbourne property taking its portfolio to 46.
The 10-floor Oaks Pinnacle hotel, located in South Yarra, is in the final stages of completion and will become the second new-build to open under the Oaks brand in a 12-month period.
Work has commenced on the Hunter Valley Conference and Events Centre, with the new $4 million facility scheduled for completion by the end of 2014.
The centre, to become the Hunter Valley’s largest conference and events centre, will be located on the ground's of the Schwartz Family Company owned Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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