Hi All,

I am Al Laird, the new Head of Growth at Travelogic.   Al Laird

I look forward to communicating with you directly in the future on just how Travelogic can bring significant value to your travel processes.

With the new service fee changes recently coming into effect, now is the perfect time to re-evaluate the value you are receiving from your current travel service provider.

I trust you find this letter newsworthy and informative. Thank you in advance, for accepting my upcoming call to you.

Smart Travel Update - September 2005

 

Want your own copy? You can arrange it from here!

Directors Comment

Claire Gray, Executive Director says

Technology in travel just keeps getting better, from more effectively sourcing frequent flyer seats, to live TV in-flight to the easing of mobile phone usage policies. Technological developments are designed to make life easier for the traveller. For the ever increasing time poor traveller, let me remind you that the desired outcome with these developments is more time,  not an opportunity to work harder.

Thanking you for your continued support

Claire

 
Air News

Frequent flying, not frequent calling

Most Qantas frequent flyers have experienced the pain of trawling the internet for hours trying to book a flight with points accumulated after years of airline loyalty.

Earning the points is the easy part, booking the flights that actually suit you is tougher.

But a new program - the Frequent Flyer Friend - can search for you (at $65 a year), and will email or text message you when a seat becomes available on your preferred route.

More...

Source: SMH

Qantas mobile phone policy effective on international flights

Qantas Airways has extended its policy on the use of mobile phones to all of its international services, including New Zealand domestic operations and Australian Airlines services.

The policy, which was introduced for Australian domestic services in June, allows mobile phones to be used once an aircraft has landed and vacated the runway. An announcement by cabin crew after landing will inform customers when they are allowed to use their mobile phones.

More...

Source = etravel blackboard

Watch live television onboard Singapore Airlines
Watch up-to-the-minute live news broadcasts as important global events unfold, and catch the latest sporting action as David Beckham scores that crucial goal or Tiger Woods tees off - at 35,000 feet in the sky.

Singapore Airlines is the first airline in the world to introduce live TV on international flights. This exciting infotainment option follows the launch of Connexion by BoeingSM, an inflight wireless broadband service that provides customers in all three classes with real-time, high-speed and secure internet connectivity in March this year.

With this enhanced service, customers with wireless-enabled laptops can now send and receive emails, connect real-time with their corporate virtual private network and link up to top international news networks and watch live television from their laptops. Customers need not pay extra for live TV, other than that for Connexion by Boeing.

More...

source = Singapore Airlines

Qantas offers more choice to new Zealand

The Qantas Group announced new trans-Tasman schedules, with low cost airline Jetstar complementing Qantas services to Christchurch and opening up a new route between New Zealand and the Gold Coast.

Jetstar commences Trans Tasman operations on 1 December 2005. The route network was announced on 3 August 2005.


Jetstar will operate the following sectors:

Sydney to Christchurch vv
Melbourne to Christchurch vv
Brisbane to Christchurch vv
Coolangatta to Christchurch vv

Qantas will continue to operate a daily Sydney to Christchurch service, as well as Trans Tasman services to Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown.

source QF website

New Melbourne Airport Terminal Names

Melbourne Airport's three terminals have new names effective 4 July 2005. The Qantas Domestic terminal is now known as Terminal 1 (T1), the International Terminal as Terminal 2 (T2) and the Virgin Blue/REgional Express Domestic terminal has become Terminal 3 (T3)
Humour
A German lawyer has published research which he says proves leaving a towel on a sunlounger doesn't create a legally binding reservation.

For years there's been confilict at various Mediterranean and Canary Island resorts where some nationalities have been blamed for placing towels to reserve poolside spots before going to breakfast, only to return in some cases to find they've been thrown into the pool by other outraged guests.

Travelogic's Globalstar partnership-Globalstar update 

 

NEW YORK (August 9, 2005) – GlobalStar Travel Management, a long-term equity partnership comprised of the world’s foremost independent travel management firms dedicated to managing and serving their clients’ global travel needs, today announced the addition of Travel Solutions, Inc. to its premier collection.

As the newest GlobalStar partner, Travel Solutions will now be able to offer its clients the same innovative and cost-effective technology, local expertise and exceptional value that GlobalStar offers. Located in over 40 countries around the world, GlobalStar partners possess a deep commitment to personal service that begins with a hands-on approach and is delivered to clients by experienced agents and accessible management teams.

Committed to their clients’ global needs, GSNA combines a USD 1.7 billion purchasing power with a dedication to raising quality standards in the industry through a true commitment to personal service and a spirit of collaboration. As a result, Travel Solution’s clients will benefit from the partners’ strong focus on global account management and a single lead agency’s global, overall control. Whenever necessary, Travel Solutions can harness GSNA’s central resources and collective strength, as GSNA agencies are linked together through innovative travel and information management technology.

For Travel Solutions President Torsten Krings, joining GlobalStar North America made perfect sense. “Our account base continues to grow and more and more clients require multinational servicing capabilities. We are excited to now be able to offer our clients a reputable and relevant global capability,” said Krings.

Source = GlobalStar

 
Leisure & Events

 Europe 2006  Earlybirds are coming

The Leisure Department at Travelogic have some great Earlybird offers in store for you this year. If you haven't heard about Earlybirds before then you are in for a treat!

Many airlines will participate from Qantas/BA to Emirates to Austrian, all offering a wide range of services and products to ensure the perfect getaway for you. Whether you want 2 nights in Singapore on the way to London or 21 days of Peugeot Leasing in France, we can find the best Earlybird for your needs.

Stay tuned for more in the next few weeks...

 

Travelogic Leisure website
Travelogic Update
T
FOLLOWING THE DISASTER IN LONDON

The Ambulance Service have launched a national "In Case of Emergency
(ICE)" campaign .

The idea is that you store the word " I C E " in your mobile phone
address book, and against it enter the number of the person you would
want to be contacted "In Case of Emergency".

In an emergency situation ambulance and hospital staff will then be able
to quickly find out who your next of kin are and be able to contact
them. It's so simple that everyone can do it. Please do.

For more than one contact name ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 etc.

 

Air Update and travel tips
Qantas begin direct services to San Francisco

Qantas Airways is to begin services to San Francisco starting from March 29, 2006, increasing its total number of round trip services to 42 flights per week.The airline will initially offer three non-stop weekly services on the San Francisco-Sydney route, operating three-class Boeing 747-400 aircraft. The timings of the services would ensure connections from all major North American cities

Employee of the month

My Name is Dorothy Booc and I am a Domestic Travel Specialist at Travelogic. I started with Travelogic in June 2005 after being in the travel industry for 10 years at Tourism Queensland. I thoroughly enjoyed the leisure industry but it was time to further my career and venture in the Corporate industry. When I was 12 years old I came from Mauritius to Australia with my family which was a very big change for me. I went back with my mother in 1997 and I did not want to come back home as it was just so beautiful and laid back there. I have also travelled some parts of Europe and Australia as well. I have been happily married for 4 years and I have 2 beautiful children, a boy and a girl who keep me very grounded. I am looking forward to work and build a great relationship with each and everyone of you.

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A worldwide joint-venture partnership of leading travel companies leveraging the buying power from sales in excess of 5 billion dollars. GlobalStar partners deliver worldwide, culturally sensitive travel management solutions with a distinct commitment to high standards in service excellence, true global price sourcing and integrated information systems.
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