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May Travel news update

03 May 2019 11:15 AM | Rebecca Caroe

At ATPI Business World Travel we support Garden to Table, an outstanding charity which has the simple goal of changing the way children think about food. The functional side of GtoT is that they raise funds to put vegetable gardens into schools, teach the children how to grow vegetables and then have the children prepare and cook the resulting produce. They are now working with thousands of school age children throughout New Zealand and hopefully breaking a cycle of bad eating and obesity.  

Why are we mentioning this? Well, we’re asking for your help as well by tuning into TV3’s Dancing with the Stars where celebrity chef Nadia Lim is dancing to raise funds for Garden to Table.  Keep the Nadia Lim votes flowing!  

Airline update 

We draw your attention to the small print! Air New Zealand has slipped in a rule for its long-haul Business Class and Premium Economy airfares that the lowest categories are only available if ticketed 60-days prior to departure. In Business Class for example there are generally four airfare categories – J, Z, D and the highest C with a limitation on the number of seats in each fare-category (eg Auckland to Los Angeles is J $4400 one way through to C $6500 one way).  So for the lowest fares you have to be sorted out over two months in advance. This may suit our Leisure Travellers but unlikely our Business Travelling clients who usually have short notice planning and continually evolving schedules.

The Northern Summer schedule is upon us. Delighted to see United Airlines continues through the NZ winter reducing to three flights weekly between Auckland and San Francisco (Mon/Thu/Sat). Clients have been enjoying the flight schedule which departs Auckland 1330hrs and with an arrival into SFO at 0640hrs – meaning you’re in time for multiple morning connections to all parts of the US and Canada. You’ll be in New York early evening in time for cocktails, dinner and a good night’s sleep before starting business the next morning.  

Hotels

Travel better! At ATPI/Business World Travel we’re a member of the prestigious US-based Virtuoso, an invited group of the world’s leading travel agents and where we can achieve benefits over and above any other travel agent or booking site for our clients. For a similar level as any advertised rate included on the hotel site, Bookings.com or Expedia you’ll receive:

  • Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
  • Daily Breakfast for two 
  • Food & Beverage or Spa services credit usually around US$100 
  • Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Often some other kind of personalised in-room amenity
  • Take a look at www.virtuoso.com or call one of our BWT Travel Advisors

Executive Leisure 

We had a number of clients at Augusta watching the Masters Golf  in April. Be there yourself in 2020. Through our Sports Travel connections we have access to ticketing and accommodation for the Masters but you’ll need to start getting organised soon! Get a group of friends together for a golf tour with the Masters in Augusta as your centre piece.

Our Sports Travel connections also help us secure access for our clients at events such as the French Tennis Open at Roland Garros (26 May-09June 19), Wimbledon (01-14 July 19), US Tennis Open (26 August – 08 September 19), Cricket World Cup, Monaco Grand Prix and many other events.  Tell your usual BWT Consultant about your bucket list! 

Combining a family Disneyland holiday in Anaheim, California with something for the adults (and even young golfers) is highlighted with this impressive list of golf courses which are in the Anaheim neighbourhood. One of the top courses is Tustin Ranch Golf Club followed closely by the Robert Trent Jones Monarch Beach Golf Links. There are six or so to choose from in the area making a family/golfing combination ideal for family holidays or a company incentive, mini-conference or reward. 

VISIT Anaheim has reported an increase in the desire to take multigenerational holidays, which it has called ‘Grandtravel’. According to a recent study of 1,000 Americans conducted by the destination organisation, 83% of millennials reported they wanted to take the kids on trips with their grandparents. Visit Anaheim suggested having trusted baby-sitters with them as one possible reasons  for the trend. We believe that most Grand-parents we know would be one step ahead of that notion and would want to be fully immersed on most rides with their children and grand-children in Disneyland! 

Cruising update 

The new venture Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is now a member of Virtuoso.  This is of course without having their sophisticated first yacht even in the water! The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will offer bespoke voyages onthe first of three custom-built yachts in 2020. Most voyages range from seven to ten nights, offering many overnight calls and uniquely curated experiences ashore. Each yacht will feature 149 suites, each with its own private terrace. The new cruise option will endeavour  to replicate Ritz-Carlton’s high standards of hotel service into cruising. 

Martha Stewart never lets the dust settle on her innumerable activities and interests before she’s on to her next venture. In conjunction with MSC Cruises Caribbean cruise series, Martha Stewart has created a programme within the cruise called ‘Celebrate, Discover, Experience’ where she has created a series of culinary experiences, gift packs and shore excursions that marry Stewarts personal passions. Guests will be able to partake of a number of Martha-centric activities and ‘passion points’ including full-day excursions with hands-on culinary classes and tastings, garden tours, visits to craft marketers and hikes to scenic spots as well as her personal favourites, horse back riding excursions.  Martha Stewart has been a huge cruise fan over many years and she is passionate about this form of holiday. 

General news

Welcome to Rosie McDermott, our new Client Relationship Executive. Rosie joins us from Air New Zealand and has replaced Marie Easton-Myers who is taking a sabbatical for this year before seeking out project work in 2020.

The most child friendly airport in North America has been voted as being Boston Logan Airport. Boston has multiple ‘Kidsport’ play areas which were designed by the Children’s Museum  of Boston. Portland Airport ranked second and San Francisco International third. San Fran is noteworthy for us as a gateway from NZ for many family holidays and has ‘Kids Spots’ in every terminal, with weather –related ‘Exploratorium areas’. 

North American travel bulletin BTN has sent us their updated per-diem corporate travel index. The study measures the average price for sending a corporate traveller to any of 100 cities around the world. It measures a four-star hotel rate, taxis to and from the city and meals (continental breakfast, lunch and dinner). It takes averages for year-round hotel rates. This study provides a useful guideline to set your own employee travel expenses. 

The priciest US cities (for the US they substitute taxi for one-day car rental): 

  1. New York – US$645 per day
  2. San Francisco – US$534 per day
  3. Boston – US$490

The 5 priciest destinations for global business in 2019 are:

  1. Tokyo  – US$598 per day
  2. London – US$540 per day
  3. Paris - US$492 per day
  4. Tel Avis – US$462 per day
  5. Zurich – US$4456 per day 

In the Aspac region Sydney sits at 29th most expensive globally at US$347 per day, Auckland is 43rd globally at US$308 per day, Singapore 45th at US$307 per day and Melbourne 46th at US$305 per day. Least expensive cities to send business travellers to sitting at 99th is Cairo Egypt at US$180 per day and 100th is Bangalore, India at US$171 per day.   

A plea to remember that your US ESTA must be applied for more than 72 hours prior to your departure! 

Call us to discuss your business travel! 0800 508 580 ATPI Business World Travel 


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