Author Archives: Kerryn Taylor

MTA – Mobile Travel Agents named as NTIA finalists

Ntia Square Button Finalist

MTA-Mobile Travel Agents has been named a finalist in the National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) – Most Outstanding Mobile Travel Advisor Network category. The winner will be announced at a gala dinner in Sydney on Saturday 15 October. The NTIAs are hosted by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) to recognise excellence in the

MTA’s Roy Merricks elected to AFTA board

The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) has re-elected five directors and added one new member, MTA’s Roy Merricks to the AFTA board, at the Annual General Meeting. Joining Roy for the next two-year term will be Tom Manwaring – Express Travel Group, David Smith – Flight Centre, Spiros Alysandratos – Consolidated Travel, Graham Turner

MTA contingent at 34th Virtuoso Travel Week

Download

Virtuoso’s 34th annual Travel Week welcomed over 4,000 of luxury travel’s top professionals in person to Las Vegas this week and another 700 joined virtually.  With attendees from over 100 countries, including a contingent from MTA-Mobile Travel Agents, the event is held across Bellagio Resort & Casino, ARIA Resort & Casino and Vdara Hotel &

Australia to scrap Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD)

Digital Passenger Declaration

Travellers arriving in Australia will no longer need to complete a digital passenger declaration under changes to come into effect this week. Border restrictions enforced in response to the pandemic will be dropped this coming week, with arriving passengers no longer required to declare their vaccination status or obtain a travel exemption. The much-maligned Digital Passenger

Air New Zealand reveals bunk beds in the sky

Air Nz Bunk Beds

After five years in development, Air New Zealand has unveiled its game-changing new cabins with the goal of providing “the best sleep in the sky” for every passenger. Air New Zealand has eight new Dreamliners due to arrive in 2024 and a plan for more ultra-long-haul routes beginning with direct Auckland to New York flights

NZ ditches pre-departure testing requirements

Treble Cone Have You Ever Miles Holden (7)

In a massive boost for trans-Tasman tourism, the New Zealand government has announced it will be ditching testing requirements for travellers to produce a negative COVID-19 result before arriving in the country. Effective Tuesday, June 21, unvaccinated travellers will also be able to enter New Zealand without quarantining for the first time during the pandemic.

NZ border fully open from 31 July

Ex10587 Bay Of Islands Fraser Clements 3 Resized

It’s the good news that skiers, cruisers and friends of Kiwis have been waiting for – New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced a new faster timeline for reopening the border and reconnecting New Zealand with the world. New Zealand’s border will now be fully reopened by the end of July – two months earlier

Emirates launch premium economy into Sydney

Emirates premium economy class with Emirates cabin crew pictured

Emirates has unveiled its premium economy cabin on selected routes from 1 August 2022. The new cabin class, which will be rolled out on popular A380 routes from Sydney, London and Paris from 1 August, and Christchurch from December, promises extra comfy seats, more legroom and service to rival many airlines’ business class offerings. Sir

Eurostar Thalys merger – London to Germany by high-speed rail

Thalys Eurostar

Travelling between the UK and some of Europe’s most loved destinations is about to get easier, thanks to a merger between Eurostar and French-Belgian high-speed operator Thalys. Travellers could soon see themselves jumping on a train in London and getting off in Germany, thanks to the new deal between Eurostar and Thalys. This approval has birthed

Fiji removes arrival testing from 1 May

Mana Island Fiji (large)

The Fijian Government has announced that from May 1, fully vaccinated visitors to Fiji will no longer be required to produce a pre-arrival negative test, in a move that reduces costs for travellers and makes it even easier to travel to paradise. However, there are still some travel requirements: You’ll need to show proof of vaccination for