Territory to lure fossicking tourists online

The Northern Territory Government has launched an online portal to promote the region as a 'fossicking tourism' destination.

Information on gemstone and mineral field locations, land access and permits are included in the new website which hopes to help both landholders and visitors.

NT Minister for Mines and Energy, Willem Westra van Holthe, says the portal will be particularly useful in attracting international tourists.

"You can go and fossick in some areas of the Territory and see nobody else, and that's an experience people from overseas are just clambering over themselves to get to," he said.

"I think this new portal joins the new technology with the age old practice of fossicking, and brings the two together."

The minister says providing better information to tourists may also improve issues surrounding land access.

"Fossickers have been asking for better access to land across the Territory, and we are working on ways we can provide that," he said.

"I guess what we need to make sure is for those people who want to go onto the land to do the right thing.

"Often pastoralists complain about gates being left open, rubbish left lying around.

"It's really important that the relationship is strengthened between the pastoralists and those who go there, so we really need people to do the right thing."

The portal can be accessed on the Department of Mines and Energy webpage at www.nt.gov.au/d/fossicking

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201304/s3736880.htm

Nowadays, many companies are looking to go online and promote themselves. This is easy and a fast way of gaining tourists. The Northern Territory Government has launched an online portal to promote the “fossicking tourism”. This allows information on the Information on gemstone and mineral field locations, land access and permits are included in the new website which hopes to help both landholders and visitors. This is a great way for people to experience the people with new technology advancing. 

UK agent fined for misuse of marketing information

A UK travel agent has been fined &#pound;2,600 and ordered to pay &#pound;1,000 costs for breaching the Data Protection Act after using information taken from his previous employer’s marketing database when he set up his own business.Nottingham Crown Court last week found Mr Zbigniew Andrew Soltysik guilty for 13 offences of obtaining, and 13 offences of disclosing, personal information contrary to section 55 of the act. The agent also asked for a further 548 offences of unlawful obtaining and or disclosing of personal information to be taken into consideration. Mr Soltysik, from Mapperley, Nottinghamshire removed a database of customer details from his previous employer Quality Travel in Grantham. He then used the database to send marketing material to Quality Travel’s customers when he and his wife set up their own travel agents, New Style Travel. Quality Travel reported the case to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Commenting on the case today the Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, said: --I am pleased to see that this case was viewed so seriously that it was committed to the crown court for sentencing. Obtaining and disclosing personal information can have serious consequences and data protection laws protect an individual’s right to personal privacy.”He added: --The result of this prosecution by my office sends out the clear message to those engaged in similar activity that such sharp practice in handling personal information, involving invasion of people’s privacy, will not be tolerated by me, or by the Courts.”

http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?news_id=99001&c=setreg&region=2

Travel agents are always looking to market the companies with new information in order to sell the organisation to customers. A UK travel agent was fined £2600 and was ordered to pay £1000 for the breach of the Data Protection Act. They used information from an employers marketing database. This was personal information and he was sending marketing information to Quality Travel's customers to set up a travel agent. This is not the right approach to marketing a company and with peoples privacy handled, this is a breach of all customer rights. 

Amadeus and IAG sign new long-term content agreement

Amadeus, a leading technology partner for the global travel industry, has today signed a new long-term content agreement with International Airlines Group (IAG), one of the world’s largest airline groups.  The agreement, which covers British Airways, Iberia, and Iberia Express, allows Amadeus subscribers to continue to benefit from accessing the same level of fares, availability and functionality as previously.  “Reaching a new content agreement with IAG has been a clear commercial priority for Amadeus for some time, in order to ensure that our subscribers can continue to access British Airways, Iberia and Iberia Express flights,” said Holger Taubmann, Senior Vice President, Distribution, Amadeus.  He continues: “To this end we are delighted to have reached agreement with IAG and we look forward to continuing what has been a long and successful relationship for many more years to come”.  “We are wholly committed to supporting the travel agency channel and we are pleased to have reached a multi-year agreement with Amadeus,” said Silvia Cairo, Head of Group Commercial Planning and Policy, International Airlines Group. “We have a long standing relationship with Amadeus and look forward to working with Amadeus subscribers ever more closely together in the coming years”.  Amadeus plays a critical role in the distribution space ensuring global reach to travel agencies across the world. Today 80% of Amadeus bookings worldwide are made on airlines with which Amadeus has a content agreement.  Amadeus is a leading provider of advanced technology solutions for the global travel industry. Customer groups include travel providers (e.g. airlines, hotels, rail and ferry operators, etc.), travel sellers (travel agencies and websites), and travel buyers (corporations and travel management companies).  Formed in January 2011, IAG is the parent company of British Airways, Iberia and bmi. It is a Spanish registered company with shares traded on the London Stock Exchange and Spanish Stock Exchanges. The corporate head office for IAG is in London, UK. International Airlines Group is one of the world's largest airline groups with 377 aircraft flying to 200 destinations and carrying more than 54 million passengers each year. It is the third largest group in Europe and the sixth largest in the world, based on revenue.  Amadeus are known to be the leading company in terms of the global distribution systems. A long term contract has been signed with International Airlines Group, which is also known to be the largest airline group. The companies include, British Airways, Iberia and Iberia Express. Amadeus has many benefits including accessing the same level of fares, availability and functionality. This is a great negotiation with the IAG group. They will benefit and with one of the leading global distribution systems, customers are able to enjoy a fast and efficient system.

AirAsia blames IT glitch for fares blooper

The AirAsia group has responded to accusations by Australia's consumer watchdog that it misled customers with advertising of its fares for some routes out of Australia. 

The airline is blaming an IT glitch. 

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is seeking penalties and legal costs from the Kuala Lumpur-based airline. 

The ACCC alleges AirAsia X's website failed to show fares that included all taxes, duties, fees and other mandatory charges for some routes out of Melbourne, Perth and the Gold Coast, the watchdog said. 

In a statement, Air Asia said, "The particular issues with the relevant flights related to whether all taxes and charges were displayed for customers which appears to have arisen from an IT issue in September 2011." 

AirAsia said it was "carefully reviewing the contents of the ACCC's claims". 

The low cost carrier said it had taken corrective action but was unaware of the matter before the ACCC brought its proceedings. 

"As soon as the issue became known to us we resolved the issue on our website," the airline added.

www.travelmole.com/stories/2000080.php

AirAsia have responded to their customer’s information being misled. There have been many glitches with computer systems and airline companies. This one in particular is interesting as AirAsia failed to display their taxes and charges for customers. The company were unaware of the situation but managed to resolve the situation. With advertisements online, it is important that the fares are displayed properly. However, it is becoming more difficult to keep track of the number of people attempting to hack systems. Even though the situation was seen as a “glitch”, many believe that hackers attempted to send a virus into the system. 

British Airways to offer 'hand luggage only' fares

The airline says the fares – which will initially be offered on flights from Gatwick to Amsterdam, Dubrovnik, Jersey, Tunis and Turin – will give its passengers “more choice”, but they are likely to be viewed as an attempt to compete with low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet.

“The suprise is not so much that BA has made this move, but that it has taken so long to do so,” said Nick Trend, Telegraph Travel’s Consumer Editor. “It appears to be a reaction to commercial pressure from its no-frills rivals, which quote lower headline fares because they don't include the cost of checked bags. This can make BA's fares look expensive and so less attractive by contrast.

“BA says that the new fares are about giving it customers ‘more freedom to choose the kind of flying they want’, but they are also about giving British Airways the freedom to make its fares look cheaper.”

He added that those passengers who do check a bag into the hold could eventually end up paying more.

“Airfares are so variable that, within a few weeks, it will be impossible to know whether BA passengers without hold luggage are getting a better deal, or whether those who check in their bags are being charged extra,” he said.

But Peter Simpson, director of Gatwick for British Airways, claimed that passengers who check in a bag will not be expected to pay extra to make up for those who choose the cheaper fares.

"It is all about giving our customers more freedom to choose the kind of flying they want," he said. “Many British Airways customers at Gatwick choose not to check in a bag as they’re already taking advantage of our generous two-bag hand luggage policy. Those who still want to check in a bag will simply pay the same price they do now.”

The new “hand baggage only fares” go on sale next Tuesday (February 26), with starting prices ranging from £39 (one-way to Amsterdam) to £69 (one-way to Turin). BA said that, depending on the route, the fares are between £9 and £15 cheaper than usual.

The announcement by BA - which axed free meals on some flights in 2009 in a bid to cut costs - follows KLM's decision to begin charging customers who check in luggage on short-haul flights. KLM's policy will be effective from April 22.

A spokesman for Ryanair said: “We welcome BA’s conversion to the Ryanair way".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/9880560/British-Airways-to-offer-hand-luggage-only-fares.html

Airlines are always looking to cut down on the weight of an aircraft. This could be from new planes to reducing the baggage allowance. British Airways have thought of a good strategy for the company and customers by offering hand luggage only fares. This is no surprise that British Airways have done this. No frills organisations such as Ryan Air and easyJet are putting the pressure on Scheduled airlines. The BA fares are too expensive which is causing problems.  A one-way ticket has been reduced by approximately £9-15 depending on the route.  These fares have started already with flights to Amsterdam and Turin. 

By introducing this, customers have more freedom by advertising a similar base price without checked luggage. However, I believe that the cost to check-in a baggage will increase. This is great for those who do not need to carry much but I believe this is an opportunity to take advantage.  Lowering weight ratios, increasing air fares, charging more for excess baggage are just the number of issues that may arise for customers. 

British Airways and BMI

By Phil Davies 
11 March 2013 at 09.10 GMT

Heathrow handled a record 4.85 million passengers in February, up by 1% on the same month last year.

Adjusting for the fact that 2012 was a leap year, traffic was up 4.6%.

The rise was due in part to the merger of BA and BMI, which contributed to a 1.8% increase in the average number of seats per aircraft to 198.4 seats, and a 2.4 percentage point increase in load factor to 69.6%.

European traffic performed well, up 4.4%, with Italy up by 11.6%, Portugal 9%, Germany 8.2% but with Greece down by 7.4%.

Of the Bric economies, traffic was up 29.8% for China, 4.1% to India and 3.1% to Russia. The only reduction was an 8.3% drop in traffic with Brazil, resulting in an overall increase in Bric traffic of 5.1%.

Middle Eastern traffic rose by 6.2% but was down to North America (1.9%), Latin America (4.6%) and Africa (11.7%).

Chief executive Colin Matthews, said: "This month's figures reflect larger, fuller aircraft being used at Heathrow, not the addition of new routes to emerging economies which are so vital to UK trade, jobs and economic growth."

http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2013/03/11/43409/ba+ +bmi+merger+helps+boost+heathrow+numbers.html

British airways and BMI merged together to create a stronger organisation. This negotiation showed an increase in seats per aircraft and an increase in the load factor. For customers, this has benefited as new long haul slots will be put in place as a result of this take over. 42 slots will be allocated and BMI will be the first intercontinental route using a BMI slow (Service to Seoul), which will be launched in December. There are also other destinations looking to introduce this route such as Vietnam and Malaysia. These are direct services to fast growing cities. However, will this benefit Airports at maximum capacity? How busy will airports be in the future if organisations are merging and scheduling more flights? How will competitors compete with such a big organisation? These are questions to take into account but there are many other advantages to this. British Airways see this as an opportunity to benefit the economy as well creating more jobs and growth! Current vacancies are in place at the moment! 

Sabre cloud-based product automates postbooking processes

By Jerry Limone

Sabre unveiled Automated Task Library, a set of post-booking applications that automate some
processes, the company said.
Sabre said Automated Task Library automates schedule-change management, missed ticketing
alerts, and queue management and redistribution. It includes management reporting and analysis
capabilities.
“The product has already proven extremely effective during the initial limited release," said Chris
Kroeger, Sabre Travel Network’s senior vice president of marketing. "One large travel
management company reported more than $1 million in savings annually by automating the
process of monitoring for PNRs that were not yet ticketed."
There are plans to continue enhancing the Automated Task Library with additional applications
based on customer feedback, Sabre said.
Automated Task Library is a cloud-based solution monitored and supported by Sabre, eliminating
the need for agencies to maintain and support a local server-based application.

As you may have already seen, Global Distribution Systems are always improved every year. With Travelport working along side other companies to increase fast and efficient bookings, Sabre have unveiled their Automated Task Library. This will automate schedule-change management, missed ticketing alerts, and queue management and redistribution. This is perfect if the company are looking to increase efficiency!