The reputation of TFE Hotels, one of Australia’s largest accommodation groups, has taken a hit after 366 guests quarantined in the Travelodge Hotel Sydney were last night evacuated by NSW Police who determined that complaints about poor standards of cleanliness and hygiene at the property were valid. Guests, some of whom had had vigorously complained about […]
Tag: TravelTrends
James Baillie, Co-Founder, Baillie Lodges
James Baillie is a 20-year veteran of high profile Australian luxury lodge properties. Having (almost) grown up on Heron Island, James became the founding managing director for P&O Resorts in the 1998 and steered Australia’s first portfolio of premium experiential properties including Lizard, Bedarra & Wilson Islands and Silky Oaks Lodge. When P&O sold to […]
Hertz cuts Australian fleet by 40%, calls for border openings, launches #backontheroad
Hertz wants to get Australia moving again. Eoin Macneill, Vice President, Hertz Asia Pacific, today called on Australian governments to start opening borders and encouraging travel, revealing a lack of demand has forced the car rental giant to cut its Australian rental fleet by 40 per cent, from 35,000 vehicles to an estimated 20,000 sedans, […]
Geoff McGeary, Founder, Australian Pacific Touring
The McGeary family have owned Australian Pacific Touring – APT – since it was founded as De Luxe Motors in 1927 when Geoff’s father, Bill, built a bus body on a tray truck to cover part of the tram route during a tram strike in Melbourne. The company made steady progress until 1961 when Bill […]
Travel back to (almost) normal by 2024
Macquarie Research has brought forward its travel industry recovery profile by 6-9 months due to the rollout of global vaccines in its latest analysis of the Flight Centre business. “We forecast 85% Total Turnover Value recovery (of pre COVID-19 levels) in FY24 (FY21: 30% recovery, FY22: 55%, FY23: 75%), with more emphasis expected on domestic […]
Time for 8Hotels to grow: open to outside investment
Paul Fischmann, the founder and owner of boutique accommodation operator 8Hotels, says is he open to outside investment in the company he started 10 years ago. “We need to corporatise – it’s time to grow up,” he says. “I think we’re sitting on a very exciting opportunity and it’s time to take this business to the […]
Chris Hall, Group Managing Director, APT
Chris Hall has been in travel industry for over 25 years. During this time he has held roles in sales, marketing, product development, executive management, and Board positions. His career in the industry has seen him work within the wholesale, retail, touring, and cruising sectors. Along with various roles in the industry Chris also was […]
Back to the future as Flight Centre buys Topdeck
Flight Centre has bought 90% of Topdeck Tours, a company started by FLT founder Graham Turner in 1973. Topdeck Managing Director James Nathan will retain a 10% shareholding in the business. Mr Nathan also runs Back-Roads Touring in which FLT has a 67% stake and will continue to manage both businesses. The deal values UK-based Topdeck Tours at £21.84m. […]
2020 worst year ever for Europe, US, Asia Pacific, Middle East and African hotel markets
COVID-wracked 2020 was the worst year ever in terms of performance for the Asia-Pacific, US, Europe, African and Middle East hotel markets, according to industry analyst STR. Asia Pacific Occupancy: 44.5% (-35.6% compared with 2019) Average daily rate (ADR): US$74.99 (-22.2%) Revenue per available room (RevPAR): US$33.39 (-49.9%) Each of the three key performance metrics […]
Tony Cannon, Co-Owner, Komune Resorts
An avid surfer, Tony Cannon graduated with a civil engineering degree from the University of Adelaide embarking initially on a career in construction and development. After several years in project management of major engineering, petrochemical and retail development construction, Tony started a property development company in the late 90’s building and selling apartments and townhouses […]