Corporate Travel News: December 2022

Airlines/Airports.

Double Points on eligible flights with Virgin Australia

Book an eligible Virgin Australia flight between 5-14 December 2022 and include your customer’s Velocity Frequent Flyer number in the booking. Ensure your customer travels by 31 October 2023 to earn double Points. To activate this offer, click here.

 

British Airways moves JFK operations and introduces carbon removal credits

British Airways Global Sales leadership team has released this month’s video, sharing the latest news on their network, moving operations from Terminal 7 to 8 at JFK, along with significant developments to their new CO2llaborate platform designed for climate-conscious businesses. To watch the video, click here.

 

Emirates resumes Sydney-Christchurch A380 flights

Emirates welcomes back Sydney to Christchurch superjumbo flights, which resume on Monday, 27 March. The flight features international-grade business class seats and an upper-deck cocktail lounge bonus.

 

Qantas is restarting Brisbane-Tokyo flights

Qantas resumes flying between Brisbane and Tokyo on 1 December, bringing back another connection between Australia and Japan. The rebounded route joins Qantas’ seven times weekly Sydney-Tokyo service, which received a welcome boost from its initial three per week this month.

 

Emirates, Qatar Airways bring back their A380 flights

Perth can once again enjoy some of the world’s best first-class and business-class experiences, with Emirates and Qatar Airways both bringing their flagship Airbus A380s to the Western Australia capital. The flight has replaced the Boeing 777 on its daily EK420 and EK421 services.

 

Qantas set to restart Hong Kong flights in 2023

Qantas is locking in its return to Hong Kong, with flights from Sydney taking off at the end of January, followed by Melbourne in late March. Sydney to Hong Kong flights QF127/QF128 will resume from Monday 30 January, with three flights per week.

 

Singapore Airlines is bringing the A380 back to Melbourne

After a long absence, the Singaporean superjumbo is set to return in May 2023 with boosted capacity and opportunities to redeem coveted reward seats. The A380 has 78 cocooning business class seats on the upper deck, replacing the existing Boeing 777 jetting off daily between Melbourne and Singapore.

 

New Gold Coast International Terminal is now open

Coolangatta Airport is all grown up, with foreign arrivals now passing through the long-awaited terminal expansion. While domestic flyers have been travelling through the terminal since 8 September, additional facilities, including border control and an expanded Heinemann duty-free store, are now complete.

 

Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines reintroduce codeshares

Just in time for the Christmas break, travellers can enjoy full partnership perks across the two airlines. The ‘VA’ airline code resumes codeshare flights, restoring their long-running partnership to its pre-pandemic days.

 

Changi Airport’s New Executive Lounge

Changes are afoot at Singapore’s Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, with an upgrade set to open mid-2023. Sporting a fresh design defined by ‘nature-influenced’ elements, the new Executive Lounge will take over the Bar ‘75 space with a 245m2 footprint accommodating up to 80 guests.

 

Singapore Airlines gives passengers Wi-Fi

Business class flyers are eligible for unlimited Wi-Fi, with two hours free in premium economy and economy class. Singapore Airlines describes the move as part of a continuous review of existing Wi-Fi offerings by assessing how much data travellers consume to shape future offerings.

 

Virgin Australia makes its return to New Zealand 

Virgin Australia is finally back in the air between Australia and New Zealand, with daily Boeing 737 flights to Queenstown from Brisbane and Sydney and a four-times-weekly schedule from Melbourne.

 

Hotels.

Byron Bay ‘Raes’ to open new luxury apartment hotel

Destination transformed; Byron Bay reveals an upcoming luxury apartment hotel to open its doors in 2024. Each spacious, self-contained apartment will range from 85-160sqm, flooded by natural light and featuring an open plan kitchen, living and dining areas leading to a generous balcony.

 

Singapore’s Grand Hyatt hotel to reopen in 2023

After temporarily closing in September, the hotel is steadily working towards what promises to be a stunning reveal of the new Grand Hyatt. First to reopen is the ‘Wellness Wing’ featuring a series of natural immersion gardens and lounging daybeds.

 

Six Senses hotel to open outside of Melbourne

The high-end escape will breathe new life into the historic Burnham Beeches mansion and 22-acre estate. The original mansion will be restored, featuring 43 rooms furnished in a ‘rustic-luxe’ style and a separate two-bedroom cottage, with further plans lodged for a glamping retreat.

 

The Royal Melbourne unveils transformation

The exquisitely refurbished boutique hotel’s 94 rooms, including 18 spacious suites and six two-storey loft suites. When complete, guests can soak up the sunshine, cocktail in hand, at the hotel’s terrace.

 

The Capella Sydney to take over an entire city block

One of downtown Sydney’s historic sandstone buildings will emerge transformed in March 2023, spanning eight levels within the former Department of Education building, including a wellness spa and three sleek dining venues.

 

The St. Regis Gold Coast set to open in 2027

The hotel has revealed plans to take up residence in the holiday mecca featuring 185 guest rooms and suites. An expansive porte-cochere with a tiered waterfall, tropical gardens, and timber panelling will greet guests on arrival, leading the way to light-filled public areas and an impressive lobby on level 42.

 

JW Marriott to make New Zealand debut in Auckland

Marriott International introduces the JW Marriott brand to New Zealand at the iconic Stamford Plaza Auckland site. The luxurious 286-room hotel is set for completion by mid-2024. The new site will feature multiple dining options, 320 sqm (around the size of a tennis court) of function space and four meeting rooms that will provide the ideal space for guests to connect socially over a meaningful gathering.

 

Information on this page is sourced from third party sources. While effort is taken to verify the accuracy of this information, Corporate Travel Management (CTM) recommends that travellers seek independent advice and/or information from their CTM travel consultant, CTM travel tools, or direct from their chosen travel suppliers relating to the status of supplier services, schedules and booking conditions as information may change regularly.