Qantas Launches New Advertising Campaign - You're the Reason We Fly

Qantas have launched the first phase of its new advertising campaign titled You're The Reason We Fly. The campaign focuses on Australians and encourages Australians to get involved and be part of the new marketing activity.

Qantas Executive Manager Marketing Mr Lewis Pullen said the campaign celebrates the new spirit of our country and more importantly our people, the Spirit of Australians.

"We've been flying with the Spirit of Australia on our planes for over 20 years and in that time we've changed a lot and we know that Australians have been changing too. As Australia's airline, we're working hard to meet those expectations," said Mr Pullen.

"The new campaign focuses on our customers, so much so, that we're asking all Australians to be a part of the campaign," said Mr Pullen. "To support this, we've added an 'ns' to our tag line the Spirit of Australia on two of our aircraft, an Airbus A380 and a Boeing B737 so they will now fly with the Spirit of Australians emblazoned on the side of the aircraft. This activity is captured as part of a documentary that acts as a teaser for the first part of our campaign."

Qantas employees and two Qantas ambassadors Mark Webber and Steve Hooker feature in the documentary representing the Spirit of Australia. The teaser campaign is supported by a print and digital campaign also in market today.

"Over the next two weeks, we're asking Australians to upload their photo and name via qantas.com/you or by using a specially developed mobile phone or Facebook app. Those people will then have the chance to appear in the end frame of our new TV commercial or win the opportunity to have their name painted on the side of an A380 or B737 aircraft."

Hundreds of people will be selected to have their name painted on the side of an aircraft by the end of July. Everyone who uploads a photo will also go into the draw to have their photo form part of a mosaic in the new television commercial, and go in the draw to win five lots of 500,000 frequent flyer points.

All photos and names will be housed on the Qantas Hub at qantas.com/you, the online site where people can register to participate in the activities. To encourage people to be part of the activity, Qantas will set up photo kiosks at Westfield shopping centres in Westfield Chatswood (5-8 July), Westfield Bondi Junction (12-15 July) and Westfield Doncaster (12-15 July) where people will be able to get a hair and make-up 'touch up' and a professional photo to be used to participate in the campaign.

In a world first, the campaign will deliver a deployment of cutting edge technology to consumers via Adshel Digital Vista sites including a 3.5m wide display in Town Hall train station in Sydney. This will be live in early July and customers using a Qantas app will automatically see their name and image within the Qantas ad display in real-time.

In another world first, Qantas customers will be able to feature in their own personalised banner ads whenever they visit any site displaying the Qantas campaign such as Google, Fairfax or NewsLtd online sites.

As part of the campaign, Qantas will also donate $5 to Mission Australia for each photo uploaded to the value of $100,000.

The new multi-platform marketing campaign will also include a number of print, digital, outdoor and TVC executions which will be announced and rolled out in coming months. This first stage encourages people to get involved and be part of the campaign. Further details will be unveiled as the campaign progresses.

To view the documentary and all details for the new marketing campaign visit qantas.com/you

Last Day Route of The London 2012 Olympic Games Torch Relay

London 2012 has announced the street route for the Olympic Flame on the penultimate day of the Relay in London

         

The London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay – presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung – will travel on Thursday 26th July from Camden to Westminster, in the final stages of the Olympic Flame’s journey around every London Borough.

LOCOG announced the street route for the penultimate day of the Olympic Torch Relay in London. 175 inspirational Torchbearers will carry the Flame through the following Boroughs: Camden, Islington, City of London, Southwark, Lambeth, Wandsworth, Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham and City of Westminster. The streets along which the Torchbearers will carry the Flame can be found at www.london2012.com/torch-relay/route to help communities plan for lining the route and business continuity planning.

Highlights for the day include:
- The first Torchbearer of the day will begin with the Flame outside the Roundhouse in Camden which will be followed by a journey along the Regents Canal on a barge and then a visit to a community event at Granary Square.

- The Flame will visit the giant Olympic rings in the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras International.

- The Flame will visit a community event at Islington Town Hall which will feature music from the London Symphony Orchestra.

St Paul’s Cathedral

- In the City of London the Flame will visit St Paul’s Cathedral, the Museum of London and the Guildhall.

- The Flame will be carried across the Millennium Bridge into Southwark where it will visit Shakespeare’s Globe.

- In Lambeth the Flame will pass Clapham Common.

- In Wandsworth the Flame will pass Battersea Dogs Home.

- The Flame will pass the Royal Hospital Chelsea, home of the Chelsea Pensioners and will be greeted by a choral fanfare at the Opera Holland Park.

- The Flame will be carried to the site of the 1908 Olympic Stadium in White City.

- In Westminster the Flame will be carried through Trafalgar Square and visit Downing Street.

- Before arriving in Hyde Park, the Flame will visit Buckingham Palace.

Due to the expectation of large crowds, some areas will have limited capacity.

At the end of the day there will be an Olympic Torch Relay Finale concert in Hyde Park. The event, which is presented by Coca-Cola, will be headlined by award-winning rapper Dizzee Rascal and will also feature performances from The Wanted, a special performance by Mark Ronson & Katy B, Eliza Doolittle, You Me At Six, Rizzle Kicks, Wretch 32, Morning Parade, Loick Essien and Little Comets.

In addition, the Lloyds TSB Flame Followers will take to the stage to perform their Flame Followers spectacular using a unique fusion of street performance, theatre and sport to inspire and excite crowds through performances that celebrate the endeavour, athleticism, agility and skills of our national Olympic sporting heroes, Team GB. Samsung will be staging a performance from British dance troupe, Diversity.  

Towards the end of the eight-hour show, the last Torchbearer of the day will light a celebration cauldron on stage at the event which will enable the Olympic Flame to be seen by the audience

North Thailand and Royal Projects Highlighted at Mekong Tourism Forum 2012

Northern Thailand strengthened its position as the Greater Mekong Subregion’s travel hub following the successful three-day Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF) in Chiang Rai, which ended on June 14. About 350 delegates from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam and China’s Yunnan Province attended the annual event, which included a two-day conference, several workshops, a small trade show and meetings of the GMS Tourism Working Group.

The theme for MTF 2012 was “20/20 Vision: Building on Two Decades of GMS Cooperation.” Organised by the Bangkok-based Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, the event aimed to raise the profile of the GMS as a single tourist destination. 

Chiang Rai, Thailand’s northernmost province, was chosen as the venue because it borders both Laos and Myanmar, and will play an important role as a bridgehead to the entire sub-region. One of the key border checkpoints allows visitors to cross from Mae Sai in Chiang Rai to Tachilek in Myanmar.

Chiang Rai

The area where the borders of the three countries converge, known as the Golden Triangle, was a focal point for opium drug wars in the 1970s and 80s. In the keynote presentation by Mom Rajawongse Disnadda Diskul, Secretary-General of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation (MFLF) under Royal Patronage, MTF delegates gained unique insights into how the area was reforested and transformed into a major producer of coffee and macadamia nuts as well as a centre for horticulture research.

Initiated in the 1980s by Her Royal Highness Princess Sri Nagarindra, the late mother of His Majesty King Bhumibhol Adulyadej, the holistic and integrated sustainable alternative livelihood development initiative has helped the hilltribe people of the Doi Tung highland area to become economically self-reliant without compromising the environment or their own cultural values.

The presentation on the development initiative was hailed by a number of the MTF delegates, including Pacific Asia Travel Association CEO Martin Craigs, as an “inspiring example of how the people of Asia could tap their own indigenous resources to solve local problems.”

MTFdelegates also visited some of the attractions in the area, including the Mae Fah Luang Art & Culture Park, the Hall of Inspiration, the Hall of Opium and the former residence of the Princess Mother.

At the MTF 2012 event, representatives from Google also updated delegates on the latest marketing and travel trends. Several other speakers offered insights on community-based tourism and preparing for a significantly increasing number of visitors to the GMS. Factors contributing to this growth include the opening up of Myanmar, the outbound travel potential of China and India, the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015, and significant upgrades of infrastructure and transportation links, especially the Asian Highway.

The choice of Chiang Mai for the MTF 2012 event highlighted Northern Thailand’s unique cultural and historic attractions. Encouraging tourism in Northern Thailand is now a major strategic priority for the Ministry of Tourism and Sports as part of a national development policy to better balance distribution of visitors nationwide and narrow the tourism earnings gap with the rest of the country.

 

PATA organized the first MTF in 1996 and led it for 10 years. The event then rotated among various GMS destinations until 2005. The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) revived the forum in 2010 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, while MTF 2011 took place in Laos.

Plenty of Over 55’s Age Group Visit NSW

I just fit into the over 55’s age group. I van be comforted by the fact that in 2011 there were 7.8 million domestic overnight visitors to NSW Australia over the age of 55. This figure has increased by 21 per cent over the last decade. Over 55s comprise one third of all domestic overnight visitors to NSW and their average length of stay is 4 nights.

In 2011, almost half (47 per cent) of over 55s travelled as a couple, while one-quarter travelled alone. There were equal numbers of over 55s travelling for holidays as there were travelling to visit friends and relative (42 per cent each) with only 12 per cent travelling for business.

Excluding business visitors, over 55’s spent $3.4 billion in NSW in 2011. Seventy-nine per cent of over 55s used a private vehicle during their trip while 13 per cent chose to fly.

When it came to gathering information about their trip, 30 per cent used the internet, 17 per cent relied on information from previous visits and 47 per cent did not research their trip at all. The most popular activities for over 55s during their trip include eating out, visiting friends and relatives, sightseeing, shopping and going to the pub.

Cute Little Penguins On Display In Manly

Little Penguins On Display In Manly Penguin Cove exhibit

The popular tourist attraction in Manly, ‘Oceanworld Manly’, is no more. It has been relaunched as ‘Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary’. As part of the relaunch a new display called Penguin Cove has been created for the Little Penguin, a species of Penguin found in Manly.

The brand new Penguin Cove exhibit captures the Little Penguins native environment, with sand, native grass and plants from the Manly area and a sandstone-like shelter emulating the Manly shore line.

Manly is one of the last mainland breeding colonies of Little Penguins in Australia and the exhibit provides a place where visitors can discover the species and their importance to the shores of Manly. While they can usually only be seen in the wild when they are nesting, the launch of Penguin Cove will allow visitors to see Little Penguins all year round.

Elvis on Display at Penguin Cove exhibit

Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary opened on Thursday, 28 June. Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary is open from 10am - 5.30pm every day, except Christmas Day.  Last admission is at 4:45pm.

Manly is a popular seaside suburb of Sydney Australia. To get to Manly via public transport, you can catch a ferry from Circular Quay in the City to Manly Wharf, or catch a bus going to Manly.

For more information see the website

www.manlysealifesanctuary.com.au/

Thailand-Brunei Darussalam Joint Exhibition Program 2012

The Thailand-Brunei Darussalam Joint Exhibition Program 2012, the fifth of its kind, was held at the auditorium of the Government Public Relations Department (PRD) in Bangkok. It tool place back-to-back with the third joint musical variety show, Alai Pa Plern, on 29 June, also at the PRD auditorium.

The joint exhibition was held for three days, from 27 to 29 June and focused on the theme “Connectivity in the ASEAN Community.” The content was related to the concepts of “ASEAN integration” and “ASEAN connectivity,” aimed at providing knowledge and understanding about ASEAN and promoting ASEAN awareness toward the ASEAN Community in 2015.

Heads of the Thai and Brunei delegations jointly cut the ribbon marking the opening of the joint exhibition on 28 June at 2:30 p.m. Target groups were officials, students, audience members coming to the joint musical show on 29 June and all other interested persons.

The exhibition had captions in Thai and English, and a brochure in Thai and English was provided, with content featuring the theme of this exhibition and the background information of the joint exhibition, together with souvenirs from both sides for the visitors.

It is part of the Thai-Brunei Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Information and Broadcasting, which was signed on 16 August 2001 by the foreign ministers of both countries, in an agreement to exchange locally produced radio and television programs, news items, and publications, as well as visits of broadcasters, program producers, journalists, and information officials.

Costa Rica, A Country Like No Other

Manuel Antonio,

There is a country in the heart of Central America where we can enjoy the real beauty of our planet Costa Rica is considered to be one of the best travel destinations in the world. There are certainly many reasons why people choose Costa Rica as a perfect place to go on vacation year after year.

What makes it so special? It is a country rich in natural surroundings. Its breathtaking landscapes, the wonderful crystal blue water off the beaches on the Caribbean coast, as well as the Pacific, and its friendly people make Costa Rica a unique country.

Meanwhile, this paradise in Central America has much more to offer to its visitors.Every day is an adventure. There are several national parks, such as Manuel Antonio, and protected areas where people can observe and feel the nature as it is. Across the country, it is plain to see that Costa Rica is also one of the countries with the highest concentration of biodiversity in the word.

While enjoying the beauty of natural treasures, there are many other activities in which Costa Rica travelers can participate. Volcano watching, hiking in the rainforest, golfing, and water sports are some of them. In addition, people can soak in fantastic hot springs, or enjoy a relaxing massage on the beach.  Costa Rica has a large number of spas and health clubs.

After the sun sets, there are amazing sites–such as Jaco Beach, Tamarindo, and Escazu–for entertainment with dozens of bars and live music. The capital city San José is one of the best cities for fun with casinos, discos, plenty of bars, and mariachi bands. In this marvelous city can also be found refined restaurants with specialized gourmet food from around the world, where you can enjoy a meal in a stunning environment.

Getting to Costa Rica couldn’t be easier, Juan Santamaria international airport, near San Jose, receives flights from all over the world. However, if you prefer going by yacht, the world-class marina at Los Suenos Resort will receive you.  Amenities there include many restaurants, Cuban cigar shop, fine French bakery, casino, two spas, championship golf course, Marriott Hotel, as well as private villas and condominiums to rent for your stay.

Jaco Beach

For an unforgettable vacation, this wonderland offers luxurious accommodations and personal services.  Mead Brown is a renowned full-service vacation rentals, which can supply all you need for a luxury vacation. Recognized by Condé Nast Traveler magazine as the only villa rental specialist in Costa Rica, Mead Brown has a range of superb villas, condominiums and sophisticated services to offer its guests an exceptional vacation.

This gorgeous country has everything to give you a unique and luxury experience. Feel the nature around you, enjoy Costa Rica!

Written by Guest Writer Elvio Bettencourt Rodrigues

New Audio Tours Help Guests Uncover Hamilton Island's Hidden Gems

Hamilton Island

Hamilton Island has developed two free audio tours for domestic and international guests These audio tours will help guests on Hamilton Island immerse themselves in their surrounds and provide local knowledge at the touch of a button,.

Available in five languages - English, Japanese, Mandarin, Italian and German, the new audio tours of Passage Peak and the Village Trail enable visitors to be 'personally' guided through the Island's history, stunning vistas and secluded beaches.

With 70% of Hamilton Island considered National Parkland, the Passage Peak tour is an invaluable resource for guests wanting to learn about the region's unique flora and fauna: from cabbage tree palms, to green ants that weave leaves with silk, to the blue tiger butterflies that flit across the Island's paths.
  

Hamilton Island

For history buffs, the Village Trail tour provides an overview of the history of Hamilton Island, taking guests back in time with tales of Captain Cook's first journey through the area on 'Whit Sunday' before educating guests about the Island's recent history, including current owners of Hamilton Island, the Oatley family, their love of the Island and the investment they have made to make Hamilton Island one of the world's favourite holiday destinations.

Both tours also let guests in on little secrets, like the best place to watch the sun set or how best to spend a day in paradise. Glenn Bourke, Hamilton Island's CEO says guests are embracing the new tours.

'The new audio tours are the perfect partner for guests wishing to explore Hamilton Island at their own pace and we have had fabulous feedback from guests who have taken the tours. Guests love the range of information and feel they have a better understanding of their surroundings and the Island's landmarks.'

All content featured in the audio tours has been written by a heritage writer and botanist.

The audio tours are available to download for free through the Apple iTunes store. Guests are also able to stream the Village Trail tour through www.hamiltonisland.com.au/activities/audio-tours and m.hamiltonisland.com.au.

Limited iPod Touches featuring the audio guides are also available to hire for up to four hours, through the tour desks at the Resort Centre or in the lobby of the Reef View Hotel. The iPod Touches are pre-loaded with both tours in all five languages.

Hamilton Island

Hamilton Island is located off the Queensland coast of Australia, within the Whitsunday Islands at the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Here visitors can experience everything that is great about Australia - natural landscapes, calm turquoise waters, secluded beaches, beautiful weather, fascinating coral reefs, diverse flora and fauna. Hamilton Island offers a wide range of accommodation options, not to mention over 60 activities and all within a short direct flight from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Cairns. There are also great connections from other Australian cities.

Visit: www.hamiltonisland.com.au  or  

http://www.facebook.com/hamiltonisland

Epic Kauai Hikes

The stars were aligned in perfect formation for me when The Kauai Adventure Club announced a hike beyond Mahaulepu Beach to Kipu Kai. Of all the epic Kauai hikes, this is a trek beyond the well traveled scenic south shore trail and it was held on a weekday when most responsible people are working.

Shipwrecks beach, adjacent to the Grand Hyatt Kauai, is a convenient starting point. There is ample parking, clean restrooms and water, all important elements to a great Kauai hike. It's also an opportunity to meetup, share an introduction which is usually framed like, 'Oh I have seen you around the island for years...." Manfred, who was leading the group is a cautious guide who leaned towards the cold reality check of what the hike entailed. "Better to be honest about the trail than to gloss it over as a cake walk", he warned.

We decided to drive to the end of the beach and begin our journey. All of us had hiked the Mahaulepu Trail on a number of occasions and if we were to include an additional three miles of albeit epic coastline views. We may smack up against the dreaded 6pm gate closure. A note of warning, be aware that Grove Farm Company controls the land surrounding the beach and closes the only access gate promptly at 6pm and will not reopen until 6 am. You do not want to get your car corralled for the evening, it could be a long walk back to the hotel.

Brisk trade winds greeted us when we left the shady protection of the ironwoods. The heat of the sun was hardly noticeable as cool winds pushed us along and we could see Pu'u Pihakapu in the distance. Walking along horse trails and then goat trails we pushed on each at a pace that reflected our own inner thoughts.

Horse trails, friends, are wide and well trampled, sprinkled with processed vegetative gifts to keep you from straying off course. Their shear weight over time pulverizes the soil and weeds creating a powdery cushioned path ideal for walking. Goat trails however, meander in fickle paths, purposefully misleading. Taking you on a journey that can lead you astray and before you realize it the narrow trail you have been following suddenly disappears.  They course around angry shrubbery that pokes and slices unprotected legs. I learned quickly, never trust a goat.

We stopped occasionally to adjust our bearings, take photos, and gingerly sidestep the dagger like thorns of the kiawe bush. Kiawe, or Prosopis pallida is a legume tree more commonly known as mesquite, a native of Colombia, it is considered a noxious weed throughout Hawaii.

Our goal was to look down upon the seldom accessible part of the island, the seaward side of Mt. Haupu where the coastal valley known as Kipu Kai sits nestled between Lihue and Poipu. With over two miles of beach this area was privately owned by John T. Waterhouse and prior to his death in 1984 had bequeathed the area to the State of Hawaii. It is currently a working cattle ranch and Mr. Waterhouse's bequest was that the State would leave it as a nature and wildlife preserve. Its most recent claim to fame is in the recent film, The Descendants. I fielded many calls from well traveled Kauai friends who saw the film and asked where on the island was that scene shot.

We reached the saddle of Pu'u Pihakapu by 12.30 and had a friendly lunch just gazing at the verdant valley with its many shades of olive green. They contrasted soothingly with the blues and aquas of the ocean against the white sand border of the beach.

It was difficult tearing ourselves away from a view that presented us with changing perspectives of Kipu Kai. Initiated by cotton like clouds pushed by trade winds. Bullying them against the mountain range blocking the sun’s rays that resulted in deeper shades of green in the valley at our feet.

The journey back was eventful... but more later.

Kauai hikes are a great way to spend the day. Let us know how you plan to spend your time here on the island.

*Written by Gust Writer Joe Sylvester. Joe has lived in Kauai, Hawaii for the past 31 years he owns and operates Turtle Cove Suites in the resort community of Poipu.

A New Year-Round Soft Adventure Experience for Central Coast, NSW: 5 Lands Coastal Walkway

Over the past seven years the annual winter 5 Lands Walk festival has grown to become one of New South Wales' premier cultural festivals.  Now, with support from Destination NSW, Central Coast Tourism and Gosford City Council, permanent directional signage has been installed to transform the symbolic 9 km walking route from MacMasters Beach to Terrigal into a year-round experience for locals and visitors to enjoy.

The vision for the 5 Lands Coastal Walkway was originally inspired by Italy's Cinque Terres and traverses from MacMasters Beach in the south northwards towards Terrigal via Copacabana, Avoca and North Avoca beaches (lands).

Oliver Philpot, Chief Executive Officer, Central Coast Tourism details that the establishment of this new year-round walking trail directly addresses three of the four Strategic Priorities in the Central Coast Destination Management Plan 2010-2013.

'This new experience would not have been made possible without the combined support of Destination NSW and Gosford City Council' applauded Philpot.

Gosford City Council Coordinator Parks, Playgrounds & Foreshores, Kim Radford said these improvements will allow people to enjoy the 5 Lands trail in their own time, 365 days of the year.

"Enhancements to the 5 Lands Walk route, including the new signage, has built on the success of this unique cultural event and established the walk as a permanent part of our local landscape," said Ms. Radford.

"Community members and visitors to our region will now be able to enjoy the walk as a whole or different aspects of the track all year round at their own pace."

20 newly installed informative directional signage guide walkers through the contours of the coastal and bush landscape.  Walkers can undertake the entire length of the walk in either direction, north or south, or enjoy short sectional bursts as detailed on the main signage located at each of the lands.  The walkway encompasses pathed pathways, bush tracks and a couple of steep inclines/declines providing walking experiences for all levels of fitness.

One of the highlights of the walk can be found between Avoca and Copacabana, Captain Cook Lookout.  Panoramic ocean views north to Terrigal and south to Sydney makes this a nice breather en route, and, during the two whale migration seasons, June/July and October/November, an elevated vantage point for viewing these majestical mammals.

On Saturday, 23 June 2012, the new signage was put to the test guiding an estimated 10,000 participants in the 2012 5 Land Walk festival.

For more information on the walk and map go to

www.visitcentralcoast.com.au/activities/free/5-lands-coastal-walkway