Wishing You a Wonderful Christmas and New Year
It's been a year to remember here at APX Travel Management, so before 2015 comes to a close we'd like to sincerely thank you for sharing the journey with us.
We simply couldn't have achieved what we have without the support of our clients, suppliers and partners; including taking a clean sweep of awards in our category at the 2015 TAANZ National Travel Industry Awards.
So thank you, and Merry Christmas!
Enjoy our Christmas video 'Summer Travel Moments' and have a safe and relaxing holiday with your loved ones.
Upcoming Peak Travel Dates
The summer holiday period is always a peak travel time in New Zealand. We strongly recommend that you book flights, accommodation and car rentals well ahead of time to avoid high prices or no availability. Upcoming peak travel dates of note include:
Auckland
17 January 2016 – UB40 concert
6-7 February – NRL Auckland Nines
5-14 February – Cirque Du Soleil
27 February – Simply Red concert
19 March – Tom Jones concert
19 March – Auckland City Limits Festival
28 April – Black Sabbath concert
Wellington
30-31 January 2016 – Wellington Sevens
18-21 February 2016 – Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Christchurch
17-26 February – Cirque Du Soleil
5 March - Simply Red concert
Queenstown
15 January 2016 – UB40 concert
Dunedin
30 April – Black Sabbath concert
As always for travel bookings or assistance contact us on 0800 TRAVEL (872 835).
Summer Travellers Advised to Allow Extra Time at Airports
Auckland Airport is advising summer travellers to allow 30 minutes additional time to get through airport checks due to peak travel.
While travel volume is always high over the Christmas and New Year period, new international flight services arriving and departing from Auckland International Airport are further increasing traveller numbers.
APX Blog: 11 Tips To Beat Jet Lag Like a Pro
If you travel for business frequently then jet lag can be a real problem, leaving you less than your best just when you need to be right on your game.
In this recent blog post we have collated the most helpful tips we've come across to combat jet lag and arrive at your destination feeling fresh.
Discover how athletes, airline crew and entrepreneurs approach long-haul travel
Air New Zealand Introduces World-Leading Bag Drop Technology
Air New Zealand has introduced five self-service bag drops at Auckland International Airport featuring world-first biometric technology. The airline plans to install a further eight of these bag drops in early 2016.
With the bag drops featuring technology similar to that used by SmartGate passport control facilities, customers can scan their passports and boarding passes to have their identities verified by a biometric camera. They are then invited to place their bags on the scale before they're sent through to the airline's baggage handling system.
Reminder - New Australian Visa Rules
Visitors to Australia who require a visa for entry are now required to supply biometric information. This applies to all visas issued after 29 September 2015.
In New Zealand, the biometric process must be done in person at the Australian Visa Application Centres in either Auckland or Queenstown, and appointments must be made prior.
The standard processing time for temporary visa applications is 30 days.
Air New Zealand and Air China Alliance Takes Flight
Air New Zealand and Air China celebrated the inaugural flight of their alliance service between Beijing and Auckland on 10 December, with flight CA783 touching down at Auckland Airport.
Under the alliance, Air China operates a daily direct A330-200 service between Auckland and Beijing and Air New Zealand continues to operate daily B787-9 Dreamliner services between Auckland and Shanghai.
Together the two national carriers will boost capacity between Auckland and Mainland China by more than 25 percent year round.
Wellington to Build Movie Museum and Conference Centre
Plans for a new tourist attraction and event facility are underway after Sir Peter Jackson, Sir Richard Taylor, Fran Walsh and Tania Rodger joined forces with Wellington City Council, with the intent to build a Movie Museum with convention facilities in the heart of Wellington city.
The council has approved the purchase of a downtown waterfront site opposite Te Papa for this purpose.
The Movie Museum aims to attract local and international tourists and celebrate the film heritage of Wellington. The Museum will feature conference facilities capable of hosting over 1,000 delegates.
Meet our APX Ambassadors
Each year the APX team votes to elect 10 "APX Ambassadors" who epitomise the values that set APX apart as a travel management company and ensure our clients have a great experience.
The team of 10 is taken on an all-expenses paid trip to a tropical destination for some serious relaxation and fun.
Meet the 2015 Ambassadors in our three-part blog series and hear about life in corporate travel - with inside tips on the best travel destinations!
