Hello,
This newsletter is my last installment before I head south to Queenstown to embark on a new CEO role in tourism (and invest in some thermals!).
While I’m always up for a new adventure, it’s bitter sweet as I’m leaving APX at such an exciting time of growth. New technology solutions being finalised as we speak will continue to enhance our offerings to you, making your lives easier, backed up of course by our fantastic team behind the scenes. They truly are at the heart of everything we do at APX.
It’s also an exciting time to be part of Helloworld Travel Ltd as we continue to grow. It’s a great place to be, as the 2019 Randstad Awards show, with the Helloworld Group ranked as the 9th most attractive employer in New Zealand. It’s certainly sad to be leaving such a winning team!
Rest assured that an announcement about the new APX leader is imminent, and as I mentioned last month, in the meantime you’re in great hands with our talented leadership team:
Margot Dow, Head of Government & Defence
Rachael Hampton, Head of Business Solutions
Jo Hindley, Head of Operations
Jenny Miller, Head of Account Management & Product
Rebecca Farmiloe, Finance Partner
Regards,
Wendy van Lieshout
General Manager, APX
Supplier of the Month: Park Hotel & Liberty Apartment Hotel
Park Hotel brings the capital to your doorstep. Conveniently located in the heart of Wellington, experiencing the best of the city is easy. Whether you’re staying for work, play or to relax, their partnerships with Wellington businesses let you live like a local during your stay. Park Hotel's three on-site dining options bring the Wellington experience under one roof. Visit the website for more info.
Liberty Apartment Hotel is where independence meets convenience. Urban, contemporary accommodation located in Wellington’s cultural centre, Te Aro and only a block away from both Cuba Street and Courtenay Place. Enjoy loft-style apartments boasting spacious living and dining, private bedrooms, in-house laundry and full kitchen amenities, all set in the vibrant inner-city. Visit the website for more info.
Special offer when you book at these hotels with APX until 30 Jun 2019:
25% off* weekend bookings
Complimentary ticket* to immersive film experience,
What Would You Do in the Shadows?
For more info or to book, contact your APX team on 0800 TRAVEL (0800 872 835).
*Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply
Passenger Contact Details Required Under IATA Changes
Changes to IATA Resolution 830d came into effect this month, requiring accredited IATA agents like APX to enter passenger contact details against an airline reservation. A mobile phone number and/or email address will be requested and passed onto airlines as a means to contact the passenger in the case of cancellations or schedule changes.
This change comes as some travel agents have not recorded this information against the reservation and airlines are left unable to contact passengers. Supplying this information is optional for the traveller but choosing not to must also be recorded by the agent.
Mobile numbers are used as a primary means of contacting travellers in the event of a disruption or emergency. Provision of mobile phone numbers is becoming increasingly important given APX's duty of care technology such as Mobile Messenger, and third party providers such as ISOS and Healix.
APX is PCI compliant and all stored personal data is governed by strict security protocols at all times.
Wendy van Lieshout Discusses the Changing World of Corporate Travel
APX GM, Wendy van Lieshout was invited to discuss the future of the corporate travel experience at last month’s Techweek. Along with Darrin Grafton, CEO of Serko, they explored innovative topics such as the application of AI, chatbots and blockchain. Watch the video discussion here.
Introducing GO Conference & Incentive
The team at GO Conference & Incentive (GO C&I) specialise in planning and running conferences and incentives domestically and off-shore for group sizes anywhere from 15-400 people. They aspire to create memories and moments that have a lasting impact for your people and our world.
As an initiative which is rarely heard of in the events industry, they try to build sustainability into all of their events. Whether that’s reducing single-use plastics or providing ideas for great corporate social responsibility initiatives, they ensure all their events are as environmentally friendly and socially responsible as possible.
If you are planning an event, or want to see what GO C&I can do for you, talk to your APX Account Manager or visit the GO C&I website.
Qatar launches Qsuite Business Class on Auckland Flights
Qatar Airways announces its award-winning Qsuite Business Class service on its daily Auckland flights. Featuring the industry’s first-ever double bed in Business Class, as well as interchangeable privacy panels, ambient lighting, fully lie-flat beds and generous storage space, Qsuite is the first of its kind in the industry.
Adjustable panels and movable TV monitors on the centre four seats allow colleagues, friends or families travelling together to transform their space into a private suite, allowing them to work, dine and socialise together.
Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Business Class’ by the 2018 Skytrax World Airline Awards. It was also named ‘Best Business Class Seat’, ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, and ‘World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge’.
Winter Warmer Deals with TFE Hotels
TFE Hotels are heating up winter with special rates across the big cities when you book through APX. These deals include free WiFi and late check-out:
- Adina Apartment Hotel Auckland Britomart from $159* per night
- Travelodge Hotel Wellington from $149* per night
- Rendezvous Hotel Christchurch from $149* per night
For more info or to book, contact your APX team on 0800 TRAVEL (0800 872 835).
*Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply
Air NZ Removes Straight to Gate Domestic Check-In Process
From Monday 1 July, Air New Zealand travellers will no longer be able to proceed directly to the boarding gate and check-in there when travelling without bags.
The standard check-in rules and timings will apply, regardless of whether you are travelling without checked baggage. All travellers must complete check-in no less than 30 minutes prior to departure for domestic flights. Any customers not checked in at this time will be offloaded and unable to travel.
This also means customers travelling on Flexitime and Flexidate fares will be unable to change to any flights departing within 30 minutes.
Check-in continues to be available via the mobile app and airnewzealand.co.nz from 24 hours prior to departure.Scanning in at the Koru Lounge will automatically check-in travellers.
Mevo Adds VW Polos to their Network
The Wellington car sharing service, Mevo have just launched the Volkswagen Polo into their network. The rates are: 60¢ a min, $15 an hr, $30 an evening, and $90 a day. With more vehicles in the fleet, there’s more availability and with the Polo’s lower price point, car sharing in Wellington is even more affordable.
Volkswagen General Manager, Tom Ruddenklau, says; “We are very proud to partner with Mevo, a New Zealand company helping change how people get around. The Polo will offer great accessibility for Mevo customers.”
More Mevo cars is also good news for the environment. For each new Mevo on road, an estimated 10 privately owned vehicles are removed, drastically lowering carbon emissions. Altogether, the Mevo community has offset 184 tonnes of carbon to date. Take a look at Mevo’s mission here.
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Happy Birthdays, Jetstar
On June 10, Jetstar celebrated 10 years of domestic services in New Zealand. Since launching, Jetstar has flown more than 19 million domestic travellers. Jetstar Airways also celebrated its 15th Birthday on the 25th of May.
Transit to Wellington Airport
Transport Minister, Phil Twyford announced plans recently to revamp Wellington’s transport network, with fixing congestion to the airport a major focus. Some $2.2 billion has been allocated for a rapid transit system from Wellington Railway Station through Newtown to the Airport. The plan is currently subject to public consultation and approval from local councils.
Accor Announces New Perth Art Series Hotel
Accor will open its ninth Art Series hotel in Perth’s CBD in October 2019. The dazzling $90 million hotel began construction in 2017 and has already emerged as an iconic landmark of the Perth skyline.
The design concept of the Art Series hotel draws inspiration from its Australian contemporary artists, with custom contemporary furnishings and original artworks adorning the interiors. The dining and bar areas will be centred around the hotel’s stunning pool area on level one, directly above Hay Street.
The new-build, full-service hotel will appeal to both business and leisure travellers with 250 stylish guest rooms, a signature restaurant with terrace, bar and lounge, ground floor café, swimming pool, gymnasium and a function room.
Drive Electric Event: A Global Update
Jenny Miller, APX Head of Account Management & Product, recently attended a Drive Electric event with speakers Nick Robilliard (Meridian Energy) and Liz Yeaman (Retyna).
At the event, Drive Electric was pleased to launch the summary paper Reporting Back: New Zealand Insights from the 2019 Nordic EV Summit. Written by Matt Philp, the report captures key insights as shared by Nick and Liz who attended the 2019 Nordic EV Summit in Oslo.
The paper also helps to understand the pace at which technology is moving beyond just electric vehicles, gives a flavour of the global transition to electric, connected, autonomous and shared economies, and how these learnings can be applied in NZ.
Nick also shared a list of video links that are useful to view together with the above:
Singapore Airlines Flying Daily from Christchurch To Singapore
Singapore Airlines is now flying their A350 direct daily service from Christchurch to Singapore. Now offering three different cabins: Economy Class, Premium Economy Class and Business Class, as well as an improved entertainment system with its own app.
Soap Recycling Programme Launches at Cordis Auckland
Cordis, Auckland is delighted to share that each time a room is cleared after a guest, those bars of used soap are collected for recycling and sent to a community in need.
Collected by a company called ‘bsd.’ short for Beyond Skin Deep, the soap goes to a recycling facility in New Zealand. There, the soap is cleaned, filtered and remoulded ensuring that the recycled soap is as hygenic as a brand new bar and results in zero waste. It is then re-distributed to a community in need.
Cordis, Auckland’s Managing Director, Franz Mascarenhas shares, “each year, the hospitality industry discards tons of used soap. We are very proud… that these [recycled] soaps can be sent to a community in need, to help promote hygiene and arrest the spread of disease. The initiative fits perfectly with Langham Hospitality Group’s belief in promoting sustainability.”
