Hello,
I’m Deborah Gyde, the new APX General Manager, and I’m really excited to be part of the APX family.
I am now three weeks into the role and it’s great to be working with such a dedicated and focussed team. Last month, Jenny talked about the importance of relationships and this is what APX prides itself on. I look forward to meeting with many of you and working towards deepening our relationships and also growing what I call our ‘Partners for Performance’ framework.
A little about me personally, I come to APX from Air New Zealand where I held a number of senior leadership positions. My background is very much in corporate New Zealand, however I also worked in marketing, operations and customer experience. Outside of work, I am a mum of two teenage daughters and have a husband who is Head of Business Development at Loyalty New Zealand. We love to travel, enjoy being active, playing and watching sports, have a passion for great food/wine and love music and the arts.
APX has some exciting plans ahead. Watch this space as we launch new initiatives in the market. We can’t wait to bring you along on our journey.
Regards,
Deborah Gyde
General Manager NZ
NZ Business Traveller Top 10 Stories
In partnership with NZ Business Traveller, APX presents the top stories from the industry over the month:
- Events centre refresh at Melbourne and Olympic Parks: Read article
- Fullerton Hotels tops TripAdvisor rankings: Read article
- Swiss-Belhotel International expands across Vietnam: Read article
- Global award for Air New Zealand's Skycouch: Read article
- Headed for the World Cup to Japan? Here's Tokyo's top five drinks in the sky: Read article
- Marriott International says no to single-use toiletries: Read article
- Apple launches iPhone 11 with a greater focus in imagery and processing power: Read article
- Melbourne airport to get a brand new 464-room hotel to serve Melbourne's conference and tourism markets: Read article
- Room Check; Sheraton Maria Isabel, Mexico City: Read article
- The Loop Duty Free gears up for Rugby World Cup with offers: Read article
Sudima Hotels: Product of the Month
Sudima Hotels pride themselves on providing the friendly, personal service you would expect from a world-class hotel. And of course, ensuring you have everything you need to enjoy a comfortable stay. But what makes them different, are the little things. It could be a warm welcome, a thoughtful act, a kind word or a genuine smile. They may seem like small gestures, but when you’re travelling, they make you feel at home. Find out more about their hotels here.
As Sudima are part of the APX local hotel programme, customers booking one of their rooms with APX can enjoy added benefits. These include: discounted breakfast, complimentary upgrades where available, complimentary parking & WiFi, and gym access in AKL & CHC. For more information on the APX local hotel programme, view the flyer.
NZeTA Mandatory Next Week
A reminder that from 1 October, the NZeTA will be mandatory for visitors from 60 visa-waiver countries. Applications for a NZeTA are available at immigration.govt.nz/nzeta or via the iOS App and Android App. Visitors who do not hold an NZeTA for their travel and are required to do so will not be able to board their flight from 1 October.
The application process takes less than 10 minutes, but applicants should allow up to 72 hours for processing. New Zealand and Australian passport-holders or visitors who have a valid New Zealand visa will not be required to complete an NZeTA.
Full information can be found in this info sheet, also available in 10 other languages.
APX’s Larissa de Brouwer Wins TAANZ Award
Larissa De Brouwer, APX Company Accountant, was awarded Best Young Travel Agency Executive – Corporate, representing APX at the TAANZ National Tourism Industry Awards.
The annual NTIA awards recognise excellence within the New Zealand travel industry. Votes from industry professionals determined finalists who then presented to TAANZ judges. APX are very proud to see Larissa awarded and recognised at such a high level. Larissa is photographed here in red, along with Rebecca Slee from Qantas who sponsored the category.
International SOS' Advice on Hong Kong Travel
As protests continue in Hong Kong, International SOS is providing insights for clients on the ground and advising on how to best navigate any travel disruption and protect business continuity.
One way they’re doing that is through regular updates. Recently, International SOS security experts recorded a special report for clients. As an APX subscriber, you have access to the webinar here.
Uber Expands to More Cities in NZ
This October, Uber will expand their services to Rotorua, Taupo, Napier & Hastings, New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Nelson. The extension means New Zealand’s tally of Uber connected cities will climb from seven to fourteen. Find out more here.
Air NZ Introduces Longhaul Seat Selection Fee
Effective on bookings from 10 September, a seat select fee applies to standard seat requests for some Economy fare classes on Air New Zealand operated longhaul flights. The fee is $19 per person per longhaul sector for bookings in K-Q class. Current charges continue to apply for exit row seats, bassinet and preferred seating.
Air New Zealand Gold, Elite, Elite Partner and Koru members are exempt. Economy Global Flexi fares booked in H-Y class, Economy Skycouch™, Premium Economy and Business Premier™ are also exempt from this fee. There is also no fee to book a standard seat on Domestic, Tasman and Islands when booked with a longhaul sector.
Customers who elect to not pay for seat select will be allocated seating prior to departure based on current seating logic. Where customers are identified as travelling together, they will be seated together. Subject to availability, customers will be able to select a standard seat free of charge once check in opens online 24 hours prior to departure.
Aelia Duty Free Discount
As part of APX’s partnership with Aelia Duty Free, enjoy 5% off liquor, fragrance, beauty and confectionary departments in store. Download the voucher and present it in store or on your device. Conditions apply.
Virgin Australia Adds Winglets to Boeing 737s
Virgin Australia has become the first Australian airline to install and operate an aircraft with Spilt Scimitar Winglets, after the first of their Boeing 737 Next Generation (NG) aircraft was fitted with the winglets. This will be added to all Virgin aircraft which fly across the Tasman and Pacific.
Virgin estimates this will save 160,000kg (200,000 litres) of fuel per aircraft every year. This will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 515 tonnes per aircraft, per year. That’s the equivalent of planting 7,725 trees, just from one aircraft’s annual savings.
Emirates Airline Behind Expo 2020 Dubai
Emirates is the Official Airline of Expo 2020 Dubai, a World Expo event which will see over 190 countries showcase their newest ideas, innovations, and technological advancements to an estimated 25 million visitors over a six-month period. The theme of Expo 2020 is “Connecting minds, creating the future”, with three sub-themes and zones of “Opportunity”, “Mobility”, and “Sustainability”. The New Zealand pavilion will be located in the Sustainability Zone. This is a unique opportunity for New Zealand businesses to connect with buyers, distributors, and investors from around the world, and tell the New Zealand story to a global audience.
Business travellers flying Emirates have the opportunity to stopover in Dubai and attend this exciting event, brimming with business possibilities. Emirates operates three daily services from New Zealand to Dubai and beyond.
Expo 2020 Dubai will run from 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021. Find out more at expo2020dubai.com.
