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Air New Zealand and Virgin Blue in early May applied for regulatory approval to create an alliance for trans-Tasman flights.
The proposed agreement would mean the airlines could strengthen their competitive offerings for trans-Tasman routes and collaborate on future flight plans, code sharing and frequent flyer programs.
Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe said by working together the airlines can deliver significant benefits to customers and shareholders.
“Our alliance is about working closely together to give customers cheaper fares, increased frequency and better connections, while delivering improved returns,” he said.
According to Virgin Blue CEO Brett Godfrey, for travellers this new alliance will mean better airfares, increased frequency, better connections, loyalty scheme reciprocity and expanded lounge access.
“Simple moves like integrating schedules, allowing customers to book multi-sector journeys on one code, providing reciprocal loyalty scheme benefits and reciprocal lounge access for qualifying customers will be a compelling proposition for leisure and business travellers on both sides of the Tasman,” Mr Fyfe said.
And Mr Fyfe said that the number of seats flown across the Tasman by the alliance carriers would grow more quickly than they would without the alliance.
“By combining our New Zealand customer base with the strong market presence that Virgin Blue has in Australia, additional flights and new routes will make sense much more quickly. Also, the ability to offer Air New Zealand code share flights to domestic destinations in Australia, and Virgin Blue code share flights to regional destinations in New Zealand as part of connecting Tasman journeys will be a great benefit to our frequent flyers and a boost for tourism in both countries.
“Our alliance is about working closely together to give customers cheaper fares, increased frequency and better connections, while delivering improved returns,” he said.
As well as more benefits for passengers, Mr Godfrey said the new alliance would help stimulate more competition in Australasian aviation, and this is just the beginning.
“Virgin Blue is close to unveiling our ‘Airline of the Future’ concepts which in our 10th year will reveal the fresh direction of the ‘new blue’ and likewise Air New Zealand has signalled its future product and design direction.”
The airlines have filed applications with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the New Zealand Ministry of Transport, and the review and approval process is expected to take six months.
For more information go to www.airnewzealand.com.
 The Hilton brand is synonymous with sophistication and five-star style, and the Hilton Auckland doesn’t disappoint. Located adjacent to the CBD, your delegates will be able to have a sophisticated stay and enjoy inspiring views over the Waitemata Harbour from its range of meeting rooms. The property includes 157 accommodation rooms and seven flexible conference and event spaces.
The hotel features a stylish contemporary design, which will create the perfect backdrop for your next event. The meeting spaces feature natural light, open decks that overlook the harbour and enough room for 700 guests cocktail-style and 400 for a sit down dinner. There’s also an exhibition floor with an additional 690 square metres that also features natural light and has easy vehicle access for a seamless set-up and pack-down.
Hilton Auckland welcomes new face
Hilton Auckland has appointed Jacob Feenstra as its New Zealand sales manager for meetings, incentives, conferencing and events. Mr Feenstra brings a host of corporate sales and operations experience to the role and has previously held a similar role at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium.
And he’s not wasting any time, already getting the word out about Hilton’s latest special deals for the events industry.
“I’m looking forward to working with both Hilton Auckland and Hilton Lake Taupo to ensure we offer New Zealand’s conference and event organisers a first-class service that makes their events stand-out occasions for everyone involved,” he said.
For more information about Hilton Auckland’s latest conference specials go to www.hilton.com or email sales.auckland@hilton.com.
Later this month Auckland will welcome professional conference organisers from around the globe for the 14th annual Meetings NZ. This year there’s a host of exhibitors raring to spruik about their latest product offering to local and international event planners and conference organisers.
The show is promising to be another impressive one. And it looks like this year’s event will be bigger and better than ever, with a host of new exhibitors signing up.
With extra exhibition space already sold out, attendees can look forward to 184 booths filled with exhibitors from around New Zealand. Organisers have had some positive feedback from companies who are looking forward to more business opportunities in a post-recession environment.
Just one of the new exhibitors heading to Meetings is the Experience Group, and sales and marketing manager Justin Ellis said its perfect timing because the company is expanding into the conference and incentive industry.
“We already offer a service which often links up with conferences so we thought we might as well offer people the full package,” he said.
Last year’s event attracted more than 130 hosted buyers and 270 day visitors, and organisers are expecting even more interest this year.
And for Rugby fans there’ll be an extra treat at this year’s show, where exhibitor Hospitality NZ 2011 will be displaying the Webb Ellis Cup.
Mr Ellis said as the official corporate hospitality agent for the Rugby World Cup the company could apply for access to the famous cup.
“Our company is really excited to have access to the cup and be able to display it at MEETINGS 2010 where it may be the only opportunity many people will have to view it in their lives,” he said.
This year’s event will be held at SKYCITY Auckland from June 23 to 24. It will be the fourth time the venue has hosted the annual show. For 2011, Meetings NZ will be back in Christchurch.
For more information go to www.meetings.co.nz.
 
Located just 10 minutes from Auckland’s CBD and 20 minutes from Auckland International Airport, Ellerslie Event Centre has a host of meeting rooms plus acres of lush grounds for outdoor functions and activities. In addition there is four-star accommodation onsite, free parking and a nine-hole golf course.
Ellerslie Event Centre was the winner of the 2009 People’s Choice Award for Best Nationwide Convention Centre and is continuing to impress well into 2010. The venue offers 26 rooms that can cater for groups from 30 to 1200, a 247-room onsite hotel, a nine-hole golf course, and 50 hectares of manicured lawns and gardens. The venue also offers a dedicated in-house catering team, and professional event coordinators.
For more information go to www.ellerslie.co.nz.
Rated Cuisine Restaurant of the Year 2009, Clooney has been attracting much attention from expert foodies since it opened four years ago. The restaurant offers private dining ideal for corporate groups while the main restaurant offers a gastronomic escape which is decorated with fringed booths, hand-blown glass and sophisticated styling (and we haven’t even started on the food yet!). The menu is dense with high-end treats like foie gras, venison carpaccio and quail, and the wine selection boasts of international and local drops.
If you’re looking for a restaurant that is guaranteed to impress, look no further than booking a secluded booth at the ever-popular Clooney. For more information go to www.clooney.co.nz.
The Quay West Suites Auckland is located in Auckland’s CBD and offers five-star accommodation with views of Waitemata Harbour and the city skyline. The property includes one, two and three bedroom suites that all feature private balconies. The hotel also offers guests an indoor heated pool with a star filled ceiling, and delegates will love spending time in the Executive Lounge which has complimentary fresh fruit, tea and coffee.
The Quay West Suites are within close walking distance to some of the city’s finest restaurants, bars, casino, and the shopping precinct.
For more information go to www.mirvachotels.com.
The Westin Auckland Lighter Quay offers conference organisers a five-star conference space with high-end accommodation to match. Located in the heart of Auckland’s most prestigious entertainment and business district, the property offers the perfect point to meet and conference.
The hotel includes five meeting rooms that can accommodate 180 delegates, and organisers can also make the most of the private pontoon and outdoor terraces and marina for special events.
Each meeting space is unique including the Private Room which overlooks the marina and is perfect for private dining, product launches and executive meetings. Your guests will be able to enjoy the space’s natural light and full length concertina doors that open out onto the marina. The hotel’s other meeting rooms include the Retreat which is located on the top floor and features spectacular city skyline views and has its own private facilities ideal for intimate meetings. There’s also two boardrooms on offer that overlook the internal water feature and atrium.
For more information go to www.westin.com/auckland.
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