Nagano Tourism Organization visitation data is showing Australia as the destinations’ number one among long-haul markets to visit the popular ski region, also famous for its hot springs and snow monkeys.

The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 24th Global Summit in Perth (Boorloo), Western Australia, kicked off today with an update to the organisation’s ground-breaking environmental footprint data.

The Australian Federal Court today ordered Qantas to pay $100 million in penalties for misleading consumers by offering and selling tickets for flights it had already cancelled, and failing to inform existing ticketholders promptly of its decision.

Qantas announced this evening it will operate two non-stop flights between Cyprus and Sydney, to help Australians in Lebanon get home on behalf of the Australian Government.

Executives from Rocco Forte Hotel’s ultra-luxury portfolio of properties were in Australia this week, meeting with partners and hosting VIP events for its elite agencies, otherwise known as “Knights”, in Sydney and Melbourne.

Signature Travel Network has confirmed it will relocate its flagship annual conference from Las Vegas to Orlando, effective 2026.

LVMH (Louis Vuitton, Moët Hennessy) and Formula 1 has signed a new 10-year agreement, commencing in 2025. The historic partnership incorporates several of LVMH’s 75 Maisons which will be involved in the partnership, including Louis Vuitton, Moët Hennessy and TAG Heuer.

The Queensland capital has been recognised as one of 10 global cities viewed as a ‘Trending Destination’ in 2025. According to data from global American Express Card Member travel bookings and Amex Travel’s worldwide network of travel consultants, Brisbane is one of three cities in the Southern Hemisphere to appear on the list.

Virtuoso and Globetrender, a travel trend forecasting agency, have revealed a handful trends shaping the luxury travel landscape for 2025. The parties have shared intel, including Virtuoso’s 2024 Brand & Travel Tracker Survey of high-net-worth/ultra-high-net-worth clientele to identify seven standout trends, from Silver Bullet Wellness to F**k-it Lists.

Link Travel Group has expanded its membership, welcoming CATO-accredited agency, Expedition Partners, into its stable. Melbourne-based Expedition Partners (formerly Flower Travel) is an established and highly respected agency specialising in luxury cruise and rail journeys, making them an ideal Link member by virtue of their ambitious and visionary growth plans, says Scott Darlow, General Manager of Link Travel Group.

AmaWaterways has confirmed a further two-month delay for the already revised launch of its inaugural sailing in Colombia aboard AmaMagdalena, most recently slated to debut in January 2025. The first of two purpose-built ships for the new market was originally intended to launch in December 2023.

HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) has appointed expedition cruise guru Steve Smotrys to the newly created role of Managing Director & Senior Vice President of Commercial in The Americas, effective mid-October.