Changes at the top in Denmark

First Choice Holidays has announced that MyPlanet International and Hannibal & Marco Polo are now under the managing directorship of René Andersen.

MyPlanet’s former managing director Annelise Dam Larsen left the business on August 17, after 28 years with the company, the last nine years as managing director.

There will now be a move towards greater synergies between MyPlanet and Hannibal & Marco Polo: and given its annual turnover of more than half a billion Danish kroner, it will create a very powerful unit on the Scandinavian travel market.

Business to Australia alone from the two companies stands at 15,000 guests annually. MyPlanet and Hannibal & Marco Polo will continue their business as two independent brands.

René Andersen will be responsible for MyPlanet’s 95 employees in Holstebro, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Gothenburg and Sydney, together with Hannibal & Marco Polo´s 46 employees in Aarhus and Copenhagen.

For the Australian division of MyPlanet it is business as usual and they will continue to report into MyPlanet in Denmark.

ATEC-PATA Tourism distribution forum

The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) and the Pacific Area Travel Association (PATA) will hold a new, innovative tourism distribution forum in Sydney, October 17-18, to discuss one of the biggest areas affecting profitability and success in the tourism industry.

A panel of experts and keynote presenters will provide a balanced insight into new and emerging trends in areas such as distribution, aviation and the online environment that will drive and mould the future of the tourism industry.

Open to industry leaders and senior management, the event will take a hands-on, interactive approach to stimulate and encourage debate and dialogue, harnessing the views of our industry from the Asia Pacific region.

Find out more here

Catholic youth event offers opportunities

Organised by the Catholic Church, World Youth Day (WYD) is set to be the biggest youth event in the world when it takes place in Sydney from July 15-20 next year.

Up to 500,000 people are expected to attend, including 125,000 international visitors from more than 200 countries.

The Australian government has announced special pilgrim vouchers for WYD08: free of government charges, no quotas and minimum three months stay. This will enable participants from overseas to either travel to Australia early or stay on after the event.

Harvest Youth Tours is the official Australian operator for World Youth Day, and has 50 pre and post tours on offer around Australia.

Qantas is the official WYD08 airline partner and will be offering special rates.