Auckland

The bustling cities of China are getting a whole lot closer to New Zealand as capacity between the countries expands this week. On 2 May, Air New Zealand’s alliance partner Air China touched down in Auckland for the first time in three years, giving Air New Zealand customers a direct route to Beijing – the world’s most populous capital city.

Following its official return to New Zealand last year, American Airlines has announced a new seasonal service between Auckland (AKL) and Los Angeles (LAX).

Emirates’ flagship A380 made a landmark touchdown at Auckland Airport. This is first time the Emirates double-decker has landed in Auckland since February 2020, demonstrating increasing travel demand in and out of New Zealand. 

AirAsia X (AAX) celebrated its resumption of services to Melbourne, as one of its first key destinations to return to post-pandemic.

Flights to Samoa currently operate direct from Auckland with Air New Zealand, Sydney/Brisbane with Qantas, Nadi (Fiji) and Honolulu (Hawaii) with Fiji Airways. Commencing  September 22 2022: The ongoing emergence of different COVID-19 variants AND…

Emirates will restore its non-stop A380 services to and from Auckland and Kuala Lumpur starting from 1 December.

Hawaiian Airlines this weekend resumed its three-times-weekly service between Auckland Airport (AKL) and Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), welcoming the first Kiwi travelers to Hawaiʻi in two-plus years.
Hawaii Welcomes First Ki…

Mövenpick hotel brand coming to New Zealand –
Accor’s premium Swiss-born hospitality brand, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, launches its first property in New Zealand with the official opening of Mövenpick Hotel Auckland today. The hotel will be a stan…

I last spoke about Naumi Auckland Airport back in January when the Singapore-based hotel group announced the location as its first property in Australasia (quickly followed by two further properties in Wellington). And now the airport design hotel has piqued my interest again by releasing details of its self-styled ‘one-of-a-kind meetings and events spaces’.

Private rental brand and Accor Group subsidiary onefinestay, has unveiled a glut of new sites to its global portfolio of luxury destinations today, with the announcement it will add 22 high-end residences in Sydney.

Philippine Airlines will launch direct flights to New Zealand later this year, reducing the current travelling time between Manila and Auckland by more than two hours. The national carrier currently operates the route via Cairns. But from 6 December 2017, PAL will commence thrice weekly non-stop services between the Philippine capital and New Zealand’s largest […]

Fiji Airways will be able to attract more Asian travellers in future, following the signing of a codeshare agreement with Hong Kong Airlines. The arrangement will see the Fijian national carrier place its “FJ” code on Hong Kong Airlines’ services between Hong Kong and Bangkok, Tokyo and Osaka. This will enable travellers from these cities […]

X2 Vibe Bangkok Sukhumvit Hotel Location: In the On Nut district of Bangkok Grade: Upper-midscale Keys: 145 rooms and 121 serviced residences Facilities: Café, bar, saltwater swimming pool with poolside bar, spa, Japanese onsen, and a complimentary shuttle service to the BTS skytrain station Meeting space: One meeting room for up to 48 people They […]

Qantas will add more seat capacity on the Sydney-Auckland sector next month, following the suspension of Emirates’ services on the route. The Dubai-based carrier currently flies its Airbus A380 daily on the trans-Tasman route, as an extension of its Dubai-Sydney route. But according to an update on the Routes Online flight database, these flights will […]

Langham Hospitality Group has unveiled plans for the expansion of its new upper-upscale brand, Cordis Hotels & Resorts, across Asia Pacific. Following Cordis’ global debut in Hong Kong in 2015, with the rebranding of the Langham Place Mongkok, the company is now planning to expand its regional footprint to mainland China and New Zealand. The […]

Hospitality group, Avani Hotels & Resorts has announced the acquisition of Metro Suites business in Auckland. In a deal worth over NZD 11 million, the Metro Suites business currently operates in a 40-storey tower that will be transformed through a major room refurbishment programme. Upon completion in October 2017, the property will be rebranded as Metropolis […]

Novotel Lucknow Gomti Nagar Location: In the centre of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh Grade: Midscale Keys: 106 Facilities: Four F&B outlets including a rooftop restaurant, rooftop pool, spa, fitness centre, kids’ area, web corner, interactive touch-screen table in the lobby Meeting space: Two meeting spaces They say: “With Novotel Lucknow Gomti Nagar’s contemporary […]

With less than 80 days to go until the first match of the British & Irish Lions rugby series in New Zealand, three All Blacks players have created a video offering tourist tips to visiting fans. The Lions are touring New Zealand for the first time in 12 years, bringing the best players from England, […]

Marriott International has unveiled plans to launch its Four Points by Sheraton brand in New Zealand. The company has penned a deal for the Four Points by Sheraton Auckland, which is scheduled to open its doors in late 2017. Converted from office space, the 255-room midscale hotel will be located on Queen Street in the […]

With visitor numbers between New Zealand and South Australia continuing to soar, Air New Zealand has announced that it will start flying its twin-aisle Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft between Auckland and Adelaide from October 2017, significantly increasing capacity on the route. The new, larger aircraft will operate three weekly flights (Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays) to […]