Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association

Media Release – 21 October 2019

Port Denarau Marina in conjunction with Tourism Fiji was once again part of the Monaco Yacht Show which was hosted at the iconic Port Hercules in Monaco late September 2019. The event is the world leader event for superyachting and has been hosted since 1991. Port Denarau Marina has been part of this event since the past 9 years.

This year there were five participants at the show from Fiji, Cynthia Rasch, General Manager Port Denarau Marina, Nigel Skeggs, Director Port Denarau Marina, David Jamieson, Managing Director Yacht Help, Sisa Koyamaibole and Tom Lawakeli, French Rugby Clubs as Fiji ambassadors.

For the first time, Port Denarau Marina collaborated with Tourism Tahiti to bring Monaco Yacht Shows first ever South Pacific stand. This long waited partnership finally came to fruition as both Tahiti and Fiji offer world-class yachting cruising grounds for superyachts which is rich in culture, people, colorful reefs with pristine waters and marine life, offering total privacy away from shutterbugs and paparazzis. Read more

Media Release – 17th October 2019

InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa is proud to be appointed as Australia & Oceania’s Luxury Family Beach Resort at the 2019 World Luxury Hotel Awards™ Gala Ceremony hosted on 12 October at the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel and SantaPark in Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland.

Founded in 2006, the World Luxury Hotel Awards™ is the pinnacle of achievement in the luxury hotel industry offering international recognition voted for by discerning travelers and industry stakeholders.

The Fiji Islands is known as a place of happiness, home to people with a natural flair for hospitable experience and friendliness amidst beautiful natural scenery. Operating for ten years now, InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort has strived tirelessly to combine this natural warmth of its team with international InterContinental Hotels Group service standards to create a service culture that truly cares for each and every guest that arrives on the sunny shores of Natadola Bay. Read more…

Media Release – 16th October 2019.

InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa is delighted to be named as Oceania’s Leading Resort and Fiji’s Leading Hotel Suite at the 26^th prestigious 2019 Annual World Travel Awards Asia and Oceania Gala Ceremony; held on 12^th October at the Vinpearl Convention Center in Phu Quoc, Vietnam.

Since May 2009, InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa has established the Resort’s position as the premium holiday destination of choice for guests of all ages, with its sincere commitment to excellence and enhanced luxurious guest experiences in the travel industry. Read more….

Media Release – 16th October 2019

Over 22 suppliers and 400 frontline travel agents participated in Tourism Fiji’s annual Mainstream Roadshow which was held in four significant metro cities in Australia last week from 7–10 October.

The roadshow began in Melbourne and covered Adelaide, Sydney, and Brisbane and was a great way to keep Australian agents informed on all the latest that Fiji’s tourism has to offer.

This year, travel agents who attended the roadshow were asked to download an App and learn about Fiji and its amazing tourism products in a fun and engaging way. Find out more…

Fiji Times – 16th October 2019

A 5-STAR boutique resort has won the 2019 Luxury Private Pool Villa Continent Winner, Australia and Oceania at the World Luxury Hotel Awards.

Taveuni Palms Resort, Fiji also for the fourth consecutive year won the exclusive, “Signum Virtutis”, the Seal of Excellence, at the 2019 Seven Stars Luxury Hospitality and Lifestyle Awards in the Hotels and Resorts sector. Read more..

Fiji Sun – 16th October 2019

Former Government assistant minister and Fijian paralympic champion, Iliesa Delana, has been endorsed ambassador for Sailing4Handicaps in Fiji.

Samoa Airways – 15th October 2019

Samoa Airways is rolling out a new ‘farm to plane’ menu showcasing more local produce and innovative Samoan cuisine.

The overhaul of the flight menu is part of an ongoing process in reviewing the entire inflight product service out of Samoa.

It is one of many changes that Samoa Airways General Manager Commercial Robert Rounds has initiated to meet evolving and changing customer expectations in a tough aviation market.

“This airline is about people and we want to ensure that our valued passengers receive a positive and authentic Samoan experience onboard Samoa Airways.” Rounds said,

“We’ve asked for a menu that reflects the vibrancy of Samoa’s culinary heritage and abundance of clean fresh food available locally.  We also want to support our local economy of food growers and encourage healthy eating.” Read more..

One Mile at a Time – 15th October 2019

In May Fiji Airways announced the routes on which they’d operate the A350. However, the airline has since adjusted their planned schedule a bit.

As of December 1, 2019, Fiji Airways will operate the A350 daily between Nadi and Sydney, on the following frequency:

FJ911 Nadi to Sydney departing 9:35AM arriving 12:05PM
FJ910 Sydney to Nadi departing 1:20PM arriving 7:05PM

Then as of December 22, 2019, Fiji Airways will progressively start to operate the A350 between Nadi and Los Angeles, on the following frequency:

FJ810 Nadi to Los Angeles departing 9:40PM arriving 11:25AM . Find out more..

Fiji Sun – 15th October 2019

Media Release – Fiji Airways 14th October 2019

The Fiji Airways are delighted that the inflight magazine, FijiTime, has been nominated in this year’s WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS in the category of World’s Leading Inflight Magazine.

The World Travel Awards acknowledges, rewards, and celebrates excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry. If you enjoy our inflight magazine, we would be grateful for your support. Every vote counts and we compete against four other magazines. Your vote and your continued readership of FijiTime means the world to us. A simple registration is needed to vote. Voting closes October  20, so get voting and spread the word with your family and friends. The more votes, the higher our chances of winning.

The link for registering and voting is: https://www.worldtravelawards.com/vote-for-fiji-airways-worlds-leading-inflight-magazine-2019

Travel Daily Media – 14th October 2019

Finnair and Fiji Airways have agreed on a new codeshare partnership between Helsinki and Nadi in Fiji via three gateways served by the airline. Its code will be added to Fiji Airways’ flights between Hong Kong, Singapore, Narita and Nadi, offering an exotic new destination for Finnair customers in the South Pacific.

The carrier’s flight numbers will later be added to Fiji’s flights between San Francisco, Los Angeles and Nadi. The new codeshare flights can now be booked for travel starting from 27 October onwards.

Ole Orvér, chief commercial officer at Finnair said: “This cooperation is unique as it will allow Finnair customers to purchase around-the-world routings under our code for the very first time, using a combination of gateways in Asia and on the US West Coast. We would also like to warmly welcome Fiji Airways’ customers to enjoy the wonders of Finland and the Nordics.” Read more..

Reuters – 14th October 2019

United Airlines Holdings Inc (UAL.O) said on Friday it is extending cancellations of Boeing 737 MAX flights until Jan. 6, as regulators continue to extensively review proposed software changes to the grounded plane.

The company said it expects to cancel more than 8,000 flights for October, November, December and the first few days of January and that it will monitor regulatory updates and make adjustments accordingly. Among other U.S. airlines that operate the MAX, Southwest Airlines Co (LUV.N) has canceled flights through Jan. 5, while American Airlines Group Inc (AAL.O) has extended cancellations of Boeing 737 MAX flights through Jan. 15. Read more…

Fiji Sun – Saturday 12th October, 2019.

The Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (FRCS) has undertaken major reforms through its transformation journey in the last few years to facilitate cross border
trade and expedite movement, release and clearance of goods.These measures have had a beneficial effect to the overall transaction cost and the time associated with import, export and transshipment of goods through our borders.Trade facilitation is particularly important for developing countries like Fiji, enhancing smooth flow of goods and people.It not only directly impacts economic activity and multiplier effects but helps grows the economy and tax base.
Setting up of Customs Clearance Facilitation Committee A high level border agency committee has been set-up at every major Customs seaport
and airport under the leadership of the Chief Executive Officer.The members include senior officials from our key stakeholders including government
officials.
Click below for full article

FRCS Introduces Initiatives for Ease of Doing Business in Fiji

Fiji Sun – Saturday October 12th, 2019.

The A350 XWB is the world’s most modern and eco-efficient aircraft family shaping the future of air travel. It is the long-range leader in the large widebody market (300 to 400+seats). InThe A350 XWB offers unrivalled operational flexibility and efficiency for all market segments up to ultra-long haul (15,000 km).

Click below for full article and images.

Fiji Airways A350 XWB

Fiji Airways images

Fiji Sun – Saturday October 12th, 2019.

Jessan Doton is one determined young woman and has taken on a huge challenge as the Director of Sales and Marketing for Radisson Blu Resort Fiji.
A wealth of experience from a journalist to working for our national carrier Fiji Airways, Ms Doton has never shied away from any responsibility given to her.
Ms Doton is no stranger to the tourism industry.Already she has knuckled to one of the most difficult job at any resort or hotel, and that ismaking sure the rooms at the resort are filled with visitors.This is no easy feat but she has taken the fight head on.

Click below for Jessan Doton full interview.

Radisson -Executive Interview

Yahoo Finance – Friday October 11, 2019.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – American Airlines Group Inc on Wednesday extended cancellations of Boeing 737 MAX flights through Jan. 15, running contrary to the U.S. planemaker’s promises that the grounded jets would be flying again before the year-end.

The largest U.S. airline, which had previously canceled about 140 flights a day through Dec. 3, upped its estimate for the impact of the groundings on third-quarter pre-tax profit to $140 million, $15 million more than a previous estimate.Read more…