LATTE sought feedback from a small cross-section of Virtuoso-affiliated travel agencies to gauge their views on the arrangement, and what products and destinations they foresee will prove popular for discerning travellers.

The Tourism Restart Taskforce has rebuffed suggestions that international travel to and from Australia may not begin until mid-2021, insisting that health conditions necessary to kick-start overseas travel should be “made clear” by the Australian government.

The potential broadening of the proposed trans-Tasman travel bubble to include cruising has executives at Silversea biting at the bit.

Chatter of a potential trans-Tasman travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand has continued to gain momentum this month, with prime ministers on either side of the ditch reportedly anticipating a partnership in the coming months.

The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact for tourism and hotel operators in New Zealand over the past 5 weeks or so since the government locked down borders to visitors. This week, LATTE chatted with Kiwi tourism figurehead and CEO/General Manager of The Rees Hotel Queenstown, Mark Rose, to get an update on how his luxury property is coping through the COVID-19 travel crisis, and what his thoughts are on the proposed “travel bubble” between Australia and New Zealand, and how long he believes it will take for the market to recover.