Orbit World Travel - New Zealand

13/08/2024

Air New Zealand has launched the first phase of its upgraded Airpoints program, unveiling a refreshed website with a modern look and expanded benefits.

Key updates include the ability for members to share Airpoints Dollars with up to 10 people within New Zealand, and streamlined tier review dates. Members who maintain their tier status will start the new membership year with immediate access to benefits.

These updates mark the beginning of a series of planned enhancements, including the introduction of a new, higher loyalty tier and additional member perks.

Nikhil Ravishankar, Air New Zealand's Chief Digital Officer, shared that over the next 12 months, Airpoints members can expect greater earning opportunities with more partners, additional rewards, and the new tier—further elevating the value of the loyalty program. "We’re not slowing down; we're dedicated to creating an even more rewarding travel experience for our members, so stay tuned," he added.

For more details, visit:
https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/airpoints

11/08/2024

Singapore Airlines has reopened its stunning SilverKris Lounge at London Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 2. The revamped lounge features separate spaces for First-Class and Business-Class passengers, open daily from 5:30am to 10:00pm.

🛋️ The spacious lounge can accommodate up to 242 guests and offers private productivity pods, cosy wingback chairs, long table seating, and plenty of charging points. Enjoy complimentary WiFi and catch live TV on 75-inch widescreen TVs. Don’t forget to snap a photo in front of the beautiful batik feature wall!

🍽️ In the First-Class Lounge, indulge in an à la carte menu featuring Singapore laksa, Hainanese chicken rice, Western options like a full English breakfast, and spinach cannelloni. Pair your meal with Laurent Perrier Champagne, fine wines, or soft drinks.

🍸 The Business-Class Lounge boasts a chic cocktail bar with seating for up to 10, offering Rodier champagne, wine, and signature cocktails like the iconic Singapore Sling. The buffet offers a delicious selection of Western and Asian dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

📍 The SilverKris Lounge is located in Terminal 2B, near gate B42. It's open to First and Business Class passengers, as well as PPS Club, KrisFlyer Elite Gold, and Star Alliance Gold members travelling on SQ.

06/08/2024

We’re in the business of global travel, which means we’re also in the business of protecting the globe.

Our aim is to be the sustainable travel management company of choice for businesses in New Zealand and Australia. We empower our people to thrive through building partnerships and delivering effective travel and event management solutions that are creative, innovative, sustainable and future-focused.

Sustainability is at the heart of our business today and tomorrow. We are committed to caring for people, our planet, our partnerships and ensuring ongoing prosperity.

Find out more about our sustainability journey on our website:
https://www.orbit.co.nz/sustainability/

02/08/2024

Horizon by SkyCity, Auckland’s newest luxury five-star hotel, welcomed its first guests on 01st August!

The new establishment introduces 303 fresh rooms, including 10 suites.

Horizon by SkyCity also features its signature Onyx bar and introduces The Grill restaurant, now located within the SkyCity Auckland precinct under the culinary direction of executive chef Touvai Poloniati.

26/07/2024

Exciting Opportunity at Orbit World Travel!

We are on the lookout for a passionate and experienced Marketing Manager to join our fabulous Auckland team 🌟

🔹 Position: Marketing Manager

🔹 Location: Auckland, New Zealand - our brand new office is located in downtown Auckland

🔹 Perks: Excellent conditions, career step-up opportunity

🔹 Requirements: Marketing experience required

If you’re ready to take your marketing career to the next level in an exciting and supportive environment, we’d love to hear from you!

Find out more and apply online:
https://www.seek.co.nz/job/77530839?ref=hirer-jobs-list

19/07/2024

Kia ora and good evening,

A global IT outage is impacting banks, supermarkets, and various businesses, including the travel and aviation industries in New Zealand, Australia, and globally.

Current updates:

Auckland and Wellington Airports: Operating normally.

Christchurch Airport: Experiencing IT issues affecting flight information; travellers should check with their airline or Orbit before travelling.

Air New Zealand: Flights operating normally, monitoring potential impacts.

Virgin Australia: Flights to/from Sydney cancelled.

Qantas: Expect some delays.

Melbourne Airport: Check-in delays.

Edinburgh Airport: Departure screens malfunctioning, impacting flights.

USA: Delta, United, and American Airlines flights grounded by the FAA.

The Orbit After Hours team is closely monitoring the situation. Please contact us if you need assistance.

19/07/2024

✈️ More Seats for Kiwis to Hawaii! 🌺

Exciting news! Hawaiian Airlines is resuming its Auckland seasonal direct services from November, and due to high demand, they've extended the season by a month!

🗓️ New Schedule: 15th November 2024 – 30th April 2025

✈️ Flight Details:
HA445 HNL-AKL: Mon, Wed, Fri | Depart: 1:05 PM | Arrive: 9:20 PM
HA446 AKL-HNL: Tue, Thu, Sat | Depart: 11:30 PM | Arrive: 9:15 AM

Hawaiian Airlines will be flying a 278-seat Airbus A330, featuring:
✨ 18 Premium Cabin lie-flat leather seats
✨ 68 Extra Comfort seats
✨ 192 Main Cabin seats
✨ Free high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi by the end of the year!

Get ready to explore Hawaii with more convenience and comfort! 🌴🌺

16/07/2024

✈️ Auckland Airport Update! ✈️

Great news for international travellers departing Auckland Airport! You can now keep your electronics (laptops, phones, iPads) and liquids, powders, and gels in your bags at Auckland Airport. Remember, volume limits for liquids, aerosols, and gels still apply. 🎒

📸 Note: Camera film needs to be packed in your checked-in bag.

Keep an eye out for the new CT scanners, which will be rolled out progressively over the remainder of the year.

12/07/2024

With over 20 dedicated staff across the country, we have the experience and the ability to manage all your needs. Go ahead, give us a challenge.

Find out more and enquire via our website:
https://www.orbit.co.nz/groups-and-events

10/07/2024

Industry Update: Jetstar Announces Major Expansion

To celebrate their 15th birthday, Jetstar has announced their plans to significantly grow it's New Zealand operations, which means more than 240,000 new low fare seats each year.

This new expansion includes:

- Jetstar to launch two new trans-Tasman routes

- Increase capacity on popular domestic services

- Expand NZ fleet for first time in more than 10 years

- Unlock more than 240,000 new low fares seats annually

Stage 1 of the expansion will involve new flights between Christchurch and Cairns, as well as between Auckland and the Sunshine Coast.

Jetstar have also announced that they will increase capacity on key domestic routes, starting with Christchurch to Auckland and Auckland to Wellington routes, and will grow this further over the next 12 months. Christchurch to Melbourne flight times will also be adjusted to improve longhaul connectivity,

A new Jetstar aircraft will be based in Christchurch from December to support this growth.

Jetstar has also been working to improve it's reliability, stating that over the past 6 months, their cancellations have dropped to around 1% or less, and on average, more than 80% of flights have arrived on time so far this year.

05/07/2024

We had a fantastic time at the House of Travel/Orbit Supplier Conference and Awards! It was wonderful to celebrate and connect with our teams from across the country. We are truly fortunate to have such a dedicated and hardworking team.

The conference featured several insightful speakers, including Ruby Tui, David Coombes and a number of our suppliers. Thank you to all those who joined us - and congratulations to all award winners!

03/07/2024

Supporting our community – AUT Shadow a Leader Programme. 👨‍🎓 💼

This week, we had the pleasure of hosting two students, Seth and Jessica, at Orbit Auckland as part of the Auckland University of Technology Shadow a Leader Programme.

Shadow a Leader is an AUT Faculty of Business, Economics and Law initiative where both AUT students and Auckland secondary school students have the opportunity to follow an industry leader for a day. This experience gives students invaluable insights into how leaders work in an industry and exposes them to the skills and attributes required to navigate a successful career in their chosen field.

Seth and Jessica spent time with leaders across Orbit Auckland and the wider Orbit World Travel team including leaders in General Management, Operations, IT, Sustainability and Marketing, as well as with Brendan Drury, Orbit Auckland Owner Operator.

We’re proud to be 100% kiwi owned and operated at Orbit World Travel, and passionate about supporting our community.

03/07/2024

Sustainability is important to us at Orbit!

When selecting our preferred partners, we look at where they are and where they're going in their sustainability journey. The Scenic Hotel Group started on their sustainability journey in 2021 after choosing six United Nations Sustainable Development goals as their key focus areas.

Customers will see carbon-neutral room rates available when booking with Scenic. This option provides guests the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions of their stay, and as of 12 June 2024, 510 tonnes of carbon dioxide have been offset, group-wide.

Find out more about their journey in our latest blog post: https://www.orbit.co.nz/sustainability/qualmark-scenic-hotel-group/

Contact an Orbit Consultant today to find out more about our preferred partner programme.

The Scenic Hotel Group started on their sustainability journey in 2021 after choosing to align with six United Nations Sustainable Development goals as their key focus areas. They offer a Carbon Neutral room rate where guests can offset the carbon emissions of their stay, and as of 12 June, 2024, 51...

01/07/2024

SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT

If you’re looking for a 4-star hotel with a convenient location in Christchurch, take a look at Hotel Elms, part of the Ascend Collection with Choice Hotels. Situated between the airport and the city, and offering a pre-booked shuttle service for guests, the hotel is a convenient must-stay.

In late 2023, Hotel Elms completed a $5 million refurbishment, moving up the ranks as a leading 4-star hotel. The newly refurbished hotel provides you with 24-hour reception, and 24-hour room service, along with a restaurant and bar on-site.

If you’re looking to host a conference or a meeting, check out one of their four meeting spaces on-site. They also provide catering for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

To book your next stay, please contact your Orbit Consultant, or book online via Orbit Online.

28/06/2024

Matariki is a time for remembrance, celebrating the present and looking to the future.

Enjoy your long weekend with friends and whānau. Our afterhours team will be available for any urgent requests and our offices will reopen on Monday.

24/06/2024

We are thrilled to welcome Nicola Teal to the newly created role of General Manager of Orbit Auckland Groups, Events and Business Development.

In the role, Nicola will bring oversight to corporate and group travel, working strategically alongside existing and new customers to align travel solutions with their overarching objectives, bringing them to fruition in the most effective way.

A core part of the business partner function will be to optimise budgets, creating efficiencies, and savings while delivering tangible value. She will work closely with corporate businesses and government agencies of all sizes and across industries, as well as school and incentive groups.

Nicola has over 15 years of experience in the corporate travel industry, working in a variety of roles spanning account management, business development, operations and sales, including previous roles with Orbit.

Welcome Nicola!

21/06/2024

🎉🎄 Need to plan a Christmas Party or Function? Let Orbit Groups and Events take care of it! 🎄🎉

Our dedicated Groups and Events team are here to take the hard work of organising off your plate. From venues and catering to transfers, accommodation, and activities, we've got you covered. All options are tailored to your business needs.

Contact us to get started! 🌟✨

14/06/2024

We're thrilled to welcome Tracey to the Orbit World Travel Nelson team! Originally from the North West of England, Tracey moved to Wellington, New Zealand, over 15 years ago. She began her travel career in retail, quickly becoming an Assistant Team Leader, then transitioned to corporate travel.

Three years ago, Tracey moved to Nelson and worked remotely for PHI Aviation, handling FIFO travel and pilot training logistics. Her experience as a customer using a Travel Management Company (TMC) gives her valuable insights into our clients' needs.

An avid traveller and snowboarder, Tracey loves summer adventures, from hiking in the Marlborough Sounds to cycling and wine tasting in the Wairarapa. Her passion for travel and diverse experiences make her a fantastic addition to our team!

07/06/2024

Nesuto Stadium Hotel and Apartments provides guests with the option of a welcoming hotel stay, or the ease of an apartment stay, which includes studios as well as one or two-bedroom apartments. All apartments come with more space, a fully equipped kitchen, and full laundry facilities.

If you’re looking for breakfast or dinner, take advantage of their on-site restaurant & bar, NOOK, and enjoy their alfresco-style dining experience.

Situated in downtown Auckland City, located on Beach Road and only a couple of minutes walk from Spark Arena, Nesuto Stadium Hotel and Apartments has easy access to the motorway, this makes for a perfect location to stay getting in and out of the city.

To find out about booking a room at Nesuto Stadium Hotel and Apartments, or for further information contact your Orbit Consultant.

05/06/2024

Electric vehicles (EVs) represent a positive step towards sustainable transport, offering reduced emissions and helping both organisations and households reach their sustainability goals.

For the past two years, Avis have been offering customers a comprehensive range of EV rental options when booking from their Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch branches.

While the number of EV’s on the road in New Zealand has increased dramatically over the past few years, rental car customers are still hesitant to book them.

From anxiety around the battery life, stress about finding an EV charger, and the lack of knowledge around EV technology, Nigel Bell-Booth, New Zealand Sales Manager at Avis helps trump some misconceptions and provides you with reassurance when looking to book your next rental car.

Read the full blog on our website:
https://www.orbit.co.nz/blog/demystifying-the-ev-rental-experience-with-avis/

Electric vehicles (EVs) represent a positive step towards sustainable transport, offering reduced emissions and helping both organisations and households reach their sustainability goals.

31/05/2024

As we head into the long weekend, we want to remind you that our Orbit World Travel offices will be closed on Monday, 3 June, in observance of the King's Birthday.

Our After-Hours team will be available to assist with any urgent requests during this time.

Have a wonderful long weekend!

The Orbit World Travel Team 🌏✈️

30/05/2024

Meet Anna, our Sustainability Advisor!

At Orbit, we wanted to get serious about our commitment to sustainability, so this year, we created a new Sustainability Advisor role, and hired Anna Marshall.

Anna brings over 10 years of experience in the travel industry and over 4 years of sustainability experience. Prior to joining Orbit and House of Travel, Anna held roles as Sustainability Specialist at NZTE as well as the Senior Account Manager at Toitu Envirocare.

In her role, Anna is managing the Orbit Sustainability Programme and ensuring that our customers have the right solutions to manage their own sustainability-focused business goals, relating to their business travel.

Please talk to your Account Manager if you would like to book in time to discuss your goals with Anna.

28/05/2024

Orbit Auckland has won 3 awards at the Annual TAANZ National Travel Industry Awards!

Travel Agents' Association of New Zealand (TAANZ) hosts an industry awards event every year, but due to COVID, the last one was held back in 2019 - that was, until last weekend.

The 2024 TAANZ National Travel Industry Awards took place on the weekend at Cordis Auckland, and we were ecstatic to have Orbit Auckland come away winning two Platinum Awards and one Silver Award by the end of the evening. These awards were:

Platinum:
- Air New Zealand Top Corporate Agency
- Qantas Top Corporate Agency

Silver:
- Delta Top Corporate Agency

These awards are a reflection of all of the hard work and determination that Orbit Auckland has put into their work with customers and suppliers. We are all incredibly proud of the Orbit Auckland team, well done Brendan Drury for leading your team in their success.

A huge thank you to the TAANZ board for putting on an awesome event and giving us the opportunity to celebrate and laugh with the familiar faces of an industry that we are grateful to be part of.

24/05/2024

🌸 Our Auckland office baked up a storm to put together an incredible spread of baked goods for our Pink Ribbon Bake Sale! 🧁

Well done to all our amazing bakers and organisers, helping to raise over $2000 for Breast Cancer.

22/05/2024

Regional New Zealand carrier Barrier Air has confirmed that it will operate services to Kerikeri from August, in a bid to offer better connections for those in Northland to the rest of New Zealand. The flights between Kerikeri to Auckland Airport will launch 04th August, with the carrier operating 22 return flights a week. To service this new route, Barrier Air has invested in a new aircraft, a late-model Cessna Grand Caravan 208, which is known for its reliability.

17/05/2024

The Orbit World Travel Hamilton/Tauranga team are dressed to impress for Pink Shirt Day! 💖

Pink Shirt Day was started in Canada in 2007, and is all about standing up against bullying and spreading kindness. Today, we're rocking our pink shirts to show our commitment to creating a safe, supportive, and inclusive community. Let’s all take a moment to be kind, speak up against bullying, and support those who need it. Together, we can make every day a little brighter and more positive! Happy Pink Shirt Day! 🌸

14/05/2024

From today, Millennium and Copthorne Hotels & Resorts is offering Orbit customers an exclusive rate from now until the end of July 2024.

With Orbit Plus+ you can book your stay and access preferred hotel rates across all 18 Millenium and Copthorne Hotels & Resorts throughout New Zealand.

Speak to your Account Manager directly to learn more or call 0800 267 248

10/05/2024

Our Sustainability Committee at Orbit Christchurch hosted an epic Giant Pumpkin Growing Competition! 🌱 From seedlings to these beauties, it’s been great to see the team get involved.

With the EventsAir app, competitors shared updates on their pumpkin-growing journey. Whether at our Christchurch office or remote, the team weighed their pumpkins and sent pics in for proof.

Tia clinched victory with her 60kg pumpkin - her husband helped her get it into the office on ‘weigh day’. 👏 Beating the competition by nearly 30kg, she's our Giant Pumpkin Champion! 🌟🏆

Congrats to Tia and all competitors! Let's keep growing sustainably!

06/05/2024

A huge congratulations is in order for one of our Orbit Plus+ properties, Sojourn Apartment Hotel – Riddiford, as they were awarded the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Best of Best Hotels award.

The Apartment Hotel is located in the heart of Newtown, Wellington’s vibrant, quirky suburb. Opening in 2021, they offer 43 modern rooms, with a range of room types to suit all traveller needs.

Congratulations also to our other Orbit Plus+ properties featured on this list.

To learn more about Orbit Plus+, please speak to your Account Manager directly.

03/05/2024

Our new & improved Toitū verified Sustainability Reporting 🌲

We are always looking for ways to provide more value. Based on feedback from our customers, we are excited to announce that our new and improved Carbon Report is now live!

In relation to travel booked through Orbit, this improved report allows you to:

- View your kilograms of carbon emitted, by air, accommodation and rental car

- Access basic and advanced benchmarking comparisons through the new benchmarking tab to compare kgs. of carbon monthly, and year on year

- Drill down in more detail e.g. air travel, hotel spend, car rental summary and also captures detail like Equipment Code and Aircraft Type

- Our carbon reports are suitable for use in an ISO 14064 - 1 compliant inventory and are pre-verified for Toitū carbon reduce, and Toitū net carbon zero certified programmes

This report is ideal if you are looking to understand your impact on the environment based on travel booked through Orbit.

If you’d like to find out more, please contact Orbit.