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Tag: brisbane

  • Qantas to launch new route from Manila to Brisbane

    Qantas to launch new route from Manila to Brisbane

    Qantas has today announced it will launch a new route from Manila with direct flights to Brisbane in Queensland, Australia.

    From 28 October 2024*, the flights will operate four days per week with the Airbus A330 aircraft, marking the first flights set to be operated by the Australian national carrier between the two cities in more than ten years.

    The flights add to Qantas’ existing daily service to Sydney and will add more than 100,000 seats between the Philippines and Australia each year.

    Tickets for the new Manila-Brisbane route will be available for sale at qantas.com and through travel agents in the coming days.

    The flights will be operated by Qantas’ fleet of A330 aircraft with 27 Business Class suites in 1-2-1 configuration, with each suite featuring direct aisle access and converting into a lie-flat bed. All Qantas international fares include checked baggage allowance, food and beverages and inflight entertainment as standard with every booking.

    Qantas recently announced it would accelerate a program to introduce ‘fast and free’ Wi-Fi across its existing fleet of international aircraft, including Airbus A330 aircraft with enough bandwidth for every passenger to enjoy a fast and consistent connection. The service will be progressively introduced on Qantas flights between Manila and Australia from next year.

    Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace shares, “The Philippines is a very important part of our Asia network, so we’re pleased to be growing with a new route to Australia. This new connection will strengthen business links between our two countries. The flights will also make it easier for Filipinos to visit family and friends living in Queensland, as well as offering a new gateway for travellers to explore the region.”

    He adds, “We know large numbers of our customers have been travelling between Manila and Brisbane via our existing Sydney service, which gives us great confidence about how this route will perform when flights start.”

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  • Brisbane coffee brand Aromas Coffee Roasters sold

    Brisbane coffee brand Aromas Coffee Roasters sold

    Queensland-based Aromas Coffee Roasters has been acquired by local Indigenous-owned company SupplyAus Holdings for an undisclosed sum.

    Aromas Coffee Roasters boasts a 47-year history, serving more than 300 locations in the state, while SupplyAus was co-founded by Adam Williams, a Wiradjuri man, and Shane Andrews, a descendant of the Mununjali people in 2018.

    SupplyAus CEO, Adam Williams, told Business News Australia, that this was a “major step to inspire other Indigenous entrepreneurs to have a go”.

    “Buying a legacy brand like Aromas shows Indigenous kids and young people that even the biggest brands are within our reach.”

    With the acquisition, the company plans to integrate some of Aromas Coffee’s operations with its own coffee portfolio – Dhuwa Coffee, which is sold in 900 Woolworths stores.

    “That’s something we are good at with the rest of our brands, so to be able to roll that through with Aromas is something we are looking forward to.”

    Alongside, the company is currently exploring opportunities to invest in indigenous employment with the rollout of its own Aromas Cafe and also grow the brand internationally.

    SupplyAus now owns and operates a range of brands, including Bunji Workwear, SupplyAus Medical, Jingeri Office National and Aromas Coffee Roasters.

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  • Subway Australia launches 24-seven trading

    Subway Australia launches 24-seven trading

    Fast-food chain Subway Australia has unveiled a 24 hours express pick-up service in Bald Hills, Brisbane, ahead of a broader national rollout.

    Customers can order their foods via the app or using a third-party provider and collect their purchases at an express pick-up window.

    “Over the past year, through Covid we have seen a change in the way people are eating Subway,” said Subway country director Geoff Cockerill.

    “More people are ordering through third-party delivery providers than ever before – and more people are choosing to place express-pick-up orders. With shift workers, more remote working, and added delivery options, Subway is proving a popular choice for late night and early morning orders.”

    After testing it at the Bald Hills store, Subway will roll out more 24-hour pick-up windows across Australia.

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  • Thai AirAsia X begins new service to Brisbane

    Thai AirAsia X begins new service to Brisbane

    Thai AirAsia X has started its newest service from Bangkok to Brisbane, with the first arrival touching down at 11:46 am local time on Wednesday. This marks the first AirAsia service to Brisbane Airport. The aircraft received a water salute on arrival, courtesy of the airport’s fire and emergency service.

    The route is operated by Thai AirAsia X under flight number XJ310 (Bangkok to Brisbane) and XJ311 (Brisbane to Bangkok); duration of the flight is approximately nine hours and 20 minutes. Before this connection, the only non-stop service between Brisbane and Bangkok was operated by Thai Airways using the Boeing 777-200. The Malaysian AirAsia X serves Gold Coast Airport, which is located 90 kilometres (56 miles) south of Brisbane.

    We are delighted to have a new home in Queensland, adding Brisbane to our Queensland ports after we commenced operating flights from the Gold Coast in 2007. This direct service between Bangkok and Brisbane strengthens our connections into Australia and adds to our extensive network of more than 140 destinations worldwide.Nadda Buranasiri, AirAsia X CEO
    Asia is a key market for Queensland’s tourism industry and this new service will bring more than 235,000 inbound seats to Brisbane over the next three years, providing a $156 million boost to the state’s economy and supporting 660 jobs.Kate Jones, Minister for Tourism Industry Development

    Thai AirAsia X is a sister airline of AirAsia’s long haul carrier AirAsia X. The Thai airline is based at Bangkok Don Mueang Airport. Together with AirAsia X and Indonesia AirAsia X, it operates a fleet of 36 Airbus A330-300 with up to 100 of the new generation A330-900neo on order. Thai AirAsia X will soon receive its first A330neo and become the Asian launch-customer of the aircraft type. The airplane, which is already due for delivery, was on display at Paris Air Show 2019.

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  • Calvin Klein opening First Multi Brand Fashion Store

    Calvin Klein opening First Multi Brand Fashion Store

    The first store bringing together the entire Calvin Klein offering in Australia opened over the Easter long weekend at Queensland’s Sunshine Plaza. Spanning over 310sqm and offering a full range of men’s and women’s underwear, jeans, performance, accessories, as well as kid’s underwear, the store is the Calvin Klein’s 32nd in Australia, and reflects the brand’s minimal, modern aesthetic.

    Sunshine Plaza recently finalised a $440 million redevelopment, boasting over 345 retail stores to become the first ‘super regional’ shopping centre North of Brisbane.

    Calvin Klein’s presence in Australian and New Zealand had previously been run by Gazal Corporation, but the brand’s US-based owner, PVH Corporation, recently outlined plans to purchase Gazal.

    The deal, which also impacts the Tommy Hilfiger brand and is expected to be finalised in the second quarter of 2019, will give PVH a more direct hand in the brand’s Australasian operations.

    “I’m pleased that we have agreed to acquire Gazal. PVH currently – and for many years – has had a successful business relationship with our Australian partners and would be pleased to bring them into the larger PVH family,” Emanuel Chirico, PVH Corporation’s chairman and CEO said.

    “Gazal has enhanced the market position of our brands in Australia and New Zealand and we believe the region continues to offer significant growth over the next five years and aligns with our strategic priority to expand our direct control of businesses operated under the Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger brands worldwide.”

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  • AirAsia becomes Brisbane Broncos Official Airline

    AirAsia becomes Brisbane Broncos Official Airline

    AirAsia has formalised a deal to become the Brisbane Broncos’ official airline, along with promotions held at every Broncos home game and special discounts for fans.

    The deal is centred around the launch of the new ‘The Buck Stops Here’ campaign, to celebrate AirAsia the airline’s new services from Brisbane to Bangkok, which are set to commence on 26 June.

    AirAsia Group Head of Branding, Rudy Khaw, said AirAsia is excited to partner with the Brisbane Broncos.

    “We are thrilled to partner with Queensland’s number one sports team, and National Rugby League favourites, the Brisbane Broncos.

    “Queensland is an integral part of our Australian network, and since commencing flights to the Gold Coast in November 2007, we’ve flown more than 2 million passengers through the sunshine state,” Mr Khaw said.

    “Our new services from Brisbane will soon become the most affordable and convenient way to travel to Thailand’s capital, and with the help of the Brisbane Broncos, we hope to see demand for these new flights grow even more.”

    As part of the partnership, AirAsia will run events and giveaways at Brisbane Broncos home games over the 2019 NRL season, as well as provide fans advanced notice on AirAsia promotional offers.

    Brisbane Broncos CEO, Paul White, said the partnership reflects a shared culture for both organisations.

    “Our partnership with AirAsia reflects a shared culture of delivering a fantastic experience at exceptional value for fans, whether it’s a night at the footy or choosing your next holiday.

    “The Broncos look forward to seeing how the beloved Buck is made part of this exciting plan to further enhance the fan experience and showcase AirAsia and their exciting destinations,” Mr White said.

    The deal, which was announced during the Broncos home game against the West Tigers at Suncorp Stadium last night, has already seen one fan receive return flights for two to Bangkok, Thailand.

  • International luxury brands down in Brisbane

    International luxury brands down in Brisbane

    Luxury brands are descending on Brisbane, with fashion house Saint Laurent opening its first store in Queensland at QueensPlaza on March 28, ahead of arrivals from Fendi and Dior slated for later this year.

    The new store, Saint Laurent’s sixth Australian store, has an architectural design that features three types of marble and refined detailing accented with anodised gold, mirrored stainless steel and leather joinery.

    “The arrival of Saint Laurent, another first to Brisbane, further cements QueensPlaza’s position as the city’s leading luxury retail and lifestyle destination,” said Pamela Wakeford, centre manager.

    Saint Laurent joins a slew of luxury retailers already located at the centre, including Chanel, Burberry, Tiffany and Co, Zimmermann, Scanlan Theodore and Camilla.

    Italian fashion house Fendi is poised to unveil its new boutique mid-year and Stanton café and bar will also open in the coming months. The new café will have a dining and bar experience including an outdoor terrace overlooking the Queen Street Mall.

    Queensland has also recently welcomed fashion jewellery brand APM Monaco, which opened a new store in Brisbane’s high street, joining a suite of luxury fashion retailers along MacArthur Central.

    The new store features the retailer’s traditional handcrafted jewellery pieces along with some most recent collections like open chokers with sky silver and zarconia meteorites, and asymmetric underlobe earrings and jackets.

    “Precision Group is proud to welcome APM Monaco to MacArthur Central where it will sit alongside some of the best international and national retailers fronting Edward Street Brisbane, where Brisbane City Council have invested $11.8 million into a beautification project of the precinct,” said Colleen Middlemass, centre and state asset manager.

    Middlemass said the new store will complement the area’s “luxe offering with a fashion focus on new trends from across the globe”.

  • AirAsia apologises for ‘Get off in Thailand’ advert

    AirAsia apologises for ‘Get off in Thailand’ advert

    AirAsia has apologised after its advertising campaign was labelled “harmful” in Australia. The advert containing the phrase “Get off in Thailand” was posted around the city of Brisbane to promote the airline’s direct route to Bangkok. Collective Shout, a grassroots campaign movement against the objectification of women claimed that the advert was promoting sex tourism in Thailand.

    Thailand has over 123,530 sex workers, according to a 2014 UNAids report.

    Melinda Liszewski, a campaigner at Collective Shout spotted the adverts on a Brisbane bus and posted the image to social media.

    She accused the airline of “promoting sex tourism.”

    A spokeswoman for Air Asia told the BBC: “AirAsia takes community feedback extremely seriously and the airline sincerely apologises for any inconvenience caused from recent concerns raised.

    “AirAsia can confirm the advertising campaign has ended and we instructed our media partners to have the advertising removed as soon as possible today from all locations.”

    One of the adverts was spotted at Brisbane Airport. It has confirmed on social media that its removal “is a priority.”

    Brisbane City councillor Kara Cook branded the campaign an “absolute disgrace” and said “it should never have appeared on our city’s streets.”

    She wrote on Twitter: “Council should be responsible & accountable for the ads on their buses.

    “I wrote to the LNP this morning demanding these buses be taken out of circulation. This shouldn’t have happened.”

    In response to the criticism, Brisbane City Council said that the Advertising Standards Board regulates advertising acceptability. It directed complaints to the board.

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  • Canon Australia launches Renting Service for cameras

    Canon Australia launches Renting Service for cameras

    A picture may be worth a thousand words, but in terms of actual dollars, it could be worth many times that, once you consider the cost of all but the most entry-level DSLR cameras, lenses and other accessories. But now, a hefty price tag need not be an obstacle for budding photographers, thanks to a new sharing platform launched by Canon Australia on Tuesday. The platform, called Kyōyū, the Japanese word for “share”, aims to be the Airbnb for Canon cameras and accessories. Camera owners can use it to rent out their gear and get a return on their investment, and would-be owners can use it to borrow or try out items without needing to buy them outright.

    “At Canon, we believe in constantly innovating to create the ultimate user experience,” Jason McLean, Canon Australia’s director of consumer imaging, said in a statement.

    “We don’t want ownership to be the only reason to experience our goods and services,” he said.

    The platform was created in partnership with design agency, The Diner, and has been in the works for over a year.

    According to McLean, Kyōyū is an extension of the brand’s long-held goal of building a community of passionate photographers, which saw it launch the Canon Collective in 2013 to bring like-minded people together for workshops and other events, and open its first experience centre in Melbourne in 2018.

    “For years, we’ve been looking at our brand and how can we do more with the products people buy. We created Canon Collective and opened the experience centre for that reason, and this is the next evolution of that,” he said. 

    The concept is currently exclusive to Australia, but McLean said it could be rolled out in other markets if it proves successful.

    More than 230 members have already signed up to the platform, primarily across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and the company aims to have 1500 registered users by the end of 2019.

    Canon charges a small fee on each transaction to cover the cost of managing the platform and providing up to $15,000 of insurance on every rental.

    “One of the greatest concerns we heard through our early research was what happens if something goes wrong, if something accidentally gets damaged, or stolen,” McLean said.

    Canon has taken this same “test and learn” approach to its other offerings, such as the experience centre that opened in Melbourne last year.

    “It’s hitting the mark,” McLean said about the store, a 320sqm space where customers can touch and feel Canon’s product range without having to ask store staff to take them out of a locked cabinet.

    “Customers love the staff, they love that staff are not pushy. What we’re working on now is building awareness. It’s the best kept secret in Melbourne,” he said.

    Canon Australia will continue testing the offering in Melbourne for another six or so months before deciding whether to launch experience centres in other capital cities around Australia.

    Meanwhile, the Canon Collective has taken on a life of its own. According to McLean, nearly 50,000 people are part of a closed Facebook group, where they share advice and support one another, without needing much moderation or guidance from Canon itself.

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  • Henley & Partners Opens Australia Office

    Henley & Partners Opens Australia Office

    New office caters to burgeoning international demand for Australia’s investor migration programs, as well as interest from within Australia for alternative residence and citizenship options abroad. Global firm in residence and citizenship planning Henley & Partners has announced its expansion into Australia and has made several key personnel hires, the firm said in a media release.

    The office is located in Melbourne, and will be led by director Tony Le Nevez.

    «Australia is the number one resettlement destination for high-net-worth individuals. With our global presence and expertise in assisting these clients acquire alternative residence or citizenship, it makes perfect sense for us to open an office in Australia,» Dominic Volek, managing partner and head of Southeast Asia, said.

    Strong Regional Growth

    This has been a period of strong growth in the region for the firm, which recorded 48 percent year-on-year growth in Southeast Asia. It opened a Thailand office in 2018 to cater to the burgeoning demand for residence and citizenship planning services among HNWIs there.

    «We expect the interest and demand that we are seeing in Southeast Asia to continue with eight of the top 10 fastest growing wealth populations forecast to be in Asia over the next five years,» Volek said.

    Key Appointments

    • Tony Le Nevez, Director, Henley & Partners Australia

    Le Nevez has over 35 years’ experience in the migration services industry. He previously worked for the Australian Department of Immigration in Canberra, and at for the Australian foreign service in Bangkok, Athens and Vienna, where he was a senior policy advisor and First Secretary. He joined the private sector in 2006 and is a member of the Investment Migration Council.

    • Jacky Poh, Deputy Head, Henley & Partners Singapore

    A wealth management professional for over 10 years, Poh has worked closely with HNWIs to execute prudent investment strategies inclusive of discretionary portfolios. Poh works closely with the managing partner to ensure the smooth operations and resource management of the Singapore office. He is also focused on establishing and maintaining relationships with key clients and stakeholders to drive business growth, with an emphasis on progressive Southeast Asian markets.

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  • Hugo Boss opens Brisbane flagship boutique on Edward Street

    Hugo Boss opens Brisbane flagship boutique on Edward Street

    International fashion retailer, Hugo Boss, has opened a luxury Brisbane flagship boutique on Edward Street, in MacArthur Central’s luxury fashion precinct.

    The new boutique will feature the edited range of luxury Boss Menswear collections, including ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories as well as athleisure wear and a high performance sportswear offering, in addition to Hugo Boss timepieces and fragrances.

    According to the retailer, the store’s interior showcases a refined concept that has been adopted by select stores in major global cities, catering to the fashion savvy male.

    “Precision Group is proud to welcome Hugo Boss to MacArthur Central where it will sit alongside some of the best International and national retailers fronting Edward St, where Brisbane City Council have invested $11.8M into a beautification project of the precinct,” said Colleen Middlemass, Centre and State Asset manager.

    In the upcoming months, the Edward Street frontage project will see the addition of sub-tropical, mature trees and improved lighting as well as enhanced boulevard pavements. The MacArthur Central’s Queen Street frontage will also receive a major upgrade, with the National Australia Bank opening its flagship Brisbane retail branch and occupying eight floors in the office tower above.

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  • GPSengine align with Ulbotech to deliver tracking solutions

    GPSengine align with Ulbotech to deliver tracking solutions

    Ulbotech, long established as a key tracking device supplier in a number of market segments and GPSengine, a leading hosted platform service provider in GNSS, Telematics, IoT and Tracking, announced a new partnership to bring support for the Ulbotech range to GPSengine’s Platform Connect service.

    With a range of devices catering for the vehicle tracking markets, Ulbotech continues to bring new advanced trackers to market. With OBD tracking devices that support a wide range of satellite navigational systems and optional WIFI hotspot models, Ulbotech cater for a wide range of industry uses.

    The combination of Ulbotech’s tracking devices and the high availability and unique IoTs service offering that Platform Connect provides, allows customers to quickly build a product or service in the tracking space. Adding support of the Ulbotech range to the Platform Connect system, provides customers with more choice, and the opportunity to take advantage of the features available in the Ulbotech range.

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