Monday, June 4th, 2012
Our world is full of exciting and remarkable cultures, traditions and events; many of which need to be seen to be believed. To inspire you and help you discover life’s full potential we have scoured the globe to fashion a series of World’s Top lists.
To kick things off, we have sourced our top five Northern Hemisphere’s summer music festivals.
Must-attend Music Festivals…
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Monday, June 4th, 2012
Last week we opened the doors to our brand new lounge on the Gold Coast. This is the first Virgin Australia lounge on the Gold Coast and is another way we can enhance the travel experience to this important destination for both business and leisure guests.
Our in-house Product team worked closely with renowned architect Tim Greer from Tonkin Zulaikha Greer to design the two-storey 680m2 space, which seats around 140 guests. Inspired by our flagship Queensland lounge in Brisbane, it features organic wood elements in the reception area and has an open-plan format to create a deliberate flow from space to space, enhanced by the ‘leaf’ theme in the ceiling pattern.
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Friday, May 25th, 2012
Sydney is a veritable food utopia with a world-class reputation, bolstered by internationally-acclaimed chefs, fresh locally-grown produce and stunningly scenic settings.
From The Shire to Parramatta and Coogee to the Northern Beaches, alfresco restaurants, lively gastro pubs, on-trend bars, boutique cafes, ethnic eateries, and fresh food markets dot the city, offering inspiration and satisfaction at every turn.
While out-of-towners generally visit Sydney to shop or take in art, the theatre or sports; the city’s food scene is reason enough to spend a weekend in the picturesque metropolis. In recognition and celebration of the city’s dining scene, we’ve pulled together a weekend guide to food in Sydney.
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Friday, May 18th, 2012
The baggage you take on a trip away can have a critical effect on your overall travel experience.
At the airport the right baggage can allow you to move through check-in, security and boarding, and enable you arrive at your destination, with ease in a timely manner. The wrong baggage could be refused carriage, cause unexpected fees, or see your personal goods damaged.
When it comes to air travel there are two types of baggage that you need to consider: carry-on and checked.
To help you make the right decision when purchasing or choosing baggage for your next trip away, we’ve pulled together a guide of key things to look for in carry-on and checked baggage.
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Wednesday, May 16th, 2012
We are excited to share with you the details of another key step we are taking in our sustainability strategy, aimed at reducing the environmental impact of our ground operations.
Over the next seven weeks, we are trialling the use of an environmentally-friendly biodiesel blend (B20) in one of our baggage tugs and one of our push back vehicles at Brisbane Domestic Airport.
We are proud to say the trial marks the first time an Australian airline has ever used biodiesel to power its ground service equipment.
The biodiesel used in the trial is produced locally in Narangba, Queensland by an Australian company called Ecotech Biodiesel and is made from used cooking oil and tallow. The fact that these are waste products is important to us because it means the biodiesel doesn’t compromise food production, land or water. What’s more, it has a range of environmental benefits including reduced greenhouse gas and soot emissions.
Our ultimate goal is roll out biodiesel to our ground service equipment across our other mainline ports, which could lead to a reduction in over 300 tonnes of CO2 per year.
We will keep you updated on the progress on the trial, but in the meantime, if you’re travelling through Brisbane, keep an eye out for a biodiesel-powered vehicle!
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
Out of an overwhelming desire to make fashionable sports attire (activewear), former aerobics instructor, Lorna Jane Clarkson founded one of Australia’s most inspiring multi-million dollar businesses, Lorna Jane.
Two decades later, with more than 120 stores worldwide and 337,000 Facebook followers, Lorna Jane is not only an industry leader, but also a household name. On any trip to an Australian gym you’re guaranteed to find the brand’s iconic logo sported by ladies of all shapes and sizes, and confidence and abilities.
Recognising the brand’s positive effect on females, our holiday partner, Blue Holidays invites you on Breakations with the girls to be inspired over lunch with Lorna Jane.
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Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
Tupac sang about his; Abraham Lincoln and George Washington publicly attributed their success to theirs; while Sandra Bullock won an Oscar playing someone else’s… Mothers, they come in all shapes and sizes, and wear different hats – woman, wife, daughter and friend.
Whether she is the archetypical mother who bakes treats and tends to damaged knees, or a dynamic career woman who juggles diverse roles; all caring and loving mothers deserve praise and reverence.
While a mother’s talents, strength and love should be acclaimed every day of the year, Mother’s Day is a great time for reflection and tribute, and the perfect opportunity to give back.
Read more »
Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012
At Virgin Australia, we know that the little touches can make a big difference to your travel experience. One example of this is our amenity kits. We pride ourselves on offering an amenity kit that enhances your comfort not only during your flight, but also beyond your trip. We are pleased to share the news with you that our amenity kits for our international long haul flights on board our Boeing 777 aircraft have been recognised for doing just this in the recent Global Traveler Magazine Awards.
Having tried and tested the amenity kits of eighteen international airlines, the editorial team of Global Traveler Magazine awarded our new 2012 range with:
- The Best Overall in Business Class
- The Best Spa Product for our Vanilla & Orange Peel Hand Cream, from Australian organics brand Grown
- The Best Women’s Product for our Facial Moisturizer
To celebrate, Grown has extended a special offer to Virgin Australia’s online community from May 2nd until May 23rd. Simply enter the promotional code “11223” when you purchase any item on Grown’s website www.grown.com to receive a free 65ml Vanilla & Orange Peel Hand Cream.
The new 2012 range has been designed to incorporate more sustainable packaging, generous volumes of product to last longer throughout the travel journey and new exciting features such vibrant kit interiors and collectable postcard series in Economy Class. You can check-out the contents in the kits below:
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Women’s Business kit
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Men’s Business kit
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Premium Economy kit
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Economy kit
Friday, April 27th, 2012
Virgin Australia now offers complimentary beer and wine to Flexi guests on flights operated between Australia and New Zealand (and return). In addition, Flexi guests will also receive new hot meal options on Trans Tasman flights.
Flexi guests can choose between a hot or continental breakfast. Hot breakfasts include scrambled eggs and bacon, or frittatas, served with fresh local fruit. Continental breakfasts include gourmet cereals (such as Bircher Muesli), a bakery item and fresh local fruit.
Lunch and dinner meals now include options such as braised lamb or butter chicken – a vegetarian selection is also available. All hot Flexi meals are served with a bread roll and dessert, including chocolates, slices, cakes or ice cream.
Premium Economy guests are privy to new Flexi meals in addition to their other on board entitlements.
Friday, April 13th, 2012
We are delighted to share the news with you that for the third year running, Virgin Australia will support the United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards.
The awards, which coincide with the UNEP World Environment Day, which is held on June 5th annually, recognise innovative and outstanding environmental programs and initiatives from across Australia.
This year, we will be sponsoring the Community Award, which will be awarded to an Australian individual, organisation or business who is actively promoting species, habitats or the environment in their local area. The Award is open to land, waterways and coastal/marine environment based projects.
If you or someone you know is going above and beyond to protect their local environment, you can nominate now by simply filling in the entry form, available here.
Nominations are open nationally until Wednesday 9 May 2012 and the winner will be announced at the World Environment Day Awards presentation dinner, which will be held on Friday 8th June at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne.
Stayed tuned to the Virgin Australia blog for further updates on the World Environment Day Awards.
Virgin Australia’s Sustainability Manager, David White presenting the 2011 Virgin Australia Business World Environment Day Award to the Fridge Buyback Program team, which came up with an innovative and energy efficient plan to manage old, unused fridges.
