Posts Tagged ‘virgin Australia’
Thursday, August 2nd, 2012
Music
Brisbane has produced some of Australia’s biggest names in music … Think Powderfinger, The Bee Gees, The Go-Betweens, Savage Garden, Keith Urban, Regurgitator and The Grates, just to name a few. In 2007, global music authority Billboard magazine recognised the Queensland state capital as one of the world’s top five live music hotspots, and ever since it has become a must-visit stop for touring acts. Local venues like the Tivoli and The Zoo are touted to be amongst the best gig venues in Australia; while annual events like Big Sound (12-14 September 2012) and Valley Fiesta (7-8 October) attract the industry’s most prominent names.
Food
Despite what 80’s tourism campaigns may portray, the food scene in Brisbane isn’t all about meat pies, XXXX beer and barbecue prawns. The river city embraces its surrounds and locally-grown produce to showcase some of Australia’s most impressive dining options. The CBD’s Eagle Street Pier hosts a plethora of fine-dining establishments with expansive views of Brisbane River. South Bank fosters a laid-back vibe with a gamut of ethnic eateries amid a cultural setting. And James Street sparkles with fashionable bars and restaurants.
Sports
Sport isn’t just a pastime in Brisbane: it’s identity, emotion and the ultimate form of entertainment. From the Reds to the Broncos, the Roar to the Lions, whenever a major sporting match is held, streets close, flags wave and voices raise. Venues like Suncorp Stadium and The Gabba attract record crowds. Local sporting heroes are adored and immortalised in bronze. Over 40,000 runners line up for the Bridge to Brisbane charity run (2 September 2012). While the world’s best tennis players converge on the city every summer for The Brisbane International (30 December 2012 – 6 January 2013).
Fashion
Chanel, Alannah Hill, Ksubi and Tiffany and Co – Brisbane is home to the biggest names in local and international fashion. Queen Street Mall showcases everything from high-end labels to sportswear giants. Edgy and chic hipster hangout, Fortitude Valley is home to countless on-trend retailers. James Street presents a lively hive of designer boutiques. Even the suburbs offer exciting shopping opportunities; in particular Paddington, which is thrift store Mecca. To top it off Brisbane hosts its own annual fashion week, Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival (25-31 August, 2012), where designers like sass & bide, Camilla and Lisa Ho parade their garbs.
Location
Wedged in-between the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast and a quick drive from Byron Bay, Brisbane’s enjoys an unparalleled location. World-class beaches, stunning hinterland, and the outer throes of the outback all wait within a matter of hours away, offering locals and visitors the best of all worlds.
Plan Your Brisbane Holiday
Flights to Brisbane: Virgin Australia operates flights to Brisbane daily, direct from all Australian capital cities and major Queensland ports.
Brisbane holiday packages: Take the hassle out of planning your holiday, our partner Blue Holidays offers exceptional Brisbane holiday packages, from $350 per person.
Brisbane hotels: Establish a great base from which to fall in love with Brisbane. Select from a wide choice of hotels and resorts with our hotel partner HotelClub.
Brisbane car hire: Take to the road and discover Brisbane, and nearby regions with a hire car from one of our partners.
Time-lapse sequence from around Brisbane, Australia.
Taken with a Canon 60D, edited with Lightroom and LRTimelapse.
Music: “I Dunno” by Grapes. ccmixter.org/files/grapes/16626
Used under Creative Commons licence: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
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.
Friday, April 6th, 2012
In the realm of sport nothing quite shouts Australia, is as innately ‘True Blue’, or as characteristically ‘Occa’ as the AFL.
A game so different to other disciplines grouped under the ‘football’ moniker, the AFL was invented in Melbourne in the mid-19th century out of the desire for a winter off-sport. What started out as a match between two school-boy teams has grown into one of Australia’s favourite sports – supported by millions of face-paint wearing, team song chanting, jersey sporting die-hard fans.
Virgin Australia is proud to be one of these ardent fans, so much so that we’ve join forces with the code to become the “official airline of the AFL”. Our partnership has us following this year’s game results and teams with unrivalled passion.
We were there when Fremantle defender, Michael Johnson came good on his promise to make up for his lacklustre 2011 season. We witnessed Melbourne break convention, when they presented jumpers to their debutants in a huddle on the ground instead of in the rooms. We applauded West Coast’s forward Josh Kennedy as he booted goal after goal to help the Eagles secure a 49-point win over the Western Bulldogs. And we joined with the nation to pay our respect for AFL champion Jim Stynes when he lost his battle with cancer.
As round two gets well underway and the league gears up for round three, we have launched – in conjunction with the AFL Event Office and Blue Holidays – our Any Game Anywhere initiative.
Any Game Anywhere is a simple, fully customised website that enables AFL fans to choose their favourite team and destination, and book game tickets, airfares and accommodation all in a few easy steps.
Virgin Australia Group Executive of Commercial, Liz Savage, said “We are very proud to be the official airline of the AFL, and Virgin Australia is excited to offer AFL fans a range of tailor made packages through this innovative new site. With the convenience of additional flights, more often, we are committed to getting fans to any game anywhere in the country”.
AFL General Manager – Commercial Operations, Darren Birch said, “Any Game Anywhere footy packages are available for all games throughout the 2012 Toyota AFL Premiership Season along with 2012 Toyota AFL Finals Series. The Any Game Anywhere site is dedicated to the AFL code providing an interactive platform for fans, hosting a load of AFL content and news to keep fans updated on their team.”
Take the hassle out of planning your AFL weekend away… All packages include airfares, accommodation and a ticket to the game.
Virgin Australia operates flights direct to the birthplace of AFL, Melbourne, daily from all state capital cities and some major regional ports.
Our holiday program, Blue Holidays in conjunction with Tourism Victoria, also has a range of AFL packages on offer, from $324* per person.
Saturday, March 31st, 2012
We have just announced the next phase of our alliance with Singapore Airlines: the start of codeshare services on Singapore Airlines flights to Asia and beyond.
Virgin Australia guests can now book and travel on codeshare flights to Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, Cape Town, Johannesburg and London.
Over the next few months, codeshare services to other destinations including India, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand and Indonesia will also be made available.
These announcements follow the launch of reciprocal frequent flyer recognition last year and the start of Singapore Airlines’ codeshare on Virgin Australia domestic flights last month.
Virgin Australia Group Executive of Alliances, Network and Yield Merren McArthur said: “Over the past few months we have been working closely with Singapore Airlines to ensure we provide a seamless first-rate travel experience for our guests. As a result of our new alliance, Virgin Australia guests will be able to travel from all over Australia to destinations throughout Asia and beyond on a single ticket.
“The alliance also enables eligible Members of Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program to earn and redeem frequent flyer Points and Status Credits on Singapore Airlines operated flights and provides access for eligible guests to Singapore Airlines lounges across the globe”, Ms McArthur said.
In celebration of our new codeshare services, Virgin Australia is offering special fares*, including:
* Sale fares are on sale until 05 April 2012. Fares are correct as at 29 March 2012. Fares are per person return and inclusive of taxes and charges. Conditions apply; please see www.virginaustralia.com for further information.
Sunday, January 22nd, 2012
Australian beaches. Sun, surf, beach towels, lifesavers…Virgin Australia Cabin Crew? If you were at Coogee beach this morning, you may have been surprised to see this unlikely mix.
Rest assure – you weren’t seeing things; this morning’s events marked the beginning of an exciting new partnership. From today, Virgin Australia is the new official airline of Surf Life Saving Australia. Together, we will be raising awareness about the importance of surf safety for international and domestic tourists on our beaches. Read more »
Friday, January 20th, 2012
We’ve heard from our frequent flyers that more hot food would be appreciated in our Lounges
In addition to the toasties, soups, salads, themed meal and pass-around pizza and cocktails pies (5-7pm), you can now enjoy a hot dog, curry, or Mexican feast. A sample of what’s on offer (Sydney lounge dinner menu) follows:
Luke Mangan self-service Hot Dogs
Pass arounds 5-7pm – mozzarella pizza, lamb and rosemary mini-pies; minestrone soup; Israeli cous cous, Thai noodle, potato with sour cream and herbs salads; make your own Greek salad – meatballs, tzatiki, Greek salad (no feta), marinated feta cheese, pita pocket, Mexican cantina – chickpea & chorizo, tortillas, avocado dip, sour cream, corn chips, caramel slice, and a cheese plate. While hot dogs are on Melbourne’s menu, and curry is in Brisbane.
This has of course been designed by our chef, Luke Mangan! Read more »
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012
Today is a landmark day for Virgin Australia.
Our airline has today launched Business Class on most domestic routes across the country that are operated by Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft, and on the airline’s fleet of Airbus A330 aircraft, giving Australian travellers choice in Business Class for the first time in over a decade. Read more »
Monday, January 16th, 2012
Let’s start the year with good news!
Not only have we begun the year with the inaugural commercial flight between Brisbane and Emerald, but we have announced that from today, tickets are on-sale for a double daily return service between Melbourne and Perth, operated by our Airbus A330.
From May 14th 2012, the Airbus A330 will operate two daily return services including a daily peak-return morning service from Melbourne to Sydney. Read more »
Wednesday, December 21st, 2011
We have today announced the opening of our first-ever Lounge at Mackay Airport as well as including extra weekday flights between the central Queensland city and Brisbane.
On sale today for travel from 5 March 2012, the new service will see us operating a total of 78 flights per week between Mackay and Brisbane, which is the greatest frequency offered by any airline on this route (we also operate a daily direct, return Sydney-Mackay service on our Embraer aircraft). Read more »
Monday, November 28th, 2011
An eagle-eyed Virgin Australia follower has picked up that the recent construction at the Gold Coast (OOL) Airport is for our new Lounge!
Announced earlier this year, the Lounge will join a list that includes the recently redesigned and renovated Melbourne and Brisbane Lounges, as well as Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra.
Designed by renowned architect Tim Greer of Tonkin Zulaikha Greer, the Lounge will be a key tool to providing an improved experience for those Guests visiting an important tourism destination such as the Gold Coast.
Gold Coast Lounge
The Lounge will be completed in 2012.
Are you excited by this addition to our Lounge network? Will you make good use of the Lounge?
