Get ready for Alan Joyce in his own words

 

Love him or hate him, former Qantas chief Alan Joyce knows how to command attention. 

Now Joyce is preparing to release his autobiography: Riding The Jetstream in August. 

"Some exciting news I've been waiting a long time to share," Joyce announced on LinkedIn.

"For the past year, I've been working on a book - a memoir of my life and career. Today I can finally tell you it's real and that you can pre-order it.

"When I sat down to research and write it, I had two motivations.

"The first was to set the record straight on what actually happened during my career: the Global Financial Crisis, the grounding of the Qantas fleet in 2011, the industrial battles, the unrelenting public scrutiny, and the period that brought global travel to a standstill: COVID-19. So much was written and said in real time. I wanted to tell it as it actually unfolded, in the room, under pressure, with every decision carrying enormous consequences for tens of thousands of people.

"The second reason was more personal. I wanted to encourage young leaders to learn from my successes and my failures,  because I think that's where the real lessons sit. I grew up in a working-class home in Dublin, the son of a cleaner and a factory worker, and I found my way out through numbers: mathematics, then management science, and eventually into the complex and volatile world of aviation. Aer Lingus. Ansett. Founding Jetstar. And then, at 42, being appointed CEO of Qantas. The path from there to here was never a straight line, and it certainly wasn't easy.

"This book is also about resilience, what it actually feels like to lead through a crisis when there is no playbook. It's about leadership under genuine pressure, the kind that doesn't relent. And as one of the few openly gay CEOs in corporate Australia, it's also about what it took to use that platform for something bigger than the bottom line, including the campaign for marriage equality.

"During nearly three decades in aviation leadership, I had the privilege of working with some of the giants of the industry. And as CEO of Qantas, I worked alongside some extraordinary people whose advice, courage and commitment I will always cherish. This story belongs to them too."

Details here: https://publishing.hardiegrant.com/en-au/books/alan-joyce-by-alan-joyce/9781761452277

Messi cashes in with controversial sponsorship deals

There is no doubt that Lionel Messi is one of the finest footballers of all time. 

Messi has starred for Barcelona, Paris St Germain and Argentina, earning multiple trophies, including winning the World Cup in 2022, in which he won a record second Golden Ball, scored seven goals including two in the final, and broke the record for most games played at the World Cup (26)..

But as Messi's career winds down with a spell at Inter Miami, he is raking in money from sponsorships.

Fresh from christening the world’s largest cruise ship, Messi is now fronting the latest Saudi Arabia tourism campaign, which critics say contrasts with his work as UNICEF Goodwill ambassador. 

Messi recently christened Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, which has been slammed for its size given the cruise industry's long-term goals of sustainability.

Messi, a Saudi Tourism Ambassador on a deal reportedly worth $US25 million, is also the face of the ‘Go Beyond What You Think’ campaign, which is being launched in key target markets in Europe, India and China.

The campaign aims to dispel what is says are misconceptions about Saudi as a destination, and about its culture.

Visitors and Saudi residents are encouraged to share positive experiences and memories on TikTok and social channels using the bi-lingual hashtags #ShareYourSaudi ( #السعودية_بعيون .)

The latest spot in the ‘Saudi Welcome to Arabia’ barnd campaign will air on TV, social, digital channels and OTA activations over a three-month period, Travel Mole reports.

The message is to encourage travellers to "e open-minded to new cultures and destinations, holding an open heart while travelling".

The video showcases Saudi’s diverse locations and terrain and a number of high-profile female achievers are featured including the Saudi women’s national football team and Rayyanah Barnawi, the first Saudi woman in space.

But human rights organisation Amnesty International says: "The reality for people living in Saudi Arabia, is one where their basic human rights are ignored, their freedoms are restricted and punishment is severe."

Messi and his teammates at Inter Miami are in the country to play two games against Saudi clubs this week.   

South Africans get their knickers in a knot over Noah

Humourist Trevor Noah would seem the perfect choice to promote tourism to South Africa around the world.

He's South African. He's funny, and he has a global profile.

The comedian and former The Daily Show host recently agreed a US$1.7 million deal with the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) to film an advert to boost travel to South Africa.

But the news sparked anger in Noah's native country, where the phrase "you have to spend money to make money" is clearly not well known.

Public criticism centred on the cost, at a time when power cuts are a major issue in cities and many people are struggling with rising food and fuel costs.

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille said that "the Trevor Noah advert for SA does not involve public funds'".

TBCSA, a private umbrella tourism organisation, said the proposed deal would be "wholly funded" by the body "if and when the parties ultimately agree on a common strategy".

The former The Daily Show and Grammy Awards host is currently on a tour in South Africa that will also take him to the United States, India and Britain - and he is known worldwide for his TV appearances. He has a Netflix special launching around the globe in November.

Noah documented his upbringing in apartheid-era South Africa as the son of a black South African mother and a white Swiss-German father in his book Born a Crime.

Maybe those opposing his deal should check how much it would cost to sign up South Africa's only other true global star: actress Charlize Theron. 

He's gone: controversial Joyce heads for the emergency exit

Alan Joyce, one of the most divisive figures in Australia, has taken his bag of cash and done a runner.

The Qantas Group CEO has advised the airline's board that he is bringing forward his retirement by two months "to help the company accelerate its renewal".

CEO Designate Vanessa Hudson will assume the role of managing director and Group CEO effective from tomorrow, September 6, 2023.

The centre of increased anger since his $24 million departure pay-out was made public, Joyce said: “In the last few weeks, the focus on Qantas and events of the past make it clear to me that the company needs to move ahead with its renewal as a priority.

“The best thing I can do under these circumstances is to bring forward my retirement and hand over to Vanessa and the new management team now, knowing they will do an excellent job.

“There is a lot I am proud of over my 22 years at Qantas, including the past 15 years as CEO.

"There have been many ups and downs, and there is clearly much work still to be done, especially to make sure we always deliver for our customers. But I leave knowing that the company is fundamentally strong and has a bright future,” Irish-born Joyce added.

Qantas Chairman Richard Goyder defending the man who oversaw record profits but shredded the company's reputation for quality service with cancellations and chaos.

“Alan has always had the best interests of Qantas front and centre, and today shows that. On behalf of the Board, we sincerely thank him for his leadership through some enormous challenges and for thinking well-ahead on opportunities like ultra long-haul travel.

“This transition comes at what is obviously a challenging time for Qantas and its people. We have an important job to do in restoring the public’s confidence in the kind of company we are, and that’s what the Board is focused on, and what the management under Vanessa’s leadership will do.” 

As planned, shareholders will formally vote on the appointment of Hudson as managing director at Qantas’ Annual General Meeting in November.

Meet the global cuisine guide that lacks any taste

The United States has more delicious food than France.

England has more culinary delights than Thailand.

And Bosnia and Herzegovina has tastier food than Malaysia. Oh,and the Netherlands has a ‘cuisine’ that is tastier than Lebanese.

 

All right. Stop laughing. 

It is, of course, the silly season, when publicity seekers take advantage of a lack of news in a bid to make their own absurd headlines.

The culprits this time are Croatian-based "food experts" TasteAtlas, who released their own guide to the best global cuisine for those with poor palates.

Great local food can be a matter of national pride, so the reaction to the list was swift and scathing.in nations like Malaysia and Singapore. 

Italy was in first place (not totally unreasonably), Greece 2nd, Spain 3rd, Japan 4th, India 5th and Mexico sixth.

The US (in 8th spot) outranked several countries renowned for their food culture, including France (9th), China (11th) and South Korea (19th). 

England (29th) out-rated Thailand (30th) on the list.

The list was described on social media as "redundant" and "completely insane". Which would seem to be fair.

TasteAtlas defended its bizarre rankings by citing a complicated algorithm that considers ingredients, dishes and drinks in each nation.

The rankings, TasteAtlas says, are compiled “according to audience votes for ingredients, dishes and beverages".

Their voters are obviously Euro-centric in the extreme and blessed with appalling taste.

Fail.

Next. 

For those wondering New Zealand was 76th and Australia 89th. 

 

A tribute too far? Holidaymakers told to vacate their rooms for a day

Funerals for ordinary folk, crucial cancer treatment and surgery have all been cancelled or re-scheduled “in tribute” to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

And in Britain the absurdity of the long-running weep-and-wail festival reached new heights when it emerged some holidaymakers were to be evicted from their accommodation as part of the circus.

Meet Center Parcs, a "hospitality" business that announced it would close all its sites on the day of the Queen's funeral, with some holidaymakers expected to be sent home.

The holiday company said it would close its five parks on Monday, September 19, as "a mark of respect" on the day of the state funeral.

Guests part-way through their holidays were apparently required to spend the night elsewhere or go home early, the Eastern Daily Press reported.

Those due to arrive on Monday were told they would have to start their breaks a day later.

Center Parcs said in a statement: "We have made the decision to close all our UK villages on Monday at 10am as a mark of respect and to allow as many of our colleagues as possible to be part of this historic moment."

Center Parks is a short-break holiday company that operates six holiday villages across the UK and Ireland, and sounds like it might be well worth avoiding.

As you might expect, the bizarre decision sparked outrage.

Center Parcs later said it had “reviewed our position regarding the very small number of guests who are not due to depart on Monday and we will be allowing them to stay on our villages rather than having to leave and return on Tuesday”.

But it said there would be no facilities available in its holiday villages on Monday and it would offer a discount to customers to reflect this.

The company is still asking people who were due to arrive on Monday to delay their arrival until the following day.