World Travel News

The Volcker inquiry built its case against Benon Sevan, the head of the UN oil-for-food program, by examining phone, bank and travel records to track the money trail from oil contracts to him.

Bank records show Mr Sevan was in a “precarious” financial position when he became the executive director for the program in October 1997.

He had a tax-free salary of $US129,524, while his wife, who also had a job at the UN, had a tax-free salary of $69,243.

His cheque account was overdrawn 153 times in less than two years.

But by the end of 1998, when oil allocations to a company called AMEP began, things improved. Over the next three years $US147,184 in cash was deposited into his accounts - usually in $US100 bills.

Mr Sevan claimed the money came from an elderly relative in Cyprus, but the inquiry found she was living on a small pension.

The timing of the deposits also bore little resemblance to when she visited New York. But there was a pattern between them and Mr Sevan’s trips to Geneva.

More: smh.com.au

Sydney has been voted the world’s best city destination for the eighth year in a row in Travel and Leisure magazine’s annual readers’ survey, which also selected Bali as the top island.

The Australian city beat out a strong challenge from the Thai capital Bangkok, as well as the Italian tourist magnets Rome and Florence. Another Thai city, Chiang Mai, was voted the fifth best city. It was a fourth successive triumph for Bali, which remained the top island destination, ahead of Santorini in Italy and the Hawaiian Islands of Kauai and Maui. The Asia-Pacific region dominated the best international airline category, taking eight of the top 10 places with Singapore Airlines in the number one slot.

More: dailytimes.com.pk

Veterans to travel free on Anzac Day

Veterans and their families participating in Anzac Day events in Sydney and Newcastle will travel free on public transport.

CityRail, State Transit buses and Sydney Ferries will offer free travel on April 25, NSW Transport Minister John Watkins said.

Free travel is open to veterans, widows, children, grandchildren and all serving Defence Force Personnel, he said.

“Veterans, their families and serving personnel who are either in uniform, wearing medals displaying their RSL badge or carrying identification on RSL letterhead will travel free,” he said in a statement.

People from rural and regional areas would be able to buy a return CountryLink ticket for the price of a one-way fare.

Free travel did not extend to JetCats or Sydney Buses’ Bondi and Sydney Explorers, he said.

More: news.ninemsn.com.au

Orient Express Travel Services moves in Sydney

Specialist Asia destination travel company Orient Express Travel Services has opened its new office at Level 7, Manning Building, 451 Pitt St., Sydney.

CEO of Orient Express Travel Group, Tom Manwaring said the move from George Street provided a modern work environment, more space and a better light filled top floor location with surrounding balcony for entertaining.

“We are supporting the move with upgraded systems facilities and a very open environment with more productive staff areas, and a dedicated customer service area for ‘Express Ticketing’, featuring the common branding shown in the Melbourne and Brisbane offices,” he said.

“The NSW office has recorded excellent growth in 2004 against the 2002 non SARS year” he said. “That’s because whilst we are a specialist in travel to Asia and have obtained excellent rates from our partner carriers, we are also providing a competitive alternative for all agents in NSW. “

As a consolidator, Orient Express Travel Services runs Express Ticketing and Express Fares for 119 Agencies in the group’s preferred “Select Travel Group” network, plus another 250 general Agencies that require distribution support.

As a wholesaler it markets the brands Cathay Pacific Holidays and Orient Express Holidays and as a retailer operates Orient Express Travel Corporate and the recently launched Asian Student Travel (AST Travel) in Brisbane and Melbourne.