Big Fat Hotel Wrap
If there’s one thing we look forward to on Thursdays, it’s the Big Fat Hotel Wrap. That, and the self-appointed early mark at 3pm.
Something’s bubbling in paradise
The glamping trend is about to blow up in the Maldives, as the Indian Ocean’s grooviest getaway, Finolhu, unveils a stunning new ‘Beach Bubble’ tent – the first of its kind in the archipelago – on a secluded stretch of its famed Fish & Crab Shack sandbank. Conceived and custom-designed by the crazy cats at Eye In The Sky, the transparent inflatable bubble is a unique, inspiring environment where guests can enjoy an incredible, closer-to-nature experience – without compromising on high-spec design and luxurious creature comforts.
Dramatically located in a secluded spot along Finolhu’s famous 1.5km sandpit, far from the buzz of the island’s iconic 1 OAK Beach Club, the Beach Bubble is available exclusively for incredibly romantic, one-night-only ‘Dream Eclipse’ experiences under the stars. After a lip-smacking lunch at the Fish & Crab Shack, a short sunset stroll leads guests to their very own Bubble Beach hideaway where they can chill out, enjoy a beach BBQ with a Maldivian twist, and then retreat into their private bubble for an unforgettable night under endless stars.
Constructed using super-strong, high tech polyester fabric, Eye In The Sky’s pioneering Bubble Tent provides a UV-protected, fully waterproof, climate-controlled cocoon that offers guests a uniquely immersive nature experience. The Bubble is an exclusive worldwide patented Precontraint Serge Ferrari technology and acquires distinctive properties in terms of resistance, dimensional stability and lightweight, eliminating deformation due to load and offering a longer useful life. The interiors feature custom-fitted wooden floors and bespoke furnishings, and a separate adjoining bubble bathroom with WC and shower.
Sheraton on the Park celebrates two wins at World Travel Awards
Sheraton on the Park has been recognised amongst the world’s best hotels, collecting two major accolades at the prestigious 25th annual World Travel Awards (WTA).
Sydney’s grand five-star hotel was awarded Australasia’s Leading Hotel and its Royal Suite named Australia’s Leading Hotel Suite at the gala black-tie dinner in Hong Kong last night. The impressive honours highlight the hotel’s continued commitment to excellence, with each award voted for by travel and tourism professionals from across the globe, as well as guests.
The recognition follows Sheraton on the Park being named Redeveloped/Refurbished Hotel of the Year at the 2018 Tourism Accommodation Australia NSW Awards for Excellence in July.
The double win also comes as the hotel unveils its new-look dedicated events floor after a multi-million dollar renovation. Long regarded as Sydney’s premier events address, the new design reflects the hotel’s sophisticated heritage. Bold and elevated finishes bring a contemporary take on elegance to ensure Sheraton on the Park remains the ultimate preference for stunning events.
Now through December, save big on stays at Marriott’s Mai Khao Beach – Phuket
Families taking a holiday to exotic Phuket can stretch their travel dollars when they stay at Marriott’s Mai Khao Beach – Phuket, one of the destination’s top family resorts. Now through December, the award-winning Marriott Vacation Club resort is offering its lowest nightly rates of the year.
Guests will quickly discover why Marriott’s Mai Khao Beach – Phuket has been given TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence and Traveler’s Choice awards: It’s a made-for-families resort experience, with two-bedroom apartments that have all the comforts and conveniences of home, fun activities to keep everyone happy, and close to Phuket’s world-famous, gorgeous beaches and kid-friendly attractions.
Marriott’s Mai Khao Beach – Phuket has activities and amenities for the entire family. Youngsters will love the Kids Club and the miniature golf course, the young at heart can try the indoor climbing wall and everyone will want to daydream by the resort’s spectacular pool. The youngest can hang out in their own kiddie pool! Families can even zip to the beach on free bikes. Also available are tennis, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, bike trails, scuba diving, kayaking and a schedule of exciting daily activities for all ages.
New suites taking shape at Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel
The addition of three new suite rooms at centrally located Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel is progressing well. Phase one, being the major construction work to build the new suites atop the existing Remarkables Rooms, has now been finished. Over the coming weeks, the focus will be on the interior fit-out of those rooms. They are expected to be open in the late spring.
The new suites will be styled in a similar fashion to the existing premier Remarkables Rooms but will feature individual gas fireplaces, an open balcony and breath-taking views over Queenstown Recreational Ground to The Remarkables mountains.
During phase one, when the hotel was closed, the Gondola-view rooms were considerably revitalised. All rooms were painted, desktops restored and in some rooms, lovely rich green occasional chairs and cushions added. The bathrooms were re-grouted and plans are in place for new bathroom amenities.
The Gondola rooms are now welcoming guests who will enjoy Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel’s impeccable service, pre-dinner canapes & drinks plus complimentary gourmet cooked breakfast. A special room rate is available until the end of September 2018.
Meet AccorBot – AccorHotels’ new Facebook assistant
AccorHotels Australia is excited to launch AccorBot – a completely integrated Facebook Chatbot, designed to help its 1.7 million Facebook fans with everything from hotel reservations, customer service queries, city guide information and more.
Designed in-house by the AccorHotels Australia Social Media team, AccorBot looks to open up and transform the way followers interact with the group on Facebook.
Within the new-look Facebook inbox, Facebook users are able to view, compare and book any hotel within the AccorHotels Australia portfolio, without leaving the Facebook Messenger app.
AccorBot also streamlines customer service enquiries, guiding guests with simple prompts to gather all information and increase the response time to guest feedback. For those who choose to sign up, the AccorBot will send out a weekly dose of travel inspiration and help navigate users to city guides, which are hosted in the AccorHotels online magazine.
AccorBot can also direct job seekers to AccorHotels’ careers page, to learn more about life at AccorHotels, leadership, graduate and Indigenous programs, and current job vacancies – so finding a career at AccorHotels is one-step easier.
SugarSand Beach Club opened 1st September
Carving a unique spot into the vibrant Seminyak beachfront, SugarSand is an exquisite two-level beach club overlooking the Indian Ocean. Reinventing Japanese elements and taking inspiration from Bali’s wild nature, the structure resembles a ‘jukung’ fishing boat, reflecting the connection to the surrounding land and sea.
With its striking modern exterior and unique interior design, SugarSand is a feast for the senses and the soul; a beautiful mélange of colours, sounds and tastes that flow together harmoniously to create a fresh Bali experience.
SugarSand is a beachside bar and restaurant and so much more: poolside daybeds for basking the day away, a beach bar and terrace for those who want their toes in the sand, and an open-air roof lounge to enjoy the sunset while sipping cocktails made using only the finest local ingredients.
Guests will be transported into SugarSand time with the help of an expertly trained service team. Guided by hospitality machine and Bali personality Michele Griffo, the SugarSand team brings fun, personalised experiences through a mindful and detail-oriented approach. General Manager Michele brings 10 years of hospitality management experience, and infinite Italian flair, to Bali’s famous beachside.
Naumi Hotel Auckland Airport unveils new menus at Paksa
Naumi Auckland Airport Hotel is delighted to launch three new menus at restaurant Paksa. Created by Executive Chef Miguel Adriano, who joined the hotel this summer, the menus consist of breakfast, all-day dining and dinner all of which include Asian-fusion and classic dishes aimed to offer a unique dining experience in Auckland, while still retaining Naumi’s signature playful style.
Translated as “wing of a bird” in Sanskrit, Paksa forms the beating heart of the hotel and Naumi Auckland hopes the restaurant will bring more people together to celebrate New Zealand’s incredible produce and world cuisine.
Originally from the Philippines, Chef Miguel uses his culinary heritage to inspire his cooking and the new menu at Paksa. Trained in traditional Asian and French cuisine, his style of cooking has evolved into modern Pan Pacific cooking represented in dishes such as Sa La Su Prawn, with sesame seeds chilli and mung beans, featured on the dinner menu. Working in hotels and restaurants in New Zealand for over seven years, Chef Miguel brings expert knowledge of the industry and the local area to his new role at Naumi Auckland having previously held positions at Rendezvous Grand Hotel and The Grand Millennium, Auckland before joining Naumi.
Inspired by local delicious products and seasonal ingredients, each menu at Paksa represents Naumi Hotels’ identity as an international brand.
Sabre technology drives double-digit growth for Hotel Grand Chancellor
One year ago, Hotel Grand Chancellor entered into a strategic agreement with Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: SABR), the leading technology provider to the global travel industry – and the results have been overwhelming. Over the last year, Sabre technology has directly contributed to a 12 per cent increase in room nights and an astounding nine per cent revenue growth for the hotel chain with properties across Australia and New Zealand.
Hotel Grand Chancellor turned to Sabre for innovative technology solutions that would drive guest bookings and propel its brand towards new heights. A quick and seamless implementation of Sabre’s SynXis Booking Engine provided the 10 hotel locations with a highly flexible and scalable booking platform, which immediately generated positive results.
Hotel Grand Chancellor also integrated Sabre’s global travel marketplace, connecting them to over 425,000 travel agents, and Sabre Consortia, an international organization of independent travel agents, agencies and travel management companies (TMCs), linking hotels to business travellers. Together, these two platforms contributed to a 19 per cent increase in room nights and an astounding 21 per cent rise in revenue since 2017.
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