Big Fat Hotel Wrap
Readers beware: this hotel wrap will send you down a rabbit hole, looking at these stunning pics for the rest of the day. Or is that just something we do?
A new beginning for tourism in East Indonesia
On Saturday, 15 September 2018, AYANA Hotels celebrated the grand opening of AYANA Komodo Resort, Waecicu Beach; the first five-star resort to launch on the dreamy island of Flores, located just a one-hour flight away from Bali. In legendary AYANA style, the independently owned hotel group pulled out all the stops for the opening ceremony. Friends, travel agents, government officials, and media from across the globe came together to join the AYANA team to raise a glass to the benchmark property.
Built in 14-months, and spanning 1.4 hectares, the resort showcases 205 bedrooms, two designer pools, a children’s pool, a premium spa, grand ballroom, inspirational meeting spaces, and a selection of six delectable food and beverage destinations.
The resort’s bars and restaurants include: Rinca Restaurant, providing direct access to the resort’s white sandy shores; UNIQUE Rooftop Bar for light bites and tropical cocktails; Naga Bar, the perfect destination to watch the sunset, with a bird’s eye view of the ocean below; Kisik Seafood Grill serving up sensational seafood and artisanal wood-fired pizza. Finally, located on AYANA Komodo’s top floor to maximise majestic ocean views, Mesa Bar is Komodo Island’s interpretation of the quintessential hotel lobby bar. Celebrated Japanese restaurant, HonZEN, will also open on 1 October.
At the launch event, the resort welcomed its first guests, with a celebratory drink and canapés before resort owner Rudy Suliawan shared the story of AYANA Komodo, a dream that was inspired by his daughter’s love of diving, and fondness for Flores. The opening was warmly welcomed by guests, including Bupati (Head of Region) for Kabupaten Manggarai Barat, Bapak Agustinus Dula.
Solotel launch “Plate For A Farmer” to support drought relief
Solotel have launched “Plate for a Farmer” – an initiative designed to support the ongoing drought relief. By ordering an empty plate from Solotel and Matt Moran venues during lunch and dinner, Solotel will match each contribution, dollar for dollar, to help a drought-affected farmer.
While recent August rainfall has provided a more positive outlook for some regions, the drought still continues to negatively impact farmers across NSW. According to the NSW Department of Primary Industries, NSW continues to experience drought conditions, with 99.8 per cent of the state being recorded as in a state of either “Drought Affected”, “Drought” or “Intense Drought” at the end of August 2018. As a hospitality group that relies heavily on cattle farmers across the country for their product, Moran and the Solotel team are hoping the initiative will highlight the ongoing need for Aussie support.
As part of “Plate for a Farmer”, Solotel diners will be encouraged to add an “empty plate” to their order to help put food on the table of the farmers and suppliers who are currently devastated by the drought conditions. Guests can purchase an empty entrée plate for just five dollars or a main plate for $10, every dollar of which will be matched by the venue and donated to Rural Aid to support their mental health counselling and other drought support programs.
S Hotels & Resorts pioneers original island vacation experiences with unveiling of SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton
SAii Lagoon Maldives will open as part of Curio Collection by Hilton, one of Hilton’s 14 market-leading brands in 2019. Curio Collection by Hilton, a global portfolio of more than 55 hotels and resorts around the world, offers travellers unexpected and authentic experiences at more than 55 one-of-a-kind hotels and resorts around the world. SAii Lagoon Maldives will be managed by S Hotels & Resorts under a franchise agreement between Hilton and Singha Estate Public Company Limited.
Set to open in 2019, the 198-room resort will be located in Emboodhoo Lagoon – an enchanting natural wonder surrounded by white sands and cerulean seas. The resort will be 15 minutes by boat from Velena International Airport and offer easy access to CROSSROADS, the first and largest integrated tourist destination in the Maldives. SAii Lagoon Maldives offers modern travellers a private sanctuary enhanced by creative art and design, artisanal cuisine, a soundtrack of curated music and heart-made hospitality.
The modern resort will feature spacious deluxe rooms, beach villas and overwater villas with inspired tropical designs created by acclaimed architect Bill Bensley, who has conceptualized some of the world’s most iconic hotels, resorts and spas.
Manarai Beach House – a brand new concept by Ismaya Group makes a splash in Bali
A market leader in the industry for the past 15 years, ISMAYA Group now owns and operates more than 70 outlets across Asia. Living up to its vision of Creating the Good Life, ISMAYA is now adding a whole new level of excitement to Bali’s social scene with its first beachfront establishment in Nusa Dua, Manarai Beach House. Changing the face of lifestyle in Nusa Dua, Manarai offers a full-fledged beach experience day and night.
With access to crystal clear waters and a pristine beachfront location, Manarai is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. A blend of traditional Balinese craftsmanship and contemporary modern styling, the space presents a seamless landscape from the restaurant, through the outdoor lounge, pools and onto the beach area. With two swimming pools surrounded by day beds and Bali’s whitest sandy beach, Manarai offers the world-class music and entertainment that ISMAYA Group is known for, creating the ideal setting for a perfect summer.
Manarai has kicked summer celebrations off with a bang, presenting the world-renowned Elrow, who transformed the beach house into a vibrant and spectacular Brazilian street festival on 25 August 2018. This was just the beginning, with the coming months jammed with amazing entertainment.
Karma Spa at Karma Kandara launches several spa spaces around the flagship resort
Karma Spa at Karma Kandara is the brand’s flagship spa, redefining the concept of nourishing, healing and nurturing in one of the world’s most beautiful locations. The Spa is now expanding to offer several unique wellness spaces in settings that range from the sands of Karma Kandara’s private beach to a majestic cliff top overlooking the uninterrupted expanse of the Indian Ocean and we thought this would be of interest to you and your readers.
The Cliff Spa consists of traditional thatched-roof bales set into rugged limestone cliffs with 180-degree ocean views. A focus here is on the detox process with the centrepiece being the Cliff Sauna Experience, an open-air Infrared Detox Sauna and Soaking Pool. Down the newly renovated hill tram is Karma Beach, the resort’s private beach and location of the new Ocean ‘Segara’ Spa in an old reclaimed fisherman’s hut.
Guests can experience sea-infused cures, soothed by the sounds of lapping waves. At the nearby seaside Yoga Bale, guests can enjoy complimentary Yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates sessions and learn Muay Thai Boxing, as well as Sunday Thai Massages in the open-air bale overlooking the ocean.
Grand Hotel Tremezzo announces T Spa Retreat Offer for a truly blissful escape
A visit to the magnificent Grand Hotel Tremezzo, located in the heart of Italy’s Lake Como, is not complete without a treatment at the hotel’s divine T Spa, set within the beautiful 18th-century Villa Emilia adjoining the hotel.
The three-story, wellness-focused villa comprises five treatment rooms, offering ESPA treatments and products, a hammam, nail bar, infinity pool, and gym.
The beauty area features three cabins for treatments, each decorated with warm wood cladding, teak timber floors and handcrafted wood furnishings made in Italian artisan workshops. The hammam boasts a central raised massage platform, steam room, sauna, warm bath and rain shower with a waterfall, all in stunning white Lasa marble.
The nail bar, called Mosaic Studio, features an authentic, preserved Venetian mosaic floor. The studio is dedicated to manicure and pedicure treatments, furnished with Minotti armchairs, Flexform calacatta gold marble table and a glass pendant light chandelier. The manicure tables are custom-made in grey oak, in tune with the mosaic floor.
Six Senses Krabey Island in Cambodia opens it’s doors in December
Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas have recently announced their latest property; Six Senses Krabey Island in Cambodia which is set to open its doors on 1st December 2018. The property is set on a 30-acre private tropical island located five kilometres off Ream National Park in Southern Cambodia and with the capability to facilitate private jets and helicopters, this is most definitely not just your average island!
The island will have 40 luxurious private pool villas that showcase Six Senses’ commitment to sustainability while embracing modern technology for guest’s utmost wellness and comfort. The villas’ highlights include green living roofs, sun decks with infinity plunge pools and rain showers.
The resort will also have two unique restaurants with menus focussed on quality local produce and seasonality to create Khmer and Southeast Asian cuisine together with International dishes. Whilst staying at the resort, guests can visit the expansive spa which is inspired by the sacred Khmer Kal Spean River and offers a wide range of Holistic rejuvenation and beauty treatments plus Six Senses Integrated Wellness. Alternatively, guests can try their hand at a multitude of activities from water sports and snorkelling to organic farm visits with cooking classes and a jungle fitness circuit – there’s something for everyone!
What’s more, to celebrate their opening, Six Senses Krabey Island are offering an exclusive Private Experience Package – 20 per cent savings on the best available rate for guests who visit from 1st – 21st December 2018 and 11th – 31st January 2019. This four-night package includes accommodation in the Hideaway Pool Villa Suite, a specially crafted tasting menu at the resort’s signature restaurants, a sunset cruise, a therapeutic massage a hands-on on cooking class!
Frasers Hospitality 20th Anniversary winner hails from Down Under
An Australian guest of Frasers Hospitality has been announced as the Grand Golden Ticket winner as part of the hospitality operator’s 20th anniversary global celebrations. The lucky winner, Rebecca Councillor from Port Hedland WA, received the lucky Golden Ticket comprising of USD20,000 in cash and 20 free nights at any Frasers Hospitality property around the world.
Themed ‘A World of Thanks’, the promotional campaign was Frasers Hospitality’s way of expressing its gratitude towards guests for their loyalty over the years. From only two properties in 1998 to more than 150 properties in 2018, the award-winning hospitality brand is now in over 80 cities worldwide.
Guests who booked directly with Frasers Hospitality during the campaign automatically qualified for the 20th Anniversary lucky draw. The competition received over 10,000 entries worldwide, 2,402 of those from Australian Fraser World members. One-third of the total entries booked stays at Australia’s four properties – Fraser Suites Sydney, Fraser Suites Perth, Fraser Place Melbourne and Capri by Fraser Brisbane.
An additional 20 Golden Tickets worth 20,000 Fraser World points each, were issued which can be redeemed for free stays at Frasers Hospitality properties worldwide, giving guests the chance to create new #FraserMoments.
Fiji’s most awarded resort recognised in Condé Nast 2018 Travel Awards
Tokoriki Island Resort, one of Fiji’s most celebrated Resorts, announced its latest prestigious accolade this morning in conjunction with Condé Nast Traveler in the UK.
The luxury, adults-only resort has been recognised as one of the world’s Best Hotels in Australasia and South Pacific by readers of Condé Nast Traveller UK in the 2018 Readers’ Travel Awards; and was the only property in Fiji to make the highly-coveted ‘top 100’ list.
The 2018 Readers’ Travel Awards were announced at a gala event on 4 September at London’s Ham Yard Hotel and the full list of winners is featured in the October 2018 issue of Condé Nast Traveller UK.
Meliá to be one of the first participants worldwide to adopt Whatsapp Business for larger companies
Meliá Hotels International, the leading hotel company in Spain, is a global market leader in the digitalization of the hotel industry with a strong focus on innovation to drive enhancements to the customer experience. The company has now added WhatsApp to its technological ecosystem after becoming one of the first participants worldwide to start using the WhatsApp Business solution for larger business, which allows companies to improve the digital customer relationship model.
In this first stage, after consent from users, Meliá Hotels International will use the WhatsApp Business solution to send useful information to customers such as their booking confirmation number, hotel location or contact telephone number. The company expects this to be a lever for improving customer experiences and their relationship with the brand.
WhatsApp is a simple, reliable and private way to talk with anyone in the world. More than 1,5 billion people in over 180 countries use WhatsApp to stay in touch with friends, family and businesses anytime, anywhere. WhatsApp Business helps companies and customers to connect quickly and easily, providing a new opportunity to better manage conversations with customers.
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