This week in the world of hotels sees a new appointment for booking.com, Halcyon House is hotter than ever, Radisson Blu Plaza Sydney ups its accessibility game and ibis just makes us all want to stay for the milkshakes.

ibis making epic milkshakes

AccorHotels ibis brand has jumped on the freakshake bandwagon, inviting guests to shake up their stay and tastebuds with its dangerously decadent new Shimmy Shake range.

Made to please with social media-minded millennial fans and milkshake aficionados in mind, the indulgent new menu is bursting with personality.

Three retro-inspired flavours have been designed to meet the demand for quirky, visually over-the-top drinks that will prompt customers to ‘virtually’ share and enjoy with their friends and followers online.

Not for the fainthearted, flavours include:

• The Salted Caramel – a showstopper topped with caramelised popcorn and waffle
• The sweet and salty Nutella shake – served with rocky road and pretzels
• A classic Strawberry shake with a twist – with pavlova meringue and fresh strawberries.

Priced at $7 each, all ibis Shimmy Shakes are served in vintage mason jars with fresh cream and are available now at participating ibis hotels across Australia.

Simon McGrath, Chief Operating Officer of AccorHotels Pacific said the trend for fun, oversized beverages doesn’t seem to be fading primarily thanks to millennials who love social media bragging rights, and families who’ve embraced the ‘freak shake’ phenomenon as a special treat for their kids.

Halcyon House just gets hotter

Halcyon House, one of Australia’s most unique beachside hotels, is celebrating with the announcement it has been awarded the 2016 Condé Nast Traveler HOT LIST Award. The former surf motel turned luxury hotel, situated at one of the country’s best surf breaks in Cabarita Beach, Northern NSW, is in an extraordinary region that remains one of the country’s best kept secrets.

Since purchasing the site in 2011, Halcyon House’s owners, Brisbane-based sisters Siobhan and Elisha Bickle always believed the hotel would hit the right note. “We are thrilled to win this award. Our vision was to create something that was completely different to what was currently being offered in Australia, a boutique hotel with a low key Australian feel, one which pairs the beauty of location, with relaxed understated elegance and intuitive service. Such an accolade in our first year of opening doors is testament to the team holding true and achieving this vision.” said Siobhan Bickle.

The hotel has shot to stardom since opening its doors in May 2015 for its distinctive interior design by acclaimed designer Anna Spiro, complete with every room’s grouping of vintage cameos, mirrors, seascapes and collected coastal ephemera, that is so distinct that it has joined Instagram and Pintrest fame as the ‘Halcyon Hang’.

Booking.com appoints new Oceania regional manager

Booking.com has appointed Tracey Foxall as its Oceania Regional Manager. Foxall will oversee operations across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Island in her new position, while her incumbent Alberto Yates returns to Italy to take on a new role with the company.

Alongside the teams in Booking.com’s four Oceania offices (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland), Tracey will be responsible for ensuring the continued growth of Booking.com whilst continuing to play a key role in the support of the company’s existing accommodation partners. Having previously managed Booking.com’s New Zealand operations, Tracey’s appointment comes alongside the announcement of colleague Luke Ashall’s promotion to her past role.

Radisson Blu Plaza Sydney to offer accessible stays for disabled guests

Accomable, a global platform for finding adapted hotels and vacation rentals for disabled and elderly people, has teamed up with the five-star Radisson Blu Plaza Sydney as the first metropolitan hotel on the website to offer guests innovative, design-led and accessible accommodation in the heart of Sydney.

Through the Accomable website, disabled travellers will be able to see and book Radisson Blu Plaza Sydney’s new accessible hotel rooms, which have been upgraded as part of the hotel’s $12 million re-design, and feature trademark large windows and high ceilings, as well as larger showers, an accessible toilet and an adjusted bed, desk and basin height.

Currently featuring over 500 specially adapted properties for disabled and elderly people worldwide, Accomable worked with popular Australian blogger, Julie Jones of Have Wheelchair Will Travel.  Julie, who writes about travels with her family and son who has cerebral palsy, recommended Radisson Blu Plaza Sydney, and advised the hotel during its re-design project.