It’s Thursday – the final day for this week, so technically TGIT right? Enjoy your final doses of hotel and agent goodness and get yourselves down to the pub to celebrate the long weekend!

Australia’s Famous Reef Island to Reopen in 2018

Daydream Island Resort and Spa has announced that in the wake of substantial damage caused by recent Tropical Cyclone Debbie that the popular Whitsundays Resort would bring forward its planned refurbishment for 2018.

The resort will now stay closed ahead of a continuing clean-up and the beginning of works later in 2017.

Daydream Island Resort & Spa announced in January that they will spend more than $50 million on a significant refurbishment next year which will see major infrastructure upgrades including accommodation refurbishments as well as renovations to existing attractions and installation of new features which will transform Daydream into an upscale 4½ star world-class resort.

It is anticipated that the newly refurbished Daydream Island Resort & Spa will be opening for guests in mid-2018.

Daydream had previously announced that it would not accept guests until at least April 30^th 2017 whilst it carried out a full assessment of the impact of Cyclone Debbie. Guests with forward bookings are being contacted to arrange the provision of refunds.

Major works will include redevelopment of the Arrivals pavilion, Reception, main Atrium area, Waterfalls restaurant, Lagoons bar, all room types and Mermaids Restaurant. Additionally, the Lovers Cove function area will be expanded and a new Asian-inspired restaurant will be built overlooking Mermaids Beach.

The resort’s conference facilities will be significantly revamped and expanded.

The first ‘underwater’ yoga class in Dubai at Atlantis, The Palm

Set against the mesmerising tranquility of the Ambassador Lagoon, underwater yoga in The Lost Chambers Aquarium is now available every Tuesday and Friday from 8:00 – 9:00am.

A first of its kind in the region, underwater yoga is the perfect way to kick-start a weekend, with a one hour yoga class costing AED120 which includes a yoga mat, valet parking and a bottle of water. Hosting not more than 20 guests, the additional class has been introduced due to the high demand of this now popular activity. It creates a unique and amazing experience with the perfect relaxing back drop of Ambassador Lagoon.

Surrounded by a majestic 65,000 sea creatures, guests will have the opportunity to rejuvenate and restore in a unique aquatic surrounding practicing Hatha Yoga, a discipline that helps bring peace to the mind and body. The class is open to all different levels* and aims to improve strength, flexibility and balance, involving beautiful, calming sequence of postures, breathing exercises and relaxation of body tension.

Complimentary Breakfast and Guaranteed Upgrades at Pan Pacific Group

This April, Pan Pacific Hotels Group are offering the perfect excuse for an autumn getaway across their four Australian properties.

Conveniently located on the city-side of Darling Harbour, PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney is the perfect place to channel your holiday spirit. Alternatively perhaps you are looking for something different? Head to Sydney’s dual CBD to celebrate the holiday season in style at the newly redeveloped PARKROYAL Parramatta. And for our Victorian visitors connected directly to Melbourne Tullamarine Airport via two pedestrian sky bridges, PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport is an ideal destination this Easter.

This April not only will they guarantee a complimentary room upgrade but children under 12 years can stay and eat breakfast free also. And did we mention free Wi-Fi?

Please check terns and conditions for the full offer – Prices starting form $245, valid for stays from 1 April to 30 April 2017 and fully flexible, changeable and refundable up to 6:00pm on day of arrival.

Located moments from the Swan River foreshore and a short walk to the city centre, Pan Pacific Perth offers an ideal location for business and leisure travellers alike with the hotel’s new Premier Rooms and Suites and the chic new lobby, following the completion of a multi-million dollar refurbishment in 2015.

Indulge in the Chocolate High Tea with unlimited sparking wine. Embrace our delicate High Tea and be enchanted with beautiful three tiered chocolate inspired stands, jewelled with savoury bites and picture perfect cakes. Served every Saturday and Sunday, enjoy 25% savings on our regular price wit the east offer priced at $49 per person including unlimited sparking wine. Children aged three to nine dine for 50% savings and kids under three are complimentary.

Alternatively treat yourself to a luxurious Autumn Escape and start your morning with an indulgent complimentary breakfast. Share the experience with your children and they stay and dine for breakfast, lunch and dinner with Pan Pacific Perth’s compliments too.

OUTRIGGER FIJI GUESTS GO KULA KRAZY IN NEW WILDLIFE ADVENTURE PARK

The opening of Kula WILD Adventure Park has given Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort guests convenient access and a special three-day entry pass to Fiji’s only wild life adventure experience.

Formerly Kula Eco Park, the extensively renovated facility now features Fiji’s only rollercoaster forest canopy zip rail ride – the Kula Krazy Canopy Flier – and the country’s only hillside water slide, the 110m Kula Splash Mountain Jungle Slide.

A short walk from Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort which also runs a free shuttle bus to the park, it features Fiji’s only dedicated children’s splash pool, the Kula Kiddies’ Splash Pool, and the country’s largest marine display.

There is also a turtle reef pool displaying hatchling turtles, stingrays, marine and tropical fish aquariums, a gift shop and two licensed food outlets serving snacks, ice cream, beer and wine.

TRIBE opens first hotel 

Australia’s new hotel brand, TRIBE Hotel Group (TRIBE), is focused on giving guests everything they need and nothing they don’t, in a space that is intelligent and sophisticated with high-end design.

Its first location, TRIBE Perth is a nine-storey 126 room hotel in West Perth – next to Kings Park – that will launch on Tuesday, 16 May 2017, with interiors by award-winning architect and interior designer Travis Walton; and architecture by Idle Architecture Studio.

TRIBE Perth has highly functional rooms and shared spaces that are luxurious and contemporary, with cutting edge technology, entertainment and office facilities as standard. Gone are out-dated and unwanted services, inefficient check-in and checkouts, overpriced mini bars and restaurants and room service.

Its luxurious and contemporary living areas – styled by Walton in collaboration with celebrated art director Marsha Golemac – are part collaborative workspace, part social club featuring break out spaces, lounges, an outdoor courtyard and TRIBE Foods.

Walton has cleverly crafted the rooms to complement the unique and innovative living areas, all complete with free Wi-Fi, signature queen beds with a custom designed bed base to allow for ‘out of the way storage’, floor-to-ceiling windows and blackout blinds, and amenities including Nespresso pods and T2. Bathrooms feature rain showers and Kevin Murphy shower products.

NEW-BUILD MANTRA HOTEL AT SYDNEY AIRPORT ON TRACK FOR JUNE OPENING
plus make mum’s day with Mantra

Mantra Group is celebrating a milestone moment today as the construction of the new-build Mantra Hotel at Sydney Airport exterior is completed.

The nine-level hotel – which now moves into its fitout phase – is on track to open in late June and will feature 136 contemporary guest rooms, a restaurant and bar, car parking, and an integrated lobby and reception space.

Work will now move to the interiors with rooms painted, joinery being fitted and soft furnishing being added.

The restaurant and bar will serve a bold provincial menu, featuring the finest regional NSW beef and sustainably-sourced local seafood, served with local draught beer, wines and handcrafted cocktails.

The new hotel also has several sustainability measures under consideration including solar panels, rain water storage tanks, electric car charging station and bicycle facilities for staff and guests.

Mantra Hotel at Sydney Airport is conveniently located a short distance from the T2/T3 domestic terminals at 3 Ross Smith Avenue.

THEN instead of flowers and breakfast in bed, treat mum to a weekend away. Here are some top spots to pamper the woman who has loved you the longest…

Brisbane

Shop ‘til you drop with mum at Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall just a short walk from Mantra Midtown. Stay in a One Bedroom Apartment from $229* per night (Fri-Sun) or $259* per night (Mon-Thu) and enjoy a $50 shopping voucher at your choice of Myer or David Jones, two welcome cocktails, breakfast for two and late check-out of 12pm. To book, call 13 15 17 or visit mantra.com.au.

*Valid for sale and travel until 31 December, 2017.

Gold Coast

Spoil mum with a decadent stay at Peppers Soul, Surfers Paradise where the focus is on relaxation. Packages are available from $433* per night for a three-night stay and include daily breakfast, two massages, $100 food and beverage credit each night, free in-room Wi-Fi, on-site car parking and in-room movies. To book, call 1300 987 600 or visit peppers.com.au.

*Valid for sale until 31 May, 2017 and for travel until 25 June, 2017.

NSW Southern Highlands

Hands-down one of the favourite places for many mums is the magnificent Southern Highlands. Peppers Manor House is celebrating Mother’s Day with a special package including overnight accommodation, a high tea for two and daily breakfast from $250* per room (staying in a Highland Queen Room). Because it’s for your mum, the team at Peppers Manor House will also try their best to secure a complimentary room upgrade, however this is subject to availability. To book, call 1300 987 600 or visit peppers.com.au.

*Valid for sale and travel from Sunday to Friday in May 2017.

New Zealand

Take mum to the land of the long white cloud for Mother’s Day and stay at the country estate of Peppers Parehua in Martinborough on the North Island of New Zealand. Stay in a Winemakers Cottage from NZ$169* per night including a cooked breakfast for two and savour a special Mother’s Day high tea in the Pavillion Restaurant on Sunday May 14 for just NZ$39* per person. To book, email Parehua@peppers.co.nz.

*Valid for sale and travel on 14 May, 2017.

Hotel Jen Shines New Light On Brisbane’s Nightlife

Nocturnal urban adventurers can navigate Brisbane’s diverse nightlife with a wealth of local knowledge at their fingertips thanks to an illuminating digital feature unveiled by the city’s Hotel Jen.

Catering to hotel guests, visitors and locals eager to discover the city’s lesser-known places, experiences and cultures, the Night Light Map is the first experiential program for Hotel Jen Brisbane, part of Shangri-La International Hotel Management.

Powered by Brisbane’s street savvy inhabitants, the Night Light map continuously updates with data from social media check-ins and selected hashtags, including content produced by Hotel Jen and local influencers or ‘Jensetters’.

The interactive map is live all day and uses real-time geo-tagged data to highlight hot spots where you can eat, play and relax like a local until daylight.

The feature is available on desktop and mobile platforms and is accessible by the hotel’s guests and anyone else seeking after-dark discoveries in the nine Asia-Pacific destinations with a Hotel Jen, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Manila and the Maldives.

Users can apply filters – Touristy Things, Local Hangouts and Jen’s Picks – to remove the ‘noise’ of clichéd activities to find places and experiences that are off the beaten tourist track.

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts to unveil the first Kerry Hotel in Hong Kong

Set to open on 28 April along the shoreline of Hung Hom Bay on Victoria Harbour is Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong.  The new build 16-storey hotel is the first to open on the Kowloon waterfront since 1995 and will inspire lifestyle pursuits with its outdoor living spaces, distinctive dining options, business and meeting services, as well as family activities.

The fourth Hong Kong property of the luxury hotel group Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is centrally located with 546 rooms and will be the city’s first urban resort.

Providing plenty of natural daylight, the hotel’s interior features multi-level podium space with extensive outdoor landscaped gardens that connect seamlessly to many public areas.

In addition, a curated collection of over 1,000 art pieces are showcased throughout the property – many of which were specially commissioned from leading Asian contemporary artists to complement the fluid design of the property.

Over 60 per cent of the hotel’s guestrooms feature panoramic views of the Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island skyline.

Starting from 42 square metres for a Deluxe Sea View Room to 294 metres in the Presidential Suite, each guestroom is configured with contemporary comforts in mind and includes a custom-built open closet, complimentary mini-bar choices upon arrival, Internet Protocol Television with free videos on demand and bespoke lighting pendants infused with subtle Asian references.

The Club, a 300-square-metre lounge, provides guests staying on dedicated floors with personalised services and amenities.  An e-concierge attends to guests’ needs both inside and outside of the hotel.

SHERATON HOTELS & RESORTS CELEBRATES 80 YEARS

Sheraton has launched its Go Beyond platform in celebration of its 80^th anniversary. The multi-faceted campaign includes a new marketing creative, global associate rallies and guest surprise and delights.

The Go Beyond campaign showcases actual Sheraton associates interacting with guests in small but meaningful ways that have great impact on a traveler’s experience. In one such execution, a Sheraton associate eagerly dives to the bottom of the hotel pool to retrieve a child’s precious stuffed bunny.

In another, an associate is seen in fantasised version of going beyond when they parachute into the middle of a desert to bring ice-cold water to parched patrons.

The Go Beyond platform starts on property where the 100,000+ Sheraton associates, the heart of the brand, will go through training programs that continue to give back and focus on the development of their people.

Individual hotels will also undergo new transformations from room designs to modern touch points that carry through check-in to check-out, a more focused food and beverage program and new, infused energy at our Sheraton Clubs.

Experience Mindfulness in Muscat at the Shangri-La Al Jissah Resort and Spa

The third annual Condé Nast International Luxury Conference took place in Muscat, Oman at the Shangri-La Al Jissah Resort and Spa last week, examining the thought-provoking concept of Mindful Luxury.

Australian travellers have an amazing opportunity to experience the culture, history, hospitality and luxury of Muscat for themselves with a side-trip package to the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa in Muscat.

Adventure World are offering an incredible 3 nights/4 day package from $1620 per person for bookings before 31 May for travel 1 May to 30 September, 2017.

The deal includes three nights accommodation at the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa at either the Al Waha or Al Bandar Hotel with an upgrade option for Al Husn Hotel; full board with unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages during lunch and dinner meal periods, Muscat city tour and return airport transfers.

For more information go to http://www.adventureworld.com.au/oman/muscat-in-style/

Underwater restaurant and floating cinema

Centara Hotels & Resorts signed a new hotel management agreement for its fourth beach resort under the Centara umbrella in the Maldives

Under the agreement, Centara Hotels & Resorts will manage and operate Centara Grand Muthaafushi Resort & Spa Maldives, a new five-star resort in the South-Western portion of Baa Atoll.

It will comprise 24 land villas and 77 water villas with an array of international restaurants including an underwater restaurant, a floating cinema, a dedicated Thai spa, a fitness centre, and other facilities you would expect to see in a Centara Grand resort. The new resort is expected to have soft opening in the fourth quarter of 2018 and grand opening in 2019.

The Capitol Hotel Tokyu to target visitors from Australia

The Capitol Hotel Tokyu, located in the heart of Tokyo’s metropolis next to the Japanese Prime Minister’s Official Residence, will target Australian business and leisure travellers visiting Tokyo, as part of a renewed sales and marketing push to key international markets around the world.

Central to the offering is The Capitol Hotel Tokyu’s luxurious interiors and modern Japanese design and aesthetics, combined with gourmet experiences, personalized hospitality, and a central location that provides visitors with a unique and authentic Japanese experience in the heart of Tokyo.

The 251 rooms, including 13 suites are designed in a sophisticated contemporary Japanese style, each featuring traditional interior elements of shoji (paper screens) and expansive six-meter windows.

For the ultimate in solitude, four exclusive suites on the fifth floor overlook tranquil landscaped gardens and the historic Hie shrine. In addition, the hotel offers exclusive butler service tailored to each guest’s demands.

The Capital Hotel Tokyu is the Tokyo hotel of choice for many different nationalities and aside from local Japanese guests, it is visitors from the United States that number the most constituting around 18.5 per cent of its total foreign guests. Guests from Australia is a market that the hotel is hoping to grow.

Small Luxury Hotels introduce new European & Caribbean hotels

Two new hotels are popping up in Europe from Small Luxury Hotels, including:

Naxian Collection Luxury Villas and Suites: Naxos, Greece
Rooms from AUD 381 per night

Situated on the lesser known Greek island of Naxos, Naxian Collection is a chic hill-top retreat with ten sugar cube white villas and suites providing a serene sanctuary. The cave-like rooms are decked out with minimalist interiors, cream walls, bamboo screens and giant bathtubs.

Each room offers stunning views over landscaped gardens, lagoons and nearby Naxos town, which is just two miles away.

SLH Insider Tip: Try and time your stay with a classical music concert or violin recital at the Venetian Museum of Naxos in the Kastro which offers live entertainment year round.

Sikelia: Pantelleria, Italy
Rooms from AUD 476 per night

Known as the ‘Black pearl of the Mediterranean’, Pantelleria is a perfect escape for adventurous travellers willing to voyage a little further to be rewarded by natural volcanic hot springs, a rugged coastline, spectacular caves surrounded by the bluest of seas and warm volcanic waters to swim in.

Ancient pottery, glazed painted tiles and predominantly dark shades throughout lend an air of drama to the property. The 20 rooms are unique yet share a stylish design with meticulous attention to the finer details, with Frette linens and Hermés products in every bathroom.

At the hotel’s restaurant, Themá, the chef combines fresh fish and shellfish with vegetables grown in Sikelia’s own garden, serving bold flavours from Arabia, Africa and Southern Italy.

SLH Insider Tip: For a more informal dining experience, guests can head to the owner’s Coste Ghirlanda Wine Laboratory which is flooded with candles and offers a rustic cosy vibe where guests eat under the stars on communal kitchen tables.

Meanwhile, a slate of properties are opening in the Caribbean from the SLH team too:

• The Manoah Boutique Hotel: Shoal Bay, Anguilla
• The Reef by CuisinArt: Anguilla
• Le Barthélemy Hotel and Spa: St Barthélemy
• Paradise Beach: St Kitts and Nevis
• Point Grace Resort and Spa: Grace Bay

Kakadu promises a memorable holiday experience in 2017

Kakadu Tourism – the region’s largest hotel and tour operator – has announced a range of exciting initiatives to make visits to Kakadu even more attractive in 2017.

Upgraded accommodation

Kakadu’s famous Crocodile Hotel (aka ‘The Croc’ or Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel) is following up earlier refurbishments with a further upgrade of 51 rooms and the addition of distinctive Indigenous styling in all rooms with bed runners and cushions designed by local artists Timothy Djandjomerr and David Cameron.

The project builds on The Croc’s appointment last year of an Indigenous ‘artist in residence’, who works with other Indigenous artists to create artworks at the hotel’s Ochre Art Gallery, which showcases one of the largest collections of traditional Aboriginal art in the Top End and the largest range of Kakadu and Arnhemland art in the country.

Cooinda is also upgrading both its Lodge accommodation and its camp ground, with safari-style tented accommodation being made available from late June for the dry season.

Highly popular in 2016, the tents are fully made-up for arriving guests and provide comfortable bedding and facilities. The small tent ‘village’ is set in a beautiful shady area of the campgrounds with access to quality share cooking and bathroom/laundry facilities.

New festivals

In addition to the annual festivals such as Mahbilil (September) and Kakadu Bird Week (October), Kakadu National Park will offer visitors a chance to explore Indigenous cuisine and influences during the first ever ‘A Taste of Kakadu’, an interactive food festival which will be held between 12 to 21 May 2017.

The Festival will showcase Kakadu’s most famous produce, including barramundi, magpie goose, and the world’s first-ever super food, the Kakadu plum, as well as providing opportunities for visitors to interact with Kakadu’s local Indigenous people.  The Festival will take the region’s ancient traditions and give them a modern twist.

Guided tours of Kakadu

Spirit of Kakadu 4WD Adventure tours will be operating again from June to take visitors to some of the National Park’s most spectacular natural attractions such as Jim Jim and Twin Falls. These tours provide a rich insight into the heritage and landscape of Kakadu and operate out of Cooinda daily during the dry season.

Free Ranger-guided tours are available daily during the dry season at some of Kakadu’s most significant rock art sites including Ubirr and Nourlangie. Park Rangers also offer slide shows and information sessions throughout the year.

The Warradjan and Bowali Cultural Centres are open all year round and provide an invaluable insight into the culture and story of Kakadu’s traditional owners, the Bininj and Mungguy people.