Big Fat Hotel Wrap

Big Fat Hotel Wrap

There’s nothing like a handy Hotel Wrap to make your Thursday less challenging. Well, for you maybe, we slogged over this bad boy.

Win a Hunter Valley Escape! 

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Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley is launching their winter campaign ‘One Night is Not Enough’; a choose-your-own-adventure style competition where participants are to select their ideal experiences. The final result is a personally designed itinerary which when submitted, counts as an entry to go into the draw to win the entirety of the very itinerary that they’ve just created. Competition closes midnight Sunday 4th June.

Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley is also running an exclusive dining offer with their Weekend Special Package. The package includes overnight accommodation, buffet breakfast for two, late checkout of 4pm and when you stay a Friday and Saturday night, you’ll enjoy a complimentary $50 food and beverage voucher. Book between 22nd May and 4th June 2017 for stays between 26th May and 3rd September 2017 to redeem the special offer.

Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley is in partnership with the following businesses:

  • Beyond Ballooning
  • EXP. Restaurant
  • NSW Segway at Hunter Valley Resort
  • Hungerford Hill Winery
  • Hunter Valley Gardens
  • Hunter Valley Helicopters

New seventh room in Sweden’s Treehotel

TreeHotel 7th Room bedroom TreeHotel 7th Room net

Treehotel in Swedish Lapland has recently completed the construction of its seventh room.The Treehotel is located in the forests surrounding Harads, in the far north of Swedish Lapland, just an hour’s flight from Stockholm. The surrounding forests are key to the hotel’s success.

As the seventh room is approached from below, its entire underside has been cleverly covered by a life size photograph of the treetops as they looked before the room was put in place. This means the building disappears from view leaving just the image of the forest as it looked before. 

The suite itself is located ten metres up in the pines. The way up is an experience in itself. Stairs and landings take visitors closer to the clouds, step by step. As you reach the large Lapland treetops, with views of the Lule River, you have arrived at your destination. Large panoramic windows face north and along with skylights in the bedrooms, they will allow guests to watch the magnificent Northern Lights. There is a natural pine net that acts as the suite’s terrace, where guests can climb out and lay down star watching.

The new building covers 100 square in total of which 55 square metres are living space with two double bedrooms, a lounge, a bathroom and shower, accommodating up to five people in total. 

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants makes its debut in Europe

InterContinental Hotels Group has opened the doors to the highly anticipated Kimpton De Witt. The unveiling of the hotel in the heart of Amsterdam, marks the first Kimpton in Europe and outside of the Americas.

The hotel’s 274 rooms, which include 9 signature suites in the original Golden Age buildings, are inspired by Dutch design. Guests have access to a modern fitness centre, yoga mats in every room and a complimentary all-day tea station in the lobby. Guests can use complimentary bikes, luxurious in-room toiletries, and a hosted social hour every evening gives guests the chance to socialise and enjoy the hotel.

Next to the hotel, Wyers Bar & Restaurant offers American staples with Dutch influences, whilst House Bar provides guests and locals with creative cocktails using unexpected ingredients as well as serve an extensive menu of local gins and genevers.

Six Senses Laamu Celebrates World Turtle Day

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In July 2016, the Resident Marine Biologists at Six Senses Laamu implemented a new code of conduct on how to sustainably snorkel and dive with turtles. They began compiling a database of turtle sightings from the dive and snorkel sites around the Laamu atoll, via a simple photographic identification process.

Yesterday, on World Turtle Day, Six Senses Laamu celebrates the identification of 100 different Hawksbill turtles on the atoll’s reefs. This identification process allows the Marine team to closely monitor the population of both Green and Hawksbill turtles in the surrounding waters.

Hawksbill turtles are listed as Critically Endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Their shell was used for thousands of years for decoration purposes, as air breathing reptiles turtles are at great risk of drowning in fishing gear, and in addition to this, with jellyfish as their main food source in the open ocean, plastic pollution is a major problem.

Six Senses Laamu aims to increase awareness of turtles and conservation measures to protect them and the habitats in which they live. Guests diving or snorkelling on the surrounding reefs are encouraged to take photos of turtles they come across and if they find a newly spotted turtle, they may get a chance to give it a name.

Hotel Jen Beijing Opens

The 450-room Hotel Jen Beijing has opened as the city’s new destination for work, play, and travel. Conveniently located in the centre of Beijing’s central business district (CBD), the hotel features a co-working hub, the only gastropub with its own brewery in the Guomao area, and a world-class gym.

This debut is an important milestone for Shangri-La International Hotel Management Ltd., as it marks its 98th hotel globally and second Hotel Jen branded property in mainland China.

Hotel Jen Beijing is located on the first 22 floors of China World, Tower B, next to a new mall featuring a range of restaurants as well as young, upcoming designers. The hotel is Shangri-La’s third hotel located in the landmark 17-hectare China World Trade Centre and is the group’s fifth hotel in Beijing.

Hotel Jen Beijing is offering a limited-period package starting from RMB 1,199 net per night from now to August 31, 2017. The offer includes:

  • One night’s stay in a Jen 40 room
  • Breakfast buffet at San Wu Tang for one person
  • Unlimited access to Trainyard Gym, including the swimming pool and group classes
  • Super-fast Wi-Fi throughout the hotel

Rediscover the iconic tower wing, Shangri-La Hotel

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The Tower Wing at Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore was unveiled on 16 May 2017. The interiors have experienced a significant rejuvenation to reveal new and refreshed rooms and suites, lobby, three restaurant concepts, and a revitalised club lounge.

New Dining Options

The Lobby Lounge will showcase the best of Singapore favourites, including the six signature dishes of Fish Head Bee Hoon Soup, Prawn Noodle Soup, Bak Chor Mee, Hainanese Chicken Rice, Katong Laksa, and Chili Crab with Mantou.

ShopHouse is a grab-and-go retail concept offering freshly baked bread, homemade sandwiches, salads and snacks, as well as gourmet sauces, flavoured croissants, festive goodies, chocolates that are infused with local ingredients and whiskey, and 3D cakes.

NAMI Restaurant and Bar on level 24, the art of fine Japanese dining with seamless omotenashi hospitality. Guests can witness first-hand the entire food preparation process right up to the plating and serving of dishes, and there is a wide range of premium Japanese whisky and sake.

Tower Wing Reopening Offer

Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore celebrates the reopening of the Tower Wing with an exclusive promotion for Golden Circle members. Book a stay in one of the newly-renovated Tower Wing Deluxe Rooms at the Best Available Rate from 16 May to 31 July 2017 to enjoy breakfast at The Line and double GC Award Points.

5-star Pullman Hotel announced for Rotorua

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New Zealand’s largest hotel operator, AccorHotels has announced that a new 5-star Pullman hotel will open in Rotorua in late 2018/early 2019. It will be the first internationally-branded 5-star hotel to open in the city, and is part of the largest and fastest-growing 5-star hotel brand in the Pacific region.

Pullman Rotorua is currently being developed from an existing 9-storey building once used as a government building in the central business district on Arawa Street.

The 130-room hotel will have panoramic views of the city and lake area and feature an Executive Lounge, business lounge, chill-out lounge, restaurant and bar, gymnasium, car parking as well as five meeting rooms catering for conference and events.

Pullman Rotorua is expected to be popular with international and domestic business and leisure travellers, due to its exclusive 5-star offering and prime central CBD location and within 500metres from the Rotorua lakefront.

Escape to Millbrook Resort this winter

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Nestled below the Remarkables mountain range, Millbrook Resort is the perfect location for those hitting the slopes, with three ski fields situated close by due to open mid-June. To make it even easier for skiers and snowboarders, Millbrook Resort offers on-site ski gear fitting and hire.

For those seeking activity off the slopes, Millbrook Resort’s location offers easy access to everything the Queenstown area has to offer, including scenic biking and walking trails, and adventure activities.

Millbrook boasts three championship 9-hole golf courses on site, and guests looking for pampering and relaxation can enjoy Millbrook Resort’s winter spa package. There is an indoor lap pool, sauna, and outdoor hot pools, and they even have an on-site helipad for guests who want a helicopter tour of the region. There are four restaurants, each offering a selection of fine wine and cuisine.

Millbrook Resort’s winter packages include two to three nights’ accommodation in Millbrook Resort’s deluxe studio accommodation, daily buffet breakfasts, access to the resort’s many luxurious facilities, and up to $250 resort credit (three night package). Millbrook Resort also offers alternative accommodation options to suit all guests’ needs, including spacious cottages and Fairway homes, perfect for families and groups, or those simply seeking a private escape.

The Montague on the Gardens introduces new safari-themed afternoon tea 

Safari Tea

This new spread takes diners on an exotic tasting adventure to the wild side, as The Montague on the Gardens in Bloomsbury introduces an all-new Safari Afternoon Tea to its tea menu.

Building on from its fully refurbished Leopard Bar, The South African-owned and operated hotel has created the Safari Afternoon Tea as a celebration of its roots, marrying together the British institution of afternoon tea with some safari flair.

Available to both residents and non-residents of the hotel, and priced at £32 (AUS$56) per person and includes an extensive selection of traditional, flavoured, aromatic, fruit and green teas., the Safari Afternoon Tea is a South African-inspired smorgasbord of sweet and savoury treats, including:

  • African spiced chicken sandwiches
  • Freshly baked scones with Devonshire clotted cream and jam
  • Rum panacotta with ginger beer jelly
  • Toasted coconut mousse
  • Banana meringue
  • Giraffe macaron with salted caramel

COMO Uma Ubud has launched 10 new Garden Pool Villas

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Each villa opens onto its own private garden and plunge pool, fringed with jungle. The villas pared back aesthetic seamlessly combines traditional Balinese elegance with modern conveniences, including a 42-inch TV, air-conditioning and Bose soundbar. The bathrooms offer a free-standing bathtub and separate shower in shades of white.

COMO Uma Ubud is celebrating the launch of these Garden Pool Villas with a new stay package: the ‘Romantic Escape’.

  • Two nights in a Garden Pool Villa
  • Daily COMO Shambhala Cuisine breakfast for two
  • Daily lunch or dinner at Uma Cucina for two
  • Two activities to enjoy at COMO Uma Ubud.

Choose from:

  • A 75-minute COMO Shambhala Massage for two
  • A romantic dinner experience for two
  • A private cooking class for two
  • A 60-minute private yoga lesson for two
  • A three-hour private tour of Ubud town for two

The price of the Romantic Escape package starts from AUD1,314 for two nights (prices are subject to 21 percent government tax and service charge). The offer is valid until 19th December 2017.

THE STRAND YANGON LAUNCHES YANGON INSIDER PACKAGES

Myanmar’s recently renovated luxury urban resort hotel, The Strand Yangon, first opened its doors to explorers and adventurers in 1901. Today the Strand team welcomes 21st century travellers with the same elegant style and character that made the Strand name synonymous with luxury hospitality in South East Asia 116 years ago.

Built in a prime location at the cultural centre of the city, the renaissance of The Strand Yangon has happened at the same time as the explosion of new art galleries, shops and restaurants that have popped up amongst the historical and architecturally significant buildings surrounding the hotel.

To enable guests to make the most of the hotel’s position at the hub of this vibrant city, The Strand Yangon has launched two new packages, Off The Beaten Track Yangon and Landmarks of Yangon, that include some of the team’s personal recommendations of what to see and do in Yangon, based on their expertise as Yangon Insiders.

Visitors to The Strand Yangon can explore the city and take advantage of some of the insider tips from the team with one of two new tours bookable through the hotel’s concierge.  The two-night Landmarks of Yangon tour includes one full day tour, or two half-day tours, of the colonial-era architecture of downtown Yangon.

A guide will take guests on a walking tour of some of Asia’s most impressive late nineteenth and early twentieth century buildings, both religious and secular.  In the late afternoon, guests will then take a car for the short journey to the Shwedagon Pagoda in order to see the pagoda as oil lamps begin illuminate it as the sun sets.

A private area of the pagoda will be set aside so that guests can participate in the lighting of 500 oil lamps as part of the daily ceremony.  This two-night package is priced from AU $1235 per room based on double occupancy during low season and includes accommodation in a Superior Suite, return airport transfers and excursions as described.

Get your golf on at Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villa Hua Hin

Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin

A 3-night package consisting of accommodation, 2 rounds at Banyan and Black Mountain golf clubs is offered at 17,700 Baht, while a 7-night package featuring 4 rounds of golfing at participating golf courses is available at 38,500 Baht. There is also a 10-night golf package with 6 rounds of golfing at 46,200 Baht. Prices are nett and all packages includes accommodation in a colonial-style deluxe room, daily breakfast and round trip shuttle service between the resort and golf courses. In partnership with Hua Hin’s leading golf courses, these special packages offer rounds at Banyan Golf Club, Springfield Royal Country Club, Sea Pine Golf Resort and Black Mountain Golf Club.

The promotions are valid from May 15th, 2017 until April 30th, 2018.

New Qualmark Criteria Awards Queenstown Hotel Rare Gold Seal of Approval

A New Zealand owned luxury lake-front hotel, The Rees, has achieved a Qualmark Gold Award – the top seal of approval by the rating system known as “New Zealand tourism’s official mark of quality”

The Rees Hotel Queenstown is only one of two Gold Award recipients to date in the South Island by the independent assessor. The revised Qualmark criteria based on ‘sustainable tourism practices’ focussed on the economic, environmental, people, and health & safety aspects of tourism businesses.

The Rees was recognised for particularly excelling in customer service initiatives and customer satisfaction levels. How the property has consciously aligned its business through investing in practical action to link guests with its unique cultural sustainability aspects also earned high praise. The eco values embraced by the hotel from the staff native tree replanting programme at the front of Lake Wakatipu, to uniting together to save the endangered Kea, were also noted.

Plaza Premium Lounge Brisbane celebrates first birthday

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Brisbane’s first independent airport lounge celebrated its first birthday on the 10th of May with an intimate gathering at the lounge on level 4 of Brisbane Airports International Departures Terminal.

Opened in May 2016 the lounge is the first facility built under the Plaza Premium brand in Australia. The lounge provides comfort, convenience and award-winning services to all travellers through Brisbane Airport regardless of their airline class of travel.

To celebrate its first anniversary Plaza Premium are offering 2-hour lounge access to the Brisbane lounge for only $45 PLUS for anyone purchasing select massage treatments at the adjoining Wellness Spa they will throw in an additional 20-minute massage for FREE. This anniversary offer is valid until 30 June 2017.

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