It’s Thursday today, which can only mean two things; you get served with a Big Fat Hotel Wrap, and we start complaining that it’s not the weekend yet. Enjoy!

Hilton Partners with The Smith Family to Offer Work Experience to Over 150 Disadvantaged Youths

Following a successful two years, Hilton has again partnered with national children’s education charity The Smith Family in Australia, as part of Careers@Hilton Week. Under the partnership, Hilton and The Smith Family will collaborate on the Work Inspiration program that will see over 150 disadvantaged youths gain work experience at one of the eight participating Hilton & DoubleTree by Hilton hotels across Australia over the month of May.

According to research, one in three young Australians (more than 650,000) are currently unemployed or underemployed. Work Inspiration is a unique opportunity for disadvantaged students to gain a vast range of ‘work ready’ skills and a much better understanding of the job market – all of which we know are preconditions for a successful transition to work.

The Work Inspiration program offers:

• A unique opportunity for Team Members to be a part of participants’ growth throughout the program and engage in informative and meaningful career conversations.
• Allows participants to explore their interests and strengths as well as building communication and teamwork skills with each other and hotel Team Members.
• Presents groups of young Australians the experience of working in a hotel and going behind the scenes to see the variety of career opportunities available when working at a Hilton property.
• Offers an experience where young people can gain an awareness of work ethics and develop a new confidence for their future careers.

For more information about Careers@Hilton Week, please visit www.hilton.com/youth.

London’s Milestone Hotel offers exclusive access to Championships, Wimbledon

The five star Milestone Hotel in Kensington has created the ultimate Championships, Wimbledon Package. The creation of an exclusive package allows guests to enjoy three days of pampering and access to elite events and venues around London, including two Centre Court tickets to The Championships, Wimbledon Men’s Quarterfinals on Wednesday 12 July.

Priced at AUD $34,868, based on two people sharing, the luxurious package includes the following:

• Chauffeured Bentley roundtrip airport transfer
• Three nights of accommodation in a luxury suite at The Milestone Hotel, including 12 July
• English breakfast daily (with the option to have it served in-room by the butler)
• Bentley transfers to all London destinations

First Evening:

• Champagne Lanson Sabrage and pre-dinner cocktails
• Four-course, candle-lit dinner, paired with the sommelier’s selection of fine wines, in The Milestone’s intimate Oratory dining room

Day One:

• Private 60-minute helicopter ride along the River Thames
• Curated pre-public opening tour of Kensington Palace
• Champagne Lanson picnic in Kensington Gardens with private butler

Day Two:

• Chauffeured Bentley transfer to Wimbledon All England Club
• Private “Behind the Scenes” tour of The Championships, Wimbledon including a visit to the Trophy Room
• Two Centre Court tickets to Men’s Quarterfinals with Full-Day Hospitality Package
• Post-Match “Smoking Old Fashioned” cocktails in The Milestone’s Stables Bar

Day Three:

• Bespoke shopping experience, including two tailored shirts by Turnball & Asser and fitting for a pair of ladies’ shoes at Jimmy Choo
• Private tasting of six Lanson Champagnes at Champagne Lanson in Mayfair, celebrating Champagne Lanson’s 40th-associated year with The Championships, Wimbledon and the exclusive launch of Lanson’s new Organic Green Label Cuvée
• Lunch for two at The English Grill restaurant facing the Royal Mews

To book this luxurious package – Contact Andrew Pike, General Manager at The Milestone Hotel on +44 (0)20 7917 1000 or email: andrew@rchmail.com.

San Clemente Palace Kempinski in Venice opens wedding season in May

San Clemente Palace Kempinski, the Venetian luxury resort uniquely located on its private island just minutes away from St Mark’s Square, is set to officially open for the 2017 wedding season this month. 

The five-star luxury retreat nestled in the heart of the Venetian Lagoon has been recently awarded “The Best Wedding Hotel 2017” by World Tourism Forum at the annual World Tourism Awards, which celebrate the very best excellence among all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries.

For larger weddings, grand events with up to 1,000 guests can be held among four hectares of the island’s lavish gardens surrounded by a centuries-old park. The entire island – including the resort’s 190 rooms and suites, three dining outlets, various event venues and wellness facilities – can also be booked for exclusive use.

For more intimate celebrations, the island also offers the perfect secluded, romantic venues, including an outdoor ceremony atop Sunset Hill, or San Clemente Palace Kempinski’s own gourmet restaurant, Acquerello. Also on the island is the 12^th-century San Clemente Church, the ideal backdrop for any traditional ceremony — as one of the oldest churches in Venice, it has been ranked among the most beautiful hotel wedding chapels in the world.

AVANI Hotels & Resorts Set to Launch in New Zealand

AVANI Hotels & Resorts will launch in New Zealand with the acquisition of the Metro Suites in Auckland. This prominent 40-story hotel will be rebranded and refurbished as Metropolis AVANI Residences debuting in October this year.

The 370-key hotel occupies a prime CBD position in the city located within the main shopping district and across from Albert Park. There is an extensive range of nearby dining and entertainment options and the hotel is within easy walking distance of Auckland Art Gallery and the vibrant Waterfront.

Metropolis AVANI Residences will offer modern one and two bedroom apartments each with spacious living and dining areas, well-equipped kitchens, laundry facilities, and impressive skyline and harbour views.

The leisure facilities will include a 22-metre heated swimming pool, indoor and outdoor spa, steam room, sauna and cardio gym, allowing guests to keep up their fitness routines whilst on holiday or business.

Mondrian Doha opening announcement

sbe will open its first hotel in the Middle East and introduce the Mondrian brand to the region with the opening of Mondrian Doha. The 270-room property designed in collaboration with Marcel Wanders is set to feature eight restaurants and bars, becoming Qatar’s and the region’s most luxurious lifestyle hospitality offering.

Guests can choose from five distinctive room categories including penthouse suites, studio suites, one and two bedroom suites and a range of standard guest rooms.

The hotel is the embodiment of Arabia through a modern lens, which in turn mirrors the modern reality of Doha – the Qatari capital that has grown immeasurably over the past few years, transforming itself from a modest fishing village into a global visionary capital. The hotel will incorporate design features with influences from the beauty of local patterns, ornate Arabic writing and historic souks.

Additional hotel facilities will include an entertainment floor complete with nightclub, rooftop pool and skybar, an exclusive spa and a grand ballroom. Room rates at Mondrian Doha will start from $240 (£190). For further information, visit www.mondriandoha.com

Four Seasons Hotel Sydney Lights Up for Vivid Sydney with Pop-Up Champagne Bar and Special Offers

The Vivid Sydney experience at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney this year will be from 26 May to 17 June.

They will start with the return of its popular Dom Pérignon Luminous Champagne pop-up in Grain Bar, with a glass for $60, and Dom Pérignon Luminous by the bottle paired with a complimentary dozen freshly-shucked oysters for $375.

The street-front bar will offer gourmet treats such as lobster corn dogs with citrus aioli and duck fat fries, along with a Vivid-inspired signature cocktail, Viva Violetta ($18) mixed with purple-coloured locally-made Ink Gin.

Four Seasons Hotel Sydney has created a special Vivid Sydney Package, including overnight accommodation, buffet breakfast for two and a complimentary Viva Violetta signature cocktail in Grain bar, starting from AU$380 per nigh*.

Located at 199 George Street, Four Seasons Hotel Sydney is just a minute’s stroll from Vivid Sydney’s harbourside highlights.

For more information visit www.fourseasons.com/sydney.

Enjoy a winter getaway with Marriott International and save up to 25%

Marriott International has launched a Winter Getaway sale, offering up to 25% off accommodation at a range of hotels and resorts across the Pacific, including Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia and Samoa. Guests can book any time before 2 July, 2017 to enjoy daily rates from as little as AUD$109.

Available for stays between 19 May and 8 October, 2017, Marriott’s new sale offers holiday-makers discounted prices at 26 properties, including but not exclusively: 

• Courtyard by Marriott Sydney-North Ryde – starting from AUD$109 per night
• Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort – starting from AUD$192 per night
• Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokorki Island – starting from AUD$200 per night Sheraton New Caledonia Deva Resort & Spa – starting from AUD$210 per night
• Pier One Sydney Harbour – Autograph Collection; Courtyard by Marriott Sydney North Ryde – starting from AUD$249 per night
• Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay – recently opened and the only resort on mainland Fiji to offer overwater accommodation – starting from AUD$290 per night

To book, please visit www.marriott.com.au or www.starwoodhotels.com

A New Wing Takes Flight in Hoi An’s Old Town

A major expansion, refurbishment and rebrand has propelled La Siesta Resort and Spa Hoi an into the elite category of hotels in Hoi An – a UNESCO-listed ancient port famous as one of the most Vietnam’s premier tourist destinations.

The property, which is owned and operated by leading Vietnamese boutique hotel brand Elegance Hospitality Group (EHG), recently unveiled a name change and its brand-new East Wing, a luxurious 37-room annexe that also encompasses a spa, saltwater pool and fine-dining venue.

Guest rooms are aligned around an extensive saltwater swimming pool in three storey buildings, carefully designed to maintain harmony with the traditional architecture that characterises Hoi An’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town. Other call outs to the destination’s incredible heritage include an on-site Confucian temple dating back to the 15^th Century, which will be used in future for special event dinners and traditional lantern festivals.

The resort is located in Thanh Ha village – a peaceful area famous for its ceramics – and is just a short 5-10-minute walk from the shophouses, temples, colonial buildings and iconic Vietnamese tube houses that characterise central Hoi An.

Sailors set their sights on Peppers Blue on Blue Resort

Peppers Blue on Blue Resort at Magnetic Island will welcome sailors from all over Australia for the 11^th annual SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week from 31 August through to 6 September.

The resort, which overlooks the marina, has been the event headquarters since the race’s inception in 2006 and this year, due to popular demand, an extra day will be added to the week-long schedule of racing and social events.

Peppers Blue on Blue Resort is offering a 15% discount off bed and breakfast rates for bookings made before 30 June.  The early bird special includes a welcome drink on arrival, accommodation, daily breakfast and daily room servicing. There is a choice of hotel and studio-apartment style rooms available as well as a selection of spacious two and three bedroom apartments.

For more information on Peppers Blue on Blue Resort, visit www.peppers.com.au/blue-on-blue.

For more information on the SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week, including entry details, visit www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au.

Marriott International to debut Element brand in Australia with the signing of Element Melbourne Richmond

Marriott International has signed an agreement with TRC (Aust) Pty Ltd to debut its Element brand in Melbourne, Australia. Element Melbourne Richmond is slated to open in 2019.

Located at 558 Swan Street, Richmond, one of Melbourne’s oldest and liveliest suburbs, Element Melbourne Hotel is in walking distance of the many restaurants, cafes, bars, shops and events this suburb has to offer, as well as Melbourne’s Central Business District.

The new-build hotel will feature 168 light-filled guestrooms with a select number of rooms featuring energy-efficient kitchenettes. There will be a 24/7 grab-and-go gourmet food pantry, a bike hiring scheme and an outdoor yoga deck to help guests stay fit and healthy whilst on the road.

For business travellers, Element Melbourne Richmond will offer 250 square metres of flexible conference and meeting space, which can be customised to meet any business or social need. Fast and complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

Langham Hospitality Group rebrands The Langham Auckland to Cordis, Auckland

The Langham Auckland, one of New Zealand’s leading hotels will be rebranded as Cordis, Auckland.

Cordis Hotels and Resorts is a new generation of selected upper upscale modern hotels by Langham Hospitality Group that is devoted to the guests’ needs and well-being, catering to both business and leisure travelers.

Following the recent renovation of the banquet venues and the hotel’s Eight restaurant, The Langham Auckland will undergo refurbishment from 11 July for all 411 rooms and suites, lobby lounge and the exclusive Club Lounge. The refurbishment will ensure the hotel continues to provide the best facilities for guests in the market. The facelift is scheduled to be completed by Feb 2018.

Factual information – Cordis, Auckland:

Hotel Facilities

• 15 function rooms
• Two restaurants
• Rooftop heated swimming pool and Jacuzzi
• Chuan Spa
• 24 hour fitness studio
• Cordis Service on Call
• Club Lounge

Room Facilities

• 411 guestrooms and suites with a choice of eight room types ranging from a 28 m² room to the 117 m² Chairman Suite.
• Mini-bar, flat-screen TV, coffeemaker complimentary Wi-Fi

Warwick Hotels & Resorts – Pacific Partners with Fiji Rugby Union

Pacific has partnered with the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) to support neighbouring communities along the Coral Coast. The partnership sees Warwick Hotels and Resorts becoming a Supporting Hotel Partner to FRU through meetings and events.

Working through three of its properties including Warwick Fiji, The Naviti Resort and Tambua Sands Beach Resort, the major hotel brands’ community efforts are targeted at lifestyle, education as well as social and economic initiatives for the empowerment of women, men and youth in the region.

Warwick Hotels and Resorts – Pacific engages in community programs aimed at preserving the environment as well as developing opportunities for surrounding areas with a focus on youth. Activities range from cleaning local beaches and roadside, infrastructure works on schools and health centres, providing workshops for career progression and health benefits to facilitating donations from guests and stakeholders both in country and overseas.

Tenth birthday milestone for outrigger Fiji’s Bebe Spa

Bebe Spa has reached the milestone of ten years since they welcomed their first guests in the reception area of Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort. Today, a team of 24 therapists delivers more than 900 treatments every month with Bebe Spa acknowledged as one of the leading spas in the South Pacific.

Spa Manager Praveena Dewan said the spa’s ongoing success was a testament to the energy and dedication of the Bebe team, which is reflected in the many awards they’ve won and been nominated for throughout the years.

Since opening, Bebe Spa has involved itself in community projects such as blood collection drives, medical outreach, and support of local schools. 

Kāʻanapali Beach Hotel Unveils New Logo Celebrating Its Deep Ties to Hawaiian Culture

The kukui nut represents enlightenment in Hawaiian culture, and was used by ancient Hawaiians as light for their homes. All employees and visitors receive an ohana lei (kukui nut lei) and are given a white nut for every year they work at KBH –  or for every visitors return.

“Over the past 16 years, we’ve given away in excess of 330,000 kukui nut leis to our visitors, and it continues to be part of our uniform for our employees. This is why we’ve chosen to go with the kukui nut lei as a symbol of who we are and what we do” said Mike White, the General Manager.

Watch the video here.

Mantra Group Partnership Strengthens Connection with Tourism Industry

Luke Moran, Paula Maxwell, Director of National Sales at Mantra Group and Peter Shelley.

Hotel and resort operator Mantra Group has today signed a new ‘Gold’ level partnership with peak export tourism body, the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC), further cementing its commitment to supporting the success of Australia’s tourism industry.

Mantra Group Executive Director of Sales, Revenue and Distribution Luke Moran said the Group is highly supportive of ATEC’s industry leadership role and will assist in the long term sustainability of Australia’s tourism export industry.

WA’s Best Hospitality Business Suppliers

The winners of the Australian Hotels Association WA 2017 Hospitality Supplier Awards were announced at a gala dinner at Crown Perth’s new ballroom on Monday night. These awards recognise outstanding product and service suppliers in the Western Australian hospitality industry.

To see a full list of the winners click here.