Big Fat Hotel Wrap

Big Fat Hotel Wrap

Next Hotel Brisbane Awarded QLD Outstanding Community Service Award

QHA Awards photo

Next Hotel Brisbane won the Outstanding Community Service & Achievement Award at the annual Queensland Hotel Association Awards for Excellence in the 0-99 employees category.

Held on Thursday 5 October in Brisbane, the 2017 awards provided a forum for the public recognition of excellence in individual and group achievement by Queensland hotels.

Next Hotel Brisbane focuses on four key areas of the business as part of their community service contribution – sponsorship, donation, engagement with education bodies and supporting local business – and their outstanding achievements in the previous financial year earned them the state award.

In addition to sponsoring nearly $40,000 worth of accommodation and services for events such as St Vinnies CEO Sleepout, Brisbane Hair and Beauty Expo, Brisbane Fashion Weekend, Kiss Goodbye to MS and the Lord Mayor Christmas Carols, the Next Hotel Brisbane team also made $30,000 worth of community and charitable donations via accommodation vouchers to charities such as Shave for a Cure, Mater Hospital, Cure Brain Cancer Foundation and more.

SAGE RINGWOOD – Official Opening

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SAGE HOTEL RINGWOOD, located in East Melbourne at the gateway to the Yarra Valley,  launched this week with 100 guests from the travel, corporate and hospitality sectors.

Guests enjoyed morning tea and a site tour of this brand new five level hotel sitting atop Eastland Shopping centre – the first of its kind in Victoria.

The 120 room property is immaculately presented and offers a range of boutique king, twin, family and special access rooms starting from $179 that feature Sage’s DreamWeave Sleep system, complimentary Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service, Smart TVs with the latest blockbuster movies, coffee pod machines, floor to ceiling windows, walk in showers, mini bars, and ironing facilities. Special access rooms offer disabled accessible bathrooms and can interconnect to standard rooms to cater for carers and family members.

The hotel lobby and lounge features polished exposed aggregate concrete floors, contemporary styling and sleek furniture to create a contemporary look in keeping with the modernity of the brand new facility.

New Beachfront Resort Opens Premium Villas Boasting Private Spas

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The Anam, a luxurious new 12-hectare resort on Vietnam’s pristine Cam Ranh peninsula, has unveiled two remarkable new villas complete with couples’ massage tables, a sunken granite Jacuzzi large enough for two, a steam room and a large outdoor pool.

Set on 400 square metres of lush hillside land located next to The Anam’s 10-treatment room Sri Mara Spa’s grounds, the 180-square-metre villas and their spa facilities afford the indulgence of a private spa journey in the privacy of one’s own villa.

To mark the opening of the one-bedroom ‘Private Pool Villas (Spa Included)’, The Anam, which celebrated its grand opening in April this year, is offering guests staying at these villas one complimentary in-villa spa treatment per person per day, as well as free breakfast and airport transfers.

An array of in-villa treatments are on offer from the Sri Mara Spa’s ‘high-touch, low-tech’ menu combining traditional Balinese techniques with a Vietnamese touch. A 25 per cent discount is available for further treatments booked throughout each stay.

Daydream Island commences demolition ahead of October 2018 reopening

Daydream Island Resort and Spa in the Whitsundays has commenced its demolition program ahead of its long-awaited redevelopment with the cleaning out of damaged facilities as construction gears up to commence in November. 

The redevelopment program is on track for an October 2018 soft opening after a $65 million redevelopment following damage caused in March by Cyclone Debbie.

Major works already announced 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.

W Hotels set to ignite the Sunshine State with W Brisbane opening early 2018

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W Hotels, part of Marriott International, is set to shake-up the hospitality scene in Queensland’s capital with the opening of W Brisbane in early 2018. The first five-star hotel to open in Brisbane’s central business district (CBD) in 20 years, the opening of W Brisbane will mark the re-entry of the iconic W brand into Australia, with guestroom bookings due to commence in November 2017.

Located at 300 George Street, W Brisbane will light up the Brisbane River foreshore, bringing bold design and playful luxury to the western end of the CBD. With stellar views across Brisbane River to South Bank and Mount Coot-tha, as well as three happening bars and restaurants that will create a thriving local scene, W Brisbane will defy expectations and become a destination within itself.

W Brisbane will offer 312 stylish guestrooms, including 29 suites, two Wow Suites and the Extreme Wow Suite (the brand’s modern interpretation of a Presidential Suite) all showcasing views of the Brisbane River. The guestrooms are designed with custom furnishings and interiors inspired by Queensland’s heritage and laidback Aussie vibes.

TFE Hotels’ deal of the week: See Melbourne from the Southbank

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Visiting Australia’s hub of arts and entertainment? Consider booking direct with Travelodge Hotel Melbourne Southbank, and save up to 30 per cent off your stay! From $125, travellers will be perfectly situated by the Yarra River, close to the CBD, major transport, shopping and dining offerings.

Guests can take advantage of free wifi, a 24 hour reception, and Travelodge’s famous buffet breakfast.

The hotel is within walking distance of market stalls, exclusive fashion labels, and Melbourne’s finest indoor and al fresco dining. For the sports-mad, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and Rod Laver Arena are just minutes away.

Doors open on Perth’s newest luxury hotel

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InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has unveiled InterContinental Perth City Centre – the sixth InterContinental hotel in Australia.

Nestled amidst ‘The King Street Precinct’ with acharming heritage streetscape of theatres, cafes and luxe retailers, the new 240-room property is the latest offering from InterContinental – and brings further sophistication to Perth’s vibrant heart. 

The hotel’s collection of restaurants and bars are already the talk of the town, whetting appetites for new city places to meet for espresso to cocktails, tapas to longer affairs.

From food-truck concept eatery Graffiti where great coffee, and gourmet-to-go bites are served from a street art styled roller door; to Heno & Reya slick reinterpretation of a tapas bar spilling on to Hay and King Streets offering just caught seafood, charcuterie, small bites and larger plates with sangria on tap and local wines; as well as The Loft Lounge perched on the hotel’s first floor for early morning pastries, refined high tea service come afternoons or ‘InterContinental Worldly Classic’ cocktails anytime while reclining inside or alfresco on the terrace – all are now welcoming hotel guests and locals alike.

QT Sydney the best hotel on Australia’s East Coast

Designer hotel QT Sydney has been voted the best hotel on Australia’s east coast and ranked number two overall in Australia and New Zealand in the 2017 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.

More than 300,000 readers submitted millions of ratings and tens of thousands of comments, sharing their recent travel experiences of the world’s cities, islands, hotels, resorts, cruise liners, airlines, and airports – good and bad – and QT Sydney is delighted to have been recognised for their panache in delivering consistent first-class hospitality, leading the field in its home city. This most recent accolade comes only four months after QT Sydney was named “Best City Hotel, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific” in the Travel+Leisure World’s Best Awards 2017 readers’ survey.

Balancing modern design and heritage features, the hotel’s 200 contemporary appointed guest rooms and suites provide an intimate and luxurious accommodation experience that is clearly recognised on a global scale.

Transformed Canberra office building opens as Mantra Macarthur Hotel

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Canberra’s new Mantra MacArthur Hotel was officially opened today (16 October) by Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven Ciobo MP and ACT Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay MLA, to meet the growing demand for hotel capacity in the nation’s capital. 

Formerly an office tower, which has been transformed into a 176-room hotel as part of the city’s vibrant urban renewal program, Mantra MacArthur Hotel is the only new hotel to open in Canberra in 2017.

The hotel is operated by Mantra Group, the leading Australian-based hotel and resort operator with 129 properties across Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and Hawaii, and is owned by Canberra developer HTI Group.

Fijian family-owned resorts scoop top two positions in Australia and South Pacific Top Resorts – Conde Nast Traveller Readers Choice Awards

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Ahura Resorts is delighted to announce that their already multi award-winning resorts – Malolo Island Resort and Likuliku Lagoon Resort, have added to their prestigious awards list by being named in the top 2 positions in the annual USA Conde Nast Readers Choice Awards 2017 for Australia and the South Pacific.

More than 300,000 travelers took part in the 30th annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey—setting yet another new record—submitting millions of ratings and more than 100,000 comments to help create a list of winning favourites. The breadth of the top-rated experiences was impressive, from elegant castles in the Irish countryside to tented safari camps trailing the Great Migration across the Serengeti.

Chosen were tiny private islands in the tropics, small culture rich cities in Europe, and intimate river cruises. Most notably, readers declared a passion for the authentic, the personalized, the unexpected—finding all three in both newcomers and stalwarts around the world. 

Family holidaymakers vote Oaks Oasis Resort as one of Australia’s best family destinations

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The votes are in and the travelling tribes have spoken – popular Sunshine Coast property Oaks Oasis Resort has been named amongst Australia’s best family resorts by leading family travel publication Holidays with Kids Magazine for the second consecutive year.

The sprawling 10 acre tropical ‘oasis’ has upped the kid-cred in 2017, taking the coveted number two position in the Top 10 Australian Family Resorts in the ‘four stars and under category’, which saw Oaks Oasis Resort compete against an outstanding line up of the country’s most popular resort properties for families.

The Resort has continued to evolve and cement itself as a firm favourite with both parents and kids alike since it was acquired by Oaks Hotels & Resorts five years ago, having undergone significant upgrades, launching various family initiatives – such as Kids Eat Free dining deals – and now boasting a dedicated kids play precinct that has given the property added family appeal.

Cicada Lodge wins at awards night again

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Cicada Lodge has shone at the 2017 Northern Territory Australian Hotels Association Gold Plate Awards last night winning the Best Fine Dining category topping off another strong season in the Top End.

The Australian Hotels Association NT Awards for Excellence are recognised as the most prestigious awards in the hospitality industry.

Cicada Lodge was developed out of a dream to showcase the Nitmiluk region and the culture of our owners, the Jawoyn people; and to bring a new element to tourism in the Top End. In all facets of the operation – and in particular dining – they strive to achieve and deliver on that promise.

Recognition of the excellence of the product in the region through awards such as this can only help grow their market profile.

Stayz Holiday Rental Awards reveals the best of the best holiday homes across Australia

Australia’s leading holiday rental website, Stayz, has announced the finalists of its 2017 Holiday Rental Awards (HRA) and is now calling on Australians to vote for their favourite property to be in the running for this year’s People’s Choice Award at https://awards.stayz.com.au/.

The search for this year’s finalists has uncovered holiday homes in a number of road less travelled destinations, including the town of Yallingup in Western Australia and Dover, Tasmania’s most southern town, both of which join well-known favourites – Byron Bay and Port Douglas as front-runners across all categories.

Those that vote on their favourite holiday rental at https://awards.stayz.com.au/ will be in the running to win a holiday at the 2016 Stayz Holiday Rental Awards People’s Choice winner Clifftop at Hepburn, an architecturally designed, romantic getaway overlooking the spa town of Daylesford.

Mantra Group Rising Stars cook for a cause with Ozharvest

Rising Stars preparing a signature dish

Mantra Group’s Rising Stars, a group of 21 team members, teamed up with OzHarvest to participate in their corporate hands-on cooking class ‘Cooking for a Cause’ to transform rescued food items into restaurant-quality meals as part of their development week at Mantra Legends Hotel on Thursday 12 October.

Led by OzHarvest chefs, teams of five were put to the test and asked to create a signature dish, incorporating five rescued food items, which were then presented, reviewed and delivered the following morning directly to a local disadvantaged community on the Gold Coast.

OzHarvest is Australia’s leading food rescue organisation, collecting quality excess food from commercial outlets and delivering it directly to more than 1000 charities supporting people in need across the country. To find out more about OzHarvest, click here.

Family adventure at Shangri-La’s Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka

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Shangri-La’s Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka is the perfect getaway for families looking for a tropical adventure complete with fun-filled activities, once-in-a-lifetime experiences and plenty of relaxation. Surrounded by palm trees and set against the backdrop of Sri Lanka’s pristine southern coastline, Shangri-La’s Hambantota is the largest resort of its kind in the country offering families with children of all ages a vast array of activities from drone flying in the blue skies above the resort to captivating and memorable safari experiences in the neighbouring National Parks.

For young guests aged between four and twelve, paradise comes in the form of the resort’s ‘Cool Zone’; a supervised club dedicated to fun and educational activities. It is the most extensive Kids’ Club on the island offering a seven-metre-high flying trapeze, trampolining, a drone flying area, a children’s pool and the resort’s own child-friendly water park complete with slides and fun water features.

There is also an indoor crèche facility for the even littler with arts and crafts tables and a jungle gym. Meanwhile, parents can indulge in a bespoke wellness experience in complete tranquillity at the resort’s CHI Ayurveda Spa, which can be enjoyed guilt free whilst children are looked after by an expert team. Moreover, together, families can enjoy beach volleyball, a sunset bike ride to the fishing village of Godawaya or relax by one of three swimming pools, including the Sunset Pool which blends seamlessly into the resort’s scenic landscape.

Holiday Inn Invites You to Have Little Conversations

Holiday Inn Chatterbox Cards (both)

Research has shown that the more we engage in such conversations with our kids, the better they become at problem-solving and having compassion.
 
While each family has its own traditions, it’s no secret that a child’s growth and connections are significantly influenced by the conversations that take place between family members. Whether it happens over Saturday morning breakfasts or during family holidays, family conversations have traditionally helped to bring parents and children closer together. Recognising this, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Holiday Inn® Resorts have introduced the Chatterbox Conversation Cards, a fun, family-friendly activity for getting the conversations going during holidays, in a bid to spark deeper sharing and bonding in families.
Families can enjoy many benefits from conversing with each other regularly, the first being the opportunity to grow closer. From talking about preferences to discussing goals and aspirations, conversations allow family members to build rapport as they learn about and understand each other better. Regular positive conversations also foster a sense of affirmation and togetherness in children, helping to nurture them into healthy, well-rounded adults.

Belmond reveals new campaign – The Art of Belmond

Belmond reveals its new look with a campaign titled, ‘The Art of Belmond’ – an invitation to enter the ‘Wonderful World of Belmond’.

A stylish new global advertising campaign celebrating the art of living well – the ‘Art of Savoir-Vivre’ – brings to life the heart and soul of Belmond and its global travel experiences – a world full of extraordinary characters and inspiring locations.

The new campaign supports a key part of the Company’s strategic plan to raise the brand awareness, and strengthen its position in the luxury travel market as a brand that offers genuine and authentic escapes. The full campaign launches on 11 October with a strategic media plan heavily focused on attracting new audiences to Belmond through social and digital channels.

Created by a series of artists – ‘The Art of Belmond’ includes a cinematographic film, print and digital adverts designed to inspire today’s world travellers, millennials and global citizens.

What’s New for event experts at The Langham, Melbourne? Three New Enticing options are now available  

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The Langham, Melbourne thrives on innovation and efficiency. To help event organisers excel, The Langham, Melbourne has launched three new initiatives to help function professionals exceed their clients’ and guests’ expectations. 
  1. As part of its commitment to provide luxurious venues for Melbourne events, The Langham, Melbourne offers a “No Strings Attached” pledge for corporate bookings made until Sunday 31 December for events in 2018. Besides waived cancellation terms and Internet charges, corporate groups will enjoy exclusive benefits such as no attrition rate charges and zero food and beverage minimum for function rooms such as Swanston room, Yarra room and Flinders room.  
  1. The Langham, Melbourne’s renowned Afternoon Tea with Wedgwood is now available as a high tea for functions. $80.00 per person includes traditional tiered tea stands laden with scones, premium ribbon sandwiches and decadent Earl Grey macarons, miniature chocolate mousse, on trend matcha, yuzu and green tea sponge cake as well as a tiny house-made forest mushroom pie. 
  1. Conference, incentive and event organisers can now opt to arrange lunch at Melba Restaurant where diners can choose from fresh seafood, sashimi and sushi plated to order, Indian curries, steaks and pasta dishes made to order, Melba’s famous five spice roast duck, salads, cheese station, dessert buffet and more. Melba Restaurant ensures every diner creates their own meal and is a sure-fire people pleaser that also keeps events running on time and on budget.

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