Big Fat Hotel Wrap

Big Fat Hotel Wrap

Did you miss the mid-morning hotel briefing? Perhaps you dozed off during parts of it? Well, thankfully we’ve written this.

New for the summer holidays –  ‘Island Eco Tents’ take camping upmarket on Straddie

Minjerribah Island Eco Tents with surfboards

North Stradbroke Island’s Minjerribah Camping will launch twelve new permanent Island Eco Tents from 11 December 2017 at picturesque Adder Rock Camping Ground near Point Lookout on the north coast of the Island.

The high-quality, low-impact, tents – produced by Australian company, Eco Structures Australia – blend harmoniously into the camping ground’s natural bushland setting, sheltered behind native tea tree and pandanus forests. The tents are just a short walk to a patrolled beach (during holiday periods) and have direct access to Home Beach and Adder Rock surf beaches.

There are nine tents for couples and three family tents that include an annex with bunk beds for the children. Opening rates for the new tents start from $149 per night.

All Island Eco Tents feature quality queen size beds and linen, exterior decking with an adult size freestanding hammock, large fly windows and doors, canvas shutters that can be opened or closed according to conditions, ceiling fans, tables and chairs, full electric powering, refrigerator and storage facilities.

Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort wins Service Excellence Award

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The Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort has won the “Best Resort (Service Excellence) – Asia Pacific” Award at the 2017 Travel Weekly Asia Reader’s Choice Awards.

Rory Campbell the Area Director for Sales & Marketing for Outrigger Resorts in Thailand received the award on 23 October at a ceremony at the Imperial Ballroom of the Mandarin Orchard Singapore. The audience comprised more than 100 international travel industry leaders and influencers.

Forty-six awards were presented across 10 categories. The nominations and winners were voted by Travel Weekly Asia’s readers – a group made up of professionals from different spectrums within the travel industry.

Some 315 hosts (staff) at the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort help guests ‘Escape Ordinary’ by providing attentive service and a unique range of Outrigger Signature Experiences reflecting the best of destination Phuket and Thai culture. The hosts’ service ethic is also apparent to MICE visitors meeting at the Similan Ballroom event space.

AccorHotels employees ‘Race to Survive’ on the Gold Coast

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Last week over 180 AccorHotels employees from corporate office and hotels alike successfully completed a grueling four day adventure challenge on the Gold Coast, which saw them raise over $640,000 for the AccorHotels Community Fund.

AccorHotels’ bi-annual charity event Race to Survive, saw participants put through their paces with tough daily activities designed to push them both physically and mentally. This years’ activities included a 25km trek through the hills of Numinbah Valley, blindfold canoeing, orienteering and an adventure course.

The activities culminated on Friday at Surfers Paradise Beach in conjunction with Surf Life Saving Queensland. Surf Life Saving Queensland, the Surfers Paradise Surf Club and Ironman champion Trevor Hendy put together a series of challenging drills with included a spinal board carry relay, wade relay, an iconic flag race and a final mile dash that marked the end of their four day adventure.

Raffles Singapore unveils new suite categories and guest experiences

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Raffles Singapore announces its up-coming reopening that is planned for the second half of 2018. Since February 2017, the iconic heritage hotel has embarked on a careful and sensitive phased restoration. Its reopening will see the introduction of exquisite new suite categories, vibrant lifestyle experiences and refreshed dining concepts.

For more than a century, Raffles Singapore has offered its well-travelled guests luxurious all-suite accommodations. The restoration will update its distinctive suites with new amenities and technology while maintaining the sense of space and colonial ambience.

When Raffles Singapore reopens, it will have three new suite categories: Residence Suites, Promenade Suites and Studio Suites. The total suite count increases from its existing 103 suites to 115 suites.

The new Residence Suites, comprising four 1-bedroom and one 2-bedroom suites, will be located in the Raffles Arcade and are named after famous local cinemas during the early to mid-1900s. This is in homage to the days when the neighbourhood was known as “The Place of Cinemas”. Suites names are Alhambra Suite, Diamond Suite, Marlborough Suite, Odeon Suite and Theatre Royal Suite.

How QLD hoteliers can take home gold during next April’s sporting extravaganza

Held over 11 days in April 2018, the Gold Coast is preparing to host the biggest sporting and cultural event in QLD’s history, with more than 6,600 athletes and team officials from 70 nations and territories set to come to Australia.

Based on the latest official forecast, more than 1.2 million spectators will journey to the Gold Coast next April. To educate Queensland hoteliers, and particularly those located in the Gold Coast, to forward plan and make the most of this high-tourism event, the Expedia group dived into data insights and learnings from the one of the biggest sporting events held in Glasgow in 2014.

Data in April this year showed that domestic travellers dominated the bulk of the overall demand. Almost 80 per cent of the total QLD demand was domestic, largely driven by home-grown travel brands under Wotif Group. Noting that QLD will host one of their biggest sporting and cultural events next April, we can expect a surge in domestic demand through this channel, given Australia’s unwavering support for the iconic sports tradition and its sports-mad culture. In terms of international feeder markets, the US, New Zealand, UK, Japan, Hong Kong, Canada, Germany, South Korea, Singapore and Sweden were the top ten inbound markets in April 2017 for QLD.

TUTC’s new property in Dudhwa welcomes guests to Luxury Lodge Experience

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The Ultimate Travelling Camp (TUTC), having redefined the concept of Glamping in the country is all set to extend its philosophy of Luxury to Lodges and Palaces. The luxury camping company is expanding its footprint with the launch of a rebranded luxury lodge experience – Jaagir Lodge Dudhwa, nestled deep in the rainforests of the Terai, Uttar Pradesh, India.

TUTC’s Jaagir Lodge, Dudhwa invites guests to an enchanting jungle safari experience that emulates tranquility through the colonial luxury and contemporary comforts. Located in the foothills of the mighty Himalayas, the colonial structure built in the 1940’s is a gateway to India’s four distinct forests reserves – Dudhwa, Katarniaghat, Kishanpur and Pilibhit. Within close proximity of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, the lodge is a witness to the long-standing Bengal Tiger conservation programme – ‘Project Tiger’ championed by well-known conservationist, Billy Arjan Singh.

It is home to few critically endangered species like Tigers, Indian one-horned Rhinoceros, Ganges river dolphins and Fishing Cats. The grasslands are the natural habitat of Indian one-horned Rhinoceros who were captured in the forests of Assam surrounding Kaziranga and brought to Dudhwa under the Rhino Rehabilitation Project in 1984. Since then, the habitat centre has been home to a sizable rhino population.

Karma Jimbaran offers fun, family escape in paradise

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In this busy world, the greatest gift of all for loved ones is time, so why not spend some valuable family time at Karma Jimbaran, Bali’s five-star, family-friendly, all pool villa resort. three-night stays include a world class three-bedroom pool villa, delicious daily breakfast at Karma Lounge, free access to Three Monkeys Kids Club activities, complimentary dining for children when accompanied by parent, one time ‘Intuitive Balinese Massage’ for up six persons at Karma Spa, and premier access to Karma Kandara’s award winning beach club, Karma Beach Bali.

Inclusions from USD$433:

• Daily Breakfast up to six persons
• 75 minutes Intuitive Balinese Massage up to six persons
• Resort Credit value of IDR 1,000,000 net per stay
• Welcome drink and cool towel upon arrival
• Fresh fruit basket replenished daily during stay
• Free access to Karma Beach Bali
• Free access to kids activities at Three Monkeys Kids Club

Marriott International names new Luxury Collection hotel in Hobart

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Marriott International yesterday named the new Luxury Collection property being constructed in Parliament Square, Hobart. The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart is on track to open in late 2018.

The Tasman, which marks Marriott International’s debut in Tasmania, will reside in an assortment of repurposed heritage buildings and will form a prominent position in Parliament Square – a new design-led, urban development set to revitalise Hobart’s city centre.

Owned by Trawalla Group Parliament Square Hotel Operator Pty Ltd, The Tasman will offer guests 128 luxurious rooms and suites, all with carefully restored features and considered Georgian and Art-Deco design elements throughout.

$50 million Rydges Hotel to be developed at Gold Coast Airport

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A $50 million Rydges hotel with a rooftop bar and viewing deck will be the jewel in the crown of Gold Coast Airport when complete in 2019.

The four star hotel will include 192 rooms and suites over seven storeys with sweeping views over Kirra beach and across the runway to the hinterland.

As well as its rooftop amenity, the hotel will boast a restaurant, resort-style swimming pool, and substantial function, conference and meeting facilities.

It will be located close to the airport’s major terminal expansion project, with construction of both projects expected to start in the third quarter of next year.

New lifestyle brand for Centara Hotels and Resorts

Centara Hotels & Resorts will launch their new relaxed lifestyle brand COSI on Samui’s Chaweng Beach this December.

COSI has been created with the millennial in mind. The brand encompasses an affordable travel base, recharge dock and social hub, changing the hotel experience from a place to stay to a place to live.

COSI has used innovative design and technology to allow guests to wait less, experience more and spend on what’s important.

The properties will be 100 per cent smart phone integrated, complete with self-check-in and out which will be as easy as using an ATM. WIFI will be available throughout the hotel meaning guests will be able to be connected at all times.

The rooftop at QT to host annual Derby Day Breakfast

Kicking off spring racing celebrations in style, designer hotel QT Melbourne is hosting an exclusive Derby Day breakfast at The Rooftop at QT in association with Vogue and GQ, this Saturday, 4 November.

A local landmark showcasing stunning views of the city skyline, The Rooftop at QT is the hottest venue in town and the Derby Day breakfast is sure to not disappoint building on the successes from last year’s event.

Celebrity guests and industry luminaries will ascend on the rooftop prior to Flemington indulging in a carefully curated race-day menu which has been created by the QT Melbourne culinary team, including an oyster bar, caviar tasting station, delicate pastry platform, grills from the Robata and roving canapés.

Quest’s global expansion continues: First UK property in Liverpool

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Quest Apartment Hotels has announced it will develop its first property outside of the Australasian market in the UK city of Liverpool, delivering on the global expansion promised by the company’s Founder Paul Constantinou.

The £10 million development of Quest Liverpool City Centre will see an existing commercial office building transformed into a 100-room apartment hotel building when it opens for business in early 2019.

The company expanded its global reach in July by joining one of the world’s leading serviced residence networks, Singapore-based The Ascott Limited (Ascott).

Quest Liverpool City Centre will be located at 72 Church Street, Liverpool, along one of the city’s biggest retail strips. The building is currently a 1980s commercial office building with retail on the ground & first floors. The new property will also feature a conference room and gym.

Oaks Hotels & Resorts kicks off major sponsorship with Brisbane Lions Football Club

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Leading accommodation provider Oaks Hotels & Resorts is proud to announce it has signed a two-year sponsorship agreement with prominent Australian Football League (AFL) club the Brisbane Lions Football Club, which will see the hotelier named as a co-major sponsor for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Currently with a portfolio of 56 properties across Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and India, Oaks Hotels & Resorts has more than 6,000 guest rooms under its management and offers a range of contemporary accommodation options in central city locations and popular resort destinations.

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