Happy hotel wrap day! And yes, we are in fact officially replacing the word Thursday with hotel wrap day. Just like we replaced a regular breakfast with left over easter eggs this morning.

Schwartz Hotels switch on the ‘green power’ – solar power fuels electric car charging network

The Schwartz Hotel Group has added to its ‘green power’ commitment by transforming the rooftop of Mercure Sydney into a major solar energy receptor which will not only produce renewable energy for the hotel’s operation, but significantly reduce its carbon emissions.

Renewable energy group, Earthconnect, installed the micro inverter system, which comprises 357 panels covering 88 per cent of the rooftop of the Mercure Sydney.

The 96.39kW Solar Energy System will provide the Mercure with approximately 146.0MWh of renewable energy yearly, and contribute to a reduction of 155,658kg pa of CO2 / Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

The solar installation comes as part of a co-ordinated program of environmental initiatives by hotel owner, Schwartz Family Company (SFC). 

The Mercure Sydney joins other SFC properties Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, Fairmont Resort, Rydges Central Sydney, Cessnock Airport Hotel, the Leura Golf Course and Lovedale Brewery in introducing major solar power units.

The Mercure Sydney’s new solar installation will help charge their electric car charging station, which is available free to guests in the Mercure’s car park.

Car charging facilities are also available at Schwartz hotels including the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, Fairmont Resort in the Blue Mountains, and Mercure Canberra.

At Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort

Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort welcomed its first guests in December 2015.

It is the first and only luxury international resort in Sri Lanka offering travellers a new chapter in unmatched amenities and hospitality.

Sheltered by a crescent of golden sand and fringed by coconut palms, Anantara Peace Haven Resort is an unexplored paradise located in Tangalle on Sri Lanka’s southernmost shore.

Cinnamon Air offers a daily 40-minute sea-plane flight from Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport to Mawella Lagoon in Dickwella, which is a mere 10 minute drive from the resort.

Other transport options include chartering a private flight, helicopter transfers or making use of the resort’s luxury Hybrid SUV transfer service which is approximately a 4-hour drive.

The fleet is designed with the guests’ comfort in mind offering complimentary WiFi, DVD’s and an array of journals.

On arrival, guests find themselves ensconced in a luxury resort of enchanting Sri Lankan design, set amidst a 21-acre coconut plantation that opens onto a golden sweep of beach and the warm Indian Ocean.

Each of the 152 guest rooms and villas are reached by battery-powered eco-friendly rickshaws or tuk-tuks and the luxury interiors boast hand woven custom made Sri Lankan furnishings and contemporary amenities, al fresco spaces to relax with stunning views of paradise, interconnecting options for families, and accommodation for differently abled guests.

120 Premier and Deluxe rooms offer a sumptuous bedroom and luxury bathroom with a rain shower and separate oval bathtub, as well as a terrace or balcony with a daybed and dining furniture overlooking the ocean.

32 spacious one and two bedroom Villas entice guests to spend lazy days dipping into their own plunge pool, sunbathing on comfy loungers and dining outside under the shade.

Amenities include a Nespresso coffee machine, wine humidor, bar fridge and Bose sound system.

The Two-Bedroom Garden Pool Villas also feature an indoor dining room and pantry.

Win USD20,000, 20 free nights and 20 Golden Tickets as Frasers Hospitality celebrates 20th Anniversary

Frasers Hospitality, a member of Frasers Property Group, is kicking off its 20th anniversary celebrations with a promotional campaign to celebrate the milestone occasion.

Up for grabs are 20 Golden Tickets worth 20,000 Fraser World points each, which can be used to redeem for free stays. One lucky winner will also walk away with a Grand Golden Ticket, which comes with 20 free nights and USD20,000 in cash.

Themed ‘A World of Thanks’, the promotional campaign is Frasers Hospitality’s way of expressing its gratitude towards guests for their loyalty over the years.

From only two properties in 1998 to more than 150 properties in 2018, the award-winning hospitality brand is now in over 80 cities worldwide.

From now until 28 June 2018, guests who book directly with Frasers Hospitality will automatically qualify for the 20th Anniversary lucky draw.

Twenty guests will stand a chance to win Golden Tickets worth 20,000 Fraser World points each, which can be converted into free stays at Frasers Hospitality properties worldwide, giving guests the chance to create new #FraserMoments.

The lucky draw will also culminate in a Grand Golden Ticket winner, who will walk away with 20 free nights as well as USD$20,000 in cash.

AccorHotels announces opening of latest $70 million Novotel in South Brisbane

Novotel Brisbane South Bank is set to launch on May 14, after three years of planning and construction.

Novotel Brisbane South Bank will be positioned on the southern banks of Brisbane River, surrounded by 17 hectares of lush parklands, stunning city views and world class eateries including the property’s very own modern Australian restaurant, Spice Central.

Matt Young, Vice President of Operations for Queensland and Northern Territory, says the hotel will be a progressive and attractive destination for travellers looking to experience the cultural and culinary mecca that Brisbane’s south side has become.

The $70 million hotel is set to increase economic impact and leisure in one of Brisbane’s high performing metropolitan markets.

The 238-room hotel is the first South Bank acquisition for the AccorHotels group and will create over 80 new jobs for the region.

The inaugural Fullerton Conours d’Elegance to headline the 90th anniversary celebration of the Fullerton Building

The inaugural Fullerton Concours d’Elegance, a three-day celebration, is set to transform The Fullerton Heritage precinct from 29th June to 1st July 2018.

Organised as the pinnacle event to mark the 90thanniversary of the iconic Fullerton Building, now home to The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, it offers visitors a diverse range of activities and experiences that embody the building’s rich heritage and the brand’s passion for luxury hospitality and lifestyle.

Anchoring the event will be a showcase of more than 90 vintage and classic cars, as well as supercars from around the world, taking visitors on a journey through time across  The Fullerton Heritage precinct.

Other highlights include gala dinners, live music performances, art and cultural exhibitions, workshops, family fun activities, luxury yacht displays and charity car convoys set against a panoramic view.

Singapore is now the seventh most popular international destination for Australians and continues to see an increasing number of visitors interested in its cuisine, traditions and architecture.

The Fullerton Concours d’Elegance will have something for everyone.

onefinestay opens its portfolio of homes to AccorHotels’ 42 million Le Club members

onefinestay, the world’s leading luxury private rental brand, has now enabled members of Le Club AccorHotels (LCAH) to spend their points on its portfolio of residences.

The 42 million LCAH card holders can now discover, book and enjoy 10,000 villas, chalets, apartments and historic homes, hand-selected by onefinestay, in 200 destinations around the world.

This means that Le Club cardholders can select to spend points like cash on booking stays with onefinestay, coordinating stays with Travel Advisors or via the site, and when a stay has been booked, Le Club members will be granted access to onefinestay’s Higher Living concierge service, further extending their membership benefits.

This new program further integrates onefinestay into the larger AccorHotels family, creating a special service that meets a growing customer segment that frequently travels for both business and leisure, and wants to stay in both hotels and private rentals.

A secluded paradise on the Turkish Riviera

On 15 April 2018, Amanruya will once again open the doors to its secluded spot on the scalloped Aegean coastline. The isolated resort, a  scenic  30-minute  drive from the bustling town of  Bodrum, rests in spacious seclusion on  60 acres of forested hillside,  overlooking its own private bay –a rare privilege on the Bodrum Peninsula. With flourishing pine forests, olive groves, the sound of cicada’s and the crystal clear warm waters of Bodrum Bay as its setting, Amanruya fulfils the promise of its name ‘peaceful dream’, providing guests with a serene retreat for a moment of peace surrounded by natural beauty.

The perfect complement to its natural setting,  Amanruya has the intimate and tranquil ambience of a  village modelled on a Mediterranean-cum-Ottoman patrician villa. Anentrance driveway meanders through a pine forest before revealing a first glimpse of the resort –a graceful collection of pavilions inspired by the region’s traditional Anatolian architecture, which blends traditional stone buildings with lush gardens. The resort’s olive groves and forest  slope  down,  giving  way  to  its  sun-kissed private pebble beach, whilst charming  courtyards  and  terraces enhance the village feel and provide a changing vista of the sea at every level.

Local materials including stone, terracotta, acajau wood and Turkish marble in neutral hues make for an almost ethereal feel, most evident in the evenings as the Aegean sun sets turning the walls a blush shade of pink. Amanruya’s accommodation is comprised of just 36 contemporary stone pavilions positioned amongst terraced gardens  scented  by thyme  and shaded  by  olive  trees.  True  to  the  Aman  design philosophy which  emphasises  generosity of space, all pavilions are spacious and free standing, featuring white marble floors, high mahogany ceilings and white Mugla, hammam-style bathrooms with skylights.

Novotel Melbourne South Wharf heralds new golden age in hotel development

The doors are open at Melbourne’s newest hotel – the $150 million ‘golden tower’ that is Novotel Melbourne South Wharf – a bold architectural statement showcasing the latest in contemporary hotel design.

Rising 26 storeys from its highly visible South Wharf location, construction of the hotel’s tall, relatively narrow form and panel-by-panel application of its distinctive golden façade has kept Melbournians guessing for months.

The striking hotel comprises 347 guestrooms and suites and is situated directly adjacent the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), which is undergoing a $350 million expansion to transform it into the largest facility of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

Upon entering the hotel, visitors can expect to see thoughtfully designed spaces by Woods Bagot, NH Architecture and interiors by Fender Katsalidis and Woods Bagot. The hotel joins other new Novotels globally, such as the brand’s flagship Canary Wharf property in London, to reflect the very latest in hotel and interior design trends.