Looking to cure your post-hump day blues with something other than a bottle of vodka or a block of Cadbury Top Deck? Feel instantly better with our Hotel Wrap!

YTL Hotels and Marriott International to bring AC Hotels by Marriott brand to Malaysia

YTL Hotels and Marriott International today announced the signing of a Master Development Agreement to bring the AC Hotels by Marriott brand to Malaysia for the first time.

The AC Hotels by Marriott brand will be exclusive to YTL Hotels for the whole of Malaysia, while the signing of this agreement is one of many key milestones in the partnership between YTL Hotels and Marriott International as it continues to grow from strength to strength.

AC Hotels by Marriott embraces European design and style across its international portfolio of distinctive properties in Europe and North and Latin America.

New luxury hotel brand launches in Cape Town

LABOTESSA, a 17th-century congressional church turned lifestyle hotel, has opened its doors to the public. Originally built in the early 1700s, the intimate, seven-room property is one of the oldest buildings in South Africa and the debut project in the LABOTESSA portfolio by hoteliers Jan Fourie and Johan du Plessis.

The hotel is found in the Cape Town CBD on Church Square, and was inspired by the opportunity to meld heritage and old-world elegance with visionary new world design.

Situated in a restored landmark structure in the heart of the city, LABOTESSA is the only hotel on the historic Church Square in Cape Town. The lifestyle property blends luxury and personal service with the independence of residential living.

Each of the hotel’s seven spacious suites features private elevator access, Juliet balcony and sweeping views of Lion’s Head and Table Mountain.

Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi unveils new underwater art installation

Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi has unveiled a series of new sculptures within the Coralarium – the Maldives’ first and only coral regeneration project in the form of an underwater art installation.

Conceptualised by celebrated British environmentalist and eco-artist, Jason deCaires Taylor, the abstract sculptures are inspired by the natural beauty of the coral reef and have been designed to imitate the ethereal formation of coral colonies.

Rising from ten, semi-submerged plinths within the Coralarium, the installation aims to raise awareness of the threatened ecosystem, educate guests about the underwater world and rehabilitate the reef. Rising from the sea into the sky, the tessellated sculptures act as a visual connector between the aquatic world, and the land.

Vakkaru Maldives’ festive season offer

Vakkaru Maldives, an island retreat located within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll, is inviting guests to be part of a memorable festive season with a jam-packed program and unbeatable offer.

To celebrate Christmas, the resort has launched a Festive Tradition Offer, allowing guests who book direct to enjoy an irresistible, “never-before-seen” discount available for stays from 21 December 2019 until 6 January 2020.

Guests who stay during the festive season can look forward to an array of culinary experiences, lively entertainment, exciting recreational and rejuvenating wellness activities for all to enjoy.

Prince Hotels and Resorts extends luxury to Australian snow-chasers

Prince Hotels and Resorts has reported an “unprecedented” number of Australians checking into its properties over the last year, with more than 25,000 people visiting their Japanese properties.

This represents a 129 per cent increase in Australian visitation for the hotel and leisure company during the winter ski season, with properties located in key tourism areas including Furano, Naeba and Shizukuishi.

The Okura Tokyo opens after four-year rebuild

The Okura Tokyo, the new flagship hotel of Hotel Okura Co., Ltd, has opened its doors to the public after closing in 2015.

The original Hotel Okura Tokyo opened in 1962 as a first-class hotel that closed its doors in August 2015 ahead of four years of rebuilding work.

The Okura Tokyo is the highest-branded property of the Hotel Okura group. It reprises the former Hotel Okura Tokyo’s famed traditional Japanese beauty as well as its cherished simplicity and elegance to offer a new combination of “traditional luxury – The Okura Heritage” and “contemporary luxury – The Okura Prestige”, according to the hotel.

The creation of two separate properties reflects the company’s strategy to evolve its room branding into two differentiated categories.

Schwartz signs all of group’s hotels to Accommodation Association of Australia

Image: Supplied by Accommodation Association of Australia

The Schwartz Family Company has signed its extensive portfolio of hotels to the Accommodation Association of Australia (AAoA), in recognition of the need for a united voice for the Accommodation industry.

“It is very important for the hotel industry to have a strong voice to represent its interests to Government and other relevant sectors, which is why I have agreed for my 14 hotels to join the AAoA”, Jerry Schwartz (pictured) said in a statement.

The Vines celebrates 30th birthday

In 1996, the Novotel Hotel opened its doors allowing The Vines – a golf course – to migrate to a fully integrated resort, with luxury hotel rooms, and pool and spa.

To celebrate 30 years, The Novotel Vines Resort is offering several 30^th birthday deals, including:

1. Stay overnight with The Vines’ all-inclusive package for $120 per night which includes $30 per person (twin share) for a Resort King room and a $30 per person buffet breakfast at Muscats Restaurant. Available for stays Sunday to Friday. To stay on a Saturday night or Sunday on the long weekend it’s just a $30 surcharge per room, all-inclusive package just $150 per night
2. Play 18 holes on The Lakes course in the next 30 days and receive 30 per cent off your green fees and buggy. Tee off with your golfing mates for an enjoyable 18 holes on the famous Lakes course for just $70 per person (normally $100pp).

For full details on the 30th birthday offers online, visit www.vines.com.au/vines30

TAA NSW Market and Economic Outlook summit looks at skills shortage

The on-going jobs and skills shortage was among the major issues discussed at the TAA NSW Market and Economic Outlook summit recently.

More than 150 hotel and accommodation representatives attended the bi-annual seminar at Rydges World Square.

Deloitte’s Adele Labine-Romain gave an overview of current tourism statistics and areas of growth and decline and the potential impact on occupancy rates going forward. While the China market has flattened the Indian market has seen strong growth. International visitor trips are forecast to grow by 6.2 percent and visitor nights by 5.9 percent on average each year over the next three years.

Soneva partners with Parley for World Cleanup Day 2019

On the 21st of September 2019, world-leading luxury resort group Soneva is joining one of the world’s biggest civil movements, World Cleanup Day.

At Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, 500 students, along with the Soneva Fushi Eco Centro team, will participate in the coastal clean-up where waste will be separated, and all ocean plastic will be given to Parley who will upcycle it into clothing.

Soneva’s second Maldivian resort, Soneva Jani, will host a clean-up on the nearby Manadhoo island and Soneva Kiri in Thailand plans to involve hosts and resort guests in cleaning up the local coastal area.

Westin partners with Tim Robards to support guests’ Melbourne Marathon journey

Westin Hotels & Resorts has joined forces with fitness expert Tim Robards to empower and support Marriott Bonvoy travel program members to achieve their running goals at this year’s Melbourne Marathon Festival (13 October).

Together with Robards, Westin has developed the Melbourne Marathon Training Packages, which are now available through the Marriott Bonvoy Moments platform.

Broken Heel Festival hosts divas at brand new outback NSW resort

More than 200 revellers at the fifth annual Broken Heel Festival in outback NSW gathered at the newly opened Broken Hill Outback Resort on Monday this week for the official ‘After Party’.

The resort, on the outskirts of the far west NSW city, supported the colourful festival, which celebrates the starring role the town played in the iconic Australian film, ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’.  The festival featured three days of drag, divas, disco, and dress-ups in the desert.

On Monday, festival ‘heelers’ enjoyed lunch and music at the Broken Hill Outback Resort and booked out all the resort’s 75 camp spots and 12 deluxe king spa apartments, which surround a historic hotel fully restored by the resort’s owners, Out of the Ordinary Outback.

Club Wyndham Sydney to feature one of Australia’s largest murals

One of Australia’s largest murals will soon adorn the façade of the Club Wyndham Sydney building, with a 14-storey artwork announced for the inner-city hotel, located on the corner of Goulburn and Wentworth streets.

According to Club Wyndham, the mural will feature the faces of a man and woman “from the 1940s, as a nod to the World War II news reels and movies from Hollywood that were first screened at the nearby Surry Hills Paramount Theatre before they were released into the Australian market”.