Big Fat Hotel Wrap

Big Fat Hotel Wrap

Today’s Hotel Wrap is almost as exciting as having an open mini-bar. Just kidding, it’s nowhere near that exciting.

Come to Kakadu and celebrate the ‘Year of the Croc’ – world famous Crocodile Hotel announces 30th anniversary packages

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The Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel in Jabiru – or ‘The Croc’ as it is known locally – is celebrating its 30th anniversary in October and has designed a number of packages for lovers of the outback to celebrate the anniversary in style. The anniversary will involve a gala dinner on 26 October, with dinner and accommodation packages released for the event.

Often said to be “the only croc you want to end up inside”, the hotel’s unique design was selected because of the crocodile’s cultural significance to Kakadu’s Gagudju people and the great respect the crocodile commands in their past and present lives. Ginga, the giant crocodile, is a spirit ancestor of the Gagudju people.

Located in the township of Jabiru, The Croc’s debut in 1988 opened up the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park to modern tourism, with the hotel launch building on the success of Crocodile Dundee (1986), which helped put Kakadu and its crocodiles on the international tourist map.

The hotel is built as a 250-metre long, 30-metre wide giant crocodile. The circular parking areas represent crocodile eggs; the hotel entrance is its gaping jaws with menacing teeth. Ventilation units are housed within the crocodile’s slatted yellow eyes, which glow red at night. The head section of the hotel incorporates reception, an expansive marble foyer – a cool green oasis – the Escarpment Restaurant and Bar, gift shop, internet kiosk and the renowned Ochre Aboriginal art gallery.

TFE Hotels partners with innovative start-up Leezair

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TFE Hotels has joined forces with groundbreaking Australian tech start-up Leezair to help guests turn each hotel stay into an adventure they will remember for life – with activities such as swimming with whale sharks at Ningaloo or touring Melbourne’s hidden bars.

Leezair is making waves in the travel industry with its innovative app and website, which make it easy to find and book memorable holiday activities, even while on the road. With almost 100,000 activities across the world, Leezair believes that adventure and experiences are what make life extraordinary.

TFE Hotels’ guests can now truly immerse themselves in their destination via an array of curated tours, day trips and events, all bookable without leaving the TFE Hotels website.

Leezair says that recent research on consumer booking behaviour shows that travellers often like to plan their holiday activities once they arrive at their destination. Leezair allows travellers to make last minute bookings in real time, securing their reservation and make payment in one easy process.

Westin set for Queensland debut with November opening in Brisbane

Westin Pool Deck

The highly anticipated The Westin Brisbane, part of Marriott International, will open its doors on 8 November 2018, revealing a unique urban retreat for the river city. The hotel is the first for the Westin brand in Queensland, and will bring a superior level of health and wellness offerings, four superb dining outlets and resort style facilities to the Brisbane CBD.

The Westin Brisbane has a prime location within walking distance of the Queen Street Mall, Eagle Street Pier, the Botanic Gardens and the South Bank Parklands and arts precinct, and offers 299 guest rooms, each with sweeping views of the city skyline. A Westin Club Lounge is also available to guests staying on designated club floors. Guests will enjoy signature Westin services and amenities, such as the world-renowned Heavenly Bed and invigorating Heavenly Bath experience.

In keeping with the Westin’s philosophy to incorporate natural surroundings into even the most urban of its developments, The Westin Brisbane showcases floor to ceiling windows throughout its various venues, creating an abundance of natural light and merging the outdoor surroundings with the interior decor.

Karma Spa at Karma Kandara launches several spa spaces around the flagship resort

Karma Spa at Karma Kandara is the brand’s flagship spa, redefining the concept of nourishing, healing and nurturing in one of the world’s most beautiful locations. The Spa is now expanding to offer several unique wellness spaces in settings that range from the sands of Karma Kandara’s private beach to a majestic cliff top overlooking the uninterrupted expanse of the Indian Ocean and we thought this would be of interest to you and your readers.

The Cliff Spa consists of traditional thatched-roof bales set into rugged limestone cliffs with 180-degree ocean views. A focus here is on the detox process with the centerpiece being the Cliff Sauna Experience, an open-air Infrared Detox Sauna and Soaking Pool. Down the newly renovated hill tram is Karma Beach, the resort’s private beach and location of the new Ocean ‘Segara’ Spa in an old reclaimed fisherman’s hut.

Guests can experience sea-infused cures, soothed by the sounds of lapping waves. At the nearby seaside Yoga Bale, guests can enjoy complimentary Yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates sessions and learn Muay Thai Boxing, as well as Sunday Thai Massages in the open-air bale overlooking the ocean.

Baillie Lodges reveals new-look Capella Lodge on Lord Howe Island

Capella Lodge - Image Credit Rhiannon Taylor

Lord Howe Island’s most sought-after luxury accommodation Capella Lodge has reopened this week following a four-month, $4million refurbishment by Baillie Lodges.

The new-look Capella includes a refreshment for each of its nine luxury suites, with significant additions to the Makambo Loft and Catalina Suite. The Capella Spa has been reimagined in a loft setting overlooking the ocean, while additions in the main lodge include a teak-clad bar in a nod to the island’s seafaring heritage as well as new furniture and soft furnishings which together create a more contemporary Lord Howe feel.

With spectacular views of the island’s dramatic twin peaks Mount Gower and Lidgbird, the premium Makambo Loft now features extensive outdoor decks offering several lounging options, while a new heated plunge pool and private canopied daybed are ideal for relaxing in the afternoon breeze.

Best-suited to families or friends holidaying together, the Catalina Suite has a light and spacious loft addition, now offering two bedrooms and two bathrooms with flexible bedding. An expanded deck features new outdoor lounging and a generous hot tub. Meanwhile the Lagoon Lofts have extended outdoor decks with day beds and hot tubs for enjoying the island’s perpetual spring.

Akaryn Hotel Group reveals international expansion strategy for sustainability-driven boutique brand, Akyra

AKARYN Hotel Group, Thailand’s home-grown luxury boutique resort specialist, has unveiled plans for the significant expansion of akyra, its hip and sustainable lifestyle brand – including its first ever international hotels.

akyra currently operates four contemporary hotels and resorts in Thailand. These include akyra Manor Chiang Mai, a 30-suite luxury boutique hotel with outdoor hot tubs and a spectacular sky bar RISE, set in the city’s buzzing Nimmenhaemin district; akyra Beach Club Phuket, a stylish seafront lifestyle chill-out experience with 58 suites on Natai beach; and the 148-key akyra Thonglor Bangkok, a chic urban retreat in the Thai capital’s trendiest neighbourhood.

The most recent addition to the collection, akyra TAS Sukhumvit Bangkok, opened in May 2018, providing 50 sleek and spacious rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, a RISE rooftop bar and Siam Soul Café overlooking the bustling streets of Bangkok’s downtown business and entertainment district.

Friends Fur-ever Moonee Beach Doggy Date Night a barking success! 

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It was a dog’s life at Reflections Holiday Parks Moonee Beach this past weekend with the park’s inaugural ‘Doggy Date Night’ attracting over 100 visitors with their canine companions and raising more than $2,000 to support the RSPCA service at Coffs Harbour.

The community event, held on Saturday evening in conjunction with RSPCA NSW, raised a total of $2,196 after local business, Sawtell Kitchen Centre, generously matched monies raised. The local Rural Fire Service was also on hand with a sausage sizzle to raise funds for NSW Farmers doing it tough.

Park Manager Kelly Shaw said the community event received much positive feedback and plans were in the pipeline to make the popular initiative an annual event.

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