The only thing we love more than typing up thousands of words about hotels is knowing we can’t afford to stay in half of them.

The Peninsula Hotels Festive Programme 2017

As Christmas comes closer and closer, The Peninsula Hotels have released their 2017 Festive offerings for magical, winter Christmas holiday experiences at some of the world’s most luxurious hotels.

Some of the key offerings and ideas are listed below:

• Festive themed luxury holiday escape accommodation packages for an unforgettable experience in New York or Paris
• Luxury family travel ideas and activities such as the Gingerbread House Decorating Class offered at The Peninsula New York
• Exclusive Christmas Day and New Year’s eve events at some of The Peninsula’s signature fine dining restaurants and rooftop venues
• The Peninsula Paris will transform into an enchanting traditional Christmas market wonderland with a luxurious Seafood Chalet and Champagne and vodka bar for a stunning European Christmas experience in Paris

Otahuna Lodge opens new Woodland Massage Studio

Leading South Island Relais & Châteaux property Otahuna Lodge has opened a new Woodland Massage Studio located in its historic grounds. At the Studio, guests can indulge in massage with therapists providing 60 or 90-minute treatments of different styles and pressures.

The secluded Studio is positioned in the property’s century-old gardens and offers sweeping views of wooded glades across to the neighbouring, volcanic Port Hills. The space was made from timber milled from the Estate and is the firstly entirely new building constructed at Otahuna in some 100 years.

Contemporary in design, the Studio provides a distinct yet complementary departure from the storied Queen Anne style of Otahuna’s celebrated 1895 homestead. Paying homage to the Studio’s woodland location, the building’s exterior is clad in Cedar while the interior provides a warm, welcoming refuge for clients to indulge in massage treatments by a dedicated team of therapists.

Sonoma County open for visitors

Most hospitality businesses in Sonoma County, California, are open and ready to receive visitors. “Our lush vineyards, hundreds of thriving wineries, stunning beaches, and ancient redwoods are here and most of them are open,” said Tim Zahner, interim CEO of Sonoma County Tourism.

Beloved institutions like Armstrong Redwoods, Bodega Head at Sonoma Coast, and the historic Sonoma Plaza remain.

The fires, which are mostly contained, were situated along Sonoma County’s eastern border and in the rugged mountains.

Many events throughout Sonoma County are happening as planned, check www.sonomacounty.com/events for more information.

Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel unveils new contemporary Thai inspired guestrooms

Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel has unveiled its new contemporary Thai inspired guestrooms, offering discerning leisure and business travellers even more luxurious style at the brand’s Thai flagship property.

Designed by Jeffrey A. Wilkes of LTW Designworks, who is recognised for his ability to blend cosmopolitan influences with tradition, the new interiors of the Deluxe and Premier guestrooms inject a fresh sense of luxury by infusing a more contemporary aesthetic, greeting guests with a subtle Thai character remaining true to the ethos of the Anantara brand.

Using elegant regional undertones, typical Asian details were eschewed with the design instead paying homage to Thai palaces that have been constructed with European influences. Thai silk has been used as wall panels to give a simple and elegant finish, a refined reflection of Thailand, and an antique map of Bangkok in the Deluxe rooms provides an interesting conversation piece.

AccorHotels third-quarter 2017 revenue results

On July 12, 2016, AccorHotels announced its intention to turn HotelInvest into a subsidiary and dispose of the majority of it, united under AccorInvest. In accordance with IFRS 5, the assets held for sale have been placed in a separate item on the balance sheet and in the income and cash flow statements. The 2017 data presented in this press release reflect this accounting treatment.

Accordingly, the Group is now structured around the following business lines:

– HotelServices, which houses the hotel franchisor and operator business, as well as activities related to hotel operations.

– New businesses, at this stage combining FastBooking, onefinestay and John Paul (previously part of HotelServices), as well as Availpro, VeryChic, TravelKeys and SquareBreak, consolidated since the current half-year.

– Hotel assets, which include HotelInvest assets not transferred to AccorInvest, mainly corresponding to Orbis, and hotels operated under lease agreements based on a percentage of EBITDAR (with no minimum guarantee, also known as management leases).

Seeing Double in Central Vietnam with Anantara Hoi An Resort and AVANI Quy Nhon Resort & Spa

Deciding between a holiday centred on cultural pursuits and one with maximum beach time can be a daunting task. Even more so when one’s destination is central Vietnam where heritage sites compete for attention with unspoiled beaches and indulgent spa treatments.

Enter a central Vietnam travel package from Anantara Hoi An and AVANI Quy Nhon that ticks all the cultural boxes without skimping on coastal treasures.

The ancient town of Hoi An – home to Anantara Hoi An Resort – offers a plethora of cultural activities ranging from ethnic festivals and contemporary art to centuries-old heritage wonders. Quy Nhon will woo with miles of unspoiled beaches, complete seclusion and a comprehensive spa experience.

Club Med partners with Garuda Indonesia to fly you to Bali

Club Med is proud to announce their latest partnership with Garuda Indonesia, offering Australian travellers great rates on packaged deals when you combine Club Med’s premium all-inclusive Bali resort and return flights to Bali and book before 20 November 2017.

The total package will offer Aussie travellers the chance to fly to Bali with the world’s best cabin crew, Garuda Indonesia, and escape to Club Med’s modern beachside resort, with prices starting from $1,997 for seven nights per adult, for travel between 1 November 2017 and 30 June 2018.

Club Med continues to provide hassle-free holiday experiences for travellers with this one-stop-shop offer of flights and premium all-inclusive package, meaning you won’t need to touch your wallet from the minute you take off.

Club Med’s truly all-inclusive packages include gourmet meals and snacks with international delicacies and traditional local cuisine, an open bar, a vast selection of activities, entertainment and kids clubs, in addition to accommodation and transfers – taking the planning out of holidays, so guests have more time for fun.

The search is on for Australia’s first W Insider

W Brisbane is on the hunt for Australia’s first W Insider, ahead of the highly anticipated hotel opening in early 2018. An integral role at all W Hotels, the W Insider connects guests to what’s new and next in their city, ensuring they have access to the freshest design, fashion and music experiences. To help uncover Australia’s top talent and the perfect person for the W Insider role, W Brisbane has joined forces with radio and TV personality Abby Coleman to launch the city’s first-of-a-kind casting call.

W Hotels turns the conventional hotel experience upside down, boldly colouring outside the lines of luxury wherever the iconic W sign lands. Next year will see the return of W to Australia, as the brand brings its provocative design and super-charged energy to the Sunshine State. The first five-star hotel to open in Brisbane’s CBD in twenty years, W Brisbane will provide backstage access to the city’s emerging talent, with the W Insider paving the way to ensure guests have the most incredible and memorable stay every time.

The search for Australia’s first W Insider will kick off on 17 October 2017. To be in the running, interested candidates need to prove they’ve got their finger on the pulse and know Brissy better than anyone else.

Thailand’s Iron Chef Winner to Helm Kitchens at Metropole Hanoi Vietnam’s most storied hotel appoints Paul Smart as new executive chef

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has named Australian Paul Smart as the hotel’s new executive chef. Prior to joining the landmark Hanoi property, Smart was the executive chef at SO Sofitel Bangkok for five years, where he was crowned winner of the Iron Chef Thailand TV program in 2012 and 2013.

As the hotel’s new executive chef, Smart will oversee operations at the French restaurant, Le Beaulieu; Vietnamese restaurant, Spices Garden; Italian eatery, Angelina; and in the hotel’s three bars, Bamboo Bar, La Terasse, and at the newly revamped, Le Club.

The Adelaide-native, who has worked in some of the world’s top kitchens on three continents, brings more than two decades of culinary experience to the historical property.

Aqua-Aston Hospitality’s fall line-up for traveling families, foodies, and folks who love art

With upgraded programming, events, and unique dining experiences, travelers have a lot to look forward to this fall when they stay with Aqua-Aston Hospitality’s managed hotels and resorts found in the Hawaiian Islands, the continental U.S., and Latin America. Here’s what’s new and noteworthy for the fall from one of Hawaii’s largest hotel and resort-condo operators.

• Each year, from November to May, humpback whales can be seen off Maui’s Kaanapali Coast making them one of West Maui’s most popular attractions
• Aqua Kauai Beach Resort’s versatile indoor meeting spaces, conference facilities and pre-function areas have recently undergone a sparkling refresh
• Volcano House and its signature restaurant, The Rim, are hosting their annual Thanksgiving Buffet on Nov. 23 from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m
• Known throughout Oahu for his Poke Stop restaurants, Maui-born Chef Elmer Guzman brings his specialty to the Luana Waikiki Hotel & Suites with his latest concept, Fish Hook Café
• Joining Aqua-Aston’s extensive roster of hotels and resorts are two eco-friendly properties, Crocodile Bay Resort and the future Botánika Osa Peninsula, Curio Collection by Hilton, both in Central America

TFE Hotels to open new Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane in heritage building

TFE Hotels will open the beautiful new Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane in a restored heritage building at 171 George Street in February 2018. It will have 220 apartments, and a signature restaurant and bar in the vast ground floor lobby space that celebrates its Art Deco origins.

Typical of the brand, the hotel will provide guests with the comforts of home, offering spacious apartments with their own kitchen, laundry and living room, or studios with kitchenettes, all with full hotel services including 24-hour reception and a fitness centre with excellent gym equipment and a pool.

The team has maintained the integrity of the building through a respectful restoration process that pays tribute to its history and impressive architecture, which formed the inspiration and influence for internal features and furnishings. From the moment guests step inside they will be struck by the impressive double height decorative ceilings with ornate ceiling roses, and the original timber panelled walls that reflect the opulence of when the building was first constructed more than a century ago.

The Anchorage to re-launch in Port Stephens after multi-million-dollar renovation

Five-star luxury resort The Anchorage, set on the idyllic waters of Port Stephens in New South Wales, is set to relaunch in late November 2017 after an 18-month, multi-million-dollar renovation, modernising the hotel into a class of its own, destined for global acclaim as one of Australia’s finest beachfront holiday destinations.

The update took place after The Wests Group acquired the 25-year-old property, previously Peppers Anchorage Port Stephens, commencing a thoughtfully-planned, total refurbishment of all existing accommodation and public spaces, as well as the addition of a myriad of new, luxury facilities.

Majestically positioned where the Pacific Ocean meets the Great Southern Land, The Anchorage is one of Australia’s most inspirational seaside destinations, with eight individual Hamptons’ style structures sitting perfectly between the cliff side and the ocean.

Conveniently located just 2.5 hours north of Sydney and 30 minutes from Newcastle Airport, the hotel and spa offers relaxed waterfront accommodation, beautiful dining, leisure and conference spaces.

AVANI to introduce its first villa concept with the opening of AVANI Sunset Coast Samui Resort & Villas in September 2018

AVANI Hotels & Resorts, the international upscale lifestyle brand from Minor Hotels, known for its appeal to millennial minded travellers, Design for Living spaces and commitment to honest food, will be introducing its first Villa concept when AVANI Sunset Coast Samui Resort & Villas opens in September 2018.

Located within a cove on the unspoiled southeast coast of Koh Samui, on a secluded beach in Pang Kha Bay, the 58 key resort will offer dazzling sea views and a relaxed vibe for holidaymakers.

AVANI Sunset Coast Samui Resort & Villas will have 25 AVANI Rooms, 27 AVANI One Bedroom Pool Villas, two AVANI One Bedroom Beachfront Pool Villas and four AVANI Two Bedroom Beachfront Pool Villas. The new upscale resort will offer a beach restaurant and bar, an all-day dining restaurant, AVANIFIT gym, AVANI Pantry, a Watersports Centre and two swimming pools.

Best Hotel Award for Edgewater

Edgewater was the winner of the Sleepyhead Commercial Best Hotel at Hospitality New Zealand’s Awards for Excellence, which were held at a gala dinner in Wellington last Thursday (19th October) evening.

The judges noted the warm Southern hospitality and genuine interest in guests shown by Edgewater’s staff as key contributing factors in selecting the hotel as the winner, following a nationwide search.

Over the last two years there has been an active programme of refurbishment including all 103 guest rooms, the Wineglass Café, the Pavilion wedding and event venue, lobby areas and a completely new kitchen. Business results have been strong and forward bookings would suggest this coming summer will also be extremely busy.

It was the first time Edgewater entered this category in Hospitality New Zealand’s awards and Mike acknowledged the high calibre of other entrants and finalists.

Tangalooma donates $7,500 to kids cancer research on back of best whale watching season yet

To wrap up what has been a huge and record breaking whale watching season at Tangalooma, the team came together today to farewell the magnificent marine giants, presenting the Kids’ Cancer Project (TKCP) with a donation of $7,500!

For the second year running, Tangalooma Island Resort partnered with TKCP, donating five dollars for every whale sighted from Tangalooma’s whale watching vessel, the Tangalooma Jet. This money has made a significant different to the non-for-profit, enabling them to invest more resources into the 24 scientific studies they have been carrying out nation-wide over the past two years.

This partnership is a true display of community and common goals, and continues to strengthen year on year!

Art Series Hotel Group’s eighth property, The Chen, to open 22 November

Art Series Hotel Group will open their eighth art inspired hotel on November 22nd in the burgeoning Melbourne suburb of Box Hill. Named after and inspired by Chinese Australian artist Zhong Chen, the hotel will reflect his fun and relaxed persona and be dedicated to the ‘Art of Joyful Journeys’. The Chen will reflect and celebrate the ethnic diversity of Box Hill, with Chen’s bold art representing his own transcultural identity.

Chen arrived in Adelaide from China at the age of eighteen. Born in Zhongshan, Chen’s first taste of art was through the lens of traditional Chinese calligraphy and from there his range of influences span cultural histories from China, Australia, Germany, USA and the UK. In his art we see a playful, gestural style using watercolour, oil and acrylic to create bold black outlines that provide a marked contrast to the softer pastel tones that are unevenly absorbed through the paper.

Providing a contemporary accommodation in Melbourne’s flourishing Box Hill, The Chen has been crafted with the unique art inspired touch points that Art Series Hotels are celebrated for. Featuring 100 intelligently designed hotel suites in muted grey tones with pops of pastel pinks and blues that are all complemented with Chen’s vibrant Digital Archival Fine Art Editions.

Louis T Collection and H&M Capital reposition Perth’s New Esplanade Hotel  

The New Esplanade Hotel, the successor to the storied old Esplanade hotel that fell to the wrecking ball in the early 1970’s, is embarking on a renovation and repositioning that will reestablish its position as a vibrant link on Perth’s Elizabeth Quay.

The hotel’s new management company, Louis T Collection, and owners H&M Capital Pty Ltd, have commissioned a diverse team of architects and designers to carry out a revitalisation of the property that will breathe new life into its interiors, enabling it to reclaim its position among Perth’s best hotels.

The current 67-room property was built adjacent to the site of the original Esplanade Hotel, which opened in 1898 and was demolished in 1972. A popular and architecturally significant landmark in its time, the Esplanade was an important social gathering spot, featuring a formal dining room and bustling saloon style bar.

Although design plans are still in early stages, the project team will stay true to the laid-back vibe of Western Australia, incorporating local style and craftsmanship into both the interior and exterior of the property. As a result of the extensive remodeling, the team plans to elevate the hotel to provide a more boutique luxurious feel which provides a taste of real Australian hospitality.

Oman Set To Host UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture

The second UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture will be held in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, 11 – 12 December 2017, bringing together Ministers of Tourism and Ministers of Culture as well as private sector stakeholders and experts with the objective of building and strengthening partnerships between the Tourism and Culture sectors.

The United Nations has declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, thereby offering a unique opportunity to explore and highlight tourism’s potential to help transform the world into a place of prosperity and wellbeing for all.

According to the UNWTO, with tourism on the increase right across the globe and an increasing demand for cultural tourism, it is import to identify key opportunities and obstacles for a stronger cooperation between tourism and culture and to discuss sustainable development that strengthens socio-economic links and reinforces mutual engagement in the promotion, protection and safeguarding of culture and heritage.

Six Senses Shaharut to showcase the rich biblical heritage of ancient Negev Desert’s Arava Valley

Fascinating, enchanting and of biblical proportions, the Negev Desert is the epitome of desert landscapes. It is on this boundless horizon often described as the nexus of heaven and earth that Six Senses Shaharut is nestled into a dramatic cliff at one with the almost-supernatural panorama, where sunsets meld into the orange dunes to become an inky sky scattered with stardust.

This inspired location named Shaharut, which translates as the moment just before dawn, adds yet another dimension to the portfolio of incredible natural settings that Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas calls home. History abounds in this region, home to the ancient Midianites and their fascinating tribe people.

To the south of the Negev Desert, which covers more than half of Israel, at the Arava Valley, is the small community of Shaharut, where traditional desert hospitality is expressed by generosity of spirit. This is the site of Six Senses Shaharut, just 58 suites and villas occupying a footprint of approximately 46 acres (18 hectares) including a Six Senses Spa.

Spend two deliriously luxurious nights at MONA in Hobart

Daily Review thanks its readers for the support they have shown in the past year in producing independent arts journalism at a time when arts coverage has been declining in mainstream media.

If you have thought about assisting us but haven’t got around to it, then now is the perfect opportunity!

For $14.50 you will be mailed our first ever magazine edition of the Daily Review — and every purchase wins a chance to win two nights for two people with breakfast at the MONA Pavilions, and multiple entry to David Walsh’s extraordinary Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart, a two-minute walk from your luxurious den.

New hotel coming to the Disneyland Resort in California in 2021

For the first time in almost two decades, Disneyland Resort in California will open a new hotel! Set to open in 2021, this hotel will transform the west end of the Downtown Disney District and anchor a new gateway to the Disneyland Resort.

The stunning 700-room hotel will feature a sophisticated design with extensive landscaping and water elements creating a resort oasis, showcasing nature on every level of the hotel. The hotel’s location embraces the iconic Disneyland Monorail with a dedicated platform inside the hotel for direct transport into Disneyland Park.

Guest rooms, public spaces and gardens will provide views of the Downtown Disney District. In addition, an upper-level restaurant and lounge will give guests a view of the popular Disneyland Park fireworks.

Construction is scheduled to start in summer 2018, with a grand opening slated for 2021.

Amora Hotel Riverwalk Melbourne has installed two Tesla High Power Wall Connectors in an effort to minimise its carbon footprint and welcome emerging technology.

At the Richmond Hotel, guests can plug in when they arrive and their Tesla will be charged by morning.

Tesla partners with hotels, resorts, and restaurants around the world to offer its High Power Connectors as an amenity for visitors, allowing them to charge their Tesla at locations where they want to stay for several hours.

Amora Hotel Riverwalk Melbourne and other Tesla Destination Charging Locations are hosted on Tesla’s interactive webpage, and users are now able to use the touchscreen to easily plan trips and locate the property.