This hotel wrap is taller than some of the hotels in it. Yes, we got out the measuring tape and everything. Obviously.

Swapping his Beach Kitchen for bountiful Red Hill

Recently refurbished luxury boutique hotel Lindenderry at Red Hill will be showing off its multi-million dollar facelift to attentive food lovers with the announcement of their Gourmet Weekend hosted by guest chef Ben Devlin from the renowned Paper Daisy restaurant at Halcyon House.

Running from Friday 18th May until Sunday 20th May, the epicurean getaway will allow guests to learn culinary skills from one of the hottest young chefs in Australia with an intimate masterclass with Ben Devlin, as well as enjoy cocktails and canapes overlooking the breathtaking Lindenderry vineyard and indulge in a one-of-a-kind four-course dinner with paired wines by Ben Devlin and the team from Lindenderry’s Dining Room.

With a stunning refurbishment by Hecker Guthrie, the Lindenderry Dining Room re-launched in January to overwhelming praise. Offering a similar simple yet sophisticated approach to food as Ben Devlin, executive chef Paul Withington (formerly London Soho House, Port Phillip Estate) has injected new flare with a menu that celebrates the best regional produce. In this exclusive Gourmet Weekend, guests will get a taste of Witherington’s style and experience food created by one of Australia’s best regional chefs, Ben Devlin.

Crowne Plaza installs Tesla Destination Chargers across entire hotel network

IHG’s (InterContinental Hotels Group) Crowne Plaza hotels are the first hotel network to install Tesla Destination Chargers at all of their properties across Australasia, connecting 13 properties with cutting-edge technology for a growing customer segment.

Tesla owners can now travel throughout NSW, VIC, ACT, WA, QLD and New Zealand with peace of mind knowing that multiple Crowne Plaza properties across the region will keep them fully charged and ready to hit the road. This is one of many innovative amenities that allow IHG customers to customise their stay.

Tesla owners can plug in and top up their battery while enjoying hotel facilities, event spaces or staying overnight.

Tesla Destination Chargers are available at all Crowne Plaza hotels including Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach, Crowne Plaza Terrigal, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley, Crowne Plaza Newcastle, Crowne Plaza Melbourne, Crowne Plaza Canberra, Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise, Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters, Crowne Plaza Perth, Crowne Plaza Auckland, Crowne Plaza Christchurch and Crowne Plaza Queenstown.

Santiburi Koh Samui unveils new grand reserve pool villas, creating a ‘luxury resort within a resort’

Santiburi Koh Samui, the elegant luxury retreat and leisure resort on Koh Samui’s pristine north shore, is ushering in a new era of refined private living with the launch of its spectacular Grand Reserve Pool Villas.

The 19 Grand Reserve Pool Villas are the newest addition to the top-level room categories at Santiburi Koh Samui, joining the Grand Deluxe Pool Villas and Deluxe Beachfront Villas to extend the resort’s premium accommodation choices.

The new additions create a “luxury resort within a resort”, offering couples or families the highest possible standards of bespoke comfort.

Nestled within their own walled tropical gardens, each Grand Reserve Pool Villa covers an expansive 250 square metres and is blessed with a private pool, contemporary interior design, custom lighting schemes and plush designer furnishings.

AVANI announces the new upscale brand extension ‘AVANI+’ with the launch of AVANI+ Luang Prabang

AVANI Hotels & Resorts is delighted to announce a new brand extension, AVANI+, with the launch of its first hotel in Luang Prabang on March 1, 2018. Launched in 2011, AVANI is one of the fastest-growing brands to come out of Asia, currently operating over 3,800 keys in 15 countries across multiple regions and with a further 3,000 new keys in the pipeline. The AVANI+ portfolio will encompass a selection of hotels and resorts showcasing the next-level in style, design and facilities.

Each AVANI+ will tell its own unique story so that guests will discover a little something extra, from architecture to design to location and beyond. AVANI+ Luang Prabang (www.avanihotels.com/luang-prabang) promises to offer all that millennial minded travellers would expect when visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Laos.

This individually crafted AVANI+ blend continues through to reimagined dining concepts with specialty restaurants and rooftop or al fresco bar concepts. In addition, AVANI+ will introduce guests to the destination through the digital space experience for modern explorers, giving traveller’s insight into local culture, cool hotspots and travel tips about urban cities and in some cases, off-the-beaten track destinations.

Mistere Spa and Retreat – Urliup launches in the serenity and peace of NSW’s Tweed
March 8 2018

Birdcalls break the silence of this magical retreat set amidst 130 acres of pristine rainforest. Stress is released with the gentle sounds of cascading waterfalls a part of Mistere’s magical backdrop, and a host to exotic parrots and other birdlife. This secluded sanctuary offers stunning views over the rainforest with the ocean on the horizon. Set just thirty minutes’ drive from the Gold Coast International Airport and less than ten minutes from the café life of Murwillumbah, this is a perfect place to disappear from life’s stresses for a few days.

Three one-bedroom villas are nestled discretely into this bush paradise offer everything you’d expect from five-star accommodation. Stylishly decorated using a neutral colour palette borrowing from the hinterland surrounds, each has a spacious kitchenette/dining area that transforms into an al fresco deck. There is an open-plan bedroom/living area with 50-inch flat-screen TV, and a full-size bathroom with an indulgent rainfall shower and double chromotherapy spa bath.

The grounds are home to a plethora of trails which surprise with dramatic sculptures including a life sized rhino and brolgas dancing on a lily pond. The zen garden hosts a large Buddha looking out to the verdant valley below.

Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders’ newly refurbished rooms bring the joy of travel to the city

Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders has completed the refurbishment of all its guest rooms, bathrooms and suites, giving travellers to the city a fresh, joyful hotel experience in the heart of the city.

Each room was completely gutted to create a blank canvas for the architect to design a room with the modern traveller in mind. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the striking new interiors, with electronically switched block out blinds which can be controlled by the bedside.

The bathroom, luggage rack and wardrobe have been purposely designed outside the bedroom space, giving guests more of a ‘living room’ feeling while relaxing on new Holiday Inn® pillow top beds. Large HD TVs have been integrated into a stylish wall panel with HDMI and USB connectivity, allowing travellers to connect with free WIFI to their favourite digital content.

Radisson Hotel Group in Asia Pacific celebrates International Women’s Day

Radisson Hotel Group, one of the world’s leading global hospitality companies, celebrates International Women’s Day in Asia Pacific, reaffirming its commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment by appointing some of the industry’s brightest female talents to senior leadership roles.

Katerina Giannouka was appointed as the Group’s President for Asia Pacific last December. A dedicated, dynamic and passionate hospitality professional, Katerina’s role is to propel the strategic growth of the region and expand underlying business operations in Asia Pacific.

Also on the company’s Asia Pacific executive committee is Camilla Chiam, Radisson Hotel Group’s Vice President of Communications, Public Relations and Brands for Asia Pacific. She leads a team focused on developing and implementing strategies to increase the visibility and elevate the profile of Radisson Hotel Group and its hotel brands, supporting the Group’s expansion in Asia Pacific.

Frasers Hospitality doubles Middle East Portfolio

Frasers Hospitality, a member of Frasers Property Group, announced new openings in Saudi Arabia and Oman in 2018. The recent opening of Fraser Suites Riyadh and soon-to-open Fraser Suites Muscat join existing properties Fraser Suites Seef, Bahrain, Fraser Suites Diplomatic Area Bahrain, Fraser Suites Doha, Fraser Suites West Bay, Doha and Fraser Suites Dubai.

With three more properties planned in Dubai, one in Jeddah, one in Al Khobar and one in Kuwait, Frasers Hospitality is set to double its footprint in the region to 13 properties over the next few years.

From now till 2020, the top three business travel markets in the Middle East are expected to be the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar1. Bahrain is also drawing large numbers of business tourists due to its hosting of conferences such as the World Islamic Banking Conference.

In a first for Saudi Arabia, the kingdom is planning to issue tourist visas from April as it pushes ahead with major economic and social reforms. A massive tourism project along its Red Sea coastline is also on the cards.

AVANI Hotels & Resorts continues expansion in Australia with development of AVANI Central Melbourne Residences

Minor Hotels, today announces the development of AVANI Central Melbourne Residences, its second AVANI Hotels & Resorts property in Australia. Due to be fully completed in August this year, the 456-room building further strengthens AVANI’s footprint in Australia, having launched its first property, AVANI Broadbeach Gold Coast Residences, last December.

The 55-story building will draw inspiration from the brands distinct young, contemporary design. Strategically located in the northern part of Melbourne’s CBD, AVANI Central Melbourne Residences will be situated close to the Melbourne Central railway station and a short distance away from the Queen Victoria Markets.

Melbourne’s exceptional public transport network also places AVANI Central Melbourne Residences within easy reach of all city fringe areas including the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Etihad Stadium, St Kilda Road, Southbank and Docklands.

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve partners with Ynot Concepts to market Grootbos in the Australian and New Zealand markets

Grootbos is excited to announce a collaboration with Ynot Concepts. Ynot Concepts will assist in the sales and marketing of the Grootbos Private Nature reserve in the Australian and New Zealand markets.

The Grootbos Private Nature Reserve is a luxury eco-reserve on 2,750 hectares of pristine Cape fynbos, close to the Southern tip of Africa and only two hours from Cape Town. The reserve comprises over 100 endangered plant species, over 800 plant species and the Marine Big Five (Southern Right Whales, Great White Sharks, African Penguins, Cape Fur Seals and Dolphins).

Tucked between mountains, forestandsea withbreath-taking vistas over Walker Bay, Grootbos boasts three exceptional accommodation offerings:

• Garden Lodge with 11 luxury free standing suites
• Forest Lodge with 16 luxury free standing suites
• Private Villas, two exclusive luxury villas with a dedicated guide and chef

Hilton Sydney unveils $1.5 million glass brasserie refurbishment

Hilton Sydney has unveiled an impressive $1.5 million kitchen refurbishment of Luke Mangan’s hatted restaurant glass brasserie.

Designed by The Rohrig Group and A+ Design Group, the refurbishments have created an open kitchen and chef’s table with an evocative and layered interior, featuring highly figured dark granite juxtaposed against pristine white porcelain slabs. In addition, the extensive commercial cooking equipment was custom built to suit the restaurant’s specific requirements.

Operating for both buffet and A la carte dining, the refurbished open plan design provides patrons with sweeping views of the state of the art kitchen, creating a unique atmosphere and heightened experience for diners.

Stay at Fraser Place Melbourne during March madness

During Melbourne’s big month of events, Fraser Place Melbourne are offering complimentary breakfast for those who book between 10 March – 30 April using promo code MARCH.

Whether travellers are in the need for speed at the Formula One Grand Prix (22 – 25 March), a bag of laughs at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (28 March – 22 April) or want to smell the roses at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (21-25 March), Fraser Place Melbourne is the perfect base to be in the heart of all the action.

Located in Exploration Lane, this boutique CBD hotel is within walking distance to major venues like the Royal Exhibition Building and The Comedy Theatre. Its great location offers a range of dining options within walking distance such as Chinatown and Melbourne’s famous cafes, wine bars and restaurants which are dotted around the city.

The special March promotion also coincides with the Easter long weekend so is perfect for those wanting to spend their holiday time exploring the city of Melbourne.

Soneva Celebrates Easter in Style with 2018 Easter Programme

Soneva, the world-leading luxury resort operator, has announced details of its Easter programme across its three properties in the Maldives and Thailand, featuring Michelin Starred dining, exquisite wine tastings, and a focus on family-friendly activities. The World’s Greatest Easter Egg Hunt continues this year at all resorts on Easter Sunday morning (April 01, 2018), with grand chocolate prizes to be won.

At Soneva Fushi, embark on culinary adventures and dance to the grooves of the renowned French-American party band ‘The Phly Boyz’ with three of the world’s finest chefs: Chef Kenji Gyoten (of Restaurant Sushi Gyoten), the youngest Japanese three star Michelin chef; plus Chef Claus Meyer co-founder of Noma in Copenhagen, of Bolivia’s best restaurant GUSTU and of one star Michelin Agern and Great Northern Food Hall in New York City; as well as Chef Max Mascia, of the two star Michelin Ristorante San Domenico Imola, Italy.

Guests will also get a chance to participate in a one-of-a-kind dining experience that involves cooking over molten glass in So Glassycle, the only glass studio in the Maldives. Other highlights include the papier-mâché egg making, games in the huge Children’s Den, a children’s Mocktail Party in the Observatory, a magician, ventriloquists and much more.

Action needed on Sydney’s new ‘Instant Hotels’

Quasi-hotels are springing up across the Sydney metropolitan area with commercial residential property listings on Airbnb up a massive 42 per cent in a year, and the top handful of “hosts” offering hundreds of active listings in their names.

Tourism Accommodation Australia CEO Carol Giuseppi said the rapid conversion of residential properties into commercial tourist accommodation without any transparency or controls needed to be addressed immediately.

More than 11,000 properties across metropolitan Sydney now fall intothis category on Airbnb –that’s a third of their listings. Far from being just a place where ‘mum and dad’ operators can rent out a room or their house for a few days, this part of the economy is morphing into actual commercial operations which compete directly with existing hotels, costing jobs and affecting investment in one of the most vital sectors in NSW.

St Patrick’s Day: where do Aussies go on the greenest day of the year?

Guinness, leprechauns, and Irish pubs, what better excuse than St Paddy’s Day to celebrate the finer things in life. This is a day for gathering with friends and meeting new people, and an ideal time to stay in a hostel to find some festive companions for one of the friendliest evenings of the year.

According to Hostelworld booking data, the following destinations are the most popular for Aussie and New Zealander travellers, globally, 15th-17th March 2018 (in no particular order).

• Global Village – Belfast, Northern Ireland
• Kinlay Eyre Square Hostel – Galway, Ireland
• Spire Hostel – Dublin, Ireland
• Snoozles Hostel Galway – Galway, Ireland
• Southern Laughter Backpackers – Queenstown, New Zealand
• Wake Up! Sydney Central – Sydney, Australia
• Belfast International Youth Hostel – Belfast, Northern Ireland
• Criterion Art Deco Backpackers – Napier, New Zealand
• Flinders Backpackers – Melbourne, Australia