If there’s one thing we look forward to on Thursdays, it’s the Big Fat Hotel Wrap. That, and the self-appointed early mark at 3pm.

Art Series Hotels is giving away an original Zhong Chen watercolour for Lunar New Year 

Guests are invited to sleep over at The Chen during Lunar New Year for their chance to take home an original Zhong Chen masterpiece, inspired by the Year of the Pig.

Art Series is also offering a 10% discount to all guests who stay at the Box Hill hotel in February using the code CNY19. The celebration package also includes late check-out of 1pm and complimentary parking.

Zhong has gifted the incredible watercolour, appropriately titled “Lucky Golden Pig” in reference to the Chinese zodiac for 2019, which will be on display in the lobby across February for all guests to enjoy.

To be in the running, hotel guests simply need to stay in February and fill out an entry form at reception, explaining in 30 words or less “When have you been lucky?”

Hotel guests and local visitors can also celebrate the New Year with a Chinese banquet at yum cha restaurant Golden Lily, with dragon dancers entertaining the crowds on February 4 and 5.

More info here. 

Best Western Plus Ambassador Orange

Best Western® Hotels & Resorts has strengthened its offering in regional Australia with Best Western Plus Ambassador Orange in Central West NSW joining the network.

The conveniently located 4 Star property facilities include an outdoor pool, gym, meeting and conference rooms and the onsite One Seventy Four Bar & Restaurant offering Australian cuisine featuring some of the region’s finest local produce and wines.

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo resort offers ultimate wellness on the tropical archipelago oasis

Nestled on a beautiful coral island in the Baa Atoll, a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve site, guests of The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort experience a tranquil escape with uninterrupted ocean and pristine turquoise lagoon views, perfect for indulging in the resort’s Ultimate Wellness program, designed to recharge the batteries and restore balance in body and mind.

Guests can stay active with the 24-hour WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Studio sprawled across two levels that features weight machines, free weights, and cardio equipment that faces personal flat-screen televisions; and outdoor pool and recreation ground with tennis, volleyball, basketball options.

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort features 70 villas and suites, 41 on island and 29 overwater. Each villa is shaped with an eco-friendly double roofing to create the perfect natural ventilation. Outdoor rainforest showers are a distinctive feature. Poised over the sea on stilts and with an area of almost 200 square meters each, the overwater suites are among the largest a resort has to offer in the Baa Atoll region.

Ultimate Wellness Rate Details

Includes daily healthy breakfast at Island Kitchen, daily dinner at select restaurants, WiFi, two 60-minute spa treatments daily at Heavenly Spa, daily water activities – see rate details.

USD1,380 avg/night

Additional Information

• Daily healthy Breakfast at Island Kitchen and Dinner at select restaurants (including select soft beverages)
• Daily one-hour morning Westin Workout Session
• Daily 60-minute spa therapy at Heavenly Spa from select menu or 60-minute Private Yoga session
• High speed Wi-Fi throughout the resort
• Water Sport activities, including daily complimentary use of snorkelling equipment and ocean kayaks (for up to 2 hours)
• Full non-cancellable, non-refundable, non-amendable payment 14 days prior to arrival
• Extra person charge up to 2.99 years – no charge
• Extra person charge 3 to 11.99 years – USD 61.6 per child per night
• For 12 years and above – USD 246.6 per adult per night
• Destination amenity fee including both ways Seaplane transfers will be charged as –
  • Up to 1.99 years – no charge
  • 2 – 11.99 years – USD 237.5 per child
  • 12 years and above – USD 475 per person

More info here.

Aman announces the launch of Aman Kyoto: A secret garden in Japan’s ancient imperial capital

Aman is pleased to announce its third resort in Japan with the launch of Aman Kyoto, scheduled to open on 1 November, 2019.

Situated in a hidden garden close to Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion), the resort, with 24 rooms and two two-bedroom villas, draws on the country’s ryokan (traditional inn) and onsen (hot spring) concepts to provide an authentic yet contemporary Kyoto sanctuary surrounded by nature.

Unlocking the secrets of Japan’s ancient Imperial capital, Aman Kyoto and its secret garden are just a stone’s throw from the city’s 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, yet feel a world away.

New Skye Hotel Suites Sydney has free minibar for guests

Guests who book via skyehotels.com.au will receive the mini bar complimentary for the duration of their stay to make their hotel experience more extraordinary and memorable.

Crown Group’s first boutique serviced apartment opened in Sydney’s CBD in November. SKYE Suites Sydney has 73 luxurious serviced apartments for short-term and long-term-stay domestic and international travellers with a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom hotel apartments.

SKYE Suites Sydney also offers a luxury five-star resort experience in the heart of the city and features an ice cave-themed lobby, dreamy indoor swimming pool and excellent gym, situated within the 25-story residential apartment tower Arc by Crown Group designed by globally renowned architect Koichi Takada.

Crystalbrook Collection Premiers New Spa Brand Eléme

The five-star, Riley, a Crystalbrook Collection Resort has welcomed its highly anticipated Eléme Day Spa, a first for Crystalbrook Collection.  The spa brand will be incorporated into future openings for the burgeoning hospitality group.

Eléme’s fresh approach includes treatments such as Goddess of Infusion, a super-charged volcanic clay warming customised thermal facial mask to deeply cleanse, nourish, hydrate and tone.

Male treatments are also high priority, such as The Great Herculean, a body scrub, massage and facial therapy for the superhero within.

More info here.

Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo completes extensive renovation of all guestrooms and suites

Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo has completed a comprehensive renovation of its guestrooms and suites to create new levels of luxury, that confirm the five-star hotel’s status as one of the best in the world.

The makeover of all 179 spacious guestrooms and suites draws on Japan’s rich culture, to provide guests with a strong “sense of place”. Japanese craftmanship has been combined with the latest technology to ensure a thoroughly contemporary Japanese experience.

Renowned textile designer Reiko Sudo and art director Ryu Kosaka have transformed the guestrooms and suites, and built on the existing ‘Woods and Water’ interior design theme. Jeffrey A. Wilkes has acted as principal interior designer for the Presidential Suite, which is the largest and most luxurious suite in the hotel.

Bespoke fabrics and furnishings representing the woodlands and the changing seasons, have been incorporated throughout, with autumn leaf colours of gold, orange and purple and blooming springtime wisteria and sakura patterns embroidered onto headboards.

More info here.