More hotel news than you can poke a stick at today! Well, you could but you’d have to have a stick handy. Nevermind, just read on and enjoy.

Prince Waikiki emerges following $US55 million transformation

The former Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki and Golf Club is launching it’s new identity as Prince Waikiki starting following an extensive $US55.4 million redevelopment. The eight-month renewal includes 563 transformed oceanfront guest rooms and suites, redefined dining options, a modernised lobby with unique personalised services, a new infinity pool, and enhanced meeting space.

Guest rooms
All 563 remodeled guest rooms and suites showcase floor-to-ceiling ocean views and a new comfortable seating area. With windows that open to tropical breezes, guests have the option to transform their room into their own private lanai. Spacious bathrooms include updated fixtures, modern basins and specialised bath amenities by Mālie Organics, featuring all-natural organic products embodying the tropical flora of Hawai‘i.

Cuisine

With Chef de Cuisine Joseph Almoguera at the helm, the hotel’s signature restaurant, 100 Sails Restaurant & Bar, frames expansive sunset views and focuses on fresh island cuisine. The new bar’s experience is heightened with craft cocktails, beers and wines on tap, à la carte, buffet and a small bites menu. In addition, private dining venues offer unique options for special occasions.

Minor Hotels announces development of new AVANI resort in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

(left to right) Joe McCormack, Founding Partner, Crowngate International and Ramzy Fenianos, VP Development, Minor Hotels Europe, Middle East and Africa

AVANI Al Marjan Island Ras Al Khaimah Resort

Al Marjan is a collection of four pristine man-made islands in Ras Al Khaimah, only 30 minutes from Ras Al Khaimah International Airport and 50 minutes from Dubai International Airport. Ras Al Khaimah offers a rich history and culture, along with diverse landscapes including mountains, desert and stunning coastline.

Scheduled to open in late 2019, the new 225-key resort will offer a selection of guest rooms and AVANI Suites, an AVANI Living Space and Pantry, in addition to restaurants, meeting and event facilities with a capacity of 200 people, a kids’ club, a swimming pool and a spa.

Holiday Inn Express to bring simple, smart travel to Queenstown 

InterContinental Hotels Group and Australian boutique hotel developer Pro-invest Group are championing smarter travel for everyone by unveiling plans to establish a $60 million Holiday Inn Express in the centre of Queenstown.

The innovative 227-room select service hotel will be value rich and cater to self-sufficient travellers by providing great service, faster check-in, better breakfast, restful night’s sleep, and everything guests need for a great stay, all within arm’s reach. 

Karin Sheppard, Chief Operating Officer, Australasia & Japan at IHG said “Life is about simple pleasures. That’s why we love Holiday Inn Express, our ‘rest and go’ brand that delivers a smarter travel experience through considered design and experiences, streamlined by technology, all at a simple price. We are confident that this will be the hotel of choice in Queenstown for the leisure, corporate and meetings market.”

The hotel will feature a fitness centre, meeting and laundry facilities, and the ‘Great Room’ with a complimentary guest breakfast buffet and a grab-and-go-style market pantry.

 Construction is expected to begin later in 2017, generating more than 750 jobs. With an anticipated opening date as early as 2018, Holiday Inn Express® Queenstown will inject millions of dollars into the local economy via visitor nights, tourist spend, and sourcing of food and beverage from the local market. 

Family Special Offer at Yatule Resort & Spa Fiji 

Eye 4 Travel would like to remind Agents of the Family Offer they currently have at Yatule Resort & Spa in Fiji.

Right now you can enjoy a stay in one of the 8 x Family Bures at Yatule Resort & Spa and save up to 20%. The Family Bures consist of 2 inter-connecting Poolview Bures, including 2 private ensuite bathrooms. This special family offer is valid for travel right through to 31 March 2018  (closeouts 17 – 20 Aug 2017 and  20 Dec 17 – 06 Jan 2018 inclusive) and sales to 15 May 2017, based on a minimum 4 night stay.

The offer includes a plated breakfast daily for 2 adults & 2 children, a free Yatule Welcome Pack, up to 2 children under 12 years dine free from the Kid’s Menu when dining with parents, free use of kayak & snorkelling gear, free use of WiFi around the public area (lobby, restaurant & bar) and a free $200 food + beverage credit per family bure.

Hilton announces signing of DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne Box Hill

The Melbourne suburb of Box Hill will become the site of the city’s second DoubleTree by Hilton, one of Hilton’s 14 distinct brands. Box Hill is a major commercial hub in Melbourne’s Eastern Suburbs and is an area of strategic significance with planned growth in employment, housing, business, services and public investment. The hotel will be located at 874 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill, is owned by the Longriver Group and is expected to open in 2020.

The hotel will boast 200 stylish and comfortable rooms, a restaurant, bar and gym coupled with all the modern, thoughtful amenities guests expect from the DoubleTree by Hilton brand.

“We are committed to growing Hilton’s presence in Australia. The signing of DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne Box Hill is an integral part of our regional portfolio expansion plans for the country, which prioritise key city centres as well as leisure destinations across the country,” said Robert Scullin, vice president, development Australasia, Hilton.

New Vibe Hotel to open at Darling Harbour Sydney

TFE Hotels will unveil its New Generation Vibe label on its newest Sydney CBD hotel. The 4 1⁄2 star lifestyle hotel will feature a WMK design and New York theme styling to its 145 rooms and suites.

The hotel will feature a bespoke all-day dining restaurant, fully equipped modern gymnasium, meeting rooms, a world-class roof top bar with infinity edge pool and an urban styled grand facade entry. It is expected to open in 2019.

The rooms will set to feature an array of lifestyle amenities with a New York inspired design including curved rainfall showers, embedded window day lounges and retro bathroom fixtures. WMK have been selected as the winning architect in addition to being selected as interior designer.

TFE Hotels CEO Rachel Argaman said “this marks a very exciting point in the ongoing refresh of our Vibe Hotels brand, which will soon have three exciting contemporary new additions at Darling Habour, in North Sydney and in central Hobart.

The development site, 319-325 Sussex Street, fringes on the upper end of Chinatown and is a neighbour to the Darling Quarter. The rooftop bar and eclectic laneway dining area should bode well and add much needed liveliness to the area, as the already emerging dining scene in the precinct gradually encroaches closer and closer towards the corporate end of Sydney.

Chiva-Som unveils renovated ocean rooms and suites 

Chiva-Som has unveiled its newly renovated Ocean Rooms and Suites in the north, central and south wings of this pioneering and acclaimed Thailand health and wellness resort situated in Hua Hin, 185 km south of Bangkok.

The newly-upgraded Ocean Rooms and Suites are now Thai-contemporary and more spacious, presenting a true wellness retreat experience and eco-friendly serenity. Each room and suite features balconies and terraces, as well as full floor-to-ceiling windows to provide guests with a truly immersive nature experience.

Chiva-Som General Manager, Sheila McCann said the new design maintained the spirit of relaxation that makes the resort so special for those seeking wellness.

 Rates at Chiva-Som range from AUD3296 per person twin share for a minimum 5-night stay including:

• 5 nights’ accommodation in a stunning Ocean Room
• Health & Wellness Consultation on arrival (60 min)
• Three spa cuisine meals each day (commencing with dinner on evening of arrival)
• Physical analysis (25 min) and Skin Consultation if required
• Use of Water Therapy Suites (Steam, Sauna, Jacuzzi)
• Daily fitness and leisure activities (8 classes per day)
• 1 daily treatment per person per night of stay from a choice of:
• Thai Massage (50 min)
• Chiva-Som Massage (50 min)
• Invigorating Massage ( 50 min )
• Relaxing Foot Massage (50 min)
• Oriental Scalp Massage (40 min)
• Chiva-Som Skin Haven Boyd Polish (25 min)

For bookings, contact Travel the World, Chiva-Som Australian Representative on 1300 857 037 or reservations@traveltheworld.com.au and quote Wellness Plus to receive the additional treatments.

Sydney’s Tank Stream Hotel introduces private dining room and function space in the heart of the city

Sydney’s newest international hotel is offering city businesses a private dining room, boardroom and function space as part of its Le Petit Flot restaurant.

The atmospheric private dining room can seat 24 in a boardroom format, 32 in banquet style and up to 40 for cocktails. Full A/V facilities can be arranged for launches and other corporate events.

The full restaurant and private dining room are also available for bespoke corporate events, with the premier location next to Wynyard on the corner of Pitt and Hunter Streets, making it easily accessible and convenient for local, suburban, interstate and international delegates.

The private dining room offers an intimate space and catering is supplied by the chefs at Le Petit Flot. The emphasis is on contemporary French bistro style dishes using prime local ingredients and offered as either share plates or individual dishes.

The Tank Stream Hotel can provide a complete meetings solution for corporate groups with nearby larger conference spaces available to be booked as part of a combined accommodation/meeting package.

Further information: www.tankstreamhotel.com and www.lepetitflot.com

The Gold Coast’s Jupiters prepares to transition into The Star

The future is bright for one of South East Queensland’s most iconic destinations, as Jupiters prepares to transition to a new name and brand, becoming The Star Gold Coast from March 30, 2017.

Having played a pivotal role in shaping the face of the City since opening in 1985, the transition to The Star comes as the property redevelopment enters the next phase. Six new food and beverage offerings, 596 refurbished hotel rooms and a luxury poolside experience are among the already completed features, signifying the start of a new era for the Gold Coast’s future star.

A new six-star luxury hotel at the front of the property will also open before the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, and approvals have been received for an additional 200-metre hotel and apartment tower on Broadbeach.

From lavish suites boasting spacious outdoor terraces to the cool tones of the Superior Deluxe Rooms, each room exudes warmth and elegance. Locally commissioned artwork provides a unique personality, while no expense was spared on electronics, affording guests the opportunity to customise lighting, drapery, temperature and service preferences through the use of fully integrated technology.

Comprised of spacious suites and rooms while also showcasing signature bars and restaurants, private gaming rooms and butler service, the luxury development will focus on the creation of spaces that cater to the specific needs of individual travellers. For more information, click here.

LUX* launches new resorts in Bodrum, Maldives, Mauritius and Reunion

South Ari Atoll, Maldives, just opened!

Cutting edge designer villas and world class dining are only a 30 minute seaplane flight from Malé. At South Ari Atoll, there is authentic South East Asian street food, the Maldives’ only over-the-water gormet night market, world-class Chinese cuisine at East, and the Japanese restaurant Umami.

Bodrum, Turkey, May 2017

A new addition to Turkey’s Aegean Riviera and the first LUX* resort in the Mediterranean region, set in pine-clad hills amid rugged coves and sparkling azure Aegean waters. From this winter, 85 key hotel, 19 residences and 1 beach villa are open for the first time. The area has the beautiful Bodrum Peninsula, history and culture, a vibrant nightlife, a marina with luxury shopping, unpopulated beaches and water sports such as jet-skiing, parasailing and windsurfing in the Aegean Sea.

North Male Atoll, Maldives, November 2017

This intimate luxury island is an unexplored Maldivian atoll. Each residence is crowned with a terrance, with contemporary one, two and three bedroom residences spread across the island, set on the beach, steps away from the sea, or perched on stilts above the lagoon. There are rooftop lounges, outdoor decks, private gardens and 13m private pools. For the overwater residences, the reef is on your doorstep. With the three floor penthouses, families and groups have ample space as well as their own spa, steam room, fitness suite and oversized outdoor pool.

Grand Gaube, Mauritius, December 2017

LUX* has rejuvenated this beloved boutique resort which is perfect for honeymooners who like to mingle and have their own privacy. Culinary appeal includes chefs working in open kitchens at a Peruvian-Argentinian-Japanese restaurant, a Ceviche Bar, and a charcoal grill. There is a five star spa and wellness centre, the perfect sanctuary to tune into nature. The grounds are landscaped with tiered gardens and an infinity pool that melts into the panoramic ocean views. There is a golf driving range, golf simulator and an 18-hole course.

Sud Sauvage, Reunion Island, 2018

This island is an exotic volcano landscape where nature is at its wildest. A short distance from La Fournaise, amid glorious gardens these 82 private villas enjoy views of volcanic peaks, cirques and ramparts. Reunion Island National Park is a World Heritage Site, so it’s only been true adventurers who have discovered this far flung corner of France so far. The resort boasts private pools and a luxury spa, plus the option to sign up to activities on offer from bike rides and hikes with experienced guides.

Maldives to welcome 6 new hotel openings in 2017

Visit Maldives is expanding its portfolio of luxury resorts.

Kandima Maldives, opened February 2017
Located on a lush tropical island in the Dhaalu Atoll and operating under new hospitality group Pulse Hotels & Resorts, Kandima Maldives caters to couples, groups, families and honeymooners. A large selection of experiences and facilities are available, including the longest pool in the Maldives (measuring 100m), an art studio, photo studio, marine biology school, kids club, and spa.

The resort’s choice of ten restaurants and bars will suit everyone’s tastes as they showcase cuisine from all around the world, including traditional Maldivian menus. The 274 stylishly-designed studios and villas, with 11 different categories to choose from, will all have a private terrace and uninterrupted views to enjoy. For more information, click here.

Aqua Villa at Kandima Maldives

Dhigali Maldives, May 2017       
One of the only resorts to sit in the Raa Atoll, Dhigali will bring a modern minimalist design to a wonderfully remote part of the Maldives. Reachable by a scenic seaplane journey of 40 minutes from Malé airport, Dhigali features a house reef in swimming distance and a stunning sandbank at the tip of the island.

182 on shore and over-water villas and suites will sit on the beach and over the lagoon. Facilities will include five restaurants, two bars, children’s club, spa, fitness centre, water sports & diving centre. For more information, click here.

Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort, mid 2017       
When it opens in mid 2017, Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort, located on Gaafu Alifu Atoll, will provide one of the best value accommodation options in the Maldives. The 68-villa resort, with 43 over water villas, 25 of which are scattered along the white sandy beach, has been built using local materials.

The interior design will feature bright colours and stylish furniture, reflecting Maldivian culture and the spirit of travel. The resort will also boast a fitness centre, tennis facilities, two restaurants and bars, a range of water sports and excursions, and a kids club to keep little guests happy. For more information, click here. 

Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort

Grand Park Kodhipparu, mid 2017       
The Park Hotel Group will enter the Maldives hotel market this year with a new all-villa resort in the North Malé Atoll, 20 minutes speedboat ride from the Malé International Airport.

Designed by the world-renowned hospitality design firm, Hirsch Bedner Associates, the Grand Park Kodhipparu will feature 120 idyllic villas comprising a range of beach-front pool villas, overwater villas with direct access to the crystal-clear turquoise waters and overwater pool villas that come with a private infinity pool.

The luxury resort’s facilities will include a harbour beach club and pool bar, a swimming pool, fitness centre, water sports and diving centre, wellness centre and spa, sunrise yoga deck, and children’s activity centre. There will also be two gourmet restaurants offering indoor and outdoor settings with sea views. For more information, click here. 

The Grand Park Kodhipparu

Baglioni Resort Maldives, October 2017

Italian-owned Baglioni Resort Maldives, located on Maagau in Dhaalu Atoll, will offer a piece of island paradise. Its comprehensive comforts will offer a blend of sport, relaxation and mouth-watering gourmet dining. The 96-villa resort’s Italian design will be complemented with the Jungle Spa, which will offer a deeply relaxing experience via a host of deluxe natural treatments in a lush, tropical setting. Beach volleyball, the beach gym and a range of watersports will keep the more active guests entertained. For more information, click here.

 LUX* North Male Atoll, November 2017
This resort will offer over-sized one, two and three-bedroom penthouse-style residences with a vibrant South Beach influence. Elegantly styled by Singapore-based design group Miaja, each of the 60 residences will have their own private pool, breezy indoor-outdoor living spaces and wraparound decking.

All of the double-storey beachfront and ocean villas will boast a living area of at least 350sqm and, on top, a 120sqm private deck/terrace elevated at 5 metres above the island or lagoon. Just an hour by speedboat from Malé and its international airport, LUX* North Malé Atoll’s feature will include an overwater spa, PADI dive centre, watersports, ocean-view rooftop bar, big-screen cinema, kids club, yoga plinth as well as two world-class restaurants and a wine cave. For more information, click here.