Did you miss the mid-morning hotel briefing? Perhaps you dozed off during parts of it? Well, thankfully we’ve written this.

Centara Relaunches Stunning Danang Resort After Major Upgrade

Centara Hotels & Resorts, reopened the Centara Sandy Beach Resort Danang following an extensive renovation and upgrade. The resort offers an excellent location on the white sands and clear waters of Non Nuoc beach. The site is designed to offer secluded privacy on a private beach, but is conveniently within 20 minutes of Danang’s airport and downtown, two championship golf courses, and the Hoi An World Heritage site.

A choice of accommodation includes rooms, villas and bungalows. The resort’s newly-designed premium rooms and suites feature furnished balconies where guests can enjoy views of the East Sea, forested mountains, and 42 acres of manicured gardens. All 198 rooms are just a few steps away from a swimming pool whether it be the luxurious beachfront pool or the more serene pool located in the gardens.

For families with young children, Centara offers a children’s pool, Kids’ Club, and babysitting service. Active adults and teens will enjoy the fitness centre, tennis court, games area, and activities such as kayaking, beach volleyball and kite flying.

UNREGULATED FREEDOM and UNDERSTATED LUXURY AWAIT at NIHIWATU

Escape to the Edge of Wildness this Spring as Nihiwatu announces two special offers, valid from September 1, 2017 – December 20, 2017. Two fabulous options to choose from – Stay 7, Pay 5 nights OR Stay 4, Pay 3 nights – ideal for extending stays and enjoying more of the truly special place that is Nihiwatu.

Voted #1 Hotel in the World by Travel + Leisure magazine, Nihiwatu is a unique experience – a chance to relax and reconnect with a simpler, healthier and more mindful life. It is also a place to have fun!

Located on the Indonesian island of Sumba and just a short 50 minute flight from Bali, Nihiwatu offers a remote and pristine setting in which to enjoy barefoot luxury, a myriad of activities and simply stunning natural surrounds.

An outpost to world-class surfing, Nihiwatu also offers snorkeling, stand-up paddle boarding, magnificent walks and sunset horseback rides on the resort’s 2.5 km private beach, hikes to a breathtaking blue waterfall and more. Another out of this world destination is the Nihi Oka Spa Safari, where a 90-minute hike through rice paddies sees guests arrive to a cluster of private bales nestled between two private beaches, where unlimited treatments of choice await.

To fully experience Nihiwatu, here are two very special offers:

STAY 7 PAY 5: Pay for 5 nights and get 2 additional nights with Nihiwatu’s compliments.

— OR —

STAY 4 PAY 3: Pay for 3 nights and get 1 additional night with Nihiwatu’s compliments.

AccorHotels announce Mercure hotel for Orange, NSW

AccorHotels has announced that Templers Mill Hotel will rebrand to Mercure Orange and join its growing network of regional New South Wales hotels in August 2017, following the completion of a 3-year expansion masterplan and a $9million dollar transformation. Owned by the Orange Ex-Services Club, the two-storey, 77-room soon-to-be internationally-branded midscale Mercure hotel is located within the Club’s precinct which features nine function rooms including an indoor swimming pool, sauna and gymnasium.

All guestrooms are in the final stages of being refitted with new joinery, state-of-the art devices (with the ability to order breakfast via TV), high-speed WiFi, complimentary Foxtel, king size beds and monochromatic photography featuring the history of Orange.

Key to the Club’s expansion plan is the exciting addition of The Greenhouse of Orange, a unique destination dining concept showcasing the best regional food and wine from the Central West, also set to open in August. As an integrated part of the Orange Ex-Services Club Precinct, this relaxed family-friendly restaurant will offer guests and locals a diverse range of sustainable dining options, with a complete field-to-fork sustainable farming philosophy.

Mercure Orange is located 250km west of Sydney or a 3.5 hour drive, near the centre of Orange on Byng Street.

Belmond launch New Grand Suites for Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Belmond announce three new private ‘Grand Suites’ aboard the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express launching in March 2018. Creating new levels of luxury accommodation aboard the historic train; each suite features private bathrooms with showers, double beds and a living area, offering the ultimate in style and comfort. Named after the romantic cities to which the train travel, Paris, Venice and Istanbul; interior designs of each cabin reflect the spirit of each city whilst staying true to the original 1920s art-deco design.

The elegant new suites transport guests back to the golden era of travel, when travel by train pioneered the way for travelers to cross international borders. Authentic interior designs evoke the nostalgia and glamour of a bygone era which is complemented with spacious interiors and ensuite bathrooms.

The unique design project is undertaken by London based Wimberly Interiors; “It was extremely important when developing the design concept, that we embraced the unique story and history of the brand. To capture the epitome of classic luxury travel that the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express exudes, we focused on moments within each city, inspiring visual cues and the overall Belmond guest experience,” Rachel Johnson, Vice President and Studio Director, Wimberly Interiors said. 

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express travels throughout between London, Paris and Venice from March to November and from Paris to Istanbul once a year in August/September on an extraordinary journey from west to east where Europe meets Asia. A classic one night journey from London to Venice, in a Grand Suite is priced at £5,500 per person.

STAY IN BRISBANE WITH MANTRA GROUP FOR THE SHOW

The Royal Queensland Show, aka The Ekka, is celebrating its 140^th anniversary and bumper crowds are expected to flock to Brisbane for the ten-day extravaganza from August 11 to 20.

Mantra Group, the Ekka’s Official Apartment Accommodation Partner, has launched a variety of great-value family and couples accommodation and show packages across the Group’s nine Brisbane properties, including:

Families can stay in a two bedroom apartment at Mantra on the Quay from $231* per night (Sunday -Thursday, two night minimum spend of $462*). The package includes an Ekka family pass for two adults and two children (aged between 5-14 years) per stay, four bottles of mineral water, 1GB of Wi-Fi access each day and discounted onsite parking. To book, call 13 15 17 or visit www.mantra.com.au.

Another popular choice for families is BreakFree Fortitude Valley, a short stroll from Brisbane Showgrounds, with two bedroom apartments from $399* per night. This includes an Ekka family pass for two adults and two children (aged between 5-14 years), 250MB of Wi-Fi daily and secure onsite car parking. To book, call 132 007 or visit www.breakfree.com.au.

Packages for couples start from $169* per night in a deluxe hotel room at Mantra Terrace Hotel and includes two adult passes to the Ekka, 1GB of Wi-Fi daily and two bottles of mineral water. To book, call 13 15 17 or visit www.mantra.com.au.

Chalet amongst age old jungle or Villas on stilts above the sea

Not all beach holidays need to be about days spent lying on a beach, sipping cocktails as let’s face it this can get a bit boring after a while. At Berjaya Langkawi Resort, you can have the best of both worlds lazing on the beach staring out at the emerald green waters all day and animal spotting on a trek through UNESCO listed jungles the next.

The resort is located 20 mins from Langkawi International Airport. Cocooned amidst lush tropical rainforest and the warm waters of the Andaman Sea in stunning Burau Bay the resort is the perfect place to get back to nature.

Accommodation consists of four categories of rainforest Chalets to three categories of over-water Suites. The rainforest chalets are perched on stilts into the jungles canopy giving you the feeling that you are living amongst the trees. While the over-water Suites sit high above the sea offering panoramic views of the surrounding bay and its islands. The Premier Suites on Water are the most popular choice with their outside jacuzzi and spacious living areas.

Activities are plentiful at the resort with a range of water sports on offering including parasailing, diving, water skiing and kayaking. You can also venture to outlying islands on an island-hopping tour or sunset yacht cruise.

New luxury precinct taking traveller experience to the next level

Melbourne Airport is excited to announce a number of the world’s most fashionable and desirable luxury brands including Tiffany & Co, Burberry, Salvatore Ferragamo, Max Mara and Emporio Armani will open at Melbourne Airport’s luxury precinct in Terminal 2 (T2) later this year.

The airport’s new high-end fashion destination is part of the airport’s continued effort to enhance the traveller experience. Creating an airport that Melbourne can be proud of, the new luxury brands have been purposefully chosen and carefully curated to meet the evolving needs and expectations of the Airport’s passengers.

“The luxury precinct is really taking Melbourne Airport to the next level, with 11 of the world’s most prestigious brands set to enhance our international passenger experience,” said Andrew Gardiner, Chief of Retail at Melbourne Airport.

The new high-end precinct will be located adjacent to the next generation duty free store and will also see brands including Australia’s leading official watch specialty store Watches of Switzerland, Swiss designer Bally, Michael Kors, HUGO BOSS and Furla, as well as upscale business and travel lifestyle brand Tumi. All stores are scheduled to be open between end of July and end of November 2017.

International luxury brand Tiffany & Co. are excited to open their store within the dedicated space. The new international retail experience will create a lasting impression for every traveller, establishing it as another iconic shopping destination for Melbourne.

Kaanapali Beach Hotel Unveils New Logo, Celebrating Hawaiian Culture

Kaanapali Beach Hotel has unveiled a fresh branding approach with a redesigned logo that pays homage to its heritage and deep Hawaiian roots. The new look centers around the Kukui nut lei, which holds meaningful significance as it represents a guiding light or safe passage for travellers as they journey throughout the islands.

Hawaiians will typically give friends and family lei to show their love, respect and appreciation. Keeping with that tradition and after 9/11, the hotel wanted to thank its guests and give a lei at the end of their trip – once they have become ohana or family.

When guests travel back to the hotel, a white nut is added to their lei and it becomes a sense of pride to many repeat guests to share how many times they have visited the hotel. Over the past 16 years, the hotel has given away in excess of 330,000 Kukui nut leis.

InterContinental Uncovers a World of Sophistication in New  Brand Campaign

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has unveiled the evolution of its Stories of the InterContinental Life global brand campaign with the regional launch of “Sophistication: A Sensory Experience”.

Driven by the central theme of ‘Sophistication’ inherent to the philosophy of Club InterContinental, the film stars Takanori Nakamura, internationally acclaimed gastronomic connoisseur and Academy Chair, Japan, of The World’s Best Restaurants Academy.

On an exclusive trip to Singapore, Nakamura explored Singapore’s colourful and thriving culinary culture, savouring modern inventive dishes from the city’s finest Michelin star restaurants, as well as appreciating the elegance of traditional craftsmanship and authentic experiences at iconic hawker hotspots.

From Chef Chan Hon Meng’s Michelin-starred flagship restaurant, Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice, to newly minted Michelin star venues, Odette and Restaurant Andre, the secret to each food artisan’s success tells a story of technical precision, meticulous refinement, personalised ingredient selection and above all, an unwavering quest for excellence.

You can watch it here.

SAMOA  : Nominee For World Boutique Hotel Awards

Aga Reef Resort in Samoa has been nominated  for this years  “ World Boutique Hotel Awards “ which  recognises unique excellence among luxury boutique hotels across the globe .

The criteria include the resorts location, its culture and its own stylistic flair.

Located in Lalomanu on the stunning south east coast of Upolu, Aga Reef Resort is a short 5 minute drive from the world famous white sands of Lalomanu Beach and 10 minutes away from the popular swimming spot at To Sua Trench.

The 4-star boutique resort offers a stylish mix of private waterfront villas and comfortable hotel rooms all air-conditioned and all with lovely ocean views . Its the perfect place to relax, unwind and enjoy a tropical escape..

Belmond Governor’s Residence introduces ‘Governor’s Getaway’ escape

This month Belmond Governor’s Residence, a landmark heritage hotel in the leafy Embassy Quarter of Yangon, Myanmar introduces the ‘Governor’s Getaway’; the ultimate easy weekend escape created especially for those living in Asia.

Just a hop and a skip from many major cities like Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Hanoi and Bangkok, Belmond Governor’s Residence now invites guests to experience the charm and vibrancy of a city still opening up to the outside world, as regional daily direct flights to Yangon increase.

During a two-night getaway, guests can explore the authentic fabric of colourful Yangon; its blossoming arts culture, vibrant markets and up-and-coming dining scene during a chauffeur-driven private city tour. Hosted by one of Belmond Governor’s Residence’s expert guides, a bespoke itinerary will captivate guests with the best sights, sounds and tastes of the enthralling city.

The ‘Governor’s Getaway’ includes two nights’ accommodation with daily breakfast, round-trip airport transfers and a half-day bespoke private tour of Yangon with one of Belmond’s expert guides and private driver.

While at the hotel, guests can dine on traditional dishes with a contemporary flair at the Burmese Table dining concept or a la carte fine dining at the Mandalay Restaurant, join complimentary activities that change on a daily basis, such as yoga and guest cocktail parties, or book a therapeutic spa treatment to melt away tensions from the week.

Prices start from US$355 per night, plus tax and service.

Mantra Group Properties in the TNQ Raise  $13,000 for Luke Batty Foundation 

Mantra Group’s North Queensland Region took to the pitch on Saturday (17 June) to raise $13,000 for the Luke Batty Foundation, the group’s official charity partner, at their annual cricket day fundraiser. The donation, which was presented to the foundation on the day, will be added to the region’s Corporate Social Responsibility contribution for the year.

Luke Batty Foundation COO Stewart McMullin who participated in the cricket day match said he is encouraged and inspired by Mantra Group’s commitment to making a change.

“The foundation is incredibly grateful and fortunate to have Mantra Group’s commitment and dedication behind us,” said Mr McMullin.

“Through community events such as these, education and advocacy, we are continually raising community awareness and shifting entrenched attitudes around family violence.

“HIn FY17, Mantra Group properties and team members have raised more than $100,000 for the Luke Batty Foundation through events such as the cricket day and staff fundraising initiatives.

Metro Hotel on Pitt the sole collection point for Homeless Care packages

Metro Hotel on Pitt in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, will be the sole collection point for care packages for Sydney Homeless Connect’s annual winter event on Tuesday 27 June at the Sydney Town Hall. Care packages can be dropped off at the hotel between 7am and 9pm until June 24.

For the 8th year, the annual Sydney Homeless Connect event will bring together people who are homeless and at risk of homelessness with services and support that they need, whether it be a hot meal, a haircut or access to an agency that can help.

Sydneysiders are asked to donate a Homeless Care package filled with basic essentials to help those who could use help this winter. With more than 3000+ homeless people from all corners of NSW expected to turn out for the day of Connect, the public is being asked by contributing a small care package of essential items. Metro Hotel on Pitt has a long established record of social responsibility. Management and staff at the property volunteer over 250 hours of their time each year to help various charities and fundraising initiatives.

On any given night in Australia, 1 in 200 people are homeless.

InterContinental Sydney Introduce New Winter High Tea Menu

InterContinental Sydney has announced a complete seasonal overhaul of its iconic High Tea and High Tea Buffet, infusing the best of winter produce, design and technique. Available now, Head Pastry Chef, Simon Veauvy, along with the hotel’s onsite pastry team, will present the new High Tea experience.

With two unique High Tea offerings – the Monday to Friday three-tiered stands and the weekend High Tea Buffet – both menus have been recreated for expert pairing with the Ronnefeldt tea library, alongside redesigned theming and buffet set-up for a sophisticated soiree inside The Cortile. High Tea aficionados will devour in a menu influenced by warmer base products, using the depths and texture of chocolate, caramel, roasted fruits, meringue, praline cream, crème brulee and homemade crepes.

New to the menu will see a sweet line-up of hazelnut praline choux with homemade praline crunch, nutty caramel & milk chocolate tartlets, a new macaron bar and roasted pineapple, passionfruit and milk chocolate cake, among the halo items. On the savoury side, the new menu will introduce gourmet harissa lamb pie, traditional quiche, homemade orange crepes and buttermilk scones.

Three-tiered High Tea – starting from 19 June 2017, is available Monday to Friday, 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Cost is $60.00 per person including a glass of sparkling wine; $75.00 per person including a glass of Champagne. The weekend High Tea Buffet – starting from 17 June 2017 is available Saturday and Sundays, seatings 1:00pm to 2:30pm and 3:00pm to 4:30pm. Cost is $65.00 per person with a glass of sparkling wine; $80.00 per person with a glass of Champagne. 

&Beyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp reopens after refurbishment

With the second phase of refurbishments completed at &Beyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp, the camp has reopened boasting a completely brand new look that now extends from the suites to the camp’s main guest areas.

The new glamorous, light and earthy look begins on arrival, with an elegant new entrance lending a sense of place and atmosphere to welcome guests to the camp. Guests can freshen up on arrival with a steaming hot coffee served by expertly trained baristas from the camp’s interactive food and coffee bar. The beautiful new interiors feature earthy tones that echo the magnificent natural setting, while a sophisticated safari style offers a contemporary spin on the traditional tented camp.

Dining areas decorated in neutral colours feature the clever use of mirrors to bring the outside in and enhance the sense of space and light. The open air boma encircled by a rugged wooden fence on the very edge of the Delta and set in the mottled shade of the camps massive ebony trees allows for starlight night time dinning. A meticulously stocked new Safari Shop creates the ideal place for guests to browse for souvenirs of their stay.

The camp’s pool area has also been completely renewed, with the addition of salas for shade and comfortable loungers positioned to make the most of the beautiful Okavango Delta views. A dedicated massage sala allows guests to enjoy a decadent treatment in a private setting that plays on the tranquil environment.

Pangea Pod Hotel, Canada’s first pod accommodation concept will open in Whistler, 2018

Whistler Resort in British Columbia Canada will welcome the opening of the Pangea Pod Hotel in 2018 – a visionary property situated in the centre of the pedestrian village. Designed for the discerning solo traveller seeking a boutique hotel feel, impressive design and a prime location at an affordable price-point, Pangea is set to fill Whistler’s void between hostels and hotels.

Pangea will feature a series of custom suites housing a total of 88 private sleeping pods. Each boutique pod will be luxuriously lined in wood and comfortably outfitted with a memory foam double mattress and high-end linens. They’ll also be equipped with individually controlled LED lights, multiple charging points (including USB ports) and an integrated fan for ventilation and white noise.

There’s a place for everything, with a lockable cabinet for valuables, hangers and hooks for clothes, and a storage area for luggage. Unconventional thinking led to the conventional bathroom being separated into four individually accessed components: spa-like shower cubicles, washrooms, vanities, and changing rooms.

More than 60 of these bathroom components are spread among Pangea’s suites.

Pangea’s guests will relish the lively atmosphere and connection to Whistler in The Living Room, Pangea’s stylish communal space. As the property’s hub on the second floor, The Living Room’s large drop-down glass panels overlooking the Village Stroll will create the feel of an outdoor patio, with long shared tables in the café for socialising and cozy sitting areas in the bar and lounge for relaxing. The Patio, Pangea’s rooftop bar on the third floor, will offer a unique outdoor experience and sensational views down to the Village Square.

Nanuku Auberge Resort introduces ‘Ki na kalokalo’ private island camping

The ‘Ki na kalokalo’ (pathway to the stars) camping experience revolves around an overnight stay on the resort’s nearby private island, Nanuku Island, and begins when resort staff take guests on the short trip aboard Nanuku 1 for an activity-filled afternoon.

This includes a host of options – from exploring the island with jet skis, swimming, snorkelling, kayaking paddle boarding – guests can even join their hosts, the resort’s team of ‘Nanuku Buddies’ in helping to catch and prepare the fresh fish, bamboo-pole cooked prawns and traditional ‘kokoda’ served for dinner. Less strenuous activities include palm-frond hat and basket weaving, coconut scraping, searching for the elusive Hawksbeak turtles which inhabit the island – or simply relaxing.

As the sun sets and the ‘kalokalo’ (stars) begin to emerge, the ‘Buddies’ entertain guests with traditional songs and the sharing of centuries-old legends of Fiji. Once dinner and the entertainment have been concluded the crew retire to the nearby-moored Nanuku 1 for the evening offering guests perfect privacy for the night.

For those who wish to sleep undercover, weather-proof tents are an option. A highlight of the following morning – the arrival of ‘chef’ Hemmann aboard a jet ski to personally cook a delicious breakfast of pancakes, bacon and eggs, juices and fresh-brewed coffee and tea after which guests return to the resort.

Available daily, the ‘Ki na kalokalo’ private island camping experience is priced from FJD4000* based on four persons. Pricing per additional person is FJD600*.

International Hotel Developer Shows Appreciation to Cairns Community

Crystalbrook Collection hotel developments, has made a fleeting visit to Cairns to inspect construction progress and says he is thrilled; both by how the projects are progressing and by the warm welcome he has received from the Cairns community.

G. A. Group’s $370 million investment across the three Cairns Crystalbrook Collection hotels will generate 2,000 jobs during the construction phase and a further 500 jobs once operational.

While in Cairns, Ghassan Aboud and Mark Davie, CEO of Crystalbrook Collection, also hosted a business dinner to show appreciation for local partners who have supported Crystalbrook Collection since the beginning.

Attendees at the dinner included Andy Taylor, Managing Director of Prime Group who are responsible for the development of all three hotels, John Morris, Wendy Morris, incoming Chairperson at Tropical Tourism North Queensland, Michael Huelin, Partner at WGC Lawyers and Danny Betros, Managing Director of Cairns at CBRE Australia.

“Acknowledging the local support is very important to us,” said Laura Davie, Group Director – Operations and Human Resources at Crystalbrook Collection.

Earlier in the week Aboud and Mark Davie were officially welcomed by the Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and his Ministerial team in Canberra at Parliament House.

Frasers Hospitality expands Capri by Fraser brand with a new hotel in Germany 

To meet the rising demand from millennial travellers, Frasers Hospitality, is expanding its Capri by Fraser brand footprint with the opening of Capri by Fraser Berlin. The Capri by Fraser brand was specifically designed to cater for the ‘always on’ and ‘always connected’ millennial traveller, who currently spend $200 billion per year on travel, with design led, technologically driven hotel residences that offer a whole new dimension on ‘work, stay and play’.

Capri by Fraser Berlin, located in the heart of Germany’s vibrant capital, marks Frasers Hospitality’s seventh operating Capri-branded property globally and the second in Germany. Frasers Hospitality is on track to expand the brand to a total of 19 properties in 16 cities across Asia and Europe over the next four years.

Research has shown that millennial travellers demand authenticity which is underpinned by culture originality. Capri by Fraser Berlin, located in the CBD and accessible by numerous public transport links, is designed to meet this demand. The 143-unit hotel residence, made of fully furnished studios and one bedroom residences, draws inspiration from its location in Scharrenstraße, Berlin’s historic centre.

This is conveyed through a unique design concept that integrates a variety of historical influences in the creation of modern, stylish and urban living spaces.

See the real Japan with Walk Japan’s collection of Autumn & Winter Tours

Walk Japan, the pioneering operator of seasonal walking tours across Japan, is delighted to announce its Autumn and Winter Tours for 2017/18, offering travellers unique ways to discover the stunning landscapes and ancient mysteries of Japan.

Expertly led small group tours – each accommodating a maximum of just 12 people – traverse the beautiful islands of the archipelago, and see truly cultural and authentic sides of Japan not often experienced by tourists.

Just a few of the tours on offer with Walk Japan this northern hemisphere autumn and winter include:

• Basho Tour: Narrow Road to the North, A 9-day tour starting in Tokyo and finishing in Kanazawa. Priced at JPY454,000 (AUD$5350) per person.Autumn tour dates: September 10-18; 26-October 4; October 15-23; October 29-November 6.
• Izu Geo Trail: A 7-day tour starting in Tokyo and finishing in Shuzenji in Izu, this walk is a journey through a spectacular geological park. Priced at JPY368,000 (AUD$4340) per person. Autumn tour dates: November 14-20; 18-24; 28-December 4.
• Winter Nakasendo Way: A 7 day tour starting in Nagoya and finishing in Matsumoto, this is the Winter version of Walk Japan’s original walk, the signature Nakasendo Way. Priced at JPY282,000 (AUD$3320) per person. Winter tour dates: December 7-13; 20-26. 2018: January 4-10; 10-16; 28-February 3; February 7-13; 21-27.
• Hokkaido Snow Tour: An 8-day tour starting in Kushiro and finishing in Utoro, this adventurous journey takes in the little-visited, snowy northern territory of the country in snowshoes. Price: JPY498,000 (AUD$5875) per person.
  Winter tour dates: 2018: February 12-19