In the words of S Club 7, there ain’t no party like a Hotel Wrap party! Okay, we might be paraphrasing there, but we’re sure that’s what they ACTUALLY meant.

Pier One Sydney Harbour launches $15 million redesign

Pier One Sydney Harbour has completed a five-year transformation journey; a $15 million-dollar design refurbishment of all rooms and suites in the property.

The complete style refresh from acclaimed contemporary architects Tonkin Zulaikha Greer, known for their work rejuvenating historic buildings, inspired the design approach with rooms that pay homage to the heritage structure of the wharf and its marine history, lifting these details frontward for guests to appreciate.

Tonkin Zulaika Greer worked closely with the Pier One Sydney Harbour team to champion the inclusion of stand-out signature Australian furniture pieces within the property, conceptualising a collection of objects which have been carefully curated and positioned in each room, to honour the beautiful imperfections found in the hotel’s original frame.

Hello Bailey! Crystalbrook Collection unveils new Cairns hotel

Located in the heart of Cairns cultural precinct and just a stone throw for the Esplanade boardwalk and lagoon, Bailey is adorned with Australian artwork and features 255 spacious guest rooms and residences, three restaurants and bars, meeting spaces for up to 150 people, a rooftop mezzanine plunge pool and a 24-hour fitness centre.

Bailey is the child of Crystalbrook Collection, an independent Australian tourism and hospitality company with a focus on innovation and sustainability. Crystalbrook Collection is reinvigorating the modern hotel experience while maintaining a distinct personality, sense of sophistication and responsible luxury.

Each of the group’s six hotels and resorts draw inspiration from interiors, art, design, music, food and technology to create distinct and tailored experiences for its guests.

Shangri-La Suzhou Yuanqu opens 

Shangri-La Group has announced the opening of Shangri-La Hotel, Suzhou Yuanqu, marking the Group’s return to the historical water town since its establishment in Suzhou more than 10 years ago.

As the newest international luxury-branded hotel in the central business district of the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), the hotel embraces cultural heritage while offering the vibrancy of a modern city. Shangri-La Hotel, Suzhou Yuanqu fuses modern elegance with rich local traditions. Ancient gardens integrate with contemporary elements while the local culture is brought to life by Shangri-La.

Accor launches largest hotels, resorts and apartments sale ‘Take Your Summertime’ with x4 bonus points and savings of up to 25 per cent

Accor has launched its largest-ever hotels, resorts and apartments sale, Take your Summertime, with savings of up to 25 per cent at over 380 hotels, resorts and apartments across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and French Polynesia. For the first time, Mantra, Art Series, Breakfree, Tribe and Peppers hotels, resorts and apartments are included in the sale, giving guests even more destinations and more experiences to choose from. Offer available until 29 February 2020.

Special rates, new glamping tents and a million-dollar incentive for visitors to experience Kakadu this tropical summer

Special packages are available over Tropical Summer at the Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel in Jabiru, and Cooinda Lodge, next to Yellow Water Billabong, offering discounts of over 50 per cent (compared to peak-season rates).

Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel (‘The Croc’, as it is known locally) is offering a special package including overnight accommodation, a bottle of wine on arrival and a Yellow Water Cruise for two for just $199 per night (for two people)*.

The fully refurbished and upgraded Cooinda Lodge has a package that includes overnight accommodation, a $90 dinner voucher for two in Barra Bar and Bistro, and a Yellow Water Cruise*.

Cooinda Lodge will offer its new Outback Retreat glamping tents. They come with full air-conditioning and fans to make sleeping very comfortable, and there is a choice of tents for couples and families, with an annex offering two bunk beds for children. Rates start from $129 per night.

An extra incentive to visit Kakadu this tropical summer is the prospect of hooking a Barramundi with a million-dollar tag. This season there are SIX Barramundi with million-dollar tags, along with 100 Barramundi with $10,000 prize tags and 20 purple-tagged fish worth $2500 to the angler and $2500 to a pre-approved charity of the angler’s choice.

Last year a number of $10,000 tagged fish were caught in Yellow Water Billabong, but so far the million-dollar tagged Barras have proven elusive, though even if you don’t catch a tagged Barra it will still provide a million-dollar tasting experience.

We have lift-off: famous DoubleTree by Hilton chocolate chip cookies launched for the international space station, set to become first food baked in orbit

DoubleTree by Hilton and its guests around the world have always said the brand’s famous chocolate chip cookies are out-of-this-world, and as of yesterday, the cookies are officially on the International Space Station (ISS) and about to become the first food baked in space. Launched at 9:59 a.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 2 from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, the brand’s cookie dough will be baked inside a prototype oven in the coming days by astronauts in a historic scientific experiment. The spacecraft officially arrived at the ISS at 4:10 a.m. ET today and was bolted into place on the station’s Earth-facing port.

Ovolo Central joins Small Luxury Hotels of the World

After a major transformation, Ovolo Central joins Ovolo Woolloomooloo Sydney and Ovolo The Valley Brisbane in the Small Luxury Hotels (SLH) collection. Ovolo Central will be available to book via bespoke online booking service, Small Luxury Hotels of the World, from 1 November 2019.

The very first Ovolo, Ovolo Central originally opened in 2002 and has recently unveiled a new transformation including exterior façade, new social spaces and reception, rooms, development of brand new Radio Suite, Hong Kong’s first hotel vegetarian restaurant VEDA and state-of-the-art meeting room B.I.G.

The recent transformation was a collaboration by global architecture firms, MAKE, KplusK Associates, ALT254 and Monique McIintock Interiors, which takes the hotel into the new era paying tribute to the fun and playful atmosphere of Central, and brings a fresh hospitality concept to downtown Hong Kong.

A seaside adventure with Claris the Mouse and Megan Hess at Vakkaru Maldives

This festive season, Vakkaru Maldives welcomes internationally-renowned fashion illustrator and author, Megan Hess for the exclusive launch of her third book in The Claris Collection, Claris: Bonjour Riviera on 5 and 6 January 2020.

Vakkaru Maldives will set the scene for Claris’ new adventure in the French Riviera. Guests who pre-book their seats, will be the first in the world to receive signed copies of Claris: Bonjour Riviera hot off the press, view the unveiling of Claris’ new resort collection by luxury fashion house, Poca & Poca, attend an exclusive illustration masterclass conducted by Megan Hess and enjoy a bespoke Megan Hess dessert table on Orthodox Christmas night.