Hotel Wrap: The Fullerton Sydney shares Mother’s Day recipe, Ovolo’s ‘Restaurant in Room’ offer + MORE

This week’s Hotel Wrap is full to the brim! Similarly, that’s how Travel Weekly’s staff plan on pouring their post-work wines this afternoon.
Tourism Accommodation Australia welcomes plan to reinvigorate Trans-Tasman and domestic travel + steps up online training
Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA), has welcomed news that some restrictions on travel, including flights to and from New Zealand, could be eased earlier than expected.
TAA national CEO Michael Johnson said the possibility of re-opening domestic borders and creating an international ‘travel bubble’ between Australia and New Zealand are the first positive signs for the industry since the COVID-19 crisis began earlier this year. “We have to take this one step at a time – and we have to do it right,” Johnson said.
Johnson said any earlier than expected return to domestic travel was also welcome news, along with an announcement that airlines, including QANTAS, plan to slash the price of airfares.
TAA has also stepped up its support for online industry and development courses to help employees get through the COVID-19 pandemic. Johnson said with more than 300 accommodation hotels closing nationwide last month alone, the continued health and wellbeing of staff who have been stood down through no fault of their own remain a top priority of the Association.
Johnson said TAA was working closely with organisations including TAFE NSW, The Hotel School and William Angliss College on a range of initiatives.
Courses include the graduate certificate in global hotel leadership run by The Hotel School – a good way for hotel employees to further their knowledge and skills on a global level.
The Fullerton Hotel Sydney: Mother’s Day recipe
When it comes to staying in, few things beat having a delicious meal in the comfort of your own home. With most of our favourite hotel restaurants closed for the foreseeable future, this Mother’s Day, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney is bringing the #FullertonExperience to you.
Kenny Kong, Chef De Cuisine has shared his recipe for the perfect Mother’s Day breakfast: Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon on a Toasted Croissant. This classic dish is simple to create and assemble, with step-by-step instructions listed below.
Feel free to get creative with the ingredients, and wash it down with a Mimosa of Mum’s choice!
Ingredients:
- Croissant (1 halved)
- Whole egg (2)
- Smoked Salmon (4 slices)
- Vinegar (1 tablespoon)
For hollandaise sauce:
- Egg yolk (2)
- Melted butter (125 grams)
- White wine vinegar (½ teaspoon)
- Lemon juice (½ teaspoon)
- Salt (1 pinch)
- Cayenne pepper (1 pinch)
Method:
- Half-fill one saucepan (saucepan 1) with water and add vinegar for poaching the eggs and set aside.
- Half-fill another saucepan (saucepan 2) with water, boil the water and reduce to a gentle simmer to prepare the hollandaise sauce.
- Place the egg yolks and white wine vinegar into a mixing bowl and sit on top of the simmering water in saucepan 2, gently whisking the egg mixture until it begins to emulsify.
- Add the melted butter to the mixture and continue whisking until the mixture’s texture is a ribbon-like consistency.
- Remove the mixing bowl from heat, and add lemon juice, cayenne pepper and salt to the mixture. Gently mix the ingredients together, before covering the mixture and setting the mixing bowl aside.
To assemble:
- In saucepan 1, bring the water and vinegar to a boil and stir the water with a spatula in a circular motion.
- Carefully place the two eggs into the water, one at a time. Cook eggs until the white is firm but the yolk is still runny, approximately 3½-4 minutes.
- Toast each side of the croissant in a toaster for 4-5 minutes or in an oven preheated to 180°C for 5 minutes or until golden brown.
- Once toasted, place both pieces of croissant face-up in the middle of a plate and layer the smoked salmon slices on top of each piece of croissant.
- Remove the poached eggs from saucepan 1, and place on a separate plate layered with kitchen paper towels to remove the excess water from the poached eggs.
- Place one poached egg on each piece of croissant and spoon the hollandaise sauce directly on top of the poached eggs.
- Serve immediately with freshly cracked pepper sprinkled on top.
Atlantis Resort pledges 20,000 meals to ’10 Million Meals’ campaign
Atlantis Resorts has pledged 20,000 meals as part of ’10 Million Meals’, the nation’s biggest community campaign to provide meals or food parcels to support vulnerable individuals and families in the UAE.
This has illuminated 20,000 lights on Burj Khalifa which is supporting the campaign as the ‘World’s Tallest Donation Box’, which launched on Saturday.
The “World’s Tallest Donation Box” enables companies, entities and the public to purchase lights on Burj Khalifa, for as little as AED 10 each, to collectively donate 1.2 million meals or food parcels. For every light purchased through the website www.tallestdonationbox.com, one meal is provided to someone in need, with the ultimate goal to illuminate the 1.2 million lights on the façade of the world’s tallest building.
Representing donations as lights beaming on Burj Khalifa reflects the hope that small acts of kindness will bring to less fortunate communities as the country continues its battle against the pandemic.
Accessible Accommodation helps out people with disabilities during COVID-19 travel restrictions
Accessible Accommodation is currently being used as a resource to find suitable properties by NDIS and plan managers.
People with disabilities often have compromised immune systems and need to self-isolate (Not just COVID-19 sufferers). It may be after elective surgery where there is a need to self isolate between leaving hospital and returning home. Or, for respite.
The Accessible Accommodation website has over 100 properties all over Australia, from hotels and motels, to resorts and cabins, houseboats, farmstays and glamping.
Whilst travel restrictions are in place, accommodation providers are finding their accessible rooms are currently being booked for people with disabilities for between two weeks and two months at a time. This has helped offset the dramatic reduction in bookings due to travel restrictions.
Properties with accessible rooms may choose to list their accommodation on their website which is currently being offered FREE until lifting of travel restrictions. This offer is to assist people with disabilities find temporary accommodation during COVID.
Ovolo unveils ‘Restaurant in Room’ offer
A getaway is off the cards. And your favourite bars and restaurants are closed. The hospitality industry’s future faces uncertainty and Australia is becoming a vastly different place to live, so here is how to get some R ‘n’ R with R in R – Ovolo Hotels has a solution with Restaurant in Room.
Initially offered at Canberra’s Monster Kitchen & Bar at Ovolo Nishi from Thursday 30 April, guests can book Restaurant in Room on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights for private dining only, or with the addition of an overnight stay.
So, there is now every reason to get out, practise safe social distancing and enjoy a date night out of the house, a change of scenery and wanderlust seekers seeking a vacation via staycation, R in R offers a private dining sanctuary. Guests have the choice of set menus in the iconic Nishi Apartments by Ovolo with hotel rooms, for up to two guests.
Ovolo’s will look to launch Restaurant in Room across its other venues across Australia as the various state governments start to relax social distancing restrictions. These venues include Alibi Bar & Kitchen’s innovative plant-based dining in Sydney and Ovolo’s newest venue and ZA ZA TA, will continue to serve inspired Middle Eastern cuisine designed to be shared and savoured in Brisbane with Chef Roy Nor at the helm.
Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites launches ‘Together Again’ competition
Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites has asked Australians to share what they miss most while practising social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the three most inspiring stories selected to receive a reunion prize worth $2,000 each to share with their loved ones once the federal government confirms it is safe to do so.
Whether it’s a grandparent who is yet to hold their first grandchild, a sister’s cancelled hen’s party, celebrating a friend’s engagement from a distance, or simply missing a hug from mum, Oaks will bring together three groups of lucky Australians to share a moment in time with their nearest and dearest at an Oaks property, after missing so much during the pandemic.
The competition is now live. The three entrants with the most inspirational stories will be selected as the winners. Entry is via Oaks Hotels Facebook page HERE.
Transportive travel experiences from WRD’s portfolio
Nihi Sumba
Nihi Sumba has launched NIHI@HOME, a new program that brings you the comfort, care and inspiration you expect from Nihi. Follow along as they share their favourite rituals that sustain a state of interconnected and joyful existence.
The live programming offers classes, interviews, shows, kids activities, coaching tips, and other surprising events. Classes are streamed live from the resort’s Instagram account, @nihisumba seven days a week. Learn more HERE.
Bawah Reserve
From the resort’s three famous sambal recipes to virtual Bawah backgrounds for your online meetings, the five-star resort brings you the best of the archipelago in easy, inspiring online bursts. Read more HERE.
Resplendent Ceylon
Sri Lanka, Resplendent Ceylon, has launched an immersive new IGTV series for all three of their iconic properties.
Focusing on feel-good stories that showcase the resort’s people and exceptional settings, they encapsulate the country’s most sought-after experiences.
Visit Sri Lanka’s famous monkeys and wild animals with Wild Coast’s ‘Jungle Chronicles’; head to the famous Cape Weligama coastline with ‘Stories from the South’; and learn all things tea with Ceylon Tea Trails and their ‘Tea Planters Notebook’.
Discover more on Instagram: Wild Coast Lodge, Cape Weligama, Ceylon Tea Trails.
Soneva
The group’s new IGTV series, ‘Healthy Recipes’ allows you to replicate some of the soulful dishes the properties are renowned for, including Moringa (drumstick leaf) Uttapam – a simple yet delicious dish full of ingredients with immune-boosting benefits.
Follow along on IGTV HERE.
Free beds for stranded backpackers by Hostelworld
With travel now on hold, not everyone was able to make their way home. There are still many backpackers (overseas and in Australia) who need a safe place to stay and are struggling to cover the accommodation costs.
With this in mind, Hostelworld has established a new initiative called ‘Beds for Backpackers’ which aims to help those stranded here and abroad.
Partnering with hostels across the globe, the initiative offers free beds to all stranded travellers, not just customers. In some cases, hostels may ask for a little volunteer support in exchange for the free stay which is clearly labelled with a tick when travellers browse the list of participating properties.
Over 70 hostels across 35 countries have already signed up and this number continues to grow, demonstrating the strength of the travel community and its willingness to come together.
You can find out more about this initiative HERE.
Featured image: Mamole Treehouse at Nihi Sumba
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
Accessible Accommodation Atlantis Resort hostelworld ihg Oaks Hotels ovolo Resorts & Suites The Fullerton tourism accommodation australia WRDLatest News

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