This week’s Hotel Wrap is all about spoiling yourself and your clients with a host of deals, competitions and doggie stays.

Club Med wants you to ‘nominate a mate’ who deserves a holiday

Premium, all-inclusive holiday company Club Med is calling for travel agents and travel industry professionals to nominate their colleagues and peers who deserve to win their own future holiday, with the launch of its new initiative: ‘Nominate a Mate’.

To nominate a mate, or travel industry colleague: complete this form. Or, for more information, click here.

QT Hotels launches fur-endly stays

QT Hotels & Resorts is dishing up ‘puppy love’ with the introduction of ‘Pup Yeah!’ fur-friendly stays, with travellers now allowed to bring their dogs with them at select properties across Australia and New Zealand.

Features of the offer include decadent, in-room doggy dinners – that are totally disgusting from a human’s perspective – including steak tartare with raw beef, mushrooms and egg yolk, and bacon ice-cream sandwiches alongside dried liver and oat biscuits.

For more information, click here.

Revealed: The winners of the SLH Awards 2020

Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) has announced Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda in Italy (pictured) as ‘Hotel of the Year’ at the SLH Awards 2020.

Selected for the accolade by SLH’s executive panel, this “pioneer of sustainable hospitality” manages to create a haven for body, mind, soul and conscience on the shores of Lake Garda, and is one of 18 hotels to have been honoured in this year’s awards.

With over 400 SLH hotels around the world now open again these winners, along with 46 highly commended hotels, embody the inspirational spirit of all SLH hotels in demonstrating that the show goes on despite the many challenges faced this year, the company said.

The full list of winners and highly commended hotels includes:

• Hotel of the Year – Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda (Italy)
• City Centre Hotel of the Year – The Norman Tel Aviv (Israel)

Highly Commended – Hotel Lungarno (Italy); Refinery Hotel New York (USA); DUKES London (UK)

• Country House Hotel of the Year – Château la Chenevière (France)

Highly Commended – Schlosshotel Kronberg (Germany); Stein Eriksen Residences (USA); Hotel Rangá (Iceland)

• Resort Hotel of the Year – Hotel Villa Franca (Italy)

Highly Commended – Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay (Spain); Canaves Oia Suites (Greece); Keemala (Thailand)

• Mystery Inspectors’ Award – Hemingways Nairobi (Kenya)

Highly Commended – Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal (France); Pimalai Resort & Spa (Thailand); Rockliffe Hall (UK)

• Most Inspirational Interior Design – Castello di Reschio (Italy)

Highly Commended – Le Coucou Méribel (France); Gangtey Lodge (Bhutan); Ksar Char-Bagh (Morocco)

• Most Intimate Bedroom – Cap Rocat (Spain)

Highly Commended – Thorngrove Manor (Australia); Carmo’s Boutique Hotel (Portugal); Le Grand Bellevue (Switzerland)

• Most Mindful Wellness Retreat – Castle Hot Springs (USA)

Highly Commended – Quinta da Comporta (Portugal); Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti (Italy); Spa Village Tembok Bali (Indonesia)

• Most Intense Bespoke Experience – The George (New Zealand)

Highly Commended – Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay (Spain); Milaidhoo Maldives (Maldives); Pangkor Laut Resort (Malaysia)

• Best Gourmet Experience – The Seminyak Beach Resort & Spa (Indonesia)

Highly Commended – The Atlantic Hotel (Channel Islands); Castle Hot Springs (USA); Halcyon House (Australia)

• Local Food Champion – Chef Marc Collins, Wentworth Mansion (USA)

Highly Commended – Chef Salvatore Minneci, Susafa (Italy); Chef Carvison Pratt, Sailrock Resort (Turks & Caicos); Chef Jim Hopkins, Stein Eriksen Residences (USA)

• Hotel Hero Award – Michael Ferreira, Le Barthélemy Resort & Spa (St Barths)

Highly Commended – Laksiri Perera, The Fortress Resort & Spa (Sri Lanka); Harold Shepherd, The Sandpiper (Barbados)

• Sustainable Innovator of the Year – Arima Hotel (Spain)

Highly Commended – Susafa (Italy); Petit St Vincent (St Vincent & The Grenadines); Domaine de Manville (France)

• Stay Small, Stay Considerate Award – Lefay Resorts (Italy)

Highly Commended – Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa (Costa Rica); AKARYN Hotel Group (Thailand); Gaya Island Resort (Malaysia)

• INVITED Hotel of the Year – The Tokyo Station Hotel (Japan)

Highly Commended – Dormy House Hotel (UK); Velassaru Maldives (Maldives); Hotel Relais Christine (France)

• Travel Agents’ Hotel of the Year – Hotel Relais Christine (France)

Highly Commended – Viceroy Bali (Indonesia); Hotel Vilòn (Italy); Casa Angelina (Italy)

• Most ‘Liked’ Hotel – Halcyon House (Australia)

Highly Commended – Canaves Oia (Greece); Castello di Reschio (Italy); Cap Rocat (Spain)

• Digital Excellence Award – Triumph Hotels (USA).

Aman to reopen three properties

Children’s pool at Amanjena, Morocco (source: Aman)

Aman has announced the reopening of three of its properties in October 2020: Amanjena in Morocco, and Amangalla and Amanwella in Sri Lanka.

Reopening on 15 October 2020, Amanjena is a verdant oasis of palm and olive trees and lies just outside the fabled red city of Marrakech.

The resort’s rose-hued architecture is inspired by ancient Moorish heritage, and its pisé-de-terre walls, vaulted ceilings and decorative arches echo the style of a sultan’s palace.

Designed around an emerald reflective basin, the resort provides the space, peace and discretion of a private haven, away from the energetic bustle of the nearby city, with only 40 standalone guest pavilions and maisons.

Aman is also pleased to announce the reopening of Amangalla and Amanwella on weekends from 1 October 2020.

The ideal break for those looking for a sense of escapism a little closer to home, both properties offer a generosity of space, privacy and peace so intrinsic to Aman, allowing the country to be discovered through a new lens.

Winners of Bawah Reserve’s honeymoon competition announced

Bawah Reserve, one of Indonesia’s most exclusive off-grid eco resorts, recently ran a competition to ‘Win the ultimate Bawah Reserve Honeymoon’ for couples who had to cancel their honeymoon due to COVID-19.

Valued at US$10,000, the competition was judged by Australian influencers Pia Muehlenbeck and Kane Vato, who spent their honeymoon at Bawah Reserve in 2019.

After thousands of entries and much deliberation, the winners were announced as intensive care and anaesthesiologist doctors, Aatif and Farzana from London, United Kingdom.

Let dogs be dogs at Reflections Holiday Parks

With pet ownership soaring through the pandemic, one holiday park provider is pushing back on the recent spike of luxury dog holidays by urging pet owners to let ‘dogs be dogs’.

Reflections Holiday Parks is challenging owners to swap dog degustation menus and spa treatments for time outdoors getting mucky, chasing balls, and digging holes in the sand.

In addition to staying for free at Reflections Holiday Parks’ properties, dogs will receive a free pig’s ear or bone on arrival during October – a step change from fillet of grilled sea trout with broccolini seen on the dog menu at one Sydney hotel, Reflections said.

The initiatives coincide with a Spring-long crusade by Reflections to get people sharing photos of their feel-good moments on social media to help raise each other’s spirits.

Each week, one lucky winner who’s shared their feel-good moment on Facebook and Instagram with #findthefeels #reflectionsholidayparks will win a holiday, plus the company will pay one forward to a healthcare worker in Victoria.

This month, they’re urging pet owners to share photos of their dog’s feel-good moments to win.

Win the ultimate two-night Byron Bay resort experience

Ready to live like a Hemsworth? Byron at Byron, a Crystalbrook Collection resort, is celebrating the completion of its $6 million refresh with a giveaway only the world-famous coastal town could deliver.

The beloved Northern Rivers resort has partnered with local sustainable brands St. Agni, Sulis Lifestyle Salon and Spa, and Brookie’s Gin for a weekend that pulls out all the stops – from delicious rainforest dinners and pampering spa treatments, to boutique shopping sprees and craft gin tastings.

One lucky winner and their guest will spend two luxurious nights in one of the Resort’s new Luxe Suites, set among sub-tropical rainforest with outdoor showers, freestanding deep soak bathtubs and separate living areas.

If this sounds like your dream holiday, head to crystalbrookcollection.com/win and enter before 9 October 2020.

The prize can be redeemed for travel dates between 1 February and 8 December 2021, excluding black-out dates and public holidays.

‘Staycay’ your way at Ovolo Hotels

Ovolo Hotels has collaborated with leading partners in their respective cities to offer guests unique and exclusive experiences.

With ‘Staycay Your Way’, guests can now enjoy the freedom to design their ultimate urban staycation, with pick ‘n’ mix experiences to create a tailor-made stay.

Guests don’t even need to worry about leaving their furry friend at home when staying at Ovolo’s pet-friendly hotels. For more information, contact Ovolo Group’s group director of marketing, Stephen Howard: stephen.howard@ovologroup.com.

Big Sky Retreats welcomes two brand-new river fronted properties

Big Sky Retreats and its portfolio of premium, unique accommodation options in the mountainous town of Bright have welcomed two brand-new river fronted properties: ‘Bridgewater’ and ‘River Run’.

Offering a luxurious, secluded retreat surrounded by the lush bushlands of Victoria’s Alpine High Country, Bridgewater and River Run are the perfect option for large group getaways, family holidays and special events no matter the season.

Only a two to three-minute drive, or 20-minute walk, from the township of Bright, the magnificent alpine setting creates peace and privacy for families or friends wanting to escape the city hustle.

Both stretching over half an acre and nestled beside Bright’s famous Ovens River, the side by side properties are mirror images of each other, taking inspiration from the lake houses of North America and fused beautifully with modern Australian design and detail.

Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour collaborates with The Healthy Chef

Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour has announced an exciting new collaboration with The Healthy Chef brand, and founder Teresa Cutter (pictured), to create an all-encompassing wellness offering at the hotel.

The partnership will further integrate health and wellness into all aspects of guest experience at the hotel, through an exclusive in-room package as well as an innovative drinks menu developed by The Healthy Chef and Sydney mixologist Kurtis Bosley.

The menu will incorporate the brand’s Marine Collagen, Matcha and Natural WPI Protein to support immunity and wellbeing.

Available through in-room dining, within their breathtaking Champagne Bar and in the conference rooms, the four new signature drinks are:

• Up + Go Coffee Shake by Teresa Cutter, The Healthy Chef – Coffee, banana, oat milk, dates, Healthy Chef Vanilla Pure Native WPI Protein. The perfect energy kick to support a lean, fit and energised body
• Everyday Greens by Teresa Cutter, The Healthy Chef – Green grapes, lime, coconut water, ginger, Healthy Chef Everyday Greens, Healthy Chef Marine Collagen. A refreshing drink for glowing skin and hair
• Immune Lover – Quince gin, marine collagen, fennel pollen Poire William, ceremonial-grade matcha, amontillado sherry. Boost your immune system with this magnificent cocktail infused with skin-boosting marine collagen and Matcha tea, high in antioxidants
• V&Tea – Native-infused Belvedere vodka, marine collagen, pomegranate & hibiscus tea, aniseed & lemon myrtle, pandan, lime, StrangeLove light tonic. Rich in antioxidants for optimum health and vitality.

In addition, The WELLNESS room package is valued from $352 a night with a two-night minimum stay and includes accommodation, daily breakfast, two gluten-free energy-boosting smoothies, a copy of Teresa Cutter’s award-winning plant-based cookbook ‘Earth to Table’ and 150-gram pack of The Healthy Chefs Natural Immune Support.

Adam D’Sylva named creative culinary director at Lollo

Adam D’Sylva has been named the creative culinary director at Lollo, one of W Melbourne’s widely anticipated signature restaurants.

Working with the hotel’s executive chef, Jihun Kim, the pair will create a menu that is as familiar as it is unexpected to highlight Australia’s unmistakable local fresh produce.

A place to come together and celebrate, Lollo will be an extension of D’Sylva’s story to date – eclectic, bold, and modern – with a chef-driven menu of sharp, fragrant flavours, designed to be shared.