Nothing says “It’s almost Friday” like perusing all the latest hotel deals and news in Travel Weekly‘s handy accommodation wrap.

The Sebel brand returns to Sydney’s CBD

Australia’s largest hotel operator, Accor, announces that Quay West Suites Sydney has been rebranded to The Sebel Quay West Suites Sydney, effective immediately.

Situated in Sydney’s historic The Rocks precinct, The Sebel Quay West Suites offers stylish, spacious apartment-style suites with stunning views over The Sydney Harbour Bridge, The Sydney Opera House, and Circular Quay.

Just minutes from the Ferry Terminal and Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Sebel Quay West Suites Sydney is ideal for short escapes, special occasions and long-term stays.

Japan-Australia summit strengthens tourism ties

Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) Government Relations Director and Tourism Australia (TA) Board Member Bradley Woods represented Australia’s hotel industry at the highly successful Australia-Japan Tourism Cooperation Dialogue.

The dialogue, which was held in Perth last week, has helped strengthen ties and progress opportunities with one of Australia’s major economic partners.

In 2018, Japan was Australia’s fifth largest inbound market for visitor arrivals and for total visitor spend.

From 2014 to 2018 inclusive, the number of short-term visitors from Japan arriving in Australia increased by 40 per cent and by 2026–27, Australia will welcome an estimated 626,000 Japanese tourists who will contribute $3.7 billion to the Australian economy.

Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour and Sydney Contemporary Art Fair unveil exclusive collaboration 

Acclaimed contemporary artists Tony Albert, Sarah Contos, Louise Zhang and Nadia Hernández have joined creative forces with Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour to surprise and delight art-loving guests with immersive temporary installations from September 5, ahead of the Fair opening 12-15 September at Carriageworks.

The four site-specific installations are located in two Prestige Suites and a Junior Suite on the hotel’s 29^th floor, as well as its top-floor executive lounge, Club Millesime. Running for a couple of weeks, they feature wall works, sculptures and personal objects encapsulating the artists’ creative visions, inspirations and personalities.

Accor Heartist program wins ‘Best Change Management Strategy’ at Australian HR Awards

Accor’s Heartist program has been recognised as one of the country’s leading cultural change management programs after winning the ‘Best Change Management Strategy’ category at last week’s annual HR Awards.

The award recognises the role Accor’s comprehensive and multi-faceted Heartist program (derived from Heart+Artist) played in shaping, managing and influencing the Group’s recent organisation change.

Hilton amps up national partnership with The Smith Family in centennial year

Following a successful four-year partnership, Hilton has again partnered with national children’s education charity, The Smith Family in the hospitality company’s centennial year.

As Hilton now looks ahead to the next 100 years, the global hospitality company recently announced the creation of The Hilton Effect Foundation, which will help create a better world of travel by investing in both organisations and people, having a positive impact on our global communities.

To celebrate the launch of The Foundation on Hilton’s 100^th Anniversary, Hilton awarded 15 grants to support various programmes around the globe; including creating opportunities for youth, and supporting water stewardship and sustainability.

Australia’s Hilton Effect grant will be awarded to The Smith Family, supporting 65 disadvantaged Australian students through their Learning for Life program. With the Foundation’s support, these students will be provided with the extra tools and resources they need to be able to participate fully in their education.

Accor embark on bold dual venture with prominent Victorian ‘Brady’ family

Accor, Australia’s largest hotel operator, together with prominent Victorian ‘Brady’ family of Amber Property Group, today, made a major dual hotel announcement. Entering the hotel scene for the first time, the Brady family will own The Sebel Melbourne Ringwood and Peppers Melbourne Richmond, both new-build hotels for Ringwood in Melbourne’s east and the historic Bridge Street in Richmond. Both hotels are scheduled to open in 2021/2022, respectively.

The Sebel Melbourne Ringwood will add 103 serviced apartment-style rooms to Melbourne east’s growth corridor in Ringwood. Spanning seven-floors, the property will feature, 48 studio apartments, 48 one-bedroom suites and 7 two-bedroom suites, with a fitness centre, two function rooms, a restaurant, reception area, and lobby bar/cafe.

Peppers Melbourne Richmond, located on the historic 1800’s Bridge Street, will celebrate its heritage with a blended historic yet modern façade. With 83 guestrooms, the hotel will feature a restaurant, bar, and health & fitness centre. Located just 1km from the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Peppers Melbourne Richmond will service patrons attending the Boxing Day Test, AFL games, State of Origin and other big-name events.

With the newly upgraded $1.3b Epworth Hospital located within 300m, Peppers Melbourne Richmond will also act as a great auxiliary service to the hospital, with limited hotel infrastructure in the existing area.

Raffles Maldives Meradhoo introduces overwater villas 

Raffles’ first resort in the Maldives, which soft-opened in May, has introduced 16 new overwater villas, set on the southern tip of the Maldives in the remote and pristine Gaafu Alifu Atoll.

A palm tree-peppered private island comprising of only 21 villas and residences, a sublime spa, beachside restaurants and world-class dive centre with an on-site marine biologist, Raffles Maldives Meradhoo is just a moment away by boat and opening on 22 September, Raffles Maldives Meradhoo’s Overwater Island Experience completes the resort.

First look at Banyan Tree Phuket’s new serenity pool villas

Banyan Tree Phuket has released brand new imagery of their Serenity Pool Villas and Residences, which are opening from November 1 2019.

This living space includes a 17.5 sqm swimming pool with whirlpool, surrounded by a tree-lined sunbathing area. After enjoying each day of island exploration and spa treatments, you’ll stretch out on a luxurious King-size bed for a refreshing night’s sleep. The Serenity Pool Villa also offers a spacious bathroom, special sitting area for relaxation, and modern amenities within a traditional Thai architectural setting.

Bailey, a Crystalbrook Collection Hotel, commences direct online bookings

Located in the heart of Cairns’ flourishing cultural precinct, Bailey will open the doors to its first guests on Saturday, 2 November 2019.

To celebrate the launch of Bailey, Crystalbrook is offering advance opening rates starting at $179 per room per night.

Bailey is the second of three Crystalbrook Collection hotels to open in Cairns and once open, will be the fourth hotel in the Group’s fast-expanding Australian portfolio.

W Hotels Worldwide and Mixcloud present FUTURE RISING Asia Volume 2: RIGHT HERE! RIGHT NOW!

W Hotels Worldwide, the luxe rebel of Marriott International, announced it has once again joined forces with Mixcloud, the world’s leading long-form music streaming platform that is fostering a global community for audio culture.

Now in its second edition, FUTURE RISING is the cutting-edge, creative platform that brings together rising talent from both the worlds of music and visual art.

Kicking off on 20 September at W Guangzhou, FUTURE RISING will then travel to W Bangkok (26 September), W Goa (18 October), W Kuala Lumpur (7 November) and W Brisbane (15 November) to explore the intersection of music and visual art, celebrating the zeitgeist of a city and introducing the cultural change makers you’ll soon be seeing everywhere.

Cape Town’s newest lifestyle hotel has opened its doors

LABOTESSA, a 17th-century congressional church turned lifestyle hotel, will open in August 2019.

Originally built in the early 1700s, the intimate, seven-room property is one of the oldest buildings in South Africa and the debut project in the LABOTESSA portfolio by hoteliers Jan Fourie and Johan du Plessis. The South African founders were inspired by the opportunity to meld heritage and old-world elegance with visionary new world design.

Fiji’s Kokomo private island resort invests further in environmental sustainability

Kokomo Private Island has partnered with the world’s leading manta ray research and conservation charities to launch the South Pacific Acoustic Manta Tagging Project.

Expanding the resort’s commitment to sustainability, the program works to estimate the size and movement of Fiji’s manta population, raising awareness of their conservation needs and the benefits of sustainable tourism.

Developed in conjunction with the UK-based Manta Trust and Manta Project Fiji, the tagging project – the first of its kind in the South Pacific – is led by marine biologist and divemaster Luke Gordon who has spent over five years working in Fiji on various conservation topics.

Working alongside Gordon on this initiative is Kokomo’s resident Marine Biologist, Cliona O’Flaherty who has implemented interactive practices on island in order to educate guests firsthand on the importance of conservation. Cliona most recently won the ‘Sustainable Practices Champion’ Award at the Women in Travel Awards.