Office News

 

• We wish Shirin all the best and good luck with her upcoming birth of her first child. Shirin leaves on maternity leave this month.

• We welcome Pam Spencer to our team. With a wealth of experience she will support the busy ad-hoc department.

Product of the Month

Queensland

Moreton Bay Escapes - Moreton Island Tour

Moreton Bay Escapes offers small group tours for Nature lovers and outdoor people. The 4WD based programs go to the beautiful Moreton Island National Park. Moreton Island is the worlds third largest sand island of which 98% is a protected National Park, with no sealed roads, 4WD is the only mode of transport. Offering day tours as well as overnight camping tours, they depart from both Brisbane and Surfers Paradise.

The Moreton Island tour starts with a luxury cruise across beautiful Moreton Bay to Moreton Island. On arrival, board a 4WD and drive of the ferry directly on to the beach. The first activity is to get straight into sand boarding and tobogganing. This is awesome fun, high speed, high adrenalin! Moreton Bay Escapes provide both lie down toboggans as well as stand up boards.   Next stop cross the island to the Open Beach; travel through thick eucalypt forest, featuring beautiful Xanthorrhoea (Grass Trees) up to 250 years old. The open beach is 38km long of uninterrupted surf beach.   Boogy Boarding and body surfing is next! Then off to North Point and Honeymoon Bay’s secluded beach with great safe surf beaches. After a picnic lunch continue to Cape Moreton Lighthouse.
This imposing rock Headland is 80m above sea level and gives you commanding views across all of Moreton Island and the beautiful Glass House Mountains. Look out to sea and spot Dolphins, Turtles and Whales (June To October). Moreton Island is home to hundreds of different birds, featuring White Bellied Sea Eagles, Pied Oyster Catchers, Pelicans and thousands of wadding birds. 

What’s New

Air Pacific

• Air Pacific adds direct non-stop flights between Nadi and Hong Kong from 18 June 2009.
• Initially flights will be twice weekly using B767 aircraft. The service will be expanded to three times weekly once the route is established.
• Special through fares from Nadi via Hong Kong to Europe and other Asian destinations are available for connecting Cathay Pacifc flights, for example to Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Rome. The new Air Pacific service is a great opportunity of one stop travel to Fiji.

New South Wales

Holiday Inn Sydney Airport and Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport

• The two hotels have recently appointed a new airport shuttle service provider - Sydney Super Shuttle. This service will operate 7 days a week, running every 35 minutes between the hours of 5.00am and 11.30pm.
• The pick up locations are:
   - Domestic Terminal: In the Public Mini Bus section which sits in between both T2 and T3.
   - International Terminal: At the Public Mini Bus stand between Bays 5 and6.
• On the journey from the hotel to the airport guests will need to pre-purchase a ticket from reception. When travelling from the airport to the hotel the bus driver will log the guests name and the charge will appear on their hotel invoice.
• The cost for the shuttle service has increased to $6.00 per person each way. The benefit is that the bus is more regular reducing waiting times for guests.
• Time schedule and the transfer cost are subject to change with a reasonable notice period.

Taronga Zoo, Sydney

• “Roar and Snore” is Taronga Zoo`s new-look overnight accommodation program.
• The cliff-top location boasts ultra-comfortable safari-style tents, with views of the Harbour and Sydney’s majestic city skyline and is the base for tours and wildlife encounters with Australia’s famous wildlife from kangaroos and koalas to emus and possums throughout the overnight stay at Taronga.
• The tents are equipped with fully dressed double and single beds. All linen is provided and guests also have the chance to shower in the new amenities block just steps from your tent.
• They offer welcome drinks, buffet dinner and breakfast.
• The tours are all led by trained Taronga staff that can answer their guests’ questions about wildlife. The tours introduce people to some very special times in Taronga, not usually seen by the zoo’s daytime visitors.

York Fairmont Resort, Blue Mountains

• The Olive Tree Restaurant is back to business as usual and guests can again have breakfast in Fairmont Resort.

Northern Territory

Maruku Arts, Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park

• At ‘Maruku Arts’, the 100% Aboriginal owned gallery in the Cultural Centre of Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park, clients can purchase Aboriginal paintings and wood handcrafts, which are manufactured on site.
• Groups are more then welcome to pass through. If notice is given in advance Maruku can organise a German, Spanish or Italian speaking guide at no cost who will introduce them to the art centre before the clients wander around themselves.

Voyages Longitude 131

• Voyages is pleased to advise that they now employ foreign speaking tour guides at Longitude 131 for an additional cost to assist with translation for your clients.

Queensland

All Seasons Magnetic Island

• Accor will add a new hotel to the All Seasons network in Australia in April 2009.
• All Seasons Magnetic Island is a 96 room hotel located on Magnetic Island, 8kms off the coast of Townsville in North Queensland and on the Great Barrier Reef.

Peppers Hidden Vale

• Peppers Hidden Vale will once again run their ‘Mustering Tours’ from 1 August 2009 to 31 March 2010.
• Guests are able to enjoy all the romance of a traditional Australian outback muster on a 12,000 acre working cattle station.
• Ranging from a 4 hour cattle experience to two days of non-stop mustering action, these genuine Australian encounters are a rare opportunity to be part of a truly legendary outback experience.
• Further information on request.

Voyages Brampton Island

• Following a review of Brampton Island transfers, Voyages Hotels & Resorts is pleased to advise the following new Brampton Island launch transfer schedule:
   - Mackay Marina to Brampton Island - departs 2.00pm daily
   - Brampton Island to Mackay Marina - departs 3.20pm daily
• The Mackay Marina launch departure time has been changed in order to align more efficiently with major city flight arrivals into Mackay. In turn, the new Brampton Island launch departure time allows guests greater opportunity to enjoy the island on their date of departure, whilst still connecting with city return flights.

Flames of the Forest

• Due to an overwhelming demand both from domestic and international visitors, Flames of the Forest will be introducing a change to its schedule for 2009/10.
• The standard format for this outstanding rainforest dining experience will remain unchanged Thursday and Friday evenings, complete with transfers, tropical cuisine and aboriginal dreamtime story.
• The introduction of a less formal evening will be implemented on Saturday nights, from 11 April 2009. Saturday evenings will feature a 3 course dinner only rate, with options to include beverages from an extensive wine list, transfers and after dinner tea & coffee. No children’s rate is available, no self drive or BYO.

South Australia

Cattle Drive 2010

• The Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive is on the move again on South Australia’s Oodnadatta Track. From 30 July to 29 August 2010, guests can join one of six tours, each of four nights and five days duration.
• By day, drove 500 head of cattle through the South Australian Outback on horseback; by night, unwind with great food, hot showers and cold beers alongside a warm campfire at the camp village.
• Each of the six tours features its own distinct highlights, allowing participants to relive a very real part of Australian history of droving cattle. Places are already selling fast.

Clarion Soho, Adelaide

• The Clarion Soho is a brand new built self-rated 5 star boutique-style hotel located on Flinders Street. The property has just 6 rooms per floor with a total of 30 rooms. In addition, the hotel has a small meeting room and a rooftop pool.
• The hotel offers 24 hour room service, valet car parking, high speed cable Internet inside the rooms and gourmet dining. The property is excellent for FITs, business travellers and small groups, and is located a short distance for popular Hutt Street.

De Coudie Beach House, Kangaroo Island

• De Coudie Beach House is a new luxury 4 bedroom beach house located in a wonderfully pristine location at Island Beach on Kangaroo Island.
• The setting is remote and private, the house being set amongst the sand hills with the living area at the height of the tree tops - with a wide panorama of the beautiful blue waters of Eastern Cove - yet the building is barely visible from the beach or the water.

Rockford Adelaide

• Rockford Adelaide has just completed a multi-million dollar refurbishment.
• The 4 ½ star Adelaide hotel offers 80 contemporary rooms, including 12 brand new rooms and apartments, wireless broadband Internet access, a panoramic rooftop pool as well as a modern bar and stunning restaurant.
• Rockford Adelaide is located in Adelaide City’s vibrant West End arts precinct, and is a non-smoking, boutique-style hotel that is central for business, leisure and entertainment options. With the complimentary City Loop bus service and the Glenelg tram service stopping just around the corner, it couldn’t be easier to access major attractions from the comfort of the Rockford.

Seppeltsfield Vineyard Cottage, Barossa Valley

• Seppeltsfield Vineyard Cottage is a stunning new accommodation option in the Barossa Valley for high-end FIT clients. The authentic 1860s German settler’s cottage has been beautifully restored and is nestled in the heart of the Barossa vineyards.
• The cottage is self-contained, and has all the luxuries you would expect including Bose Entertainment System and iPod docking station, free wireless Internet, espresso coffee machine, king bed, luxury Ensuite bathroom including deep antique bath, double shower, heated towel rails and underfloor heating in winter.

Spirit of the Port - New Adelaide Tour

• The tour operator Spirit Australia Cruises has launched a new day cruise exploring the waterways around Port Adelaide.
• The new ‘Spirit of the Port’ tour operates from Port Adelaide, 12 kilometres from the Adelaide CBD. The tour links the history and romance of the old port with the nature and ecology of the Port River estuarine environment, which includes many dolphin spotting.

Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute

• Tandanya is Adelaide leading contemporary aboriginal attraction in Adelaide, with art exhibitions, daily aboriginal performances and retail outlet, and a must visit for any international visitors to Adelaide.
• Tandaya is celebrating 20 years in 2009 with a full calendar of exhibitions, events, festivals and much more. To ensure everyone is able to celebrate, entry into Tandanya will be free for 2009. Costs will only apply to experience the cultural presentation and performance (Tuesday to Sunday 12.00pm).

Victoria

Novotel Melbourne St Kilda

• All Bay View and City View Rooms & Suites have received complete upgrades after a $7.5 million refurbishment. All now boast a fresh, contemporary new look that is both relaxed and chic, in keeping with St Kilda’s relaxed beachside vibe and city fringe location. The hotel’s public areas, including the lobby and reception area, now also feature a refreshing new look.
• By May 2009 the Novotel will showcase a brandnew restaurant, which will optimise its prime Esplanade location with an in- and outdoor dining concept in classic bar and grill style. The restaurant will also be available for functions and conferences.

Silverwater Resort, Phillip Island

• The 4 ½ star Silverwater Resort is a stunning and thoughtfully designed lifestyle resort. Set high up on the rolling hills around San Remo it is your gateway to Phillip Island.
• An easy 80 minute drive from Melbourne brings you to the resort, which is surrounded by surf and swimming beaches within the inspiring natural beauty of Phillip Island.
• Silverwater Resort boasts 170 rooms, comprising ‘hotel style’ resort rooms, plus fully self contained one, two and three bedroom apartments, all with views over the water, parklands or surrounding rural landscapes.
• The resort offers an amazing range of local tours, attractions and activities. Facilities on offer include tennis courts, golf courses, volleyball, table tennis, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, spa, sauna, gym as well as a billard and games room.
• All day dining and sumptuous dinners are available in the in- and outdoor restaurant with views overlooking the bay. There are flexible menus to suit any individual guest or group.

Western Australia

Rendezvous Observation City Hotel Perth

• Rendezvous Hotels & Resorts International has announced that the iconic Rendezvous Observation City Hotel Perth will continue to trade as a hotel into the foreseeable future, postponing plans to develop a large scale luxury apartment redevelopment project.
• Rendezvous Observation City Hotel is located across from the pristine sands of Scarborough Beach on Western Australia’s Sunset Coast. It is only fifteen minutes from the City Centre and offers guests a unique opportunity to experience the exceptional lifestyle of Perth.
• The hotel offers 333 rooms and suites with panoramic Indian Ocean views and private balconies.

Voyages El Questro Homestead

El Questro Homestead re-opens on 1 April 2009. Please be advised that the transfer between El Questro and Emma Station is a complimentary service for Homestead guests.

Specials

Australia - wide

Chinta Air Tours

• Chinta Air Tours is offering an ‘Earlybird Discount’ for those passengers who book a Chinta Air Tour before 30April 2009. The incentive is a discount of 5% for one person of each couple.
• The discount is applicable to bookings of touring packages that include air charter flights, accommodation, meals and ground tours. It is not applicable to bookings of air charter flights only and cannot be combined with any other Chinta Air Tours incentive or discount.
• Valid for travel from now to 31 March 2010.
• Chinta Air Tours standard terms and conditions of travel apply.

Stella Hospitality Group

• Stella has released special offers valid for bookings from now until 31May2009 and for travel from 1 April to 30 June 2009 for selected properties in Tropical North Queensland, Brisbane & Surfers Paradise, Sunshine Coast, Sydney & Surrounds, Melbourne & Surrounds, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin.
• Please contact our office for further details.

Voyages

• Stay 6 Pay 4 offers for Voyages Dunk, Heron and Brampton Islands. Valid for sale from now to 30 June 2009. Valid for travel from now to 18 September 2009
• Stay 2 Pay 1 offer for Kings Canyon Resort. Valid for sale and for travel from now to 30 June 2009.
• Stay 3 Pay 2 offer for Wrotham Park. Valid for sale from now to 30 June 2009. Valid for travel from now to 30 October 2009.
• Stay Pay offers for Bedarra, Lizard, Wilson Islands. Valid for sale from now to 30 June 2009. Valid for travel from now to 30 September 2009.
• Valid for new FIT bookings only. Subject to availability at the time of booking.
• More tactical specials now available for further Voyages Resorts and Islands! Please contact our office for further details.

New South Wales

Citigate Central, Sydney

• Offers competitive Bed & Breakfast rates from April to July 2009 and in January 2010.
• Please contact our office for further details.

Queensland

Hotel Grand Chancellor Brisbane

• Winter special for travel between 01 April - 31 August 2009.
• Rates are valid for both groups and FITs.
• Please contact our office for more information.

Paradise on the Beach, Palm Cone

• Stay 5, Pay 4 offer!
• Valid for Pool Garden Suites from 1 April to 30 June 2009.
• Subject to availability.

Qualia, Great Barrier Reef

• New packages available:
   - Unwind and prepare for pampering with the 2 night Spa qualia Experience.
   - Explore with qualia’s 3 night Great Barrier Reef Discovery, which includes a return heli-tour to the reef.
   - Indulge in the stunning beauty that is the Whitsundays with the 3 night Island Interlude, including a gourmet picnic beach drop off and a signature sunset cruise.
• Spa qualia has just unveiled an indulgent new Spa treatment menu, which makes use of natural Australian product ranges from LI’TYA and Sodashi.

Sofitel Brisbane Central

• There has been a slight change to the name of Sofitel Brisbane Grand Central.
• The new name effective immediately is Sofitel Brisbane Central.

Tasmania

Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston

• ‘Winter Warmers Special’, valid from 1 June to 30 September 2009.
• Only valid for new group and FIT bookings.
• More information is available on request.

Voyages Cradle Mountain Lodge

• Cradle Mountain Lodge offers 5-course Food and Wine Degustation Dinners this winter. The degustation dinners are available with a minimum one night accommodation only.
• Take advantage of the Winter Wonderland offer from 1 May until 30 September 2009 and save 15% off the standard nightly rate.

Victoria

Crown Towers & Crown Promenade Hotel Melbourne

• Stay 3, pay 2 nights!
• Valid for travel: 1 April - 31 August 2009.
• Minimum 3 nights consecutive stay applies.
• Valid for new bookings only.
• Excludes special event periods and dates.

Western Australia

Cable Beach Club Resort

• ‘Winter Escape Special’:
   - Complimentary full buffet breakfast daily at the Sunset Bar & Grill overlooking the stunning Cable Beach 
   - Complimentary Return Broome Airport Transfers
• Valid for the following room types: Pool Terrace Studios, Ocean View Studios and all Bungalows.
• Valid for Sale: until 18 October 2009 (new bookings only).
• Valid for Stays: 1 June - 18 October 2009.
• Minimum 4 night stay required.
• Complimentary full buffet breakfast is for each guest in existing bedding.
• Subject to availability
• Note: Suites & Villas receive complimentary full buffet breakfast as standard for all bookings.

Changes & Refurbishment

A. C. T.Olims Canberra an All Seasons Hotel

• A full refurbishment of the west wing block will commence in April/May 2009 with expected completion date September 2009.
• To ensure minimal disruption to guests, the entire west wing will be blocked off to guests and construction work hours are between 8.00am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.

Northern Territory

Skycity Darwin

• The refurbishments are now due for completion on 27 April 2009 with no work taking place on the weekends.

Voyages

• Voyages Hotels & Resorts will continue to close Carmichaels Restaurant in Kings Canyon Resort and Winkuku Restaurant in Ayers Rock Resort for dinner until further notice. The restaurants will both remain open for breakfast, and group lunches will be booked as required.
• Please contact our office for the booking of alternative dinner options.

Queensland

BreakFree French Quarter, Noosa

• Major refurbishments to apartments within the resort will take place in different stages within the period of 4 May to 14 December 2009.
• Excessive noise may result in the initial two weeks of the date ranges, e.g. jack hammering. Once the initial demolition works are completed, noise is restricted to general construction noise such as hammers, saws etc.

BreakFree Paradise Centre, Surfers Paradise

• Refurbishments of pool and BBQ area from 27 April to 31 July 2009, Monday to Friday.
• No access to pools, saunas, tennis courts, gym or BBQ area for the entire period. Noise and vibrations etc. can be expected from the work.
• Arrangements have been made for guests to utilise the pool at the Courtyard Marriott located next door during this refurbishment period.

BreakFree Peninsula, Surfers Paradise

• Repairs to balcony balustrades will take place in different stages within the period April 2009 to February 2010.
• Closure of selected areas in stages. Noise will include concrete drilling, hammer drilling (from 8.00am only) and general noise associated with the removal and installation of the balustrades.

Hamilton Island

• Please be advised that from 1 April 2009, Hamilton Island’s Toucan Tango Restaurant & Bar will be closing for a soft refurbishment. This soft refurbishment will entail a new furniture package, colour scheme and cabinet facades; creating a new contemporary look and feel. It will re-open 1 May 09.
• During the refurbishment, breakfast will be available in the Beach House Restaurant (located 100m from Toucan Tango’s and directly on the beach). The buffet product and operation times remain unchanged (7.00am-10.30am).

Hilton, Cairns

• On 30 March, Hilton will commence some soft improvements to levels 9, 8 & 7 which will conclude by the end of May. The work is limited to replacing carpets, repainting the walls and changing some furniture.
• None of the above is expected to have any impact on our guests as there will be no sing of work nor any noise associated with the same.
• In addition they replace every television in the hotel with a 37″ High Definition LCD flat screen TV. These will be the largest LCD televisions in Cairns and the first 5 star hotel to have them in every hotel room. This will also be completed by the end of May and will have no impact on the guests.

Holiday Inn Townsville

• The multi-million dollar revitalisation of the iconic Holiday Inn Townsville has begun to unfold.
• The revitalisation will incorporate all guest rooms inclusive of bathrooms, restaurant, the hotel lobby and reception areas with the expected completion date in mid 2009.
• In order to maintain a ‘great hotel guests love’ the high impact revitalisation works will be restricted to the hours of 9.00am - 5.00pm coupled with buffer levels to ensure there is little disruption as possible to guests.

Ocean Spirit Cruises

• Effective 01 April 2009 Ocean Spirit Cruises will be withdrawing its Sail & Snorkel product from the market due to a reduction in the Cairns based fleet. As you may well be aware Ocean Spirit Cruises commenced operating in Cape Tribulation in July 2008. To assist the operation in Cape Tribulation Ocean Spirit II was relocated from Cairns reducing are Cairns based fleet from four to three vessels.
• Since the relocation they have been combining two products, Oyster Reef & Upolu Reef and Sail and Snorkel, onto one vessel. The company has decided to drop the Sail & Snorkel product moving forward and will now offer the Oyster Reef & Upolu Reef product solely on Ocean Spirit III.
• They also have new brochures with a fresh new design.

Palm Royale Cairns

• Palm Royale Cairns will be scaling back some operations in order to maintain strong trading and excellent customer service in the current difficult economic climate.
• Palm Royale Cairns will continue to offer guests breakfast, but will no longer offer other meals on the premises.
• As a bonus to our guests, we will give them complimentary transfer and 20% off their food bill when they dine at Palm Royale Cairns’ sister property, the Cairns Colonial Club Resort. The Resort is less than a 5 minute drive away.

Peppers Beach Club & Spa, Palm Cove

• Tamara’s Restaurant has been replaced with Lime & Pepper at this property.
• Lime & Pepper opens daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner offering contemporary Australia cuisine.

Voyages Dunk Island

• Voyages wishes to advise that from 15 April 2009, the Hinterland Aviation air transfer from Cairns to Dunk Island at 8.00am will cease to operate. Accordingly, the return flight that departed Dunk Island at 9.00am will no longer travel.
• Private charters are available on request and any existing regular flight bookings will be honoured.

Voyages Wrotham Park Lodge

• Effective 1 April 2009, the scheduled flights to Wrotham Park Lodge from Cairns will change to:
   - Depart Cairns for Wrotham Park Lodge: Mon, Wed and Fri at 10:40am
   - Depart Wrotham Park Lodge for Cairns: Mon, Wed and Fri at 11:55am
   - Please also note the luggage limit for this flight is now 20kg only

South Austalia

BreakFree on Hindley, Adelaide

• Closure of restaurant until a new operator is sourced, effective immediately.
• BreakFree on Hindley is currently offering breakfast at Caos Café, which is a two minute walk from the property. Upon check-in a voucher for a la carte breakfast is given to guests.
• La Strada Restaurant is providing room service for dinner.
• Breakfast boxes are also available to be purchased from reception.

Aurora Ozone Hotel, Kangaroo Island

• The Aurora Group has taken over the management of the luxurious Kingscote Pier Apartments on Kangaroo Island. They are adjacent to the superbly located Aurora Ozone Hotel and will boost its rooms stock to 78.
• The additional inventory comprises of 6 Townhouses, which can also be sold as 12 separate Apartments - all with magnificent sea views.

Victoria

APT

• Effective April 2009, all Melbourne day tours will depart from the new departure point location: Federation Square (corner of Flinders Street and Russell Street), Melbourne, VIC 3000
• Please contact our office for further details.

Crowne Plaza Melbourne

• Crowne Plaza Melbourne will be completing the final stage of its guest room refurbishments until 8 May 2009.
• This project will be mainly focusing on standard rooms to give a stylish and fresh new look.
• Work will be conducted from 10.00am-5.00pm Monday to Friday and all efforts will be taken to ensure guests are not disturbed.

Western Australia

All Seasons Margaret River

• All Seasons Margaret River will no longer be part of the Accor network as of 31March 2009.
• The new name is Australis Margaret River and will be part of the Constellation Chain.
• Please update your reservation system with this information and notify relevant staff members.
• Please contact the property directly in regards to future rates, confirmed reservations and booking process.

Cable Beach Club Resort, Broome

• Please disregard the information included in the last newsletter.
• Cable Beach Club Resort will NOT be closed for renovations in February 2010. The Resort will be open for all bookings from 1 to 28 February 2010.

Destination Management Company