Office News

 

• APTC Fiji wishes to welcome Christopher Voss as their Manager for Europe.

Product of the Month

Peppers Beach Club & Spa Palm Cove

Set in the heart of Palm Cove, Peppers Beach Club & Spa is elegant, inviting and the perfect place to indulge in a little tropical relaxation.

The beach lagoon takes pride of place, gently lapping against a white sandy beach, surrounded by swaying palm trees. Swim up to the pool bar, or dine overlooking the Coral Sea in one of the four restaurants.

Other diversions include tennis, lap pool, gymnasium and the Sanctum Spa.

There are a range of accommodation choices from elegant suites and spa rooms to one and two bedroom penthouses complete with private rooftop terraces, barbecue areas and plunge pool or Jacuzzi.

Take a trip to the reef, enjoy fishing or white water rafting or visit the Daintree, Mossman Gorge and Cape Tribulation. Why not take a Tropical Food Trail and taste your way around the Northern Cairns Highlands, sampling barramundi, tropical fruit wine and macadamia nuts?

Special: Stay 3 Nights and Pay for only 2!
Sale Dates: 26 July - 31 August 08
Travel Dates: 26 July - 24 December 08

What’s New

Ultimate Experience Packages

• Two new luxury products have been introduced so that your clients can experience the best of Australia.
• Australia’s North-South Safari- 6 night package including Bamurru Plains, Longitude 131 and Southern Ocean Lodge.
• Australia’s Ultimate West Coast Experience- 7 Night package including The Richardson Perth, Cape Lodge Margaret River & Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef.
• Both Packages include private touring and all flight charters. Please contact us for rates and further information.

Kakadu Helicopter Safaris

• Kakadu Helicopter Safaris, based out of Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory will show you the Top End in style. They will take you off the beaten track to experience some of Australia’s most spectacular and remote landscapes. Let one of their luxury helicopters show you the heart of Australia’s pristine wilderness and witness visions of landscapes and horizons that only a select few will ever see.
• Please contact out office for information on packages available and rates.

Formule 1 at Sydney Olympic Park

• Accor’s new 156 room hotel is easily accessible with a variety of transport options nearby. Just 15 minutes from Sydney City, the vibrant Formule 1 at Sydney Olympic Park is strategically located within walking distance of stadiums, athletic and aquatic centres and eateries.

The Lost World Health Spa

• O’Reilly’s new Lost World Spa, which is set to take relaxation and rejuvenation to new heights, is located 1km above sea level - offering the ultimate world of pampering & rejuvenation set amidst the World Heritage listed rainforest and spectacular beauty of Lamington National Park.
• Named after the rugged wilderness valley below O’Reilly’s, the Lost World Spa offers that rare chance to commune with nature while enjoying a tranquil escape from the real world, with unique treatments utilising local indigenous plants and the superior service O’Reilly’s is renown for.

CHIC in the City & Koala Golf Tours

• No more golfing widows, thanks to the latest joint initiative, Shop and Golf tour package launched between CHIC in the City, Sydney’s premier boutique shopping experience and Koala Golf Tours, leading golf tour operator.
• The Shop and Golf tour packagecaters for Sydney’s growing market of visiting golfers and their non golfing wives, partners, colleagues.
• It will be available for couples or mixed groups from 1 August with bookings commencing immediately.

APT

• Apt are excited to announce their new 5 day small group 4WD tour, Broome and the Bungle Bungle.
• This tour will become effective as of the 16th May 2009.
• Please contact us for itinerary details.

Sydney Wildlife World

• New Koala breakfast everyday from 7:30 to 9:00 am.
• Includes a buffet breakfast, entry to Sydney Wildlife World and a Koala photo.

The Cattle Drive is Back

• The Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive will go ahead in 2010
• The Cattle Drive provides a unique opportunity for visitors to re-live the glory years of Australia’s outback cattle drovers by riding alongside authentic working people, moving a real herd through outback wilderness. This event provides a unique opportunity to relive the spirit of Australia’s famous drovers, experience Aboriginal culture, with a touch of outback luxury, forming a true blue Aussie journey.

The Limes Hotel

• Building on existing examples of boutique hotels in Europe, Melbourne and Sydney, Limes brings a twist to the Brisbane accommodation scene - a stunning yet simple urban retreat, complete with open-air roof top bar and intimate roof top cinema (in hibernation until Spring).
• With 21 rooms to cater for the independent traveller, Limes rejects the 5-star norms opting to focus on guests’ primary travel requirements in styled lodgings.

Wooroonooran Safaris

• After 15 years in the planning the Mamu Rainforest Canopy Walkway will open on the 18 August 2008
• Mamu is the biggest project in the Wet Tropics since Skyrail and will become one of the tourism icons in Australia.
• Please contact us for updated Wooroonooran itineraries that include this new attraction.

Crocosaurus Cove

• After 18 months of building works and many years of planning, Crocosaurus Cove is pleased to announce that they are NT’s latest Major tourist attraction in the heart of Darwin’s CBD to be ‘Open for Business’.
• Thousands of excited tourists have mingled with locals keen to catch a first hand view at some of the attractions star exhibits since the doors were opened on Tuesday 15th July.
• Being able to see iconic NT fish, the worlds largest display of Australian reptiles & massive crocodiles move freely in clear water through large acrylic panels as well as from above, is a first for many people especially in a city centre.
• Although the venue will continue to develop and grow considerably over the next 12 - 18 months, visitors have been enthralled with what they have seen so far.

Specials

Ocean Hotels

• Cape Tribulation Resort & Spa- Stay 4 nights and pay 3, free daily buffet breakfast, free welcome drink on arrival; free afternoon orientation briefing, special rates for day spa and late checkout 1200.
• Ferntree’s Rainforest Lodge- When staying in Garden room with loft 1^st child free, daily buffet breakfast, free kids welcome pack, free dinners (2 kids max) when dining with paying parents, free bottle of wine when dining at Cape Tribulation Resort & Spa.

Four Points by Sheraton

• Stay 5 nights and only pay for 4
• Stay Minimum 3 nights and receive full buffet breakfast each morning for 2 pax.
• Valid for new bookings from 1 July- 30 September 2008

Sydney Harbour Marriott

• The Sydney Harbour Marriott is offering an exceptional rate for all groups. Please contact us for details.

Voyages stay 3 pay 2

• Stay 3 nights at either Voyages Silky Oaks Lodge or Voyages Wrotham Park Lodge and pay for only 2 nights.
• Valid for sale: 1 Aug- 30 Sep 08
• Valid for Travel: 1Aug- 31 Oct 08

Voyages

• Stay 4 nights at Voyages Lizard Island and receive a complimentary night at Voyages Silky Oaks Lodge.
• Valid for sale: 15 Aug - 30 Nov 08
• Valid for travel: 1 Nov - 31 Mar 09
• Please contact us for more information on what is included in this superb package.

TALL SHIP - Whale Watching Gold Coast

• The largest, fastest and most stable ship on the Gold Coast and guarantee 100% sightings!
• Special rates available until 1st November

Changes & Refurbishment

Cable Beach Club Resort Broome

• Cable Beach club will be closed in February 2009 and February 2010 due to renovations.

Doherty Ballarat Hotel

• The Doherty Ballarat Hotel’s convention centre refurbishment is now not expected to be completed until the 12th August.

Grand Mercure Hunter Valley Gardens

• Lazzarini’s Restaurant will be undergoing soft refurbishments until later this year.

Calypso Snorkel & Dive

• Calypso Have increased their fuel levy by $12
• Guests will now be required to pay $17 once onboard.

Fantasea Reefworld

• Fantasea’s Reefworld refurbishment is now complete.

Mercure Sydney

• Mercure Sydney will be undergoing refurbishment in lobby, driveway and corridor areas.
• Refurbishments are expected to be complete in December 2008

Menzies Hotel Sydney

• The Menzies Hotel Sydney will commence a soft refurbishment of The Carrington Restaurant commencing Monday 14th July and continuing through to Monday 8th September 2008

RnR Rafting

• From Monday 14th July 2008, all new RnR bookings for travel after 23rd August 2008 will have the current levy of $25.00 which covers insurance, national park fees and water release fees increased to $30 to include a $5 fuel levy.

Hunter Valley Resort

• Hunter Valley Resort underwent a major refurbishment of the entire property which has now been completed.

Kuranda Scenic Skyrail

• The Kuranda Scenic Skyrail will be closed for maintenance on the following dates in 2009:
• February 14^th-16^th, April 27^th, May 11^th and 19^th-21^st, June 1^st-3^rd, August 31^st and September 14^th

Waratah Fuel Surcharge

• As of 1^st November Waratah will be implementing a fuel surcharge for each of their tours.
• Please contact us a for a full list of rates for each tour.

Cobb & Co Fuel Surcharge

• As of the 1^st July all bookings will incur an additional 3.2% fuel levy.

Voyages

• Voyages Hotels & Resorts operates in many remote, regional locations and utilises a variety of forms of transport to transfer guests to their resorts. These include light planes, helicopters and/or boats.
• Due to ongoing escalating fuel costs, the cost of these transfers has increased and these increases have been passed on by the transport operators, therefore rates may have been increased.
• Please contact us for details.

Manly Pacific Sydney managed by Novotel

• Manly Pacific will be undergoing a major refurbishment including bars, repairs of lifts, guest rooms and conference rooms.
• The opening of renovated bars is expected to happen in September.

Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour

• Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour will be refurbishing guest rooms on levels oneandten this winter.
• CommencingonJuly242008and concluding by August17 2008.

Reefworld

• Reefworld, featuring Australia’s only Great Barrier Reef sleepover, re-opened on the 27th June after an extensive refurbishment.
• As part of the refurbishment, both rooms have been re-decorated and fitted with new furniture, bedding, lighting, mini-fridge and desk reflecting all the comforts of a modern hotel room.

Virgin Blue

• To reassert their commitment to “Keeping the Air Fair” Virgin Blue will introduce a new highly competitive “Go Fare!” cutting its lowest lead-in fares by up to AUD$20 across more than half of the airline’s domestic route network.
• The year round “Go Fare!” will allow price sensitive travellers to offset the new baggage fees and stimulate support for leisure markets.
• “Go Fare!” will GO on sale from 18 August 2008.

Ocean Spirit Cruises

• Ocean Spirit Cruises Pty Ltd is pleased to announce that as of the 16th of July 2008 they will take over the management of Cape Tribulation based Rum Runner dive & sail.

Coral Princess Cruises

• Please note that Coral Princess Cruises introduced a fuel surcharge of $10 per person per night for all their cruises.
• This surcharge is applicable for bookings made on or after 15 August 2008

Taronga Zoo

• During the month of August the Sky Safari Cable Car will not be operating due to major maintenance.

Aurora- Aboriginal Sacred Sites & Culture Tour

• Please be advised that the Aboriginal Sacred Sites & Culture Tour will only operate for groups (with minimum of ten paying pax) effective from 01 August 08, for the balance of 08/09 and for 09/10

Dockside Group

• Dockside Group, has announced the acquisition of renowned restaurants Waterfront & Wolfies Grill at The Rocks to its existing portfolio making the Dockside Group one of Australia’s largest independently-owned venue operators.

The Four Seasons

• The four seasons will be undergoing refurbishments over the next five months.
• From early August until mid December, several floors at a time will be closed for replacement of carpeting, wall coverings and loose furnishings, along with the latest technology in each room.

Rydges South Park Adelaide

• Rydges South Park Adelaide will be undergoing refurbishment and construction over the next 12 months.
• Impact on guests will be none to minimal.

Toga

• The following Toga properties are undergoing construction:
• Medina Executive Coogee
• Medina Classic Martin Place
• Vibe Savoy Melbourne
• Travelodge Perth
• Please contact us for more information

Great Southern Rail

• The Great Southern Rail will not operate on the following days due to maintenance:
• Adelaide - Sydney : Tuesday, 2nd December 2008
• Sydney - Perth : Wednesday, 3rd December 2008
• Perth - Sydney: Sunday, 7th December 2008
• Sydney - Perth: Wednesday, 10th December 2008
• Perth - Sydney: Sunday, 14th December 2008
• Sydney - Adelaide: Wednesday, 17th December 2008

Novotel Ningaloo Reef Resort

• Novotel Ningaloo Reef Resort has renamed their rooms to the following:
• Standard Studio
• Superior Studio
• Superior Studio Oceanview
• Bungalow Studio
• 1 Bedroom Apartment
• 2 Bedroom Apartment
• 2 Bedroom Apartment Oceanview
• 2 Bedroom Bungalow

Desert Tours and Transfers Alice Springs

• Desert Tours and Transfers Alice Springs ceased to be operated by Anangu Waii! On the 31st July 2008.
• As of 1st August 2008 Tailormade Tours will take over Desert Tours and Transfers Alice Springs.

Destination Management Company