Newsletter February
February 2008
OFFICE NEWS
APTC would like to welcome Joachim Klein to the team! Joachim will working with many different departments in the company. We are sure that he will be a wonderful asset to the team!
WHAT’S NEW?
Mirvac Hotels & Resorts – Port Hedland
The Western Australian State Government has provided land for a hotel and residential development in Port Hedland. Mirvac has been chosen as the preferred proponent for the $100 million development.
The 3 hectare waterfront land will be transformed into a landmark oceanfront precinct. The 4 star property will include 116 hotel rooms, serviced apartments with a restaurant, bar, coffee shop, conference facilities, gym and outdoor recreation areas. Construction is expected to commence in 2008 with completion expected by late 2009.
Crocosaurus Cove
Construction of Darwin’s latest major tourist attraction in the CBD Crocosaurus Cove is on target for opening in time for next year’s peak season.
Helicopter Flights over Katherine Gorge
For a breathtaking view of Katherine Gorge, see the sights from above with Airborne Solutions, the only helicopter company that can land in Nitmiluk National Park. They offer a range of tours that take you to the most secluded and normally inaccessible swimming and Aboriginal rock art sites. Choose from an 8 minute flight over the first three gorges or up to a 2.5 hour ultimate tour flying past Aboriginal rock art, all 13 gorges and a landing at an exclusive swim spot. With plans underway to establish a base in Darwin, time constrained visitors will soon be able to reach Katherine in one hour, with astounding views of sweeping floodplains and sandstone plateaus along the way.
Connections
During 2008 Connections will be replacing their entire Top End fleet. Toyota Coasters will be replaced with $1.5million worth of brand new Isuzu 4WD All Terrain Vehicles. These beauties include seat belts for all travellers, an i-pod docking station, electric refrigerator and onboard luggage racks.
Discovery Ecotours
Discovery Ecotours Australia can now provide a one way helicopter transfer with the Cave Hill day tour from Ayers Rock Resort. This will add significantly to the experience and allow clients to be back in plenty of time to do Sounds of Silence dinner.
Wayoutback Desert Safaris,
Wayoutback desert safaris offer bird watching and Larapinta trail walking tours in 2008. Wayoutback Desert Safaris, operators of high quality adventure touring in Central Australia have extended their product range for 2008 to include 3 new niche products.
Seashells Resort Yallingup – Opening 20 December 2007
A scenic 3 hour drive south of Perth, in the heart of the Margaret River Wine Region, lies Seashells Resort Yallingup. Set in extensive gardens stretching towards the cean, the property comprises of a choice of luxurious rooms and suites in the beautifully restored heritage-listed Caves House, or new fully self-contained 1 and 2 bedroom apartments, which have been architecturally designed to complement the art-deco era ambience of the property.
Ibis Glen Waverly
The Ibis Glen Waverly is now open!
Sydney’s New Hotels
This week Accor announced that it would launch its new 5-star Pullman brand in Australia, with the Pullman Sydney Olympic Park scheduled to open in August 2008. It will be the only 5-star hotel to open in Sydney this decade. It will also be western Sydney’s first 5-star hotel.
The contemporary 18 storey, 212 room Pullman will include 14 suites, 340 square metres of conference space plus pre-function areas (for up to 220 delegates), a boardroom, Pullman executive floor and lounge, lobby chill out area, 24 hour gym, business centre, 24 hour IT solutions manager, restaurant and bar, and underground car parking with 130 spaces. The hotels interior design is by Joseph Pang.
Accor also announced the only new-build hotel to open in the Sydney central business district this decade – Ibis King Street Wharf, which is currently under construction and is planned for opening by the end of 2008. The eight-storey, 91-room hotel is on the corners of Erskine and Shelley Streets
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat
Well it has finally happened; after years of planning the O’Reilly’s Mountain Villas have opened heralding the arrival of an exciting new era for O’Reilly’s and Lamington National Park. The size of the villas and their self-contained facilities will make them popular with families and friends travelling together.
Pepper’s Balé Salt
Promising the unique Peppers Balé service with a distinctly beach house feel, Peppers Balé Salt will open its doors at the exclusive Salt Village, Kingscliff on the Northern New South Wales coast on 1 December 2007.
Aboriginal Culture Tour Website
Aurora Hotels-Resorts-Attractions are delighted to announce the new website for their Alice Springs Aboriginal Sacred Sites & Culture Tour.
Please take a look and learn a little about this new tour that they operate from Alice Springs. The address is: www.aboriginalculturetours.com.au
Ibis Glen Waverly
The Ibis Glen Waverly is now officially open!
Chifley Potts Point
The lights are on 24/7 on The Strip, King Cross, and from 14th February 2008 they’ll light up just in time for Sydney’s Mardi Gras Festival at the newly refurbished, 227 room Chifley Potts Point (formerly Crest Hotel) on the corner of Darlinghurst and Victoria St, Potts Point.
The bars, the clubs and the live shows along Darlinghurst Road, Kings Cross, have always been a popular Sydney entertainment destination, and during Mardi Gras hotel rooms in this area are a rare find indeed!
Capella Lodge
Perfect for exploring the World’s southern-most coral reef at your own pace, Capella has added a glass-bottomed sea kayak to its select fleet of watercraft.
Grab a paddle, lifejackets and perhaps a picnic from the kitchen and head down to the private beach at nearby Lover’s Bay. Head straight out into the expanse of the lagoon, and see where the tide takes you.
The Ghan’s Platinum Service
This year will see the introduction of an exciting and new level of service aboard The Ghan named Platinum Service.
Platinum Service is a new luxury level of train travel, like no other Australian train accommodation. The new Platinum Service Cabins are currently being built by a luxury boat builder to a completely new floor plan inspired by the world’s most luxurious trains and are expected to be in service later in the year.
Platinum Cabins will be approximately twice the size of our standard Gold Twin Cabins with each room offering deluxe accommodation including double beds, spacious ensuite and 24 hour room service. They will have all the modern comforts, in a classic style, with a distinctly Australian character.
PRODUCT OF THE MONTH
Sea lion Adventures
A very exciting new inbound friendly tour on the Eyre Peninsula is from Adventure Bay Charters, who are offering a tour hat allows guests to swim with the sea lions.
Their sea lion tour is a half day trip and sets off early from the Marina Hotel at 6.30am heading to the sheltered waters of Hopkins Island.
The trip takes about 1.5 hours in comfortable forward facing seating with enough room to stretch out and snooze off in the early morning.
Upon arrival at Sealion Bay at Hopkins Island the vessel will be anchored and positioned near the beach where the sea lions play. Here you have the opportunity to get in for a swim or just watch the sea lions frolic as they come out to greet you.
Morning tea will be served before heading back to Boston Bay where you will visit the tuna farm to go swimming with the Mighty Blue fin Tuna or simply hand feed these magnificent fish.
On the way back to Port Lincoln you will be able to see the commercial boats on the water before returning to the Marina Hotel by 12pm.
SPECIALS
Multi-Resort Packages Now Available - Save 15%
Why book just one Voyages resort when you can include two or three in the one itinerary? Voyages have introduced multi-resort packages for the 08/09 contract year, where industry partners can flexibly book any five night combination at any Voyages resort in any room type and guests will make a saving of 15%.
Mantra Treetops Resort & Spa
Stay 4 nights at Mantra Treetops Resort & Spa and pay for only 3! All room types included. Available for booking from 10th Jan- 28th Mar 2008 and available for travel from 10th Jan- 31st Mar 2008.
Orpheus Island Resort
For a limited time, Orpheus Island is offering a Pay 4 Stay 5, with one night free. This special package is available for travel dates 1 April 2008 – 31 August 2008.
Bamurru Plains Wet Season Special
The tropical monsoon of Northern Australia provides a perspective of Australia’s Top End that few people have experienced. This is when the whole area springs into life: the rivers rise; the storm skies provide spectacular light shows and the greenery of the vegetation and renewal of life on the floodplains is a sight to behold.
As the waters return to the floodplains, an airboat trip at Bamurru Plains is the best way to see and be amongst the wildlife and birdlife of the region. For those wanting to see Kakadu National Park, Bamurru Plains have included a complimentary 3 hour scenic flight over the Arnhem Land escarpment and its spectacular waterfalls when you stay for 3 nights.
So Stay 3 nights and receive a complimentary Kakadu Scenic Flight! This is an opportunity not to be missed!
CHANGES & REFURBISHMENTS
Sheraton Perth
A $20 million refurbishment will be completed at the Sheraton Perth Hotel by March 2008. The overhaul will include a premier Executive Club Lounge, café, new look restaurant, fitness centre, massage facilities and a state-of-the-art meeting facility ‘Meetings on 5’. The refurbishment also includes an extra 96 Executive Guest Rooms, most of which were completed this month. Rooms range from 38 to 60 square metres and include Sheraton’s Sweet Sleeper Bed, high speed internet access and LCD flat screens in all the rooms and suites.
Travelodge Perth
Travelodge Perth has completed the first stage of a multi million dollar regeneration providing a modern new style. New furnishings reflect a warm and friendly atmosphere, while other new features include the Business Zone with internet kiosks, gym, conferencing rooms, Foxtel and in room dining. In addition, the new Armada Bar and Grill with lively outdoor terrace and sleek lines indoors, is the perfect place for a meal or drink with friends.
Kings Canyon Resort
Bathrooms in the standard rooms at Kings Canyon Resort are scheduled to be completely refurbished and upgraded in the coming months. The refurbishment will take place in stages between the 15th November 2007 and the 31st March 2008 with 10 rooms to be completed at a time. Construction work will take place during the day and buffer zones will be implemented to keep noise to a minimum.
Coconut Beach Resort
The Board of Ocean Hotels has decided to change the name of Coconut Beach Resort to Cape Tribulation Resort & Spa, commencing now.
Sydney Harbour Marriott
The Sydney Harbour Marriott would like to advise that they now have rooms available for World Youth day 13th - 22nd July at the contracted low season rate with no surcharge!
Ferntree Rainforest Lodge
Ocean Hotels will be closing down aspects of Ferntree Rainforest Lodge to allow them to conduct general repairs & maintenance to the resort. Cassowary Café will also close during this period.
Choice Hotels
Two new hotels have joined the Choice Chain, these hotels are as following:
- Comfort Inn Outback, Alice Springs
- Quality Inn Heritage on Lydiard
Summer Opening hours for Uluru Climb
Visitors wanting to climb Uluru this summer will have more certain opening hours and a better opportunity to explore the full range of the park’s attractions.
During February the climb will be open for half an hour before sunrise until 8am each day (weather permitting). It will be closed for the rest of the day when the heat, wind and rain usually make the climb unsafe. The rest of the park will remain open as usual.
Sofitel Reef Casino Cairns
Sofitel Reef Casino Cairns will be conducting work on their pool deck and pool. Renovation works will commence on 15 January 2008 and the anticipated completion date is 12 March 2008. All guests will be given complimentary use of the Hilton’s pool which is situated across the road from the Sofitel Reef Casino (25meters).
Hunter Resort
Hunter Resort is excited to announce that they will be doing a complete refurbishment of rooms, bathrooms, public areas and grounds.
Please contact us for more details concerning these refurbishments.
Travelodge Perth
Travelodge Perth will be undergoing a complete refurbishment From May- August 08.
The Horizon at Mission Beach
The Horizon will be closed for renovation from 1 February 2008 until 9 March 2008 at which time no bookings will be accepted.
For 6 weeks the Horizon will close to the general public for an exciting new face lift where all rooms, bathrooms, room configurations, paint, pool deck, soft décor, fittings, common areas, foyer, reception & offices will be upgraded.
The Horizon will be fully operational until 1 February and ready to re-open for the Easter rush by 10 March.
Hyatt Regency Perth
Hyatt Regency Perth will begin a refurbishment of the popular Cafe restaurant on January 11 2008, culminating with a new look Cafe opening mid April 2008. The Cafe will be closed while the hotel embarks on this exciting project. Throughout the duration of the project, Hyatt Regency Perth will continue to provide guests with extensive dining options.
Novotel Pacific Bay Coffs Harbour
Novotel would like to advise that the construction of the World mark Units, located behind Novotel Pacific Bay Resort Coffs Harbour have begun and are expected to be completed within 18 months. Work will take place 700 meters behind the hillside and bayside units. It will have a natural tree line buffer for the noise which will also reduce any noise that may affect guests staying.
