Office News

OFFICE NEWS

• We are pleased to advise that APTC can offer tailormade itineraries for Groups visiting the 93rd International Lions Club Convention in Sydney 2010. Please contact us for our most competitive and exclusively designed pre- and post convention toursthrough Australia for Lions Club members.
• We congratulate Jackie who is getting married on the 6^th of December.

• Mandy Nichols from APTC New Zealand will attend Fitur at 10 January in Madrid
• All three Managing Directors (Stéphanie Karst-McGrath, APTC Australia; Stephan Wendler APTC New Zealand & Monika Oldenburg, APTC Fiji) will attend the ITB Germany next year in March 2010
• APTC wish all our partners a Merry Christmas and best wishes for a prosperous 2010

Product of the Month

Château Élan at The Vintage is a new, five-star golf and spa resort located in the Hunter Valley. The $30m development, just two hours north of Sydney, will open in February 2010. It has been co-conceived by the group behind the prestige Château Élan brand in Atlanta, Georgia. Offering luxury retreats for up to 200 guests, the resort comprises a new ‘Destination Spa’, a collection of super-luxury spa suites and a series of private lifestyle villas. It sits among the celebrated fairways of The Vintage - the Greg Norman-designed golf course and home to the NSW Open. Its elevated position means views over sublime vales and vines come as standard.

The Château Élan Destination Spa is the newest spa centre in Australia. Equipped with 19 specialist rooms, it is also one of the largest, promising treatments that are available nowhere else in the country. In addition, the complex houses 20 spa suites giving guests privileged access to treatments, as well as total privacy courtesy an ‘airbridge’. Features unique to spa suites include a sensual plinth-mounted spa bath that is open to the room, and an ErgoMotion bed providing massage therapies and a ‘zero gravity’ option for neutral body position. Guests wanting total seclusion can opt for a suite with a Sanctuary Courtyard.

Ten private villas overlook the 10th Hole of The Vintage course. The two-storey villas offer a total of 80 rooms which can be configured in three ways depending on group size. Each is designed for style, comfort and space - up to 124 square metres - and enjoys stunning views from a private balcony or terrace.

All resort interiors are tailored in muted tones and warm textures. In keeping with the Château Élan philosophy, ‘excellence is in the detail’ which is why all rooms include original artworks, spa baths, Nesspresso Essenza coffee systems, French Thalgo bathroom amenities, digital entertainment and online connectivity.

 

What’s New

Queensland

Cape Tribulation Resort

• The Cape Tribulation Resort is due to close on the 30 November and will be closed until it is reopening as a seasonal retreat next May
• The With the closure of Cape Tribulation Resort, please be advised that the coach group lunches will now be relocated to Ferntree’s Cassowary Cafe as will Oceans Day Spa.
• Ferntree’s Rainforest Lodge and Hostel, however, will remain open all year round

Ecopark Gold Coast

• Eco Park is the newest theme park at the Gold coast
• It is located in the Albert Valley, just minutes away from the famous Theme Park Strip
• It is a recreational fishing park where it is guaranteed that visitors will at least catch one fish
• Fishing competitions will be held from time to time
• Reduced rates are available for group bookings

Port Douglas and Daintree Region

• The Port Douglas and Daintree Region has the following new activities to offer:
• Join a Kite Boarding excursion from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation
• Try spearing on the mud flats learning about traditional indigenous hunting techniques and cultures, you may be eating Mud Crab as a finale
• Take a trike Harley tour of the region and feel the wind in your hair - you will be born to be wild!
• Catch a ‘Barra’ fishing in the estuaries and rivers of the region
• Hire a bike and cycle the length of Four Mile Beach

Cairns Habitat Cruises

• Cairns Habitat Cruises has changed their trading name to Crocodile Explorer
• The change will take place on 01 December
• Prices and itineraries for the tours will remain unchanged

Novotel Brisbane Airport

• The brand new Novotel Brisbane Airport will open its doors in December 2009
• This will be the first hotel situated within the Brisbane Airport precinct,
• The Novotel features 157 contemporary rooms along with a restaurant and bar, six high-tech meeting rooms, a rooftop swimming pool and a fitness centre.

Novotel Twin Waters

• Novotel Twin Waters has undergone a multi-million dollar refurbishment
• Along with a fresh new look, the resort boasts an list of facilities guaranteeing fun in the sun for the whole family, such as swimming pools, spas and barbecue facilities plus free activities on the resort’s man-made lagoon, including windsurfing, catamaran hire, kayaking, water trampolining and beach volleyball.
• Special rates to celebrate the refurbishment are available with immediate effect
• For further information please contact APTC’s office Sydney

Quay West Resort & Spa Noosa

• The official opening date of the Resort is March 15, 2010
• This 5-star resort offers luxurious accommodation in Noosa with the choice of 108 1, 2 & 3 bedrooms and fully appointed apartments and villas.
• The resort also features a state-of-the-art gymnasium, lagoon swimming pools, 7 room Day Spa and wellness retreat, tennis centre, retail boutique, restaurant and bar

New South Wales

 Australian Eco Adventures

• Australian Eco Adventures will no longer be offering Sydney Harbour in Style cruise
• A viable alternative is Sea Sydney Cruises as this two tour products are very similar.

Northern Territory

Mantra Pandanas Darwin

• Previously the property offered buffet breakfast in their East West Restaurant.
• Effective immediately Mantra Pandanas will be offering all FIT guests an a la carte breakfast menu.
• Buffet breakfast will continue to be offered to all groups of 10 rooms or more with 24 hours notice.

Victoria

Melbourne Private Tours

• Melbourne Private Tours and Bonza Bike Tours have created a new tour called “The Essential Melbourne Experience”
• The new tour combines a bike ride around the area of the Yarra River and a visit of St Kilda, Albert Park Lake and Federation Square.

Western Australia

Heliwork Western Australia     

• From 30th November 2009, Heliwork Western Australia is establishing a permanent base in Broome.
• Two Bell 206B Jetranger helicopters will be permanently based in Broome
• A mini bus for airport transfers will be available

Tasmania

Gray Line-Russell Falls Tour 780/790 Hobart

• The visit to Something Wild has beenupgraded to visit Salmon Ponds, the oldest trout hatchery in the Southern Hemispheresituated in the picturesque Derwent Valley.
• While at Salmon Ponds, there is opportunity to feed the trout and salmon and visit the Museum of Trout Fishing and Tasmanian Angling Hall of Fame

South Australia

Mantra on Frome - Adelaide

• Effective immediately the restaurant will only be trading for breakfast Monday to Friday until further notice.
• All bookings including breakfast will be notified on arrival of the change and breakfast will be provided at Mantra Hindmarsh Square.

Hotel Grand Chancellor Adelaide on Hindley

• The former Holiday Inn Adelaide was added to the Grand Chancellor chain and is now named Hotel Grand Chancellor Adelaide on Hindley

Special rates for the reopening are available

Specials

Australia wide

Captain Cook Cruises

• Captain Cook Cruises has combined their annual sale with their 40th Birthday Celebrations to create offers of small ship cruising with savings of up to 40%
• Valid for sale: 01 December 2009 to 28 February 2010
• Valid for travel: 01 January 2010 to 31 March 2011 excl special event cruises
• Conditions apply, please contact APTC for further information

Queensland

Daydream Island Resort and Spa

• Daydream Island Resort and Spa has two new Christmas and New Year specials
• Both specials include 4 nights accommodation, breakfast buffet, return transfer with Cruise Whitsundays
• The special is on sale no until 20/12/09 and valid for travel until 31/01/10
• Surcharge applies 18/12/09 - 03/01/10.
• The offer is subject to availability

Northern Territory

 Mantra on the Esplanade and Mantra Pandanas

• Mantra on the Esplanade and Mantra Pandanas in Darwin offer reduced rates
• Sale and travel from now until 31st March 2010
• The reduced rates are not combinable with any other offers and are only valid for International markets.

Victoria

The Sebel Heritage Yarra Valley

• Special summer rates are available now for the Sebel Heritage Yarra Valley.

The offer is valid for a limited time only

Changes & Refurbishment

 New South Wales Grace Hotel Sydney

• The Grace Brasserie will be closed for buffet refurbishment from 5 January to 22 January 2010
• Buffet breakfast will be provided in Bar77 Grace on the Mezzanine level
• Guest will be notified of the temporary breakfast location change upon check in and a letter will be left in each guest room.

Medina Grand Sydney

• The Medina Grand Sydney has just commenced a major refurbishment which will see: new carpet in all rooms and hallways, all rooms re-painted, new LCD TV screens, fresh looks for all bedrooms and kitchens
• The refurbishment is due to be completed in late April 2010.

Queensland

Palazzo Versace

• The Palazzo Versace will undergo a refurbishment program for the following areas:
• The Fitness Studio will be completely refurbished and expanded / much larger and will reopen in February 2010
• Spa Studio will be closed for a total refurbishment from January 2010 and will reopen inApril 2010 during which there will be a temporary space allocated to facilitate spa treatments for guests
• Construction work will take place only on weekdays between 9.00am to 5.00pm during which the guests lifts located on the sub-basement level will be inaccessible Incorrect, please remove as guest will still have access to the Fitness Studio
• Noise levels during the building work will consist of heavy drilling during the day for a couple of week’s period of the refurbishment phase.
• There will be very minimal effect to hotel guests. Construction will only be evident once the Fitness Studio is reopened and guests use this facility.

Hamilton Island Resort

Reef View Hotel & Whitsunday Holiday Apartment

• Due to essential work to upgrade Hamilton Island’s power services work at the Reef View Hotel and Whitsunday Holiday Apartments are scheduled to commence at 16 Novemberuntil 20 December 2009
• The works will affect the Reef View Hotel driveway and will also take place at the rear of the Whitsunday Holiday Apartments
• It is expected the work being carried out to cause minimal disruption to the guest holiday experience.
• Work will take place between 9.00am and 4.30pm daily (excluding weekends)

Kuranda Scenic Railways

• Due to the decrease in demand for Kuranda touring on days when Skyrail is closed for programmed maintenance, Kuranda Scenic Railways will reduce scheduled services for the corresponding dates in 2010.
• These dates are 17/18/31.05.10, 01/19/26.06.10, 30.08.10
• The following departures will be cancelled during these times: 0930 ex Cairns, 0950 ex Freshwater, 0400 ex Kuranda.

Peppers Beach Club &Spa Palm Cove

• Major project has been put in place to rectify waterproof defects in some of the buildings and work will commence on 25 November and will be completed by 12 December.
• The works will include jack hammering and removal of terrace rooftop tiles, joint repair, membrane curing, water testing, retiling and grouting.
• One block will be completed at a time therefore there will be one weeks break between jack hammering.
• Jack hammering will take place on 30 November and 7 December between 10am to 3pm.

Breakfree French Quarter Noosa

• Breakfree French Quarter Noosa is undergoing major refurbishments to apartments within the resort
• The dates are 09 November 2009 to 14 December 2009, between Monday to Saturday 9am to 4pm
• Excessive noise may result in the initial 2 weeks, eg. jack hammering tiles
• Once the initial demolition works are completed, noise is restricted to general construction noise such as hammers,

Victoria

Crown Towers Melbourne

• Crown Towers has recently completed a AUD$65 million enhancement of all of the hotel’s rooms and suites
• Also the hotel’s lobby and Crystal Club Lounge are to be enhanced
• Resulting from this the hotel lobby is still operational, however, in a more limited capacity
• During the upgrade of the Crystal Club Lounge, a temporary lounge has been established for the Crystal Club guests

Crystal Club Lounge will re-open on Level 29 prior to Christmas, whilst the extensive work currently being undertaken on the Crown Towers lobby will be completed in early January 2010