Office News

• ATE (Australian Tourism Exchange) will be held in Sydney between 2 - 8 April 2011 with the theme ‘Australian Journeys’.
• APTC is looking forward to welcoming our agents to Sydney and to our office to make the best of this great opportunity.

Product of the Month

 

New Sydney Day Tour!

APT (Australian Pacific Touring) has launched their new Blue Mountains small group tour.

Enjoy panoramas of rugged cliffs and deep forested valleys. Hear the calls of native birds and look for Australian wildlife.

Enjoy the unique town of Leura and immerse yourself in the originality of the quaint shops on offer. Indulge in a complimentary morning tea in a renowned Leura café. Stop at Echo Point for a great photo opportunity of the famous Three Sister. Experience the popular Scenic World with rides included, for the Scenic Cableway and the world’s steepest scenic railway. Stop to be spoilt at the award winning Jemby-Rinjah Eco Lodge. Incorporating comfort and tranquillity for you to get lost in all its beauty. Enjoy a two-course lunch, accompanied with wine as you listen to the native birds. Travel to Evans Lookout by an adventurous beaten track. Enjoy an easy walk to Amazing cliff lookouts.  Travel along the Bells Line of Road. Stop to experience an afternoon at the award winning Featherdale Wildlife Park. Interact with all of Australia’s native animals, get up close to a koala and have the opportunity to hand feed a kangaroo, wallaby or emu. Escape the city traffic, board your cruise and relax as you make your way up the Parramatta, admiring waterside suburbs and scenery, passing under the Sydney Harbour Bridge before arriving at Circular Quay where your tour concludes.

Duration:                       Approx 10.25 hours

Departure time:             8:00am

Return Time:                  6:15pm

Inclusions:                     Morning tea, Return rides at Scenic world on the Cableway and Scenic Railway, Gourmet 2 course lunch with wine at Jemby-Rinjah Eco Lodge, Entrance to Featherdale wildlife park, Captain Cook River Cruise.

What’s New

New South Wales

Mercure Secure Sydney Potts Point

• Accor will manage Mercure Secure Sydney Potts Point in Sydney from March 2011.
• The hotel has 234 rooms, located in the heart of a main entertainment district and only ten minutes from the Sydney CBD and a short distance from Bondi Beach.
• Hotel facilities include a restaurant and lobby bar. There are 2 room categories available Standard & Superior, also three meeting rooms of different configurations, one with an outdoor terrace.

Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains

• The iconic Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains has joined Accor’s boutique MGallery collection of hotels.
• The famous Blue Mountains hotel offers 210 rooms, two restaurants and bars, significant meeting facilities, business centre, fitness centre, two swimming pools and a Day Spa.

Northern Territory

Uluru-Kata Tjuta Knowledge for Tour Guides

• The Uluru-Kata Tjuta Knowledge for Tour Guides program was developed to ensure all visitors to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park had a safe and world class visit to the park.
• The course is an essential tool in developing the capacity of freelance foreign speaking tour guides to deliver high quality experiences for clients.
• From 1 April 2011, this training will become a compulsory requirement for all guides interpreting Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and its values.

Alice Springs Desert Park

• The Nocturnal Tour and Dinner at the Alice Springs Desert Park has increased in frequency due to high demand.
• Guests can now enjoy the beauty of the Desert Park at night with a casual two course dinner on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
• After dinner, guests will explore the mystery and adventure of the Central Australian desert to spotlight rare and endangered animals.

Bamurru Plains

• Bamurru Plains now offers a Scenic Helicopter Flight option.
• Guests will enjoy the thrill of a helicopter flight and an exclusive aerial experience over the spectacular floodplains and coastline of Northern Australia.

Queensland

Whitsunday Apartments

• Hamilton Island Enterprises is no longer managed by the Whitsunday Apartments as of February 2011.

iVenture

• New Great Sunshine Way Attractions Pass: New Tour: Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast

Victoria

Mercure Bairnsdale

• As of March 2011, Accor will add another Mercure Hotel to the Australian network.
• Mercure Bairnsdale will have 52 rooms and facilities to include a restaurant and bar, meeting room and gymnasium.
• Please contact our office for rates and further details.

Hilton Melbourne Airport

• As of April 2011 Hilton Melbourne Airport will be managed by Pan Pacific Hotels Group and operate under the brand of Parkroyal Melbourne Airport.
• Parkroyal Hotels & Resorts is a regional Asia Pacific brand, which promises a lifestyle-approach to hospitality.

Western Australia

Broome Sanctuary Resort

• Accor will add Broome Sanctuary Resort to the Australian network in February 2011.
• The existing resort which will be rebranded as Grand Mercure Apartments Cable Beach Resort.
• With 154 apartments, conference room and a restaurant and bar, there are also resort-style facilities including three swimming pools and a Day Spa. The hotel is located in the coastal city of Broome in Western Australia, minutes from the well-known Cable Beach area.

Specials

SPECIALS

Australia Wide

Stay Well Hospitality Group

• Stay 3 nights in a studio or hotel room at any of the following hotels listed below and receive a free upgrade to a One Bedroom Apartment and late check out.
• Sale dates: 1 February 2011 to 31 March 2011
• Stay dates: 1 April 2011 to 31 August 2011
• - Park Regis City Quays, Cairns
• - Park Regis North Quay, Brisbane
• - Leisure Inn Spires, Blue Mountains
• - Leisure Inn Pokolbin, Hunter Valley
• - Park Regis Griffin Suites, Melbourne

Queensland

Sun-air bus service

• Montville/Maleny Stimulus Package.
• Buy 1 Adult Day tour and receive one free.
• Offer valid for travel from 01 February 2011 to 21 April 2011.

Mercure Port Douglas Treetops Resort

• Stay 4 Pay 3 & Stay 7 Pay 5.
• Valid for travel until 30 June 2011.

Daydream Island Resort and Spa

• Stay 4 nights and pay for 3 nights.
• 4 nights accommodation including a free upgrade to an Ocean Balcony Room.
• Scrumptious full buffet breakfast daily.
• Children stay and eat breakfast free of charge.
• Includes over 20 free guest activities including catamarans, kayaks, open air cinema (Mon, Wed, and Fri), fish feeding show, gym, rainforest walk and more.

Northern Territory

Ayers Rock Resort

• Reduced rates for Ayers Rock Resort
• Ayers Rock Resort has announced an extension of the two night tactical special
• Sale dates: 01 February 2011 to 31 March 2011
• Travel dates: 01 February 2011 to 30 Sep 2011

 

Luxury Spa Indulgence

• Reduced rates for Luxury Spa Indulgence
• Luxury Spa Indulgence has announced its special valid to 28 April 2011
• Sale Dates:12 February 2011 to 28 April 2011
• Travel Dates: 01 April 2011 to 30 April 2011

Delaware North Australia Parks and Resorts

• ‘Hot offer’ reduced rates for Kings Canyon will be extended for sale and travel until 15 June 2010.

Wayoutback’s Red Centre

• Reduced rates for Wayoutback’s Red Centre
• 3 Day Goanna Dreaming 4WD Safari & 5 Day Kangaroo Dreaming 4WD Safari
• Sale Dates: 21 February 2011 to 31 March 2011
• Travel Dates: 21 February 2011 to 31 March 2012

Victoria

Radisson Flagstaff Garden Melbourne

• Reduced Winter Rates
• 2 for 1 Breakfast Offer: Purchase 1 Buffet Breakfast receive the second free
• Valid for bookings April, June & July 2011 (not valid in May)

New South Wales

Park Regis City Centre

• Stay 4 nights at Park Regis City Centre and receive 1 night free at either Leisure Inn Spires or Leisure Inn Pokolbin.
• Sale Period: 1 February 2011 to 31 March 2011.
• Stay Period: 1 April 2011 to 31 August 2011.

Leisure Inn Sydney Central

• Stay 4 nights and Pay for 3 nights
• Sale Period: 1 February 2011 to 31 March 2011
• Stay Period: 1 April 2011 to 31 August 2011

Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa

• Special Autumn Retreat package with reduced rates
• Travel dates: 01 April 2011 to 30 June 2011.

• Special ‘Just the Two of Us’ Wedding Package.
• Valid 01 April 2011 to 31 March 2012.

Tasmania

Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston

• Launceston 2011 Winter Special for Deluxe Room (single/double/twin) including full buffet breakfast for up to two people.
• Sale Dates: 01 April 2011 to 30 September 2011.

Australian Capital Territory

Rydges Lakeside Canberra

• Special group rates.
• Valid 1st April 2011 - 1st May 2011

Changes & Refurbishment

Northern TerritorySkycity Darwin

• Skycity Darwin has started to work on their new development in February.
• They will endeavour to keep the noise to a minimum and locate guests away from the works taking place.
• The works will last approximately 2 weeks and will take place on Mondays to Saturdays between 8am and 6pm.

Queensland

Hideaway Resorts

• Due to the damage Tropical Cyclone Yasi has caused, Hideaway Resorts at Dunk Island and Bedarra Island had to cancel all, and accept no further, bookings for stays up to and including 31 August 2011.

The Sebel Reef House & Spa Palm Cove

• The Sebel Reef House & Spa Palm Cove will no longer be managed by Mirvac Hotels & Resorts effective from the 16 February 2011.
• The hotel will be branded the Reef House Resort and Spa and managed through Rydges Hotels & Resorts.

Mercure Cairns Harbourside  

• Mercure Cairns Harbourside has completed a fantastic refurbishment now boasting a refreshing, modern look. The refurbishment involved new furniture, carpet, paint, joinery and fittings in the lobby and public areas; new flat screen TVs in all bedrooms and a facelift to all bathrooms.

Marriott Surfer’s Paradise

• From 27 April 2011 to 20 August, the Lagoon Restaurant at Mariott Surfer’s Paradise will be closed for a complete refurbishment. In the same period, accommodation rooms will be refurbished as well.
• Working hours are between 7am and 4pm. Noise levels will be kept to a minimum prior to 9am.
• Buffet breakfast will be relocated to either, Garden Terrace, Lobby Bar or Benihana. Lunch - a la carte menu only will be offered in the Lobby Bar. Dinner - a la carte menu only will be offered in Lobby Bar and Benihana Japanese Teppanyaki Restaurant.
• Accommodation rooms will also be totally refitted, but they anticipate there will be no disruption to guests staying on other accommodation floors during this time.

Cairns Sunset Cruises

• Cairns Sunset Cruises has changed the schedule of operation of the sunset cruise.
• January - May: Operate on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
• June - December: operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
• These new days will start week, Fridays and Saturdays.

Coral Princess Cruises

• For the coming October 2011 to March 2011 period, Coral Princess Cruises will be operating Coral Princess II only over this period as Coral Princess will be undergoing significant mechanical maintenance.
• All affected bookings will be rescheduled in consultation with the clients.

• Furthermore, Coral Princess Cruises is pleased to report that they came through Cyclone Yasi unscathed and their 3, 4 & 7 night Great Barrier Reef cruises are again operating as scheduled.

Mercure Port Douglas Treetops Resort

• Mercure Port Douglas Treetops Resort is happy to report that the resort did not experience major damage as a result of Cyclone Yasi.
• The onsite Day Spa, the Treetops Life Spa did however receive internal water damage and as a result will be closed until approximately April/May 2011.
• The resort is fully operational and welcoming guests as usual.

Hayman Island

• Unfortunately Hayman Island was being forced to suspend new and existing bookings for the period 6 March to 31 July 2011 in order to repair damage caused to the island by Tropical Cyclones Anthony and Yasi.

Rydges Esplanade Resort Cairns

• A rejuvenation program will be undertaken at Rydges Esplanade Resort over the upcoming 12 weeks. At this time, the expected date of completion will be 30 April 2011.
• This program is being done to revitalise the bedding concepts within selected room categories. Installation of 143 new Rydges Dream Beds - either one queen or two double beds, into a total of 89 accommodation rooms, predominantly the Ocean View rooms

New South Wales

Sydney Harbour Marriott

• Sydney Harbour Marriott is currently going through some exciting changes with a refurbishment of all 550 guest rooms.
• Due to the scope of works being changed, the renovation now involves heavy drilling which is causing disruption amongst guests.
• They are trying to keep noise to a minimum, the heavy drilling is limited to two to three days a week - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays.
• The refurbishment is due for completion at the end of April 2011.

The Menzies Sydney

• The Menzies Sydney has unveiled new look rooms in the south wing of the hotel.
• Each room will have a subdued soft colour palette and sleek design furniture with brand new bedding for superior comfort.
• New carpets, chairs, lighting, wallpaper and glass shower screens, complemented by attentive personal service, will contribute to a comfortable stay for both corporate and leisure guests.

Park Hyatt Sydney

• Park Hyatt will be closed for renovations during the period April - September 2011.
• The anticipated re-opening date is October 2011, but they are being extra cautious and do not accept any future reservations.

Shangri-La Sydney

• Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney is commencing a refurbishment of the hotel’s guestrooms from May 2011.
• The upgrade will include the refurbishment of 442 guestrooms located on levels 4 to 29 and is targeted for completion in September 2011.
• In addition to superb location and the city’s largest accommodation among Sydney hotels, the hotel offers guests some of the city’s finest dining, including Altitude Restaurant, a contemporary restaurant, and Blu Bar on 36, each offering its own views of the city from level 36.