Jetsettersblog

At Australian Tourism Exchange

The ever growing, ever evolving range of experiences available on Australia’s Gold Coast has been the focus of an intense information sourcing exercise which will be showcased at the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) in Melbourne from June 13-19.

The resulting content has been packaged by Gold Coast Tourism into a catalogue of comprehensive travel-trade itinerary programs that will be freely available from the GCT booth number 48 at this year’s ATE.

Gold Coast Tourism has themed experiences under various categories and created new collateral to allow the industry as a whole to better appreciate what there is to see and do throughout the region.

“The Gold Coast offers great diversity in its experience suite so we need to ensure an appropriate breadth of knowledge can be gained by travel-trade representatives when they visit,” said GCT Director International, Gordon Price.

“We have endeavoured to categorise unique experience elements where they appear to be suited as part of an essential, exciting or active Gold Coast exploration.

“Suggested accommodation outlets, animal experiences, food and wine experiences, relaxation and romance plus a slant towards natural experiences can easily be incorporated into designated familiarisation programs”

One major talking point among international attendees of ATE is sure to be the over riding success of the Gold Coast Beach Club pilot program that has exceeded all expectations.

Designed to reintroduce Australian beach culture to Japanese visitors, the Gold Coast Beach Club’s headquarters at the Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Club continues to remain a homely proposition and is now being offered as part of other cultural exchanges.

“Already there have been tens of millions of Japanese that have become aware of the Gold Coast Beach Club program through coverage afforded by Japanese media outlets and we anticipate similar support in other markets now that the program has been rolled out to all international markets.

“It’s vitally important for our international visitors to appreciate there is so much fun to be had at Gold Coast beaches for free and this should definitely become a part of their next Australian holiday package.

“Anticipated support from travel agencies will again be pivotal to the ongoing success of the Gold Coast Beach Club into other countries and we are again being active to source such assistance.”

Surf Club dinners, beach walks plus demonstrations by surf lifesavers are all a part of the Gold Coast Beach Club experience.

For comment please contact:
Gold Coast Tourism Manager – Media Development, John Kaarsberg
+61 (0)411 511 029 or john.kaarsberg@gctourism.com

A new visitor centre due to open on the Illawarra Escarpment above Wollongong will not only provide amazing views along one of Australia’s most impressive coastlines but enable the Illawarra to celebrate its rich indigenous heritage.

The futuristic Southern Gateway Centre will use its stunning location and modern interactive digital displays to help visitors get the most from their South Coast experience.

An integrated Jumbulla Aboriginal Discovery Centre will use specially trained guides to provide information on the region’s proud links with its indigenous past and lead “Come Walk In My Tracks” tours along ancient Aboriginal trails.

The Centre is the latest addition to a growing number of attractions that have sprung up along Australia’s newest driving route, Grand Pacific Drive.

Others are the Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk at Knights Hill and a range of new tours being marketed to international visitors flying into Sydney, including day trips offered by coach tour operator, APT, a self-drive option being marketed by New Zealand-based DTN, and increased focus from leading rental vehicle operators Kea Campers, Britz-Maui and Apollo.

Tourism Wollongong General Manager Greg Binskin said Grand Pacific Drive had proved a boon for tourism to the region, largely because of the appeal of the route’s focal Sea Cliff Bridge at Clifton just north of Wollongong.

“Now in its fourth year, the bridge and drive are a popular choice for visitors wanting to mix a Sydney stopover with a stunning coastal drive and regional tourism experience,” he said.

“The bridge itself has starred in a number of TV commercials for luxury car brands, and was instrumental in attracting a range of new tourism product, including six new hotels in Wollongong and plans for a seventh.

Grand Pacific Drive takes in one of the most spectacular coastal regions in Australia, beginning at the world’s second oldest National Park, The Royal National Park, before skirting the international hang-gliding site at Bald Hill and sweeping across Sea Cliff Bridge to Wollongong along a coastal strip of golden beaches and quaint villages.

From Wollongong, NSW’s third largest city, the 140km drive punches into the NSW South Coast, joining the Princes Highway near picturesque Shoalhaven Heads and along the way linking up with a number of inland loops and trails that climb over the brooding Illawarra Escarpment to pretty farming towns in the Southern Highlands.

On offer right along the route is a range of high-action activities from hang-gliding and abseiling experiences to bush and coastal walks, scuba diving, surfing, fishing, Harley Davidson rides, beachfront cycle ways and great wine tasting and gourmet food experiences, including at Gerringong’s Coolangatta Estate and Crooked River Wineries.

As the gateway to the region, Wollongong offers the full range of holiday and lifestyle experiences from major hotels and restaurants to interesting attractions and activities.

Here you will find refined beachside dining in the likes of the Lagoon and Beachouse restaurants, lazy brunches and lunches at Diggies and Bombora eateries an for beer lovers Five Islands Brewery, the only micro-brewery in Australia producing more than 10 beer varieties.

The Gong is also home to Australia’s largest commercial sky-dive company, Skydive the Beach, which offers international visitors amazing coastal views with an unforgettable adrenalin rush.

For a little serenity, Nan Tien Temple on the city’s outskirts is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest Buddhist temple and attracts 200,000 visitors a year for ceremonies, retreats and classes. Dominated by an imposing eight-storey Pagoda, the temple complex also includes three shrines containing more than 10,000 Buddhas, a meditation hall, museum, 330-seat auditorium, 200-seat conference hall and very affordable accommodation at Pilgrim’s Lodge.

The $6 million Science Centre and Planetarium is Wollongong’s window to the stars and boasts a world-standard planetarium and high-tech public observatory.

Included are 130 hands-on exhibits, laser concerts and a fun showcase of Australian technological advances.

Also popular for families is Jamberoo Action Park, the largest theme park in New South Wales. Plunge through darkness on the frightening Taipan water tube ride, surf mechanically-formed waves at Outback Bay, catch a chairlift to the start of an exhilarating bobsled run, race mini Le Mans cars, skim down waterslides, raft along a rapid river and plunge from a rock ledge into a water hole – all for the cost of admission to this fun-filled, hillside park in picturesque dairy country just 20 minutes from Wollongong.

A big crowd puller too is Symbio Wildlife Gardens, set in natural bushland and featuring more than 1000 native, farmyard and exotic animals – including a newly-opened crocodile enclosure. Daily demonstrations allow visitors to hand feed koalas and kangaroos.

Not to be missed further south of Wollongong is beautiful Jervis Bay, with its white sands, aquamarine waters and exciting whale and dolphin watching cruises.

More than 220 new signs to and on Grand Pacific Drive make for easy navigation of the route.

For more information about Grand Pacific Drive go to www.grandpacificdrive.com.au  and to find out more about Wollongong’s many attractions call the Visitor Information Centre on 61 2 4227 5545 or visit www.tourismwollongong.com

Marriott International will offer telepresence technology in its hotels worldwide, using AT&T’s fully-managed AT&T Telepresence Solution. Cisco TelePresence technology will enable Marriott to offer customers the widest array of meeting options, whether in-person, virtual or both.

Telepresence is a rapidly growing and increasingly popular technology that enables small groups of less than 20 people to meet and collaborate in multiple locations worldwide in real time. By combining high-definition video, crisp, real time audio and interior design for telepresence suites, groups feel as if they are actually meeting together in the same room, even if they are thousands of miles apart.

Initially, Marriott plans to locate telepresence meeting suites in 25 global gateway cities, including New York, San Francisco, Washington, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Frankfurt and London, in its Marriott Hotels & Resorts, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts and Renaissance Hotels & Resorts brands.

The first telepresence meeting suites are expected to go live at the end of October.

The Marriott telepresence suites will also be able to connect to existing private Cisco TelePresence locations throughout the world through the use of the AT&T Telepresence Solution intercompany capabilities.

The Baymont brand has opened its first hotel outside of the U.S. — the 59-room Baymont Inn & Suites by the Falls hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Owned and operated by PHI Properties Inc., the recently renovated hotel marks a significant achievement in the growth of the Baymont brand, which, since joining the Wyndham Hotel Group family in 2006, has almost doubled the size of its portfolio to more than 225 hotels.

The hotel features a host of complimentary amenities including high-speed wireless Internet access and daily breakfast at the brand’s signature Baymont Breakfast Corner, offering Minute Maid juices, hot coffee and tea, bagels, muffins, hot and cold cereal, waffles and French toast.

Other features include a business center, fitness center, indoor pool, sauna, hot tub and meeting facilities.

In addition to the traditional amenities found at the hotel, guests and visitors to the area can enjoy the food and festive atmosphere of the adjacent Wild Wing Restaurant, which offers full lunch and dinner menus and specializes in wings, wraps and salads.

The Baymont Inn & Suites by the Falls hotel is located at 5234 Ferry St., just a 10-minute walk from The Falls, the Skylon Tower, local casinos and many other area attractions.

Baymont Franchise Systems, Inc., a member of the Wyndham Hotel Group family of lodging brands, is a chain of midscale without food and beverage hotels located throughout the United States and Canada, featuring single, double and suite accommodations.

Standard amenities include complimentary continental breakfast with waffles and French toast, free high-speed Internet access, USA Today newspaper, free local calls, in-room coffee maker, premium television channels and express check-in and check-out.

Select locations feature swimming pools, fitness centers and airport shuttle service.

Children under 18 stay free with an adult.

For more information, call 877-229-6668 or visit www.baymontinns.com

Pier 91 at Seattle’s New Smith Cove Cruise Terminal is offering a Special Needs at Sea kiosk for cruise passengers who arrive at the pier needing a wheelchair or mobility aide, or who have reserved special needs equipment in advance and prefer to receive it pierside rather than onboard.

The kiosk at the Port of Seattle marks the second roll-out of a new kiosk program recently introduced by Special Needs at Sea. Special Needs at Sea has been providing special needs equipment and services to all the major cruise lines since it was founded in 2007. However, until now, when a passenger arranged for mobility equipment, the wheelchair or scooter was delivered to the stateroom. With the new kiosk system, cruise passengers can pick up and drop off their equipment in the terminal, making embarkation and debarkation easier.

The Special Needs at Sea kiosk at Seattle’s Pier 91 is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the prime turnaround time for ships.

Pier 91 handles Royal Caribbean International, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises.

For more information, call 800-513-4515,

email chereel@specialneedgroup.com

 or visit www.specialneedsatsea.com

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. introduced the Four Points by Sheraton brand in New York City’s Times Square.

Owned by Times Square West, LLC, Four Points by Sheraton Midtown-Times Square occupies a prime location on 40th Street in the heart of the New York City’s Broadway theater district.

The newly constructed, 244-room hotel is the brand’s third hotel to open in New York City and joins Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan SoHo Village and Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan Chelsea. Four Points by Sheraton has stepped up its growth in New York City as part of the brand’s comprehensive global rejuvenation campaign. In the past five years,

Starwood and its partners have invested more than $1 billion to reinvent Four Points by Sheraton resulting in a 70 percent turnover of the portfolio driven by major property renovations, conversions and new-build hotels. The brand also recently opened its first vacation resort hotel in Punta Gorda, Florida and launched its first prototype hotel in San Antonio, Texas.

The hotel’s guest rooms all feature the Four Points by Sheraton Four Comfort Bed, free high-speed Internet access, as well as 32-inch, flat-screen televisions.

Now Fairmont guests can watch the F1 races while seated in the comfortable pedicure chairs that overlook the famous hairpin turn of the Grand Prix.

The newest Willow Stream Spa has made its debut at the Fairmont Monaco.

With specialized treatments like the Monaco Power of the Sea and Reflections of Cyan, this spa is a part of the 45 million euro refurbishment of the hotel and offers authentic, personalized experiences with a fitness center and roof deck all located on the sixth and seventh floors of The Fairmont Monte Carlo.

Featuring approximately 900 square meters of natural light and designed by architectural firm, Wilson Associates, the new Willow Stream Spa is part of the 45 million euro renovation of the hotel.

This light and airy spa includes two couples experience suites with double tubs, double steam showers and overhead rain showers as well as an authentic hamman and experiential showers in the men’s lounge area.

The ladies lounge is the perfect place for friends to gather and socialize over healthy bento box lunches while at the spa.

The spa also has treatment suites where the perfect solo escape allows guests to design their very own personalized experience like the Monte Carlo Sea Escape in their very own private spa, all alone.

Guests will enjoy treatments including the 90-minute Monte Carlo Select Facial, an aromatic sensory facial experience with skin-silkening benefits; and the detoxifying Monaco Power of the Sea which includes Kerstin Florian International’s thalasso kur and body wrap rich with re-mineralizing sea algae.

With views of the Riviera Coastline and Mediterranean Sea, the Fitness Centre features high-tech TechnoGym Excite cardiovascular and fitness equipment which is designed with personal entertainment stations, iPod plug-ins and motivational goal-oriented programming.

The private studio is ideal for aerobic, stretch and yoga classes that will ignite Fairmont guests’ energy. Willow Stream also offers personalized coaching with experienced personal trainers that inspire guests to maximize the benefits of their workout sessions.

The roof-top pool renovation invites guests to gaze out on the Mediterranean Sea, Monte-Carlo’s Belle Époque Opera and Casino and the celebrated Fairmont Monte Carlo Grand Prix hairpin turn. L’Horizon Deck, Restaurant and Champagne Bar include more than 140 pool-side chaise lounges, plus love bubbles, lounge area and pool bar.

Guests can learn more at www.willowstream.com

For more information or reservations, call 800-441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com

The former San Dollar Inn will reopen as the Hotel Abrego on July 1 in Monterey, Calif., following a major renovation. To celebrate, the hotel is offering opening rates from $159 Sunday through Thursday and $179 Friday and Saturday, through Sept. 3.

The 93-room hotel offers craftsman-style guestrooms in earth tones, with Italian linens, luxury bathrooms, Egyptian cotton towels, a fully-stocked mini bar and complimentary Wi-Fi. Each room also offers a walnut desk and adjustable, ergonomic chair, as well as a chaise lounge, a flat-screen TV, an iHome docking station, a recycling bin and a laptop safe.

Most rooms include fireplaces.

Eco-friendly features include recycling bins in each guestroom, faux leather ottomans, bamboo hangers, fluorescent lighting, and low-flow toilets and showers.

Hotel Abrego’s casual lounge with landscaped outdoor seating areas serves breakfast and small plates, along with locally produced wine and beer selections.

There’s also an outdoor swimming pool and hot tub. For small meetings, the hotel offers 645 square feet of flexible meeting space with floor-to-ceiling windows, a nine-foot retractable screen, a built-in LCD projector and high-speed, wireless Internet connectivity. Hotel Abrego is one of The Inns of Monterey.

For more information, call 800-982-1986 or visit www.hotelabrego.com

Castel Monastero, a luxury retreat in the small medieval village of Monastero d’Ombrone in Chianti, Italy, has opened its doors. The resort is located 14 miles east of Siena, in a hilltop setting surrounded by olive groves and vineyards.

The resort will feature gourmet dining with a fine-dining concept and rustic cantina dining both realized by multiple-Michelin-star Chef Gordon Ramsay. together with Head Chef Alessandro Delfanti.

The resort also has gardens and a spa. Introductory rates start at 392 euros ($555) per night through October.

The Tuscan experience is central to Castel Monastero. The retreat is at the heart of the village once called Monastero d’Ombrone, occupying 13 original structures dating from the 11th century.

The resort features 76 guest rooms and suites within the walls of this former medieval village. All guest rooms are located in buildings centered on the main piazza and overlooking the landscape.

Room design reflects the simple refinement characteristic of the region, each outfitted with lush materials such as painted timber paneling and doors, Rubelli fabrics and stone floors. Local artisans were sourced for antique furniture and light fixtures, as well as for bedroom wall frescos of the Italian countryside, resulting in a rustic chic motif.

The culinary centerpiece is Gordon Ramsay at Castel Monastero, a fine-dining experience by the celebrity chef whose 14 Michelin stars ranks him among the top three chefs in the world. Ramsay draws from the culinary tradition of Tuscany.

Signature dishes include sour green apple and horseradish risotto flavored with broth of red mullet and baby fennel and Chianina beef tenderloin with artichoke ravioli and Certaldo onion jam.

The Castel Monastero Spa from Urban Retreat, a 10,000-square-foot spa, occupies a pair of buildings connected by a glass tunnel, with 10 treatment rooms including a couples’ suite.

The concierge can arrange a variety of excursions to explore the surrounding area, including trips to Siena, wine tours to local vineyards, culture tours to Cortone and San Gimignano and much more.

In August, Castel Monastero will offer guests the opportunity to watch the historic annual horse race, “Il Palio” in Siena, from the vantage point of a private space overlooking the main square.

For more information, call 011-39-070-921-8222 or visit www.castelmonastero.com

Heathrow and Gatwick Express have launched the first environmentally friendly door-to-door service to and from the airport with Carbon Voyage.

Travelers can book a pick-up from either their home or office in a Carbon Voyage car and travel to Paddington or Victoria Stations where they will board the express train service to Heathrow or Gatwick Airports.

This new integrated service, which is booked on-line, means customers will only need to make one booking, to arrange a Carbon Voyage vehicle and train ticket. Train tickets will be sent electronically to the customers, saving postage and paper.

James Swanston of Carbon Voyage said, “From an environmental perspective, this new service will assist in taking cars off the road, reducing congestion and more importantly the pollution caused from the 5 million people per year that use taxis and minicabs to travel to and from Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.

The average taxi trip from Paddington to Heathrow is approximately 6.2 kilograms of CO2 emissions as opposed to 1.4 kilograms using a train.”

Jonny Goldstone of Green Tomato Cars (www.greentomatocars.com ), London’s largest exclusively green taxi company said, “By working with Green Tomato Cars, the service combining Carbon Voyage and Heathrow and Gatwick Express demonstrates that travelers can easily ‘go green’ without settling for a lower quality of service or paying a premium — customers will experience smoother journeys, excellent customer service, reduce their environmental impact and pay less for the journey all at the same time.” Prices start from £32 ($52).

For more information, visit www.carbonvoyage.com