Jetsettersblog

Announcing Château Élan at The Vintage – Australia’s Finest Golf And Spa Resort

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.

According to CEO Erik Stuebe: “There really hasn’t been anything like it in the Hunter Valley – or in Australia, for that matter. Château Élan at The Vintage brings together top-flight golf, world-beating spa treatments and a superior level of luxury, and all within one of the country’s great destinations. French spa treatments, Australian pro-golf and Hunter Valley wine – it’s a pretty compelling combination!”

Château Élan at The Vintage is a joint venture between New South Wales development firm, The Stevens Group, and American entrepreneurs, Don and Nancy Panoz. Stage One of the development sees the completion of the resort; future stages include the addition of outdoor entertainment facilities, a new conference space and extended hotel accommodation.

The `Sealegs’ amphibious craft is the newest way to explore Mission Beach’s islands, beaches and waterways without getting your feet wet.

Situated two hours’ drive south of Cairns, Sealegs is the newest addition to Calypso Adventures’ Mission Beach-based fleet.

It is a rigid inflatable power boat that eliminates the need for boat ramps and jetties by lowering its wheels into the water and driving straight up onto the beach.

The boat can be hired for private charters for up to seven people to explore the many islands, reefs and beaches just offshore and it will also operates as a transfer service along Mission Beach with 12 drop off points from Clump Point boat ramp in the north to Elandra Resort at South Mission Beach.

Sealegs has also teamed up with Dunk Island Resort to offer a new package where people staying on the mainland can visit Dunk for a round of golf, a delicious buffet lunch or make the most of the resort’s activities – all without getting their feet wet.

www.calypsoadventures.com.au

Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa, south of Krabi in a hidden corner of Thailand, has launched a series of rock climbing courses which range from a simple half-day workshop to a thrilling three-day journey that will test participants to the limit. Each course is designed to be fun and challenging for the beginner climber through to an advanced level.

The stunning natural environment around the resort offers the perfect setting to embark on a thrilling new activity that promises to take participants out of their comfort zone!

Safety is paramount on the courses and the trained instructors will attend to every individual’s needs and requirements to ensure they scale new heights in terms of their personal achievement.

The courses will give climbers an opportunity to experience the beauty of the diverse geography of the Sikao area including white powdery beaches, majestic limestone cliffs, virgin rainforests, rich mangrove reserves, hidden caves and rushing waterfalls.

Each day, climbers will travel to Ao Ton-Sai Beach, just a 20-minute ride by longtail boat from Ao Nang Beach, to learn new skills or improve their technique.

Then at the end of their exhilarating adventure, guests will retreat to the laid-back luxury of Anantara Si Kao. The resort offers 138 guest rooms and suites, each featuring private balconies overlooking the ocean or the Bill Bensley-designed tropical landscape. The Anantara Suites offer expansive space, oversized bathtubs and polished teak furnishings, while the Anantara Pool Suites boast their own private plunge pools.

All courses include transfers, boat trips and equipment:

The half-day course:
- Top rope climbing
- Basic safety instruction
- Hotel pick up from Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa
- Fruit and water
- Cost: THB 14,000

The 1-day course includes:
- Top rope climbing
- Exploration through Khoa Luk Choee Cave
- Rappelling/ Abseiling
- Hotel pick up from Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa
- Lunch and water
- Cost: THB 14,800

The 3-day course will cover:
- Self rescue, and rope technique
- Top rope climbing
- Rappelling
- Lead climbing
- Multi-pitch climbing
- Copy of course booklet
- Certificate and T-shirt
- Hotel pick up from Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa
- Lunch daily and drinking water
- Cost: THB 39,000

For more information and/ or reservation, please call our Bangkok Sales Office tel: 02 877 5803-6, or Anantara Si Kao via tel: 075 205 800 or email sikao@anantara.com

The award-winning Sirromet Winery has introduced a new Wednesday wine tour from the Gold Coast allowing visitors and locals to leave the car at home and enjoy an afternoon amongst the vines.

Picturesque Sirromet is located 40 minutes’ drive from the Gold Coast at semi-rural Mount Cotton south of Brisbane and has views across rolling hills to Moreton Bay.

It is Queensland’s largest and most highly-awarded winery, winning more than 400 wine awards. The tour includes transfers to and from the Gold Coast, a wine tasting at the Cellar Door and spare time to enjoy the winery. Optional extras include a cheese or antipasto platter at the Cellar Door, gourmet lunch at Restaurant Lurleen’s or a guided tour of the winery.

Cost is $50 per person and allows for approximately three hours at Sirromet. www.sirromet.com

Hamilton Island Golf Club has officially opened as the only 18 hole championship golf course on its own island in Australia.

The event was marked by an official handover between designer and champion golfer, Peter Thomson AO CBE and Hamilton Island owner, Bob Oatley.

The opening was especially timely for Thomson, a five-time British Open winner, who celebrated his 80th birthday the week before.

The 18 hole golf course has been tipped to quickly gain a reputation as one of the best courses in the world, not least because of the stunning views of the Whitsunday Islands from many of the holes.

The 6,120 meters, par 71 course sits on its own island called Dent Island, just a five minute ferry ride from Hamilton Island. It has been designed not only to test the golfing proficiency of resort guests, but also to challenge the world’s professionals.

The course makes the most of the island’s natural and rugged beauty and works with the landform, offering variety and excitement with some holes being played across steep valleys and over lakes, trees and natural boulders.

To ensure a good game for all proficiencies, three tee positions are offered for each hole, taking their names from indigenous trees on the island.

The changes in course elevation, restricted landing areas and the ever-present breezes provide a definite challenge from the back ‘Hoop Pine’ tees. Meanwhile, resort golfers can enjoy an easier time of it from the forward marks of the ‘Grass Tree’ tees. For the middle-ground, there are the ‘Pandanus’ tees.

The crowning glory of the course is the stunning Chris Beckingham-designed clubhouse, ideally perched to take in the stunning views of Passage Peak and the Coral Sea. The clubhouse offers an idyllic spot for non-golfing partners to relax over a laid-back lunch, or for golfers to take stock of the day’s game over a cold beer.

Those that wish to brush-up on their golfing skills can enlist the support of the resident golf-pro, Cherie Byrnes. Cherie has been a professional for nine years and past strings to her bow have included being Tournament Director for the 2002 and 2003 Australian Ladies Professional Golf Players Championship, as well as assisting with the 2004 Men’s ANZ Championship.

A number of packages are being offered to celebrate the opening of the new resort, including ‘Golf in Paradise’ and ‘Golf and Spa in Paradise’. Guests can enjoy three or four nights’ accommodation on Hamilton Island, to include a round of golf on the new course and an optional spa treatment, from $628 per person.* qualia guests can benefit from preferential tee times on the course and, in the near future, luxury golfing packages will be offered, to include accommodation at qualia and helicopter transfers to the course.

Sandy Oatley, chairman of Hamilton Island, commented, ‘The opening of the Golf Club is part of our ongoing commitment to develop and maintain Hamilton Island as a truly world-class and leading holiday destination. Since we purchased it in 2003, we have invested over $300 million in the Island. This has included the development of qualia, the 60 pavilion luxury resort on the northern most point of the Island and, most recently, the building of the iconic, Walter Barda-designed Yacht Club.’

Holland America Line has introduced a new Mariner Society Rewards Program, which provides past guests with new benefits from onboard discounts and special rates on select cruises to reduced or free third and fourth rates.

Benefits are tiered and vary based on a guest’s cruise history. The rewards program offers a four-level progressive membership with a range of cruise and onboard savings and extra values.

All guests who sail with Holland America Line are automatically welcomed into the Mariner Society, where they receive offers on upcoming cruises and advance information about new ships and the latest product enhancements.

Based on past cruises recorded as cruise days, membership is in four levels offering ever-widening cruise options and enhancements.

Guests automatically collect additional “cruise days” or cruise day credits based on their onboard spending or by booking a suite.

After one cruise, guests are automatically enrolled in the Star Mariner level, earning cruise days towards future cruises and an exclusive collectable gift.

Among the features of Star Mariner status are special offers on select sailings, 50 percent discount for third and fourth guests on select sailings, hosted sailings with Holland America Ambassadors, an embarkation brunch on future cruises, a subscription to the Mariner Magazine and a champagne brunch on future cruises.

After 30 cruise day credits earned, Two-Star guests receive all the amenities of a Star Mariner plus 15 percent off merchandise from www.ShopHollandAmerica.com and 10 percent off logo apparel items in the onboard gift shops. Two-Star Mariners also will receive a complimentary ship photo and will be sent an annual cruise planner and recognition pin. With 75 cruise days earned,

Three-Star guests are given all Two-Star amenities plus 10 percent off on select spa treatments; a 25 percent discount on wine packages, mini-bar purchases, Explorations Café drinks and alternative restaurant surcharges; advance notice of new itineraries; and a waiver of air deviation fees.

At the top of the tiers, with 200 cruise days earned, Four-Star guests receive the benefits of all Star levels and the bonus of free fare for third and fourth guests on select sailings; complimentary wine tasting and laundry/pressing; a 50 percent discount on wine packages, mini-bar purchases, Explorations Café drinks and alternative restaurant surcharges; a 15 percent discount on logo apparel items in the onboard gift shops; priority tender service and check-in; priority shore excursion pre-booking; and a free subscription to Food and Wine magazine or Travel+Leisure magazine. The new Mariner Society Rewards Program will roll out to the entire fleet by Oct. 18.

On Dec. 15, the first guests will arrive at the Royal Spa Kitzbühel, a five-star hotel in Jochberg, Austria. At the Royal Spa Kitzbühel, the floors must still be laid, boxes are still stacked high and cables still hang loose from the ceiling. But in 100 days at the latest, the first guests will arrive.

The hotel is situated in Jochberg, just a few miles from Kitzbühel, with direct access to the ski and mountain world of the Kitzbühel Alps.

The Royal Spa Kitzbühel, the only hotel in Tyrol to be accepted into the Leading Hotels of the World, features 144 rooms and suites. The interior design uses a blend of modern design and traditional Tyrolean style. For more information, visit www.vi-hotels.com

Norman Carr Safaris is inviting children and parents alike to discover the Zambian bush with their Luangwa Lion Cubs Family Safaris.

Safaris are tailor-made to suit the individual requirements of each family. Game drives are designed with children in mind, and meals are served at times convenient to the family.

Norman Carr offers activities for the whole family. Children can learn to play traditional African rhythms on the drums or mold traditional clay pottery and figurines in the village.

They can discover how to track game and identify footprints and droppings, accompanied by an expert guide. In the evenings, they can enjoy stargazing and traditional stories around the camp fire.

Children can visit the local school and meet the local children, perhaps joining in on lessons or in a game of soccer. Children will be encouraged to play with their food and eat with their fingers in the traditional Zambian style.

Families will stay at the Kapani Lodge, located in the main Mfuwe area of the South Luangwa, a good place for a Zambian safari, with the possibility of sighting elephants, giraffes, zebra, buffalo, lions, and over 400 species of migratory birds.

Each of Kapani’s standard suites is equipped with its own lounge, bar fridge, overhead fans, and mosquito nets, as well as all modern facilities. The lodge also offers a library and lounge with fire place, swimming pool, and spacious decks.

Families with children between 8 and 12 years of age are also invited to experience the true Zambian wilderness at one of Norman Carr’s riverside camps, hidden deep inside the national park.

Families with children of 12 years and over are invited to stay at one of Norman Carr’s wild walking camps. Prices for seven nights at Kapani Lodge, for a family of four, begin at $2,450 for adults and $1,225 for children under the age of 17. These prices include all activities, food, accommodation, laundry, airport and camp transfers and national park fees. Flights are not included.

For more information, visit www.normancarrsafaris.com

Glasgow opened a new £8million ($13.3 million) arts facility in the center of its “cultural quarter,” the Merchant City, with Trongate 103. Trongate 103’s floor space, nearly 8,000 square meters, is as spacious as Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. The museum was built into a six-story series of Edwardian former warehouses.

Other arts-based companies in the structure include Glasgow Print Studio, Street Level Photoworks, the Transmission Gallery, the Russian Cultural Centre inside Café Cossachok, Glasgow Independent Studios, Sharmanka, Glasgow Media Access Centre (GMAC) and Project Ability.

For more information, visit www.trongate103.com

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. debuted its Four Points by Sheraton brand in India. Starwood recently opened the Four Points by Sheraton Navi Mumbai, Vashi and has reached an agreement to open the Four Points by Sheraton, Jaipur City Square in October.

The Four Points by Sheraton brand was introduced to Asia Pacific in 2000 with hotels in Sydney, Geelong, Shenzhen and Chung Ho, and now has grown to a portfolio of 31 hotels in the region, including 12 in operation and nearly 20 under development in China, Cambodia, Taiwan Malaysia, Thailand and India.

Within India, Starwood currently operates 21 hotels, including seven under The Luxury Collection brand, eight Le Méridien hotels, four Sheraton hotels, one Westin and the new Four Points by Sheraton hotel. By 2012, Starwood expects to have an additional 15 new hotels in India across the Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton and Aloft brands.

“Starwood has responded to India’s acute need for lodging by working with proven development partners to open best-in-class conversion and new-build hotels throughout this dynamic emerging market.” said Simon Turner, President of Global Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Located in the business center of the Navi Mumbai Metropolis, Four Points by Sheraton Navi Mumbai, Vashi is just a short stroll from prominent shopping opportunities and the city’s leading corporations. The hotel offers 151 guest rooms, a bar and deli with an all-day dining restaurant, a health club and swimming pool as well as meeting facilities. For more information, visit www.fourpoints.com/navimumbaivashi

Located in the new Jaipur city center, Four Points by Sheraton Jaipur, City Square will be just minutes off MI Road, the city’s commercial hub. Guests will have convenient access to the airport, several historic forts and palaces, leading retail centers and offices.

The hotel will feature 115 guest rooms, a bar/deli and an all-day dining restaurant and nearly 750 square feet of meeting and function space. For more information, visit www.fourpoints.com/jaipurcitysquare  or www.starwoodhotels.com