Jetsettersblog

Macau is in pole position to flex muscle with the running of two major sporting events of a different kind – each of marathon proportions.

From November 18-21, 2010, the popular Asian centre will rev up a gear or two along the roads of the peninsula’s waterfront for the 57th annual Macau Grand Prix.

Two weekends later, on Sunday, December 5, the streets of the peninsula and island Taipa will again be a sea of colour with the running of the 29th annual Macau International Marathon which will start and end at the main stadium.

“It will be a busy time for sports fans,” said Helen Wong, General Manager of the Macau Government Tourist Office (Australia and New Zealand).

“On one hand we have the motor racing, a long-time event with the names of famous drivers and riders on the winning list,” she said. “And two weeks later, around 600 athletes will compete in the marathon, a vast majority from overseas countries, some from Australia and New Zealand.”

The Macau Grand Prix presents a spectacular line-up of drivers and their racing machines in three headline races in an action-packed weekend of motorsport.

It will feature past and present champions as well as some of the world’s brightest young prospects.

The Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix is the official FIA Formula 3 Intercontinental Cup and considered the most coveted title in the category.

The Guia street circuit will also host the 44th edition of the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, billed as one of the world’s most awe-inspiring street races.

For the sixth successive year, the FIA World Touring Car Championship – Guia Race of Macau – will be the grand final of the season’s racing.

Names of drivers to have hoisted the winner’s cup in Formula 3 include Australians Kevin Bartlett, Vern Schuppan and David Brabham along with eventual Formula One champions Michael Schumacher and brother Ralf, David Coulthard, Ricardo Patrese and the late Ayrton Senna.

The 42km-long Macau Marathon, sponsored by Macau Galaxy Entertainment, will pit the cream of Asian athletes with all comers from around the globe.

“Supporters will not only get to see the athletes in action, but experience the best of Macau,” said Helen Wong. “From the fabulous Macanese cuisine to the many sites that are UNESCO World Heritage listed such as the Ruins of St Paul’s and A-Ma Temple, Macau has plenty to offer the sightseeing sports guests.”

Details: Macau Government Tourist Office, phone (02) 9264 1488, www.macautourism.gov.mo

Australian customers to benefit from alternate gateway into Asia and Europe

Indonesia’s national carrier, Garuda Indonesia, will introduce a new daily direct service to Jakarta from Sydney, from December 20, 2010.

Increasing the existing capacity by four flights a week, daily departures ex Sydney will provide travellers with more choice and convenience when connecting via Jakarta into Indonesia and beyond.

Commenting on the new daily service, Bagus Y. Siregar, Senior General Manager Australia/SWP Garuda Indonesia said: “Garuda Indonesia’s reputation and image is changing rapidly due to the airline’s fleet growth and network expansion.

The new direct daily flights to Jakarta will provide our customers with improved accessibility to the airline’s vast Asian network as well as to the daily Amsterdam via Dubai service, introduced in August 2010.

“While there is no doubt Garuda Indonesia remains committed to our valued leisure customers, we are also increasingly targeting the corporate traveller with Jakarta now positioned as an alternate gateway into Asia and Europe.

With future plans to expand the airline’s European network to include Frankfurt, Paris, London and Rome, there is no doubt that Garuda Indonesia is an increasingly attractive option for business travellers.”

Daily flights will be operated by Garuda Indonesia’s new fleet of A330-200 aircraft also currently servicing the three times weekly Melbourne-Jakarta route.

The aircraft all feature Garuda Indonesia’s new signature interior and individual touch-screen LCD TVs throughout business and economy classes with Video on Demand (VOD) entertainment systems offering 25 feature films and 250 audio tracks.

Business class passengers will experience fully lie-flat beds.

About Garuda Indonesia

Garuda Indonesia is the national airline of Indonesia. It is a full-service network carrier and serves 28 domestic and 18 international destinations.

The airline’s main hubs in Indonesia are located in Jakarta and Denpasar. In July 2009, the airline unveiled a new aircraft fleet, new in-flight product, new service concept and a fresh corporate identity to mark the start of its transformation into one of Asia’s most successful and profitable airlines.

Kewarra Beach Resort & Silky Oaks Lodge are delighted to announce the release of an exciting and innovative new package incorporating two stunning properties in a dual destination experience through one booking portal.

The package will include the following components:

Airport transfers with welcome tropical cocktail on arrival.

2 night’s accommodation in a Deluxe “Pandanus” Bungalow

Full day on the Great Barrier Reef with Ocean Spirit Cruises

Daily breakfast 2 mornings at Kewarra Beach Resort

2 night’s Deluxe Tree House accommodation at “Silky Oaks Lodge”

Daily breakfast 2 mornings at “Silky Oaks Lodge”

Full Day Cape Tribulation Safari including lunch

Transfer of luggage between Kewarra Beach Resort & Silk Oaks Lodge

Departure airport transfers from Silky Oaks Lodge to Cairns airport

Retail rate $1322 per person twin share *

Valid to March 31st 2012
Single supplement applies

Additional nights available at both properties at contract rates and package is reversible

The package has been designed with ease of booking in mind and reservations for all components will be handled by Kewarra Beach Resort & Spa. reservations@kewarrabeach.com

Chef of the Year at the National AHA Awards of Excellence 2010

Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney’s Altitude Restaurant was awarded Restaurant of the Year and Altitudes chef de cuisine Steven Krasicki, Chef of the Year at the 2010 Australian Hotels Associations National Awards of Excellence.

The Australian Hotels Association (AHA) is recognised as the leading authority on hospitality and tourism issues with Government, Opposition, media and industry.
The AHA represents over 8500 3, 4 and 5 Star accommodation hotels throughout Australia. The awards see the winners of the state category awards, which were held in May 2010, compete for the National Awards of Excellence.

“We are honoured to have received these awards and to be recognised as the leader of hotel restaurants within Australia.

I personally would like to acknowledge the contribution of our dedicated team led by chef de cuisine Steven Krasicki at Altitude Restaurant, and of course, our valued customers for their continued and loyal support,” said Franz Donhauser, general manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney.

The award for Restaurant of the Year and Chef of the Year comes shortly after Altitude Restaurant received One Hat at The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Awards 2011.

The restaurant was commended for its intriguing and well-balanced dishes, extensive cheese and wine list and superior service.

The awards celebrate the best in dining in and around Sydney with 35 city restaurants in total receiving One Hat by a team of experienced restaurant reviewers, including Good Food Guide Terry Durack and Joanna Savill.

The restaurants that perform at the highest level are awarded with the highest Australian restaurant accolade – a chef’s hat.

For enquiries and bookings, please call (61 2) 9250 6123 or e-mail  dine.slsn@shangrila.com

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently owns and/or manages 68 hotels under the Shangri-La and Traders brands with a rooms inventory of over 30,000. Shangri-La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services.

Shangri-La hotels are located in Australia, Canada, mainland China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Philippines, Singapore, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.

The group has over 40 projects under development in Austria, Canada, mainland China, France, India, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Mongolia, Russia, Qatar, Seychelles, Turkey and United Kingdom.

See Canberra in its true colours during Floriade, Australia’s floral celebration of spring from 11 September to 10 October.

The theme this year is; Imagination; where will yours take you?

Hyatt Hotel Canberra – A Park Hyatt Hotel is delighted to be associated with Floriade and is offering an accommodation package from $315.00 per couple during the spring celebration.

The package includes overnight accommodation in a luxurious Park Room, full buffet breakfast for two in the Promenade Café, two Floriade cocktail drink vouchers and complimentary use of the Clubhouse Fitness Centre including the indoor pool, spa and sauna.

The hotel is a short stroll to Floriade in Commonwealth Park and within walking distance to Canberra’s award winning attractions, including the Australian War Memorial, the National Museum of Australia, Parliament House and the National Gallery of Australia.

Complementing Floriade and the many fascinating things to do and see in the nations capital, Hyatt Hotel Canberra’s daily afternoon tea buffet make it the perfect haven for relaxation after a busy day enjoying the wonderful floral displays.

This luxurious art deco hotel has 253 guestrooms including six Park Suites, six Diplomatic Suites and a Presidential Suite.

Swimming with dolphins looks like fun however a little passé perhaps? How about getting up close and personal with sea cows – a totally new experience!

A great opportunity is now on hand at the Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa, a new hotel that forms part of the Had Chao Mai National Park in the Sikao district of southern Thailand – that’s right, sea cows in the area around Si Kao!

The upscale Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa looks onto the turquoise Amandan Sea, which is populated with all manner of coral, fish, and the friendly, lumbering and vegetarian creatures known as sea cows, or manatees.

For those looking to catch a glimpse of the region’s famed ‘Dugongs’ (sea cows), the resort has created an Eco Wild Life Trail, giving guests a chance to see Dugongs a boat and snorkel in their popular hangout spots where they feed on sea grass.

Anantara’s Eco Wild Life Trail is a full day’s programme of eight hours including a picnic breakfast, Dugong watching, snorkeling in the Dugong area, kayaking, bird watching and a nature walk through Libong Island.

Don’t miss this chance to get up close and personal with these gentle creatures.

The Eco Wild Life Trail costs just 1,500 THB per person based on a group of between six to 10 people, 2,200 THB per person based on four people and 4,500 THB per person based on two people.

Also check out the resort’s Early Bird Rates which offers discounts of up to 20 percent, helping guests shave pounds off their holiday.

Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa in Thailand is home to a whole host of authentic natural and cultural wonders from long sandy beaches and virgin tropical rainforest to incredible caves and beautiful waterfalls.

Guests looking for adventure can enjoy the resort’s excellent facilities, including speed and long-tail boats, canoes and bicycles or simply on two feet.

A regular speedboat shuttle service enables guests to indulge at Anantara Si Kao’s exclusive private day resort on the nearby stunning tropical island of Koh Kradan with its crystal clear water, coral reefs and white beaches.

For further information about Anantara Si Kao visit

www.anantara.com

Two bargain-priced tour packages have been unveiled by leading Asian specialist Helen Wong’s Tours to attract travellers to China over the cooler months.

One focuses on the sights and sounds of Shanghai, the more tranquil settings of Suzhou, Hangzhou and the historic village of Wuzhen which, combined with Xian and capital Beijing, make for a fascinating 15-day China Wonders package.

This exclusive package involves departures in February and March and is priced from $2799 pp twin share flying Air China from Sydney or Melbourne, including departure taxes, security charges and fuel charges (subject to change).

The other, an 11-day Majestic China program, begins with a China Southern flight to Guangzhou (Canton) with visits to scenic Guilin, Xian, home of the Army of the Terracotta Warriors, and Beijing for a walk along a section of the Great Wall of China.

Tours are in November, February and March and are priced from $2450pp twin share from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, including departure taxes, security charges and fuel charges (subject to change).

For Brisbane passengers the November flight will mark the start of direct services to Guangzhou.

“Including air fare, the price of the 15-day China Wonders package equates to $187 a day, which is good value considering the inclusions,” said Helen Wong’s Tours marketing manager Jason Sacriz.

“Compared with our deluxe tours at other times of the year, the 11-day Majestic China program works out as a real bargain at $223 a day,” he said.

“As with all China programs created by Helen Wong’s Tours, guests stay in four-to-five-star hotels with breakfast, with many other meals covered as well as seats to at least two evening cultural shows.”

Prices include return economy class air fares to China, domestic flights in China (where specified) as well as transfers, sightseeing and entrance fees and the services of English-speaking guides.

China visas for Australian passport holders and a travel kit with a 424-page Odyssey book on China and Cabin bag are also included in the bargain prices.

Details: Helen Wong’s Tours, phone (02) 9267 7833, 1300 788 328 or email hwtaus@helenwongstours.com  (website www.helenwongstours.com)

P&O Cruises has made cruising even more romantic with the launch of its new Ceremonies at Sea program for passengers wanting to tie the knot onboard their favourite ship.

A first for the cruise line, the program offers wedding services, commitment ceremonies and vow renewals on all four P&O Cruises’ ships, with P&O Cruises handling everything from photographers and flowers through to private post-wedding dinners in its fine dining restaurant.

Announcing the new offering, Jenny Lourey, Senior Vice President of Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises, said there was nothing more romantic than a holiday at sea.

“Thousands of our passengers have found their true love on our ships and many of them take their honeymoons with us, but now we’re offering the ultimate in romance with weddings onboard,” Ms Lourey said.

“Couples are always looking for a memorable wedding location and running away to sea to get married on a ship has to be one of the best.”

Wedding ceremonies will be available in port in Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle, Fremantle and Auckland on embarkation day and will be performed by a celebrant. Meanwhile vow renewals and commitment ceremonies will be performed at sea by the Captain or a senior officer.

The wedding package includes priority boarding, a dedicated venue, music, a rose bouquet and buttonhole, photographer, sparkling wine and wedding cake as well as dinner for two in the ship’s fine dining restaurant and group travel discounts for wedding party. Optional extras include cocktail receptions as well as the wedding party’s exclusive hire of Salt Grill by Luke Mangan onboard Pacific Dawn, Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl and the Seafood and Steakhouse Restaurant on Pacific Sun.

Passengers wanting to renew their vows or declare their commitment during their cruise can also enjoy a loving occasion with a tailored ceremony onboard.

The package includes music, a rose bouquet, a photo of the special occasion and sparkling wine, along with dinner for two in the ship’s specialty restaurant.

Ceremonies at Sea bookings will open in September for cruises from October 2010. Wedding packages are priced from $1320 and commitment ceremonies from $450.

For more information and bookings contact P&O Cruises on 13 24 94 or visit

www.pocruises.com.au

Includes travel on ‘bullet’ trains & all

The Japan Rail Pass offers great value! It’s an economical way to travel throughout Japan’s extensive rail network, considered to be one of the most efficient in the world. This includes travel aboard the world famous Shinkansen ‘bullet’ trains, limited expresses and local services.

Specifically a Japan Rail Pass can be used on all Japan Railways (JR) lines and the Shinkansen ‘bullet trains’ (except the pass is not valid for “NOZOMI” trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines).

The Japan Rail Pass is offered by the six companies that make up the Japan Railways Group (JR Group), including JR Kyushu, JR Shikoku, JR West, JR Central, JR East and JR Hokkaido.

Select your Japan Rail Pass among the following validities; 7, 14 or 21 consecutive days.

In Japan, first class is called Green Class and standard class is called Ordinary Class. Available discounts include, kids between the ages of 6-11, pay approximately half the adult fare.

Also kids under the age of 6 travel free, if not occupying a seat and accompanied by an adult Japan Rail Pass holder.

Another rail pass offered by ACP Rail for travel in Japan is the East Japan Rail Pass and until November 14th, 2010, you can get a special 3 day pass, while realizing great value in Japan this Autumn.

A 3 day Japan Rail East Pass Special Offer is available to overseas visitors for travel between September 1st and November 30th, 2010*, with fares available for adults and children in Ordinary (standard) class.

With the JR East Pass Special Offer, passengers will enjoy great savings and a shorter pass validity of 3 flexible travel days, within a 10-day period starting from the first day of use.

*The e-ticket must be exchanged in Japan before November 21st.

The exchanged pass can be used during the travel period  until  Nov. 21st.

Pro Dive Cairns receives recognition for an outstanding year while pushing ahead with their $1.5 million expansion plan!

Despite the down turn in the tourism industry over the past couple of years Pro Dive Cairns are expanding their Diver Training Centre and have recently been awarded PADI’s (the largest diver training organization globally) most prestigious award for the Asia Pacific Region for 2010 “The Outstanding Dive Centre/Resort Business Award”.

PADI congratulated the team at Pro Dive Cairns as the winners of this highly coveted award at a recent function in Cairns.

Each year over 1000 PADI Dive Centre’s throughout the Asia Pacific Region compete in the regional and then the Asia Pacific Awards.

Out of this process a panel of judges selected Pro Dive Cairns as the winners of the Outstanding (Dive Centre/Resort) Business Award for their accomplishments in 2009.

This award recognizes outstanding business performance, initiatives and achievements across all areas of business operation.

On presenting the award PADI’s representative said ‘Pro Dive Cairns enjoyed enormous success in the past 12 months due to hard work and a very positive and professional approach toward the dive industry’.

While winning the Outstanding Business Award is an outstanding achievement, PADI applauds Pro Dive Cairns commitment to teaching safe and responsible dive courses as their first priority.

Pro Dive Cairns offers its customers a world class training facility, retail store and dive vessels which has obviously proved very popular with visitors to the Great Barrier Reef looking for comfort and quality.

PADI and Pro Dive Cairns have shared a strong and successful business partnership for 27 years.

During this period Pro Dive Cairns have issued well over 100,000 PADI diving certifications and have become renown as an industry leader globally.

Based on strong demand for their dive courses over the past few years and a surprisingly good performance in 2009, Pro Dive Cairns are have commenced construction on the expansion of their current purpose built Dive Training Centre in Cairns.

The expansion will provide them with
* 3 new classrooms
* An additional 4 metre deep heated diver training pool
* Additional bathrooms, change rooms and staff facilities
* A makeover of the existing infrastructure.

The additional capacity created will place us in an ideal position to cope with the ever increasing demand for our dive courses and provide an even better standard of product and customer service to our clients and will further cement Pro Dive Cairns reputation as Australia’s premier PADI dive school as well as a leading Outer Reef liveaboard dive trip operator.

The expansion is due for completion in early 2011.