AccorHotels Celebrates 200th Milestone in Greater China With the Opening of Fairmont Chengdu

The debut of Fairmont Chengdu marks the 200th property for AccorHotels in Greater China as part of the group's rapid luxury brand expansion. As Fairmont Hotels & Resorts' first property in Western China, Fairmont Chengdu is a landmark hotel in the capital city of Sichuan province, known for its rich history and cultural heritage.

Strategically located at Tianfu Middle Avenue, the city's “Hi-tech Zone”, the hotel is only a 25 minute drive to Shuangliu International Airport and is in close proximity to the metro station that has easy access to Tianfu Square, the upcoming Tianfu International Airport, and the fast developing South CBD zone.

“The opening of Fairmont Chengdu signifies AccorHotels' 200th hotel in Greater China and celebrates the first Fairmont hotel opening following the FRHI acquisition last year,” said Michel Molliet, Chief Operating Officer AccorHotels Greater China. “The strategic location of Fairmont in the fast-changing city of Chengdu symbolizes an important growth strategy for the group's luxury brand development in the China market.”

The hotel lobby features a delicate handmade Shu embroidery landscape of the Qianli Yanxia Jinshuitou otherwise known as Gorgeous Cloud and Waters in Distance. The embroidery is a masterful blend of traditional landscape painting, handwoven tapestry, and modern photography. Its 336 guest rooms and suites offer stunning views of Chengdu's skyline.

MICE facilities include 11 meeting rooms and function spaces. The 730 square metre grand ballroom features natural daylight with an adjoining VIP room.

To wine and dine, the hotel features four restaurants with seven different dining concepts - Spectrum, an all-day dining restaurant at lobby level, offers an array of Asian and Western cuisines. Cube combines a lounge, cocktail bar and Japanese restaurant into an innovative integrated space over three levels of unique architectural design. The first of its kind in Chengdu, Cube is an ideal venue for social activities and private salons. For guests who would like to experience a modern interpretation and style of Sichuan food, Chang Yi, the Chinese restaurant offers spicy delicacies for the adventurous palates. Along with its unique cuisine, guests will also savour the arts, culture and history of the Sichuan Province. Opening mid 2017 with sweeping panoramic views of the city, Manhattan occupies the top floors and will be one of the highest restaurants and bars in the city offering an escape to the vibrant era of 1920s with its art deco inspired décor and ambience.

Fitness enthusiasts can enjoy a light work-out at the Fitness Centre or a leisurely swim in the indoor pool. For a therapeutic spa indulgence, the signature Willow Stream Spa by Fairmont, which is scheduled to open in March 2017, offers an array of holistic therapies designed to rejuvenate and energize the body and soul.

“Each Fairmont property reflects the destination's energy, culture and history through locally inspired cuisine, spirited bars and lounges, distinctive design and décor,” said Jane Mackie, Vice President, Fairmont Brand. “The opening of Fairmont Chengdu is the latest addition to the luxury brand's network of hotels in China joining the renowned Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai, the Fairmont Yangcheng Lake in Kunshan and the Fairmont in Beijing.”

AccorHotels is one of the pioneering international hotel management companies with over 30 years of development experience operating in Greater China. The group has established strong relations with its local partners and its brand portfolio includes such internationally renowned luxury brands as Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel Legend, Sofitel, MGallery by Sofitel, Pullman, and Swissôtel; as well as the popular midscale and boutique brands of Novotel, Mercure; the in-demand economy brands including ibis, ibis Styles, and the regional brands Grand Mercure and The Sebel.

www.accorhotels.com

New Exhibitors Flocking to Luxperience

With registrations well underway for Luxperience 2017, exciting new exhibitors have enthusiastically signed up and include for the first time this year, Armani Hotels Milan and Dubai; Casa De La Flora Khao Lak Thailand and Kandima Maldives, who will join suppliers from not only Australia and New Zealand but all over the world.

Director of Sales Samantha Taylor says: “These products also represent the versatility of Luxperience, which not only attracts specialists from the leisure travel market but also a growing number of converts from the business events market. Luxperience is the only show of its kind in the southern hemisphere to blend the leisure and business markets, creating a unique and innovative event that reaches into every corner of the globe.”

In 2016, Luxperience welcomed more MICE buyers than ever before with many praising the event for: the quality of appointment times; the variety of products and experiences; and diversity of destinations.

Luxperience will be happening in a new venue for 2017, Carriageworks, Sydney from 17-20 September. It is an invitation-only event dedicated to the high-end experiential travel sector and the only such event in the southern hemisphere.

For Luxperience 2017 enquiries:

beinspired@luxperience.com.au or +61 2 8584 1777

Welcome to the world of Portland

Indulge all your senses in Portland USA.

Here in  Portland - five senses seems like so much more.

Tourism Australia's Global Ambassador Chris Hemsworth Invites Americans Down Under

Chris Hemsworth

Hollywood actor and Australia's global tourism ambassador, Chris Hemsworth is back in New York to woo Americans Down Under.

Tourism Australia kicked off its G'Day USA events with a VIP private event on Monday 23 January where guests got to 'travel' with Chris Hemsworth around Australia. The event showcased Australia's stunning food and wine, and coastal experiences through a virtual tour of the country offering the senses, sounds and smells of Australia.

Chris Hemsworth helped launch Tourism Australia's aquatic and coastal campaign focusing on the country's gorgeous beaches, in January, in New York last year (2016). The campaign has been hugely successful, with record breaking visitor arrivals and spending. Arrivals out of the US have crossed the 700,000 mark, reaching 705,000 in the last 12 months, up 18.3 per cent.

“It's a great honour to play a role in promoting my country to the rest of the world. My first year as an ambassador for Australia has been incredible, from experiencing the outback of Uluru and The Kimberley with my family, diving the Great Barrier Reef and exploring the islands and beaches of the Whitsundays. I am looking forward to another year seeing Australia and sharing its natural beauty with the rest of the world,” said Chris Hemsworth.

Celebrities including actors Naomi Watts, Callan McAuliffe, Dan Churchill, Brenton Thwaites, Matt Wright, Luke Mitchell and Rebecca Breeds were among guests at the event along with The Federal Minister for Tourism, Steven Ciobo, media and top travel advisors from luxury travel network Virtuoso.

Actor Rachel Griffiths emceed the event and joined Hemsworth on stage to talk about his first year as Tourism Australia's global ambassador.

Tourism Australia Managing Director, John O'Sullivan said G'Day USA provided a perfect platform to showcase the best of Australia tourism to influential representatives of the US travel industry.

“It's great to return to New York, almost exactly a year after Chris Hemsworth helped us launch our latest global tourism campaign. Travel by Americans to Australia is growing at levels we haven't enjoyed since the Sydney 2000 Olympics. As Chris has so eloquently told the world, Australia is a place you feel and I'm delighted that a record-breaking 705,000 Americans have been able to do just that over the past 12 months.

“Through virtual reality and 360 technologies, we have built a campaign which brings Australia to the world in the most immersive way possible, so people have a much greater sense of what it feels like to visit the country and experience what we have to offer.

Consumers have responded extremely well and we've seen a step-change in the quantity and quality of leads we are now passing on to our industry partners. Our 'Virtual Australia' event in New York is about using this incredible content to connect with American travel agents and key distribution partners, improving their appreciation of our country and, by doing so, helping to influence more visits.”

At the event, Tourism Australia and leading luxury travel network Virtuoso announced an expanded partnership across North America, which will put a spotlight on Australia in 2017 through a range of joint activities including dedicated marketing to Virtuoso's affluent clientele and a major training focus for its travel advisors.

“This event that Tourism Australia is hosting exclusively for our travel agency members promises to be a spectacular way of showcasing this energetic and diverse country,” says Matthew D. Upchurch, Chairman and CEO of Virtuoso.

“Not only is it one of my personal favourites to visit, but Australia continues to be a key location for our travel advisors and their clients, consistently ranking in our top 10 destinations by sales and as the number one dream destination for Virtuoso travellers. This new agreement between Tourism Australia and Virtuoso makes it that much easier for our advisors to send people to this extraordinary part of the world by providing them with knowledge and resources. Our shared goal is to ensure that every Virtuoso agency in North America has an Australian specialist on board, someone who can assist clients as well as their fellow colleagues.”

Guests at the event were fully immersed in the best experiences on offer in Australia while sampling a menu curated by Neil Perry, one of Australia's most iconic chefs, and matching wines supplied by Wine Australia.

G'Day USA also celebrated Australia Day in Los Angeles with events including the LA Black Tie Gala and Film Event and a VIP dinner with chef Curtis Stone.

www.tourism.australia.com

You've never been this far away - Faraway Bay

Faraway Bay is an inviting haven, nestled on a rocky hilltop overlooking the turquoise Timor Sea. Our location, 280 kilometres north-west of Kununurra, is a remote and spellbinding part of the Kimberley coastal region of Western Australia. 

They offer the most authentic and unique experience of any coastal camp in the Kimberley. Faraway Bay is not just another resort in a remote location. It is a unique wilderness retreat built on character and local Kimberley history, with true outback style. Faraway Bay is an experience you will never forget – it’s like nothing you will find anywhere else!

Faraway Bay Kimberley Remote Unique Exclusive Wilderness Retreat, where the Outback meets the Ocean. All inclusive day rates, tours to King George Falls, Ancient Rock Art Sites, Barramundi Fishing and so much more - a Digital Detox Destination. 2017 is the Year to book your No 1 Bucket List Holiday, an experience of a life time.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts to Manage Historic Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles

Luxury hotel operator Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, now part of the AccorHotels Group, and Next Century Associates today announced the signing of definitive agreements for the revitalization and management of the historic Century Plaza Hotel, located in the heart of Century City in Los Angeles. The iconic, crescent shaped hotel has hosted generations of Hollywood celebrities, foreign dignitaries and every United States President since its opening in 1966. The hotel is currently closed for a meticulous restoration and refurbishment and is slated to re-open as Fairmont Century Plaza, Los Angeles in 2018.

The addition of a landmark hotel in a strategic US market supports AccorHotels' goal of brand growth and expansion, particularly in the luxury space. The signing of this project follows AccorHotels' 2016 acquisition of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, along with sister brands Raffles and Swissôtel, which broadened the company's luxury hotel offerings and footprint in North America.

“Fairmont is honored to become the guardian of the historic Century Plaza, and along with Michael Rosenfeld and the entire team at Next Century Associates, we look forward to the rebirth of this iconic property,” said Kevin Frid, chief operating officer, North & Central America, AccorHotels. “The Fairmont brand was born in California in 1907 and now, after more than a century of building an international portfolio of award-winning properties, we are thrilled to return to our roots and expand our presence in the Southern California region. Fairmont Century Plaza is an important project, not just for the city and region, but for our globally-recognized brand as well.”

The approximately $2.5 billion mixed-use redevelopment project includes approximately 394 guestrooms and 63 branded residences within the original iconic tower, along with two new 46-story luxury residential towers with 290 luxury residences, plus approximately 100,000 square feet of boutique high-street shopping and expanded parking facilities.

Originally designed by Minoru Yamasaki, Fairmont Century Plaza will be transformed by world-renowned lead architecture firms Pei Cobb Freed, Gensler and Marmol Radzinger and the internationally acclaimed design group Yabu Pushelberg. The team will restore the hotel's renowned lobby, connecting it to a series of public plazas and fountains that lead into a central two-acre garden, surrounded by restaurants and retail boutiques.

The beloved Los Angeles landmark resides on a six acre site within one of the most prominent neighborhoods in the world. Built on the former backlot of 20th Century Fox Studios, the hotel faces the famous fountains at the intersection of Avenue of the Stars and Constellation Boulevard. The property is surrounded by over 10 million square feet of class 'A' offices, residences, restaurants, retail, and entertainment venues, and is adjacent to Beverly Hills, one of the highest grossing retail areas in the United States.

Fairmont is expanding its strong partnership with Woodridge Capital, a Los Angeles based multi-disciplined real estate development and Investment Company. The two companies have previously worked together successfully at Fairmont San Francisco and Fairmont Orchid in Hawaii.

“We are excited to make history in Los Angeles with the rebirth of the Fairmont Century Plaza,” said Michael Rosenfeld, CEO of Woodridge Capital Partners. “Woodridge and Fairmont have built a strong relationship over the years, with properties that have performed to their utmost in their respective markets. We look forward to creating a new jewel for the residents and visitors of Los Angeles to cherish and enjoy."

Fairmont Century Plaza will add to Fairmont's broad presence in California, joining an unrivalled collection of spectacular hotels and resorts that include the brand's flagship hotel – the one that started it all – the iconic Fairmont Miramar San Francisco; Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa; Fairmont San Jose in Silicon Valley; Claremont Club & Spa, a Fairmont Hotel in Berkeley; Fairmont Heritage Place Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco; Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica; and Fairmont Grand De Mar in San Diego.

“California is in our DNA,” added Frid. “The quintessential Californian traits - the sense of relaxed glamor, charisma and sophistication – are exactly what guests consistently encounter at the heart of every Fairmont property around the world. We cannot wait to open these doors in Los Angeles, to celebrate the lineage of this West Coast landmark, and to welcome our guests with authentic red carpet treatment at what will soon be, the breathtaking Fairmont Century Plaza.”

With more than 70 hotels worldwide, Fairmont continues to expand globally with recent openings including Fairmont Quasar Istanbul, Fairmont Chengdu in Western China and Fairmont Fujairah in the Middle East. New luxury hotels scheduled to open later in 2017 include Fairmont Amman in Jordan, Fairmont Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Fairmont will also open the newest and most state of the art hotel in Austin, TX later this year.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is a luxury brand that consistently rates among the best in the world in customer-based rankings such as the TripAdvisor awards, as well as industry and media awards such as the AAA Five Diamond Ratings, the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List, and Travel + Leisure's 500 World's Best Hotels.

BIG4 Holiday Parks guests have their say with ReviewPro ratings on website

In a win for consumers' thirst for information about quality and value, they'll now have the ability to view external ratings and reviews on the BIG4 Holiday Parks’ website, with the introduction of ReviewPro's Guest Ratings Score™ on the site.

ReviewPro is a pioneer in the area of Guest Intelligence which helps accommodation organisations across the globe exceed traveller expectations. Their solution will help BIG4 bring relevant information to visitors in the form of online ratings and access to reviews, making it easier to select the ideal park based on the experiences of other guests.

In addition, the system will allow BIG4’s network of 180 parks manage their online reputation from one convenient platform and benchmark against other parks within the group, as well as competitors, to help enhance the customer experience.

Based on customised views and settings, parks will be able to see their most relevant insights, allowing them to prioritise operational and service improvements and boost rankings on TripAdvisor and other review sites.

General Manager Sales and Marketing of BIG4 Holiday Parks’, Campbell Davies, says BIG4 has listened to consumers and their desire for independent ratings.

“We know ratings and reviews are critical to consumers’ decision-making process, so we have made it easier for them to research, plan and book by providing access to the depth of information they're seeking,” explained Davies.

“We are embracing the opportunity to provide our website visitors with even more relevant information and to improve our overall online reputation thanks to ReviewPro’s comprehensive solution.”

The CEO of ReviewPro, RJ Friedlander, commented on BIG4’s uptake of the online reputation management solution.

“Our work with BIG4 Holiday Parks demonstrates that exceeding traveller expectations is as paramount for holiday parks as it is for luxury hotels. This is an exciting collaboration and we look forward to helping this iconic brand in Australia focus on creating outstanding experiences for customers.”

Kumano Ancient Trail

The Kumano Kodo, or Kumano Ancient Trail, is a pilgrimage route to Kumano, part of the mountainous Kii Peninsula which stretches south from the Kansai cities of Osaka, Nara and Kyoto. The well-maintained trail threads its way through deep valleys, mountains and small villages to offer a wonderfully-varied hike over four days. Stay at comfortable family-run inns with excellent food, soak in natural hot springs, and visit the shrines along the way. The pilgrimage routes to the three great Kumano Shrines – Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Nachi Taisha, and Hayatama Taisha – were popularized during and after the Heian Period (794-1185), when the Imperial family and nobility began to seek salvation in sangaku shinko (a belief in the supernatural power of mountains), rather than through common religious practices. Emperor Gotoba (1180-1239) made no less than thirty pilgrimages to Kumano, recording his thoughts and feelings in the Kumano poems.
For an in-depth experience of the Kumano Kodo region, please see the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X90Chg4hIEU&t=16s

Oku Japan's journey begins in the modern city of Kyoto. Guests travel then south by train along the coast and spend four days hiking the Nakahechi, one of the Kumano Kodo trails, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. There is a day mid-way to relax on a thrilling boat ride up the spectacular Doro Gorge. Oku Japan's guests cross the Kii Peninsula on foot to its eastern coast, and the fishing town of Katsuura, with two nights at a hot spring hotel, and finish by travelling on to Kyoto by train.
Here is the link to access the tour: http://www.okujapan.com/trips/kumano-ancient-trail-9

WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo Launches Snappy New Crocodile Experience

WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo has taken its Australian animal adventure to the next level with the launch of the Darling Harbour attraction's brand-new 'Crocodile Encounter' experience.

Featuring state-of-the-art interactive crawl spaces and pop-up windows and tunnels, the new experience allows guests to come eye-to-eye with one of Australia's most dangerous animals. For the first time, guests will be able to crawl through the crocodile's display and stand-up in an acrylic pop-up viewing dome, allowing visitors to discover what it's like to be in the water with a 500-kilogram reptile, which can exert over 1500 kilograms of jaw pressure with a single bite.

The new zone features a male crocodile who will serve as an ambassador for the iconic Australian species. Through on-site fast facts and conservation messaging displayed around the crocodile's new exhibit, which includes a purpose-built jetty ramp that guests can crawl under, guests can learn about the conservation issues facing crocodiles in the wild as they go on an amazing journey of discovery to Australia's Kakadu Gorge.

Guests can explore the zoo's new zone from a higher vantage point on WILD Flight, a self-propelled ride that sees guests glide above Australia's most iconic animals at a whopping 12 metres above the ground.

With interactive displays, captivating daily feeding sessions and enhanced walk-through habitats, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo takes visitors from the heart of the city to the outback, bringing them up close to Australia's most iconic animals.

For more information on WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo and its WILD display of animals and interactive fun please visit: http://www.wildlifesydney.com.au/

Thailand to usher in 2017 with a traditional Candlelight of Siam event

To memorably celebrate the nation’s Thainess and to incorporate tributes to the Thai monarchy as well as the happiness of the Thai people into the New Year celebrations this year, a traditional candle lighting and prayer ceremony, called Sang Thien Haeng Siam or Candlelight of Siam, will take place at Bangkok’s Sanam Luang and various locations nationwide and overseas on 31 December, with locals and foreign visitors invited to join.

H.E. General Tanasak Patimapragorn, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand said, “We would like ‘the Candlelight of Siam’ to be a meaningful event that celebrates everything that unites us as a nation and as a people – our loyalty, our faith and our love and respect for the monarch. The New Year’s singing, candle lighting, praying and sharing will bring people together as friends, as families and let us welcome 2017 in a way that reflects our unique culture and heritage.”

The Candlelight of Siam event will take place on 31 December, 2016, at Bangkok’s Sanam Luang. The event will start at 19.00 Hrs. with locals and foreign visitors invited to join the pre-New Year Countdown activities including writing an oath to live a good life, getting a candle for the lighting ceremony, and taking part in Buddhist rituals.

Then, at 21.00 Hrs., everyone will be invited to take part in an 89-second silence to pay respect to the late King Rama IX marking his 89 years. From 23.45-23.55 Hrs., the New Year’s Eve prayers in the form of simplified Buddhist chanting will take place.