Andaz Gold Coast, set to debut in 2025 as part of The Star Gold Coast

ANDAZ GOLD COAST, SET TO DEBUT IN 2025 AS PART OF THE STAR GOLD COAST

Andaz Gold Coast will be part of an integrated resort masterplan, The Star Gold Coast. Slated to open in mid-2025, the hotel will mark the debut of luxury lifestyle brand Andaz in Australia and the Pacific region.

“We are thrilled to announce plans to bring the Andaz brand to Australia’s premier resort destination in collaboration with The Star Gold Coast,” said David Udell, group president, Asia Pacific, Hyatt. 

The Star Gold Coast General Manager of Hotels Steve McPharlin said, “We are delighted to welcome Andaz Gold Coast to our world-class tourism and entertainment precinct. As part of The Star Gold Coast’s AU$2 billion (approximately US$1.33 billion) masterplan, we are proud to continue our investment in this dynamic city while also providing new employment opportunities alongside vibrant hospitality experiences.”

Andaz Gold Coast will be situated at The Star Gold Coast, an exclusive mixed-use development on Broadbeach Island. With easy access to beautiful sandy beaches, rainforests, and theme parks, those looking to expand their horizons can indulge in a myriad of recreation, dining, and entertainment options within the integrated entertainment complex. Guests can enjoy upscale shopping at the nearby Pacific Fair Shopping Centre and direct connectivity to the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Occupying floors six to 21 of the 65-story second tower, the hotel will feature 202 guest rooms and suites, a fitness center and three food and beverage outlets. Overlooking Broadbeach, the expansive outdoor pool deck on level six will be a destination hotspot with a cocktail bar, a beach club with private cabanas and al fresco dining. 

The Andaz Lounge, a signature touchpoint at Andaz hotels, will offer a relaxed and inviting all-day space for guests to enjoy a drink or snack. The architecture by Australian design firm DBI Architects will be matched with contemporary interiors by award-winning Australian design firm Hachem. The bespoke hotel design will be informed by the narrative ‘Chase the Sun’, inspired by the fascinating transformation of sunlight as each day unfolds on the Gold Coast. The transitions from sunrise to sunset will make for a spirited and stimulating atmosphere to fuel guest creativity. Once fully open, The Star Gold Coast will be one of Australia’s largest integrated multi-tower resorts.

“The Gold Coast is a world-renowned region, and it is energizing for the tourism industry to be welcoming a new international hotel brand to the region,” said Patricia O’Callaghan, tourism and events Queensland chief executive officer. “More than four million Australians visited the Gold Coast last year and we are steadily working our way to recover international arrivals to one of Australia’s best known and well-loved destinations.”

Our Corporate Events Specialist, Kathy, goes to Hong Kong

OUR CORPORATE EVENTS SPECIALIST, KATHY, GOES TO HONG KONG

Introducing our very own Kathy Knipp, Corporate Events Specialist at ATPI Events. 

Recently, our adventure began with a 7:35am departure from Sydney and to our delight the group received an upgrade to Cathay Pacific Business Class, allowing us to savour a delightful breakfast and lunch as we soared toward our destination. Settling into my seat on the new A350 900 with a 1-2-1 configuration I felt like I was in my own world with a view plus direct aisle access. My 18.5 inch screen provided plenty of first class entertainment from the latest releases to box sets and games. The crew were fantastic and very attentive. After tucking into breakfast, I felt like a little nap and my flight attendant helped arrange the padded seat mattress, pillow and duvet.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by Darren, who guided us through the airport and introduced us to our local guide, Wing. While Darren offered the choice of walking or taking the train to immigration, we opted for the walk, unaware it would take approximately 20 minutes. A tip for future travellers: the train runs every two minutes and is a much quicker option!

After a swift 27 minutes in the immigration line, our bags were waiting for us, and we boarded a bus for a scenic 40-minute transfer to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Central Hong Kong. We were immediately whisked away for high tea in the Club Lounge, a fitting welcome. Our harbour-view room came with Club Lounge access, offering complimentary afternoon tea—a perfect way to unwind after a long journey. That evening, we enjoyed a fusion dinner at Ho Lan Jeng, a trendy spot just a short walk from the lively Lan Kwai Fong district.

Day two kicked off with a ride on the Peak Tram, offering stunning views. We explored the PMQ (Police Married Quarters) and participated in a ceramics painting team-building exercise. Later, we enjoyed cocktails at The Aubrey, one of Asia’s top bars, followed by a traditional Cantonese dinner at Man Wah.

That evening, we enjoyed a cocktail session at The Aubrey, ranked among Asia’s 50 Best Bars, which was followed by an exquisite traditional Cantonese dinner at, Man Wah, showcasing the Mandarin Oriental Hotel’s blend of history and luxury.

On Sunday, we inspected the recently renovated Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hotel, boasting seven Michelin-starred restaurants and an impressive room they dub the Entertainment Suite. Interestingly, Landmark Mandarin Oriental had a completely different atmosphere to that of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Central Hong Kong. A dim sum lunch aboard the Aqua Luna junk boat followed and we enjoyed a scenic 1.5-hour cruise on Victoria Harbour. 

This adventure was followed by visits to Tai Kwun Historic Site and Auberge Discovery Bay Hotel, known for its picturesque function spaces and chapel. We capped off the day with a transfer to the Kerry Hotel in Kowloon.

Our final day included a cooking class in Causeway Bay, where we mastered Sweet and Sour Pork. Our inspections of the Island Shangri-La and Kerry Hotel showcased their impressive facilities, with the Kerry Hotel boasting the largest Grand Ballroom in Hong Kong.

As our journey concluded on Tuesday, we enjoyed a visit to the Cathay Pacific Business Class Lounge at the airport, a serene spot to relax before our flight home. Hong Kong’s efficient transport options made navigating the city a breeze, with English widely spoken.

Hong Kong is not just a vibrant city but an excellent choice for conferences or group events. With a diverse array of facilities, cultural experiences, and the promise of memorable day-to-day activities, this city should be on every traveler’s radar and is an ideal destination for business traveller’s seeking both productivity and adventure.

Let us elevate your next group booking to Hong Kong and beyond, talk to one of our Event Specialists today.

Lanson Place Parliament Gardens opens - The ultimate Melbourne retreat

LANSON PLACE PARLIAMENT GARDENS OPENS – THE ULTIMATE MELBOURNE RETREAT

Ideally located on the edge of the CBD and surrounded by tranquil green spaces, Lanson Place Parliament Gardens offers the ultimate Melbourne retreat for your next leisure or business stay. 

Lanson Place Parliament Gardens features a sophisticated range of contemporary hotel rooms and apartments situated at 502 Albert Street, East Melbourne there’s nowhere better to experience the city’s top restaurants, theatres, sporting events and commercial centre.

Highlights include:

  • New 5 star boutique hotel located on edge of Melbourne’s CBD
  • 137 sophisticated hotel rooms, apartments and penthouses
  • Modern Australian cuisine served in Chronicle 502 Bar & Dining
  • 24 hour access to our fitness centre
  • 20m indoor heated swimming pool and spa

Opening specials:
From $280 per night with complimentary welcome drink and buffet breakfast for one, valid until 12 Jan 2025.

Hotel Alba, a stylish urban retreat in Adelaide’s CBD

HOTEL ALBA, A STYLISH URBAN RETREAT IN ADELAIDE’S CBD

Hotel Alba enjoys prime location in Adelaide’s South Terrace precinct. Whether exploring the city’s iconic landmarks, indulging in retail therapy, or attending business meetings, Hotel Alba serves as the perfect starting point for any Adelaide experience.

The newly revitalised hotel is a haven for both leisure and business travellers seeking a comfortable escape, featuring:

  • 99 sleek and cosy guest rooms, with the choice of standard, studio or a one-bedroom apartment
  • All rooms feature a private balcony, with views of either the park, city or pool
  • A relaxing pool, where guests can unwind and soak up the South Australian sun
  • Newly launched restaurant, ela, a Mediterranean-inspired dining experience for both hotel guests and locals with a focus on local, South Australian produce, led by Executive Chef Nigel Rich and Head Chef Ashleigh Lindner

Hotel Alba’s transformation is now complete and it is currently welcoming guests at a very special rate of $189 AUD (room only). Hotel Alba is situated at 226 South Terrace, Adelaide and is part of the South Terrace Precinct that also includes The Terrace Hotel and HotelMOTEL, all part of EVT Hotels & Resorts under the Independent Collection.

JETSTAR TO LAUNCH TWO NEW TRANS-TASMAN ROUTES

Jetstar will significantly expand its Gold Coast network, offering new direct flights to Hamilton and Dunedin in New Zealand from June 2025. 

Both new services will take off three times a week, creating more than 115,000 new low fares seats every year across the Tasman, providing a multi-million-dollar boost to the Gold Coast’s tourism industry. 

It will be the first time Jetstar has flown to the city of Hamilton, giving Queenslanders a second gateway to the North Island and convenient access to holiday hot spots like Rotorua, the Bay of Plenty and Hobbiton. 

The new service between the Gold Coast and Dunedin will boost access to the South Island’s second-largest city and provide more options for people to road trip across New Zealand by flying into one part of the country and out of another on Jetstar’s network. 

Today’s announcement follows the signing of a seven-year agreement between the Qantas Group and Queensland Airports, which will support future growth for both Jetstar and Qantas and lead to more flights and low fares for Queenslanders. 

Jetstar Group CEO, Stephanie Tully, said today’s announcement is great news for the Gold Coast region. 

“It’s great news for customers, with the new routes unlocking more than 115,000 new low fares seats a year between the Gold Coast and Hamilton and Dunedin, while helping to connect the city’s large population of Kiwi ex-pats to their home country.”
“We thank the Queensland Government and Queensland Airports for their ongoing support of low fares travel across the Sunshine State.” 

Queensland Airports Limited CEO, Amelia Evans, said “New Zealand is Australia’s largest international visitor market, so it makes sense for us to increase our Trans-Tasman connectivity. We’re proud that we’ll be Australia’s most connected airport to New Zealand,” she said. 

Queensland Tourism Minister Michael Healy encouraged New Zealanders to snap up the deals while they can. 

“The new services will make Gold Coast Airport Australia’s most connected to New Zealand, with more routes for visitors and students to arrive, with air freight heading back across the Tasman.
“Almost half a million kiwis crossed the ditch to visit Queensland in the year ending March 2024, setting a second consecutive visitor spending record with $821 million in overnight visitor expenditure.” 

Turkish Airlines, the airline that flies to more countries than any other, adds Sydney to its robust flight network.

TURKISH AIRLINES LAUNCHING FLIGHTS FROM SYDNEY AIRPORT

Turkish Airlines, the airline that flies to more countries than any other, adds Sydney to its robust flight network. With its second foray into the continent, flag carrier airline also marks the city as its first destination in Australia to have non-stop flights in the future.

Set to start on December 4, 2024, İstanbul – Sydney flights will be operated four times a week via Kuala Lumpur with Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

This new route not only strengthens Turkish Airlines presence in the newest continent in its flight network but also continues to bolster ties between Türkiye and Australia, driving growth in tourism, trade, and cultural exchange.

About the new addition to global airline’s flight network, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof. Ahmet Bolat stated: “We are happy to announce the launch of our Sydney route, which opens another chapter for us in the continent. This new route not only enhances our flight network but also reaffirms our commitment to our presence in Australia as we connect our guests to new opportunities and experiences with the comfort and hospitality of Turkish Airlines. Sydney will also be our first destination in Australia to have non-stop flights when we receive the aircraft capable of making the journey in a single leg.”

On the new development, Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said: “I am thrilled that Turkish Airlines is touching down in Sydney for the first time, providing European travellers with direct access to our state’s world-class visitor experiences. The NSW Government has worked closely with Sydney Airport and Turkish Airlines to secure this new service. Sydney is the gateway to Australia and supporting this new route holds enormous potential for the growth of the state’s visitor economy.”

Sydney Airport CEO, Scott Charlton said: “This announcement of direct flights marks a significant milestone for travel to Europe, offering passengers seamless access to hundreds of destinations from Turkish Airlines’ Istanbul hub. We are proud that Turkish Airlines Sydney and NSW for their first non-stop service which is a strong endorsement of everything our city and state has to offer. In the meantime, passengers will get to experience Turkish Airlines’ award-winning service from Sydney to Istanbul via Kuala Lumpur in December 2024.

With more than 15,000 Turkish-born Australians in New South Wales and Türkiye consistently rated as one of the top destinations for Australian travellers, we’re confident this service will be strongly supported. Today’s announcement is also incredibly important for the Sydney and NSW economies and speaks to the impact of international aviation in supporting our visitor economy.

The special launch prices for Turkish Airlines’ Sydney to Istanbul flights are $1,489 AUD in Economy Class. 

The launch prices are valid for:

Ticketing Date: 12 September – 31 December 2024

Travel Date: 04 December 2024 – 31 May 2025.

ACCI welcomes trial of new digital travel card

AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER – TOURISM WELCOMES TRIAL OF NEW DIGITAL TRAVEL CARD

Available to eligible Qantas travellers from New Zealand to Australia, the Australia Travel Declaration will replace the physical, long-standing Incoming Passenger Card. 

“It is a welcome and long-overdue step toward improved passenger facilitation”, says John Hart, Executive Chair of Australian Chamber – Tourism. 

“Australian Chamber – Tourism has been saying for some time now that the outdated Incoming Passenger Card needs to be removed and replaced with something more user-friendly, so today’s announcement is tremendous”, he adds. Superseding the physical Incoming Passenger Card was a key recommendation made by Australian Chamber – Tourism when it recently published its Future Traveller Strategy

The strategy advocates for enhancements to both the incoming and outgoing passenger experience. As Australia looks to open an additional international airport in 2026 and host the Olympics in 2032, improvements to the traveller experience are, as Mr Hart states,  “absolutely critical”.  

The program it set to launch later this year.

SINGAPORE AIRLINES LOUNGE REOPENS AT SYDNEY AIRPORT

After a two-week planned closure for a refresh, Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge has reopened.

What can business and first class passengers on Singapore Airlines and certain Star Alliance members expect?

– New furniture and carpet throughout
– A barista bar

The remodel is meant to echo elements of each guests ‘home’.

US Global Entry

AUSTRALIANS TO TRIAL ACCESS TO US GLOBAL ENTRY, PRECHECK PROGRAMS

A select group of 1,000 Australians will be able to trial the US Global Entry and TSA PreCheck programs beginning in 2025.

The criteria is:

  • They must have travelled to the U.S. at least 5 times in the previous 12 months
  • Australian citizens will be subject to a criminal history check from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission

Applicants will be subject to a $100US application fee, as well as a fee to cover the cost of running the necessary background checks – how much this is has not yet been decided (and won’t apply for trial applicants).

The US Global Entry program is already open to multiple countries including UK, Germany and Singapore.

 

 

Outpost Sentosa

SENTOSA’S ADULT-ONLY OUTPOST HOTEL PERFECT FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT

Thinking of choosing The Outpost Hotel Sentosa for your next Singapore conference or event? Overlooking the Singapore Strait, the hotel is heavily focused on adults and provides a trendy getaway for the fun and stylish.

All rooms are contemporary and with great views. Your guests can enjoy a host of purposefully curated brand experiences such as fitness activities, customised minibar, stay privileges and access to 1-Altitude Coast, the island’s only adults-exclusive rooftop pool and day club.

Stay for play or for work, including:

From $280++ per night

  • Stay in a deluxe room which includes breakfast at Sol & Ora, customised minibar, full access to Outpost Xperience, as well as stay privileges.

Meet with double the perks

  • Use of function venue from 9.00am – 5.00pm
  • Lunch and two coffee breaks with two snack items per break
  • Free flow of coffee and tea
  • Usage of existing projector, screen, wireless microphone and wi-fi
  • Choose two additional perks from 1 x complimentary room for every 24 paying rooms, one complimentary room upgrade for every 12 paying rooms, complimentary meeting package for one guest for 11 paying guests, additional snack item per coffee break, welcome drink per person

Contact our expert Events team to book.