Daily News & Opinion

As part of its one year anniversary, voco has introduced a ‘tread lightly’ initiative to circumvent waste. The initiative involves a paper-less check-out system, including all receipts, invoices and IHG Rewards Club points. As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability, voco has already used half a million plastic bottles for its bedding, and voco Kirkton Park alone has reduced its carbon emissions by 20 per cent, water usage by 13 per cent and has increased recycling by 26 per cent.

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney has announced its support toward Australian drought victims through many initiatives running through November and December. The hotel’s food and drink outlet, The Fax Bar will be donating $5 from every Great Northern beer sold to charity Drought Angels; and one per cent of every conference or events package or Christmas ornament sold will be donated to Drought Angels. Developed in 2014 by two Queensland women, Drought Angels helps deliver food hampers to farmers.

The former Quest Schaller Hotel Bendigo will rebrand to Mercure Bendigo Schaller following a deal that was struck by Accor. With 118 boutique style guestrooms spanning over four levels, Mercure Bendigo Schaller will cater to both business and leisure guests, offering 99 standard rooms, eight standard twin rooms, three standard access rooms and eight superior rooms, with a café/bar, a meeting room and a fitness centre. The hotel is slated to open next month.

More than 300 VIP guests, industry leaders and local celebrities celebrated the official opening of The Adnate and Hyde Perth Kitchen + Cocktails on Wednesday, November 13. The new venue is located on level one of The Adnate hotel, and is an ideal spot for laid-back cocktail functions. Guests at the opening included The Adnate namesake artist Matt Adnate, Accor apartment & leases senior vice president operations Mark Hodge and hotel developers George and Peter Atzemis.

Last Friday, Accor and the Lewis Land Group officially opened the new-build 78 room Mercure Hotel at The Fiddler at Rouse Hill. Designed by Architect Mostaghim & Associates, the hotel offers 78 rooms and is located just 45 minutes from Sydney International Airport. The hotel is situated in The Fiddler hotel precinct, an area which underwent a major redevelopment in 2010 and is now an outdoor venue for casual dining and events.

Between 2021 and 2024, three IHG hotels will open in New Caledonia, marking the company’s first foray into the country. The hotels will include the 50-room InterContinental® Lifou Wadra Bay Resort, which will feature lagoon-front suites and all-day dining; Holiday Inn® Resort Ouvéa, which will take over Hotel Paradis d’Ouvéa and offer 34 rooms; and Holiday Inn Resort Lifou, which will offer 30 rooms.

Last week, New South Wales’ minister for jobs, investment, tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres announced that global health and beauty corporation Amway has awarded the state hosting rights for three of its large-scale APAC gatherings. The events will see 6500 distributors flock to the city, and will include the Amway Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei Leadership Seminar in December 2020; the Amway Japan Leadership Achievement Seminar also in December 2020; and the Amway Korea Leadership Seminar in November 2021.

Fairmont Resort & Spa Blue Mountains, MGallery by Sofitel, was crowned Best Business Event Venue at the NSW Tourism Awards, which took place last week at the Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney. Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley took out the silver medal and Elements of Byron, Byron Bay was awarded bronze.