Hotel room designs get an F grade

Who designs hotel rooms?

It often feels like they have never stayed in a hotel themselves.

The last couple of hotels I’ve stayed in have had prime examples of design idiocy.

Like many folk nowadays I need easy access to a couple of power points next to the bed. 

I have a sleep apnoea machine and electronic gadgets that need charging.

In this day and age I do not expect to have to move a bedside table and dive under the bed to access them.

And what about walk-in showers? I’ve encountered a couple recently that are slippery as heck and require you to use both hands to use one of those odious “dispenser” pump packs with their often piss poor amenities. Give me a bar of soap. 

And how about providing a handle in the shower with which to avoid tumbling over, or, heaven forbid, a slip-free surface?

I could throw in impossible-to-understand lighting systems, see-in bathrooms, and shower controls that require an engineering degree just to get a comfortable water temperature and pressure.

But I’ll end with this week’s annoyance when I made the mistake of wanting a mid-evening snack.

The in-room mini bar was “on request” so I trekked down to reception, where I was charged $6.50 for the pleasure of selecting a tiny Snickers bar from a cardboard box that was thrust at me.

I can buy that same bar for $1.25 at my local supermarket.

C’mon hoteliers. Do better.

Meet a wine event designed for furry friends to enjoy

Fancy a weekend away with a furry friend or two ?

Following a sell-out inaugural event in 2025, Coonawarra’s Woof & Wine Walk is returning for 2026 - this time with an expanded weekend of wine, walkies and dog-friendly experiences.

Put the weekend of November 14-15 in your diary.

This year’s event will once again take guests and their four-legged companions along the Coonawarra Wineries Walking Trail, visiting six cellar doors (Brand’s Laira, DiGiorgio Family Wines, Ottelia, Redman Wines, Wynns Coonawarra and Zema Estate), with more competitions, an expanded prize pool and a finale at DiGiorgio Family Wines.

New for 2026 is Downward Dog Pup Yoga at Rymill Coonawarra on Sunday morning, encouraging visitors from Adelaide and Melbourne to bring their dogs, stay overnight and make a weekend of their visit to Coonawarra and the Limestone Coast.

The main event, the Woof & Wine Walk, returns on Saturday, November 14, from 10.30am-4pm, taking participants on a relaxed, self-paced trail between six of Coonawarra’s leading wineries.

Along the way, guests can enjoy premium Coonawarra wines, regional food and a collection of experiences created especially for dogs and their humans - from puppuccinos and puppy pedicures to paw-sonalised wine labels, dog treats, market stalls and plenty of opportunities to stop, sip and enjoy the scenery.

“People are looking for different ways to experience wine regions, with wellness, the outdoors and fun becoming an increasingly important part of the experience,” said event co-organiser Dan Redman.

“We want to create wine events that feel relaxed and approachable, attract new people to Coonawarra and give them another reason to spend a weekend in the region.”

Competitions will include the Best-Dressed Dog Contest, Canine Mini-Me Look-Alike Contest and Best Dog Trick.

The day will start and finish at DiGiorgio Family Wines, where participants collect their pup pack, tasting glass and walking map before setting off along the trail.

Guests are encouraged to return to DiGiorgio Family Wines for the 3.30pm grand finale and prize presentations. 

For those wanting to make a weekend of their visit, the fun continues on Sunday 15 November with a new Downward Dog Pup Yoga experience at Rymill Coonawarra.

Running from 9.30am-11am, the gentle one-hour yoga session is suitable for all abilities and welcomes participants to bring their dogs along.

The $45 ticket includes the yoga class, a cheese and tomato croissant, glass of Rymill NV Sparkling, tea and coffee, and homemade dog treats for the guest of honour.

“We really want to encourage people from Adelaide and Melbourne to make a weekend of Woof & Wine this year,” said event co-organiser Sally McDonald, from Zema Estate.

“Coonawarra and the Limestone Coast have so much to offer visitors travelling with dogs. With the walk on Saturday, Pup Yoga on Sunday and a growing range of dog-friendly accommodation nearby, it’s a great excuse to gather some friends, bring the dogs and spend the weekend in the region.”

Organisers have also compiled a guide to dog-friendly accommodation throughout Coonawarra, Penola and the surrounding Limestone Coast, encouraging visitors to book early and turn their Woof & Wine visit into a regional getaway.

Global tourism proves resilient

International tourism grew modestly in the first half of 2026, with global arrivals up by 0.4% even as insecurity in the Middle East, elevated oil prices, and broader inflationary pressures tested the sector's resilience.

The latest World Tourism Barometer from UN Tourism showed an estimated 690 million tourists travelled internationally between January and June 2026, some 3 million more than the same period last year. 

While global arrivals increased by 2% in Q1 2026, they then dropped by 1% in Q2, following a 3% decline in April. That drop was largely due to the calendar effect of the Easter holiday period starting in March and because of the impacts of the Middle East conflict.

Globally, arrivals then dropped 3% in June. That was driven by a 6% decline in Western Europe, partly due to a heatwave in some destinations.

South-East Asia recorded 5% fewer arrivals in June as a result of weaker demand from Asian markets, geopolitical tensions, air travel disruptions through the Middle East, and increased travel costs.

Some destinations in Oceania (-6% in June) were also impacted by Typhoon Sinlaku in Q2.

UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nuwais said: "The latest data shows a sector absorbing real pressure and finding a way forward. Tourism has not stopped growing, but that growth is fragile. The Middle East situation has touched destinations far beyond the region itself and serves as a clear reminder that, in such a connected world, resilience needs to be built everywhere and not just when a crisis begins."

The World Tourism Barometer breaks down performance by region and sub-region. The data shows:In the first half of 2026, Africa (+4%) and Europe (+3%) recorded solid growth in arrivals, while the Americas saw a 2% increase, with mixed results across sub-regions.

Arrivals in Asia and the Pacific grew by 1% over this six-month period but remained 11% below 2019 levels as disruptions to air connectivity, higher air fares, and uncertainty affected intra-regional demand.

The Middle East saw a 22% drop over this period, as it was directly impacted by Iraeli and Iranian aggression. 

Although the conflict has negatively affected international tourism in the Middle East and other regions since early March 2026, disruptions to air traffic gradually eased in May and June following the announcement of a ceasefire. 

That resulted in the reopening of some air routes and led to an uneven rebound in consumer sentiment.

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Reimagined Novotel St Kilda starts a new chapter

St Kilda has a new showpiece hotel with the opening this week by hotel owner and hospitality group ERDI of Novotel St Kilda. 

The deal extended a growing partnership with global hospitality group Accor and marks a new chapter for the landmark Fitzroy Street property, which has previously been known as the Saint Kilda Beach Hotel and Rydges St Kilda..

ERDI has played a key role in the development of Novotel St Kilda as part of the broader St Kilda Collective, a partnership between Fortis, ERDI and Ondas, supported by the City of Port Phillip. 

Novotel St Kilda joins ERDI's growing portfolio, which includes Pullman Melbourne City Centre, Novotel Geelong and Mercure Melbourne City Centre.

“This is a significant moment for ERDI and the beginning of an exciting new chapter for this landmark St Kilda property,” said Ricky Jeffs, CEO and executive director of ERDI. 

“This transformation represents a significant investment in both the hotel and the future of this iconic location, and it builds on the successful partnership we have developed across our broader hotel portfolio with Accor.

“Our vision has been to completely reimagine the hotel and create an experience that feels connected to the character, energy and lifestyle of St Kilda. From the redesign of the guestrooms and public spaces through to the new restaurant and expanded events offering.” 

The hotel complex also features the launch of Urban Kitchen & Bar, a stand-alone all-day dining venue. 

“Reopening a property in a destination as iconic as St Kilda is a fantastic opportunity,” said Christos Pavlidis, general manager of Novotel St Kilda. “With the strength of the Accor brand and the vision and support of ERDI behind us, we have a great opportunity to create something really special.”

Novotel St Kilda features 80 completely redesigned rooms and suites. Rooms include 75-inch televisions with Foxtel, Nespresso machines, local minibar products and bathtubs in select rooms, alongside 24-hour reception, self-check-in, secure parking and a light-filled internal garden atrium.

Novotel St Kilda is offering 25% off bookings, starting from just $224 a night with bookings available via novotel.com. 

No snow, but Whistler has wine, art and movies on offer

Whistler in Canada is known as one of the world's most popular skiing and snowboarding destinations.

But Whistler is also a year-round tourism hotbed, even when it is not snow season.

Wine lovers and film buffs are among those catered for over coming months, the hard-working folk at Tourism Whistler inform me.

The Whistler Wine Walk, popular with wine lovers, returns on October 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30.

That is every Friday in October, inviting guests to explore Whistler’s vibrant gallery scene while sampling wines from across British Columbia - and they are very good.

New for 2026, the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) joins the participating venues for one night only on October 9, bringing an Indigenous cultural experience and exclusively featuring wines from Kismet Estate Winery and indigenous-owned Nk’Mip Cellars.

Other featured wineries throughout the month include Fort Berens Estate Winery, Lightning Rock Winery and 8th Generation Vineyard.

October also brings a double dose of outdoor film and mountain culture to Whistler.

The Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival (VIMFF) World Tour comes to Arts Whistler for two evenings on October 8 and 16, showcasing films celebrating outdoor adventure and mountain culture.

Later in the month, iF3 Whistler brings four days of ski and snowboard films and culture to the resort from October 21–24, culminating in the iF3 Movie Awards and building excitement for the winter ahead.

* Whistler is scheduled to open for the 2026-27 ski season on November 20, 2026, pending snow conditions.

Air New Zealand boosts summer flights to and from Tasmania

Air links between Tasmania and New Zealand are set to grow over the 2026-27 summer season.

Air New Zealand’s direct flights between Auckland and Hobart are to return with increased capacity, additional flights and an extended operating season.

More than 35,000 seats will be available during the 2026-27 season - a 28% increase year-on-year and a record for the route.

Growing international access is a key priority for Tourism Tasmania, and services like this play an important role in supporting the long-term growth of our visitor economy and strengthening Tasmania's connection to global markets, GM Sarah Kingston Clark said.

"The direct route across the Tasman is not only important for our key New Zealand market, it also opens up access from our largest international market of USA, providing a one-stop connection for major US cities.

"With flights resuming on October 25, it's a strong vote of confidence in Tasmania's growing international appeal and the experiences that continue to draw visitors from near and far." 

Hobart Airport said this will be the sixth season of Auckland-Hobart flights.

The seasonal service will operate three times a week for most of the season, with the airline adding a fourth flight per week for the peak period between February 27 and March 28. 

Hobart Airport Chief Executive Officer Norris Carter said strong demand for the ongoing seasonal service had enabled Hobart Airport and Air New Zealand, in partnership with the Tasmanian Government through the Aviation Attraction Fund, to secure the extended season and increased capacity planned for the next three years.

“This is a great result for Tasmanians and reflects the strong demand we’re seeing for direct travel between Tasmania and New Zealand,” Carter said.

“The service will now run from October 25 through to the end of April, which is great for Easter and will also capture more school holiday traffic."