Oaks offers 30% off two-day stays

 

Feel the need to get away for a few days?

Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites is running a deal this month across its full portfolio of properties with Up to 30% off Oaks Hotels stays.

So think solo days by the pool, golf trips with the crew, or a spontaneous long weekend to recharge.

The properties on offer include tropical tranquility at Oaks Port Douglas Resort, a wine-country escape at Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort in the Hunter Valley, or a chic city break at Oaks Melbourne on Collins Suites.

The offer: Save 30% when you book 2 nights at Oaks Hotels properties until February 23, including Oaks Casuarina Santai Resort and Oaks Lake Crackenback Resort.

Image: Oaks Gold Coast Calypso Suites.  

Minor Hotels makes major changes to its Oaks brand

Minor Hotels has announced a change of direction for its Oaks brand, which will shift away from serviced apartments to become a full-service hotel, resorts and suites.

An updated brand identity will be rolled out across existing properties and new acquisitions in Australia and New Zealand, including a refreshed food and beverage concept.

"The strategic shift will bring the full-service hotel and resorts experience to life, and will include mixed-use applications in property common areas," Minor Hotels announced.

Grab-and-go pantries stocked with travel essentials, local produce and branded merchandise will offer convenience while lobbies will serve barista-made coffee and freshly baked goods.

There will a focus on ‘family-style’ communal dining and a signature, gourmet lamington unique to each location.

Elevated bathroom amenities will feature a new signature scent of citrus, lavender, and eucalyptus.

The new brand identity will feature a new logo and colours palette, with vibrant yellow and signature Oaks stripe.

“The strategic repositioning of Oaks marks a pivotal step in elevating our position in the market," says Ian Di Tullio, Chief Commercial Officer, Minor Hotels, a master of corporate speak.

" With our revitalised service culture, and addition of lifestyle elements to contemporise our offer, we’re creating a more resonant brand experience for today’s travellers. In a sector that has remained largely undifferentiated, the transformation repositions Oaks for global growth, further strengthening confidence amongst our investors and developers.”

Dillip Rajakarier, Group CEO of Minor International, added: “This repositioning marks a significant step in the continued evolution of a brand that has earned its place in the hearts of travellers for more than 33 years.

"As we build on that legacy, we’re focused on creating meaningful, experience-led travel destinations meeting the needs of both our corporate and leisure guests. With over 55 Oaks properties and growing, this transformation reflects our long-term vision for sustainable growth and reinforces our commitment to delivering world-class hospitality.”

See oakshotels.com for more info.

New look for Melbourne CBD property

The Melbourne hotel space is one of the most competitive anywhere, with guests demanding both location and up-to-date facilities.

Oaks Melbourne on Collins Suites, a premier property in the heart of Melbourne, has just finished a complete refurbishment of its CBD location.

The hotel has updated the interiors of its 230 guest rooms, giving each room a fresh and contemporary feel.

Each guest room has a new look, including a refreshed colour palette, new flooring and enhanced amenities, and all hotel furnishings received an upgrade.

"We are thrilled to unveil the results of our hotel’s refurbishment," said GM Ivan Sunsanj.

"We always strive to exceed our guests’ expectations, whether [they are] visiting for business, leisure, or to celebrate a special occasion, we believe our renewed, stylish guest rooms will make Oaks Melbourne on Collins Suites the preferred choice for all types of travellers.”

Situated at 480 Collins Street, the hotel is well situated for exploring the city's attractions, dining options, and cultural experiences.

Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites is a member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands and utilises GHA DISCOVERY, the world’s largest loyalty programme for independent hotel brands.

See www.Oakshotels.com 

Value will be a key driver for hotel guests in 2024

Hotel guests will see getting value for money as one of their primary travel drivers for 2024, an industry insider predicts.

Extending work stays with play, and re-creating the comforts of home in-room, will also be major trends as rising living costs may take high-end or extended travel off the agenda for many, says Craig Hooley, Chief Operating Officer of Minor Hotels.

Hooley, whose responsibilities include Oaks Hotels, Resorts and Suites says that as a nation of committed travellers, the brand is noticing many Australians would rather adapt their travel plans than give them up altogether.

Savvy operators will tap into this mindset and adapt to guests’ changing travel preferences, not just by offering deals, but by incorporating added value through partnerships with aligned brands, offering accommodation options for larger groups who can share costs, or encouraging leisure stays to be added onto work trips to save on flight costs, says Hooley.

“Simple things such as a weekend staycation in your own city, a road trip to a regional destination, or a coastal escape with family and friends are the key ingredients to a happy getaway, which is all about taking a break from the rigamarole of everyday life - and feeling like you’re getting great value for money," he says.

"That is something Oaks delivers with our spacious accommodation, value-add partnerships with familiar brands such as Foxtel, Menulog and The Coffee Club, and in-room kitchens, laundry facilities, and living spaces.”

While locals are still keen to get away despite the rising cost of living, value for money is influencing the way we travel, with guests carefully weighing up location, seasonal deals, loyalty program benefits and additional value-add items, such as in-room kitchens to save on the cost of eating out, in-room streaming rather than pay-per-view movies, and quality in-room coffee to avoid the pricey morning café run.

With hybrid working increasingly entrenched, travellers are adding extra days to work trips to save on purchasing airfares or are choosing to work from a holiday destination then explore after hours or on the weekend.

Again, while the bleisure concept isn’t a new one, it’s gaining traction with the skyrocketing work-from-home culture.

Hotel guests can hydrate to help the homeless

With homelessness becoming a major problem in Australia, one hotel group has moved to help the situation.

Guests staying at Oaks Hotels, Resorts and Suites can now "hydrate for humanity" by purchasing Mount Franklin water during their stay, with a dollar from the sale of each bottle donated to Habitat for Humanity Australia and Habitat for Humanity New Zealand as part of the Oaks Giving Tree program.

Each bottle features branded neck tags, with all funds raised supporting Habitat for Humanity’s vital work building homes for the disadvantaged.

“Our Hydrate for Humanity activity with Mount Franklin and Habitat for Humanity further elevates our work as part of the Oaks Giving Tree Program, in providing support to low-income families facing adverse circumstances.” said Craig Hooley, chief operating officer for Minor Hotels Australia and New Zealand.

The neck tagged Mount Franklin water bottles are now available at every Oaks property throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Habitat for Humanity Australia and Habitat for Humanity New Zealand are key charity partner of Oaks Hotels. 

The organisation works with vulnerable people in communities to provide them a safe, secure place to call home - including those impacted by natural disasters, people with disabilities and their carers, indigenous Australians and those fleeing family violence.

Another layer of Oaks Hotels’ partnership with Habitat for Humanity the opportunity for Oaks Hotels’ employees to volunteer with renovations, landscaping, gardening, and minor repairs on Habitat for Humanity building sites.

See www.oakshotels.com

How holidays can help boost our overall happiness

Travellers will be looking trips and destinations that aid their happiness in 2023, one expert predicts.

And that pursuit of happiness will be even more important in tough economic times that lay ahead.

I'm not sure how seriously you can take comments from someone who calls themselves "Dr Happy" - but here we go.

Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites’ Resident Happiness Expert, Dr Tim Sharp (aka Dr Happy) has shared his reasons why the search for happiness will be a key travel trend in 2023.

While many people may think that rising living costs will take travel off the agenda, founder of The Happiness Institute, Dr Sharp (aka Dr Happy, below), says there’s no need for travel to be extensive for it to have a positive impact on our physical and mental wellbeing.

Rather than Ferraris, Fendi and fine dining, the reason travel is such a significant contributor to our happiness is simpler things, such as ‘taking time out from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, creating opportunities to try new things, and sharing experiences and making connections with friends and family.

"Research has shown that travel taps into some of the key principles of happiness because it’s intrinsically linked to embracing new experiences and breaking out of our usual routines, Dr Sharp says (sorry, I just can't call him Dr Happy).

"Trying new things gives us the good feels and creates opportunities to learn and gain confidence, which in turn reduces stress and boosts our mood and satisfaction levels – contributing to that overall happy feeling.

"There is no doubt experiences trump material possessions every time, and the more frequently we’re able to get away, the happier we are.

“Even the initial step of researching and booking time away creates the joy of anticipation, with an incredible 97% of people confirming they feel happier when they have a trip to look forward to, and 71% of people saying they feel energised when they have travel coming up within six months."

Minor Hotels’ Head of Commercial for Australia and New Zealand, John Thompson, says the company’s new brand platform Happy Folks Choose Oaks centres around the same philosophy, that simple things such as a weekend staycation in your own city, a road trip to a regional destination, or a coastal getaway with family and friends were central to happy stays for the company’s guests.

Thompson says there is a definite trend towards extended long weekends, with travellers increasingly booking stays from Friday through to Monday instead of the conventional Friday/Saturday weekend getaways of old.

This is due to the flexibility of remote and hybrid working - and a growing intolerance for hectic airports (Friday night, Sunday night, Monday morning) and peak-hour traffic.

Following experiences with airport chaos, lost baggage, cancellations and soaring prices, Australians are also swapping airline cabins for the car and taking more self-drive holidays, Thompson says.

Visit the Oaks Hotels website for more info and the chance to win a holiday as The Happiest Person.






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