Farewell to the Eurail pass; hello Interrail

Imagine building a globally recognised travel brand with 60 years of history.

And then deciding to change the name of that brand.

It is either incredibly brave, or very foolhardy.

Generations of travellers from around the world grew up using the Eurail Pass, first introduced in 1959. It has been known over the years as Europass or Eurorail. It is a pass sold to non Europeans, which allows travel on nearly all rail tracks in 33 European countries.

As of now, however, the brand will be known as Interrail, bringing European and international travellers under one brand.

While the Eurail name will disappear, the core product remains unchanged, with travellers continuing to access flexible rail travel across multiple European countries using a single pass that can be used for a set number of days within a defined time period.

The company told media that the unified Interrail identity better reflects its vision for the future of European rail travel and recognises that the experience of exploring the continent by train is universal, regardless of where travellers come from.

Interrail chief brand and commercial officer Ozlem Birkalan said the change was about more than adopting a new name.

"This is much more than a new name. Interrail represents a renewed vision for European travel that reflects how people increasingly want to explore today - more thoughtfully, more flexibly, and with greater curiosity,” Birkalan said.

Travel agents in Australia can purchase Interrail Passes through Rail Europe, International Rail, Klook and other Interrail distributors.

See https://www.interrail.com/

Farewell Manly Pacific, hello Elysium Manly

Elysium Manly is now open, marking the arrival in Sydney of Australian luxury hotel brand Elysium Hotels.

Formerly known as Manly Pacific, the 213-room beachfront hotel has transitioned to Elysium Manly, joining Elysium Noosa as the brand's second Australian property. 

The re-branding to Elysium follows a $40 million investment in the property, including a $30 million

refurbishment of rooms and suites by Coco Republic. 

Elysium aims to bring its "distinct expression of contemporary luxury" to one of Sydney's most iconic beachside destinations.

The hotel's new persona brings together "contemporary design, destination dining, intuitive service and integrated wellbeing", with new experiences introduced as part of the Elysium offering. 

Elysium Manly general manager Dylan Cole said the official transition marked the

culmination of several years of investment in the property, while introducing a new level of

service and experience not previously available at the hotel:

"Elysium is about looking at every part of the guest experience and asking what more we can

give, from the way we welcome people and anticipate what they might need, to the quality of the

amenities in their room and the details they encounter throughout their stay," he said. 

"We have an extraordinary location in Manly and the ambition is to create a hotel experience that genuinely lives up to it.

“There is a generosity to Elysium that goes beyond the physical hotel. 

"It’s the freedom to have breakfast brought to your suite after a sauna, knowing your favourite bottle is waiting in the wine fridge, having your dining reservations taken care of, or simply being recognised and looked after by someone who understands how you want to spend your time with us.”

Six ocean-view Wellness Suites feature private infra-red barrel saunas alongside wellness amenities and rituals, while Coastal Two-Bedroom Suites offer "generous living spaces and residential-style comfort".

The pinnacle Elysium Suite offers an elevated stay with an expansive terrace and infra-read sauna overlooking Manly Beach.

Guests can enjoy the rooftop magnesium mineral pool with Pacific Ocean views and dining across hatted Italian restaurant Cibaria, 55 North and Bistro Manly - all just an exhilarating  ferry ride away from Sydney's CBD.

See elysiumhotels.com

Hobart's newest rooms with a view

Looking for a room with a view on the Hobart waterfront?

The former Somerset on the Pier has reopened as Citadines Elizabeth Street Pier following an expansion from 56 to 98 studios.

Set directly over Hobart’s waterfront on the pier, the refreshed property pairs contemporary studios and private balconies with harbour views and distinctly local touches - including a daily Sip & Savour hour, local experiences and a 1800-Martini service delivering cocktails straight to guests’ rooms, Tourism Tasmania reports.

The property boasts it is "steps from anywhere". My invite to the opening unfortunately failed to arrive. 

But those attractions on the doorstep include Salamanca Market, the MONA Ferry terminal, Constitution Dock’s dining precinct, the Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery, and the downtown shopping hub.



The blurb from owners Ascott promises modern studios and spacious guest rooms, all with balconies overlooking the water.

"Whether you’re here for culture, cuisine or adventure, Citadines Elizabeth Street Pier Hobart offers the perfect base to explore the city’s historic waterfront and the beauty of Tasmania," the website says.

For more info: https://www.discoverasr.com/en/citadines/australia/citadines-elizabeth-street-pier-hobart

Fast-expanding brand has an ardour for hospitality

Get familiar with the Ardour hotel brand - it's a name that's getting plenty of traction. 

Salter Brothers Hospitality, the luxury retreat hotel operator, today announced that two more well-known destinations will join its Ardour Hotels & Estates collection in 2026. 

Spicers Guesthouse in the Hunter Valley (above) and Kingsford The Barossa in South Australia will both be re-branding under the Ardour banner. 

Spicers Guesthouse, known for its wine tourism and epicurean experiences will become Ardour Guesthouse Hunter Valley, while Kingsford The Barossa, an award-winning heritage estate, will become Ardour Kingsford Barossa.

Ardour Hotels & Estates debuts with two of Australia’s best-known rural heritage estates, Ardour Milton Park Bowral and Ardour Lilianfels Blue Mountains, with both revealing multi-million-dollar renovations. 

“Ardour is about elevating Australia’s most extraordinary places into destinations of global calibre,” says Tash Tobias, CEO of Salter Brothers Hospitality, 

“We’re not simply creating hotels, we’re shaping experiences that celebrate the beauty, culture and authenticity of each region.”

So the bar is being set high. 

Signature rituals will include Ardour Hour, a daily celebration of connection in spectacular surroundings, and curated wine experiences developed with leading regional producers. 

Ardour Milton Park Bowral will be open for stays from next month (opening Monday, February 2) with Ardour Lilianfels Blue Mountains and the two newly announced destinations following later in the year. 

At Ardour Milton Park Bowral, the hotel’s reopening introduces its signature dining destinations; Horderns and The Polo Bar, with The Polo Bar’s dedicated charcuterie room to open soon after.

The culinary offering at Ardour Milton Park Bowral is led by executive chef Mark Holland, whose pan-European approach underpins the dining experience at Horderns.

“We’ve created a menu for Ardour Milton Park Bowral that feels at home in the Southern Highlands," says Holland.

"It’s refined but relaxed, guided by flavour, season and a deep respect for the ingredients rather than passing trends.

"One dish I’m especially excited to cook for guests is our steamed rainbow trout with a classic beurre blanc. It’s simple, precise and lets the quality of the fish speak, which really sums up how we want to cook here."

To learn more see: https://www.worldsapart.club/ardour

Accor adds four Elanor hotels to its Australian portfolio

Four high-profile Elanor Investors Group hotels in Australia are to be re-branded to Accor properties next month. 

Byron Bay Hotel and Apartments will re-brand to The Sebel Byron Bay, Barossa Weintal will re-brand to Mercure Barossa Valley, Clare Country Club will re-brand to Peppers Clare Valley and Adabco Boutique Hotel Adelaide (above) will re-brand to Mantra Wakefield Adelaide. 

The brand conversions "will enable each hotel to benefit from Accor's powerful global distribution, award-winning loyalty platform ALL Accor, and deep regional expertise".

The rebranding of Peppers Clare Valley and Mantra Wakefield Adelaide will follow the completion of planned refurbs. 

The Sebel Byron Bay marks Accor's return to Byron Bay. 

The switches are being delivered in collaboration with 1834 Hotels, which manages the assets of the fund and will oversee day-to-day operations. 

Adrian Williams, Chief Operating Officer of Accor in the Pacific region, said: “We're thrilled to welcome these outstanding hotels and resorts into the Accor network and to deepen our long-standing partnership with both Elanor and 1834 Hotels.

"These hotels are well positioned in key regional and leisure destinations and we are confident they will see immediate benefit from our scale, systems and support. By joining our franchise network, each hotel gains access to Accor's global distribution system and award-winning loyalty programme - ALL Accor. We take a sophisticated and hands-on approach to franchising, working closely with our partners to provide the tools, insights and local support they need to succeed.”

All change as major Australian hotels re-brand

Some of Australia's top hotels are to get new identities with a raft of changes being unveiled by global giant IHG Hotels and Resorts and its local partners from Salter Brothers.

New brandings revealed by the partners will see the Regent Hotels & Resorts brand return to Melbourne after 28 years and three properties to be re-badged as InterContinental properties. 

IHG and Salter Brothers will also launch a brand new hotel: Hotel Indigo Canberra

The new Regent Melbourne (above) will see the Rialto-located hotel transformation from InterContinental Melbourne in 2030.

IHG's luxury and lifestyle expansion also sees three of its popular and successful properties joining the InterContinental brand portfolio. 

Crowne Plaza Sydney Coogee Beach will become InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach; Crowne Plaza Melbourne will become InterContinental Melbourne and the Crowne Plaza Canberra will be redeveloped into the new InterContinental Canberra. 

A second hotel will also be developed on this site, to bring Hotel Indigo to Canberra.

At the same time, voco Gold Coast, which was the first voco hotel to open globally and another IHG/Salter Brothers collaboration, will undergo a refurbishment and expansion of its leisure facilities.

Matt Tripolone, IHG Hotels and Resorts managing director for Australasia Pacific, said: “We are delighted to announce an extended long-term agreement with Salter Brothers, which further strengthens our existing, highly successful relationship. 

"This partnership accelerates IHG's Luxury & Lifestyle growth in Australia and enables Salter Brothers to reposition key assets and unlock long-term value in this space.

“We're thrilled to be bringing our Regent Hotels & Resorts brand back to Australia after an absence of 28 years, with Regent Melbourne on track to welcome guests in 2030. 

"With three InterContinental properties also on the horizon, and a new hotel, Hotel Indigo Canberra, in our sights, we're delighted to have cemented our leading Luxury & Lifestyle position in the country.

“Overall, this agreement underscores the strength and evolving nature of Australia's hotel market and highlights the growing trend for conversions in our industry as guests increasingly seek immersive Luxury & Lifestyle experiences across the country."

Paul Salter, managing director of Salter Brothers, added: “We have a strong history with IHG spanning more than a decade, and are fully committed to our partnership which continues to drive growth for our assets. This new agreement represents over $1bn investment in the Luxury & Lifestyle segment and highlights our conviction in providing distinctive lifestyle experiences for travellers globally, with an emphasis on timeless style, culinary mastery and wellness facilities for guests."

Crowne Plaza Sydney Coogee Beach is currently closed for an extensive re-imagining to InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach, opening in late 2025. 

IHG Hotels & Resorts has 76 hotels in Australasia operating under nine brands: Six Senses, InterContinental, Kimpton, Vignette Collection, Hotel Indigo, voco, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express, with another 26 properties in its development pipeline.

Farewell to Vintage Cellars and First Choice

Do you buy your wine at Vintage Cellars, or First Choice stores?

Not for much longer, apparently.

Owner Coles is launching a broadside at its Woolworths-owned rivals Dan Murphy’s and BWS by rebranding its Vintage Cellars and First Choice liquor stores as Liquorland outlets.

The first step of the re-branding will see nine stores across Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia switch in November, with Vintage Cellars to be known as Liquorland Cellars, and First Choice Liquor Market becoming Liquorland Warehouse.

Coles’ head of liquor Michael Courtney said the move was sparked by internal research that found Liquorland is the most memorable brand under the Coles umbrella, Mumbrella reports.

“This is an exciting next step for Liquorland which over the last four years has undergone an extensive transformation that has clearly resonated with our customers,” Courtney said.

“We want our other banners to benefit from its strong brand awareness and large store network.”

Hulsbosch, an independently owned strategic branding and design agency, is behind the brand strategy, positioning, logo, visual identity, signage system and brand guidelines for Liquorland.

“Our focus remains on providing our customers with great value,” Courtney said, 

“And we’re confident that by bringing together the best elements of Liquorland, First Choice Liquor Market and Vintage Cellars, we will be able to provide our customers with competitive offers on the drinks they love most.” 

Time to say farewell to the P&O Cruises Australia brand

P&O Cruises Australia, a leading cruise brand for 90 years, will soon be no more. 

What is described as "strategic brand realignment" by parent company Carnival Corporation will see the end of P&O Cruises Australia brand in March next year with P&O's operations to now happen under the Carnival Cruise Line brand. 

Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure will be re-branded as Carnival Cruise Line ships, with Pacific Explorer to exit the fleet. 

Names for the two re-branded ships are yet to be revealed but both will operate alongside Carnival Splendor - which sails year-round from Sydney - and Carnival Luminosa, which will remain as a seasonal operation from Brisbane.

The change is the latest in a series of strategic moves designed to increase guest capacity for Carnival Cruise Line, the company's flagship brand and the highest-returning brand in Carnival Corporation's global portfolio, Carnival said in a press statement. 

"Despite increasing Carnival Cruise Line's capacity by almost 25% since 2019, including transferring three ships from Costa Cruises, guest demand remains incredibly strong so we're leveraging our scale in an even more meaningful way by absorbing an entire brand into the world's most popular cruise line," said Josh Weinstein, chief executive officer of Carnival Corporation & plc. 

"P&O Cruises Australia is a storied brand with an amazing team, and we are extremely proud of everything we have accomplished together in Australia and the broader region. 

"However, given the strategic reality of the South Pacific's small population and significantly higher operating and regulatory costs, we're adjusting our approach to give us the efficiencies we need to continue delivering an incredible cruise experience year-round to our guests in the region. 

"Carnival Corporation & plc remains committed to Australia and we will continue to be the largest cruise operator in the region."

Current itineraries will operate business as usual, and guests will be notified shortly of any changes to future bookings as a result of this announcement.

# Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest global cruise company with a portfolio including AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (Australia), P&O Cruises (UK), Princess Cruises, and Seabourn.

The move does not impact P&O Cruises UK in any way.

Farewell Tank Stream Hotel; Hello Rydges

The Tank Stream Hotel enjoys one of Sydney's most central locations but its name will soon vanish off the map.

The hotel will transition to being Rydges Australia Square in 2024.

Boon Lee Tan, CEO of owners IGB Berhad, said that following an extensive review, EVT Hotels and Resorts is the new operator.

Initially placed as part of the Independent Collection by EVT, the property will undergo a staged refurbishment over the next nine months to minimise guest disruption and will be re-branded as Rydges Australia Square in mid-2024.

Located in the heart of the Sydney CBD, directly adjacent to Australia Square and just minutes from the Sydney Opera House, the hotel refurbishment will include guest rooms, ground floor and level one, as well as food and beverage areas.

Norman Arundel, director of hotels and resorts for EVT, said: “We are thrilled to be undertaking an exciting new partnership with IGB Berhad.

"The Tank Stream is currently the perfectly positioned Sydney CBD hotel, and when the refurbishment is complete the property will be a great addition to the Rydges portfolio of hotels and resorts. The Rydges brand continues to expand with this property becoming the 45th in the portfolio across Australia and New Zealand."

See www.rydges.com