Motto by Hilton hotel brand to make its Australian debut

Hilton has announced plans for the Australian debut of its Motto by Hilton lifestyle hotel brand.

“Motto by Hilton recently debuted in Asia Pacific with the opening of Motto by Hilton Hong Kong SoHo, and we’re excited to bring even more of Motto’s dynamic energy to vibrant neighbourhoods across the region," said Tal Shefer, senior vice president, brand management, Asia Pacific, for Hilton.

"With rooms that are designed to flex, and common spaces that are social by nature, Motto by Hilton Sydney City Centre [will be] a perfect example of a cleverly compact launchpad that will connect explorers with the pulse of the city.”

There are currently 10 Motto by Hilton properties in prime urban locations around the world, including New York and Nashville.

The Australian expansion is the latest announcement in a pipeline of 23 additional Motto by Hilton properties currently in planning and development.

Motto by Hilton Sydney City Centre will mark the debut of Hilton's seventh brand in Australia and will see an office building redeveloped. 

Located on York Street in Sydney CBD, Motto by Hilton Sydney City Centre will see guests close to The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, and within easy walking distance of Barangaroo.

It will be located between Wynyard and Town Hall stations.

“The location has been strategically selected in the heart of Sydney’s vibrant food scene, placing guests amongst some of the city’s most iconic experiences,” said Tushar Raniga, director, development, Hilton, Australasia.

“Motto by Hilton is redefining the city stay, bringing a fresh, dynamic approach to hospitality in some of the world’s most renowned destinations. The signing of the Sydney property marks the next step in this evolution, grounded in Hilton’s legacy of delivering exceptional guest experiences”

Set to open in late 2027, the property will feature 152 rooms, including 96 standard rooms, 14 bunk rooms, 14 flex rooms, eight accessible rooms and 20 suites.

“We are thrilled to partner with Hilton in bringing the Motto by Hilton concept to Sydney,” said Chayadi Karim, principal, Invictus Developments.

New arts trail brings creativity to the streets

Fans of street art will probably enjoy a new art trail that launched recently in northern New South Wales.

The Clarence Valley has unveiled its Public Art Trail, inviting visitors to wander through murals, sculptures and installations across the region.

Designed to let art lovers slow down, explore and connect with each town's story, the trail turns streets, laneways and public spaces into an open-air gallery.

The trail covers coastal hamlets Yamba and Iluka, river towns Maclean and Grafton, and the village of Glenreagh.

The artworks celebrate local culture, history and creativity at every turn. The trail is part of the Clarence Valley's Art, History & Culture Hub, which also includes the Art Gallery Trail, Museum Trail, Heritage Trails, and the Lower Clarence Aboriginal Tourist Drive.

The trails aim to let visitors "explore the stories, creativity and culture that bring the Valley to life".

The Clarence Valley region includes the coastal plain and lower valleys of the Clarence and Nymboida rivers.

Vinitaly is back for the 58th time

It used to be that Vinexpo in Bordeaux was the standout global wine trade fair. 

Now there are literally dozens of them; multiple Vinexpos, ProWein (on now), the London Wine Fair and, just recently, Wine Paris. 

One of the biggest major global showcase, Vinitaly, returns to the lovely city of Verona for its 58th edition from April 12-15, bringing together producers, buyers and professionals from the global wine and spirits industry. It attracts up to 150,000 annual visitors.

The four days will be dedicated to business, networking and market insights at the international reference event for Italian wine. There might also be some wine tasting. 

Highlights include several halls showcasing the best of Italian regional wines; masterclasses, guided tastings and seminars, networking opportunities and B2B meetings, and a NoLo - Vinitaly Experience. 

 After last year’s pilot project, the No/Low alcohol segment expands with a dedicated exhibition area. 

There will also be a new pavilion entirely dedicated to the world of spirits "designed to create a global connection between wine, spirits and mixology".

Wine tourism will also be showcased: Vinitaly Tourism returns with B2B meetings, conferences, producers, research and case studies dedicated to the development of wine tourism.

Also note Vinitaly and the City, the off-show event dedicated to wine enthusiasts from across Italy.

For more details see www.veronafiere.it

Fake labels: Do you know what you are drinking?

Do wine drinkers know what they are consuming? 

Some British wine consumers may have been fooled. 

 
Around 90 pallets of counterfeit wine and Prosecco worth £500,000 were discovered in warehouses across Essex in south-east England in a police operation earlier this month. 

A man was arrested for conspiracy to defraud following the police seizure of 67,000 bottles of counterfeit wine and Prosecco across warehouses in Essex and North London. 

Several police forces and trading authorities were involved in the attempt to stop the fake bottles from reaching consumers, trade news hub drinks business reported.. 

“Seizing over 67,000 bottles of counterfeit product and making an arrest sends a strong message to those who seek to profit from deceiving consumers - we will take action,” said Andrew Quinn, head of the National Food Crime Unit, in an official statement.

“Food [drink] fraud is not a victimless crime. It undermines legitimate businesses and erodes consumer trust. In this case, the concern is one of authenticity and quality - consumers deserve to know that what they are buying is exactly what it claims to be.”

Quinn further revealed on LinkedIn that the investigation had required “close collaboration with our Italian counterparts”. 

A spokesperson for the UK’s Food Standards Agency told db that the equivalent Italian agency were helping to “establish the traceability of the wine seized”.

Why visitors to Europe may need to be patient from April

Travelers heading to Europe from next month could face longer airport queues as the EU rolls out its new Entry/Exit System (EES) across Schengen airports.

The change comes into place on April 10 and replaces passport stamps with biometric registration for non-EU travellers, including Britons, Americans, Canadians and Australians.

While designed to modernise border controls, the early weeks of implementation could mean longer processing times at major hubs, particularly during peak Easter and spring break travel.

“While the scheme is designed to modernise border controls and tighten security, the early days of the rollout could bring delays, especially at busy hubs such as Paris (Charles de Gaulle, above), Rome, Barcelona and Amsterdam,” says Vykintas Maknickas, CEO at eSIM provider Saily.

From April 10, passport stamps will gradually disappear, first-time travellers under the new system will be required to register biometric data, airports may introduce new self-service kiosks and border checks could take longer during the transition period.

April marks the start of Europe’s high season for city breaks and long weekends. With more people travelling for Easter escapes and sunshine getaways, any added processing time at border control could quickly build up.

“Whenever a new airport system launches, there’s a natural adjustment period," Maknickas says.

"Spring is one of the busiest times for short haul travel into Europe.

"Travellers should allow extra time at arrival and be prepared for slightly slower border checks, particularly if it’s their first visit under the new system. When procedures change, small delays can create stress, especially in unfamiliar airports.”

Maknickas suggests allowing extra time for arrival, especially for tight connections, following airport signage carefully, as some terminals may introduce separate EES lanes and ensuring mobile connectivity on arrival to access boarding passes, transfer tickets and live travel updates.

New international hotel brand to launch in New York

A new international hotel brand - Wolseley Hotels - will launch in New York City in early 2027.

The Wolseley Hotel New York will mark the brand’s first hotel worldwide and establish New York as the flagship destination for The Wolseley Hotels, while also bringing one of London’s most celebrated dining institutions to an international stage.

Located steps from Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan, The Wolseley Hotel New York will also introduce The Wolseley restaurant and bar to the United States for the first time, bringing one of London’s most celebrated dining institutions to an international stage.

The hotel will occupy a landmark building at 130 West 44th Street, originally constructed in 1905 as the clubhouse for The Lambs Club, a social club for those involved in the arts. 

The property will aim to blend "British sophistication with New York’s cultural energy and architectural pedigree". 

The new hotel will have 76 guest rooms and suites and deliver "an effortless, contemporary luxury experience".

Complementing the restaurant will be an intimate cellar-level speakeasy bar. 

The New York flagship will see future properties planned for some of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East, owner Minor Hotels says. 

Each destination will be "carefully curated to uphold the brand’s distinctive identity, where culinary excellence, elegant design, and gracious service converge".

For more info see https://www.minorhotels.com/en/brands/the-wolseley-hotels.

* Minor Hotels is based in Bangkok, Thailand, and operates more than 550 hotels in over 55 countries under brands including Anantara Hotels & Resorts, Avani Hotels & Resorts, Elewana Collection, Oaks Hotels, NH Hotels, NH Collection, nhow Hotels, and Tivoli Hotels & Resorts.