The largest hotel in Hobart all set to open its doors

It's boom time in Tasmania. 

Just a couple of weeks after the opening of new five-star waterfront hotel MACq01 by the Federal Group, Hobart is set to welcome its biggest hotel following the signing of an agreement between AccorHotels and Singapore developer, Fragrance Group. 

The $50 million new-build ibis Styles Hobart, located in a prime downtown position on Macquarie Street, is due to open in July. 

With a strong focus on design, Ibis Styles Hobart will boast a rooftop indoor heated lap pool, two saunas, a gymnasium and free wifi throughout. A number of upper-level rooms will have stunning views over the River Derwent. 

With 296-rooms spanning 10 floors, the hotel will be the largest in the Tasmanian capital city and will bring much needed affordable quality accommodation to the Tasmanian capital. 

There will be a ground-floor bar and restaurant, named Mr Good Guy, which will serve up Asian street food and quirky drinks. A meeting room is also available in the hotel and there is on-site car parking.

Plans are in place for the hotel to offer the Le Club AccorHotels and Accor Plus loyalty programs, as well as become accredited to AccorHotels’ optimum service standards program for Chinese guests ‘Hao Ke Ya Gao’ to maximise the potential of the Chinese inbound market.



The move comes as an about-face after Accor closed its Mercure and Grand Mercure properties in Hobart.

“We are thrilled to establish our presence in Hobart with a cutting-edge and vibrant hotel in ibis Styles Hobart, said Accor COO Simon McGrath.

"The hotel will add a new dimension to the local hotel sector offering world-class quality accommodation with animated food and beverage design while remaining an affordable option for travellers."

Fragrance Group CEO James Koh, ignoring the furore that his group's two future high-rise hotels have caused in Hobart, said: "We at Fragrance are excited to deliver the first of three hotels planned for Hobart. Ibis Styles Hobart will be a fresh addition to the already vibrant city and we look forward to providing bigger and better quality hotels for the ever-increasing number of visitors to Tasmania.”

Flying from Brisbane to Perth for $115 each way

I have never flown with Tiger Air Australia and am unable to recommend or criticise them; but if you are looking for a cheap way to get from Brisbane to Perth, or vice versa, they have launched one.

Tigerair has just started the only low-cost flights between Brisbane and Perth - one of Australia's longest domestic air travel routes.

The airline will operate a year-round base schedule of four weekly return services between Brisbane and Perth, increasing up to six times weekly during peak periods such as school holidays.

The inaugural service between the two destinations departs Brisbane Airport at 7pm and will arrive into Perth Airport at 10.45pm.

Tigerair Australia CEO Rob Sharp said the airline is confident the new services will prove popular with budget and leisure travellers, providing a welcome economic and tourism boost to Queensland and Western Australia.

“The new services between Brisbane and Perth will deliver over 80,000 additional seats through both airports annually," Sharp said. 

“At a total of 3606km in flying distance, Brisbane to Perth is one of the longest domestic air travel routes in Australia. Considering the distance of this journey, Tigerair is providing an extremely affordable option for travellers to travel from one side of the country to the other, with special launch day fares on sale today starting from just $115 each way.

“We thank Brisbane and Perth Airport and our tourism partners for supporting this new service. We look forward to continuing to work alongside them to ensure the sustained success of this route.”

Julieanne Alroe, Brisbane Airport Corporation CEO said Tigerair's network expansion is a keystone for BAC's continued growth as the most connected airport in Australia.

“With more and more international travellers choosing Brisbane as their preferred gateway into Australia, connectivity provided by domestic airlines such as Tigerair is an attractive advantage of arriving into BNE.

“It is also important for Brisbane Airport's growth that we have the right balance of full- service network carriers and low-cost operators, providing travellers with an abundance of choice - be it value for money or more premium options.

“Low-cost carriers, such as Tigerair are critical catalysts for travel and tourism growth across the nation and every new service Tigerair commits is a win for both travellers and businesses alike."

Special fares between Brisbane and Perth are on sale from $115 at www.tigerair.com.au until sold out and will then rise to $189 each way. 

Gordon River Cruises in Tasmania goes high-tech

Cruises on the Gordon River in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area are about to take a step up in quality with the addition of a new tour vessel to replace Lady Jane Franklin II.

RACT has announced that the Lady Jane Franklin II has delivered quality tourism experiences but there is a need for a new vessel (artist's impression below) to take the visitor experience to the next level.



It said that it has engaged Simon Currant, developer of the first two Gordon River Cruises vessels, to create an experience that will generate renewed interest in the iconic river experience and the West Coast as a tourism destination.

The vessel will be locally built by Richardson Devine Marine, Tasmanian entrepreneurs Hydrowood will supply responsibly sourced speciality timbers for the Upper Deck and Tasmanian culinary consultant David Quon has been engaged in crafting a food program around the freshest Tasmanian produce.

This vessel will be state-of-the-art in both design and environmental sustainability and will deliver the most environmentally sensitive river-cruising experience in a vessel of its size in Australia.

Smaller engines will burn less fuel, and the latest marine technology will deliver the most efficient and low-emission cruising experience available. It has been designed specifically  the Gordon River environment to reduce its impact on its surroundings.

terpretation of the Gordon River story will be delivered through enhanced storytelling, interpretation materials and appropriate use of the latest multi-language, multi-media communications technology.

Visitors will engage in a rich Tasmanian story, experiencing the cruise through floor-to-ceiling windows, automatically washed of salt for optimum viewing.

The vessel will feature a 180-degree rear-viewing seating area and larger outside viewing decks, including a 360-degree view rooftop deck for all passengers to take in the scenery.

No name yet, but I like the sound of Boaty McBoatface.

Get UnWINEd in the Riverina and enjoy Australia's festival of the sausage

Work is already underway in kitchens as Griffith prepares for the annual Festa dell Salsicce: the New South Wales city's festival of the sausage. 

The festival is now a component of unWINEd Riverina - a classic Italian-accented food and wine festival held over the June Long Weekend. 

Many of the locals will spend next Sunday with family and friends making salami. It's a tradition that kicks off by 6am and goes through to the late afternoon - but spice recipes are already being pored over a week out. 

While the work is taken seriously there’s a lot of laughs, food and red wine enjoyed. Many adult children make the pilgrimage back home especially for salami-making Sunday, sometimes with curious friends from the city areas in tow. 

Family recipes are closely guarded secrets and inspire fierce competition among locals. 

Meanwhile, at Griffith's cellar doors, the long weekend is all about putting on special events for wine lovers. 

Whether it be in Bill Calabria’s private cellar, a barrel room tasting at McWilliam’s, through to a chocolate and red wine tasting at Berton Vineyards visitors are guaranteed to eat and drink well. 

De Bortoli and Yarran will welcome guests to kick back and enjoy live music at their cellar doors, where they can enjoy a glass of wine and a warm plate of pasta while Leeton wineries, Lillypilly and Toorak Wines partner up and host a winemakers dinner at a renowned local restaurant. 

The festivities will also include the Fabulous Ladies Riverina Wine Gala Dinner, celebrating women from 11 regional wineries. 

For details and times of all events see: www.unwinedriverina.com

Enjoy a royal tea to mark the 20th anniversary of a death

Call it opportunistic, call it in terribly bad taste, but most of all call it an event which I have zero interest in attending. 

In probably the crassest press release I have received for years, I am informed: "the Gold Coast will be marking the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana’s passing with a grand event set to capture the very essence of style and manner fit for the Royals".

Yep, there is nowhere you associate more closely with the Royal Family than the Gold Coast. 

The star attraction at this event is Paul Burrell, former butler of the late Princess of Wales. 

He will host "an exclusive afternoon tea experience in August, within the luxurious surrounds of Palazzo Versace Gold Coast". 

Corporates, industry leaders, distinguished guests and anyone willing to fork out a pretty penny will "hear first-hand Mr Burrell's fascinating stories of working with the Royal Family, together with his expert advice on etiquette and entertaining – all the while experiencing an event truly showcasing Palazzo Versace Gold Coast’s world-class hospitality and culinary expertise."

Queensland event stylist, Alysia Bridger (Celebrations by Alysia) and Rachell Hansen (Emrajo Linen) have partnered with Palazzo Versace Gold Coast "to bring this unique afternoon to life, an event almost a year in the making".

Almost finished, I promise. 

The release says: "As the event name suggests, it’s about wanting guests to feel like royalty, and we will be gathering a team of event experts to create an opulent event experience like no other.” 

I hold absolutely no candle for the late Diana or the royals but this smacks of opportunism to me. even though proceeds from the event will be donated to Youngcare, a charity that supports young people with high care needs.

Should you want to feel like royalty for a few hours on August 9, tickets are available for $250-$550 at www.versaceroyaltea.iwannaticket.com.au. (There is, after all, nothing more royal than a company called iwannaticket). 

Celebrate World Cider Day on Saturday with $5 schooners

Willie Smith's Organic Cider is offering a special deal for cider lovers around the country. 

The Tasmanian cider producer is set to celebrate ‘World Cider Day’ on Saturday with $5 schooners of its traditionally made organic cider at selected venues across Australia. 

Based in the beautiful Huon Valley (just down the road from me), Willie Smiths is proud of its long apple-growing history and having been the first seller of organic traditionally made cider in Australia.

The Apple Shed, home of Willie Smith’s cider in the Huon Valley, is leading the charge this Saturday with $5 schooners in celebration of World Cider Day.

Willie Smith’s owner, Andrew Smith couldn’t be more thrilled with the way that Australians have embraced Tasmanian cider in recent years.

“We have long dreamt of the rejuvenation of Tasmania’s apple industry and its image as the Apple Isle.  I really believe that dream is coming to fruition and events like this give it the recognition it deserves.''

World Cider Day originated in Germany, where it is starting to warm up for their summer, and Willie Smith's has decided to join in as a perfect way to welcome winter and as a great lead up to Dark Mofo and its own Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival in July www.huonvalleymidwinterfestival.com.au.

Drinkers can join in the celebrations this Saturday by taking a photo of themselves using cider using the #worldciderday hashtag.

Cider enthusiasts can celebrate with a $5 schooners of Willie Smith’s all day at the following venues:

TAS:

• Willie Smith’s Apple Shed, Huon Valley
• The Whaler, Salamanca, Hobart
• Saint John Craft Beer, Launceston
• The Winston, North Hobart

VIC:

• Flying Duck Hotel, Prahran
• The Local Taphouse, St Kilda
• Brunswick Street Cider House, Fitzroy
• Pure South Dining, South Bank
• The Terminus Hotel, North Fitzroy
• Forester’s Pub & Dining, Collingwood

NSW:

• Fire Station Hotel, Newcastle
• Bitter Phew, Sydney
• Empire Hotel, Annandale
• The Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, Enmore

ACT:

• The Durham Castle Arms, Kingston

QLD:

• The Burrow, West End
• Bloodhound, Fortitude Valley
• Brewski, Caxton St, Brisbane
• The Mill on Constance, Fortitude Valley 

For details see www.williesmiths.com.au