Marriott to launch new apartment brand in Australia

Marriott is well known for its many hotel brands but now it is preparing to launch a new brand of executive apartments in Australia. 

Marriott International today announced it has signed an agreement with Sunnyland Investment Group to bring the first Marriott Executive Apartments to Australia. 

Located in St Kilda Rd, Melbourne, the planned 180-key all-suite property will be part of a mixed-use development comprising approximately 244 fully residential apartments with premium amenities and services. 

The $170 million project's construction is due to commence in 2024 and is expected to be completed by mid 2026.

“We are thrilled to work with Sunnyland Investment Group to bring Marriott Executive Apartments to Australia," said Richard Crawford, vice president for Hotel Development, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific for Marriott International.

"This property which will provide an elevated accommodation experience for business and leisure travellers looking for an extended stay with all the comforts they expect from Marriott International.”

Sean Hunt, area vice president, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific for Marriott International, said: “This signing further underscores our long-term commitment in strengthening our footprint in Australia. 

"Despite the challenges our industry has faced over the last 25 months, we have opened W Melbourne, Melbourne Marriott Hotel Docklands, and Courtyard by Marriott Melbourne Flagstaff Gardens, adding three hotels to Melbourne this year - bringing our total number of hotels in Melbourne to eight.”

The apartments will be located on St Kilda Road, Melbourne, just three kilometres from Melbourne CBD. 

Marriott Executive Apartments are designed to meet the long-term needs of corporate travellers. 

The studios, 1-bedroom and dual key apartments offer separate sleeping, relaxing and working areas, as well as gourmet kitchens. 

Marriott International currently operates 27 hotels in Australia across 12 brands including The Ritz-Carlton, The Luxury Collection, JW Marriott, W Hotels, Westin, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Autograph Collection, Four Points, Courtyard, Element, and Aloft Hotels.

Sunnyland Investment Group is a Melbourne-based privately owned property development company that specialises in large-scale commercial and residential real-estate developments.

Discover a grape escape with a difference

Fancy owning a barrique of fine red wine? 

Or maybe you'd rather just enjoy a glass or two on a day out in the country? 

The Grampians Grape Escape is back on at Halls Gap in Victoria at the end of April and start of May. 

Grampians Winemakers will be hosting their annual Grampians Winemakers Shiraz Barrique Auction; an opportunity for wine lovers, collectors and connoisseurs to take home something special. 

Each winery involved in the auction has provided a small volume of their best shiraz from the 2020 vintage. A tasting will be held prior to the auction at the Barrique Bar.

The barrique to be auctioned will be the 28^th vintage blend that has been produced in the region for auction.

Wineries involved include the likes of Blue Pyrenees, Seppelt, Taltarni, Mount Avoca, Montara, Best's Great Western, Mount Langhi Ghiran and Henty Estate.  

The event returns after a two-year hiatus. I attended a few years ago and it was terrific. 

A not-for-profit festival, Grampians Grape Escape has spotlighted the region’s producers and makers for 30 years and this year will welcome visitors for an extended celebration over three days from Friday, April 29 to Sunday, May 1. 

There will be over 100 exhibitors from Western Victoria and the festival’s first ever Feel-Good Friday will offer visitors the chance to enjoy an afternoon snack from a selection of food trucks, enjoy a local drop from the bar and dust off their dancing shoes with sets from Purple Revolution, a Prince tribute band, and Mixtape’s 80s covers.

Saturday and Sunday will see an array of stalls serving up everything from burgers to paella with cooking demonstrations from guest chefs Geoff Jansz and Emmylou MacCarthy (never heard of her, sorry).  

For more information and to buy tickets, visit the festival website: http://grampiansgrapeescape.com.au/

How to do New Zealand in style - and get a free night

Otahuna Lodge is one of the ritziest addresses in New Zealand. 

The name Otahuna means 'little hill among the hills' in Maori and the luxury lodge just 30 minutes from down Christchurch is 127 years old. 

It is celebrated for its architecture, award-winning gardens and sophisticated cuisine.

The primary residence of noted New Zealand politician Sir Heaton Rhodes for over 60 years, the property was purchased in 2006 by Hall Cannon and Miles Refo, who have run the place with style and panache ever since. 

With guests from Australia welcome back in New Zealand from April 13, Otahuna Lodge is offering a free night for anyone booking for three nights or more. 

Reserve a stay of three nights between April 1 and September 30 and get a fourth night at at no additional cost as well as a complimentary upgrade to one of the two master suites (based on availability at time of arrival).

Stays at Otahuna Lodge all come inclusive with pre-dinner drinks with canapés; four-course set-menu dinner with one bottle of wine for two people; and a continental or full-cooked breakfast

Reservations must be confirmed before New Zealand's re-opening date of 13 April to take advantage of the special offer.

For those with oodles of cash to flash, Otahuna's "Lord of the Manor" package means you can call the historic estate all yours for a single night for two guests, or a lavish house party celebration for 16. 

Up to 10 guests can enjoy exclusive use of the Lodge for the rate of $6495 per night, Sunday through Thursday nights. For weekend nights (Friday and Saturday) a rate of $8495 applies.

 

All "Lord of the Manor" bookings enjoy the following inclusions: accommodation across all five suites and two master suites; pre-dinner drinks with canapés, a five-course set menu dinner, matched wine pairings with every course, and breakfasts. 

Up to six additional guests (a maximum of 16 people) can stay at the rate of $500 per additional person per night.

For full details see www.otahuna.co.nz/

The kick inside: snake wine proves dangerous

 

Snake wine is a traditional Chinese liquor prepared by putting a venomous snake, usually while it is still alive, inside a jar of rice wine. 

The drink is then left to marinate over several months.

It is believed in some cultures that the wine contains magical powers but a man in China has claimed that a snake sealed in a jar for a year survived - and bit him when he opened the drink, Newsweek reported. 

The man from Heilongjiang bought three snakes in a jar of medicinal wine to treat his son's chronic illness, The China Times reported.

The origin of Chinese snake wine is said to date back to the Western Zhou dynasty (1046-771 BC).

It is widely believed that the wine holds beneficial properties as an anti-inflammatory and painkiller, although scientists have discounted the theory and put the practice down as cruel, inhumane and pointless. 

After the man was bitten by the snake, he was hospitalised and survived, local media in China reported. 

The China Times said that if a jar is not sealed properly, snakes can survive if there is enough air entering the container to sustain them.

Never meant to cause you any sorrow: Purple Rain wine row

The good people who make a wine called Purple Rain are denying the wine can be linked to Prince's most famous song, arguing the artist never drank alcohol. 

L’uva Bella Winery is being sued by the estate of the former artist formerly known as Prince, who say the Purple Rain wine brand would be confused with the musician’s tune recorded with his band The Revolution. 

Prince recorded Purple Rain in 1983 and it was released the following year alongside the film of the same name.

 The song is listed on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time at number 18.

Prince received an Academy Award for the film's score. 

Purple Rain is a sweet red wine which retails for $7.99. 

Ohio-based L’uva Bella has been labelling wines as Purple Rain since 2015. 

Lawyers representing Prince’s estate have argued that there was no doubt that “Purple Rain signifies Prince,” Drinks Business reported. 

The winery website says: "The Purple Rain Collection delivers a playful take on classic, fruity flavors."

The wine is described as "bright, fun, sweet and crisp". It is made using the concord grape variety. 

Interestingly, Clare Valley-based Claymore Wines has released a Claymore Wines 'Purple Rain' Sauvignon Blanc. No lawsuit about that so far.

There is also Western Australia’s Purple Reign - which is purple in colour.  

The US Trademark Trial and Appeal Board is expected to make a ruling on the US case in the coming months.

 

Why Air Canada's return is good news for travellers

There is a huge advantage in choosing an airline that flies direct between Australia and Canada.

It means you do not have to land in the US. 

Travelers must apply for and receive an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) even when transiting through the US to a third country. 

Which is an unnecessary hassle. 

Good news, then, that Air Canada is ramping up its transpacific services, adding a choice of carriers for flyers.

Air Canada will have a daily service between Vancouver and Sydney from May 1. 

The airline will also reinstate Brisbane flights four times a week starting on July 1.

Later in the year it will re-starts flying to Auckland with three flights a week.

“We are accelerating the restoration of our Australian and New Zealand routes to respond to pent-up travel as borders reopen,” said Mark Galardo, senior vice president, network planning and revenue management (hell of a job title that!) at Air Canada.

Air Canada’s flights connect to and from Melbourne, Canberra, Perth, Cairns and other cities via code-share agreement with Virgin Australia.

Air Canada’s Signature Suite lounge in Vancouver is expected to reopen this summer.

“We are thrilled with the expansion of the Air Canada network and to welcome our Aussie and Kiwi friends back to British Columbia to experience the hospitality we are known for,” said Melanie Mark, minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport for the province.

Seats are available for purchase now at aircanada.com