Venice to impose tourism charge on visitors

And so it begins.

Venice is set to charge €5 ($8.30) for day trippers entering the city in its latest move to combat the ever-increasing problem of overtourism.

Initially to be introduced as a trail period during peak days, day visitors over the age of 14 will have to pay the tourist fee by booking in advance from next season.

“Venice is among the most visited European cities and suffers the most from excess tourism,” said Simone Venturini, the city council member for tourism.

The city measures just a few square miles but attracts around 13 million visitors annually.

The aim is to get visitors to come on off-peak days, Venturini said. Good luck with that. 

UNESCO has suggested putting the Italian city of Venice on the list of World Heritage sites at risk. 

Venice has been struggling with the negative impacts of mass tourism for years, Travel Mole reports.

City officials have already taken measures to keep large cruise ships away from the city's canals.

Beer pong: Get behind the scenes at Hobart's new micro brewery

So you are visiting Hobart/nipaluna and have already ticked off de rigueur destinations like MONA and kunanyi/Mt Wellington.

How about a craft brewery tour and tasting at Moo Brew's recently arrived Salamanca mini bar Manky Sally's.

The team at Manky Sally's are now offering a behind-the-scenes peek at the life cycle of a Sally’s brew.

Managing director Lauren Sheppard and head brewer Jack Viney say visitors have been thirsty to know more about Sally’s award-winning brews and how they’re made.

The new tours include a tasting paddle served on a table tennis bat - an homage to Moo Brew founder David Walsh, a lifelong player of ping pong.

‘The crew at Moo are an inventive bunch," says Viney. "And with almost 18 years of beer ideas to work through, the smaller tanks at Sally’s allow us to take risks on brews with unexpected flavour combinations such as Black Forest Stout, Pineapple Guava Sour and Yuzu Green Chilli Gose.

"We’re excited to offer an inside look. Letting people get up close is the next step in Sally’s evolution. We might even crowd-source some ideas."

MD Shepherd chips in: "A motivator for Moo was to create a brew space and drinking experience unlike anything you’d seen before. Rifling through our museum’s warehouses for the fit out, designing a menu offering that complements the beers, and experimenting with the different Sally’s brews, we’ve created a unique destination that celebrates the very best of Moo Brew and MONA."

Tour tickets are $30 per person for a 30 minute tour + tasting paddle of four beers and run from Thursday to Monday, 2:30pm and 4:45pm.

Manky Sally’s is at Salamanca Place, Hobart. See https://moobrew.com.au/pages/manky-sallys

Celebrating 70 years of an importer who helped give Australia an Italian accent

At a time when Italian restaurants owned by culinary "superstars" open and close over a period of just a couple of years, it is nice to pay tribute to a Melbourne institution that is this year celebrating 70 years run by the same family. 

Enoteca Sileno is a Melbourne business that has helped shape the food and wine culture of Australia, with founder Gino Di Santo a pioneer of introducing authentic, regional flavours of Italy to Australians. 

The business is still run by the third generation of the family in 2023. 

At the Enoteca Sileno store in Carlton, the Portelli family is extending its retail hours and hosting a swag of events every Saturday in the lead-up to Christmas. 

Visitors can see a wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano being cut in the traditional way, or sample some panettone in the lead-up to Christmas. 

The Enoteca Sileno story began in the town of Termoli in the region of Molise, Italy. where Luigi ‘Gino’ Di Santo was a young man who wanted to prove he could make it on his own post World War II. 

After arriving in Australia at Bonegilla Migrant Reception Center outside Wodonga in north-east Victoria, he saw a gap in the market for imported Italian food and beverage products in Melbourne.

He returned to Italy to secure the rights for La Cimbali espresso machines, and in 1954 he installed the first machine in Cafè Lexington on Exhibition Street. 

Enoteca Sileno’s role as an importer of Italian foods began with Plasmon, Italy’s most famous brand of baby food, which was in much demand by the young migrant Italian mothers.

In the following years Gino would introduce Australian cafes and restaurants to Italian mineral water, gelati-making machines, La Minerva cheese graters and coffee grinders for delicatessens and cafés, along with preserved vegetables such as artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes, balsamic vinegars and Italian liqueurs such as Amaro Ramazzotti and Amaretto di Saronno.

But Gino also play an important role as an ambassador for Australian products in Italy. He exhibited at Italian international food fairs, giving Italians their first taste of Carlton Draught and Swan Lager beers, as well as Australian tinned fruit. 

He was also responsible for what was possibly the earliest exhibit of Indigenous Australian artefacts in Italy, with a display that included bark paintings, wood carvings, and tools.

In 1982, Gino opened the Enoteca Sileno retail store in Carlton, selling direct to the public rather than to restaurants and cafès. 

After relocating to Lygon Street in 2004, Enoteca Sileno is now under the guardianship of Gino’s daughter Rosemary Portelli-  a former teacher and sommelier - and her husband John Portelli, along with their son Daniel. 

Gino died in 2010, but today, the company portfolio extends across thousands of products from classic biscotti, polenta from the Italian Alps and dozens of condiments, sauces and spreads, as well as Italian craft beers and liquors. 

“Times change, and we want to go with it - but we’ve got the classics everyone Italian knows and loves, and the funny thing is some of the products we’ve had from Gino’s early days are still our biggest sellers," says Rosemary Portelli. 

New look for one of Auckland's top hotels

One of Auckland's top city centre hotels - Pullman Hotel Auckland - has a new look after a major refurb.

Known for its prime location with views of both Waitemata Harbour and Albert Park, the hotel has seen its forecourt and reception area transformed with the lobby area (top) featuring natural textures and elements of brass and copper. It offers direct access to the executive club lounge.

Pullman Hotel Auckland is operated by leading hospitality group Accor and has 276 rooms and suites in the hotel tower, with new beds, pillows, and bedding.

The addition of Nespresso machines adds a touch of convenience to all room types. The soft refurbishment of all rooms includes updated furniture, amenities, and new carpets in both the rooms and hotel corridors.

Tapestry Bar & Grill on the lobby level sees executive chef Johnny Roullier specialising in dry-aged beef and grilled meats. There’s also a signature breakfast offering, while r those looking for an al fresco experience, the Tapestry courtyard is open for dining or meeting friends for cocktails.



Luxe Spa provides personalised spa treatments, while the hotel also has a 25-metre heated indoor lap pool (above), sauna, steam room, spa pool, and fitness equipment.

"We are thrilled to unveil the exciting refurbishment of Pullman Hotel Auckland, as we continue to elevate our guest experience to new heights," said Accor Pacific CEO Sarah Derry.

"The renovations focus on creating an environment that reflects the individuality of Auckland, providing a spectacular personalised experience and transforming the hotel into a destination for guests and locals."

Rooms are priced from NZD$229 per night. To book, visit ALL.com

Why so many awards are a crock of poo

I was once on the judging panel of a major regional tourism award.

The entrants all had compiled highly impressive declarations of their worthiness.

The only problem was that I knew from my own experience - of actually visiting these applicants - that some of those entries were bunkum.

But the panel chair said firmly that "personal experience should not come into it". We had to judge solely on the applications in front of us. Even if we knew they were dishonest.

I stood down from that panel asap.

My point is that there are so many awards nowadays that it seems just about everyone can win a prize if they are smart enough to pay a professional to craft their nomination.

Two press releases crossed my deck this week that raised my hackles.

One was about top tourism towns.

One of the big winners was a town that is surrounded by ugliness and has very little, in my eyes, to commend it.

The win will probably boost regional tourism and garner some headlines. But I fear a lot of visitors will be disappointed with what they find.

The next press release told me that the state of Victoria has been nominated as a finalist for the 2023 Wine Region of the Year at the 24th annual Wine Star Awards.

Now Victoria produces some very fine wines. But it is not a wine region. It is a state.

In fact, the press release pointed out that Victoria "is recognised as having a diverse range of climates and winemaking styles across its 21 regions".

Victoria is the same size or bigger than many entire European countries, so the judges are being asked to compare apples with onions. It is 370km from the Mornington to Rutherglen for heaven's sake. That's some region. 

  
The other nominees for 2023 Wine Enthusiast Region of the Year are Lambrusco in Italy; Provence in France; Charlottesville in Virginia in the US; and Swartland in South Africa. 

All of which actually are wine regions. 

If a Victorian region were competing against them it should be the Yarra Valley, the Mornington Peninsula. Heathcote or Rutherglen. Not the whole flipping state. 

Swartland, for instance, covers 3,707 square kilometres, while Victoria, around the same size as the British Isles, is 227,600 square kilometres.

If Victoria as a whole is a contender the it should be up against the likes of the Western Cape, Oregon, Umbria etc. 

So when you read about some great wine or travel triumph in your local media, be sceptical, and take a look at the judging parameters. 

All may not be as it seems.

Revamped Sunshine Coast accommodation banks on sustainability

Set to open at the end of November, Motel Caloundra aims to be the Sunshine Coast’s first net-zero energy hotel.

The property is described as "hip new accommodation to be launched in the heart of Caloundra’s arts and culture precinct".

The motel is the latest project from hotel developers and designers Andrew and Lucy Pink, who have crafted "a haven of style and tranquillity" opposite The Events Centre and the site of the future Sunshine Coast Regional Gallery.

The Pinks previously introduced Loea Boutique Hotel and Maleny Lodge - both also on the Sunshine Coast - after complete transformations of other former motels.

Motel Caloundra aims to be totally energy self-sufficient with an array of solar panels and storage batteries installed.

It will offer nine rooms, including a two-bedroom family suite and a fully-equipped two-bedroom apartment.

Visit Sunshine Coast CEO Matt Stoeckel welcomed the imminent launch of the revamped motel and its investment in sustainability technology.

“Caloundra is fortunate to have some of the Sunshine Coast’s most attractive beaches as well as having the Glass House Mountains nearby, and this commitment to sustainability highlights our tourism operators’ support for our natural environment,” Stoeckel said.

The revamped former Caloundra City Centre Motel's entry-level standard king room will start from $180 and will feature deluxe king beds with organic cotton sheets, en suite bathrooms, smart TVs with free Netflix, minibars, tea and coffee making facilities, hair dryers, complimentary high-speed wifi, air conditioning, organic shampoo, conditioner and soap and daily housekeeping.

For more details see https://www.motelcaloundra.com.au/