Jetstar finds a new way to charge more

Tone deaf Australian airline Jetstar has announced a new money-grabbing policy and is intending to charge passengers for carry-on baggage that needs to be stowed in the overhead compartment. 

The airline is spinning it as a plus for flyers. It is isn’t.

“Jetstar is changing its carry-on baggage model, removing its 7kg carry-on weight limit from February 2027,” the airline said in a media release.

“The move will see Jetstar shift from a strict weight limit to a simpler, size-based carry-on baggage model, similar to other leading low-fares carriers around the world.

“From next year, all bookings will include one underseat bag such as a backpack, handbag or laptop bag.

“Customers who need more carry-on baggage can pre-purchase Priority Carry-on, which includes a second, larger bag for the overhead locker and the opportunity to be among the first to board.

“The change follows extensive research and feedback from customers and crew who consistently identified having bags weighed at the gate and struggling to find room in overhead lockers as the more stressful parts of the airport experience.”

I predict outrage - and a rapid re-think.

Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully said: "We know that weighing carry-on bags at the gate can be frustrating for our customers and for our crew.

"To make packing easier we’ve decided to remove the 7kg weight limit, so from February, the main thing customers will need to think about is the size of their carry-on."

“By giving customers an underseat bag with the option to add Priority Carry-on, we can make better use of overhead locker space, streamline boarding and help more flights depart on time."

“Our new carry-on baggage model provides more choice to customers while helping to keep our fares low. You only pay for what you need - travelling with less means paying less, and you can always add more if you need.”

Absolute nonsense.

New voco adds to Queenstown's myriad hotel options

 

Queenstown’s hotel scene has a new option with opening of voco Queenstown. 

The new hotel is billed as "a warm alpine escape with a Mediterranean kitchen, fireside cocktails and a welcome that feels more like arriving at a friend's place than checking into a hotel".

The 227-room voco Queenstown hotel opened its doors last month, marking a complete revamp of the former Holiday Inn Express & Suites Queenstown into IHG Hotels & Resorts' premium voco brand, led by owner, developer and asset manager Pro-invest Group.

“We’re excited to offer visitors to Queenstown a hotel experience that is consistently thoughtful and distinct," says Jason Sabin, Connect Hospitality Portfolio general manager. 

"From the moment guests step inside the redesigned lobby, they will feel the voco difference. Our guest experience is built around the distinctive hallmarks of the voco brand – 'Come on in', 'Me time', and 'voco life,' brought to life through the resident host.” 

The voco Queenstown resident host will act as personal concierge, local guide and seamless connector, handling everything from ski locker logistics to dinner reservations. 

Great ideas - but hard to deliver. 

Anchoring the lobby of voco Queenstown is Mīharo, an artwork by Māori artist Cheree Te Orangaroa Downes. 

voco’s new restaurant and bar, Mozzarella & Co. aims to combine "a Mediterranean heart with a strong nod to the South Island". 

The show kitchen is open and centred around the all-day pizza oven while two outdoor lounge and terrace spaces draw guests outside to gather round the fire pits for a drink under the stars. 

The hotel's 227 rooms and suites have been refreshed by New Zealand interior design company Space Studios. 

Guests can expect plush bedding, aerated rain showers, plant-based Antipodes bathroom amenities, smart TVs with Chromecast, high-speed wifi, complimentary filtered water and a 24/7 room service menu. 

Eighteen suites feature high-tech Dyson hair dryers and hair straighteners, Marshall Bluetooth speakers, and a premium minibar offering of cocktail mixers and pod coffee. 

To celebrate the opening, voco Queenstown has partnered with The Bathhouse Group Queenstown to launch a two-night ‘Rest & Restore’ Opening Special package. 

The package includes a Mountain View Room with Sleep Glow pillow mist and pulse point essential oil amenities, a bottle of prosecco, daily breakfast at Mozzarella & Co. and a 90-minute Bathhouse session. from $NZ494 per night, minimum two-night stay. 

You can book directly at ihg.com or via the IHG One Rewards app. 

Exciting times for Papua New Guinea

 

Things are moving fast in Papua New Guinea. 

Ahead of the arrival of an NRL rugby league team, the national capital of Port Moresby has welcomed the opening of Sheraton Port Moresby Stanley Hotel & Suites. 

It marks the debut in the Pacific nation of Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 hotel brands. 

The 394-key hotel is located in Port Moresby’s central business and government district, five minutes from Jacksons International Airport and connected to the Vision City Mega Mall. 

It is the first Sheraton Hotels & Resorts property in Papua New Guinea and Marriott International's second hotel in Port Moresby

The hotel features an infinity swimming pool, one of Port Moresby's largest fitness centres and a full-service day spa. 

“The opening of Sheraton Port Moresby Stanley Hotel & Suites marks a significant milestone as we introduce one of Marriott International’s most global brands to Papua New Guinea," says Cristiano Rinaldi, regional Chief Lodging Product & Services Officer for Marriott International. 

"With Sheraton’s focus on intuitive design, technology-enabled experiences and spaces that foster connection, the hotel is positioned to become a central gathering place for both international travellers and the local community, seeking trusted hospitality.”

The room portfolio includes 284 guest rooms, 15 suites and 95 apartments that include separate living areas, kitchens and dining spaces. 

Silverleaf, the hotel’s destination restaurant, offers an à la carte dining experience, while Greenhaus offers a buffet experience across all meals with live cooking stations, artisan breads, New Guinea coffee, freshly baked pastries and themed dining experiences.

For more information visit the hotel website.

Adina Darling Harbour gets a new season revamp

 

A quarter century after it opened for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games the Adina Sydney Darling Harbour is entering a new era, unveiling a multi-million-dollar refurbishment. 

The 114-room hotel welcomed back guests this week ahead of an official reopening in September. 

The new look re-orientates the hotel towards the waterfront - and guests can now move seamlessly from hotel pool to harbour's edge.

Set between the CBD and King St Wharf - metres from the water and a short walk from Barangaroo - the Adina sits in one of Sydney's most connected precincts, offering easy access to both business and leisure hubs, harbourside attractions, and the International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The design narrative from Bates Smart draws on the building's strengths, with floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies that capture natural light and sea breezes. Each room features Adina's signature fully equipped kitchen and laundry, and space to stretch out.

TFE Hotels' Chief Executive Officer Antony Ritch says Adina Darling Harbour's transformation extends beyond the guest rooms, with upgrades across the entire hotel designed to create a seamless flow - allowing guests to move with ease from the lobby to the pool, through the restaurant and the harbour beyond.

Four flexible meeting rooms cater to everything from small team sessions, product launches through to special occasions and larger events of up to 150 people. 

At harbourside level, the hotel will introduce a new signature venue - Shoreline Kitchen with all-day menus celebrating healthy modern Australian breakfasts through to vibrant salads, premium sandwiches and classic gourmet burgers.

“Designed with both travellers and locals in mind, this venue will bring a fresh, easy-going style where guests can settle in for long lunch, grab a quick coffee or enjoy an evening drink.” Ritch said.

“In line with Adina's Australian sensibilities, there is also a subtle nod to native bush flavours, with ingredients such as saltbush and pepperberry woven throughout the menu.

“With this refurbishment, we are firmly repositioning Darling Harbour as a contemporary harbourside base – and one that reflects how people want to travel and stay in the city today. 

“It's part of our ongoing investment in our first-generation Adina portfolio, with a sharp focus on design and the guest experience.”

There is a lead-in rate from $279 per night.  

* Pre‑loved furniture and fixtures from the refurbishment were donated to Sydney charity ReLove, helping support local families in crisis.

Visit adinahotels.com for more information.

Venice icon gets a makeover and new name

One of the most famous hotels in Italy has been given a serious makeover and emerged with a new names

The canal-front Danieli, Venezia, in Venice is now a Four Seasons Hotel following an extensive restoration.

The Danieli is one of Venice's best-known historic landmarks in a prime waterfront location on the Riva degli Schiavoni, overlooking the Venetian Lagoon and the island of San Giorgio Maggiore.

The hotel is known for Venetian Gothic architecture and modern luxury, and many guest rooms offer sweeping lagoon views, news hub Travel Mole reports.

The reopening strengthens Four Seasons’ presence in Italy, adding a fourth property to its portfolio after Florence, Milan and Taormina.

“With the reopening of the iconic Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel, we usher in a new chapter in this renowned palace’s history,” said Rainer Stampfer, president of Global Operations, Hotels and Resorts at Four Seasons.

“Together with our long-term partners, Gruppo Statuto, we are offering guests a new way to experience the grandeur of Venice.“

Originally built in 1471 as the residence of the noble Dandolo family, Palazzo Dandolo is the key element of the hotel, which also incorporates Palazzo Casa Nuova, once home to the Venetian Republic’s Treasury.

Restoration work continues on Palazzo Danieli Excelsior, due for completion in 2027.

The hotel currently offers 120 rooms and suites, with that increasing to 168 rooms once the final phase of restoration is complete next year. A new Danieli Spa is also in the works.

French interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon led the redesign of the historic interiors, while rooms have been reconfigured to provide larger layouts and additional junior and one-bedroom suites.

Modern technology has been discreetly incorporated through integrated entertainment systems, automated curtains, personalised lighting and climate controls without detracting from the building’s heritage.

The famous Terrazza Danieli rooftop restaurant has also been refreshed.

“The reopening of Danieli as a Four Seasons experience marks an exciting milestone after months of dedication and meticulous restoration,” said general manager Christian Zandonella. “We are delighted to welcome guests back to one of Venice’s most iconic addresses.“ 

St Hugo to enliven snowy peaks of Thredbo

Leading Australian ski resort Thredbo has paired with premium wine brand St Hugo to end the 2026 snow season in style. 

Barossa-born St Hugo has announced a partnership with Thredbo Resort to bring new zing to the Snowy Mountains.

It is the first time in Thredbo's history that the resort has partnered with a wine brand and St Hugo will "deliverir a series of elevated wine, dining and hospitality experiences across the mountain".

At  the heart of the partnership, St Hugo is the first-ever presenting partner of the iconic Kareela Snowcat Dinners - one of Australia's most unusual alpine dining experiences. Accessible only via a scenic snowcat journey through the snow-covered mountains, the experience pairs food, fine wine and views from high above the resort.

Throughout the season, guests will also be able to enjoy St Hugo wines across Thredbo's venues, including Cascades, Kareela Hutte and the Lounge Bar. 

From Friday, August 21, to Sunday, August 23, the mountain will come alive with the St Hugo Sessions at Kareela Hutte, featuring DJs and an elevated après-ski atmosphere. 

As part of the partnership, St Hugo will also unveil the inaugural St Hugo Chalet Experience, an invitation-only alpine residence where guests will be immersed in the world of St Hugo through a curated program of wine, culinary and alpine experiences. 

"There are few destinations in Australia as iconic as Thredbo, making it the perfect setting for St Hugo's first alpine partnership," brand owner Vinarchy APAC marketing director Amy Darvill said:

"As the first wine brand to partner with the resort, we're excited to bring together exceptional wine, dining and hospitality through a series of experiences that celebrate the best of the Australian snow season."

Thredbo Partnerships & MTB Business Manager, Tim Windshuttle, said: "We're delighted to welcome St Hugo as Thredbo's first-ever wine partner. From the Kareela Hutte Snowcat Dinners to the St Hugo Sessions and exclusive hospitality experiences throughout the season, this partnership adds an exciting new dimension to the Thredbo experience."

For more info visit sthugo.com.