Raffles signs Churchill’s Old War Office as iconic London address

Raffles Hotels & Resorts, the top luxury brand of AccorHotels Group, has announced the signing of an historic partnership with the Hinduja Group and Obrascon Huarte Lain Desarrollos (OHLD) to transform the iconic Old War Office building in Whitehall into the most unique hotel and deluxe residences in London. The Raffles Hotel in London will be the heart and soul of this exciting landmark destination.

Raffles Hotels & Resorts is delighted to complete its already stunning portfolio with such an exclusive asset in such strategic city and location.
Steeped in history, the first Raffles Hotel was opened in 1887 in Singapore, named after the British statesman and founder of Singapore, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles. Raffles was celebrated by Nobel Prize winner, Rudyard Kipling in his 1889 book, From Sea To Sea and in 1915 Singapore's most famous cocktail, the Singapore Sling was created at the hotel. 

The Grade II* listed Old War Office, with its 1100 rooms across seven floors, and two miles of corridors, was completed in 1906. It was the office to many of the United Kingdom's most important and influential political and military leaders of the twentieth century, notably Sir Winston Churchill, David Lloyd George, Lo

rd Kitchener, Herbert Asquith and T.E. Lawrence. It was also the haunt of the British Secret Service who had their own, more discreet entrance.

Close to 10 Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, the Old War Office was bought by Hinduja Group and OHLD in December 2014 following a public bid. Planning permission was granted for a multi-purpose development including 125 rooms (of which 40% are suites), 88 private residences, restaurants and other amenities. Completion is expected in just over three years.

Commenting on the new partnership, Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of AccorHotels said: "I am delighted to announce this long-term management contract with the Hinduja Group and OHLD. This is the start of an important partnership for Raffles Hotels & Resorts and will create a new and vibrant landmark for London. This is a significant step for Raffles and a strategic addition to the Group's Luxury portfolio. We remain committed to providing guests with unparalleled service and experience."

Gopichand P. Hinduja, the Hinduja Group's Co-Chairman said: "Our new partnership with Raffles Hotels and Resorts is a significant milestone in our vision to transform the Old War Office into London's finest luxury destination. Raffles brings a unique understanding of British heritage and tradition that will help revive this great British landmark."

Sanjay G Hinduja, President of the Hinduja Group, said: "We are delighted that after the completion of the Grade I listed building in Carlton House Terrace, we can now apply this valuable experience to a greater challenge and create what will become the most iconic place in London."

Juan Villar-Mir de Fuentes, Chairman of Grupo OHL said: "The OHL Group is extremely proud to be part of, in partnership with the Hinduja Group, this exciting project which, reinforced with the Raffles brand, is now fully aligned with OHL Desarrollos's strong commitment and strategy to develop unique projects around the world."

For more information or reservations, please visit raffles.com.

Nanuku Auberge Resort introduces 'Ki na kalokalo' private island camping

With an emphasis very much on rustic and soulful, Nanuku Auberge Resort Fiji has expanded its already top-heavy list of exclusive client activities to a whole new level with private island camping.

The 'Ki na kalokalo' (pathway to the stars) camping experience revolves around an overnight stay on the resort's nearby private island, Nanuku Island, and begins when resort staff take guests on the short trip aboard Nanuku 1 for an activity-filled afternoon.

This includes a host of options – from exploring the island with jet skis, swimming, snorkelling, kayaking paddle boarding – guests can even join their hosts, the resort's team of 'Nanuku Buddies' in helping to catch and prepare the fresh fish, bamboo-pole cooked prawns and traditional 'kokoda' served for dinner.

Less strenuous activities include palm-frond hat and basket weaving, coconut scraping, searching for the elusive Hawksbeak turtles which inhabit the island – or simply relaxing.

As the sun sets and the 'kalokalo' (stars) begin to emerge, the 'Buddies' entertain guests with traditional songs and the sharing of centuries-old legends of Fiji.

Once dinner and the entertainment have been concluded the crew retire to the nearby-moored Nanuku 1 for the evening offering guests perfect privacy for the night – but not before leaving a 'survival kit', mobile phone and a Tiki torch pathway to a discreetly located and hurricane lamp-lit outhouse.

For those who wish to sleep undercover, weather-proof tents are an option but, according to general manager, Sascha Hemmann, most guests prefer to sleep under the 'kalokalo' in comfortable hammocks.

A highlight of the following morning – the arrival of 'chef' Hemmann aboard a jet ski to personally cook a delicious breakfast of pancakes, bacon and eggs, juices and fresh-brewed coffee and tea after which guests return to the resort.

Available daily, the 'Ki na kalokalo' private island camping experience is priced from FJD4000* based on four persons. Pricing per additional person is FJD600*.

Pacific Harbour is renowned for its star-lit night skies, the calm waters of Beqa Lagoon forming a sky-to- horizon reflecting mirror earning the region its 'pathway to the stars' title.

*Conditions apply.

https://www.facebook.com/nanukuresort.

For more information about Auberge Resorts Collection, please visit http://www.aubergeresorts.com. Follow Auberge Resorts Collection on Facebook at facebook.com/AubergeResorts and on Twitter and Instagram at @AubergeResorts.

AccorHotels new Mercure hotel for Orange, NSW

Templers Mill Hotel to rebrand as Mercure Orange

AccorHotels, Australia's largest hotel operator, has announced that Templers Mill Hotel will rebrand to Mercure Orange and join its growing network of regional New South Wales hotels in August 2017, following the completion of a 3-year expansion masterplan and a $9million dollar transformation.

Owned by the Orange Ex-Services Club, the two-storey, 77-room soon-to-be internationally-branded midscale Mercure hotel is located within the Club's precinct which features nine function rooms including an indoor swimming pool, sauna and gymnasium.

All guestrooms are in the final stages of being refitted with new joinery, state-of-the art devices (with the ability to order breakfast via TV), high-speed WiFi, complimentary Foxtel, king size beds and monochromatic photography featuring the history of Orange.

Key to the Club's expansion plan is the exciting addition of The Greenhouse of Orange, a unique destination dining concept showcasing the best regional food and wine from the Central West, also set to open in August. As an integrated part of the Orange Ex-Services Club Precinct, this relaxed family-friendly restaurant will offer guests and locals a diverse range of sustainable dining options, with a complete field-to-fork sustainable farming philosophy.

Chief Operating Officer, AccorHotels Pacific, Simon McGrath said, "We're delighted to bring the Mercure brand to Orange in partnership with Orange Ex-Services Club. Orange's growing mining, agricultural and wine industries are set to benefit from the hotel's newly upgraded accommodation facilities as well as the exciting addition of The Greenhouse of Orange dining concept.

"We enjoy partnering with Clubs who have strong local ties to the community as it adds to the overall guest experience. We look forward to helping drive tourism to this beautiful part of regional New South Wales and we are excited to be welcoming guests to Mercure Orange in August," concluded McGrath.

Chief Executive Officer, Orange Ex-Services Club, Cameron Provost, said "It's exciting to see our 3-year expansion plans for the Club and hotel precinct finally come to fruition. We are delighted to entrust AccorHotels with our refurbished hotel and know this partnership will ensure the success of this new venture.

"The Club has been a part of Orange for over 60 years and consists of over 15,000 club members who will no doubt enjoy the upgraded Mercure Orange's hotel facilities and the addition of The Greenhouse of Orange," concluded Provost.

Mercure Orange is located 250km west of Sydney or a 3.5 hour drive, near the centre of Orange on Byng Street.

Mercure Orange complements AccorHotels' existing ibis Styles Orange hotel and joins a network of more than 40 Mercure hotels across Australia and over 700 worldwide.

mercure.com| accorhotels.com

Pangea Pod Hotel: Canada's first pod accommodation concept, opening in Whistler, 2018.

Whistler Resort in British Columbia Canada will welcome the opening of the Pangea Pod Hotel in 2018 – a visionary property situated in the centre of the pedestrian village. Designed for the discerning solo traveller seeking a boutique hotel feel, impressive design and a prime location at an affordable price-point, Pangea is set to fill Whistler's void between hostels and hotels.

"Pangea is unlike anything else offered in Canada, and we are thrilled to launch this concept in Whistler. Our unique pod hotel experience will speak to sophisticated, value-conscious guests unwilling to compromise on location, function, and aesthetics," says co-founder Russell Kling. "Currently we are working obsessively to perfect the industrial design of the pods and suites, as well as the interior design of the communal spaces. We are also relentlessly focused on the significant gut renovation to the interior and complete update to the exterior to bring this prime property into the 21st century."

Pangea will feature a series of custom suites housing a total of 88 private sleeping pods. Each boutique pod will be luxuriously lined in wood and comfortably outfitted with a memory foam double mattress and high-end linens. They'll also be equipped with individually controlled LED lights, multiple charging points (including USB ports) and an integrated fan for ventilation and white noise. There's a place for everything, with a lockable cabinet for valuables, hangers and hooks for clothes, and a storage area for luggage. Mirrors and artwork lend a personal touch, while curtains provide a fundamental level of privacy.

Perhaps one of the most ground-breaking design aspects of Pangea is its modular bathroom concept. Unconventional thinking led to the conventional bathroom being separated into four individually accessed components: spa-like shower cubicles, washrooms, vanities, and changing rooms. More than 60 of these bathroom components are spread among Pangea's suites.

"After travelling the world extensively with my husband, Russell, we knew we had to approach the 'bathroom situation' differently to excite the kinds of travellers we want to attract," says Jelena Kling, Pangea's co-founder. "By creating these four-piece bathrooms and locating them all within the suites themselves, we add a level of privacy and convenience not commonly found in hostels or other capsule hotels."

While the pod suites encourage a tranquil and restful ambiance, Pangea's guests will relish the lively atmosphere and connection to Whistler in The Living Room, Pangea's stylish communal space. As the property's hub on the second floor, The Living Room's large drop-down glass panels overlooking the Village Stroll will create the feel of an outdoor patio, with long shared tables in the café for socializing and cozy sitting areas in the bar and lounge for relaxing. The Patio, Pangea's rooftop bar on the third floor, will offer a unique outdoor experience and sensational views down to the Village Square.

In these vibrant communal spaces, Pangea's guests will plan their next day's exploits and trade tips and adventure 'must-dos' with other travellers. They'll also refuel with simple yet delicious meals from the café, sip on barista-made cappuccinos and Americanos from the espresso bar, and toast the day with craft beer, cocktails or wine. Free, lightning fast WiFi will keep Pangea's guests connected throughout the property.

The Toy Box, Pangea's meticulously designed open-plan gear area, will offer secure storage for skis/snowboards and mountain bikes, places to hang wet gear, and private lockers for boots and accessories, meaning everything Pangea's guests need to enjoy Whistler's great outdoors is safely stored and ready for action.

"Pangea will reinvent accommodation in Whistler for a generation of travelers who expect more for less and want to spend their money on experiences, not on several hundred feet of hotel room space in which they simply sleep," says Russell. "Our guests seek a killer location, brilliant design, a cool vibe and certain key elements of privacy. They have money to spend, but not to waste."

Explainer video for a one minute preview on what Pangea Pod Hotel will bring to Whistler, BC: http://bit.ly/YouTubePangea

About Pangea Pod Hotel - CHIC. SHARED. CENTRAL.

Proximity and privacy without the price tag. Pangea was born out of a need for a new kind of accommodation in Whistler – a place where people with a shared passion for mountain sports, travel or just life, in general, could meet, relax and share stories but still have their personal space at the end of the day. Pangea was created with this in mind – an affordable yet boutique property offering private pods within a chic, laid-back setting. Pangea is not a hotel and it is not a hostel; it is the best of both worlds, providing guests the privacy and comfort of a hotel and the affordability and social vibe of a hostel.

Website: https://www.pangeapod.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pangeapod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pangeapod/

IPW17: U.S. Travel Industry’s Message to the World: "Welcome"

"One Big Welcome" Is the Theme of Industry’s Largest Annual Trade Show, June 3-7 in Washington, D.C.

Exhibitors on the floor of IPW

The major annual event at which U.S. destinations, travel businesses and attractions work to attract international visitors kicks off at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday, June 3 with a topical overarching theme: “One Big Welcome.”

This is the first time Washington will host the U.S. Travel Association’s annual trade show known as IPW, which was awarded to the nation’s capital in 2013.

The travel industry is not unaware of the backdrop against which it will market the U.S. as a destination for travelers around the world.

"America’s relationship with the rest of the world in this era of transition and disruption is on minds across the globe," said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. "Washington is one of the most-watched cities in the world, yet one of the least understood. Capitol Hill isn’t just the mess you see on the news—it’s actually a vibrant neighborhood with parks and cafes. We need international travelers to realize they should come see this place for themselves—and that America wants them here."

With the unique intersection of politics and travel at this year’s IPW, U.S. Travel is offering special credentials to Washington, D.C.-based journalists to attend Dow’s 10:30 a.m. press conference and tour the show on Tuesday, June 6. Media can obtain credentials by reaching out to U.S. Travel press contacts.

IPW, now in its 49th year, generates over $4.7 billion in future travel to the U.S., by directly convening U.S. destinations, hotels, attractions and wholesalers for three days of intensive pre-scheduled business appointments with international buyers and travel media.

This year’s IPW is set to welcome more than 6,000 attendees from 70 countries, including over 1,300 international tour operators and other businesses that book travel to U.S. destinations, with a record number of delegates from China; nearly 500 international and domestic journalists; and representatives from over 1,100 U.S. destinations, hotels, attractions and other travel businesses.

U.S. Travel and Brand USA, America’s tourism promotion agency, have partnered with Destination DC to stage the event, which will generate major returns for the local economy for an estimated three years after IPW concludes. According to the independent research firm Rockport Analytics, IPW is expected to generate $1.7 billion in economic impact to the city of Washington, D.C. and attract more than one million additional visitors to the Washington, D.C. area during that time.

IPW attendees will also have the opportunity to join exclusive tours of Washington, D.C. and the region, and enjoy spectacular evening entertainment at iconic sites, including the opening night event at the National Air and Space Museum, the press brunch at the Newseum, a VIP dinner at Washington National Cathedral and the closing night event at Nationals Park.

All the while they will be buffeted by the “One Big Welcome” branding created by the host organizations for this year’s event—starting the moment they get off the airplane, with welcome lounges sponsored by Destination DC at Dulles International and Reagan National airports.

Said Dow: “My heartiest thanks go out to Elliott Ferguson and his team at Destination DC for their incredible preparation for IPW 2017. They’ve put together a phenomenal program that drives home the idea that Washington, D.C.—like America as a whole—is first and foremost a place of dynamic attractions and unparalleled hospitality.”

Learn more about IPW 2017 at www.ipw.com.

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Yulefest flavours in the NSW Blue Mountains

Festive flavours, toasty fires and cheery decorations will create a warming oasis within the grandest of the grand hotels of the Blue Mountains this Yulefest.

Each Friday and Saturday throughout July, visitors to the Hydro Majestic Hotel at Medlow Bath, can indulge in a decadent high tea featuring nostalgic flavours such as ginger, cranberry and roast pork. Guests at Darleys Restaurant (pictured above) and Echoes Restaurant at Katoomba will feast on a Yulefest-inspired menu.

Or, indulge in a decadent five-course degustation at the Hydro Majestic beginning with a lobster bisque amuse, followed by an entrée tasting plate of butter poached Balmain bug, chicken and lemon terrine, piccalilli and poached baby pear, prosciutto and herbed goats cheese, a main of turkey roulade and roast pork belly with cranberry and chestnut jus; a mini toffee apple cleanser and a traditional plum pudding dessert then tea/coffee and gingerbread and chocolate truffles.

The exquisite experience begins on arrival as guests are wowed by the grandeur of the Casino Lobby with its iconic domed roof and spectacular chandelier before walking through the understated elegance and warm ambience of the Wintergarden Restaurant with its ornate fireplace and magical mist-filled Megalong Valley views.

Hydro Majestic Hotel head chef Mate Herceg said Yulefest had been a tradition in the area since 1980 and today, winter was the season for which the Blue Mountains was most famous: ``It gets us into the festive season twice a year and really, who doesn’t like Christmas? It’s a time to come together, eat, drink warming beverages and share stories.’’

Escarpment Group general manager Ralf Bruegger encouraged guests to fully immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere by staying at least one night: ``Yulefest in the Blue Mountains offers the European-style atmosphere people associate with Christmas – a chilly landscape outside and cosiness inside with roaring fires, hot food and drinks, traditional decorations and festive music, but without the stress and frosty relatives. Sometimes there’s even snow as a special surprise.’’

Go to hydromajestic.com.au to book the Yulefest degustation at the Hydro Majestic Hotel. Cost: $125 adults, $50 children aged 3-12 years.

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Blue Wren Winery, Mudgee - Winter Menu and Winter Packages Released

Kip Harris – Executive Chef and owner at Blue Wren, Mudgee continues to take the restaurant scene in Central West NSW to another level as he launches his new winter menu.

Boasting the only Chef’s Table experience in the burgeoning Central West NSW wine region, The Restaurant @ Blue Wren launches its new five-course tasting menu that exhibits a unique cornucopia of flavours and challenges the taste buds of the most discerning and adventurous diner.

One of the innovative dishes on the winter menu includes Crispy Skin Duck breast, duck liver ice-cream brûlée, pickled radish, cauliflower, crouton, dehydrated raspberry. (below)

“This dish is certainly a non-traditional mix of flavours but I love experimenting with methods when putting together the ingredients for a dish and pushing boundaries in playing with the diners’ perception of flavours” says Harris.

The Restaurant is quickly becoming a ‘must visit’ destination for those wanting to experience fine-dining in regional New South Wales and now provides ease for diners with private car transfers to those travelling locally.

“Since launching our first five-course tasting menu last season we have received a great reaction from our guests. People have trust in our unique flavours and gastronomy forms the foundation for a memorable experience”, says Harris.

The 37-year-old Harris took over at Blue Wren two years ago and has recently completed upgrades to the property of over half-a-million dollars.

His long history in hospitality, especially in the kitchen, has allowed Kip to develop a passion for preparing innovative dishes and create an unforgettable dining experience.

“I love to prepare food for people. One thing I really enjoy is researching and experimenting with new flavours and technologies for our menu at Blue Wren,” says Harris.

Some of the other unique items on the winter menu include dishes as:-

Himalayan salt rock seared scallop, pork belly, sage thyme barley caviar, corn dust, pork neck croquette, crustacean curd. (below)

Sous vide chateaubriand, cacao, smoked potato puree, pear, black pudding crisp, morel, vegemite foam, horse radish snow.

Cinnamon doughnut, malt custard banana ice cream, coffee crunch, crumb pistachio, callebaut chocolate, white chocolate bubble.

Blue Wren is situated on 65 acres and is only a short drive from the township of Mudgee. It boasts a new function area for weddings and events, as well as a stunning new homestead for accommodation – The Farmhouse @ Blue Wren that was launched earlier in the year.

Open for dinner from Wednesday through to Saturday, and lunch Friday through Sunday; the menu features a five-course tasting menu $98 per person with matching wines from the Blue Wren range at $35 per person

“The intimacy of our restaurant is reflected in the fact that the seating is limited to only 16 people. My guests can dine either at an intimate table, or I love arranging for an exclusive place at the Chef’s Table – where I wholeheartedly encourage my guests to discuss every part of their culinary journey with me”, says Harris.

Only a short drive from Mudgee and located adjacent to Mudgee Airport, Blue Wren is the ideal place in Central West NSW to enjoy magnificent food, coupled with quality wines from the Blue Wren range and stunning views overlooking the vineyards.

For further information please visit: www.bluewrenwines.com.au

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