Thinking Inside The Box

JUNE 2023 ISSUE

A NEW hotel has been announced for one of Melbourne’s most vibrant suburbs.

Novotel Melbourne Box Hill is scheduled to open in January 2025, featuring 132 guestrooms and conference and events facilities including a 200-capacity ballroom.

Guests will be able to enjoy a variety of dining options, including an all-day restaurant, lobby bar/café and a rooftop bar.

The hotel will also feature a day spa, sauna, wellness centre and gym, and will be one of the closest hotels to Box Hill Hospital and Epworth Eastern Hospital aided by the adjacent new suburban rail loop.

“Box Hill is a vibrant and growing suburb, and we are excited to offer both business and leisure travellers a stylish and contemporary accommodation option in this dynamic community,” said Sarah Derry, Accor Pacific Chief Executive Officer.

Located approximately 14km east of the CBD, Box Hill has been dubbed “Melbourne’s second city” following a recent construction boom.

all.accor.com

FIJI GETS ITS CROWNING GLORY

VISITORS TO Fiji will notice a new name on the hotel landscape later this year with the opening of the Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa.

Formerly the Pullman Nadi Bay, the property is undergoing a multi-million-dollar refurbishment and extension.

The existing 324 rooms will be refreshed, with the new two-bedroom family rooms and ocean facing king suites set to be the crowning jewel of the hotel.

The resort will also include a new day spa that will feature six double treatment rooms and a new 600 seat convention centre that will complement the hotel’s existing conferencing space.

Guests can choose from seven dining outlets, including a lobby bar, a whisky bar, an all-day dining restaurant, an Italian restaurant, a beach club and a nightclub.

The addition of Crowne Plaza will complement IHG’s other hotels on the island which include InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, Holiday Inn Suva, Six Senses Fiji and the Grand Pacific Hotel.

“Fiji holds a very special place in the hearts and minds of travellers from around the world, and we’re thrilled to be expanding our presence in Fiji and to be adding our globally recognised Crowne Plaza brand to the island,” said Matt Tripolone, Managing Director – Australasia & Pacific, IHG Hotels & Resorts Australasia and Pacific.

www.ihgplc.com

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Simple Maltese Cooking the Way Simon Says

A new book by Australian-born food and travel photographer and writer SIMON BAJADA takes readers to the Maltese archipelago between Italy and the North African coast with more than 65 dishes showcasing the country’s vibrant cuisine.

Top of most bucket lists when discussing Asia is Hong Kong, which is fully open for business and once again providing a must-see list of attractions and events.

A top holiday spot for Australians for decades, Bali offers a perfect getaway for both parents and children. The Bali Dynasty Resort has a raft of new features and activities for families visiting this popular destination.

Mike Baker has spent the last 4 years working to create the Umzila Ka Bawo Heritage route, a Camino style walking trail on South Africa’s Wild East Coast and not only that, he’s also photographed it and put it on Google maps.

Our intrepid reporter gets a chance to cross an item off her bucket list and experience her first time on safari. She’s going in search of the elusive ‘Big Five’ but just how many did she end up seeing?

Flying Kangaroo Spreads Its Wings to Lower Fares

THE COST of an airline ticket with our national carrier should start to come down with news Qantas is to boost its national network.

With four airlines now flying between Australia and Vietnam, Traveltalk’s JENNY ROWLAND decided it was a good time to do a sky test. She was delighted with what she found.

Aussies love to see their country through the windscreen of an RV, but what about other destinations? North America would undoubtedly be the centre of the RV universe with wide open roads, a myriad of tourist and natural attractions and well-equipped RV parks.

Tahiti, a captivating paradise in the South Pacific, continues to entice travellers with its breathtaking landscapes and enchanting experiences. Here are five more reasons why Tahiti should be on your travel bucket list.

A NEW hotel has been announced for one of Melbourne’s most vibrant suburbs.

VIKING HAVE just launched a new campaign offering explorers the chance to save money on their ocean voyages for 2024 and 2025.

LATEST DATA shows the Australian cruise market is making a swift recovery from its pandemic suspension.

Why Canada is Ready to Rock The Tourism World

JUST LIKE the ice hockey the country adores, Canada is coming out swinging on the world tourism stage.

Coronation Street Party is Fit for a King

It’s been a very busy time around the world with travel shows happening across the globe. We’ve got all the latest travel news from events in South Africa and Canada, plus updates from Thailand and Great Britain.

Africa’s Travel Indaba 2023 has been held in Durban. Traveltalk’s JENNY EVANS reports from this international event which tells a story of rapid recovery.

At a time when Aussie travellers are increasingly prioritising those big-ticket items, one destination is a clear winner. Here, ALLIE SPARR, Global Head of Brand and Marketing, FCTG Independent, reports back from an adults-only resort in the Maldives.

Hidden in the heart of the Whitsunday Islands, Daydream Island Resort is more than just a holiday destination. This vibrant tropical paradise, once deemed a simple "flop and drop" spot, has metamorphosed into a sought-after retreat offering the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation.

Meet DAVID JANZ, General Manager - Sales and Marketing, Daydream Island Resort.

Plenty of prizes and free trips on offer for travel agents this month with incentives including a $1,000 e-scooter and a fridge full of gift vouchers, plus the chance to go on trips to New Zealand, south east Asia and France.