Guests on Virgin Australia’s first flight to Samoa in three years received a friendly welcome home this week (Mar 21), with the flight operated by a proud Samoan crew. Sydney-Apia services commended on March 21 and Brisbane flights on March 23, with both routes operating up to two return flights a week on the airline’s Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The all-Samoan cabin crew and First Officer warmly greeted guests, who were treated to a traditional song during the flight and cultural welcome upon landing in Apia. Virgin Australia Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Alistair Hartley, said the ..read more

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts’ new Echo Suites Extended Stay brand is continuing to soar, with more than 200 hotels in its development pipeline just 12 months after it was launched. Speaking exclusively to Wayfarer on camera at the 2023 Hunter Hotel Investment Conference in Atlanta this week (Mar 23), Wyndham Hotels and Resorts’ President and CEO, Geoff Ballotti, said rapidly outpacing initial growth expectations, the developer-driven brand caters to the white-hot extended-stay market, which continues to outperform all other industry segments. Late last year, the brand broke ground on its first t ..read more

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts’ ground-breaking ‘Women Own the Room’ program, which is in its inaugural year, is continuing to exceed all expectations, with more than 30 hotels now signed across the United States and Canada, 10 of which are now open. Speaking exclusively to HM on camera at the 2023 Hunter Hotel Investment Conference in Atlanta this week (Mar 23), Wyndham Hotels and Resorts’ President and CEO, Geoff Ballotti, said the first-ever program by a major hotel company specifically targeting women’s advancement in hotel ownership, Women Own the Room is designed to advance and empower women ..read more

Outrigger Resorts and Hotels is looking forward “with eyes wide open”, according to President and CEO, Jeff Wagoner, with the business vigilant in its efforts to retain and build market share. Here, Wagoner discusses the obstacles and opportunities ahead. Leisure demand is now high, but so is competition for consumers; with travel restrictions down and more countries reopened to tourism, the euphoria of business that some destinations felt will evaporate if dedicated marketing dollars are not strategically allocated. Current headwinds for development and renovations include the uncertainty of ..read more

Ibis Sydney Barangaroo has become the new home for the exhibition of finalists in Australia’s premier satirical art competition, the Bald Archy Prize. As chief sponsor, Ibis Sydney Barangaroo Owner Dr Jerry Schwartz offered the hotel as an alternate venue to the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour following the recent introduction of a spa on the premises. The Museum of the Riverina, which now runs the competition, has transformed the hotel’s public spaces into a mini art gallery with 22 portraits of famous and infamous personalities including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and former PM, Scott M ..read more

Peak industry body Accommodation Australia will officially launch on July 1, 2023, the Fair Work Commission has confirmed. The update follows a Accommodation Association member vote in favour (96%) of an amalgamation with Tourism Accommodation Australia. The first President of Accommodation Australia will be Leanne Harwood and the inaugural CEO Michael Johnson. “The vote was a strong endorsement and a clear sign members from both organisations are ready to move into the future together as one,” Johnson said. Speaking at Ted’s Technology Conference held at The Fullerton Hotel in Sydney, Johnson ..read more

Luxury hospitality brand The Ritz-Carlton has opened its second hotel in Australia, with the launch of The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne on Thursday March 23. The 80-storey hotel, set on the western side of Melbourne’s CBD, offers 257 guestrooms, three food and beverage venues, spa, and event spaces, as well as a Sky Lobby on the top floor. “We are thrilled to bring The Ritz-Carlton brand to Melbourne, and to open our second hotel in Australia,” said Marriott International President, Luxury, Tina Edmundson. Deluxe King room at The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne “With its destination-driven design inspired by ..read more

TFE Hotels has opened its first hotel in Switzerland, Adina Apartment Hotel Geneva, located in the country’s first international hotel hub. The Geneva hotel has an Australian flair with interiors by Aussie designer Andrew Parr, from SJB Melbourne, and in-room chairs by Melbourne designer Chris Connell. The opening brings TFE’s European portfolio to 18 hotels – around 2760 keys – and the company has plans to expand further throughout Europe in the coming year. “We have opened eight international Adina hotels over the past two years and entered new global markets including Austria, Singapore, an ..read more

Accor’s Pullman Hotels and Resorts has made its Singapore debut with the opening of Pullman Singapore Orchard last week. Located on the famous retail district of Orchard Road, the hotel features 326 fashion-forward rooms and suites in nine configurations; a fitness centre and outdoor swimming pool with a swim-up bar. “Singapore is a trendsetting city that has evolved from an Asian economic hub into a vibrant global tourism destination. said Accor Chief Executive of Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea, Garth Simmons. “This makes it the perfect setting for our Pullman brand, which has a histor ..read more

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts will launch a 300-cabin superyacht resort in Vietnam’s Halong Bay under a new partnership with Vietnamese private yacht manufacturer, Alliga Eternity Company. Named Wyndham Alltra Cat Ba – after the island that it is docked off – the stationary yacht will offer an all-inclusive resort experience with eight food and beverage outlets, a series of meeting rooms, swimming pool and gym. Wyndham said Vietnam is a key strategic market for the business, particularly over the coming years, as tourism picks up. “By signing this strategic partnership with Alliga, we are re ..read more