The Langham, Sydney’s luxury makeover has been set down for 2014.

When the property was purchased from Orient-Express in August 2012, Langham Hospitality Group CEO Brett Butcher said the hotel would undergo a significant makeover and HM can reveal that plans are underway to have a mock-up room in place before the end of 2013.

Speaking to HM in Sydney this week, Langham Hospitality Group’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Simon Manning, said plans would be “unveiled before the end of the year” and “drawings are in from a few designers”.

While he would not elaborate on the specifics of the design, Manning said the company “wants to start the rooms next year and the public areas in 2015” and between AUD$10 million and $20 million will be spent on the project.

All work is expected to be completed by 2015, which will also include a re-modelling of the ground floor, which is presently home to the reception, bar, restaurant and meeting rooms.

“That’s all being fleshed out with the architects at the moment,” he said.

Manning did confirm Langham wants to “make the meeting room a little bit larger” and plans are in place to transform one of the food and beverage outlets into a Palm Court restaurant, the centrepiece of The Langham London’s F&B offering and one that serves up the British capital’s best high tea.

During the renovation, the hotel’s day spa will be converted into a Chuan Spa, in line with Langham Hotels globally, and the property will remain one of the few pet friendly hotels in Sydney.

Just this week, the hotel has begun upgrading beds in the rooms with the installation of Langham Blissful Beds, and to keep the pooches happy, a number of new doggy beds will also be available for guests’ pets.

Manning said once the makeover was complete, Langham is seeking rate growth at the property that would see the hotel sit just below Park Hyatt Sydney and above Four Seasons, Shangri-La and InterContinental in the competitive set.

“We want to position above the main market in Sydney,” he said.

The news comes at an exciting time for the company, with the Langham Place Fifth Avenue rebranding from The Setai Fifth Avenue in New York this month, and The Langham Chicago set to open on July 10. Also in July, the company’s owned Delta Chelsea, Canada’s largest hotel, will be re-branded as the Eaton Chelsea Toronto.

Nominations for the 2013 HM Awards for Hotel & Accommodation Excellence, presented by Sealy Posturepedic, are open until June 21 at www.hmawards.com.au

The 2013 HM Awards are open to staff and properties across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, and nominations close at 5pm on Friday June 21, 2013.

Once more, almost 50 HM Awards will be handed out and will recognise excellence over a range of categories, from people and departments to properties and chains.

This year, supporting documents for every category will now be open to including: up to a maximum of 1000 words of supporting information, while images and a YouTube video (with a maximum length of 5 minutes) are optional. For a complete list of the criteria for each category, click here: http://www.hmawards.com.au/nominate/about-voting/

Annually, over 700 different properties are nominated and after a lengthy voting process by a key judging panel involving 50 industry professionals and travel media, the finalists and winners are then decided.

In the last ten years, almost 5000 people have attended the HM Awards and more than 400 awards have been awarded to hotels across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

The 2013 HM Awards gala presentation dinner is being held at Sydney Town Hall on Friday, September 6, 2013.

Reserve your table now by emailing HM magazine’s Editor-In-Chief James Wilkinson on
jwilkinson@intermedia.com.au

Tropica Island Resort has made its debut in Fiji.

The result of a multi-million dollar upgrade, the former Walu Beach Resort for backpackers has been transformed into a 4-star boutique resort, blending Fijian and contemporary architecture with landscaped open spaces and water features.

The upgrade has seen the addition of a 25 metre horizon pool, 16 free-standing fully refurbished oceanfront bures (with outdoor river-rock showers, air-conditioning and hardwood balconies), Sunset beach bar, open air restaurant with bar, activities bure, day spa, welcoming reception and for the value conscious, a new 14-room hotel (all with air conditioning).

The property is offering a special opening offer, which for FJD$4395 per bure includes: 5 nights’ accommodation in a Beachfront Bure, two 30 minute spa treatments, bottle of sparkling wine, and a FJD$250 food and drinks credit. For seven nights for FJD$6153 per bure and all meals are included.

HotelsWorld Australia New Zealand and Hotel Franchise World are set to be held in Sydney from July 23-25.

Part of Hotels Megameet 2013 – a series of five co-located and linked industry events over three days in Sydney and which include the 2013 Tourism Accommodation Australia (New South Wales) Awards for Excellence, the IT-based Ted’s Conference and Future Leaders Forum – the events are set to “bring together the accommodation industry’s leaders and those who want to listen to, meet, learn from and grow with them”, according to organiser John Smith of Horwath HTL.

He said working under a theme of ‘What’s New, What’s Next?’, the events will “deliver insight, ideas and networking through innovative event programs and quality speaker rosters, including key decision makers across the hotel, resort and serviced apartment sectors in the region and beyond”.

In its first year, Hotel Franchise World will review the rising importance of franchising as a means of facilitating new accommodation development and will feature sessions addressing the why, how and where of franchising, from both franchisor and franchisee perspectives.

The HotelsWorld program includes topics ranging from operating performance and management focus, through to development and investment related issues.

Smith said over 400 delegates are expected to attend HotelsWorld Australia New Zealand and Hotel Franchise World, which are being held at Hilton Sydney and will feature 65 speakers and over 50 sponsors, exhibitors and supporters.

HM is a supporting partner of HotelsWorld 2013.

The recent announcement by the Australian Government to implement a AUD$2000 cap on work-related self-education expenses would lead to a decline in skills in the events industry, disadvantaging Australia on the competitive global marketplace.

That’s the grim prediction from the Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) as it fights to have the policy overturned.

“We are deeply concerned this policy will affect the viability of PCO and Event Management businesses throughout Australia,” warned MEA Chief Executive Officer, Linda Gaunt.

“This policy will hinder an industry already threatening a skills shortage,” she added.

“Furthermore, it will adversely affect the competitiveness of Australian workers in the global marketplace.”

The Federal Government is set to introduce the $2000 cap on how much people can claim on work-related expenses on education from July this year.

In outlining the impact such a policy would have on the events, not-for-profit and education industries, the MEA listed the following concerns:
-Affect the viability of PCO and Event Management businesses throughout Australia;
-Severely impact the financial viability of non-profit organisations which provide work related educational programs for a fee;
-Impact the sustainability of the not for profit sector;
-Lead to a decline in the skills in the events industry, hindering an industry already threatening a skills shortage; and
-Adversely affect the competitiveness of Australian workers in the global marketplace.

The MEA has called on “concerned industry practitioners” to send in feedback as part of a strategy to have the policy overturned.

Kings Canyon Resort is celebrating the arrival of clear autumn skies and cooler temperatures with the re-launch of ‘Under a Desert Moon’, its signature outback dining experience.

Priced at AUD$99 and running from May 30 to October 31, Under a Desert Moon offers guests a gourmet dinner for two, with sparkling wine and canapés as the sun sets, followed by a four-course menu by firelight.

The menu will showcase a variety of modern Australian cuisine beginning with canapés such as braised crocodile bound in a honey mustard aioli or roasted asparagus spears wrapped in emu prosciutto.

This will be followed by a four-course menu, including sweet potato, ginger and coconut soup with fresh damper, barbecued Moreton Bay Bugs cooked over the open fire, mountain pepper crusted beef fillet followed by vanilla and lemon myrtle panna cotta with a lime mango puree.

The Under a Desert Moon experience will be hosted at the central fire pit at Kings Canyon Resort, offering an intimate setting with no more than six couples dining on any one night. This is the perfect way to relax after a day spent exploring Kings Canyon and Watarrka National Park.

“Kings Canyon is a beautiful destination, however the magic really starts when the sun sets, lighting up the deep reds and ochres of the Canyon range,” said Kings Canyon Resident Manager, Nigel Heath.

“The silence and space out here is breathtaking, and this is our way of rewarding guests with a very intimate and romantic special evening to mark the end of a day in the Canyon.”

The Outback BBQ and Grill at Kings Canyon Resort has also re-opened for the winter season.

Earlier this year, Kings Canyon Resort narrowly escaped being destroyed by a major bushfire.

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Go to ‘What’s New’ at www.innova-group.com.au or call 1800 333 611 and ask to see a sample.

Zed Sanjana has been appointed CEO of Quest as Executive Chairman Paul Constantinou steps-back.

Constantinou has been CEO and Chairman since he founded Quest Serviced Apartments 25 years ago and says the time is now right to step back and let a CEO guide the company during its next phase.

Sanjana has held the position of Quest’s General Manager since 2011 and Constantinou, who will remain as Executive Chairman, says he is the right man for the job.

He also said that due to the rapid expansion of the business over the last decade, it has become important to separate the roles of CEO and Executive Chairman.

“There comes a point in the life-cycle of every successful business when rapid growth means you must take stock and work out the best way for the business to move forward,” he said.

“This appointment will enable me to focus on the strategic direction and growth of the Quest Franchise Network, whilst Zed and his team oversee the day-to-day operational aspects of the business.

“We now have a network of more than 150 properties across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji – and we continue to grow at a rate that requires more than one person to manage the future of the business,” Constantinou said.

He said Quest is now in a strong position for Sanjana to confidently take over the reins.

“Zed Sanjana has been a crucial part of assembling a management team whom I am confident will continue to drive the ongoing growth and success of the Quest Group for Franchisees, Employees and all other stakeholders into the future,” he said.

Sanjana said he was looking forward to a new challenge.

“The Quest brand is already one of the strongest among business travellers,” he said. “My appointment now leaves Paul free to accelerate the company’s growth while I manage and balance the needs of our franchisees, employees and guests.”

The Queensland Court of Appeal decision to allow a motel’s appeal against a sex worker has come as a relief to the industry, according to the Accommodation Association of Australia.

The Association’s Chief Executive Officer, Richard Munro, said the ruling is likely to have broad positive consequences.

“While the focus of the decision was a motel in Moranbah in regional Queensland, there is a strong possibility that a number of other similar claims against accommodation businesses will now no longer proceed,” he said.

“This removes a lot of uncertainty for operators of accommodation businesses in Queensland – particularly in regional areas – and it means they can return to their principal aim of providing a tourism product that is of the highest possible standard.

“It has always been the position of the accommodation industry that the responsibility for making the decision about who is able to stay in tourism accommodation businesses should rest with the owner, operator, licensee or manager of the business.

“Pleasingly, the Queensland Government has a similar position which was demonstrated by the recent changes that were made to the state’s Anti-Discrimination Act.

“The swift action by the Attorney-General, Jarrod Bleijie, was a significant outcome for tourism and was warmly welcomed by our industry.”

Jetstar’s first Boeing 787 Dreamliner is set to be delivered to the low-cost carrier in September.

The news comes as the airline’s first Dreamliner, aircraft number 123 on the Boeing factory line, enters the final assembly phase.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the company was looking forward to introducing the revolutionary aircraft into Jetstar’s fleet.

“The Qantas Group fleet is now the youngest it has been in 20 years and the addition of these ultra fuel efficient 787s will help us deliver an even better standard of travel,” Joyce said.

“What Boeing has achieved with the design of this aircraft, in terms of comfort and economics, is absolutely game-changing for both passengers and airlines. There’s no doubt that it will be worth the wait.

“We are investing more than $100 million in infrastructure to support the Dreamliner including training facilities for our pilots and cabin crew, as well as equipment to maintain the aircraft – plus the jobs needed to support this infrastructure.”

Jetstar Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said Jetstar’s first 787 in September would be followed by a further two aircraft joining the fleet by the end of the year.

“Jetstar will be the first airline in Australia and New Zealand, and the first low cost carrier in Asia Pacific, to operate the Boeing 787,” she said. “Our customers are going to love it.

“The Dreamliners will operate to destinations like Honolulu, Phuket and Tokyo which are currently serviced by our A330 aircraft, and will deliver a quieter cabin, better air quality and larger windows.

“Melbourne is the home of Jetstar, and the 787 will be a very important part of our future, so there’s a great symmetry that parts of these aircraft are made locally.”

The Qantas Group has a total of 14 firm orders for the 787-8, to be delivered to Jetstar. A further 50 options and purchase rights for a mix of 787-8s and -9s are available from 2016.

Delivery of the 787-8s to Jetstar will see its existing A330s transferred to Qantas, following a refit of the cabins. This will then enable the progressive retirement of Qantas’ Boeing 767 fleet by mid-2015.

As Hrdlicka said, a number of parts on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner are made in Melbourne.

Boeing Aerostructures Australia produces the moveable trailing edge components of the 787’s trademark swept wings. The trailing edge is a key to the aircraft’s aerodynamics and helps increase lift capacity during take-off and landing.