Luxe boom an untapped travel market in Aus
NSW is enjoying a growth in luxury travellers looking to visit, but it sitting around and waiting for them won’t achieve anything.
According to Destination NSW’s ceo Sandra Chipchase, despite NSW cranking up its luxe factor, in order to capitalise on a burgeoning travel market, tourism operators need to offer ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experiences for time-poor visitors.
“We know that international luxury travellers are looking for an ‘experience of a lifetime’ and spend around 3.7 nights in luxury accommodation during their stay in our state,” she said.
“While their stay in high-end properties may be short, they ensure their break is a memorable one.”
The luxury travel business is booming, worth a whopping $1.4 billion and accounting for 23% of international visitors to the state in 2014.
Originating mostly from China, USA, UK, Korea and New Zealand, these travellers are looking for world-class restaurants, gourmet wine and produce, and unique experiences and events.
“Luxury tourism operators in NSW have responded by providing a suite of impressive accommodation and experiences,” Chipchase added.
“From celebrity-favourite Byron Bay in the north of the State, to the natural beauty of Lord Howe Island and the luxury of glamorous Sydney, there is an experience to tempt all luxury travellers.”
When it comes to luxury products on offer in NSW, the state boasts a diverse range of products including The Langham Sydney, The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa, One and Only’s Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa and Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Park Hyatt, which all are currently getting amongst things in Tourism Australia’s ATE conference alongside Destination NSW.
Some of the NSW’s best luxury products on offer to domestic and international luxe lovers include:
The Langham Sydney
Fresh out of a refurb, and topping the charts in the Robb Report ‘Top 100 Hotels of the World’, this hotel prides itself providing a home away from home for its guests, with oversized guestrooms, pet-friendly suites and services and a $1 million art collection with works from Sidney Nolan, Andrew Browne, Albert Tucker and Brett Whiteley.
Pretty Beach House
Just 90 minutes from Sydney CBD, this hotspot offers four luxurious private pavilions and Main House on 7.5 acres of oceanside bushland in Bouddi National Park.
The property boasts an artisan-created interior with fine French porcelain, European linens and even hand-hewn mud bricks. Guests enjoy a daily menu of seasonal Italian cuisine under the direction of chef Stefano Manfredi.
Sepia
Sydney CBD’s Sepia has just been named top restaurant in the Australian Financial Review’s ‘Top 100 Restaurants’ as well as being named ‘restaurant to watch’ on S.Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurant List.
The accolade is the next step in Sepia’s remarkable rise including winning The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide award for Restaurant of the Year in 2015.
In March, Sepia undertook a well-received ‘takeover’ of New York’s legendary Le Bernardin restaurant, placing Sepia firmly on the international culinary radar.
Sydney Seaplanes
Based at Rose Bay, Sydney Seaplanes are the quintessential luxury lover’s transport to and from an elite group of glamorous properties.
Take off from the water for a trip along the northern beaches to dine at Jonah’s Whale Beach, the only hotel that is part of the Relais & Chateaux collection in Sydney, or fly to Berowra Waters Inn, one of Australia’s most famous gastronomic destinations, on the Berowra River.
Penthouses
Sydney has some fabulous penthouses such as Sydney Suite at the waterfront Park Hyatt. From this 350sqm super-suite, the panorama from the floor-to-ceiling glass walls is impressive, and that’s before we mention the indoor/outdoor dining for up to eight people, a fully equipped kitchen, five TVs, a sauna and steam room, fireplace, and 24-hour butler service.
In addition to four and five star properties, visitors to NSW can also enjoy high-end events and experiences throughout the year including:
- HANDA Opera on Sydney Harbour, a spectacular annual event where an internationally renowned opera is performed outdoors with Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House as its backdrop
- Matilda The Musical, a multi-award winning musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company, inspired by the beloved book by the incomparable Roald Dahl, will have its Australian premiere in Sydney from July
- In 2015 the Emirates Australian Open will return to the prestigious Australian Golf Club from November 26 – 29. The Australian Open is Australia’s most prestigious golf championship, has a rich, century old history and the one event every player wants to win.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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