News in Brief: Thursday May 15
![News in Brief: Thursday May 15](https://thenibbler.com.au/wp-content/themes/bandtv1/img/default.png)
Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) was awarded Travel Partner of the Year at the btTB travel management awards.
This award recognises the contribution made by a provider with a client, with CWT acknowledged for its strong partnership with the NSW Government.
The recent visit of two celebrity families to our shores is expected to further fuel interest in Australia as a travel destination, says Tourism Australia.
The two visits – first by the cast and crew of American sitcom Modern Family and then the more recent visit by the royal British couple – generated enormous international exposure for Australia, which is hoped to translate into more international guests visiting.
Currently the US and UK are Australia’s fourth and third largest international visitor markets, together accounting for more than one sixth of all international arrivals, which are jointly worth $5m annually in visitor spending.
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge in Tanzania now offers visitors a choice of three walking adventures in addition to game drives conducted on the floor of Ngorongoro Crater.
The walks range from full-day to half-day walks, and all are led by experienced &Beyond guides.
Wyndham Hotel Group has appointed Warren Cullum as general manager to oversee Australia’s first TRYP-brand hotel which opens in July in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley,.
The TRYP (pronounced trip) hotel is a 65-room, four storey hotel which upon completion will boast a ground floor restaurant, executive meeting room and one of Brisbane’s largest rooftop bars.
In keeping with the "hip and youthful" tone of the TRYP brand, the hotel is also set to feature street art by world famous artists Magee, Rone and Beastsman.
The recent opening of OZO Colombo on Marine Drive in Sri Lanka is the first of three hotels set to open in the country.
The OZO Colombo places an emphasis on sleep with their ‘Snooze Zone’ comprising of four categories: Sleep, Dream, Dream Ocean and Ozo Suites, across 158 guest rooms and suites.
Each room features free WiFi, IPTV and multimedia connectivity, while the hotel itself features ‘Splash’, a swimming pool that overlooks the Indian Ocean, ‘ON14’ a rooftop bar and lounge and meeting room ‘Aqua’ which can accommodate 220 guests for cocktail receptions, conferences, product launches or weddings.
The Keeping Australia Meeting webinar series will present a live webcast on how to plan and deliver hybrid conferences and events, for both live and online presentations.
The webcast presented by Sara Gonzalez and Michael Bunker from Redback Conferencing, will guide viewers through how to plan for and create the event as well as hints on audience engagement and the benefits of an online audience.
The complimentary webinar will be on Thursday 22 May at 1.30-2.30pm (AEST). Register at www2.redbackconferencing.com.au/PCO
Staging Connections has collaborated with InterContinental Adelaide to create Adelaide’s first digital ballroom.
Both companies worked together to design and construct the digital conversion of the ballroom. The cutting-edge event venue surpasses industry standards, complete with five permanently installed projectors, motorised screens, an all fibre-optic vision system and a fully digital audio system.
Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai has launched a new program allowing guests to get up close and personal with South African Fur Seals.
The Sea Lion Discovery experience allows people to join the seals in waist deep water as they perform a number of behaviours including whiskery kisses and a cuddle.
Sessions are available twice daily and cost AED 495 (AUD $144) for inhouse guests and AED 595 (AUD $173) for visitors. Participants must be over the age of 6.
The latest addition to the Ultimate Winery Experience of Australia is The Lane Vineyard in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia. One of the newest in Australia, the winery is known for its single vineyard wines.
The Lane offers tours and wine experiences ranging from a 1.5 hour A Sense of Place Tour and Tasting for $100 per person, to a two-day Adelaide Hills Ultimate Country Escape for $1,340 per person.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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