[ { "post_id": "478", "post_category_id": "2", "post_title": "Travellers passing through Melbourne Airport can now access short stays with use of amentities.", "post_content_short": "

Travellers passing through Melbourne Airport, Australia’s busiest 24\/7 hub, now have instant access to hourly hotel stays.<\/h3>\n
\nFollowing it's recent refurbishment, the PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport, the only hotel connected to the domestic and international terminals via a sky-bridge, is now offering short-stay hourly accommodation.. 
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\nBookable online or by phone, short stays at the hotel are available in three, five and eight-hour blocks, from $109, $119 and\n$149 respectively<\/strong>\n– significantly less than rooms at nightly rates.\n\n

\n\tWhether it’s to catch up on some sleep, freshen up or just chill for a few hours, travellers can access newly refurbished rooms with city\n\tor airport views, a 24-hour gymnasium, heated indoor pool, spa, sauna and steam room<\/strong>. \n\n

\n\tOther amenities include the modern Australian restaurant, Airo, the casual Airo Café for coffee and light snacks, and Airo Bar for boutique\n\tbeers, regional wines and specialty cocktails (and no doubt conversation with fellow flyers).\n\n

\n\tPARKROYAL Melbourne Airport<\/a><\/em> boasts\n\t276 rooms including eight suites and eight family rooms.
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\n\tLoyalty Program
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<\/strong>\nThe PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport participates in the GHA Discovery loyalty program<\/a><\/em>.\n
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\nOur thoughts
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<\/strong>The suites and family rooms are a great idea for families travelling at hours that little ones do not cope well with, or after long\ninternational flights with broken sleep, enabling you to refresh prior to moving on more refreshed. 
<\/strong>
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\nA room at the PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport
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\n<\/strong>", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/478\/ParkRoyal-Melbourne-exterior.jpg", "post_content_type": "none", "post_content_url": null, "post_date": "2024-02-16 23:00:00" }, { "post_id": "440", "post_category_id": "2", "post_title": "New study ranks 2023's best luxury hotel brands in the world", "post_content_short": "Mandarin Oriental (one of my personal favourite brands) was recently named the best luxury hotel brand in the world.Source: LTI — Luxury Travel Intelligence.
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\nOur congratulations to Mandarin Oriental  and all the nominees!<\/em>
\n
\nThere are rankings of the best hotels in the world, but this list, released by the members-only group LTI – Luxury Travel Intelligence,\nranks hotel brands rather than individual properties. The ranking analyses many hotels within a brand in “granular detail,” using more than\n100 “touch points” to evaluate “a brand’s ability to deliver,” ranging from its ethos to staff, according to a press release.
\n
\nWhen announcing the rankings, LTI noted that "Mandarin Oriental has always performed well in LTI's ratings. This year, they have\nimproved further across all our touch points, placing them at No1.
\n
\nIt is an engaging brand with a loyal and growing following, who appreciate its commitment to excellence"   (including us - it\nis a long-term favourite<\/em>),  "...the\nmuch-anticipated opening of their London Mayfair property<\/strong> could be a pivotal moment for them."
\n
\nLuxury Travel Intelligence memberships cost $700 per year and grant access to the group’s travel research. It doesn’t sell advertising,\nand research is independent and funded by subscriptions, according to its website.
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The best luxury hotel brands<\/strong>\n

\n\tMandarin Oriental was recently named the best luxury hotel brand in the world by LTI — Luxury Travel Intelligence. There are other\n\trankings of the best\n\thotels in the world<\/a>,\n\thowever,this list, released by the members-only group LTI – Luxury Travel Intelligence, ranks hotel brands rather than individual\n\tproperties.<\/strong>\n\tThe ranking analyzes many hotels within a brand in “granular detail,” using more than 100 “touch points” to evaluate “a brand’s ability to\n\tdeliver,” ranging from its ethos to staff, according to a press release. Luxury Travel Intelligence<\/a> memberships cost US$700 per year and grant access to the group’s travel research. It doesn’t sell advertising, and research is independent and funded by\n\tsubscriptions, according to its website.
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\n\t2023's best luxury hotel brands<\/strong>\n

Here are this year’s results, reflected as percentages, with last year’s positions in brackets:\n
    \n\t
  1. \n\t\tMandarin Oriental<\/strong><\/a>    81.4%\n\t\t(2)\n\t<\/li>\n\t
  2. \n\t\tOetker Collection<\/a><\/strong>    \n\t\t81.3% (6)\n\t<\/li>\n\t
  3. \n\t\tAuberge<\/a><\/strong>                    79.6%\n\t\t(4)\n\t<\/li>\n\t
  4. \n\t\tSix Senses<\/a><\/strong>                79.0%\n\t\t(1)\n\t<\/li>\n\t
  5. \n\t\tAman<\/strong>  <\/a>                      \n\t\t78.8% (5)\n\t<\/li>\n\t
  6. \n\t\tBelmond<\/a><\/strong>                  \n\t\t76.3% (8)\n\t<\/li>\n\t
  7. \n\t\tFour Seasons<\/strong><\/a>          \n\t\t76.1% (9)\n\t<\/li>\n\t
  8. \n\t\tOne&Only<\/a><\/strong>                \n\t\t75.1% (7)\n\t<\/li>\n\t
  9. \n\t\tRocco Forte<\/a><\/strong>              73.8%\n\t\t(11)\n\t<\/li>\n\t
  10. \n\t\tRosewood<\/a><\/strong>                \n\t\t72.1% (3)\n\t<\/li>\n\t
  11. \n\t\tPeninsula<\/a><\/strong>                  69.8%\n\t\t(New Entry)\n\t<\/li>\n\t
  12. \n\t\tRaffles<\/a><\/strong>                      68.5%\n\t\t(New Entry)\n\t<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \nMandarin Oriental took the top spot for the first time, — topping Oetker Collection by a very narrow margin, despite Ortker's  ranking\nrising by 4 places. Oetker Collection operates 12 hotels across the globe, including the icons     Le\nBristol <\/a>in\nParis, Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc<\/a> in\nAntibes, France, and The Lanesborough<\/a>, London.
    \n
    \nIn 2022, Six Senses was ranked No. 1, followed by Mandarin Oriental (No. 2) and Rosewood (No. 3). So two of last years leaders have fallen a\nsurprising number of spots - Six Senses has dropped 3 places and Rosewood has dropped 7 positions.
    \n
    \nAuberge Resorts Collection — ranked third on the list — operates hotels like     Mauna\nLani<\/a> in\nHawaii, The Lodge at Blue Sky <\/a>in Park City, Utah, and The\nVanderbilt<\/a> in\nNewport, Rhode Island. Those are just three of the 27 hotels and resorts under the Auberge brand.
    \n
    \nTwo well-known brands are new to the list this year: Peninsula Hotels and Raffles Hotels & Resorts.
    \n
    \n
    \nOther recognized brands<\/strong>
    \n
    \nLTI also highlighted other brands that it said “rated sufficiently” enough to be monitored. The brands are: 1 Hotels, Alila<\/strong>,\nAnantara, Banyan Tree<\/strong>, Como<\/strong>, Dorchester Collection<\/strong>, Firmdale, Jumeirah<\/strong>,\nLeela, Oberoi, Park Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton, Shangri-La, Soho House, Red Carnation<\/strong>, St. Regis, Taj, The Luxury Collection and\nViceroy.
    \n
    \nAdditionally, brands that have fewer than 10 properties — the minimum required to make the list — but were rated highly are: Airelles,\nAlthoff Collection, Bulgari, Capella<\/strong>, Cheval Blanc, JK Place, La Reserve<\/strong>, Maybourne, Montage, Nikki Beach,\nPendry, Soneva<\/strong>, Ultima Collection and Virgin Limited Edition.
    \n
    \nOur associated Travel Agency - Rewarding Travel has a preferred relationship status <\/em>with 10 of the top 12 brands and over half\nof the brands that rated special mentions. To see what makes them so special and how we can make your stay even more luxe at no\nadditional cost,<\/strong>\n    contact Rewarding Travel<\/strong><\/a> to discuss your preferences.
    \n
    \n
    \nThe scoring system<\/strong>
    \n
    \nLuxury Travel Intelligence uses an algorithm to assess hotel brands, which has a maximum of 4,663 points, said Crompton.
    \n
    \nThis year, it measured 130 “touch points,” evaluating factors like in-room dining, guests’ pre-arrival process and a brand’s social media\nengagement, Crompton told CNBC Travel. The group uses a points-based system to remove “inevitable emotiveness and personal opinion” from the\nranking, he said.
    \n
    \nCrompton also noted that brands’ investments — either in new hotels or in the renovation of existing ones — was a major factor this year.
    \n
    \nCrompton did not reveal how touch points are weighted, but said that “each year we tweak the touch points and the weighting.”\n

    <\/h1>\n.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/440\/Depositphotos_63143099_S.jpg", "post_content_type": "none", "post_content_url": null, "post_date": "2023-11-08 22:43:00" }, { "post_id": "434", "post_category_id": "2", "post_title": "ParkRoyal Melbourne receives major facelift", "post_content_short": "

    Located just a few steps from the MEL airport terminals, the hotel will soon unveil an ultra-modern redesign from floor to ceiling<\/h2>\nThe most upscale hotel at one of Australia’s major airports is undergoing a multi-million-dollar refurbishment to reflect Australian\nlifestyle and nature and aimed at transforming the ‘in-transit’ experience.
    \n
    \nThe work on Parkroyal Melbourne Airport is due for completion in December 2023<\/strong> and involves all 276 rooms, the lobby,\nrestaurant, café, bar and the meeting and events floor.
    \n
    \n“This refurbishment will elevate the experience for guests staying at the hotel, as well as those attending our myriad business events,”\nsaid Parkroyal Melbourne Airport General Manager, Cameron Mead.
    \n
    \nThe picture illustrates the new clean, contemporary look.
    \n
    \n“We are excited to welcome guests to discover our contemporary new interior design aesthetic which has been influenced by Melbourne’s unique\npersonality and inspired by diverse Victorian aerial landscapes, from the city’s grid-style urban planning to the organic form of the Yarra\nRiver.” 
    \n
    \nLocated just 30 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD and directly across the road from Melbourne Airport’s terminals, the property is the only hotel\ndirectly connected to the domestic and international terminals via an undercover pedestrian skybridge.
    \n
    \nOnsite amenities include modern Australian restaurant Airo, the Airo Café and Airo Bar, which offers boutique beers, regional wines and\nspecialty cocktails.
    \n
    \nA fully equipped 24-hour fitness centre, heated indoor lap pool, spa, sauna and steam room further enhance the guest experience.
    \n
    \nEvery piece of furniture will be custom designed using plush fabrics alongside luminous metal finishes in the newly refurbished rooms. To\nimprove functionality, luggage access, hanging space and the minibar offering will all be enhanced.
    \n
    \n
    ", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/434\/Parkroyal-Melbourne-Airport-familysuite.jpg", "post_content_type": "none", "post_content_url": null, "post_date": "2023-10-22 05:30:00" }, { "post_id": "400", "post_category_id": "2", "post_title": "GHA launches loyalty partnership with Regent Seven Seas | Triple rewards for limited time", "post_content_short": "

    Members of the GHA Discovery Program can earn elite status by sailing with one of the world’s leading luxury cruise lines.<\/h2>\nIn an interesting development, Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands, has entered a loyalty\npartnership with luxury cruise line Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Regent), which offers access to 500+ ports of call around the globe.
    \n
    \nThis follows the recent trend of luxury hotel chains launching their own luxury cruise lines (Aman, Belmond, Four Seasons, Accor's\nOrient-Express, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Club and Virgin Voyages), although only 3 currently have ships sailing.
    \n
    \nGHA DISCOVERY members, who have access to 800 hotels, resorts and palaces operated by 40 hotel brands in 100 countries, are rewarded with\nthe program’s rewards currency, DISCOVERY Dollars (D$1 equal to US$1<\/strong>).
    \n
    \nThrough this exclusive partnership, the program’s members will now enjoy the additional benefit of earning DISCOVERY Dollars by\nreserving a voyage with Regent <\/strong>and\nwill be able to redeem those benefits in any GHA hotel, resort or palace,<\/strong> but not to book cruises or while sailing <\/strong>onboard <\/strong>Regent\nSeven Seas Cruises ships.
    \n
    \nBenefits for GHA DISCOVERY members<\/u><\/strong>\n