W Melbourne Announcement Tops Hottest Travel News Out of Australia and New Zealand

Melbourne, Australia will be home to a luxury W Hotels Worldwide property by 2020 while Tourism New Zealand recently announced a new man at the helm. Travel Agent breaks down these stories and more as we give you the hottest travel news out of Australia and New Zealand

W Hotels to Open New Hotel in Melbourne by 2020

Melbourne, Australia will be home to a new, stylish W Melbourne property by 2020, according to a recent announcement by W Hotels Worldwide, a part of Marriott International.

To be located at 447 Collins Street, the hotel will be in the heart of the city’s trendy shopping and entertainment district, and will be part of the $1 billion AUD mixed-use luxury development, Collins Arch.

Offering 294 guest rooms, including 40 suites and an Extreme Wow Suite (think along the lines of a traditional Presidential Suite), the new property plans on fusing the brand’s signature "Whatever/Whenever"service and programs with Melbourne’s hip and historic setting.

Amenities of the property will include a vibrant bar and restaurant, an AWAY spa, a FIT workout facility andWET, an indoor, heated swimming pool. The hotel will also cater to those looking for a location for their next meeting or event, featuring nearly 13,000 square feet of modern conference, ballroom and meeting space.

The property plans on using a future, forward design, plus it’s signature amenities and a full calendar of "W Happenings," which will showcase what’s new in fashion, music and design to shake up Melbourne’s hospitality scene. Guests of the hotel will have access to the brand’s Whatever/Whenever service philosophy, which provides guests with virtually whatever they want, whenever they want it.

As part of the Collins Arch, the hotel will be near the arches two towers, which will comprise a mix of premium office, retail and commercial space, linked above by a residential bridge. Guests can access W Melbourne from multiple entry points across William Street, Market Street and Collins Street, with the "Living Room" (the brand’s take on the staid hotel lobby) and port cochere located on Flinders Lane.

If you can’t wait that long though, don’t worry, the expansion into Melbourne marks the second W Hotel coming to Australia, following the W Brisbane which is set to open in 2018. For an expanded Australian experience, visit both W Hotels in Australia, which are only located an hours flight away from each other.

Visit www.starwoodhotels.com

Tourism New Zealand Names Stephen England-Hall New CEO

Earlier this year, Tourism New Zealand Chair Kerry Prendergast recently announced the appointment of Stephen England-Hall to the position of CEO at Tourism New Zealand.

England-Hall will join Tourism New Zealand's Auckland office in April after three-years as CEO at Loyalty New Zealand. 

He has previous work experience in the United Kingdom and North America as chief marketing officer with Syncapse Corporation and CEO for Razorfish in London. Razorfish is Tourism New Zealand’s global media agency.

“He will be stepping into the organization at a time of significant growth and success," said Prendergast in a written release. "He inherits a high performing team successfully delivering integrated marketing communications that has supported the tourism industry to become New Zealand’s number one export earner."

The latest international visitor arrival figures show continued growth with total arrivals up 11.7 percent for the year ending November and another successful spring. The 2016 spring shoulder season growth was strong with a 16.1 percent increase in holiday arrivals across the September-November months.

The results come as the tourism industry heads into what promises to be the biggest New Zealand summer on record.

Earlier this year tourism was confirmed as New Zealand’s top export, pumping more than $14.5 billion into the economy and directly employing more than 188,000 people.

Visit www.newzealand.com

Ensemble's New Luxury Hotel Directory to Include the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney 

It was recently announced that several New Zealand and Australia luxury hotels were included in Ensemble Travel Group's 2017 "Art of Luxury" directory.

Ensemble’s 2017 collection includes a strategic increase of hotels and resorts in the South Pacific to serve the organization's recent membership growth in Australia and New Zealand. New additions include The Byron at Byron in Byron Bay, Australia; Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney and Azur Lodge in Queenstown, New Zealand.

The Art of Luxury showcases nearly 700 four-and five-star global properties, designed to help members boost their luxury travel bookings.

The Art of Luxury is available in both print and digital versions. Properties in Ensemble’s hotel program offer Ensemble guests a variety of benefits, sometimes including upgraded accommodations at check-in, early check-in and late check out, and Ensemble exclusive amenities like complimentary spa sessions, full daily breakfasts and welcome gift baskets.

Visit www.joinensemble.com and keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for all your latest travel news. Be sure to follow Travel Agent's Joe Pike on Twitter @TravelPike and Instagram @pike5260