Home Based Travel Agent - May 2008 - (Page 46)

Cover Story FOR THE AGENT Continued from page 45 A suite at the Observatory Hotel in the historic Rocks district Post Office on Martin Place, the hotel is surrounded by some of Sydney’s best restaurants, shops, theaters and nightlife. It’s also close to attractions like Darling Harbour, the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. For the best views of the city, book your clients into one of the Tower Rooms on the higher floors of the hotel’s 31-story tower; for the most comfortable accommodations, book a room in the Superior King category. Rooms in the Heritage Wing of the hotel—the former historic General Post Office building—have higher ceilings and all of the same amenities as the Tower Rooms. Travel agents can direct questions to Nina Pennisi, the hotel’s business development manager (6128223-1124, nina.pennisi@westin.com). The five-star Observatory Hotel (www.observatoryhotel.com.au) is in the historic Rocks district and near the Central Business District. The Rocks, the oldest area of Sydney, has recently undergone a rebirth of sorts, with the old district seeing the opening of vibrant new cafés and restaurants. Even as The Rocks is transformed, the city is taking measures to preserve the historic ambiance and character of the district. The Observatory Hotel, a member of the Orient-Express group of Hotels, Trains and Cruises, has 78 Deluxe Rooms, nine Junior Suites and 12 Executive Suites. The top-end Observatory Suite has a four-poster bed, fireplace and options to connect to four additional bedrooms. Another standout feature is the mahogany dining room table that seats eight. The Observatory Hotel’s signature restaurant is Galileo Restaurant, where Chef Haru Inukai prepares dishes that fuse traditional French and Japanese styles. The hotel’s general manager is Patrick Griffin (pgriffin@ observatoryhotel.com.au), and the chief concierge is Michael Anderson (concierge@observatoryhotel.com.au). Restaurants: Like any large city, Sydney is always seeing the addition of new restaurants. The Fat Olive is a new rustic, bistro-style Mediterranean/ Australian restaurant on Bondi Beach. Fat Olive showcases fresh and local produce paired with excellent Australian wines and specializing in a shared-plate atmosphere (164 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach, 02-9130-1440). Ivy Restaurants (www.merivale. com.au) comprises two restaurants in the The “Only in Sydney” package includes round-trip Economy Class airfare from Los Angeles to Sydney on Qantas Airways, seven nights’ accommodations in Sydney and a five-day Sydney Pass. Upsell options include Sydney Wildlife World, Bridgeclimb or Skywalk; a city tour; a lunch or dinner Sydney Harbour Cruise; a backstage Sydney Opera House tour; and a Rocks (historic area) walking tour. Packages and itineraries for all three cities are available on www.aussieweek.com. Selling Surfing: I had the chance to talk surfing with John O’Neill, the executive director and general manager of tourism for New South Wales, a region that will heavily promote surfing for the first time this year. “We’ll be targeting absolutely everybody,” said O’Neill. “We have 1,200 miles of surfing coast, with towns all along the way.” O’Neill notes that New South Wales has more than 30 accredited surf schools, which accounts for half the surf schools in the whole country. He also says that the surf demographic is larger than some might realize. Forty percent of the surf market is 25 to 45 years old and a rising trend is whole families learning to surf together. “We want to promote surfing to the extent that having a surf in Sydney is as much a part of a New South Wales vacation as diving the Great Barrier Reef,” O’Neill said. Visitors to Sydney will find it easy to hit the beach. Popular Bondi Beach is only about a 20-minute drive from the city center. Accommodations: The five-star Westin Sydney Hotel (www.westin. com.au/sydney) combines the best of two worlds, being both modern and steeped in history. Part of the redevelopment of Sydney’s historic General 46 Home-BasedTravelAgent MAY 2 0 0 8 http://www.aussieweek.com http://www.observatoryhotel.com.au http://www.westin.com.au/sydney http://www.westin.com.au/sydney http://www.merivale.com.au http://www.merivale.com.au

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Based Travel Agent - May 2008

Home Based Travel Agent - May 2008 Contents Editor’s Note: When It’s Just Not Worth It Publisher’s Note: Never Underestimate Your Lifeline: When Things Go Wrong, You May Need To Agent Spotlight: Odyssey Travel’s Michelle Duncan New Technology: Resources That Can Help You Quickly Industry News: Costa Names Field Sales Director Hot Deals: From the Caribbean to Canada and London Success Stories Independent Associations Southern Swing Mexico Dominican Republic Cover Story: Australia Family Trips Theme Tours New Products: Urban At Ease Laptop Messenger Bag

Home Based Travel Agent - May 2008

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