The hottest item on hotel room service menus, plus more travel news

THE O-EFFECT

AUSTRALIAN tourism operators may well have been cheering the loudest when Oprah Winfrey announced her five-city speaking tour Down Under in December. The first time the US talk show host visited Australia in 2010, the impact was dramatic. Information provided by Expedia.comrevealed searches for Australian hotels by American travellers increased 40 per cent in late 2010. Package holiday searches also soared by an eye-popping 163 per cent in the wake of Oprah’s visit to Sydney Harbour, Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef. This time Oprah will leave her American audience at home, but the publicity generated by the tour is tipped to be invaluable for Australian tourism. Her first show is in Melbourne on December 2, followed by Adelaide (December 4), Perth (December 7), Brisbane (December 10) and Sydney on December 12. Oprah will then trip across the ditch to Auckland for a final show on December 16. Tickets start at $99.90 through Ticketek.

FROZEN IN TIME

FIREWORKS and midnight pashes cannot really compete with this New Year’s Eve offer. Antarctica Flights has chartered a Qantas 747 to carry revellers to one of the world’s most difficult to reach destinations on December 31. Accessible only to Australians, the day flight over the pristine white landscape of Antarctica takes in icebergs, coastal cliffs, glaciers and the spectacular mountain ranges of Earth’s southernmost continent. As well as the incredible views, passengers will enjoy celebratory drinks with dinner and an on-board jazz band. The flight from Melbourne takes about four hours to reach the South Magnetic Pole, then descends over the coast near the French research base at Dumont d’Urbille, before continuing to Cape Hudson and Cape Washington. Fares start from $1199 for economy, climbing to $7999 for “Ice” class. As well as the New Year’s Eve trip, other flights are scheduled from Sydney on February 7, and out of Melbourne on Valentine’s Day, February 14.

SEXY SOUVENIRS

THE Australian dollar may not stretch as far in some overseas destinations but that’s not likely to affect one area of travel expenditure. Research undertaken by the InterContinental Hotel Group has revealed for those travelling abroad, souvenirs remain of considerable importance. Seven out of 10 travellers still buy souvenirs on holidays for partners, family and themselves. And we are not talking tacky clip-on kiwis and plastic Statue of Liberty figurines. Most travellers want a “cultural experience” when looking for souvenirs and tend to source items from markets and landmarks rather than the airport or a shopping mall. The research found the most popular souvenir was food, followed by art and antiques. Australians were among the biggest spenders on souvenirs shelling out up to $130, compared with $54 on average. And younger travellers tended to be more likely to bring home a holiday memento, than those aged over 45.

KID MAGNET

GONE are the days when hotels frowned upon guests with kids in tow. Now families are being offered all sorts of incentives to bring the children, from kids’ clubs and specially tailored menus, to this latest offering from Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. The operators of Le Meridien Hotels have partnered with the LEGO group to provide all junior guests with a complimentary Welcome Amenity upon check-in. Just in time for the summer family travel season, kids up to 12 will be greeted with a free LEGO toy to enjoy during their stay, and take home as a keepsake from their travels. Le Meridien senior vice-president Brian Povinelli said the partnership with LEGO encouraged families to “unlock their destination through imaginative free play, strengthening bonds and creating memories”. “The LEGO amenity sets the tone for this upon arrival at our hotels,” he said. Le Meridian has 136 properties worldwide, although none in Australia.

FRANCE ON FOOT

THE Tour de France is no longer just for cyclists. Travellers can now trace the route of the famous cycling race on foot, in a seven-day trek through Cotes du Rhone and the foothills of Mont Ventoux. Although the most gruelling parts of the journey have been amended, walkers can still build up a hearty appetite for the region’s gourmet food and wine. Starting in the medieval village of Venasque, the walk takes in fine views of Mont Ventoux without the thigh burning agony experienced by Tour de France competitors. Day two travels through Malemort du Comtat with its 12th century church, and on to Mazan, Crillon le Brave and Le Barroux. The fifth and sixth days have the steepest climb along the rocky peaks of Dentelles de Montmirail, finishing up in Vaison. Anyone booking before October 31 will pay $1841 which includes seven nights’ accommodation, all breakfasts, five evening meals and five picnic lunches, plus all luggage transfers between hotels. The self-guided trek is of a medium to hard difficulty with four to seven hours of walking a day. Visitwww.onfootholidays.co.uk

BURGER BOOM

BURGERS are among the most popular items on any room service menu and a new recipe devised for ibis hotels, promises to be a winner. Called the ibis Boomer Burger, the meal features a 90 per cent grain-fed, lean Angus beef patty packed with chorizo and toasted fennel seeds, topped with lettuce, tomato, beetroot, aged Australian cheddar, homemade smoky barbecue sauce on a freshly baked buns. Perhaps best of all, is the side of chips and onion rings that are air-fried rather than deep-fried to ensure plenty of crunch without the greasiness. The burgers can be pre-ordered for just $14 when booking a room at an ibis economy hotel, or bought at the in-house restaurant. Chief Operating Officer for AccorHotels Pacific, Simon McGrath told Check-Out burgers had become one of the hottest food trends, and were a must for the highly sought after “millenials” market. Creator, chef Tharaka Sooriyaarachchi from ibis Sydney Airport said it was the special blend of chorizo and fennel seeds in the beef patty, that set the Boomer Burger apart.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

ONE of the highlights of the annual show calendar is the National 4 x 4 Outdoors Show, Fishing and Boating Expo, which is taking over the Melbourne Showgrounds on the weekend of August 21 to 23. With free entry for children under 15, the show boasts over 200 exhibitors spread over more than 30,000 square metres. As well as interactive hands-on activities, demonstrations, campfire cooking shows and a 4WD proving ground, the popular Action Arena has a line-up a mile long. There’s monster trucks and fireworks, Syco Sam the rollover truck and the gravity-defying boys from Defy FMX. The Tackle World Fishing Stage will host the Yarra Valley Fly Fishing Team, providing big and little anglers with advice on how to cast and fly fish like a pro. There’s also a reptile awareness area in the Grand Pavilion, and a Kids Terrain outdoor area with activities such as bungee trampolines, rock climbing, dodgems and an inflatable obstacle course. Those over 15 will pay $18 entry, or $30 for two-days. www.4x4show.com.au

Source: The Daily Telegraph, Robyn Ironside, 3^rd August 2015
Originally published as: The hottest item on hotel room service menus, plus more travel news