Northstar

NEWS www.travelweeklyweb.com Christmas at Sydney with Orient-Express SYDNEY – An elegant base for exploring central Sydney, The Observatory Hotel located in the historic Rocks District of Sydney, is offering a Christmas package for two priced at A$1,152 (US$1,123) per room per night for those planning a trip 'Down under' this holiday season. Available for December 24 and 25 arrivals, the promotion includes a six-course Christmas lunch for two with welcome champagne and entertainment, daily breakfast, and accommodation in a Deluxe City View Room. Owned and managed by Orient-Express, The Observatory Ho t el has the wa rmth an d atmosphere of a grand Australian home, luxuriously furnished with Australian antiques, oil paintings and fi ne tapestries. Inspired by the historic Elizabeth Bay House, and named after the nearby Sydney Observatory, The Observatory Hotel was designed by leading architect Philip Cox to blend in with the 19th Century buildings of Millers Point, in the Rocks District of Sydney. The 100 deluxe rooms and sui tes of fer charming views of Obser vatory Hi ll and his toric Walsh Bay. To capture the hearts of younger guests, The Observatory Hotel also offers special touches just for children, from resident 'fairy godmother' nannies to check- in treats, complimentary teddy bears, special meals, Gameboys and Playstations. Youngsters staying over Christmas are also treated to a gingerbread house with their name on it, piped in icing. Anantara opens with seven new resorts in 2011 BANGKOK – Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, a leading developer and operator of luxury hotels , resorts and spas, is expanding its portfolio across Asia, the Indian Oceana and the Middle East to encompass 50 properties within the next fi ve years. The group current ly boasts seven thriving resorts in Thailand, two in the Maldives, one in Bali and two Middle East addi t ions (12 in total), and enthusiastically anticipates the debut of seven new resorts in China, the Maldives, Bali, "We've come a long way since our first resort opening in 2001," said Peter Carmichael, senior vice president, Anantara. "As we move into our tenth anniversary year we will open seven stunning new resorts that will offer guests luxury and tranquility in surroundings that are culturally and environmentally uplifting. "As we continue to expand, our Oman and the UAE by the end of 2011. Such growth ref lects a 60 percent expansion of the portfolio in existing and new markets. Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket is launched PHUKET – Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket, a newly-built resort property at Karon Beach on the island of Phuket is now open for business. Designed in a colonial style with Sino- Portuguese architecture, the hotel is the only one at Karon to be set directly at the edge of the sand, the rest of the existing properties being on the other side of the beach road. Leisure facilities include a spectacular waterpark that leads onto the beach and features four separate swimming pools, two of which are for adults only and one of which is a 6 | ■ TRAVELWEEKLY ASIA | 30 NOVEMBER 2010 children's pool. This ensures that adults and families each have their own facilities for relaxing, and to make sure that families and their youngsters enjoy the resort to the fullest there is Centara's signature brand Kids' Club to provide supervised activities both for the very young and for teenagers. This brand new resort features 262 guestrooms and villas, with 126 Deluxe rooms, 63 Deluxe Spa rooms, 45 Deluxe Pool Suites, 18 Luxury Pool Suites, six One-Bed Pool Villas and four Two-Bed Pool Villas. www.travelweeklyweb.com initial goal of providing a unique and authentic destination experience for all our guests will always remain the same."

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