blog.rydges.com
Welcome to blog.rydges.com - an informal place to read and post comments on travel, hospitality & leisure news and events. Written by a global team of hoteliers, technologists and marketers, we hope you enjoy your visit and contribute by adding your comments on any of the blog posts below
Less Seats = Better Flights? blog.rydges.com



There is an article on MSNBC this morning about flying this holiday season.

“It’s remarkable how resilient leisure travelers have been through all this.” Even with higher fares, he says, many carriers are reporting that fourth-quarter bookings are ahead of expectations, which, he adds, “is translating into some very sizable increases in unit revenues. It’s a reflection of people’s understanding that there are just fewer seats out there.”

Fewer seats mean that people pay more, but perhaps the flying experience will be a bit less painless. Here's hoping...

posted by Heather at 2.03 AM   0 comments
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Rydges Announces Green Globe Hotels Have you noticed how many hotels have become eco-friendly? Today, it seems that almost every hotel chain has some sort of “green” to it, whether it offers a simply recycling program or is actually constructed entirely from recycled or sustainable materials. Additionally, today’s modern traveler is not just thinking about the spa and the restaurant at the hotel, but is also considering whether or not a hotel is considered eco-friendly before booking.

Rydges is proud to offer two hotels that are Green Globe Bronze Benchmarked Hotels - Rydges Lakeland Resort Queenstown and Capitol Square Hotel in Sydney. What does this mean, you ask? The Green Globe program helps organizations address the major environmental challenges facing our planet today. They specifically address these key performance areas:

•Reduction in green house gas emissions
•Energy efficiency, conservation and management
•Reduction in the consumption of fresh water and resources
•Ecosystem conservation and management
•Support for local community development
•Improved management of social and cultural issues
•Improved land use planning and management
•Improved air quality and noise reduction
•Improved waste water management
•Waste minimization, reuse and recycling

These two hotels were painstakingly reviewed on a number of factors including energy consumption, paper product and cleaning product use, community commitment and waste disposal. Both have earned the right to display the Green Globe Benchmarked logo. Congratulations to both properties!


tags: Green Globe Green hotels Rydges hotels posted by Heather at 6.31 AM   0 comments
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Visit Australian Wineries If you are anything like your resident blogger, you might enjoy a nice glass of wine or two. I love Australian wine and I find myself choosing it more than any other. In fact, some of my favorite brands have vineyards all across Australia. With the price of airfare rising and the amount of flights being canceled increasing, I think a road trip to a few different vineyards sounds like a fantastic way to spend a weekend. Usually, one can visit wineries, participate in complimentary tastings, and walk away with a great, inexpensive bottle.

For instance, the original Penfolds winery is found in the Adelaide region on the Magill Estate. The original Shiraz vines were planted here over 55 years ago.

Australia’s only family-owned winery is Yalumba, a staple in Australian wine for the last 150 years. The winery takes a holistic approach to their wine practices and focuses on environmental preservation.

Yellow Tail Wines are synonymous with great flavor as well as great value. The 540-acre vineyard is located in the Riverina, Griffith region of Australia. The brand is most often recognized by the Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby on the label.

There are tons of other wineries in Australia, and this post just names a few. Get out there, do some exploring, and visit some of these wineries. It’s a great way to spend a day or two, and is usually a very value-savvy adventure.
tags: Australia posted by Heather at 7.34 AM   0 comments
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World Youth Day 2008 has kicked off in Sydney! blog.rydges.com

Masses of pilgrims from across the globe have descended upon Sydney to catch a glimpse of his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI in our own backyard.

Draped in their countries flags and colours, the pilgrims are doing just as much sight-seeing as religious activities during their stay in Sydney. And they’re not being quiet about it!

The activity of the youth has created an enthusiastic, unifying vibe throughout the CBD – a collective feeling not experienced since the Sydney Olympics.

The hordes of energized young people (numbers estimated to be over 125,000) will be visiting various parts of Sydney over the coming days to attend WYD affiliated events including: the Papal Motorcade through Sydney CBD streets on Thursday the 17th of July as well as a re-enactment of the last moments of Jesus' life - kicking off at St Mary's Cathedral and finishing in the Domain on Friday the 18th.
tags: world youth day 2008 wyd08 sydney world youth day world youth day activities whats on in sydney posted by at 4.42 PM   0 comments
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Rydges Sabaya Resort on YouTube Take a look at the newly renovated Rydges Sabaya Resort Video Tour on YouTube:
tags: Rydges Sabaya Port Douglas posted by Dave at 1.27 AM   0 comments
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Hotel bookings in the palm of your hand blog.rydges.com

We're happy to announce the launch of our new mobile booking engine that we're simply calling m.rydges.com

The system allows any mobile device that can browse the Internet to find a hotel and book a room. We then send you an SMS with your confirmation number.

Just go to http://m.rydges.com on your mobile phone and follow the prompts. On your normal web browser if you type in http://m.rydges.com you can see more information about the service.

Hope you like it, and please post any feedback on this new product here on the blog to help us improve the service.
tags: mobile hotel mobile phone blackberry booking engine posted by stefan at 3.53 PM   1 comments
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Experience the Great Barrier Reef with QuickSilver blog.rydges.com


Up in Tropical North Queensland, the QuickSilver Group offers a great opportunity to explore the Great Barrier Reef. I had the opportunity to interview a tour conductor with Quicksilver and was able to find out some insider info for those planning a vacation up north. Here's a look at the interview:


D: To start off, what type of tours does your company specialize in the Queensland/Great Barrier Reef area?


Q: The Quicksilver Group is the largest Great Barrier Reef Cruise operator in Tropical North Queensland and offers the widest range of Great Barrier Reef experiences.

Our operations are based in Port Douglas and Cairns and we really do have an experience suited to everyone, making sure their visit to this living natural wonder is an extraordinary one. We offer spectacular outer reef cruises, tropical island escapades, luxury sailing, dive and snorkel adventures, live aboard dive trips and even a tropical island resort.

Each day, we travel to the renowned Agincourt reef, a magnificent ribbon reef on the very edge of Australia’s Continental Shelf. Here the water visibility and biodiversity are among the very best on the reef. Guests can explore the reef from the comfort of a semi-submersible, an underwater observatory, or by snorkeling and diving in beautiful coral gardens.

All of our tours are accredited with Advanced Ecotourism Certification ensuring that our visitors can gain an appreciation of the world heritage environment we visit, and are custodians of.


D: What is the best time of year to visit the Great Barrier Reef? Are there parts of the Great Barrier Reef that are available all year long?


Q: Our cruises operate 365 days of the year to our dedicated reef and island sites. The warm waters of Tropical North Queensland, with temperatures ranging from 22-29 Celsius (72-85 Fahrenheit), make for year round enjoyment and diving comfort. If for any reason that a Quicksilver cruise doesn’t operate, we gladly offer a full refund or an alternative day of travel.

Generally, peak times for visitors to the region are from May through to December. Ours is a tropical climate and rather than four distinct seasons, we experience two seasons, the wet and dry season. The wettest months, which are quite spectacular and add to the tropical ambience, are generally from January to March. This is a time when the region’s waterfalls cascade and the rainforests are greener than green!


D: For visitors who only have a short amount of time to visit the Great Barrier Reef, what are the must-see spots?


Q: A day trip with Quicksilver to Agincourt reef is a must-see as this renowned reef is amongst the most pristine on the Great Barrier Reef. This is a cruise that is suited for all ages, swimmers and non-swimmers. Especially great for divers traveling with non-diving companions as they can enjoy certified diving while their companions enjoy activities from the platform.

For a totally different experience there is a luxury sailing day to Low Isles, an idyllic coral island, ideal for those who really want to experience island relaxation.

To the other extreme, those who like a bit of adventure would be well suited for a day on our custom-designed dive and snorkel boats (Silver Series) that have roaming permits to visit three different sites each day, with each site chosen for visual and ecological diversity.


D: Do you offer any special deals or packages to guests staying with Rydges? If so, which properties do you work with?


Q: Yes our Quicksilver Outer Barrier Reef Cruise is packaged with Rydges. Any one of our day cruises can also be booked during guests’ stays with the Rydges at any of their properties in Cairns and Port Douglas.

Like Rydges' website, our quicksilver-cruises.com website is extremely popular with visitors, and provides a great window into the adventures available on the Great Barrier Reef, including online videos, daily image galleries and biobits.
tags: Quicksilver Tours Queensland Travel posted by Dave at 9.52 AM   0 comments
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Wolverine Spotted at Rydges Campbelltown The famous X-Man, Hugh Jackman, was recently spotted at the Rydges Campbelltown Sydney, where he stayed while he was filming his newest feature film, "Wolverine". Unlike his tough on-screen persona, Rydges Campbelltown General Manager Jo Acott said Jackman was "very down to earth, a nice, unassuming man." As it turns out, Jackman wasn't the only star staying at the hotel, the staff also got to know Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds, & Dominic Monaghan (of LOST fame), who all will star in the new film, set for release in 2009. tags: Rydges Campbelltown Wolverine posted by Dave at 8.56 AM   0 comments
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Rydges launches online check in an Australian first Here's the official press release going out tomorrow about our new webcheck-in service:
Rydges Hotels and Resorts today launched the easiest and most convenient hotel check in process in the world – web check-in. Web check-in allows Rydges Priority Guests to check in over the internet from anywhere in the world.

Managing Director, Norman Arundel, said, “Australians have been fast on the uptake of web check in for flights so it seemed the next step to bring this ease and convenience to Rydges Hotels and Resorts.”

For Rydges guests, checking in on line has eliminated a number of steps for tired travelers wanting to get to their hotel room and relax or freshen up for a meeting or function.

This new service allows guests to check in at the same time they make their reservation on Rydges.com. When the guest arrives at the hotel, they simply present their Rydges PriorityGUEST card and they are handed their room key.

Norman Arundel said, “Guests being welcomed by friendly staff will continue to be a hallmark of Rydges hospitality, so you can be assured we've kept the human element as part of this new service, we've just removed the paper work , the queues and importantly, the hassle.

This technology is just one of the ways Rydges is making life easier for guests.

Rydges Hotels and Resorts are continuing to evolve the brand, introducing new product and service standards to give guests more and more choice.
tags: web check-in ecommerce website posted by stefan at 6.06 PM   0 comments
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hotel web check in now available

Ok so I know we don't often use this blog to talk about our lastest releases but this one we're really happy with.

We've just launched webcheck-in across the group for Rydges PriorityGUEST members.

So when you're booking on www.rydges.com you can now tick a webcheck-in checkbox and we'll check you in automatically.

Then just rock up, show your RPG member card and we'll have your room key already prepared for you - no need to queue or fill in one of those registration cards.

Hope you like the new functionality - let us know if you have any comments, we'd love to hear some feedback.
tags: web check-in ecommerce website posted by stefan at 2.28 PM   0 comments
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Rydges Port Douglas Welcomes New Executive Chef Rydges is proud to welcome a brand new Executive Chef, Mr. Lance Seeto, to the Sakinah House Restaurant at the Rydges Port Douglas. Bringing over 20 years of experience in the hospitaliy industry, Seeto has previously worked at the Cable Beach Club in Broome and the Ayers Rock Resort in the Northern Territory. He brings a unique approach to resort dining by using local produce, helping to make the experience more authentic for travelers. Come sample Seeto's culinary talents at the Sakinah House, where you can enjoy local produce, seafood, and meats from the Tablelands, Great Barrier Reef & Rainforest regions. tags: Rydges Port Douglas Port Douglas Dining posted by Dave at 8.36 AM   0 comments
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Rydges Capricorn Family Friendly Resort Recently, the Rydges Resort Capricorn Resort in Yeppoon was nominated as one of the Top 10 Family Friendly Resorts in Australia 2008 by "Holidays with the Kids" Magazine. Selections are made from a wide variety of categories which include activities and facilities for kids, staff hospitality, childcare and babysitting services, quality of accommodation, location, accessibility, safety, fun for the entire family, value for money and overall experience. Come experience a relaxing Queensland vacation with Rydges, and take advantage of great special rates at the Rydges Capricorn. tags: Rydges Capricorn Family Vacations Queensland posted by Dave at 8.17 AM   0 comments
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National Multicultural Festival in Canberra This February, enjoy all the festivities of the National Multicultural Festival in Canberra, a 10 day celebration of the world's cultures. Taking place from the 8th to the 17th, this festival gives you the unique opportunity to experience a wide variety of people and places without ever leaving Australia. For example, experience cultures as wide-ranging as Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Ghana, India, Mexico, Turkey, & more in dance, theatre, musical, comedy, film, and art exhibitions. Help plan out your next global travel adventure at the Rydges Lakeside Canberra, just a stone's throw from all of the festivities. tags: National Multicultural Festival Rydges Lakeside Canberra posted by Dave at 7.29 AM   0 comments
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Celebrate Valentine's Day with Rydges This Valentine's Day, let us help make yours one to remember. Whether you're celebrating with a special someone or even if you like to consider February 14th "Singles Apppreciation Day", you can take advantage of unbeatable rates through our PriorityGUEST program. Our unique Valentine's deal includes a full breakfast for two, chocolates & sparkling wine, and a late check-out at 3pm. tags: Valentine's with Rydges Valentine's Day posted by Dave at 3.22 AM   0 comments
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Eagle Hawk Resort $3 Million Renovation Complete Just recently, the Rydges Eagle Hawk Resort completed a $3 million renovation. On top of comprehensive upgrades to all accommodation rooms, public areas, and conference facilities, the foyer and entrance have had significant updates. As for the conference facilities, Eagle Hawk Resort's brand new carpet, curtains, paint, sound-proof walls, lighting sytems, and air conditioning systems have made the property one of the leading conference hotels in Canberra. If you're planning a business trip to Canberra soon, or even if you're just travelng for leisure, take a look at these special travel deals. tags: Eagle Hawk Resort Renovation Canberra Hotels posted by Dave at 9.28 AM   2 comments
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Australia Day Weekender in Cairns blog.rydges.com

This Australia Day, celebrate up in Tropical North Queensland with our Australia Day Weekender package in Cairns. At the Rydges Esplanade Resort Cairns, enjoy a special rate for a minimum of 2 nights, which includes full buffet breakfast, 2 bottles of beer, 1 bottle of sparkling wine, and the kids can even stay for free. This January 26th, enjoy all of the festivities in one of the country's most beautiful regions, Cairns.
tags: Australia Day Weekender Rydges Cairns posted by Dave at 8.23 AM   2 comments
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Get 2008 Off to a Great Start in Queensland blog.rydges.com

In this New Year, take advantage of what's left of the warm summer up in Tropical Queensland, and enjoy the 'green' season up North. This time of year in Cairns, the jungles are flourishing, the surf is healthy, and the beach doesn't get any better. Travel options in Queensland vary from picturesque balloon rides and 4 wheel drive excurisions, to wind-surfing along the coast and a once-in-a-lifetime diving experience along the Great Barrier Reef. Plus, with a wide variety of great specials and packages to choose from, the timing for a Cairns vacation has never been better.
tags: Queensland Vacation Rydges Cairns posted by Dave at 2.54 AM   0 comments
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National Wine Centre in Adelaide blog.rydges.com

Need a reason to visit Adelaide? Recently, the National Wine Centre of Australia opened in town, offering a unique opportunity to discover the world of of Australian wines. Learn the history of Australia's booming wine industry from experts, take a stroll through a vineyard, enjoy hands-on demonstrations, and sample some of the best wines. After a day out at the Wine Centre, enjoy relaxing accommodations at the nearby Rydges South Park Adelaide, and enjoy a Bed & Breakfast Weekend.
tags: National Wine Centre Rydges Adelaide posted by Dave at 7.54 AM   2 comments
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Big Day Out with Rydges As summer continues on, be sure not to miss one of the biggest festivals of the year at Big Day Out 2008, which will be making stops all across Australia and in Auckland, New Zealand. Come take part in one of the world's biggest music festivals and see bands like Bjork, Silverchair, Arcade Fire, Rage Against the Machine, Spoon, and a wide variety of great local acts. All of the festivities will be taking place across the months of January and February, and Rydges provides a relaxing home base in each stop along the tour, whether it be Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, or Auckland. tags: Big Day Out 2008 Summer Travel posted by Dave at 8.38 AM   0 comments
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Christmas with Rydges blog.rydges.com

This Christmas, enjoy a festive celebration with us at Rydges. For instance, at the Rydges Melbourne, enjoy several Christmas feast options such as smoked chicken with avocado and fruit salsa, asian salad, turkey roulade, king prawns, and char-grilled beef filet. Plus, with each booking of a dinner, receive a double pass to Greater Union cinemas and a 1/2 hour cocktail party the night of the event. Find out more details here.

Also, at the Rydges South Bank Brisbane, choose from two Christmas Day Buffets at the Level 12 Rooftop and Parklands Restaurant/Boulevard. Enjoy great views and a festive atmosphere, and sample traditional roasts with all the fixings, fresh seafood, breads, several different salads, desserts, and premium drinks.

Last but not least, enjoy a Christmas meal on the coast at the Rydges Capricorn. From all of us at Rydges Hotel and Resorts, have a happy holiday season!
tags: Christmas at Rydges Rydges Dinners posted by Dave at 8.54 AM   0 comments
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