Last week we attended Luxperience: an industry event for bespoke luxury and high-end experiential travel. If you follow our Instagram feed, you'd think it was all Champagne, Canapés and fun in the harbour city and you'd be partly right, but there was a serious side to the event with business meetings and industry networking.
We commenced with a Thought Leaders Forum held at Sydney Town Hall, which included a great presentation by Corey Baudinette from LuxHD on the importance of telling your story via video and welcome address by Luxperience founder Helen Logas.
The next 3 days were a blur of "speed dating" a series of 15 minute appointments with sellers from around the world. Here's our highlights, tips and news in luxury travel and what's hot in Australia right now!
QT Bondi
We've recently added QT Gold Coast to the alluxia collection, with more of their funky hotels to come and are excited to reveal a match made in arty beachside heaven with QT Hotels & Resorts announcing an exciting collaboration between artist Shaun Gladwell and their newest boutique hotel property QT Bondi. Gladwell wil be QT Bondi's featured artist with permanent displays of artworks inspired by the Bondi landscape. QT Bondi's 69 individually-styled luxury guest suites opens in November 2015. QT Melbourne and QT Wellington also coming soon!
Calabash Bay Lodge
One of alluxia's favourites Calabash Bay Lodge has undergone some enhancements this year and is now offering corporate packages for exclusive corporate strategy retreats. Savour the exclusivity and privacy of a boat access only retreat just 1 hour from central Sydney. Full catering packages with private onsite chef including dinner packages, boat transfers and accommodation from $700 per person for 6 guests midweek. Contact us for more information.
Tower Lodge
Magnificent Tower Lodge in the Hunter Valley has been reimagined as a luxury boutique hotel available for exclusive use bookings only. Ideal for corporate retreats, incentives or boutique weddings the property features 12 individually themed rooms in a low-rise Spanish Mission-style property in the heart of the Hunter Valley. With onsite boardroom and dining options including Harvest at Hope Estate, chopper in the CEO for the ultimate corporate retreat. Contact us for an enquiry.
Pier One Sydney
We were hosted last year at Pier One and it was wonderful to return and see the transformation in the public areas to create a new hotel of style & elegance. A more relaxed checkin and the team dressed in a seasonal wardrobe rather than a uniform, create a whole new look. The new Gantry Restaurant & lobby bar invites you to sit back and relax with a cocktail and new outdoor furnishings are also coming soon ready for summer sundowners.
Luxico
It was a delight to meet Luxico owners Alexandra and Tom Ormerod and alluxia looks forward to partnering with these dynamos in the future. Luxico manage luxury holiday homes in Sydney, Melbourne & Mornington Peninsula with plans for further expansion. Luxico provides the amenities and services of a five-star hotel but with the space & privacy of a real home. Guests are greeted on arrival, receive in-house maid service and complimentary welcome hamper.
Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia has unveiled a number of new and upgraded facilities by Richard Branson at Brisbane Airport's Domestic Terminal last week, setting a new standard in customer experience. The enhancements include new facilities for Business Class guests, significantly expanded Brisbane Domestic Lounge, "Premium Entry" experience enabling kerbside direct entry to the lounge and more.
Thanks to the Luxperience team for arranging a spectacular event for us as a hosted buyer. We'd also like to thank our accommodation hosts The Langham Sydney, flights by Virgin Australia and transfers from Encore Corporate Cars.
Image credit: Oneill Photographics, Anson Smart
