For the Culture Vulture

CULTURE Attractions of Australia will provide a single point of contact for travellers, trade partners and media to access premium, behind-the-scenes cultural experiences in iconic locations. 

As a collective, its strength lies in the diversity and iconic nature of the sites and collections represented, as well as the direct connection they hold with the people and cultures of #Australia. 

The founding members of Cultural Attractions of Australia are Adelaide Oval, Arts Centre Melbourne, Australian War Memorial, WA Maritime Museum, Fremantle Prison, Melbourne Cricket Ground, MONA, National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, Opera Australia, Parliament House, Port Arthur Historic Site, Qantas Founders Museum Longreach, Sovereign Hill and Sydney Opera House. 

Each of these institutions has developed one or more rare, premium experiences, ensuring unrivalled access and attention for their guests who can expect the unexpected.  

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Poland's only signature golf course to celebrate in 2019

MODRY LAS Golf Club has rounded off an impressive record-breaking season that has laid the groundwork for a special anniversary year in 2019. With bookings up and new facilities taking shape, the Gary Player-designed course will celebrate its 10th anniversary in style. 

The Polish resort, which was officially opened by Player in 2009, has collected a host of international awards during its first decade in operation. Now in its ninth year, Poland’s only signature course recorded a 20% increase in associated accommodation bookings and a similar hike in stay-and-play packages.

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Lake Victoria expands to 18 holes

LAKE Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa in Uganda launched its newly extended 18-Hole golf course in October 2018 during the Serena Open. Designed by Golf Plan USA, it boasts sweeping views of the lake with a rare finishing hole on an Island green. It is Uganda’s first Clubhouse with a fully-fledged Pro Shop. 

Serena also holds 2 sports camps for children to nurture the sport. Non-golfers can opt instead for nature walks, picnic cruises on Lake Victoria, visits to the neighbouring Chimpanzee Island - or simply relax at the Maisha Spa where a range of different massage and beauty treatments can be enjoyed. The 45,070 m² Marina can accommodate up to 24 boats, each with a service station for electricity and water.

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Expedia Group kicks off

EXPEDIA Group is kicking off an agreement with UEFA to become the Official Travel Partner of the UEFA Champions League. The three-season agreement also includes the UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Youth League Finals and the newly formed UEFA Futsal Champions League Finals until the end of the 2020-2021 season.

Expedia Group's Brand Expedia and Hotels.com will lead the engagement, highlighting the enormous power travel has to connect football fans around the world with Europe's most prestigious club football competition.



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More reasons to tee off in Thailand

TWO of the biggest golf tour operators in the Asia Pacific region, Golfasian and Go Golfing, have announced they will expand their event portfolio to six annual tournaments in #Thailand and #Vietnam. These events will attract more than 1,700 golfers for an average stay of 10 nights. Now, that’s big business in the world of #golf tourism.

These industry trendsetters are breaking new ground with the launch of a Golf Week exclusively for singles and solo travellers in Pattaya in September. In October, Chiang Mai will host a ‘couples only’ tournament. And, they have parlayed the huge success of their Centara World Masters tournament in Hua Hin to launch another boutique event there in October.

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Lucky thirteen

THIRTEEN Australian golf courses are featured in the Golf Digest’s latest list of the greatest international golf courses, a combination of the influential publication’s combined ‘America's 100 Greatest’ and ‘World 100’ lists.

Royal Melbourne West was the highest ranked Australian course on the list, coming in at number five.

Ten of the courses named are members of Great #Golf Courses of #Australia, a collaborative partnership between Australia’s golf courses, Tourism Australia and State tourism boards.

According to the Australian Golf Industry Council, in 2016-17 golf tourism contributed $477 million to the Australian economy.

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147th Open at Carnoustie

AS anticipation grows for The 147th Open at #Carnoustie, a new website has been unveiled by Carnoustie Country as an online hub for the region’s 34 outstanding golf courses and accommodation providers. With preparations underway for the world’s oldest Major, Carnoustie Country has also unveiled a new legendary marketing campaign intended to underpin its reputation as a world-class #golfing destination boasting a golfing legacy stretching back over 450 years.

Providing insider knowledge about playing golf and staying in the east of #Scotland as well as detailing the very latest offers, the new Carnoustie Country website has been written and designed with the visiting golfer in mind. Featuring a chronological history of The Open at Carnoustie along with dedicated sections on links and inland courses – many of which were designed by legendary architects such as Old Tom Morris, Willie Park Jr and James Braid – the new website is brimming with information about golf in Angus, Perthshire and Fife.

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Travel bragging

‘TRAVEL BRAGGING’ posts that are filling up your social feeds show no sign of slowing down but now thanks to the world’s first #TravelBrag Artificial Intelligence (AI) analysis, Hotels.com reveals what’s topping the brag charts in destinations around the world, so you can choose your next trip wisely. Brags about #Melbourne and #Sydney show that international travellers are flocking to our shores for Aussie famous sport, culture and landmarks. 

TOP 5 MELBOURNE BRAGS 1. Art galleries 2. Mrs Macquarie’s Chair 3. Sydney Kings 4. Circular Quay 5. Sydney Harbour 

TOP 5 SYDNEY BRAGS 1. Melbourne Cricket Ground 2. Seasons (relating to the weather) 3. Rooftop bars 4. St Paul’s Cathedral 5. National Gallery of Victoria   


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Singles golf week

THAILAND'S famed holiday playground of #Pattaya will host a week of #golf, fun and entertainment for singles from 16 to 22 September 2018. Open to all singles, you don’t have to be off single figures, you just have to be single!

Australian based Go Golfing started hosting golfing get-togethers for singles more than 10 years ago. Founder, Peter McCarthy, arranged the events as an alternative to online dating or trying your luck in clubs and bars. The events were fun, social and classy and typically the majority of the singles were aged 30 to 55.

Now singles can bring their sense of fun and adventure and passion for golf to Pattaya, just 90 minutes’ drive from Bangkok. Pattaya is known worldwide as a holiday destination of amazing beauty, with sandy beaches, water sports, world-class golf, tantalising Thai cuisine, rooftop bars and exotic nightlife.

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Glamour, equestrian style

WELLINGTON, #Florida is world-famous for drawing equestrian enthusiasts and celebrities from all over the world during its #horse season, which runs from January to April. Every winter, Wellington turns into a hub for the glamorous #equestrian lifestyle. From the Global Dressage Festival, to International Polo, to the Winter Equestrian Festival, there is simply no comparison to this horse-lover’s paradise. With Wellington Insider Tours, visitors are given a behind-the-scenes peek at what the judges, competitors, and show managers get to see… a true insider’s tour.

Wellington Insider Tours immerses its guests in dressage, show jumping, and polo during three-day VIP tours. Guests will be able to meet international riders and judges, and even learn directly from licensed judges what competitors must do to earn their dressage scores, giving them a true appreciation for the shows they attend during the tour.

wellingtoninsidertours.com

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All aboard for the KTX train to the 2018 Winter Olympics

TRAVELLERS visiting #Korea for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games will be easily able to make their way between Seoul and the Winter Olympic venues when the new KTX Gyeonggang Line opens at the end of December just in time for the #WinterOlympic Games next February (9-25 Feb). 

The new line from Seoul to Gangneung on the east coast will service the main Olympic transport hubs of Pyeongchang, Jinbu and Gangneung making it very easy for athletes and visitors to the Games to travel smoothly and quickly to their destinations.

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Team Scotland Flying High With Glasgow Airport

COMMONWEALTH Games Scotland is pleased to announce a new partnership with Glasgow Airport as Team Scotland continue preparations for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Glasgow Airport serves almost 10 million passengers per year and will be the departure point for all athletes and staff travelling with Team Scotland to the Gold Coast Games. In the lead up to the Games, Glasgow Airport will proudly display its support of Team Scotland with in-airport branding and will feature the team in High Flyer magazine.

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World class courses attract international putters

GOLF tourism to New Zealand is seeing significant growth with golf visitors playing 33,000 rounds at marquee courses alone up 17%. The growth rate is among one of the highest being experienced worldwide.

Over the last few years there has been significant investment in new and existing courses resulting in New Zealand offering a range of uncrowded internationally ranked courses that are proving very attractive.

#NewZealand has around 400 #golf courses and offers incredible variety, from ocean front subtropical courses in the north to alpine settings in the south. Golfers can easily travel to a range of courses while in New Zealand sampling what each region has to offer on their way and this is a huge draw card.

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Yorkshire takes it up a gear

#YORKSHIRE has received a huge boost with the news that the Tour de Yorkshire will grow from three to four days in 2018. After its phenomenal success over the last three years cycling’s world governing body the UCI confirmed the four-day Tour de Yorkshire was being included on their 2018 Europe Tour calendar between Thursday 3rd and Sunday 6th May. 

The Asda Women’s Tour de Yorkshire will also double in size next year, increasing from one to two days on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th May. The news will bring far-reaching benefits to the county and further enhance Yorkshire’s reputation as a world-class cycling destination. 

The Tour de Yorkshire was launched in 2015 following the hugely successful Tour de France Grand Départ 12 months previously, and it has since grown to become one of the sport’s best-supported and most exciting races. This year’s event was broadcast live in 180 countries and a record 2.2 million fans lined the route. The race also generated £64 million for the Yorkshire economy and the Asda Women’s Tour de Yorkshire remains one of the most lucrative events in the sport.

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Canadian Golf Getaway

STAY at the iconic Windermere House and play at the Windermere Golf & Country Club in #Canada. 

Windermere House embodies the natural beauty of its surroundings and offers over 50 activities to keep guests entertained, with one being #golf. Windermere Golf & Country Club is a Muskoka gem and is located only steps away from Windermere House. 

This scenic 18 hole, par 72 course was established in 1919. It offers 14 ponds, tree-lined fairways, and 124 acres of spectacular views. Windermere House’s longstanding partnership with this classic course results in preferred rates and tee times for our guests.

www.windermerehouse.com

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Picture Credit: pintrest

Fish for Lodges

FISHING vacation website fishlodges.com has been updated with a new search experience, allowing users of the site to filter fishing lodges and resorts in the North American Northwest by a wide array of attributes.

"Our search tool has been the defining feature of the site since day one" states "Chief Navigator" Eric Embacher. "Our mission is to help anglers find their ideal fishing lodge vacation with far more efficiency than using Google, and the power of this tool is key to that."

The Search tool allows users to filter the entire set of lodges by 20 of the 124 types of information collected for every fishing lodge. Filters include location, price, fish species and type of fishing, guided or unguided trips, trip duration, lodge rating and number of reviews, and more. Once lodges are filtered they can be compared "apples-to-apples" and then individual lodges inspected in detail.

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Game, Set and Match

AS all eyes turn to the 140th instalment of #Wimbledon for the world’s best loved tennis tournament, Spabreaks.com has put together its pick of Britain’s very best spa resorts and packages for tennis enthusiasts. Whether you’re a wannabe Murray or more of a Cliff Richard, get yourself in shape with a break at one of these great spa hotels.

Best for serious players: Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire
The location for the annual ‘oh-so-British’ pre-Wimbledon Boodles tennis tournament, Stoke Park offers three indoor carpet courts, four clay courts and six Wimbledon specification grass courts – not to mention an award-winning luxury spa.

Best for fair weather players: Chewton Glen, New Forest, HampshireWith two indoor and two outdoor tennis courts, Chewton Glen is the perfect place to practice your volleys regardless of the changeable summer weather! 

Best for health enthusiasts: Champneys Tring, HertfordshireA bastion of health since it opened in 1925, Champneys Tring offers numerous spa treatments from the traditional to the innovative, as well as health facilities including two floodlit outdoor tennis courts.

Best for ladies who lunch: Crowne Plaza Resort Colchester Five Lakes, Essex
Deep in the Essex countryside, Five Lakes offers eight outdoor tennis courts, as well as badminton, squash, table tennis and a spa area with sauna and steam room – plus a relaxation room with three four-poster beds in which to doze or catch up with friends.

Best for groups: Carden Park Hotel, Cheshire
Set on a one thousand acre estate, complete with its own onsite vineyard, at Carden Park tennis is just one of the seemingly unending supply of great activities. The spa features a sauna, steam room, hydrotherapy pool, ‘chatty’ relaxation room and tepidarium beds, and other facilities include a full-size football pitch, golf course and mountain biking trails.

www.spabreaks.com

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Golf Trail Turns 25

THE Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is that which is understood best by numbers. 

Opened in 1992, golfers have played nearly 12 million rounds of golf on the RTJ #Golf Trail. 

11 locations throughout the state of #Alabama are comprised of 26 golf courses and a massive 468 holes of golf. 

On average, more than 500,000 individuals play the courses each year. 

Typically, players come from all 50 states and more than 20 different countries to play to courses annually. 

To date, nearly 12 million rounds of golf have been played. 

Since reaching fruition in 1992, The Trail helped create a tourism industry valued at$1.9 billion. In 2015, that number had ballooned to a staggering $13 billion. 

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Haka record goes international

THE world's biggest haka in Rotorua, organised as part of the nationwide festival of events for the DHL New Zealand Lions Series tour attracted extensive international media attention and was a huge hit with travelling fans.

More than 7,500 locals and Lions supporters gathered on Rotorua’s village green, chanting Ka mate, Ka mate, smashing the current world record set in France.*

Working with the International Rugby Club who masterminded the event as part of #Rugby 2017 Festival, Tourism #NewZealand funded drone footage and a video of the extraordinary event which then went out to international media.

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Ayers Rock Resort host the eighth Australian Outback Marathon

VOYAGES Ayers Rock Resort will host the eighth Australian Outback Marathon on 29 July 2017 and this year is set to be the largest to date, with the event selling out two months earlier than last year. With just over seven weeks to go, approximately 600 entrants, including a number of sponsored students from Indigenous communities, are set to pound the red dust with spectacular views of #Uluru and Kata Tjuta. 

Entrants are from 29 countries including #Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States. 

Race organiser and sports tour operator, Travelling Fit, has designed the event to be enjoyed by all levels of #running abilities and four different events are available: a full Marathon, Half Marathon and 11km and 6km fun runs. The course is relatively flat with only a few inclines and sand dunes, and is mostly on unsealed roads, bush tracks and soft-sand trails.

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