HotelChatter - Brisbane

Canoodle With the Dolphins at Australia's Tangalooma Resort

amandak — 2009-05-15T09:54:21-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3873/Tangalooma_Resort.jpg" class="top"> Some say an ex-whaling station is a <a href="http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=48&ContentID=141824">strange place to build a resort</a> but we have a feeling that it's a great place for the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Tangalooma+Island+Resort/ian/274751">Tangalooma Island Resort</a> off the coast near Brisbane in <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/browse/Australia%20And%20South%20Pacific/au/QL">Queensland</a>, Australia.Ironically, Tangalooma used to be the biggest whaling station in the southern hemisphere, but now it's all about being nice to big fish (and mammals). For example, there's a pod of dolphins who seem to call Tangalooma home now, routinely comin' around to be fed and have even brought gifts of eels to their feeders.But if dolphins aren't your creature of choice, you can also go jet skiing to check out some turtles and dugongs, or snorkel around

Sweet Design Hotel :: The Limes in Brisbane Gives You Chocolate Brownies

amandak — 2008-08-01T10:15:02-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3873/Limes_Hotel_Rooftop_Bar.jpg" class="imgborder"> We were <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/2/29/22418/5175/hotels/Brisbane_Boutiques_Limes_Due_To_Open_in_May">quite excited</a> about the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Limes+Hotel%2C+Brisbane/local/1296">Limes Hotel</a> in Brisbane, Queensland, even before it opened, and now that we can delve a bit deeper we're still intrigued.The Limes is a new favorite topic for design lovers and a recent post about it summed up the whole theory of designer Alexander Lotersztain pretty nicely: <blockquote>Alexander concentrated his design focus on the 21 rooms to cater for the independent traveller, rejecting the 5-star norms and opting to focus on guests' primary travel requirements through unique design solutions in styled lodgings.</blockquote>Some of these "primary travel requirements" turn out to be things like hammocks on the balconies, which definitely add a welcome relaxing touch to a Brisbane stay, or

Are Hotel Holographs the Way of the Future?

amandak — 2008-07-11T11:32:04-05:00

New hotel technology has gotta start somewhere and down in Australia, the University of Queensland's School of Tourism has been trying to get students to have some brainwaves for the future.

When we first heard about this idea we figured that a bunch of students who've only ever stayed in youth hostels might not have many brilliant ideas for the future of hotels, but the results were better than we'd expected.

Down Under They're Gettin' Another Westin

amandak — 2008-05-16T08:57:24-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3873/Brisbane_Downtown.jpg" class="imgborder"> It might not be planning to check in any guests until 2012, but the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Westin%20Hotels">Westin</a> chain are excited enough to tell us that they are planning to open up in Brisbane soon as part of an Australian expansion.Queensland's sunny capital, <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotels/city/au/QL%20%20/Brisbane">Brisbane</a>, will house the third Aussie Westin after Sydney and Melbourne. The new Westin will be purpose-built and will have 306 rooms in a handy spot in the center of the city--near the Central Station, casino and the large convention center. It will share a 66-story tower that will also include private residences.The Westin bed will be there, of course, and a spa, indoor pool and fitness center--although they're not saying yet whether we'll be

Brisbane Boutiques: Limes Due To Open in May

amandak — 2008-02-29T09:18:52-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3873/Limes_Hotel_Brisbane.jpg" class="imgborder"> Boutique hotels in the Queensland capital of Brisbane are quite a <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/5/10/232841/319/hotels/New_Brisbane_Emporium_Hotel_Too_Good_To_Be_True_">new thing</a>. The Design Hotels group has just announced that another one is on its way, with the predicted May 1, 2008 opening of the <a href="http://www.limeshotel.com.au/">Limes Hotel</a> in Brisbane's nightlife district, Fortitude Valley.However, designer Alexander Lotersztain says that it's not exactly a hotel: it's a "designer bar/cinema with contemporary rooms". The Limes website is full of poetry espousing the virtues of the not-exactly-hotel, with a few spectacularly corny lines like:<blockquote>Night falls your head onto our heavenly beds / Home ... you'll find yourself not wanting to leave / Luxury at your fingertips down to your feet.</blockquote>There'll be 21 deluxe rooms at the Limes, and