Spotlight Archives – Page 2 of 6 – The Departure Lounge

Aurora Australis beckons this winter

While the Northern Lights must wait… good news is the Southern Lights are yours to witness, experience and cherish… grab the opportunity to live it up under the spectacular Aurora Australis. Celebrate Australia and the blessed best of nature in the magical Tasmania this winter.

Enjoy Tasmania while searching for the famous Southern Lights – the spectacular Aurora Australis. Enroute enjoy the beautiful city of Hobart and its many attractions, visit Hobart’s oldest vineyard at Moorilla, indulge in the fine tastes of the Huon Valley including treats from local providores, get in touch with nature at Bruny Island and discover the infamous Port Arthur and its historic site.

Twin share price per person from $3,950* | Extension package per person from $995*

The Search for the Southern Lights Tour includes:

Private touring with a local guide
Transport in a well-appointed vehicle
6 nights’ accommodation
6 x breakfast, 6 x lunch
Entry to MONA
Entry to Port Arthur
Entry to UnZoo Devil Sanctuary
Bruny Island Ferry
A range of tastings
2-evenings guided night-time photography and National Parks Pass

*minimum 6 guests

Cradle Mountain Extension includes:

Private touring with a local guide
Transport in a well-appointed vehicle
3 nights’ accommodation
3 x breakfast, 3 x lunch
Entry to Devils@Cradle
Entry to Marakoopa Caves and National Parks

For detailed itinerary, click here

For reservations contact your Executive Edge Travel Designer on 1300 618 334 or email leisure@executiveedge.com.au to experience the edge on travel today.

The Departure Lounge In Experience, Explore, Reviews, Spotlight

Three more reasons to head to Tasmania

Just head to Tassie and stay there.. if you need any more reasons than you already have, here are three fabulous events lined up to ensure soaking up the island spirit!

Vibrance Festival 2021

Vibrance Festival celebrates Tasmanian street art and culture.

Vibrance Festival is Tasmania’s first and only street art festival, dedicated to the painting of large-scale murals and offers a program of music, local food and beverages, street art tours, film nights, skateboarding demonstrations, public spray wall, markets and more.

In its third iteration, Vibrance Festival 2021 will paint 20+ murals, dotted along the length of Elizabeth Street, Hobart. Expect one of the town’s busiest streets to come alive with Tasmania’s best mural and street artists painting as you wander along the festival trail. Who knows what else you might find as you explore? Expect music in alleyways, pop-up events, tiny bars tucked away, as well as family-friendly spots to sit and watch or join in with some painting.

Vibrance aims to educate people on street art as a legitimate artform and activate the many unused spaces in Hobart’s urban environment. Largely free, Vibrance aims to be an accessible and inclusive event with something for all age groups.

For more details: https://www.vibrancefestival.com/

Tasmanian Wine Festival 2021

The second edition of the Tasmanian Wine Festival returns to the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens February 26 – 28, 2021!

Explore the beauty of the gardens, whilst discovering and tasting the finest wines Tasmania has to offer. Follow the trail to find Tasmania’s best winemakers, waiting to give you rare insights into their wine and the winemaking process.

Some of the vineyards include Frogmore Creek, Observatory Hill Vineyard, Derwent Estate, Clover Hill Wines, Pooley Wines, Domaine Dawnelle, Wobbly Boot Vineyard and many more!

But what’s a great wine without great food, music and company?

Perhaps an oyster to enjoy with your sparkling, a burger or pizza with your red or some seafood with your white? Tasmania also welcomes some of the state’s best food producers and vendors.

The main stage will welcome local musicians, including Jay Jarome, Uncle Gus and The Rimshots and more yet to be announced. Dance the afternoon away or make yourself comfortable on the grass.

For more details: https://taswinefest.com.au/

Ten Days on the Island

Ten Days on the Island is Tasmania’s statewide international arts festival. Since 2001, Ten Days on the Island has celebrated Tasmania’s island culture, offering a platform on which to profile and promote Tasmania’s innovative, creative, and resourceful character and unique cultural identity. Every part of Australia is, always was and always will be, Aboriginal land. As a community gathering-place, a festival of arts, cultural exchange and celebration and as a site for the sharing of ideas and stories, Ten Days on the Island pays respect to the palawa – original owners and cultural custodians – of all the lands and waters across lutruwita (Tasmania) upon which our Festival takes place.

In 2021, they celebrate 21 years of Ten Days on the Island’s 20th anniversary. The new Festival model, curated by internationally renowned Artistic Director Lindy Hume, will deliver an epic 10-day adventure over three weekends in the three regional heartlands of Tasmania. Local projects and artists will intersect with a dynamic national and international program, designed to complement and amplify bold Tasmanian creativity.

The organisers’ commitment to regional Tasmania is strong and proud, bringing artists and communities together to share arts experiences in familiar and surprising environments right across their extraordinary island.

For more details: https://www.tendays.org.au/

The Departure Lounge In Reviews, Spotlight

A by Adina opens in Canberra

Toga Far East (TFE) Hotels has opened its very first A by Adina in Canberra, marking the global debut of the Adina Apartment Hotels premium brand.

The soft opening was marked with a ribbon cutting, ahead of the official brand and hotel launch scheduled for February. The hotel’s general manager, Jelena Bojanic, was in attendance along with dignitaries including Canberra Airport CEO, Stephen Byron, and TFE Hotel’s own ACT/NSW regional general manager, Emma Hynes.

Operating across four levels, the Bates Smart-designed apartment hotel will play a key role in the strategy to enliven Canberra’s CBD. Featuring 130 apartments, a gymnasium and a 24/7 service concierge, guests can “stay their way” at A by Adina, as the hotel promises a one-of-a-kind experience.

Ms Bojanic said all guests have their stay tailored to them the moment they step into the hotel.

A by Adina is located in Canberra’s city centre, 400 metres from the National Convention Centre Canberra and 500 metres from Canberra Centre. The hotel is also near some of Canberra’s best dining and retail options along with new retail tenants, including Arc Café by Redbrick opening in February, Mu Omakase & Cicada Bar opening in April, and Meat and Wine Co opening in May. The precinct also features its own Melburnian-style laneway, connecting to Canberra Theatre Centre.

With chocolates and a bottle of wine on arrival and a 1pm check out, along with the flexibility to change booking one day before arrival, TFE Hotel CEO, Antony Ritch, said A by Adina sets a new precedent.

TFE Hotels has officially launched their premium A by Adina hotel brand today, and with it the concept of ‘hotel living’, both of which are set to elevate TFE Hotels’ beloved Adina Hotels brand into a class of its own. A by Adina Canberra open and A by Adina Sydney opening April 2021.

The Departure Lounge In Reviews, Spotlight

In a class of its own – W Melbourne

Melbourne’s first luxury lifestyle hotel with its rebellious Flinders Lane address, W Melbourne opened in February 2021 and takes its design cues from the streets of Australia’s cultural capital.

Holding the back-lane entrance keys to what’s New/Next in the city and revealing a playground where the early risers to the late-night revellers can turn up the tracks in this truly 24/7 city.

Extending the laneway culture inside, 294 chic rooms and suites peel back the layers and revel in the city’s creative history. 828 square metres of ultra-modern event space will set the stage for spectacular events.

Vibrant restaurants and bars will amp up the experience; with WARABI set to shake up Japanese dining, Lollo to take you from day, night to beyond with modern Melbourne menu, Curious will be the bar to see and be seen in and Culprit a café come wine bar will serve up your double shot latte, to that afternoon spritz. Detox in the state-of-the-art FIT gym then detox with a dip and a sip in the WET® pool, all whilst soaking up the city skyline views.

Here is a sneak peek into W – Melbourne’s first luxury lifestyle hotel.

Location: 408 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Rooms & Suites: 294 (including 29 suites)
Events: Great Room @ 320 banquet style and 4 breakout spaces from 20 – 90 persons
Dining: 5 x unique dining and bar spaces
WET & FIT: 24 / 7 health club & pool

When you book W through Executive Edge Travel, you will have access to the MI-Lux Luminous benefits:

Complimentary a la carte breakfast for two in Lollo (Collins Ground Level)
Welcome amenity
Complimentary hotel Wi-Fi
Early Check-in/late Check-out, based on availability.
VIP status provided
Priority for complimentary room upgrade (based on availability upon arrival).

Contact Executive Edge Travel (https://www.executiveedge.com.au/contact-us/) to book your stay.

The Departure Lounge In Featured, News, Spotlight

The Dry breaks Australian box office drought

Australians are flocking to locally produced films as Hollywood puts the brakes on new releases.

After a year of Covid-19-enforced shutdowns, the Australian film industry has entered 2021 in a strong position – with The Dry grossing almost $13m at the box office since its opening on 1 January.

The Robert Connolly film – financed though Screen Australia – had the fifth-highest Australian opening day for a local film in history and has outperformed Hollywood blockbuster Wonder Woman 1984 and animated family film The Croods: A New Age for the third weekend in a row.

Another Australian film, Penguin Bloom, directed by Glendyn Ivin and starring Naomi Watts, also recorded a strong opening result, grossing $2.5m since its release six days ago.

Screen Australia’s CEO Graeme Mason said the commercial success of The Dry was a heartening start to the year.

“It’s one of those titles that comes along where Australians see themselves and respond incredibly well,” he said.

“We have one or two of them a year and I think The Dry is definitely one of them. And it’s the first time in a very long time Australia has had the No 1 and No 2 films at the box office.”

It could outperform Australian classics such as Muriel’s Wedding, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and The Man from Snowy River.

Although cinemas in most states are still operating at less than full capacity, The Dry’s commercial success has not happened in spite of the pandemic, Keogh said, but partly because of it.

“It’s an excellent film, but there’s definitely not as much competition as there would generally be around January, so it’s getting more screen coverage,” he said.

“Because of Covid, Hollywood is holding back a lot of films at the moment, which is putting some pressure on our industry – so these great Australian movies are very welcome for us right now.”

Australian films took $22.6m at the local box office in 2020, with The Invisible Man, which was shot in Sydney between July and September 2019, accounting for more than one third of the total.

Kimberly Rosbe In Destinations, Inspire, Spotlight

The Art of Wellbeing At COMO Shambhala Estate

“Ubud has long been a holistic mecca where indigenous healers ply their craft when Western medicine has fallen short. In a secluded area of Ubud, blending ancient healing and new science in a modern integrative approach, COMO Shambhala Estate captures the essence of nature’s spiritual tranquility while teaching guests how to achieve real results in holistic wellness…” ~ Kimberly Rosbe

Ubud after midnight

After learning I was headed to Bali, my American friends joked, “Perfect, you’ll get your own Eat, Pray, Love story,” channeling Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling memoir.

But arriving at COMO Shambhala Estate in Ubud after midnight as torrential downpours blanketed the property’s mystical, mist-covered jungle, it wasn’t Liz Gilbert on my mind. Instead, Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu’s famous quote echoed in my head: “One cannot reflect in streaming water. Only those who know internal peace can give it to others.”

Bathed in the warm Balinese rain as I descended the cliff side steps to my villa in the dark, the sense I was about to embark upon a spiritual journey in an otherworldly place was palpable. I drifted off to the sound of streaming water outside, and, as I soon uncovered, inside as well…

A river down below

Waking at sunrise, the morning light revealed my luxurious wooden stilted villa precariously hanging over a steep ravine cascading down to the Ayung River far below. The setting was old world Bali – shrines and Hindu temples with flower and fruit offerings and hand woven ornaments, moss covered grand gateways leading to stone paths along terraced fluorescent green rice fields, water gardens full of giant lily pads.

Ubud has long been a holistic mecca where indigenous healers ply their craft when Western medicine has fallen short. In a secluded area of Ubud, blending ancient healing and new science in a modern integrative approach, COMO Shambhala Estate captures the essence of nature’s spiritual tranquility while teaching guests how to achieve real results in holistic wellness which last beyond their stay.

I thought, “Who doesn’t want to achieve wellbeing and pursue balance in our everyday lives?” With this fundamental hope, I succumbed to the therapeutic cocoon of COMO Shambhala Estate. What I found was the pinnacle of exclusive escapism and a higher mind and body focus that renewed my life.

The wellness journey begins

Sally Halstead, the wellness manager at COMO Shambhala Estate, had left me a welcome note suggesting I hydrate, digitally detox and explore the grounds before my wellness journey began.

So I meandered around the estate as the sun began to slice through the mist igniting the lush undulating grounds. Embracing the ambience of a traditional Balinese village, all of the rooms, suites and villas belong to one of five sprawling sanctuaries each complete with personal assistants, sweeping views, pools, lounges, private dining areas and shaded pavilions.

Etched amongst the river and jungle, all accommodation exists within the setting of a Residence (Bayugita, Tirta Ening, Tejasuara, Wanakasaand Umabona) and each Residence is themed after nature’s five elements – wind/air, water, fire, wood and earth.

Eating well & inner peace

After an immune-boosting, mineral-rich breakfast straight from the pages of COMO founder Christina Ong’s The Pleasures of Eating Well cookbook, resident Ayurvedic expert Dr Prasanth assisted in a guided levitation meditation after a very grounding talk about ancient Ayurvedic principles.

By now, whether you lean towards Western or Eastern medicine, we can all accept that we are mind-bodies and the two can’t be separated in the treatment of overall health.

‘Thri Dosha’ theory stipulates that the elements of air, fire and water in our bodies are in perfect balance. Without this ideal state of balance of dosha, aggregations and deficiencies occur. Dr Prasanth firmly believes that if you “know your Dosha, you can change your life”.

Healing the Ayurvedic way

Dr Prasanth’s integrative medicine concept is based upon Ayurvedic science, yoga, naturopathy and conventional science and he tailors individual wellness programs for each guest based upon their Ayurveda consultation and Dosha mapping.

Dr Prasanth clarified to me that the specialty of COMO lies in the individualized and detailed approach given to each guest about their health requirements and objectives. On the first day of each stay, bespoke Wellness Programmes and a plan of treatment are developed for each guest ranging from Ayurvedic or cleanse and detox aims, to actively jumpstarting a new fitness regime or even rejuvenating the mind and soul. Nutrition is also valued as an intrinsic part of the holistic experience at COMO Shambhala Estate – raw, delicious and healthy foods that entice taste buds while complementing energy and blood sugar at both on-site restaurants Glow and Kudus House.

Continuing the path to renewal

The path to renewal persists after guests leave Dr Prasanth elaborated: “We become a part of their continuing health journey by keeping in touch through follow-up suggestions. This holistic 360-degree approach helps us to make a lasting transformation in guests’ health and lifestyle.”

COMO Shambhala is renowned for its intuitive and empowering experts, from yoga masters to life coaches to nutritionists to chakra healers. These resident wellbeing specialists are there every step of the way to activate and balance energy flow.

Speaking of flow, as a yoga advocate, I wanted to test my skills at the mother of all yoga resorts. However, my private COMO Shambhala Hatha Yoga session revealed I have completely incorrect breathing techniques. My yoga teacher abandoned the flow sequence and sat right down on my mat directly in front of me and said, “You have to learn to breathe. It will change everything.” For the next hour, he showed me literally how to breathe with his hand on my stomach monitoring the depth of each inhale and exhale. Slowly, I felt my mind and body start to open up.

The COMO Way of Life

COMO is not just a brand but a way of life. When Christina Ong, founder of COMO, opened her first COMO Shambhala Wellness Retreat at COMO Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos, her aspirations weren’t to build a global wellness empire, but instead her intention was much simpler.

Christina wanted to merely expose guests to the integrated benefits of yoga. Graciously, Christina has always acknowledged those who influenced her life and her brand from her world renowned yoga teachers Rodney Yee and Judy Krupp to her dear friend, personal inspiration and fashion icon Donna Karan.

Over the years, chefs, nutritionists and healers all have contributed to COMO’s unique holistic wellness understanding. From city centres to island retreats to highland resorts, today COMO is synonymous with living a healthier, better life with a portfolio of hotels around the globe which adhere to this philosophy.

COMO Uma Canggu – Surf Spirit

COMO Uma Canggu, has brought an innovate spin on the surf spirit to Bali’s southern coast. COMO Uma Canggu’s Beach Club is currently the hottest gathering spot in Bali a mere steps from the ocean where upscale surfers and sophisticated travelers alike mingle pool side complete with live acoustic musicians and a COMO restaurant featuring healthy juices and light seafood fare.

Walking down hundreds of steps and winding jungle paths, I finally arrive at a sacred spring of mineral-rich water on the Estate’s property used to fill the resort’s Vitality Pool.

A Sacred Spring

Back in the mountains of Ubud, COMO Shambhala Estate, the flagship property, remains the source of the COMO inspiration.

Since its opening in 2005, COMO Shambhala Estate has transcended a destination spa to represent the standard by which other wellness retreats around the world aspire to. Expect your mind and body to experience harmony while striving for a fresh perspective on personal wellness. From the flawless spa treatments to the Asian therapy wellness programs, organic cuisine, yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, and bounty of nature activities in the lush surroundings, COMO Shambhala Estate could be the paragon of perfection when it comes to destination wellness retreats.

But it all has to start with a willingness and motivation for renewal and each individual must commit to ongoing lifestyle changes with a proactive approach to wellness.

With this lofty purpose in mind, the last day of my stay at COMO Shambhala Estate I descended alone to the spring water source. Walking down hundreds of steps and winding jungle paths, I finally arrive at a sacred spring of mineral-rich water on the Estate’s property used to fill the resort’s Vitality Pool. Surrounded by silence, the jungle setting personified absolute peace and tranquility. This water spring is revered by the Ubud locals for its healing properties and used by the villagers for a Balinese ritual and ceremony.

Legend says it’s holy water. Lao Tzu’s quote came again to my head. This time, my own ‘streaming water’ was finally still.

Harnessing this sacred water and armed with a local clear crystal around my neck, believed by Balinese doctors to be ‘the most powerful healer’, I vowed to take COMO’s practices home with me.