Wolgan Valley Honoured with Condé Nast Traveler's World Savers Award

Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa General Manager Joost Heymeijer hands the Conde Nast Traveler's World Savers Award to Phil Cram, Facilities Manager and Ben Boothby, Senior Field Guide with the resort's Conservation Team.

Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, the world's first internationally accredited carbon-neutral resort, has been honoured at the prestigious 2011 World Savers Award for its pioneering work and commitment to wildlife conservation.

The Condé Nast Traveler's fifth annual World Savers Awards acclaims travel companies from around the world for their leadership in social responsibility. The rigorous process is judged across six categories including wildlife conservation, poverty relief, environmental and cultural preservation, education, and health initiatives.

"In just two years of opening, we're incredibly humbled to receive another global accolade for our commitment to wildlife conservation. From the outset, the resort has been built on the philosophy of complete integration with the Australian environment and a focus on endangered species protection," said Joost Heymeijer, General Manager, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa. 

Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa

A scenic three-hour drive from Sydney, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa is nestled between two of Australia's most prominent national parks and borders the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. The resort itself occupies just two per cent of the Emirates-owned 4,000-acre property, and combines the expectations of the high-end traveller with a commitment to broader social, ecological and environmental sustainability.

Travellers have become sensitive to environmental issues - in particular their own impact on the locations and communities they visit. They are equally are not expecting to lower their standards, and the quality of their experiences when travelling. 

"When guests stay at Wolgan Valley, they immediately recognise our ethos and ongoing commitment to be truly environmentally and socially responsible; and of course also appreciate the unique, luxury world-class experiences delivered by Emirates have not been compromised.

"We commend our colleagues in Australia and around the world who are making contributions to become more socially responsible. We hope these efforts continue to protect our naturally beautiful landmarks and locations, ensuring our industry grows and prospers," concluded Mr Heymeijer.

With approximately 4,000 acres of land dedicated as a wildlife reserve, the Wolgan conservancy project re-establishes and secures a future for many of the region's indigenous and endangered species, which were under critical pressure from introduced flora and feral predators – the major cause of species extinction in Australia.

To date, over 175,000 indigenous trees have been planted in wildlife corridors and along creek banks at Wolgan Valley. The resort also incorporates many Ecologically Sustainable Design principles and resource-saving technologies, ranging from rainwater collection, full recycling of all domestic water, heat exchange technology to reduce electricity consumption and the use of solar panels for all hot water systems.

For further information on the conservation policies and work at Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa please visit www.wolganvalley.com.

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Emirates Releases Early Bird Airfares to Europe, Middle East and Africa

-Fly from Australia to 29 European destinations via Dubai from $1798 return-

Award-winning Emirates has unveiled competitive Early Bird airfares to destinations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa for travel in 2012.

Australian travellers can fly to 29 destinations in Europe from $1798 return, experience 7 Middle Eastern cities from $1642 return, or sample a selection of 4 destinations in Africa from $1779 return.

All destinations are within convenient reach from Australia via one stop in Emirates' exciting hub-city of Dubai, with one free stopover in Dubai permitted in each direction of travel.

Emirates operates 70 flights per week from Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney to Dubai, and onwards to more than 110 destinations in over 65 countries.  Passengers enjoy service from an international crew, gourmet food and wine menus, an award-winning inflight entertainment system, and a generous 30kg luggage allowance.

Early Bird airfares to Emirates' newly announced European destinations start from $1805 to Dublin, $1808 to St Petersburg, $1807 to Copenhagen, and $1804 to Geneva.

Lead in return airfares to the exotic destinations of the Middle East include $1650 to Dubai, $1642 to Muscat and Cairo from $1653.

Australians looking for an African adventure can fly to Cape Town, Durban or Johannesburg in South Africa from $1832 return, or try Nairobi from $1779 return.

All airfares are quoted based on travel in Economy Class and include all taxes and charges.*

Bookings must be completed by 30 November 2011.  Early Bird airfares are available for travel between 1 February and 30 September 2012, fare levels vary during this period. Flight restrictions apply.  

For flight information and bookings contact Emirates on 1300 303 777, visit your local travel agent or go to www.emirates.com/au.

Terms and conditions for the offer:

·         Ticketing and sales between now and 30th November 2011 only
·         Valid for departures from 1st February until 30th September 2012 only

Valid for travel outbound to Dubai on EK405, EK409, EK415, EK419, EK433, EK425 only

·         Fees for changes and cancellations apply
·         One free stopover is permitted in Dubai city in each direction
·         Seats and Class are subject to availability at time of booking


*The inclusive taxes and surcharges quoted are correct at 19th September 2011. These may vary slightly over the travel period.

 
For flight information and bookings contact Emirates on 1300 303 777, visit your local travel agent or go to www.emirates.com/au.

 
 

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Emirates Expands South American Network With Flights to Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro **Media release**

Two of South America's most iconic cities will soon have a faster link to Dubai and over 100 destinations worldwide when Emirates commences its daily non-stop service to Rio de Janeiro and extension to Buenos Aires from 3 January 2012.

"Both Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro are rightly renowned as world-class leisure destinations as well as important business and trading centres.  Our research has shown that there is a high demand for these cities from across our network," said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group.

"Brazil has been part of the Emirates network since 2007 when we began flights from Dubai to Sao Paulo. With the country playing host to both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympics, Brazil will be further catapulted into the world's spotlight, and we will be in a prime position to transport sports enthusiasts to these renowned events. Meanwhile, our first service to Argentina is a much-anticipated addition to our network which will open important new markets for us," added Sheikh Ahmed.

"Emirates' plans to implement services from Dubai to Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro will play an important role in increasing tourism, trade and investment between Argentina, Brazil and the UAE, in addition to the airline's vast global network," said Carlos Enrique Meyer, Minister of Tourism of Argentina.

"Emirates' current service to Sao Paulo has been extremely popular since it was first introduced. The addition of Rio de Janeiro will serve to further increase the cultural ties between our two nations," said Pedro Novaes, Minister of Tourism of Brazil.

The Dubai-Rio de Janeiro-Buenos Aires service will be operated by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft offering eight First Class Private Suites, 42 lie-flat seats in Business and 304 seats in Economy.

Throughout all cabin classes, passengers can enjoy over 1,200 channels of entertainment on demand on "ice", the airline's award-winning in-flight entertainment system. 

Passengers flying Emirates from Buenos Aires and Rio will also be able to connect to Emirates' global network across the Far and Middle East, Indian sub-continent, Africa, and Australasia via its hub in Dubai. 

"The arrival of Emirates will be an important bridge between Rio de Janeiro and the East, generating many new trade and tourism opportunities," said Sergio Cabral Filho, Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro. "Rio has, today, one of the world's most impressive international events calendars including, the 2011 World Military Games, the 2013 Cup of the Confederations, the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games. This new service, from January 2012, will be an extraordinary gain for our state and our city."

The bellyhold capacity on the 777-300ER will support key imports and exports including automobile parts, accessories, manufactured goods, fruit and vegetables, machinery and pharmaceutical products from Rio. For Buenos Aires, key imports and exports include perishables, textiles as well as pharmaceuticals.

Over the last few years, South America has experienced record-paced economic growth, even in the shadow of the global downturn of 2008.

Brazil stands as one of the world's fastest-growing economies, thanks to its success in the petroleum sector, a young and active workforce and stability in urban growth.  Trade between Brazil and the Middle East follows the trend: according to the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, exports to Arab countries totalled US$12.57 billion in 2010, representing an annual growth of 34%, while imports ended the year with US$6.96 billion, an increase of 33% compared to 2009.

Argentina has also experienced positive economic growth in 2010.  Tourism, one of the country's major economic drivers, is a good indicator. 

According to INDEC (Argentina's National Institute of Statistics and Censuses) there were 2.6 million foreign tourist arrivals at Buenos Aires airports in 2010, (an annual increase of 27%).  Government projections for international visitors for the 2010-2012 period are very optimistic with Asian markets expected to increase their current share of the tourism market.

Starting 3rd January 2012, EK 247 will leave Dubai daily at 0705hrs and arrive at Rio's Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport at 1535hrs. It will depart Rio at 1720hrs, arriving at Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini International Airport (Ezeiza) at 1930hrs. From Buenos Aires, EK 248 departs at 2130hrs, arriving in Rio at 0120hrs the next day. The aircraft will depart Rio at 0255hours, arriving in Dubai at 2235hrs.

Find out more at www.emirates.com/au.

 

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Time Fast Approaching for Emirates' Geneva Launch

Guests at the Emirates Road Show event at Geneva Palexpo next to the life-sized replica of the airline's A380 Onboard Shower Spa. More than 600 guests attended the event, promoting the launch of passenger services between Dubai and Geneva on 1st June. Also on display at last night's function were an Emirates' A380 First Class Private Suite and Onboard Lounge.

Richard Vaughan, Emirates' Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Worldwide, on stage with cabin crew during the Emirates' Road Show event at Geneva Palexpo last night. The airline will launch a daily flight to Geneva from 1st June.

Food from across the world at Emirates' Road Show event at Geneva Palexpo last night, ahead of the launch of the airline's Dubai-Geneva service from 1st June.

Emirates has given a new meaning to the expression 'Time flies' with its plans to launch flights to the "birthplace of watch making" - now just eight weeks away.

Geneva will be added to the airline's European route network from 1st June. Last night, more than 600 guests from the travel industry and the city's wider business community attended a high profile road show event in Geneva as an introduction to the airline and its home of Dubai.

For many, it provided an opportunity to get close up to the airline's flagship A380 aircraft, which has already carried more than 4 million Emirates passengers around the world.

A First Class Private Suite was also on show at the city's Palexpo for guests to sink into, as were life-size replicas of the Onboard Shower Spa and Onboard Lounge.

The Dubai-Geneva service will be operated by a combination of Boeing 777-200LR and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The aircraft will be arranged in a three-class configuration, offering First Class Private Suites, lie-flat seats in Business Class, and a spacious cabin in Economy Class.

Throughout all cabin classes, passengers can enjoy the latest version of the airline's much admired ice in-flight entertainment system. It offers a staggering array of over 1,200 channels, making time fly like never before whilst at 40,000 feet.

Geneva is sometimes referred to as the "birthplace of watch making" as the industry dates to the mid 16th century in the city. Even in 1790, Geneva was exporting more than 60,000 watches a year. In 2010, Swiss watch manufacturers exported more than 26 million finished watches, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry.

The luxury sector, including watch making, is amongst the top three employers in the Geneva region, representing 60% of its exports.

Each Emirates' 777 aircraft serving Geneva will have 15-20 tonnes of cargo capacity - space for plenty of luxury watches, along with high-end fashion goods, diplomatic cargo, relief shipments for the International Red Cross, pharmaceutical products and electronics.

"Geneva is our second gateway into Switzerland after Zurich. We see strong demand for both leisure and business travel, bearing in mind the presence of hundreds of international organisations and Geneva's status as a major financial centre," said Richard Vaughan, Emirates' Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations Worldwide.

"We're just eight weeks out from the launch and last night's road show event helps drive awareness throughout the travel trade about the new flights and the additional cargo capacity they offer in and out of Switzerland," Mr Vaughan added.

As with Zurich, passengers flying Emirates from Geneva can travel non-stop to Dubai, where they are able to connect to an impressive network of destinations throughout the Middle East, the Indian sub-continent, Africa, the Far East and Australasia.

Starting 1st June 2011, EK 089 will leave Dubai daily at 0855hrs and arrive in Geneva at 1345hrs. From Geneva, EK 090 departs at 1515hrs, arriving in Dubai at 2330hrs.

Geneva will become the airline's 26th destination in Europe and 112th point globally. On 1st August, Emirates launches flights to Copenhagen, its first passenger service into Scandinavia.

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Emirates Sends Newlyweds Around the World on 'Wedding World Tour'

Jason and April Niedle check in for the first leg of their Wedding World Tour at Los Angeles International Airport.

Emirates is making matrimony even more blissful for 'Wedding World Tour' newlyweds Jason and April Niedle. Deciding to discover the meaning of marriage in different cultures, the Niedles, married in Los Angeles on February 11, are en route to explore culturally unique, distinct wedding ceremonies in Thailand, Kenya and Greece. The couple will experience the use of elephants in a Thai ceremony; a traditional Masai village ceremony in Kenya; come face to face with a Greek Orthodox minister and experience an exciting 24-hour "honeymoon" in Dubai. To follow Jason and April's Wedding World Tour on Emirates, visit Jason Niedle's blog at: www.jasontopia.com.
The "Wedding World Tour" highlights Emirates' extensive network of over 100 cities worldwide, perfect for couples looking for luxury, comfort and superior service as they embark on life's most exciting journey.

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Emirates Named Airline of the Year for 2011 by Air Transport World

Emirates, the Dubai-based carrier, was honoured by leading industry title Air Transport World last night as the airline's President Tim Clark received the 'Airline of the Year' award at a gala dinner in Washington, D.C.
 
"The last few years have been among the most demanding in our industry's history but despite the challenges, we have kept our focus on delivering the very highest standards of product, passenger comfort and operational efficiency," said Tim Clark.  "This recognition is testament to our commitment to innovation and service excellence as we continue to grow our global network and offer customers more opportunities to discover the world from Dubai."

"Customers have a choice to fly Emirates, given that more than 125 airlines serve Dubai. The route network appeals to travelers not only in the UAE, but to those in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America who value the efficiency and connectivity of the Dubai hub," said Perry Flint, Editorial Director for ATW. 

"A cornerstone of EK's success has been a relentless drive for cabin innovation not just in premium class but in economy," added Flint.  "The decision to award Emirates 'Airline of the Year' is in recognition for its strong commitment to safety and operational excellence, its trendsetting customer service and its superb financial performance including a 22-year consecutive annual profit streak."

Since launching services in 1985, Emirates has grown into one of the largest and most dynamic airlines in the world, transforming Dubai into a world-class hub for global air travel. The airline is a leader in developing flexible air routings that save fuel and reduce CO2 emissions. These advances, combined with a host of other achievements have resulted in more than 400 international awards recognizing the airline in almost every category.

Some of  Emirates' pioneering innovations include becoming the first airline to introduce individual seat back videos and to enable passengers to make authorized onboard mobile phone calls. Emirates' flagship A380s are the only commercial aircraft to feature onboard shower spas for first class passengers.

The airline has experienced rapid and consistent growth, above 20 per cent a year on average. Financially self-sustained and unprotected, Emirates carried 27.5 million passengers in the 2009-10 financial year – almost 4.7 million more than the previous 12 months.

Emirates currently flies to 110 cities in 66 countries across Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian subcontinent and Asia-Pacific. So far this year, the airline has launched a new route to Basra, Iraq on 2 February and will start new services to Geneva on 1 June and Copenhagen on 1 August.

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Emirates Enhances its Northern European Network

Emirates is strengthening its operations in Northern Europe by adding more flights to Austria and Germany on the back of new route announcements into Switzerland and Denmark.

Four extra flights will be added to the airline's daily service to Vienna from 27th March. The additional Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday flights will be served by an Airbus A340-500, offering 12 First Class Private Suites, 42 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 204 seats in Economy.

From 1st September, Emirates' daily flight to Hamburg becomes double daily. The extra frequencies are supported by a Boeing 777-200, also in a three-class configuration.

“By providing these extra flights, we are responding to strong demand for additional capacity on the Vienna and Hamburg routes. The strengthened services will foster new business and tourism to two of our key European destinations and provide even more convenient connections to onward travel through our international hub of Dubai," said Salem Obaidalla, Emirates' Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Europe & Russian Federation.

The airline has offered flights to Vienna, The City of Music, since 2004 and has flown to Hamburg, home of its A380 finishing work, since 2006.

Emirates has also announced two brand new routes for Europe so far this year. In Switzerland, where the airline has served Zurich for nearly 20 years, a new daily service will start to Geneva from 1st June.

On 1st August, flights will start to the Danish capital, Copenhagen, representing the airline's first passenger service into Scandinavia. Elsewhere on the network, a new flight to Basra in Iraq starts tomorrow.

Currently, the airline serves 109 destinations with a fleet of 151 aircraft, including 15 A380s.

www.emirates.com

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Emirates to resume third-daily Sydney service with new aircraft

- Boeing 777-300ER to commence operations from 2nd October 2011 –

Sydney, Australia, 2nd December 2010: Emirates has announced that its third-daily Sydney to Dubai service will recommence from 2nd October 2011, operated by a new, larger Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Emirates flight EK415 departs early morning at 0600 from Sydney, enabling passengers to arrive in destinations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa within the same day of travel.  The return flight EK414 departs Dubai at 0140, arriving in Sydney at 2230.

The service, previously operated by a Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, was suspended last month, following a reorganisation of services and reallocation of aircraft by Emirates internationally.

"With demand for our Sydney flights continuing to grow, the return of the third-daily Sydney service is welcome news for our staff, travel partners and customers in Sydney," said Barry Brown, Emirates Vice President Australasia.

"The Boeing 777-300ER which will operate from 2nd October offers both much needed capacity growth for this service and stunning onboard products, including First Class Private Suites, lie-flat seats in Business Class, spacious Economy Class and more than 1200 channels on Emirates' inflight entertainment system ice."

As with all Emirates' flights, passengers will also enjoy complimentary gourmet food and beverages, generous baggage allowances of up to 30kg in Economy Class, and fully inclusive pricing in all classes.

The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will be configured with eight Private Suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 304 Economy Class seats, increasing capacity on Emirates' flights between Sydney and Dubai by 41 per cent.

This announcement accompanies a series of capacity increases for Emirates' Australasian services this year, including the introduction of Boeing 777-200LR aircraft on Perth services, Boeing 777-300ERs on Melbourne services, and a Boeing 777-300ER being deployed to Brisbane on 1st January.

 In the past two years Emirates has increased its capacity to Australia by an average of 25 per cent annually.  This has included the launch of third-daily Melbourne and Sydney services and a second-daily Brisbane service.

Emirates' extensive route network consists of 109 destinations worldwide in 65 countries.  For flight information and bookings contact Emirates on 1300 303 777, visit your local travel agent or www.emirates.com/au.

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Wolgan Valley Excels At Prestigious Industry Awards

Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa team at the 2010 HM Awards.
L-R: Dwane Goodman, Rosanna Barthelot, Andrew Adams-Smith,
Maryann Romeo, Joost Heymeijer.

Wolgan Valley Excels At Prestigious Industry Awards

With a one year anniversary just around the corner, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa has even more reason to celebrate, after receiving the most hotel awards at the 2010 HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence.

As Australia's first conservation-based luxury resort, Wolgan Valley was honoured with six awards including Winner in Unique Accommodation, Best New Hotel, Regional Property, Hotel Chef, and Environmental Program with a Highly Commended in the Resort category.

Now in its eighth year, the annual HM Awards recognise the leaders in hospitality and honour the achievements of excellence in a wide range of categories in the accommodation industry.

With a record 1,300 entries received this year, the highly competitive awards span across Australia, New Zealand and selected South Pacific nations.

Joost Heymeijer, General Manager, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa said: "This is an outstanding achievement for a resort that has been in operation less than one year. These awards recognise the efforts of the entire Emirates Wolgan Valley team who strive for unparalleled service and superior standards every day."

"To date Wolgan Valley has been a great success and has introduced a new era of luxury to Australian and international travellers. Now as we reach our first anniversary we look forward to continuing setting the benchmark for excellence within the industry," said Mr Heymeijer.

A scenic three-hour drive from Sydney, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa is nestled between two of Australia's most prominent national parks and borders the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Occupying just two per cent of a 4,000-acre conservancy reserve, Wolgan Valley combines the expectations of the high-end traveller with a commitment to conservation of threatened and endangered wildlife, ecological and environmental sustainability.

Since its opening in October 2009, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa has also been awarded the following accolades:

• Conde Nast US and Conde Nast UK "Hot List" (Spa and Resort categories).
• National Trust Heritage Awards - for its work in restoring the original 1832 farmhouse. 
• Luxury Travel Magazine - Gold List Awards. (Voted by readers "Most desired new resort to visit in the world")
• Australian Hotels Association (NSW) Accommodation Awards for Excellence for Best Environment Initiative, Regional Deluxe Accommodation of the Year and Outstanding Contribution to Tourism.
• Conservation Award Winner, with Emirates Hotels & Resorts, in the World Travel & Tourism Council's 2010 "Tourism for Tomorrow" Awards
• Travel + Leisure's "It List 2010"
• 2010 Blue Mountains, Lithgow and Oberon Tourism Awards for New Tourism Development

The resort was the first hotel in the world to achieve carbon neutral certification from CarboNZero, an internationally accredited greenhouse gas certification scheme.

Wolgan Valley is also a proud member of Leading Hotels of the World, the world's largest luxury hospitality organisation, representing more than 450 of the finest hotels, resorts and spas around the world; and is a founding member of Luxury Lodges of Australia, an association launched in May to promote the uniquely Australian breed of luxury experiential lodges, domestically and internationally.

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Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa wins at Australian Hotels Association Awards

Australia's first conservation-based luxury resort, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, has received the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award as well as Best Environment Initiative and Regional Deluxe Accommodation of the Year in the annual Australian Hotels Association (NSW) Accommodation Awards for Excellence.

Wolgan Valley was presented the awards at a gala presentation dinner, attended by dignitaries and 600 of the industry's business leaders and members. Now in its thirteenth year, these prestigious Awards recognise the leaders in hospitality and honour the achievements of excellence in a wide range of categories in the accommodation industry.

Tony Williams Senior Vice President, Emirates Hotels & Resorts said: "With Wolgan Valley it was always Emirates' intention to showcase the enormous tourism potential in Australia; and careful, deliberate efforts were made to ensure the resort highlighted the luxury experiences available in Australia, and grow this sector of the market. We are certainly very pleased to have our commitments recognised in this manner."  

Joost Heymeijer, General Manager, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa added: "It is a great honour to receive these awards. Wolgan Valley has only been open six months, and to win such prestigious awards, and be recognised by our industry colleagues and peers is an enormous achievement for the resort and Emirates.

"Wolgan Valley adds value to the Australian luxury travel experience, and we see the resort becoming a highlight of many Australian itineraries, as well as a favourite corporate venue for business leaders."

Wolgan Valley's awards in the competitive categories of Best Environment Initiative and Regional Deluxe Accommodation of the Year cements the Emirates Hotels & Resorts' property on the Australian tourism landscape.  The resort was also awarded in a new award category launched in 2010 for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism which acknowledges the resort's unique place in the industry and its ability to set new standards and benchmarks in the Australian industry.

Since its October 2009 opening, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa has also been awarded the following accolades:

• Conde Nast US and Conde Nast UK "Hot List" (Spa and Resort categories).
• National Trust Heritage Awards - for its work in restoring the original 1832 farmhouse. 
• Luxury Travel Magazine - Gold List Awards. (Voted by readers "Most desired new resort to visit in the world")
• Nominated, with Emirates Hotels & Resorts, in the World Travel & Tourism Council's "Tourism for Tomorrow" Awards.

Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa will go onto the AHA National Awards which will be presented in September this year.

Combining the expectations of the high-end traveller with a commitment to broader social, ecological and environmental sustainability, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa is redefining what traditional luxury means to travellers.

Wolgan Valley provides its guests unique experiences and insights into this fascinating continent, with in-depth experiences of its wildlife, history and cultural heritage. The resort is fully inclusive, and includes all its meals and on-site activities in its rates; with a major focus of the guest experience being the quality of Australia's finest produce and select ranges of regional fine wines and all non-alcoholic beverages.

Located between two of Australia's most prominent national parks, and bordering the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, Wolgan Valley was selected by Emirates after an extensive research for a location that lent itself to world-class conservation-based practices.  The secluded resort also incorporates the 'Timeless Spa' branded facility offering guests world-class spa treatments in a luxurious setting of commanding views of the spectacular the valley below.

The resort has recently become the first hotel in the world to achieve carbon neutral certification from an internationally accredited greenhouse gas certification scheme. Wolgan Valley is also a proud member of Leading Hotels of the World, the world's largest luxury hospitality organisation, representing more than 450 of the finest hotels, resorts and spas.

Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa:

Tel.: +61 2 9290 9733 – Fax: +61 2 6350 1801

Street Address: 2600 Wolgan Road, Wolgan Valley, Lithgow 2790 NSW, Australia
Postal Address: PO Box 390, Lithgow 2790 NSW, Australia
Visit www.wolganvalley.com - Email: info@wolganvalley.com


About Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa

Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa opened in October 2009.

Located within its own 4,000 acre conservation reserve and nestled between two national parks bordering the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, the conservation-based Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa sets new standards in luxury travel. Combining the expectations of the high-end traveller with the broader social, ecological and environmental aspects of the resort, it will be the only experience of its kind in Australia.

This secluded resort features 40 individual suites surrounded by private decks, each having its own indoor/outdoor swimming pool. Its architecture is designed to be reminiscent of traditional rural Australian homesteads.

As Emirates Hotels & Resorts' first hospitality development outside Dubai, the Au$125 million project was built on the same principles as Emirates' acclaimed Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa, fully integrated into its environment and supporting wide-ranging conservation practices. These will focus on endangered species protection and the planting of thousands of native trees indigenous to the area, including one of the world's rarest trees, the Wollemi Pine.

"Wolgan Valley's combination of luxury, iconic location and outstanding conservation values, truly cannot be paralleled," said Tony Williams, Senior Vice President, Resorts & Projects, Emirates Hotels & Resorts. "It provides the essential Australian experience which exposes the visitor to an understanding of the amazing continent and its heritage."


About Emirates Hotels & Resorts:

Emirates Hotels & Resorts is Emirates Airline's premier hospitality management division comprising a growing portfolio of award-winning luxury conservation-based resorts, five-star hotels and lifestyle Spas.

For over 10 years, Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa has showcased the success of Emirates Hotels & Resorts' conservation-based philosophy. The same philosophy is followed at the other two Emirates Hotels & Resorts conservation-based properties; the Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa in Australia's Blue Mountains, which opened in October, and at the Cap Ternay Resort & Spa in the Seychelles, which is now under planning.  

The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve and the Wolgan Valley Wildlife Conservancy, where Al Maha and Wolgan Valley are respectively located, are sponsored by Emirates and under the management of Emirates Hotels & Resorts.

For further information, visit www.emirateshotelsresorts.com

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