What future for Australian ski resorts?

What does the future hold for Australia's ski resorts? 

The 2026 season marked the hottest winter on record for the Australian Alps, with the highest mean temperatures on record for June to August across much of Victoria, New South Wales, the ACT and Tasmania. 

The season is shutting down early across the Australian Alps, with resort closures, businesses up for sale, and a severe lack of snow, the Protect Our Winters team says. 

The snow season typically peaks in August and runs through late-September to October, but climate pollution is driving higher temperatures and significant rain events that have greatly reduced snow cover, bringing an unusually early end to the season.

Mt Baw Baw in Victoria and Selwyn Snow Resort in New South Wales both closed for the season last week. Selwyn cited a “challenging winter”, temperature, and rain’s “impact on our remaining snow cover” as the reasons for closure.

Mia Rennie, POW Athlete Alliance, free skier and sports commentator, noted the changes at Selwyn in a media release.

"I grew up skiing at Selwyn snowfields and remember having to dig our front doors out at Cabramurra," Rennie said. 

"That’s now a thing of the past. I have seen first hand how quickly our winters are changing and how quickly we need to respond so future generations can continue to experience the magic of winter that I grew up with.”

Australia’s resort economy is worth over $3 billion annually, supporting thousands of jobs. 

Thredbo Alpine Resort was recently hit with a valuation drop of over 50% from $292 million to $143 million, POW says. 

And coming off the back of Australia’s most successful Winter Olympics, climate change is threatening the future of Australia’s snow sports viability, success, and culture. With diminishing opportunities for training and competition in Australia, athletes are increasingly forced to chase snow opportunities overseas.

Protect Our Winters Australia (POW) is A community-driven, science-backed collective of winter sports enthusiasts, High Country devotees, climate scientists, and regional businesses advocating for systemic climate solutions.

For more info see protectourwinters.org.au.

Image: Mount Hotham slalom gully last week. Supplied. 

Discover Paris's secret cinema

Meet one of the most exclusive cinemas in the world.

Usually used for private screenings and for hotel guests, there is a movie theatre in Paris that most visitors never see. 

Hidden inside the luxury Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris, the Cinéma Katara offers a different cinematic experience, news hub Travel Mole reports.

The 99-seat cinema is tucked away inside the hotel and has become a discreet meeting place for movie stars, filmmakers and international personalities. 

But now locals and visitors have a chance to sample the experience with the cinema is opening its doors to a wider audience with a Royal Film Club line-up.

Described as the French capital’s first luxury cinema, Katara combines 35mm, 2D and 3D projection with oversized leather seats designed by Philippe Starck and a professional sound and image team is also on hand for screenings and private events.

The theatre is often used for film industry gatherings, premieres and bespoke events. Hotel guests can also book it for private screenings, concerts, sales events and seminars.

But now, once a month, the doors will be open to the public, giving s moviegoers the chance to watch a film from the same plush seats used by celebrities, while enjoying a choice of food and drinks. 

The experience is designed for families and friends, with a gourmet package featuring sweet treats or a more indulgent “Royale” option served with a glass of Champagne.

Tickets start at €25 and can be booked online.

Details here: https://www.raffles.com/paris/experiences/royal-film-club/

Luang Prabang lights up for annual festival

Looking for an Asian getaway with a difference?

Every rear on the October full moon, Luang Prabang in Laos lights up for Boun Lai Heua Fai, the Festival of Light marking the end of Buddhist Lent.

After dark, illuminated boats built from bamboo and paper move through the streets of the old town to the beat of drums before they are set adrift on the Mekong River.

Lotus-shaped lanterns line the temples, and thousands of small krathong drift downstream, each one carrying a wish into the current.

This year, the festival falls on October 26.

La Résidence Phou Vao, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Luang Prabang, is offering special packages for the event.

Called The Festival of Light Offer, it pairs a hillside stay with guided access to the parade, the lanterns, and the river itself, arranged by a dedicated guest experience curator (they used to be called concierges).

Every stay booked under The Festival of Light Offer includes:

# Daily breakfast for two at La Brasserie de la Résidence
# Round trip transfers to and from Luang Prabang International Airport or the railway station
# The services of a dedicated guest experience curator for personalized itinerary planning
# A minibar stocked with non alcoholic beverages, replenished daily
# Complimentary shuttle service to and from the old town of Luang Prabang, running from 9am to 9pm.
# A $50 USD resort credit toward dining or spa treatments
# A daily sunset apéritif with wine or cocktails and French canapés for two
# Complimentary laundry for up to six garments daily
# A complimentary three-course dinner for two on stays of three nights or more

Sounds tempting. 

To discover more about the offer, visit https://laresidencehotels.com/phou-vao/offers

Brisbane blossoms with new eateries

Brisbane, host city for the 2032 Olympic Games, is booming with the recent opening of several new eateries.

The Brisbane Economic Development Agency and Visit Brisbane have provided as list of what is hot and happening:

SAN TELMO

Brisbane City

Bringing its celebrated Argentine steakhouse style to Brisbane, San Telmo (above) has opened in the CBD with a space inspired by the dining rooms of 1960s Buenos Aires. Think plush booths, vintage chandeliers and low lighting. The menu is built around premium Argentine-style steaks cooked over fire, with larger cuts made for sharing. The menu features ceviche, empanadas and grilled king prawns before the meaty main event. he drinks list leans into Argentina, too, with wines, cocktails, craft beers and aperitivos.

DON GINO

West End

Bringing a taste of Sicily to West End, Don Gino has transformed the former Bar Hugo site on Hardgrave Road into a neighbourhood trattoria and wine bar. Sicilian chef and owner, Marco La Perna draws on generations of family recipes and hospitality, with a menu centred on simple southern Italian cooking and premium imported produce.Expect Sicilian favourites including panelle, arancini, fried calamari and mussels Siciliana, alongside hearty pasta dishes. The drinks list keeps the Italian spirit going, with more than 30 Italian and Sicilian wines, along with classic cocktails and imported soft drinks.

EON

Brisbane City

Japanese dining gets a late-night edge at Eon, a new addition in the heart of Brisbane's CBD. The menu honours traditional Japanese cuisine with a modern touch. The food is matched with cocktails with the experience designed to stretch well beyond dinner. It's a sleek new spot for lingering late into the night.

ELOISE & LOU PATISSERIE

Fortitude Valley

Classic French baking has landed in Fortitude Valley with Eloise & Lou, a new patisserie from pastry chef Adrien Marcinowski, formerly of Rise Bakery. The Wickham Street bakery takes a 'back to basics' approach, with Adrien returning to the traditional French techniques that shaped his career. Expect handcrafted patisserie and viennoiserie; buttery pastries and French classics. Coffee, too. 

BISTRO TINO

Fortitude Valley

The team behind Mosconi has opened Bistro Tino in a restored World War II era hangar in Newstead, aiming to bring the feel of a European neighbourhood bar to Brisbane. Designed as an all day eatery, the space draws inspiration from Italy's local corner bars. The menu keeps things simple, moving from breakfast into lunch with dishes including pan con tomate with yellowfin tuna, Italian sausage with silverbeet and butter beans, bifana rolls and market fish. Pastries and $2 standing espressos are a drawcard. 

INTERMISSION

West End

The team behind West End Electric has launched Intermission, a new bar and dining room on Boundary Street inspired by the glamour of London's West End. Cocktails take cues from classic candy bar treats with the Choc Top Martini, Popcorn Sour and Malt-Pleaser. Pair them with burrata, peach and prosciutto loaded crisps or loaded toasties. There's a secret door connecting Intermission directly to West End Electric for ticket holders.

PARKLANDS SOCIAL

Spring Hill

Spring Hill's newest opening aims to bring a slice of New York to Brisbane with a neighbourhood bar and grill inspired by the delis and dining institutions of the Big Apple. Located near Roma Street Parkland, it offers everything from morning coffee to long dinners. Think dishes like matzo ball soup and a Reuben stacked with house-made pastrami. The drinks list keeps the New York theme going with classic cocktails and signatures like the Spicy Vodgarita. 

ILO BAKEHOUSE

Wynumm

Wynnum's waterfront has a new addition with Ilo Bakehouse the latest concept from the team behind Sister, Butter and Alby's. The Scandinavian-inspired bakehouse sits opposite the foreshore in a design-led space. The pastry offering is kept deliberately tight with 12 items at a time, including sourdough croissants, orange and cardamom buns, miso butterscotch almond croissants and seasonal specials.

Sounds like BrisVegas might be worth a gourmet trip. 

New Spanish airline ready for take off

It would seem the height of optimism to launch a new budget airline in the current economic headwinds, but Fly2Galicia is preparing for take off by December. 

In an era of closures and mergers, the new carrier will offer flights linking the Spanish region and major European business and tourism centres non stop.

The Spanish airline has opened reservations ahead of its planned December 1 launch. 

It will initially offer 17 weekly departures from its base at Santiago de Compostela Airport to eight destinations in Spain and Europe.

The network will include Alicante, Zaragoza and Granada in Spain, alongside Brussels, Munich, Milan Malpensa, Prague and Venice Marco Polo. 

Alicante will receive three weekly flights, while the other seven routes will operate twice a week, travel news hub Travel Mole reports.

The first flights will depart December 1 to Zaragoza and Brussels, followed by Prague and Venice on December 2. Alicante, Granada and Munich begin December 3, with Milan Malpensa following on December 4.

Fly2Galicia will use leased Romania-based aircraft and crew supplied by Romanian operator FLYYO, while Fly2Galicia will handles sales, marketing and the commercial network. 

The company is considering adding a second aircraft for the 2027 summer season, potentially enabling further network expansion.

Thailand promising to crack down on miscreants

Bali recently jailed a badly-behaved Swiss tourist who disrespected Nyepi, the Balinese day of silence, and now Thailand is vowing to crack down on badly behaved tourists.

Thai authorities have warned that tourist visas could be revoked as they move to protect the country’s tourism image, The Nation newspaper reported.

The warning comes amid reports of inappropriate behaviour by foreign visitors in popular destinations including Pattaya, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Phuket.

Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said Thailand remains open to visitors of all nationalities but expects them to respect Thai laws, local culture and communities.

He said authorities would not ignore misconduct or allow isolated incidents to escalate into wider problems affecting tourism.

"Thailand is ready to welcome every tourist who respects Thai law and culture, but we will not allow the country to become a venue for symbolic expressions of conflicts that have nothing to do with Thailand,” he said.

The government is prepared to co-ordinate with immigration and other agencies to take immediate action, including visa revocation, against foreign tourists considered to be causing serious trouble.

The issue has received particular attention on Koh Samui, where local concerns have been raised about the behaviour of some Israeli tourists. 

Israeli visitor numbers to Samui and neighbouring Koh Phangan have increased, putting the destinations under greater scrutiny as authorities seek to manage tourism growth.

A Thai activist group submitted a letter outside the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok on August 24, urging Israeli tourists and residents in Thailand to "respect the country’s laws, customs and culture," Khaosodenglish.com reported.

Authorities in Koh Phangan said 13 foreign tourists had already had their visas revoked in recent weeks for inappropriate activities, highlighting the increasingly tough stance Thailand is taking toward unruly visitors.

Thailand has made clear that its tourism destinations should not be used as venues for political or symbolic activities linked to overseas conflicts.

Asked whether visas issued to visitors from particular countries would be reviewed, Surasak said authorities would consider each case individually.

Image: Bangkok, Suparerg Suksai, Scop.io