The 2008 Bordeaux Wine Festival will take place from the 26th to the 29th of June on the quays of the left bank of the Garonne River, from the Pont de Pierre to the Bourse Maritime.

An awesome April is anticipated in Glasgow as a compelling mix of music, theatre and contemporary arts events descend upon the city. Here’s an overview of the key events happening in Glasgow throughout April!

Glasgow International Festival of Contemporary Visual Art
When: 11 – 27 April
Where: Various locations across Glasgow


The Glasgow International Festival of Contemporary Visual Art (Gi) returns for 2008 in its new biannual format. The Gi Festival hosts exhibitions, seminars, artists’ talks and events that have been specifically developed, in addition to further collaborations throughout the city that reflect Glasgow’s capacity to exhibit internationally significant art and nurture Turner Prize, Hugo Boss and Beck’s Futures winners.

Mamma Mia!
When: 1 – 27 April
Where: Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre


Set to the unmistakeable songs of ABBA, Mamma Mia! tells a tale of fun, family and friendship. Unfolding on a Greek island paradise, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. Featuring classic songs such as ‘Waterloo’ and ‘Dancing Queen’ in a performance which promises belly-laughs and dazzling costumes, Mamma Mia! is surely one show which can’t be missed.

National Theatre of Scotland: Black Watch
When: 11 – 18 April
Where: Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre


Hurtling from a pool room in Fife to an armoured wagon under enemy fire, Black Watch is based on interviews with former soldiers who served in Iraq. Viewed through the eyes of those on the ground, Black Watch reveals what it means to be part of the legendary Scottish regiment, what it means to be part of the war on terror and what it means to make the journey back home. John Tiffany’s production makes powerful and inventive use of movement, music and song to create a visceral, complex and urgent piece of theatre.

Triptych Festival
When: 25 – 27 April
Where: Various venues across Glasgow


Now in its eighth year, Scotland’s Triptych Festival celebrates exceptional music – from grassroots agitators to international stars – with an unparalleled bill that has rendered it one of Europe’s most spirited and inspiring live events. Having previously staged such diverse acts as Franz Ferdinand, Grace Jones and Cat Power, this year’s line-up includes hip-hop mogul The RZA, Glasgow indie kings Mogwai and the sensual and soulful Candi Staton, will ensure that Triptych ‘08 will be another melodious maelstrom!

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Discover 2008’s Hottest Bands At Brighton’s ‘Great Escape’ Festival

BAGAN, Myanmar - It may be awash with cultural splendors, topped off by the 1,000-year-old temples of Bagan, but a reviled military government has ensured Myanmar has never been flooded with foreign tourists.

Six months after September's bloody crackdown on monk-led protests, that trickle of visitors -- 350,000 in 2006 compared to 13 million in neighboring Thailand -- has all but dried up.

The former Burma's rigidly controlled domestic newspapers admit tourism almost halved in the three months after the crackdown, in which the United Nations says at least 31 people were killed.

But in Bagan, a mystical plain studded with more than 4,000 temples and stupas on the banks of the mighty Irrawaddy River, hotel and restaurant operators say occupancy rates and takings are just 20-30 percent of the same time last year.

Given that the unrest, and the shocking images of soldiers attacking monks and unarmed demonstrators, fell on the eve of the "cool season" -- the traditional peak time for tourism -- the decline is threatening many with ruin.

"There are so few visitors at the moment," said tour guide Aung Myint with a shake of the head. "Many people are wondering how they will support their families during the low season. Now is when we're meant to be making all our money."

Although it only took a few days for the junta to crush the biggest democracy protests in 19 years, pictures, including the shooting of a Japanese journalist, reinforced the image of the former British colony as an unstable, hostile place.

Besides a growing number of Russian tour groups, the only visitors who appear to have shrugged off scruples or the perception of risk are German.

"I don't know why but most of the tourists now are Germans," said Aung Thein Myint, owner of a swish open-air restaurant on the banks of the Irrawaddy, where takings in October and November were down by 80 percent.

"They seem to think that until they start shooting Germans, it's still safe to visit," he said.

BLAME IT ON THE MEDIA

In typically uncompromising tone, the junta -- the latest face of 46 years of unbroken military rule -- blames the decline on the foreign media and dissidents who smuggled out pictures and reports of atrocities on the Internet.

"Some foreigners attempted to tarnish the image of Myanmar by posting in the Web sites the photos of the protest walks," Deputy Tourism Minister Aye Myint Kyu, a brigadier-general, wrote in state-run papers in January under a widely known pseudonym.

However, in one sense he is right: coverage of the crisis put the oft-forgotten southeast Asian nation firmly in the world spotlight and bolstered the cries of many anti-government organizations telling potential visitors to stay away.

Under the slogan "The cost of a holiday could be someone's life," groups such as the Burma Campaign UK argue that every tourist dollar props up a regime that uses forced labor, child soldiers and systematic rape of ethnic minority women -- allegations the junta denies.

Boycott campaigners also say that the jobs of people working in tourism are an unfortunate but unavoidable consequence of the wider effort to overthrow the generals.

"The tourism industry in Burma is tiny. The vast majority of people will never see a tourist in their life," said Anna Roberts of the Burma Campaign UK.

SHOULD I STAY, SHOULD I GO?

Even though the call for a boycott came from detained Nobel peace laureate and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, it is not without its critics.

In particular, detractors argue it is an empty gesture since the cash gleaned directly and indirectly from tourism is a tiny fraction of that from gems and natural gas, which made the generals more than $2 billion in sales to Thailand alone in 2007.

They also say it pushes them further into the isolation on which they appear to thrive.

"The boycott is totally pointless," said Ton Schoonderwoerd, an independent Dutch tourist watching the sun rise above Bagan's temples, the product of 230 years of building by Buddhist kings that came to an abrupt end with a Mongol invasion in 1287.

"It may seem good to politicians in the U.S. and Europe, but out here it just means that people struggle even more to make ends meet," he said.

Rather than coming down on either side of what is a passionate debate, backpacker bible Lonely Planet chooses simply to outline the pros and cons of visiting, and urges those who do to avoid government-run hotels and airlines.

Last year Johannesburg hosted Africa Remix; this year it's the city's first-ever art fair. The Joburg Art Fair continues the art extravaganza from last year, with 5000m of floor space filled with contemporary artwork from seven African countries.

Joburgers will be exposed to the work of some of South Africa's top artists - Zwelethu Mthethwa, William Kentridge, Santu Mofokeng, David Goldblatt, Pieter Hugo and Sabelo Mlangeni, among others, in addition to some of Africa's best newcomers.

The fair runs from 14 to 16 March at the Sandton Convention Centre. But unlike Africa Remix, the art will be on sale, ranging in price from R1�000 to R5-million a piece.

Ross Douglas, the director of Artlogic, the organisers of the event, says that the Joburg Art Fair "will establish South Africa as an essential stop-over on the global contemporary art buying calendar".

Joburg Art Week
It is part of Joburg Art Week, with enough works on show to make the art lover dizzy. The week includes Marlene Dumas's Retrospective at the Standard Bank Gallery; William Kentridge's 9 Films for Projection at the Linder Auditorium; and Spier Contemporary, 120 works brought to Joburg from the Cape, on at the Johannesburg Art Gallery.

A Floor Party at the old Stock Exchange building in Diagonal Street will round off the week's artistic celebrations.

In all, 22 galleries are participating - 16 top local galleries will showcase works alongside six international galleries from New York, Berlin, London, Strasbourg, Cairo and Rabat in Morocco.

Local galleries include Art Extra, Art on Paper, Bell-Roberts Gallery, David Krut, Erdmann Contemporary Gallery, Everard Read Gallery, Gallery Momo, Goodman Gallery, Joao Ferreira Gallery, KZNSA Gallery, Michael Stevenson Gallery, Rooke Gallery, SMAC Gallery, Warren Siebrits and Whatiftheworld Gallery.

Africa Remix
The curator of Africa Remix, Simon Njami, is back, this time curating As you like it with artists from Cameroon, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Kenya and Democratic Republic of Congo. Njami has selected works by artists who will not be represented by galleries at the fair; all these works will be on sale.

The fair is sponsored by FNB. Michael Jordaan, the banking group's chief executive, says: "Although global art calendars are filled with art fairs, there are none that focus on African contemporary art. In fact, there's not a single art fair in the whole of Africa."

He predicts that it will become an annual event.

"The Joburg Art Fair will very quickly become a focal point for buyers, sellers and those interested in contemporary African art to meet annually," Douglas says. Artlogic also brought William Kentridge's production of The Magic Flute to South Africa, as well as Africa Remix.

He explains that corporates are a big market as buyers, while international collectors are a small but critical market. "Our primary audience is South Africans interested in contemporary culture."

Robin Rhode
The feature artist at the fair is Robin Rhode; from Cape Town, he now lives in Berlin. He has collected a string of awards: the 2007 Illy Prize at Art Brussels, the 2006 W South Beach Commission, Art Positions at Art Basel Miami Beach and the Ars Viva 05/06 Identity Award in Berlin.

Rhode fuses street art, photography and performance, and will be presenting his Empty Pockets at the fair. On a recent trip to Beijing he noticed people playing pool outdoors, much like he had observed back home, leading to the work. In it he has combined a street recording of a traditional Chinese string instrument called a guzheng with an animated upside-down pool table, projected in white and black photography.

Empty Pockets is presented together with two photographic works from 2007, Rough Cut and Black Fist, a sculpture called Empties, and a large spray painting on canvas.

The artist will conduct a walkabout at 4pm on Friday, 14 March. Rhode says he started out as an artist in 1999 and presented his performance piece, Car Theft, at the Market Theatre in Joburg. In 2003, he went to Minneapolis in the United States on a residency.

His artistic background comes from a particular experience, he says. In high school an element of initiating newcomers to the school was to take them to the toilets, draw on the walls and force them to interact with the crude two-dimensional drawings. He developed his performance art along much the same lines, but says he has now retired from performing. "Doppelgangers [doubles] perform for me now."

Special projects
Also on the programme are special projects, including The Funda Booth, which will showcase emergent artists from the Funda Community College, an arts development institution.

Another project is the lifestyle and VIP space designed by Tonic Design, highlighting the finest South Africa design work.

A programme of talks is also planned. On Saturday 15 March at the Alexander Theatre in Braamfontein several speakers will talk about their specialist areas, including Njami and Rhode.

The fair is open from 11am to 8pm on Friday; 10am to 6pm on Saturday; and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. On Saturday a 75% student discount is offered from 2pm to 6pm. Tickets are R100, available at the door. There will be guided tours on 14 March at midday and 2pm, and at 11am and 2pm on 16 March. source City of Johannesburg

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The Writers’ Lab on the Greek island of Skyros will be facilitated this year by an excellent team of distinguished, prize-winning authors including Andrew Miller, James Kelman, Rachel Cusk and Michèle Roberts. Writers, thinkers and dabblers are offered here a fantastic opportunity to learn from the very best, share the joys and struggles of the creative process, discover strengths and polish skills. Far away from the demands and routines dictated by a busy life, one can navigate beyond old boundaries and emerge with pieces of writing to be proud of. Indeed, past course participants have gone on to publish books or to stage plays started, developed or completed in Skyros. See www.skyros.com or call 01983 86 55 66 for more details.

The 2008 Skyros Writers’ team includes:

Romesh Gunesekera: Fiction Writing (3 to 10 May)
This course is ideal for aspiring and also experienced (but unpublished) writers, who want to know the essential elements of good fiction and do lots of enjoyable writing. Romesh’s first novel, Reef (1994), was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and his second one, Sandglass (1998), was awarded the BBC Asia Award. His Heaven’s Edge was published in 2002 and The Match in 2006.

Andrew Miller: Imagination & Voice (10 to 23 May)
This is a broad-based fiction course for committed writers of all levels of experience. It offers a mixture of workshops and tutorials aimed at freeing the imagination while staying rooted in the craft. Andrew Miller is the author of five novels including Ingenious Pain (a winner of many awards) and Oxygen which was shortlisted for the Booker and the Whitbread Best Novel. His work is published in over twenty languages. His latest novel will be published later this year.

Alan Jenkins: The Inner Places of Poetry (24 to 31 May)
On this informal course, reading some well-known poems will be the starting point for the adventure of writing poems; both reading and writing will also enrich the experience of the beautiful island setting. Alan has won many awards and prizes for his poetry – collections include The Drift (2000) and A Shorter Life (2005). He is an editor of The Times Literary Supplement and has taught Creative Writing in England, France and the USA.

James Kelman: The Blank Page & Other Myths (31 May to 13 June)
What can we do if we want to be writers? Things cannot just happen. How do we start? Are concepts such as inspiration, genius, talent etc useful? We will assume that participants are either inexperienced or feel that it is time for a different approach. James’ novels include How Late it was, How Late (1994), which won the Booker prize for Fiction, Translated Accounts (2001) and You have to be careful in the Land of the Free (2004). He has tutored Creative Writing courses in the UK & the USA.

Crysse Morrison: Your Writer’s Voice (14 to 27 June)
Going through shared exercises and from memories to wild imagination, Crysse’s course will focus on aspects of style and narrative including creating characters, storylines, settings and dialogue.Techniques are adaptable to all aspects of writing from poetry to novels. Crysse’s first novel, Frozen Summer, was published in 1999 and was followed by her second one, Sleeping in Sand. She also writes short fiction and poetry and has a regular column in Writing Magazine.

Christopher Hope: The Art of the Story (28 June to 11 July)
The form, the magic, and the difficulty of getting a story right is entirely beguiling. We’ll be looking at stories by writers whom we’ve been reading forever, and seeing how it is that they get their story to work so well that it flies right off the page. Christopher was born in Johannesburg and is the author of nine novels including the award-winning A Separate Development and Kruger’s Alp and also Serenity House which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. His most recent novel is My Mother’s Lovers (2007)

Julia Bell: The Novel Under the Bed (12 to 25 July)
Novelist Julia Bell invites you to bring ideas gathering dust in order to write, rewrite, edit and extend. She is a lecturer in Creative Writing at Birkbeck College, University of London, and formerly at UEA, and co-editor of The Creative Writing Course Book (2001). She has published two novels, Massive (2002) and Dirty Work (to be released this year). Currently she is working on a longer work of adult fiction.

Monique Roffey: The Fundamentals of Writing Fiction (26 July to 8 August)
Always wanted to write a novel or short fiction – don’t know how or where to start? Help is at hand. This course is a practical beginner’s guide to the basic narrative elements of writing fiction. Through tutorial-lead presentations and exercises, we will examine the components of story-telling: showing and telling, making vivid but credible characters, place, dialogue, choosing your point-of-view and ideas around capturing the first draft of a novel. Monique’s first novel, Sun Dog, was published in 2002. Her second one, The White Woman on the Green Bicycle, will be published next year. She has worked as a journalist and for Amnesty International, and was a Centre Director for the Arvon Foundation. She is currently RLF Fellow at Sussex University.

Nicholas Blincoe: Starting to Write (9 to 22 August)
Nicholas Blincoe will offer practical courses on writing both drama and fiction, focussing on story-telling and heart-stopping dramatic narratives. The course will draw upon television, contemporary novels and genre fiction, including detective stories, thriller, spy fiction and romances. We will look at ways of avoiding problems in story-telling such as predictability or outlandishness, and how to use research material to convince the reader or audience of the reality of the world in which the tale is set. Nicholas Blincoe is the author of six novels, and a winner of the Crime Writer's Silver Dagger for his thriller, Manchester Slingback. He has written for the BBC TV crime drama, Waking the Dead, among other television series and has had an award-winning play produced at London's Riverside Studios. He is a columnist and critic for the Daily Telegraph and was a founder member of the short story writers, the New Puritans.

Rachel Cusk: Life Writing (23 August to 5 September)
Life Writing aims to create a new form for the narration of personal experiences. In this course we will study some of its techniques and examine some of the pitfalls and pleasures of memoir and autobiography. Rachel’s first novel, Saving Agnes, won the Whitbread First Novel Award. Her most recent, Arlington Park, was shortlisted for the 2007 Orange Prize. Rachel teaches Creative Writing at Kingston University.

Charles Palliser: Seduce Your Reader (6 to 19 September)
The art of narrative is about enticement. And so we will look at the many ways to catch the attention and keep the reader intrigued in a novel or drama. You will be helped to write fiction full of mystery and suspense. Charles has taught literature and creative writing in universities in the UK and the USA. Among his four novels are The Quincunx and The Unburied. His fiction has been translated into a dozen languages.

Michèle Roberts: Get Going (20 to 27 September)
Michèle uses exercises and games to guide you through writer’s blocks, exploring a variety of forms and techniques. She is the author of many novels including the acclaimed Daughters of the House (1992) that was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Other novels include A Piece of the Night (1978) and The Looking Glass (2000). The Secret Gospel of Mary Magdalene was published last year. Michèle is Professor of Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia.

Kempinski Hotel Bahia Estepona in Spain opened on February 1, 2008 following a 7 million Euro refurbishment. Located just five minutes outside the charming village of Estepona, this luxury five star property sits within perfectly manicured gardens, on a sandy beach overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

“We are extremely proud of Kempinski Estepona. The hotels’ prime location, exquisite décor and furnishings, excellent service and hospitality combine to offer an idyllic retreat.” Sven Gevers, General Manager.

Accommodation

No expense has been spared in creating a contemporary new look for all 148 rooms and suites at Kempinski Estepona. Clean lines combine with creams, dark woods and a touch of traditional Andalusian elegance to blend gracefully with the rest of the hotel and its immediate surroundings.

Each of the accommodations now features state-of-the-art flat screen televisions and high speed internet. Windows have been added to bathrooms to create a light and airy space. And in each of the suites guests will find telescopes for star gazing, as well as 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound Systems.

With families in mind the number of inter-connected rooms has been increased; furthermore, some suites have been joined to other suites by means of a small hallway so guests can enjoy complete privacy.

For guests seeking pure extravagance, Kempinski Estepona has created the exclusive Prestige Floor, where the lavish Deluxe, Diamond, Presidential, Royal and Imperial Suites, as well as a few double rooms, are situated. This opulent floor features card only entrance and VIP lounge with reception, library, bar, music and buffet. For those guests who choose to stay in the Imperial Suite, the largest of all, personal butler service, transfer by helicopter to/from the hotel and the choice of any luxury car, such as Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, and many others, are also included. With a completely different theme, the Suite del Mar is simply unique. This one bedroom suite, designed in a maritime colonial style, features wooden floors, soft palette colors contrasted with dark woods and real “ship” accessories. A large terrace with Jacuzzi, perfect for romantic honeymooners, can also be appreciated.

Spa

Éminence Med-Spa is Kempinski Estepona’s new luxury med-spa and the only spa in Spain to feature Éminence products and treatments, which are favoured by Hollywood royalty such as Penelope Cruz and Winona Ryder. All products used contain the highest possible levels of organically grown herbs, fruits and vegetables, which are hand selected to guarantee their highest quality. These are then mixed with pure waters from a thermal hot spring in Hungary to add minerals and trace elements to create an all-natural super effective spa menu. As a med-spa all guests will undergo a full analysis of their health, lifestyle and skin needs to ensure that they have the treatments that best suit them.

Restaurants

The hotel features four restaurants each serving carefully prepared cuisine from around the world: Alminar, for atmospheric fine dining; La Brisa, a romantic alfresco venue serving Italian gastronomy (seasonal); La Cabaña de Mar, offering fresh Mediterranean fare by the sea (seasonal) and El Mirador, a lively restaurant serving buffet breakfast and the famous Sunday Jazz Brunch. Kempinski Estepona also features two bars each with a unique ambience and breathtaking views: La Veranda, for a variety of snacks and beverages and the Pool Bar serving fresh cocktails, coffees, juices and snacks.

Children’s facilities

Kempinski Estepona is a family resort that fully welcomes children of all ages. This year the hotel will feature a new complimentary ‘Kempinini Kid’s Club’, for children aged between 4 -12. The club will be housed in a new building stocked with games, books and toys to provide endless hours of indoor entertainment and outside there will be a brand new children’s pool, always shaded to protect delicate skin from the sun. Open as of Easter this year, it will be available all year round.

Children will be wowed by the ‘Kempinini Pirate’, Kempinski Estepona’s very own mascot. Together they will have great fun indulging in activities such as bowling, classes, sports and discos. Children will also be given a Kempinini VIP Card, whereby they will receive a stamp when ordering off the Kempi-menu, a special menu designed for children, available at each of the restaurants. Collect a certain number of stamps and the child will receive a special gift at the end of their stay.

Location
The hotel is ideally located for adventure seekers and culture lovers alike, with southern Spain and Morocco right on the doorstep. The Rock of Gibraltar, an awe-inspiring 411.5 metre high rock and home to hundreds of wild monkeys is just a day trip away. For a taste of Spanish history, a visit to the mountain top village of Ronda is a necessity, famous for its bullfights and its romantic past of highway banditry that fascinated Hemingway and Rilke, and setting for the renowned film “Carmen.” For those who would like something a little more relaxed, the luxury jet set port of Puerto Banús is a mere 15 minutes away, or simply spend the afternoon wandering around the charming fishing village of Estepona, exploring its narrow streets, whitewashed houses and balconies overflowing with flowers.

Eco-Estepona
Eco-friendly initiatives are continually being introduced at Kempinski Estepona, as the hotel strives to exceed customer expectations at every level. From 2008 onwards, water at the property will be solar heated and all south facing windows have a UV foil cover to keep out excessive sunlight – reducing the energy of the sun it will help to keep the rooms cool and absorb the harmful rays. Vegetables and fruits, for the hotels Alminar restaurant, are grown in Kempinski Estepona’s ‘Green Garden’ and any extra produce, fresh fish or meat is all sourced locally. Plastic, paper and glass are also recycled throughout the hotel.

An Experience on the Water!
The new electric-powered Escape boats from Kempinski Estepona will draw guests of all ages to the beachfront for wet-and-wild fun or quiet relaxation. The boats are attractive, simple to operate and because they are electric there is no noise! Children will love the Fun Boats: each equipped with a water cannon, they can fire water up to 35 feet in the air. For a more comfortable ride, the Chaise Longue allows you to sit back and enjoy the sound of water lapping at the hulls -why not drop anchor and use it as a base for swimming or a picnic? The Touring Boat is perfect for those who want to travel a little further afield, gliding seamlessly across the water.
Lead in Rates

Villalara, Cape Town – Setting A New Luxury Standard In Private Boutique Villas VillaLara is an exciting new addition to one of the world’s most vibrant cities, Cape Town. This beautifully designed villa is one of the most exclusive on the Cape Peninsula, situated in the elite coastal enclave of peaceful Llandudno, yet only 20 minutes drive from the city.

Owned and created by the award-winning photographer Chris Simpson, VillaLara with its laid-back Cape Cod beach vibe reflects Chris’ quintessential taste. His love of shape, form and light are teamed with his enviable ability to frame views for maximum impact. The spectacular dual aspect double height gallery at the heart of VillaLara displays many of Chris’ most famous works, including Allee des Baobabs.

From the moment the wooden gates close behind you at VillaLara, you are enveloped by an air of tranquillity. The hypnotic sound of the ocean soothes away any stress; the sweet aromas of frangipani flowers awaken your senses and sensational views await you at every turn.

Suitable for up to eight guests, VillaLara has three stylish en-suite double bedrooms each with magnificent uninterrupted panoramas of the Atlantic Ocean and the mountains. A connecting self-contained guest cottage offers an open-plan en-suite double bedroom, kitchen and lounge area which leads to onto a private courtyard. The villa has computerised lighting and extensive home cinema throughout.

The chic style of this luxurious beachside retreat extends to VillaLara’s stunning outdoor spaces. With the mountains as a backdrop, you can relax on the sun-drenched terraces, cool off in the pool’s turquoise waters, entertain on the decked braai area or simply lose yourself in the breathtaking scenery.

VillaLara allows you to create your own holiday. Choose your favourite delicacies to eat and drink, what time you would like your breakfast, and how late you want to burn the candle. Mi Casa es tu Casa / My House is Your House: no rules, no timetable, just you.

source TravMedia

You've woken early to see the sun rise over Uluru (Ayers Rock); you've trekked through the ancient domes of Kata Tjuta (The Olgas); and you've seen the sunset from the back of a Harley. It's now time to dust off the red earth, leave the heat of the day behind and surrender yourself to the cooling therapies and relaxing touches of the masseuse at the new Voyages Ayers Rock Resort Spa in the heart of Australia.

Opening in late April 2008, Voyages Ayers Rock Resort Spa will bring pampering and indulgence to Uluru (Ayers Rock) and will become the seventh spa in the Voyages group, joining award-winning spas Lizard Island's Azure Spa, Silky Oaks Healing Waters Spa, Dunk Island's Spa of Peace and Plenty, Heron Island's Aqua Soul Spa and Cradle Mountain Lodge's Waldheim Spa.

Providing the perfect way to relax and unwind after a busy day enjoying the many and varied activities (camel treks, Harley rides, helicopter flights, guided walks, aboriginal culture tours), the Spa will also give guests a serene and calm environment from which to contemplate and reflect on the ancient spirituality of this magnificent monolith and the surrounding desert.

Chris Tallent, Chief Executive Officer, Voyages Hotels and Resorts, said: "Guests pack so many activities in during their stay with us - from early morning tours to Uluru and sunset tours to Kata Tjuta - that many tell us they wish they'd stayed longer to simply enjoy the unique landscape they're in. Being able to indulge in a massage or a spa therapy treatment, which has been specifically designed to reflect the tranquility and beauty of this amazing environment, will be the ideal way to wind down after a hard day's touring.

At a cost of $1.8 million, the Spa will be built at Sails in the Desert Hotel, Voyages' five-star property, at Ayers Rock Resort. Four therapy rooms will offer a range of treatments and therapies, with two rooms offering 'dry' massage therapies and two double 'wet' rooms offering showers and spa baths on the verandah. The look and feel of the Spa will reflect the environment, with warm slates, browns and shades of ochre, cleverly incorporating the outside beauty of the surrounding wilderness.

Using leading UK skincare brand Elemis for core treatments, an additional range of products will be developed to reflect the natural environment of the World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the cultural heritage of Uluru's traditional owners, the Anangu people.

Chris Tallent added: "We are constantly looking at ways to enhance the customer experience and we believe offering a spa at Ayers Rock Resort will complete that total resort experience, complementing the exceptional accommodation, superb dining and touring."