Gourmet Traveller – vote for favourite hotels and Win trip to Italy flying business class

2014 Gourmet Traveller Hotel Guide

Nothing beats the thrill of treating yourself to a night in a beautiful hotel. Well, nothing except spending 50 nights in 50 beautiful Australian hotels. Which is precisely what we’ve been doing in the first few months of this year. Our crack team of pillow-testers and amenities experts packed their overnight bags, checked in at hotels across the continent, and then penned their frank and engaging reviews for the inaugural 2014 Gourmet Traveller Hotel Guide, made possible by the generous sponsorship and support of Nespresso. From large and lavish city hotels to boutique country gems and breezy tropical retreats, the guide recommends rooms for all occasions. Bundled with the June edition of Gourmet Traveller, it will also include our picks of the country’s top lodges, the most indulgent hotel spas, a curious collection of unique places to stay, and the best hotels on the beach. We’re keen for you to have a say, too. Voting is live from Thursday, 29 May, until midnight, Sunday 29 June – we’d love you to go online and tell us what you think of our award winners. Simply by voting for your favourite hotel you can enter the draw to win an unforgettable trip for two to Tuscany thanks to British Airways and Mr & Mrs Smith. This includes flights to Florence and six nights at two beautiful country hotels: Castello Di Casole and Il Salviatino. One last thing: while you’re voting, please take a moment to share with us what you think makes a great hotel.

Win a 6 day getaway to Italy thanks to Mr & Mrs Smith and British Airways.
Vote for your favourite hotel among our top choices and you could be spending six nights in Italy thanks to boutique hotel experts Mr & Mrs Smith (www.mrandmrssmith.com). The prize includes six nights bed and breakfast accomodation at two of Smith’s favourite Tuscan properties…

Il Salviatino – a ravishingly updated 15th-century villa high in the hills over Florence – has a museum’s stash of 19th-century frescoes, antique bath tubs and valuable artworks. Beautiful boudoirs are graced with oak floors, silver candelabra and fresh orchids, and there are two restaurants, a bar and a spa to explore. http://www.mrandmrssmith.com/luxury-hotels/il-salviatino

At Castello di Casole hotel in Tuscany, guests can romp around the green and gold Tuscan countryside, dabble in dough-making at the sweet little pizzeria, dine in elegance at Ristorante Tosca or unwind in the former wine cellar, now a dramatic spa: all barrel-vaulted ceilings, restored stone walls and verdant-valley views. http://www.mrandmrssmith.com/luxury-hotels/castello-di-casole

Mr & Mrs Smith is an award-winning hotel website, booking service and free-to-join travel club, specialising in finding the world’s most inspiring boutique hotels. Founded in 2003, Smith has published nine coffee-table guidebooks and maintains a hand-picked and anonymously reviewed collection of around 900 of the world’s most stylish stays at mrandmrssmith.com. Book online or through the Travel Team for money back on every booking, best available rates and a Smith extra on arrival.

British Airways has a long and proud history of servicing Australia and is committed to serving the historic kangaroo route which we helped to found. British Airways is the only European airline to continue servicing the Australian market Club World combines premium levels of comfort and service with the freedom and flexibility to make every journey unique and unforgettable. Club World seats will adapt to your personal needs, whether you plan on working, catching up on some sleep, or just unwinding with BA’s world-class dining and entertainment:

Inspired by some of the world’s top chefs, the Club World menu combines irresistible local and international flavours to create a mouth-watering experience

Simply tell us in 25 words or less “What makes a great hotel and why”.

The first prize is valued at over $22,000 and includes:

Two return British Airways Club World business class flights from Sydney to Florence, via London Heathrow
Three night’s accommodation for two at Castello di Casole, in a Suite Classica
Three nights’ accommodation for two at Il Salviatino in a double delux room
One lucky runner-up will walk away with the Breville Inissia Ruby Red with Aeroccino3 milk frother valued at $249. For more information, visit www.nespresso.com or call 1800 623 033

Total prize pool valued at over $22,250

Be quick! The competition closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 29 June.

Competition opens at 10:00am, AEST 29 May, 2014, and closes at 00:01am, AEST 29 June, 2014. Competition open to Australian residents. This is a game of skill, chance plays no part in determining the winner. Further conditions apply, for full Terms and Conditions go to http://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/travel/hotel-guide/terms . Please see bauer-media.com.au/privacy for location of Bauer Media’s privacy policy. If you do not want your information given to any organisation not associated with this promotion, please indicate this clearly on your entry. The promoter is Bauer Media Limited (ABN 18 053 273 546).

Terms
AUSTRALIAN GOURMET TRAVELLER: HOTEL AWARDS PROMOTION
Terms and Conditions 2014
Information on how to enter forms part of these terms and conditions of entry.
Entry is open to all residents of Australia aged 18 years and over. Employees of the Promoter and their immediate families and agencies associated with this promotion are ineligible to enter.
To enter, log onto www.gourmettraveller.com.au and sign up to the e-newsletter. Register your details and tell us in 25 words or less “What would you take on a trip to Italy and why?”
Participants must fill out, in full, all mandatory elements of the promotion entry form in order for their entry to be valid.
This is a game of skill; chance plays no part in determining the winner. Each entry will be individually judged based on literary and creative merit. Judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Prize is not transferable or exchangeable and cannot be taken as cash. The Promoter is neither responsible nor liable for any change in the value of a prize occurring between the date of printing and the date the prize is claimed. Prize value mentioned is the recommended retail value as provided by the supplier and is correct at the time of printing.
The promotion commences 10:00am, AEST 29 May, 2014, and closes at 00:01am, AEST 29 June, 2014. The promotion will be judged by a panel of judges. Judging will begin on 30 June, 2014 at 11am at the judges’ premises. The winners will be notified by email using contact details provided in their entry.
For the major prize, the first best entry as deemed by the judges will win a trip to Italy for two (2) valued at up to $22,005.38 and includes:
Two (2) return British Airways Club World business class flights from Sydney to Florence, via London Heathrow. Valued at $8,200 per person (taxes included)
Three (3) night’s accommodation for Two (2) at Castello di Casole, in a Suite Classica valued at A$4,130.28
Accommodation Inclusions:
Set breakfast each morning.
One dinner at Ristorante Tosca valued at A$295.02,
Free entrance at Essere SPA,
20% of discount on each SPA treatment.
Three (3) nights’ accommodation for two (2) at Il Salviatino in a double delux room valued at A$1,475.10
Total major prize value: AU$22,005.38 including taxes and fees
For the minor prizes: the next one (1) best entry as deemed by the judges will receive:
One (1) Nespresso Breville Inissia Ruby Red with Aeroccino3 milk frother each valued at $249 each
Total minor prize value $249.00
Total competition prize value $22,254.38
The Prize cannot be utilised during black-out periods determined by Castello di Casole and Il Salviatino
All accommodation bookings are made on request via Mr & Mrs Smith.
Upon receiving the winner’s details, Mr & Mrs Smith will contact the winner to coordinate their stay and confirmation of the booking will be sent in writing.
The prize must be booked at least six (6) weeks prior to stay dates.
Additional meals, taxes, insurance, visas, vaccinations, transport to and from departure point, items of a personal nature, in-room charges and all other travel and associated costs, charges, taxes and expenses are not included.
The Winner may be required to present a credit card at the time of accommodation check in as a bond for any additional costs incurred by the winner and guest, such as but not limited to food and beverage.
Flights departing Sydney’s Kingston Smith International Terminal only. It is the winners responsibility to arrive at the above airport for departure.
The flight tickets are return Club World, business class from Sydney to Florence, via London Heathrow return. Any travel required to connect to the Sydney flight will be at the winners expense.
Valid on British Airways coded and operated services only. Code-shared flights are not included.
Taxes are included on the British Airways itinerary and all travel to be completed by 31 December 2014.
Prize-winner should note, regarding the return side trip from London, Florence (FLR) flights only operate from London City airport or Gatwick Airport and have limited frequency. The winner may choose to fly in or out of another European port upon request only.
The tickets are subject to availability and the prize is not redeemable for cash and not transferable.
Reservations for all sectors are required, no open dated sectors permitted.
Any changes made to the booking after the tickets have been issued will incur a service fee of $150.00.
The prize-winner and travelling companion must hold and carry a valid passport and any necessary visas.
The prize-winner will be carried pursuant to the British Airways’ General Conditions of Carriage copy available at ba.com.
The prize does not include any ancillary costs; these are at the prize-winners own expense.
Any change in the value of the flights during the promotion is not the responsibility of the promoter.
Travel insurance is not included in the prize, however is strongly recommended.
The successful applicants release the Promoter from any and all causes of action, losses, liability, damage, expense (including legal expenses) cost or charge suffered, sustained or in any way incurred by the winner as a result of any loss or damage to any physical property of the winner, or any injury to or death of any person arising out of, or related to, or in any way connected with the Promoter or the promotion.
Please note seat availability is limited during peak holiday periods
The prize does not include travel insurance, passports, spending money, visas, departure tax, meals, transfers, ground transportation, accommodation or any other costs of a personal nature not stated. Compliance with any health or other government requirements is the responsibility of the prize-winner.
The prize must be taken as stated and no compensation will be payable if the winner is unable to use the prize. The prize is not exchangeable or redeemable for cash or other goods or services. The prize cannot be transferred to any other person. No changes are permitted to travel arrangements once tickets are issued. If the prize is not utilised as stated it will be forfeited.
Prize components are subject to availability and non-transferable.
Frequent flyer points cannot be earned on these tickets
The winner is responsible for items of a personal nature including but not limited to phone calls, drinks and meals, petrol, motor vehicle insurance and travel expenses. Except for any liability that cannot be excluded by law, the Promoter (including its officers, employees and agents) excludes all liability (including negligence), for any personal injury or any loss or damage (including loss of opportunity) whether direct, indirect, or consequential, arising in any way out of the Promotion, including but not limited to, where arising out of the following: a) any technical difficulties or equipment malfunctioning (whether or not under the Promoter’s control); b) any theft, unauthorised access or third party interference; c) any entry or prize claim that is late, lost, altered, damaged or misdirected (whether or not by the Promoter) due to any reason beyond the reasonable control of the Promoter; d) any variation in prize value to that stated in these Conditions of Entry; or e) anything arising out of or in connection with taking or using the prize.
Privacy:
The Promoter collects personal information (“PI”) in order to conduct the promotion and may, for this purpose, disclose such PI to third parties, including but not limited to agents, contractors, service providers, prize suppliers and, as required, to Australian regulatory authorities. Entry is conditional on providing this PI. The Promoter will also use and handle PI as set out in its privacy policy, which can be accessed by visiting http://www.bauer-media.com.au/privacy.htm. In addition to any use that may be outlined in the Promoter’s Privacy Policy, the Promoter may also, for an indefinite period, unless otherwise advised, use the PI for promotional, marketing, publicity, research and profiling purposes, including sending electronic messages or telephoning the entrant. Entrants should direct any request to opt out, access, update or correct PI to the Promoter and direct any complaints regarding treatment of their PI according to the Privacy Policy. All entries become the property of the Promoter.
The Promoter is Bauer Media Pty Ltd (ABN 18 053 273 546) of 54 – 58 Park Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. Phone: 02 9282 8000.