BRISBANE: Following the success of its inaugural charity event in support of Safe Haven Community in 2021, The Calile has announced it will partner with Reason to Thrive at a Gala Charity Dinner and Online Auction on Friday August 19th.
Despite the ever-evolving challenges surrounding live events mid-pandemic, the 2021 luncheon, attended by 150 local guests, raised over $169,000 in donations for Save Haven Community and delivered a stellar star-gazing opportunity with Matt Damon and his wife Luciana Barosso attending the event and actively supporting the cause.
In a continued commitment to community, The Calile Hotel has selected Brisbane-based charity Reason to Thrive as the partner and beneficiary for this year’s Gala, with all event proceeds and donations directly benefiting and providing crucial funding for their programs.
Reason to Thrive provides unique life skills and personal development programs to support at-risk children and women whose lives have been impacted by family and domestic violence. Through experiential equine-assisted learning (EAL) programs, the volunteer-led organisation helps participants rebuild, recover, and reconnect with themselves and learn leadership, self-awareness, and social-emotional skills, through a safe and respectful relationship experience with horses.
Julie Tom of Reason to Thrive says the partnership will make a big difference in helping fulfil the hopes of participants currently on the organisation’s waiting list,
“Thanks to the generous support of the Calile team, sponsors, and those joining us at the event, we’re all helping to give as many at-risk youth and women in our community the opportunity to build a brighter and more promising future for themselves and their families – something that each and every one of us has the right to achieve. On behalf of all future participants, we thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.”
At the August 19th Gala, guests will be joined by hosts Wendy Harmer and Tim Davis for an evening of entertainment courtesy of Warner Music, rousing discussion and excellent food and libations from the likes of Sushi Room, SK Steak & Oyster, sAme sAme alongside Louis Roederer and Craggy Range.
The opportunity for giving on the night will be immense, and The Calile’s community have rallied, donating over $110,000 in prizes to the cause. The prize pool is generous in size and value from experience prizes, each worth over $3,000 and indulgence prizes over $1,000. Gala attendees on the night will also have access to exclusive live auction prizes called by award-winning real estate auctioneer Haesley Cush.
The Calile Gala Charity Luncheon tickets are available online.
Stay cool, stay local – The Calile Hotel’s Stay Close package is designed for locals who like to be greeted with cheese and wine on arrival – local, of course.
Priced from $389 per night, the Stay Close package includes accommodation, a bottle of locally produced Witches Falls wine paired with their artisan Jambreen cheese platter. Guests also receive ‘Friends of Calile’ shopping, dining and wellness benefits upon joining the program and complimentary parking.
While enjoying their local vacation, guests can enjoy all that The Calile and the James Street precinct have to offer, including over 100 boutiques and shops and world-class dining at the likes of Hellenika, SK Steak & Oyster, Bianca and sAme sAme. An update on the what’s what in James Street can be found; https://thecalilehotel.com/street-appeal/
Bookings for the Stay Close package are available via www.thecalilehotel.com until December 2, 2021.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kristie Mancell
Sales & Marketing Manager, The Calile
+61 432 707 722 / [email protected]
Jodi Clark
Director of Communications, TFE Hotels
+61 499 900 658 / [email protected]
ABOUT COLLECTION BY TFE HOTELS:
Collection by TFE Hotels represent beautiful hotels hallmarked by authenticity and provenance, each designed with individual character and charm. With a collection of properties that encompass striking design and attention to the individual such as The Calile Hotel Brisbane, The Hotel Britomart in Auckland, Melbourne’s The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins and Hotel Kurrajong Canberra.
The grass is officially greener on The Calile side, with their rooftop now home to an organic, edible garden and a hive of very happy busy bees.
Making the most of the sunshine, eight tidy wooden planter boxes now line the Doggett Street side of the hotel’s roof. Installed earlier this year – French millet, buckwheat, mung bean and other legumes were the first crops to be planted, cultivated and composted in order to produce organic ‘green manure’ – soil for growing healthy, strong and nutrient rich produce.
Last month, the autumn crop was planted, featuring more than 42 varieties of lettuce, sorrel, tomatoes, sugar snap peas, garlic and grapevines to name just a few.
The seedlings have been selected to not only supply and compliment the menus of Lobby Bar and other in-house restaurants, but to pay homage to the hotel owners’ Lebanese heritage.
Lobby Bar Head Chef, Andy Gunn said, “The goal is to achieve zero waste, the menu is flexible enabling us to replace ingredients where required”.
It’s Andy, who alongside the Future Wild team, will continue to farm The Calile garden.
“It sets Lobby Bar apart from other venues and ,as a Chef, it’s an amazing tool and privilege to have this on the roof,” he said.
The produce has been planted with organic, biodynamic and permaculture principles in mind – by growing nasturtium, borage, marigolds and alyssum, pests will be organically controlled and the neighbouring honeybees fed.
To overcome Brisbane’s volatile weather, The Calile’s architect, Ingrid Richards of Richards And Spence, designed a custom-arched trellis to sit over the planters to encourage green canopy growth – made up of plants like grapevines, peas and cucumbers that will in turn, protect the crops.
The Bees and The Bees, No Birds
No garden is complete without some welcome pollinators – bee tête-à-tête starts now. Four Langstroth hives take up residence next to the edible garden and play home to thousands of bees. There is one queen per hive and approximately 85% of the ‘worker bees’ are female (girl power!).
Each hive has ten frames (where the bees do their business) and each frame produces roughly 2.3 kilograms of honey.
This means that sweet, sweet Calile honey will soon be stocked in the hotel’s lobby shop, Museum of Small Things (M.O.S.T.) and be featured in Lobby Bar dishes.
Busy Bee Facts:
According to The Calile’s resident Apiarist, Amy Murray:
- Bees do a ‘waggle dance’ to tell each other where to find the sweetest nectar in the area.
- Like us, bees prefer resort living, well, sunny warm days – they stay in-doors when it’s cloudy or raining.
- The Calile honey is harvested in spring and summer… so roll on summer!
- Rooftop hives will not increase the risk of being stung unless the bees feel threatened – hotel guests do not have access to the hives – so, there is no need to beeware!
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kristie Mancell
Sales & Marketing Manager, The Calile
+61 432 707 722 / [email protected]
Jodi Clark
Director of Communications, TFE Hotels
+61 499 900 658 / [email protected]
ABOUT COLLECTION BY TFE HOTELS
Collection by TFE Hotels represent beautiful hotels hallmarked by authenticity and provenance, each designed with individual character and charm. With a collection of properties that encompass striking design and attention to the individual such as The Calile Hotel Brisbane, The Hotel Britomart in Auckland, Melbourne’s The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins and Hotel Kurrajong Canberra.
Queensland’s leading hotel The Calile has announced it will partner with Safe Haven Community to host a Charity Luncheon on Friday 7 May 2021.
In a commitment to community, The Calile Hotel announced its inaugural philanthropic partnership to drive long-lasting change, social discourse and positive engagement.
Hosted by high profile Australian actress and comedian Julia Zemiro, this first event, which aims to raise much-needed funds and awareness, will be led by an Online Auction featuring over $105,000 worth of luxury items and experiences which will go live to bidding from Tuesday 27 April.
On offer will be an extensive selection of more than 40 auction items reflecting the generous support of many high-profile national brands. Prizes range from fashion, art, food and travel to exclusive lifestyle experiences.
All proceeds from the Online Auction will go to Safe Haven Community. Safe Haven Community provides early intervention and critical housing for at-risk women and children in need of a safe place to temporarily reside when their homes become unsafe or untenable due to coercive control which can often escalate to violent acts.
Currently, Safe Haven Community receives no government funding and is totally reliant on community support.
“Being in a position to help Safe Haven Community effect change for the better is a privilege for The Calile. We are inspired by what Safe Haven Community has achieved to date, with little more than goodwill and determination. Raising awareness to help at-risk individuals escape a life of abuse and change the prospects for the next generation is a meaningful purpose,” states Catherine Malouf, founding family member of The Calile Hotel.
“Our James Street and broader community has truly rallied in support of the charity auction and we along with Safe Haven Community have been overwhelmed with the generosity of our neighbouring retailers and partners. The auction pool is a remarkable reflection of genuine support.”
The event will also provide an opportunity to hear from guest speakers – Australian Greens Senator Larissa Waters and ABC Journalist Nour Haydar, who will discuss the need for increased national recognition and better awareness of coercive control in our communities.
Senator Waters is an advocate for gender equality and eliminating gendered violence, as well as the current co-convenor of Parliamentarians for Action to Reduce Violence Against Women.
“Coercive control is the most pervasive form of domestic abuse and a red flag for escalating violence. We urgently need a national conversation about how to recognise the signs and strengthen our response to controlling behaviours“ said Senator Waters.
The Calile Hotel and Safe Haven Community fund-raising event represents a vital step in ensuring that the on-going vision and sacrifice of charity Founder Denise Hunter, along with the help of dedicated unpaid volunteers is recognised. It will serve as vital acknowledgment to ensure the Safe Haven Community continues to establish a network of rooms nationwide to help those living in abusive environments.
Safe Haven Community CEO, Jaeneen Cunningham says the partnership will help build awareness in the community.
“Each year we provide hundreds of nights of safety for women and children,” CEO Jaeneen Cunningham said, “And we have been doing this for seven years – long before most people in the community were even aware of the existence of coercive control.”
“The Calile Hotel will be a powerful ally for the Safe Haven Community to generate awareness and drive real social change. Together we can explore new strategies that are beneficial in a way that is respectful to the perspectives and values held by both organisations.”
The Calile Charity Luncheon tickets are available to purchase here.
Online Auction prizes can be viewed here.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kristie Mancell
Sales & Marketing Manager, The Calile
+61 432 707 722 / [email protected]
Anna Magnus
+61 423 363 725 / [email protected]
ABOUT COLLECTION BY TFE HOTELS
Collection by TFE Hotels represent beautiful hotels hallmarked by authenticity and provenance, each designed with individual character and charm. With a collection of properties that encompass striking design and attention to the individual such as The Calile Hotel Brisbane, The Hotel Britomart in Auckland, Melbourne’s The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins and Hotel Kurrajong Canberra.
10 September 2020
The Mid-week(end) Escape package includes onsite parking, late checkout and ‘Friends of Calile’ shopping, dining and wellness benefits when subscribing on check-in, including a complimentary Calile Spritz when dining at one of the hotel’s restaurants.
Priced from $289 per night, the Mid-week(end) Escape package is available Sunday to Thursday, offering plenty of opportunity to occupy a premium position in an iconic Calile poolside cabana.
Whilst enjoying a mid-week vacation, guests can enjoy all that The Calile and the James Street precinct have to offer including more than 100 boutiques and shops, world-class dining at the likes of Hellenika, SK Steak & Oyster and sAme sAme and well deserved ‘me-time’ at wellness destination KAILO Medispa.
Bookings for the Mid-Week(end) Escape can be made at www.thecalilehotel.com.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kristie Mancell – Sales and Marketing Manager (on property)
The Calile Hotel
61 432 707 722 / [email protected]
Jodi Clark
Director of Communications – TFE Hotels
61 499 900 658 / [email protected]
ABOUT COLLECTION BY TFE HOTELS
Collection by TFE Hotels represent beautiful hotels hallmarked by authenticity and provenance, each designed with individual character and charm. With a collection of properties that encompass striking design and attention to the individual such as The Calile Hotel Brisbane, The Hotel Britomart in Auckland, Melbourne’s The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins and Hotel Kurrajong Canberra.
6 August 2020
Hailing from Brisbane, Gunn began his career locally at Isis Brasserie, then in Sydney at Bécasse under Justin North before relocating to France. He worked in Paris for six years within a number of Michelin-starred restaurants including Les Ambassadeurs at Hôtel de Crillon, Le Taillevent with Michelin-starred Alain Solivérès, and Le Cinq at Hotel George V with Michelin-starred Christian Le Squer.
Upon Gunn’s return to Brisbane, he assumed the role of Executive Chef at acclaimed restaurants The Euro and Urbane working alongside Head Chef and now wife, Amélie Gunn.
I’ve spent a long time in Europe training in 1 to 3 Michelin starred restaurants and learning about food all around the world and have come back to Brisbane wanting to share that unique knowledge and experience with locals and visitors alike! Our cuisine focuses on locally sourced Queensland produce that speaks for itself on the plate,” says Gunn. “I believe cooking the food you love is what makes you the best version of yourself and that’s what we’ve done here at Lobby Bar.”
Gunn has revamped The Lobby Bar’s menus, which now consists of a hearty breakfast menu, a considered array of fresh light-lunch options and an evening tapas menu. This new seasonal menu will be paired with Lobby Bar’s updated cocktail menu, wine list and local award-winning signature coffee.
Working closely with local suppliers and producers, Gunn has spent some time getting to really understand what will be available and when to allow for the best in-season produce to craft the freshest and most diverse menu for Lobby Bar. The kitchen will serve up some of the freshest local fruit and veggies thanks to local owner-operated Suncoast Fresh, where Gunn worked for 6 months prior to taking the role at Lobby Bar. Some other favourites include Brisbane Valley Quail, which is farmed just one hour from Brisbane and Baby Squid that are fished off Moreton Bay.
Everything on Gunn’s menu is made inhouse from these fresh, local and premium quality ingredients.
Some of Chef’s favourite dishes include the Shakshuka for breakfast, with its red pepper and tomato ragout taking its inspiration from his Mums kasundi – a real crowd-pleaser, the Buckwheat Risotto which is vegan, gluten and dairy-free and made with a whole lot of love and from the dinner tasters menu the Baby Squid that is stuffed with a spicy chorizo mix and sits on a chorizo crumb, finished with a Spanish pil-pil sauce – the perfect complement to the dish.
The new menu will be refined and updated seasonally and keeping with the fresh local trend, there’s also plans to utilise the rooftop of The Calile Hotel and build a culinary garden and beehive – to service the Lobby Bar kitchen. Other special events, chef collaboration dinners and special menus to be announced throughout the year.
Lobby Bar is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kristie Mancell – Sales and Marketing Manager (on property)
61 432 707 722 / [email protected]
Jodi Clark
Director of Communications – TFE Hotels
61 499 900 658 / [email protected]
ABOUT COLLECTION BY TFE HOTELS
Collection by TFE Hotels represent beautiful hotels hallmarked by authenticity and provenance, each designed with individual character and charm. With a collection of properties that encompass striking design and attention to the individual such as The Calile Hotel Brisbane, The Hotel Britomart in Auckland, Melbourne’s The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins and Hotel Kurrajong Canberra.
1 July 2020
Coinciding with the re-opening, all in-house restaurants will welcome patrons back including Lobby Bar, SK Steak & Oyster and multi-award-winning poolside venue, Hellenika.
In opening its doors, The Calile Hotel and its popular onsite restaurants will join neighbouring James Street boutiques, restaurants and bars, all of which have resumed trading over the past few weeks.
General Manager of The Calile Hotel, Rob Unson says that it will be a pleasure to once again do what The Calile does best, look after its guests.
“While closing the hotel was a difficult decision, the silver lining is that we were able to make some great enhancements to our service and facilities and also, thoroughly prepare our COVID safe initiatives. Needless to say, our team are excited to get back to work and welcome guests and we’re so pleased that now includes those from interstate as well as locals,” states Unson.
Echoing Unson’s sentiments is Hellenika and SK Steak & Oyster owner and operator, Simon Gloftis who emphasises, ‘I couldn’t be happier having my teams back onsite and doing what we all love to do. Seeing the hospitality industry starting to find its feet again means the world to me’.
The five-star Calile Hotel offers 175 guest rooms and suites, three onsite restaurants, day spa and boutique shopping situated in an enviable location on James Street in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley. Rooms are priced from $259 per night. Bookings for The Calile Hotel, Lobby Bar, Hellenika and SK Steak & Oyster are available via the hotel’s website.
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Owner: Calile Malouf Investments
What’s in a name: The Calile Hotel (pronounced Kal-Isle)
Book Now: https://thecalilehotel.com/
Lead in Rate: From $259
Images: Contact Jodi or Kristie for images. (Image credit above: Sean Fennessy)
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kristie Mancell – Sales & Marketing Manager (on property)
61 432 707 722 / [email protected]
Jodi Clark – Director of Communications – TFE Hotels
+61 499 900 658 / [email protected]
ABOUT COLLECTION BY TFE HOTELS
Collection by TFE Hotels represent beautiful hotels hallmarked by authenticity and provenance, each designed with individual character and charm. With a collection of properties that encompass striking design and attention to the individual such as The Calile Hotel Brisbane, The Hotel Britomart in Auckland, Melbourne’s The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins and Hotel Kurrajong Canberra.
WHO ARE TFE HOTELS?
TFE Hotels (Toga Far East Hotels) is an international hotel group head quartered in Australia and operating in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Denmark and Hungary. It has a portfolio of six established hotel brands – Adina Hotels, Vibe Hotels, Quincy Hotels, Travelodge Hotels, Rendezvous Hotels and Collection by TFE Hotels.
17 September 2019
One year after The Calile opened its doors to Queensland and the world, Australia’s first urban resort has partnered in a stunning local collaboration with Queensland Ballet. The creative merging of two powerful yet notably Queensland brands is set to remind guests of the beauty and elegance that the hotel delivers along with the genuinely memorable and wholly Queensland holiday experience.
Hotel General Manager, Jeremy Nordkamp said The Calile was proud to partner with such a vibrant and creative company, and their home-grown talent.
“The creative synergy between these two Queensland tourism icons has resulted in a stunning summer campaign designed to connect and cut-through in the leisure and lifestyle space.”
Curated, choreographed and performed by Queensland Ballet’s Jack Lister, the cinematic campaign represents an exquisite interpretation of a day in the life of The Calile Hotel.
Moving within the architectural urban resort spaces, the choreography and dancers bring humour, style, emotion and elegance to the experience as the dancers move effortlessly around the urban resort setting.
“The challenge was never to make the hotel ‘look good’ – it does that on its own – but rather to settle on a concept that showcases how this stunning piece of architecture lives and breathes,” Mr Lister said.
“We looked at how people already experience The Calile, and the irony in it being at once a very public and very private space and reflected that. The main idea is that the hotel brings out a piece of you, or who you want to be, and that’s reflective of the atmosphere created at The Calile.”
“It was always meant to feel tongue in cheek.”
Curate your stay at The Calile this spring or summer from $237 per night. Visit www.thecalilehotel.com. View the collaboration with Queensland Ballet here.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kristie Mancell – Sales & Marketing Manager (on property)
61 432 707 722 / [email protected]
Jodi Clark – Director of Communications – TFE Hotels
61 4999 00 658 / [email protected]
ABOUT COLLECTION BY TFE HOTELS
Collection by TFE Hotels represent beautiful hotels hallmarked by authenticity and provenance, each designed with individual character and charm. With a collection of properties that encompass striking design and attention to the individual such as The Calile Hotel Brisbane, The Hotel Britomart in Auckland, Melbourne’s The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins and Hotel Kurrajong Canberra.
12 October 2018
The Calile Hotel, Brisbane’s most anticipated new address, has officially opened its doors as Australia’s first urban resort. With an award-wining restaurant, cocktail bar, day spa and fashion boutiques within the hotel, guests have the world on their doorstep. Located in the heart of the James Street precinct, the175-room new-build hotel is managed by TFE Hotels under the Collection by TFE Hotels brand.
TFE Hotels Chairman Allan Vidor said The Calile Hotel was the most anticipated hotel opening in Brisbane this year. “It brings together all the best things that Brisbane has to offer – its subtropical climate, a relaxed yet sophisticated setting and an array of forward-thinking fashion boutiques and dining offerings including our new Lobby Bar, all set against the urban streetscape of James Street.”
The building is designed by Brisbane architects Richards & Spence to meld with the leafy, landscaped facades they created in the precinct, in a project imagined by brothers Michael and Cal Malouf.
The Lobby Bar, on the ground-floor of the hotel, offers a sophisticated space to enjoy cocktails inspired by the local area. Flagship restaurant, Hellenika, opens out on the pool terrace and has an exciting modern Greek menu, similar to its award-winning sister restaurant by Simon Gloftis on the Gold Coast. The new restaurant sits in a vast 600 square metre floor space and offers dining under the stars at poolside cabanas. An additional new dining precinct, Ada Lane, adjoins the hotel, offering five new street level tenancies dedicated to eateries and bars.
One of Australia’s top wellness and spa facilities will complete the experience. The woman behind Brisbane’s famous The Dome Retreat, Meaghan South, has opened KAILO Wellness Medispa on the pool deck level which boasts 10 treatment rooms. South and her team will provide a holistic wellness experience that combines ancient wisdom with modern approaches to skin health, medical aesthetics and beauty essentials in a space designed for relaxation and restoring vitality. Partnering with Ms South is Brisbane Cosmetic Medicine Specialist Dr Edwina Morgan who will head up a team of professional paramedical therapists and doctors.
Rounding out the wellness offering will be Forme Fitness, offering technologically advanced gym equipment and personal training, in a boutique space with well-considered and luxurious facilities. Owner Tristian Forbes has been in the fitness industry for over 10 years. He and his team will offer full fitness services to hotel guests and local members.
Australia’s most sought-after fashion labels have opened their Queensland flagship stores on the ground floor of the hotel on James Street, Brisbane’s foremost retail and lifestyle precinct. Acclaimed fashion innovator Dion Lee; sustainable organic cotton favourite Bassike; Sydney leisure success story Venroy; internationally successful Bec & Bridge; and Dutch brand Love Stories will open stores in the hotel’s beautiful ground floor space, amid its indoor hanging gardens. Also joining The Calile Hotel will be current James Street retail outlets – Calexico Man, Wolfe & Ordnance, Andronis Fine Jewellery and Mister Zimi.
The hotel’s 175 generous guest rooms include nine suites and two premier suites. Each is designed with the ultimate guest experience in mind, with an individual balcony, Bluetooth sound bar, motorised blackout blinds, 55” flat screen television and complimentary new-release movies. Leisure facilities are designed to help guests embrace the authentic charm of the sub-tropical locale. Beautiful and flexible event spaces cater to intimate culinary soirees, poolside cocktail parties, a grand ballroom celebration or wedding for up to 500 people. Wedding guests and event delegates can unwind at the Lobby Bar, enjoy a poolside cocktail and dinner, energise in the fitness centre, or be pampered at the spa.
Hotel bookings can be made at www.thecalilehotel.com or by phoning 13 86 42 in Australia, or +61 2 9356 5062 from outside Australia.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kristie Mancell – Sales & Marketing Manager (on property)
61 432 707 722 / [email protected]
AABOUT COLLECTION BY TFE HOTELS
Collection by TFE Hotels represent beautiful hotels hallmarked by authenticity and provenance, each designed with individual character and charm. With a collection of properties that encompass striking design and attention to the individual such as The Calile Hotel Brisbane, The Hotel Britomart in Auckland, Melbourne’s The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins and Hotel Kurrajong Canberra.
ABOUT TFE HOTELS
TFE Hotels (Toga Far East Hotels) is an international hotel group operating in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Denmark and Hungary. It has a portfolio of five established hotel brands – Adina Hotels, Vibe Hotels, Travelodge Hotels, Rendezvous Hotels and TFE Hotels Collection.