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Rydges Wentworth was another hotel that I installed the back office accounting system for, but given that it is now known as Sofitel Wentworth Sydney I guess my accounting software implementation has been thrown out as well. This Hotel is very well appointed as it was a five star hotel and it is located right in the centre of the Sydney CBD. I have noticed that many a Liberal party election night campaign has been staged from this hotel. I can't say much for the hotel now that it has changed hands, but I guess that's how things go.

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logged by Anthony at 9:23:03 AM Link

I have stayed Rydges North Sydney at a number of times. The first time was with work while I attended a conference in Sydney. Then I stayed at the same hotel with my family on a trip to Sydney. I also stayed there when I installed the accounting system for the hotel. That last time reminds me of a small happening, where to get temporary network access to the training server from a guest suite a few floors up we ran a 50m patch cable out the window and down the side of the hotel to the server room.

Anyway the hotel is great for visiting Sydney north side. The hotel is close in the the north shore, but far enough away that the hotel feel's like it is tucked out of the way. It is very peaceful and has great facilities and I would thoroughly recommend this place for work or play.

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logged by Anthony at 9:39:47 AM Link

Rydges Parramatta is located right next to the Rosehill race course and takes its style ideas from the horse racing industry. This hotel participated in the pilot to upgrade the back office accounting system in readiness for Y2K back in 1999. Having such a close link to the horse racing industry this hotel does have some lavish appointments. High rolling regular guests may have their own bottles of spirits stored in the glass cabinets in one of the many restaurants, conference rooms and bars that are named after great Australian race horses or racing icons. As well as the high rollers bar there is a night club style bar and down stairs there is a club style bar with pool tables. This hotel would be great if you wanted to have a special day at the races.

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logged by Anthony at 9:17:57 AM Link

When I installed the back office accounting system for this hotel is was know as Rydges Queenstown. Now Rydges has taken to using some of the name their hotels were previously know as and so this is now Rydges Lakeland Resort Queenstown. It is very impressive looking hotel that over looks the lake next to Queenstown. It is a short distance for the ski fields and the shops in Queenstown. The view from the restaurant over the lake and mountains is just spectacular to see when having breakfast. The building has that 'alps' heavy wooden beams style to it and most balconies look out over the lake.

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logged by Anthony at 10:44:13 AM Link

Rydges Lakeside Canberra is a local hotel that has been around for what seems forever. This is another hotel that I have installed the back office accounting system for and this hotel is one of the classy hotels in Canberra. Located right next to the lake with high views over the lake. One significant feature of the hotel the the Burley Griffin Restaurant. This occupies most of the top floor and has a spectacular lake view.

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logged by Anthony at 9:45:49 AM Link

Rydges Melbourne is yet another Rydges Hotel that I installed the back office accounting package into. I also happened to be installing this about the time Start Wars Episode I was released. I remember that this hotel was right in the heart of Melbourne a short walk from heaps of shops and a few movie theatres. It also has a restaurant that has those huge vertical bi-fold glass doors a bit like most Service Station Garages. So on good nights even eating in the restaurant is like eating outdoors. The rooms are very well furnished if you look at the extra pictures you can see the Foyer and a room and they are not you plain conservative colours, the rooms have a understated vibrance.

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logged by Anthony at 9:53:30 AM Link

Rydges Capital Hill is located in a leafy area near Parliament house. I installed the back office accounting system for this hotel as well. I also been to some conferences there and the also the bar for after work drinks on occasions. The hotel is a little like a city retreat, with internal pool and gym. The hotel is ring shaped with a covered atrium in the middle with trees separating the restaurant areas, giving a very relaxed feeling. It has secure under cover parking and is a long walk/short drive to the club/cafe area of Manuka.

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logged by Anthony at 9:23:06 AM Link

Rydges Cronulla Beach is located right on the beach overlooking Gunnamatta Bay. The hotel has a tropical style, to it, such as bamboo furniture and natural pattern prints on furnishings. I again went to this hotel to install an accounting system in the late 1990's and the one thing that sticks in my mind was waking up and having the the sunrise over the ocean as the view outside my window, it was spectacular. The hotel has a restaurant with outside dining and a bar. It was very relaxing.

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logged by Anthony at 9:11:26 AM Link

Rydges Eagle Hawk is a Resort Hotel just outside Canberra. The hotel is a great place to have a planning retreat or a 'local' getaway. About 10 to 15 minutes from the city it is far enough out that won't be disturbed, but close enough that you don't spend all day getting there. The hotel is spread out over a large area and the rooms are grouped into small clusters. This is another hotel that I installed an accounting system for many years ago, I haven't actually stayed their but I have been to a few business conferences their.

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logged by Anthony at 9:40:03 AM Link

This weekend I stayed at The Spires at Leura in the Blue Mountains. This a new apartment hotel in Leura and my family stayed in a one bedroom apartment. The building is quite secure, with security doors for the undercover parking, operated but a remote with the hotel keys. The foyer to the apartment building is also locked with an intercom to let guests in with, and our room was a two room layout, each with their own keys.

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logged by Anthony at 8:48:56 AM Link

My visit to install ACCPA at Rydges Rotorua was my first time overseas, and what a place to visit. Rotorua is located on an area of the earth's crust that is relatively thin. Because the crust is so thin there are some volcanic like activity like hot boiling springs and mud pools. The owner who built the hotel insisted it have the largest rooms in New Zealand as he hated small rooms, accordingly this hotel has very generous rooms. It is located near the race track with many rooms have a view across the track. My only concern is the smell. Click to make a booking

logged by Anthony at 8:35:03 PM Link

Rydges Christchurch is an unusually shaped hotel. The whole building is in the shape of an arc, so the main corridors are curved. This unique design nestles in the centre of Christchurch overlooking the Avon river that passes through Christchurch. Sitting within the shopping district and CBD. Only walking distance from the Casino. The hotel features good accommodation with clean facilities. I only stayed a few days at this hotel as I was just there to do an accounting system setup and I moved on to leave training up to a colleague.

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logged by Anthony at 8:53:22 AM Link

Rydges Auckland is another hotel that I have worked while it was being constructed. This hotel like Rydges Perth was an office building that was totally refurbished again right in the middle of the CBD, this would be great hotel for any business trips to Auckland. It is within easy walking distance from the Casino and Sky Tower and it has views of the harbour. The main restaurant has a light and open feeling and it opens out on to the main street level.

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logged by Anthony at 9:24:31 AM Link

Highway Cricket is great fun for young and old. It also keeps the kids occupied and helps the little ones with their math. we've played Highway cricket with our children and grandchildren and found it a very relaxing way of travelling. More...

logged by Anthony at 4:37:11 PM Link

Rydges South Bank was the first Rydges Hotel that I was involved in setting up the accounting system with from the start. I also remember this was my first away job with work. At first it was a little daunting at I was to fly up a week ahead of my boss at the time and we would then spent the second week finishing off the implementation together. The hotel was still so early on in construction that everyone still had to wear hard hats. I have since been to the hotel for follow up visits. The hotel is well appointed and located within easy walking distance of Brisbane's South Bank area. It is next to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre and has a lovely outlook over the river. It was built by Chinese owners who had a Feng Shui consultant fly out from to ensure the design and landscape were suitable.

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logged by Anthony at 9:11:49 AM Link

Being in Perth reminded me of a time when I used to install the ACCPAC accounting package for clients with the local accounting firm Longley Stapleton. Longley Stapleton won a contract to implement the ACCPAC software for all the Rydges Hotels Resorts as part of their Year 2000 upgrade. Well I stayed at Rydges Perth as part of the implementation project. But I can't really comment on the service and facilities as being the first guest at the hotel there was not much to use.

The hotel was an office building that was refitted to be a hotel right in the Perth CBD. When I was there the rooms had been finished and were being fitted out with clock radios, kettle's etc. You should see how big a mess a few hundred kettle boxes make in one pile. The foyer, restaurants and other areas were still being completed. So I stayed as the only and I believe the first guest. The only problem was that the hot water took about 5 minutes to come through. Cleaning was great, apparently housekeeping practiced on my room about five times a day.

As for now I believe that the hotel is doing great, It is right in the centre of Perth and would be great for business travel. It has a bar that opens on to the street.

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logged by Anthony at 12:55:04 PM Link

I recently attended a conference at the InterContinental Burswood Resort in Perth. Being a five star resort with Casino, all the little things are there, the Porter to collect your luggage from the taxi, it has it's own taxi rank, 24 hour room service, a multitude of restaurants, including an open air restaurant in the foyer atrium. This atrium is huge, it extends from the ground level doors up the to top floor of the hotel, 8 levels I think. The security is great, you even need a room keycard to access the floors in the lift. The facility is quite large especially given it is so close to the city. There is the main Hotel, the Casino attached and the conference/convention centre. This includes a full scale theatre. They were playing Mama Mia while I was there. I did not see it, but one of the attendees thought it was a great show. The only down side is that being a resort you don't see or feel the city. So if you want to stay at Perth stay somewhere else, but if you want full on luxury stay here. Oh and on the first morning I had a small incident, the room service breakfast did not arrive until I called and was not quite what I had ordered, fried instead of poached eggs. To their credit it arrived no more than one minute after I called and the attendant did realise the error and offered to get the correct meal, but I didn't want to wait. Click to make a booking

logged by Anthony at 9:33:12 AM Link

A couple of months ago I stayed at the Coogee Sands Hotel and Apartments. This hotel is close by where "head office" is in Sydney, but nowhere as near as close to the beach as this hotel is. The Hotel overlooks the beach and is right on the end of Coogee's cosmopolitan bistros, cafes, restaurants and clubs, all within easy walking distance especially with the cool breeze off the ocean. I fell the best part about the hotel is that all the rooms area decent size, with great amenities, the apartments are have full facilities, my room included a my own washing machine and dryer. The room rates are good value this close to the city. Click to make a booking

logged by Anthony at 9:37:23 AM Link