Corrie has spent the last weekend in ‘Gourmet heaven’!  Firstly as a guest of Marriott Hotels & Resorts, and secondly as a guest of The Bentinck in Woodend.  

On Friday 25 February, Corrie and her husband John were transferred from the newly refurbished Melbourne Marriott Hotel on Exhibition Street, to the beautiful surrounds of De Bortoli Winery in the Yarra Valley 

to enjoy a sumptuous dinner of antipasto, duck, veal and pannacotta. The night reinforced that this region is within such easy reach of Melbourne’s CBD, and could be contemplated as an ideal offsite dinner venue when conferencing not only in the Yarra Valley, but also in Melbourne’s CBD.  Friday night was also a very special night for the Marriott Hotel in Melbourne, as it was the first night they had 100% of their rooms back for sale following a large accommodation refurb, and can now boast that they are truly amongst Melbourne’s finest 5-star venues.

Saturday night, was a lot different... Corrie and John joined in a degustation dinner prepared by Travis McAuley from Hellenic Republic, Granite Hills Winery, and were treated to overnight accommodation at the beautiful Bentinck of Woodend.  Only 45 minutes from Melbourne Airport, it is certainly an ideal, intimate country retreat, with only 27 accommodation rooms, beautiful gardens and perfectly sized conference facilities. The Bentinck has recently been bought by new owners and with many new touches, including to the décor of the public areas, they have lifted the standard in more ways than one.  It’s fabulous location, ambience and service really stood out and we won’t hesitate in recommending it to those needing something close to town that ticks all the boxes!

Needless to say Corrie and John have now started their ‘new year diet’!