International News

International News

Hampton by Hilton Blackburn Hotel to Open 2020 in the U.K.

Hotel News - Hilton has signed a franchise agreement with Monte Hospitality Limited to bring a 150-guest room Hampton by Hilton to Frontier Park, one of Lancashire's largest commercial developments, situated at Junction 6 of the M65 motorway. Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, EMEA, Hilton said: "Visitor numbers to Lancashire have grown for a sixth consecutive year and projects such as Frontier Park will further enhance the commercial appeal of the county. Hampton by Hilton Blackburn will be the town's first internationally branded hotel and we look forward to welcoming guests when the property opens in 2020." The hotel forms part of Monte Hospitality Limited's business strategy to attract international brands to invest in Lancashire. Upon completion, the £100 million Frontier Park development will include nearly one million square feet of industrial and warehouse accommodations, motorway services and a 1,400-delegate capacity conference and events centre. Irfan Ali, director, Monte Hospitality Limited said: "Hampton by Hilton Blackburn will be our first branded hotel development and we are proud to be partnering with this market-leading hotel operator. Lancashire is in need of an internationally recognised hotel and this project will meet the growing demand for quality accommodations in the area."

Create: Jan 12, 2019 Edit: Jan 13, 2019

Choice Hotels launches Book on Google

Hotel News - In a few clicks, Choice Hotels’ customers can now complete a reservation online on Google using their saved Google credentials. Choice Hotels International, Inc. CHH, +0.59% is making booking a hotel room directly at its hotel brand properties easier than ever. By enabling Book on Google, Choice Hotels has made it possible for travelers to seamlessly search, select, and reserve hotel rooms at Choice properties. Unlike booking a hotel room through other third-party sites, the Book on Google reservation is handled by Choice Hotels. This includes receiving a confirmation from Choice Hotels that allows guests to manage reservations directly with the hotel. Guests can also enjoy many of the benefits of the award-winning Choice Privileges loyalty program by adding their Choice Privileges membership number once they receive their confirmation. "We launched Book on Google to help ease friction in the travel booking process. This feature makes it easier for users to book seamlessly online and helps to minimize drop off. We're excited to have Choice Hotels join us and help to create a seamless booking process for users," said Andrew Silverman, Product Management Director, Google.

Create: Jan 12, 2019 Edit: Jan 13, 2019

Features of the Hyatt International Hotel Group

Hotel News - Here are the newest elements to the Hyatt Place hotel model. Design The revamped Hyatt Place brand includes updates in guest connection and customization. Starting with the guestrooms, the space will come with purposeful furniture for keeping guests organized and productive, separating the room into distinct zones to sleep, work and relax. Elements such as new mattresses, black-out shades and warm-colored lighting will be added to enhance sleep quality. The newly redesigned Hyatt Place bathroom will have larger vanity counter space with multidirectional lighting and greater distance between the mirror and vanity. The remodel will also have a walk-in shower with a footrest and a larger amenity tray. The updated lobby will aim to drive guests to leave their rooms and socialize. Dining The new dining offerings will include a new free breakfast menu, a redesigned coffee bar and coffee program and an evening lounge with a cocktail and dinner menu. Technology The Hyatt Place brand will incorporate new technology offerings, including early check-in and mobile entry. Hyatt Place also is testing a number of collaborations with well-being and fitness apps as part of the brand’s well-being push. These new collaborations, including one with a bike-sharing platform, are set to roll out between 2018 and 2019. One of the announced collaborations is with Exhale. The partners will offer Exhale-branded fitness and mindfulness video content through Hyatt’s mobile app along with enhanced fitness facilities for guests. Exhale will also extend privileges and rates to Hyatt Place guests in Exhale markets.

Create: Jan 12, 2019 Edit: Jan 20, 2019

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has revamped the Hyatt Place brand in response to guests’ and owners’ evolving needs

The hotel group used direct owner and guest input to inform the brand’s updates in design, dining, technology and new-found focus on well-being. Hyatt Place aims to boost guest experience through this upcoming remodel. “We are keeping the brand relevant and fresh by focusing on giving our guests more customization and control during their travels, developing deeper relationships with our World of Hyatt members and personalized well-being experiences for our guests," Jim Chu, global head of development and owner relations for Hyatt, said in a statement. "By evolving and elevating the brand’s offerings, we believe that we will create a best-in-class experience that will truly redefine the select service category, just as we did 12 years ago when we launched the Hyatt Place brand.” The Hyatt Place redesign aligns with Hyatt Hotels’ global expansion plans for the brand. The Hyatt Place brand has grown 75 percent during the past five years, with more than 305 hotels open in more than 200 cities around the world.

Create: Jan 8, 2019 Edit: Jan 9, 2019

Introducing the World's Best Ski Resort in 2019 (Part 4)

Pure Resort Ehrwald PURE Resort Ehrwald is one of projects on our list with an opening date that’s fast approaching. This property is under construction now with a debut slated for the second quarter of 2019. in the centre of Ehrwald, in a quiet location at the Florentin Wehnerweg , the luxurious PURE Resort Ehrwald will be established. Until a few years ago the renowned hotel ,Maria Regina’ was located here. PURE Resort Ehrwald is a “full-service” tourist-oriented rental concept in which luxury apartments and chalets are realized along with numerous facilities such as a restaurant, lounge and sun terrace. A fitness room and a high-quality spa/wellness area with swimming pool and outdoor sauna let you relax after an active day in the mountains. The apartments are characterized by a traditional architecture and the use of many natural materials. For example, walls are cladded with natural stone and wood. Typical alpine elements in a contemporary design give the building a warm and exclusive look. Perfectly positioned, the apartments are in an excellent location and partially offer a wonderful view on the Zugspitze. The professional rental, management, and op eration of the apartments is provided by an owner family residing in the -resort. The hosts will make sure that guests feel at home and lack -nothing.

Create: Jan 6, 2019 Edit: Jan 6, 2019

Plunge into world's deepest swimming pool

An Italian spa complex has just opened a swimming pool certified by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's deepest. Named the Y-40 Deep Joy, the pool is now the star attraction at the Hotel Millepini, located in the Montegrotto Terme resort area, near Venice, Italy. This isn't the kind of facility aimed at jaded business travelers hoping to cram in a few laps before they head upstairs to order room service. Deep Joy features a shaft that plunges down ... and down ... and down until it hits a depth of 42 meters (138 feet), a space that could easily accommodate a 13-story building. Designed by architect Emanuele Boaretto and a year in the making, Deep Joy is expected to attract scuba enthusiasts and freedivers -- aquatic athletes whose incredible lung control allows them to spend minutes at depth on a single breath. The pool is filled with 4.3 million liters (1.1 million gallons) of thermal water from local springs, allowing divers to plunge without the skin suits they'd need in open seas or lakes. It also contains underwater caves aimed at training scuba divers to negotiate sub-aquatic landscapes. There's also a suspended transparent viewing tunnel that allows spectators to watch the divers in action. Deep Joy was inaugurated earlier this year at a ceremony in which Italian world freediving champions Umberto Pelizzari and Ilaria Molinari (who dressed like a mermaid for the occasion) plumbed its depths. The pool's creators hope it will transform Montegrotto Terme into an international diving center and raise the profile of what is said to be Europe's largest area of thermal springs. It'll also be open to beginners who want to experience its depths under supervision. Just don't drop your locker key.

Create: Jan 1, 2019 Edit: Jan 2, 2019

Brown will replace Amy McPherson, who announced last week that she will be retiring from the company in early 2019.

Hotel News _ Brown takes over the leadership of Marriott in Europe Marriott International has announced that Liam Brown will take on the role of president and managing director of Europe, a division within Marriott International that encompasses the United Kingdom, Ireland and continental Europe. He is currently president, select brands and owner and franchise services, North America, for Marriott. “Liam is the perfect choice to lead Marriott’s next chapter of growth in Europe,” said Arne Sorenson, president, Marriott International. “Liam has an extraordinary ability to connect with people – associates, guests, owners and franchisees. “His relationship-focused approach to doing business drives tremendous results, earning him fans across our company and within our community of owners. “He’s a world-class executive, who has that terrific combination of property, operations and corporate experience that will serve him well as he takes on this important role.” Over the past decade, Marriott has moved from the number ten position in total rooms distribution in Europe to number two today with over 570 hotels across 41 countries, and another 206 properties in its European pipeline. The company has 23 of its brands represented in Europe. A Dublin-native who has called the US home for nearly 30 years, Brown has served in his current role since 2013, overseeing all of Marriott’s franchising in North America, across all brands, as well as leading Managed by Marriott, which operates more than 425 select service hotels.

Create: Dec 29, 2018 Edit: Jan 2, 2019

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts globally revamps mid-scale brand

Hotel News _ Beyond the visual identity and logo, new prototype designs for public areas and guestrooms are also being introduced BRAND UPDATE Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has unveiled a new direction for the Ramada Encore by Wyndham brand globally. At the heart of this new identity is a brand promise to be ‘Refreshingly Different’, underpinned by the brand’s core attributes of being fresh, approachable and vibrant. This new identity includes a redesigned logo, created by London-based marketing agency, Octopus Group, aimed at appealing to a new generation of travelers. and prototype designs for guest rooms and common spaces designed by hospitality architecture firm Harrison. Ramada Encore by Wyndham has a portfolio of 54 hotels in 20 countries. Created in the late 1990s as a limited service, mid-scale hotel brand designed for business and leisure travelers looking for great value, the brand introduced concepts such as guest rooms with all-wood flooring and an open plan, multipurpose common area serving as a reception, lobby, casual dining and networking space. “Whether it’s a business trip or a weekend break, we know that for travelers every minute counts. That’s why we wanted the brand identity for Ramada Encore to reflect its position as a hotel for guests on the go,” said Lisa Checchio, chief marketing officer for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.

Create: Dec 29, 2018 Edit: Jan 2, 2019

Jin Jiang completes acquisition of Radisson Hotel Group

Hotel News - Jin Jiang is the fifth-largest hotel company in the world A consortium led by Shanghai’s Jin Jiang and Sino-CEE Fund a private equity fund incorporated in Luxembourg—entered into an agreement with Radisson Hospitality and HNA Sweden Hospitality Management AB to acquire 50.21% of Radisson’s shares. Carlton Rezidor was officially re-branded to Radisson Hotel Group in March 2018. The announcement came at the International Hotel Investment Forum, Berlin. It is currently the eleventh-largest hotel group in the world, with eight hotel brands and more than 1,400 hotels in operation and under development.

Create: Dec 25, 2018 Edit: Dec 26, 2018

Ras Al Khaimah aims to get 3 million tourists annually by 2025

Hotel News - Emirate eyes new long-term tourism target as international visitors soar by 11% in first nine months of 2018. Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) has announced a growth of 11.2% in international guests in the first nine months of the year compared to the same period in 2017. Almost 795,000 guests chose to stay in Ras Al Khaimah from January to September 2018 for a total of 2.53 million guest nights, it said in a statement. Double digit growth from international markets was led by Germany as the single largest source market with 64,372 visitors, up 4.1%, followed by Russia, with 57,117 visitors, up 36.5%, and the UK, with 45,496 visitors, up 10.1%. India was in fourth position with 44,734 visitors, up 16.1%, while Kazakhstan rounded out the top five source markets with 21,966 visitors, up 26.9%. In terms of market growth, Norway saw the largest percentage increase in visitors, up 41.5% on the first three quarters of 2017, with its Nordic neighbours Sweden and Denmark also showing increased interest in the emirate.

Create: Dec 25, 2018 Edit: Dec 25, 2018

Introducing the World's Best Ski Resort in 2019 (Part 3)

W Aspen W Aspen, formerly the Sky Hotel, is a modern day mountain chalet, and will celebrate the spirit of Aspen. An oversized split level living room (which is the W brand’s alternative to the staid hotel lobby) reimagines the traditional hotel dining scene with a modern approach to dynamic cocktails and cuisine. To complete the experience of this incomparable location, the hotel will feature a 1,600 square foot outdoor patio and a 12,000 square foot rooftop bar and pool, overlooking Aspen Mountain and creating the ultimate experience for après-ski and warm-weather events.

Create: Dec 23, 2018 Edit: Dec 23, 2018

HILTON SIGNS NEW CONRAD, DOUBLETREE HOTELS IN RAK

Hotel News - As it continues to grow its presence in the UAE, Hilton revealed its 50th hotel in the country, with the signing of the DoubleTree by Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Conrniche Residences and the Conrad Marjan Island Resort. Both properties will help meet the increased demand for travel to the emirate, along with need for quality, internationally branded residences. Ras Al Khaimah boasts pristine beaches, historical sites and adventure attractions such as the world’s longest zipline. “Ras Al Khaimah is a fastgrowing and highly soughtafter leisure destination. The number of international visitors arrival rose by 11.2% in the first nine months of 2018 and are expected to reach 1 million this year for the first time in the emirate’s history,” said Carlos Khneisser, vice president of development, Middle East, North Africa & Turkey, Hilton. “Hilton has had a presence in Ras Al Khaimah for more than 15 years. We are delighted to introduce the Conrad Hotels & Resorts brand to the emirate and to open the DoubleTree by Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Corniche Residences.” Conrad Marjan Island Resort will offer 120-guest rooms, including beach villas and water villas. and world-class facilities including a fitness centre, salon, spa, an outdoor pool and a Kids Club. The hotel will also feature an extensive range of dining options including two signature restaurants, a pool bar and beach bar. Conrad Marjan Island Resort will join Conrad’s more than 33 properties across more than 21 countries.

Create: Dec 23, 2018 Edit: Dec 24, 2018