SERENA Hotel Aventura, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, a 10-story, 100-room boutique hotel, welcomed its first guests on May 13. Infused with the dynamic spirit of this highly celebrated South Florida destination, the upscale hotel features a variety of in-demand amenities – a highlight of which is a vibrant rooftop entertainment area and pool with 360-degree city views. “We’re excited to introduce a unique new boutique hotel that embraces everything there is to love about Aventura – a hotel we know our local neighbors are going to love to visit, as well as those coming to the area from out of town,” said Ziad Chantiry, general manager, SERENA Hotel Aventura. “With superior amenities and a central location between two major South Florida cities surrounded by numerous top attractions, there is no doubt that SERENA Hotel Aventura is the perfect place to be — whether guests are traveling for work or for play.” Situated in the heart of the Aventura Medical District, SERENA Hotel Aventura offers a restful escape and proudly takes its name from the Latin word “serēnus” – meaning clear, tranquil or serene. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed by a modern and inviting atmosphere that will make them feel at home, while being treated with highly personalized service. Accommodations With a focus on contemporary design and upscale amenities, SERENA Hotel Aventura features 100 spacious guestrooms, 30 of which are suites outfitted with separate living areas, kitchenettes, dining tables and large bathrooms including a separate shower and tub. Standard guestrooms also offer seating areas with sofas along with work desks, creating a space perfect to welcome leisure guests or those with business to conduct during their visit to South Florida. Dining Paying homage to the area’s diverse and rich culture, SERENA Hotel Aventura offers a Mediterranean-Spanish inspired restaurant, Cielo Rooftop & Lounge, serving as a social gathering spot for locals and travelers alike. In addition, in the lobby, SERENA Hotel Café offers indoor and outdoor seating with selections including Lavazza coffee, sandwiches, paninis, pastries, beer and wine. Amenities A rooftop pool and entertainment area features lounge seating and panoramic city views, creating a relaxing, yet lively space for guests to unwind and catch Miami’s picturesque sunsets. Guests can also keep up with their workout routine in a 24-hour fitness center offering weights, treadmills, ellipticals and stationary bicycles. In addition, a dedicated room is available for business travelers to conduct small meetings. Location Positioned in the heart of South Florida midway between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, SERENA Hotel Aventura offers nearby access to world renowned shopping at Aventura Mall, with brand names like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Steve Madden and lululemon. Horseracing is nearby at The Village at Gulfstream Park, which also boasts an array of home stores, restaurants, art galleries, a bowling alley, fashion boutiques, and health and beauty services. Sunseekers can hit the shores of Sunny Isles Beach, just 15 minutes from the property. And, as the closest hotel to the Aventura Hospital & Medical Center, SERENA Hotel Aventura will be a safe haven for patients, families and medical workers. The hotel is also centrally positioned less than 30 minutes from Miami International Airport (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Guests visiting SERENA Hotel Aventura will enjoy peace of mind from check-in to check-out with Hilton CleanStay, Hilton’s new program for an even safer and cleaner stay. New procedures include contactless digital check-in through the industry-leading Hilton Honors mobile app, and a Hilton CleanStay room seal to indicate that the room has not been entered since being thoroughly cleaned. SERENA Hotel Aventura is part of Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest loyalty program for Hilton’s 18 world-class brands. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount and free Standard WiFi. SERENA Hotel Aventura is located at 2820 NE 214th Street, inside Ivory 214 – a new state-of-the-art, mixed-use project featuring retail and office spaces. The hotel is developed by Aventura-based Rieber Developments and operated by Driftwood Hospitality Management.
Create: May 16, 2021 Edit: May 16, 2021 International NewsHead of Tourism Development and Cultural Heritage office of Kish Free Zone has said that the Persian Gulf island will become an international tourist destination for Fisher's New Year or as it called in the local language Nowruz-e Sayyad day. Nowruze Sayyad Day or Fisher's New Year is being celebrated annually on July 19. Locals, especially fishermen in southern regions of Iran, celebrate Nowruz-e Sayyad day, meaning the Fisher's New Year. Fishing is a major part of the island’s life and different seasons and periods are defined according to its cycles. Unlike other parts of Iran which celebrate the costumery Nowruz in late March, local people in southern Islands celebrate their New Year as well which called the Fisherman’s Nowruz, (Norwuz-e Sayyad) at the beginning of the main fishing season in late July. In this ceremony, the villagers wear new clothes and paint their animals with a red mud called Gelak and take them to the sea, and the indigenous women receive guests with cooked pastries made from dates called Ranginak. The locals would not go fishing or eat fish or other seafood on this day and believe that all fish are free and should reproduce. Head of Tourism Development and Cultural Heritage office of Kish Free Zone Mahan Modavvan told IRNA on Saturday that his organization, according to its goal and duties, is seeking to hold Nowruz-e Sayyad Day or Fisher's New Year celebrations in the summer festivals that are being held annually in this region. He said that various festivals such as fishing, seafood, water-based activities, and handicrafts exhibitions are scheduled in this celebration too. Although Kish Island is active in different sections of trade as well as oil and gas - it was even the greatest trading hub in the Persian Gulf during the Seljuk empire (1037-1194 AD) - its economy today is based mostly on tourism. The Island has the required infrastructure so that it has been called "the most complete international tourist region in Iran". Hosting about 1.5 million tourists every year, Kish Island has an average of 20,000 internal and international flights annually. It has 52 hotels (12 5-star ones), 2 apartment hotels and 2 resorts. However, the coronavirus outbreak hit the Island's tourism industry this year, so that it is now using its minimum capacity after two months of total lockdown.
Create: May 16, 2021 Edit: May 16, 2021 Regional NewsA host of experts will be discussing archaeological findings and the latest attempts for the conservation of the UNESCO-registered Persepolis for future generations. “In this webinar, experts and researchers in the fields of archaeology, conservation and restoration, archeology, linguistics, documentation, architecture and civil engineering, geology, biology, law, statistics, etc. will discuss and exchange views on the ancient Persepolis during a four-day international webinar, which starts on Sunday,” CHTN quoted the organizers as saying on Saturday. Archaeological achievements in the World Heritage site will be discussed on the first day of the conference while decades of conservation, restoration, documentation projects would be topics for the second day. On the third day, applied research on conservation and restoration, documentation will be scrutinized. Moreover, comprehensive conservation plans for the architecture and conservation of the site are set to be conferred on the last day of the event. Persepolis, also known as Takht-e Jamshid, whose magnificent ruins rest at the foot of Kuh-e Rahmat (Mountain of Mercy) is situated 60 kilometers northeast of the city of Shiraz in Fars province. The ruined royal city ranks among the archaeological sites which have no equivalent, considering its unique architecture, urban planning, construction technology, and art. Persepolis was burnt by Alexander the Great in 330 BC apparently as revenge to the Persians because it seems the Persian King Xerxes had burnt the Greek City of Athens around 150 years earlier. The city’s immense terrace was begun about 518 BC by Darius the Great, the Achaemenid Empire’s king. On this terrace, successive kings erected a series of architecturally stunning palatial buildings, among them the massive Apadana palace and the Throne Hall (“Hundred-Column Hall”). This 13-ha ensemble of majestic approaches, monumental stairways, throne rooms (Apadana), reception rooms, and dependencies is classified among the world’s greatest archaeological sites. The site is marked by a large terrace with its east side abutting the Kuh-e Rahmat (“Mount of Mercy”). The other three sides are formed by a retaining wall, varying in height with the slope of the ground from 13 to 41 feet (4 to 12 meters); on the west side, a magnificent double stair in two flights of 111 short stone steps leads to the top. On the terrace are the ruins of several colossal buildings, all constructed of a dark gray stone (often polished to a marble-like surface) from the adjacent mountain. According to Britannica, the stone was cut with the utmost precision into blocks of great size, which were laid without mortar; many of them are still in place. Especially striking are the huge columns, 13 of which still stand in the audience hall of Darius I (the Great; reigned 522–486 BC), known as the Apadana, the name given to a similar hall built by Darius at Susa. There are two more columns still standing in the entrance hall of the Gate of Xerxes, and a third has been assembled there from its broken pieces. In 1933 two sets of gold and silver plates recording in the three forms of cuneiform—ancient Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian—the boundaries of the Persian empire were discovered in the foundations of Darius’s hall of audience. Several inscriptions, cut in stone, of Darius I, Xerxes I, and Artaxerxes III indicate to which monarch the various buildings were attributed.
Create: May 16, 2021 Edit: May 16, 2021 Regional NewsIranian tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan and Yerevan’s ambassador to Tehran Artashes Toumanian on Monday discussed ways to deepen ties in the realms of tourism and cultural heritage. The officials exchanged views on how to boost travel when the coronavirus is controlled with help of vaccines. “We are ready to increase the tourism ties between the two countries. It seems, within the next few months, the tourism sector would resume as [COVID-19] vaccination is underway worldwide,” Mounesan said. The Iranian minister attached great importance to tourism as a tool, which can foster peace and friendship between various nations. “We pay special attention to tourism with our neighbors because we believe tourism, in addition to economic matters, helps to promote friendship between the nations. Such relationship with Armenia has been improved after the [implementation of] a visa waiver [program].” The envoy, for his part, said many Armenians are not being introduced to Iran’s attractions. “The people of Armenia do not know much about Iran's tourist attractions, if [enough] information is provided and tourism officials and tour operators of the two countries work in this regard, they would be interested in traveling to Iran.” Joint work on the restoration of historical sites and monuments was another issue discussed in the Tehran meeting. “The arena of Iranian cultural heritage is important to us because it dates back to thousands of years ago,” Toumanian said. “We have good experience in the field of intangible cultural heritage and there are many similarities between the two countries in this regard. Armenian specialists can also help to restore the engravings of Iranian churches,” the ambassador explained. Talking about the coexistence of religions in Iran, Mounesan said: “In different cities of Iran, including Yazd, there are places of worship for Muslims, Jews, and Christians, which makes a nation proud. We have even managed to register several churches on the World Heritage list.” Armenian churches To the untrained eye, Iran’s earliest churches may seem modest structures to some but they bear testimony to a vast panorama of architectural and decorative scenes associated with Armenian culture blended with other regional cultures: Byzantine, Orthodox, Assyrian, Persian, and Muslim. St. Thaddeus, St. Stepanos, and the Chapel of Dzordzor are three photogenic ancient churches that constitute the Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran, which were collectively inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage in 2008. They are dotted in fresh and green lands of northwest Iran and are important pilgrimage sites for Armenian-Iranians and others from across the globe. Also known as the Qareh Klise (“the Black Church”), St. Thaddeus, as one of the oldest surviving Christian monuments in the country, is situated in Chaldoran county some 20 kilometers from Maku, adjacent to the borders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey. The Chapel of Dzordzor stands tall on the outskirts of Maku. The name narratively originates from a famous painter Hovans Yerz, known as Dzordzortzi, who supervised the chapel’s restoration for a while. The ancient Church shows off elaborate bas-reliefs of flowers, animals, and human figures on its façade and exterior walls. It bears verses of Old and New Testament in Armenian calligraphy as well.
Create: May 13, 2021 Edit: May 13, 2021 Regional NewsA vast tourism complex is being constructed in Pakdasht, near the Iranian capital, Pakdasht’s tourism chief has said. The project is expected to create 330 job opportunities directly, Asadollah Tajik added. The complex, which covers an area of 3,200 square meters, includes a traditional restaurant, traditional bathhouse, flower market, conference halls, museums, and accommodation units, the official explained. The project is scheduled to be completed within the next five years, he said. He also noted that establishing such complexes could boost tourism in the region. Hugging the lower slopes of the magnificent, snowcapped Alborz Mountains, Tehran is much more than a chaotic jumble of concrete and crazy traffic blanketed by a miasma of air pollution. This is the nation's dynamic beating heart and the place to get a handle on modern Iran and what its future will likely be. The metropolis has many to offer its visitors including Golestan Palace, Grand Bazaar, Treasury of National Jewels, National Museum of Iran, Glass & Ceramic Museum, Masoudieh Palace, Sarkis Cathedral, Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, Carpet Museum of Iran, to name a few. The first time Tehran is mentioned in historical accounts is in an 11th-century chronicle in which it is described as a small village north of Ray. It became the capital city of the Seljuk Empire in the 11th century but later declined with factional strife between different neighborhoods and the Mongol invasion of 1220. Photo: File photo depicts construction workers at a building site in Tehran.
Create: May 11, 2021 Edit: May 11, 2021 Regional NewsThe recovery in the leisure sector is imminent, and we argue that small groups aren’t far behind given that ‘revenge travel’ also implies a strong yearning to reconnect and congregate. A return to healthy numbers won’t be evenly spread across all hotels, though. It will favor those properties and those organizations that are already prepared for a diverse range of ramp-up scenarios, with others leaving revenue on the table by not having plans in place prior to this next phase. While hotels could hardly have predicted or prevented the advent of COVID-19, what we’ve witnessed in the latter half of 2020 is an industry that’s largely reactive to macroeconomic forces. Many operators have hinged their hopes on a near-complete reversal to 2019 demand levels and guest expectations without any earnest consideration for structural innovation and becoming more adaptable to the increased volatility in the market. Luckily, there are a few shining stars that highlight where hospitality needs to be for the decade ahead, and we’re excited to present one such case herein. Newport Hospitality Group (NHG) is a management company that’s been operating for 30 years and now has over 50 managed properties in its portfolio spread all along the Eastern Seaboard. Most fascinating for our current conversation is that the organization has some inherent ‘antifragility’ (to borrow a term from the brilliant statistician and option trader Nassim Taleb) in that it thrives relative to its comp set not only during good times but also during periods of economic turmoil. Upon reviewing their annual RevPAR growth metrics, they’ve beaten their respective markets in every year since 2005. Emphasizing this is that during the calendar year of 2020 NHG dropped 7.9% less than the US RevPAR average and the company also added 10 properties to its portfolio. This echoes their relative CAGR for the recession of 2008-09 where they also substantially beat the market. Success Starts at the Senior Level In trying to decipher the secret to the longstanding NHG playbook, we had an extensive discussion with Wayne West III, NHG’s President. He explained that success during turbulent times hinges upon decisive attention at the senior level combined with a thorough comprehension of the roles and responsibilities for the onsite operator, the corporate office team and the owner. Finding the best alignment amongst these entities – which may or may not have different goals – is an initial step that is often overlooked. So much time is spent in planning meetings and getting approval for changes and new initiatives that operations can easily get bogged down through ‘decision by committee’. In particular, hospitality is more exposed to this problem than other industries given our highly vertical organizational structures and lack of monetary empowerment at the property level. These types of inertial situations can easily be exacerbated by conflicting visions and orders stemming from the three-headed, ‘Cerberus-like’ discord amongst the owners, brand and management company. The key is to find a balance of responsibilities. “In many ways, the hotel industry’s current situation is like a street race,” quipped West as he explained how immobility can compromise a hotel’s success. “You don’t start revving your engine when the light turns green. You rev in neutral so that you can fly out of the gates once the countdown hits zero. This resembles the state of many hotels as we gear up for a roaring Q3 and Q4. At NHG, we established a playbook for swiftly reacting to hard times even before the Great Recession to the point where it’s now baked into our culture. All our managed properties have a clear chain of command and are staffed up to handle a surge of both transient guests and group RFPs.” Indeed, one case where having alignment at the senior level is mission critical pertains to the reemergence of groups, starting with reunions, corporate retreats and wedding receptions later this fall in advance of larger MICE-type travel sometime in 2022. With those small group gatherings taking place in the autumn or winter, the planning starts in late spring or early summer, and hotels must have a sales team and group rate plan fully set up to win these contracts. To this end, one reason for NHG’s success versus its comp set in 2020 was because it retained its sales team throughout. This meant that they were fully ready to enter any negotiation with attractive offers and coronavirus-specific programs such as full-floor or section buyouts and operational staff pods to limit cross-exposure. Emphasizing Succession Planning To ingrain the first lesson above, far better than a lengthy deliberation over the best possible approach is to implement a reasonably satisfactory course then act quickly to adjust the plan as market conditions evolve. To enable this ability to pivot, onsite leaders must have a certain degree of autonomy and freedom to act within a proscribed framework. But how do you develop a culture of empowerment? One critical point that West highlighted to that end was succession planning and how many hotels aren’t prepared for a return to normalcy because they furloughed too many of their team members. This is especially evident for sales teams, whereby without key managers kept up to speed on a property’s event capabilities, each RFP cannot be addressed through a preestablished process. This results in teams constantly playing catch-up and reacting week-over-week to new inquiries rather than looking ahead to new initiatives that will advance the hotel’s revenue prospects. To ensure this type of problem never sets in, NHG prides itself on promoting from within and executive retention, with nearly half of their senior teams staying with the company for over a decade and nearly a quarter staying for over 20 years. A sharp focus on retention like this means that the onsite operators are totally in sync with ownership and the corporate office, intrinsically knowing how to implement the latter’s directives and hastily deploy resources to make those changes a reality. “A property is only as good as its GM,” remarked West to close out our talk, succinctly describing how, if the GM gives his or her managers a clear and actionable plan without backtracking or indecisiveness, then success is all but guaranteed. In this sense, nurturing great teams, especially during hard times like the current pandemic, is vital for decreasing conflict and aligning operations prior to periods of increased demand. Particularly at the senior level, the time to make your organization nimble and imbue a clear command structure for rapid action was yesterday. But, with hindsight being what it is, a close second place would be today. It’s never too late to chart a course for a profitable decade ahead, and our hope is that you can learn from this brief examination of NHG to see how you can create a culture of success.
Create: May 8, 2021 Edit: May 8, 2021 Hotel ManagementCalling all those looking to discover the outdoors and live with purpose, as owner and developer, Andrew Ashcroft, in partnership with Autograph Collection Hotels, announces the grand opening of the highly anticipated boutique resort – Alaia Belize, Autograph Collection. Spanning over 20+ acres and the first in San Pedro Town to sit on more than 1,000 feet of beachfront access, Alaia Belize is a 155-unit complex operating as the first true four diamond resort on Ambergris Caye. The eco-luxury development will be the first-ever Marriott International property in the country, upholding the high-quality standards of the brand and dynamic marks of the Autograph Collection – celebrating the founder’s passion, thoughtfulness of design, inherent craft and connection with the locale. “With deep family roots in Belize and the hidden gem being my home for over 20 years, I wanted to ensure that Alaia Belize captured the lively spirit, genuine hospitality and friendliness of the destination and locals. My team and I worked closely with the Marriott International team to bring it all to fruition and allow our future guests and owners an opportunity to immerse themselves into the Belizean culture,” said Andrew Ashcroft. “No detail went unnoticed as we wanted to ensure that our travelers will be able to experience a new level of luxury on one of the world’s most photogenic yet untapped destinations. We are now ready to show the world all that Alaia Belize has to offer and take the country to new heights.” Eco-Luxury Aesthetics Situated in the historic town of San Pedro – dubbed La Isla Bonita after the 1987 Madonna’s song about the island – Alaia Belize will allow hotel guests and residential owners to intimately connect with their surroundings as it was designed to stimulate all five senses. With interiors curated by renowned Brazilian designer Debora Aguiar, the boutique resort is meant to invite guests to touch, stay and feel connected to Mother Nature, from the warm and harmonious ambiance, woven textures, natural fibers and touches of greenery. The design-forward hotel features 155 guest rooms and suites, ranging from studios to three bedrooms, with a natural color scheme to complement the stunning oceanfront views. Seamlessly blending the indoor and outdoor settings, the rooms offer an average of 1,200 square feet indoors and almost 900 square feet in open air, per unit. On the residential end, Alaia Belize is comprised of 71 stylish studios, two- and three-bedroom condominiums and eight oceanfront villas. Owners who don’t live full-time in Belize can opt their condominiums or villas into a rental program booked through Marriott International’s reservation system and allow guests to live with a backdrop of deep blue waters. With exterior designs led by International Environments, the branded development features vertical green walls, specialty textured walls and crystal-clear glass windows to not interrupt any views of the tranquil Caribbean Sea and wild tropical foliage. Autograph Collection Hotels advocates for the original, championing the individuality of each of its 200+ independent hotels located in the most desirable destinations across more than 30 countries and territories. Each hotel is a product of passion and a personal realization of its individual founder’s vision, making each hotel singular and special: Exactly Like Nothing Else. Hand-selected for their inherent craft and distinct perspectives on design and hospitality, Autograph Collection hotels offer rich immersive moments that leave a lasting imprint. First of its Kind Experiences Raising the luxury bar in Belize, hotel guests and owners will have full access to first-of-its-kind amenities in the country, including Belize’s first-ever suspended rooftop pool and lounge with 360-degree views, the only luxury resort in Belize with a dive shop that also allows guests to receive a PADI certification onsite, K’in Spa & Wellness Center, a piano bar with a self-playing baby grand piano, kids’ club, adventure concierge, swimming pools with live DJs, branded golf carts and bicycles, and a live art gallery with local weavers, woodworkers and pottery makers to create custom handicrafts for guests to take a piece of Belize home with them. Catering to foodie travelers, Alaia Belize will have endless dining and bar options with five different concepts. Sea Salt will be the crown jewel of the property with fresh catches of the day, high-quality seafood and meat with a Belizean twist. For those looking to enjoy the tropical weather and gorgeous 360-degree views of the Caribbean Sea, Alaia will have a Vista Rooftop restaurant concept with small plate offerings, such as sushi, poke bowls and conch for lunch, dinner and late nights. The beachfront hotel will also have The Deck and Beach Bar restaurant for those looking for an open-air beachside lunch or dinner with local favorite dishes, such as tacos, ceviche, burgers, fish sandwiches, wraps, salads, pizza and classic cocktails. Alaia Belize will also have a Piano Bar to offer an upscale lounge setting for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night with small pastries, cocktail snacks and high-end wine and cocktails offerings from Alaia’s very own mixologist. Lastly there is the The Terrace Bar for lunch and dinner with flavorful items, such as burgers, sandwiches, salads, ceviche and more. In true Belizean celebratory fashion, this area of the hotel will have a lively spirit with DJs and in-pools cabanas for a VIP experience. Un-Belize-Able Destination “My team and I had a chance to visit with Andrew Ashcroft at the Alaia Belize earlier this year, while the property was still under construction. I am pleased that the day has finally come to open the doors of this beautiful four-diamond resort on the island of Ambergris Caye. It is a great milestone for the team and the country, as it is a testament of our growth to see high-end brands like Autograph Collection from Marriott International migrating into Belize, elevating our travel scene,” said Hon. Anthony Mahler, Belize’s Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations. “The government is fully supportive of hotel developments and legacy projects such as Alaia Belize, and we are incredibly proud of all the positive steps the Belize tourism industry is making to restore the confidence in travel among our international visitors.” In October 2020, Belize officially reopened Philip Goldson International Airport to international visitors for leisure travel. As of January 2021, Belize moved on to Phase 4 of its reopening plan with the full reopening of the overnight tourism sector and allowing visitors to move around the country freely. In December 2020, Belize received a Safe Travel Stamp by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) in recognition of the country’s enhanced health and safety protocols. To uphold the certification, the Belize Tourism Board created the Tourism Gold Standard program to ensure that all hotels, restaurants and tour operators adapt and maintain health and safety policies, including sanitation practices, social interactions and standard operating procedures while ensuring minimal impact on the guest experience. Known as the hidden gem of Central America and Caribbean, Belize’s clear blue waters and Caribbean culture is home to endless historic offerings, a variety of adventures and a melting pot of cultures. Just moments away from Alaia, owners and visitors can experience more than 200 caves filled with several preserved Mayan Temples, including Xunantunich (the second tallest ruin in the country), lush jungles, rainforest canopies, and archaeological sites including the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave. For those looking to take a deeper dive and explore the beauty of Belize’s natural underwater locations, Alaia is 600 meters away from the world’s second largest barrier reef and a few minutes away from the ultimate world-class and unrivaled destination – The Great Blue Hole. Ambergris Caye and Alaia Belize can be reached via Philip Goldson International Airport in Belize City. Then, travelers have to take a short 10-minute flight to San Pedro Airport or book tickets for a water taxi. Alaia Belize’s hotel concierge is available to help all guests book travel arrangements.
Create: May 8, 2021 Edit: May 8, 2021 International NewsSo much more than a room renovation announcement, this is a serendipitous story that begins in 1959, when the Hotel first opened its doors. “We have welcomed guests from all over the world here, with most returning again and again, year after year,” says Guilherme Costa, General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon. “And given the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, we thought this was an ideal time to carry on the much anticipated vision of the future for this Hotel.” When highly acclaimed Portuguese architecture studio OITOEMPONTO was entrusted in 2019 to breathe new life into guest rooms and suites at the Hotel, design duo Artur Miranda and Jacques Bec baulked at the idea of modernising the classic Hotel. Old photos stirred memories of Artur’s former stays in the iconic Ritz, an experience he didn’t want to deny to modern guests. Together, the two set about re-imagining the “past for the present,” embarking on a journey to evolve the Hotel’s roots – in style and substance, aesthetics and ambience – for 21st century visitors. “It was fascinating to delve into the history of the Hotel – and realise that its essence hasn’t changed much in 60 years,” shares Artur. “Not only is it an emblematic architectural piece of 1950s Portugal, it also remains at the creative forefront of classic meets cutting-edge. The Hotel has always been very sure of itself, so it’s no surprise that it dictated the parameters for this visionary-vintage reincarnation.” Inspired by the Hotel’s pure fifties style room #44, the new vibe is authentic yet still pioneering 1950s: a Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon trademark, and while successfully evoking the past, it proudly steps into the present, with each room featuring the most advanced technology for light, vision and sound. Already blessed by the generous balconies, they are now much cosier and perfect for breath-taking views of this beautiful capital. According to Guilherme Costa: “This is a time of great excitement for the community of Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon. After sixty years of proud existence, we honour our great heritage, maintaining our legendary service and continuing to evolve our offer to make it the most-beloved hotel in the city.” “We have enjoyed a strong partnership with Four Seasons since 1998 and we are delighted to have embarked on this renovation program togethe,r” adds Filipa Queiroz Pereira, member of the board of Hotel Ritz S.A. From spring 2021, guests will be able to experience: Redesigned guest rooms and suitesA new outdoor swimming poolA new outdoor barNew terrace of the Ritz Bar Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon remains open with operations as usual throughout the transformation period and welcomes guests to enjoy its accommodations, ballroom and meeting spaces, CURA Restaurant, Varanda Restaurant the the Ritz Bar, O Japonês and other Hotel facilities including the Ritz Spa, indoor pool and rooftop fitness centre.
Create: May 8, 2021 Edit: May 8, 2021 International NewsA new report published jointly by WIPO and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on the value of intellectual property in boosting tourism shows how the IP system creates a favorable ecosystem for innovation, entrepreneurship and investment in the sector. The publication, entitled “Boosting Tourism Development through Intellectual Property,” highlights good practices, features case studies and recommendations for policymakers and other tourism stakeholders on how to ensure that creativity, innovation, traditions and cultural heritage in tourism are properly protected and commercialized and that the benefits are shared by all. In a joint Foreword, WIPO Director General Daren Tang and UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili, predict that while the tourism sector has taken a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, it will recover and “contribute to reigniting hard-hit economies and societies thanks to its capacity to adapt to changes and offer innovative solutions to new challenges.” “In this context, IP rights are powerful tools that can be used to boost tourism development and competitiveness. The IP system is designed to promote creativity and innovation and support efforts by individuals, businesses and other actors to differentiate themselves and their products and services in the marketplace, whether through trademarks, geographical indications, copyrights or patents,” they added. The publication provides practical guidance for non-IP specialists on how to include IP in tourism product development – from destination branding to tourism policies. It shows how different IP rights can be leveraged to raise funds. And it showcases successful experiences and demonstrates how stakeholders around the globe are using IP rights to add value to tourism services and products, as well as to protect and promote local knowledge, traditions and cultural heritage. Through examples of producing cheese, tea, pepper, wine or other products, the publication shows how geographical indications and appellations of origin can be used to support the growth of rural tourism and provide benefits to local communities. To leverage the full potential of the IP system, the report recommends inclusion of IP strategies in national tourism plans and tourism policy strategy for regional and local destinations. Not only does good IP knowledge and management help to make use of the protected intangibles, but it also attracts investments and leverages fundraising opportunities. Finally, tourism authorities are encouraged to raise awareness among tourism and destinations stakeholders on the importance of appropriate IP knowledge and management to foster the sector’s growth in these challenging times.
Create: May 8, 2021 Edit: May 8, 2021 International NewsA total of 400 beds is expected to be added to the accommodation capacity of the touristic Yazd province, a local official announced on Wednesday. Ten tourism projects, which are composed of hotels and other lodging centers, are under construction across Yazd province, the official said. “Construction work has been finished on two of the projects, and the rest are complete by 70 to 90 percent.” “200 [hotel] rooms and 400 beds will be added to the accommodation capacity of Yazd when the projects come on stream,” the official said. The central province is usually referred to as a delightful place to stay, or a “don't miss” destination by almost all of its visitors. The city is home to thousands of mudbrick houses that are equipped with innovative badgirs (wind catchers), atmospheric alleyways, and many Islamic and Iranian monuments that shape its eye-catching city landscape. In July 2017, the historical structure of the capital city of Yazd was named a UNESCO World Heritage. Wedged between the northern Dasht-e Kavir and the southern Dasht-e Lut on a flat plain, the oasis city enjoys a very harmonious public-religious architecture that dates from different eras. Yazd is known today for its traditional districts, the qanat system, traditional houses, bazaars, hammams, water cisterns, mosques, synagogues, Zoroastrian temples, and the historic garden of Dolat-Abad. The city enjoys the peaceful coexistence of three religions: Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Yazd Jameh Mosque, Dowlatabad Garden, the Yazd Atash Behram, also known as Atashkadeh-e Yazd, Towers of Silence, and adjacent desert landscape are among its tourist sites.
Create: May 8, 2021 Edit: May 8, 2021 Regional NewsBeyondTV (BTV), a full-service provider of guestroom entertainment services and solutions for the hospitality industry, has announced the successful implementation of its BeyondTV GuestCast streaming solution at the Aemilia Hotel in Bologna, Italy. Installed by LB Sistemi, one of the first LG Business Solutions vendors to receive BeyondTV dealer Certification in the region, BeyondTV GuestCast will ensure that the Aemilia Hotel can securely meet growing industry demands for personalized in-room entertainment. A new 125-room property situated in the heart of Bologna, Aemilia Hotel seeks to provide its guests with the latest in modern amenities and comforts, with guestroom entertainment being no exception. By leveraging BeyondTV’s Certification Program which provides Italian hotels with straightforward access to the company’s technology via LG Business Solutions, Aemilia Hotel can now offer instant compatibility with thousands of mobile-based streaming apps. Engineered specifically to address the unique needs of the hospitality industry, BeyondTV GuestCast significantly allows guests to cast virtually any content of preference from personal devices onto guestroom televisions without ever requesting personal login information. The platform is also designed to be fully compatible with existing hotel television and Wi-Fi network hardware, eliminating the need for complex integrations or equipment replacement. “In the current market environment, it is more important than ever for hotels to enhance their competitiveness by adopting technologies that can safely address guest expectations for personalized experiences,” said Luca Bibolini, General Manager at Aemilia Hotel. “As a modern 4-star hotel, we were committed to identifying the industry’s leading platform for personalized in-room entertainment, with BeyondTV GuestCast offering precisely the kind of flexible functionality, ease-of-use and enhanced security that today’s guests expect.” In addition to sidestepping the need for guests to enter-in sensitive login information, BeyondTV GuestCast also utilizes advanced device isolation capabilities to prevent cross-room communication. This feature significantly prevents both the inadvertent and malicious casting of content to televisions located in other rooms, and serves as yet another vital layer of protecting guest privacy. BeyondTV GuesCast is also backed by 24/7 support services that can swiftly address any suddenly arising performance issues before they can negatively impact hotel stay experiences.
Create: May 6, 2021 Edit: May 6, 2021 International NewsA team of cultural heritage restorers from the UNESCO-registered Persepolis has commenced work on a Seljuk-era (1037–1194) inscription, which is located in Khorramabad, the capital of Lorestan province. "The lack of adequate restoration and protection caused further erosion and destruction of this historical monument," Mehr quoted Seyyed Amin Qasemi, the provincial tourism chief, as saying on Monday. "Considering the sensitivity of the restoration of stone monuments, a specialized team of Persepolis restorers was invited to inspect the inscription and develop their proposal." The inscription has written on a large stone with a height of 3.5 meters in Kufic, which is a type of Arabic script. The Seljuk engraving is the symbol of the rich culture of people in this region. The main topic of the inscription is about cutting taxes, feeding livestock on the Shapur I pastures, and forbid some unpleasant customs. The principal purpose of carving the Seljuk inscription was the association of government with the people about informing the new rules. The place of this inscription has selected so that each caravan that was coming from the Iranian plateau could perceive the inscription. Seljuk, also spelled, Seljuq, was a ruling military family of the Oguz (Ghuzz) Turkic tribes that invaded southwestern Asia in the 11th century and eventually founded an empire that included Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and most of Iran. Their advance marked the beginning of Turkish power in the Middle East. Soaked in history and culture, Lorestan is one of the lesser-known travel destinations in Iran, which mainly acts as a gateway to the sweltering plains below in adjoining Khuzestan province. Most travelers just pass through on their way to the UNESCO sites of Susa, Tchogha Zanbil, and Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System. Lorestan is also a region of raw beauty that an avid nature lover could spend weeks exploring. Lorestan was inhabited by Iranian Indo-European peoples, including the Medes, c. 1000 BC. Cimmerians and Scythians intermittently ruled the region from about 700 to 625 BC. Lorestan was incorporated into the growing Achaemenid Empire in about 540 BC and successively was part of the Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanid dynasties.
Create: May 6, 2021 Edit: May 6, 2021 Regional News