Quinta da Comporta is the new sustainable signature project

Located in the heart of Comporta’s idyllic village, Quinta da Comporta is the new sustainable signature project envisioned and designed by renowned Portuguese architect, Miguel Câncio Martins. Nestled on a stunning 17-hectare estate, surrounded by undulating umbrella pines and cork trees, wild sand dunes, stunning rice fields and over 60km of pristine, white-sand beaches, the hotel features whitewashed walls and cool-toned touches, reflective of both traditional Portuguese style and contemporary design. Each room has a luxurious beach hut feel, with rustic-style furniture drawn from a natural colour palette and sun-bleached woods that merge seamlessly with the hotel’s beautiful surroundings. The restaurant serves organic and fresh produce that is locally sourced and harvested in the hotel’s Bio Garden. Rising out of the Rice Fields just over the heated Infinity Pool, Oryza Spa uses rice as the core element of inspiration, sourcing its health and holistic benefits through the development of innovative treatments and products that are exclusive to the spa. Guests should pay a visit to Comporta Café on Comporta beach, a rustic lounge bar featuring a row of white cabanas and DJs spinning house music at sunset. It is a great place to enjoy a cocktail or a plate of seafood.

No rise in hotel rates during the Nowruz holiday

A new robot that eliminates the bacteria in the hotel rooms

Burj al Arab Hotel in Dubai, the most expensive and luxurious hotel in the world

Radisson news roundup

Hotel News - Have a look at some of Radisson’s new hotel openings around the world from Ecuador to Georgia RADISSON QUITO REOPENS AFTER $4.5M REFURBISHMENT Radisson’s Park Inn property in the Ecuadorian capital of Quito has reopened to the public after extensive renovations to almost the entirety of the hotel. An incredible $4.5m was pumped into the renovation, which involved not only upgrades to the rooms and common areas, but also gave the hotel a brand new look and feel. The hotel benefits from an amazing location close to the city’s trendy Zona Rosa area, which is also close to the business, financial and shopping districts. The hotel boasts 55 guest rooms and suites, with guests also being able to access the state of the art fitness and wellness centre. Business travelers will also be able to avail of on-site conference and meeting facilities, which have been designed in line with current informal work trends. Frances Gonzalez, vice president of Operations for Radisson Hotel Group in Latin America, says, “We are thrilled to re-introduce one of our excellent brands in the great city of Quito, while exemplifying our growth strategy for Latin America. This fantastic hotel embraces what the Park Inn by Radisson brand is all about with its vibrant colors, unique design and amenities, along with the dedicated staff that provides our ‘Happiness Guarantee.’” RADISSON COLLECTION OPENS IN GEORGIA’S WINE REGION Radisson has unveiled the newest addition to its premium lifestyle collection in the prestigious wine region of Georgia, Tsinandali. The hotel is a stunning 141-key property set within its very own vineyard, which boasts a historic winery, a rooftop spa and outdoor swimming pool. The design of the hotel has been executed with elegance and sophistication, and blends vernacular elements of Georgian style with contemporary flourishes to result in a truly unique offering, which fits with the Radisson Collection properties. Michel Stalport, Area Senior Vice President Russia and Eastern Europe, says, “Georgia is recognized as one of the most beautiful countries in the world, known to be the birthplace of wine, and a place where travelers are welcomed with hospitality like nowhere else. The estate combines magnificent architecture and historical authenticity with the finest new design details to provide guests with truly exceptional and memorable stays.” Wine lovers will rejoice in the experiences available at the hotel, which range from wine tasting and tours to learning about the bottles housed in Prince Alexander Chavchavadze’s personal wine cellar collection.

The departure of the North Korean leader from his hotel in Hanoi

Rental houses, furnished apartments and unauthorized accommodations

No rise in accommodation prices for hotels and resorts in Nowruz

Johnson Wales Hospitality School

3H Group plans new hotel after $10.25 million site purchase

3H Group shells out $10.25 million for the Brickell development site, where a Residence Inn by Marriott was being planned 3H Group has paid $10.25 million for property located in Miami’s Brickell, which the company plans to use as a new hotel development site. 3H Group, a US-based organization with its headquarters in Tennessee, paid approximately $200 per square foot for the site, which is located in Brickell at 1741 Southwest Second Avenue in Miami. BIG PLANS The site totals four properties and covers roughly 30,000 square feet, marking a significant investment for the company. The seller of the site was the Doral-based Hotelex Properties, which initially planned to build a 206-room Residence Inn by Marriott, property records show. The company paid $6.05 million for the assemblage in 2014. The Brickell site is in front of the Homewood Suites by Hilton Miami and near the Habitat Residence Condo Hotel.

Hotel News - Statement by Board of Directors of the Hoteliers Association in response to some comments on the assignment of the Fourth Factor of National Hotels Evaluation.

“We are surprised that some people consider the statements of the most responsible members of the Hoteliers Association to be irresponsible and unprofessional on hotel industry issues. The Iran Hoteliers Association has always been a good partner with Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran align with the growth and improvement of the hospitality industry in the country. Contrary to the statements made by these people, the Fourth Factor will not be left to hoteliers themselves, but Iran Hoteliers Association will be responsible. Iran Hoteliers Association is now carefully and rigorously focused on all aspects of the hospitality industry in the country, and has sufficient control over its sub-functions, and has proved its competence and qualification during this period. The decision to hand over the affairs is handled by the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran, and the head of the organization has identified the best option for Iran Hoteliers Association. The Board of Governors of the Iran Hoteliers Association, selected by all the industry's activists across the country, will strive to do his duty and what is best for all hoteliers in this country." Kamiar Eskandrian - Member of the Board of Directors and Secretary of the Iran Hoteliers Association in Iran

Red Planet Japan steps up Asian expansion with $59.5 million acquisition

Hotel News - Red Planet Japan announces the $59.5 million acquisition of the Thailand-based hotel arm of its parent company Red Planet Hotels Limited on the back of a series of expansion announcements in the Asia Pacific region. Red Planet Japan has announced that it is acquiring the Thailand-based hotel arm of its parent company Red Planet Hotels Limited. Industry experts say the acquisition is likely to be completed by the end of the first quarter of the financial year 2019. Red Planet Japan will acquire a half dozen hotel-owning companies in Thailand, all of them from its parent company. This will make for a total acquisition consideration of 6.5 billion Japanese yen or $59.5 million. The acquisition includes five operating hotels, located in Surawong (Bangkok), Patong (Phuket), Asoke (Bangkok), Pattaya, and Hat Yai. It also includes a sixth property that is currently under development in Sukhumvit Soi 8 (Bangkok). The operating hotels being acquired in Thailand have a recorded sales that totals 692 million Japanese yen ($6 million) in 2017 and 787 million Japanese yen ($7.1 million) in 2018. As a result of this acquisition, Red Planet Japan’s portfolio will increase to a total of 15 hotels in Japan, Thailand, and the Philippines, including five hotels under development. EXPANSION OF JAPANESE TOURISM Japan, like many markets with easy access to Southeast Asia, has undergone a tourism boom in recent years. Factors such as the expansion of low-cost carrier routes, the loosening of visa requirements, and a growing affinity for Japanese culture, has fueled a substantial increase in the number of tourists travelling from Southeast Asia to Japan in recent years, especially from Thailand.