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.

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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.

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.

Jin Jiang completes acquisition of Radisson Hotel Group

Non-admission of non-organizational pilgrimages in governmental and state-run properties

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.

Hilton plans Conrad debut for Ras Al Khaimah

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