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 International NewsHotel 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 International NewsMeticulously designed to frame their natural settings, Aman destinations are renowned for space and privacy. Each welcomes guests as if to the home of a close friend, instilling a sense of peace and belonging amid some of the most diverse natural and historical landscapes. It is an approach that has changed little since 1988 when the first retreat was built on Phuket’s west coast. It was named Amanpuri, meaning ‘place of peace’, and Aman was born. Today, embracing 33 resorts, hotels, and private residences in 21 countries, Aman continues to seek out transformative experiences and awe-inspiring locations around the world. Ranked number 1 in the Top Luxury Hotel Brands 2018.
Create: Dec 17, 2018 Edit: Dec 18, 2018 International NewsHotel News - The 10 finalists will present their projects in January 2019 within the framework of Fitur in Madrid. The finalists were selected among 3000 projects from 132 countries: Awake (Colombia), By Hours (Spain), e-bot (Germany), The FreeBird Club (Ireland), Howazit (Israel), Kompas (UK), Pruvo (Israel), Refundit (Israel), Seevoov (Israel), Stay 22 (Canada). The collaboration between UNWTO and Globalia continues with regional competitions during 2019. The 1st UNWTO Tourism Startup Competition is a pioneering initiative that has identified emerging companies at the forefront of the transformation of the tourism sector and the promotion of innovation ecosystems through tourism. It is organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in partnership with Globalia, the leading tourism group in Spain and Latin America. The 10 finalists will present their projects within the framework of the Fitur International Tourism Fair (23-27 January 2019, Madrid, Spain) with the presence of global tourism leaders from the public and private sectors, as well as potential investors. The competition sought innovative startups capable of transforming the way people travel and experience tourism, while adhering closely to the principles of sustainability (economic, social, and environmental). “For the first time, we have positioned tourism in the global innovation agenda, a well-deserved place that reflects the weight and socio-economic impact of tourism,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. “The key is to connect the public and private sectors collaboratively, thus creating opportunities to share ideas and projects,” he added. Each project’s uniqueness, viability, potential impact, business model and scalability, along with the profile of the team, were the criteria for selecting the 10 finalists. “We have jointly created this pioneering public-private collaborative model in tourism as a global tourism group and we are delighted to spearhead this action alongside the World Tourism Organization, working together to lead the transformation of the tourism sector and fostering the global innovation ecosystem and its entrepreneurs,” said Globalia CEO Javier Hidalgo.
Create: Dec 17, 2018 Edit: Dec 18, 2018 International NewsThere’s a certain chic to the idea of a ski chalet, a resort on the cusp of a mountain where glamorous folks carve their way down black diamond runs all day and warming themselves with wine and hot beverages by a fire each night. These sorts of luxury accommodations are a backbone of the hospitality industry within some of the most popular travel destinations in the world, particularly in places like Europe and parts of North America. With their cache and relation to winter sports, they essentially never go out of style. It perhaps comes as little surprise that information from the TOPHOTELPROJECTS database shows that 2019 will be another great year for new ski resort properties across the globe. Without further adieu, here are five of the top ski hotels opening in 2019 and beyond, as per TOPHOTELCONSTRUCTION: Andermatt Swiss Alps Andermatt is a year-round destination in the heart of the Swiss Alps. The Andermatt Swiss Alps resort is currently being developed with the likelihood of opening in late 2018 or early 2019. The complete resort will include six 4 and 5-star hotels, 490 apartments in 42 buildings, about 25 chalets, convention facilities as well as an indoor pool and an 18-hole golf course. In addition, the Andermatt and Sedrun ski areas are being merged into the attractive Andermatt-Sedrun ski destinations. The first of the six hotels, the Chedi Andermatt, has been opened since December 2013. This project stands to yield 844 new rooms.
Create: Dec 15, 2018 Edit: Dec 16, 2018 International NewsA lobbying firm backed by Saudi Arabia booked hundreds of rooms at the Trump International Hotel in Washington shortly after the 2016 election, The Washington Post reported Wednesday. The firm, Qorvis/MSLGroup, "has long represented the Saudi government in the United States," according to the Post. The group booked nearly 500 nights at the hotel to house US military veterans who were invited to DC to lobby against a law the Saudis opposed, the Post said, citing veterans and organizers of the trips. "In all, the lobbyists spent more than $270,000 to house six groups of visiting veterans at the Trump hotel, which Trump still owns," the paper said. Although the bill for the rooms was footed by the Saudis, only American veterans stayed in them during trips in December 2016 and January and February 2017, according to the paper. The Post reported that veterans were recruited to lobby lawmakers against the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, which "opened the door to costly litigation alleging that the Saudi government bore some blame" for the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Some of the veterans, according to the paper, didn't know they were staying in rooms paid for by the Saudis. "It made all the sense in the world, when we found out that the Saudis had paid for it," Henry Garcia, a Navy veteran from Texas who went on several of the trips, told the paper. During previous trips, the firm had booked rooms at a hotel in Virginia, the Post reported. But lobbyists, according to the paper, said they decided to stay at the Trump-branded hotel because of its room availability and discounts it had at the time; the goal was not to patronize one of President Donald Trump's hotels. Citing financial records, the Post said that on average, rooms at the hotel went for $768 a night around the time of the visits. A representative from the hotel declined CNN's request for comment, and the Saudi Embassy in Washington and Qorvis/MSLGroup did not immediately respond to CNN's requests for comment. CNN previously reported on two lawsuits by DC and Maryland that claim Trump is in violation of the Constitution's ban on emoluments -- payments from foreign or domestic government entities to the president -- because of his continued interest in the Trump International Hotel. The Post reported that the payments by the Saudis have become "ammunition" in the suits. DC and Maryland have said the Trump International Hotel's operations put other nearby hotels and entertainment properties at a competitive disadvantage and that the Trump hotel got special tax concessions. The hotel won its lease on federally owned property in 2013, well before Trump's election. On Wednesday, subpoenas served to the Trump Organization and a dozen related business entities by the attorneys general of the District of Columbia and Maryland included demands for tax documents, which, if obtained, could begin to fill out a picture of the President's finances by providing information about his main income sources.
Create: Dec 9, 2018 Edit: Dec 9, 2018 International NewsAccorHotels has continued to expand its portfolio in Vietnam with the signing of two new stunning sea-facing properties. Slated to open in the fourth quarter of 2021, the opening of Mövenpick Resort Van Phong and Mövenpick Resort & Spa Halong Bay will add 525 rooms to the growing portfolio in the region. “The addition of Mövenpick Resort Van Phong and Mövenpick Resort & Spa Halong Bay will bring our total pipeline of Mövenpick properties to nine in Vietnam. “AccorHotels currently has 28 properties ranging from economy to luxury brands across Vietnam. “We look forward to bringing the brand’s signature Swiss hospitality to a variety of alluring destinations across the region,” said Patrick Basset, chief operating officer for AccorHotels in upper north-east and south-east Asia and the Maldives. Vietnam was named among the destinations with the biggest year-over-year increase in international tourist arrivals at 29.1 per cent, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s report. This year, the number of foreign tourist arrivals to Vietnam in the first six months of 2018 surged 27.2 per cent year-on-year to 7.9 million. On July 1st this year, the Vietnamese government granted visa exemptions for tourists travelling from the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy for the next three years until June 2021. AccorHotels is the biggest international hotel operator in Vietnam with 6,101 rooms across a wide spectrum of brands. The group will be opening another 13 hotels across the country in the next two years, bringing the total portfolio to 41. Nestled on a pristine stretch of coast just 130 kilometres from Cam Ranh International Airport, Mövenpick Resort Van Phong features 200 rooms and suites plus 100 villas. Overlooking the turquoise sea, the brand beachfront resort features two restaurants, an outdoor pool, spa and fitness centre. Located in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Halong Bay in Northern Vietnam, the 325 room Mövenpick Resort & Spa Halong Bay offers convenient access to the area’s main tourist attractions and activities on Halong Road and Halong Bay Cruise Port. The resort features two restaurants, a rooftop pool and lounge that overlooks the spectacular views across the iconic, islet-studded bay, a spa and a fitness centre. MICE facility includes a 300-seater ballroom and a selection of meeting rooms
Create: Dec 6, 2018 Edit: Dec 16, 2018 International NewsCentara Hotels & Resorts has signed management agreements for three new properties with Asia Investment, Development & Construction Sole. The latter is a well-established enterprise in Laos. In the UNESCO World Heritage site of Luang Prabang, Centara plans to open an upper upscale Centara Grand Luang Prabang and a midscale Centra by Centara property, both near the town centre. The third property will be under Centara’s new lifestyle brand, Cosi, catering to the growing segment of connected, freedom-loving travellers. It will represent a unique offering in Vientiane, the Laotian capital. The management agreement comes as Laos launches ambitious new plans to promote tourism. In recent years, the government of the Lao PDR has come to regard tourism as a priority sector for driving socio-economic development. It hopes to attract five million visitors in 2018 and increasing numbers in the years ahead with a Visit Laos campaign under the slogan Simply Beautiful. The country’s picturesque mountains, atmospheric towns, and humble friendliness are being discovered by Thai, Chinese and Western visitors. And it has one factor particularly in its favour: superb value. According to a new report from the Swiss-based World Economic Forum, Laos ranks 14th among 136 countries in price competitiveness. “This partnership with AIDC is a great opportunity to expand our footprint into a distinctive country,” said Centara chief executive Thirayuth Chirathivat. “Laos is on the list of more and more travellers to this region, and we want to serve them with the distinct and varied accommodation options to match the travel experience they are seeking.” Luang Prabang is the well-preserved, old spiritual city at the confluence of the Khan and Mekong rivers. Although well-served by direct flights to its airport and modern amenities, it lives up to its World Heritage status with beautiful temples and traditional riverside life. Bicycles outnumber cars. Delicious baguettes, croissants, cafés and French restaurants hint at the French colonial history in both Luang Prabang and Vientiane. Pheutsapha Phoummasak, president of AIDC Laos said: “We are excited to partner with Centara to bring their trusted brands to these great cities and further promote the tourism potential of Laos. “Luang Prabang and Vientiane are very popular destinations for both Thai and international travellers thanks to their perfect blend of history, beautiful scenery and charming character.”
Create: Dec 3, 2018 Edit: Dec 3, 2018 International NewsDJUBO is the world's only fully integrated hotel technology suite which offers OPERATIONS, DISTRIBUTION, MARKETING, REVENUE MANAGEMENT and INTELLIGENCE solutions in a single , easy to use and intuitive software. Djubo's Product Universe includes the following products seamlessly integrated with each other: DJUBO PMS - Property Management System DJUBO POS - Point of Sale DJUBO INSTACONNEKT - Channel Manager DJUBO DIRECT - Booking Engine DJUBO CEREBRUM - Revenue Manager DJUBO FORESIGHT - Rate Shopper DJUBO STARSIGHT - Reputation Manager Djubo comes powered with new age cutting edge technology which not only helps a hotel increase revenues but also reduce workload and cost significantly. Djubo requires no hardware installation or costs. It is a plug and play software which comes in extremely attractive quarterly and yearly pricing plans. Djubo Hotel Management Software Djubo Hotel Management Software
Create: Nov 17, 2018 Edit: Mar 17, 2019 International Hotel Management SoftwareA lavishly imagined dream, Emirates Palace offers you a magical location to enjoy the quintessence of award-winning 5-star luxury hospitality and authentic local experiences. From 394 luxurious rooms and suites, to our award-winning culinary cuisine, Emirates Palace is the definition of an unrivaled and Arabian fantasy. Located in the heart of Abu Dhabi, the Capital of the United Arab Emirates and only 40 minutes from the airport, Emirates Palace is grand in both its design and myriad of offerings. From a 1.3 km pristine beach, landscaped pools and a private marina overlooking a natural bay, Emirates Palace is perfect for a once-in-a lifetime holiday or for events and meetings that make a statement, with some of the city’s largest hotel conference centers and the latest technology.
Create: Nov 17, 2018 Edit: Nov 18, 2018 International NewsQatar is considering offers from Iran to host teams during the 2022 World Cup, as an alternative to the boycotting GCC countries which it had originally planned on working with. According to the chief organiser of the event, Hassan Al Thawadi, Iran has recently offered to host teams who will play in tiny Qatar in the World Cup which starts in four years time. When asked whether teams could be based in Iran, Mr Al Thawadi said Qatar had received "numerous proposals from countries with regard to hosting teams" around the time of the tournament. Mr Al Thawadi said he hoped Qatar's neighbours would lift a ban on their citizens visiting Qatar in time for the World Cup, which kicks off on November 21, 2022. The country's original pitch in its bid to host the tournament included plans to use facilities elsewhere in the Gulf. "I hope the blockading nations can see the value of this major tournament and can allow for their people to benefit from this tournament," he said.
Create: Nov 17, 2018 Edit: Nov 17, 2018 Regional NewsHotel News - The head of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran, Dr. Ali Asghar Monesan, and UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, had a conference meeting today at noon at the Golestan Palace in Tehran. Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in a gathering of journalists and media representatives, said: "The hospitality is one of the main components of the tourism industry, which is also important in Iran. On the other hand, Iran is a country that is rich in tourism and everyone should visit this country.” “Zurab Pololikashvili " said: Our presence and the presence of representatives from 27 countries around the world in Iran and the city of Hamedan are proofs that Iran has many tourist attractions. He added that these 27 countries can have 27 trade ties and so I am very happy that this event will be held tomorrow in Hamadan because it can be a new tourist destination apart from Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz. We are here to help tourism in Iran and help tourism, develop and prosper.
Create: Nov 11, 2018 Edit: Nov 12, 2018 Regional News