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Wanda Hotels Launches New Brand - Wanda Moments

Hotel News - On 30 November, 2018, Wanda Hotels & Resorts held a launch ceremony and gala dinner to unveil Wanda Moments, a premium mid-scale hotel brand, and announced the newly upgraded guest loyalty program – Wanda Club at the conference center on the Star Island of Qingdao Movie Metropolis. The conference brought together representatives of Wanda Club members, guests of Wanda Moments and media guests to witness the launch of Wanda Moments and the new development strategy of Wanda Hotels & Resorts. At the conference, Dr. Ning Qifeng, Executive President of Wanda Cultural Tourism Creativity Co., Ltd. and President of Wanda Hotels & Resorts, introduced the group's latest development strategy during its transformation to asset-light development and Wanda Moments, the new premium mid-end hotel brand. He announced that Wanda Moments plans to develop 700 hotels around China in the next 5 years, and shared the comprehensive upgrade of Wanda Club program with the guests. Dr. Ning signed contracts with the first 6 Wanda Moments hotels' owners, which marks an official beginning of the development of the new brand, Wanda Moments. Mr. Chen Mengchao, Vice President of Wanda Hotels & Resorts, introduced Wanda's resource strength in developing hotel industry. He also described the brand positioning, product characteristics, development plan and cooperation models of Wanda Moments. As the fifth hotel brand of Wanda Hotels & Resorts after Wanda Reign, Wanda Vista, Wanda Realm and Wanda Jin, Wanda Moments is a premium mid-scale hotel brand that is committed to providing high-quality selected service to business travelers with unique taste, enjoy life attitude and pursuing different experiences. The new brand continues the diversity and inclusivity of Wanda hotel brands, and the artistic design, attentive services as well as interactive staying experience. With the brand concept of "Better for tomorrow" and the 4S core values (Sweet+Social+Style+Smart), Wanda Moments aims to create a new lifestyle that integrates art, culture, intelligence and fashion. Mr. Liu Yingwu, Vice President of Wanda Hotels & Resorts and President of Wanda Hotel Design Institute, introduced Wanda's integrated services from hotel design to construction and to project management. "The asset-light transformation we are pursuing is not just providing hotel management and design services, but a integrated project management services. It is an innovative service model and a mature and completed management system that based on the investment, construction and operation experience of more than 100 hotels. This enables us to assist and serve our owners with extensive ownership experience and systems." Wanda Hotels & Resorts attributes the brand development to the support of the brand's loyal customers, and pays close attention on rewarding program. During the event, Ms. Adeline Yong, Deputy General Manager of Sales & Marketing Department of Wanda Hotels & Resorts, officially announced the launch of upgraded Wanda Club program which was comprehensively enhanced in the points accumulation mechanism, membership system and points redemption system.

Create: Dec 18, 2018 Edit: Dec 19, 2018 International News

Aman Resorts International

Meticulously 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 News

10 Finalists Announced in 1st UNWTO Tourism Startup Competition in Collaboration with Globalia

Hotel 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 News

Hotel Northland to take guests in 2019

Hotel News -- Restoring Green Bay's Hotel Northland is going to take a bit more time than expected, the hotel announced Friday. The project to restore the 90-year-old building as a hotel began in 2016. Searching for specific parts has drawn out the process, construction officials say. “Many of the hotel’s original architectural elements simply can’t be duplicated today causing us to scour the country and beyond for a variety of replacement parts and pieces,” explained Executive Vice President Kelly Schleif of Ganther Construction. Those challenges have prompted the hotel to take guests sometime next year, rather than by the end of 2018 as some had hoped. “We are going to take whatever time is necessary to finish it properly to make sure everything is exactly as everyone in the community expects it to be. And then we are going to open the doors," said General Manager John D. Williams. Williams is leading the project. Until then, the Poke the Bear restuarant at the hotel is set to open December 20 at 11 a.m. It will be open Tuesday through Saturday, serving lunch, dinner, and cocktails from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. The new bar and restaurant will expand its hours and days of service with the coming new year. Poke the Bear guests should enter at the hotel’s entrance at 304 N. Adams Street.

Create: Dec 16, 2018 Edit: Dec 17, 2018 International News

Hotelchamp introduces AI Autopilot, aims to focus on personalized experience to take on Booking.com and Expedia

Hotelchamp, an Amsterdam-based startup has introduced a new technology called Autopilot. This new technology is set to revolutionize the way hotels think about their online guest experience. It is an AI (Artificial Intelligence) engine, which is trained to recognize and personalize the experience of visitors to a hotel’s website. Kristian Valk, the founder, and CEO of the Dutch startup Hotelchamp states that hotel websites provide a static experience for the visitors. This is bizarre given the different guests who visit these sites and their varied preferences. This is what the startup intends to change with the introduction of Autopilot. Without further ado, let’s see how Hotelchap aims to take over Booking.com and Expedia with its new AI feature. Hotelchamp intends to help hoteliers by providing a better experience to the guests. It is aimed at scaling up quickly and growing at a hyper-fast pace. Enhancing the experience of the guests comes with personalization. In fact, personalization is something that guests expect from hotels and it is a challenge to deliver that on a website in a meaningful way, claimed Valk. This is where AI comes to the picture. Artificial Intelligence can deliver a truly adaptive website experience, which is customized to every single visitor. It brings the right information or interaction to the right person at the right time, he added. The newly launched Autopilot is more than a chatbot. It customizes the static hotel websites by deploying a range of marketing techniques and tools. As it is seamlessly integrated, it offers a more lively, responsive and personalized experience. Furthermore, it guides guests throughout the direct booking process based on their requirements. Hotelchamp’s data science team has used their years of data and millions of A/B test impressions on developing Autopilot. They have used all these data to know what convinces guests to book directly. The new technology applies this knowledge against factors such as real-time data from the hotel’s website, best practices from thousands of hotels and GDPR-compliant visitor insights as well as behavior. Hoteliers just have to activate Autopilot with a single switch and the rest is assured.

Create: Dec 11, 2018 Edit: Dec 12, 2018 International News

The end of the story of two rates for hotel prices

According to the deputy director of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran, the rates of hotels will be determined according to the common currency of the country (rials), but they can be based on the rate announced by the central bank and, of course in line with the satisfaction of tourists, other currencies can be received. Deputy director of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran said: "The rates of hotels are not a new issue and since 1994, the rating of hoptel is determined by the agreement of the Association of travel agencies as consumer of hotel services, the hoteliers association as the representative of residential centers and the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran as the representative of the government. Teimori said: "Based on the final decision and as in previous years, this instruction is accepted and signed by all three domains, and will be the basis for the work and the ratings." Therefore, the discussion of the two rates for hospitality services in a way that a group of tourists is required to pay by dollar and the other group is not required, will not be applicable.

Create: Dec 8, 2018 Edit: Dec 9, 2018 Regional News

Hoteliers' dissatisfaction with the operation of OTAs

After numerous problems with hotel rates caused by some hotel reservation systems (OTAs) and the criticism of hoteliers about this, Hotel News Agency decided to conduct surveys on hoteliers' opinions on the operation of online reservation systems and how they interact. At the end of the survey, which lasted for a week, 59% of the audience of the hotel's news media channels and websites, selected "No" to show their dissatisfactions, and 41 percent, preferred "yes", expressing their satisfaction with OTAs operation and how they interact with hotels. According to the results, it seems that despite all the measures taken, the vast majority of hoteliers across the country are still not satisfied with the operations of OTAs.

Create: Dec 6, 2018 Edit: Dec 8, 2018 Regional News

Waldorf Astoria signs four-year partnership with Aston Martin

Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts has signed a four-year global partnership with Aston Martin Lagonda, bringing together two enduring icons of global luxury. From exclusive guest access to Aston Martin’s most recent cars, to bespoke drive and stay packages in some of the most sought-after destinations in the Waldorf Astoria portfolio, the collaboration combines the exceptional standards of sophistication and service that are at the heart of both brands. “Aston Martin Lagonda was a natural choice for a partnership of this magnitude,” said Dino Michael, global head, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Hilton. “At Waldorf Astoria, experience and service are at the core of everything we do, and this partnership offers a rare opportunity for our guests to live unforgettable at our properties around the globe.” Beginning in 2019, Waldorf Astoria Driving Experience weekends will present hotel guests with a variety of Aston Martin’s latest models to sample along carefully tailored routes. These bookable sessions will be led by Aston Martin’s team of professional drivers, giving Waldorf Astoria guests an expertly curated opportunity to explore the unmatched performance, refined craftsmanship and exhilarating driving sensation delivery by Aston Martin. Simon Sproule, president, Aston Martin Partnerships, said: “This partnership opens both brands up to new and exciting opportunities. “Aston Martin Lagonda and Waldorf Astoria share a passion for creating beautiful experiences for our customers, rooted in the joy of travel and discovery. “Together, we can create memorable journeys that combine the best in global hospitality and driving pleasure.”

Create: Dec 6, 2018 Edit: Dec 8, 2018 International News

To invite OTAs to a live debate

The head of the Association of Iran Travel Agencies invited representatives of OTAs to clarify the news released to the debate in the presence of journalists and media representatives. Referring to the letter sent to the head of one of the OTAs, Hermatollah Rafiee said: OTAs are pretending that they are nothing to do with it but, with a widespread news release, they are actually working on that. The head of the Association of Iran Travel Agencies of Iran, announced his readiness to debate with the representatives of these websites in the presence of journalists and media representatives. He said that they are also preparing for the debate with the presence of reporters to determine who is legal and who is not. He added: "The ultimate goal of these people is to exploit politically, and I will tell you definitely that the explanation which has been published on websites since yesterday is false." Hermatollah Rafiee continued, "If it is not false, three months ago some of these websites had not been closed and out of reach because of over pricing! The owners of these websites say that their business is legal, but they are making problem for five thousands travel agencies as well as the customers.

Create: Dec 4, 2018 Edit: Dec 5, 2018 Regional News

Marriott sued hours after announcing data breach

Hours after announcing a data breach on Friday, two Oregon men sued international hotel chain Marriott for exposing their data. Their lawsuit was followed hours later by another one filed in the state of Maryland. Both lawsuits are seeking class-action status. While plaintiffs in the Maryland lawsuit didn't specify the amount of damages they were seeking from Marriott, the plaintiffs in the Oregon lawsuit want $12.5 billion in costs and losses. This should equate to $25 for each of the 500 million users who had their personal data stolen from Marriott's servers in the breach announced last week, on Friday. The two Oregon plaintiffs told a local newspaper, that they view the $25 as a minimum value for the time users will spend canceling credit cards due to the Marriott hack. The Maryland lawsuit was filed by Baltimore law firm Murphy, Falcon & Murphy, according to a press release.

Create: Dec 3, 2018 Edit: Dec 5, 2018 International News

Centara Hotels signs for three new properties in Laos

Centara 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 News

New Trump hotel in Bali draws attention to island’s impending water crisis, environmental impact of tourism industry

On August 14, 2015, back when the American presidency was just a twinkle in his beady eye, then candidate Donald Trump put his name to an agreement of a different order to that he has become accustomed to signing in the White House – the development of Trump International Hotel and Tower Bali, in collaboration with Indonesian investor Hary Tanoesoedibjo’s MNC Group. Like many projects bearing the Trump name, the resort, billed to become the largest on the island and the Trump Hotel Collection’s first property in Asia, has met with resistance. Are Chinese tourists ‘cheapening’ Bali’s image? The “six-star” resort and 18-hole golf course will occupy a cliff-top site previously home to the Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali, which boasts sweeping views across the Indian Ocean and one of Bali’s most important temples, Tanah Lot. The original plot’s 103 hectares did not suffice, so MNC approached local landowners with the intention of expanding the development. A documentary produced by the Australian Broadcasting Company, which aired in July 2017, claimed that most were reluctant to sell their land; some emphatically refused to do so. Still, that seemed of little import, MNC insisting in a statement, “Our land acquisition process has not encountered any problems or issues beyond the regular negotiations when dealing with land owners in Bali.” Judging by the group’s website, which describes a 108-hectare development (an increase of just five hectares), it would appear that those “regular negotiations” proved far from fruitful. However, that wasn’t the only hurdle. There are also concerns that the resort will overshadow nearby Tanah Lot, both literally and figuratively. Balinese custom dictates that no building should exceed the height of the tallest coconut tree for fear of angering the gods, and while there is no evidence to suggest that Trump International Hotel and Tower Bali will surpass such a height, its name and association with a US president known for ostentation rather than restraint suggest otherwise. And then there is the environmental impact of a major building project on an island that already struggles to balance tourism with sustainability. In a November 2 article, German news outlet Deutsche Welle argued that Bali’s rice terraces and subak irrigation system, which dates back to the 9th century, were under threat because of the demands of the tourism industry. It cited a 2012 study published in the Annals of Tourism Research, which found that more than half of the island’s groundwater supply was used by tourism, leading to water inequality and social and environmental problems that would affect Bali’s tourism and economy.

Create: Dec 3, 2018 Edit: Dec 3, 2018 International News