AURORA: THE LUXURY SPACE HOTEL WILL ORBIT EARTH BY 2021

Hotel News - The Orion Span start-up has unveiled images of Aurora Station, its future space station designed to accommodate tourists from 2022 onwards, with the launch of the station programmed for 2021. It promises and incredible experience to its future customers. On the menu: 12 days of an unusual vacation at an altitude of about 320 kilometers. The program of activities includes the observation of 16 sunrises and sunsets in one day, flying over the hometown of travelers, games of ping-pong in the state of weightlessness. Guests will also be able to take part in experiments like growing food while in orbit. They will be able to take samples home as a “souvenir”. In order to be eligible for this stay, however, guests will have to undergo a specific training. But its duration, which is usually two years for a trip in space, has been shortened to three months for the Aurora Station. Orion Space has, therefore, opted for luxurious services, in order to differentiate itself from the competition. Because the start-up faces rivals who also seek to offer space tourism, such as the Texas company Axiom Space or Virgin Galactic, founded by billionaire Richard Branson. To support itself, Orion Space launched a crowdfunding campaign that raised about $230 thousand as of now. The goal of Orion Space is to “make space accessible to all”. However, by “accessible to all”, one should understand “all very wealthy clients”. Indeed, as the price of a 12-day stay in the Aurora Station space hotel is expected to be 9.5 million dollars. 

Worldwide Hotels Group Wins Club Street Hotel Site Bid with SGD562 Million in Singapore

Hotel News - Singapore-based hotel owner and operator, Worldwide Hotels Group (“Worldwide Hotels”), has acquired a 99-year leasehold hotel site along Club Street in Singapore’s Central Business District. The bid of SGD562.2 million (SGD2,148.50 per square foot per plot ratio) was made through Worldwide Hotels’ subsidiary, Midtown Development, and is a record price for a 99-year leasehold land at a state tender. The bid was also 22% higher than the hotel site sale at the Singtel site on Hill Street in February 2018. With an expected investment of more than SGD700 million, Worldwide Hotels envisages a four-star property that will become the group’s landmark hotel. Worldwide Hotels currently owns and manages six hotel brands in Singapore.

Central, Eastern Europe to get 242 new hotels in coming years

Hotel News - The coming years will be eventful in Central and Eastern Europe, with a host of new hotel projects in the pipeline, according to the TOPHOTELCONSTRUCTION database. The region, which includes countries such as Lithuania, Romania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Albania and Macedonia, will see substantial investment over the course of the next few years, which will result in a total of 242 new hotel projects across the region, Schmidt said. This will bring an additional key count of 49,583 guest rooms to the region, with the projects being split between luxury (98) and first-class (144) categories. The lion’s share of the projects (88) are set to open this year, while 58 will welcome guests in 2020, 32 in 2021, five in 2022, and 59 from 2023 onwards. Currently, a hefty percentage of the projects (44%) are in the planning stage, with 38% under construction and 10% in the pre-opening stages. Hilton, Radisson and Holiday Inn are the biggest brands to feature in CEE, with Radisson Blu and Red, as well as Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express set to be some of the biggest hitters in the region. Austria, Poland and Croatia will see some of the highest volumes of hotel openings. There are 68 projects planned for Austria, with 22 openings in 2019 mostly situated in the capital Vienna. Poland will welcome 53 projects to give a total key count of 9,719, with 21 opening this year. Croatia will benefit from 25 hotel projects, bringing 9,842 additional rooms to the country, with six projects welcoming guests in 2019. Germany and Russia will also see significant investment in the coming years, with 373 new projects in the German pipeline and 77 in the works in Russia.

Hilton Opens Flagship Property in Da Nang

Hotel News - US-based hotel franchiser and hotel management company, Hilton Hotels & Resorts (“Hilton”) has debuted in Da Nang with the opening of 223-key Hilton Da Nang, Vietnam. The property is conveniently located near the Han Bridge and Bach Dang street with access to Da Nang’s main entertainment, shopping and business facilities. The hotel is accessible via a 10-minute drive from Da Nang International Airport and 5-minute drive from Da Nang Beach. The hotel offers rooms and suites ranging from 36 square meters to 202 square meters and a lounge on the 27th floor serving breakfast and drinks. In addition, the property features an all-day dining restaurant, a cafe, a rooftop grill bar, 725 square meters of meeting space, a 24-hour gym and a heated outdoor swimming pool. The new opening represents Hilton third property in Vietnam after Hilton Hanoi Opera and Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi.

Charlotta Olsson Appointed as General Manager At Radisson Collection Hotel, Strand Stockholm, Sweden

Hotel News - Twelve years ago she kicked off her career at Radisson SAS Strand Hotel at Blasieholmen - now she is back at the same hotel, today's Radisson Collection Strand Hotel Stockholm, as the hotel's new General Manager, according to a press release. Charlotta Olsson already decided there and then 12 years ago that "One day I will come back here and run this hotel". After studying in France, Boston and Italy, she landed at Linköping University. Something that turned out to be completely wrong for Charlotta. She interrupted her studies, once again packed her bag and moved to Caux (Montreux) in Switzerland and studied at the Swiss Hotel Management School. In the hotel industry, she was able to combine her passion for travel, language and the meeting with new people with her drive and talent for development work. She started as Meeting & Events Executive at the Radisson SAS Strand Hotel. Since then, she has successfully climbed within organization with steady steps, a process possibly accelerated by a certain restlessness transformed into a superpower. Most recently, Charlotta has been running the Park Inn by Radisson Stockholm Solna for two years as General Manager. Before that, she opened the Park Inn by Radisson Lund in the same role. A hotel that has now been refined into a Radisson Blu. When Charlotta talks about the new role at Radisson Collection Strand Hotel, it is an admirable enthusiasm that emerges. As a leader, Charlotta is described as purposeful, straight and clear - a person that people know where they are. But also as a caring person who cares on a personal level. Outside the hotel walls, Charlotta is a person with a food and wine interest who likes to travel and then preferably to Italy. She is the oldest in the sibling with two brothers and has strong family ties. She is found frequently in the jogging track or in the hot yoga room if she did not pick up her tennis racket or a golf club.

Park Hotel Group Debuts in Seoul

Hotel News - Singapore-based hotel owner and operator, Park Hotel Group (“Park Hotel”), has opened its first property in Seoul, South Korea. The newly built Park Hotel Yeongdeungpo, is owned by South Korea-based firm K2 Group (“K2 Group”) and will be managed by Park Hotel. Located in the Yeongdeungpo district, the 14-storey hotel is next to Seonyudo Station, a 10-minute drive to the Yeouido financial hub, and a 50-minute and 25-minute drive from Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport respectively. The 140-key property features five room categories, all with floor-to-ceiling windows or balconies with panoramic views of the city skyline or the Hangang River. It also offers a 24-hour fitness room, a business centre, a meeting room, a banquet hall, and three restaurants. Park Hotel currently manages 15 properties across eight countries including Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives and Singapore.

David Harb Appointed General Manager at Hyatt Regency Dubai & Galleria , United Arab Emirates

David Harb has been appointed general manager of the Hyatt Regency Dubai & Galleria, where he will manage 421 hotel rooms and 388 residences. Harb has held several positions with Hyatt, beginning with Hyatt Regency New Orleans in Louisiana as assistant manager of food and beverage in 2002. He then went on to work at Hyatt Hotels in Georgia, Florida, Illinois and Washington, USA, before moving to Hyatt Regency Dubai as director of food and beverage in 2012. In May 2016, Harb became the executive assistant manager at Grand Hyatt Dubai, before being promoted as the hotel manager for Grand Hyatt Dubai.

Police to interview man after digger smashed into new hotel

FITUR, THE INTERNATIONAL TOURISM TRADE FAIR, HOLDS ITS 39TH STAGING FROM JANUARY 23 TO JANUARY 27, 2019.

Hotel News - FITUR is a global meeting point for tourism professionals and the leading trade fair for inbound and outbound Ibero American markets. In 2018 FITUR has beaten the participation record with 10,190 exhibiting companies from 165 countries/regions, 140,120 trade participants and 110,860 people from the  general public. Morever the volume of agendas organised by FITUR within the different B2B has reached 6,800 business appointments. The attendance of 7,856 journalists is a turnout that shows the importance of FITUR on the international circuit of tourism industry events.

Accor’s innovative new mobile offering in the French Alps

Accor’s innovative new mobile offering in the French Alps

Hotel News - AccorHotels has launched a new concept for accommodation in the Alps. Avoriaz 1800 is a collection of containers decked out in timber that are designed to have as little impact on the landscape as possible and to provide flexible and mobile lodgings for the ski resort. We find out more. FLYING NEST LANDS IN THE ALPS French hotel group Accor has been testing a new concept hotel over the past year at events such as LeMans and the Bordeaux Architecture Biennale, which now, for the first time, will be open for the public to experience. The experiment involves the erection of mobile lodgings, which can be shipped in for conferences, events and now for ski seasons, as required. The concept is called Flying Nest, and features a number of shipping containers that have been given a custom overhaul by renowned designer Ora-ïto, who is based in Marseilles. Flying Nest was conceived of as a form of nomadic architecture which can be transported and installed in various destinations as necessary. But, far from compromising on comfort, the thoughtful design of the containers brings a cosy and comfortable offering to wherever it lands. The latest location of Flying Nest is in the Alpine ski resort of Avoriaz. DESIGN AND VISION Damien Perrot, AccorHotels’ Global SVP Design Multibrand, says Flying Nest is a visionary concept which will gives wings to the future of the industry. “We worked on creating an immersive experience more than just a room.” The idea behind the concept, as well as being mobile, is that the arrangement of containers will have as little impact on their surroundings as possible, enabling them to be installed in areas that are of significant natural beauty and that need to be protected. This also allows guest to have a great connection with the destination, and in the case of Avoriaz, skiers can just step out of the container directly onto the mountain and its slopes. The containers come equipped with individual decks, and are connected to each other by walkways and platforms, allowing guests to mingle with each other as they act as social spaces. The containers have one entire side that is made of glass, giving guests incredible views out towards their environment. Approximately 20 units were installed in the French ski resort, which are propped up on piles that sit into the ground with minimal disruption.

Introducing the new service in Ibis hotels: Relax We Post