Global Travel News

LISTENING IN: Ultimate Elton for the ages

 1080 608 wttc2
By:

The first time I saw Elton John it was in a crappy venue (the old Exhibition Stadium in Toronto) with crappy sound and out-of-synch speakers reverberating up the stands. Elton wordlessly entered, sat down, and launched into the haunting intro to “Tonight.” And in spite of the environmental limitations, you could hear a pin drop; goosebumps rising. In that moment I realized that there were performers, and then there were Eltons – a rare few who could silence a football stadium crowd with the plink of a pinky.

Years later I saw Reg (his real name) again in Las Vegas, deeper voice (throat surgery), hair transplant, giant inflatable penis flopping back and forth on stage, which was an over-the-top adornment even for the Rocket Man.

Indeed, the ‘80s and ‘90s weren’t kind to him in many ways, including musically, though that doesn’t detract from the generational talent of one of rock’s greatest singer-songwriters. Indeed, even now at age 75 he is still topping the charts (with Dua Lipa), even as he continues a farewell-to-performing tour that recently rolled through Vancouver.

But it’s the Elton of the early to mid ‘70s I will always strive to remember – an artist at the peak of his powers, and a man – “short, balding, myopic” – who Long John Baldry (the one who saved Elton John’s life in the song) once told me in an interview was the most unlikely rock star ever.

I consider “Captain Fantastic” a formative album of my youth, not least for the dramatic “Someone Saved My Life Tonight.” This performance of the song, at the Playhouse Theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1976, says everything about Elton – more than I ever could. It’s a little longer than our usual offering, nearly seven minutes, but every note is worth it. Over 45 years later, it’s goosebumps all over again.

Lyrics by Bernie Taupin

When I think of those East End lights
Muggy nights
The curtains drawn in the little room downstairs
Prima Donna, Lord, you really should have been there
Sitting like a princess perched in her electric chair
And it’s one more beer
And I don’t hear you anymore
We’ve all gone crazy lately
My friend’s out there
Rolling ’round the basement floor

Someone saved my life tonight, sugar bear
You almost had your hooks in me
Didn’t you dear
You almost had me roped and tied
Altar-bound, hypnotized
Sweet freedom whispered in my ear
You’re a butterfly
And butterflies are free to fly
Fly away, high away, bye bye

I never realized the passing hours
Of evening showers
A slip noose hanging in my darkest dreams
I’m strangled by your haunted social scene
Just a pawn outplayed by a dominating queen
Oh it’s four o’clock in the morning
Damn it
Listen to me good
I’m sleeping with myself tonight
Saved in time, thank God my music is still alive

Someone saved my life tonight, sugar bear
You almost had your hooks in me
Didn’t you dear
You nearly had me roped and tied
Altar-bound, hypnotized
Sweet freedom whispered in my ear
You’re a butterfly
And butterflies are free to fly
Fly away, high away, bye bye

And I could have walked head on
Into the deep end of the river
Clinging to your stocks and bonds
Paying your H.P. demands forever
They’re coming in the morning
With a truck to take me home

Someone saved my life tonight
(Someone saved my life tonight)
Someone saved my life tonight
(Someone saved my life tonight)
Someone saved my life tonight

So, save your strength
And run the field you play alone
Someone saved my life tonight, sugar bear
You almost had your hooks in me
Didn’t you dear
You nearly had me roped and tied
Altar-bound, hypnotized
Sweet freedom whispered in my ear
You’re a butterfly
And butterflies are free to fly
Fly away, high away, bye bye

Someone saved, someone saved, someone saved my life tonight
(Someone saved my life tonight)
Someone saved, someone saved, someone saved my life tonight
(Someone saved my life tonight)

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Marriott International Publishes Latest Report on Environmental, Social, and Governance Progress

 840 646 wttc2
By:

serve 360 report.png

Marriott International, Inc., today released its 2022 Serve 360 Report presenting data from 2021 and demonstrating its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) efforts toward the company’s 2025 Sustainability and Social Impact Goals. The Report can be accessed on the Serve 360 website.

In support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Marriott’s sustainability and social impact platform, Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction, guides the company’s commitment to make a positive and sustainable impact wherever it does business, delivering value for associates, customers, owners, the environment, and communities around the world. Launched in 2017, the company is celebrating five years of Serve 360’s impact.

“While the last few years have transformed our industry, the resilience of Marriott associates and their dedication to our core value to Serve Our World has not only put us on the path to recovery, but renewed our support to the communities and environments where we live and work,” said Anthony Capuano, Chief Executive Officer, Marriott International. “Even during times of great challenge, including war, increasing climate crises, and the unprecedented impact of the pandemic, I am proud of Marriott’s continued dedication to its sustainability and social impact journey and commitment to our many stakeholders.”

In addition to showcasing data on company diversity, sustainable operations, volunteerism, and other ESG activities, 2021 highlights include:

  • Committed to set a science-based target and reach net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by no later than 2050.
  • Announced an accelerated goal to achieve global gender parity in executive positions by 2023 – two years ahead of the original goal – and established a new goal to achieve 25 percent people of color in executive positions in the U.S. by 2025.
  • Established the Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership to help build a pipeline of diverse talent by inspiring Black students to enter the hospitality industry, along with The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation and Howard University.
  • Launched the next iteration of Marriott’s human trafficking awareness training, which uses real-life scenarios to support our 2025 goal to train 100% of on-property associates to recognize and respond to potential situations of human trafficking.
  • Piloted Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy to provide guests the opportunity to create a positive impact across communities in the Asia Pacific region through environmental protection, community engagement, and marine conservation, which expanded to nearly 100 properties in 2022.

The Report also includes a letter from Capuano, which provides an update on the company’s ESG developments taking place this year and plans for the future. Additional highlights include:

  • Contributions to associates and their families affected by the war in Ukraine and support to humanitarian organizations providing on the ground relief, including over $3 million in hotel-level financial and in-kind support.
  • Commitment of up to $50 million to support historically underrepresented groups who typically face barriers in owning and developing hotels in North America. This new program, “Marriott’s Bridging the Gap,” also supports our company’s goal of achieving 3,000 diverse-owned hotels by the end of 2025.
  • Achievement of LEED Gold Core and Shell Certification for our new global corporate headquarters in Bethesda, MD, which includes a high-efficiency HVAC system, energy-efficient light fixtures with smart lighting controls, and more than 60 electric vehicle charging stations.
  • Donation of Marriott’s updated human trafficking awareness training to the hospitality industry to help other hotel companies and workers recognize the signs of human trafficking.

More details about Marriott International’s ESG efforts and Serve 360 can be found at www.Marriott.com/Serve360.

Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws, including statements regarding Marriott’s ESG targets, goals, commitments, expectations and objectives, and similar statements concerning possible future events or expectations that are not historical facts. We caution you that our actual future results, including the achievement of our targets, goals or commitments, could differ materially from our projected results as the result of changes in circumstances, assumptions not being realized, or other numerous evolving risks and uncertainties that we may not be able to accurately predict or assess. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include the risk factors that we identify in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Any of these factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations we express or imply in this press release. We make these statements as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc., (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 8,100 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 139 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy®, its highly awarded travel program. Connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.

Media Contact
Melissa Froehlich Flood
Corporate Relations
Marriott International
Newsroom@Marriott.com
+1 (301) 380-4839

Read original article at Marriott Hotels

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Record Number of Meetings at ITB Asia, MICE Show Asia and Travel Tech Asia 2022

 500 326 wttc2
By:

Singapore, Singapore, October 25, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The 15th edition of ITB Asia, Asia’s Leading Travel Trade Show’, came to a successful close today with over 27,000 business appointments and meetings recorded. The success of the first face-to-face ITB Asia since the beginning of the pandemic signals returning confidence that travel industry professionals have in the recovery of the tourism sector in Singapore and the region.

“The positive feedback from all attendees showed us how important personal exchange is after two years of holding a purely digital event. As a leading trade fair for Asia’s travel industry, ITB Asia once again provided a unique opportunity and platform for the industry to rebuild, reconnect and give answers to questions about how the MICE industry is making a huge comeback”, said Martin Ecknig, CEO, Messe Berlin.

Stellar line up of industry giants headlined ITB Asia Conference sessions

Under the theme “Go Big & Go Forward: Travel Industry on the Road to Recovery and Growth”, ITB Asia 2022 also had a large conference line-up including the co-located MICE Show Asia and Travel Tech Asia. This year’s conference sessions ended with over 3950 minutes of high-powered content over 100+ sessions where over 180 leading industry heavyweights and innovators in three conference theatres discussed topics critical to the future of MICE, corporate travel, leisure travel and travel technology. Prominent speakers included senior representatives from Agoda, Amadeus, Corporate Travel Management (CTM), Expedia Group, FCM Travel, IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), International SOS, George P Johnson, Marriott International, Saudi Tourism Authority, Travelport and many more.

“The successful turnout for the three shows indicates a positive return of MICE events in Asia Pacific as the travel industry gains momentum on the route to recovery”, added Katrina Leung, Managing Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore), the organiser of MICE Show Asia, Travel Tech Asia and ITB Asia.

The Singapore Tourism Board extends strategic partnership with ITB Asia

Messe Berlin (Singapore), the organiser of the 3-in-1 show, has announced the extension of its milestone partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) from 2023 to 2025. The two parties announced at this year’s ITB Asia that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to extend the collaborative partnership for the next three years.

Mr Keith Tan, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board said, “Messe Berlin’s commitment to anchor ITB Asia in Singapore for the next three years is testament to Singapore’s ability to deliver quality MICE events. We are excited that tourism businesses in Singapore and the region will continue to benefit from the opportunity to forge new partnerships and exchange knowledge and ideas.”

The next in-person edition of ITB Asia, MICE Show Asia and Travel Tech Asia will take place from 25 to 27 October 2023 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.

Huge interest is already being expressed for next year’s show including Best Western Hotels and Resorts, Israel Pavilion, Jordan Tourism Board, Meliá Hotels International, Penang Tourism Board, Sabah Tourism Board, Sarawak Tourism Board, Saudi Tourism Authority, Singapore Tourism Board, TBO Holidays, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Tourism Promotions Board Philippines, Trip.com, USA Pavilion, Visit Finland, Visit Iceland and many more.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Unveiling the New Face of Anantara Chiang Mai Resort

 500 323 wttc2
By:

Chiang Mai, Thailand, October 24, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Anantara Chiang Mai Resort welcomes back travellers from around the world with renovated accommodations and exciting new dining experiences in a prime riverfront setting.

With COVID-19 waning, travel to Thailand now back to normal, and Chiang Mai ready to celebrate life once again, Anantara Chiang Mai Resort recently hosted a glamorous evening reception for Lanna royalty, foreign diplomats, and the city’s leading government officials and business executives on the lawn of its 100-year-old heritage house. Approximately 200 guests were treated to an evening of live music and performances over canapes and drinks.

Formerly the British consulate, and renovated by Asia-based architect Kerry Hill, famous for icons such as The Sukhothai in Bangkok and Aman hotels throughout the region, the heritage house is the heart of the wining and dining experience at the award-winning Anantara Chiang Mai.

The new guest experience begins at the ground-floor Brit Bar, reimagined as the private members’ club of Her Majesty’s secret service. Here, guests are invited to share pre-dinner drinks and conversation in intimate spaces including the classic oak bar, salons decorated with old maps and collectibles, and a secret room hidden away behind a bookshelf and accessible only by those in the know. Gurus are on hand to recommend selections from the wine cellar, whisky and cigar collection, and whimsical cocktail list.

Dinner is then served in the upstairs restaurant, The Service 1921, which today launches a brand-new menu by Executive Chef David Eldridge that showcases the finest seafood and meats, including in-house dry-aged beef, and free-range chicken and pork from Thai artisan farmers. Highlight dishes include beef tartare with bone marrow emulsion, sous-vide egg yolk, Parmesan and Sriracha; a thick-cut 400 g Sloane’s pork chop with smoky mustard and apple glaze; and the classic British dessert, Eton Mess, made with local strawberries, whipped cream, meringue and sorbet.

Also launching today is Chiang Mai’s first champagne rooftop bar, Bubbles, which fronts the Ping River. The drinks menu is entirely original, with the world’s best champagnes by the glass and bottle, as well as innovative bubbly cocktail creations. The bar’s most exclusive table, set at river’s edge and reached by a glass walkway, is ideal for private celebrations such as proposals or anniversaries.

Coming on 1 November is the picturesque Bodhi Terrace, which lies in the shade of the resort’s 200-year-old bodhi trees. The menu will highlight the best of Thai cuisine from north to south, and with its riverfront location, will play host to the city’s most spectacular Loy Krathong celebrations.

Other developments around the resort include work on the private pier, with river cruises soon to be launched, a Thai medical clinic and IV drip bar at Anantara Spa, and renovations of the 84 rooms and suites. Spacious starting at 50 sqm, and with tranquil garden and river views, the accommodations maintain their classic Modern Tropical design, with Zen teak finishing and an emphasis on the breeze and coolness, but with the additions of the latest in luxury amenities.

“At Anantara, we constantly strive to elevate the guest stay, immersing travellers in modern-day local culture with unique and authentic experiences”, says General Manager Khun Pitak Norathepkitti. “I thank all our illustrious guests for joining us in celebrating our latest offerings tonight, and look forward to welcoming back guests from around the world in the near future”.

Anantara Chiang Mai Resort was recently voted one of Thailand’s top resorts at the Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2022. The travel industry’s longest running and most prestigious awards drew on the experiences of nearly a quarter of a million voters from around the world.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort Announces Alvaro Berton as General Manager

 900 600 wttc2
By:

HO TRAM, Vietnam (October 27, 2022) – A seasoned professional with substantial experience managing hotels in Asia has been appointed to the helm of Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort.

Spanish-born Alvaro Berton has taken charge of the 17-hectare beachfront property at Ho Tram, a two-hour drive from Vietnam’s biggest metropolis Ho Chi Minh City.

Berton has worked in management roles for Meliá Hotels International for more than eight years. He was the general manager of Meliá Purosani Yogyakarta in Indonesia for more than two years, and before that the cluster general manager for Melia’s Sol Beach House Bali Benoa All Inclusive and Sol House Bali Kuta for almost five years.

Before he embarked on a hospitality career, he studied a bachelor’s degree in business and administration at the University of Seville in Spain and worked as a financial officer at CaixaBank Financial Group in Seville. Berton studied a master’s degree in International Hotel Management at the University of Seville and worked as assistant manager at Meliá’s Paradisus Palma Real Golf & Spa Luxury All Inclusive Resort in the Dominican Republic during his studies. In February 2014 Berton then became the cluster executive assistant manager and revenue manager for Samabe Leisure Resorts, overseeing the hotel operations for Grand Mirage Resort & Thalasso Bali and Club Bali Mirage.

Berton’s appointment to the Ho Tram resort comes as Vietnam’s tourism industry booms in the wake of the pandemic’s constraints.

“My team and I look forward to delivering the warm Spanish hospitality, distinctive passion for service and focus on sustainable tourism that Meliá is renowned for,” said Berton.

The 152-room and 83-villa resort features three restaurants including a beach club, three swimming pools, a coffee shop, 20-treatment room spa with an additional foot massage area and beauty salon, executive lounge The Level Lounge, ballroom and conference facilities, kids club, gymnasium, gift shop and more. The resort’s contemporary rooms, suites and villas afford unencumbered views of the ocean, lush gardens, lakes and swimming pools.

For more information about Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort, call +84 (0) 254 3789 000.

About Meliá Hotels & Resorts
Meliá Hotels & Resorts is the most well-known brand within Meliá Hotels International; it has more than 100 city and resort hotels in the main leisure and business destinations of Europe, Asia, Africa and America. Meliá Hotels & Resorts instinctively understands the guests’ needs and lifestyle expectations and caters to every aspect of guests’ wellbeing. It offers exemplary meetings and events facilities in all key business cities and exotic locations, serving the ever-expanding conference and incentive travel market.

About Meliá Hotels International
Founded in 1956 in Mallorca (Spain), Meliá Hotels International operates more than 380 hotels (portfolio and pipeline) throughout more than 40 countries, under the brands Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts, Paradisus by Meliá, ME by Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts, The Meliá Collection, INNSiDE by Meliá, Sol by Meliá and Falcon’s Resorts by Meliá, plus a wide portfolio of affiliated hotels under the “Affiliated by Meliá” network. The Group is one of the leading companies in resort hotels worldwide, while also leveraging its experience to consolidate the growing segment of the leisure-inspired urban market. Its commitment to responsible tourism has led the Group to become the most sustainable hotel company in Spain and Europe, according to the last S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (Silver Class). It also has ranked seventh in the Wall Street Journal’s list of the 100 most sustainably managed companies in the world (and the leading travel company) and is the only Spanish travel company included in the list of “Europe’s Climate Leaders 2021” by Financial Times. Meliá Hotels International is also included in the IBEX 35 Spanish stock market.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Joyned Booking Launches for Travel Websites

 1080 634 wttc2
By:

Tel Aviv, Israel, October 27, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Israeli start-up Joyned has today announced the commercial availability of Joyned Booking for the travel sector. The website add-on promotes interaction between friends and family which unfolds whilst they book their trip – making the booking experience a seamless, social one.

Joyned Booking’s collaborative experience, provided on a SaaS basis, allows travel companies to provide customers with a superior user experience when booking group trips. This boosts online sales by keeping F&F travellers on their websites for longer, increasing overall profitability and loyalty, and travel sites using Joyned Booking have already seen a 300% higher conversion rate.

Jonathan Abraham, CEO of Joyned, explains, “Friends and family who travel together, obviously make trip decisions together, but there is no easy way to do that on most online travel sites currently.” Instead, websites are built with individuals in mind. Joyned Booking is the next evolutionary step in online booking, through its ability to easily connect travellers from initial discussions through to point of sale.

“In addition to the benefits to the end user, Joyned Booking provides travel websites with a unique set of data, including F&F traveller price perception, sentiment analysis and a window into the F&F traveller buying journey,” Abraham added. 

To date, travel sector sites using Joyned Booking have seen a conversion rate of four times their baseline, with a 25% higher average order value. Joyned Booking also provides a 90% invite-to-website click-through-rate due to its cross-website, live booking experience, which offers a real-time connection.

About Joyned

Joyned enables customers who go on holiday together to book together, making the travel booking experience collaborative. It provides a cross-website, live experience for online shoppers, empowering travel sites of all sizes to own their shoppers’ natural social engagements directly on-site.

 

About Jonathan Abraham, CEO, Joyned

Jonathan Abraham is the CEO and founder of Joyned – the travel booking innovator. A committed entrepreneur and experienced speaker, he built his first profitable business at the age of thirteen and has continued doing the same in other ventures since then. Jonathan established Joyned to disrupt the travel market and innovate it into a social experience. Joyned is the voice of authority in the travel booking space: through fashioning a better – more social – booking experience, this will yield better business results.

 

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Meliá Hotels Appoints GM to New Kuala Lumpur Property

 900 630 wttc2
By:

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct. 26, 2022) – The new INNSiDE by Meliá Kuala Lumpur Cheras will have a seasoned hospitality professional at the helm when it opens its doors to guests in Q4 2022.

Ms. Ada Jian, who has been working as the GM of INNSiDE by Meliá Zhengzhou for the last two years, will take on her first overseas assignment for the leading Spanish hotel group, helping them expand their presence in the popular tourist destination of Kuala Lumpur.

“Jian expertly navigated the pandemic in China at a time when the hospitality industry was hit hard,” said Ignacio Martin, Managing Director Southeast Asia at Meliá Hotels International. “Her professionalism, lifestyle profile, and ability to adapt to the changing times make her an ideal candidate for our newest INNSiDE property in Asia.”

Over the last two decades Jian has held hospitality positions throughout China, beginning with a front office role in 2001 in Hyatt Regency Xi’an China. The 39-year-old went on to spend eight years with Sofitel at various properties throughout the country including in Xi’an, Qingdao, Ningbo, and Beijing before joining Meliá Hotels International in 2014. Meliá has been expanding in China with new openings in Shanghai, Chengdu, and Chongqing since 2019.

Jian held roles at two different Meliá properties, Gran Meliá Xian and her GM position at INNSiDE by Meliá Zhengzhou, as well working for the corporate team where she was Senior Area Director of Operations Asia Pacific covering 47 hotels in the region. In this position she was actively involved in the pre-opening of nine different properties across Asia.

The new 238-room INNSiDE by Meliá Kuala Lumpur Cheras will be the first INNSiDE hotel to open in Malaysia and the third to open in Southeast Asia. INNSiDE is tailored to savvy, modern “bleisure” travelers who blend work and play and are looking for centrally-located accommodation that embraces the local culture.

About Meliá Hotels International

Founded in 1956 in Mallorca (Spain), Meliá Hotels International operates more than 380 hotels (portfolio and pipeline) throughout more than 40 countries, under the brands Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts, Paradisus by Meliá, ME by Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts, The Meliá Collection, INNSiDE by Meliá and Sol by Meliá, plus a wide portfolio of affiliated hotels under the “Affiliated by Meliá” network. The Group is one of the leading companies in resort hotels worldwide, while also leveraging its experience to consolidate the growing segment of the leisure-inspired urban market. Its commitment to responsible tourism has led the Group to become the most sustainable hotel company in Spain and Europe, according to the last S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2022 (Silver Class distinction). It also has ranked seventh in the Wall Street Journal’s list of the 100 most sustainably managed companies in the world (and the leading travel company) and is the only Spanish travel company included in the list of “Europe’s Climate Leaders 2021” by Financial Times. Meliá Hotels International is also included in the IBEX 35 Spanish stock market. For more information, visit www.meliahotelsinternational.com

About Meliá Hotels & Resorts

Meliá Hotels & Resorts is the most well-known brand within Meliá Hotels International; it has more than 100 city and resort hotels in the main leisure and business destinations of Europe, Asia, Africa and America. Meliá Hotels & Resorts instinctively understands the guests’ needs and lifestyle expectations and caters to every aspect of guests’ wellbeing. It offers exemplary meetings and events facilities in all key business cities and exotic locations, serving the ever-expanding conference and incentive travel market.

About INNSiDE by Meliá

INNSiDE by Meliá hotels are design-led lifestyle and resort hotels that give guests the freedom to relax and explore, whether they are travelling for work or leisure. The brand embraces the local culture of each destination, through its events calendar, city guides, art murals and free bicycle hire to encourage guests to discover new neighbourhoods. INNSiDE creates an environment where guests can work, workout, rest and play, catering to City Breakers, Social Explorers and Party Chasers. It offers spaces to disconnect and rest body and mind, with state-of-the-art fitness suites and the latest digital fitness software, Yoga classes and swimming pools with DJs playing poolside and in the lobby from noon to night. Guests can enjoy locally-sourced drinks and delicious dishes full of local flavour. All properties have open lobby spaces for meetings, whether social or business, as well as boasting creative meeting room spaces to keep guests inspired. INNSiDE by Meliá provides guests with flexibility and freedom when they travel, fitting seamlessly into their lifestyle. Sustainability is packed into all the little details: all rooms and suites are equipped with paper and plastic-free collateral, as well as complimentary organic cosmetics.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Independent Resort Inks Deal To Bolster Online Sales

 900 600 wttc2
By:

CAM RANH, Vietnam (October 10, 2022) – As the hotel industry strives to crawl out of the devastation wreaked by the global pandemic, an independent resort has signed up with South East Asia’s largest privately owned independent hotel management company to tap into its online distribution system.

Alma Resort on Vietnam’s Cam Ranh peninsula has joined forces with Archipelago International to deploy its “Powered by Archipelago” system that incorporates a suite of services, from booking engines to yield inventory, designed to dramatically increase online revenue.

The Powered by Archipelago distribution system harnesses a host of tools and systems to build awareness about hotels and generate online room sales, including channel manager software, rate shopping software, a rate parity checker and fixer, metasearch integrator, campaign performance analyser, geographic market penetration analyzer, Archipelago’s website, membership programs and more.

Following Alma’s connection to the system, the resort’s managing director Herbert Laubichler-Pichler says the “first signs are very promising” with the property directly benefiting from up to 20 bookings a day for an average length of two nights via Powered by Archipelago.

“I can see a very positive change in the number of bookings and in average rates,” said Laubichler-Pichler.

Archipelago International recently moved into the Vietnamese market with the launch of Archipelago Indochina in partnership with Vietnam-based asset management and hospitality consultancy firm Optimum Hospitality.

The group has signed up independent hotels in Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, Hanoi, and Ha Giang. Under its distribution and revenue management services, Archipelago Indochina connects the hotels to the Powered by Archipelago system, automating their distribution processes and connecting them to more than 3,000 partners. In addition to leveraging longstanding relationships and arrangements with OTAs (online travel agencies), Archipelago Indochina also trains and monitors the hotels’ reservations teams.

About Alma

Situated on Vietnam’s emerging Cam Ranh peninsula fronting Long Beach, Alma resort commands some 30 hectares of inspiring ground. Emblematic of Vietnam’s maturation as a destination, the bold and spacious integrated resort offers 580 oversized suites and pavilions that all afford sweeping vistas of the ocean, including contemporary three bedroom oceanfront pavilions each totalling 224sqm with a living room, four bathrooms and a private pool. Alma features a broad spectrum of restaurants helmed by top chefs, a food court with an array of local and international cuisine, as well as a sports bar, pool bar and beach bar. Other highlights include 12 swimming pools cascading down to the beach, a waterpark, 13-treatment room spa, 70-seat cinema, convention centre, amphitheater, art gallery, science museum, gymnasium and yoga room, 18-hole mini golf course, a youth centre with virtual reality games, a kid’s club, water sports centre and even an ‘Alma Mart’ mini supermarket.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

CANADIANS GIVE GERMANY THUMBS UP

 600 275 wttc2
By:

All things considered (which is to say pandemic-era travel), Germany is “quite happy” with the interest it continues to receive from the Canadian market. With over a quarter of a million overnight stays in the first seven months of this year, Canada is pacing at about 70 percent of pre-pandemic 2019 numbers, although, not surprisingly, 541 percent ahead of last year.

Moreover, Canadians rate Germany fourth on their wish list of European destinations in 2022 (behind France, Italy, and the UK), Anja Brokjans, Director, Canada for the German National Tourist Office, told media an event in Toronto Monday that included six German destination representatives.

And those who go – taking advantage of 54 weekly Air Canada/Lufthansa flights, and now year-round Condor Airlines service to Frankfurt – stay almost 10 nights on average, fully two days longer than before the global health crisis.

Almost three-quarters of those visitors were leisure travellers and 47% of those listed Germany’s cities and towns (over 10,000 of them), as a primary interest.

For its part, the GNTO continues to promote local culture (themed around Flair, Taste, Green and Craft); FeelGood (sustainability); and Nature, which can be embraced through over 130 nature parks, 300,000-plus km of hiking trails, 36,000 km of cycling routes, 130-plus nature parks, three UNESCO nature sites, and 350 or so spas and wellness facilities.

In a regional report for guests, the German partners at the event touted their hometowns/areas in eight-minute presentations that collectively painted a portrait of a country that has fully emerged from the pandemic and is ready to welcome back visitors now, and in 2023, with a host of live events, not least a full return of Christmas markets in almost every city and town across the country this winter.

Munich’s Max Berger reported that recently concluded Oktoberfest celebrations – the first in three years – went off without a hitch (and with only modestly fewer crowds) – and that the NFL will play its first game in the city on Nov. 14. In a nod to sustainability, Berger noted that two urban hiking routes have opened in the city. And the Deutsches Museum, the world’s largest science museum, re-opened in July after a seven-year renovation.

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin

In Berlin, meanwhile, Catarina Erceg advised that the former Tempelhof airport has been turned into green space and that three of the five museums on museum island have completed renovations in a massive rejuvenation project. And all things Berlin can be found in the Going Local Berlin app.

In Saxony, Dresden’s Royal Palace has new rooms open to visitors and two “Dresden Xperiences” offer artistic multi-media presentations at Dresden Zwinger and in the former fortifications under Brühl‘s Terrace.

A gem of Germany’s Romantic Road, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, is unquestionably a tourist town, said Robert Nehr, which nevertheless ought not be missed. Visitors can walk the surrounding town walls, discover charming cobbletone lanes, take a guided city walk, or visit the intriguing Museum of Torture.

The Bodensee area around Lake Constance is dubbed “1 Lake 4 Countries,” with visitors easily able to venture into Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein, and do so by water (steamer), air (Zeppelin), on foot (hiking) or bike (cycling). Highlights in the area include the island town of Lindau and Europe’s largest waterfall, Rhine Falls.

And Bayreuth is notably home to the former home of composer Richard Wagner (now a museum), but also the world’s most comprehensive beer museum (according to Guinness Book of Records), while the surrounding Franconia region boasts more than 200 breweries with over a thousand types of beer to taste.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Marriott Bonvoy Launches “Travel by Design,” a Design-focused Platform Introducing Untold Stories to At-Home Streaming

 840 561 wttc2
By:

Travel by Design

Marriott Bonvoy® – Marriott International’s extraordinary portfolio of 30 hotel brands, award-winning loyalty program, and endless experiences – today announced the launch of Travel by Design, an integrated content platform showcasing never-before-told design stories that inspired some of the world’s most extraordinary hotels. Marriott Bonvoy is collaborating with Samsung to create the first-ever exclusive branded destination within Samsung’s free, ad-supported streaming service, Samsung TV Plus. Starting November 1, 2022, Samsung TV Plus viewers can simply select a tile on the service home screen to explore the on-demand library to immerse themselves in a curated collection of travel video content.

“We are excited to launch our Travel by Design platform to introduce travelers to the design visionaries behind some of the world’s most remarkable hotels, fusing them closer to destinations and cultures for a more immersive travel experience,” said Annie Granatstein, Vice President, Content Marketing, Marriott International. “We know travelers are rethinking how they want to see the world and we are proud to be able to offer them this one-of-a-kind, at-home experience to fill their bucket lists.”

From a secluded overwater villa in the Maldives, to a reimagined royal palace in Budapest, or a trendy hotspot in downtown Los Angeles, Travel by Design brings tales of design and architecture to life from world-renowned creatives, such as Frank Gehry and Yabu Pushelberg, with articles, films, podcasts, and photography across multiple channels, including digital, editorial, and social platforms.

Travel by Design features a collection of short films showcasing four fascinating stories, where iconic destinations meet design from beloved brands like W Hotels & Resorts, The Luxury Collection, Autograph Collection Hotels, and more. The transportive visual series will be available on streaming platforms, such as Samsung and Roku as well as YouTube, and featured in hotel rooms globally on Marriott Bonvoy TV.

The Travel by Design podcast hosted by Hamish Kilburn, Editor at Hotel Designs, meets the architects, designers, and visionaries who dive deep into the craft and hear what sparked their concept, how their creative process changes throughout, and what it is like to enjoy the space as a traveler. Six audio episodes will be available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

Marriott Bonvoy members can earn points for stays at hotels and resorts across Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 extraordinary brands, including all-inclusive resorts and premium home rentals, as well as through everyday purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments™, or through partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques.

For more information on these new openings and Marriott Bonvoy, enroll in the program for free, or to book directly, visit www.MarriottBonvoy.com.

About Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy®, Marriott International’s award-winning travel program and marketplace, gives members access to transformative, eye-opening experiences around the corner and across the globe. Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 extraordinary brands offers renowned hospitality in the most memorable destinations in the world. Members can earn points for stays at hotels and resorts, including all-inclusive resorts and premium home rentals, as well as through everyday purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments, or through partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques. With the Marriott Bonvoy app, members enjoy a level of personalization and contactless experience that allows them to travel with peace of mind. To enroll for free or for more information about Marriott Bonvoy, visit www.MarriottBonvoy.com. Download the Marriott app. Travelers can also connect with Marriott Bonvoy on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Media Contact
Shannon Bodo
Manager, Global Communications, Portfolio Marketing
Marriott International
Shannon.Bodo@Marriott.com

Read original article at Marriott Hotels

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News