Favourite accommodation for U.S. travellers

WHILE traditional resorts and hotels continue to be a favorite for U.S. travelers, Expedia.com data shows a growing interest in alternative lodging options. Here are some of the fastest-growing accommodation types for 2018:

• Tentalows (cross between a tent and a bungalow) – up 135 percent year-over-year
• Chalets – up 85 percent year-over-year
• Villas – up more than 45 percent year-over-year
• Agritourism properties – up more than 40 percent year-over-year
• Houseboats – up more than 35 percent year-over-year

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241 global awards in 2018

CELEBRATING the year that was, in 2018 Banyan Tree Group were awarded 241 global award for their branding and exceptional experiences as a leading hospitality leader. 

An international operator and developer of premium resorts, hotels, residences, spas, golf and integrated resorts, Banyan Tree continues to lead the luxury travel category, having won 117 international benchmark awards including:

· Travel+Leisure US World’s Best     

  Awards 2018 Top 20 Hotel Brands in the World

· DestinAsian 13th Readers’ Choice Awards 2018 Best Hotel Brands for Leisure

· Beijing News The Best Hotel Brand 2017.

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Bio climatic architecture a new hotel for Colombia

BIO Habitat hotel is brand-new hotel in the heart of the coffee region, 40 minutes from El Edén International Airport (AXM) in Armenia, #Colombia. It is characterized by its bio-climatic architecture. 

There are 12 habitats (rooms) equipped with private bathroom, air conditioning, desk, terrace, minibar and safe. Not to forget the spa services and 15 hectares of native forest for walking and sightseeing.

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A City of Change

ONE of the world’s greatest megalopolises, Jakarta was named among the top ten fastest growing tourism cities in the world based on the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) 2017. #Jakarta has a rich, varied history, and is a city of exciting metamorphosis – with its bustling traffic, its strong affiliations to its own historical roots, and a hub of development in #Indonesia.

Now Swissôtel Hotels and Resorts is set to make its first debut in Jakarta. Opening mid of 2019, Swissôtel Jakarta PIK Avenue is located in a mixed-used lifestyle mall complex. The hotel features 412 spacious guest rooms, six dining outlets, an executive lounge, the Pürovel Spa & Sport facility as well as the city’s largest event space of 3,044 square metres that can accommodate up to 3000 guests in its ballroom.

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The Most Incredible Hotels in the World

FODOR'S Travel, the leading name in travel recommendations for over 80 years, has revived Fodor's Finest: The 100 Most Incredible Hotels in the World, its definitive list of the best hotels in the world.

Reemerging after a four-year hiatus, the exclusive list differs from other "best hotel" lists by consisting entirely of Fodor's Travel editors' and hotel writers' personal picks, and featuring a wide range of hotel properties – not only high-priced or trendy locations. Editors made a particularly special effort to consider affordability when compiling the list.

"Travelers increasingly seek unique, memorable experiences when traveling – and that includes the hotels they choose to stay in," said Jeremy Tarr, Editorial Director of Fodors.com. "The 100 properties on this list are certainly some of the best hotels in the world – but they're also some of the dreamiest, most swoon-worthy, and sometimes, most unusual this world has to offer. Ultimately, each and every one is entirely glorious and utterly memorable."

The Fodor's Finest list divides the hotels it showcases into 10 geographic categories:

The Best Hotels in the USA
The Best Hotels in Europe
The Best Hotels in Asia
The Best Hotels in the Caribbean
The Best Hotels in Mexico and Central America
The Best Hotels in South America
The Best Hotels in Africa
The Best Hotels in the Middle East
The Best Hotels in Australia and the Pacific
The Best Hotels in Canada


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New hotel brand targeting millennials

A leading Japanese hospitality company headquartered in Tokyo, has announced the launch of "Tavinos," a new hotel brand aimed at adventure-seeking millennials and like-minded travelers from around the world.

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the number of international visitors to #Japan has increased in recent years, hitting a record high in 2017. Fujita Kanko is adding this brand to their portfolio of 70+ well-established properties to target international visitors and millennials, a fast-growing, yet relatively untapped segment for the company.

With a state-of-the-art blending of design, space, and technology, the company is positioning Tavinos as a sleek hub for international visitors to meet fellow travelers, gather local information, and have fun during their travels.

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Most Excellent!

TRIPADVISOR has announced the “Most Excellent” hotel chains that have the highest percentage of TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence recipients globally. Now in its eighth year, the Certificate of Excellence is given to accommodations, as well as other travel businesses, that deliver great service and consistently achieve high traveller reviews on TripAdvisor. 

A number of hotel chains based in Asia Pacific were also recognised as the “Most Excellent” hotel chains globally. The Indian Hotels Company (Taj and Vivanta) and Shangri-La Group came in #3 and #5 respectively under the medium chains category, whereas The Oberoi Group, Aman Group, Pan Pacific Hotels Group and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts made up the top 10 in the small chains category.

Global “Most Excellent” Large Hotel Chains

1.   Preferred Hotels & Resorts  

2.   Hyatt Hotels Corporation 

3.   Hilton Worldwide Holdings 

4.   Premier Inn 

5.   Marriott International 

6.   Best Western International 

7.   Radisson Hotel Group 

8.   La Quinta Holdings 

9.   InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) 

10. Travelodge Hotels Limited (UK)

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Rare honour bestowed on Heckfield Place

THE Times of London, has proclaimed Heckfield Place as “Hotel of the Year 2018.” The accolade appeared in the October 28 edition of The Sunday Times, a rare honour for a hotel that had opened only the previous month. 

Heckfield Place is located in the county of Hampshire, an hour southwest of London and just 45 minutes from Heathrow Airport. At the heart of more than 400 acres of grounds, formal gardens, woods and active farmland, the 250-year-old mansion offers 45 rooms.

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Marriott International crosses Africa

MARRIOTT International has announced rapid expansion plans across #Africa. Strong demand for select-service brands and conversion opportunities are driving the momentum of growth for the company, amplified by five new hotel signings. 

The new signings will further consolidate Marriott International's presence in Ghana, Kenya, Morocco and South Africa and mark the company's entry into Mozambique. The signings put Marriott International on track to increase its portfolio by 50 percent with over 200 hotels and 38,000 rooms by 2023 estimated to generate 12,000 new job opportunities.


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Shangri-La in Sydney

NESTLED in the heart of the historic Rocks District, Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney features 565 elegantly appointed guestrooms and suites, award-winning restaurants, bars and CHI, The Spa, an urban oasis in the heart of the city. The luxury hotel boasts an extraordinarily beautiful view of Sydney’s international icons – Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour.

Shangri-La Hotel, #Sydney made a clean sweep of the 2018 HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence, taking home five prestigious awards in Sydney on 7 September 2018. 

1. Executive Pastry Chef Anna Polyviou taking out “Hotel Chef”,
2. Director of Engineering Anura Yapa winning “Hotel Engineer”, and
3. Engineer Service Manager Aditi Sood being awarded “Rising Star”.
4. The hotel named “Highly Commended Luxury Hotel” and
5. Guest Relations Manager Losalini Monano walking away with “Highly Recommended Front Office Associate”.

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Hotel news from around the world

ZAZZ Hotels & Resorts, the vibrant upscale brand owned by Asia Prestige Management and managed by Unicorn Hotels & Resorts, is pleased to announce it will debut in Ho Chi Minh, #Vietnam.

Scheduled to open in Q1 2019, ZAZZ Urban Ho Chi Minh Hotel is located in District 5, Saigon’s historic Chinatown. The urban oasis-themed hotel offers 40 stylish guestrooms and suites, with in-room amenities including complimentary ultra-fast wireless Internet, a new generation flat-screen TV, entertainment system plus floor-to-ceiling windows with exquisite views of Ho Chi Minh City.


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Hot in Havana

Iberostar Hotels & Resorts will open its new luxury hotel in #Havana on Monday, affording the most spectacular views of the capital. 

Overlooking the Malecón Broadwalk and the Bay of Havana, as well as the Tres Reyes del Morro Castle the Iberostar Grand Packard is set to become Iberostar’s flagship for quality and exclusivity in Cuba. 

Combining the building’s original architecture and the renovation of its 1911 façade, featuring innovative and exclusive lines, offering guests 321 rooms as well as luxury services and amenities.

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Playful Luxury

W KUALA Lumpur opens its doors in the heart of the capital, steps from the world-famous Petronas Twin Towers. Through bold, innovative design, W Kuala Lumpur immerses guests in the city's wildly lush greenery, globally renowned cuisine, centuries-old history and growing appetite for playful luxury

Kuala Lumpur is known for its fast-paced spirit which emerged from modest beginnings. Nestled between the Klang and Gombak Rivers, boasting a sunny tropical climate, flourishing jungle, soaring buildings and traditional Malaysian architecture – a meeting of old and new, nature and humankind, on every street. Kuala Lumpur is home to a multicultural mix of world-class cuisine and creativity, the perfect spot for the brand's debut in #Malaysia.

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Travellers bound for Abu Dhabi

THE latest figures from Abu Dhabi show the number of hotel guests staying in the emirate during June rose by six per cent compared to the same month a year ago.  The UK posted a 14.5 per cent increase for the month, and a 12.9 per cent increase for the first six months of 2018.

In total 339,592 visitors were guests of Abu Dhabi’s 162 hotels and hotel apartments during June, an increase of more than 19,000 over the previous year.

For the first six months of 2018, the figures show #AbuDhabi upping the total number of hotel guests to the emirate by five per cent on the year, with 2,413,230 guests in total arriving.


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Hilton expands in New Zealand

LOCATED in the beautiful rural town of Karaka, just 30 minutes south from Auckland city, the new DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka is part of the famous New Zealand Bloodstock Sales Centre; the country’s largest international thoroughbred auction venue. 

Construction of the hotel will commence by the third quarter of 2018 and is due for completion by early 2020. The hotel will feature 120 stylish guest rooms, including four spacious suites, a restaurant and bar, fully equipped gym, pool and two meeting rooms. The hotel will also have full access to Karaka Pavilion which encompasses four meeting and event spaces, accommodating events from 12 to 600 people.

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Luxury travel escape

FOUR Seasons Hotels and Resorts and NetJets, the worldwide leader in private aviation, are launching three new made-to-order packages that deliver the ultimate in personalised luxury travel. The dynamic packages combine world class Four Seasons accommodation with the freedom of flying private with NetJets.

Following the multiple-destination itineraries introduced last year by the two iconic brands, Four Seasons guests and NetJets owners can now visit Anguilla, Orlando or the Bahamas and create a uniquely customisable escape, complete with unmatched service, flexibility and access.

All three packages feature air transportation from NetJets, offering access from 5,000 airports in 170 countries around the globe, and luxury accommodations from Four Seasons. Travellers can fully customise each escape, with a menu of specialty à la carte activities for added personalisation.


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Winning Island

FOR the second year in a row, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts took home the award for “Best Hotel Chain in Hawaii” at the 2018 TravelAge West WAVE Awards, held at The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Ray on June 14. Outrigger also picked up the accolade of “Best Hotel Brand for Families in Hawaii.”

The State of #Hawaii was also a winner – garnering the top spot for “Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, USA” against New Orleans, Alaska, Las Vegas and New York City. Plus, Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) was honored as the “U.S. Tourism Board Providing the Best Travel Agent Support” – beating out Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, NYC & Company, Inc., and New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau.

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Micro stay?

MICRO-hotel pioneer The Pod Hotels has announced that its 45 "Pod Pads" are now available to book. The micro-apartments are located on the top floors of Pod Times Square, the brand's new flagship property located on the corner of 42nd street and 9th Avenue. 

The Pod Hotels' Pod Pads are living suites varying from 600-800 square feet, designed for those interested in extended-stay options

Pod Times Square is the fifth asset in the Pod Hotel collection following the great success of Pod 51 and Pod 39; Pod BK, the first property in an outer-borough; and Pod DC, the first property outside of New York City.

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Recreation on the water

AS the first recreational harbor in Ventura County, Channel Islands Harbor has become one of the largest in #California. It now includes over 300 acres of land and water, but the initial development included only a small portion of the current harbor area.

Development of the harbor has been largely accomplished through leases with private developers, who have constructed eight marinas (not including the three constructed by the County) comprising over 2200 boat slips, two hotels, two yacht club buildings, two boat yards, three shopping areas, restaurants, a Maritime Museum, over 100 condominiums and 485 apartments. In addition, public agencies have provided parks, restrooms, the public launch ramp and parking for the public. 

www.channelislandsharbor.org

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London's most prestigious address

MANDARIN Oriental Hyde Park, #London has completed the most extensive restoration in its 115-year history, designed to confirm this historic hotel’s position as one of the best in the world. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is London’s most prestigious address. 

Only to be hit by a fire that took hold of several floors of the hotel. All guests were accounted for but it is obviously a big blow following the recent multi million pound renovation.

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Picture Credit: wikipedia.org