AS YOU TRAVEL this holiday season, bouncing from airport to airplane to hotel, you'll likely find yourself facing a familiar quandary: Do I really trust this random public Wi-Fi network? As recently as a couple of years ago, the answer was almost certainly a resounding no. But in the year of our lord 2018? Friend, go for it.
Running a hotel is very much like running a big family. Every day there will be something new. Perhaps today the internet is down, tomorrow you're awarded some prestigious award, next week an unexpected family member is arriving where the hotel is full, or one day the police are at the door to speak to one of the family members.
A crop of innkeepers are increasing the cool factor of once-stuffy bed and breakfasts to compete against Airbnb.
Fattal Group, Israel's biggest hotel chain, has apparently given up the battle against Airbnb and decided to join it. The move, which was first reported by Yediot Aharonot daily, quickly elicited an angry reaction from many in the hotel industry.
For some people, travelling includes the activities of touring, relaxing by the beach or hotel pool and eating to their heart's content, but for others, travelling includes getting their heart racing and adrenaline pumping through their veins.
The annual value of total spending on travel and tourism by lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT) people is being revealed today by LGBT consulting specialists Out Now at WTM London.
When traveling away from home, whether for work or a holiday, the thought of staying in hotels with identical styles can be a bore, and it might decrease your hopes of having a good holiday.
ust when you thought you knew everything about traveling, something else comes onto the scene. Your favorite travel influencers are in a city you barely recognize, or a new app comes out that helps you score flights at a decent price. (It's an entire industry within itself, and one that's hard to keep track of a majority of the time.) Girl, I'm right there with you — scrolling through social media, trying to find the must-see spots around the world and some sweet accommodations. Let me tell you something that you likely don't know: Life House Hotels' social network is made for the millennial traveler, like me or you. Don't sleep on this one (well, until you hit the hay at the hotel), because it's another game-changer.
The craft sector of the hospitality industry is more politically active than ever before. This is a risk for both individuals as well as establishments because it runs the risk of alienating a large segment of their clientele. Still, fundraisers in the form of nights of charity or percentage of a particular drinks sales in the name of party affiliation or issues are becoming much more common. I am a partner in a venture called Coup that donates 100% of its profits to causes like Planned Parenthood and immigration services. Recently we threw a fundraiser for Texas senate candidate Beto O'Rourke in New York City. We're really trying to impress upon people that it's great to get involved in local politics, but it's also value and importance to pay attention to national politics.I'm not sure that my quest is entirely political in nature. Rather, I'm seeking to make the world I live in more hospitable. I've dedicated my entire career to the hospitality industry. As a young boy working at my dad's bar I'd lug cases of beer up from the cellar for coins to immediately plug into the stand-up arcade games we had. Missile Command and Asteroids were always my favorites. Plus, in retrospect, what a great deal it was for my dad, right?
I'm no technophobe, but having stayed in two five-star hotels in Abu Dhabi in the past month, I'm sorry to report that my previously long list of hotel hates has only grown longer and more detailed. As technology becomes more ambitious and ubiquitous, so do the pitfalls, and there's nothing like a new or "upgraded" hotel to make you feel like you're at best part of the testing process, and at worst a hapless victim in a game of random persecution.
Hotels are no strangers to housing some incredible pieces of artwork. Some, such as 21c Hotels and the Hamilton Princess in Bermuda, have works by famous artists lining the walls. But, other properties are looking to stand out in both the art and hospitality by decorating with something even more unique: museum-quality artifacts.
Old Gagra Resort Community
It's safe to assume that, as a traveler, you have your pre-trip routine down to a science. Perhaps you Google Image your upcoming destination before bed every night, daydreaming about the moment when you'll finally be able to swim in those turquoise-blue waters. Or maybe you buy a bunch of novels that take place in your travel spot of choice, just to get in the mood. Or, if you're anything like us, you go down a deep Instagram rabbit hole, cruising through your hotel's geotag and creeping on random previous guests' photos for hours on end.
Millennials have been a hot topic of discussion over the pass few years within the travel industry. Also know as Gen Y, this particular subset of the population has been heavily exposed to various forms of digital technology, consuming information differently and valuing different attributes than their predecessors both in their professional and personal lives. When it comes to travel, the general consensus is that this particular generation prefers the more experiential side of things — unique adventures, hotels with personality and a sense of place, a focus on what's local, and value for money. But just how much do millennials value travel?
Hilton this week announced it will develop a new lodging brand called Motto by Hilton that it describes as a "micro-hotel with an urban vibe." It said the new properties will have guest accommodations with an average size of 163 square feet (which is actually rather large compared to some "capsule" hotels) and will offer "prime locations...in the heart of the city and in the most popular neighborhoods." Room rates will vary by market, Hilton said, but will be "competitive" and will make the Motto brand "a viable option for travelers who typically stay with friends or family or seek out temporary housing options when traveling to urban markets."
The first one is being developed for a 2020 opening in the Marylebone district in London's West End (which the Wall Street Journal recently called "one of London's hottest neighborhoods"), and other Motto locations are planned for San Diego, Boston, Washington D.C., Savannah, Dublin and Lima, the company said. (San Francisco could use one, too!)
The Motto properties will save space in the rooms by using things like wall beds (i.e., fold-down or "Murphy" beds), loft beds, "segmented shower and toilet stalls" and "multi-functional furniture" that can be stored away when not in use, Hilton said, and guests will be able to control the room's temperature, lights, TV and so on from the Hilton Honors app (and the Motto properties will be part of the Honors program). Guests traveling in small groups will be able to book multiple connecting rooms, the company noted.
In Great Britain, the Whitbread conglomerate - which used to operate breweries and pubs but now concentrates on hotels and coffee shops - is rolling out a new option for its Premier Inn group (with 785 hotels in the U.K.). It's called hub by Premier Inn (with a lower case "h") that carries the motto "all the comfort, half the size." It already has several locations in London and a few more in Edinburgh, with rates starting at $88 a night in the former city and $62 in the latter.
Standard rooms run about 123 square feet, and are equipped with a double bed, 40-iinch smart TV, free "superfast" Wi-Fi and a pull-out desk. As one guest at the hub by Premier Inn at Tower Bridge commented on TripAdvisor, "It's basically a double bed against the wall with bathroom behind and a walkway."
New York City is home to some of the most legendary hotels in the world. Highly touted for their service, luxury and elegance, many of them also have a rich history that adds to the experience of staying there.
Considering today's tiring life, people are keener on escaping the reality once in a while to enjoy the freshness associated with travel. Indian tourism and hospitality industry has been bustling with opportunities. The nation's rich cultural heritage and natural diversity not only attract thousands of foreign tourists to the country but also exert a pull on the budding entrepreneurs to explore the field.
What would you do with eight and a half square metres?
The number of hotel overnight stays by foreign tourists in September declined from last year, the Israel Hotel Association reported. The trade group coupled the release of the figures with a complaint about unregulated competition from private rentals through online services such as Airbnb.