Association announces Andrès Reyes Gjerme as chair, Nora Galfi as vice-chair, and calls on its members to nominate up-and-coming professionals to join the council, a trailblazer of initiatives focused on professional development and advocacy for young leaders.
The Vietage by Anantara today announces the introduction of a second railway carriage, which will operate a daily return journey between Nha Trang and Quy Nhon commencing its first journey on 15th May 2024.
India is becoming a top destination for luxury and ultra luxury hotel companies, driven by a surge in domestic travel and the growing affluence of the Indian middle and upper classes.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) ("Wyndham" or the "Company"), the world's largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,100 hotels spanning more than 95 countries, today announced that its Board of Directors received a letter from Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) ("Choice"), on November 14, 2023. Wyndham's Board of Directors, together with its financial and legal advisors, closely reviewed Choice's letter and determined that it represents a step backwards and that the terms Choice outlined are not in the best interests of Wyndham or its shareholders. Wyndham responded to Choice in a letter dated November 21, 2023, included below.
In recognition of World Children's Day, Marriott International announced it is working together with UNICEF to relaunch and expand its donation program "Check Out for Children." The program—which invites guests to make a voluntary donation for each night of their stay—is now live in over 500 properties across 40 countries in Marriott's Caribbean, Latin America (CALA), Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific excluding China (APEC) regions.
Following the government's declaration of relaxed anti-pandemic measures in late 2022, experts predicted that China's luxury market would revive in 2023. Despite a slow start, the market is showing optimistic signs of revival. LVMH's Asia sales, for instance, increased by 14% in the first quarter of 2023, with China accounting for almost 80% of the company's regional revenues.
Accor Pacific, Australia and New Zealand’s largest hotel operator, is thrilled to announce a significant milestone in the success of its franchise hotel operations in Australia and New Zealand. The company now partners with 120 hotels (over 10,000 rooms) across a diverse portfolio of hotels, apartments, and resorts.
Tourism has again been identified as a key driver of economic recovery and growth in a new report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). With UNWTO data pointing to a return to 95% of pre-pandemic tourist numbers by the end of the year in the best case scenario, the IMF report outlines the positive impact the sector’s rapid recovery will have on certain economies worldwide.
The July Hotels is a series of premium life-centred apartment-hotels currently based in Amsterdam, welcoming you to have “your stay, your way”. City ID’s Boat&Co and Twenty Eight will be renamed The July - Boat & Co and The July - Twenty Eight and sit in The July brand portfolio. To illustrate its difference to the other hotels on the platform, ID Aparthotel will be renamed ID Aparthotel by The July.
Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE:HGV) (“HGV” or “the Company”) today announced that that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Bluegreen Vacations (NYSE: BVH; OTCQX: BVHBB) for $75 per share in an all-cash transaction, representing total consideration of approximately $1.5 billion, inclusive of net debt. The combination will broaden HGV’s offerings, customer reach and sales locations creating a premier vacation ownership and experiences company.
WaterWalk, the nation’s most innovative flexible lodging brand, today announced the launch of its new website, marking a significant transformation in its online booking experience including an industry-first feature – the ability to instantly book unfurnished hotel rooms without traditional leasing constraints. WaterWalk is known for its unique hybrid business model in the extended-stay industry by providing both fully furnished ‘STAY’ units and ready-to-furnish, apartment-style ‘LIVE’ units that are equipped for customizable, longer-term bookings.
Mitsis Group, Greece's largest privately-owned hotel chain, is proudly launching its new brand identity, marking a significant milestone in its history. With a steadfast commitment to reinventing the travel experience, offering beyond all-inclusive services and an unwavering dedication to exceeding guest expectations, MITSIS is set to redefine modern luxury and hospitality.
S Hotels and Resorts PCL, the global hospitality company from Singha Estate PCL, has announced a major USD 27 million renovation of its resorts in Thailand and Fiji, including an investment of more than THB 500m (approx. USD 14.2m) to reimagine the design, facilities and guest experiences at its three SAii Resorts in Thailand – SAii Phi Phi Island Village, SAii Laguna Phuket, and SAii Koh Samui Choengmon – and FJD 28.5m (approx. USD 12.5m) to upgrade Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort.
Hilton (NYSE: HLT), the fastest-growing hospitality company in Asia Pacific, announced the expansion of its franchise model in Greater China into the upscale full-service segment, with the inclusion of its award-winning DoubleTree by Hilton brand. The company announced 19 new franchise projects across its Hilton Garden Inn and DoubleTree by Hilton brands, including signings and intentions to sign, spanning key cities and emerging destinations such as Beijing, Shanghai, Haikou, Nanchang, and Zhangzhou.
Accor, a world-leading hospitality group, today shared an update on its market leading position in the global extended stay, serviced apartments and private rentals segments including exciting new destinations for its Novotel Living brand. The forward-thinking extension of Novotel, one of the best-known midscale hotel brands in the world, is now operating in Singapore, Bangkok, Saigon, and Kazakhstan, with more locations soon to follow. With more than 380 extended stay hotels under 14 global brands, Accor is the world’s largest player in the category (outside the United States), with a high concentration of properties across Europe and Asia.
Preferred Hotels and Resorts, the world’s largest independent hotel brand, is pleased to announce the addition of 15 new member properties, including six brand-new openings, to its global portfolio between July 1 and September 30 this year. Ranging from a 14-room country estate in France’s renowned Cognac region to a lush, urban oasis set to debut in Singapore’s bustling Orchard Road district, each of these distinct properties will greet travelers with the inimitable welcome, thoughtful service, and memorable guest experiences that have come to represent independent luxury hospitality. Highlights include:
In this episode, John Morhous, Chief Experience Officer at Flight Centre Travel Group, and Amir Amidi, Managing Partner in Travel and Hospitality at Plug and Play, joins Tara Erwin, Communications and Public Relations Manager with GBTA. They discuss Flight Centre's digital journey, the distinction between internal and third-party innovation projects, the impact of AI on the travel industry, KPIs for measuring innovation success, and share startup success stories within Flight Centre's digital initiatives, offering valuable insights into the evolving landscape of the travel industry. Made Possible by Plug and Play.
MGM Resorts International ("MGM Resorts" or the "Company") recently disclosed that the Company identified a cybersecurity issue affecting certain of its systems and that its investigation into the issue was ongoing. On or around September 29, 2023, MGM Resorts determined that an unauthorized third party obtained personal information of some of its customers on September 11, 2023.
In the inaugural episode of "GBT-AI," a series exploring the role that AI has to play in business travel, host GBTA CMO, Kevin Fliess, GBTA's Chief Marketing Officer, brings together a panel of experts in the field of artificial intelligence and business travel. Joining the discussion are Tom Allen, CEO at AI Journal; Sam Hilgendorf, CIO at Fox World Travel; and Mat Orrego, CEO and co-founder of Cornerstone Information Systems. This episode serves as the foundation for a long-term conversation on the transformative impact of AI on the business travel industry. The panel explores the concept of generative AI and its potential to reshape various aspects of business, providing valuable insights and setting the stage for future episodes that will delve deeper into this evolving and impactful topic.
Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, a part of IHG Hotels & Resorts(IHG), is launching a groundbreaking MEETINGS WITHOUT BOUNDARIES, a concept for the Greater China market, capitalizing on the rising demand for domestic cultural tourism and “BLEISURE” travel. Leveraging the group’s advantages and expertise in experiences and destinations, MEETINGS WITHOUT BOUNDARIES satisfies the needs of the modern business traveler that seeks a quality lifestyle and cutting-edge innovation.