John Attard, hospitality consultant at Alliants, explains why guest experience technology can support the ESG initiatives of all-inclusive hotels and resorts. As ESG policies are increasingly integrated into business practices, it has become commonplace to use smart technologies for managing energy, water, and food waste. Yet, how you look after your guests and how you curate their stays can have an even more significant impact on your ESG credentials.  All-inclusive hotels and resorts are often at the forefront of ESG policies. Coastal and rural settings provide the space and the means t ..read more

UK: Boutique property Grand Hotel Bellevue has opened in Paddington, London as the first UK site for Lignée Hôtels. The hotel, located near Norfolk Square in Paddington, is housed within a five-floor Victorian townhouse. It features 60 bedrooms in a range of different sizes – including the Grand Norfolk Suite which sleeps four guests – all of which offer bathroom products by Floris cosmetics, TVs with Chromecast, a minibar and more. Amenities at Grand Hotel Bellevue include the NOHrD Fitness Studio, the ground floor Pondicherry Bar and a breakfast room. Architect Fabrizio Casiraghi led the des ..read more

US: Fashion designer Dolce&Gabbana, in collaboration with developer JDS Development Group, has unveiled the design for its first real estate project in Miami. Located at 888 Brickell in Miami, Dolce&Gabbana will launch its first branded residence and condo hotel project. The condo hotel features 250 rooms and suites, a restaurant on the ground floor, two bars in the lobby, and the Dolce&Gabbana 888 Pool Club restaurant and bar. Wellbeing amenities include a double-height indoor padel court, fitness centre, golf simulator, yoga and pilates studios. The spa will include a treatment r ..read more

Netherlands: OTA Booking.com is ending its Travel Sustainable program and will replace it with the option to filter for properties with a third-party certification. Booking.com removed the Travel Sustainable badge following pressure from the Dutch competition regulator, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets [ACM]. The ACM called the Travel Sustainable programme’s scoring system as “misleading”, adding that it may “result in a distorted impression of the actual sustainability efforts of accommodations”. Additionally, the ACM noted that not all of the measures listed with the ..read more

The Netherlands: The owners of boutique hotel brand citizenM are reportedly exploring options for its portfolio, including a potential sale of the business. According to the Financial Times, citizenM is working with advisers Morgan Stanley and real estate investment bank Eastdil Secured to explore options for the brand.  Discussions are reportedly at an early stage with citizenM potentially pursuing “the sale of a minority stake”. The value of citizenM could be worth around $4 billion in a deal, said a spokesperson close to the matter.  Founded by Rattan Chadha, citizenM raised $1 bi ..read more

Worldwide: Representation company HotelREZ and travel technology provider Sabre have renewed their decade-long partnership.  HotelREZ customers can leverage Sabre Hospitality’s SynXis Platform and distribution technology to promote content  to travel agents globally. The platform enables hotels to distribute rates and inventory across more than 600 online channels. In addition, HotelREZ customers will have access to Sabre’s SynXis Booking Engine to support conversions and drive revenue. “It’s essential to deliver both exceptional technology to our hotel customers to enhance revenue g ..read more

Hong Kong: Global hotel company Langham Hospitality Group (LHG) has appointed Sean Seah as SVP – strategy, technology and innovation. Based at the company’s global headquarters in Hong Kong, Seah will report directly to CEO Bob van den Oord and will also form part of the company’s executive committee. Seah will be responsible for identifying emerging market trends and to steer the development and implementation of new technologies to capitalise on those trends. He will focus on enhancing the guest experience and streamlining operational efficiencies. Having previously worked for LHG in 2009 as ..read more

UK: Five-star independent hotel The Torridon, located in the Scottish Highlands, has promoted two staff members to its leadership team. Ross Aitchison has been appointed as general manager after 10 years at the property. Prior to joining The Torridon in 2013, he previously held operational roles at Lucknam Park and Bath Priory Hotel. Allan Paterson, the hotel’s marketing manager, has also been promoted to commercial manager. He will be responsible for overseeing marketing, revenue, sustainability, and business development and growth.  Paterson originally joined The Torridon as a graduate ..read more

Denmark: Lifestyle hotel brand 25hours is set to open its second hotel in Copenhagen on 27 July 2024. The new-build 25hours Hotel Paper Island offers 128 rooms, an Asian restaurant, a day bar and rooftop bar, and a ground floor function room for groups up to 150. It is located on an island in Copenhagen harbour which was once used as a paper warehouse. Local architects COBE planned the ensemble of buildings, whilst Swedish interior designers from Stylt Trampoli in Gothenburg worked on the hotel. Grit Rister, general manager of 25hours Hotel Paper Island, said: “With its location directly in th ..read more

Worldwide: Digital ordering platform IRIS has released a suite of new features, including a re-order and upselling functionality. IRIS has upgraded the user interface within the back-end of its app to enable operators to update menus and guest directory items more efficiently. This involves the ability to create or amend a section, category, and item in one page. Modifiers and the ability to hide or display an item, as well as the option to add more images, have also been included in the upgrade. Two new re-order and upsell features, which can include discount codes and allergen information, h ..read more