Category: News

  • News: Windows 8 app from Hotels.com launches

    Hotels.com has launched two new apps for Windows 8, an iteration of its highly successful app specifically designed for mobile and another built specifically for Windows 8 tablet.

    The new apps enable customers using Windows 8 on-the-visit easily and quickly research, search and book hotel accommodation, in addition to review reservations, read customer reviews and look for specific mobile only deals.

    Alongside this, Hotels.com customers may also pin a page to their homepage at any point within the App, if it is a particular hotel or their upcoming reservation, this then permits them to have instant access to that information

    The Windows 8 launch is the newest in what was a hectic period of shopper focused innovations for the Hotels.com mobile team.

    The launch of the iOS and Android mobile apps in May 2011 marked the beginning of a period of rapid mobile growth for the emblem.

    This was followed by the iPad launch in September 2011 and Windows 7 in April 2012.

    To date the Hotels.com app was downloaded 15 million times globally and represents a major and growing portion of the business.

    Scott Booker, president, Hotels.com, commented: “We are more than happy to have launched the Windows 8 Apps into the marketplace for our users.

    “Our team has worked tirelessly to construct apps which are tailored to the purposes of our customers and people using this operating system.

    “We have had a totally clear strategy, in the course of the evolution of our mobile products, to construct Apps which can be specifically designed for individual devices and operating systems.

    “We don’t think in a one size fits all method and this launch is the newest innovation on this process. Our current apps were downloaded globally by 15 million users and we’re expecting seeing the Windows 8 products contribute further to this number.”

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  • JW Marriott moves into Italy with Venice property

    Marriott has announced plans to open a luxury resort at the private island of Sacca Sessola, located within the Venetian lagoon. 

    The 266-room JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa will operate under a management agreement with an affiliate of Aareal Bank and is predicted to open in 2014. 

    Just a quick boat ride from the gorgeous city of Venice and in an unparalleled setting, the resort would be the JW Marriott brand’s first hotel in Italy and an international-class addition to its global portfolio of 59 luxury properties.

    JW Marriott is currently represented in Europe by five elegant hotels in London, Bucharest, Cannes and Ankara with the fifth joining just last year in Baku, Azerbaijan.  Each hotel seeks to provide today’s discerning traveller an authentic, crafted luxury experience reflective of its locale.

    “Introducing JW Marriott to Venice is a thrilling time for the emblem because the destination remains probably the most desirable on the planet, famous for its stunning architecture, art, and culture,” said Amy McPherson, president and managing director for Marriott International in Europe.

    “We are delighted to provide our guests the distinctly unique setting of Sacca Sessola coupled with the elegance and intuitive service synonymous with the JW Marriott brand.”

    Nestled among Sacca Sessola’s expansive private gardens and olive groves, the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa will feature 266 guest rooms and suites designed by renowned Matteo Thun & Partners of Milan, offering exceptional comfort and refined style. 

    The tranquil and personal setting will invite guests to chill and rejuvenate, and, in harmony with the brand’s emphasis on well-being, the resort will offer a gymnasium, spa, and indoor, outdoor and rooftop pools.

    The resort will even offer exceptional dining experiences in an array of restaurants and bars in addition to unique event and wedding space within the type of a beautifully restored church. 

    In addition to attracting leisure guests, the hotel is predicted to be well-liked by the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) market with over 13,000 square feet of meeting space across plenty of meeting rooms.

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  • News: Sandals launches new group offers to trade

    Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts are have announced new booking promotions and incentives for group travel. 

    Each resort offers an array of impressive facilities which are ideal for group events or meetings and with these exciting offerings there’s much more reason to book groups into the Caribbean’s leading all-inclusive resorts.

    Through the exclusive Group Promotion, groups will receive one room for free for each five rooms booked and paid for at Sandals and Beaches Resorts. 

    This offer is valid for all new bookings made between now and April 12th, for travel through to December 2015.

    Even better, this offer is supplied in any room category and is combinable with savings of as much as 35 per cent plus one free night and airfare credits.

    Plus groups will receive additional complimentary benefits including upgrades for VIPs, private cocktail receptions, gala dinners, as much as 6,000 square foot of conference space, boardrooms, and gear.

    To learn more a few Luxury Included holiday to Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts or Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts in your groups today visit the official website.

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  • News: First Hyatt branded hotel set for Spain

    Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced that a Hyatt affiliate has entered right into a management agreement with Cap Vermell Hotel Proyectos y Promociones, a Spanish real estate development company, for a brand new Park Hyatt hotel in Mallorca.

    Park Hyatt Mallorca would be the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Mallorca.

    Scheduled to open in 2015, the 142-room luxury resort hotel can be inbuilt the fashion of a standard Mallorquin hilltop village with references to local art and culture.

    While pursuing a conventional style, the hotel will employ state-of-the-art technologies and facilities which are standard across Hyatt hotels.

    Hotel amenities will include two restaurants; a lounge bar serving coffee, sandwiches and light-weight snacks; a poolside bar offering seasonal snacks; a separate beach club; greater than 13,000 square feet of meeting and event space; and a 13,000 square foot spa and fitness centre.

    “Mallorca is considered one of Europe’s most lovely areas, and we believe that Park Hyatt Mallorca will deliver an unprecedented level of luxury and unrivalled hospitality experience to guests,” said Peter Norman, senior vp, real estate and development for EAME, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts.

    “Spain is still probably the most popular tourist destinations on the earth, and Park Hyatt Mallorca will enable Hyatt to further enhance its visibility in Europe and additional pursue its approach to increase its brand presence within the region and new markets.”

    The hotel will overlook the Canyamel valley with views of the ocean and the traditional town of Artá. Adjacent to a global standard 18-hole golf course, Park Hyatt Mallorca may also be within walking distance to the historic Coves d’Artá.

    The hotel is found on the centre of a 61-acre master development, that is owned and being developed by Grupo Cap Vermell, to be able to include residential properties and one or more high-end luxury villas.

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  • Starwood relocates global headquarters to Dubai

    Starwood Hotels & Resorts has announced the start of a month-long relocation of its global headquarters from Stamford, Connecticut to Dubai. 

    From now until April 5th, Starwood president Frits van Paasschen and the company’s top executives will conduct day-to-day business from Dubai, an increasingly important global destination and travel hub. 

    Following the company’s successful relocation to China in June 2011, this second leadership move reflects Starwood’s innovative management solution to cultivating a more global culture by understanding, appreciating and leveraging different societal perspectives and approaches to business and hospitality. 

    “With 80 per cent of Starwood’s pipeline coming from rapidly growing markets, it’s simply impossible to guide a really global business from a boardroom in Connecticut,” said van Paasschen. 

    “Rising wealth and ever greater global connectivity are making a once-in-a-lifetime growth opportunity for our business – by fuelling new demand, changing travel patterns, and fully new travel markets. 

    “Dubai epitomizes this changing face of travel, and we think this relocation will deepen our relations with partners, associates and customers.

    “Just as with our one-month relocation to China in 2011, our time in-market will spark new ideas in order to fortify our position because the most global high-end hotel company.”

    During the process the relocation, greater than 200 Starwood executives and general managers from the usa, Europe, Asia and Latin America will travel to Dubai because the company runs day-to-day operations almost 7,000 miles and a nine-hour time zone far from its usual HQ outside Ny city.

    The team will meet with associates, customers, owners and prospective developers within the UAE and in addition benefit from Dubai’s location for business travel to destinations including Mumbai, Addis Ababa, Jeddah, Dushanbe and Kuwait.

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