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  • Ibis launches sleep art app

    Ibis would be the first economy hotel chain to provide an entertainment app, employing sound and motion sensors to sketch and draw movements and sounds while people sleep to disclose the ‘art of sleep’.

    The Sleep Art app confirms ibis’ commitment to a cheerful sleep and embellishing experience of all sleepers. Merging digital functionality and design the app will encompass a menu screen giving guests the chance to either start generating art from the instant they fall asleep or learn more in regards to the Sleep Art project. It should also include an alarm function to wake the user up at a well-liked time, synced to the completion in their own piece of art. completed guests will then have the ability to either email their artwork or post to Facebook and share through social media.

    Commenting at the launch of Sleep Art, Thomas Dubaere Managing Director for Accor UK & Ireland says, “Since the launch of the revolutionary Sweet Bed™ by ibis last year we now have continually invested in research and new technology to ensure our guests a contented sleep and challenge and exceed the expectancies of consumers within the economy sector. The Sleep Art app will enable any member of the general public, including our guests, to interact with the ibis offer on an inventive in addition to a functional platform and position ibis as pioneers within the economy hotel sector not just as sleep experts but additionally as digital innovators.”

    Recent research revealed that 70% of guests rank a comfy bed because the single most crucial factor when choosing an economy hotel. The ibis Sleep Art app is a better phase in improving the sleep experience for all and is obtainable to download totally free from the App store now.

  • News: Choice Hotels International and Booking.com sign corporate agreement

    Choice Hotels International, Inc, among the world’s largest lodging franchisors, today announced that it has entered right into a global corporate agreement with Booking.com, a number one online travel agency (OTA), that draws over 30 million unique online visitors from both leisure and business markets worldwide.

    This agreement with Booking.com expands the reach of the decision Hotels brands to millions of shoppers in 180 countries and helps Choice Hotels develop future business relationships, especially within the international arena where Choice Hotels has a powerful presence.

    “Our guests are constantly changing the best way they shop for and book hotels. Choice Hotels is with the intention that we stay alongside of consumers and offer the greatest rates and options online to satisfy their needs. That’s why we’re extremely pleased to be working with Booking.com to further strengthen our distribution platform” said, Robert McDowell, senior vice chairman, global distribution and loyalty, Choice Hotels International. “Since Booking.com is understood for its great product, international customer base and price effectiveness as an OTA, we’re certain to see much more traffic to our franchisees hotels.”

    The agreement also provides both parties with flexible terms and selection Hotels with the chance to diversify global relationships with leading OTAs and expand its online presence to arrive new customers and continue driving record traffic to its franchise hotels. It also gives consumers who’ve Booking.com as their preferred online travel site, access to approximately 6,200 hotels worldwide the selection Hotels system.

  • News: TCA launches Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau

    The Authority has launched a brand new force to drive its business events ambitions forward because it looks for the emirate to be ranked by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) as some of the world’s top 50 association meetings destinations in five years.

    Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau – a brand new dedicated, one-stop-support-shop in the Authority – will assist the expansion of exhibitions and conferences inside the emirate by forging closer links with the industry and providing financial and non-financial support.

    The bureau will provide a number of services to the industry including bid presentation support, delegate generation campaigns, local stakeholder co-ordination and data, on-site destination advice, government support co-ordination and marketing assistance.

  • VisitBritain welcomes Hosted Buyers Marketplace

    VisitBritain has again joined forces with the eu Tour Operators Association to deliver what’s now the most important ever business-to-business tourism event promoting Britain internationally.

    The Hosted Buyers Marketplace, which gets underway today on the iconic Wembley Stadium, is an exclusive opportunity for British tourism suppliers and destinations to satisfy and do business with over 200 specially selected international buyers from some 22 countries.

    HBM gives the tourism industry even greater opportunity to succeed in key buyers through a programme of pre-scheduled and open appointments with additional networking at a gala dinner.

    The range of markets hosted by the tourist board this year includes record numbers from China, Germany and India.

    Not only is HBM 2013 a record year for international buyer attendance, nevertheless it is likewise a pioneering year for the accompanying hosted familiarisation trips.

    The sheer number of itineraries hasn’t ever before been seen, with 16 trips in total happening.

    These range from the Scottish Highlands to the southern reaches of Cornwall, with activities comparable to coasteering at the Welsh coast to forcing vintage cars at Goodwood on offer.

    All the trips are bespoke to the explicit needs of every market and are based upon VisitBritain’s extensive market research and insights.

    They are focused upon introducing new and galvanizing bookable product to the overseas trade with the target of accelerating British experiences into operator’s programmes and helping increase visitor numbers to a couple 40 million a year by 2020.

    Latest research shows that not just the 2012 Games, but additionally VisitBritain’s biggest ever campaign, have significantly increased interest in visiting the united kingdom and exploring different parts of the rustic.

    Chief Executive of VisitBritain Sandie Dawe said: “This is an excellent opportunity for British tourism businesses to sell themselves to international buyers from all our key markets.

    “Britain has enjoyed a superior image boost over the last year – millions visited us and millions more saw us on TV.

    “Our job now could be to transform that interest into visits and to get more of england into tour operators’ progammes and sold by travel agents around the globe.”

  • IHIF: Marriott introduces Moxy Hotels

    Marriott has debuted Moxy Hotels, its first entry into the economy tier, three-star hospitality segment in Europe, on the International Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin.

    Designed to capture the rapidly emerging millennial traveller, the recent brand combines contemporary stylish design, approachable service and, most significantly, a cheap price.

    The brand will debut in Italy, with the primary Moxy Hotel expected to open in Milan in early 2014.

    To grow the logo rapidly, Marriott is operating closely with Inter Hospitality who may be the initial developer and owner of the 1st Moxy Hotels properties. 

    Marriott has selected Nordic Hospitality to be its first franchisee to function the emblem. Nordic Hospitality is an experienced hotel operator that currently manages several Marriott brand hotels in Scandinavia.

    “Moxy Hotels is the essence of the following generation traveller, not just Gen X and Y but individuals with a younger sensibility, for whom contemporary style is paramount,” said Arne Sorenson, president, Marriott International.

    “Every aspect of the hotel was thoughtfully researched and crafted to mirror and deliver at the changing lifestyles and expectations of this fast-growing customer segment.

    “We believe Marriott will prepared the ground in redefining the ancient economy hotel experience throughout Europe. 

    “We are thrilled so that you can launch the emblem with Inter Hospitality as an owner and Nordic as our franchisee. 

    “With a dedicated real estate partner and an experienced operator, we predict a quick start and the phenomenal customer support it truly is linked to all of Marriott’s brands.”

    Marriott plans so as to add 150 franchised Moxy Hotels in Europe over a higher ten years, aiming for locations in Germany, Austria, Uk, Ireland, Belgium, Italy, The Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. 

    The new brand will fuel Marriott’s companywide growth inside the region, that’s expected to arrive 80,000 rooms by 2015.

    Amy McPherson, president and managing director of Marriott International in Europe, added: “We see a giant opportunity to expand our market share in Europe with Moxy Hotels.

    “The economy tier in Europe represents nearly half total room supply, yet only 20 percent of those hotels are branded. Moxy Hotels can be to take into accounta good addition to our portfolio of brands in Europe.” 

    Moxy was in development for almost two years.

    Marriott, along with Nordic Hospitality, has conducted extensive consumer research across Europe including construction of sample rooms for focus group studies.

    The contemporary and chic 150- to 300-room Moxy properties, that are being designed with the goal of accomplishing LEED Gold certification from the united states Green Building Council, will cater to today’s budget-minded, savvy travellers who thrive on self-service and embrace new technology. 

    Guestrooms would be functional and well-designed, with upscale bath amenities, large flat screen televisions and built-in USB ports located within each wall socket.

    The colour palette features calming neutral tones comparable to rich brown leather, combined with natural materials to rouse an organic, comfortable and restorative feel. Each room can even feature a floor to ceiling signature “art wall” this is hand selected to mirror the local city or surroundings.