TODAY: China's Greater Bay Area to welcome billion dollar investments for commercial and entertainment destination, Accorhotels to open the first Raffles in North America and How Blockchain Could Disrupt Hotel Distribution And Loyalty.

China's Greater Bay Area to welcome billion dollar investments for commercial and entertainment destination
Tuesday, 8th May 2018

Hong Kong conglomerate to build 3.77 million-square-foot, mixed-use complex, highlighting commerce and 'experience-based entertainment', for residents and international visitors.

Upon completion the development will be the largest entertainment, dining and retail landmark of its kind in Hong Kong. With its connectivity to HKIA as well as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, SKYCITY is expected to serve as a commercial-retail-entertainment hub for locals and visitors from the Greater Bay Area, and abroad >>

Accorhotels to open the first Raffles in North America
8 May 2018 : Raffles Hotels & Resorts in partnership with hoteliers Gary and Jeffrey Saunders of Saunders Hotel Group and developer Jordan Warshaw of The Noannet Group of Boston, announced the signing of definitive agreements to debut the first mixed-use Raffles property in North America >>

Melia anounces hotel in Dubai and Marrakesh
8 May 2018 : Meliá Hotels International has announced, during the main tourism fair of the Arab market (the ATM of Dubai), two new hotels that will open throughout this year in the United Arab Emirates and Morocco >>

China Eastern and Shanghai Disney launch themed plane
8 May 2018 : Now flying to infinity and beyond (between Beijing and Shanghai, really) is China Eastern’s Toy Story-themed passenger aircraft, launched to coincide with the new Toy Story Land, opened at the end of April at Shanghai Disney Resort >>

Mandarin Oriental plans Muscat
7 May 2018 : Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced that it will manage a new resort and branded residences in Muscat, the capital of Oman, which is expected to open in 2021 >>

HIGHLIGHT ARTICLE

How Blockchain Could Disrupt Hotel Distribution And Loyalty
Tuesday, 8th May 2018

The interest in blockchain that seemed to burst on to the scene last year has continued in 2018. LockChain launched in January as perhaps the first blockchain-based marketplace for hotels and private accommodations. Singapore Airlines, TUI Group, citizenM Hotels and JetBlue are all experimenting with blockchain-based platforms.

So far, some high-level benefits of such platforms have emerged as near- to medium-term goals in hospitality, including more efficient handling of payments, traveler verification and greater interoperability of loyalty programs. For example, blockchain could be used to authenticate “known travelers” for travel screening and security, as Canada and the Netherlands are currently testing >>

Designing the Perfect Hotel Room
Possibly the biggest gamechanger in the hotel rooms market in the last 10 years has been the arrival of Airbnb. It’s given both business travellers and leisure travellers so much more choice and of course with increased choice comes increased competition.

When designing a room, don’t compromise on anything. Think long and hard about the design – from everything from where the plug sockets are situated (including voltage and USB ports), to lighting, exterior sound and the textiles you use >>