World News | forimmediaterelease.net

... press releases & Breaking World News

Centara and Al Bandary Sign Agreement for Two More Doha Hotels

by

Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hospitality group, signed a hotel management agreement for two new hotels owned by Al Bandary Hotel Management LLC.

The agreement represents the third and fourth Doha properties Centara will manage on behalf of Al Bandary, which also owns Centara West Bay Residences & Suites Doha, an upper upscale property that opened earlier this year and recently earned a 5-star official classification from the Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC); and the previously signed Centara Grand Hotel Doha scheduled for opening in 2020.


eTN Chatroom for Readers (join us)

The B Premiere Hotel, a member of the Centara Boutique Collection, is a new 85-key boutique property located on Al Rawabi Street, within ten minutes’ drive from many of the city’s popular attractions, shopping malls and event venues, and 20 minutes by car from Hamad International Airport. The hotel is expected to open by the end of 2019.

The 167-key Centara Al Bustan Hotel Doha is currently under construction and is expected to open in the second quarter of 2021.

“We are very excited to be expanding our partnership with Al Bandary with our second and third Doha properties, following the successful launch of Centara West Bay Residences & Suites earlier this year. Doha is a key gateway city to the world and a strategic development destination for Centara, and the management and team at Al Bandary Hotel Management LLC are the perfect partners with whom to realize our growth plans in Qatar,” said Thirayuth Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer of Centara Hotels & Resorts.

Mr. Ahmad Al Rayyan, Group General Manager of Al Bandary Management LLC, the hotel’s owner, commented, “We are delighted to be working with Centara for these exciting new projects. Their successful opening of the first Doha property is a testament to their expertise and professionalism, and we are looking forward to a successful collaboration on these new properties in the months and years ahead.”

The B Premiere Hotel will feature four room categories: City View, City View Suite King, Boutique Suite King, and Premiere Suite King. City View rooms range from 32–38 sqm, while suite accommodation measures 50–60 sqm. Every guestroom features a separate bathtub and rain shower.

The hotel’s dining venues will include Zing café on the lobby level; Celeste Bistro, offering all-day dining; and Sheesh Lebanese Grill, the hotel’s signature rooftop restaurant. The hotel will be equipped with a Cenfit fitness center; swimming pool with Jacuzzi; separate male and female spas with steam rooms and saunas; flexible meeting room space; and a Cense by Cenvaree spa.

GOT NEWS? click here

possible to reach millions worldwide
Google News, Bing News, Yahoo News, 200+ publications

Qatar’s strategic location at the crossroads of Asia, Europe and Africa has helped it become one of the world’s most prosperous economies, and one which continues to see robust growth and development — including a sustained upward trend in tourism and visitor arrivals, helped by easier visa requirements and a diverse calendar of visitor-friendly events and festivals.

Doha’s combination of the dynamic business environment, vast cultural attractions and recreational opportunities make it a highly attractive destination for business and leisure travelers as well as a popular host city for meetings, conventions and events — including the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

These newest additions to the company’s portfolio of properties takes Centara’s count of hotels in Doha to four, with a luxurious hotel also owned by Al Bandary Hotel Management LLC under the Centara Grand brand set to open in the first half of 2020.

For further information, please visit www.centarahotelsresorts.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: Pornchanok Thongrungrot (Pao), Corporate Public Relations Manager – International, Centara Hotels & Resorts, Tel. +66 (0)2769 1234 Ext. 6733, Email: pr.centara@chr.co.th

lobby and reception area the b premier hotel
rooftop bar restaurant the b premier hotel

Hotel Zetta Amplifies Tech-Forward Guest Experiences with Elevated In-Room Service

by

San Francisco’s most innovative hotel adds Volara-powered Alexa technology in every guestroom and Atari Pong® Table to its Zetta Suite

Hotel Zetta, a hotel managed by Viceroy Hotels & Resorts and owned by Pebblebrook Hotel Trust boasting ultra-modern guest rooms, innovative health and wellness programming, and cutting-edge tech experiences in the heart of San Francisco’s bustling SoMa district, is pleased to announce new tech-forward guest amenities that adds a new level of innovative in-room offerings and services.  As the most tech-friendly hotel in San Francisco, Hotel Zetta now gives travelers an intuitive way to engage with the hotel directly with newly installed Amazon Alexa voice assistants powered by Volara, the only provider of custom voice-based solutions for the hospitality industry, in all of the property’s tech-forward and design-forward guestrooms along with adding a retro-inspired Atari Pong® Table to its Zetta Suite.

“Hotel Zetta continues to be at the forefront of delivering the latest technological offerings and experiences to our savvy travelers who expect a high caliber of service every time they visit,” said Mark Beevor, Hotel Zetta’s general manager.  “Being in the heart of an innovation hub like San Francisco, we’re proud to now offer Volara-powered Alexa, as well as a robust selection of tech-centric amenities that can’t be found elsewhere in the city.”

With Volara now an integral part of the hotel experience, guests can speak commands to Amazon Alexa to order Hotel Zetta’s services directly from the comfort of their guestrooms.  This offering gives visitors full control of their in-room experiences, whether its ordering a toothbrush, setting up a wake-up alarm, syncing their music playlists through Alexa, finding out the dining specials at The Cavalier restaurant or trying the Relax & Rejuvenate in-room spa treatment.  These quick on-command services are designed to make the guest experience as smooth as possible and is facilitated by Volara’s secure integration hub, which interfaces with the ALICE Hotel Operations Platform and MCOMS Guest Room Entertainment Platform at Hotel Zetta.

The recently-installed Atari Pong® Table in the Zetta Suite is equipped with games loaded with retro sound effects, bouncing lights and the original game mechanics.  The table blends the high-tech mechanical engineering of today with the beloved game from the ‘80s.  Atari Pong® Table features the classic PONG® game, a Bluetooth speaker so players can customize their PONG tournament experience with custom soundtracks, a LED clock display and USB charging.  The control panels on the table can also be hidden so it can be enjoyed as a retro coffee table.

Other tech-centric amenities include a virtual reality booth located in the hotel lobby featuring action, underwater or adventure games, OCULUS GO virtual reality headsets and Nintendo Switch portable gaming consoles available to all guests for complimentary use. Additionally, the Playroom now features pinball machines, a shuffleboard and neon artwork.  Each guestroom also features broadband Wi-Fi to help our guests always stay connected, the most up-to-date streaming platforms such as Netflix so guests can watch their favorite content on the TVs while traveling, and convenient in-room wireless charging capabilities.

For more information, please visit hotelzzetta.com or @HotelZetta on Instagram and on Facebook.

About Hotel Zetta

Located at the iconic convergence of San Francisco’s Union Square, SoMa and Financial Districts, Hotel Zetta is perfectly situated to experience the best of San Francisco’s fashion, arts, technology and music. Originally built in 1913 and reopened on its 100th anniversary, this 116-room property effortlessly combines state-of-the art amenities with intuitive service. With 2,760 square feet of meeting and event space, and Playroom, Hotel Zetta is the go-to hotspot for San Francisco’s leading-edge cultural and business communities. Hotel Zetta is a member of the Viceroy Hotel Group family and is located at 55 5th Street in San Francisco, California.

About Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE: PEB) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (“REIT”) and the largest owner of urban and resort lifestyle hotels in the United States.  The Company owns 59 hotels, totaling approximately 14,300 guest rooms across 16 urban and resort markets with a focus on the west coast gateway cities. Pebblebrook also owns The Unofficial Z Collection, which  includes other innovative hotels in San Francisco, including Hotel Zeppelin, Hotel Zelos, Hotel Zephyr, Hotel Zoe and The Hotel Zags in downtown Portland. For more information, visit pebblebrookhotels.com and follow us at @PebblebrookPEB.

Media contacts: Laura Gigounas, Morgan Moore, Angela Wong and Kate Bewak at Glodow Nead Communications, 415-394-6500 or HotelZettaPR@glodownead.com.

IMEX America: Live tattooing and laughter yoga, hotels and hot spots

by

New partnerships and collaborations, venue transformations, CEO announcements, investment patterns, new research studies and, of course, the tick tock of tech! It’s all here, at IMEX America, not forgetting hot issues such as diversity and inclusion, imagination and the ‘E’ word, EXPERIENCE!

HOTELS: Higueron Hotel Malaga; Loews Hotels; London Marriott Park Lane and Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood all have big updates.

CITIES: London’s Southbank Centre, the UK’s largest arts centre, exhibits for the first time; Kensington Palace has big news for Queen Victoria fans; Gothenburg, ‘the most sustainable destination’, is another first-timer.

NEW EXHIBITORS: Meet Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau, Leonardo Hotels, The Hoxton, Destination Cleveland and Los Cabos Tourism Board and dozens more.

NEW CONFERENCE: Gender equality and diversity are explored in She Means Business, a joint event by IMEX and tw magazine, supported by MPI, celebrating the role of women in business and events.

IMAGINATION IN EVENTS: We’ll be launching our annual research report, produced by EventMB.com, based on this year’s Talking Point, Imagination.

MORE NEWS: Look out for our new Sustainability Village, with EIC; new Discovery Zone; live tattooing (New Zealand booth) and Laughter Yoga.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Emma Blake (UK): emma.blake@imexexhibitions.com ; Norman Birnbach (US): norman.birnbach@imexexhibitions.com      

New electric cargo Moke at WTM London 2019

by

Moke International is launching its new hotel-and-resort-friendly electric vehicle at this year’s WTM London – the event where ideas arrive.

The iconic jeep-like vehicle has been around since the 1960s. The Mini Moke appeared regularly as the village taxi in cult sci-fi series The Prisoner, featured in a number of James Bond movies and famous early owners include George Harrison from The Beatles and actress turned animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot.

Robin Kennedy, commercial director for Moke International, explained that the current vehicles are based on the classic design but are upgraded with modern materials and manufacturing techniques, opening up new possibilities. “We’re now re-engineering it as a utility vehicle for luxury hotels,” he said.

The vehicles are engineered in the UK and assembled in France. Around 1,000 will be produced over the next year.

The new Cargo Mokes can be used at hotels, resorts and golf courses to transport guests and equipment around the grounds. They are already a familiar sight on numerous Caribbean and Indian Ocean islands and are increasingly visible around Asia and Central America.

He explained that Mokes will shortly be available in Europe, with the electric version likely to receive the regulatory approvals needed to launch a new car in the EU.

It is also launching a new electric “cargo” version of the Moke, which will be seen for the first time at WTM London.

Its presence at WTM London will, Kennedy says, give it access to potential customers in the hotel and resorts sector. “Large hotels and resorts need to be able to shuttle guests around their grounds and beyond. For our hotel customers, Mokes can be customized to give a branded experience.”

The vehicles can also be configured so they can operate either as a four-seater to carry guests or pick-up truck style for luggage and equipment.

“Hotels can also use Mokes to improve operations by getting staff and equipment around more quickly and efficiently, and with the new electric vehicle, in an environmentally-friendly way as well.”

But with such a strong legacy, Mokes are more than just an efficient utility vehicle, “they are as a way for hotels to differentiate, to offer something a bit more engaging and special.”

Kennedy is also hoping to talk to car hire companies. “In various countries, Mokes are licensed to go on public roads and we’ve always worked closely with car rental firms in holiday destinations.

Hotels have the option of accessing Mokes through car hire companies or local distributors. “This option means that servicing and maintenance can be taken care of, which is an option for smaller and boutique resorts,” he added.

Vacation rental properties, destination management companies and tours and activities providers exhibiting or visiting WTM London are also invited to Moke International’s stand in the International Hub area to talk about Moke’s inspiring new thinking around possible use cases.

“We’re excited to be exhibiting at WTM London,” Kennedy said. “because the new electric Moke and new cargo version will be of interest to a global audience and that’s what WTM can deliver.”

Simon Press Exhibition Director WTM London added: “Mokes allow hotels and resorts to move staff guests and equipment around efficiently and safely, so the demand is there. It is an instantly recognisable vehicle and we expect it will also inject a bit of retro cool into the event.”

About World Travel Market & WTM London:

World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises seven leading B2B events across four continents, generating more than $7 billion of industry deals. WTM London, the leading global event for the travel industry, is the must-attend three-day exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry. About 50,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international media visit ExCeL London every November, generating about £3.4 billion in travel industry contracts. Next event: Monday 4 – Wednesday 6 November 2019 – London #IdeasArriveHere

Media Contacts:

Julia Newbound – WTM Portfolio Press & PR Lead

E: julia.newbound@reedexpo.co.uk

T: +44 (0)20 8910 7056 / M: +44 (0)7775 036 858

Nicole Smart – WTM Portfolio PR & Events Assistant

E: nicole.smart@reedexpo.co.uk

T: +44 (0)20 8910 7032/ M: +44 (0)79 1955 5510

Turin, the Piedmont region and its gastronomy: The pinnacle of tours proposed for summer 2019 & 2020

by

AG Boutique Journey, the DMC  & Tour Operator of AG Group, the first Tourist Group in Italy in a position to satisfy in-house all forms of demand.  (DMC/Tour Operator & Event Management, its own Boutique Hotel chain and Consultants for independent Hotels’ Marketing & Yield Management, A selection of fine Bistro Restaurants and novice their private Retirement Homes for the elderly). All of these founded and Directed by Andrea Girolami who has more than twenty-years of experience in all levels of Incoming tourism. From leisure to corporate to MICE – Meetings Incentives Conferences & Events and with a department dedicated solely to the Elite luxury Sector. Today they are at the forefront and offering only the best solutions to International Tourists who wish to spend their summer vacation in Italy, which is also known as the Bel Paese.

With a great foresight and awareness of the times and even well before even CNN made their conclusions, AG Boutique Journey had already presented specific tours and products to visit Turin and the Piedmont region in their 2019 catalogue.  An area which is listed as the Royal capital in the USA’s Top 20 list for alternate destinations for travelers visiting from North America.

CNN recommendations

Over the past few days, the well-known TV news network put together their own specific list and recommended  the twenty most beautiful European cities worth visiting, and they are less known and some are off the beaten track. Turin in particular is seen as an alternative to Venice since «it is less congested». The capital of Piedmont is also the city where some of the most underestimated places in Italy are found, including the Contemporary Art museum at the Rivoli Castle, the Basilica of Superga and the Egyptian Museum, with its magnificent collection of “Egyptian artefacts.” CNN concludes that in addition to the Artistic beauty found here, Turin also offers the opportunity to sample possibly the best Italian cuisine in the country.

Piedmont a region of beauty, art and food and wine

AG Boutique Journey offers two distinct tours based solely in the region of Piedmont. There is a five-nights / six-days trip and a more deep and complex itinerary with eight-nights / nine-days trip.

Places are dreamlike and for those Italophiles who already know Italy well, one can only imagine what they are.  The Langhe hills of the Barolo vineyards, the medieval city of Asti, the beautiful Grinzane Cavour castle, named in honor of Camillo Benso, the Count of Cavour and author of the Italian Risorgimento.  The city of Vercelli with its imposing Roman ruins, the fabulous views over  Monferrato, one of the most important wine areas in Italy.  Acqui Terme with its baths dating back to the Roman times.  Then of course the city of Turin, the first capital of a united Italy (1861-1865), with its National Cinema Museum in the towering Mass Antonelliana, and the Duomo Cathedral that houses the sacred Shroud believed to belong to Jesus Christ.

The tour includes gourmet meals and tasting and is accompanied along the way with Barolo and Barbaresco wines, the famous Langhe goats cheeses.  Once these in particular Montébore, one of the local delicacies since the 15th century, as well as the soft creamy Robiola cheese from Murazzano).

Visit the website.

AG Group – Your gateway to Italy is the first tourist group in Italy capable of satisfying all services in-house,  from the DMC / Tour Operator & Event Management to the Hotel Consulting, their very own Hotel collection,  the Restaurants and the Retirement homes.

Founded and directed by Andrea Girolami, an entrepreneur with over twenty years of experience in tourism and in hospitality, includes:

  • AG Hotels, five 4 star hotels in the center of Rome, with a sixth opening in September and shortly after his first 5 star Hotel to open in Florence.
  • AG Boutique Journey, Established Tour Operator, DMC, Event Organizer & Wedding planner with an important sector specializing in Luxury Travel.
  • AG Hotel Consulting, Hotel Revenue and Yield Management Advisors to a selection of luxury and boutique 4 & 5 star hotels, contributing to a content of already 30 hotels within central Italy.
  • AG Foodies, Bistros in Rome and Rooftop Terraces in two of the AG Hotels with more new openings soon in Florence for Diana’s Place Bistro and an exquisite Rooftop Terrace. All Gourmet menus are creatively managed and directed by the well-known Michelin star chef Andrea Fusco.
  • AG Domus Nova, the novelty to the company sees the opening of a collection of important Retirement Homes, in response to the demand for quality hospitality for the third age and where the project is already underway and operative in Central Italy.

Media Contact:

Stefano Ferri

Mob. 349 5506421

stefanoferri@aggroupitaly.it