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Art Gallery or Hotel? Hotel Oriental Express in Tokyo Ginza

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Hotel Oriental Express in Tokyo Ginza is scheduled to open on July 26, 2019.

The concept of Hotel Oriental Express Tokyo Ginza is the “Art Gallery Hotel” where guests can experience an extraordinary stay in the whimsical atmosphere of Ginza artworks generated in collaboration with art galleries in Ginza. The hotel also aims to play a role for Japan based young talented artists to express their artworks to guests from all over the world.

The lobby and rooms, which are themed in white with an accent of silver or in Japanese, “Gin” for “Ginza,” are decorated with carefully selected wall art which express the four seasons of Japan. The lobby doubles as a gallery space, featuring beautiful artworks from partnered galleries in Ginza. Hotel guests can purchase their favorite artworks on the spot.

Experience the town of art Ginza

The lobby and rooms, which are themed in white with an accent of silver or in Japanese, “Gin” for “Ginza,” are decorated with carefully selected wall art which express the four seasons of Japan. The lobby doubles as a gallery space, featuring beautiful artworks from partnered galleries in Ginza. Hotel guests can purchase their favorite artworks on the spot.

  • Wall art designTop left: Wisteria in full bloom in early summer, gently blowing in the breezeTop right: Goldfish scooping at a summer festival; Fireworks reflecting on the water surface Bottom left: Melting snow ice, awaiting spring
  • Examples of wall art design in partnership with Nada Art Gallery
  • Wall Art Artist: Ms. Maya Ogata

Ms. Maya Ogata began her art career with a graphic design company after graduating from university. While working for this company, Ms. Ogata  was actively engaged in numerous solo and group exhibitions as a wall art artist. Ms. Ogata has painted walls of guest houses, stores, and event spaces as well as presented her art in live performances nationwide.

Revive Your Senses

Breakfast: On a daily basis, the breakfast buffet offers five types of seasonal soups. The hotel’s chef recommends this simple but nutritious breakfast to revive your senses and to start your day. The soups can also be made to go, so guests can enjoy their breakfast at their convenience.

Cafe: During the daytime, the restaurant area is exclusively open to all hotel guests to be used at their leisure. Guests can freely relax and enjoy their time surrounded by artworks, with a drink of their choice from the hotel’s selection of coffee, herbal tea, green tea etc.

Enhance your sensitivity

Music: All guest rooms are equipped with a Bluetooth speaker and embellished with carefully selected wall art depicting beautiful flowers of each season in Japan. Guests can look, feel, and embrace the art and sounds while spending a relaxing time in their room.

https://tokyoginza.hotelorientalexpress.com/

 

Travel News | eTurboNews

Wynn Resorts named highest-scoring hotel company in the world

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Wynn Resorts announces that it has earned the distinction of being the highest-scoring hotel company in the world as rated by Forbes Travel Guide, outranking all other luxury hotel brands the company rates, representing a total of 1,105 hotels in 58 countries. Wynn Resorts exceeded each and every other luxury hotel brand including The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company, The Peninsula Hotels, and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, among others.

“Wynn Resorts is the highest-scoring brand out of all prestigious hotel companies featured in Forbes Travel Guide’s 2019 Star Ratings,” said Amanda Frasier, Forbes Travel Guide’s Executive Vice President of Standards and Ratings. “This accomplishment represents an unwavering commitment to excellence, as Forbes Travel Guide rates the most exceptional hotels in the world.”

Each resort in Wynn Resorts’ global portfolio was rated individually and their combined scores contributed to the top distinction. Resorts include Wynn Las Vegas, Encore at Wynn Las Vegas, Wynn Tower Suites, Encore Tower Suites, Wynn Macau, Encore Macau, and Wynn Palace.

“Wynn Resorts is the highest-scoring hotel company in the world for one reason and one reason only – we have the most dedicated and talented employees,” said Matt Maddox, CEO of Wynn Resorts. “Our teams in Cotai, Macau, Las Vegas and Boston are second to none, and I am grateful to work alongside them. Remarkable people yield remarkable results.”

Forbes Travel Guide’s stringent and anonymous rating evaluations are based on more than 500 objective standards, with an emphasis on exceptional service.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Hainan Airlines announces nonstop Beijing-Oslo service

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Hainan Airlines Holding Co., Ltd. (Hainan Airlines) plans to formally launch nonstop service between Beijing and Oslo on May 15. This will be the first direct route between mainland China and Norway as well as the airline’s first nonstop Nordic service. The Beijing-Oslo route, with three round trip flights weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, will be serviced by an Airbus A330-300 aircraft with 32 seats in business class and 262 seats in economy class. Business class will be equipped with 180-degree flatbed seats, while every seat on the aircraft comes wired with an exclusive on-demand entertainment system and every passenger will be served sumptuous offerings from both Western and Oriental cuisines. In addition, the use of portable electronic devices on board will be allowed.

The airline now operates 21 routes with destinations in Europe including Berlin, London, Paris, Rome, Brussels, Edinburgh, Zurich, Vienna, Manchester, Madrid and Moscow. Tickets for Beijing-Oslo flights can now be reserved.

Hainan Airlines’ Beijing-Oslo Flight Schedule (All times are local):

Flight No.

Aircraft

Schedule

Departure City

Departure Time

Arrival Time

Arrival City

HU769

A330

Monday/Wednesday/Friday

Beijing

1:30 am

5:30 am

Oslo

HU770

A330

Monday/Friday

Oslo

2:30 pm

5:30 am+1

Beijing

HU770

A330

Wednesday

Oslo

1:55 pm

5:00 am+1

Beijing

Travel News | eTurboNews

US Advisory for Democratic Republic of Congo: Reconsider travel

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The US Department of State has issued a travel advisory for the Democratic Republic of Congo advising that travel be reconsidered due to crime and civil unrest. Some areas have increased risk.

The Travel Advisory recommends:

Do not travel to –

  • North Kivu and Ituri provinces due to Ebola.
  • Eastern DRC and the three Kasai provinces due to armed conflict.

Violent crime, such as armed robbery, armed home invasion, and assault, while rare compared to petty crime, is not uncommon, and local police lack the resources to respond effectively to serious crime. Be aware that assailants may pose as police or security agents.

Many cities throughout the country experience demonstrations, some of which have turned violent.  Police authorities have at times responded with heavy-handed tactics that have resulted in civilian casualties and arrests.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens outside of Kinshasa due to extremely limited infrastructure and poor security conditions.

Read the Safety and Security section on the Country Information Page.

If you decide to travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo:

North Kivu and Ituri Provinces

Sporadic but severe outbreaks of violence targeting civilians, including killing, rape, kidnapping, and pillaging, continue throughout North Kivu, South Kivu, Tanganyika, Haut Lomami, Ituri, Bas-Uele, and Haut-Uele provinces.

A significant number of both confirmed and probable cases of Ebola have been reported in nine health zones of Congo’s North Kivu and Ituri provinces.

The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in North Kivu and Ituri provinces as U.S. government travel to these areas is restricted.

Visit the government website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

The Eastern DRC Region and the Three Kasai Provinces

Parts of eastern DRC and the provinces of Kasai Oriental, Kasai Central, and Kasai Occidental are unstable due to armed group activity and military operations.  Major outbreaks of violence include the targeting of civilians in these areas.

The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in eastern DRC region and the three Kasais provinces as U.S. government travel to these regions is restricted.

Visit the government website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

Travel News | eTurboNews

ILTM Latin America 2019: Record number of agents from new destinations

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ILTM Latin America 2019, regional event for the luxury travel industry, will welcome this year more of the most productive agents from Brazil and Latin America than even before, including many new faces.

A total of 370 buyers will attend the invitation only event in São Paulo in May, with 26% of these set to be new faces. They will attend from 14 countries – newly represented at the event are the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Guatemala – and 40 cities to meet with some of the best travel experiences from across the world. Agents from 22 cities in Brazil alone will be represented including Cuiaba and Uberlandia, also for the first time.

Simon Mayle, ILTM Latin America Event Director comments:

“We travel the continent far and wide, meeting and qualifying the most productive luxury agents in Latin America in order to bring an audience that can’t be found elsewhere and make the introductions that wouldn’t be made otherwise. We bring the world to Latin America, so that they can discover more of it.”

The 2019 edition of ILTM Latin America is defined by its theme of ‘Back to Life’ to highlight the value of Health and Wellness for both the luxury travel business and the consumer as well as our responsibility in taking care of and celebrating nature.

The event also welcomes over 90 new exhibitors in a total of almost 370 luxury travel brands from all four corners of the world who will attend to network and build business with the region’s wealthiest. They include AccorHotels Luxury brands, Aman Resorts, Baha Mar, Bürgenstock Hotels & Resort in Switzerland, Belmond, Dorchester Hotels, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Leading Hotels of the World, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Marriott Luxury Brands, Preferred Hotels, Portugal’s Quinta das Lágrimas, Rosewood Hotel Group, Small Luxury Hotels of the World, The Vines Resort & Spa in Mendoza and Vakkaru Maldives as well as destinations including Portugal, Georgia and Israel.

Media Contact: Orla Kelly, Junior Account Executive, London, UK, D: +44 (0) 20 8334 4005, orla@spotlightcoms.com

Travel News | eTurboNews

Mandarin Oriental opens first hotel in Beijing

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Hongkong Land today announced the completion of its prestigious WF CENTRAL premium lifestyle retail destination, located in the capital city’s historic Wangfujing area, with the opening of Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing. Executives from Hongkong Land and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group celebrated the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new hotel, Mandarin Oriental’s first hotel in Beijing.

Seamlessly connected with WF CENTRAL, the hotel features 73 rooms and suites which are among the largest in Beijing. The rooms are designed with a contemporary residential style combined with subtle traditional Chinese elements, an array of luxury amenities and expansive, spa-like bathrooms. Many rooms have superb views towards the Forbidden City. The hotel is also home to stylish restaurants and bars, including the signature Mandarin Grill + Bar, casual dining restaurant Cafe Zi, and the sleek, sophisticated MO Bar — all of which have direct access to an expansive rooftop garden terrace.

Those seeking rejuvenation in the heart of the city may visit The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing, which offers a range of curated wellness and beauty treatments as well as a 25-metre indoor lap pool with natural light and a comprehensive gym.

“Since its opening in May 2018, WF CENTRAL has been playing a crucial role in the redevelopment of the historic Wangfujing area of Beijing into one of the city’s premium lifestyle retail destinations,” said Mr Raymond Chow, Executive Director of Hongkong Land. “The opening of Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing, completes our work and exemplifies this strategy, as we are bringing Mandarin Oriental’s legendary hospitality together with a compelling mix of retail and dining, all nestled within one of the world’s most important and historic cities.”

Mr Richard Baker, Chief Relationship Officer, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, said, “Mandarin Oriental is delighted to partner with Hongkong Land in the creation of Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing. This is our third successful collaboration and we are immensely proud to be part of WF CENTRAL, Beijing’s preeminent lifestyle retail destination. We look forward to introducing the Group’s legendary hospitality to China’s capital and to welcoming guests through our doors.”

WF CENTRAL, Hongkong Land’s flagship development in Beijing, is a US$1.2 billion retail-led project designed to be the city’s premier shopping and lifestyle destination. It is also expected to be a major contributor to the transformation of Beijing’s historic Wangfujing area into a hub for retail, dining and business. The complex has a total gross floor area of more than 150,000 sq. m., including 43,000 sq. m. of retail space that hosts an exciting, diverse mix of tenants according to five core categories: “Luxury”, “Fashion”, “World-class Gastronomy”, “Lifestyle & Wellness” and “Art & Culture”.

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