Author: Admin

In the competitive landscape of modern hospitality, hotels are not merely selling a place to sleep; they are selling an experience, a memory, a story. For decades, hotel design has relied on static elements—décor, furniture, art—to set a scene. But a scene is not a story. A story has a beginning, a middle, and an end; it unfolds over time and evokes a range of emotions. Today, by integrating smart automation into the core of the design process, hoteliers and designers have a powerful new medium to move beyond static scenes and become authors of a dynamic guest journey.

Starhotels announces the debut of Teatro Luxury Apartments Firenze – Starhotels Collezione, a flagship of a wider urban-regeneration initiative that has reimagined the former Teatro Comunale di Firenze. Today, after a thoughtful redevelopment, the building reopens as a contemporary collection of 156 luxury apartment-style residences that blend historical grandeur with modern Italian design. Located on Via Magenta, it sits just steps from the Lungarni – Florence’s scenic riverfront promenades along the Arno – and Santa Maria Novella, and with the city’s main attractions close by.

Rotterdam’s skyline and hospitality scene welcome back a refreshed icon with the reopening of the DoubleTree by Hilton Rotterdam Centre. Following a comprehensive renovation in the summer of 2025, the upscale hotel introduces modern guest rooms, dynamic event spaces, and a new restaurant concept, positioning itself as a leading choice for international meetings, business events, and memorable stays along the Maas River.

Rotterdam welcomes a new chapter in its hospitality story with the debut of Haven Hotel Rotterdam, Curio Collection by Hilton, following a large-scale renovation completed in September 2025. The hotel brings together modern comfort, lifestyle, and wellness in a landmark location on the Maas River, offering panoramic views of the city and harbor. As the first Curio Collection by Hilton in the Netherlands, the opening marks an exciting milestone for Hilton’s portfolio in Europe.

Hotel key cards are getting a sustainable makeover. At recent industry gatherings in Sydney and Pattaya, GCSTIMES introduced a line ofsustainable key cards made from materials as varied as wood, cornstarch-based PLA, and plant-based leather.

SAN FRANCISCO, September 9, 2025 — Canary Technologies, the award-winning global leader in hotel guest management technology, today announced that Proper Hospitality has selected Canary’s Guest Management Platform to power its end-to-end digital guest journey.

Leadership today is still about achieving results, but it should also be about the motivations and values that guide how decisions are made. As the workplace evolves, the real test of leadership lies less in isolated achievements and more in the everyday choices that shape the relationships within teams. To reimagine leadership styles of the future, we must look beyond performance metrics and ask deeper questions about how ambition is defined and how care is valued.

Leadership today is still about achieving results, but it should also be about the motivations and values that guide how decisions are made. As the workplace evolves, the real test of leadership lies less in isolated achievements and more in the everyday choices that shape the relationships within teams. To reimagine leadership styles of the future, we must look beyond performance metrics and ask deeper questions about how ambition is defined and how care is valued.

The hype cycle on AI agents keeps going. The Financial Times tells us that the “rise of AI shopping agents” is set to transform e-commerce. OpenAI even renamed its Operator system simply “Agent,” making the pitch clear: AI will browse and buy on our behalf. Sounds great, but not totally sure it will pan out (most of Amazon’s profit comes from ads not from product sales).

I’ve spent my career designing, deploying, and operating integrated resorts. Based in Draper, I advise companies including Unifi Labs, Cypher, Teem, and K4, and I founded mybluprint.com. My background spans being a licensed California Low Voltage Contractor (1991–1996), THX Theatre Designer, and ISF Certified engineer. I’ve designed and programmed control systems for marquee projects such as Disney and CityCenter Las Vegas (ARIA and Mandarin Oriental). I hold multiple U.S. patents, including the Secure Device Discovery Protocol (SDDP) and Automation Control of Electronic Devices. I have been involved with CEDIA since 1990, and have been a Vistage member since 2013. My focus is strategic planning, sales, and business development—bringing artistic engineering to every engagement.