Category: Recent News

In this interview, we speak with Emilia Konert, the co-founder and CEO of Cultifutura, a pioneer in vertical farming technology. Recently, Cultifutura’s innovative solutions were implemented at the 1893 restaurant of EHL Hospitality Business School, marking a significant step towards sustainable local food supply. Emilia shares the story behind Cultifutura, discussing its origins, the challenges faced, and the opportunities realized. She also highlights the benefits of this technology for the EHL community, including fresh, locally-grown produce and hands-on education in sustainability. Join us as we listen to Emilia’s vision for the future of urban farming and its impact on hospitality and sustainability.

Spark by Hilton Stuttgart Sindelfingen is set to open later this year, marking the brand’s first property in Continental Europe.

Londra Palace Venezia is a historic 52-room palazzo that, for more than a century, has been celebrated for its iconic 100-window facade that overlooks the San Marco Basin in Venice, Italy. Originally opened in 1853, the hotel reopened in March 2024 following an extensive renovation. A cherished staple of Venetian hospitality, Londra Palace Venezia features a contemporary aesthetic that honors the building’s architectural legacy, including immersive dining experiences, refined public spaces, and luxury amenities.

CapitaLand Ascott Trust (CLAS) increased its 1H 2024 gross profit by 12% year-on-year (y-o-y) to S$172.9 million. Revenue also rose by 11% y-o-y, reaching S$386.4 million. The increase was mainly on the back of sustained lodging demand and stronger operating performance. On a same store basis, gross profit and revenue increased by 3% and 4% y-o-y respectively.

Curacity announces the launch of Exec View, a new data analytics and insights suite for the hospitality industry. Among a trove of proprietary data, Exec View uniquely uses a guest’s initial content exposure date — the date a guest first saw content about a hotel, resort, or cruise in premium media outlets like AFAR, Food & Wine, and Travel + Leisure — to show customers the median days from exposure to booking.

This morning, on my way to work, I decided to pick up bagels for the office and a cup of coffee for myself. Arriving five minutes before the bagel store opened, I parked and joined the line behind three people waiting at the door. Within ten minutes, the line behind me had grown to about twenty people. With only two staff members behind the counter, the line moved slowly.

Opening 1st October 2024, Viceroy at Ombria Algarve will tell a new story for Viceroy as it further expands into Europe and sets its sights on a fresh tone and approach to the guest experience globally.

At HITEC 2024, Simone Puorto interviewed Niki Stone-Johnson, Chief Product Officer at Otelier. They discussed Otelier’s innovative solutions in hospitality technology, focusing on business intelligence, budgeting, forecasting, and back-office automation. This conversation is part of our HITEC 2024 series, offering insights from industry leaders.

Avani Hotels & Resorts, the upscale lifestyle brand of Minor Hotels, launches AvaniWell, the brand’s first wellbeing clinic at Avani+ Hua Hin Resort in Thailand. Beyond the usual spa offering, guests are invited to discover what wellbeing means to them with guidance from AvaniWell’s team of experts. From Traditional Thai Medicine and physiotherapy to Reformer Pilates and healthy dining, AvaniWell provides wellness “à la carte”, designed to kick-start healthy habits through weekend resets, serene staycations and weekly wellbeing programmes.

In today’s fast-paced and highly competitive hospitality industry, having a robust Hotel Property Management System (PMS) is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Modern PMS solutions have evolved to address the complex needs of hotels, ranging from guest experience enhancement to operational efficiency. Here, we delve into the five key building blocks that are behind today’s most impactful hotel PMS.