All articles by Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Invest in tomorrow
Since the pandemic, hotels have struggled to recruit the staff they need, with competition from other sectors rising all the time. No wonder so many operators are moving towards more holistic recruitment programmes, offering a range of appealing benefits for apprentices. Young people, for their part, are at the centres of these developments. Andrea Valentino investigates, hearing from Anjana Raza, head of social responsibility at the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.
The high-tech touch
The world of spa and wellness changed forever with the onset of technology, from cryotherapy chairs to multi-sensory experiences and meditation pods. Designed for a more comfortable and relaxing wellness experience, wellness technology helps cultivate an immersive and accessible environment for hotel guests. Ellys Woodhouse speaks to Anna Bjurstam, wellness pioneer at Six Senses Spas and Wellness, to find out more.
Waste not, want not
Food waste is one of the main emergencies facing our planet, not least in the hospitality sector, with hotels dumping roughly 79,000t of leftover food each year. Beyond the obvious ethical and environmental challenges, that is a shame from an efficiency perspective: leftover food can be used in a variety of interesting ways, even as some hotels are working to cut the amount guests put on their plates to begin with. Andrea Valentino talks to Jeffery Smith from Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas and Adam Crocini from Hilton Hotels & Resorts to learn more.
Data reservations: No vacancies
The past year has been an interesting one, with leisure travel demand softening but business demand improving. With the purse strings expected to be tighter, the guest segment is expected to change according to STR’s latest Independent Hotel Show report.
Great expectations
With a ten-year career at IHG Hotels & Resorts, Phoebe Galbraith speaks to Joanna Kurowska, vice-president and managing director, UK and Ireland, to find out how her time and experience in hospitality has shaped her as a hotelier as well as her expectations for the industry.
Bagpipes, brews and bonnie views
Scotland’s capital is a world class destination for tourists, with Edinburgh recognised as Europe’s leading sustainable destination for 2023 by the World Travel Awards. Its unique cultural heritage, famous Christmas markets and Scotland’s financial hub means it is no surprise that it welcomed 1.8 million overseas visitors in 2022. Phoebe Galbraith hears from Andrew McPherson, general manager at The Balmoral, and experts across the industry to find out what makes Edinburgh such a globally renowned destination.
A wealth of knowledge
The luxury hotel sector is driven by increasing global wealth, and analysis suggests a rising number of high-net-worth guests could fuel new development. Jim Banks talks to development experts Willemijn Geels of InterContinental, Francesco Cefalu of Mandarin Oriental and Jan Hazelton of Kerzner about the market segments and regions that offer the best prospects for new luxury hotel projects.
Jetting into 2024
As the year draws to a close, president of EHMA Panos Almyrantis shares his update on the association and gives his expectations for the industry in the year ahead.
Launch of Thynk Direct: Introducing New Technology for Instant Booking in Hospitality
Thynk, a provider of technology solutions in the hospitality sector enabling hotels to drive direct sales and boost operational efficiencies, is pleased to announce the launch of Thynk Direct at ITB Berlin, the world’s leading travel trade show. This new smart instant booking engine aims to improve the process by which hotels manage group reservations and meetings directly through their websites, offering immediate booking confirmation and the potential for increased revenue.
Highest distinction: Franke Mytico wins IF DESIGN AWARD 2024 Gold
Franke’s BeyondTraditional product category with its flagship Mytico continues its success story by winning the prestigious and exclusive IF DESIGN AWARD Gold. With this award, Franke Coffee Systems impressively underlines its goal of combining unique design and state-of-the-art technology to raise the coffee experience to a new level.