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Hotel guests say goodbye to check-in queues
Self-service kiosks, iPad ordering systems and RFID room keys are some of the innovations being employed to improve guests’ first impressions of a hotel. Elly Earls meets Swire Hotels’ Brian Williams, Peninsula’s Ingvar Herland and Hyatt’s Arnaud de Saint-Exupéry to find out if this is the end of the check-in desk.
Taste of tranquillity: Hotel Spa of the Year shortlist
The spa has become big business, with guests now demanding an array of treatments and individually tailored programmes. Recent advancements in design, amenities and experience are showcased in the shortlist for Hotel Spa of the Year, sponsored by Dornbracht, at the upcoming European Hospitality Awards 2012, where we highlight our favourites.
YO! heads home
YO! owner and entrepreneur Simon Woodrooffe spent 30 years in the entertainment business prior to opening his famous conveyor-belt sushi bar. The YO! empire encompasses restaurants, hotels and homes, and its latest brand, YO! Home, launched at 100% Design in September.
Make your move
Brash, cut-throat and targeting guests directly, online travel agencies are here to stay, to the detriment of franchise hotel companies. European Hotel Managers Association president Peter Bierwirth examines the fight for customers.