Best of hospitality in the news – part 8 – 11 October 2016
A new hotel is like WeWork combined with Airbnb — take a look inside
People who travel for business or work remotely are increasingly seeking out spaces that feel like a hybrid between a home and office. That’s why a new kind of hotel, called the Zoku Loft, packs in everything you need to work and socialize into 270 square feet. Think of it as a combination between Airbnb and a WeWork coworking space.
Read full story on Business Insider Int.
Concierge at Paris hotel where Kim Kardashian West was robbed pens open letter to reality star
The concierge who was working at the hotel Kim Kardashian was robbed at in Paris has penned an open letter. According to TMZ, he wrote a message to the star in French magazine Closer. He allegedly wrote: “Dear Kim: When you feel the cold steel of a gun at your neck, it is the moment when remaining calm can mean the difference of life or death, both our lives. I hope you are feeling better.”
Read full story The Telegraph
The World’s Best Lodging: Hotels I Love
What is the world’s best hotel? It’s a question hotly debated anytime a group of top travel writers or travel agents get together, and it is always an entertaining discussion, with strongly held opinions, but there’s no single answer – hotels and resorts come in too many different shapes, sizes and locations. No matter how posh the rooms or perfect the service, it is impossible to compare a 12-villa private island property to a full-service 5-star urban tower. Is the Broadmoor America’s best large, full service, sporting resort? Yes. Is it a better hotel than the Peninsula Hong Kong? That’s apples and oranges.
Read full story on Forbes
The Star unveils designs for $500 million, 60-storey hotel
The Sydney skyline is preparing for another shake-up with the launch of three potential designs for the planned 60-storey, $500 million new hotel and apartments at The Star, Pyrmont.
Read full story at Sydney Morning Herald
Airbnb Guests Tend to Be Motivated by Low Cost, Use It as a Hotel Substitute
Travellers who use Airbnb tend to be motivated by the service’s practical benefits (low cost, convenient location, and household amenities), and usually rent entire homes rather than sharing the accommodation with a host, finds a new report released by Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University.
Read full story at Hotel Online
Booking.com in Reversal as it Launches Loyalty Program for Business Travelers
There’s no doubt that Booking.com already has the user base — and can increase it — to be successful in catering to unmanaged business travelers. Whether a loyalty program will turn out to be advantageous remains to be seen and can be adjusted as the situation merits. The real question is whether Booking.com, like Expedia’s Egencia, will take the next step into managed travel by acquisition or otherwise.
Read full story on skift.com
Video: Online Travel Founders Talk Game-Changing Deals, Big Upcoming Trends
Moral of the story about the early years of online travel? Not to over-simplify, but be prepared to take risks, feel free to contradict conventional wisdom, and assemble the best damn team that you can.
Watch video on skift.com