Hospitality Trends
prnewswire | August 29, 2023
Quark Expeditions, the global leader in polar adventures, announces the launch of a new Partner Portal for travel advisors and their firms—including an industry-first AI platform that will make every advisor a polar expert.
"Our Partner Portal for travel advisors offers unmatched, industry-leading innovation and efficiency," said Wendy Batchelor, Vice President of Marketing for Quark Expeditions. "Anchored by the best team and the deepest experience in our sector, our blend of one-stop digital resources and lightning-fast AI tools will fuel sales success for our polar expedition partners—and this is only phase one; look for more exciting developments soon!"
From customizable promotional and marketing materials, to the latest polar news and incentives plus Quark Expeditions' learn-from-anywhere PolarPRO training platform, the Partner Portal provides both inspiration and education—along with Parker the Polar Bear, the industry's first real-time, AI-driven virtual polar resource!
"Our new AI-enabled virtual assistant leverages secure, cutting-edge language models trained by our own technology team using extensive in-house knowledge repositories," said Rajesh Thiagarajan, Director of Digital Products with Quark Expeditions' global development team. "Parker, together with the full suite of digital resources on the Partner Portal, will reduce time demands for advisors through fast and accurate answers to every polar client's questions."
To learn more about the Partner Portal and its AI capabilities, travel advisors can contact the Quark Expeditions sales team—or click here to register and launch their polar expedition sales journey today!
About Quark Expeditions
The global leader in polar adventures for more than 30 years. The most passionate and seasoned team in the industry, taking explorers to the ends of the earth. Going where few ever dream, and walking where few ever will. Delivering extraordinary experiences and enriching lives through travel, Quark Expeditions is a Travelopia specialist company.
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Travel Technology
Hyatt Hotels | September 22, 2023
Hyatt Hotels Corporation embarks on a strategic expansion journey with over 30 luxury and lifestyle hotels planned for the Americas by 2025.
The brand's rapid growth includes doubling luxury room inventory and increasing lifestyle rooms, making it a premier choice for high-end travelers.
The strategic acquisitions of Mr & Mrs Smith and Dream Hotel Group enhance Hyatt's offerings for members of the World of Hyatt.
The Hyatt Hotels Corporation has strengthened the brand with ambitious plans to expand its luxury and lifestyle presence throughout the Americas. With a robust development pipeline encompassing more than 30 planned hotels and resorts slated for completion by 2025, Hyatt is poised to make a significant impact. This strategic initiative includes venturing into new markets, reflecting the company's unwavering commitment to enhancing its brand offerings. Over the past half-decade, Hyatt has achieved remarkable milestones on a global scale, including doubling luxury room inventory, tripling the number of resort rooms, and quadrupling the availability of lifestyle rooms. The momentum behind this growth shows no signs of abating. Hyatt now proudly stands as the fastest-growing luxury portfolio, with luxury, lifestyle, and resort properties constituting over 40% of its extensive portfolio. This success solidifies Hyatt's position as the ultimate choice for discerning high-end travelers seeking unparalleled experiences.
This brand expansion has new properties in sought-after destinations, including the Hyatt Centric Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, Cas en Bas Beach Resort in Saint Lucia, and Hyatt Centric Querétaro in Mexico. Additionally, Hyatt is introducing Boundless Collection hotels, featuring Thompson Hotels in various U.S. and Mexican locations. Timeless Collection hotels will offer a home away from home experience, with Park Hyatt Los Cabos in Mexico and Grand Hyatt Scottsdale in Arizona among the highlights. The Inclusive Collection will welcome new resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico, including Secrets St. Lucia Resort & Spa and more. Several luxury and lifestyle Hyatt hotels have recently opened in the Americas, with exciting additions like Andaz Mexico City Condesa and Dreams Flora Resort & Spa in Punta Cana. The Fordson Hotel in Oklahoma City will soon join The Unbound Collection by Hyatt.
Hyatt's transformative growth journey extends further through strategic acquisitions that enhance the offerings for its valued guests and members. The recent acquisition of Mr & Mrs Smith, a global travel platform renowned for its curated collection of boutique and luxury properties, is a testament to Hyatt's commitment to delivering exceptional experiences. This move significantly enriches the choices available to World of Hyatt members, providing them with an even more comprehensive array of rewarding stays and memorable experiences. In addition to this, Hyatt's earlier acquisition of Dream Hotel Group in early 2023 has opened up new horizons for World of Hyatt members, enabling them to access an expanded portfolio of stay options and lifestyle experiences in vibrant destinations like Nashville, Hollywood, South Beach, and New York City.
Additionally, this acquisition catalyzes Hyatt's brand expansion into an emerging leisure market in Mexico, with the upcoming Dream Valle de Guadalupe (slated for 2024). Nestled across 35 sprawling acres in the picturesque Baja California region, this property will feature a sprawling vineyard, 61 well-appointed guestrooms and villas, a luxurious spa and wellness facility, and a trio of vibrant dining and nightlife venues, including an exclusive tasting room and pool bar.
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Travel Technology
ENNISMORE | September 20, 2023
Ennismore and Shivom LLC to Launch Mama Shelter Downtown LA in 2026, the Second of Its Kind in the City: Ennismore and its partner Shivom LLC are set to open Mama Shelter Downtown LA in 2026, following the success of Mama Shelter LA in 2015.
Mama Shelter Downtown LA, housed in the transformed Mart South Building in Downtown LA, will offer 149 keys, including 145 standard rooms and four suites, known for its lively design, exceptional dining, and entertainment.
Guests can enjoy three lively F&B outlets, including a ground-floor all-day dining restaurant and café, a rooftop bar and terrace with city views, an on-site fitness center, and a parking garage.
Positioned in the heart of Los Angeles' Fashion District, the hotel provides convenient access to over 4,000 retailers, local and national restaurants, iconic venues like the California Market Center, and nearby shopping corridors, enhancing the guest experience in the entertainment capital.
Ennismore, a creative hospitality company, and its partner Shivom LLC have announced the forthcoming Mama Shelter Downtown LA. This venture, set to launch in 2026, marks the second establishment of the popular Mama Shelter brand within the city, following the successful debut of Mama Shelter LA in May 2015. The new Mama Shelter, situated within the transformed Mart South Building in Downtown LA, is poised to offer a dynamic and immersive hospitality experience. Boasting 149 keys, including 145 standard rooms and four suites, it will embody Mama Shelter's signature style, combining vivacious design with exceptional dining and entertainment options.
Cédric Gobilliard, Head of Central & Southern Europe and COO of Ennismore, commented,
"We are thrilled to be opening a second Mama Shelter in LA. Los Angeles is a place to live life to the fullest, carrying so many fundamental values of the Mama brand, including her irreverent, popular, sassy and sexy personality; which fits perfectly with the glamour of LA. We look forward to bringing Mama's spirit to the city again with partner Shivom LLC."
[Source – Cision PR Newswrire]
Mama Shelter Downtown LA will offer three festive F&B outlets to party and play, including an all-day dining restaurant and café on the ground floor, as well as a rooftop bar and terrace with city views. Guests at the hotel will also have access to and use an on-site fitness centre and parking garage. Mama's exuberant interior decorations, homemade, high-quality menus and year-round happenings have become a staple in every one of the destinations. Guests will find all the design elements that distinguish a Mama Shelter, including graffiti carpets and ceilings, comfortable chairs, cartoon masks and one-of-a-kind decorations that reflect Mama's personality, signature food, and Mama nights to get the party started.
As the world's entertainment capital, Los Angeles is an unrivaled cultural center with over 100 museums. Mama Shelter Downtown LA enjoys a prime location within the city's Fashion District, surrounded by more than 4,000 independently owned retailers and a thriving selection of local and national restaurants. Adjacent to the hotel, the California Market Center (CMC) stands as an iconic DTLA landmark, known for hosting premier events and epitomizing the city's rich fashion industry heritage. For those seeking retail therapy, Santee Alley, a shopping corridor, and the Los Angeles Flower District, the largest flower marketplace in the United States, are just a stroll away from Mama Shelter Downtown LA. This strategic positioning ensures that guests have access to an array of attractions and experiences within arm's reach, enriching their stay in this dynamic metropolis.
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