HOSPITALITY TRENDS
RADISSON BLU | July 11, 2022
Cluj-Napoca, Romania’s second largest city, is growing in popularity as a leisure and business destination and attracts visitors year-round with its artistic vibe, chic cafés in which to linger, peaceful green spaces, and cutting-edge festivals, including Untold, Romania’s biggest electronic-music festival with famous international DJs, held at Cluj Arena, directly across the street from the hotel.Located in the central-western part of the city, Radisson Blu Hotel, Cluj offers contemporary elegance after an extensive, two-year long renovation and conversion of a 1980s hotel to a modern, upper-upscale Radisson Blu property. The architects and designers took inspiration for the new design concept from the location of the hotel and the surrounding nature, including the city’s Central Park, one of the oldest recreational public gardens in Europe, and the contemporary buildings in the local neighborhood.The hotel’s 149 rooms feature large windows with stunning views of the city and the Central Park. Spacious family rooms include an additional sofa bed, while the suites offer the ultimate comfort. The largest suite is the 79-sqm Presidential Suite, which offers guests a separate living room, dining area, and a luxurious bathroom with an aromatherapy shower.
The modern Lobby Bar at Radisson Blu Hotel, Cluj is the perfect place to enjoy signature drinks, specialty coffee and snacks, or a quick business lunch. The Park, the hotel’s modern international restaurant, is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and offers a terrace for outdoor dining on warmer days. Hikari, the hotel’s Japanese restaurant is inspired by the “Land of the Rising Sun” and serves sushi, seafood, as well as Japanese spirits and wine in a setting inspired by nature, with views overlooking the adjacent Central Park from its floor-to-ceiling windows.For meetings and events, the hotel includes five meeting rooms for up to 60 people, featuring the latest meeting technology. The private ballroom can host events with up to 300 attendees. Radisson Blu Hotel, Cluj has partnered with the adjacent BTarena, also known as Polyvalent Hall, to provide external meeting and events space for up to 10,000 people. A fitness room is also available with weight training and cardio equipment.
“We are excited to open the first Radisson Blu hotel in Transylvania in vibrant Cluj and are thrilled to welcome our first guests this summer. With our attention to detail and personalized service, each stay with us is sure to be a memorable experience”
-George Miu, General Manager.
With the health and safety of guests and team members as its top priority, Radisson Blu Hotel, Cluj is implementing the Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol program. The in-depth cleanliness and disinfection protocols were developed in partnership with SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, and are designed to ensure guest safety and peace of mind from check-in to check-out. The Safety Protocol is an integral part of Radisson Hotel Group’s Safety and Security program ensuring we always care for our guests and team members.
ABOUT RADISSON BLU
Radisson Blu is an upper upscale hotel brand that delivers positive and personalized service in stylish spaces. Characterized by attention to small details and the Yes I Can! service philosophy, Radisson Blu hotels are designed to make a big difference and inspire unforgettable experiences with every stay. Through personalized service and local nuance, each stay at a Radisson Blu hotel becomes a true meaningful and memorable experience. Radisson Blu hotels can be found in major cities, key airport gateways, and leisure destinations. Guests and professional business partners can enhance their experience with Radisson Blu by participating in Radisson Rewards, a global loyalty program offering exceptional benefits and rewards. Radisson Blu is part of Radisson Hotel Group, which also includes Radisson Collection, Radisson, Radisson RED, Radisson Individuals, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, and prizeotel brought together under one commercial umbrella brand Radisson Hotels.
ABOUT RADISSON HOTEL GROUP
Radisson Hotel Group is one of the world's largest hotel groups with nine distinctive hotel brands, and more than 1,700 hotels in operation and under development in 120 countries. The Group’s overarching brand promise is Every Moment Matters with a signature Yes I Can! service ethos. The Radisson Hotel Group portfolio includes Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Radisson Individuals, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, and prizeotel brought together under one commercial umbrella brand Radisson Hotels. Radisson Rewards is our international rewards program that delivers unique and personalized ways to create memorable moments that matter to our guests. Radisson Rewards offers an exceptional experience for our guests, meeting planners, and travel agents at over 640 hotels in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Radisson Meetings provides tailored solutions for any event or meeting, including hybrid solutions placing guests and their needs at the heart of its offer. Radisson Meetings is built around three strong service commitments: Personal, Professional and Memorable, while delivering on the brilliant basics and being uniquely 100% Carbon Neutral.
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TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY,AIRLINES AND AIRPORTS
Delta | July 12, 2022
Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com, Inc. company (NASDAQ: AMZN), is part of the latest acceleration in Delta Air Lines’ digital business transformation with the announcement of a multi-year agreement to serve as the airline’s preferred cloud provider. AWS will help Delta unlock technologies and streamline processes that will make the customer experience faster, smoother, and more secure—from the booking process to the flight experience.“Continuous innovation is at the core of Delta’s commitment to its customers,” said Matt Garman, Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Global Services at Amazon Web Services. “Delta is using AWS’s global infrastructure, proven operating expertise, and wide range of services to drive innovation in delivering superior customer service, as well as enhancing efficiency and reliability across its global network.”
Delta is building on AWS’s broad portfolio of cloud technologies and solutions to meet unique industry and regulatory requirements, as well as the company’s continuous drive for efficiency and reliability. With AWS, Delta is providing a secure infrastructure for timely data-driven insights. In addition, Delta is providing its employees with the opportunity to take part in training with the AWS Designated Virtual Trainer (DVT) program to increase cloud adoption and develop new client-facing and internal capabilities. Delta plans to scale the program across its global hubs to ensure employees around the world have access to in-person and online cloud skills training.
“We’re not just transforming our IT backbone—we’re rallying our entire organization to use leading technology to improve our customers’ travel experience in meaningful ways, Our work with AWS is one of many critical steps we’re taking to modernize our technology platform, empower our employees with the best tools available, and give customers even more control over the way they fly.”
-Delta’s Rahul Samant, E.V.P. and Chief Information Officer.
The airline is also working with AWS to modernize the core technology platforms that support its customer engagement center operations. Thanks to Amazon Connect (a fully managed, easy-to-use, omnichannel cloud contact center service), customers who call Delta’s reservations and customer care specialists will have a more streamlined experience. Delta customer care specialists can respond in real time to customers with new online and text support.
Delta’s collaboration with Amazon extends beyond technology innovation. The airline is also Amazon’s most preferred carrier, supporting Amazon’s business travel needs around the globe.
About Amazon Web Services
For over 15 years, Amazon Web Services has been the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud offering. AWS has been continually expanding its services to support virtually any cloud workload, and it now has more than 200 fully featured services for compute, storage, databases, networking, analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), mobile, security, hybrid, virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR), media, and application development, deployment, and management from 84 Availability Zones within 26 geographic regions, with announced plans for 24 more Availability Zones and eight more AWS Regions in Australia, Canada, India, Israel, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates. Millions of customers—including the fastest-growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agencies—trust AWS to power their infrastructure, become more agile, and lower costs. To learn more about AWS, visit aws.amazon.com.
About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.
About Delta
More than 4,000 Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) flights take off every day, connecting people across more than 275 destinations on six continents with award-winning operational excellence, customer service, safety and innovation. Our people lead the way in delivering a world-class customer experience, and we're continuing to ensure the future of travel is personalized, enjoyable and stress-free. Delta is America's most awarded airline thanks to the dedication, passion and professionalism of its people, recognized by J.D. Power, Fortune's World Most Admired Companies, the Wall Street Journal, and Business Travel News, among many others. Delta has served as many as 200 million customers annually. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta operates significant hubs and key markets in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, London-Heathrow, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK and LaGuardia, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Seoul-Incheon and Tokyo.
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TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY,COMMERCIAL TRAVEL
Mastercard | June 24, 2022
Mastercard expanded its Mastercard Travel and Lifestyle Services platform. New partnerships that focus on smooth travel experiences and memorable moments for its cardholders are at the crux of this expansion. New features include WhatsApp servicing, COVID alerts and offers like lounge access when flights are delayed are offered to customers.
“Many of us eagerly await the chance to satisfy our love for travel, but it can be stressful to plan a trip with so many uncertainties about what traveling will look like, At Mastercard, we’re here to support every step of the journey — from planning to booking to transportation to experiences in destination — so travelers can focus on what really matters. After two years of disruptions, we know that time with our loved ones is truly priceless.”
-Mastercard’s Stephanie Meltzer-Paul, executive vice president, Global Loyalty
In addition to providing direct service to cardholders, Mastercard assists governments, businesses, and brands in understanding changing consumer patterns and preferences to build and test programs and incentives. Mastercard services give customers everything they need to welcome back travelers, from market analysis and insights to marketing solutions and consumer engagement strategies. The Tourism Innovation Hub in Spain, for example, was recently established to develop customized goods and solutions to enable a sustainable, inclusive return to travel through innovation, research, and collaboration throughout the ecosystem.
Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle Services is a travel planning and booking portal that provides World and World Elite cards with unique guarantees, amenities, and upgrades, as well as 24/7 concierge and premium offers and entertainment from major travel brands. With the experience economy in full swing, travelers can satisfy their wanderlust with customized city tours informed by local experts and member favorites via the Inspiration Module. The program now features WhatsApp servicing, which is presently accessible in certain geographies2 throughout the world and will be available globally by the end of the year, where members can message Lifestyle Managers regarding travel and concierge requirements from their phone.
Cardholders benefit from the Lowest Hotel Rate Guarantee, and the Mastercard Hotel Stay Guarantee, as well as free nights and preferential treatment at over 4,000 4- and 5-star properties worldwide. In addition, travelers can book once-in-a-lifetime Priceless Experiences while in location, such as a dream vacation to London and Paris with Michelin-starred restaurants, luxury glamping in Sweden's Blekinge archipelago, or a visit to the top of New York City's One World Observatory.
Premier Programs and New Travel Partnerships
In addition to the preferred experience of Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle Services, Mastercard has formed several new alliances to provide perks that reduce travel stress and promote more enjoyable experiences.
Convenience: Cardholders enjoy access to a global network of over 1,100 airport lounges for delayed flights or relaxing in quiet. Mastercard Flight Delay Pass, currently accessible in select locations worldwide, provides complimentary lounge access on eligible delayed flights. FastTrack in Europe was also recently established, as was Mastercard Travel Pass in Canada, providing a hassle-free airport experience.
Connection: Starting in the Asia Pacific and expanding to additional regions later this year, select cardholders now have access to complimentary worldwide roaming data packs for use in more than 200 countries, and a 15% Mastercard discount on top-ups via Flexiroam.
Care: Through Sitata, cardholders can opt-in to get real-time notifications and the most recent COVID limits and requirements, including testing locations and cost.
Convenience: The new mycardbenefits.com is a digital insurance platform that allows Mastercard cardholders to instantly access – and smoothly submit – claims for the insurances contained on their card, such as vehicle rental, and lost luggage replacement, mobile phone, and trip cancellation.
Cash Rewards: Use Mastercard Travel Rewards to shop and earn cash rewards at hundreds of prestigious retailers in 19 destinations, and thousands of online deals for unique save
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