HOSPITALITY TRENDS
globenewswire | May 12, 2023
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA) and Nobu Hotel Atlanta have teamed up to create an immersive, first-of-its-kind hospitality experience for travelers from across the globe. Located just north of Porsche’s U.S. headquarters, Nobu Hotel Atlanta unveils today the new Porsche Icon Suite and Porsche Classic Room. As the first Nobu property worldwide to offer a Porsche-themed experience, the newly opened Buckhead hotel offers stunning accommodations and a host of exclusive amenities designed to give guests an unforgettable stay.
“From our sports cars to the experiences we offer, the goal is to provide an elevated experience for everyone who engages with our brand,” said Ayesha Coker, Vice President of Marketing of PCNA. “We’re thrilled to see this collaboration come to life as two luxury brands come together for Atlantans and travelers from around the world who’re seeking a unique and immersive stay while visiting Atlanta.”
Nobu Hotel Atlanta has elegantly designed a room and suite that seamlessly integrates sleek Porsche-inspired art and decor as well as exclusive memorabilia celebrating iconic Porsche moments. Guests will also find best-in-class amenities consistent with Nobu’s signature attention to detail and customized for the Porsche-minded lifestyle. Among these are a Porsche-dedicated executive conference room onsite for guests looking to host business meetings. For those who are interested in exploring the city, they can take a ride in one of the property’s all-electric Porsche Taycan house cars, expertly navigated by dedicated personal drivers.
With excitement in store at every turn, Nobu Hotel Atlanta will offer an elevated package for those looking to shift their stay into high gear with a two-night stay in the Porsche Icon Suite with breakfast for two and Nobu’s Signature Omakase dining experience. Guests will also enjoy a stylized Nobu Champagne bottle in-room and will receive a personalized Porsche bathrobe to take home. For off-site excursions within a three-mile radius, the hotel will provide its Porsche house car service upon request.
“At the heart of every Nobu Hotels’ collaboration is a desire to thoughtfully curate compelling experiences that enhance our guest journey,” said Rachael Palumbo, VP Global Hotel Branding at Nobu Hospitality. “With 75 years’ worth of brand excellence to its name, Porsche’s reputation as an automotive legend complements our global vision of delivering the highest level of luxury hospitality at an intimate level.”
AboutNobu Hotel Atlanta
Nobu Hospitality’s first Georgia hotel and restaurant are located in Atlanta’s prestigious Buckhead community. The new property features 152 rooms and suites; a Nobu restaurant with a bar and lounge; a rooftop swimming pool and deck; conference center; and a state-of-the-art fitness center with Technogym equipment. Designed by Rockwell Group, the hotel and restaurant are located within the Phipps Plaza luxury retail center, alongside Life Time® Athletic and Life Time Work®, a healthy living and entertainment destination; a 13-story, LEED-certified, Class A office building; and Citizens Culinary Market (opening soon).
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COMMERCIAL TRAVEL
Operto | March 21, 2023
Operto Guest Technologies, a leading provider of automated solutions for 50 million-plus rooms in the global hospitality industry, today announced that it secured US$25 million in a Series-B financing round. The financing was led by Centana Growth Partners, with participation from Thayer Ventures, FUSE, Blackpines Capital Partners and Derive Ventures.
Proceeds from the round will be used to further fuel Operto’s aggressive expansion in the global short-term rental and hotel markets, where it already works exclusively with Accor Hotels to power its global digital key program. This includes luxury hotel brands such Fairmont and Raffles, where Operto’s revolutionary contactless digital solutions can be leveraged to remove common friction points in the guest journey, while lowering operating costs and driving new sources of revenue for the hotel.
"We are delighted to announce our B-Round funding, which will enable us to build upon our exceptional company growth over the past 3 years. It will accelerate our company mission to build cutting-edge technology solutions that drive amazing guest experiences, across the entire accommodation spectrum. In addition, our solutions will continue to deliver huge operational efficiencies for property owners and hosts by lowering costs and driving additional in-stay guest revenues, which is becoming increasingly important in today’s macroeconomic environment,” said Operto CEO Steve Davis. “Hospitality is one of the last major industries to be disrupted by technology, and we believe there is a significant opportunity to bring the benefits of simple, affordable automation to the sector. We are excited about the future, and we look forward to making a real difference to the accommodation industry."
“Operto is leading the digital transformation of the hospitality industry by creating a seamless, automated check-in and check-out experience for its customers,” said Eric Byunn, co-founder and partner at Centana Growth Partners. “Centana has been following the digitization of the hospitality industry closely, and we are very excited about this sort of innovative disruption streamlining the experience of owners, hosts, and guests. We will leverage our expertise in the payments and commerce ecosystem to work with Operto as they continue to innovate in an industry with such enormous potential.”
In addition to the funding announcement, Operto is pleased to announce that Sam Shank has joined the company’s Board of Directors. Shank, who was previously CEO and founder of HotelTonight and former head of Airbnb’s Commercial Team, brings a wealth of hospitality and travel industry experience to Operto. "Operto's cutting-edge technology solutions are reshaping the hospitality industry, and I am excited to be a part of the journey,” said Shank. “I look forward to working with the team to help drive growth and innovation."
Operto’s automated, customizable platform enables hotels, property managers and others to remotely provide access as well as monitor and control a wide range of devices and systems, including smartphone-enabled guest verification, security deposit and payment, electronic elevator and room access. By providing property managers with real-time data and insights, Operto helps streamline operations, reduce costs and enhance the guest experience.
Operto Guest Technologies is well-positioned to continue its rapid growth and expansion into new markets. The company is committed to delivering innovative solutions that help property managers improve efficiency, reduce costs and provide a better experience for their guests.
About Operto Guest Technologies
Operto Guest Technologies is a Vancouver-based company that provides smart property automation solutions for the hotel and vacation rental sectors. Operto’s platform enables property owners and managers to remotely monitor and control their properties, enhancing the guest experience while improving operational efficiency. The company's solutions can integrate with existing property management software and are customizable to meet the unique needs of each property. Operto Guest Technologies' solutions have been adopted by property managers and owners in over 100-countries worldwide.
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COMMERCIAL TRAVEL
Sabre Corporation | May 17, 2023
Sabre Corporation, a leading software and technology provider that powers the global travel industry, today announced a long-term technology renewal with one of Taiwan's biggest travel agencies. The agreement means that South East Travel will continue to benefit from advanced Sabre solutions to support business expansion.
South East Travel has chosen to continue to deploy an extensive suite of Sabre products, including Sabre Red 360, which unlocks a full spectrum of bookable content to enable agents to create, sell, and service tailored trip experiences. The Taipei-headquartered agency is also using Sabre's Ticket Express, Automated Exchanges, Automated Refunds, and Bargain Finder Max. It will continue to use Sabre technology to automate repetitive tasks, increase productivity, reduce operational costs, understand customer preferences, and help agents to create optimum offers for both leisure and corporate travelers.
"We're delighted to extend and expand upon our strategic technology agreement with Sabre," said Joe Huang, General Manager, Ticketing Division of South East Travel. "Sabre has been our valued travel technology provider for more than 30 years, and we've already seen the benefits to our own business, and to our travelers, brought by a combination of technology and local support. It is essential for us to have continued seamless access to the advanced Sabre solutions we need to support our business expansion plans."
South East Travel was established more than 60 years ago. The group's services include domestic and international group travel, independent travel, air tickets, cruises, and business travel. It has more than 70 outlets across Taiwan, China, Japan and the United States.
"As Taiwan accelerates its recovery to pre-pandemic levels, we're thrilled that Sabre products will continue to support South East Travel so it can play an important role in the recovery and growth of the travel ecosystem in Taiwan, and beyond," said Brett Thorstad, vice president, Sabre Travel Solutions, agency sales - Asia Pacific. "This strategic agreement will support South East Travel to meet its diverse customer needs while scaling its business, and is a testament to its confidence in Sabre, and the ability of our advanced technology and our team to drive agency growth."
"Given the long-term relationship between South East Travel and Sabre Taiwan, we are incredibly excited by this expanded cooperation between the two companies. Sabre Taiwan will continue to work with South East Travel to optimize their operational efficiency and business growth with Sabre's automation solutions and localized products as well as our rapid and high quality service level," added Simon Lee, General Manager, Sabre Taiwan.
About Sabre Corporation
Sabre Corporation is a leading software and technology company that powers the global travel industry, serving a wide range of travel companies including airlines, hoteliers, travel agencies and other suppliers. The company provides retailing, distribution and fulfilment solutions that help its customers operate more efficiently, drive revenue and offer personalized traveler experiences. Through its leading travel marketplace, Sabre connects travel suppliers with buyers from around the globe. Sabre's technology platform manages more than $260B worth of global travel spend annually. Headquartered in Southlake, Texas, USA, Sabre serves customers in more than 160 countries around the world.
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