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Emirates Hosts Tennis Clinic for Kids with Legends Sloane Stephens and John Isner at the US Open

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Emirates hosted a tennis clinic for six children from Kings County Tennis League, with tennis legends Sloane Stephens and John Isner, at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The hour-long clinic, organised by Emirates during the US Open, was part of the airline’s Force for Good programme.

At the clinic, youth from King’s County Tennis League, who benefited from the programme’s inaugural project at De Hostos Playground in South Williamsburg, had the opportunity to interact with and receive lessons from the two legends.

Emirates is the Official Airline of the US Open Grand Slam® tournament and launched the Force for Good programme in partnership with the USTA Foundation in 2024.

The six children from Kings County Tennis League also received special gifts from Emirates cabin crew members, including new kits consisting of high-quality tennis gear to up their game. The kids also received autographs from the legends and had the opportunity take commemorative photos before visiting Emirates’ premium hospitality suite at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

To provide the opportunity for a wider group of children from Kings County Tennis League to enjoy the matches at the US Open, Emirates also treated 160 guests, consisting of youth and their guardians, to promenade seats and an invite-only experience at the airline’s hospitality suite.

Emirates’ Force for Good initiative, now in its second year, aims to uplift communities and create opportunities for youth of all ages to develop their tennis skills by engaging in educational programs that contribute to their future success and overall wellbeing. The five-year partnership will see Emirates refurbishing tennis court facilities in US cities, with a total commitment of USD 2.5 million.

To date, Emirates has contributed USD 1 million to the USTA Foundation to fund the renovation of tennis courts in communities in Brooklyn, New York, and East Palo Alto, California.

 

 

 

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ABTA and SBiT urge Government to press ahead with EU deals

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Representative Image

ABTA – The Travel Association (ABTA) and Seasonal Businesses in Travel (SBiT) have revealed new research showing strong public support for securing a youth experience deal with the EU, as it urges the government to press ahead with negotiations with the EU following May’s UK-EU Summit.

A new survey, commissioned by ABTA with YouGov, found that 76% of Brits support a deal with the EU to enable young people to work, live, and study overseas for temporary periods. The poll found strong support amongst all voter types, with even 61% of those who voted to the leave the EU in 2016 in favour of a deal on youth mobility.

The associations say this matters for the health of the UK’s outbound travel sector, which brings more than £52bn a year in Gross Value Added to the UK economy, because many of the workers in the industry started their careers in temporary roles overseas and around two-thirds of all UK holidays overseas are taken within the EU annually.

Previous research by ABTA and SBiT, revealed over a third of all workers, and nearly half of industry leaders, worked in similar roles earlier in their careers. There has also been a notable fall in opportunities for young people to find these roles since the UK voted to leave the EU, with the number of UK nationals working in tourism support roles – such as travel reps, having fallen by 69% since then.

The bodies are also asking the government to prioritise several other travel-related areas in future talks with the EU, and notes that the polling found strong support for the economic benefits of closer relations with the EU – with 66% of respondents saying they believe a closer relationship would improve the UK economy. The survey also found majority support for general closer relations with the EU, with 57% in favour versus 12% who felt relations should be more distant[1].

Luke Petherbridge, ABTA’s Director of Public Affairs, said: “We know that travel is one of the most noticeable areas that has been altered by the UK’s departure from the EU – with Brits now having to join different passport queues, and changes to the in-destination experience of UK holidaymakers as it has become harder for travel companies to hire get UK staff into Europe.

“We welcomed the UK-EU deal in May. We now need to see progress on the items within the deal, such as enhanced use of egates and, importantly, restoring opportunities for young people from the UK to live and work in the EU, which often is the way people take their first steps into a career in travel. Securing these changes will help the industry to grow and to continue to be successful.” 2

However, the association also says that the government must look to build on the UK-EU agreement in May, by developing further cooperation with the EU to benefit travellers and the industry.

Luke Petherbridge, Director of Public Affairs, continued: “There are important changes to border arrangements being made by both sides currently, with the UK introducing our Electronic Travel Authority earlier this year, and the EU’s Entry/Exit System going live in October, to be followed by their own pre-travel authorisation system expected in 2026. These changes require ongoing attention to avoid disruption, especially for certain types of travel such as those on school trips.

“Future deals must be reached to avoid new barriers being placed to travel. The polling undertaken this weekend demonstrates that there is strong support for this approach among the UK public.”

Charles Owen, Managing Director at SBIT said:“The industry has been held back by the lack of mobility arrangements. Whilst some temporary arrangements have been agreed, these are not universal – and are unilateral, so offer little certainty. A UK-EU wide agreement will offer a partial solution, and we’d encourage ministers to get on and do the deal”.

 

 

 

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A first look at ICEHOTEL 36, 0pening on 12 th December 2025

The post A first look at ICEHOTEL 36, 0pening on 12 th December 2025 appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

 

Walk through ICEHOTEL’s iconic gates and step into a world of ice and snow. In the Main Hall, Cathedral Grove dazzles with a forest of icy treetops stretching to the ceiling. In the Ceremony Hall ECHO, couples can get engaged or married among the ice art, or simply experience stillness and pure beauty. Imagine sleeping in the eye of the storm in the art suite Sweep Me Off My Feet, floating inside a bubble-filled world in Soap Bubbles, or feeling the cosmic power of a black hole in Spaghettification. These are just a few of the experiences coming to life this 12 December  in the 36th rendition of ICEHOTEL.

Creating ICEHOTEL 36
In mid-November, 29 artists from 9 countries will gather in Jukkasjärvi to turn 2,000 tons of Torne River ice into art. Together with the construction team and lighting designers, they will build a 2,800-square-meter hotel entirely from snow and ice. When spring arrives, the seasonal part of ICEHOTEL melts back into the river, while ICEHOTEL 365 remains open year-round with ICEBAR by ICEHOTEL, and 18 art suites crafted from ice and snow.

“This coming winter brings several exciting new features – from a magnificent outdoor installation to two brand-new art projects in the hotel’s Main Hall. We are truly excited to see our guests’ reactions!” says Luca Roccoroni, Creative Director at ICEHOTEL.

A Winter Wonderland of art, food and arctic experiences
ICEHOTEL is more than a hotel – it’s a full winter experience. Savor local delicacies at ICEHOTEL Restaurant, enjoy a wilderness dinner by an open fire, or dive into outdoor adventures like dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, ice sculpting, and Northern Lights safaris. Guests can also experience the traditional Jukkasjärvi sauna ritual, complete with an invigorating ice plunge. After a day of magic, retreat to an art suite of ice and snow, a deluxe suite with a private ensuite heated sauna and bathroom, or a warm hotel room with cozy bedding, before ending the night with a signature ice cocktail at ICEBAR by ICEHOTEL.

Northern Lights Magic
The Northern Lights are already painting the skies above Jukkasjärvi. Autumn is the perfect time to catch them – long evenings, dark skies, and milder temperatures. Pair the aurora with a night in ICEHOTEL 365 or a Northern Lights dinner in the wilderness, and let the season’s colors and light mesmerize you.

“Autumn is a magical time to visit ICEHOTEL, with crisp nights and northern lights sometimes even more visible before the snow arrives. Guests can stay among ice and snow art in ICEHOTEL 365, while also witnessing ICEHOTEL 36 take shape just outside,” says Marie Herrey, CEO of ICEHOTEL.

ART AND ARTISTS – ICEHOTEL 36
12 ART SUITES, 1 MAIN HALL, 1 CEREMONY HALL, 1 OUTDOOR ART PROJECT IN THE ENTRANCE AREA, 2  ART PROJECTS

SPAGHETTIFICATION
Tomasz Czajkowski & Milosz Matelski, Poland

DRAGON OF ICEHOTEL
Gao Hongyu & Guo Baiwei, China

SOAP BUBBLES
Coralie Quincey & Robin Landrit, France/UK

PARLIAMENT OF OWLS
David Rothstein & Carlos Miguel Ramirez Pereyra, USA/Mexico

RIVER BED
Clément Daquin & Raphaël Jeanne, France

ARCTIC ARCHIVE
Kristina Möckel & Sebastian Scheller, Germany

AN OTTER’S MIDWINTER NIGHT’S DREAM
Sandra St-Laurent & Mylène Leboeuf-Gagné, Canada

JUZU-TSUNAGI
Yasuaki Onishi & Minako Yoshida, Japan

THERE’S NO ONE HERE
Ayla Turan & Kemal Tufan, Turkey

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST
Carl Wellander & Ellen Wellander, Sweden

ICE AS A MIRROR
Pieke Bergmans & Peer de Wit, Netherlands

SWEEP ME OFF MY FEET
Elin Julin & Ida Mangsbo, Sweden

HALL OF COLUMNS: CATHEDRAL GROVE
Brian McArthur & Dawn Detarando, Canada

CEREMONIAL: ECHO
Luc Voisin & Mathieu Brison, France

OUTDOOR ART PROJECT ENTRANCE AREA: WAVE
Franziska Agrawal, Germany

DECORATION PROJECT: CRYSTAL SOULS
Robin Lind & Charlie Hammarlund, Sweden

GRAND ICE PIANO
Design by ICEHOTEL

 

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India ‘Regional Tourism Conclave’ to be held in Gwalior from 29 August

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With the objective of boosting tourism inflow and encouraging tourism investment in the Gwalior–Chambal and Sagar divisions, the Regional Tourism Conclave will be organised in Gwalior on 29–30 August under the chief hospitality of Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav. The event will take place at Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior. Union Minister of Communications and Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, Speaker of Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, and Minister of State (Independent Charge), Tourism, Culture, and Religious Trusts & Endowments Department Shri Dharmendra Singh Lodhi will be present on the occasion.

Minister of State Shri Lodhi informed that along with the rising number of tourists in Madhya Pradesh, the conclave is being organised to foster cooperation and partnerships among tourism entrepreneurs, tour operators, and the hotel industry. The conclave will provide new dimensions of investment in the tourism sector of Gwalior. Based on the theme “Timeless Gwalior: Echoes of Culture, Spirit of Legacy”, the event will serve as a significant initiative to promote tourism investment, cultural heritage, experiential tourism, and regional development.

Principal Secretary, Tourism, Culture, and Religious Trusts & Endowments Department, and Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board Sheo Shekhar Shukla informed that Letters of Award (LoAs) will be handed over to investors in the hotel, resort, wellness, and eco-tourism sectors during the conclave, along with MoUs and agreements. These projects will generate tourism-based employment for the local community and give sustainable momentum to regional tourism. Important announcements for accelerating regional development will also be made. A special tourism exhibition will be organised showcasing diverse destinations of Madhya Pradesh, tourism units, hospitality brands, homestays, resorts, handloom/handicraft, adventure activities, and cultural heritage.

Shukla further informed that two significant sessions will be held during the conclave. A panel discussion on the theme “Tourism as a Cultural Bridge – Branding Gwalior and Heartland of MP” will focus on strategies to position Gwalior’s cultural heritage, classical music, and architectural legacy on the global tourism map. Another panel discussion titled “Gwalior and Chambal Rising – Inbound Appeal through Heritage, Luxury and Experience” will deliberate on new dimensions such as heritage, luxury stays, destination weddings, and experiential tourism.

 

 

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Sarawak Tourism Board puts its best foot forward at CelebrASIA 2025

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The Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) announced its participation for the first time ever at CelebrASIA 2025.

The popular consumer show returns for its second year from 5th to 7th September at Battersea Power Station, London.

Following the tremendous success of the inaugural event in 2024, which drew over 154,000 attendees across three days, CelebrASIA has established itself as a flagship event in the UK for cultural exchange and tourism promotion. 

Supported by embassies and community groups, the festival showcases ten Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia, with Sarawak taking an important role in this year’s programme.

Set to return even bigger in 2025, the three-day event will once again transform one of London’s most iconic venues into a vibrant celebration of Southeast Asian food, culture, and community. 

This year there will be an expanded programme including a new riverside Feasting Tent, a curated artisan market of over 30 Southeast Asian brands, and interactive arts and craft sessions for all ages.

According to STB chief executive Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor: “The UK is important for us. CelebrASIA offers an exceptional opportunity to engage directly with UK-based travellers, trade professionals, and the wider community. We are proud to present the diverse cultural expressions and indigenous craftsmanship of Sarawak, and to reinforce its position as one of Malaysia’s most compelling and authentic destinations.”

Bringing the best of Malaysia to London

As part of Malaysia’s national presence, Sarawak will play a prominent role, showcasing its unique traditions, creative industries, and authentic visitor experiences through a range of engaging activities.

Indeed, Sarawak’s participation reflects its continued commitment to cultural diplomacy and destination marketing, connecting with a key international market and inviting UK travellers to explore its living traditions, biodiversity, and heritage.

That said, the STB will be partnering with Tourism Malaysia to showcase the country’s appeal as a leading and diverse travel destination. 

During CelebrASIA 2025, STB will spotlight Sarawak’s rich eco-tourism, vibrant cultural heritage, and immersive travel experiences.

The Sarawak Craft Council will also have a booth, showcasing and selling traditional Sarawak crafts, including intricate beadwork and handwoven basketry.

Enhancing the visitor experience further, Sarawak Tourism Board will be offering two hands-on craft workshops, offering festival-goers the opportunity to explore and participate in traditional Sarawakian art forms.

Both hour-long workshops will take place in the Turbine Halls, Level 1, and are priced at £35 per person. 

As attendance is limited to 20 participants, places must be booked in advance via the event organiser’s website.

In addition to the workshops, a six-member performance troupe from the Sarawak Arts Council will present a captivating programme of traditional dance performances on the festival’s outdoor stage. 

These live cultural showcases will run from Friday afternoon through to Sunday evening, offering audiences a vibrant glimpse into Sarawak’s rich artistic heritage. 

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Alliance Française de Hong Kong (AFHK) and Hong Kong Tramways hold tram design competition

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As a way of celebrating creativity through cultural exchange, the Alliance Française de Hong Kong (AFHK) and Tramplus, a sister company of Hong Kong Tramways, teamed up for a joint Tram Design Competition.

The contest was geared towards transforming one of the city’s most iconic modes of transport into a moving canvas of French-inspired imagination.

As such, the competition opened a new chapter in a long-standing partnership between AFHK and Hong Kong Tramways, who have collaborated for years to bring French cultural events to the streets of Hong Kong.

These have included the Hong Kong French Film Festival, which has become a beloved annual tradition of many cinephiles. 

The Tram Design Competition built on this legacy by encouraging secondary school students to engage with French aesthetics through art and design.

Learning through creative pursuits

The collaboration between AFHK and Tramplus reflects a shared commitment to enriching the learning experience of Hong Kong’s youth through creativity, language, and cultural immersion. 

By combining AFHK’s more than seven decades of expertise in French education and cultural promotion with Tramplus’s innovative approach to community placemaking, the project offers students a unique opportunity to explore French culture in a dynamic and creative format.

Centred around the theme Découverte de la Beauté Française (Discovering French Beauty), select secondary school students designed tram exteriors inspired by French art, fashion, innovation, and heritage. 

The winning design created by Li Pui Hiu from St. Mark’s School will be unveiled on 8th September at 10:00am at the Whitty Street Tram Depot, in the presence of Christile Drulhe, Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau. 

The tram will circulate through the city for four weeks, showcasing the student’s creative artwork to the public.

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Thailand to boost global confidence with the Trusted Thailand stamp

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The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) officially launched the “Trusted Thailand” Stamp earlier today, 27th August.

The stamp is meant to reinforce international confidence and enhance the kingdom’s image as a safe, reliable and welcoming destination. 

This initiative assures travellers of peace of mind when choosing Thailand, while recognising operators that meet the highest safety standards.

Vice-minister of tourism and sports Jakkaphon Tangsutthitham explained at the launch how the Thai Government recognises that safety is the foundation of sustainable tourism and remains the first priority in policy.

Tangsutthitham said: “China is a key source market, and it is crucial that we preserve trust among Chinese visitors. This launch reflects an invitation to all tourism operators, partnered agencies and stakeholders to work together in advancing Thailand’s tourism towards safe, secure and sustainable growth, ensuring Thailand remains one of the world’s top destinations of choice.”

Likewise, TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool declared: “The Trusted Thailand stamp is a practical mechanism to restore traveller confidence while laying the foundation for Thailand’s tourism industry to meet international safety standards. More than a symbol, it represents our commitment to making Thailand a destination where every visitor feels secure and truly welcome.”

Tangsutthitham added that the government has continuously paired safety measures with tourism promotion, including upgrading the standards of attractions, coordinating with security agencies, delivering accurate communication, and facilitating visitors in all dimensions. 

He concluded by saying: “These efforts signal steady recovery and are the result of collective cooperation in building trust.”

The Thailand Safe Travel Stamp project is scheduled for its initial nationwide roll-out in October 2025. 

It will place strong emphasis on international publicity through multilingual content, targeted digital campaigns, and collaborations with key opinion leaders and influencers from priority markets. These efforts aim to project a refreshed image of Thailand as a modern, stable, and safe destination, under the concept “Travel Thailand with Confidence Every Step of the Way.”

Amplifying attractiveness with the comfort of safety

Thailand continues to attract travellers worldwide with its diverse tourism assets, warm hospitality and unique cultural identity. 

Yet, in today’s travel environment, safety has become a decisive factor, especially among families, female travellers, independent tourists, and quality visitors from key markets such as China, South Korea, Japan, the US, the UK, and Europe.

Online platforms and social media significantly shape a destination’s image, and negative reports can impact confidence on a wide scale. 

Recognising this, TAT has prioritised the development of a robust initiative that demonstrates Thailand’s readiness to be a safe, trustworthy, and friendly destination in both systemic and symbolic ways.

Beyond certification, the project also features supporting activities to strengthen confidence across the sector. 

These include a public forum with agencies such as the Department of Provincial Administration, Department of Tourism, Tourist Police Bureau and Department of Land Transport to discuss integrated safety management; workshops on passenger transport safety with demonstrations of emergency procedures; and targeted campaigns to rebuild trust ahead of the high season in both short-haul markets like China and long-haul markets in Europe and the Americas.

What areas are covered by the stamping initiative?

The project targets a strong focus on accommodations, restaurants, attractions, recreational venues and shopping centres, which are key points of interest for Chinese travellers.

Under this initiative, tourism operators will be assessed to receive the “Trusted Thailand” stamp, serving as a practical symbol of assurance to help visitors make informed decisions. 

The assessment covers four key areas: general safety measures at tourism sites such as CCTV installation, emergency response systems, controlled access and disaster preparedness; secure financial transactions with recognised global platforms and transparent practices (such as Alipay and WeChat Pay); foreign language communication and professional visitor care, particularly in emergencies; and safe access and mobility, including clear signposting, transport connections and information points.

A dedicated mini–site will be launched in September 2025, providing a self-assessment platform for operators and a directory of certified businesses accessible to visitors.

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CapitaLand Ascott Trust acquires three rental housing properties in Japan

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CapitaLand Ascott Trust (CLAS) announced its acquisition of three freehold rental housing properties in Japan for a total of JPY4 billion. 

Two of the rental housing properties, Splendide Namba West and Pregio Esaka South, are in Osaka, while the third, Pre de Cort Nishikyogoku, is in Kyoto. 

On a FY 2024 pro forma basis, the acquisition of the three rental housing properties has a  Distribution per Stapled Security (DPS) accretion of 0.3 percent. 

In line with CLAS’ portfolio reconstitution strategy, the acquisition was funded by proceeds from CLAS’ divestment of Citadines Karasuma-Gojo Kyoto in October 2024 and JPY-denominated debt. 

The expected net operating income (NOI) entry yield of the acquisition is four percent in FY 2025. This  is significantly higher than the NOI exit yield of 0.4 percent from the divestment of Citadines  Karasuma-Gojo Kyoto. 

The three operating assets will contribute to CLAS’ distributable  income immediately. 

On an annualised basis, the combined distributable income is expected  to more than fully replace the income from the divested Citadines Karasuma-Gojo Kyoto. 

CapitaLand Ascott Trust Management Limited and CapitaLand Ascott Business Trust Management Pte Ltd chief executive Serena Teo said: “The  acquisition demonstrates CLAS’ ability to reconstitute our portfolio by redeploying divestment  proceeds into higher-yielding assets, further enhancing CLAS’ portfolio and the quality of our  earnings. Built about five years ago, the three rental housing properties are located in prime  areas of key gateway cities with expanding economic opportunities. With average lease terms  of about two years and an average occupancy of about 97 percent, the acquisition strengthens our  stable income stream and portfolio resilience. Meanwhile, our earlier acquisition of two hotels in Tokyo and Kanazawa in January 2025 positions us to benefit from the growing travel demand. This combination of stable and growth income sources is a key strength for CLAS.” 

Surging forward in a key market

Japan is one of CLAS’ key markets and, post-acquisition, its properties in the country will account for 17.7 percent of the company’s entire portfolio.

This will essentially enable CLAS to better capitalise on the strong lodging demand  in the country, whilst maintaining a geographically diverse portfolio. 

Teo said: “We remain focused on our three-pronged strategy: unlocking value through divestments, investing in yield-accretive opportunities, and uplifting portfolio quality through well-timed asset enhancement initiatives (AEIs), to deliver steady long-term returns to our Stapled Securityholders.”

In total, CLAS will have 33 assets in Japan, comprising two serviced residences,  four hotels, 26 rental housing properties, as well as a student accommodation property. 

Its properties in the living sector such as rental housing and student accommodation account for about 17 percent of CLAS’ total portfolio value. 

In the medium term, CLAS aims to increase its allocation  towards living sector assets to about 25 to 30 percent, with the remaining 70 to 75 percent to serviced residences and hotels. 

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Frasers Hospitality rethinks staff enablement with cutting-edge technologies

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Frasers Property Group’s business unit Frasers Hospitality continues to boost its service quality through both human resource training and the use of state of the art technologies.

That said, Frasers Hospitality joined Google Cloud’s AI Cloud Takeoff (AI CTO) programme and collaborated with Kyndryl, a Google Cloud partner, to develop a practical AI agent-based SOP creation and knowledge base app. 

Built using Google Cloud’s Firebase Studio, Vertex AI platform, and natively-multimodal Gemini API, the app automatically analyzes best practice training videos to generate SOP documents and Business Process Model and Notation 2.0 (BPMN) flowcharts. 

These are reviewed by managers and made available to staff as training modules via the app’s knowledge base. 

To ensure accessibility across Frasers Hospitality’s multinational workforce, the app includes a built-in translation feature powered by Google Cloud’s Translation API.

Why such technologies are necessary

Given how every detail, from room upkeep to staff attentiveness, directly influences guest satisfaction, reviews, brand reputation, and occupancy rates, the company sees a need to onboard and train new team members simultaneously. 

This demand is further driven by Frasers Hospitality’s commitment to staff development, making ongoing training a critical and continually evolving priority. 

This process is made more complex by frequent updates to in-room amenities, such as coffee machines or washers, to meet modern expectations. 

Each new appliance requires new installation and maintenance procedures for regular upkeeping. 

Manually updating standard operating procedures (SOPs) across diverse properties and languages is time-intensive.
That said, the new digital solution has been initially rolled out for Frasers Hospitality properties in Singapore and will be progressively rolled out across Southeast Asia. 

Indeed, Frasers Hospitality has earned numerous industry accolades that recognize its dedication to curating exceptional guest experiences. The implementation of its latest solution reinforces this commitment.

As Frasers Property managing director for group digital and technology Ian Loe puts it: “With Google Cloud’s easy-to-use software components and its Gemini 2.5 Flash model performing exceptionally well without fine-tuning, we went from solution ideation to production in just six weeks. The ability to quickly generate and disseminate easy-to-digest procedural documents from videos has fundamentally reshaped our approach to training. It has enabled us to transition to a scalable and structured staff development program that ensures a consistent guest experience across our hospitality portfolio. We’re also exploring its use in facilities management across our wider multi-asset class portfolio.”

Looking ahead, Frasers Hospitality is piloting a feature that transforms text-based SOPs into motion graphics with voiceovers, recognizing that visual formats can enhance learning for certain staff. This next phase remains exploratory and focused on practical outcomes.

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Courtyard by Marriott makes its Kyoto debut

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Courtyard by Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, made its debut in Japan’s cultural heartland with Courtyard by Marriott Kyoto Shijo Karasuma.

The new property brings the Courtyard brand’s signature blend of contemporary comfort and purposeful hospitality to the heart of Kyoto. 

Located in the vibrant Shijo district where timeless traditions meet the dynamic energy of modern city life, the new opening also marks the brand’s debut in Kyoto. 

The hotel is the ninth Courtyard by Marriott property in Japan, further expanding its footprint across the country.

Marriott International’s market vice-president for Japan and Guam Yuji Tanaka said: “We are delighted to introduce the Courtyard by Marriott experience to the historic city of Kyoto. The Courtyard brand is designed for today’s ambitious and passionate traveler. Whether our guests are traveling on business or for leisure, Courtyard by Marriott Kyoto Shijo Karasuma will offer an ideal base to explore Kyoto’s vibrant heritage as they stay connected, productive and inspired.” 

As general manager Tetsuji Onogi puts it: “It is both a privilege and a great pleasure to open the first Courtyard hotel in Kyoto, and the first for the JR Tokai Group. Together with my team, I look forward to welcoming guests from around the world and ensuring their stay in Kyoto, a city where history, culture, and urban vibrancy are beautifully intertwined, becomes truly memorable. At Courtyard by Marriott Kyoto Shijo Karasuma, we are committed to providing attentive service and a refined environment that will elevate every guest experience.”

In the heart of a storied city

Courtyard by Marriott Kyoto Shijo Karasuma is nestled in the geographical and cultural heart of Kyoto, where Shijo-dori Shijo street runs through some of Kyoto’s most iconic and vibrant neighborhoods, including downtown Kyoto, Gion, and Kawaramachi. 

This area is famous as the home of the 400-year-old Nishiki Market with its 300 shops, traditional machiya houses, bustling shopping streets and art dealerships, as well as its proximity to historic sites such as Yasaka Shrine and Gion’s preserved geisha quarters. 

The hotel is strategically located within several minutes’ walk to Shiko and Karasuma subway stations, which conveniently links the area to Osaka (Kansai) International Airport, approximately 95 kilometres or about 1.5 hours’ train ride away via the JR Haruka Express. 

With its beautiful interiors by leading architectural firm HBA, the new property features 125 modern guest rooms inspired by modern Japanese style that create welcoming, relaxing spaces accented by contemporary wood and textured fabrics that echo the traditional Japanese refinement. 

All guest rooms are furnished with Serta beds for exceptional comfort as well as complimentary Wi-Fi to keep guests connected during their visit to Kyoto. 

Within the hotel, guests can enjoy Le Bon Vivre, an all-day dining restaurant operated by Shinshindo, a bakery with over 100 years of history in Kyoto. 

From Western-style breakfasts to dinner, the restaurant offers delightful dining experiences through bread, catering to a variety of occasions. 

To keep guests moving forward and help them pursue their passions while on the road, the hotel offers a fully-equipped 24-hour Fitness Center with the latest Technogym machines to provide a complete workout.  

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