Innovative Hotel Aims to Beat Airbnb

Over the last few years, the travel industry has been transformed by technology and an ever-growing need for autonomy. With companies like Airbnb providing simple and affordable places to stay, the hotel business has new challenges – and Ian Schrager’s PUBLIC Hotel in New York City is specifically designed to meet those challenges!

A Different Kind of Hotel Experience

With Airbnb’s popularity growing at an alarming rate, hotel owner Ian Schrager has taken action against its most attractive features with his hotel, PUBLIC . Airbnb’s popularity has shown that autonomy and technology are some of the biggest priorities for the modern traveler so PUBLIC emphasizes both.  As guests arrive, they are greeted by self-serve tablets where they can check in and create their own room keys. For dinner, guests can choose from five unique bars and a restaurant- not the traditional room service.  Even the way prospective guests interact with the hotel is influenced by technology. Rather than needing to call the hotel,  questions can be answered by a chatbot through Facebook.

Other PUBLIC Perks

Located in the heart of New York City, PUBLIC is undoubtedly glamorous. Many rooms in the hotel offer beautiful views of the city, including the 360-degree view from the bar, “The Roof.” The hotel also offers a multimedia performance area home to movie screenings, musical performances, rotating art exhibitions, you name it.

Impact of Airbnb

Since its humble beginnings in August of 2008, Airbnb has grown into a multibillion dollar company that has transformed the hospitality industry. If you don’t believe us, check out some of these stats:

  • Airbnb has over 150 million users, not including those that host locations
  • Users can choose from more than 4 million listings
  • Airbnb is active in 65,000 cities, spanning across 191 different countries
  • Even more stats about Airbnb

In an interview with the Wallstreet Journal Schrager commented on his attempts to beat Airbnb by saying, “The only way you can compete with a strong idea is by having another strong idea.” Over the next few years, we may begin to see more and more hotels take hold of this strong idea!

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4 Haunted Hotels To Visit…If You Dare

When checking in to a luxury hotel, comfortable beds and speedy service are expected. But, at some of the most haunted hotels in the United States, guests may be greeted by more than just the friendly concierge. The spooky histories and ghost stories surrounding these hotels will make you think twice before turning the lights out at night.

“America’s Most Haunted Hotel”

Dubbed as “America’s Most Haunted Hotel” and featured on SciFi’s Ghost Hunters, Arkansas’s Crescent Hotel has a rich history filled with ghost stories. Famous spirits that roam the property include Michael, the Irish stonemason who fell to his death while building the hotel, Morris the cat and Theodora, the cancer patient who always needs help finding her room key. To learn more about Theodora’s story, read our blog post:  “A Ghost Story from America’s Most Haunted Hotel.”

The Hotel that Inspired “The Shining”

Secluded in the foothills of the Colorado mountains, the Stanley Hotel might look familiar if you’re a movie buff. This hotel, with its haunted history, served as the inspiration behind Stephen King’s horror novel and film, The Shining. Over the years, guests have reported mysteriously unpacked clothes, lights turning on and off and children laughing and running down the halls.

The Oldest Continually Operated Hotel in Los Angeles

As the oldest, continually operating hotel in Los Angeles, it is no wonder that the Hollywood Roosevelt is reportedly haunted. This historic hotel has welcomed guests such as Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplan and Clark Gable. It is rumored that Marilyn Monroe’s ghost occasionally appears in a full-length mirror that was originally located in her poolside Suite 1200. The mirror is now located next to the elevator on the lower level of the hotel.

A Haunted Cruise Ship

Resting in Longbeach Harbor, California is the haunted Queen Mary hotel, a renovated ship that was once bigger, faster and more powerful than the Titanic. The ship’s maiden voyage was in 1936 and had since served as a luxury ocean liner and World War II troopship for thousands of notable passengers, until eventually making her final voyage in 1967. The Queen Mary is considered one of the most haunted places in the world with as many as 150 known spirits roaming its decks.

Have your own ghost story that you’d like to share? Tell us below!

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5 Hotels Making You Rethink Amenities

The Burj Al Arab (to the right) stands out on the Dubai skyline

Forget everything you thought about amenities. Does free WiFi, complimentary breakfast, room service and a mini bar sound good? Well you might second guess your concept of “good amenities” after hearing the amazing offerings some luxury properties treat guests with!

The Burj Al Arab

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The Burj Al Arab boasts itself as the first 7-star hotel in the world, so it’s not that surprising to hear that they give guests a virtual concierge in the form of an iPad upon arrival. What is surprising is the fact that the iPad is a special 24-karat gold model! Wondering how much an iPad like that costs? Guests actually have the option to purchase it at the end of their stay for $10,200!

The Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa

Rancho Santa Fe, CA

Have you ever been staying at a hotel and had to go through the hassle of calling and waiting for a cab or Uber? Well that shouldn’t be a problem at the Rancho Valencia seeing as they offer all guests a complimentary Porsche to drive during their visit! The only condition is that the car must be returned the same day. Like the Burj’s iPad, if guests fall in love with their Porsche they can purchase it from an on-site salesman.

The Goring

London, England

London may house Buckingham Palace but thanks to the city’s top rated hotel, The Goring, the queen isn’t the only person that gets to be treated like royalty. The Goring makes sure to take care of all of their guests’ needs and wants in a way that rivals the crown. If a guest needs or wants a personal pianist to perform for them while they  eat personal, handmade chocolate, all they need to do is book a night in the royal suite. It’s no surprise that this is the hotel that Kate Middleton spent her last night as a “commoner” before getting married.

The Westin Peachtree Plaza

Atlanta, Georgia

Want to stay on top of your exercise while traveling? Thanks to the Westin Peachtree Plaza, you will have no excuse not to! The Westin offers what they refer to as a “running concierge” who accompanies you for runs around the city and shows you the best running routes and sights along the way. The hotel also rents out New Balance workout gear in case you forgot your own!

Las Ventanas al Paraiso

San Jose del Cabo, Mexico

Have you ever experienced the convenience of ordering food online through an app or a computer? What about fireworks? Guests at the Las Ventanas al Paraiso are offered a firework menu on an iPad and can actually select their own firework show on demand to be displayed right before their eyes!

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5 Hotels that Prove Age is Just a Number

Bedroom in the 400 year old AD hotel

The next great hotel opening, newest tech advances or the most recently hired CEO are headlines that flood any hospitality news source these days. But what about the old hotels?

In the hospitality world being old can actually be a unique selling point! Who doesn’t want a little history with their stay? Here are 5 pretty old hotels that can hold their own with (and in some cases exceed), the quality of any new build!

 Orso Grigio

How can a hotel (the actual building) be in two places at once? In the Orso Grigio hotel’s case, this is exactly what happened…kind of. This hotel opened in 1300 as the “Grauer Bär” (grey bear) in a picturesque Austrian city. However, the province was annexed after WWI and is now located in Italy with the same name, just in Italian.

Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan (try to say this one five times fast!)

Located in Yamanashi, Japan, this hotel holds the Guinness World Record as the oldest hotel in the world, as well as, the oldest continuously-operating business. The Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan opened its doors in the year 705 and has been owned by 52 generations of the same family.

Zum Roten Bären

Located in Freiburg, Germany, the Zum Roten Bären is actually older than the town it’s located in, with its grand opening dating back to the year 1120. This hotel has seen the Black Plague, witch hunts, World War I and World War II. And despite its many renovations, the hotel has still kept its original name along with some of its original artwork, stored in the basement.

Willard InterContinental

At only 170-years-old The Willard is actually pretty young compared to the other hotels on this list. Formally founded in 1847, the Willard has gone on to become a Washington D.C. icon and every president since Franklin Pierce has stayed at or visited the Willard at some point. Another interesting claim to fame is that Martin Luther King Jr. made final edits to his “I Have a Dream speech” in the Willard’s lobby hours before delivering the famous address. The Willard also happens to be one of our favorite clients!

The AD Place Hotel

The inspiration for this article, the AD Place Hotel in Venice is a 4-star luxury property that’s 400 years old! One of our associate’s relatives just visited and said it was a great place to stay!

For even more old hotels check out “17 of the Oldest Hotels in the World” by thrillist.com.

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Wellness As An Amenity

Shower infusers, aromatherapy and air purifiers sound more like enhancements you might find in a luxury spa, than in your average hotel room. However, Stay Well hotel rooms, available at select MGM Grand and Marriott properties include those features and more in their newly developed “healthy” hotel room concepts.

Stay Well

Pioneered by Delos, Stay Well hotel rooms emerged into the hospitality industry in 2016 with its installation in six different Marriott hotels. Stay Well rooms come fully-stocked with health enhancing technology, including:

  • Air purifying system that reduces allergens, toxins and microbes from the air
  • Memory foam mattress made from plant extracts
  • Bright white lighting that helps suppress melatonin, regulate circadian rhythm and reduce jet lag
  • Manual circadian room lighting adjuster
  • Stay Well shower infuser that reduces chlorine to help skin and hair stay smooth and soft

Not only do Stay Well rooms come with special amenities, but the rooms themselves were built from the very beginning to promote health. The countertops were built with anti-microbial material and the flooring is posture-supportive.

Stay Well’s ultimate goal is to provide a comfortable place for travelers to not only relax, but also recover from the health impacts of traveling.

With the hospitality industry looking towards healthier environments, what innovation will come next?

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