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Monday, 25 April 2022

Hilton Boosts Eco-Conscious Travel Across Properties in Asia Pacific

Hilton Boosts Eco-Conscious Travel Across Properties in the Asia Pacific



Hilton promotes conscious travel across its properties in the Asia Pacific by making sustainable practices more accessible for guests, as travellers now seek more meaningful experiences. Honouring this year’s Earth Day theme, “Invest in Our Planet”, Hilton has released its latest Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, which emphasizes its renewed commitment to taking real-world actions to reduce the environmental and social impact of its hotels and operations worldwide in pursuit of a better world to travel.

Across its global network, Hilton continues to considerably close the gap toward meeting key sustainability targets from its Travel with Purpose 2030 Goals. In 2021, Hilton recorded:

70% reduction in landfilled waste per square meter from the 2008 baseline (2030 goal: 50%)
49% reduction in CO2 emissions intensity per square meter from 2008 baseline (2030 goal: 61%)
39% reduction in water consumption per square meter from the 2008 baseline (2030 goal: 50%)
$1B+ cumulative savings in energy costs since 2009, monitored through LightStay.


In the Asia Pacific, Hilton focuses on driving responsible and sustainable tourism through a wide range of initiatives aimed at making a positive environmental and social impact - from advancing restoration efforts to reimagining business events as corporate travel makes a comeback. 

Driving Holistic Water Stewardship

Leading river cleanup organization Sungai Watch aims to protect waterways on the Indonesian island by developing and testing trash barriers that prevent plastics from entering the ocean. As Bali’s waterway guardians, the group also documents data on trash found in rivers, to deepen the conversation with companies on how to use more environmentally friendly materials. 

In support of its efforts in leading environmental restoration and providing communities access to clean water, Hilton has named Sungai Watch as one of its 2021 Hilton Effect Foundation grantees. The grant will enable the organization to install more trash barriers to lessen the impact of plastics on the community.

Sunday, 24 April 2022

More than a million blooms at Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival until 5th June

For a third year, Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival presented by Covenant Health (April 22 – June 5) blossoms against a Smoky Mountain backdrop to deliver brilliant floral hues to guests. During this year’s instalment of the festival, guests can appreciate the vibrant beauty of more than a million blooms, explore the fresh flavours of spring with an immersive tasting pass and delight in unique entertainment offerings.

In 2021, the Flower & Food Festival was honoured with the inaugural Brass Ring Award for “Best New Food and Beverage Festival or Special Event” by the International Association for Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA). The festival features elaborate floral installations that emerge throughout the park to translate nature into living art, each coming together to create a breathtaking display of more than a million blooms in total. In fact, the Flower & Food Festival grows by 30% thanks to new displays, entertainment and interactive elements.

Mosaiculture icons include a peacock, a beekeeper tending to a hive and a mallard duck. These whimsical new additions join a lineup of beloved displays: the signature butterfly umbrella, woodland animal friends and the touching depiction of Dolly’s mother crafting the Coat of Many Colors. These sculptures are designed in partnership with Mosaicultures International, a Montreal-based company that specializes in the art of elaborate floral decorations.

“Spring has always been so wonderful to me because the flowers start growing, the sun shines for a little longer, and the birds start singing a new song,” Dolly Parton said. “When I was little and the weather started warming up, all us kids would gather on the porch in the afternoon and enjoy lemonade that Mama brought out for us. That’s springtime to me – getting to make memories with my family and taking in the beautiful colours everywhere.”


“I hope that when families come to Dollywood during our festival, they get those same feelings of joy. This year, our guests can take a walk in my special butterfly garden and even see my Mama making my coat of many colours. I think the festival will continue to bloom even bigger and brighter right here in these beautiful mountains.”

While admiring the vivid colours blooming throughout the park, guests can explore a menu crafted with inspiration from fresh spring flavours and Smoky Mountain flair. Returning for this year is the tasting pass, which allows guests to partake in multiple food items at different festival locations.

The tasting pass, which can be purchased in the park or online, is $34.99 plus tax or $31.99 plus tax for gold and diamond pass holders. With this pass, guests can sample five food offerings at any Flower & Food Festival culinary location. This year’s festival menu features a Cuban sandwich with mojo sauce, Reuben spring roll, chicken and andouille skillet, beef bulgogi nachos, seafood mac and cheese, berry and honey funnel cakes, and hand-decorated flower-themed cookies and cupcakes among many other tasty spring dishes.


A highlight of the festival this year is entertainment, including “Dolly’s Butterfly Garden” and the return of a former guest favourite to the park. Dolly’s Butterfly Garden is an immersive experience that allows guests to interact with natural elements in a new way. Created by Montreal, Canada’s Moment Factory, this exhibit will take place in Adventures in Imagination throughout the festival. Performers from Australia combine theatrical elements and acrobatics for a thrilling new show called “Bloom!” that takes place high above ground while performers are situated atop sway poles. Guests will not want to miss this elevated display.

Dollywood’s streets are filled with music during the Flower & Food Festival. The Hall Sisters, an energetic quartet of country-pop performers, will set the stage in Craftsman’s Valley. A returning favourite show, “A Brighter Day,” features five daily performances at the Back Porch Theater. All shows are included with park admission. A full schedule of live performances is available at Dollywood.com.

Back to provide shade along Show street is the mesmerizing Umbrella Sky, which brings together hundreds of colourful umbrellas in a brilliant, suspended arrangement that makes for an “Instagram-worthy” background. Guests looking to capture picture-perfect memories at Dollywood can stop by several locations in the park for an amazing photo. These include the Hillside Carpet Display that brings a florally-crafted sunset to Rivertown Junction, the pathways of Adventures in Imagination that are decorated with creative chalk art portraits, and Dolly’s Butterfly Garden exhibit in Adventures in Imagination.

Festival elements carry over into Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa where guests find festive décor and stunning floral accents. Daily mocktails and cocktails will be served in The Lounge at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, each drawing inspiration from the essence of springtime. Families can enjoy live entertainment in the lobby atrium, festival-inspired cuisine at Song & Hearth: A Southern Eatery and festival-themed activities at Camp DW. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa hosts a Winemaker’s Dinner for guests on Saturday, May 21 inside Song & Hearth: A Southern Eatery. This unique dining experience pairs festival-inspired culinary creations with exemplary wines. Reservations for the dinner can be made by calling (865) 868-1246.

Dollywood looks forward to a season bigger and better than ever before. This is the perfect year to purchase a season pass in order to create memories with family and friends at the park all year long. Once the Flower & Food Festival is over, the fun continues with Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration presented by Bush’s Beans (June 18-Aug. 7), which features an expanded drone and fireworks show every night. Experience the all-new Hoot Owl Hollow as part of this year’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 23-Oct. 29), then get in the holiday spirit with Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana (Nov. 6-Jan. 1, 2023). The celebration continues all year long at Dollywood.


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Wednesday, 20 April 2022

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley launches Private Retreats


Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley, wine country’s leading luxury resort, sets a new standard for inspired vacations with the launch of its Private Retreats. The exquisite collection of one- and two-storey luxury residences blend seamlessly with the lush natural surroundings of charming Calistoga, offering guests an idyllic, private home-away-from-home nestled amid the property’s vineyards to reconnect and reunite in wine country.

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley, which recently opened as the region’s first and only resort located on a working winery, is delighted to add these eight extraordinary vacation homes to its boutique offering of accommodations. General Manager Mehdi Eftekari comments, “For discerning travellers looking to escape with their significant others, spend time with family in an intimate setting or celebrate special occasions with friends, the luxury residences at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley present a truly memorable vacation experience where the best of wine, wellness, culinary, and design come together like nowhere else. We look forward to hosting friends and families here to savour precious moments together.”

The residences in the Private Retreats collection are masterfully designed by renowned architects and designers to make the very best of living, hosting, and vacationing possible. The homes’ interiors range from 2,500 to 3,460 square feet (232-320 square metres), featuring one premier four-bedroom residence with a private pool along Napa Valley’s famed Silverado Trail.

Each spacious sanctuary draws inspiration from the California countryside, pairing modern farmhouse architecture with sophisticated yet understated interiors featuring earth-tone colours, board and batten siding, meticulous stone detailing, and pitched metal roofs. The residences feature well-appointed bedrooms, private open-concept kitchens – ideal for entertaining and gatherings large and small – plus five-fixture bathrooms evoking spa-like serenity, walk-in closets, and spacious private outdoor terraces with fire pits to unwind and admire striking views of the vineyards and Palisades Mountains.

For ultimate relaxation and enjoyment – wine country style – a variety of services and amenities are available to book, including pre-arrival grocery shopping, on-site massages, intimate private yoga sessions, and more.

Just outside each residence’s front door, a 4.7-acre (1.9 hectare) vineyard and winery, helmed by winemaker Jonathan Walden and consulting winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, beckons with an authentic grape-to-glass experience. Wine aficionados and novices alike are invited to explore the world of wine and winemaking at Elusa Winery, including harvest activities and guided tasting sessions with expertly crafted cheese pairings. Guests also have the opportunity to enjoy the many other amenities on the grounds of Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley, including TRUSS Restaurant + Bar – a spirited dining destination with farm-fresh cuisine and sweeping views, plus two outdoor swimming pools dedicated for families and adults, CAMPO Poolside restaurant, the fully supervised Kids for All Seasons program, a bocce ball court, state-of-the-art fitness facilities, vineyard barn, meeting and event facilities, and Spa Talisa, a haven for relaxation and indulgence that is inspired by Calistoga’s 150+ years of wellness traditions.

At Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley, guests are treated to an incomparable hospitality experience centred on exceptional food, wine and spirits, wellness-inspired amenities, authentic service, and a distinct approachable luxury environment akin to its locale in the quaint town of Calistoga.





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Tuesday, 19 April 2022

A world of difference.......



No surprise here - IHG Hotels & Resorts is incredibly passionate about this planet and giving our guests as many opportunities to explore all its wonders. We’re also passionate about doing all we can to make sure those opportunities will be around for a long time. In 2021, IHG unveiled Journey to Tomorrow - a 10-year responsible business plan to care for our planet, people, and communities.

The planet-focused elements span reducing energy use and carbon emissions in line with climate science, maximizing the role of renewable energy, and supporting efforts to conserve water. It also outlined goals to help secure water access to those at greatest risk, drive initiatives to reduce waste, and collectively work towards shaping the future of responsible travel.

This Earth Day, here’s a snapshot of just some of the incredibly cool ways – big and small – that our hotels are bringing sustainable travel experiences to life.

Renowned chef Richard Sandoval has restaurants worldwide, from California to Qatar. Right now, he’s committed to saving the bees through a unique, plant-based menu, Viva Abejas (Save the bees!). It’s being served at more than two dozen restaurants around the globe through April 24, 2022.

Two of those restaurants are at IHG properties –InterContinental Miami and Six Senses Kocatas Mansions in Turkey. “As a restaurant group focused on Latin cuisine, bees are important as major pollinators of the agave plant and avocado – both of which are used frequently in our foods,” says Sandoval. In a playful call to action, the menu also includes cocktails that come with wildflower tags that guests can take home and plant in their yards and gardens for bees to pollinate. In addition, many IHG properties house onsite apiaries and/or rooftop gardens, including voco Oxford Thames, Hotel Indigo Tulsa, and Hotel Indigo Baton Rouge Downtown to name a few. 

There is no replicating an island vacation, especially when all you want to do is soak up some sunshine. However, at Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives it’s not just the guests making the most of those rays – the hotel installed solar panels on a significant portion of its resort (enough to cover seven tennis courts!) in 2020. The coolest part about this hot addition – you can see the solar power in action via its live feed.

“Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives has always been committed to preserving our natural resources and pursuing methods of using renewable sources of energy,” says Executive Assistant Manager Hussain Shahid.

Monday, 18 April 2022

Redefining the Traditional Hotel Stay: Hilton’s Lifestyle Category Pipeline Expected to More Than Double Over Next Decade

The future is bright for Hilton’s lifestyle brands as the leading global hospitality company announces 10 new Canopy by Hilton, Tempo by Hilton and Motto by Hilton signings in the United States, Latin America and Europe. The new signings boost an already impressive development pipeline and continue an era of enormous growth for the design-forward, centrally-located hotels that have redefined the traditional hotel stay by delivering a more distinctive and compelling guest experience at a variety of price points. With key signings in Nashville, Sioux Falls, Sao Paulo and Cannes, the pipeline for Hilton’s trio of lifestyle brands is expected to more than double over the next 10 years with expansion into at least 15 new countries and territories. 

The latest Canopy by Hilton, Tempo by Hilton and Motto by Hilton signings make up nearly 20% of the category’s total pipeline of 55 hotels, 55% of which are U.S. properties. Internationally, growth is strongest in Europe, with 1,000 anticipated hotel rooms, followed by the Caribbean & Latin America and Asia-Pacific regions.

The continued growth of Hilton’s Lifestyle category is a testament to the strength of these brands and the way in which they continue to resonate with guests and owners alike.” said Matthew Schuyler Chief Brand Officer, Hilton “We’re excited to expand our Lifestyle footprint in dynamic cities across the globe and welcome a new generation of traveller who appreciates a locally-minded, elevated experience that feels thoughtful and uplifting in service and design”  


Canopy by Hilton Expands Presence in U.S. and France


Each Canopy by Hilton hotel is designed as a natural extension of its community, inviting guests to relax and recharge with comfortable spaces in an energizing atmosphere. With an existing supply of 35 properties with 28 in development across 16 countries and territories, the newest signings in the U.S. and France, represent approximately 500 rooms: 

Canopy by Hilton Cannes (Spring 2023)
Conveniently located in central Cannes, the 143-room hotel is a short walk from the iconic French city’s beaches, Old Port and the world-famous Palais des Festivals. 
Canopy by Hilton Nashville Downtown The Gulch (Winter 2024)

The 333-room property is dual-branded with Homewood Suites by Hilton for an 11-story hotel where guests can experience The Gulch, a revitalized neighbourhood offering live music venues, trendy shopping outlets and other vibrant attractions. 
Canopy by Hilton Sioux Falls Downtown (Spring 2024)
Offering 20,000 square feet of convention space and 12 flexible meeting rooms, the 216-room hotel overlooks the scenic falls and features a signature Italian restaurant concept. 








Tempo by Hilton Sets Sights on Scenic U.S. Destinations


A stylish and contemporary brand, Tempo by Hilton hotels are thoughtfully designed and uplifting. They offer dynamic public spaces including an open lobby concept with dedicated spaces to relax and work, as well as premium culinary options developed in partnership with Bluestone Lane including the brand’s casual breakfast café and an inviting bar experience. The brand recently announced signings in exciting destinations such as New York City, Boston, Seattle and Irving, Texas.

Tempo by Hilton is expanding its existing pipeline of more than 10 properties with five new signings in the U.S. representing nearly 1,000 rooms: 

Tempo by Hilton Nashville Downtown Nashville Yards (Spring 2024)

Ideally positioned one block from Nashville’s famous Broadway and a five-minute walk from Music City Center, the 306-room, 16-story hotel will offer meeting spaces, an outdoor pool and bar, and a ground floor Bluestone Lane café.
Tempo by Hilton Memphis Downtown Union Row (Summer 2024)
The 166-room hotel, ideally located on a central artery to downtown Memphis, will be within walking distance of FedEx Forum, Beale Street and AutoZone Park and will serve as an integral component of The Walk on Union mixed-use development.
Tempo by Hilton Nashville Midtown (Fall 2024)
Planned for the thriving Midtown/West End submarket of Nashville, the 161-room, 11-story property will offer a restaurant/bar with outdoor seating and is within walking distance to Vanderbilt University and the area’s most sought-after attractions.
Tempo by Hilton Myrtle Beach Beachfront (Fall 2024)
Guests will enjoy breathtaking views at the 250-room, oceanfront property, which will join a Home2 Suites by Hilton for a dual-branded, 11-story hotel, featuring a rooftop bar and lounge.
Tempo by Hilton San Diego Downtown- Gaslamp Quarter (Spring 2025)
Centrally located on 8th Avenue and Broadway, the 317-room hotel will be dual-branded with a Homewood Suites by Hilton and have views overlooking San Diego Bay and the skyline, plus a restaurant, bar and lounge on the street level with outdoor seating.


Motto by Hilton Enters Brazil for the First Time


Motto by Hilton combines the best elements of a lifestyle hotel — centrally located urban locations, modern design, the best of the neighbourhood food and beverage and a local vibe — to cater to today’s travellers looking for value and one-of-a-kind experiences, including the 374-room Motto by Hilton New York City Chelsea, which opened in Q4 2021. Motto by Hilton, which has an existing development pipeline of 10 properties, recently signed the first two hotels in Brazil: 







Motto by Hilton Sao Paulo Ibirapuera (Fall 2024)

Located a short distance from MAC (Museum of Contemporary Art) and Shopping Ibirapuera, the 285-room hotel will feature a café, a rooftop bar and a restaurant overlooking Ibirapuera Park, which will be accessible by the local public.
Motto by Hilton Recife (Fall 2024)
Boasting a café on the ground floor and a rooftop pub with views of Recife’s historic downtown and the sea, the 132-room hotel will be within walking distance from Marco Zero, Passo do Frevo and the first synagogue in The Americas.


Canopy by Hilton, Tempo by Hilton and Motto by Hilton participate in Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton’s 18 world-class hotel brands comprising more than 6,800 properties in 122 countries and territories. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider allowing members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount and free standard Wi-Fi. Members also have access to contactless technology exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors app, Where members can check in, choose their room and access their room using Digital Key (where available).


Canopy by Hilton
Canopy by Hilton, Hilton’s first lifestyle brand, is a place in the neighbourhood to relax and recharge, offering simple guest-directed service, comfortable spaces and thoughtfully local choices. Each hotel is designed as a natural extension of its neighbourhood and delivers a fresh approach to hospitality and the guest experience. 


Tempo by Hilton
Tempo by Hilton is a stylish and contemporary lifestyle hotel brand with more than 10 properties under development. Pioneering a new hospitality category, Tempo by Hilton is dedicated to exceeding the expectations of the ambitious, modern traveller and offering accommodations thoughtfully designed to help guests relax and recharge, including an open lobby concept with dedicated spaces to relax, work and dine, as well as premium culinary options, such as the brand’s signature coffee fuel bar, a casual breakfast cafe and an inviting bar experience. Created to serve a rising class of highly discerning guests committed to personal growth and development, Tempo by Hilton amenities include well-being offerings, state-of-the-art fitness facilities and programs, flexible meeting and working spaces and more.

Motto by Hilton
Motto by Hilton is an urban, lifestyle hotel brand with 15 properties under development in prime locations globally. Motto by Hilton caters to travellers looking for value and one-of-a-kind experiences by bringing together the best elements of a lifestyle hotel – centrally located urban locations, modern design, the best of the neighbourhood food and beverage and a local vibe. At its core, Motto delivers a flexible and innovative hospitality experience through elements like first-of-its-kind connecting rooms for group travel, vibrant communal spaces with access to check-in and a coffee house and bar for work and social use by guests and locals alike.










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