There’s been a ton of refurbishments and renovations in the hotel business lately. Meanwhile, we’ve just refurbished our room. Okay, we cleaned it.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo’s Concierge Service awarded the Golden Keys of Hospitality

The Concierge services and experiences offered at the historic hotel receive the highest acknowledgement within the luxury hospitality industry.

A glimmer of light sparkles on the waters of Lake Como and, for once, it’s not the rays of sunlight reflecting off the water. It’s Les Clefs d’Or, the Golden Keys, a formal acknowledgement of the elegance and prestige of the Grand Hotel Tremezzo concierge.

Les Clefs d’Or is a historic guild founded in France, 1929. Established in Italy twenty years later, with the name Le Chiavi d’Oro, it promotes the most elegant and luxurious hospitality in Italy, a country famed for its beauty, art, and culture. In possession of the Golden Keys, the concierge can unlock exclusive experiences, such as the very best art, fashion, landscapes and cuisine, as well as the intangible art of savoir vivre.

From this season, Massimo dal Checco Modoni is managing the Grand Hotel Tremezzo concierge team. Born in Venice, raised in England, a Baroque singer and harpist who studied at Benedetto Marcello Conservatory in Venice and Trinity College of Music in London, Massimo has been a butler and concierge in the finest five-star luxury hotels in both Italy and the UK.

The Langham, Sydney launches collaboration with Hunter Boots just in time for winter!

Langham Hotels unveil a limited-edition Langham Pink version of Hunter’s iconic Original Wellington boot, created exclusively for the luxury hotel group. A collaboration between two iconic British brands, the distinctive Langham pink boots are available in limited quantities at eight Langham Hotels in Australia, Hong Kong, North America and the United Kingdom.

Specially commissioned in the signature Langham pink that is recognised worldwide, the boots come in both adult and children sizes.

The Langham hotels’ legacy originatesinLondon when The Langham, London, Europe’s first grand hotelfirst opened its doors in 1865. This iconic luxury hotel in London has hosted royalty, dignitaries and celebrities for over 150 years.

Similarly, Hunter was established in1856. The Original boot was introduced in 1956 and remains an iconic design today.

The limited-edition Hunter Original for Langham Pink Wellington boots are available for sale from 5 June at the Langham hotels in London, New York, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, Sydney (6 June), Melbourne (6 June) and Hong Kong while stocks last. Boots are available for $295.00 AUD. Online purchases are availableat langhamgifts.com.au or in person at Flavours of Langham retail boutiques at The Langham, Sydney and The Langham, Melbourne.

Monaco’s hidden gem redefines Riviera style

The first hotel to capture the essence of discreet modern luxury in Monte-Carlo, Columbus Monte-Carlo resets the standard with its 2018 refurbishment.

Launching in September 2018, this redesigned boutique lifestyle hotel brings location, style, service and ambience together to create an experience unlike any other in Monaco. In an otherwise traditional hospitality landscape, it’s a breath of fresh air welcomed by the savvy traveller.

In Fontvieille, Monaco’s liveliest neighbourhood, with views out to the Mediterranean Sea, over the Princess Grace Rose Garden, or across the harbour to the old city crowing the Rock of Monaco, it is both central and secluded – the hotel of choice for those in the know.

From entering in to the inviting entrance lobby to relaxing in the sea-facing heated outdoor pool, the vibe is one of cool, informal sophistication.

Singha Estate Public Company Limited acquires six spectacular properties from Outrigger Hotels and Resorts

Singha Estate Public Company Limited, Thailand’s premier property development and investment holding company, today announced the successful acquisition of six spectacular properties from the Honolulu-based hotel chain and management company, Outrigger. The USD 310 million acquisition is part of Singha Estate’s strategic investment approach focused on the expansion and entry in high-yield tourist destinations around the globe.

With 70 years of hospitality development and management experience, Outrigger’s resort properties are dotted throughout Hawaii and the Asia-Pacific region. With over 4,700 employees worldwide, Outrigger has been ranked 15th among the top 100 management companies in the U.S. by Hotel Business Magazine.

Outrigger will continue to manage the six properties: Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort and Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort in Thailand, Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort and Castaway Island in Fiji, Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort in Mauritius, and Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort in the Republic of Maldives; with a total of 859 room keys.

Located between a tropical lagoon and the sparkling waters of the Andaman Sea, the family-style Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort features modern interiors subtly blended with contemporary Thai touches. Also situated in the Kingdom of Thailand, the 52 intimate suites and villas at the romantic Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort are spacious and inviting with cool plunge pools and warm sundecks to relax in perfect privacy.

Sustainable seafood initiative from Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts recognised by MSC Certification

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts today announced it has received full Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) seafood Chain of Custody certification (CoC) for all its 53 properties across Mainland China and Hong Kong. As the first hotel group in Asia, the Shangri-La group initiated the certification programme as part of its sustainable sourcing strategy and commitment to protect future seafood supplies and make a positive impact on the environment.

The MSC runs the only wild-capture fisheries certification and ecolabelling programme that meets best practice requirements set by both the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO) and ISEAL, the global membership association for sustainability standards. The MSC is also the only global seafood certification programme to be recognised as credible by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI).

With a total of 53 hotels participating, Shangri-La has the greatest number of properties in Asia certified by the MSC. Critical to the collaboration is the highlighting of sustainably sourced seafood selections on the hotels’ restaurant menus. Guests can identify these culinary offerings by the trusted MSC ecolabel printed alongside the dish description, which indicates the seafood is from MSC-certified fisheries and suppliers.

MSC certification means the seafood was sustainably fished – it is fully traceable from a legal fishery, which has proven minimal impacts on the marine environment and other species, including threatened or endangered species and juvenile fish.

Singapore Sizzles during National Day Celebrations

If you are planning on a visit to Singapore in the next few months, coinciding your trip with the country’s National Day means you will experience the nation at its best. Singapore roars to life in early August, as it remembers its colourful rise to independence and beyond, with colourful parades and dazzling fireworks.

The Fullerton Hotel Singapore and The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore are located just across the National Day celebrations taking place at the Marina Bay Floating Platform, presenting some of the best vantage points to soak up the electrifying atmosphere and enjoy the fireworks spectacle. Both Hotels are offering special National Day Room Packages to guests during Singapore’s 53rd National Day celebrations in 2018.

Select guests at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore can take their celebrations to One Fullerton Rooftop and enjoy the spectacle of colours and light under the night sky over free-flowing drinks.

Over at The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore, guests can enjoy captivating views of the fireworks display against the city skyline from select guestrooms, Lantern rooftop bar and The Clifford Pier al fresco deck.

Karma Group acquires two new resorts in the heart of the Normandy Countryside in France – Karma Manor Des Deux Amants and Karma Residence Normande

Karma Group has announced the acquisition of Karma Manoir des Deux Amants and Karma Residence Normande on the banks of the river Seine in the heart of picturesque Normandy in the French countryside. Comprising 49 apartments between them, the resorts are superbly situated just an hour and twenty minutes from central Paris.

The spectacular location in Normandy offers guests the opportunity to unwind and discover lush landscapes, medieval towns, castles and beaches. The resorts are just outside the charming village of Connelles, deep in Impressionist country, and close to the medieval town of Rouen with its historic castles and cathedrals.

The spacious and sumptuously furnished accommodations feature well-equipped kitchens, whilst the leisure complex provides entertainment for the whole family with a heated outdoor swimming pool, sauna and games room.

Pan Pacific Singapore – Voted one of the top 10 hubs for meetings and events in Asia Pacific

Earlier this month, meetings technology and venue network provider Cvent unveiled its list of the top hotels for meetings and events in the U.S., Europe, Middle East and Africa as well as Asia Pacific. Pan Pacific Singapore was ranked ninth in the list of 50 hotels in the Asia Pacific category.

The ranking was based mainly on each hotel’s total generated business in 2017 which was measured through Cvent’s venue sourcing platform, Cvent Supplier Network. Other factors that were taken into consideration include the total requests for proposals (RFPs), awarded RFPs, total room nights, awarded room nights, major metropolitan area (MMA) market share, conversion rate, and the hotel’s unique profile visits in the Cvent Supplier Network.