ELITE TRAVEL TRENDS
ELITE TRAVEL TRENDS ANNOUNCEMENTS GALORE @ ILTM CANNES Selected highlights of the not-to-be-missed luxury travel “Mecca” Alison Gilmore Director, ILTM Portfolio ILTM Cannes saw a swathe of major industry announcements, and the success of the ILTM formula has led its organisers to evolve its portfolio of events around the world. ILTM Portfolio Director, Alison Gilmore, in opening the first day’s round of press conferences, repeated the words of Chris Kutarna, Author of “the Age of Discovery”, who spoke at the pre-show forum: “We are living the second renaissance and you and I are the map makers.” Ms Gilmore announced the rebranding of ILTM events: Travel Week Sao Paulo becomes ILTM Latin America Sao Paulo, much bigger and better. ILTM Americas in Mexico is being renamed ILTM North America. “Product comes from all over the world but buyers come from the individual regions”, explained Gilmore. ILTM Asia becomes ILTM China – just for China. ILTM Asia Pacific will be in May 2018 in Singapore and ILTM Japan will be incorporated into ILTM Asia. Nicolas Clayton CEO, Capella Group CAPELLA HOTEL GROUP Capella Group CEO Nicolas Clayton was present at ILTM for a press conference where he outlined a number of new openings due for the coming years. Amidst a 1930s-themed grand opening, Capella Shanghai celebrated a milestone on 28 October 2017. Since announcing the project in 2015, Capella Shanghai is now fully opened with 55 shikumen villas, 40 luxurious serviced residences, a world-class Auriga Spa and casual chic French dining concept le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire as well as la Boulangerie et Patisserie by the legendary chef Pierre Gagnaire in the street-facing Gallery. Capella Ubud set to open in April 2018. Nestled between the rainforest and surrounding rice terraces, along the sacred Wos river, where the local villagers of Keliki regularly gather for festive processions, Capella Ubud, Bali is a boutique, exclusive tented camp that brings together the most luxurious accommodation with a total jungle immersion experience that is set to redefine adventure wellness. Capella Bangkok is opening in October 2018, situated on the river. Capella Maldives is set to open in 2020. It’s a one of a kind development compared to what’s in use today, as it’s part of a threeresort grouping. Capella Sydney is set to open late in 2020, with Capella being the owner-operator. Capella is taking an historic sandstone government building in the city centre, transforming it into a luxury hotel. Recent bids have also been made for hotels in Kyoto and Tokyo
Hotel & Tourism SMARTreport #37 2018 Winter Edition 21 ACCORHOTELS LUXURY PORTFOLIO The AccorHotel group have signed a management agreement with Dubai-based master developer Nakheel for the expansion of the Raffles brand. The agreement, recognised by Nakheel Chairman, Ali Rashid Lootah and Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of AccorHotels, at a signing ceremony at ILTM Cannes, will lead to the opening of PALM360, a spectacular two-tower development on the Palm Jumeira comprising the Raffles the Palm Dubai Hotel and Raffles Residences PALM360. Set to open in 2021, palm360 will be the first beachside resort for Raffles in Dubai and the tallest structure on Palm Jumeira, at almost 260 metres high. The hotel will comprise 125 rooms and suites. New Openings @ AccorHotels Chris Cahill, CEO of AccorHotels Luxe group, announced dozens of new properties in the pipeline for the group’s various top-end brands during an ILTM press conference. Fairmont: Currently 75 properties, and 16 in the pipeline. Cahill outlined major renovations that have just been completed in Chris Cahill CEO, AccorHotels Luxe group Victoria and Montreal in Canada, and St Andrews, Scotland. Latest property openings include the Fairmont Istanbul and the Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech. Upcoming – Fairmont Austin Texas, a convention hotel and the Fairmont Century Plaza Los Angeles – a major renovation project. Sofitel: Currently 122 properties, and 24 in the pipeline. Raffles, the iconic brand, currently has 11 properties and there are six in the pipeline. Of course, the biggest restoration project is that of Raffles in Singapore. “No walls have been moved, but all infrastructure, cabling, sprinkler systems, etc., are being renewed”, said Cahill. The work has been under way for some time, but the hotel will close this month for several months for the finalisation of the project. Raffles Warsaw is set to open in 2019, and will be a truly iconic property in Europe. Cahill also spoke of the group’s agreement to acquire 51% the Orient Express – a project still in progress SEABOURN Seabourn Group CEO Rick Meadows introduced a new ship due to be launched in May 2018: Seabourn Ovation, with 300 suites (600 guests). All cabins are oceanfront with verandas. The ship begins sailing in Summer 2018 in Northern Europe. Interior design is by Adam Tihany, renowned for his design of a number of luxury hotels. “The aim was to make the ships feel like private luxury yachts”, quipped Meadows FOUR SEASONS Rick Meadows CEO, Seabourn Group Simon Casson President, Hotel Operations, EMEA , Four Seasons hotels Simon Casson, President – Hotel Operations, EMEA, Four Seasons hotels began by introducing 15 of the group’s top GMs present at ILTM. New Four Seasons openings were outlined in a video, including New York, South Florida, Anguilla, Sao Paulo, London, Megève (first mountain destination), Athens (Astir Palace), Seychelles (Desroches Island rebuild), Maldives (Voavah, Baa Atol), Hoi An Vietnam, Kyoto, Tianjin (near Beijing), Kuala Lumpur (new hotel in Golden Triangle), Kuwait (CBD), and Tunis (seaside). The London at Ten Trinity Square has been totally renovated, and its restaurant, La dame de Pic, has just been awarded its first Michelin star
