MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL: Marriott Bonvoy launches triple points incentive for event bookings

Marriott International has announced that, in an effort to boost event, meetings and groups bookings and assure customer confidence post-COVID-19, eligible bookings made for events held by 31 March 2021 will receive triple Marriott Bonvoy points. In addition, customers will receive 5% off master-billed group rooms, one complimentary delegate or room in every 10 paid delegates or rooms for groups between 10-100 people, and a signing bonus of 5,000 points at participating hotels across Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Middle East
South Africa
United Kingdom
Event
Hotel
Marriott
Business

LOEWS HOTELS: Brand temporarily suspends hotel operations at Universal Orlando properties

The U.S. luxury hospitality brand has announced that from 21 August it will suspend operations at two Universal Orlando resorts - the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort and Universal's Aventura Hotel. In a statement, Loews said that in the current climate they have decided to consolidate their hotel operations. It is currently unclear when the resorts may be set to re-open.
United States of America
Hotel
Resort
Loews Hotels
Leisure

ACCOR: Hotel group now offers free 24/7 medical care for guests in some regions

Guests staying at any Accor-branded hotel, resort or apartment property in Australia, New Zealand and French Polynesia now have free in-room access to a network of thousands of accredited medical professionals 24/7 via a tele-medical consultation. The free-of-charge medical service can apply to any non-urgent medical need and is suitable for, but not limited to, concerns related to COVID-19. According to Accor, the consultations can relate to any non-urgent medical need, and are not just limited to COVID-19 concerns
Australia
French Polynesia
New Zealand
Hotel
Accor
Business
Leisure

SUN INTERNATIONAL: South African hotel and entertainment brand releases re-opening dates

The South African hotel and entertainment brand has announced that with inter-provincial borders within the country now open and restrictions on alcohol now lifted, its hotels will also begin to-reopen for guests; Sun International has accordingly published the re-opening dates of each property along with the answers to many frequently asked questions. All hotels now bear the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) safe stamp of approval, verifying that the COVID-19 health and safety protocols they have in place meet international benchmarks.
South Africa
Hotel
Resort
Sun International
Leisure

NH HOTEL GROUP: Cape Town's ‘The Lord Charles’ hotel to close

Multi-national hotel group NH Hotels has announced that their landmark property ‘The Lord Charles’ hotel in Cape Town's Somerset West is to close its doors at the end of August. Although the closure comes in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has devastated the South African tourism industry, it appears from the statement by NH Hotels that the decision to shut the hotel was taken prior to the lockdown.
South Africa
Hotel
NH Hotels
Business
Leisure

SANPARKS: South Africa's Kruger National Park to open some camps from 14 August 2020

Following the announcement by the country's minister of tourism that intra-provincial travel will now be open to South African nationals, South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that Kruger National Park (KNP) will partially open some of its camps for accommodation from 14 August. Further information on the camps to be re-opened in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces can be found on the SANParks website.
South Africa
Hotel
Tours
Business
Leisure

CITY LODGE HOTEL GROUP: South African hotel brand launches remote working solution

South African hotel brand City Lodge Hotel Group has launched a remote working solution that it hopes will solve the difficulties faced its guests who otherwise work from busy households during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dubbed '#YourPrivateOffice', guests can book a room to work in for several hours a day at a special rate that is inclusive of tea and coffee-making facilities, secure parking, fast and reliable WiFi and air conditioning.
South Africa
Hotel
City Lodge Hotel Group
Business

EDWARDIAN HOTELS: Enhanced operating procedures for safe travel

Edwardian Hotels in London and Manchester have implemented new operating procedures to ensure traveller safety during their stay. The protocols are approved by SGS, a world-leading testing and certification body.
United Kingdom
Hotel
Edwardian Hotels
Business

AMRESORTS: Luxury resort brand announces adjusted re-openings for some hotels

The brand, who own and operate luxury resorts across predominantly Mexico and the Caribbean, have published update and adjusted re-opening dates for a number of their resorts. If guests with advance bookings have been affected by extended closure, they are to be granted additional flexibility for re-booking and a complimentary extra night.
Dominican Republic
Jamaica
Mexico
Hotel
Resort
AMResorts
Leisure

CITY LODGE HOTEL GROUP: Brand releases new sustainability commitment

The City Lodge Hotel Group (CLHG) has been working hard behind the scenes to strip out single-use plastic from guest bedrooms. In a bold move, the group, together with its South African supplier The Bespoke Amenities Company (TBAC), is launching an all-new range of bathroom amenities, including a Zero Bar. These will be available across all five hotel brands - Fairview Hotel (Kenya), Courtyard Hotel, City Lodge Hotel, Town Lodge and Road Lodge - in what is a first for a South African hotel group, and among the first in the world.
Kenya
South Africa
Hotel
City Lodge Hotel Group
Business

WYNDHAM: Face masks to be mandatory in public hotel areas from 10 August 2020

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has announced that, in line with the American Hotel & Lodging Association's guest checklist, from 10 August guests in all locations in the United States and Canada will be required to wear face masks in all indoor public spaces; the company will inform guests of the new policy ahead of their arrival, and there also will be signage at each hotel. Similar announcements have recently been made by brands including Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels Corp. and InterContinental Hotels Group.
Canada
United States of America
Hotel
Resort
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts
Business
Leisure

STAMFORD HOTELS: Introduction of Stamford Safe Cleaning & Safety Protocols

Stamford Hotels in Australia have introduced COVID-19 health and well-being hygiene protocols and safety standards. The initiatives are set out in the link here and have been adopted to support the top priority of protecting the safety and well-being of Stamford guests and colleagues.
Australia
Hotel
Stamford Hotels
Business

HYATT HOTELS: Guests in U.S. and Canada hotels required to wear face coverings from 27 July 2020

Hyatt has announced that it will require all guests to wear a face covering in its hotels in the U.S and Canada from 27 July; the move follows an announcement by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) last week of its "Safe Stay Guest Checklist". The face coverings will be required in all indoor public areas for the foreseeable future.
Canada
United States of America
Hotel
Hyatt Hotels
Business

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL: Marriott will require U.S. guests to wear face coverings from 27 July 2020

Marriott International has announced it that will require all guests to wear a face covering in its U.S hotels from 27 July; the move follows an announcement on guidelines from the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) last week.
United States of America
Hotel
Marriott
Business
Leisure

QUEST APARTMENTS: Quest introduces 'Stay Safe' heath and safety promise

Quest, a global serviced apartment hotel brand, has released their Stay Safe health and safety promise - a commitment to ensure that the safety of their customers during COVID-19 remains their top priority. This is now valid at all Quest properties in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Australia
New Zealand
United Kingdom
Hotel
Quest Apartments
Business

HILTON HOTELS: Hilton Introduces Hilton EventReady with CleanStay

To address safe group travel practices and evolve today’s event experience, Hilton today announced a global, industry-leading cleanliness and customer service program specific to meetings and events. Hilton EventReady with CleanStay is the next phase of the company’s recently launched Hilton CleanStay and was shaped by extensive research and feedback.
Australia
Hong Kong
Singapore
United Kingdom
United States of America
Hotel
Hilton Hotels
Business

PREMIER HOTELS & RESORTS: Phased re-opening of South Africa hotels announced

The South African hotel brand has announced the re-opening of select hotels following the country's move to COVID-19 alert level three; they've also opened all booking channels for their hotels into 2021. Re-opening in a phased approach, hotels will operate with selected services and new 'Premier CleanCheck' protocols in place.
South Africa
Hotel
Premier Hotels & Resorts
Business

ITC HOTELS: 'Welcomhotel Amritsar' is Punjab’s first LEED Platinum certified hotel

Indian hotel chain ITC Hotels have announced that it's property Welcomhotel Amritsar is now the state of Punjab’s ‘First LEED certified hotel’ under the aegis of USGBC (US Green Building Council). The hotel received the rating for energy efficiency for a range of sustainable initiatives like using 33% less energy & reducing water consumption by 46%. ITC's Gardenia hotel in Bengaluru is the first LEED platinum certified hotel in Asia Pacific (2009), while ITC Maurya was the first hotel in the world to be awarded this rating.
India
Hotel
ITC Hotels
Business
Leisure

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL: Hotel chain launches ‘We Care’ pledge in India

The world’s largest hotel chain, Marriott International, has embarked on project ‘We Care’ in India, which will entail new standard operating procedures for its staff and guests. Starting with JW Marriott at Aerocity New Delhi and the Ritz Carlton Pune, Marriott will gradually implement this programme across all its hotels in India and South Asia.
India
Hotel
Marriott
Business
Leisure