Kimpton To Open First Hotel outside The Americas In Amsterdam

(Photo: Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants)

Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants will open its first hotel outside of the Americas, just a year after the boutique hotel chain was acquired by hospitality giant InterContinental Hotels Group.

The hotel will debut in Amsterdam in 2017. It will be a conversion from a Crowne Plaza, another brand underneath the IHG umbrella.

“This is really a pivotal moment for Kimpton,” Kimpton CEO Mike DeFrino told USA TODAY at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit in Los Angeles. “This is a time in our history that we didn’t know would ever come frankly. It’s an important threshold to cross because people need to know we can do it and our brand and our style and our attitude and the way we deliver is important and appealing.”

Kimpton started in 1981 as a small boutique chain in San Francisco. It has grown to 59 hotels in 30 U.S. cities.

IHG has 10 brands, including Kimpton, and franchises, leases, manages or owns more than 5,000 hotels across the world.

Acquiring Kimpton strengthened IHG’s foothold in the rapidly growing boutique hotel segment. Becoming part of the IHG family meant Kimpton could expand worldwide.

“IHG’s ability to take Kimpton to new markets and geographies was a key part of the transaction and we’re delighted to announce this important milestone for the brand,” IHG CEO Richard Solomons said in a written statement.

USA TODAY

IHG to buy boutique hotel chain Kimpton

Kimpton’s first hotel outside of the USA will open in Grand Cayman this year. Moving across an ocean to Europe marks a big leap for the company, one that DeFrino says would not have happened without IHG and its relationships with owners and developers overseas.

“There’s no way we could have gotten in front of the guys doing this deal, the guys who own the hotel and had the imagination to turn it into a very upscale boutique hotel,” he says.

DeFrino says he hopes to open Kimptons in major Asian gateways such as Hong Kong and Tokyo, and in places where IHG already has a strong presence such asSoutheast Asia.

“We think those are places where we can perform very well,” he says.

The Amsterdam Kimpton, which has not yet been named, will have a fully renovated lobby, restaurants, facilities, and guestrooms. It will have 270 rooms, a destination bar and restaurant, gym, and meeting spaces with up-to-date technology.

Kimpton hotels are known for perks such as a complimentary wine hour, bikes, and yoga mats in each room.

The hotel is owned by YC Amsterdam BV.

Source: Nancy Trejos, USA TODAY

The All-suites Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta Is Set To Open In June 2016

Rajawali Property Group and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the world’s leading luxury hospitality company, today announced that Four Seasons will manage a new, all-suite luxury hotel in Capital Place, a luxury mixed-use development located in the heart of Jakarta’s bustling Sudirman Central Business District.

Recognised as one of the safest developments in Jakarta, Capital Place, a collaboration between the Rajawali Property Group and GIC, achieved an impressive accident-free safety record during construction and was recently chosen by the DKI Jakarta Government as the launch venue for National Safety Month 2016. Located along Jalan Gatot Subroto, the integrated business development will also include a 47-story office tower and upscale retail and dining outlets.

“Capital Place is a remarkable project that represents our bold vision for the city of Jakarta,” says Shirley Tan, CEO, Rajawali Property Group. “We are excited to introduce Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta as the centrepiece of this important development and extend Four Seasons legendary hospitality and services throughout the entire development. By leveraging Four Seasons experience and flexibility gained in similar mixed-use projects around the world, we are creating the first luxury mixed-use development in Jakarta to offer a seamlessly integrated five-star experience.”

Four Seasons is well-known for operating some of the world’s greatest hotels in key global financial centres including Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Tokyo, London, New York and Paris. Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta will replace the current Four Seasons hotel located on Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said, which is also owned by the Rajawali Property Group, and has been closed for renovation since late 2014.

“Four Seasons has proudly operated in Jakarta for 20 years. We have tremendous confidence in this market and look forward to a long and bright future here,” says Michael A. Crawford, President Asia Pacific, Four SeasonsHotels and Resorts.

“This is a unique opportunity to operate a new luxury hotel in Jakarta, while continuing our successful relationship with the Rajawali Property Group. We always strive to bring our guests the best, most remarkable properties and experiences, and we feel privileged to do so with the addition of this spectacular hotel, one that unites the vibrancy of downtown Jakarta with Four Seasons unparalleled level of personalisation and service,” continues Crawford. “We look forward to welcoming back the many loyal guests and patrons of Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta as we mark the beginning of our exciting new chapter in this great city.”

With 125 spacious suites offering panoramic views of Jakarta’s skyline, the Hotel will be an impressive addition to the Jakarta cityscape. The architects of the development are the internationally acclaimed Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, whose design celebrates the Indonesian architectural principle of transparency between indoor and outdoor spaces. The clean lines of the French Deco-inspired Hotel interiors, designed by the renowned New York interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud, will gracefully complement the impressive outdoor spaces created by tropical urban landscape designer Bill Bensley.

Guests of Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta will enjoy a world-class facility including state-of-the art spa, fitness, and event and meeting facilities combined with the highly customised service synonymous with Four Seasons.

Four Seasons is also known for running some of the world’s most dynamic and locally relevant restaurants, and the dining and bar offerings at Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta will be no exception – lively gathering places designed to appeal to locals and visitors alike.

About Rajawali Property Group

Rajawali Property Group is the real estate investment and development arm of Rajawali Group. Rajawali Group is one of Indonesia’s largest investors. Driven by the philosophy of value creation, the Group has successfully engaged across a wide range of industries, including hotel & property, agriculture, mining, infrastructure, transportation and media. Over the last three decades, the Group has built a solid reputation for strategic investments, including Indonesia’s first privately-owned television network Rajawali Citra Televisi Indonesia (RCTI), the nation's first private mobile services operator PT XL Excelcomindo Pratama, and growing PT Express Transindo Utama into the country's second largest taxi operator by fleet size with a business model recognised by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as an effective poverty reduction program for emerging economies. The Group's track record in value creation includes the turnaround of PT Perusahaan Rokok Tjap Bentoel and partnering with the Government of Indonesia to significantly increase the shareholder value of the country's largest cement maker PT (Persero) Semen Gresik Tbk. As part of the Group’s vision of a sustainable future for Indonesia and Asia, it established the Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia and initiated the Harvard Kennedy School Indonesia Program to enhance research and education in public policy and governance issues.

Travelore Tips: How To Save At Berlin’s Top 10 Attractions

The Reichstag is one of Berlin's most popular free attractions. Photo: Jonathan

One of the hottest tourist destinations in the world right now, Berlin is happily also one of the most affordable European capitals. Still, there are always extra costs to consider and some sights are so popular that a little advance planning is advised.

From insider tricks for saving money on admission, to free days to visit and ways to make your visit go more smoothly, here are our best tips for saving money and time at Berlin’s top 10 sights.

Related: Our favorite affordable hotels in Berlin

1. The Reichstag

Long an empty shell in the Mauerstreifen (the military zone between the east and west side of the Berlin Wall),the Reichstag was extensively renovated and modernized when the government moved back to Berlin in 2000.

Today, the Reichstag is home to the German parliament and open to visitors. The building’s glass dome roof, designed by the British architect Sir Norman Foster, offers a great view over the city. To get inside, you need to register in advance. You can learn about the process on the Visit Berlin website.

Budget tips:

• The good news is that visiting the Reichstag is free of charge. Just be sure to organize everything as far in advance as possible, since this is a very popular attraction. Book ahead of time to enjoy this building’s rich history.
• To explore the dome and terrace, book admission at www.bundestag.de.

Brandenburg Gate is Berlin’s most iconic symbol. Photo:Nico t.

2. Brandenburg Gate

Nothing says “Berlin” quite like the Brandenburg Gate. Built in 1791, this gate has become a symbol of German unity after years of division between east and west. Take a stroll across swanky Pariser Platz, home to the French and US embassies, as well as the luxurious, upscale Hotel Adlon.

Budget tips:

• Although the boulevard Unter den Linden is definitely worth a stroll, the restaurants and cafes you’ll find there, or anywhere around the Brandenburg Gate, will most likely be touristy and overpriced.
• To save those precious euros for more worthy pursuits, pack a picnic and head to the Tiergarten park to the west of the gate.

The Berlin TV Tower rises high above the city. Photo:m.a.r.c.

3. Berlin Television Tower (Fernsehturm)

Rising to a staggering 1,207 feet, the Berlin TV Tower is by far the tallest building in Berlin and can be seen all over the city. The tower also has an interesting history: It was opened on October 3, 1969, shortly before the 20th anniversary of the GDR, and was designed to be a symbol of the might and superiority of East Germany and other socialist societies over the West. Travel to the mirrored sphere at the top for breathtaking views over all of Berlin.

Budget tips:

• The Berlin WelcomeCard will save you 25% on the price of admission.
• The revolving restaurant at the top is expensive, but you can be a true Cheapo and just order a couple of drinks and an appetizer. The food might not blow you away, but the view will!

Gendarmenmarkt is a lovely public square in Berlin. Photo:Thomas K.

4. Gendarmenmarkt

One of the most beautiful squares in Berlin, if not Germany, Gendarmenmarkt is a must-see for any visitor. The square is flanked by two cathedrals, Französischer Dom (French Cathedral) on the northern side and Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral) on the southern side with Konzerthaus (Concert House) behind it. Be sure and say “guten tag” to the statue of Friedrich Schiller, the famous German poet and playwright, located at the center of the square.

Budget tips:

• If you’d like to see the inside of one of the cathedrals, opt for the French Cathedral. Its admission is just €3 (€4 less than the price for the German Cathedral).
• Take free guided tour of the Concert House, designed by the famous German neoclassical architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel.

Berliner Dom is a stunning cathedral on the Spree River. Photo:Wolfgang S.

5. Berliner Dom

Located on Museum Island (see below) directly on the Spree River, the Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral) is Berlin’s largest Protestant church and is a wonderful example of High-Renaissance Baroque architecture. The cathedral is also steeped with history and is tied very closely to the Hohenzollern dynasty. It was closed during the GDR era and reopened in 1993 after extensive renovations.

Budget tips:

• The Berlin Pass offers free entry to the cathedral (normal price €7).
• You can also enjoy it from the outside. Snap a few photos, then stretch out and relax at nearby Lustgarten.

Kurfürstendamm is a major shopping street in Berlin. Photo:MD111

6. Kurfürstendamm

Affectionately called “Ku’damm” by Berliners, Kurfürstendamm was West Berlin’s glitzy main shopping street, and stood for cosmopolitan elegance and sophistication for decades. The street begins at Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and extends into the upscale neighborhood Halensee. Europe’s biggest department storeKaDeWe and Zoological Garten, Germany’s oldest zoo, are both nearby and definitely worth a visit.

Budget tips:

• As with Unter den Linden, you should probably avoid restaurants and cafes directly on Ku’damm.
• But you can find more affordable food nearby: There are many inexpensive Indian restaurants on Grolmanstrasse and cheap Chinese places on Kant Strasse, including the amazing Lon Men’s Noodle House.
• To get a glimpse of student life in Berlin as well as a meal at a very nice price, you can also eat lunch at the TU Mensa, the cafeteria for Berlin’s Technical University.

Schloss Charlottenburg is a beautiful palace with extensive grounds to explore. Photo:Jonathan

7. Schloss Charlottenburg

Located just outside of the center of Berlin City West, Schloss Charlottenburg (Charlottenburg Palace) is a beautiful baroque palace located in the middle of a large, picturesque garden at the banks of the Spree River.

Budget tips:

• Unless you’re an absolute palace junkie, it really isn’t necessary to pay the €10 entry fee to go inside the palace. Instead, take a stroll around the beautiful gardens.
• Seek out the bridge over a small lake – a romantic photo opportunity that has been used in numerous films and television shows – as well as the Queen Louise’s mausoleum and the Schinkel pavilion, a small house commissioned by King Friedrich Wilhelm II.

A river boat cruises by Museum Island. Photo:Chas B

8. Museum Island

An UNESCO world heritage site, Museum Island is also home to many of Berlin’s most important museums including the Pergamon Museum, the Bode Museum, Alte Museum (Old Museum),  Neues Museum (New Museum) and Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery).

Budget tips:

• To save on museum admission fees, you should definitely consider buying either the Berlin Museum Pass orBerlin Welcome Card Museum Island.
• If you’re not one for museums, be sure to take a stroll around the island and soak in the quaint history of the place, which is, of course, free of charge.

The Berlin Wall Memorial contain a preserved guard tower. Photo:Ingo Ronner

9. The Berlin Wall Memorial and Documentation Center

Located between the districts of Wedding (former West Berlin) and Mitte (former East Berlin), the Berlin Wall Memorial honors those who lost their lives trying to cross the Berlin Wall. A section of the wall and a guard tower remain standing, which offers a good feel for what the border felt like for decades. Cross the street and check out the Documentation Center to learn more about the wall’s history.

Budget tips:

• Both the Memorial and Documentation Center are free of charge. Read, listen, and learn about Berlin’s history as a divided city and the tragic consequences it had for the lives of many.
• Keep an eye on your wallet: Pickpockets are often active in this area, so a little extra precaution is advised.

Related: Memorializing the Berlin Wall

The train station at Potsdamer Platz. Photo:K.H.Reichert

10.  Potsdamer Platz

Once a bustling commercial center, Potsdamer Platz became a dormant no-man’s land after World War II and until the fall of the Wall. Soon after, skyscrapers – as well as the Sony Center and the mall Potsdamer Platz Arcaden – sprung up out of the ground practically overnight. In February, the square is also home to the Berlinale,Berlin’s international film festival.

Budget tips:

• Again, it’s best to avoid the touristy restaurants around Potsdamer Platz.
• If you’d like to see a film in English, be sure to check out some of the smaller original language movie theaters in Berlin (check out this list) before shelling out bigger bucks at SonyCineStar.

About the author

Rebeccah Dean is a freelance writer, translator and self-proclaimed bargain hunter based in Berlin. She has already traveled through most of Europe on a shoestring and hopes to soon add Asia to the mix.

Travelore News: United And American To Offer Refunds For Travel To Zika-Affected Regions

This file photo from Sept. 13, 2011,shows United aircraft at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. (Photo: Amy Sancetta, AP)

United Airlines will allow customers concerned about the Zika virus to cancel or postpone their trips if they’re ticketed to fly to areas affected by the mosquito-borne virus. American Airlines also said it would allow certain customers to do the same.

United's policy includes travel to all areas mentioned in a Centers for Disease Control alert. So far, American's covers flights to four destinations in Central America.

“We are offering customers who are traveling to the affected regions the opportunity to rebook at a later date or receive a full refund,” United spokesman Charles Hobart said in a statement to Today in the Sky on Tuesday.

United is basing its exception policy off the guidelines issued by the CDC. Hobart says customers ticketed to regions listed by the CDC should contact the carrier if they have concerns.

“For travelers who feel they’re at risk, we’ll provide them with options,” Hobart added in a follow-up call on Wednesday.

American had not yet posted its Zika policy on its website, though spokesman Ross Feinstein says the carrier decided to implement the policy Monday. To date, American's policy is specific than United's.

Feinstein says American will allow customers to receive a refund if they provide a doctor's note stating they are unable to travel to one of four cities due pregnancy. The cities included in American's waiver are San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa in Honduras as well as Panama City, Panama, and Guatemala City. Feinstein says American continues to review its policy.

The Zika virus has been in the news since the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a travel warning alert earlier this month warning about the risk of traveling to countries in theAmericas affected by the virus. Zika has been linked to an epidemic of birth defects in Brazil and is thought to be spreading to other regions of North and South America.

The CDC's warning  focused mostly on pregnant women or those seeking to become pregnant.

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued its own alert on Monday, saying it expects the Zika to eventually spread to the United States and most of the Americas.

As for United, it said its travel waivers would include countries covered in the CDC's travel advisories.

Currently, the CDC's advisories mention the following countries and territories in the Americas: Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Paraguay, Panama,Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Suriname and Venezuela.

American, Delta and United are the three large U.S. carriers with a significant international presence. Each flies to numerous destinations in Central and South America.

For now, Delta has no such waiver in place.

“We continue to monitor the situation closely. No flight cancelations have resulted as of this time and there is currently no waiver,” Delta spokesman Morgan Durrant says to Today in the Sky.

Durant added that Delta remains "in close contact" with both the CDC and WHO on all health risks that could affect air travelers.

Outside the United States, the the largest carrier in Latin America also announced that it will waive fees or offer fees to pregnant women seeking to travel to nations affected by Zika, The Associated Press reports.  LATAM, which includes both LAN and TAM airlines, says its policy will cover travel to Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, French Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Suriname and Venezuela.

Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Contributing: Liz Szabo and Josh Hafner

TWITTER: You can follow me at twitter.com/TodayInTheSky

Travelore News: Hilton Launches New Budget Hotel Chain Aimed At Young Guests

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An image provided by FRCH via Hilton shows a rendering of a new hotel brand named Tru. 

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hilton is launching a new hotel brand, focusing on budget travelers looking to spend $75 to $90 a night.

The new brand, named Tru, aims to compete with economy and midscale chains like Comfort Inn, Fairfield Inn and La Quinta.

Hilton Worldwide — which has more than 4,500 hotels globally — already has "limited service" brands like Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites and Home2 Suites. This would be a new market for the chain.

Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta notes that 40 percent of the demand for hotel rooms comes in this price segment, the largest of any market. He also says many of the economy and midscale chains offer an "inconsistent product and service delivery," giving Hilton the opportunity to build loyalty among younger travelers whose spending is limited right now, but could afford a more upscale location in the future.

"You go in a lot of the competition and it's like Russian roulette," Nassetta says. "There's really nobody doing it well at this price point." Many of the hotels in the segment were once part of more upscale brands but as their owners couldn't keep up with renovation costs, they downgraded to economy chains.

Tru properties won't have had a prior life as a hotel. They will be mostly new construction with the others being urban conversions of historic buildings — banks, office buildings — into the hotel.

Hilton is launching the chain at a large conference for hotel investors — The Americas Lodging and Investment Summit — with 102 locations already signed and an addition 30 deals in various stages of negotiations and approval.

"That's bigger than entire hotel companies," Nassetta says.

The time for Hilton to enter this market is good.

While chain luxury and upscale hotels have the highest occupancy rates and average nightly room rates, their growth in the past year has trailed the lower end of the market. The high end hotels have seen less than one percent growth in occupancy and less than 5 percent growth in revenue per available room, according to research firm STR. Midscale and economy hotel chains however have seen roughly 2 percent growth in occupancy and more than 6 percent growth in revenue per available room.

The hotels will be in a mix of markets including urban, airport and suburban. The areas include Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Denver, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, North Carolina, San Antonio, Texas and Nashville, Tennessee.

To ensure that owners are able to keep the hotels fresh, Hilton made sure they would be cheaper to build and maintain.

The typical hotel will have 98 rooms and sit on 1.5 acres of land. It will cost $84,000 a room to build, excluding land. Compare that to Hilton's Hampton Inn brand. Those typically have 130 rooms, sit on 2 acres and cost $110,000 a room to build.

Rooms themselves will be different. Don't expect a closet. Instead there will be an open space with hangers and hooks on the wall. And the traditional hotel desk is replaced with a chair that includes a spot for a tiny laptop or tablet. The platform bed doesn't have a box spring and there's a space-saving bench that rests over the heating and air conditioning unit.

The brand is aimed at younger travelers on a budget. But Nassetta says it is also a great way to introduce them to Hilton.

"Get them loyal to our system," he says, "and trade up as they move on in their lives."

By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ

Lincoln Center Stage, New Onboard Classical Music Venue, Debuts On Holland America Line’s MS Eurodam

 

Chamber music ensemble to perform daily during week-long Caribbean cruise

Lincoln Center Stage, a new onboard classical music venue created in an exclusive partnership between Holland America Line with Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, made its debut on Sunday, January 24 when the ms Eurodam left Fort Lauderdale for a seven-day cruise of the Eastern Caribbean.  The new venue is an intimate recital space which takes its design cues from Lincoln Center’s venues.  A Steinway & Sons piano sits on the wood paneled stage.   The pattern of the room’s windows evokes those of some of Lincoln Center’s iconic buildings.

Lincoln Center Stage will showcase a chamber music ensemble, comprised of five musicians who are recent graduates of renowned music schools and conservancies, performing multiple programs nightly.  On those occasions when guests are enjoying a leisurely day at sea, the ensemble also will play afternoon recitals. The wide-ranging programs feature works by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann, and Brahms as well as by American, Eastern European, French, and Latin American composers, and arrangements of songs by such groups as The Beatles and Radiohead.

This April, a new Lincoln Center Stage will launch on two other Holland America ships. Holland America Line’s new Pinnacle Class ship, ms Koningsdam, sails on its inaugural voyage on April 8, 2016.  The venue will also be featured on ms Oosterdam when she sails in April.   Additional Lincoln Center Stage openings on more Holland America ships will be announced at a later date.