Fenwick Shores, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

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Real Hospitality Group, Inc. (RHG) today announced the opening of Fenwick Island's first and only upscale hotel. The 65 guest room Fenwick Shores, Tapestry Collection by Hilton is nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Little Assawoman Bay with sweeping views and beach access. The quaint island is home to some of the region's most pristine beaches and charming collection of shops and dining. Designed to celebrate the island's unique past, Fenwick Shores honors the local history of merchant ships and the tradition of extending hospitality to travelers with nautical details, textures and finishes that are woven into the guest experience. In keeping with the rich history of the island, interior designer Susan Kirkpatrick reached out to several local artisans and historians who were engaged to contribute. Town Historian Dale Clifton, and Winnie and Tracey Lewis provided detailed accounts that inspired the names of the lounges and event rooms.

The opening of this property marks the continued growth of RHG's portfolio which has added seven additional properties and more than 1,300 guest rooms in the past six months to its management portfolio.

Located beachfront on historic Fenwick Island, the hotel is two miles from Fenwick Island State Park and less than five minutes from the Discoversea Shipwreck Museum, the Fenwick Island Lighthouse and the Fenwick Boardwalk. The focal point of the hotel's public space is a custom crafted blown glass chandelier by artist Jeffery Auxer. The large guest rooms and suites are designed to accommodate families with kitchens, a sectional sleeper sofa and private balconies with ocean or bayside views.

For dining, Mooncussers offers fresh American dishes or guests may enjoy the more casual Shipwrecked, for poolside dining and signature cocktails. Resort amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, beachside lounge chairs, a fitness center and 24-hour market. Some 1,560 square feet of well-appointed event space provide a beautiful venue for events and small meetings.

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How a Maldivian Hotel bounced back using THN Vouchers & Gift Cards

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Amidst today's situation, hotels need to find new and creative ways to encourage reservations. Dealing with skeptical travelers and managing re-openings after months of closure is a completely new setting for many hotels, and trying to capitalize on new ideas to attract potential guests has become more important than ever. Seducing guests on the hotel website through vouchers and gift cards is becoming a reality for many, and some hotels are hitting the perfect notes in creating clever deals that re-spark the interest of their future guests.

Hard Rock Hotel Maldives, an elegant Maldivian resort-feel hotel merged with the nuances of the Hard Rock music culture, understands the importance of retaining loyal customers and engaging with potential new guests. By offering tempting and flexible deals on their website, the brand is able to effectively win over visitors during these times. "Guests always visit the website at least once, no matter where they decide to book", says Phromporn Sumatepimolchai, cluster E-commerce manager of SAii Lagoon Maldives and Hard Rock Hotel Maldives. "This is the most important touchpoint where we need to grab their attention and inform them about what we have to offer." 

In June 2020, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives decided to partner with The Hotels Network (THN) to take their hotel website experience to the next level. After THN's Vouchers & Gift Cards product launch, the brand was able to explore a new way to attract post COVID-19 guests, as this tool removed any uncertainty potential guests may have had around dates and encouraged immediate reservations.

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Marriott International Signs Agreement With Asset World Corporation To Bring Four World-Class Hotels To Thailand

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Project expected to add 1,638 rooms under three global brands in Bangkok and Pattaya by 2027

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) today announced it has signed a milestone agreement with Asset World Corp Plc. (SET: AWC) to add four new landmark properties under three world-class brands across Bangkok and Pattaya, Thailand. The multi-property agreement features a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Thailand’s first JW Marriott Marquis hotel in Bangkok and two Autograph Collection hotels, set to debut the Autograph Collection brand in the country.

“We are pleased to strengthen our longstanding relationship with Asset World Corporation in this landmark signing,” said Craig S. Smith, Group President, Asia Pacific, Marriott International. “This agreement is a testament to the confidence owners and franchisees such as AWC have in Marriott International. We are excited to play a role in AWC’s vision of expanding its diverse portfolio of hospitality and lifestyle projects in Thailand.”

Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Bangkok at Asiatique the Riverfront
Targeted to open by 2027 in Bangkok’s newly revamped Asiatique The Riverfront, the Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Bangkok is expected to serve as a private, ultra-luxury boutique urban resort set on the scenic curve of the Chao Phraya River. With 124 meticulously designed guest rooms, the urban sanctuary will showcase the rich culture, history and heritage of Bangkok’s 19th Century maritime trade.

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Gaurav Misra Appointed General Manager Holiday Inn Express Gurugram Sector 50

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Gaurav Misra has been appointed as the General Manager for Holiday Inn Express Gurugram Sector 50

starting 1 st October. This is a unique appointment as Gaurav takes on dual responsibility of maintaining his current role of Portfolio Operations Manager for 10. Holiday Inn Express hotels and spearheading the team at the Gurugram Sector 50 hotel. Gaurav comes with around 18 years of rich experience in managing Hotel Operations with expertise in Rooms Division & Quality Control in various capacities. He has worked with prestigious brands like Oberoi Hotels & Hyatt Hotels. He joined IHG as Rooms Division Manager in 2015 at Crowne Plaza Jaipur. 

He specializes in hotel operations, Pre-opening management, performance enhancement, best practices implementation, setting up process

and implementation, organization development and human resources and training, throughout his

career “GM” as we like to call him, has been certified with various recognitions for commendable work

in the field of hospitality.

 Gaurav has completed his Diploma in Hotel Management from IHM Lucknow & subsequently

completed Management Training from OCLD, New Delhi. 

 Gaurav is happily married to Garima and has a 12 years old son Ahaan. He enjoys music, long drives &amp weekend cooking. He also loves playing with Buddy, his pet dog.

He takes on this role from 1 st October, in addition to his role of Portfolio Operations Manager.

Meliá Hotels International Launches An Incentive Travel Programme For The COVID-19 Era: Individual And 100% Flexible

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The COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions have caused numerous changes in the travel industry, forcing the MICE segment to completely reinvent itself and look for new ways to reactivate business travel. According to forecasts made by GEBTA and BRAINTRUST, travel for professional reasons at the end of 2020 will still be 50% below the previous year.

One of the segments that has been most affected is that of incentive trips, a traditional motivational tool that companies use to reward their best customers, employees or partners. For Meliá Hotels International, incentive trips represented 10% of all MICE revenues in 2019, and it has also been an important segment for travel agencies over recent years.

Given the current situation, the leading hotel company in Spain has taken a step forward in making incentive travel viable in the COVID-19 era, distancing itself from the more traditional concept of organised group travel and creating a new format in which flexibility and personalisation of the journey by the end user are key.

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Satya Anand Appointed President At Marriott International Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)

Hospitality giant Marriott International has appointed Satya Anand as its president for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Spending 32 years with the group, Anand was most recently COO of luxury & Southern Europe and global design for EMEA.

He takes over from Liam Brown who will now sit as group president for U.S. & Canada.

Anand will lead Marriott's post-COVID-19 recovery, looking after 998 hotels spread across 75 countries. Reinvigorating the travel industry will be top of his agenda, where he will enhance cleanliness and sanitation across all EMEA properties, and spearhead international campaigns to reinstate guest confidence.

The company has 24 of its 30 brands represented in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, JW Marriott, W Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Le Méridien, Sheraton and AC Hotels by Marriott. Additionally, Design Hotels, a collection of privately owned and operated hotels and a part of Marriott International's brand portfolio, will be overseen by Anand in his new role.

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The Safest Hotels During The Covid-19 Crisis

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If you're thinking of traveling during the second wave of the coronavirus outbreak, you might be wondering: Is there a list of the safest hotels during the COVID-19 crisis?

There is. The Safe Travel Barometer, a startup that ranks travel companies based on their cleaning and sanitation practices, released the list exclusively to FORBES. It's a handy guide for anyone interested in staying somewhere that takes safety seriously.

Why is a list of the safest hotels for coronavirus so important? Because too many hotels have said too little about their sanitation efforts. They've either published a vaguely worded press release, meant to soothe worried guests but short on specifics, or they've said nothing substantive other than, "We'll do better."

But the most alarming result of the Safe Travel Barometer research is that there just isn't a lot of information on hotel safety out there. Many properties have said little or nothing about their cleaning practices. That should be troubling to every guest, but also something worth remembering. It's not the hotels on this list that you should worry about — it's the ones that are not on this list.

A Hilton CleanStay seal at the Canopy by Hilton Scottsdale Old Town in Scottsdale, Ariz.

CHRISTOPHER ELLIOTT

How to tell if your hotel is safe during the COVID-19 crisis

Of course, some hotels go above and beyond, which is something else to look for. At the Canopy by Hilton Scottsdale Old Town in Scottsdale, Ariz., each door has a Hilton CleanStay seal, signifying that it’s been sanitized to the hotel chains high standards. The property, Old Town Scottsdale’s first new hotel in over a decade, opened just a month ago, so it its cleaning protocols have been there from the start. (One hotel guest told me that he always travels with sanitizing wipes and cleans surface areas himself. At the Hilton, he says, the wipes remained white. “I was impressed,” he says.)

After the housekeeping staff at the historic Beverly Hilton services a room, they bring in an ultraviolet light to sanitize even more deeply, says hospitality expert Anthony Melchiorri.

"If you have questions or would like to know more about the exact safety measures put in place to protect your health, call the hotel where you plan to stay and ask them what to expect," he says.

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Pullman Announces Global Partnership with Les Mills to Take Hotel Fitness from Ordinary to Extraordinary

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Pullman Hotels & Resorts, a leading brand within the Accor group, is pleased to announce a strategic global partnership with Les Mills, the world's largest creator of group fitness classes available at health clubs, online, and now, at select Pullman destinations. Pullman Power Fitness Fueled by Les Mills makes Pullman the first boutique fitness hotel brand with around-the-clock innovative fitness classes, in-room fitness amenities, challenging boot camps and Pullman Fitness Squad events, while unleashing the full experience of the Pullman Power Fitness community.

The Pullman Power Fitness Fueled by Les Mills partnership is a key element of Pullman's latest approach to health and wellness - Pullman Power Fitness - replacing the stale one-size-fits-all hotel gym environment with a bold, artful, social approach to contemporary fitness. More than a gym, Pullman Power Fitness taps into a new era of training diversity, integrated technology and the support of a like-minded community to help Pullman guests stay on top of their fitness game.

"At Pullman, we've redesigned our fitness platform to be as action-oriented, diverse and dynamic as the busy lives of our guests - full of great music, plenty of fun and opportunities for safe social connections," said Lilian Roten, Global Vice President, Brand Management, Pullman Hotels & Resorts. "Just as our guests are motivated to become the best versions of themselves, they have motivated us to look beyond the walls of the gym and create a platform that is more engaging, more inclusive and more enjoyable than what they typically find at most hotels. Our new partnership with Les Mills takes our wellbeing programming to the next level, with immersive experiences, continuously updated content and a Pullman Fitness Squad of creative individuals connected by passion and a shared mindset."

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Inspire Brands to buy Dunkin' Brands donut company for $8.8 billion

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The Dunkin' chain, created in 1950 in the US north-eastern state of Massachusetts, is known for its variety of doughnuts as well as its coffee and breakfast sandwiches.

Baskin-Robbins started in 1945 in California and is famous for its 31 flavours of ice cream.

The two brands account for more than 20,000 distribution points in more than 60 countries.

They have suffered somewhat from the pandemic and the resulting temporary or permanent closures of stores, with turnover of their parent company having fallen by six per cent in total over the first nine months of the year.

A former subsidiary of the Allied Domecq group, Dunkin' Brands was bought by the French wine and spirits group Pernod Ricard in 2005 and sold a year later for $2.4 billion to three investment funds: Bain Capital, Carlyle and Thomas H. Lee.

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Peru enters phase four and begins tourism reactivation

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Tourism is currently one of the most affected sectors and it represents the third largest economic activity in Peru, generating more than 1.4 million jobs. In this sense, and given the reduction in the numbers of the pandemic, the South American country has been reactivating the sector in a gradual, responsible and sustainable way, applying bio-safety protocols to travel with safety and confidence.

Several indicators of this reactivation have been seen recently: last Tuesday 13th, Peru received the Safe Travels seal from the WTTC, a certification endorsed by the UNWTO and the CDC. Furthermore, the country has doubled the number of domestic flights and recently PROMPERÚ launched the 'Volver' campaign, which seeks to reactivate domestic tourism.

Important museums and archaeological sites in the country were also reopened in October, with all the biosecurity measures needed and receiving only 50% of their usual capacity in visitors. Added to this is the expected reopening of Machupicchu, scheduled for the first days of November receiving only 30% of its capacity in visitors.

Oakwood Premier Prestige Bangalore appoints Altamsh Patel as Executive Chef

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Oakwood Premier Prestige Bangalore has appointed Altamsh Patel as their Executive Chef. Patel brings with him close to a decade of culinary experience specializing in Progressive Asian cuisine.

He is also a Joint Secretary of Western Indian Culinary Association (WICA), Member of Young Chef’s Association of India (YCAI), Indian Federation of Culinary Association (IFCA), World Association of Chefs Society (WACS), and is a HALAL & HACCP certified chef.

Prior to joining the team at Oakwood, Patel served as Executive Chef at The Park Hotel Mumbai where he established his career and cultivated exciting culinary techniques and strong leadership skills in kitchen management.

He has been actively involved in initiating diverse food fiestas around the globe, conducting various cookery shows and judging culinary competitions. He represented Culinary Team India at World Chefs Congress 2018, Malaysia.

An alumnus of Rizvi College of Hotel Management, Mumbai, Chef Patel started his career as a Management Trainee with the TajSATS under the brand Taj Group of Hotels in 2011. In a short time, he not only established himself as a critically acclaimed chef but also has been honored with numerous awards and accolades

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Hyatt Announces Plans for First Property in Sweden with Hotel Reisen

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Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a franchise agreement with First Hotel Reisen AB to open the first Hyatt property in Sweden. Hotell Reisen is currently undergoing extensive refurbishment and will be available on Hyatt's booking system on an unbranded basis as of December 1, 2020 with plans to join The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand in early 2021. In the Nordics, the hotel will join the planned Grand Hansa Hotel in Helsinki, Finland as part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt and Hyatt Centric Reykjavík in Reykjavik, Iceland. The three hotels represent strategic cornerstones in Hyatt’s expansion plans for Northern Europe.

Located in the heart of Stockholm’s old town directly on the waterfront and on Skeppsbron, Hotell Reisen is rich in history, dating back to the 17th century. The property will offer cultural moments for guests seeking a sophisticated yet unscripted experience, as it will be located within walking distance of many of Stockholm’s landmark attractions. Independent-minded travelers can experience highlights of the city including The Royal Palace and the ferry to Djurgården, bringing guests to the tranquil oasis that is home to many of the city’s most famous museums and cultural attractions.

At Hyatt, we are focused on thoughtful growth based on locations that matter most to our guests, World of Hyatt members and customers, and Stockholm has been a priority market for some time,” said Peter Norman, senior vice president of development Europe, Hyatt. “While Stockholm is known for its high barrier to entry for global brands, the rich history and unique location in central Stockholm make Hotell Reisen a perfect addition to The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand. This brand has seen great momentum across the region, as each property celebrates their destination’s distinct culture and atmosphere, and we look forward to expanding the brand’s footprint in the Nordics.”

The name of Reisen originates from a 1750’s coffee house run by a Dutchman, Frederik Reiss. As the coffee house was a popular meeting space for merchants and travelers from all over the world, Frederik Reiss’s daughter soon started to rent rooms in the early 19th century. Ever since, the building has been in use as a hotel and today is a celebration of the vibrant and rich history of Sweden’s capital.

“We are delighted to work alongside Hyatt for the first Hyatt hotel in Sweden,” said Anders Moe, CEO of Host AB which owns First Hotel Reisen AB. “In creating a destination that locals and guests from afar will treasure, Hotell Reisen will honor the history of the building and the city. The combination of our expertise in Sweden’s hospitality market and Hyatt’s international reputation will allow for our vision to come to life.”

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The rise of 'Tech-Enabled Hospitality'

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The hospitality industry has constantly reinvented itself to meet new challenges and stay ahead of the curve. The fear and insecurity surrounding travel caused by the global affliction of novel coronavirus infection has led hoteliers to look beyond the traditional way of doing business. A majority of them are re-examining their fundamental strategies and technological investment to create new paradigms

The post-COVID of the hospitality industry will most likely be hinged on integrating new-age technologies in every sphere and involve booking engines, mobile apps, digital concierge services, automated check-in and check-out and keyless entry systems.

A report by Software Advice’s Guest Preferences for Technology in hotels states that 60% respondents are more likely to choose a property that allows guests to check-in and open doors with a smartphone, than a hotel that doesn’t. Nothing can be truer in the After-COVID world.

The tech solutions
Given that guests will be even more conscious about personal hygiene and social distancing, hotels are incorporating new technologies and cleaning protocols to optimise services and COVID-proof their property. Contactless or touchless technologies are emerging as crucial tech trends for streamlining operations.

Solutions such as keyless entry, online check-ins, QR codes, digital menus, contactless payments, digital communication and engagement tools, and innovative technologies are coming into picture. It will be interesting to note how hoteliers will re-evaluate their technology strategy to protect and carve new guest experiences. We map out some transformations that are likely to change the hotel experience.

Contactless/touchless experience
Touch-free experiences are the new norm of the coronavirus times and hotels introducing new-age technologies across all segments to elevate and assure safe and hygienic guest experience.

JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu has introduced QR codes at critical touchpoints such as front desks, elevators,
rooms, restaurants and recreational spaces, to ensure a complete contactless experience for guests. “Processes such as check-in/check-out, viewing the guest services directory and other hotel information, viewing menus and placing orders, making payments and appointments have entirely gone digital to minimise human intervention,” says hotel manager Sunil Kumar.

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Circa Resort & Casino Implements the InvoTech Uniform System for Contactless Uniform Distribution and Inventory Management

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InvoTech's Systems Inc. announced the recent implementation of its Uniform System at Circa Resort & Casino. InvoTech's Systems is the leading provider of advanced Linen Management, Laundry and Uniform Systems that integrate the latest RFID technology to increase profitability for hotels, resorts, casino operators, sports arenas, convention centres, theme parks and production plants. The InvoTech's System installed at Circa Resort & Casino manages the uniform inventory and assignments for 1,300 employees. Circa Resort & Casino joins InvoTech's extensive client portfolio of hotels and casinos worldwide. Click here for more information on InvoTech's Linen, Laundry and Uniform Systems.

With the InvoTech's Uniform System Circa Resort & Casino tracks the entire inventory and distributes uniforms without physical contact using UHF-RFID technology — from uniform purchase, assignments, daily use and laundry activity. The perfect solution in the current situation, respecting social distancing and hygiene norms to enable full productivity of staff. The uniform system provides significant cost saving benefits by cutting labour costs, eliminating losses, reducing purchases, and lowering laundry expenses. The system eliminates traditional labour-intensive tasks, such as manual sorting, counting, and recordkeeping to reduce operational costs.

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Tripadvisor Ramps Up Support for Hotels With Launch of Two New Technology Solutions

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The world's largest travel platform, today announced the launch of two new technology solutions for hotels - Spotlight and Reputation Pro - to help hospitality businesses rebuild traveller confidence, attract new customers and make smart, data-driven decisions to increase profitability during these unprecedented times.

Combining the latest technology and software with TripAdvisor's unrivalled reach and scale, both Spotlight and Reputation Pro offer something new to the market, empowering hospitality businesses with the tools they need to increase customer confidence in their brand, forecast demand and set the most profitable nightly rates.

The combined launch signals TripAdvisor's increased focus on delivering best-in-class technology solutions that will help the hospitality industry recover in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, following the launch of popular free tools such as Travel Safe and Contactless Menus and the global rollout of Menu Connect earlier this year.

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Zaplox Demonstrates Contact-Free Mobile Guest Journey at Cyber HITEC

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Zaplox's contact-free solutions, including its mobile guest app and self-service kiosk, allow hoteliers to use contact-free technology to make all the touch points of the guest journey safer, more convenient, and more cost-efficient. Thanks to Zaplox's mobile guest app, guests no longer have to handle plastic key cards, but can use their own smartphone to check-in remotely. On arrival they can skip the front desk and go straight to their room and unlock the hotel room door by holding their phone against the electronic door lock.

Guests appreciate the convenience and the contact-free process reduces the risk for transmission for both guests and hotel employees. During the stay, guests can use Zaplox's mobile guest app to access information about the hotel amenities, chat with hotel staff to order room service, book spa appointments, or make dinner reservations. At departure, the guest can use the app to review the room charges and pay.

"Our contact-free solutions takes the pressure off the front desk by empowering the guest to use their phone for everything from check-in to payment, supporting social distancing guidelines while offering convenient access to information and high quality service," says said Even Frydenberg, Zap lox's CEO. "Even though we had preferred to meet all the hoteliers and our partners in person, we are excited and impressed by how technology has made this virtual event possible."

Zap lox invites all CYBER HITEC participants to attend the company's presentation at 12:00 pm EDT, October 28, 2020 in the CYBER HITEC Networking Lounge. The presentation will focus on how hotels can benefit from a contact-free guest journey and will share a demo of how The Kinney Hotel in San Luis Obispo uses Zap lox's mobile guest app.

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Park Inn By Radisson Gwalior Opens Its Doors To Guests

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Park Inn by Radisson Gwalior opens today in the city of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. The hotel provides an ideal stay for both leisure and business travelers visiting the city, best known for its ancient hilltop Gwalior fort.

The hotel is strategically located to provide easy access to tourist attractions such as the hill fort of Gwalior, Gopachal Parvat, Jai Vilas Palace, Tomb of Ghaus Mohammed, Madhav National Park and many others. Situated within five kilometres from the railway station and ten kilometres from the Gwalior airport, the hotel's location is perfect for guests visiting for leisure or business.

Spread over 450 square meters, the hotel's architecture is reminiscent of the city's erstwhile culture and style. It constitutes Superior and Deluxe category rooms. While Deluxe rooms offer a private terrace and remarkable view of the Gwalior Fort, Superior rooms offer a comfortable stay accompanied with free Wi-Fi connectivity and a mini fridge. The hotel features a state-of-the-art fitness centre with modern amenities.

Park Inn by Radisson Gwalior offers an exquisite range of dining options. RBG Bar & Grill, an all-day dining restaurant, features a vibrant atmosphere and a collection of contemporary gourmet delights. Remarkable chefs at RBG Bar & Grill offer a selection of global dishes on the à la carte menu as well as an expansive buffet that promises to delight guests through the day. The hotel's culinary expertise can be relished at the comfort of one's accommodation with 24-hour room service.

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FSSAI extends upgraded Food Safety Compliance platform for food businesses to entire country

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Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) has been operational in 9 States/UTs viz. Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Gujarat, Odisha, Chandigarh, Goa, Manipur, Puducherry and Ladakh wef 1st June 2020. FSSAI is now ready to extend FoSCoS to entire country wef 1st November 2020.

Since 2011, the FSSAI’s online licensing platform FLRS (Food Licensing and Registration System) is the soul of the licensing ecosystem with 100% India (all State and UTs) coverage, 70 lakh licenses/ registrations issued till date, over 40 lakhs licensees/ registrants actively transacting on it.

FSSAI is launching its cloud based, upgraded new food safety compliance online platform called Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS, URL – https://foscos.fssai.gov.in). It will replace the existing FLRS (URL – https://foodlicensing.fssai.gov.in).

FoSCoS is conceptualized to provide one point stop for all engagement of an FBO with the department for any regulatory compliance transaction. FoSCoS has been integrated with FoSCoRIS mobile app and will soon integrate with present IT platforms of FSSAI such as INFOLNet, FoSTaC, FICS etc.

Sample management, improvement notices, adjudications, audit management system etc activities/ modules will be enabled in phased manner in future. Technologies such as GPS location tagging, picture capture etc will be utilised in future to ensure transparent and accountable extension field services such
inspections and sampling.

In future it will be integrated with other platforms of Government of India such as GST, PAN, MCA etc. to ensure a 360 degree profiling and validation of businesses. A single regulatory platform will enable pan India integrated response system to any food fraud and ensure an advanced risk based, data driven regulatory approach.

FoSCoS will be offering licensing, registration, inspection and annual return modules. It essentially has flows similar to FLRS, so that users have convenience in migrating to FoSCoS.

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Vikram Choubal joins The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts as their Senior Vice President Design

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The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts has appointed Vikram Choubal as Senior Vice President, Design and Technical Services.

Prior to joining The Leela, Choubal was Vice President, Project Management at Marriott International for South Asia.

In his new role, Choubal will provide technical support and oversee the design, planning and execution of all hotel projects within The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts portfolio. With over three decades of experience in hotel project management, Choubal has had a solid grounding in hospitality engineering, architecture, design, and construction.

“We are delighted to welcome Vikram to The Leela family and to have someone of his calibre and extensive experience lead our design and technical services team. Vikram brings with him the necessary expertise and a proven track record in project management and design development across  multiple brands, which will be extremely valuable to us as we embrace the next new phase of our growth trajectory,” said Anuraag Bhatnagar, Chief Operating Officer, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts.

Choubal began his career in the merchant shipping industry, sailing on oil tankers for 14 years, gaining hands-on experience of working with people across the world, before moving to the hospitality industry. His experience in the hospitality sector includes a stint with The Oberoi Group, heading engineering, operations and projects as Vice President, and IHCL (TAJ Hotels) as Vice President Projects prior to joining Marriott International.

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Tabish Siddiquie Named General Manager At The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club

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As the resort's general manager, Siddiquie will be responsible for all aspects of daily operations, including sales and revenue generation, marketing, guest and employee satisfaction, human resources, financial performance, and the membership club. Siddiquie will be actively involved in the St. Petersburg community, building strong relationships with local officials, businesses, and guests to continue The Vinoy's legacy as an iconic pillar on downtown St. Petersburg's welcoming waterfront.

Siddiquie's appointment reflects his impressive 20-year track record successfully running exceptional properties across the globe. Most recently, he served as the general manager of The Ritz-Carlton Denver, which attained its highest ever revenue and profit under Siddiquie's leadership. Prior to his time in Denver, Siddiquie honed his hospitality skills around the world at luxury hotels and resorts such as The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal, The Ritz-Carlton Almaty in Kazakhstan, The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman and The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco. This will not be Siddiquie's first time on Florida's Gulf Coast, as he oversaw food and beverage at The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, including the hotel's members club and golf course, from 2008 to 2011.

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