What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 21 September 2015

Welcome to another week and we like a little technology here at Cloud 9 Towers so we are finding it fascinating that the simple hotel Apps that we are all fairly used to for booking hotels, have really come on leaps and bounds recently.

We’ve not found an App yet that will do everything we want but some of the bigger hotel chains are really stepping up the features and making guest experiences much more interactive.

For example, The Ritz-Carlton brand is all about helping you to create lasting memories of your stay, and with their enhanced mobile app, you can enrich your hotel experiences and share them more easily than ever.

You can check in prior to your arrival and receive a notification when your room is ready and check out without stopping at the front desk and having to queue and you can also view your bill and track and any extra charges through the app. Additionally, it doesn’t matter whether you need a shoeshine, turndown service or more fresh towels, you can request it via the app rather than ring housekeeping.

Another lovely feature via the Ritz Carlton App is that you can transform your photos into unique, vintage-inspired travel posters that you can share easily and as they use GPS technology, once the app recognises that you have arrived, you’ll be sent all sorts of special offers and tips from the Group President.

With the Hilton Hotels & Resorts app for iPhone, you can browse, book and access your information on the go really easily but in addition, there are all sorts of extra features these days such as being able to access pillow menus in advance so your room is just how you want it on arrival.

No need to check in either, you can simply access your room using the App, so if you don’t want to wait, or are simply feeling like having some alone time, you can pretty much sneak in and out without seeing anyone at all!

Starwood also have an app and their new SPG app delivers a richer, more intuitive experience that’s loaded with the features you want. Not only do you get access to the 1,200 hotels and resorts of Starwood’s award-winning loyalty program, but you can also explore all of the brands from Sheraton and Westins, through to W and Le Méridien.

It has all of the usual features you would expect including the opportunity to book and check in well in advance, and provides all of the latest offers and promotions, but it also has lots of hotel information related to your travel plans and around the clock assistance from the SPG support team.

We do also like the fact that you can store your hotel room number so you never lose it, which is handy if you like a particular room at a specific hotel and also there is a great feature which provides an In-language address for when you’re travelling abroad.

Finally the Accor App which allows you to access and book with all of their brands including ibis, Novotel, Mercure, Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Suite Novotel, Adagio, ibis Styles, ibis budget, hotelF1, and Mama Shelter.

Yes you can book and find a hotel near you if needs be, but you can also watch each of the hotels videos in advance and access the trip Advisor rankings on each in advance to help you make an informed choice.

In addition to sending you a booking reminder once you have booked, you can check in online from 2 days before your arrival at the hotel and even check the wether at your destination before your trip so you know what to pack!

The App also allows you to book your own Uber private car to get to your hotel and allows you access to your favourite press publications for free on your mobile using ACCOR PRESS powered by PressReader.

And something which is really rather clever, is that you can discover just where the in crowd are going as you can check the most popular destinations within the Accor portfolio, Berlin to Bangkok, Lyon to London, Strasbourg to Sydney.

So, app(y) booking everyone, have a great week!

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 13 July 2015

Welcome to another week and get ready for another long haul look at some of the new hotels worldwide, as our series continues starting in China.

Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort  is located on the southernmost tip of Hainan Island, widely known as "the Hawaii of China". Sequestered on a stunning, 350,000-square-metre inlet—with an internal lake and a white-sand private beach—the resort combines exclusivity with accessibility, being a mere five-kilometre drive from popular Yalong Bay. So that's the personal location checked off, what about the rooms? 

Designed to resemble a private mansion by the sea, Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort offers relaxed, personalised luxury, housing 207 sophisticated rooms and suites, the majority blessed with unadulterated, breathtaking views of the South China Sea. Grainy wood, leather and tactile textiles with red accents combine to create a warm, modern-Chinese interior. One entire length is devoted to bathing, featuring a powder room; spacious twin vanities with a TV embedded into the mirror; a large rain-shower room; and right by the window, an oversized soaking tub cast from a single piece of black stone.  That's a double check if you ask us!

World-renowned for its iconic luxury, Asia’s largest JW Marriott, JW Marriott Hotel Macau  brings its guests an approachable luxury experience through the richness of authenticity - discovered in the beauty of craftsmanship and delivered with an intuitive response to personal expectations. Opening in August 2015, you can expect Style with elegant sophistication and enhanced  residential comforts of your own home.

Another new addition to the hotel portfolio in China is the Sheraton Shanghai Jiading.Ideally situated in the heart of Pudong New District, they provide an easy access to Shanghai's central business district and places of interest as well as the fabulous views of the Huangpu River. The spacious lobby warmly welcomes you into the hotel. The bellmen will handle your luggage as you check in at our 24-hour front desk-what a weight off your hands!  Warm and cozy, the 525 beautifully appointed guest rooms and 141 apartment suites each boast the ultra-comfortable Sheraton Sweet Sleeper® Bed, a 32-inch LCD flat screen TV, and a host of other features. Business travelers (like us!) will be taken care of with a comfortable working area and High Speed Internet Access in all rooms, as well as a dedicated Business Center. Ideal right? Now what about food? China Court is a true connoisseur’s choice, with fine regional Chinese cuisine prepared by our master chef. Cantonese, Chaozhou, Shanghainese, and other regional cuisines highlight the best of China. With ten opulent private dining rooms able to welcome anywhere from six to 30 people, we are sure to have the right room available for your private entertaining. Well that's us sold!

You can expect the Sofitel Sanya Leeman Resort to be cultural and tasty, when it opens in the late end of this year. Enter the hotel and step into a visually enthralling universe. The intimate 470 rooms, yes that’s right, 470 intimate rooms, filled with bathrobes and luxurious bedding, will provide you with a peaceful and tailored break. Thoroughly refreshed, enchant your taste buds at their restaurant. Local culinary tradition is imaginatively combined with French gastronomy. Allow the sommeliers to guide you to discover the nuances of grand cru wines.

It is the perfect destination for Buzz Lightyear and Woody fans as Disney has unveiled plans to build a Toy Story themed hotel  - but you'll have to travel to over 5,500 miles across the globe to stay there.The new Shanghai resort is due to open in December 2015, and Disney also released a birds-eye view over the two themed hotels, as well as what's planned for an area called Disneytown – a shopping, dining and entertainment district.

As the hotel is part of the new Disney Land Shanghai, you can expect only the funnest and magical of stays. Next to the Marketplace will be an area called Spice Alley, offering a variety of popular Asian cuisines in a casual, yet romantic environment. The al fresco dining spots are perfect for lunch with friends or a more formal date. And the intimate streets and festive lights encourage leisurely after dinner strolling

Adding 3 new hotels to China, The Ritz-Carlton is set to take over the hotel empire. Opening its first one in Macau,  you can expect nothing better than the best. After being whisked away to the 51st floor lobby, settle into your spacious suite, where a large picture window offers a breathtaking view of the glittering city. Refined Asian hospitality draws visitors to Cotai, and The Ritz-Carlton, Macau embodies that allure with fine dining, world-class entertainment and incredibly luxurious amenities, including a full-service spa.

Ritz-Carlton Nanjing with feature 297 rooms and 32 suites, the grand property will also enjoy extensive meeting spaces including a ballroom and seven function rooms. Four restaurants and bars will include a Chinese restaurant serving renowned local Nanjing cuisine. A luxury Spa by ESPA will also form a central part of the well-being experience, alongside the indoor pool and fitness center. 

The district also enjoys a reputation as the region’s cosmopolitan powerhouse and is home to several department stores and luxury fashion houses so it's the ideal location too!

Last but not least for the Ritz-Carlton takeover is the Ritz-Carlton Mission Hills, Hainan Island. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. has unveiled plans for its first golf resort in China when The Ritz-Carlton, Mission Hills opens in late 2015 on the tropical island of Hainan. The property, designed by architects AECOM with interiors created by Hirsch Bedner Associates, includes five restaurants and bars, a Ritz-Carton Spa (our favourite!) and extensive leisure facilities including tennis courts, two swimming pools and a recreation pavilion. The Ritz-Carlton, Mission Hills also offers 1,480 sq m of convention and meeting spaces, creating expertly-executed meticulous events tailored to leave a lasting impression. 

 Known as the Forest City, Guiyang offers a perfect summer vacation to escape from the heat and experience vibrant nature.  Bringing Anantara’s essence of luxurious discovery to this natural haven, guests of Anantara Guiyang Resort & Spa will be able to enjoy stunning landscapes, hot springs, Huangguoshu waterfall and scenic golf courses, alongside the rich heritage of minority Xijiang Miao culture town and the ancient town of Zhengyuan. And you won't fall short of places to stay as the Anatara Guiyang offers a collection of 207 guestrooms and 11 pool villas that will be surrounded by a golf course and mountain scenery, for a beautiful view while relaxing in luxurious comfort. 

So lots of choices for those looking East for your next meeting or event and some new hotels on the horizon! Enjoy!