Images submitted by Iranian representatives at the Fitur International Tourism Fair in Spain

Iran's space on the first day of the Fitur International Tourism Fair in Spain

King and the Queen of Spain at the exhibition in Iran's division in Fitur International Exhibition of Spain

Preparation of the Iran pavilion at Fitur International Tourism Fair in Spain

FITUR, THE INTERNATIONAL TOURISM TRADE FAIR, HOLDS ITS 39TH STAGING FROM JANUARY 23 TO JANUARY 27, 2019.

Hotel News - FITUR is a global meeting point for tourism professionals and the leading trade fair for inbound and outbound Ibero American markets. In 2018 FITUR has beaten the participation record with 10,190 exhibiting companies from 165 countries/regions, 140,120 trade participants and 110,860 people from the  general public. Morever the volume of agendas organised by FITUR within the different B2B has reached 6,800 business appointments. The attendance of 7,856 journalists is a turnout that shows the importance of FITUR on the international circuit of tourism industry events.

Best Western Hotels Resorts Signs New Seafront Resort in Hua Hin, Thailand

Hotel News - Best Western Hotels & Resorts has announced the signing of a new seafront property in the popular resort town of Hua Hin, on Thailand's gulf coast. Best Western Plus Carapace Hotel Khao Tao will feature 410 guest rooms and an array of leisure amenities for all types of guest, including couples and families. Located close to the beach just south of Hua Hin town center and 2.5 hours' drive from Bangkok, this contemporary resort will provide the perfect destination for locals, expats and international travelers seeking a revitalizing break from the city. The centerpiece of this elegant resort will be a series of freeform lagoon pools, slides, waterfalls and a special children's water play zone, all surrounded by tropical palm trees, sun decks and cozy cabanas. Every room features modern amenities and a balcony overlooking these aquatic attractions, while a series of spacious ground floor rooms offer terraces with direct access to the pools. A sunken pool bar creates an ideal spot to enjoy a cooling daytime drink, while the Beach Bar allows guests to chill out with refreshing drinks and gaze out over the glistening Gulf of Thailand. The hotel also features a restaurant serving breakfast and all-day Thai and international cuisine, a daytime coffee shop and a modern fitness center, and onsite parking will be available. Best Western Plus Carapace Hotel Khao Tao is owned by One Place Estate Co., Ltd. The signing ceremony was held on December 17, 2018, and attended by Mr Pongpipat Kanjanasupat (4th right), Mr Suvichai Janethanaarthakij (4th left), CEOs of One Place Estate, and Olivier Berrivin (3rd right), Managing Director of International Operations - Asia, Best Western Hotels & Resorts. "Hua Hin has transformed from a charming coastal town into a thriving international tourism destination that now attracts millions of visitors every year. Newly connected with international flights, it now possesses a wide range of attractions including world-class golf courses, wineries, restaurants and enchanting cultural sites. Best Western Plus Carapace Hotel Khao Tao will allow guests to experience the best of this impressive destination in comfort and style, with spacious accommodation and fantastic facilities, most notably its exotic outdoor pools," commented Olivier Berrivin. "Whether guests are seeking a romantic beachfront retreat, a memorable family vacation or a fun-filled getaway for a group of friends, this new resort has something for everyone. We look forward to working with our esteemed partners at One Place Estate as we bring this exciting project to life," he added

Melia opens it's fourth hotel in Cuba

Hotel News—the fourth Paradisus hotel in the Meliá Hotels International chain in Cuba and the first in Cayo Santa María—opened its doors on 8 December. This eco resort is set in a unique natural environment. Cayo Santa María is surrounded by the Buenavista Biosphere Reserve, which boasts the second most important coral reef on the planet. Elegant, sophisticated and modern, Paradisus Los Cayos defines the essence of an all-inclusive natural luxury experience. Overlooking a fine-sand beach stretching for nearly half a mile and bathed by turquoise waters in one of the most unspoilt spots in the key, the establishment blends harmoniously with the nature surrounding it. Paradisus Los Cayos offers 802 Suites and Junior Suites. A large hotel where the architecture and interior design ensure guests can relax in an exclusive private setting. One aspect that sets this eco resort apart from the rest is its 34 swimming pools. Guests can go for a refreshing dip directly from their Garden Swim-Up rooms. The hotel provides two exclusive areas: The Reserve and Royal Service. Designed for guests seeking personalised attention, The Reserve is suitable for lone travellers or families as it offers the Family Concierge service. The Reserve guests can also enjoy areas and amenities especially designed for the most exacting tastes. If you prefer a luxury adult-only experience, Paradisus Los Cayos has a Royal Service area. Besides exclusive access to hotel bars, the lobby and swimming pools, other highlights include an exceptional butler service. The variety and quality of the food is another differentiating factor. With 12 restaurants and 14 bars to choose from, guests can enjoy a huge variety of tastes and textures. They range from Mediterranean dishes to Latin fusion and include the exotic flavours of Asia, signature cuisine and traditional Cuban fare. Guests can also enjoy diverse bar locations and interiors designed to cater for all tastes. Sipping a drink on the beach or gazing at the sunset while savouring a cocktail specially prepared by Cuban cocktail experts are two of the options available for travellers staying at Paradisus Los Cayos. The facilities for the MICE segment will turn this hotel and Cayo Santa María into a new hub for major events. The establishment provides 959 m² for meetings, with a large ballroom (910 m²) that can hold 910 people in a theatre format and 500 in banquet style. There are also alternative locations: beaches, swimming pools, gardens or terraces. Paradisus Los Cayos is destined to become the company’s flagship in Cayos del Norte de Villa Clara. The hotel’s special features and surrounding natural environment make it a unique place for discovering enchanting landscapes and experiencing memorable moments in this Cuban paradise.

Hampton by Hilton Blackburn Hotel to Open 2020 in the U.K.

Hotel News - Hilton has signed a franchise agreement with Monte Hospitality Limited to bring a 150-guest room Hampton by Hilton to Frontier Park, one of Lancashire's largest commercial developments, situated at Junction 6 of the M65 motorway. Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, EMEA, Hilton said: "Visitor numbers to Lancashire have grown for a sixth consecutive year and projects such as Frontier Park will further enhance the commercial appeal of the county. Hampton by Hilton Blackburn will be the town's first internationally branded hotel and we look forward to welcoming guests when the property opens in 2020." The hotel forms part of Monte Hospitality Limited's business strategy to attract international brands to invest in Lancashire. Upon completion, the £100 million Frontier Park development will include nearly one million square feet of industrial and warehouse accommodations, motorway services and a 1,400-delegate capacity conference and events centre. Irfan Ali, director, Monte Hospitality Limited said: "Hampton by Hilton Blackburn will be our first branded hotel development and we are proud to be partnering with this market-leading hotel operator. Lancashire is in need of an internationally recognised hotel and this project will meet the growing demand for quality accommodations in the area."

Choice Hotels launches Book on Google

Hotel News - In a few clicks, Choice Hotels’ customers can now complete a reservation online on Google using their saved Google credentials. Choice Hotels International, Inc. CHH, +0.59% is making booking a hotel room directly at its hotel brand properties easier than ever. By enabling Book on Google, Choice Hotels has made it possible for travelers to seamlessly search, select, and reserve hotel rooms at Choice properties. Unlike booking a hotel room through other third-party sites, the Book on Google reservation is handled by Choice Hotels. This includes receiving a confirmation from Choice Hotels that allows guests to manage reservations directly with the hotel. Guests can also enjoy many of the benefits of the award-winning Choice Privileges loyalty program by adding their Choice Privileges membership number once they receive their confirmation. "We launched Book on Google to help ease friction in the travel booking process. This feature makes it easier for users to book seamlessly online and helps to minimize drop off. We're excited to have Choice Hotels join us and help to create a seamless booking process for users," said Andrew Silverman, Product Management Director, Google.

Features of the Hyatt International Hotel Group

Hotel News - Here are the newest elements to the Hyatt Place hotel model.  Design The revamped Hyatt Place brand includes updates in guest connection and customization. Starting with the guestrooms, the space will come with purposeful furniture for keeping guests organized and productive, separating the room into distinct zones to sleep, work and relax. Elements such as new mattresses, black-out shades and warm-colored lighting will be added to enhance sleep quality.  The newly redesigned Hyatt Place bathroom will have larger vanity counter space with multidirectional lighting and greater distance between the mirror and vanity. The remodel will also have a walk-in shower with a footrest and a larger amenity tray.  The updated lobby will aim to drive guests to leave their rooms and socialize.  Dining  The new dining offerings will include a new free breakfast menu, a redesigned coffee bar and coffee program and an evening lounge with a cocktail and dinner menu.  Technology  The Hyatt Place brand will incorporate new technology offerings, including early check-in and mobile entry.  Hyatt Place also is testing a number of collaborations with well-being and fitness apps as part of the brand’s well-being push. These new collaborations, including one with a bike-sharing platform, are set to roll out between 2018 and 2019.  One of the announced collaborations is with Exhale. The partners will offer Exhale-branded fitness and mindfulness video content through Hyatt’s mobile app along with enhanced fitness facilities for guests. Exhale will also extend privileges and rates to Hyatt Place guests in Exhale markets.  

Poster of the 12th International Exhibition of Tourism and Related Industries of Tehran

Plunge into world's deepest swimming pool

An Italian spa complex has just opened a swimming pool certified by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's deepest. Named the Y-40 Deep Joy, the pool is now the star attraction at the Hotel Millepini, located in the Montegrotto Terme resort area, near Venice, Italy.  This isn't the kind of facility aimed at jaded business travelers hoping to cram in a few laps before they head upstairs to order room service.  Deep Joy features a shaft that plunges down ... and down ... and down until it hits a depth of 42 meters (138 feet), a space that could easily accommodate a 13-story building. Designed by architect Emanuele Boaretto and a year in the making, Deep Joy is expected to attract scuba enthusiasts and freedivers -- aquatic athletes whose incredible lung control allows them to spend minutes at depth on a single breath. The pool is filled with 4.3 million liters (1.1 million gallons) of thermal water from local springs, allowing divers to plunge without the skin suits they'd need in open seas or lakes. It also contains underwater caves aimed at training scuba divers to negotiate sub-aquatic landscapes. There's also a suspended transparent viewing tunnel that allows spectators to watch the divers in action. Deep Joy was inaugurated earlier this year at a ceremony in which Italian world freediving champions Umberto Pelizzari and Ilaria Molinari (who dressed like a mermaid for the occasion) plumbed its depths. The pool's creators hope it will transform Montegrotto Terme into an international diving center and raise the profile of what is said to be Europe's largest area of thermal springs.  It'll also be open to beginners who want to experience its depths under supervision. Just don't drop your locker key.