Northstar

www.travelweekly-asia.com | 11 COVER STORY Hotel Innovation Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts received full Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) seafood Chain of Custody certification (CoC) for all its 53 properties across Mainland China and Hong Kong, as part of its sustainable sourcing strategy and commitment to protect the environment. The MSC runs the only wild- capture fisheries certification and ecolabelling programme that meets best practice requirements set by both the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO) and ISEAL, the global membership association for sustainability standards. It is also the only global seafood certification programme to be recognised as credible by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI). With a total of 53 hotels The traditionally cumbersome hotel check-in, which can take at least three minutes or more during peak hours, will soon be a thing of the past at Marriott International's properties once its facial recognition check-in pilot with Fliggy, Alibaba's travel service platform, takes off. "We are excited to partner with the joint venture yet again to offer an innovative and convenient check- in alternative for Chinese travellers. Marriott International has a track record of embracing cutting-edge technology to create memorable experiences for guests," highlighted Henry Lee, chief operations officer and managing director of Marriott International Greater China and board member of the Joint Venture. "With technology, our hotel associates can work more efficiently to do what they do best – delivering personalised service to our guests." The initiative, offered by the joint venture of Alibaba Group and the hotel group, will first be piloted at Hangzhou Marriott Hotel Qianjiang and Sanya Marriott Hotel Dadonghai Bay from July 2018. Chinese guests simply need to scan their IDs, take a photo and input contact details on a self-help machine, which will then dispense room key cards after identities and booking information have been verified. Facial recognition check-in technology pilot at two Marriott International properties in China will begin from July 2018. Wyndham Hotels and Resorts Sleep Like A King Wyndham Hotels and Resorts wants to put its guests to sleep so that they can rise in the morning "ready to conquer the day". "It's simple: sleep is one of the most critical things we offer our atmospheres to the simple comforts of a stylish space." The brand is teaming up with wellness innovator Delos and designer Jeffrey Beers to outfit Stay Well rooms that inspire "rest, comfort and relaxation". Six Wyndham properties in North America are involved in the pilot scheme with a worldwide rollout to follow over time. Wyndham Destinations has completed the spin-off of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, which becomes the largest hotel franchising company in the world, with nearly 9,000 hotels across more than 80 countries on six continents. Its brands include Ramada, Super 8, Days Inn and Wyndham. Wyndham cites evidence that shows jet lag, unfamiliar routine and the general stress of travel contribute to poor sleep and post- travel illness. Stay Well rooms incorporate state-of-the-art wellness technologies to help improve indoor air quality, sleep patterns and physical comfort, as well as reduce exposure to germs and allergens. Rooms will offer air purification, circadian lighting to emulate the colour of outdoor lighting, an alarm clock that simulates a sunrise, that allows for a more natural waking process and a memory foam mattress. The Stay Well mattress mixes Hevea milk, the milky white sap of the rubber tree, with essential oils, plant extracts and water. The result, Wyndham says, is a next generation, natural latex memory foam that "sleeps cool and feels absolutely amazing". participating, Shangri-La has the greatest number of properties in Asia certified by the MSC. Calling this move a "milestone in our journey", Oliver Bonke, Shangri- La president & COO said, "By being the first to partner with the MSC in Asia, we hope to galvanise others in the hotel industry to join us in offering certified sustainable seafood to make a positive impact in the world collectively." A key aspect to the certification is the highlighting of sustainably sourced seafood selections on the hotels' restaurant menus. Guests can do so easily by identifying the trusted MSC ecolabel printed alongside dish descriptions, which indicate that the seafood was fished from legal fisheries that have proven minimal impacts on the marine environment and its species. The MSC-certified Australian rock lobster on a citrus octopus salad bed with beluga caviar. Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts A Deep Dive in Sustainability Marriott International A New 'Face' of Hotel Check-ins Wyndham Hotels wants its guests to be 'ready to conquer the day'. PHOTO CREDIT: BUNDITINA/GETTYIMAGES guests," said Kate Ashton, senior vice president, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts. "So we're engineering our entire guest room experience around rest — from wellness- focused environments and calming "With technology, our hotel associates can work more efficiently to do what they do best — delivering personalised service to our guests." – Henry Lee, COO and managing director, Marriott International Greater China

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