Northstar

8 | www.travelweekly-asia.com COVER STORY Hotel Innovation Global brands look to the future with chain-wide initiatives. By Ian Jarrett, Lee Xin Hui and Will Chin Hotel innovation waits for no one L ocated deep in the mountains of the Kai region in the Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan, Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan is the oldest hotel in the world according to the Guiness Book of World Records. However, just because the inn is 1,300 years old doesn't mean that it does not come with basic modern amenities like heating, air conditioning and televisions. That's because the hospitality industry refuses to stay still. While change may come slower to traditional establishments like Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, envelopes are constantly being pushed elsewhere in the industry to give customers better, fuller experiences at hotels and resorts. After all, innovation waits for no one. In this issue, we take a look at what various brands are doing with their establishments in regions and around the world in order to stay ahead in this increasingly competitive industry. The Ascott Limited Something for the Millennials Two years ago, The Ascott Limited (Ascott) unveiled lyf, a co-living and co-working concept that puts a spin on the traditional serviced residences. Unlike other properties, lyf-branded apartments would be managed by millennials, or Lyf Guards, community managers, city and food guides, bar keepers and problem solvers. Residents and partners alike would then conduct individual events, like workshops or hackathons, with local craftsmen and startup accelerators. It is all about sharing innovative ideas while living and working under the same roof. In 2017, the concept was field tested at Singapore Management University (SMU), where Ascott worked with local students to run over 60 workshops, seminars and events at lyf@SMU. The concept was so successful that Ascott now has plans to push it to more than 10,000 units worldwide by 2020, specifically in gateway cities of markets like Australia, China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the United Kingdom. But we are not just talking about additional serviced residences here. Continuing the success of lyf@SMU, Ascott has plans to carry on the "In Bed With" conversation initiative across all its future lyf-branded establishments. At the core of "In Bed With" is a curated series of talks that bring individuals, role models, professionals and experts from different industries together at lyf properties, allowing everyone to share their expertise, experiences and stories with the community. Just like its first installment in lyf@ SMU, residents will be exposed to everything from digital marketing, photography and videography to coding and craftsmanship. The possibilities here are endless. Left: lyf@SMU's dining area feels less like a cafe and more like a co-working space — by design. Imagine if you are alone in your hotel suite and you need to check in with the front desk about a missing pillowcase — what do you do? The first thing you do is to reach for the telephone and dial whichever number that hooks you up to the front desk — at least that's the case for traditional hotels. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world's leading hotel companies, has a different idea. Last month, IHG announced a collaboration with Baidu to introduce a series of Smart Rooms, or hotel rooms powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Instead of reading through complicated manuals and InterContinental Hotels Group Intelligent Hotel Rooms "Ascott now has plans to push [the concept] to more than 10,000 units worldwide by 2020." PHOTO AND ILLUSTRATIONS CREDITS: GETTYIMAGES

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