natasha stokes
Big Hotel Brands Set Their Sights on Portugal’s Cities
JLL Real Views | February 14, 2019
By Natasha Stokes With Lisbon and Porto fast building a global reputation as top city break destinations, international hotel groups are flocking to these booming tourism markets. Boutique hotels account for many of the new developments in Portugal, converted from historic buildings by new entrants to the market. Hilton Group's Curio Collection will debut its first property in Portugal, the Emerald House, in Lisbon. The multi-million-euro renovation will be a 67-room complex with fitness centre, restaurant and bar for guests as well as locals. Hotel operators with a presence in the country are also expanding their footprint – the ...
Why Hotels Are Getting Serious About Relaxation and Wellbeing
JLL Real Views | October 16, 2017
By Natasha Stokes With physical and mental wellbeing a top priority for growing numbers of people, many don't like to leave their healthy habits at home when they travel. It's not just a case of a quick manicure or massage; today's business and leisure travelers increasingly expect the types of treatments they're used to at home when they're on the move whether it's a consultation with a sleep doctor, Vitamin C-infused showers or a personal training session. As such, hotels across the world are revamping their fitness and spa operations beyond conventional gyms, saunas and steam rooms to give affluent guests an additional reason to choo...
Modern Hospitality: Striking the Right Balance Between High-Tech and Human
JLL Real Views | October 5, 2017
By Natasha Stokes From iPad ordering to robot concierges, technology is automating many aspects of dining and hotel experiences – and freeing up staff to provide more personalized service. At some Aloft hotels, a robot butler known as Botlr delivers room service and towels to guests, leaving staff to deal with more complex queries. In CitizenM hotels, guests bypass front desk queues at self check-in kiosks with hotel ambassadors to answer any questions, while at the Andaz West Hollywood, personal greeters take guests through an iPad check-in over a coffee or glass of wine. "Technology has substantially improved both the behind-the...
Why Good Food is Increasingly on the Menu at Hotels
JLL Real Views | April 27, 2017
By Natasha Stokes Hotel restaurants are shedding their stuffy image, thanks to forward-thinking hoteliers who hope to attract food-savvy travelers with buzzy destination restaurants and casual lobby bars. Take the Mama Shelter boutique hotels. In stark contrast to the faceless hotel cafe of yore, the stylish restaurant and bar in its Paris outpost is a nightspot in its own right that earned accolades for its design, cocktails and simple menu well-executed. "In the last two decades, food tourism has been a major driver for travel – people go to experience local food and culture," says Jonathan Doughty, Head of JLL Foodservice Consu...
Why Prefab Building Methods Stack up for Hotels
JLL Real Views | March 3, 2017
By Natasha Stokes Once the hallmark of budget hotel chains, modular construction is emerging as an efficient, low-waste technique for boutique and big-name hoteliers in the U.S. and the UK. At a new Hampton by Hilton hotel in Aberdeen, 155 bedrooms were built in pods of two in China, furnished, then shipped to the UK, where they were stacked container by container atop each other. Nearly every detail of the rooms had been decided and ordered long before breaking ground, from the furniture and fixings, to the kettle and teacups in boxes waiting to be unpacked. Where a similar traditionally built hotel might take 56-60 weeks, this modular...
How Self-Service Technology is Enhancing the Guest Experience
JLL Real Views | December 7, 2016
by Natasha Stokes At hotels around the world, the friendly face of a concierge who remembers your name could soon be replaced by technology that aims to do just the same. When it comes to a great hotel stay, that personalized touch is often the defining feature. At the Aloft hotels in Boston and Santa Clara, guests can perfect their room's temperature not by ringing down to housekeeping, but by telling the in-room iPad to "cool the room". When it launches next summer, the Hilton Group's Tru brand will similarly target tech-savvy, millennial travellers, who can check-in by app, collect a virtual key on their smartphones and let themselve...
Are Serviced Apartments the New Top Choice for Today’s Travelers?
JLL Real Views | September 22, 2016
By Natasha Stokes The chance to 'live like a local' or find an affordable room in a city center location has tempted many a visitor away from hotels and into the arms of peer-to-peer apartment rental sites. However, as the likes of Airbnb, HomeAway and Roomarama experience a crackdown in cities across the world, the number of properties listed on such sites could face pressure as regulations and legislature are addressed. But that doesn't necessarily mean a return to the hotels of old for travelers who prefer the home touches that come with renting a room or someone's whole place. Instead, serviced apartment operators could benefit. "To...
