Latest news with #guestexperience
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Swanky Phoenix hotel is getting a $5.5 million upgrade. Here's what's coming
A downtown Phoenix hotel is getting a luxurious makeover in time for snowbird season. Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix, in the downtown dining and entertainment hub CityScape, will begin a renovation of all 242 guest rooms on June 28. The $5.5 million project intends to deliver "an enhanced guest experience by combining timeless luxury and modern comfort" to guests, Hotel Palomar general manager Justin Simpson said in a statement. The redesign is expected to be completed by September. Rooms will be renovated floor by floor and the hotel will remain open during the summer. Palomar and more: Where to stay downtown near Chase Field All 242 guest rooms, including 27 suites, will be renovated with new furniture, artwork and upgraded bathrooms. The premier suites will also get upgraded minibars with products from local artisans and businesses. Common areas, including hallways and elevator banks, will get a refresh as well. "This transformation goes beyond just upgrading the hotel rooms by reflecting the exciting energy of the property and providing guests an expansion of the urban retreat experience they've come to expect and love at Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix," Simpson said. Hotel Palomar partnered with the Los Angeles-based design firm Beleco Design to create a "residential-style" aesthetic that reflects comfort and style. The new look will be inspired by the Arizona desert landscape. It features patterns resembling hand-woven textiles and a deep terracotta color palette. The hotel, its Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails restaurant, rooftop pool and rooftop Eden Bar will be open during the renovation. The work will start with the premier suites on the top floors. Get weekend plans. Sign up for our Things to Do newsletter. Yes. Kimpton is considered a luxury hotel brand. Hotel Palomar Phoenix is classified by AAA as a Four Diamond hotel, a distinction it's held since 2012. These hotels represent a higher quality of accommodations and services than a standard hotel. Parking at Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix costs $30 per night for self-parking and $44 per night for valet parking. The resort fee at Kimpton Palomar is $30 plus tax. It includes pool access, Wi-Fi, access to the nearby EOS Fitness Club, 15% off spa and salon services at Perry Monge Salon & Spa, free admission to the Phoenix Art Museum and free non-special event passes to the CityScape comedy club Stand Up Live. Details: 2 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. 602-253-6633; Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who's covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic's consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Subscribe to today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kimpton hotel in downtown Phoenix gets $5.5 million reno
Al Bawaba
a day ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Swiss-Belhotel International Shaping Guest Journeys by Blending Smart Technology with Human Touch
As guest expectations evolve rapidly in line with advancing technology, Swiss-Belhotel International, a global hospitality group with a presence in over 20 countries, is elevating hotel experiences through innovation, human-centric technology, and purposeful 18 diverse brands under its umbrella, Swiss-Belhotel International is uniquely positioned to respond to shifting travel trends across all segments, from economy to luxury, and from city hotels to wellness A. Voivenel, Senior Vice President, Operations & Development, EMAI; and Senior Vice President, Group Human Resources & Talent Development at Swiss-Belhotel International, said: 'In today's world, guest expectations are no longer dictated by traditional star ratings alone but by authenticity, digital convenience, and a sense of purpose. At Swiss-Belhotel International, with a guest-first approach, we are committed to delivering meaningful and personalised experiences at every touchpoint.'Recent industry research indicates that over 70% of travellers now prefer digital options for check-in, service requests, and concierge functions, while 78% want their travel to positively impact the communities they visit. Laurent stressed, 'From pre-opening to operational launch, we are focused on local relevance, and digital readiness as well as sustainability. We embed technology and team culture into our pre-opening strategy to ensure a cohesive and brand-aligned guest journey from day one.'Swiss-Belhotel International continues to invest in smart systems and AI integration to offer seamless personalisation. According to a recent Skift study, AI-driven personalisation can boost guest satisfaction by 24% and improve upsell conversions by 30%. 'Our aim is not to replace people with technology, but to empower them,' noted Laurent. 'We believe in freeing our teams from routine tasks so they can focus on what truly matters is delivering memorable, human moments. Whether it's creating spaces where families can connect, or providing retreats that promote personal well-being, our hotels are designed to restore and inspire.' Swiss-Belhotel International sees adaptability as a key pillar of its succes. With guest behaviours, technology, and global conditions evolving in tandem, the group remains agile in its response.
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Travel Weekly
2 days ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Adam Malone takes on new role at NCL
Norwegian Cruise Line chief marketing officer Adam Malone is moving to a newly created role -- senior vice president of guest experience. Adam Malone Kiran Smith, a marketing veteran of consumer brands including Brookstone, iRobot and Stride Rite, is NCL's new chief marketing officer. In addition to her previous marketing positions, Smith was CEO of advertising agency Arnold Worldwide. Kiran Smith "Kiran is a brilliant marketing mind with an incredible reputation for consistently delivering compelling campaigns that break through the noise and captivate audiences," said David Herrera, cruise line's president.
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Carnival Cruise Line selects DXC Technology to power technology infrastructure
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC), a leading Fortune 500 global technology services provider, and Carnival Cruise Line, the world's most popular cruise line, have announced a multi-year agreement to power the cruise line's technology infrastructure. This partnership will support Carnival's guest experience across its global fleet, as well as its portside and shoreside operations. DXC will deliver reliable and scalable IT services designed to enhance operational efficiency, improve employee productivity and help ensure a seamless, connected experience for millions of guests sailing annually with Carnival. 'At Carnival, we're committed to delivering memorable vacations for our guests, and technology plays a vital role in ensuring they have the best onboard experience,' said Sean Kenny, senior vice president and chief information officer at Carnival Cruise Line. 'The DXC team demonstrates exceptional technical expertise, responsiveness and a clear commitment to delivering on our long-term vision. With them as our trusted partner, we're investing in technology that strengthens the foundation of our operations to provide a great experience for our guests across our 29 ships globally and supporting our dedicated team members both shipboard and shoreside.' Through the partnership, DXC will manage Carnival's core IT infrastructure across all operational environments including shipboard systems, shoreside offices and port facilities. Using an employee-centric delivery model, DXC will ensure that the tools and services provided are tailored to support both Carnival's workforce needs and a consistent guest experience. Services will include workplace support, IT service management, infrastructure operations and security risk management – all delivered with enhanced cybersecurity, expert-level staffing, automation support and a scalable model across its operations. This approach is built to improve resilience and ensure operational consistency across the company's global footprint. "This collaboration with Carnival Cruise Line represents a significant milestone for DXC as we continue to expand our footprint in the hospitality and travel sectors,' said Chris Drumgoole, President, Global Infrastructure Services at DXC Technology. "Our goal is clear -- deliver complete operational confidence for our customers by minimizing technology disruptions. By managing their complex IT operations and providing modern solutions, we're proud to help Carnival do what they do best, ensuring every guest enjoys their cruise vacation.' With deep engineering skills, industry expertise and a track record of success, DXC is a trusted technology partner to leading travel and hospitality brands around the world. From powering seamless guest experiences to enabling resilient and secure global operations, DXC helps companies modernize core systems and infrastructure to meet evolving customer expectations. About DXC Technology DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC) helps global companies run their mission-critical systems and operations while modernizing IT, optimizing data architectures, and ensuring security and scalability across public, private and hybrid clouds. The world's largest companies and public sector organizations trust DXC to deploy services to drive new levels of performance, competitiveness, and customer experience across their IT estates. Learn more about how we deliver excellence for our customers and colleagues at About Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is the first cruise line to sail over 100 million guests and is proud to be known as America's Cruise Line, for carrying more Americans and serving more U.S. homeports than any other. Since its founding in 1972, Carnival has continually revolutionized the cruise industry and popularized the cruise vacation as an affordable and fun travel option. Carnival operates from 13 U.S. and two Australian homeports, as well as seasonally from Europe and employs more than 50,000 team members representing 120 nationalities. Carnival's fleet of 29 ships reflects an exciting period of growth that continues with the addition of five ships through 2033: a fourth and fifth Excel class ship scheduled for 2027 and 2028 respectively; followed by three additional new ships from an innovative new class currently under development. Carnival's next new guest offering will be the all-new exclusive destination, Celebration Key, set to debut on Grand Bahama this summer.
Arabian Business
19-06-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Serco secures $134.8mn contract extension with Dubai Airports
The 96 million visitors expected to go through Dubai Airports this year, and many more in the future, can expect the same level of guest experience that has made it one of the most popular airports in the world, after Serco said it has been granted a significant contract extension to its contract. The new five-year contract with Dubai Airports is valued at AED 495 million (US$134.8 million) and runs until December 2030. The British company, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, has over 75 years of experience in the region's aviation sector and continues to support airports across the region with guest experience, air navigation services, emergency services, training, facilities and asset management. This follows a longstanding guest experience partnership of over six years. Serco was awarded an initial five-year term and a one-year extension. Elevating Dubai Airports' guest experience Serco will continue to provide guest experience services across all elements of the passenger journey at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC). This includes the deployment of guest experience ambassadors, passenger processing teams, traffic marshals, buggy drivers, chauffeurs, and lounge hosts for VIP services. Phil Malem, CEO of Serco Middle East and +impact, commented: 'The latest extension allows us to build on the success we have enjoyed with Dubai Airports over the last six years, supporting Dubai in delivering a best-in-class aviation hub. 'Dubai Airports continues to set global benchmarks for airport experiences, and we are extremely proud to be part of that journey, helping to shape passenger services through expertly trained teams, innovative solutions, and our customer experience expertise.' Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Airports, said: 'This renewed partnership with Serco comes at a time when guest expectations are higher than ever, and the scale of our operations continues to grow. 'At DXB and DWC, we see every interaction as an opportunity to create a positive and lasting impression. Serco's dedicated teams are an extension of that vision, bringing professionalism, empathy, and consistency to some of the most crucial touchpoints along the journey. As we look ahead to welcoming more that 96 million guests this year, this collaboration will play a key role in ensuring our airports remain among the most guest-centric in the world.' Serco currently has more than 1,500 employees operating at the airports. Anthony Kirby, Serco's Group Chief Executive Officer, added: 'This significant retention indicates our continued superb delivery of customer experience to Dubai Airports. I am very proud of our expertly trained people who work with passion and commitment to provide great services and innovative solutions at this best-in-class aviation hub. 'Cementing our ongoing relationship until at least 2030 will allow us to grow our services from this contract and deploy our capabilities across our transport business.'
