Airbnb eases checkout chores, Marriott launches luxury expeditions, Kimpton debuts new dining experiences and more hotel news you missed this week.
As October keeps trucking along, so does the hotel industry. The temperatures might be dropping (just like the leaves!), but things are starting to heat up in the second half of the year as new hotels open and are announced, people start gearing up for the holiday travel and plans for next year's vacations are in the works.
Hilton Honors loyalists got some interesting news this week: members can now pay their checkout bill using points with the app. Initially rolling out to 150 properties, around 6,000 hotels should offer the service by next year.
Marriott also made some noise with the news that it's opening another safari camp in Tanzania.
Hilton for Business, the company's travel program for small and medium-sized business, is rolling out new tools for customers, based on their own feedback. The changes include companies being able to book stays for employees without needing separate logins, the ability to see upcoming reservations for a team in one place, the business being able to modify or cancel reservations for employees and a dedicated way to see "employees’ current in-house stays, supporting duty of care while travelers are on the road," according to a statement.
More changes to ease the travel experience for companies and employees will continue to roll out in the coming months.
IHG's Kimpton brand is inviting everyone to sit around the table with its new program, "The Curious Palate by Kimpton." The program is "a new global food and beverage platform celebrating the people, places and wonderfully original ideas behind the brand’s culinary culture," according to a statement. The program will feature Kimpton hotels and hotel restaurants around the world for "unexpected pairings, chef-led dining experiences and new twists on beloved Kimpton rituals."
Right now, a few examples include "A Global Holiday Pour," a special spiced rum cocktail served at Kimptons created by Monika Lukasyk of Kimpton Charlotte Square in Scotland; "Fitzroy & Fries," a special martini and unlimited fry offering every day at 4 p.m. at the Kimpton Fitzroy London; and an IYKYK (if you know, you know) room service order of a banana milkshake, french fries and bubbles at the Kimpton Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara.
Marriott's brand The Luxury Collection introduced The Luxury Collection Expeditions, "a collection of journeys extending the brand's long-held role as The Destination Authority beyond the hotel stay and into the culture and character of a destination." Those expeditions are starting to shake out, and include exploring Kyoto with an artist, exploring Italy in classic cars and even a special beach fishing excursion in Turks & Caicos.
Beyond Green, a collection of sustainable-focused hotels and resorts (and part of the I Prefer rewards program), has added two exciting new members: El Silencio Lodge & Spa in Costa Rica and Hotel Món Sant Benet in Spain. In Costa Rica, El Silencio Lodge & Spa is surrounded by five protected wildlife areas and sits in a secluded cloud forest. And in Barcelona, Hotel Món Sant Benet has a Michelin-starred restaurant and is surrounded by a medieval monastery.
I've reported for a while now on Airbnb users feeling overburdened by checkout rules that, at times, go beyond what's usually expected (think: mopping the floor or washing and folding towels). Now, Airbnb is giving Airbnb Hosts (the people who list their properties) new parameters for those asks, including the ones listed below:
The company shared that "all requests must be reasonable under the new policy," adding that "most guests want to avoid unexpected chores" and that asking guests to do tasks a "cleaner should handle" can impact their rating, according to a statement about the changes.