[
	{
		"post_id": "469", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "Kimpton Secret Password - Jan\/Feb 2024", 
		"post_content_short": "Kimpton&nbsp;Hotels have a funky boutique hotel brand image. One of many aspects of its charm is the&nbsp;Kimpton&nbsp;secret password &nbsp;that\n\t\t\tguests can mention at check-in to get a perk, benefit, or bonus.<br \/>\n\t\t\t<br \/>\n\t\t\tThis (northern) Winter,&nbsp;Kimpton&nbsp;Hotels is using the secret password &quot;<strong>Chalet all day<\/strong>.” It is valid at all\n\t\t\tparticipating locations until <strong>February 29th, 2024<\/strong>.&nbsp;Kimpton&nbsp;Hotels have stated that every hotel honors the secret\n\t\t\tpassword differently, so it's a surprise what you'll get.<br \/>\n\t\t\t<br \/>\n\t\t\t<strong><u>Secret Password Perks You May Receive<\/u><\/strong><br \/>\n\t\t\t<br \/>\n\t\t\tHistorically, guests have reported a wide range of&nbsp;bonuses when using the&nbsp;Kimpton&nbsp;Hotels' secret password. Here are some\n\t\t\texamples:\n\t\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t<li>Free parking (regular or valet)<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li>Complimentary breakfast<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li>Free upgrade<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li>Complimentary bottle of wine<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li>Free food &amp; beverage credits<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li>A whisky-tasting tour<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li>Cupcakes<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li>A movie night in your room<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li>Free drinks at the bar<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li>Surprise gift-wrapped presents<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li>Drink kits (like Bailey's hot chocolate)<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li>Mini-bar credit<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<br \/>\n\t\t\tThe bonuses aren't always at the hotel, as some hotels have partnered with other companies. For example, such as another restaurant or\n\t\t\tperhaps a whisky distillery.&nbsp;<em>It's &nbsp;nice to see the&nbsp;Kimpton&nbsp;secret password is back. It's just a little thing, but\n\t\t\tadds to the vibe of the&nbsp;Kimpton&nbsp;brand, which I like.<\/em>\n", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/469\/Secret.jpg", 
		"post_content_type": "none", 
		"post_content_url": null, 
		"post_date": "2024-01-06 08:00:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "462", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "Iberostar Beachside Resorts now bookable with IHG One Rewards", 
		"post_content_short": "In june 2023, IHG Hotels &amp; Resorts announced that Iberostar Beachfront Resorts would participate in the IHG One Rewards program. This\n\tdevelopment meant earning points on Iberostar stays and applying elite benefits to all-inclusive stays.\n\n<br \/><br \/>\n\tOvernight, IHG announced that <a>IHG <strong>One Rewards&nbsp;members<\/strong><\/a> <strong>can now<\/strong> <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ihgplc.com\/en\/news-and-media\/news-releases\/2023\/ihg-one-rewards-members-can-now-redeem-points-for-reward-nights-at-more-stunning-destinations\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>redeem\n\tpoints for stays at 40+ Iberostar resorts worldwide.<\/strong><\/a>\n\n<br \/><br \/>\n\tAt first glance, award rates are pretty steep. Cash rates for Iberostar properties are high, reflecting tr fact that the resorts are <strong>all-inclusive<\/strong>. Award redemption rates match; this is also likely a function of&nbsp;IHG's dynamic pricing model.\n\n<br \/><br \/>\n\tIf one of these properties catches your eye but doesn't fit your budget, IHG does offer a&nbsp;<a rel=\"nofollow\"  href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/ihg-rewards-club-guide\/#:~:text=1%20Leicester%20Square%3A-,IHG%20Points%20%26%20Cash%20bookings,-IHG%20routinely%20offers\">Points\n\t&amp; Cash<\/a>&nbsp;booking\n\toption, which could take the sting of a stay at one of these resorts.<br \/>\n<h3>IHG One Rewards benefits at Iberostar properties<\/h3>\n<br \/><br \/>\n\tNot every Iberostar property participates in the IHG One Rewards program, but if you are a member and book any of the&nbsp;<a rel=\"nofollow\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.iberostar.com\/en\/iberostar-beachfront-resorts\/\" target=\"_blank\">Iberostar\n\tBeachfront Resorts participating in One Rewards <\/a>&nbsp;you'll\n\tenjoy the following benefits by booking through IHG’s websites, IHG Customer Care, Iberostar website, <strong>IberostarPro<\/strong>, or\n\tdirectly with an IHG branded hotel.\n\n<ul>\n\t<li>Late check-out:&nbsp;Available to <strong>all members up to 2 p.m<\/strong>, subject to availability.<strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\t<li><strong>Free internet:<\/strong>&nbsp;Available for all IHG One Rewards members.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<br \/><br \/>Other benefits associated with tier status are also honoured, including:\n<ul>\n\t<li><strong>Early check-in:<\/strong>&nbsp;Subject to availability for Platinum and Diamond members.<\/li>\n\t<li><strong>Guaranteed room availability:<\/strong>&nbsp;Available for Platinum and Diamond Elite members.<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\t<strong>Welcome amenity at check-in:<\/strong>&nbsp;Available for Platinum and Diamond Elite members as follows:\n\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t<li>Platinum Elite members receive a $15 hotel credit or 600 IHG One Rewards points.<\/li>\n\t\t\t<li>Diamond Elite members receive a $20 hotel credit or 600 IHG One Rewards points.<\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li><strong>Priority check-in:<\/strong>&nbsp;Available at all participating hotels.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<br \/><br \/>\n\t<strong><u><br \/>\n\tOur thoughts:<\/u><\/strong>\n\n<br \/><br \/>\n\t<em>This is a great development for One Rewards members.One Rewards is a good program for accumulating points and now there are\n\tattractive, all-inclusive options located in Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico&nbsp;and the Caribbean.for redeeming those points. Just ensure\n\tyou are getting good value for your points.<\/em>\n\n<em>Our associated Travel Agency<\/em> <a href=\"\/travel-agency\/\"><strong><em>Rewarding Travel<\/em><\/strong><\/a> <em>is an&nbsp;IberostarPro\nagency<\/em>.&nbsp;<br \/>\n<br \/>", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/462\/IHG-One-Rewards-logo-light.png", 
		"post_content_type": "none", 
		"post_content_url": null, 
		"post_date": "2023-12-19 04:30:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "440", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "New study ranks 2023's best luxury hotel brands in the world", 
		"post_content_short": "Mandarin Oriental (one of my personal favourite brands) was recently named the best luxury hotel brand in the world.Source: LTI — Luxury Travel Intelligence.<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<em>Our congratulations to Mandarin Oriental &nbsp;and all the nominees!<\/em><br \/>\n<br \/>\nThere are rankings of&nbsp;the best hotels in the world, but this list, released by the members-only group LTI – Luxury Travel Intelligence,\nranks hotel brands rather than individual properties. The ranking analyses many hotels within a brand in “granular detail,” using more than\n100 “touch points” to evaluate “a brand’s ability to deliver,” ranging from its ethos to staff, according to a press release.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nWhen announcing the rankings, LTI noted that &quot;Mandarin Oriental has always performed well in LTI's ratings. This year, they have\nimproved further across all our touch points, placing them at No1.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIt is an engaging brand with a loyal and growing following, who appreciate its commitment to excellence&quot; &nbsp; (i<em>ncluding us - it\nis a long-term favourite<\/em>), &nbsp;&quot;...the\nmuch-anticipated opening of their <strong>London Mayfair property<\/strong> could be a pivotal moment for them.&quot;<br \/>\n<br \/>\nLuxury Travel Intelligence&nbsp;memberships cost $700 per year and grant access to the group’s travel research. It doesn’t sell advertising,\nand research is independent and funded by subscriptions, according to its website.<br \/>\n\t\n<br \/><br \/><strong>The best luxury hotel brands<\/strong>\n<br \/><br \/>\n\tMandarin Oriental was recently named the best luxury hotel brand in the world by&nbsp;LTI — Luxury Travel Intelligence. There are other\n\trankings of<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2023\/09\/21\/what-are-the-best-hotels-in-the-world-see-the-list-of-the-top-50.html\">&nbsp;the best\n\thotels in the world<\/a>,\n\thowever,this list, released by the members-only group LTI – Luxury Travel Intelligence, ranks hotel <strong>brands rather than individual\n\tproperties.<\/strong>\n\tThe ranking analyzes many hotels within a brand in “granular detail,” using more than 100 “touch points” to evaluate “a brand’s ability to\n\tdeliver,” ranging from its ethos to staff, according to a press release. <a href=\"https:\/\/lti-members.com\/\">Luxury Travel Intelligence<\/a>&nbsp;memberships cost US$700 per year and grant access to the group’s travel research. It doesn’t sell advertising, and research is independent and funded by\n\tsubscriptions, according to its website.<br \/>\n\t<br \/>\n\t<br \/>\n\t<strong>2023's best luxury hotel brands<\/strong>\n<br \/><br \/>Here are this year’s results, reflected as percentages, with last year’s positions in brackets:\n<ol>\n\t<li>\n\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\"href=\"https:\/\/www.foratravel.com\/partners\/virtuoso\/neil-mcpherson\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Mandarin Oriental<\/strong><\/a> &nbsp; &nbsp;81.4%\n\t\t(2)\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\t<strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foratravel.com\/partners\/oetker-pearl\/neil-mcpherson\" target=\"_blank\">Oetker Collection<\/a><\/strong> &nbsp; &nbsp;\n\t\t81.3% (6)\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\t<strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foratravel.com\/partners\/auberge-resorts-collection\/neil-mcpherson\" target=\"_blank\">Auberge<\/a><\/strong> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;79.6%\n\t\t(4)\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\t<strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foratravel.com\/partners\/ihg-luxury-and-lifestyle\/neil-mcpherson\" target=\"_blank\">Six Senses<\/a><\/strong> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;79.0%\n\t\t(1)\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foratravel.com\/partners\/virtuoso\/neil-mcpherson\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Aman<\/strong> &nbsp;<\/a> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;\n\t\t78.8% (5)\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\t<strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foratravel.com\/partners\/belmond-bellini-club\/neil-mcpherson\" target=\"_blank\">Belmond<\/a><\/strong> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;\n\t\t76.3% (8)\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foratravel.com\/partners\/four-seasons\/neil-mcpherson\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Four Seasons<\/strong><\/a> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;\n\t\t76.1% (9)\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\t<strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foratravel.com\/partners\/one-and-only-resorts\/neil-mcpherson\" target=\"_blank\">One&amp;Only<\/a><\/strong> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;\n\t\t75.1% (7)\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\t<strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foratravel.com\/partners\/rocco-forte-knights\/neil-mcpherson\" target=\"_blank\">Rocco Forte<\/a><\/strong> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;73.8%\n\t\t(11)\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\t<strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foratravel.com\/partners\/rosewood-elite\/neil-mcpherson\" target=\"_blank\">Rosewood<\/a><\/strong> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;\n\t\t72.1% (3)\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\t<strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foratravel.com\/partners\/virtuoso\/neil-mcpherson\" target=\"_blank\">Peninsula<\/a><\/strong> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;69.8%\n\t\t(New Entry)\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\t<strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foratravel.com\/partners\/accor-step\/neil-mcpherson\" target=\"_blank\">Raffles<\/a><\/strong> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;68.5%\n\t\t(New Entry)\n\t<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<br \/>\nMandarin Oriental took the top spot for the first time, — topping Oetker Collection by a very narrow margin, despite Ortker's &nbsp;ranking\nrising by 4 places.&nbsp;Oetker Collection operates 12 hotels across the globe, including the icons <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oetkercollection.com\/hotels\/le-bristol-paris\/\">Le\nBristol&nbsp;<\/a>in\nParis,&nbsp;<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.oetkercollection.com\/hotels\/hotel-du-cap-eden-roc\/\">Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc<\/a>&nbsp;in\nAntibes, France, and&nbsp;<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.oetkercollection.com\/hotels\/the-lanesborough\/\">The Lanesborough<\/a>, London.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIn 2022, Six Senses was ranked No. 1, followed by Mandarin Oriental (No. 2) and Rosewood (No. 3). So two of last years leaders have fallen a\nsurprising number of spots&nbsp;- Six Senses has dropped 3 places and Rosewood has dropped 7 positions.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nAuberge Resorts Collection — ranked third on the list — operates hotels like&nbsp;<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/aubergeresorts.com\/maunalani\/\">Mauna\nLani<\/a>&nbsp;in\nHawaii,&nbsp;<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/aubergeresorts.com\/bluesky\/\">The Lodge at Blue Sky&nbsp;<\/a>in Park City, Utah,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/aubergeresorts.com\/vanderbilt\/\">The\nVanderbilt<\/a>&nbsp;in\nNewport, Rhode Island. Those are just three of the 27 hotels and resorts under the Auberge brand.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nTwo well-known brands are new to the list this year: Peninsula Hotels and Raffles Hotels &amp; Resorts.<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<strong>Other recognized brands<\/strong><br \/>\n<br \/>\nLTI also highlighted other brands that it said “rated sufficiently” enough to be monitored. The brands are: 1 Hotels, <strong>Alila<\/strong>,\nAnantara, <strong>Banyan Tree<\/strong>, <strong>Como<\/strong>, <strong>Dorchester Collection<\/strong>, Firmdale, <strong>Jumeirah<\/strong>,\nLeela, Oberoi, Park Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton, Shangri-La, Soho House, <strong>Red Carnation<\/strong>, St. Regis, Taj, The Luxury Collection and\nViceroy.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nAdditionally, brands that have fewer than 10 properties — the minimum required to make the list — but were rated highly are: Airelles,\nAlthoff Collection, Bulgari, <strong>Capella<\/strong>, Cheval Blanc, JK Place, <strong>La Reserve<\/strong>, Maybourne, Montage, Nikki Beach,\nPendry, <strong>Soneva<\/strong>, Ultima Collection and Virgin Limited Edition.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nOur associated Travel Agency - Rewarding Travel has a preferred relationship status<em>&nbsp;<\/em>with 10 of the top 12 brands and over half\nof the brands that rated special mentions. <strong>To see what makes them so special and how we can make your stay even more luxe at no\nadditional cost,<\/strong>\n<a href=\"\/travel-agency\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>contact Rewarding Travel<\/strong><\/a> to discuss your preferences.<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<strong>The scoring system<\/strong><br \/>\n<br \/>\nLuxury Travel Intelligence uses an algorithm to assess hotel brands, which has a maximum of 4,663 points, said Crompton.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThis year, it measured 130 “touch points,” evaluating factors like in-room dining, guests’ pre-arrival process and a brand’s social media\nengagement, Crompton told CNBC Travel. The group uses a points-based system to remove “inevitable emotiveness and personal opinion” from the\nranking, he said.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nCrompton also noted that brands’ investments — either in new hotels or in the renovation of existing ones — was a major factor this year.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nCrompton did not reveal how touch points are weighted, but said that “each year we tweak the touch points and the weighting.”\n<h1><\/h1>\n.", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/440\/Depositphotos_63143099_S.jpg", 
		"post_content_type": "none", 
		"post_content_url": null, 
		"post_date": "2023-11-08 22:43:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "438", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "Luxury hotel Regent Hong Kong officially (re)opened its doors on 8 November 2023", 
		"post_content_short": "<h3>Regent Hong Kong, officially opened on 8 November&nbsp;after a considerable transformation from InterContinental Hong Kong.<\/h3>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/karryon.com.au\/industry-news\/hotel-and-luxury\/\"><\/a>Part of IHG Hotels &amp; Resorts luxury and lifestyle portfolio, the\n497-key hotel is located on the shore’s of Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour, surrounded by landmarks including K11 MUSEA, ‘Avenue of Stars,’ Art\nSquare and the Hong Kong Museum of Art.&nbsp;<br \/>\n<br \/>\n“As one of Hong Kong’s legacy luxury hotels and host to generations of cherished memories, we are proud to officially launch Regent Hong\nKong and ignite a new chapter of unforgettable moments for our guests,” said the hotel’s Managing Director, Michel Chertouh.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThe 497-room hotel’s redesign was managed by renowned Hong Kong-born designer, Chi Wing Lo, as his first hotel project. Through his\nexpertise in architecture, interior design, furniture and art curation, Lo has featured tactile natural materials throughout the hotel,\nincluding natural oak and granite crafted by skilled artisans.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br \/>\n<br \/>\nTom Rowntree, Vice President Global Luxury &amp; Lifestyle Brands at IHG Hotels &amp; Resorts, said: “As we open the doors to Regent Hong\nKong, we celebrate not only a new chapter for the brand but also a journey back to the roots of luxury hospitality. With a legacy steeped in\ninnovation, breathtaking views and landmark destinations like Regent Hong Kong, the brand is returning in earnest to redefine luxury once\nmore,” said Rowntree.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIHG Hotels &amp; Resorts acquired Regent in 2018, working to reinvigorate the brand.&nbsp; Regent Hong Kong is a flagship property within\nthe new Regent portfolio.&nbsp; Other properties include Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel; Regent Chongqing, Regent Shanghai Pudong, Regent\nPhu Quoc, and the soon-to-open Regent Santa Monica Beach.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThis Hong Kong opening will be followed closely by Regent Shanghai On The Bund in late 2023 and Regent Bali Canggu in 2024.&nbsp;\n<h4>About the hotel<\/h4>\n<ul>\n\t<li>497 guest rooms, including 129 suites.<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\tA new Presidential Suite features a sleek and sophisticated 3,500 square-foot duplex with a private terrace and infinity swimming pool, all\n\t\twith sweeping views of the harbour.&nbsp;&nbsp;\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\tSix globally acclaimed culinary experiences within the hotel, including the two Michelin-starred Lai Ching Heen, The Steak House, The Lobby\n\t\tLounge and Nobu Hong Kong\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>The grand marble staircase previous guests may remember remains&nbsp;<\/li>\n\t<li>The pillarless Regent Ballroom can host up to 1,000 guests<\/li>\n\t<li>‘Regent Experience Agents’ are on hand to ensure a seamless guest experience<\/li>\n\t<li>The Regent Club is an exclusive sanctuary and luxury residential retreat for guests on level two.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\tThe Pool Terrace and Fitness Centre includes an outdoor pool, three-temperature infinity pools overlooking the harbour, and a gym fitted\n\t\twith Technogym equipment and is open 24-hours.\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\tGuests will have access to IHG’s loyalty program, IHG One Rewards.Rates start from HK$6,000 (about AUD$1,192) per night (plus 10% service\n\t\tcharge) for a Classic Harbourview Room.\n\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nFor more information, visit&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/hongkong.regenthotels.com\/\">Regent Hong Kong.<\/a><\/em>", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/438\/Regent-hong-kong-classic-harbourview-room.jpg", 
		"post_content_type": "none", 
		"post_content_url": null, 
		"post_date": "2023-11-03 05:00:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "388", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "How six of Spain's top hospitality companies keep their operations more sustainable", 
		"post_content_short": "Since 1973, the United Nations has recognized June 5 as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/observances\/environment-day\">World Environment\n\tDay<\/a>,\n\tan annual event that it says \"puts a global spotlight on the pressing environmental challenges of our times\". This seems like the perfect\n\ttime to highlight a few hospitality businesses and their sustainability initiatives.<br \/>\n\t<br \/>\n\tIn the hospitality industry, embracing more sustainable practices is more than a moral imperative; it makes good business sense. That's\n\tbecause sustainable tourism has become a top priority for a large number of travelers. (This is especially true of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.pressreader.com\/hotels\/these-millennial-and-gen-z-travel-trends-are-shaping-the-future-of-hospitality\">millennials\n\tand members of Generation Z<\/a>.).&nbsp;&nbsp;For\nsome in the hotel industry, implementing more sustainable practices might mean taking small steps — they could replace plastic straws with\nreusable glass or metal ones, for example — or it might mean making major changes to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and\neliminate food waste.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nAccording to a 2022&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gstcouncil.org\/booking-com-2022-sustainable-travel-report\/\">Sustainable Travel Report<\/a>&nbsp;from&nbsp;booking.com<a href=\"https:\/\/\">,<\/a>\n73% of travelers say they would be more likely to choose an accommodation that has implemented sustainable practices —&nbsp;and 81% intend\nto stay in an environmentally friendly location at least once in the next year.&nbsp;<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIf this is you, read on to learn more about how these 6 hotel chains lead the way in conscious and meaningful sustainability.<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong>\n<h2><strong><u>Barceló Hotel Group<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.barcelogrupo.com\/en\/barcelo-hotel-grupo\/\">Barceló Hotel Group<\/a>&nbsp;is Spain's second-largest hotel chain, with more\nthan 250 four- and five-star urban and holiday hotels, and&nbsp;more than 55,000 rooms across 22 countries. The company's properties are marketed under the brands Royal Hideaway, Barceló, Occidental and Allegro.&nbsp;<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIt has an active&nbsp;loyalty program -&nbsp;<strong><em>my<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<strong>Barceló.<\/strong>&nbsp;\n<h3><strong>What they’re doing<\/strong><\/h3>\nRecognizing climate change as a global environmental crisis, Barceló Hotel Group has made a commitment to reduce its environmental impact.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nAt its Occidental hotels in the United Arab Emirates, for example, the company's sustainability practices are implemented through\neco-friendly cleaning products, water and energy conservation, and waste reduction.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nOccidental Al Jaddaf, for instance, uses solar panels to operate water heaters for energy conservation and features low-flow devices in\npublic bathrooms and showers to reduce water consumption.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nBarceló Hotel Group's vice president for sales and marketing for GCC, Raquel López, said in a news release: “We aim to be at the forefront\nof sustainability within the hospitality industry to ensure that our properties are not only safe for our guests at this current time, but\nalso for the generations of travelers yet to come. The introduction of this comprehensive strategy has allowed us to lay the framework for\neven more sustainable initiatives in the future.”\n<h2>\n\t<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/5357741\/bf0c28c9-80f4-46bd-b23c-da9180e46c7e\"><\/a><u>Iberostar<\/u><\/strong>\n<\/h2>\nOperating more than 100 hotels in 16 countries,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iberostar.com\/en\/\">Iberostar<\/a>&nbsp;has built its brand image on\nits dedication to promoting responsible and sustainable travel. The Iberostar Group's offerings range from all-inclusive beachside resorts\nin Mexico, Jamaica and Brazil to chic urban hotels in cities like New York, Barcelona, Marrakech and Lisbon.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIt has <strong>closed<\/strong> its own&nbsp;loyalty program - <a href=\"\/hotels\/is\/iberostar-horizons-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\">Iberostar\nHorizons<\/a><strong>. &nbsp;<\/strong>Almost\nall properties now&nbsp;participate in the <strong>IHG One Rewards<\/strong> program via a marketing alliance.\n<h3>What they’re doing<\/h3>\nIberostar's&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/waveofchange.com\/\">Wave of Change<\/a>&nbsp;program signals that the international hotel chain is committed\nto moving towards a circular economy, promoting the responsible consumption of seafood and improving the health of coastal environments.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIn addition to phasing out single-use plastic items in 1999 — eliminating the use of over 420 tonnes of plastics annually — the company has\ncommitted to making its operations waste-free by 2025 and carbon neutral by 2030.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nEarlier this year, Iberostar reopened its Cristina hotel in Playa de Palma, Mallorca, following an upgrade in its energy supply that has\neliminated the use of all fossil fuels in favor of electricity from renewable energy sources. This move makes the hotel greener by reducing\nits carbon footprint to zero without compromising the guest experience.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIberostar has also pledged that its&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iberostar.com\/en-ca\/wave-of-change\/responsible-fishing\/\">seafood consumption<\/a>&nbsp;will\nbe 100% sustainable by 2025, and it has already hit that target in Mexico. Investment in sustainable fishing supports local communities and\nhelps preserve local ecosystems for future generations.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIberostar is hoping that, by 2025, Wave of Change will be a major driver for 60% of all hotel-room bookings at its properties.<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<h2><strong><u>Meliá Hotels International<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\nOne of the 20 largest hotel companies in the world,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.meliahotelsinternational.com\/en\">Meliá Hotels International<\/a>&nbsp;operates\nmore than 380 properties on four continents.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIt has an active&nbsp;loyalty program -&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"\/hotels\/me\/melia-rewards-complete-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\">Meliá Rewards<\/a>,<\/strong>\nfor which we have a detailed guide.\n<h3><strong>What they’re doing<\/strong><\/h3>\nMeliá's commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement has led it to identify specific medium-term environmental objectives related to combating\nclimate change.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nDriven by innovation and technology, Meliá has developed an efficient management system designed to reduce the use of natural resources and\nshrink each hotel's carbon footprint.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThe company's sustainable strategies include:\n<ul>\n\t<li>Implementing sustainability criteria throughout the supply chain, beginning with hotel concept and design<br\/><\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\tUsing certified sources of renewable energy, standardizing efficient management systems and implementing systems that reduce water usage<br\/>\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>Reducing or eliminating high-impact waste from the ecosystem<br\/><\/li>\n\t<li>Measurement and control of consumption through tools, indicators and scientific criteria<br\/><\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\tTraining employees and raising customer awareness through programs focused on respect for the environment and biodiversity<strong><\/strong>\n\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong><u>NH Hotel Group<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nh-hotels.com\/\">NH Hotel Group<\/a>&nbsp;is one of the 25 largest chains in the world and operates 356 hotels across 33\ncountries in Europe, the Americas, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIt recently migrated its loyalty program to participate in <a href=\"\/hotels\/gha\/gha-discovery\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>GHA\nDiscovery.<\/strong><\/a>\n<h3><strong>What they’re doing<\/strong><\/h3>\nNH Hotel Group has dubbed its environmental management plan&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nh-hotels.com\/corporate\/sustainability\/sustainable-company-up-for-planet-people\/up-for-planet\">UP\nFOR Planet<\/a>,\nwhich is its roadmap for fulfilling the commitments it has made to combat climate change and progress towards decarbonization, the efficient\nmanagement and consumption of resources and the development of more sustainable products.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThe company has set a number of sustainable development goals, with the aim of achieving the following:\n<ul>\n\t<li>64% of energy use by hotel buildings is to come from renewable energy sources<br\/><\/li>\n\t<li>15 million single-use plastic amenities (e.g. plastic straws and cups) eliminated each year<br\/><\/li>\n\t<li>35% yearly reduction in energy consumption per room nights<br\/><\/li>\n\t<li>89% local purchases<strong><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong><u>Palladium Hotel Group<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.palladiumhotelgroup.com\/\">Palladium Hotel Group<\/a>&nbsp;is an international hotel chain based in Ibiza, with 48 hotels\nin six different countries (Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Italy) around the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br \/>\n<br \/>\nPalladium has its own loyalty program - <strong>Palladium Rewards.<\/strong>\n<h3><strong>What they’re doing<\/strong><\/h3>\nPalladium's green practices are focused on the following goals, among others:\n<ul>\n\t<li>Reducing single-use plastics&nbsp;<br\/><\/li>\n\t<li>Moving towards digitalization<br\/><\/li>\n\t<li>Rational, sustainable use of water&nbsp;<br\/><\/li>\n\t<li>Measuring the company's carbon footprint more accurately&nbsp;<br\/><\/li>\n\t<li>Reducing energy consumption&nbsp;<br\/><\/li>\n\t<li>Circular economy initiatives&nbsp;<br\/><\/li>\n\t<li>Reducing, recycling and reusing waste&nbsp;<br\/><\/li>\n\t<li>Protecting biodiversity&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.palladiumhotelgroup.com\/en\/cares\/environmental\">Palladium's sustainability initiatives<\/a>&nbsp;include a turtle\nconservation and release program in Jamaica, beach cleanup and maintenance at all of its hotels, and a program that monitors the health of\nthe mangrove forests on its properties along the Riviera Maya.\n<h2><strong><\/strong><strong><u>Paradores<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\nThe state-owned&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/paradores.es\/en\">Paradores de Turismo<\/a>&nbsp;specializes in cultural and nature tourism, with 97\nproperties throughout Spain's autonomous communities and one in Portugal. In addition to having Paradores in nine cities that have been\ndeclared World Heritage Sites, the company also operates accommodations in national parks and other natural areas, often housed in heritage\nproperties such as castles and monasteries.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nParadores has a little known loyalty program - <strong>Amigos de Paradores.<\/strong><br \/>\n<h3><strong>What they’re doing<\/strong><\/h3>\nParadores has implemented a Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate its impact on climate change, with the\nobjective of being net-zero in 2030.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nA few milestones on Paradores' sustainability journey to date:\n<ul>\n\t<li>\n\t\tIn 2019, the organization&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/paradores.es\/en\/node\/9508\">announced<\/a>&nbsp;that it would replace plastic straws, bottles\n\t\tand cups with compostable alternatives.<br\/>\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\tStarting in 2020, Paradores has calculated the carbon footprint of all of its properties with an eye toward replacing deficient or highly\n\t\tCO2-emitting equipment as well as the improvement of automatic control systems for energy consumption.<br\/>\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>Electricity at each of Paradores' properties is generated through the use of renewable resources.<br\/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<br \/><br \/>\n\t<em>To find out more about sustainability in the hospitality industry, visit the website of the&nbsp;<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainablehospitalityalliance.org\/\"><em>Sustainable\n\tHospitality Alliance<\/em><\/a><em>.\n\tMembers of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance include some of the biggest names in the hotel industry, such as Iberostar, Accor, Hilton\n\tand Marriott International.<\/em>\n", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/388\/Depositphotos_368196572_S.jpg", 
		"post_content_type": "none", 
		"post_content_url": null, 
		"post_date": "2023-06-04 23:00:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "383", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "Kimpton Secret Password - use before it self-destructs September 4", 
		"post_content_short": "Kimpton Hotels have a funky boutique hotel brand image. One of many aspects of its charm is the Kimpton secret password &nbsp;that guests\n\tcan mention at check-in to get a perk, benefit, or bonus. These include items like free parking, a free breakfast, a free upgrade,\n\tetc.\n\n<br \/><br \/><strong><u>What's the latest&nbsp;Kimpton Hotel Secret Password?<\/u><\/strong>\n<br \/><br \/>\n\tIt's been several months since the last secret password, which expired on February 20, 2023. Now, there's a new password running&nbsp;<strong>May\n\t26–September 3, 2023<\/strong>.\n\n<br \/><br \/>\n\tWhen checking into a Kimpton hotel between those dates, you can use the secret password <strong>“no shade”<\/strong> to (hopefully) receive a\n\tspecial perk or privilege.\n\n<br \/><br \/>\n\tKimpton Hotels have provided seasonal or monthly secret passwords to guests for years. The tradition started before IHG acquired the brand\n\tin 2014. Some of the secret passwords have been phrases such as “stay cool,” “flip flops,” “baby, it's cold outside,” “chilled to\n\tperfection,” and even “marshmallow.”\n\n<br \/><br \/>\n\tThis summer, Kimpton Hotel is using the secret password <strong>“no shade<\/strong>.” It is valid at all participating locations&nbsp;<strong>May\n\t26–September 3, 2023<\/strong>.\n\tKimpton Hotels have stated that every hotel honors the secret password differently, so it's a surprise what you'll get.\n\n<br \/><br \/><strong><u>Secret Password Perks You May Receive<\/u><\/strong>\n<br \/><br \/>\n\tHistorically, guests have reported a wide range of&nbsp;bonuses when using the Kimpton Hotels' secret password. Here are some examples:\n\n<ul>\n\t<li>Free parking (regular or valet)<\/li>\n\t<li>Complimentary breakfast<\/li>\n\t<li>Free upgrade<\/li>\n\t<li>Complimentary bottle of wine<\/li>\n\t<li>A whisky-tasting tour<\/li>\n\t<li>Cupcakes<\/li>\n\t<li>A movie night in your room<\/li>\n\t<li>Free drinks at the bar<\/li>\n\t<li>Surprise gift-wrapped presents<\/li>\n\t<li>Drink kits (like Bailey's hot chocolate)<\/li>\n\t<li>Mini-bar credit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<br \/>\nThe bonuses aren't always at the hotel, as some hotels have partnered with other companies. For example, such as another restaurant or\nperhaps a whisky distillery. <em>It's been three months since the last password “expired,” so it's nice to see the Kimpton secret password\nis back. It's just a little thing, but adds to the vibe of the Kimpton brand, which I like.<\/em>\n<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIf you do have a stay booked this summer, make sure to check Kimpton's social media to see if there's a new password.", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/383\/Kimpton-Hotels-Logo.jpg", 
		"post_content_type": "none", 
		"post_content_url": null, 
		"post_date": "2023-05-28 04:00:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "373", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "Hyatt further expands its luxury footprint with Mr & Mrs Smith", 
		"post_content_short": "<strong>The announcement<\/strong><br \/>\nMr &amp; Mrs Smith has&nbsp;announced an agreement for a Hyatt affiliate to acquire London-based Mr &amp; Mrs Smith, a platform offering direct booking access to a carefully curated collection of over 1,500 boutique and luxury properties in some of the world’s most desirable\nlocations. The transaction is anticipated to close in the second quarter of this year, subject to the usual&nbsp;closing conditions.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThe move is the latest in a string of acquisitions and partnerships fuelling Hyatt’s expansion into luxury and lifestyle hotels as well as\ndeepening its portfolio of European properties.<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<strong>What it means for Hyatt<\/strong><br \/>\nThe planned acquisition of Mr &amp; Mrs Smith is expected to build on Hyatt’s leadership position in luxury and further strengthen Hyatt’s\ndistribution capabilities, especially across Europe - a region where Hyatt has historically been under-represented.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThis acquisition builds on a transformative growth period for Hyatt in the last 12 months, which included the recently completed acquisition\nof Dream Hotel Group’s lifestyle brand and management portfolio and the conversion of a portfolio of over 30 franchise agreements with\nLindner Hotels &amp; Resorts and me and all hotels, as well as substantial organic growth of Hyatt’s global portfolio.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nAs a result of Hyatt’s expanded brand portfolio and ever-growing offering for every stay occasion, membership in the World of Hyatt loyalty\nprogram has more than tripled during the past five years.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nAdding Mr and Mrs Smith could make 36-million-member Hyatt’s loyalty program more valuable to it users, complementing Hyatt’s offerings (eg\nexpanding into Villas). Initially, Hyatt will &nbsp;seek to leverage Mr &amp; Mrs Smith’s one-million-strong membership base.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIt aims to launch direct booking access to properties within the luxury specialist’s platform and also attract its members to the World of\nHyatt program,<br \/>\n<br\/>\n<strong>Benefits for World of Hyatt members<\/strong><br \/>\nWorld of Hyatt members will gain access to even more global luxury of offerings across hundreds of geographies – including over 20 countries\nwhere there are currently no Hyatt hotels such as Fiji, Croatia, Iceland and Anguilla (though World of Hyatt members can find points-earning\nand redemption options in some of those places thanks to the program's affiliation with Small Luxury Hotels of the World).<br\/>\n<br\/>\nHyatt plans to unveil direct booking access to properties within the Mr &amp; Mrs Smith platform through Hyatt’s distribution channels,\nincluding Hyatt.com and the World of Hyatt app.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hyatt is exploring ways to enable World of Hyatt members to earn and redeem\npoints across eligible hotels in the Mr &amp; Mrs Smith collection.<br\/>\n<br\/>\n<strong>IHG loses out<\/strong><br \/>\nThe deal comes at the expense of IHG Hotels &amp; Resorts, which for a few years had a marketing partnership with Mr &amp; Mrs Smith where\nIHG selectively offered to its loyalty members access to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ihg.com\/rewardsclub\/content\/us\/en\/mrmrssmith\/hotel-directory\">a\nfew hundred<\/a>&nbsp;of\nits 1,500 hotels in markets where IHG didn’t already have a strong presence of similar upscale properties like InterContinental, Kimpton or\nSix Senses.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nUnfortunately,&nbsp;that partnership never really got onto solid ground from a loyalty program perspective.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br \/>\n<br \/>\n* &nbsp;When staying at Mr &amp; Mrs Smith hotels as an IHG One Rewards member, many travellers&nbsp;noted it was a clunky endeavour to book\nthe hotels via IHG, and you often had to manually remove any other brand option but the Mr &amp; Mrs Smith partnership in the search.<br\/>\n<br\/>\n* &nbsp;Disjointed loyalty recognition was another sticking point amid the IHG partnership, as IHG One Rewards members earned one set of\nbenefits while those in IHG's separate InterContinental Ambassador and Kimpton Inner Circle members enjoyed elevated benefits at Mr &amp;\nMrs Smith properties<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThat deal presumably will end by the time this transaction closes.We expect that&nbsp;Hyatt’s experience with its SLH partnership will mean\nthat many of these types of issues will not be faced by World of Hyatt members.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThe fact that these hotels and others in the Mr &amp; Mrs Smith ecosystem will now be part of Hyatt puts significant pressure on IHG to find\na new partner with unique luxury properties to entice its members to remain loyal. This comes on the heels of several other challenges IHG\nhas faced recently, including a planned Six Senses property&nbsp;in New York City that switched brand affiliation to Accor’s Faena label.<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<strong>Parting thoughts<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>This acquisition will strengthen Hyatt’s position in the luxury traveller market, broadening the range of properties available and\nfurther addresses Hyatt’s historically small footprint in Europe relative to its main competitors. What we like most is Hyatt’s focus on\nquality and strategic acquisitions, rather than being drawn towards being bigger just for its own sake.<\/em>\n<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<br\/>\n<strong>About Mr &amp; Mrs Smith<\/strong><br\/>\nFounded in 2003, Mr &amp; Mrs Smith is the travel club for hotel lovers: an award-winning boutique and luxury hotel booking service\nspecialising in the world’s most seductive stays. There are now more than 1,800 hotels and villas in the collection, all hand-picked and anonymously reviewed.&nbsp;", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/373\/Mr-and-Mrs-Smiith-logo.png", 
		"post_content_type": "none", 
		"post_content_url": null, 
		"post_date": "2023-04-29 04:00:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "335", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "2023 hotel openings - our \"can't wait to stay\" list", 
		"post_content_short": "<strong><u>Exciting New Properties Opening in 2023<\/u><\/strong>\n<br \/><br \/>\n\tThere are many brands opening new properties globally this year, as the worst of the global&nbsp;pandemic may be behind us. This is our ” bakers dozen” list of properties opening in 2023 that we are super excited about and can barely wait to book, listed in geographic regions. &nbsp;With most of these, <a href=\"\/travel-agency\/\" target=\"_blank\">booking through Rewarding Travel<\/a> can provide you with luxury perks (eg daily breakfast, room upgrade st availability...) at no additional cost.<br \/>\n\t<br \/>\n\t<em>It’s going to be a busy year…<\/em><br\/>\n\t<br \/>\n\t<strong><\/strong><strong>1. &nbsp;Raffles London at The OWO (2Q 2023)<\/strong><br \/>\n\tAn architectural masterpiece, the Old War Office on Whitehall (OWO) is undergoing a meticulous restoration to create the Raffles’s first UK\n\thotel.&nbsp; OWO dates back to 1906 and is famed for housing influential leaders. These include Winston Churchill, David Lloyd George and\n\tJohn Profumo. It also inspired Ian Fleming to write the James Bond series after working here as a key liaison.<strong><br\/><\/strong>The\n\tlandmark building has undergone a monumental transformation and now features 120 lavish guestrooms and suites, 85 spectacular private\n\tresidences, 9 ultra-stylish restaurants and 3 bars, bars including one gracing the rooftop with views across The Mall on to Buckingham\n\tPalace.\n\n<br \/><br \/>\n\t&nbsp;An exclusive Guerlain spa and member’s health club (a 20-metre indoor swimming pool, saunas and steam rooms ) by movement and nutrition experts Pillar will offer private memberships for locals in the know.<strong><br\/><\/strong><br\/>\n\t<strong>2. The Peninsula, London (May 2023)<\/strong><br\/>\n\tSwish Hong Kong hotel group Peninsula – famed for its Rolls-Royce fleets, crisp-suited bellboys and want-for-nothing service – is finally\n\tlanding in London. Located at one of the most prestigious addresses in the British capital, overlooking Hyde Park Corner and the Wellington\n\tArch,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.peninsula.com\/en\/london\">The Peninsula London<\/a>&nbsp;is bringing the best of British – culture, art, and\n\tcuisine – to this new build in Belgravia.\n\n<br \/><br \/>\n\tExpect Peninsua’s usual sleek and understated elegance in each of its 190 rooms, while several destination restaurants, a Peninsula Spa\n\t(including a 25m indoor pool ) and a grand ballroom are also on-site. The Peninsula London also features a one-storey shopping arcade, with nine retail shops housing international luxury brands keeping luxury style very close at this new central London location.<br\/>\n\t<br\/>\n\t<strong>&nbsp;3. Mandarin Oriental. Mayfair (2Q 2023)<\/strong><br\/>\n\tThe luxury hotel chain is expanding its presence in&nbsp;London&nbsp;with the opening of&nbsp;<a\nhref=\"https:\/\/www.mandarinoriental.com\/london\/mayfair\/luxury-hotel\">Mandarin\n\tOriental Mayfair,&nbsp;London<\/a>&nbsp;providing\n\ta smaller, more intimate sister property to the award-winning Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in nearby Knightsbridge.&nbsp;Situated on Hanover\n\tSquare, Mayfair’s oldest square, the hotel will provide a calming, discreet sanctuary for hotel guests.<br\/>\n\t<br\/>\n\tThe property comprises 50 guestrooms and 78 private residences in the heart of Mayfair, one of&nbsp;London's most stylish\n\tneighbourhoods.&nbsp;Taking advantage of its world-class location within walking distance of&nbsp;London's admired fashion houses on Bond Street and the boutiques of Saville Row, as well as art galleries, the new hotel will offer guests and&nbsp;Fans of MO&nbsp;( its loyalty program&nbsp;)&nbsp;exclusive access and experiences from high fashion to art, culture, and dining. It will also house the first namesake\n\tAkira Back restaurant in the UK from Michelin Star award winning Chef Akira Back, as well as his 'ABar Lounge' concept. There will also be\n\tan urban spa, focussed on renewal and recalibration, featuring&nbsp;an indoor 25-metre swimming pool, sauna, vitality pool, relaxation room\n\tand a myriad of bespoke wellness treatments.<br\/>\n\t<br \/>\n\t<strong>4. Adagio London Whitechapel (Late 2023)<\/strong><br \/>\n\tFor guests who desire the helpful services of a hotel and the freedom to live like a local in a neighbourhood apartment, Adagio offers an\n\teasy balance of both. Designed for longer stays, the&nbsp;<strong>147 serviced apartments conveniently located on Whitechapel Road in East\n\tLondon<\/strong>&nbsp;will\n\tprovide one or two-bedroom apartments, complete with kitchens.<br \/>\n\t<br\/>\n\t<strong>5. 100 Princes Street &nbsp;Edinburgh (August 2023)<\/strong><br\/>\n\tRed Carnation Hotels’ group first Scottish property is to be 100 Princes Street, whose name is a nod to their illustrious address on one of\n\tEdinburgh’s most famous streets. The interiors – designed by the team behind Ashford Castle in Ireland – will be full-blown Scottish chic\n\twith custom-made tartan by Araminta Campbell, roaring fires and a central staircase with a hand-painted mural of Scottish explorers by\n\tCroxford and Saunders restoring the former Overseas League building to its former glory. There’ll be just 30 guest rooms, some looking to\n\tEdinburgh castle, and a staff ratio of 2:1, so you know service will be a priority.<br\/>\n\t<br \/>\n\t<strong>6. Six Senses Rome (March 2023)<\/strong><br \/>\n\tFor their new Rome hotel, <a\nhref=\"https:\/\/www.sixsenses.com\/en\/hotels\/rome\">Six Senses<\/a> painstakingly restored parts of a Roman\n\t15th-century compound, including the exterior Renaissance facade and interior staircase. Architect Patricia Urquiola is masterminding the\n\tinteriors - guest rooms feature traditional&nbsp;<em>cocciopesto<\/em>&nbsp;plasterwork, locally-sourced travertine limestones, and\n\tsun-drenched terraces. Located steps from the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain, overlooking via del Corso, it is a great place to rest after\n\ta long day exploring the city. They currently have an <strong>opening offer, valid until 30th of April:- 15% off best flexible rate.-\n\tIncludes: breakfast, upgrade upon availability, a welcome drink, use of Roman Baths, Sleep questionnaire, bedding and sleep tracker and\n\taccess to their Earth Lab<\/strong>.\nFrom Deluxe Suite onwards receive a one-way Airport transfer as well and a 20-minute skin instant lab. Contact <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/luylkxfijvajwxcrbd.10to8.com\">RewardingTravel<\/a>\nfor more details.<br\/>\n<br\/>\n<strong>7. Bulgari, Rome<\/strong><br\/>\nThe eternal city’s hotel scene is seeing an injection of fresh style with new branches of&nbsp;<a\nhref=\"https:\/\/www.nobuhotels.com\/hotel-collection\/nobu-hotel-roma\/\">Nobu\nHotels<\/a>&nbsp;and Six Senses<a\nhref=\"https:\/\/www.sixsenses.com\/en\/hotels\/rome\"><\/a>, plus the boutique ROMEO, in a 16<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;century palazzo. But top of our must-visit list for OTT luxury is Bulgari Rome. This Italian brand owns hotels as far afield as Shanghai and Bali, but finally opens its\nflagship on home city turf this coming spring or summer. Set in a 1930s modernist building dripping in travertine marble and red brick, it’s\nsure to be the epitome of more-is-more Bulgari style with warm jewel tones, fabulous artwork and unashamedly luxurious suites.<br\/>\n<br\/>\n<strong>8. &nbsp;Anantara Grand Hotel Convento di Amalfi. (April 2023)<br\/><\/strong>Following extensive restoration and renovation works, the heritage hotel – occupying a 13th-century monastery and former Cappuccini Friars Convent – will be restored to its original glory. The historic 52 guest room and suite &nbsp;property will reveal new-look accommodation, refreshed dining concepts and a completely redesigned\nspa, all perched on a clifftop 80 metres above sea level with spectacular views of the Mediterranean Coast.<strong><br \/>\n<br \/>\n9. Maison Delano Paris (Early 2023)<\/strong><br\/>\nLocated in the heart of the ultra-chic 8th Arrondissement, Maison Delano Paris is an oasis within the bustling city. Occupying an 18th\ncentury courtyard building at 4 Rue d’Anjou, this is a place to experience exceptional and exclusive culinary concepts by three-star\nMichelin Chef Dani García, a fresh perspective on wellness and hyper-exclusive curated moments.<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<strong>10. COMO Le Montrachet (2Q 2023)<\/strong><br \/>\nFine wine plus a fine spa – what else do you need? Launching in picturesque Burgundian village Puligny-Montrachet , <a href=\"http:\/\/www.le-montrachet.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">COMO\nLe Montrachet<\/a>\nis the latest (and first French) property in the wellness-focused COMO resort group is a celebration of life’s good things. Spread across\nfour 18<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;century stone buildings, serene contemporary suites will channel pure Gallic serenity; meanwhile the Shambala\nRetreat spa will turn out deep tissue massages and hydrating facials. The restaurant will come with a superb Burgundian wine list, of\ncourse. Prefer spirits? Look instead to another exciting French opening:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lanauve.com\/en\/\">La Nauve<\/a>, a former\ncognac distillery turned hotel near the Charente river. &nbsp;Teasingly&nbsp;Olivier Jolivet, CEO of the COMO Group has said that <em>“\nBesides Europe, we will also add a new luxury resort in the South Pacific to the portfolio next year.”<\/em> &nbsp;(ie\n2024)<br \/>\n.<br\/>\nThe COMO Group is an international privately-owned company with long-term investments in the world of fashion, wellness, high-level sports\nand luxury hotels. The group also supports its philanthropic mission through the COMO Foundation. Its subsidiary, COMO Hotels and Resorts,\nincludes 14 international properties. Destinations in APAC include Bali, the Maldives, Bhutan, Thailand and Australia. In the Americas, the\ngroup own and operate a private island in the Turks and Caicos. In Europe, The COMO Group operates two city hotels in London and a resort in\nTuscany.<br \/>\n<br\/>\n<strong>11. The Standard, Singapore (late 2023)<\/strong><br\/>\nOpening right off Singapore’s famed Orchard Road is the Standard Singapore, which aims to enhance the city’s already vibrant cultural scene\nwith its buzzy, night-life-focused brand. In addition to their 143 rooms will be a signature restaurant, an infinity pool, and a bar set\nwithin a botanical courtyard.&nbsp;The Standard prides itself on shaking up the establishment and defying convention to deliver a unique\nexperience. The company says its careful consideration of design, detail and service has allowed it to &quot;cultivate a reputation for\nirreverent and playful sensibility&quot;.<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<strong>12. Capella Sydney (March 2023)<\/strong><br\/>\nThe first property for Capella Hotels and Resorts to open in Australia will be housed in a magnificent heritage-listed sandstone building,\ncentrally located&nbsp;just a short walk from the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.delicious.com.au\/travel\/travel-news\/article\/first-look-new-sydney-hotel-capella-opening-march-2023\/k2u8elgh\">Capella\nSydney<\/a>&nbsp;is\nall about contemporary luxury&nbsp;balanced with the historical Edwardian-Baroque features – grand soaring ceilings, marble-clad foyer –\nwith contemporary design, international art and 70 species of local floral on a seven-metre-tall ‘green wall’&nbsp;of this 100-year-old\nbuilding.&nbsp;Guests will also be granted access to the private Living Room – a signature of Capella properties across the world. Here,\nlocal pros or Capella Culturists will be on hand to organise guest activities both in and outside the hotel.<br\/>\n<br\/>\nOver eight levels, 192 guest rooms and suites feature walnut wood, natural stones and deluxe textiles with standalone tubs, custom Italian\nFrette linen and Haeckel’s amenities in the bathroom. Three ground-level bars and restaurants include Brasserie 1930 and McRae Bar is a\nmodern rendition of a Victorian-era drinking den. On level six is an Aruga spa, fitness centre, yoga platform and 20-metre heated indoor\nswimming pool. While the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge are all within walking distance.<br\/>\n<br\/>\n<strong>13. The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne (March 2023)<\/strong><br\/>\nAt the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.signatureluxurytravel.com.au\/ritz-carlton-melbourne\/\">Ritz-Carlton Melbourne<\/a>, which promises to be\nAustralia’s tallest hotel, check-in happens at the Sky Lobby, <strong>80 floors above the city<\/strong>. All of the hotel’s high-rise rooms,\nspread across levels 63 to 79, will have stunning views of the city and Port Phillip Bay.&nbsp;<br\/>\n<br\/>\n&nbsp;A&nbsp;sharp eye for design, and two highly respected chefs are set to be the calling cards of Australia's latest Ritz-Carlton,\ndelivering local, seasonal and cutting-edge cuisine across the luxury hotel's culinary offering. The restaurant will sit a cool 80 floors\nabove the CBD alongside the lobby, and below it will lie a holistic wellness spa that includes a heated indoor infinity pool, spa, sauna and\nyoga studio.&nbsp; The <strong>257 carefully appointed rooms will feature i<\/strong>nteriors with custom leather and velvet furniture,\nhandmade glass panels and marble bathrooms with art works by local artists gracing the walls.<strong><br\/><\/strong><br\/>\n<br\/>\n<br\/>\n<strong><u>Exciting Renovated Properties that will Re-Open in 2023<\/u><\/strong><br\/>\n<br\/>\nNot quite &quot;new&quot; but having had significant renovations or refurbishments, these half-dozen properties are also on our list.&nbsp;<br\/>\n<strong><br\/>\n1. &nbsp;The Dorchester: London<\/strong><br\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dorchestercollection.com\/en\/london\/the-dorchester\/\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a>The Dorchester has been a London icon for the last 90 years, and now\nit's slated to debut its largest renovation since the '80s next year. French designer&nbsp;Pierre-Yves Rochon&nbsp;is redesigning the\nhotel's entrance, promenade, guest rooms and suites, along with a new Cake &amp; Flower boutique. The legendary <a href=\"https:\/\/mbds.com\/\"><\/a>Martin Brudnizki Design Studio is\nredesigning the famous cocktail bar, which is now dubbed Vesper Bar.<br\/>\n<br\/>\n<strong>2. &nbsp;The Royce Hotel, Melbourne (4Q 2023)<\/strong><br\/>\nWhat do you want from your next trip to Melbourne: a culture hit or a dose of nature? At&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.delicious.com.au\/travel\/travel-news\/article\/royce-hotel-open-melbourne-february\/wqhbqn8x\">The\nRoyce<\/a>,\nsitting on the border of the CBD and South Yarra’s parklands, you can enjoy both. This 1920s gem is being restored to its art deco glory,\ncomplete with a 14-metre high marble fireplace in the lobby lounge and a two-metre wide chandelier. The name pays tribute to its former\nroles as Rolls Royce (Australia) HQ and major showroom. &nbsp;<br\/>\nThe latest refurbishment, which aims to immerse guests in glamour with its <strong>94 guest rooms<\/strong>, a marble staircase and\nfireplace, 24-hour concierge, and a swanky bar. In the rooms, freestanding baths, Molton Brown amenities and botanical wallpaper will round\nout this trendy South Yarra spot.<br\/>\n<br\/>\n<strong>3. &nbsp;Le Meridien Melbourne (early 2023)<\/strong><br\/>\nFrom its Bourke Street perch, Le Meridien Melbourne will bring a touch of French flair to the theatre district. Expect plenty of surprises\nbehind the art deco façade including an immersive arts program, house-made gelato and a dazzling rooftop pool deck with views looking over\nParliament House towards Fitzroy Gardens.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Parliament end of Bourke Street will welcome back Le Méridien to Australian shores.\nOriginally built as a hotel in the 1850s before going through lives as a cinema, nightclub and theatre, the building will return to its\norigins as a hotel for the first time in decades. The <strong>235-room<\/strong> hotel is set to have expansive views over the Royal Botanic\nGardens along with a rooftop pool deck.<br\/>\n<br\/>\n<strong>4. &nbsp;Fairmont Port Douglas<\/strong><br\/>\nPort Douglas is where the rainforest meets the reef and luxury brand Fairmont promises that its new Port Douglas resort will immerse guests\nin the area’s spectacular nature.enabling them to &nbsp;connect with nature amidst eco-friendly luxury.&nbsp;&nbsp;Expect organic\narchitecture, a treetop walk, and butterfly nets above the children’s swimming pool, as well as an operating philosophy focused on\nsustainability.<br\/>\n<br\/>\n<strong>5. &nbsp;Manly Pacific, Sydney<\/strong><br\/>\nA seaside favourite gets a new lease of life courtesy of the MGallery Hotel Collection and designers Coco Republic, who have given Manly’s\nbest-located hotel (right on the foreshore) &nbsp;a five-star makeover. Apart from the spa and the rooftop pool, highlights include a French\nbistro and Tokyo Joe restaurant, featuring sushi, sashimi and more courtesy of an ex-Nobu chef..<br\/>\n<br\/>\n<strong>6. &nbsp;W Sydney (October 2023)<\/strong><br\/>\nDarling Harbour’s distinctive new development has already attracted plenty of attention for its eye-catching architecture. It will become\neven more of a landmark once W Sydney opens with all the modern pizzazz of the W brand&nbsp;. With 585 stylish guest rooms and suites\noccupying 25 floors with spectacular Darling Harbour views and interiors inspired by the waterfront location (think powder blue tiles and\ndeep circular tubs and stunning Sydney views) we expect this will be one of the city’s buzziest hotels.&nbsp;<br\/>\nForming part of the development that includes an IMAX theatre and a retail wing.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriott.com\/en-us\/hotels\/sydwh-w-sydney\/overview\/\">W\nSydney<\/a>&nbsp;features\na two-storey rooftop bar, Level 29 WET® Deck with a heated 30m infinity pool, AWAY® Spa, FIT gym, all-day restaurant, Living Room bar,\n1300sqm of event space and direct access to Darling Harbour waterfront precinct, and links across Cockle Bay and Sydney’s International\nConvention Centre (ICC).). .", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/335\/Depositphotos_7261518_S.jpg", 
		"post_content_type": "none", 
		"post_content_url": null, 
		"post_date": "2023-01-29 00:00:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "313", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "Six Senses wins award for Best Luxury Hotel Brand from LTI - 3rd year in a row", 
		"post_content_short": "<strong><\/strong>Luxury Travel Intelligence (LTI) has taken the past 12 months to apply a rigorously defined algorithm that measures the\nperformance and values of luxury hotel brands.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nSix Senses has taken the top spot for the <strong>3rd&nbsp;consecutive year for its ability to deliver, “passion, commitment, ethos and\nvalues, as well as the quality of its management and staff.”<\/strong><br\/>\n<br\/>\nThe algorithm has 128 touch points relevant to the luxury hotel sector. Each has its own weighted score value with a total maximum\naccumulative score of 4628. They relate to <strong>overall brand performance<\/strong>, not the performance of individual properties.\nContinuing investment and how it’s used is also a major factor – particularly for new properties and the refurbishment of existing ones.<br\/>\n<br\/>\nTo make its decision, LTI researchers engage with everyone from the CEO to the management, hosts, and guests. Every year, the process starts\nagain so the results from previous years have no bearing on the following year and therefore reflect what is happening within the dynamic\nhospitality sector. This is all part of the process for creating destination-led reports for the organization’s members, who wish to make\ninformed travel decisions based on its honest and detailed intelligence.<br\/>\n<br\/>\nOn awarding Six Senses World’s Best Luxury Hotel Brand, LTI noted, <em>“We continue to be very impressed with Six Senses. It delivers an\nauthentic blend of wellness, sustainability, warm hospitality and crafted guest experiences<\/em>.\nAlso, with Six Senses London and Rome due in 2023 this is an exciting time for the brand and its loyal followers.”<br\/>\n<br\/>\nResponding to the award, Six Senses CEO Neil Jacobs credited the whole team, <em>“Six Senses hosts take a bow! To win this award three times\nin a row reflects everyone’s unwavering commitment over three bumpy years and across our entire group. We take a proactive role in\nsustainable well-being, whether that means for our guests, hosts, or the land and communities around us. But for it to work, it has to be\nhonest and championed with care. Perhaps this authenticity is what guests appreciate the most<\/em>.”<br \/>\n<br \/>\nSix Senses is one our preferred resorts and spa\/wellness brands. &nbsp;It has long had a focus on bare-foot luxury with sustainability, so this success comes as no surprise to us. &nbsp;It is well-deserved.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nSome properties participate in the IHG One Rewards loyalty program - that alone may be sufficient reason to sign-up as a member.&nbsp;", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/313\/Six-Senses-staff.jpg", 
		"post_content_type": "none", 
		"post_content_url": null, 
		"post_date": "2022-10-29 09:00:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "299", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "Pssst!  Kimpton Secret Password Valid Through Early September 2022", 
		"post_content_short": "Now <strong>through 5 September 2022<\/strong>, mention the secret password <strong>“Stay Cool”<\/strong> at check-in to score perks and other\nbenefits when staying at Kimpton Hotels (which are part of IHG).<br \/>\n<br \/>\nPerks range by property, but can be free parking, a free breakfast, or a free room upgrade, etc.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIn addition, Kimpton is now offering travellers an <strong>“emotional support beverage”<\/strong> at check-in if your arrival flight was\ncancelled or delayed. <em>Very considerate !<br \/>\n<br \/>\nKimpton is one of our&nbsp;favoured brands. Lovely properties, great service and a few quirks like the above and their very <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ihg.com\/kimptonhotels\/content\/us\/en\/promos\/pet-friendly-hotels\" target=\"_blank\">pet-friendly\napproach<\/a>\nfor authentic, brand-consistent touches of individualty.<\/em>", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/299\/Kimpton-Hotels-Logo.jpg", 
		"post_content_type": "none", 
		"post_content_url": null, 
		"post_date": "2022-08-01 21:30:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "286", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "T+L World's Best Awards 2022", 
		"post_content_short": "Each year <em>Travel + Leisure&nbsp;<\/em>magazine taps into its readership and invites thousands to complete a survey that rates airlines,\nspas, hotels, islands and more on many factors. The detailed survey evaluation results in its readers' rankings of the best hospitality has\nto offer from around the world.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nParticipants in the survey collected data from late October 2021 through to the end of February 2022. They rated (with a maximum score\nof&nbsp;100) hotels, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, etc on numerous characteristics, with the option of rating excellent, above\naverage, average, below average and poor. A minimum number of responses was necessary for a candidate to be eligible for&nbsp;<em>Travel +\nLeisure<\/em>‘s\nWorld’s Best Awards.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThis year’s results spanned a whopping 120 categories among hotels, resorts and hospitality brands in cities, countries and regions\nglobally; to spas, favourite global cities, and best islands, cruise lines, tour operators, safari outfitters, airlines, car rental\ncompanies and National Parks.<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<strong><u>Some key observations:<\/u><\/strong>\n<br \/><br \/>\n\tThe <strong>overall winner<\/strong> was the super-luxury <em><strong>Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, Montalcino<\/strong>. <\/em>Rosewood also had 2 other properties in the top 100.&nbsp;<br \/>\n\t<br \/>\n\tAuberge and Shangri-La also both had 3 properties in the top 100.<br \/>\n\t<br \/>\n\tThe groups with the most properties in the top 100 both have Indian roots - <strong>Oberoi and Taj both had 6<\/strong> properties in the\n\tlist of&nbsp;top 100 hotels.&nbsp;<br \/>\n\t<br \/>\n\tWhile <strong>Preferred Hotels<\/strong> owns&nbsp;no hotels of its own, it markets (and offers a loyalty program) for <strong>5 of the top\n\t100<\/strong> hotels (Pendry Chicago #25, Riggs Washington D.C. #31, Finca Cortesín Hotel Golf &amp; Spa, Málaga #44, Grand Hotel Tremezzo – Lake Como,\n#53 and Rancho Santana – Tola, Nicaragua, #56).&nbsp;<br \/>\n<br \/>\nMulti-brand Marriott had 4 properties, while Capella, Hilton, Six Senses (IHG), Rocco Forte and Mandarin Oriental each had 2 properties\nrated in the top 100.<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIn terms of the <strong>Best 25 Hotel Brands in the World<\/strong>, the Accor stable rated very well, with 3 of its brands rated in the top\n25&nbsp;(<strong>Raffles #4, Sofitel Legend #6 and Banyan Tree #11<\/strong>). Global Hotels Alliance (GHA) also had&nbsp;3 of its brands\nrated in the top 25 (<strong>Viceroy #10, Anantara #14 and Capella #<\/strong>17). &nbsp;<br \/>\n<br \/>\nOf the major, multi-brand chains, IHG (Six Senses #19), Hilton (St Regis #24) and&nbsp;Marriott (Luxury Collection #25) each had 1 brand in\nthe top 25.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIf you'd like to know more about any of the hotels or brands, <a href=\"\/travel-agency\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>our associated Travel Agency<\/strong><\/a> is a specialist advisor for <strong>Langham<\/strong>, <strong>Shangri-La. Rosewood,&nbsp;Four Seasons, Waldorf Astoria, Raffles, Preferred\nHotels, Hyatt, IHG, Conrad&nbsp;and St Regis - able to offer<\/strong>\n<strong>free perks like room upgrades and property credits when you book.<\/strong><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<em>Our congratulations to Rosewood <strong>Castiglion del Bosco <\/strong>and all category winners<\/em>. Far too many to list here entirely,\nso we list below a selection&nbsp;of the results:<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<strong><u>100 Best Hotels in the World<\/u><\/strong><br \/>\n<br \/>\nRosewood Castiglion del Bosco (99.25),<br \/>\nGrace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection (99.22),<br \/>\nWaldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi (99.11),<br \/>\nPickering House Inn, Wolfeboro (98.95) and<br \/>\nOne&amp;Only Reethi Rah (98.93).<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<strong><u>25 Best Hotel Brands of&nbsp;the World<\/u><\/strong><br \/>\n<br \/>\nOberoi Hotels &amp; Resorts (97.50),<br \/>\nOne&amp;Only Resorts (96.20),<br \/>\nOetker Collection (96.15),<br \/>\nRaffles Hotels &amp; Resorts (95.5) and<br \/>\nRed Carnation Hotel Collection (95.32).<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<strong><u>5 Best Resorts - South Pacific<\/u><\/strong><br \/>\n<br \/>\nNamale Resort &amp; Spa, Savusavu, Fiji,<br \/>\nConrad Bora Bora Nui,<br \/>\nSt. Regis Bora Bora Resort,<br \/>\nFour Seasons Resort Bora Bora,<br \/>\nInterContinental Tahiti Resort &amp; Spa.<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<strong><u>Best Islands of the World<\/u><\/strong><br \/>\n<br \/>\nIschia, Italy (94.61),<br \/>\nMaldives (94.44),<br \/>\nBali (92.51),<br \/>\nMilos, Greece (92.50) and<br \/>\nFiji Islands (92.38).<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<strong><u>5 Best International Spas<\/u><\/strong><br \/>\n<br \/>\nRancho La Puerta, Tecate, Mexico (95.76),<br \/>\nSha Wellness Clinic, El Abir, Spain (95.20),<br \/>\nTherme di Saturnia (94.15),<br \/>\nMountain Trek Fitness Retreat &amp; Health Spa (93.26),<br \/>\nChable Maroma, Punta Maroma, Mexico (89.90).<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<strong><u>25 Best Cities&nbsp;in the World<\/u><\/strong><br \/>\n<br \/>\nOaxaca, Mexico (92.96),<br \/>\nSan Miguel de Allende, Mexico (91.77),<br \/>\nUbud, Indonesia (91.73),<br \/>\nFlorence (91.06) and<br \/>\nIstanbul (90.97).<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<strong><br \/>\n<u>Best City Hotels - Europe<\/u><\/strong><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<strong><u><\/u><\/strong>Hôtel Madame Rêve, Paris (98.73),<br \/>\nRosewood Villa Magna, Madrid (98.67),<br \/>\nPortrait Firenze, Florence (98.25),<br \/>\nRaffles Istanbul (98.25) and<br \/>\nShangri-La at the Shard, London (97.86).<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<strong><br \/>\n<u>Best City Hotels - Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific<\/u><\/strong><br \/>\n<br \/>\nThe Langham, Melbourne (92.53),<br \/>\nPark Hyatt Sydney (90.40),<br \/>\nFour Seasons Hotel Sydney (88.30),<br \/>\nInterContinental Sydney (87.76) and<br \/>\nShangri-La Sydney (86.40).<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<strong><u>Best Islands&nbsp;- Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific<\/u><\/strong><br \/>\n<br \/>\nFiji Islands (92.38),<br \/>\nMoorea, French Polynesia (90.24),<br \/>\nBora Bora, French Polynesia (87.70),<br \/>\nGreat Barrier Reef Islands (86.90) and<br \/>\nTahiti, French Polynesia (83.33).", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/286\/falling_confetti_winner_210715_01.jpg", 
		"post_content_type": "url", 
		"post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.travelandleisure.com\/worlds-best\/worlds-best-2022", 
		"post_date": "2022-07-17 07:00:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "263", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "IHG marks 6,000 hotels milestone with new \"club\" to reward travellers", 
		"post_content_short": "IHG is celebrating reaching&nbsp;its 6,000 open hotels milestone &nbsp;by unveiling the ‘6,000 Club’ and announcing partnerships with major\nsports and entertainment events.&nbsp;The 6,000 Club features a collection of newly opened hotels around the world.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nHotels in the 6,000 Club will celebrate the occasion in the coming months by <strong>surprising select guests with 6,000 IHG One Rewards\npoints.<\/strong><br \/>\n<br \/>\nSome of the hotels in the 6,000 Club are:<br \/>\n<br \/>\n* &nbsp;<strong>Six Senses Fort Barwara<\/strong> – a beautiful 14th-century fort in India which was converted to become a sanctuary of\nwell-being after a significant conservation effort<br \/>\n<br \/>\n* &nbsp;Regent Phu Quoc – the first all-suites-and-villas resort under the upper luxury brand in Southeast Asia, located off the southwest\ncoast of Vietnam alongside a UNESCO-designated World Biosphere Reserve<br \/>\n<br \/>\n* &nbsp;<strong>Kimpton Margot Sydney<\/strong> &nbsp;– marking the Australian debut for the brand, this art-deco hotel features a rooftop\npool, wine bar, and a 1,725-square-foot “Celebrity Suite”<br \/>\n<br \/>\n* &nbsp;voco The Hague – the first for the brand in Netherlands which includes a garden terrace designed by an expert ecologist who created a\nwelcoming space for nature to thrive<br \/>\n<br \/>\n* &nbsp;Atwell Suites Denver Airport - Tower Road – the second hotel to open for IHG’s newest all-suites brand, featuring signature design\nand adaptable spaces which support longer stays and allow for easy transition between business and leisure<br \/>\n<br \/>\n* &nbsp;Staybridge Suites Al Khobar City -&nbsp;this all-suites hotel is located&nbsp;on the shores of the&nbsp;Arabian&nbsp;Gulf&nbsp;in\nthe heart of the corporate and&nbsp;shopping hub of vibrant Al Khobar<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIHG also announced the launch of new &quot;experience&quot; partnerships, providing new ways to redeem IHG One Rewards points and celebrate\nthe universal love of music and sports. Highlights include:<br \/>\n<br \/>\n* &nbsp;The Governors Ball, Lollapalooza, Reading and Leeds Festivals, Music Midtown, Ohana Festival: While watching live performances,\nattendees can enjoy exclusive benefits with IHG One Rewards including backstage access and time in VIP Lounges.<br \/>\n<br \/>\n* &nbsp;Major League Soccer<br \/>\n<br \/>\n* &nbsp;European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR).<br \/>\n<br \/>\nMore details and&nbsp;images are available for&nbsp;the <a\nhref=\"https:\/\/www.ihgplc.com\/en\/news-and-media\/news-releases\/2022\/presenting-ihg-hotels-and-resorts-6000-club\" target=\"_blank\">complete\nlist of 6,000 Club members.<\/a>", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/263\/IHG-6000-Club-banner.jpg", 
		"post_content_type": "none", 
		"post_content_url": null, 
		"post_date": "2022-06-09 00:00:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "256", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "Six Senses Vana opens, providing Health and Healing in the Himalayan Foothills of India", 
		"post_content_short": "Established Indian destination spa and retreat&nbsp;Vana&nbsp;has been taken over by global hotel group&nbsp;Six Senses.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThe property in Dehradun, India, has since been renamed Six Senses Vana. Launched in 2014 it&nbsp;is a 21-acre wellness destination\nsurrounded by clusters of Sal forest, and set within its own mango and lychee orchards. The retreat draws on ancient healing modalities from\nAyurveda, Tibetan healing traditions and yoga to create bespoke schedules for every retreat attendee.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nWellness facilities include a Tibetan Healing Centre, Ayurveda Centre, Yogasala, Wellness Centre, spa, private watsu pool, gym, thermal and\nwet areas, tennis courts, paths for walking and two slate-lined pools – including one on the rooftop with views over the forest and into the\nhills beyond.\n<br \/><br \/>\n\tAlong with the wellness&nbsp;and spa facilities, Six Senses Vana will also be a Cinema Paradiso, courts for various ball games, and\n\texperiences that tap into the retreat’s location to encourage movement and reconnection with nature.<br \/>\n\t<br \/>\n\tExhibitions, visiting artists, and performances will also continue to be woven into the retreat’s programming.<br \/>\n\t<br \/>\n\tThe destination features 82 rooms facing either the ancient forest or the garden and yoga temple, plus two restaurants and 55 treatment and\n\tconsultation rooms.\n\n<br \/><br \/>\n\tThe new deal will see <em>Six Senses Vana<\/em> complement the brand’s debut property in India,&nbsp;<em>Six Senses Fort Barwara<\/em>&nbsp;in\n\tRajasthan.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sadly, neither of the India locations participate in the&nbsp;<em>IHG One Rewards<\/em> program<em>.<\/em> Sigh. &nbsp;<em>Decisions,\n\tdecisions...<br \/>\n\t<br \/>\n\tAt the time of writing, Six Senses properties that do participate in&nbsp;IHG One Rewards include:<\/em>\n<ul>\n\t<li>Six Senses Yao Noi, Thailand.<\/li>\n\t<li>Six Senses Laamu, Maldives.<\/li>\n\t<li>Six Senses Botanique, Brazil.<\/li>\n\t<li>Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Vietnam.<\/li>\n\t<li>Six Senses Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia.<\/li>\n\t<li>Six Senses Fiji.<\/li>\n\t<li>Six Senses Zil Pasyon, Seychelles.<\/li>\n\t<li>Six Senses Kaplankaya, Turkey.<\/li>\n\t<li>Six Senses Ibiza, Spain.<\/li>\n\t<li>Six Senses Shaharut, Israel.<\/li>\n\t<li>Six Senses Residences Courchevel, France (bookable now for the next season).<\/li>\n\t<li>Six Senses Kanuhura, Maldives (once it opens later this year).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<br \/>\n<u><strong>About<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/u><strong><u>Six Senses<br \/><\/u><\/strong><br\/>\n<strong>Six Senses<\/strong>&nbsp;operates 21 hotels and resorts in 17 countries under the names of Six Senses and Evason and has signed a\nfurther 33 properties into the development pipeline. Six Senses maintains a leadership commitment to community, sustainability, emotional hospitality, wellness, and crafted experiences, infused with a touch of quirkiness. Whether an exquisite island resort, mountain retreat, or\nurban hotel, the vision remains the same: to reawaken people’s senses so they feel the purpose behind their travels and ultimately reconnect\nwith themselves, others and the world around them.&nbsp;<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIn early 2019, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)&nbsp;acquired Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas. However, not all Six Senses properies\nparticipate in the&nbsp;IHG One Rewards program.&nbsp;<br\/>\n<br\/>\n<strong>Six Senses Spas&nbsp;<\/strong>guides guests on their personal path to well-being in all resorts as well as a handful of standalone\nspas. The high-tech and high-touch approach goes beyond ordinary beauty treatments to offer holistic wellness, integrative medicine, and\nlongevity.", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/256\/ihg-bb-six-senses-v2.jpg", 
		"post_content_type": "none", 
		"post_content_url": null, 
		"post_date": "2022-06-02 04:30:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "252", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "\"Secret\" password for One Rewards members to receive a surprise for Kimpton stays", 
		"post_content_short": "Kimpton Hotels&nbsp;have just launched their new&nbsp;Secret Password, <strong>“Stay Cool<\/strong>,” valid for stays through <strong>September\n5, 2022<\/strong>.\n<br \/><br \/>\n\tIHG One Rewards Members who <strong>say these words when checking in<\/strong> are in for a &quot;feel good&quot; surprise that could be\n\tanything from a complimentary breakfast or drinks to free parking (it's up to each individual&nbsp;hotel to decide what their offer is,\n\twhich is part of the fun).&nbsp;<br \/>\n\t<br \/>\n\tWith locations all around the world, Kimpton is a popular brand with travelers and IHG loyalists thanks to evening happy hours, its “raid\n\tthe minibar” perk for select guests and the brand's right royal treatment of four-legged guests - Kimpton is famous for being pet-friendly.<br \/>\n\t<br \/>\n\tYou can access <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ihg.com\/kimptonhotels\/content\/us\/en\/stay\/destinations#\" target=\"_blank\">IHG’s Kimpton page<\/a>&nbsp;<a>here<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br \/>\n\t<br \/>\n\tBetter yet, you can&nbsp;book through <a href=\"\/travel-agency\/\" target=\"_blank\">our Travel Agent service,<\/a> (an IHG Lifestyle Collection specialist) to receive advice and support<strong>,<\/strong> while <strong>still&nbsp;earning<\/strong>&nbsp;IHG One Rewards points.<br \/>\n\t<br \/>\n\tSimply&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/luylkxfijvajwxcrbd.10to8.com\" target=\"_blank\">arrange a time to discuss<\/a> or drop us a <a href=\"mailto:neil.mcpherson@fora.travel?subject=Mandarin%20Oriental\">brief\n\temail.<\/a><br \/>\n\t\n<br \/><br \/>", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/252\/ihg-bb-kimpton.jpg", 
		"post_content_type": "none", 
		"post_content_url": null, 
		"post_date": "2022-05-29 04:45:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "200", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "Australia’s First Kimpton Hotel opens for Valentine's Day 2022", 
		"post_content_short": "I’m pleased to say that one of my favourite hotel chains has opened its first Australian hotel today, on Valentine’s Day.\r\n<br \/><br \/>\r\n\tThe Kimpton Margot, Sydney is a gorgeous repurposing of an art-deco ex-public building into a luxury hotel. There is a rooftop pool (for\r\n\tguests only) and a separate rooftop bar to enjoy those balmy evenings.\r\n\r\n<br \/><br \/>\r\n\tNo water views but very centrally located on Pitt Street within an easy walk of Town Hall Rail and Light Rail stations, Hyde Park and\r\n\tChinatown.\r\n\r\n<br \/><br \/>\r\n\tIHG Rewards members can currently book an awards stay for 33,000 points per night – a premium compared to the 27,000 points required at the\r\n\t(older but still very nice) InterContinental Sydney that is closer to Circular Quay.\r\n\r\n<br \/><br \/>Checking my points balance right now…\r\n<br \/><br \/>\r\n\tFor <strong>bookings with elite benefits included<\/strong>, make a time to <a href=\"https:\/\/luylkxfijvajwxcrbd.10to8.com\" target=\"_blank\">talk\r\n\twith&nbsp;our associated travel agency.<\/a>", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/200\/Kimpton-Margot-Sydney-lobby.jpg", 
		"post_content_type": "none", 
		"post_content_url": null, 
		"post_date": "2022-02-13 20:30:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "188", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "IHG Rewards to get big changes | Initial Details", 
		"post_content_short": "A few hours go, IHG announced that it will be making several changes to its loyalty program - IHG Rewards Club.<br \/>\r\n\t<br \/>\r\n\tThe first to be shared relates to a&nbsp;new tier and bonus point earning structure:\r\n\t<ul>\r\n\t\t<li>a new Silver Tier is being introduced. Qualification is 10 nights (only). Tier bonus will be 20%.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tGold Tier will have higher qualification requirements - &nbsp;20 nights or 40,000 points (currently 7 nights or 7,000 points) The biggest\r\n\t\tincrease, but tier bonus will increase from 10% to 40%\r\n\t<\/li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tPlatinum&nbsp;Tier will have higher qualification requirements - &nbsp;40 nights or 60,000 points (currently 30&nbsp;nights or 30,000\r\n\t\tpoints). Tier bonus will increase from 50% to 60%.&nbsp;\r\n\t<\/li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tThe top Elite Tier will have much higher qualification requirements - &nbsp;70 nights or 120,000 points (currently 55 nights or 55,000\r\n\t\tpoints)\r\n\t<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Renaming of the ‘Spire Elite’ tier to ‘Diamond Elite’ - tier bonus to remain at 100%.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nSo far, no changes to be made to the Ambassador or&nbsp;Royal Ambassador programs.&nbsp;<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nAll members’ statuses have been extended through February 2023. To requalify, you will need to satisfy the requirements under the new tier structure which goes <strong>live from&nbsp;March 2022<\/strong>.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nNote that due to Covid-19 there are currently reduced earning requirements in place, which will remain until the changes go live on March 1,\r\n2022 – these are as follows:\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Gold Elite qualification by earning 7,000 points or staying seven nights<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Platinum Elite qualification by earning 30,000 points or staying 30 nights<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Spire Elite (soon to be known as Diamond) qualification by earning 55,000 points or staying 55 nights<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nOne concession is that all stays from&nbsp;January 1, 2022 will count toward your new&nbsp;status when it goes live.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nSo, consider some of the <a href=\"\/hotels\/ihg\/ihg-promos\/\" target=\"_blank\">current IHG&nbsp;promotions<\/a> to help you get\r\nstatus before the criteria change in March. A 7 night&nbsp;stay somewhere <strong>before 1 March<\/strong> could be enough to qualify for\r\nGold tier.<br \/>\r\n<em><br \/>\r\nWe will cover this program in greater detail once further details on the changes to the program are released.&nbsp;<\/em><br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\n<em>Initial reaction - subject to seeing what additional benefits will be included at the various status tiers, this looks like a less\r\nattractive development. The lowest elite tier now has a minimum number of nights rerquirement only (points\/spending won't get you there) and\r\nthe bar has been lifted significantly for qualification at higher tiers.<br \/><\/em>", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/188\/IHG-Rewards-logo.png", 
		"post_content_type": "url", 
		"post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.ihg.com\/rewardsclub\/content\/us\/en\/new-rewards", 
		"post_date": "2022-01-20 01:30:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "182", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "Six Senses Laamu is Rewarded For Its Conservation Efforts in the Maldives", 
		"post_content_short": "Six Senses has long been highly regarded as a luxury spa brand with a sustainability focus (before other chains&nbsp;more recently caught up).<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nRecently, Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI) the marine biology team at Six Senses Laamu, has been named <strong>Marine and Coastal\r\ncategory winner<\/strong>\r\nat the 2021 <strong>Skål International Sustainable Tourism Awards<\/strong> for a second time (the first being in 2018).<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nThree independent sustainability experts judged 50 entries from 26 countries, placing MUI top in its category ahead of five other projects.\r\n\r\n<br \/><br \/>\r\n\tPhilippa Roe, MUI’s Head Marine Biologist said that “For years, the partners within MUI – Six Senses Laamu, the Manta Trust, Blue Marine\r\n\tFoundation, and the Olive Ridley Project – have been gathering research on Laamu’s marine ecosystems and species, much of which was used as\r\n\tevidence to support marine protection.”\r\n\r\n<br \/><br \/>\r\n\tShortly after this announcement, the Maldivian President and his administration designated six naturally unique and eco-rich areas in Laamu\r\n\tAtoll as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs):\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>the turtle nesting beach, mangrove and seagrass area of L. Gaadhoo (a neighboring uninhabited island of Six Senses Laamu),<\/li>\r\n\t<li>the channel between Six Senses Laamu and L. Gaadhoo,<\/li>\r\n\t<li>the mangrove of L. Hithadhoo (an inhabited island on the other side of Six Senses Laamu),<\/li>\r\n\t<li>as well as two channels, a mangrove, a wetland and an island in other areas of the atoll.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nCongratulations (and thanks) to Six Senses and more specifically <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sixsenses.com\/en\/resorts\/laamu?Promo=IVANI&Hotel=KDOLM&&Rooms=1&Adult=2&Child=0\">Six\r\nSenses Laamu<\/a>\r\n(<em>advertiser<\/em>).<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nSix Senses resorts and spas can be booked either <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sixsenses.com\/en\" target=\"_blank\">direct<\/a> or through IHG to&nbsp;earn IHG Rewards points.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nIHG Rewards Members can also book award stays for 100,000 points per night.", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/182\/ihg-bb-six-senses-v2.jpg", 
		"post_content_type": "none", 
		"post_content_url": null, 
		"post_date": "2022-01-14 06:00:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "180", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "IHG expands in Bali with new Luxury and Lifestyle offer", 
		"post_content_short": "The <strong>all-suite and villa<\/strong> resort InterContinental Bali Sanur Resort will be a rebrand of the hotel <strong>formerly known as\r\nFairmont<\/strong> Sanur Beach Bali, and will relaunch soon with a fresh identity and ready to welcome guests.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nIt&nbsp;boasts 26 villas, each with a private pool, as well as 94 suites and is located on Sanur Beach which is known for its long stretch of sandy beach with shallow waters.&nbsp;<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nPre-pandemic, Sanur Beach was growing in popularity with an increasing supply of hotels, restaurants and bars and travellers looking to\r\nenjoy the laid-back nature of Bali while being easily accessible from the both the airport and the city.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nTempted? Perhaps top-up your existing IHG Rewards balance to experience this relaxing luxury.&nbsp; &nbsp;", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/180\/IHG-Rewards-logo.png", 
		"post_content_type": "page", 
		"post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/buy-hotel-points\/", 
		"post_date": "2022-01-12 05:30:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "166", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "IHG Rewards | targeted offer for 5,000 bonus points", 
		"post_content_short": "IHG is running a targeted offer for some IHG Rewards members.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nIf you're part of the targeted campaign, you can <strong>register now and stay two nights<\/strong> between <strong>1 January and 31 January\r\n2022<\/strong>,\r\nand you’ll earn <strong>5,000 bonus points.<br \/>\r\n<br \/><\/strong>\r\n<em>Worthwhile checking your IHG Rewards account to see if you have received this offer.<\/em>", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/166\/IHG-Rewards-logo.png", 
		"post_content_type": "url", 
		"post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.ihg.com\/rewardsclub\/content\/gb\/en\/home#scmisc=nav_home_6c", 
		"post_date": "2021-12-30 02:30:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "134", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "IHG's new Vignette Collection | launch hotel is in Brisbane", 
		"post_content_short": "Hotel X Brisbane Fortitude Valley in Brisbane&nbsp;has officially opened as the world’s first hotel in IHG's new &quot;collection&quot; brand. &nbsp;Vignette Collection is IHG Hotels &amp; Resorts’ first collection brand and part of the Luxury &amp; Lifestyle portfolio of\r\nbrands, along with Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Regent Hotels &amp; Resorts, InterContinental Hotels &amp; Resorts, Kimpton Hotels &amp; Restaurants and Hotel Indigo.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nHotel X boasts 146 rooms and suites and three meeting spaces, including an open terrace overlooking Brunswick Street. Foodies will love Iris, the Mediterranean rooftop bar &amp; restaurant, while&nbsp;Bisou Bisou, the phenomenally cool bistro will be dishing up French delicacies.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nHotel X celebrates a strong sense of individuality in&nbsp;this iconic Brisbane neighbourhood through ultra-cool art, Avant Garde lighting\r\nand strong&nbsp;design.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nSoon after the opening, signings of two additional hotels to the Vignette Collection were announced - one in each of Austria (pictured is <em>Grand\r\nHotel Wien, Austria) <\/em>and\r\nPortugal.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nExciting new world-class luxury hotels with an independent ethos have joined the IHG family.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\n&nbsp;Start saving those IHG Rewards !", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/134\/Grand-Hotel-Wien-Austria-a-member-of-vignette-collection.jpg", 
		"post_content_type": "none", 
		"post_content_url": null, 
		"post_date": "2021-12-07 10:00:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "118", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "Kimpton's winter 2021 \"secret\" password | valid through 21 Feb 2022", 
		"post_content_short": "Kimpton Hotels is a funky boutique hotel brand and is a luxury boutique brand of IHG.\r\n<br \/><br \/>\r\n\tOne of its many charms is the Kimpton “secret” password or “social password” that guests can mention at check-in to get some form of perk,\r\n\tbenefit, or bonus.\r\n\r\n<br \/><br \/>\r\n\tKimpton tweeted on its official account earlier today (after a hiatus while few people were travelling) that from today through to 21\r\n\tFebruary 2022, just say ‘<strong>Just Chilling<\/strong>,’ to the front desk team at check-in, and you’ll be rewarded with a feel-good\r\n\tsurprise.\r\n\r\n<br \/><br \/>\r\n\tEach hotel offers its own variation of the surprise, which can include items like free parking, a free breakfast, a free upgrade,\r\n\tcomplimentary bottle of wine, or mini-bar credit.\r\n\r\n<br \/><br \/>Enjoy!", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/118\/Kimpton-Hotels-Logo.png", 
		"post_content_type": "none", 
		"post_content_url": null, 
		"post_date": "2021-11-27 00:00:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "97", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "Six Senses Ibiza - anti-ageing program in a luxury spa retreat", 
		"post_content_short": "<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sixsenses.com\/en\/resorts\/ibiza\" target=\"_blank\">Six Senses Ibiza<\/a> (pictured) is the first sustainable BREEAM certified resort and residential community in the Balearics, occupying a breathtaking position in Xarraca Bay. It has teamed with RoseBar to\r\noffer a residential&nbsp;anti-ageing health &amp; wellness program.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nAt the time of writing, prices per night were from <strong>EUR 595<\/strong> in early December 2021 and <strong>EUR 925<\/strong> in mid-June\r\n2022, including airport transfers. &nbsp;Alternatively, in both cases, <strong>150,000 IHG Rewards points.<br \/>\r\n<br \/><\/strong>If you <a href=\"\/buy-hotel-points\/\" target=\"_blank\">buy\r\nIHG Rewards<\/a>\r\nduring a promotion, you could enjoy a wonderful, luxury break to invest in your personal&nbsp;health &amp; wellness - possibly the best\r\ninvestment you can make!", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/97\/Six-Senses-Ibiza-Pool.jpg", 
		"post_content_type": "none", 
		"post_content_url": null, 
		"post_date": "2021-11-14 05:50:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "98", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "IHG Rewards extends Elite Status & Points expiration", 
		"post_content_short": "Once again, IHG Rewards is extending the elite status that members earned in 2019. This time the extension is good until February 2023.\r\n\r\n<br \/><br \/>Previously, elite statuses were extended through January 2022.\r\n<br \/><br \/>In addition, IHG is extending some free night certificates and its pause on the expiration of points until 31 December 2022.", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/98\/IHG-Rewards-logo.png", 
		"post_content_type": "none", 
		"post_content_url": null, 
		"post_date": "2021-11-13 06:00:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "56", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "IHG launches competition to win 1 whole year of free stays", 
		"post_content_short": "Today, as part of the launch of its &quot;Department of Epic&quot; program, IHG Hotels &amp; Resorts announced a contest that will give <strong>one\r\nlucky US-based traveller<\/strong>\r\nthe chance to win back a year of missed adventures with 365 days worth of epic hotel experiences at various IHG locations around the world,\r\nincluding InterContinental, Kimpton and Holiday Inn Express.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nPictured above is the InterContinental Bora Bora resort and Thalasso Spa - just one of many possibilities.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nRead on for more details and how to enter.", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/56\/Six-Senses-Kaplankaya.jpg", 
		"post_content_type": "page", 
		"post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/hotels\/ihg\/ihg-launches-dept-of-epic\/", 
		"post_date": "2021-06-23 08:30:00"
	}, 
	{
		"post_id": "31", 
		"post_category_id": "2", 
		"post_title": "Reports of Accor casting eyes over IHG", 
		"post_content_short": "There was an article in Le Figaro (later syndicated through Reuters) saying that Accor was looking closely at IHG with a view to takeover\r\n\tor merger. &nbsp;How would that look ? &nbsp;Where are the overlaps? &nbsp;What might it mean for the respective programs of Accor Live\r\n\tLimitless and IHG Rewards Club?", 
		"post_icon": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/media\/website_posts\/31\/Depositphotos_7602337_s-2019.jpg", 
		"post_content_type": "page", 
		"post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.pointsnplaces.com\/news-views-and-faqs\/hotels\/accor\/accor-ihg-together\/", 
		"post_date": "2020-08-22 00:39:00"
	}
]