Starwood's SH Hotels Looks for Developers Aligned on Luxury and Sustainability

The first time I traveled for two weeks with a backpack, it was the lightest I'd ever packed for the longest trip I'd ever taken. I had everything I needed, but I was surprised to find that I could have packed even lighter. 

Birch Selsdon, once an historic estate and golf course, covering 200 acres on the outskirts of London, is now a hip new hotel, a much anticipated followup to sister property Birch Cheshunt, which opened three years ago. It’s a great blend of classic and contemporary elements, providing a serene retreat, surrounded by natural beauty. Like the Cheshunt hotel, this peaceful escape from the city's hustle and bustle is a short drive or train journey from London but feels like the middle of the countryside once you arrive.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Alan McKenna, the founder of Loch Ness Exploration, which recently undertook a major watch event searching for the fabled monster. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Whether you are a first-time visitor to Tokyo or know the city well, there are plenty of surprises waiting on the capital’s doorstep. The temples and shrines of Nikkō and Kamakura offer a window into Japanese history, while Mt Takao, Hakone, and Izu Oshima Island provide a natural contrast to Tokyo’s crowded, urban heart.

Iceland is known for its otherworldly landscapes and incredible phenomena like the midnight sun and northern lights. Ahead of my visit there this summer, I wanted to know how to capture the best photos with just my iPhone 13 Mini's camera.

The city of Oxford revolves around its university, England’s most prestigious alongside Cambridge. Because teaching started in the city in the 11th century, Oxford is filled with historic colleges, many hundreds of years old, and all incredibly beautiful in their architecture. Visitors to the city can walk the cobblestone streets that weave around the colleges, libraries, churches, and museums, and even take tours of the colleges’ lecture halls, chapels, and dining halls. But a day trip isn’t enough to get a good feel for Oxford. Even if the city is only 50 minutes away by train from London, you need to stay in a hotel in Oxford, England, for and take the time to fully explore this one-of-a-kind city.

Standard International, the hotel company behind The Standard Hotels and The Peri Hotel — and a majority owner of Bunkhouse House Group — is taking on a lot these days to meet CEO Amber Asher‘s aggressive expansion plans.

Choice Hotels‘ recent acquisition of Radisson’s Americas business looks like a post-pandemic statement of intent. The $675 million deal will help shift the company’s portfolio mix upmarket.

Sam Gilliland, who was the CEO of Sabre Corporation for 10 years, is taking the top role at Accelya.

As high electricity bills have closed most hotels along Croatia’s Adriatic coast ahead of the winter season, the mayor of the Dalmatian port town of Makarska is making plans to make it energy-sustainable by turning to solar energy sources.

India is making a PCR Covid test mandatory for inbound arrivals from China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, and South Korea, from January 1.

Las Vegas Sands is pursuing a multi-billion flagship casino, entertainment and hospitality development following its agreement to purchase a long-term lease over the home to the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, opened in 1972 on Long Island in New York. This would be the company’s first entertainment project in the U.S. since it sold its Las Vegas properties last year.