Inan industrial park near Seattle’s airport, an Australian company called Micro-X is developing a system that could make air travelers’ dreams come true: speedy security screening that promises minimal interaction with TSA officers.
25.08.2023 - 14:09 / skift.com / Leslie Barrie
Few stories are more romantic than Romeo and Juliet, and few places embody the tragic love story more than the courtyard with Juliet’s balcony.
So when Michael Corteletti, a restaurateur in the Italian town of Verona, got a knock on his office door in the summer of 2021 from a friend who was looking to lease his family’s old home — which just so happened to overlook the iconic balcony — Corteletti jumped at the opportunity.
In less than a year, he created the 16-room boutique hotel Balcone di Giulietta, which opened in spring 2022 and is in one of the world’s most romantic courtyards.
“Like many great things in life, it happened by chance and friendship,” said Corteletti.
It was a gamble for Corteletti, considering most of his experience is rooted in food. He owns four restaurants, a bar that also is an event space, and an ice cream shop in Verona — plus two pizzerias he inherited from his father. Corteletti saw the property and spotted its challenges.
“The building is not made to be a traditional hotel,” Corteletti said. “There is no lobby, no kitchen, no real breakfast room.”
Instead, Balcone di Giulietta was originally a multigenerational home built in the seventeenth century and filled with different units.
While most people looking to open a hotel may see that as a disadvantage, Corteletti saw it as an asset in an era where travelers increasingly seek experiential, locally flavorful trips.
“This was the right property for a foodie, rather than a hotelier,” Corteletti said. “I say it has everything I need.”
Corteletti calls Balcone di Giulietta a “network hotel.” The idea: The hotel offers a luxurious place to sleep and immediately encourages you to step out and enjoy the cultural, artistic, and gastronomic scenes outside.
Everything else, like service, support, food, and events, is delivered by Corteletti’s restaurants — all within a short walk.
That dynamic brings frequent traffic to Corteletti’s built-in network of restaurants under the group label Food Democracy. But it also gives guests a sought-after, live-like-local vibe.
“Wake up, step out on your own balcony with coffee, and look at the balcony,” said Corteletti. “Or in the evening, sip a glass of Spumante and enjoy the view.”
When the gates to Juliet’s courtyard close to visitors, only the hotel’s guests remain, and they can book an aperitivo to admire it.
To fit the “network hotel” concept, guests find that every amenity in their room is free, whether it’s the basics like water and soda or the finer things, like a proper-sized bottle of Spumante — no mini bottles here. There’s also coffee from a local roaster for an espresso fix.
“As the restaurant guy, when I stay at other hotels, I always ask why I have to pay for the mini-bar?”
Inan industrial park near Seattle’s airport, an Australian company called Micro-X is developing a system that could make air travelers’ dreams come true: speedy security screening that promises minimal interaction with TSA officers.
In November 2016, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck and ravaged the region around the town of Kaikoura on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island. The earthquake and the ensuing landslides killed two people, and demolished homes, roads, and railway tracks. Indeed, parts of the Main North Line, one of the most scenic rail routes in the world, slid into the ocean, forcing the Coastal Pacific train to stop its operation. In 2018, the line was repaired and the magnificent train journey between Christchurch and Picton resumed. Today, the Coastal Pacific still runs along the Pacific Ocean, allowing travelers to see New Zealand’s beauty, the slow and comfortable way.
Park Hyatt New York has unveiled a new art installation from local contemporary abstract artist and hotel bellman for nine years, Jeffrey Okyere-Agyei.
Welcome to the vibrant and captivating city of New Orleans, where a melange of cultural flavors converge. In a city where there are a myriad of dining options, choosing where to go can become overwhelming. So, set forth on this delectable journey that I’ve verified and immerse yourself in the culinary delights that await in the heart of this enchanting city:
If you prefer ski holidays to beach breaks, get ready to hop aboard the Eurostar Snow train.
New York City’s short-term rental regulations could slash up to 70% of Airbnb’s 23,000 active listings in the city after September 5. Experts are divided on how the move might affect hotels, and their forecasts are foggy. Yet the analyses reveal interesting details about this critical lodging market regardless.
Grand Canyon National Park draws 4.7 million visitors a year to the northwest corner of Arizona to hike, camp, or watch wildlife. But most of them don’t realize that the lands within and surrounding the park are sacred to the region’s 12 Indigenous tribes, which include the Havasupai, Hopi, Navajo, and several bands of Paiute.
Acadia National Park stretches over a rocky and mountainous coastal landscape of the Maine coast. The park has a wild beauty reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest and is home to an extensive network of hiking trails (120 miles, in fact) and its 30 lakes are prime fishing, biking, and boating spots. Mount Desert Island, where the majority of the park is located, has a quintessentially New England atmosphere, with charming fishing villages, bustling lobster boats, and colorful buoys dotting the harbors. While there are no lodges within the boundaries, there are plenty of hotels near Acadia National Park for anyone who would prefer a comfortable bed after a day of adventuring.
Hyatt Hotel Corp. said on Tuesday it would acquire Dream Hotel Group’s lifestyle hotel brands, including Dream Hotels, The Chatwal Hotels, and Unscripted Hotels.
The Portrait Milano debuts December 1 in the heart of Milan’s fashion district. The location makes sense, given that the 73-room property belongs to the Lungarno Collection — a group of Italian boutique hotels founded by the family of Italian loafer king, Salvatore Ferragamo.
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Hotel company Sonesta said on Tuesday it would launch a new brand, Sonesta Essential, and offer a just-added brand, The James, to developers.