Experience tips

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the hospitality sector marks a significant shift in how hotels deliver customer service. In an industry where personalized experience is key, AI offers a myriad of opportunities to enhance guest satisfaction and streamline operations. Let’s explore the various ways hotels are utilizing AI to improve the customer experience, with real-world examples, and speculates on future AI applications in this space.

“They say you can hear the northern lights crackle. Even after years of living amongst them, I’ve only heard it once,” says Dave Daley, a long-distance dog sledder and Métis tour guide based in Churchill, Canada. He was 250 miles north of home when it happened, crossing the Hudson Bay as his dogs stopped to look at the display, spanning shades of pink, green, and white. “The lights made a wall in front of us, and for 10 minutes we were in a trance. Why did they appear at this moment? It was my ancestors making sure I got to my destination safely.”

To mark St David’s Day, welsh-based rail tour specialist Ffestiniog Travel has announced a second Snowdonian Steam Special weekend break in September 2024. The highlight will be a journey on the aptly named Snowdonian train on an 80-mile trip through North Wales’ spectacular Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park.

132-day Grand World Voyage on Volendam will call 47 ports in 39 countries.

Running from Sorrento southwards to Salerno, the Amalfi Coast is a jagged rollercoaster of citrus groves edged by cobalt-blue sea.

On night three of a reporting trip in Las Vegas, wearing a fur coat, plastic lei, and four-inch heels during Super Bowl weekend, I unexpectedly found myself watching U2 at the Sphere.

The Olivier Award winning new production of Cabaret, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, a transfer from London's West End, is projected to be one of the hottest shows on Broadway when it opens in April. What that means: getting tickets is not going to be easy but one of the best ways to achieve that could be through the Broadway VIP Experience also launching that month at the Mandarin Oriental, New York. With a two night stay, this promotion includes two prime orchestra seats, a meet and greet with a starring cast member at the MO Lounge and a special gift from the show to take home.

Hotels can be great — especially when you snag a great deal on points and can get perks like free breakfast thanks to your status with the brand.

You don’t need to head to obscure, hard-to-reach parts of Italy to heed some of today’s most popular travel mantras, like “escape the crowds!”and “beat the heat!” Here are five gorgeous destinations close to (and even in) the country’s most sought-after spots that can help you do a bit of both. All are right on the water—almost a requirement for summer vacations now, when warm-weather months bring new, record-setting hot spells throughout Europe.

At Amsterdam Schiphol Airport oneworld has inaugurated the second alliance lounge worldwide. Aspire Executive Lounges, the lounge business of Swissport, is responsible for the daily operation of the lounge. In addition to the oneworld lounge, Aspire Executive Lounges is opening its own new lounge at Schiphol Airport. The two new lounges share a kitchen to increase efficiency in service delivery in the daily operation.

The Emirates A380 has returned to Vienna again after a break of nearly four years and carrying more than 400 passengers to the Austrian capital. Emirates has become the only air carrier to operate the double-decker at Vienna International Airport, a significant milestone in the history of the partnership between the two entities.

From enjoying a spectacular pink-orange sunrise over snow-covered mountains to taking part in an exhilarating snowscooter tour before the thrill of a mesmerizing northern lights display overhead, winter cruises in Norway are unique from any other kind of cruising.

As a born-and-raised Oahu local, I've spent a lot of time getting to know the ins and outs of the beautiful Hawaiian island.

Northern India’s state of Rajasthan is the largest Indian state by area (and the seventh largest by population), covering 132,139 square miles — translating to roughly 10% of India’s total geographical area. The city is known for its tourist attractions like hill forts and palaces, having garnered the nickname “royal state of India” for its royal history. Here’s where to stay in this historic city.

Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore, is the capital of India’s southern Karnataka state and the epicenter of India’s high-tech industry. The city is also known for its green spaces and vibrant nightlife. There are numerous attractions, from historical landmarks to modern experiences, like the Lalbagh Botanical Garden, the Bengaluru Palace, and the ISKCON temple Bangalore. The city is also known as a great place to shop, home to numerous malls and markets.

The San Francisco International Airport (SFO), which launched its “Quiet Airport” program in 2018 to reduce terminal noise, announced the debut of a Silent Disco, in which passengers are invited to dance along to San Francisco-themed music using their own headphones. Dubbed “San Fran-disco”, the silent dance party will run from February 14 – March 15, 2024 in the post-security area of Harvey Milk Terminal 1.

Chicago, voted number one ‘Big City in the US’ by Conde Nast Traveler and third ‘top city outside of Europe’ by Which!, offers the world’s top-rated hotels and the best B&Bs, high-end spas, world-class cuisine, swanky bars, architecture, art, music, and of course shopping.

Have you ever flown to your destination and then had to wait in line for a taxi to take you to your hotel? Or, have you foregone a private ride for a hotel shuttle or shared transportation service with a dozen other people only to find yourself making multiple stops before reaching your accommodations?

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jaclyn Sienna India, the founder and CEO of Sienna Charles based in Beverly Hills. It has been edited for length and clarity.

If you’re on the lookout for a truly sustainable safari experiences that combines animal welfare with an unforgettable, immersive travel experience, then check out the tours offered by InsideAsia Tours and InsideJapan Tours.

Taking up a small piece of real estate only 7 miles wide and 7 miles long, space in San Francisco is at a premium which is partly why it is expensive to live here – and to visit. However, it is still possible to explore some of the best things San Francisco offers at no cost.