Miscellaneous

💫 Francesco Ragazzi, founder of Réservation Parfums, collaborates with Yann Vasnier to craft seven luxury unisex perfumes inspired by an imaginary California hotel. Key scents include Suite 909 and Bleu Piscine. The brand, backed by Pietro Ruffini, blends European refinement with Californian style. Réservation's story-first approach stands out in a saturated market, emphasizing culture, emotion, and imagination over mere trends, echoing Ragazzi's fashion experience from Moncler and Palm Angels.

🍴 Glenn Haussman interviews Bonnie Campagnolo, Global Head of Embassy Suites, at Asheville's Embassy Suites rooftop. The Michelin-recommended restaurant operates seven nights a week, attracting diners. The property features two-room suites, breakfast, and an evening reception with meeting space.

🏨 In 2026, HotelTechReport surveyed 450 hotel operators revealing that 48% would switch PMS vendors due to reliability issues, while 42% cited cybersecurity concerns. The study highlights the critical role of PMS in hotel operations.

🏢 In 1979, Berlin's ICC, designed by Ralf and Ursulina Schüler-Witte, was completed. The building features auditoriums seating 5,000 and 2,000 people, plus 80 smaller spaces. Operating until 2014, it was deemed inefficient. In 2022, architects proposed 24/7 cultural use. By 2024, a competition sought redevelopment ideas. Nine architectural firms, led by Max Dudler, aim to revitalize the structure over 2.5 years. Proposals include bike paths, high-rises, and flexible spaces for concerts and exhibitions.

🎧 Vapoura launched its "After Stories" series, debuting with The Mandrake in London. The series includes a six-track vinyl EP and a bespoke cocktail menu at Waeska Bar and YOPO Zaytoun. Producers CARALUS and Daniel Sehnawi created tracks inspired by the hotel's spaces. The EP is available online, and limited vinyl copies cost £25, or £110 with two bottles of Vapoura. Cocktails feature Vapoura Chapter One, available through summer, with the vinyl produced by The Vinyl Factory.

🏨 Radisson Hotel Group launched a new long-stay proposition for B2B partners, offering tiered pricing and standardized booking conditions. This initiative targets EMEA and APAC markets with high long-stay demand, such as Dubai, Riyadh, Zurich, and Amsterdam. Partners receive an extra 20% points bonus on bookings. The initiative aims to simplify access, optimize revenue, and strengthen partner relationships through commercial terms and personalized guest experiences.

🏨 Chateau Denmark in Soho will close on 4 August 2026, after operating for over four years since its April 2022 opening. The boutique hotel, comprising 16 buildings with 55 rooms and apartments, was launched by CAW Ventures in partnership with Outernet London. Despite the closure, the award-winning club, Thirteen, and private bar, dial8, both opened in 2023, will continue to operate, ensuring the spirit of Chateau Denmark lives on.

✈ In December 2024, NDC transactions made up 20.3% of all ARC-reported transactions, marking an increase from 18.4% the previous year. Despite expectations, NDC has not yet replaced GDS bookings. The Airlines Reporting Corporation provides this insight, reflecting the U.S. travel agency market's current state. The post, “Global Distribution System (GDS): 2026 Guide for Hotels,” was featured on RateGain.

🏠 Staempfli House, located in Cadaqués, Spain's Costa Brava, is on the market for €9,500,000 via Sotheby’s International Realty. Built in 1958 for Swiss art dealer George Staempfli, the house was redesigned by architects Peter Harnden and Lanfranco Bombelli. It served as a retreat and art space for artists Dalí, Duchamp, and others. This mid-century home blends traditional tiles with modern features, maintaining its artistic legacy. Staempfli's gallery in New York operated until 1988.

✈️ Christian Nolle is an aviation-focused maker and editor of *Direction of Travel*. He tested Heathrow's Terminal 5 before it opened and collects route maps. In a podcast episode, Christian discusses his projects, including *Tickets to Everywhere* and his latest reveal, *Airline Atlas*, which caused a one-week delay in the episode's release. The discussion covers historical airline influences and his discovery of abandoned Olympic Airways aircraft at Ellinikon, the former Athens airport.