GLOBETROTTER
NEW HOTEL TREND
BIG CHAINS Hilton and Marriott are among the hospitality monoliths re-imagining their offering for the so-called Millennial generation – those
born between 1980 and 1999. You won’t find the familar logos that have dominated city skylines for decades on these new properties – each trades
under a separate name picked to appeal to a younger market. Hilton’s budget brand Tru is still in development but promises playful lobbies, build
your own breakfasts and rooms with platform beds (trubyhilton.com). Shangri-La’s Hotel Jen already has 10 properties across the Asia Pacific
region (1, the pool at Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour, Johor; hoteljen.com), while Marriott’s price-conscious Hotel Moxy is focused on US and European
cities, with eye-catching designs and fun tech such as photobooth elevators (2 & 3, Moxy Milan Malpensa; moxy-hotels.marriott.com). Taj Hotels’
Vivanta offers high-style in locations with easy access to adventure, from private dining in Kerala (4) to swimming over coral reefs in the Maldives
(5; vivanta.tajhotels.com).THE PILOT
Those who’ve struggled
to make themselves
understood abroad (i.e.
everyone) will welcome
Waverly Labs’ translating
earpieces. They use an app
to allow two users speaking
different languages to
converse in real time
(available for pre-order
US$183; waverlylabs.com).SNEAKAIRS
EasyJet has developed a
prototype ‘smart shoe’ that
uses smartphones’ GPS to
navigate cities and direct
wearers to turn left or right
with small vibrating sensors.
The airline hopes to sell the
shoes onboard. Preferring not
to be guided by our footwear
on our city breaks, we’ll be
giving these sneakers a miss. PHOTOGRAPHS: JAIDEEP OBEROI, KIRKLANDPHOTOS/GETTY IMAGESprot
us
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wea
with
The
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givinLOVE
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