chiarratongol

[chiarratongol]

INNOVATION - SMART HOTEL

Smart Hotel is a concept that revolves around technology. Looking into our technology nowadays, everything can be turned into 'smart', meaning accessing and controlling everything with the use of the internet. It is one of the innovative in the hospitality industry. There are a lot of ways on how to make a hotel smarter such as having a self-regulated temperature beds, turning on and off the lights with the use of your smartphones and closing or opening the blinds/curtains with one tap. Technology is setting a high standard of expectation for everyone and everything. We use it everywhere and using it is now part of our everyday routine.

Smart hotels are all around the world and one of them is Kubic Hotel in Athens, Greece. They are giving their clients a digital hotel experience. The hotel is designed and built in the heart of the city of Athens. It is a perfect place to relax with a high-speed internet and a handful of amenities. All their rooms have a Samsung in-room tablet that has all the information you need about the hotel services and all the controls in your room. You can adjust the light, turn on or off the air conditioner or fan and it serves as a regular remote for your television. It is a 4-star hotel that has everything you need. They have a business center, pool, bar and a gym. They also have an interactive app that is available for download to your smartphone. This is to give an easy access to the hotel’s information, offers and services. Giving access to controlling your room is convenient and a high-class idea to make a hotel stand out. Although there are plenty of hotels that do this, it is always better to keep up with the trend.

In my personal opinion, smart hotels are smart idea. We check in to hotels to relax and be comfortable. I think being able to control things inside your room is helpful especially when you're tired and just want to lay down to bed. You don't have the energy to close the blinds or lights but you can still do those things with the help of a device and with just one click. Some hotels also offer an easy way to check-in and check-out. They have their app where you can find all the information. This app, of course, has to be connected to the internet to access. Some also have their robots that will give assistance and services. It is an out of the box way of thinking. It is always nice to experience new and not ordinary things. This concept will surely gives you a luxurious time. Technology is setting the bars high to the point that there are things that are done in a way we never expected. I recommend checking in one of the smart hotels around the globe to everyone and myself. It can be expensive but it is all going to be worth it. I will for sure add this on my bucket list.

Sources:

https://www.kubichotel.gr/about-kubic-athens-hotel/#2

https://www.revfine.com/smart-hotel/

Word count: 507

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RESTAURANT TREND/CONCEPT: FINE-CASUAL DINING

There are different kinds of restaurants, you can go to a particular type depends on your mood. We go to restaurants to experience a variety of food. Nowadays, you can encounter several restaurants that are from other countries. Going into an eatery that offers food that is not as usual as what you're used to is like taking a first step of getting to know a different culture.

Today, there are emerging trends that apply to restaurants. One of these trends is 'fine casual dining' or 'fast dine'. This is a popular trend, because the concept is combining two types of restaurants and turning it into one. Imagine having a fine dining quality of food but serving it as quick as fast food. It is a convenient, fast and new type of dining. As I'm searching about this trend, Christian Anderson, a fine-casual restaurant owner said, “The trend is growing because the demand for quality food quickly is growing. We are eating out more, but don't necessarily have the time for a full-service meal. We don't want the quality of the food to decrease, but we do want our dining experience to be quicker sometimes,” This means that people nowadays don't have the patience to wait, they want to eat what they ordered right away. The first thing we want to know when eating out is if the food, the ambiance and the service is good. No one wants to wait for a long time for their food to come. I understand that it can be worth the wait but what if you don't have the time? Do you have to wait to get the quality of food you're looking for? That is why sometimes people just choose to eat in a fast-food chain where you can have a quick service. This concept is a mixture of both. It can be a bit expensive but if it means less time and good quality of food, its all worth it.

In my personal opinion, being in a restaurant with a casual atmosphere but fine-dining experience is such a concept. I can tell why it is one of the emerging and growing trends. I've been in one of these restaurants which is called Fable Kitchen, it has great service, the food is served fresh and priced reasonably. Some people don't have the time and money to eat in a fine-dining restaurant. We all know that eating in a fine-dining is luxurious and everyone is dressed up and looks presentable. But nothing beats eating a well-presented food while being casual and comfortable.

Sources:

https://table.skift.com/2018/01/22/restaurant-megatrends-2018-fine-casual-is-the-new-fast-casual/

https://www.smartbrief.com/original/2018/03/rise-fine-casual-dining

Word count: 433

[chiarratongol]

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES 

I was born and raised in the Philippines. Growing up, I was taught and been very familiar with the cultures we own. And although I migrated here, the Filipino culture is still within me.

Living in a country that is way different from what I used to is a big adjustment for me. Canada is a very diverse country. It has almost every ethnicity there is in the world. Because of that, seeing other races and hearing different kinds of languages gives me culture shock. So far, I have noticed some cultural differences between Filipino and Canadian culture. Here in the West, we have to call people by their first name even if they are older than you, which makes me feel uncomfortable. In the Philippines, we have to call them in a certain way depends on your age gap. It is a way to show respect and politeness.

Moreover, the main difference I noticed is how different Canada celebrate Christmas and Halloween. Christmas is a significant event for Filipinos. We start decorating, putting the Christmas tree up and listening to Christmas songs as early as September. Christmas holidays in the Philippines is full of love and traditions. We stay late at night, waiting for the clock tick at midnight to greet everyone a Merry Christmas. Then we prepare festive meals that our family can enjoy. Based on my observation, people here spend their Christmas holidays going out of the country. If not, they will stay at home enjoying a meal or exchanging gifts. When you go outside your house at Christmas in the Philippines, you will see a lot of people wearing their fanciest clothes and playing games. But because of the weather here in Canada, people are inside their homes warming themselves up but still celebrating. Living here, that is a change for me. I got used to reveling, hearing loud music and people talking. On the other hand, experiencing White Christmas is something different and magical for me.

Another cultural difference that is different from what I grew up to is Halloween. Filipinos also dress up and have trick or treat but most importantly, it is a day of remembering our loved ones who passed away. We call this All Souls Day. We spend the night in our local cemeteries or memorial parks. It is a tradition to light candles in front of the grave of the dead. If Halloween here is all about dressing up like your favourite character, carving pumpkins and giving candies and chocolates. In the Philippines, we're up to fragrant flowers, colourful candles, and thoughtful prayers.

I chose to differentiate Canadian and Filipino culture because I'm a Filipina living in Canada. Although I have a Filipino culture, I can't entirely apply and do them here. It is not the right place, it is not the Philippines. I'm now learning and slowly adapting to Canadian culture. Being familiar with a culture that will be a part of you for the rest of your life is very important. Differentiating these cultures make me realize how dissimilar they are and how intricate one culture can be.

Source:

https://www.international.gc.ca/cil-cai/country_insights-apercus_pays/ci-ic_ph.aspx?lang=eng

Word count: 520

[chiarratongol]

GEOGRAPHICAL LANDSCAPE - VESTRAHORN MOUNTAIN

There are a lot of natural geographical landscapes to choose from. Every country has at least one mountain, beach or any other landscapes to share to the world.

One of the beautiful landscapes we have is Vestrahorn Mountain, it is surrounded by another two mountains which are Eystrahorn and Brunnhorn. They are famous for their sharp high peaks and horn-shaped form that is why this summit is sometimes called the 'Batman Mountain'. It is located on the South-East coast of Iceland. It is 454 meters high and made of unstratified gabbro and granophyre rocks.

Tourists that visited Iceland never forget to stop and take a look at the mountain. This is because it is not just a mountain, there is a black sand beach in front of it called 'Stokknes beach'. There are also accommodations available if you want to stay for a day or two to get around the mountain. You can walk around, enjoy the scenery and of course, take a lot of pictures. Outdoor activities like hiking is not very attainable because of the mountain's steep slopes. It is more of a walk by the beach and pose for photos to post on Instagram or other social media sites. You can see the reflection of the mountain in the beach's water which is very attractive to look at.

The thing that appeals to me the most is, we all know that Iceland is also known for its aurora borealis or northern lights. As a person who badly wants to see and experience aurora borealis, Vestrahorn mountain is a perfect choice and ideal spot. Also, I love photography. As I've seen pictures of this mountain, I can tell why it is one of the most photographed landscapes in the world.

In my personal opinion, this mountain is a must-visit destination especially for the people who are into photography. The combination of the beach and the mountain makes it a very perfect tourist destination and subject for photography. The breath-taking view and natural beauty captures lots of hearts. I will for sure add this on my bucket list and visit it in the future to experience the beauty it has to offer.

Source:

https://www.zigzagonearth.com/vestrahorn-iceland-stokksnes/

Word count: 367

[chiarratongol]

TOURISM TREND

BLEISURE TRAVEL - BLEND OF BUSINESS AND LEISURE TRAVEL

Bleisure travel is one of the known tourism trends today especially in business travel. People in the business world mainly millennials go out for a business trip to attend conferences or meetings outside the country or their usual environment. After they are done with everything, they will extend their stay for few days or weeks for leisure.

I can see why this is one of the emerging tourism trends. It is a smart way to balance work and life. Although, it really depends where you are going. As Jeanne Liu of the Global Business Travel Association said in an article I read, “It’s opportunistic: it depends if you’re going to a place you like and that you want to spend time in.” But in my opinion, there is always something you can do in a destination, they will always have something to offer.

Mixing business and leisure means making your trip more fun and less stressful. It is like turning a business trip into a mini vacation. Visiting attractions, trying out new food and relaxing after a business matter is such a nice way to take a break from reality.

As a person who has a passion not just in travelling but also in business, bleisure is for sure a must for me. I must try this trend in the future. Personally, if I were in a business trip somewhere, I wouldn’t want to miss the chance to go for a stroll and try new things. Even if I travelled for business purposes, I will be taking advantage of the fact that I’m already in a different destination or place, it is a chance to unwind and step out of the real world for a moment after getting stressed out of work. It is honestly like hitting two birds in one stone. You finished your work, attended all the meetings and had fun at the same time.

Sources:

http://www.bbc.com/storyworks/capital/bleisure-bound/bleisure-travel-trend

Word count: 327