Airbnb to limit bookings by people under 25 in Canada

OTTAWA — People under 25 will no longer be able to rent local listings for entire homes on Airbnb in Canada, the company announced Wednesday after a fatal shooting at a Toronto apartment booked through the website.

The restriction will apply only to homes young Airbnb users attempt to rent within the communities where they already live. 

Guests under 25 years will still be able to book a private room within a host's primary residence, and could be exempted from the prohibition if they receive positive evaluations in at least three recent stays.

The aim is to curb unauthorized use of Airbnb properties, including for "unauthorized parties," Airbnb Senior Vice President Chris Lehane told a press conference.

"We know from our research that 99.9 percent of the people on Airbnb are good people... and treat homes like their own homes," he said.

"We have a 0.3 percent incident rate across our platform when it comes to issues involving property damage and a 0.6 percent incident rate when it involves personal security issues.

"Those numbers," he said, "get higher when you're looking at... reservations made by people under 25... within the community they live in."

The pilot, if it succeeds in reducing violence and damage to properties, may be applied in other jurisdictions, he said.

It comes just days after three men aged 19, 20 and 21 were shot dead at a Toronto downtown waterfront neighborhood apartment. Two others were injured.

On January 8, an 18-year-old was also killed at an Airbnb-rented house in downtown Ottawa.

And last October, a gunman opened fire at a house party in Orinda, California that was an Airbnb rental. Four men and a woman were killed. 

Lehane also announced a 24-hour hotline for neighbors who suspect mischief at an Airbnb property, as well as a partnership with a group of Canadian doctors lobbying for stricter gun control laws.

Airbnb says that 2 million people stay at its listed homes in 100,000 cities every night.

Agence France-Presse 

‘Eat, sleep, play’: Atari plans 8 video game themed hotels

Atari, the brand known for pioneering video games like Pong, Asteroids and RollerCoaster Tycoon, is taking its business in a new direction: hotels.

In a move that underlines the popularity of esports, the demands of its growing audience and how video games are escaping the bounds of their consoles, Atari announced on Monday that it would begin construction on its first-ever video game themed hotel.

The company, which was created in 1972, promises a lodging experience that combines a one-of-a-kind video game-themed destination with immersive virtual and augmented reality experiences, according to its statement.

The idea came about when GSD Group, a company that works with so-called legacy brands, and Napoleon Smith III, an executive producer of the recent “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” films, began thinking about Atari last fall and eventually presented the company with the idea for a hotel, Shelly Murphy, the founder of GSD Group said on Tuesday.

Murphy said the plan was to create an “ecosystem” in which players could “eat, sleep and play,” though the size of the hotels would vary depending on the market and region.

Some hotel rooms will have a retro video game theme while others may have a futuristic design, she said, adding, “Our hope is that you come in and never want to leave because there’s a lot of interaction.”

Construction of the first hotel, in Phoenix, will begin this fall and is expected to be completed in 18 to 24 months, she said.

Additional hotels are planned for Las Vegas; Denver; Chicago; Austin, Texas; Seattle; San Francisco; and San Jose, California, the statement said. Some locations will have state-of-the-art venues and studios to accommodate esports events.

Both GSD Group and Smith will lead the development and design of the hotels, the statement said. Murphy said she hoped the hotels would attract both those seeking nostalgia and those competing in the esports world.

According to the 2019 Global Games Market Report, by the esports analytics firm Newzoo, there are, broadly, about 2.5 billion gamers — meaning anyone who plays on a PC, console or mobile device — across the world. The firm estimated that they would spend $152.1 billion on games in 2019, a 9.6 percent increase from the previous year. The report projected that the global games market would grow by billions of dollars over the next few years, rising to nearly $200 billion by 2022.

Atari’s move into hospitality follows a trend to build larger venues to accommodate esports’ growing audiences. In 2018, the Esports Stadium Arlington opened the largest dedicated esports facility in North America, a 100,000-square-foot space in Texas with a broadcast studio and an 85-foot-long LED wall. Construction is also underway for a $50 million, 3,500-seat esports arena in Philadelphia, and venues like the Barclays Center in Brooklyn have sold tens of thousands of tickets for esports competitions held there.

It’s evident these spaces are in demand. Last July, more than 19,000 people attended the three-day Fortnite World Cup at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, according to the video game’s maker, Epic Games. Prize values have mounted with the events’ popularity: Kyle Giersdorf, who plays as “Bugha,” won the event and a $3 million prize.

Harrison Chang, who plays as “Psalm” and placed second in the competition, said the idea of an Atari hotel was “pretty cool” and he’s glad that the brand is “trying to take esports to a more mainstream space.”

Beyond large-scale gaming events, the popularity of immersive video game settings is also on the rise. This summer, a life-size Super Nintendo World will open at Universal Studios Japan, and there are plans to bring the concept to the United States.


2020 The New York Times Company

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Dimsum class, wheel of fortune: 2 ways to welcome Year of the Rat

MANILA -- Dimsum and luck have always been a part of Chinese New Year traditions. Welcome the Year of the Metal Rat by learning how to make dimsum from a master chef, or spinning a wheel of fortune for a chance for amazing prizes.

SHANGRI-LA AT THE FORT

Canton Road at Shangri-La at the Fort is offering dimsum classes for groups of 10 guests. Let chef Wang Wei Qing guide you through this unique family bonding or team-building exercise where all the ingredients are provided for you to make your own lotus or salted egg filled buns.

The dimsum are then steamed and served with a special menu for 10 with special dishes such as these Minced Peking Duck with mushroom, celery black truffle balls in tofu skin wrapper with abalone sauce and broccoli.

The dimsum class with the special menu for 10 is priced at 28,888 nett. Slots are available on January 21, 2020. For reservations or requests for additional schedules, please email cantonroad@shangri-la.com.

NEW WORLD MAKATI HOTEL

Over at the New World Makati Hotel, guests who avail of the Chinese New Year room package or dine at Jasmine, the hotel’s Chinese restaurant with a minimum single spend of P10,0000 on Chinese New Year weekend (January 24 and 25), are entitled to try their luck by spinning their wheel of fortune. Landing on the metal rat wins lucky guests an all-expense paid overnight stay at the hotel.

Jasmine is also offering Chinese New Year-only set menus at Jasmine made by veteran Chinese executive chef Wong Kam On including the traditional Yu Sheng with salmon meant to be tossed as high as possible over the dining table with chopsticks to usher in luck for the year. Set menus start at P12,888 nett.

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Fall of Thomas Cook creates 'tsunami' of losses for tourist resorts

The Mediterranean's leading tourist hotspots were bracing Tuesday for a "tsunami" of losses, which could amount to hundreds of millions of euros, following the devastating collapse of British tour operator Thomas Cook. 

Beyond the urgent need to repatriate hundreds of thousands of tourists, industry professionals were agonizing over the huge sum in unpaid bills. 

The British package holiday giant had established a practice of paying a hotel's bills only 90 days after the departure of the guest, raising the question of the huge sums racked up over the busy summer period, several hotel sources said.

In Spain, where the company operated 55 hotels -- the highest number in any country -- the debt could reach as high as 200 million euros ($220 million), the Exceltur tourist association said. 

And Italy's Confindustria Alberghi, one of the organisations representing the hotel industry, said the collapse of Thomas Cook could have a "very heavy" impact on the tourism sector.

Fellow industry body Federalberghi, which represents the sector, said many businesses would suffer "serious consequences". 

"Within just a few hours, we have been contacted by many hotels telling us that the British tour operator owes them tens of thousands of euros, and sometimes hundreds of thousands," said its president Bernabo Bocca.

In Tunisia, the hotel federation said the collapse of Thomas Cook had left it with "65 to 70 million euros" in unpaid bills. 

Even in Bulgaria, where the operator brought up to 400,000 visitors every year, hoteliers at Sunny Beach, the biggest resort on the Black Sea, said they were expecting to see "bankruptcies" and losses amounting to 36 million euros.

Legal action looms

Faced with huge financial losses, which several industry figures referred to as a "tsunami", Italy's Federalberghi said it had made contact with counterparts across Europe to coordinate legal action. 

In Spain, Thomas Cook was the second biggest tour operator, bringing in 7.3 million tourists in 2018 -- around nine percent of the total visitors, according to an AFP calculation based on figures from national airport operator AENA. 

In the Canary Islands, one in four holidaymakers were flown in by the package holiday specialist, the local hotel federation said. 

And in Greece, where tourism accounts for 27 percent of GDP, Thomas Cook brought in 8.5 percent of the overall visitors last year, Greek press reports said, while in Tunisia, five percent of tourists came via the firm. 

Most industry experts were extremely concerned about the fallout, with Crete facing a loss of up 100,000 reservations between now and November. 

"The collapse of Thomas Cook is having a domino effect on suppliers, tourist buses, car hire companies, etc," said Michalis Vlatakis, who heads Crete's tourist agencies association.

"We need time to have a clearer picture of the damage that has been caused."

Individual businesses also had their own concerns. 

"We'll have trouble next year.. especially (if we lose) customers that are German, Swedish and British because that's the wealthiest customers that we have," said Althea Scaramucci, who runs a juice bar in Majorca's capital Palma. 

Carrier shortage in Canaries

In many countries, hoteliers have already turned to their respective governments for help, with Turkey -- where Thomas Cook accounts for some three percent of tourists -- mooting a package of support of up to 50 million euros. 

In Greece and Spain, hotel industry representatives were on Tuesday holding urgent meetings with government representatives.

The impact on Spain's Canary islands could be even more devastating than elsewhere as the resort is very popular as a winter destination among tourists from northern Europe. 

RyanAir is one of the few carriers that flies there but the budget airline is currently planning to close four of its bases in Spain, three of which are in the Canaries. 

Efforts are now under way to convince Madrid to pressure RyanAir to keep these bases open, to ensure the accessibility of the resort in the longer term.

In Morocco, where Thomas Cook accounted for some 100,000 holidaymakers out of an overall total of 12 million, the outlook appeared less severe.

"The impact will be manageable," Lamia Boutaleb, the secretary of state for tourism, told AFP. - Daniel Silva with Emmanuelle Michel in Madrid and AFP bureaux in Europe

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Hong Kong visitors plunge, hotels half-full as protests take toll

HONG KONG - Hong Kong visitor arrivals plunged nearly 40 percent in August from a year earlier, deepening from July's 5 percent fall, the finance secretary said as sometimes violent anti-government protests take a rising toll on the city's tourism, retail and hotel businesses.

Hotels in some locations had seen occupancy rates drop to about half, while room rates plunged 40 to 70 percent, Paul Chan said, citing industry sources.

"The most worrying thing is that it does not seem that the road ahead is easily going to turn any better," Chan said in his blog on Sunday.

July tourist arrivals fell 4.8 percent on the year, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the first annual decline since January 2018 and the biggest percentage drop since August 2016.

Retail sales in July sank by the most since February 2016 amid the anti-government protests that have gripped the Chinese-ruled city for more than three months.

Chan said the social unrest had severely damaged the image of Hong Kong as a safe international city and a hub for trade, aviation and finance.

On Monday, hundreds of uniformed school students formed human chains in districts across Hong Kong in support of anti-government protesters after another weekend of clashes in the Chinese-ruled city. Metro stations that had closed on Sunday amid confrontations reopened.

Chan said that repeated violent conflicts, the blocking of roads, underground railways and the airport had obstructed people from going to work and school and led to the cancellation or rescheduling of "many" international conferences and exhibitions.

Total export fell 5.7 percent year on year in July, while re-export value to the United States from China via Hong Kong declined 15.2 percent from a year earlier, he said.

Global credit rating agency Fitch Ratings on Friday downgraded Hong Kong's long-term foreign currency issuer default rating to "AA" from "AA+", and said it expects public discontent will likely persist.

"Fitch's view is purely speculative, lacking justification," Chan said.

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Singapore hotels see best month in years amid Hong Kong turmoil

SINGAPORE - Singapore's hotel occupancy rates have climbed to their highest in over a decade as travellers and business events switched from Hong Kong, where pro-democracy protests have slammed tourist numbers and wider business sentiment.

Data released on Monday by Singapore's tourism board showed average occupancy rates in the city-state's hotels hit 93.8 percent in July, the highest in records going back to 2005, and up from 92.5 percent a year ago.

The data also showed the highest revenue per room in almost 4 years, a trend analysts and hoteliers said was helped by conferences switching from rival business hub Hong Kong as protests that started in mid-June turned increasingly violent.

"Singapore may benefit twice as much from the Hong Kong fallout as both these destinations share similar traits," said Derek Tan, an analyst at Singapore's biggest bank DBS, citing businesses switching conference venues from Hong Kong.

The Global Wellness Summit, a gathering of around 600 health and beauty industry delegates scheduled for mid-October recently said it was moving to Singapore from Hong Kong. The event's spokeswoman said this was "to ensure travel is as seamless as possible."

Marcus Hanna, general manager of Singapore hotels, Fairmont Singapore and Swissotel The Stamford, said he had a 60-strong business group last month switch from Hong Kong for a five-night stay.

Hanna said his hotels, which offer conference and meeting facilities, have received a number of inquiries from companies looking to move events out of Hong Kong amid the unrest.

Jefferies analyst Krishna Guha said events in Hong Kong would have been a factor in lifting Singapore's hospitality sector. Revenue per available room, a key performance metric for the hotel industry, rose to S$203.7 in July, its highest since October 2015, and from S$200.2 in July 2018.

He said the unrest would have weighed on tourists' summer travel plans, while other factors included tightening hotel supply in Singapore during its peak season for North Asian visitors and a weaker Singapore dollar.

In Hong Kong, the city's airport has suffered repeated disruptions due to demonstrations and hotel operators have reported lower occupancy rates and booking cancellations. Many countries such as Singapore have advised their citizens to defer non-essential travel to the former British colony.

"The outlook remains bleak for September and the rest of the year for destination Hong Kong," said Alicia Seah of travel agency Dynasty Travel, adding that inquiries and bookings have come to a "standstill" since last month's airport shutdown.

"There are now spillover effects...with both leisure and business travellers opting to travel to Singapore instead of Hong Kong." 

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Microhotels skimp on size, not on style

They appeal to senior citizens and millennials, business travelers and backpackers. And they are particularly attractive to hotel developers, who can pack in more guest rooms than in a typical hotel.

They’re known as microhotels, inspired by the Japanese capsule or pod hotels of 40 years ago that offered cheap, tiny accommodations to businessmen.

The new versions — which are most common in but not exclusive to big, expensive cities like New York, London and Paris — are designed, as one hotel expert put it, down to their last square inch. Their guest rooms are small — often half, or less, the size of a typical room in an urban hotel — with furniture that often can be folded up or stowed away, and bathrooms that usually have showers and toilets but no bathtubs. Wall-mounted TVs are also major space savers.

Their rates are substantially less than typical urban hotels’. Rates at Moxy hotels, a Marriott brand, start, for example, at $159 per night in the United States.

With décor inspired by Japanese capsule hotels and airlines’ first-class cabins, microhotels are increasingly popping up worldwide.

Henry Harteveldt, president of Atmosphere Research, a travel research company, said the process of squeezing more rooms into a hotel resembles what the airlines have been doing to increase the number of seats on an aircraft. While microhotel room rates and basic economy airfares might be relatively low, he said, the number of potential customers makes them attractive to operators.

Stephani Robson, a senior lecturer at the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, agreed that the concept of a microhotel room “is often more about meeting the needs of developers.”

Although the size of microhotel guest rooms is “minimalist,” Robson said, “it does not mean they are not comfortable or stylish. They’re very well planned, and they make optimal use of every square inch.”

Another plus for developers, said Mark Van Stekelenburg, managing director of CBRE Hotels Advisory, is that the design of microhotel guest rooms makes them cheaper to clean and maintain than larger, more traditional guest rooms.

And the microhotel concept appeals to companies like Marriott and Hilton, which recently introduced the Motto brand, because it allows them “to get more dots on the map,” said Michael Bellisario, lodging analyst for Baird. “The more properties and brands they have in all cities,” the greater potential for repeat business.

The idea of small hotel rooms arrived in the United States in 1989. The Microtel brand, introduced in Rochester, New York, served value-conscious guests by offering rooms half the size of traditional hotel rooms, with rates that were also half the cost. But industry experts do not consider Microtel, now owned by Wyndham, a microhotel brand by current standards, since its guest room sizes tend to be significantly larger than those of most newer microhotels.

Generally, microhotels today have guest rooms that range in size from about 115 to 220 square feet, depending on the number and size of beds. A typical room at an urban hotel in the United States can range from 250 to 300 square feet.

Other large hotel companies have rolled out their own brands: Introduced in 2014, Marriott’s Moxy has 44 hotels in Europe, Asia and North America today and has signed contracts for another 96. Hilton’s Motto, announced last fall, has more than a dozen projects under development in Europe, the United States and South America.

While another brand, Mama Shelter — developed by former Club Med hotel operators — considers its properties boutique hotels, its guest rooms can be as small as 118 square feet. There are currently nine Mama Shelter hotels, with 10 more under development. Accor owns 49 percent of the brand.

Hyatt acquired its own microhotel brand, Tommie, when it bought Two Roads Hospitality in October.

Among the earliest independent microhotel brands were Yotel and Pod, which opened their first hotels in 2007.

The first Yotels were at airports in London and Amsterdam, and their guest rooms were designed by a British firm that also designs aircraft cabins. Today rates typically range from $200 to $229. Yotel has 12 properties, half located in airports and half in cities. Eighteen more are planned, including a new extended-stay concept.

There are four Pod hotels in New York, including one with extended-stay accommodations in Times Square. There is also a Pod in Washington, with others to open in Philadelphia and Los Angeles by next year.

There are now many more independent microhotel brands, including Hoxton Hotels, based in London; citizenM, based in the Netherlands; Arlo in New York; and the Hotel Hive, which opened in 2017 in a former federal workers’ rooming house in Washington.

Many microhotels feature expansive lobbies, with spaces designed for hanging out; dining and drinking; and coworking; Hive and Hoxton will soon open dedicated coworking spaces at some hotels.

Microhotel lobbies sometimes offer work by local artists; food and drink from popular local purveyors; and activities for guests and other visitors. Mama Shelter, for instance, offers free access to foosball tables and photo and video booths in the lobbies of many of its properties, while Arlo offers digital-detox happy hours, which are free to guests and available for a fee to visitors.

Guests staying at microhotels often have access to loyalty program benefits: Customers at Moxy, Motto, Tommie and Mama Shelter hotels can or will be able to access the benefits of the programs of the brands’ parents, while some independent brands — including Yotel and Hive — offer their own programs.

Another type of compact sleeping accommodations, ranging in size from 30 to 56 square feet, is also now available post-security at some airports in the United States, including Atlanta, Dallas and Philadelphia. Minute Suites and Sleepbox, which operate these, charge guests by time increments that can range from 15 to 60 minutes to overnight. Many Minute Suites rooms have showers, but Sleepbox provides neither bathrooms nor showers; its guests must use the airport’s facilities.

The experiences of guests who stayed at two Manhattan microhotels recently show they can appeal to a wide variety of customers.

Sarah Yawn, 29, a Los Angeles-based national accounts manager for a Swedish watch company, stayed at the citizenM Bowery hotel. She praised its guest room décor, lobby that was “almost like a coworking environment, with a lot of young professionals,” and proximity to trendy shops.

Robert Smith, 58, is the chief financial officer of ClevR Mobility, an electric scooter company in Berkeley, California. A frequent business traveler, he has spent more than 50 nights at the Moxy Times Square hotel this year. He likes the company of its young staff — he called them “just happy, helpful people” — and the guests, who remind him of his four children, who are in their 20s.

The staff’s attentiveness likely stems, in part, from Smith’s recently attained top-tier status in Marriott’s loyalty program. The staff marked his new status by leaving a thank-you note, in green and red crayon, on the mirror in his room, and presenting him with a sweatshirt and sweatpants with the Moxy logo.

The lasting proof of all microhotels will come when the economy “slows, unemployment rates increase, and corporate and leisure travel gets curtailed,” said Jan Freitag, senior vice president of lodging insights for STR, a hotel research firm.

Van Stekelenburg said he did not anticipate that the attractiveness of the microhotel concept would dim any time soon. “We will see continued efforts by independent and large hotel companies. I believe they’re here to stay.”

Robson said she did not expect to see microhotels on suburban highways or resort destinations. “But where real estate costs are high and length of stay is relatively short, they will be very successful,” she said.

“When guests stay for more time, they have more stuff. Microhotel guest rooms cannot accommodate more stuff.”


2019 New York Times News Service

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Rising number of businesses cut ties with Brunei over gay sex death penalty

LONDON - Travel agents, London's transport network, and finance houses were among a rising number of companies on Friday to cut ties with businesses owned by Brunei to protest over the Sultanate's introduction of the death penalty for gay sex and adultery.

The small Muslim-majority former British protectorate on April 3 rolled out further Islamic Sharia laws, which punish sodomy, adultery, and rape with death, including by stoning, and theft with amputation, sparking a global outcry.

The move prompted a corporate backlash after actor George Clooney and singer Elton John called for a boycott of hotels owned by the Southeast Asian country, including the Dorchester in London and the Beverley Hills Hotel in Los Angeles.

STA Travel, a global travel agency owned by privately-held Swiss conglomerate Diethelm Keller Group, said it would no longer sell flights on national carrier Royal Brunei Airlines.

"We've taken this stance to add our voice to the calls on Brunei to reverse this change in the law and in support of LGBTQI people everywhere," the company said in a statement.

Virgin Australia Airlines, the second biggest airline in Australia after Qantas, ended an agreement that offered discounted tickets on Royal Brunei Airlines for staff.

Royal Brunei did not respond to requests for comment.

Transport For London (TfL), which is responsible for London's transport system, said it was removing adverts promoting Brunei as a tourism destination from the city's public transport network due to "great public sensitivity."

Deutsche Bank banned its staff from staying in the 9 luxury hotels of the Dorchester Collection, which is owned by Brunei's state-owned Brunei Investment Agency (BIA).

BIA did not respond to a request for comment. The UK-based Sovereign Wealth Center estimates the BIA has US$39 billion of assets under management.

The Dorchester Collection made a public appeal, saying its values were "far removed from the politics of ownership".

"We understand people's anger and frustration but this is a political and religious issue that we don't believe should be played out in our hotels and amongst our 3,630 employees," the Dorchester Collection said in a statement on its website.

But this did not prevent numerous organizations moving their events elsewhere.

British estate agent Knight Frank, property industry networking group Movers and Shakers, which has about 300 corporate members, and property investment company Landsec said they would not use Dorchester Collection hotels.

As well as owning the hotel group, the BIA holds about 4 percent of London-listed digital tech venture capital firm Draper Esprit PLC which it acquired in 2018.

Draper Esprit's CEO Simon Cook said the company "naturally abhor" the moves in Brunei but added the BIA bought shares on the open market and has no "influence either on our company culture or our investment decisions".

The backlash also spread to universities.

More than 50,000 people signed a petition calling on Oxford University to rescind an honorary degree awarded to Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 72, the world's second-longest reigning monarch and prime minister of the oil-rich country.

The university's information office said they shared the international condemnation of Brunei's new penal code and backed the United Nations' call to stop this entering into force.

"At present, the University has not taken any decision on rescinding the Sultan of Brunei's 1993 Honorary Degree of Civil Law by Diploma," the university said in a statement.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Elton John joins call for boycott of Brunei-owned hotels

LONDON--British pop legend Elton John has joined actor George Clooney in calling for a boycott of nine Brunei-owned hotels over the sultanate's new death-penalty laws for gay sex and adultery.

The call came as a growing list of politicians and celebrities added their names to those condemning the new laws and supporting a boycott.

"I commend my friend, #GeorgeClooney, for taking a stand against the anti-gay discrimination and bigotry taking place in the nation of #Brunei - a place where gay people are brutalized, or worse - by boycotting the Sultan's hotels," the singer wrote on his Twitter page late Saturday.

The 72-year-old, a veteran gay rights campaigner, said his "heart went out" to staff at the hotels, but that "we must send a message, however we can, that such treatment is unacceptable".

The nine hotels mentioned by Clooney are located in Britain, France, Italy and the United States. They include London's exclusive Dorchester and the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles. 

The Dorchester Collection luxury chain issued a statement saying that its code emphasizes "equality, respect and integrity in all areas" and that "we do not tolerate any form of discrimination", CNN reported.

Clooney called for the boycott earlier this week, saying "every single time we stay at or take meetings at or dine at any of these nine hotels, we are putting money directly into the pockets of men who choose to stone and whip to death their own citizens for being gay or accused of adultery".

'BARBARIC' DECISION 

"No one should face the death penalty because of who they love. Brunei's decision is barbaric," Britain's international development minister Penny Mordaunt wrote on Twitter.

Former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark called the new penal code "shocking" and "barbaric".

Amnesty International called on Brunei to "immediately halt its plans to implement these vicious punishments".

In the US, Clooney's call drew supportive declarations from lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle and a strong statement from the Trump administration.

"We strongly oppose human rights violations and abuses against LGBTI persons, including violence," the State Department said in a statement.

LGBTI stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex. Intersex people are people born with physical features that are neither wholly male nor female.

US CONDEMNATION 

Former US vice president Joe Biden, who is expected to seek the Democratic Party's 2020 presidential nomination, tweeted on Friday: "Stoning people to death for homosexuality or adultery is appalling and immoral...

"There is no excuse -- not culture, not tradition -- for this kind of hate and inhumanity."

Another Democrat seeking the party's nomination, Senator Kamala Harris of California, joined the chorus. "These human rights abuses cannot be tolerated," she said.

And Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, said on Twitter: "This is wrong. It is barbaric. America should condemn this immoral and inhumane law, and everyone should be united against it."

Actress Jamie Lee Curtis also tweeted in support of her fellow actor's stand. "I stand with George Clooney, a good man doing the right thing, fighting an unjust and barbaric law."

Clooney and his wife, human-rights lawyer Amal Clooney, have been active in humanitarian causes. 

Brunei, an absolute monarchy ruled for 51 years by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, is to implement the new penal code starting Wednesday.

Homosexuality is already illegal in the sultanate, but it will now become a capital offence. The law applies only to Muslims.

Brunei first announced the measures in 2013, but implementation has been delayed, in the face of opposition by rights groups, and as officials worked out the practical details.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Actor George Clooney calls for boycott of Brunei-owned hotels

WASHINGTON, United States - American actor George Clooney has called for a boycott of nine Brunei-owned hotels over the sultanate's imposition of the death penalty for gay sex and adultery.

"Every single time we stay at or take meetings at or dine at any of these nine hotels we are putting money directly into the pockets of men who choose to stone and whip to death their own citizens for being gay or accused of adultery," Clooney wrote on website Deadline Hollywood.

"I've learned over years of dealing with murderous regimes that you can't shame them. But you can shame the banks, the financiers and the institutions that do business with them and choose to look the other way," he added.

The nine hotels are located in the US, Britain, France and Italy.

Brunei will implement the harsh new penal code -- which also mandates amputation of a hand and foot for theft -- starting next Wednesday.

Homosexuality is already illegal in the tiny sultanate, but it will now become a capital offense. The law only applies to Muslims.

Brunei first announced the measures in 2013, but implementation has been delayed as officials worked out the practical details and in the teeth of opposition by rights groups.

In addition to film-making chops that have netted him two Oscars, Clooney is known for his globe-trotting political activism, especially his tireless campaigning to draw attention to the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region.

source: news.abs-cbn.com 

Where to celebrate Valentine’s Day 2019 in Manila

MANILA – Looking for a place to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Check out these deals offered by restaurants, hotels, and malls in Metro Manila.

These are not endorsed by ABS-CBN News.

BISTRO GROUP 

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at any Bistro restaurant and enjoy a special treat by Baker and Cook, plus get 20% off with your BFF card.

Have good food and great times at TGI Friday’s, and delight in succulent lobsters and everything seafood at Red Lobster. At both restaurants, you can enjoy a complimentary glass of Bodega Sangria and Stella Rose wines.

Other Bistro Group establishments include Italianni’s, Village Tavern, Texas Roadhouse, Buffalo Wild Wings, Denny’s, Hard Rock Café, Watami, Bulgogi Brothers, Modern Shanghai, Fish & Co., Krazy Garlik, Baker and Cook, and Hukad. 

BIZU

Bizu is bringing back Romance, its signature heart-shaped Valentine’s Day cake composed of layers of moist sponge cake, creme brûlée, caramel, chocolate ganache, then topped with whole fresh strawberries. 

Bizu's seasonal Strawberry Chiboust also gets the hearts-day treatment with its plump, juicy strawberry toppings and raspberry coulis, while the Valentin Macaron de Paris is a stunning sight, dipped in chocolate and dusted with almond praline. 

For those who wish to woo the old-fashioned way, only a box of luxurious chocolate truffles will do. Choose from their heart-shaped dark chocolate or classic versions, packaged in heart-shaped Valentine’s edition boxes.

Bizu Patisserie has branches in Greenbelt 2, Greenhills Promenade, Alabang Town Center, St. Luke’s Global City, Robinson’s Magnolia, and Eastwood Mall. You can also shop from Bizu online at shop.bizupatisserie.com.

BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY

Give the gift of hugs at the larger-than-life bear installation made of a thousand red roses at 7th Avenue of Bonifacio High Street. 

On February 16, there will be a free concert at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater featuring Ben&Ben, Leanne & Naara, Reese Lansangan, Kat Agarrado. Performances start at 6 p.m.

There will be 100 VIP front seats with meet and greet passes to be given away in exchange for single or accumulated purchase receipts worth P2,500 obtained from February 1 to 16 at any Bonifacio High Street, One Parkade, Two Parkade, Central Square (Marketplace by Rustan’s not included), and One Bonifacio High Street establishments. 

CRAVINGS

This Valentine season, Cravings is offering a special four-course dinner for two featuring steak and salmon.

Priced at P2,400, the menu includes Truffle Mushroom Soup, Mixed Green Salad with Dried Fruits and Candied Walnuts, US Roasted Prime Rib with Yorkshire Pudding and Fillet of Atlantic Salmon for main course, and Cravings’ Special Edition Lava Cake for dessert.

As a treat, couples will have an opportunity to win a cooking class for two at CCA Manila. 

The offer is available on February 14, 15, and 16. 

CRIMSON HOTEL FILINVEST CITY

On February 14, have a five-course dinner under the stars at the hotel’s deck at P2,600 net per person, inclusive of free-flowing wine. 

Café Eight, on the other hand, offers indoor dining with an international buffet spread at P1,800 nett. Ladies get to take home pralines as a gift. 

CROWNE PLAZA MANILA GALLERIA

Xin Tian Di restaurant celebrates Valentine’s Day with a set menu consisting of Steamed Nobashi Shrimp Dumpling Topped with Black Caviar; King Scallop with Dragon Fruit in Honey Calamansi Dressing; Double Boiled Baby Pork Rib with Abalone and Wolfberry Soup; Stewed Boneless Beef Rib in Barbecue Sauce; Pan-fried Sea Bass in Japanese Soy Sauce served with Wok-fried Handmade Polonchoy Noodle with Garlic and Olive Oil; Oven-baked Egg Tart topped with Bird’s Nest; and Rose Honey Ginger Tea. 

The offer is at P2,860 nett per person. 

CRYSTAL DRAGON

Crystal Dragon is featuring a romantic set dinner menu from February 13 to 15.

The five-course Valentine menu at P3,880++ per person consists of Romantic Heart-shaped Stuffed Breaded Prawn Cake on Mixed Salad with Swan Dumpling filled with Black Pepper Duck Meat; Braised Sea Treasures and Scallop Dumpling served with Black Truffle in Lobster Bisque; Braised Pork Ribs with Red Wine Vinegar and Wolfberry Reduction; Wok-fried Egg Noodles with Seafood, Sliced Abalone, and Vegetable Sauce; Earl Gray Vanuari Milk Chocolate Crème Cake with Rose Water Strawberry Gel, and Jasmine Tea.

DIAMOND HOTEL

Treat your sweetheart to a Valentine buffet at Corniche at P3,380 nett per person. Get a chance to win an overnight stay for two with breakfast buffet for every P5,000 spent. On February 14 and 15, be entertained by a pianist during lunch and a quartet during dinner.

Yurakuen offers a Japanese lunch and dinner set menu for couples with a glass of Piper Heidsick at P2,880 nett per person. Complementing the dinner is musical entertainment by a duo.

At the Lobby Lounge, enjoy a four-course set menu with a glass of Cava and a slice of cake at P3,300 nett. Set the mood as a soothing saxophone plays in the background.

Relish al fresco dining by the Poolside with a five-course meal priced at P2,800 nett per person with musical accompaniment by a soulful duo. 

Get a nice view of the cityscape and have a four-course set menu with a glass of red or white wine at Bar 27 at P3,500 nett for two persons. 

Promos are available from February 13 to 15. All ladies dining at Diamond Hotel on Valentine’s Day will receive a special memento.

GRAND HYATT MANILA

Go big or go grand with a Valentine celebration for the whole family at The Grand Kitchen. On February 14 and 15, the restaurant will feature Valentine-themed treats alongside international favorites. Rate is at P2,400 nett per person.

An intimate hideout and dinner date awaits couples at The Cellar, which will offer a four-course dinner on February 14 and 15. Highlights include Pan-seared Scallops, Roasted Magret Duck Breast, and Raspberry Pavlova, and a glass of wine, to name a few. Rate is at P7,800 nett for two persons. 

Grand Hyatt Manila’s poolside cabana will hold a Valentine dinner under the stars featuring Boston Lobsters, Poached Tiger Prawns, Roasted Grass-fed Australian Tenderloin, and Fresh Berries on Basil Ice Cream, among others. Rate is at P9,800 nett for two persons. 

Take your love to extraordinary heights at The Peak, which is located at the hotel’s 60th floor. On February 14 and 15, enjoy two glasses of champagne and premium pica-pica for P3,500 nett. 

The Peak Grill, meanwhile, will have a mouthwatering Valentine spread starring fresh catch from the sea and more at P9,800 nett for two. 

HOLIDAY INN MANILA GALLERIA

A romantically indulgent evening with a breathtaking view awaits at the helipad of Holiday Inn Manila Galleria on Valentine’s Day as the venue is opened up to 15 couples for the special occasion. 

The al fresco ambiance is heightened by the repertoire of saxophonist Archie Lacorte. A curated selection of buffet offerings comes with unlimited beverages. Rate is at P3,500 nett per person. 

MARCO POLO ORTIGAS MANILA

Cucina will offer a love-themed spread from February 13 to 15 at P1,399 per person for lunch and P2,888 per person for dinner. A special a la carte menu will also be available during dinner, with items such as Chicken Piccata in Tomato and Olive Ragout with Tagliatelle in Basil Pesto, and Grilled Australian Lamb. 

Relive the season of love with set menus at Lung Hin, and get a view of the metro at Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge.

NEW WORLD MAKATI HOTEL

Enjoy a candle-lit dinner at P2,999 per person at Café 1228 and indulge in buffet highlights such as chateaubriand steak, seafood specialties, and chocolate-dipped strawberries. 

Ladies will get a special Valentine’s Day present. 

NOBU MANILA

Nobu presents a five-course Valentine weekend omakase with sake pairing from February 14 to 16 at P10,000 nett for two persons or P5,000 nett for one (optional).

The menu consists of Zensai (a chef’s selection of appetizers); Nobu Sashimi Platter (Ceviche, Big-eye Tuna with Chocolate Balsamic Sauce, and Oyster with Maui Onion Salsa); seasonal selection of Nobu Sushi (Toro, Nobu Tamagoyaki, Lapu-Lapu, and Salmon); Brick Oven Roasted Slipper Lobster Tail with Lobster Miso Cappuccino and Sweet Corn Kakiage; Sous Vide Australian Tenderloin with Nobu Bonito and Uni Egg Sauce, Crab, and Umami Vegetables; and Strawberry Azuki Bean Entremet with Kinako Cookie and Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream.

OKADA MANILA

Enbu’s Valentine set menu from February 13 to 15 includes a choice of sushi, sashimi, or assorted appetizers; Prawn and Vegetable Tempura; a special Valentine dessert; and a choice of luxurious main courses such as Australian Wagyu Steak, Saikyo Yaki (miso-marinated black cod with rice), and Hitsumabushi (eel with rice). Rate is at P2,200++ per person.

Goryeo has a Korean Valentine menu available for lunch and dinner on February 14 at P3,888++ per person. The meal includes Silver Cod Porridge; Sarcodon Mushroom with Duck Dumplings; Wrapped Snow Crab with Vegetables and Mustard Sauce; Mung Bean Pancake; Damyang province-style Char-grilled Beef with Rice in Lotus Leaf; and Korean Pear Sorbet with Red Velvet Cake.

La Piazza Ristorante Italiano will offer the San Valentino Dinner for Two (P9,888++ for two) on Valentine’s Day, which includes Saffron Risotto with Red Wine Braised Beef Cheek Medallion; Herb-buttered Salmon Fillet with Potato Gnocchi and Seafood Sauce; Chocolate Dome and Passionfruit Slices; Antipasti Buffet; and free-flowing wine. 

Go all out with a Valentine dinner by the Fountain on February 14 at P9,888++ for a table for two, inclusive of a three-course dinner, free-flowing wine, and refillable antipasti. 

Medley Buffet, meanwhile will have a Valentine feast for guests on February 14 and 15 at P3,000 nett per adult and P1,500 nett per child. The rate includes a curated Valentine buffet spread, free-flowing beverages, and live entertainment. 

POWER PLANT MALL

Power Plant Mall has a Flower Fair at the North Court which features blooms from Petalier and Balloons, Te Amo Floristeria, The Glass House Flowers, and more.

The mall also has a Gift Fair featuring sweet items from Auro Chocolate and Gigi’s Custaroons, to name a few.

Present a single or accumulated receipt purchase worth P70,000 at Power Plant Mall and Rockwell Center stores from February 8 to 14 to get a free movie and dinner date. 

THE GARAGE 

The Garage, an entertainment and dining destination at City of Dreams Manila, is holding a “Valentine’s Serenade” for both singles and couples from February 13 to 15, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Single’s Package is at P1,400 nett per person and includes free-flowing house red wine, white wine, and sparkling wine; San Miguel Pale Pilsen and Light draught beer; chilled juices at The Bar; and sodas and signature iced tea. 

The Couple’s Package, meanwhile, is at P3,499 nett with the same free-flowing selection of drinks with the addition of one Ecuadorian rose, one teddy bear plush toy, and a 150-gram chocolate tile from Chocol8.

THE TASTING ROOM

Available from February 13 to 15, The Tasting Room’s five-course Valentine’s dinner menu at P6,600++ per person includes Lentils Hummus with Hazelnut Oil, Grey Shrimp, Tiger Prawns, and Socca; Crackers with Eggplant, Apple, and Mint; Grilled Foie Gras Terrine with Artichoke and Port Wine; Cod with Pineapple, Coriander, and Sesame Seed; Smoked Grim Beef Tenderloin with Coffee, Salsify, and Hazelnut; and Chocolate Ginger Tart with Exotic Fruits and Pomegranate. 

The set menu comes with a complimentary welcome glass of Henriot Brut Champagne, a door gift of Mexican hot chocolate cube and lemon cake, and a long-stemmed rose for each lady. There is also an option for wine pairing at P3,100++.

TWG TEA

Indulge in TWG's tea-infused Valentine’s Day menu for two that begins with an enticing beef pastrami accompanied by marinated tomatoes and feta cheese infused with Lover’s Tea. 

The meal continues with the duck confit with Billet Doux Tea infused Mexican mole sauce served with sautéed mushrooms and baby potatoes, and beef with Red Chai infused red wine sauce accompanied by a spinach and purple yam croquette. 

To accompany this main course is the Mon Amour Tea, black tea blended with yellow blossoms and sweet notes of quince. 

End with choux pastries centered with Geisha Blossom Tea infused raspberry cream on a shortcrust pastry.

TWG Tea’s Valentine’s Day Menu with a starter, two main courses, choice of two teas and dessert is priced at P2,650 for two persons. Available at all TWG Tea Salons & Boutiques in the Philippines until February 24.

WOLFGANG’S STEAKHOUSE

Wolfgang’s Steakhouse by Wolfgang Zwiener is offering a Valentine Special Wine Pairing set menu from February 11 to 16 in all of its Philippine locations: Resorts World Manila, The Podium, and Bonifacio Global City.

The wine pairing set good for two includes a majestic set of oysters flown in from France; a choice of Beef Barley or Caesar Salad; USDA Prime Dry-aged Black Angus Porterhouse Steak with Mashed Potatoes and Creamed Spinach; and Housemade New York-style Cheesecake. 

source: news.abs-cbn.com

France's Ritz hotel smashes record with furniture sell-off

PARIS - Luxury furniture auctioned off by the legendary Ritz hotel in Paris sold for 7.3 million euros ($9 million), a world record in the industry, auction house Artcurial said Saturday.

The Paris hotel, home for a while to Ernest Hemingway, Marcel Proust and Coco Chanel, sold off all 10,000 pieces of furniture and decor.


They included stools from the Hemingway Bar, a 19th-century bathtub, and sofas and a harp from the Proust Lounge.

The Ritz sale outperformed other hotels around the world, the auction house said.

In 2013 in Paris, Hotel de Crillon made 5.9 million euros from a furniture sale while Plaza Athenee made 1.4 million euros.

The 3,400 lots that were up for grabs were on sale between April 17 and 21.

Buyers bid on objects ranging from velvet security cordons and curtain ties, to rugs, bedframes and sets of bathrobes and slippers embroidered with the Ritz insignia.

Price estimates ran from 100 euros for a pair of tablecloths to 10,000 euros for a pair of nymph sculptures carrying bronze candelabras that used to decorate the lobby.

"The Ritz has excited a sudden passion, attracting buyers from all over the world," auctioneer Francois Tajan told AFP.

The Ritz decided to sell the pieces from its famous Place Vendome address when it reopened in June 2016 after four years of extensive renovations.

Owned by Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed since 1979, the hotel had accumulated impressive quantities of objects since it was opened in 1898 by Cesar Ritz.

It has served as the backdrop to several key moments in French history.

The Nazis requisitioned it during World War II but had cleared out by the time Ernest Hemingway burst in with a group of Resistance fighters on August 25, 1944, gun in hand, to "personally liberate" it.

Realising he was too late Hemingway took to the bar where he is said to have run up a tab for 51 dry Martinis.

In 1997, tragedy befell the hotel when Britain's Princess Diana, who had been staying there, was killed in a car accident in a Paris tunnel while being pursued by paparazzi.

The hotel made global headlines again in January, when robbers armed with guns and hatchets ransacked jewellery shops on the ground floor, making off with over four million euros ($4.9 million) in gems and watches.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Five star Boracay resorts reassure staff, clients ahead of 6-month shutdown

MANILA - Two five-star hotels in Boracay said they would assist employees and clients who will be affected by the government's plan to close the island for 6 months.

Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa said it was working on an "interim plan" to care for affected employees.

Discovery Shores Boracay said "enough personnel" would stay to maintain the resort during the six-month period. Other staffers will be "shared" with other Discovery properties

Clients will be offered "the best and reasonable solutions," Discovery said.

The government moved to clean up Boracay after President Rodrigo Duterte in February flagged pollution on the island and likened its effects to a "cesspool."

Twelve "large" hotels may lay off at least 50 workers each due the the shutdown, said Organization of Hotel Sales and Marketing Professionals president Christine Ibarreta.

Henann Group of Resorts denied allegations of environmental violations circulating on Facebook, dismissing such as "fake news."

Azalea Hotels & Residences said it was compliant with environment laws and reassured clients that its closure would be "temporary."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

TripAdvisor denotes hotels where sexual attacks occurred

NEW YORK - Women's anti-violence groups on Thursday welcomed a new warning system on the online travel site TripAdvisor Inc that shows which hotels are believed to have been sites of sexual assault.

The giant booking site, which claims hundreds of millions of online visitors each month, said it will measure hotel safety based on users' post and news media reports.

Hotels where there have been incidents will be designated on the online listing, the Needham, Massachusetts-based company said.

So far, 3 hotels, all beachfront resorts in Mexico, have been pinpointed in the warning system, which began on Wednesday. TripAdvisor lists 1.9 million hotels and other lodging options in 49 countries.

"Anything that gives honest information to the public is always a very good thing," Ebony Tucker of the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

A third of all women experience violence at some point in their lives, and that figure is twice as high in some countries, according to the United Nations, where leaders recently launched a global anti-violence effort campaign.

The move by the travel site also comes amid heightened awareness of sexual harassment as accusations have been mounting against a multitude of public figures.

A spokesman for TripAdvisor said more hotels are expected to be designated as the site's staff assesses user reviews.

However, the company says it does not fact-check the reviews, which could pose a problem for participating hotels, said Suzanne Markham Bagnera, an assistant professor at Boston University's School of Hospitality Administration.

"Without having that verification process, it can create an impact for your business," she said.

The designations will remain on a hotel's TripAdvisor web page for up to 3 months and may be renewed or removed based on decisions by TripAdvisor staff, the company said.

The warning system is a sign of increased recognition in the hospitality industry of a need to protect against sexual assault and harassment, said Maya Raghu, spokeswoman for the National Women's Law Center in Washington.

She said a US labor union campaign has been pushing for laws to protect hotel workers from sexual harassment by guests.

Some US hotels have equipped housekeepers with panic buttons.

"There are several different trends that are happening right now that are perhaps forcing the travel and hospitality industry to address this issue," she said.

"I'm glad (TripAdvisor) are taking this issue seriously," she said.

TripAdvisor was criticized last week after USA Today reported it had repeatedly deleted posts from a user who said she was raped by a security guard at a Mexico resort.

TripAdvisor apologized to the woman in a public statement.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

2 PH hotels recognized as among best in Asia

MANILA – Two hotels in the Philippines were included in Conde Nast Traveler’s list of top 25 hotels in Asia, which is part of the travel magazine’s Reader’s Choice Awards.

Edsa Shangri-La Manila and The Peninsula Manila made it to the 24th and 25th spot, respectively, in the list topped by The Reverie Saigon in Vietnam.

Here is the full list:

1. The Reverie Saigon (Vietnam)
2. Hotel Mulia Senayan (Indonesia)
3. COMO Uma Punakha (Bhutan)
4. Raffles Jakarta (Indonesia)
5. Gangtey Lodge (Bhutan)
6. Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra (Cambodia)
7. Taj Tashi (Bhutan)
8. La Residence Hotel & Spa (Vietnam)
9. Villa Maly (Laos)
10. Mandarin Oriental Taipei (Taiwan)
11. Alila Jakarta (Indonesia)
12. Zhiwa Ling Heritage (Bhutan)
13. Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta (Indonesia)
14. Four Seasons Hotel Seoul (South Korea)
15. Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
16. COMO Uma Paro (Bhutan)
17. Belmond La Residence d’Angkor (Cambodia)
18. Park Hyatt Saigon (Vietnam)
19. JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul (South Korea)
20. Park Hyatt Seoul (South Korea)
21. Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi (Vietnam)
22. Raffles Hotel Le Royal (Cambodia)
23. Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
24. Edsa Shangri-La Manila (Philippines)
25. The Peninsula Manila (Philippines)

According to Conde Nast Traveler, more than 300,000 users took part in its Readers’ Choice Awards survey which recognizes the best-loved hotels, resorts, islands, and cities across the globe.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Here's how to make authentic Paella Negra

MANILA – The Philippines’ never-ending love affair with rice is partly influenced by its 300-year history with Spain.

While rice was then considered a luxury during pre-colonial times, reserved only as a tribute for chieftains of various tribes, Spain’s introduction of plow technology eventually made the valued crop an everyday staple for Filipinos.

Along with these agricultural innovations, Spain also brought to the Philippines its wealth of culinary secrets, including recipes for the different styles of its world-famous paella, a Valencian rice dish. Filipinos serve paella mostly on special occasions, especially during Noche Buena, another Spanish tradition.

Now, Filipinos have an easy-to-make paella recipe that can be prepared anytime at home.

Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila’s guest chefs, Nicolas Diaz and Maria Aguaza from Barcino Wine Resto Bar, took us to one of the open kitchens in Spiral to teach us firsthand how to make Arroz Negro de Calamar, also known as Paella Negra.

The cooking class was part of Sofitel’s “Flavors of the World Series,” which ran until June 25.

Paella Negra is made with squid ink, which is added to the rice in the cooking broth and gives the dish the color and its name. It is usually served in a frying pan or bowl decorated with lemon and red bell peppers.

It can be accompanied with aioli sauce on the side for that extra kick, as well as walnuts for a more interesting and Instagrammable dish.

Ingredients (makes 10 portions):

1200 g squid
450 g onion
3-4 pcs garlic cloves
500 g tomato
350 g green bell pepper
10 g parsley
30 ml olive oil
10 g salt (Chef’s tip: saffron salt works best!)
30 g squid ink
900 g Bomba rice
350 ml white wine
2000 ml fish broth
175 g red bell pepper
2 pcs lemon

Procedure:

1. Clean the squid properly and cut into small pieces. Reserve.

2. Peel and cut the onions and garlic cloves in small dices. Grate the tomato.

3. Wash the green bell pepper, remove seeds, and chop it into squares.

4. Wash and finely chop the parsley. Reserve all vegetables separately.

5. Put some olive oil in a frying pan and lightly fry the squid for a few minutes. Remove and set aside.

6. Once the squid is removed, add a little more oil and fry lightly the onion until it’s well poached. Salt the onion.

7. Add the garlic and green bell pepper and fry lightly for about 5 minutes more. Add the grated tomato and continue to cook for another 5 minutes.

8. Add the squid inked solved in water and the chopped parsley and cook for about 5 minutes.

9. Add the reserved squid and the rice and fry lightly for a couple of minutes. Add the white wine and fry until wine is evaporated.

10. Pour the fish broth on a saucepan and keep it hot for the next step.

11. Pour half of the hot broth on the frying pan with vegetables and rice and cook for about 10 minutes in high heat. Add the rest of the broth and cook for 8 minutes more in low heat.

12. Turn off the heat, cover and let stand for two minutes. Fry slices of red bell pepper. Reserve. Clean the lemons and cut them in slices.

13. Decorate the frying pan with lemons and red bell peppers.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Hyatt Hotels computers infected with malicious software

SAN FRANCISCO, United States - Hyatt Hotels on Wednesday revealed that it recently discovered malicious computer code on computers used for processing payments at locations it manages.

In a short statement, Hyatt did not disclose what, if anything, the cyber attack accomplished but said that the company immediately "launched an investigation and engaged leading third-party cyber security experts."

Hyatt also said it strengthened the security of its systems and that "customers can feel confident using payment cards at Hyatt hotels worldwide."

The hotel group advised customers, as a precaution, to watch payment card account statements for unauthorized charges.

Cyber threats blogger Brian Krebs at KrebsonSecurity.com said in an online post that "Hyatt joins a crowded list of other hotel chains similarly breached in the past year."

Hyatt competitors Hilton, and Starwood Hotels which operates the Sheraton and Westin chains, last month separately announced that payment systems had been targeted by hackers.

US hotel chain Hilton said that hackers infected some of its point-of-sale computer systems with malware crafted to steal credit card information.

Malicious code that infected registers at hotels had the potential to take cardholders' names along with card numbers, security codes and expiration dates, Hilton said in an online post.

Starwood Hotels said that hackers had infected payment systems in some of its establishments, potentially leaking customer credit card data.

The hack occurred at a "limited number" of its hotels in North America, according to Starwood, whose other well-known chains include St Regis and W Hotels.

The cyber attacks on Hilton and Starwood sounded similar to one disclosed earlier in the year by Trump Hotel Collection.

"We believe that there may have been unauthorized malware access to some of the computers that host our front desk terminals and payment card terminals in our restaurants, gift shops and other point-of-sale purchase locations at some hotels," Trump Hotel Collection said at a website devoted to details of the incident.

Locations affected were listed as Trump SoHo New York, Trump National Doral, Trump International New York, Trump International Chicago, Trump International Waikiki, Trump International Hotel & Tower Las Vegas, and Trump International Toronto.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com