Las Vegas hotels reopen with low rates and new guidelines, artists transform boarded-up storefronts into inspiring murals that support the Black Lives Matter movement, and New York implements guidelines for indoor dining. All this and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Las Vegas hotels reopen with very low rates
The Daun Curry-crafted Boulevard penthouse in the Cosmopolitan; photo courtesy of Thomas Hart Shelby
If you’re comfortable traveling this summer, you may never get a better deal in Las Vegas, according to Skift. A handful of casino resorts have recently reopened after Nevada lifted its restrictions and are offering a slew of deals to welcome guests back. Rooms at the Bellagio and Wynn Las Vegas went for as low as $125 per night, with added perks including $100 in dining credits, free parking (from the Cosmopolitan), and waiving resort fees (the Sahara Las Vegas). Because of Vegas’ different revenue streams, losing money on a room is of minimal concern to operators. That being said, casinos are limited to 50 percent occupancy, while high-ticket residency programs are currently shutdown.
New York implements guidelines for indoor dining
A screen by Tihany Design at Manhattan’s Daniel restaurant
Though outdoor dining is set to be part of New York’s second phase of reopening, indoor dining will follow in phase three. This week, Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled plans for a return to indoor dining in New York, outlined in Eater. The guidelines note that restaurants must operate at half capacity and tables must be set six feet apart from each other or feature barriers between them, similar to the screens conceived by Tihany Design. The guidelines echo ones that have already been released, including limiting the party size to 10 people per group, the requirement to wear face coverings except for when seated, and the use of disposable containers for condiments.
Italy’s hotels open with strict restrictions for travelers
Forte Village in Sardenia; photo courtesy of Instagram
Strict rules still exist about who can enter the country, but Italy’s hotels are reopening with safety as a priority. Sardinia seaside resort Forte Village, for example, will rapid test guests upon arrival, with those testing negative allowed to use the resort’s full facilities without a mask on; those who test positive will be sequestered to a private villa with 24-hour medical assistance. Bloomberg reports that the country is trying to salvage at least 13 percent of the GDP it derives from tourism, welcoming travelers from the European Union and the Schengen free-travel area. The target date to open the country up to international travel has been pushed to July 1st. The hotel industry, however, continues to struggle with occupancy rates expected to hit a low of 15 percent in Venice in its peak month of August.
Artists support Black Lives Matter on boarded-up storefronts
The George Floyd mural outside Cup Foods in Minneapolis from artists Xena Goldman, Cadex Herrera, and Greta McClain, with the help of artists Niko Alexander and Pablo Hernandez; photo by Lori Shaull/Flickr
Amid the protests following George Floyd’s murder at the hands of the police, many artists are channeling the Black Lives Matter movement by transforming boarded up storefronts and blank walls into murals memorializing Floyd and other victims of police brutality, writes The Mercury News. Artist Cassandra Orion of Oakland is working on a mural that depicts a tiger and black panther adorned by flowers with a dove between them above George Floyd’s name—a nod to 1960s-era posters that showed Asian-American solidarity with the Black Power movement. “This is a really authentic response to what is going on,” Orion told the paper. “I really like the symbolism of tearing it down and building it back up with something better.”
HD’s 2020 Wave of the Future Class revealed
For almost two decades, HD has honored a handful of designers, architects, brand executives, and owners as our Wave of the Future—those who are young enough to be considered visionary but tested enough to be accomplished. This year is no different, as our 2020 class each brings a fresh perspective to design. From hoteliers to designers and brand leaders, this talented group is questioning the status quo while adapting to changing times. Learn more about our 2020 Wave of the Future honorees, who we’ll celebrate in our July issue and during our NextGen Forum in New Orleans this October.
