Hotels continue to entice locals, architect Kengo Kuma reveals plans for a new tourism development in Saudi Arabia, and Best Cities announces its Top 100 for 2021. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
London ranks No. 1 on Best Cities Top 100 for sixth year in a row
Every year, Resonance Consultancy’s Best Cities releases a list of the Top 100 cities for the upcoming year, and though the pandemic has harmed a lot of these metropolises, the source is anticipating a strong recovery in a number of the world’s most beloved destinations throughout the next year. London, New York, and Paris clung to their top three positions from the late 2019 ranking, while Moscow and Tokyo round out the top five, but swapped positions from last year. Cities newly added to the list include Muscat, Kuwait City, Dusseldorf, and Krakow.
Hotels offer remote workers a respite from home
As the hotel industry continues to figure out how to survive, some properties are opening their doors to workers who need a break from their home offices, or lack thereof. The Wall Street Journal reports that the Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach, California has offered guests the opportunity to clock-in and out for the day with access to its pool and gym. Marriott, meanwhile, launched a day pass program that invites guests out of their homes and into its rooms. (The LINE has also introduced bookable remote workspace concepts at two of its hotels.)
Kengo Kuma teams up with Foster + Partners
Japanese architectural practice Kengo Kuma & Associates is collaborating with British studio Foster + Partners to develop a resort concept that will open in phases starting in 2021, reports Dezeen. Located in the Red Sea on a chain of 90 underdeveloped Saudi Arabian islands, the Red Sea Project will feature 100 villas designed by Kengo Kuma, while Foster + Partners is creating an airport to specifically serve the resort area. The project will also include two restaurants, one on land and one over the water.
New York City’s Hakkasan restaurant closes after eight years
As COVID-19 continues to ravage the restaurant industry, Hakkasan Group’s Midtown Manhattan outpost has shuttered, according to Eater. Opened in 2012 and known for its Peking duck, the fine dining Cantonese restaurant received mixed reviews from critics—with its dim sum selection a high point and its prices less popular. Hakkasan’s San Francisco branch closed in May due to the pandemic.
Roger Thomas discusses his expansive career
Industry legend Roger Thomas, the designer behind iconic Las Vegas mainstays like the Wynn and the Bellagio, recently spoke with Hospitality Design editor in chief Stacy Shoemaker Rauen on HD’s What I’ve Learned podcast. During the conversation, he details first meeting Steve Wynn, bringing his design ethos across the globe, and starting his own product line. Listen to the episode now.
