Nikko Hotels Internationals | Launched its First Grand Nikko Hotel in Thailand, Located in Bangkok

Nikko Hotels International, a hotel chain based in Tokyo, Japan, comprising properties in Asia, Europe, North America and the South Pacific, owned by Okura Nikko Hotel Mamagement, a joint venture between Okura Hotels and Japan Airlines, has launched its first Grand Nikko Hotel in Thailand, located in Bangkok, country’s capital and largest city.

Bangkok is a renowned destination,  highlighted by a vibrant mix of ancient and modernity,  known for its opulent temples like Wat Arun, Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho’s Reclining Buddha, Grand Palace, ornate shrines, juxtaposed with towering skyscrapers, bustling street life, iconic markets and street food, world - class shopping, and a famous nightlife scene. 

Grand Nikko Bangkok Sathorn started to welcome guests on 10 April 2026, and will open in phases, with additional facilities scheduled to become operational in the months following the initial launch.

The property is located at 117 S Sathorn Road in Bangkok’s Sathorn District, about a 10 - minute walk from Chong Nonsi BTS Skytrain station, 1.6 kilometres from Lampini Park, 1.9 km from One Bangkok, a 40 = minute drive from Savarnabhumi International Airport and 28.9 km from Don Mueang International Airport. 

The hotel strategic location offers an easy access to business districts, embassies, cultural attractions, and enrtertainment venues.

The hotel,  a sophisticated urban sanctuary,  offers comfortable rooms accurately designed with Japanese aesthetics and feature amenities such as TOTO WASHLETs, smart TVs, and Nespresso coffee machines, with Views of Bangkok’s cityscape.

Dining VeNues will include SANUK, an all - day dining restaurant serving international, Thai and Mediterranean  cuisine; ICHO, a teppanyaki restaurant using seasonal ingredients from Japan and Thailand, TENKU 33, a rooftop bar, and LA - MUN, a coffee and patisserie shop with Japanese and Thai – inspired offerings.

Facilities at the hotel include an outdoor swimming pool, a sun deck, a fitness centre with cardio and strength - training equipment, and a dedicated yoga studio.

Signature facilities expected to open in the months after launch include Benkay, a Japanese fine dining restaurant; TENKU 33 outdoor garden; divana Spa, developed in collaboration with divana®; and the Nikko Club Lounge for guests in selected rooms.

A Commerative Opening Package is available, started on 10 April 2026, offering complimentary daily breakfast at the all - day dining restaurant, up to THB 1.500 hotel dining credit per night for food, late check - out until 4:00 pm subject to availability, and an additional 10% discount for One Harmony members.

Links

https://bangkok.grandnikko.com/

https://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article140859.html

My Place Hotels of America | Officially Opened a New 63 - Key Hotel in Jonesboro, Arkansas, U.S.

My Place Hotels of America, LLC, an extended stay hotel franchisor based in Aberdeen, South Dakota, U.S., focusing on franchising clean and comfortable hotels with modern rooms, amenities, and excellent customer service, all at an affordable price, has officially opened a new 63 - key hotel in Jonesboro, a vibrant city in the U.S. state of Arkansas located on Crowley’s Ridge in the northeastern part of the state and it is one of the two country seats of Craighead County.

Jonesboro serves as a major hub for education, healthcare, manufacturing, food processing  industry, being home to Riceland Foods and plants for Frito - Lay, Con Agra Foods, Kraft Foods/Post Division and Nestle, and offering a mix of small town charm with big - city amenities.

The opening of My Place Hotel - Jonesboro, AR marks the brand’s second location in the state, expanding My Place Hotels of America’s footprint in Arkansas, strengthening its presence in a market defined by stready business, healthcare and long – term travel demand.

The property is positioned to serve business travellers, healthcare professionals, construction crews, university visitors and those looking for a comfortable, reliable stay.

The establishmernt is owned by Mataji LLC, a family - owned hospitality company headquartered in Lorain, Ohio with more than years of industry excoperience spanning hotel ownership, operations and asset management.

Leveraging its multigenerational foundation in the lodging sector, Mataji LLC develops well - located, efficiently operated properties in markets with sustained demand drivers. The company continues to grow its portfolio while staying committed to operational excellence and long - term value crating thoughtful development practices and strategic site selection.

The hotel is located at 2905 Gilmore Drive with convenient access to Interstate 555, near several of the region’s largest employers and institutions, including Arkansas State University, St. Bernards Medical Center, NEA Baptist Memorial Hospitaly, and a cluster of industrial and manufacturing facilities.

The Richardson Design Partnership, LLC, an architecture firm headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah that provides interior design, planning and project management services, following My Place Hotels of America’s prototypical standards designed the hotel with the brand’s signature focus on comfort, consistency and functionality.

 My Place Hotel - Jonesboro, AR features 63 comfortable guestrooms equipped with in - room kitchens, My Store, a 24/7 grab – and – go market, and EV charging stations. The addition of Tesla charging stations further enhances the hotel’s convenience for travellers.

Co -  founder and CEO of My Place Hotels of America, Ryan Rivett said that Jonesboro represents the kind of high - demand where My Place continues to grow. With strong activity across healthcare, education and industrial work, Jonesboro is a fit for the company extended - stay model. My Place Hotels of America is excited to expand its presence in Arkansas and the Southeast, and bring a reliable, modern extended – stay option to travellers looking for comfort and convenience.

 My Place Hotels of America, LLC, an extended - stay hotel franchisor focusing on franchising clean and comfortable hotels with modern rooms, amenities, and excellent customer service, all at an affordable price, and with the opening of this property in Arkansas continues its expansion in the United States.

 The company has an established presence across 31 U.S. states with over 120 hotels in the pipeline, offering two hotel brand options to current and potential franchises. 

Links

https://www.myplacehotels.com/locations/my-place-hotel-jonesboro-ar

https://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article140784.html

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) | Announced the Opening of a 93 - Room Gateway Hotel in Gandhidham, Indiia

The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), a hospitality firm part of Tata Group and based in Mumbai has announced the opening of a 93 - rooms Gateway hotel in Gandhidham, formerly known as Sardaganj, a city located in the eastern part of of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat.

Created in the early 1950s for the resettlement of Sindhi Hindu refugees from Sindh, Pakistan, in the aftermath of the partition of India, the city was named after M K. Ghandi and is known as a major economic hub near the Kandla Port, which serves as an urban hub for maritime trade and regional commerce and Munton Port, driving significant logistics and industrial activity.

Gateway Kandla, Gandhidham, a family - friendly hotel developed on a 17 - acre site is located in the business district near the port of Kandla, in proximity to attractions such as the Rann of Kutch, Vijay Vilas Palace, Mandwi Beach, 4 km from Shi Chandra Prabh Labdhi Teerth, within 10 km of Gandhi Market, Anjar New Market, Shivaji Park snd Purneshwar Temple.

The hotel’s design incorporates regional elements and includes landscaped lawns and fountains. The property features 93 comfortable rooms, Urban Masala, an all - day multi - cuisine restaurant offering local specialties, global dishes, and chef - curated signature items, a swimming pool, fitness centre, a spa and multiple indoor and outdoor venues for events and celebrations.

The hotel joins the Gateway brand focused on providing upscale, full - service hotels and resorts, offering comfort, and  consistent experience for business and leisure travellers across India. The brand aims to provide a hassle - free experience with a focus on simplicity, style and personalized services.

Links

https://www.gateway-hotels.com/en-in/hotels/gateway-kandla-gandhidham

https://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article140879.html

Vietnam | Approved a Project to Install Smart Border Crossings on the Frontier with China

Vietnam has approved a project to install smart border crossings at the approaches to the Kim Thanh and Ban Vuoc road bridge in the northwestern province of Lao Cai, on the frontier with China.

 The corresponding resolution was signed by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc, according to Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and consists in a project based on a model that integrates  advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) , the internet of Things (IoT), as well as fully automated intelligent systems for transport flow management.

During the development, the multimodal logistics infrastructure will be modernized, which is expected to ensure efficient connections with high speed expressways, inland container depots, railways, and economic corridors connecting Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) countries with the southwestern of China.

The implementation of the project will begin in the second quarter of 2026. In the first phase, the legal framework will be established, technical standards for the operation of smart border crossings will be developed, and agreements will be reached with the Chinese side on the cross - border transport of goods using fully automated vehicles. The second phase contemplates the development of the necessary infrastructure.  

By 2030 is expected to double the capacity of the cargo terminals in Kim Thanh and Ban Vuoc, reduce average logistics costs by 20% to 30% for companies using auromated transport, and significantly reduce administrative processing times for goods. The total volume of foreign trade is expected to reach approximately $9 billion.

According to the Vietnamese authorities, the implementation of the project will create an important centre for import and export activities, improve the competitiveness of the national enterprises, deepen international integration, strengthen Vietnam’s security and promote the sustainable development of the border area.

Link

https://tvbrics.com/es/news/vietnam-instalar-pasos-fronterizos-inteligentes-en-la-frontera-con-china/

Ghana | To Grant Fee - Free E - Visa Access to All African Citizens from 25 May 2026

Ghana will grant fee - free e - visa access to all African citizens from 25 May 2026, coinciding with Africa Day, streamlining travel to boost tourism, trade, snd Pan - African unity. While the visa fee is waived, travellers must still apply online and pass security checks using a new API - PNR system. 

The policy was announced by President John Mahama during bilateral talks with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnagaagwa during a meeting which took place in the capital of the country, Accra.

The free visa scheme forms part of Ghana’s broader rollout of a nationwide e - visa system, which will be integrated with Advance Passenger Information, Passenger Name Record systems, and international crime database to enable throughout background checks.

If. implemented .as announced, Ghana will join a small group of Africa nations, including Benin, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, and The Gambia that have removed travel barriers for African citizens, offering visa - free or free - e - visa access to all African passport holders. 

The move is expected to boost intra - African  mobility and strengthen Ghana’s position as a regional hub for regional integration, tourism, trade, and cultural exchange.

Ghana,s Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa clarified that applicants will still required to complete the standard e - visa process through a new online platform currently in development, but will pay no fees, stating that African citizens wil have to go through a visa application process like everyone else, theirs would simply be gratis.

Link

https://atta.travel/resource/ghana-to-offer-free-e-visas-to-all-african-citizens-from-may.html

China | Started the Construction on a 50 MW Solar Thermal Power Plant at an Altitude of 4,550 Metres

China has started the construction on a 50 MW solar thermal power plant at an altitude of 4,550 metres, making it the world’s highest - altitude parabolic through solar thermal facility as reported by Xinhua news agency.

The plant is located in a mountainous area of Tibet in  the southwest of the country and will part of an integrated project started in September 2025 that combines solar thermal and photovoltaic generation, with a capacity of 400 megawatts, using parabolic trough technology with thermal oil as a heat transfer fluid. 

The mirror field will occupy an area of 242.000 square metres and the molten salt energy storage system will have a capacity of 6 hours, which will also allow electricity to be generated during the night.

Heating systems, oxygen supply and a hyperbaric chamber, a arirtight device in which a person breathes oxygen at high pressure for therapeutic purposes have been installed on the site. Full commissioning is scheduled for 2027.

Due to the low oxygen level in high mountain conditions, the works can only be carried out between April and October.

Once in operation, the solar thermal power plant will generate around 719 million kilowatt hours per year, serving more than 216.900 tonnes of coal equivalent and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 652.300 tonnes.

Despite the harsh climatic conditions, the region has great potential for the development of clean energy thanks to its abundant solar, wind and water resources.

The project has already created more than 2.000 jobs for local people and contributed more than 5.2 million yuan to the regional budget.

The local government plans to increase the installed generation capacity from 13 million kilowatts in 2025 to 20 million in 2026.
Link

https://tvbrics.com/es/news/china-inicia-la-construcci-n-de-una-central-solar-t-rmica-a-4-550-metros-de-altura/

Brazil | Established a Decree on the National Policy for the Arts

Brazil has established a decree on the national policy of the arts. President Luiz Inácio da Silva and Minister of Culture Margareth Menezes signed a document establishing the “Politica Nacional das Artes” (PNA).

The development of the National Arts Policy began in 2015, then the process was interumped in 2016 and resumed in 2023. In March 2024, during the IV National Conference on Culture in Brasilia, a working group was created within the Ministry of Culture. Its result was the base text “Brazil of the Arts: National Policy”, which served as the basis for the document.

The initiative is part of the revitalization of the Ministry of Culture, aimed at reversing previous years of defunding and prioritizing public cultural access.

The decree establishes the legal framework for the protection, preservation and development of  artistic expressions in the country,  with  he objective to expand access to art as an essential part of the cultural rights of the population, enshrined in Article 215 of country’s Constitution.

The document defines a set of diverse forms of human creation or expression in the field of the arts, which include the visual arts, film, dance, circus, literature, music, theatre, and it has the aim to protect cultural rights.

The PNA is based on seven principles, including guaranteeing freedom of creation, supporting the diversity of cultural manifestations, inclusiveness and accessibility for all population groups, as well as a commitment to sustainable development and environmental responsibility.

According to the text of the decree, the State assumes the commitment to protect the memory of Brazilian art, including the safeguarding, conservation and registration of artistic practices and collections.

Particular attention is paid to the enhancement of teachers of traditional and folk culture, as well as to the encouragement of the transmission of knowlesge between generations.

The coordination of the new policy will be in charge of the Ministry of Culture. Its management is based on collaboration between the federal government, states, municipalities, cultural agents and civil society institutions.

According to the Brazilian government’s website, Culture Minister Margareth Menezes said that the country has now a legal framework that recognizes the importance of the protection, promotion and development of the arts.

Link

https://tvbrics.com/es/news/presidente-de-brasil-firma-un-decreto-sobre-pol-tica-nacional-de-las-artes/