Forget Space Tourism, Go Underwater.
If you want to discover future travel trends, SPACE.com is the place to go. In "The Future of Travel: Aquatic to Cosmic Destinations," you'll see that space-based hotels, if technologically feasible, will probably not be affordable for a mass market. Other future concepts include helium-filled airship hotels, or Hydropolis, a $500-million underwater hotel on the coast of Dubai and scheduled for opening in December 2006, where you'll be able to sleep with the fishes. The article also describes future hotel 'pods' that can be moved around the globe according to specific demand for a destination. And if none of these residences tempts you, you're welcome to book eco-friendly holidays, which will jump from 1 percent today to 5 percent of all trips by 2024.
The article details the conclusions of a report written by Thomson Holidays, the U.K.-based travel group, "2024: A Holiday Odyssey," before looking at future space hotels and underwater destinations, such as Hydropolis, the world's first underwater luxury resort hotel built on the coast of Dubai.
"Hydropolis is a splendid refuge far away from the stress factors of everyday business life and is ideally suited for guests from top management seeking to regenerate their inner strength," explains a project fact sheet.
Here is an artist's rendition of a sideview of Hydropolis (Credit: Hydropolis).
In a review of this hotel, Four Seasons Travel writes the following.
Finally, SPACE.com reports about future hotel pods, a concept developed by M3 Architects (Caution: Full screen, Flash based site).
"We propose a temporary, licensed, pre-fabricated, self-sustaining, transportable facility that can be located on sites and locations all over the planet in places where establishing a traditional holiday resort would be unacceptable environmentally and politically."
Here is an artist's rendition of these 'pods (Credit: M3 Architects).
Different sized rooms within a hotel pod can be upgraded or downgraded according to a tourist?s travel budget. Inside the rooms, ?active? walls and floors will show changeable images. Pod guests can use this mode-changing select-switch and pick whatever mood they wish, be it an ocean panorama, desert landscape, or jungle scene.
For more details about future travel trends, read the SPACE.com article.
Sources: Leonard David, SPACE.com
{ 14 } Comments
WOW!! I loved it :)
This is somewhat cool doesnt really seem realalistic. But oh well. You would probably have to be someone rich and famous to afford to stay anywhere underwater. Underwater really isnt my thing but its cool.
Princess Emalee
hi! i want to go to the hotel invite me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! or,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Hi, this is really fun, but as far as I am concerned this is too risky and also its like challanging the nature, God. The Arabs are gone crazy the way they're making projects in this region.
May God Bless Us
I wonder what kind of consumers will really go there?
what is the demand look like ? are they expecting any returned guest ?
how the unusual hotels keep their returned consumers ?
If investors should finally invest more than 500 million bucks for a hotel without sunlight of which 70% will be burried under the ground of the dead andstill waters surrounding the Palm, I am sure there will be enough market potential for 200 guests per day at I guess around 3.000 bucks a night per suite at 50% annual occupation.
Smart Investors know their maths.
So my guess: Forget it!
well, actually I am doing research on this hotel. it is predicted US$500 per night per person staying in the hotel. However, Jones (the entreprenuer of Poseidon) argues that is not a market price as it is too low. Poseidon is another underwater hotel which is still in construction but due to lack of funding problem, the hotel need to postpone till the fund is collected
In addition, just to add up that Hauser, the designer of Hydropolis argues that Hydropolis does not focus on the rooms to maximise the benefit but from the other facilities provided such as the open sky concert, the spa and restaurant to get the profit. I am just thinking it will be better that Hauser can increase the room rate at the same time people somehow will use the facilities in Hydropolis.
The idea seems very appealing. It would be very suitable for those newlyweds in search for a great nite stay. I would definately spend 1500 for a nite. Seems well worth it..
I guess funding this is a problem.
If they didn´t have the money to hire someone to update their official website http://www.hydropolis.com since August 2003 the gap seem to be pretty huge.
James David, don't say the arabs have gone crazy! They are just putting their money to use and being a person who already lives in Dubai and examines all the projects from when they start to its end, i can honestly say they are doing better than any other country. As for visitor,either youre ashamed of your identity or your name is visitor,respect yourself when youre refering to this project,if you have the money to fund the website,dont be a smartass and bitch about it,wire them some of it.As for the 3 bucks a night,thats how much you probably pay for a night in the hotel you occasionally stay at.With Dubais economy and wealth,anything is possible.When this hotel opens,you will be surprised when you hear about the number of people from around the world who are staying there.Oh,can i ask where both of you are from?And a piece of advise,dont say anything unless you've experienced the magic of Dubai.
Thank you
Shut up the lot of you! Dubai really is awesome and don't diss it if you haven't been there. I agree with you Mustafa . . you really need to have been there to know what you are talking about!
However, I think that the Hydropolis is awesome, the Burj is amazing as is the world map and jumeirah palm! So I think that all the things in Dubai are amazing, and the Arabs are smart, not crazy. Has anyone else in the world made something like they have? No . . so think before you talk and criticize!
mwa!!!
WOW!!!! this is sooooo hot! what a huge upcoming dubia is in architecture! this country is so amazing and excelling in every way. i would love to visit that hotel when ts all done and pretty! Very samrt idea!
Technology is unpredictable. one day it works next day it doesnt.
I'll laugh if it collapses
good luck though seems lovely (nice for a honeymoon)