Latest news with #Shiji
Asahi Shimbun
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
VOX POPULI: Ancient China was more open to foreigners than Trump's U.S.
Taiwanese-Japanese author Chin Shunshin (1924-2015) once made an interesting observation about the "Shiji" ('Records of the Grand Historian') and the "Book of Han," two of China's famous classic historical texts. Both works contain ample references to many ethnic groups, including how their customs differed—such as that some bore tattoos or kept their hair closely cropped, while others did not. But curiously, according to Chin, no mention is made at all about their physical appearances, including facial features. Why? 'Perhaps the authors felt they could not write about such attributes, even if they wanted to,' Chin surmised, with his characteristic open-mindedness and thorough understanding of Chinese history. He went on to elaborate that the founders of the Chinese civilization were themselves an aggregation of highly diversified ethnic origins, hailing from many tribes and looking conspicuously different from one another—in short, theirs was a multiracial nation. And that, according to Chin, must have made it difficult or awkward for them to describe their physical differences among themselves. Flourishing in the Yellow River basin, they disdained outsiders as 'barbarians.' According to Sinocentrism, ethnicity is not the factor that differentiates the Chinese from the rest of humanity. Chin stated in his book 'Jukyo Sanzen-nen' ('Three Thousand Years of Confucianism'): 'Their pride lay in their civilization, not in their lineage.' Abe no Nakamaro (698-770) was a Japanese student who was sent to Tang Dynasty China as an envoy. But he remained in China, where the authorities appointed him to a high office despite his 'despicable' origin. This decision bespoke openness, diversity and flexibility on the part of the Tang Dynasty, and I imagine such qualities contributed much to pre-modern China's prosperity. I suppose my readers now see where I am going with this column. It's about the present-day United States—specifically, Donald Trump's decision to kick foreign students out of Harvard University. This leaves me speechless. He obviously wants to dry up the source of America's strength with his own hands. Feeling the deterioration of this superpower, my thoughts turn to Japan, too. How open are we now? How diverse? —The Asahi Shimbun, May 25 * * * Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Hospitality Net
07-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
AI-Powered Hotel Seasonal & Holiday Visuals: No New Photoshoots, Just New Vibes
You don't need new photoshoots to keep up with seasonal campaigns. Just use what you already have, and let AI do the rest. Takeaways AI refreshes visuals: No shoots, just smart edits. Custom for any occasion: Festive, romantic, event-ready. Omnichannel ready: Use on socials, email, screens. With generative AI tools, your existing hotel images (guest rooms, lobbies, restaurants, pools, and more) can be instantly adapted for any occasion. Add festive decor for Christmas, summer vibes for the holidays, romantic touches for Valentine's Day, or custom setups for weddings, birthdays, or local events. Instead of planning time-consuming shoots or relying on generic stock photos, you can generate tailored, on-brand visuals in minutes. These AI-enhanced images can be used across your marketing channels: social media posts, email campaigns, digital ads, in-house screens, and more. In the sections below, we'll show you how to remix your photo library with AI step-by-step, along with real examples of seasonal and event-specific transformations. The result: a fresh, engaging content pipeline that keeps your hotel relevant, without the hassle or extra cost. Ideas for AI-Powered Hotel Imagery Here are five examples of how we use AI to generate seasonal and occasional imagery based on original hotel photoshoots. 1. Christmas & New Year Original Photo — Photo by Shiji AI Prompt: Transform this elegant hotel lobby into a cozy Christmas scene, with a decorated tree, twinkling lights, garlands, and a warm fireplace ambiance. AI-generated Photo — Photo by Shiji 2. Valentine's Day Original Photo — Photo by Shiji AI Prompt: Add romantic touches to this hotel suite: rose petals on the bed, soft pink lighting, candles on nightstands, champagne on the table. AI-generated Photo — Photo by Shiji 3. Birthday Original Photo — Photo by Shiji AI Prompt: Transform this hotel room photo into a festive birthday celebration scene. Add balloons, streamers, and colorful decorations around the room. Make the lighting soft and warm. Include a small 'Happy Birthday' banner on the wall and perhaps some wrapped gift boxes on the bed. AI-generated Photo — Photo by Shiji 4. Halloween Original Photo — Photo by Shiji AI Prompt: Turn this hotel dining room into a stylish Halloween scene with carved pumpkins, cobwebs, black and orange table settings, and moody candlelight. Add subtle spooky touches like bats or ravens for an elegant, festive vibe. AI-generated Photo — Photo by Shiji 5. Easter Original Photo — Photo by Shiji AI Prompt: Add pastel Easter decorations to this garden terrace, with flower arrangements, Easter eggs, and springtime lighting. AI-generated Photo — Photo by Shiji Important Tips While AI-generated imagery is a powerful tool, it's important to use it wisely. DO: • Use with real hotel photos as the base for seasonal or event-themed edits • Clearly label AI-generated images if required by platform • Use AI visuals for marketing channels like email, social media, digital ads, and promotions • A/B test different styles to discover what best engages your audience • Watch out for inconsistencies new images (for example the fireplace added to our lobby above) DON´T: • Use AI-generated images in your official website gallery • Replace real photography for booking-related content • Ignore your brand's visual identity or consistency • Rely on vague or overly generic prompts Take control of your hotel's visual story AI-generated seasonal imagery is not about replacing traditional photography. It's about amplifying creativity, and delivering fresh content faster. For hotels, this can lead to better engagement, higher click-through rates, and more buzz across digital channels. When used responsibly, it's a valuable addition to your marketing toolkit. By combining AI-generated visuals with a powerful hotel content distribution platform like Iceportal Content, you can elevate your brand, stay relevant year-round, and connect with travelers in meaningful, visually compelling ways. Learn more: Iceportal Content: Simplify Content Distribution. View source
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Shiji unveils comprehensive rebrand, unifying its hospitality technology solutions under a single platform
New identity reflects Shiji's commitment to seamless, 24/7 support for the global hospitality industry BERLIN, March 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Shiji, a leading global provider of hospitality technology solutions, announced a complete company rebrand, uniting its suite of products under a cohesive brand structure. With this transformation, Shiji introduces a new identity that simplifies its portfolio and highlights its commitment to being a 24/7 partner to the hospitality industry. Over the past 25 years, Shiji has evolved from an IT service company into a global technology powerhouse, offering solutions across property management, point-of-sale, reputation management, distribution, payments, and guest engagement. The company's expansion, which included several strategic acquisitions, brought best-in-class solutions under the Shiji umbrella. However, this rapid growth also created complexity across its brand and product landscape. "Now that our acquisitions have been fully integrated, it's time to take the next step—presenting a unified platform of solutions under one cohesive brand system," said Kevin King, CEO at Shiji International. "Our new brand structure makes it easier for hoteliers to navigate our offerings while reinforcing our core mission: to deliver world-class technology that operates as seamlessly as the hospitality industry itself—day and night." Shiji's rebrand is built around the concept of "Day and Night", a tribute to the hospitality industry's continuous operation. This branding reinforces Shiji's role as a technology partner that is always on, ensuring mission-critical hotel operations run without interruption. Introducing Shiji's newly branded solutions To enhance clarity and consistency across its platform, Shiji has introduced new branding for its core solutions: Daylight PMS: A fully cloud-based property management system designed for luxury and full-service hotels, featuring Single Guest Profiles and advanced security. Infrasys POS: A cloud-based, offline-capable point-of-sale system, trusted by hotels, resorts, and high-traffic venues worldwide. Reviewpro Reputation: A leading reputation management tool that aggregates guest feedback and enables data-driven service improvements. Horizon Distribution: A dynamic distribution platform that enhances access to key global markets, including China. Iceportal Content: A centralized content distribution system for images, text, and attributes across hospitality channels. Meridian Experiences: A solution for managing and monetizing ancillary services, such as spa, and event bookings. Astral Payments: A secure, tokenized payment platform that streamlines transactions across all guest touchpoints. Stellaris Digital: Encompassing Digital Stay, Digital Dine, Digital Payby, and omnichannel communication tools that enhance guest experiences. Twilight Data + AI: A data lake environment providing deep insights and AI-powered decision-making for hotels. /twilight-data-ai "Each of our solutions have been designed with integration and efficiency in mind," said Kevin King. "With this rebrand, we are making it clearer than ever how our solutions work together to support hoteliers in delivering exceptional guest experiences." A unified, future-ready hospitality platform In addition to renaming and streamlining its products, Shiji has introduced a new visual and conceptual model—the 'day-night product cycle'—which illustrates how its interconnected solutions support the entire guest journey, mirroring the industry's non-stop nature. Shiji's commitment to innovation and service remains steadfast. With operations in nearly every major hospitality market, the company offers localized expertise and support, ensuring seamless operations for hoteliers worldwide. "This rebrand is more than just a new look—it's a statement of our dedication to serving the hospitality industry at the highest level," added King. "Shiji is here for hoteliers, day and night, providing the technology and support they need to succeed." For more information on the Day-Night theme and how it is incorporated into our brand identity, visit For more information on Shiji's newly unified platform and to explore how its solutions can enhance hotel operations, visit About Shiji Shiji is a global technology company dedicated to providing innovative solutions for the hospitality industry, ensuring seamless operations for hoteliers day and night. Built on the Shiji Platform—the only truly global hotel technology platform—Shiji's cloud-based solutions include property management system, point-of-sale, guest engagement, distribution, payments, and data intelligence for over 91,000 hotels worldwide, including the largest hotel chains. With more than 5,000 employees across the world, Shiji is a trusted partner for the world's leading hoteliers, delivering technology that works as continuously as the industry itself. That's why the best hotels run on Shiji—day and night. While its primary focus is on hospitality, Shiji also serves select customers in food service, retail, and entertainment in certain regions. For more information, visit Media Contact: Gabriella Alverio Albors Marketing Manager, Americas Shiji Group +1 (404) 948 - 4001 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Shiji Group
