Travel trends

Take 1888 Hotel in Sydney, whose design was mapped out to maximize its Instagram-ability, and some of the Melia group hotels, where specialist concierges respond to guest requests via Twitter.

Family affair: Traveling with children in tow doesn't have to mean compromising on style and service. Mr & Mrs Smith's new site, Smith & Family, puts family travel first. Hotels are picking up on the trend, too.

A great example is Six Senses Qingcheng Mountain in China (set to open in 2014), which has village-style accommodation that works well for families, an excellent kids club and a panda research center just 10 minutes away where you can interact with pandas and their cubs.

Etihad is even introducing a Flying Nannies service on long-haul flights, with their nannies (specially trained cabin crew members) accredited by Norland, Britain's leading childcare training college.

On the other hand, Scoot, Singapore Airlines and AirAsia X now offer child-free zones on some flights.

Playing Tarzan: Hoteliers have become increasingly creative when it comes to where guests rest their heads. One trend is the rise of treehouse hotels.

Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses in New Zealand has been giving visitors a natural high for a while but wannabe Tarzans and Janes can now also cuddle up in the canopies at grand country manor Chewton Glen, Hampshire, as well as at Japamala Resort and Bunga Raya in Malaysia.

Beyond the bedroom: Rather than simply providing a space to bed down for the night, hotels are offering even more bang for your buck. They are increasingly places where guests and locals alike can while away the hours, and not simply head straight to their rooms.

The Ace Hotel Bar at the Ace Hotel New York (winner of the Hottest Hotel Bar at the inaugural Smith Awards in November 2013) and The Zetter Townhouse in London are a scene unto themselves.

And while a great bar can put a hotel on the map, lobbies and libraries are jostling for recognition too. Try swinging by the photo booth in the lobby at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club.