Alexandra Seitz and Kissa Castañeda Launch Checking In: Bringing the Hotel Home, a Coffee Table Book Raising Funds for the Hotel Indus

Hotels hold a special place in our hearts. Some feel like a second home, while others transport us to a new world. For many travellers, a hotel is a window to the destination; a microcosm of the place in which it's located.

When we were thinking of what we could do to help an industry embattled by Covid-19, we thought a charity-driven book that brought the essence of the most magnificent hotels to our homes would resonate with travellers. We wished to create a book that would brighten up our daily lives, fuel dreams of our next sojourn, and all the while raising money for those directly affected by the pandemic.

Once we started reaching out to hotels, we got a true glimpse of how Covid-19 has impacted the industry. Closures meant there were only a few staff members left as custodians of these properties; layoffs and furloughs meant some of our emails went unanswered for weeks. This strengthened our resolve to make this book a celebration of the magic of hotels and the people who work hard to bring that experience to life.

This digital coffee table book features 35 spectacular hotels around the world and ways to bring the essence of each one home—basically a staycation at its finest. It also includes special interviews with some of the most influential minds in the industry, from hotel founders to esteemed designers. All of the funds raised through this book will be donated equally to four organisations focused on helping the hospitality industry.

What can I find in the book?
From the glamorous Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in the French Riviera to the serene Hoshinoya Kyoto in Japan, this book features 35 amazing hotels from around the world that not only inspire wanderlust but also encourage travellers to live better. Each hotel has contributed original recipes, design ideas, wellness intel and stories from the founders themselves that.

The book is divided into five chapters, each representing a facet of a hotel experience- inspire, indulge, entertain, relax and connect.

Why is it important to help?
According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the Travel & Tourism sector faces a staggering 100 million job losses due to the coronavirus pandemic. That's a heart-breaking number, so large that it's almost incomprehensible.

All of the funds raised from this book will be donated equally to our chosen causes namely: Hospitality Action, Saira Hospitality, Wild Philanthropy's African Tourism Crisis Fund, and Unite Here. We specifically chose these four organisations as their efforts directly help the people and communities devastated by the pandemic, but also because they work to shape a better future for the travel and hospitality industry.

Who are the creators?
The book was created by friends Alexandra Seitz and Kissa Castañeda, both ardent travellers who met in Hong Kong but currently live on other sides of the world. This personal project was put together during lockdown and was made possible by the belief of all the hotels included in the book, as well as through the generosity of another co-creator, multidisciplinary designer Husam Elfaki. The book is dedicated to fellow hotel lovers and the staff that call these places home.

Husam Elfaki | https://www.husamelfaki.net/

To learn more about the beneficiaries, click here.
Please find more details on the project below:
Website: www.checkinginthebook.com
IG: @checkinginthebook