With more than half a million viewers this year in 2018, Hotel Designs has enjoyed a fantastic 12 months of exclusive stories, features, events and some rather spectacular hotel reviews. Here, the editor of Hotel Designs, Hamish Kilburn, runs us through the top nine articles of 2018…
The age-old saying goes: “Out with the old and in with the new” – and it has never felt more appropriate than it does in this moment as I sit down to write this significant write-up. Our industry is dominated by major shifts in trends and opinions, many of which were created in the number events that we were proudly media partners of this year. Therefore, we, the leading international hotel design website, must continue to remain relevant with our content, while showing that we are ahead of the curve in our own design – everything is about to change. For the minute, though – before we launch our new logo and fabulous website designed to be as visual and interactive as our readers themselves are – let’s take a moment to reflect on what a cracking year 2018 turned out to be.
Since joining the company as editor in May 2018, I have had many overwhelming moments. The first came just weeks into my role when I was whisked up to the stunning Scottish Perthshire countryside to review the mighty Gleneagles. The ‘am I dreaming moment’ came shortly after our excursion up the mountains in 4x4s. Taking in the tremendous scenes that stretched over the horizon, I heard a faint ambiance of buzzing that become louder as a helicopter appeared from the clouds. It hovered for a moment and began its descent. “This is your ride back to the hotel,” said our very helpful PR manager looking rather smug with herself – talk about setting standards as embarked on my editorship.
Another experience that remains etched into my memory is my time at London Design Festival 2018. I will never forget surviving on four hours sleep per night (something I have become accustomed to in my role here) in order to be at every major launch at every event (and after-party). Meeting the leaders and visionaries of our industry is all the thanks we require, as it allows us to be at the core of the hotel design world.
One other unforgettable breakthrough of the year was introducing, for the first time, interactive hotel reviews. Working with ACT Studios has allowed us to give our audience a truly immersive experience when reading our reviews, allowing them to find out exactly which products are in each guestroom and suite and where to purchase them.
The year continued with more exclusive features with international leading profiles from the likes of CEO of Meliá Hotels International, Gabriel Escarrer Jaume, the new Managing Director of WATG, Martin Pease, the Managing Director (EMEA) of Wyndham Hotels, Dimitris Manikis, Creative Director of HBA London, Constantina Tsoutsikou and the Principal of Richmond International, Fiona Thompson, who was also our headline speaker at our inaugural Meet Up North.
And so, as with all good things in life, we come to the end of 2018, but not before remembering our top stories of the year as we are on the cusp of welcoming in a new era in Hotel Designs…
1) IHG launches voco, a new upscale hotel brand
Topping the Hotel Designs viewing charts is IHG. I was thrilled to have been one of four journalists who were invited to the exclusive launch of the new brand, where I learnt all about the significance of three logos (finch, owl and flamingo).
Just months after, the hotel brand unveiled their first hotel and it was located in the Gold Coast.
2) Elivi Skiathos to open June 2018
Family-owned five-star hotel will offering private pools, a sea-facing four-bedroom villa, spa and panoramic views.
The Elivi Skiathos Hotel, owned and developed by father and daughter team Elias and Vivi Nathanailidi, opened in June 2018 and marked the first hospitality venture by Elivi Hotels.
The 213,000m² hotel is surrounded by a wildlife refuge and offers direct access to four beaches in Skiathos: Koukounaries, Ambelakia, Banana and Little Banana Beach.
Elivi Skiathos features modern, spacious rooms and suites only a few steps away from the shore, with private pools and courtyards integrated into the area’s existing natural features and walking paths bordered by forests of olive and pine trees.
3) Editor’s round-up of London Design Festival
Ten design districts, nine days, eight talks, seven parties, six after parties, five exhibitions, four hours sleep between each day, three fabulous media partners, two tired legs and ONE city. This year, an estimated number of more than 450,000 designers, architects and creatives from more than 75 countries visited the 16th edition of London Design Festival – and what a way to remind the world of London’s position as one of the best design hubs in the world than with the installation of a fifth lion protecting the city’s landmark Neslon’s Column in Trafalgar Square. We were ready to hear London Design Festival roar, and with two days still remaining, that roar can still be heard echoing in an around the city.
4) Checking in to Gleneageles, Scotland
Positioned in 344 hectares of land, under Perthshire’s Ochil Hills, is a Scottish jewel. The ever-majestic Gleneaglesfirst soared to be a natural star in the spotlight when it first opened its grand doors in 1924. Its ‘cutting of the ribbon’ was celebrated with Scotland’s first ever outside broadcast, and these moments of the hotel’s many milestones can be found injected into the fabrics of many pockets of the today’s Gleneagles. The hotel’s general manager, Conor O’Leary, was recently awarded ‘Innovation in Design – Hotelier of the Year’ at The Brit List 2018.
5) IN CONVERSATION WITH: Ronald Homsy, CEO and co-founder, Utopian Hotel Collection
In a quiet café just off London’s Sloane Square, which is a pleasant experience itself, something amazing is happening: I am about to meet one of the men behind a new hotel collection that inspires through one-off experiences. The sharp-looking businessman approaches my table and takes off his tailored blazer and rolls up his sleeves to shake my hand, which breaks down all formal barriers. The CEO and co-founder of Utopian Hotel Collection, Ronald Homsy, sits down comfortably and starts to share what I can tell has been a driving passion of his for years.
6) Meet Up North took networking in the North to new heights
More than 200 of the industry’s leaders and visionaries from within the hotel design gathered on the terrace of King Street Townhouse in Manchester for the first ever Meet Up North on July 18, 2018.
Sponsored by Marca Corona, the event, which boasted an unparalleled perspective of the Manchester sunset, welcomed hoteliers, architects, interior designers and key-industry suppliers.
7) Checking in to Hotel Gotham, Manchester’s decadent playground
This year, we sent Hotel Designs interactive by launching our ever-so-popular hotel reviews. The second interactive hotel review (the first can be read here) is Hotel Gotham. Ever since its bold entrance onto the unapologetically loud Manchester scene in 2015, Hotel Gotham’s alluring charm has tantalised many senses of those who have passed through its spectacularly framed automatic doors. I, for one, am one of them, and I hold my hands up proudly to say that I have formed a lust for decadence and luxury since checking in.
8) Chelsom Lighting launches Edition 26
Tapered perforated metal shades, brushed brass rings and even glass icicles were some of the focal trends that were unveiled at Recommended Supplier Chelsom Lighting’s launch of Edition 26 in May 2018.
Two years since the launch of Edition 25, leading designers, procurement experts and friends of the firm gathered at One Marylebone in central London to celebrate the awaited unveiling of the collection.
9) Oscar Wilde’s grandson opens first Wilde Aparthotel in London
Merlin Holland, the only grandson of famous Irish playwright and poet Oscar Wilde, was the guest of honour at the official opening of Staycity Group’s Wilde Aparthotels London [Photograph (from left to right): Jason Delany, Director of Brand, Product & Marketing; Merlin Holland; Tom Walsh, CEO; Keith Freeman, COO; Atul Prakash, GM].
