British shower manufacturer and designer, Roman, has reported they have seen a large surge in the amount of employees who are cycling and walking into work at their head office, with a massive 15% of staff now regularly walking or cycling in each week, despite their out of town location. This figure, from British Shower Manufacturer and Designer, Roman, beats the average national statistics for England, which highlights that 10% of adults in England cycle at least once per week.
With their interests sparked by this sudden increase, Roman, have spoken to their employees about this trend, and found out there was a wide range of reasons for this change. The reasons varied from saving money on transport, to those who are working to get fit, through to the recent change in weather, along with those who are being mindful of the environment.
Graham Speed, Roman’s Product Manager, commented: “Cycling to work is a great way for me to get some extra exercise in each week. I enjoy keeping fit, so my daily bike ride to and from work has become part of my weekly training routine.”
Speed is in good company, as a number of Roman employees are in training for a variety of sporting events including; triathlons, the Great North Run, Tough Mudder, the Spartan Race and various 10k races, so for them cycling and walking to work has become part of their training regime. For others, it’s just a regular part of their daily routine. Customer Relations Advisor, Gavin Gorman, commented: “I walk every day – sun, rain, snow, everything. I live fairly locally so the walk doesn’t take too long.”
Roman provides bike racks for their employees, so they can park their bikes securely during the working day and have always seen employees taking advantage of this, but this has become increasingly popular over the last few months.
David Osborne, Managing Director, commented: “It’s great to see so many of our employees cycling and walking to work. It’s such a great way to get fit and healthy. Not only is it good for their own well-being, but it’s also great for the environment, with less people driving. From our point of view, we as a manufacturer are always working to reduce our impact on the environment, and we hold ISO14001 accreditation. We are delighted to see so many of our employees are choosing to leave their cars at home, and cycling in to work so regularly.”
Marriott International announced the opening of the 140-room Courtyard by Marriott Leon at the Poliforum, expanding the brand’s roster of Mexico properties to nine and solidifying the country’s position as the most important Latin American market for Marriott’s leading mid-tier hotel brand. The stunning hotel is located conveniently near the Poliforum Leon Convention and Exhibition Center, Leon Airport, Leon Stadium, Explora Science Center, Centro Max Shopping Center and the city’s main industrial parks. Recreational amenities at the hotel include an outdoor pool. “From the refreshing, open business lobbies to our modern and spacious guest rooms, both the Courtyard by Marriott Leon at the Poliforum and the Courtyard by Marriott Toluca Tollocan offer business and leisure guests excellent space and flexibility to optimize their stay,” said Lita Aguirre, General Manager of the Courtyard by Marriott Leon.
Like all new Courtyard by Marriott properties, the Leon properties are entirely smoke-free and feature the brand’s signature refreshing business lobby, providing travelers with free Wi-Fi and spaces to work or relax with a variety of flexible seating options. The hotel offers modern, comfortable rooms, including rooms for guests with disabilities, with contemporary workspaces, safe deposit boxes, LCD televisions and deluxe bedding. Centro Bistro, the brand’s premiere restaurant, offers a flavorful menu with local and international cuisine and is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails. Room service is available 24 hours a day, as is The Market for quick, on-the-go meals. Complimentary high-speed Internet is provided in all guest rooms, meeting rooms and business centers, and the property’s state-of-the-art fitness centers.
“Mexico’s growing middle class and booming economy have generated tremendous demand for mid-priced hotel properties,” said Craig Smith, President of the Caribbean & Latin America at Marriott International. “The steady expansion of the Courtyard by Marriott brand in Mexico validates the recognition of the brand’s top-notch style, service and comfort at an affordable price.”
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Courtyard is Marriott International’s largest brand in terms of hotels and also has the greatest portfolio presence in Mexico within the company. In total, Courtyard by Marriott operates 21 hotels with 3,270 rooms in 12 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and has another 10 hotels in the pipeline and scheduled to open in the next three years.
The development pipeline for Courtyard by Marriott properties in Mexico includes the 130-room Courtyard by Marriott Hermosillo, slated to open its doors in 2014; the 120-room Courtyard by Marriott Queretaro in 2015; and the 130-room Courtyard by Marriott Los Cabos in 2015.
Other Mexican Courtyard by Marriott properties include the 153-room Courtyard by Marriott Toluca Airport, 200-room Courtyard by Marriott Cancun Airport, 292-room Courtyard by Marriott Mexico City Airport, 129-room Courtyard by Marriott Monterrey, 175-room Courtyard by Marriott Monterrey San Jeronimo, 154-room Courtyard by Marriott Puebla and 155-room Courtyard by Marriott San Luis Potosi.
Some 2,500m2 of stylish tufted carpet from Lano Flooring Solutions now covers the floors of The Nadler Soho, a 78 room luxury boutique hotel nestled in the heart of bustling Soho, London.Chosen by interior designer Clarissa Nadler, as part of the fit-out of the new Nadler Soho hotel, bespoke Zen Design carpet graces the bedrooms and corridors of this stylish urban retreat with its striking pin-dot pattern and deep midnight colouring adding a plush, contemporary look.
“When designing the interiors for the hotel, the brief was to create a cool, elegant atmosphere that combined timeless good taste with a modern feel,” explains Clarissa Nadler. “Carpet played an integral part of the design process, and it had to exude quality and provide the ultimate in comfort, while delivering on durability and ease of maintenance.”
Specified in a high-quality 1,200g/m2 construction, the new carpet ensures exceptional comfort for guests and will provide longevity of use. Crucially, it is also simple to clean for hotel staff in-between checkout and check-in times.
“The new carpet has been installed throughout the hotel and is an ideal backdrop for its sleek décor,” comments Andrew Peart, general manager, The Nadler. “Not only ensuring stylish good looks, the carpet is hardwearing enough to withstand the high footfall that the hotel experiences on a daily basis and still retain clarity of colour.”
Fitted by Abbots of Oldham, the stunning dot pattern of the new Zen carpet was printed using state-of-the-art chromojet machines at Lano’s Belgium manufacturing facility.
OW Hospitality has tapped accomplished designer Kelly Kiviranna as its new senior design consultant, serving as designer and key point of contact for the Las Vegas and Los Angeles architecture and design communities. Kiviranna spent the last 13 years with Couristan as a respected and sought-after designer in the Las Vegas market, easily the world’s largest and most prestigious hospitality market. Throughout her career, Kiviranna has been responsible for designing carpet for a number of prominent, high-profile Las Vegas hotels and casinos. Prior to her years at Couristan, she began her career at Ulster, also in Las Vegas.
According to Mike Riley, President and CEO of OW Hospitality, “OWH has grown into a formidable force in the hospitality carpeting segment and through our aggressive strategy, we will continue to hire the top talents in the industry. A proven visionary, Kelly will be a fantastic addition to our company and will be an integral part of our management team.”
Kiviranna will be based in Las Vegas with responsibilities in the western region, focusing on Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
International hotel group Tune Hotels has widened its presence in the Philippines with the opening of its first hotel in the southern island of Mindanao at Cagayan de Oro City.Welcoming its first guests on Friday July 19th 2013, the 159-room Tune Hotel Cagayan de Oro is Tune Hotels’ fifth property in the Philippines, after Angeles City, Ermita and Makati in Manila, and Cebu City. The hotel will have five family rooms, along with doubles, twins and accessible rooms.
Tune Hotels Group CEO Mark Lankester said: “Tune Hotels is really proud to be in CDO, our fifth footprint in the Philippines. Thanks to the booming Philippine economy and its very healthy tourist arrivals, we are very pleased with our performance here since we opened our very first Philippine hotel at Angeles City, Pampanga more than two years ago. At least five more Tune Hotels are scheduled for opening in the Philippines over the next 18 months, including in Davao City in Mindanao and Quezon City in Manila later this year.”
“The Philippines is a priority market for Tune Hotels. With the rise of budget travel packages from airlines and increase in business travel, there’s a high demand for value hotels that provide affordable, safe, clean, convenient and comfortable accommodations and that’s precisely what Tune Hotels is all about,” added Mark.
Conveniently located on C. M. Recto Avenue along the highway to Iligan and Butuan, Tune Hotel CDO is in the heart of the Lapasan Central Business District and within walking distance of the Limketkai Center and Centrio Mall. The Mindanao University of Science and Technology campus is nearby, along with a number of food and shopping establishments.
Cagayan de Oro is the 10th largest city in the Philippines and is the capital city of the province of Misamis Oriental in Mindanao. It is particularly famous for its whitewater rafting and kayaking adventures and also offers a host of other extreme water sport activities such as water tubing and river trekking. Historical tours and shopping are also part of the must-do list when in the city.
Tune Hotel Cagayan de Oro is the 30th property to open in the Tune Hotels chain, with the 31st hotel set to open in Melbourne, Australia on the 1st November 2013.
Leading British shower designer and manufacturer, Roman, have announced the launch of a brand new range of designer shower enclosures, Decem. The range is a culmination of everything the manufacturer has learnt about showering over the last 28 years, to present an unrivalled collection, which also offers a series of design options. Latin for 10, the Decem range, which is set to be showcased for the first time at this year’s Sleep Event, offers a style statement for the bathroom. The collection features 10mm thick glass, chromed brass components, a frameless finish and stands at a height of 2000mm. Uniquely the Decem Range also offers a choice of hardware options. Designers and consumers can choose between square or round hinges and designer handle, to achieve a look to suit their space.
The Decem collection comprises of Hinged Door Enclosures, a series of Wetroom Panels and a stylish Bath Screen. All products have been designed and styled to the highest specification.
The Decem Hinged Door Enclosures are available in a wide variety of configurations, to suit your alcove or corner space. The Hinged Door Enclosures feature self-closing hinges for a superior action and an integrated Water Safe System which presents the maximum water integrity available for a minimalist enclosure.
With a range of sizes and footprints available, the Decem Hinged Door can be installed alone, or combining side and inline panels, to beautifully fill your available space. The enclosures can be installed straight-to-floor or to Tray, to suit your requirements.
The Decem Wetroom Panels also present a series of design options, with the choice of concealed or exposed profiles, and the option of a return panel. The concealed profile allows you to create a totally frameless finish as the profiles are channelled into the wall, so only the glass is visible – this makes the glass appear to float. For a quick and easy installation, the Decem Wetroom Panel also offers the traditional exposed profile.
The Decem Wetroom Panels can be installed straight-to-floor, to create a true wetroom, offering a stylish easy access solution. Alternatively you can create a popular ‘simulated’ wetroom and install the panels to a low level Shower Tray, for a quick and effortless installation, which still achieves a minimalist look.
Completing the Decem Range is the Hinged Bath Screen. The Hinged Bath Screen features self-closing hinges, which are available in a choice of square, or curved finishes. It also incorporates Roman’s Water Safe System, which helps to guide the water back into the bath tub, for unrivalled water integrity and ensuring the screen is approved for use with power showers. The Hinged Bath Screen opens outwards to allow access for easy cleaning, which is so important within the hotel market.
When designing the range, Roman have considered the restrictions of the UK bathroom, so the Decem range offers installers 15mm of adjustment within each profile. All products also incorporate pre-coated glass protection as standard, for easy cleaning and lasting optical clarity. They also carry Roman’s service backed Truelife Lifetime Guarantee.
As with all Roman Enclosures, Bath Screens and Wetroom Panels, the Decem Range will be manufactured in the UK.
David Osborne, Managing Director at Roman, commented: “We are delighted to finally unveil our Decem Range. Much thought, planning, research and preparation has gone into the design of the range, to ensure it presents an unrivalled specification. We have carefully designed and sourced components of the highest quality; considered installation site conditions, building in some adjustment within the profile and styled the range to ensure it perfectly meets and shapes current bathroom style trends. What sets Decem apart from our other product ranges, is that for the first time we present the end user, or designer with a series of design options, giving them opportunity to create an enclosure to perfectly suit their space, without the additional costs associated with a totally bespoke product.”
Hillswood was specified to manufacture many bespoke items within this redevelopment for the Kensington Close Hotel. RSD Interiors designed these bespoke items, including three 4m boardroom/conference tables to the meeting rooms. Hillswood’s tables incorporated three wing shaped bases which each had to incorporate IT wiring and access to the top of the table for the delegates equipment. This wiring is concealed by toughened sandblasted shaped glass pieces inset into the polished top.
Hillswood were also specified to manufacture 3 x 3m long island seating units with specially designed deep upholstered backs. These island units are within the hotel lounge area leading to the restaurant.
Generously proportioned lounge tub chairs are used in the bar area from Hillswood’s Waves collection. Deep button back tub chairs and large sofas were also specified to the Hotel Entrance Reception Area.
It’s easy to fall in love with the GROHE Minta Touch. It’s sensitive. With its innovative EasyTouch technology, it instinctively reacts to the slightest touch. It’s clean-living – just because your hands are dirty, doesn’t mean your fittings should be, too. And it’s beautiful, with shining chrome that stays that way, thanks to GROHE StarLight®technology. One tap of the Minta Touch with the back of your hand, wrist or forearm is all it takes to turn it on or off, thus keeping the faucet clean and hygienic at all times.If your hands are clean, simply use the manual lever to adjust flow and temperature. GROHE Minta Touch is simple, sensual, moving – a hybrid faucet that intelligently unites two operating functions.
WorldMark® by Wyndham, one of Wyndham Vacation Ownership’s four primary consumer brands, has recently announced it has opened its newest resort, WorldMark Chelan – Lake House. Located in Lake Chelan, Washington, just three hours outside of Seattle, the resort is comprised of 30 quartershare and vacation ownership units and was acquired by WorldMark by Wyndham earlier this year. WorldMark by Wyndham anticipates sales to begin in July and will assume property management of all units by the fall of 2013.
“We’re very excited to open WorldMark Chelan – Lake House, as it’s an upscale resort in a highly-desired location,” said Geoff Richards, chief operations officer, Wyndham Vacation Ownership. “We began booking reservations in May, and within 48 hours of opening occupancy the resort was booked for the summer. This immediate demand is a strong demonstration of the desire by our owners to vacation in this pristine area along Lake Chelan.”
The resort offers one- and three-bedroom condominium-style units with full kitchens featuring stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. Each unit is also equipped with flat screen televisions, electric fireplaces and oversized decks for entertaining. In addition to its in-room amenities, the resort features a heated pool and hot tub, a children’s splash pad and a 4,000 square foot pool house.
June’s Highlights • Dublin enjoys a touch of the green while Brussels sprouts, but downwards • Warsaw experienced the year-on-year effects of last year’s European Football Championship
The Bouroullec brothers, Ronan and Erwan, have created Aim – a light which zeros in on the recent popular trend of using lengths of cables and bare bulbs to create industrial looking lighting installations. This often results in a great visual impact if installed well, but inevitably, it still only provides woefully inadequate lighting output and poor efficiency. The Aim Light, available from design-conscious, takes this idea to a whole new level because the Bouroullecs have also embraced new lighting technology and Aim has an impressive 16W 1250 lumen 2700k LED light source.Aim is refined industrial – the designers have embraced the concept of the cable being part of the light. No longer purely functional or hidden away, instead it is used to create the volume of the chandelier whilst also freeing the light away from the centrality of what light has historically been, so you are no longer confined to hanging it from a rose in the centre of a room, you have a sprawling vine with fruits of light.
Aim Light has a minimalist design with a shade that is simple in form combined with the chaos of the rambling trail of flex. A collision of Art and Design. An installation of light by purpose rather than accident.
Available in Satin Black and Satin White with coordinating cable. A polished Aluminium version is planned later in 2013 for that ultra slick industrial look.
Each Aim light has 9 metres of cable and can be used individually or in multiples, using the special multiple rose, which can feed up to 5 lights. Combined with flexibility of up/down adjustment the reflector can be altered in height and direction and positioned to aim light where it is needed, simply and without the need for tools.
This type of modular or virally extensible idea has many advantages, not least that they allow creative flair and individualism in how they are installed. The flexibility and freedom to suit the application perfectly is down to the installation in the first instance, but then you are able to modify, change, add to and grown the design. Aim is an exciting concept. It is versatile, adjustable and extendable.
Aim has an impressive 16W 1250 lumen 2700k LED light source. With Triac dimming possible. Mains powered, 9 metres of cable per light. Single rose or multiple rose for up to 5 Aims. Aluminium body, polycarbonate optical diffuser.
If you’d like to know more about what is new in lighting design then drop us a line – we know our stuff and have real insights into the future – our aim is to provide tangible solutions for amazing interiors.
Louvre Hotels Group, a major hotel group, continues its development in France and abroad. The Group opened 39 new hotels worldwide during the first half of 2013, representing a total of 5,367 rooms. Today, the Group has a total portfolio of 1,116 hotels, accounting for 90,812 rooms.These figures reflect the Group’s success in designing and implementing its strategy of controlled expansion, which relies on: – international development in fast-growing countries in which business and leisure travel play a major role; – trusted partners with genuine knowledge of the Group’s target markets; – constant modernisation of its hotel portfolio and focus on innovative concepts to win the loyalty of the Group’s customers.
The development of the Group has been fuelled mostly by international expansion, with 25 new hotels and 4,279 rooms opened since January 2013. During the remainder of the year, Louvre Hotels Group will continue its expansion and move into four new countries: Lithuania, Ukraine, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.
Since January, the Group has strengthened its positions in Africa and the Middle East, opening 15 hotels, while continuing to build up its presence in the BRICs, opening six new hotels (four in Brazil, one in Russia and another in India).
The Group opened four new hotels in Europe and plans to increase the pace of its new openings in Eastern Europe. After tripling in size in five years, Louvre Hotels Group is now set to rank second in the Polish hotel market within the next few months.
In France, the Group continued its repositioning, opening 14 new hotels and establishing Campanile hotels in city-centre locations and Golden Tulip hotels in the country’s leading urban centres, such as Marseille, Lyon and Aix-les-Bains. Its attractive offer has continued to interest new partners, leading to switchovers by hotels that were previously independent or operated under other banners.
Matthieu Evrard, Chief Development Officer of Louvre Hotels Group, commented: “Given the stability and strength of Louvre Hotels Group’s business model, we are able to reinforce our development targets for 2013. In addition, the Group still boasts a major expansion pipeline of 20,000 rooms, underpinning our momentum in the medium term.”
In 2003, ISO 7010 was introduced, a new international standard for safety signs using pictograms that could be easily understood by everyone, regardless of their language, culture or ability. In the years that followed, this standard was simply regarded as a ‘best practice recommendation’ and was largely ignored in the UK as most British companies adhered to our own BS5499 standard.From January 2013 that all changed as ISO 7010 became European Norm (EN7010), officially replacing the BS5499 standard, and has been adopted by member states throughout Europe.
This has led to a great deal of confusion and misinformation, with some safety sign suppliers implying that it’s now law and that safety signs must change to comply with the new Standard.
Mark Bartlett, Managing Director of Signbox, comments, “It’s a common misconception that British Standards and the more Europe-wide European Standards (EN) are law but they are not – they are Codes of Practice. In some circumstances Standards can be given a type of legal status when they are referred to within legislation or government-issued guidance and Approved Codes of Practice. In the case of safety signs the relevant legislation is the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations of 1996, also known as the Safety Signs Regulations. These regulations implemented EC Directive 92/58/EEC. However they have not been updated and there is no indication at present that they will be changed to incorporate EN7010.
“Some companies are now saying that all workplace safety signs (including fire escape signs) must be replaced – but that isn’t strictly true. Having said that, whilst there is no legal requirement to replace existing safety signs, Health and Safety guidance recommends that the two different types of signage, BS5499 and EN7010, should not be mixed in the workplace.
“If your signs are being erected or installed in a building extension or refurbishment it makes sense to ensure they are all in the new style, complying with EN7010. If it’s a new build then clearly use signs that comply with the new Standard.”
In addition to its ‘corporate’ website Signbox now operates www.signboxshop.co.uk, an online store for “off the shelf” signage. This features a comprehensive range of ready-made workplace signs including safety signs that all comply with EN7010.
Gross revenue1 up 6.7% to €5.6 billion, thanks to management and franchise expansion. First-half revenue up 1.8% increase like-for-like, including 3.3% in the second quarter due to favorable prior-year comparatives. Robust 15.9% growth in first-half revenue from management and franchise fees Solid revenue growth across all segments, led by good resilience in Europe and boosted by emerging markets. 9,940 new rooms opened during the first-half, 80% of which under asset-light structures
With its sanitary solutions and pipework systems being the ideal choice for commercial and domestic projects large and small, Geberit has appointed Martin Murray to the role of Specification Sales Manager.Martin joins a dedicated specification sales team, which supports architects, designers and consultants when specifying Geberit products and through the construction phase. Martin has overall responsibility for ensuring that architects enjoy a smooth transition from specification through to installation when choosing Geberit systems.
Working in a designated area across South London, through the West End and including Essex and Hertfordshire, Martin will nurture existing relationships and make new contacts with architectural and design practises, advising them on the high level of service and quality products that Geberit offers.
“The Geberit brand has an unrivalled reputation for manufacturing and supplying sanitary systems and piping solutions that are not only innovative and market-leading but that also aid the design and build process of projects of all sizes,“ says Martin. “My role at Geberit is very much about manitaining this status, ensuring that the specification process runs smoothly and that architects and consultants are also supported throughout the construction phase.“
Martin brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his new position, having spent six years as sales manager for A J Binns prior to joining Geberit.
Hilton Worldwide is offering visitors to the city of Lodz a unique voyage through Poland’s cinematic history thanks to today’s opening of the country’s first DoubleTree by Hilton, part of Hilton Worldwide’s upscale brand which features more than 350 hotels globally.Opening at the site of the Lodz Film Studio, the newly built DoubleTree by Hilton Lodz pays homage to the golden age of Polish cinema. Its towering 8,000 square meter glass façade depicts a scene from one of the many Polish film masterpieces to have emanated from Lodz’s famous ‘Dream Factory’ studios. Once inside, guests continue their journey through cinematic history with guest rooms featuring film motifs, whilst its swimming pool forms a visual tribute to the works of Oscar winning director, Roman Polanski.
The hotel enjoys a central location with views overlooking the green expanses of Poniatowski Park. Guests are within easy reach of the city’s main leisure and commercial attractions as well as the central business district. Ease of access is assured with W Reymont International Airport just six kilometers away from the hotel.
Each of the 200 guest rooms reflect DoubleTree by Hilton’s upscale offering; and the 105 square meter presidential suite boasts office space, a separate kitchen and views across the park. Additional facilities available on site include a 4,500 square meter concert and congress hall which is complemented by six additional state-of-the-art meeting rooms.
An indoor swimming pool and spa with four treatment rooms inhabits the top floor of the complex, whilst befitting of its heritage, a contemporary cinema room is set to become an attraction for guests and locals alike. The 200 seat Four Colors restaurant offers international dining with Polish influences, whilst the Golden Bar provides an ideal spot to unwind with a range of cocktails, single malt whiskies and wines available.
Hilton Worldwide has had a presence in Poland since 2007 with the opening of Hilton Warsaw Hotel & Convention Center and this latest opening increases the portfolio to six. Its development pipeline of 11 hotels in the country includes the recently announced DoubleTree by Hilton Kraków Hotel & Convention Centre and Hampton by Hilton Kraków, set to become Poland’s first Hilton Worldwide dual branded property.
June’s Highlights • June is Busting Out All Over for London’s Hotels • Positive second quarter thanks to a third consecutive month of profit growth for the Provinces
KH Zero 1 is the new contemporary collection launched by renowned world-class interior designer, Kelly Hoppen MBE. The much-anticipated tap and shower collection has been created in partnership with Crosswater, that presents Kelly Hoppen’s signature style translating design integrity into today’s modern bathrooms. With a fabulous outline shape and subtle curved detail, the resulting form and a matching lever is a truly exciting proposition. Sublime comfort in the bathroom inspired Hoppen’s vision for the KH Zero 1 collection that immediately evokes a sophisticated finishing touch. Choose from a beautiful deck mounted basin tap in a choice of 3 heights, or a wall mount basin set that screams hotel chic. The stunning floor standing bath shower mixer with integral shower kit, grandly statuesque in form but offering outstanding form and function. The refined smart range of recessed thermostatic valves complete the KH Zero 1 collection so that the entire bathroom is enjoyable and workable. The successful and complementary partnership will see three further exciting collections introduced throughout 2013/14.
The new European-inspired design of the Courtyard by Marriott brand has been revealed with the opening of the 194-room hotel at Aberdeen Airport. The Courtyard Aberdeen Airport Hotel is the first hotel according to the new design and shall be followed by several other top locations throughout Europe within a short period.
Together with the designers from ICA Interiors and the Marriott headquarters, Baulmann Leuchten developed and supplied the custom-made luminaires for the guestrooms and the public areas.
All pictures are copyright by “Marriott Courtyard Aberdeen Airport”.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Selfi Grupo Operador de Estacionamientos, S.A. de C.V., recently celebrated the ground break on April 22nd of the Holiday Inn Express® Hotel Xalapa. Prominent personalities who attended the ground-breaking ceremony included José Antonio Mansur Beltrán, Federal Delegate of the Economy Ministry, (SE), Carlos Canales Freeman, Chairman State of the Association of Industrial of the State of Veracruz A.C. (Aievac), members of Congress of State and executives, and members of the construction company GILCA among others. Slated to open summer 2014, the construction of this hotel is expected to generate at least 150 direct and 300 indirect jobs. This addition further strengthens the IHG portfolio presence in Veracruz, which currently includes seven hotels comprising two Crowne Plaza® hotels, three Holiday Inn® hotels, one Holiday Inn Express hotel, and a Hotel Indigo® hotel. The Holiday Inn Express Hotel Xalapa will be in the heart of the city on Zaragoza 8, Col. Centro. The five-story, 114-room hotel is being developed by GILCA, with an investment of over $6 million. The 13-story building will have multiple levels of underground parking, two stories devoted to business use and a multi-purpose hall capable of seating up to 400 people.
“This new-build hotel is scheduled to open in summer of 2014, just in time for the forthcoming XXII Central American and The Caribbean Games in Veracruz”, said Pablo Delgado Rannauro, president and CEO, Selfi, Grupo Operador de Estacionamientos.
The Holiday Inn Express Hotel Xalapa, owned and managed by Selfi, Grupo Operador de Estacionamientos, S.A. de C.V., is franchised by an affiliate of IHG.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announces the opening of the highly anticipated Sheraton Tucuman Hotel in Argentina. The spectacular new property offers a vibrant, open atmosphere and all of Sheraton brand’s signature amenities and services, including Sheraton Club Lounge, Link@Sheraton experienced with Microsoft®, and Sheraton Fitness programmed by Core® Performance. It also features extensive state-of-the-art meeting facilities, making it the ideal venue for events. The hotel is located in Tucuman, the capital of the province, facing the beautiful 9 de Julio Park, and blocks away from the city’s Historic and Civic Center. The property is owned by Argentine company Sol del NOA S.A. and is operated by Starwood. Sheraton Tucuman is the ninth Sheraton branded hotel in the country, and the tenth hotel under a Starwood brand in the country. The hotel offers 124 spacious rooms, including six Executive Suites and a Presidential Suite. The Sheraton Club Lounge is located on the top floor, and has a panoramic view of the park and the mountain landscape.
With more than 28,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting space, Sheraton Tucuman will feature one of the largest convention centers in the region. Meeting areas include five ballrooms with the largest measuring more than 10,800 square feet and a poolside terrace that spans more than 9,500 square feet and provides sweeping views of the mountains. The extraordinary landscape is a beautiful backdrop for events and receptions.
The hotel features Mora Bistro Argentino, a gourmet restaurant that will have an international menu strongly influenced by the region’s gastronomy, along with a Lobby Bar and a Snack bar located on the pool deck.
Sheraton Tucuman’s expansive Spa, covering more than 8,600 square feet, is the first of its kind in the region and will provide a full range of regional therapies. The hotel also offers Sheraton Fitness by Programmed Core Performance, the brand’s revolutionary health and fitness program, which offers guests the possibility of working out and eating healthy even while traveling.
Hansgrohe is delighted to announce two key appointments: Mandip Shanker joins the Marketing team as Brand Manager and Simon Gibbins is the latest recruit to the Project Team as Sales Manager.New faces to Hansgrohe, but not to the bathroom industry, both Mandip and Simon are well-known within their relevant fields of expertise. Managing Director, Martin Mongan comments, “We are delighted to have secured the signings of Mandip and Simon who bring a wealth of industry knowledge and experience, which will strengthen our Marketing and Project teams respectively, and further supports our desire to recruit high quality, talented personnel to Hansgrohe.”
Mandip has a proven track record spanning over 10 years as a marketing professional, working in key B2B and B2C marketing roles across finance, leisure, arts and culture and latterly for 5½ years as Marketing Communications Manager at Grohe. Mandip comments on her new role, “Hansgrohe is an amazing brand, in fact it is THE bathroom brand when it comes to inspiring designs, quality and innovation. I see so much potential and look forward to helping the brand grow and strengthen its position further in the UK market.”
Simon comes to Hansgrohe with an impressive 22 years sales experience in the bathroom and building industry under his belt. His various roles for leading plumbers’ merchants and manufacturers have allowed him to develop an in-depth knowledge of the specification process and the needs of the various players whether merchant, installer, retailer, contractor, architect or designer. He comments on his new role, “Having worked for premium bathroom brands, there are very few companies that I would consider moving to, but Hansgrohe is an all-round first class brand. Not only are they fantastic in terms of product design and quality, but also customer service and I really look forward to continuing that tradition and delivering excellent customer service to all my accounts.” Simon will be responsible for an area spanning from North London up as far as the East Midlands.
Sustainable revolutionary flooring brand now in the UK
Bespoke wood distributor, Freed Veneers Ltd has exclusively partnered with Avant to distribute their sustainable composite product, Avant Flooring™, throughout the UK.Laurence Freed, MD of Freed Veneers who supply the likes of Rolls Royce, Bentley, Jaguar and Land Rover says, “We are pleased to be partnering with a brand that shares our values. Avant’s supreme quality and the fact that their products are 100% sustainable is extremely important to us.
“Partnering with Avant, a pioneering manufacturer of high quality and sustainable construction materials, is the next step in our business evolution. This partnership will assist us in meeting market trends within the interior and construction sectors where there is an increasing demand for sustainable solutions.”
Philip Mazloumian, Director of Business Development, Avant Enterprises says, “Avant Flooring, is a composite product researched and developed in Germany. The flooring is revolutionary in its unique composition, which results in extraordinary features such as being extremely durable, waterproof, UV and fire resistant, amongst others.
“The flooring also offers unique energy saving properties. Its four layer structure ensures maximum insulation lowering central heating costs for homes and businesses.”
“The world is looking for smart technologies and materials that are not only attractive and functional, but that apply advanced energy saving features. Avant products meet this demand,” concludes Freed.
For 25 years Freed has specialized in sourcing quality woods, which are then processed to produce wood products that has secured the company with projects across furniture, automotive, aircraft, marine and architectural industries. Modern production facilities around the world ensure we maintain a high quality product essential for all our customers. Understanding the exact client requirements and forming long term relationships are how Freed continues to be one of the most respected wood products companies worldwide.
Avant Flooring offers a lower maintenance option as opposed to other flooring materials such as carpets, wood and parquet. It will never scratch or warp and does not need to be sanded or varnished. The range is made up of 15 grain and stain options that fit perfectly into residential or commercial settings. Because Avant Flooring is 100% waterproof it can also be used in high moisture settings – from bathrooms to swimming pools, as well as docks and yachts.
The building is an existing 116 bedroom hotel in San Francisco, built in 1913. It had been recently purchased by Pebblebrook Hotel Trust and the new ownership group’s directive was to convert the asset from a upper mid -level product to a upper–luxury product that would be attractive to the area’s dynamic ‘Tech Market’ who focussed on Facebook, Zynga and Twitter. The designers were to create a hotel that would cater to the unique tastes, needs and casual lifestyle of a successful ‘Tech Geek’.
To be operated by the Viceroy Hotels Group, the hotel needed to be socially engaging at a very high level. The designers were asked to provide an environment that would offer layers of wit and spontaneity, providing a warm inviting and luxurious environment. Art, technology and sustainability needed to be part of the hotels core DNA. the hotel was to have that boutique personal, individualistic, entertaining and ‘West Coast’ casual ambience. It should be the place for the target audience to go after work to plug in and hangout.
Working hand in hand with the client, Dawson Design Associates began exploring different ways to create the energy and attitude that would both capture and reflect San Francisco’s diversity and energy, and the “work hard, play hard” of the ‘Tech Geek’ who stays connected 24/7. Designed for innovators and artists, it needed the creation of a luxury venue that captured the spirit, needs and attitude of a demographic mostly comprised of the ‘Millennial Generation’ but a venue that would still attract people of all ages with independent, progressive and creative personalities.
The entry level lobby is the social hub with its centralised bar. Guests can use it for impromptu meetings or hanging out with friends. The ambience is relaxed, enabling spontaneity. A two-story art piece designed as a “Plinko game” vertically ties the lobby and the overhanging mezzanine ‘Playroom’ together. Guests are drawn into the gaming spirit as the ball drops from the Playroom above and works its way down the lobby wall into points bins located besides the lobby bar. With a generation of ‘gamers’ the interactive and playful energy of the ‘game’ immediately breaks the ice and creates a fun and dynamic atmosphere. Guests can become playfully active participants in the lobby experience.
Art is integral to the identity of the hotel and as a part of the experience plays a significant rôle in how the hotel feels. One of the challenges was to find fresh and innovative ways to seamlessly fuse play zones and work zones within the lobby experience. Sustainability and re-purposing/ recycling were to be another core value. Fusing art and sustainability, in a natural, personalized and thus meaningful manner became the goal. Sustainable materials are used throughout the hotel, paired with dynamic and engaging art made from re-purposed ‘ junk’, that celebrated the ideas of recycling and reuse in an entertaining and surprising manner.
Chandeliers are made from 1200 pairs of recycled eyeglasses while yet another is made from broken pieces of Murano glass chandeliers pulled from the waste bin. The lobby dog greeting newly arriving guests, is a life sized Great Dane made from old forks, tools and bolts. The art wall behind the bar is a two-story glass sculpture created from old wine bottles and iron. Area rugs are a series of used Persian rugs, gathered from villages in India, Turkey & Pakistan, that have been stitched together to create a single lobby carpet. The front desk is created from recycled hardwood timber scraps. Furniture was selected for its contemporary yet comfortable styling. Many of the pieces are mid-20thcentury modern classics designed in the 60’s.
Like the City itself, there are many surprising layers into the overall hotel experience, reflecting the duality of San Francisco, a city renowned for its beauty. The amber and sepia tones created by the back lit wall on the far side of the lobby provide a warm glowing ambience to the space. Upon close inspection guests will see that is actually comprised of hundreds of ‘mug shots’ from prisoners incarcerated in Alcatraz. Al Capone is one of the many faces represented, staring out of the crowd. The original version of ‘Facebook’, each mug shot has a number, and the hotel has a coffee table book as a guide to describe the prisoner’s names and their crimes. Guests can find a face and research the crime as they enjoy a cocktail with friends.
The mezzanine Playroom continues this discovery attitude where the history of the pool table, shuffleboard, along with wall paneling comprised of recycled doors all contribute to the social conversation and playful energy of the space. As a gaming space for guests, it is both a stylish ‘man-cave’, where the latest technology is being introduced to the market from the leading software companies in the world, and a play zone to hang out and relax. A British telephone booth connects guests to the bar below, to place orders for both food and drink. By attaching the Playroom to the adjacent meeting and conference spaces with rolling galvanized warehouse doors, the Playroom can act as a dynamic pre-function space that can also be sold as a private venue for events and team building parties.
Guestrooms also reflect this fusion of art, technology and sustainability. Hotel Zetta’s newly restyled 116 guestrooms, which range from 250-750 square feet, are among the most modern of San Francisco offerings. The sleek, contemporary design combined with natural elements is meant to exude the feeling of being in an urban loft. Vinyl ‘wood plank’ floorsare softly layered with a smaller scale version of the repurposed ‘patchwork’ Persian area rug, rich in character and history. Comprised of hundreds of original worn out carpets (some 40 years old), cut apart and hand stitched back together, each room has its own variation. Desks in the rooms are commercial butcher block chef tables centered below a dynamic art piece made of recycled floppy discs.
A playful digital bookcase graphic in the guestroom bathrooms display regional books on the Bay Area arts, touring, recycling, IT and even Steve Jobs. The landings of each guestroom corridor feature floor to ceiling wall murals of different ‘land fill’ shots artistically and beautiful to encourage guests to understand that the world must begin to change its perception of junk and learn to revitalize used items instead of throwing them away. It stands as a vivid reminder of our carbon footprint, playfully conveyed.
The hotel features state of the art technology throughout, including an 8′ wide panoramic video monitor in the Boardroom overlooking the lobby.
Due to open on 1st November 2013, Tune Hotel Melbourne will feature 225 rooms, along with an indoor courtyard, recreational lounge, restaurant, café/ convenience store, luggage storage, self-service launderette and computer kiosks. It is also equipped with a basement car park, something unusual for city centre hotels in Australia.The hotel is just two streets away from Lygon Street, famously known as Little Italy. The central business district, Melbourne Central Train Station and QV Melbourne; one of Melbourne’s finest retail, dining and entertainment precincts, is only two tram stops away.
The basic room rate at Tune Hotel Melbourne is inclusive of air-conditioning and heating. For an additional A$10 (approx £6), guests will receive a pair of towels and toiletry kits, along with high-speed wireless broadband and Foxtel TV entertainment.
Tune Hotel Melbourne is offering an attractive room rate from just A$49* (approx £30) per night, available exclusively online at www.tunehotels.com. Bookings can be made between the 18th and 28th June 2013 for stays between 1st November 2013 and 31st March 2014, subject to availability. A total of 1,000 rooms will be made available at this price.
The announcement was made in Kuala Lumpur by Mark Lankester, the Group CEO of Tune Hotels in the presence of the visiting Premier of Victoria, Honourable Dr Denis Napthine. Also present was Co-Founder of Tune Group and Group CEO of AirAsia, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes CBE.
The Honourable Dr Denis Napthine said: “Melbourne’s new Tune Hotel will open its doors in the city’s central business district this November to coincide with Victoria’s world-famous Spring Racing Carnival.”
Dr Napthine also welcomed the decision by Tune Hotels to set up its Australia and New Zealand Operational Headquarters in Melbourne, which is expected to create up to 100 jobs.
Combining well-thought-out design with excellent value for money, Laufen has extended its popular Pro series of sanitaryware and furniture to include the Pro S.Giving retailers the opportunity to offer customers flexibility of design, high-end technical features and the latest contemporary styling at a competitive price-point, Pro S combines perfectly with the classic Laufen Pro collection whilst pointing aesthetically towards the manufacturer’s premium designer ranges.
Designed by Peter Wirz, Laufen Pro S features several different washbasins, in widths of 55, 60, 65 and 70cm, with integrated shelves on the left and right in 85 and 105cm widths and a 130cm wide double washbasin. As a vanity unit solution, the range includes furniture washbasins with base units measuring 60, 80 and 100cm widths. The super-thin ceramic of just 18mm gives the washbasins a very delicate and elegant appearance, whilst the deep basin and generous shelf space either side ensure this will be a highly functional addition to any bathroom space. For the guest bathroom, matching hand washbasins in the smaller sizes of 36, 45 and 48cm are also available
A highlight of the new Pro S collection is a geometric, rectangular wall-hung WC, with a matching bidet, which has been designed to co-ordinate perfectly with the washbasins in the range. The low-level flush WC offers an equally clean, powerful flush with 6/3 and 4.5/3 litres, enabling it to be promoted as much for its water-saving benefits as for its aesthetic qualities. And with an ergonomically designed seat, the Pro S WC is the first truly comfortable square-edged WC to be brought to market. The good news for installers is that Laufen has developed a hidden wall-hung WC mounting system, to greatly reduce fitting time.
Completing the Laufen Pro S line-up is a new range of furniture base units, in classic clear designs to provide essential storage space below the washbasin. Robust and highly functional, the furniture features design details that has previously only been found on pieces with a much higher price tag. Integrated handles and soft-close drawers with no cumbersome trap cut-out all come as standard with Pro S, whilst optional interior drawers and adjustable aluminium feet are also available.
Laufen Pro S furniture is available in on trend colours including white glossy, white matt, wenge and graphite, along with 38 other colour options. A floorstanding chrome guard rail for the 85 and 105cm washbasins completes the Pro S collection, which gives the retailer a variety of ways to grab the attention of customers, beyond the attractive price point. For the first time Laufen are offering retailers the opportunity to order vanity packs, containing a basin and matching unit, under one code to make ordering simple.
With over 20% of all visits to its website coming from mobile phones and tablets, Wilton Carpets has developed a new mobile-friendly Carpet Search app that offers users rapid and efficient access to its Ready to Go, FastTrack and Bespoke design libraries when on the move. Users can scroll through swatches of the Ready to Go and FastTrack design carpet collections, or pinpoint the right look with the Design Search tool that finds styles by name, pattern or type. Once a design has been selected, Room View offers an instant 3D preview mockup of the carpet in different popular room types. Designs can be bookmarked for fast reference by saving straight to ‘Favourites’, or swiftly ordered with a click of the ‘Post me a Sample’ icon.
As Suna Jones, marketing manager for Wilton Carpets explains: “Flooring choice is a fundamental element to interior design, so we are really excited and pleased to be launching this mobile app. We expect this to become a vital tool for interior designers and flooring contractors as they will be able to browse all our carpet collections and search through an extensive bespoke design archive while out and about with customers.”
For further information contact Wilton Carpets Commercial on 01722 746000 or sales@wiltoncarpets.com
Vacation resort developer Orange Lake Resorts, which operates ten properties, announced that it officially closed on a transaction with English Garden LV LLC to expand its portfolio to now include Colonial Crossings Resort in Williamsburg, VA. The intent for this resort is to become a part of the Holiday Inn Club Vacations® brand in early 2014. The 120-unit Colonial Crossings resort, located eight miles from historic Williamsburg includes: an outdoor pool, business center, fitness center, arcade, outdoor patio area, meeting space, complimentary Wi-Fi and daily resort activity programming.
Orange Lake Resorts plans to commit more than $8 million over the next year to upgrade the interior of Colonial Crossings Resort. In addition, a currently unused building will be built-out with new villas and furnishings, where the top two floors will feature the upscale Signature Collection villas with granite countertops, deluxe kitchen appliances and enhanced interior décor. Orange Lake Resorts also plans to construct a new amenity building on the property.
Holiday Inn Club Vacations was created in September 2008 as a strategic alliance between IHG, the world’s largest hotel company, and Orange Lake Resorts, a leader within the resort industry with more than 30 years of proven success. The brand’s flagship property in Orlando, located next to Walt Disney World® Resort, was established in 1982 by Holiday Inn founder Kemmons Wilson. Other resort locations include Lake Geneva, Wis., Panama City Beach and Marco Island, Fla., Brownsville, Vt., Myrtle Beach, S.C., Gatlinburg, Tenn., Galveston, Texas and Las Vegas, Nev.
The newly launched Panaz website (Panaz.com) has a fresh new look, user-friendly navigation, ‘search’ and ‘swatch book’ facilities and valuable information on new collections and technical features. The brief was simple: to provide our users with an enjoyable experience when seeking information on our extensive range of fabrics knowing this will enhance our enviable position in the marketplace and our relationship with current and future Panaz customers.
Visit Panaz.com to access our full range of collections and designs with the ability to drill down further by searching for a particular design, colour, style or end use. Featured alongside each fabric are the full product details, technical specifications and cleaning instructions.
Panaz.com reflects our position as a leading fabric supplier globally and we hope you will visit us soon.
New to The Contract Chair Company is the Loop Lounge Chair.Available in a range of standard fabrics/leathers or C.O.M, the chair has been designed to suit a variety of settings where comfort is required.
The Loop Lounge Chair is available with or without head rest and has a swivel mechanism.
A new hotel by Centara Hotels & Resorts has recently had its soft-opening on 15 July 2013. Located a short distance from Bangkok’s mainline railway terminus and on the fringe of Chinatown, Centra Central Station Bangkok is a 150-room hotel in Centara’s value brand portfolio, catering for the needs of individual travellers, families, and groups of friends.The completely new-build hotel will make a perfect base for travellers who are using the mainline railway service, being opposite to HuaLamphong railway terminus, which serves lines throughout Thailand.
The MRT underground Metro also has a station at HuaLamphong, and guests at the hotel will be able to use the subway to explore Bangkok.
The décor of the hotel rooms is in a bright modern style, with warm colours and elements of oriental design, and guests will be able to relax at Cense by Spa Cevaree and workout at Cenfit, the hotel’s fitness centre.
Lansdowne House lies to the southwest of Berkeley Square in central London, and was designed by Robert Adam as a private house. Since 1935, it has been the home of the Lansdowne Club.Focus SB have added some beautiful finishing touches to this stunning interior. Designed with minute architectural details and lavish furnishings, the property stands as a sleek building, which excites the senses.
Property owner and Designer Audrey Lovelock commented: “The sockets are a sleek design. I was looking for good quality and value for money and Focus SB fitted the bill. They were very helpful when I called up also.”
The stylish Lansdowne House features both soft and stone related design elements with mushroom velvet art-deco style seating, fur blankets, marble floor and white plastered walls, a breathing open fire, and sharp angles.
Created with simple design elements, the minimalist interior features satin chrome finished Focus SB electrical face-plates, which add an extra defined edge, glitz, shine and shimmer, to the remotely lit interior.
These electrical plates sit flat on the wall while the satin finish gives the plates a subtle silk-like appearance. A black wall, against which the plates are laid, juxtaposes their satin shine and provides a striking impression to the electrical sockets.
For more information on Focus SB’s services and prices contact: 01424 858060.
The building is an existing 116 bedroom hotel in San Francisco, built in 1913. It had been recently purchased by Pebblebrook Hotel Trust and the new ownership group’s directive was to convert the asset from a upper mid -level product to a upper–luxury product that would be attractive to the area’s dynamic ‘Tech Market’ who focussed on Facebook, Zynga and Twitter. The designers were to create a hotel that would cater to the unique tastes, needs and casual lifestyle of a successful ‘Tech Geek’.
To be operated by the Viceroy Hotels Group, the hotel needed to be socially engaging at a very high level. The designers were asked to provide an environment that would offer layers of wit and spontaneity, providing a warm inviting and luxurious environment. Art, technology and sustainability needed to be part of the hotels core DNA. the hotel was to have that boutique personal, individualistic, entertaining and ‘West Coast’ casual ambience. It should be the place for the target audience to go after work to plug in and hangout. Working hand in hand with the client, Dawson Design Associates began exploring different ways to create the energy and attitude that would both capture and reflect San Francisco’s diversity and energy, and the “work hard, play hard” of the ‘Tech Geek’ who stays connected 24/7. Designed for innovators and artists, it needed the creation of a luxury venue that captured the spirit, needs and attitude of a demographic mostly comprised of the ‘Millennial Generation’ but a venue that would still attract people of all ages with independent, progressive and creative personalities.
The entry level lobby is the social hub with its centralized bar. Guests can use it for impromptu meetings or hanging out with friends. The ambience is relaxed, enabling spontaneity. A two-story art piece designed as a “Plinko game” vertically ties the lobby and the overhanging mezzanine ‘Playroom’ together. Guests are drawn into the gaming spirit as the ball drops from the Playroom above and works its way down the lobby wall into points bins located besides the lobby bar. With a generation of ‘gamers’ the interactive and playful energy of the ‘game’ immediately breaks the ice and creates a fun and dynamic atmosphere. Guests can become playfully active participants in the lobby experience.
Fabrics and Papers (www.fabricsandpapers.com) has expanded its burgeoning choice of English country linens with the addition of the Cloth of and Cover and the Peony & Sage collections which represent the very best of cottage-style artisan designs.Cloth & Clover’s linen collection features four beautiful prints named after villages in the Worcestershire countryside where Tania McIvor, the company’s principal, spent her childhood. Each print is based on an antique document and has a timeless appeal that works for both traditional and modern interiors. The fabrics are printed on to a pure linen base cloth which is not only beautiful, but also practical and hardwearing.
Dormston is a garden inspired trailing floral; Pixley is a small scale geometric; The Littletons is a classic polka dot; and Peopleton, is a playful figurative print of Mr Farmer and his animal friends. Pictures show the Dornston fabric.
Cloth & Clover has been born out of an enduring love for fabrics and interiors combined with a fascination for the many traditional processes and skills involved in their design and manufacture.
Peony & Sage was founded by interior designer Kimberley Bell. Her linen designs are inspired by a mix of nature and French antique fabrics. The whole collection was designed to be versatile: the linens to appeal to different tastes and suitable for all room types, for curtains and upholstery.
The Peony & Sage linens are mostly printed on natural cream linen. Pasha Red and Fudge Hares can come on beautiful Oatmeal flax linen. The new Nordilka collection, mostly printed on a really soft Oyster linen, creates a fresh yet delicate range of new fabrics. First in the series is Hattie on Oyster. Pictures show a range of Peony & Sage fabrics.
Other suppliers which feature in Fabrics & Papers English country linens collection include Cabbages and Roses, Kate Foreman, Vanessa Arbuthnott and St Judes.
By exploring www.fabricsandpapers.com, customers can create their own schemes and request wallpaper samples from over 6,000 carefully selected wallpapers and fabrics. A dedicated design team is on hand at the end of a telephone line (01273 495500) to discuss customers’ individual requirements and offer help and advice.
Meliá Hotels International has taken an important step in its growth in Latin America with the announcement of an agreement to open 5 Innside by Meliá hotels in Chile together with the a Private Investment Fund lead by Grupo Armas, the first for the Innside by Meliá brand in the Americas after its rapid international growth over the past year. The intense growth of the company continues with the addition of a new hotel around every three weeks, and 14 new hotels signed up in Europe, the Middle East and Latin America already In 2013.The agreement involves the construction of 5 hotels by Grupo Armas which will be managed by Meliá Hotels International, and is very much in line with the strategies of both companies. For Meliá,, it is an excellent introduction to a high-potential market in a region in which the Company has high brand recognition and a leadership profile which allows low capital intensive growth through hotel management agreements. In particular, the Hotel Group notes that this growth comes from the hand of a solvent group of acknowledged prestige as Grupo Armas.
For Grupo Armas, its properties will enjoy the benefits of the strength of the successful international Innside brand along with the management guarantee provided by almost 60 years of experience and the proven track record of Meliá Hotels International.
As part of the agreement, the companies also signed the management contract for the first of the five hotels to be developed in Santiago de Chile along the coming 5 years: the Innside Santiago, a modern and avant-garde hotel located in Bucarest Street in the heart of the Providencia district, the city’s financial and commercial heart, which will open in 2014.
The hotel will offer120 rooms, restaurant, bar and gym, plus 250m2 of meeting and event rooms. Meliá Hotels International will play an active role in the final design through a technical assistance agreement with the owner, ensuring compliance with the standards demanded by the “business lifestyle” Innside brand aimed at travellers attracted by practical design, intelligent smart and efficient service and functionality, combined with leisure options and contact with the city.
Both Meliá Hotels International and Grupo Armas will be also actively looking for opportunities to develop the brand in countries where Grupo Armas is already active, such as Peru and Colombia.
The Innside brand has fifteen hotels open or scheduled in Germany, three in Madrid, one in Manchester, another in Copenhagen, and one in Malaysia, and Santiago de Chile will become its first hotel on the American continent. For this reason, and given the importance of the strategic agreement, Gabriel Escarrer, Vice Chairman and CEO of Meliá Hotels International, stated after signing that “our company is very excited about the prospect of operating in Chile, in particular with Innside by Meliá, a brand that is proving to be a revelation in the city hotel industry, and also about the prospect of working with a such a solvent and powerful company as Grupo Armas, a perfect partner for us and one which offers the best guarantees for development of an ambitious project which will undoubtedly change the face of the urban hotel industry in Chile.”
For Cristian Armas, Chief Executive Officer of Grupo Armas, “we believe in the potential of the urban hospitality industry in a country like Chile, and we are thrilled to involve ourselves in it with a partner like Meliá Hotels International, a leader not only in Latin America, but in a country as influential as Spain, in Europe, and currently present in 39 countries. We think that the Innside hotels, now rapidly expanding worldwide, will perfectly fit today’s Chilean business traveller needs and will exceed their expectations”.
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has recently announced the opening of the Crowne Plaza Detroit Downtown Convention Center hotel. Formerly the Ponchartrain Hotel, the property recently underwent a substantial renovation, with upgrades to all of the guest rooms as well as to its common areas and the exterior. This Detroit hotel, located at 2 Washington Blvd. in downtown Detroit, offers visitors breathtaking views of the Detroit River and the city skyline. It is adjacent to Detroit’s COBO Convention Center and minutes away from the headquarters of General Motors® and other major corporations. The hotel is also close to major sporting venues, including Joe Louis Arena and Ford Field, home to the Detroit Lions football team.
The 25-story Crowne Plaza Detroit Downtown Convention Center hotel has 367 guestrooms, of which more than 60 are suites. Guests can take advantage of a variety of amenities, including an indoor pool, a business centre and a well-outfitted fitness centre. More than 10,000 square feet of meeting space is available, with nine meeting rooms and a ballroom that can be configured to accommodate a banquet for more than 350 people. Additionally, the hotel is equipped with an executive level floor with a separate lounge, as well as concierge service and valet parking.
The hotel includes two restaurants, a lounge and an upscale café and gift shop. Guests looking for a casual bistro environment for breakfast, lunch or dinner can visit Reflections, a full-service restaurant. For more formal dining, the hotel offers dinner at the Top of the Ponch restaurant. Guests can also find a varied menu of lunch and dinner items at the hotel’s Lobby Bar, including options for late-night room service.
The hotel features the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage® program, which encompasses the entire sleep experience, from training staff on how to create and maintain a restful environment to providing innovative products and services. Program components include signature bedding, guaranteed wake-up calls, designated quiet zones and aromatherapy.
The Crowne Plaza Detroit Downtown Convention Center hotel, owned by Hotel Ponchartrain LLC, and operated by Equity Hospitality Management, is franchised by an affiliate of IHG.
Pullman, the Accor Group’s upscale international brand, is inaugurating the Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach. It is the fifteenth resort in its portfolio, the fifth Pullman in Thailand, and nestled in Naithon Beach, one of the most beautiful expanses on Phuket’s west coast. And it is steeped in the brand’s “Work hard, Play hard” spirit and mirrors new seasoned travelers’ wants and needs, i.e. hotels and resorts that are pulsating with life, that put people in touch with each other, and where they do not need to choose between pleasure and performance. Pullman, in other words, is pushing ahead with its expansion in top business and tourist destinations. An in style address in an ideal spot in Phuket The Pullman Phuket Arcardia Naithon Beach is nestled in tropical hills and overlooks the Andaman Sea. Its design, by Thai artist Supachai Ketkaroonkul, intertwines the highest international standards with the delicate beauty of that country’s architecture.
The hotel and its surroundings, especially the waterfalls and countless vantage points over the Andaman Sea, treat visitors to unforgettable experiences – and to direct access to Naithon Beach, one of the island’s most beautiful shorelines and one of Phuket’s best kept secrets.
This hotel has 277 rooms and 7 suites, all of which look out onto breathtaking views of the Andaman Sea.
Like every other Pullman hotel and resorts, it features the best of the brand’s signature services including the Welcomer, Pullman bed, free Wi-Fi, lounge Connectivity by Pullman, Co-Meeting offer for the MICE market, Nespresso® experience, Vinoteca by Pullman wine list and Pullman Fit & Spa Lounge.
Cosmopolitan cuisine A poolside cocktail, hot croissant any time day or night and Pad Thai are only three of the highlights in the extensive choice of culinary treats served in the friendly areas designed for business or leisure customers.
A culinary experience in two restaurants… • Elements is open 24 hours a day and serves fusion cuisine blending Thai and Western traditions. • Vero, an Italian trattoria and wine bar, captures the essence of Italian traditions and takes the taste buds on a journey to Italy’s most amazing regions. … and 4 bars to chill out • The Deli is cosmopolitan delicatessen that serves rich chocolate treats, scrumptious pastries, cheese and wine from around the world. • C Bar, the hotel’s lobby lounge, is a spacious, relaxing and classy sitting room by the infinity pool, and entirely dedicated to a single purpose: to treat guests to a one-of-a-kind wind-down experience. This is where visitors can enjoy the Vinoteca by Pullman, a selection of local and international wines by the bottle or glass. • Azur is the bar by the main swimming pool. It overlooks Naithon Beach and the splendid surroundings, and is the perfect spot to relax by the water. • Float is the daytime family rec center. It serves kids’ favorite snacks and drinks, and was designed and built especially for families.
An open door to a relaxing experience Visitors who enjoy working out or winding down at the spa will love the Pullman Fit Lounge and the resort’s Dhatri Spa. This spa is named after the god of “health and tranquility” and treats guests to a choice of relaxing, revitalizing and rebalancing treatments combining Asian traditions and western beauty care. The Dhatri Spa has three individual massage rooms, a double suite and a beauty parlor, and also provides treatment in guests’ rooms.
The Spa’s care products are hand-mixed using fresh and natural ingredients, and beauty products by Payot, a French cosmetics brand, are also available. The Spa boutique also sells these products to continue pampering guests after their stay.
The place to meet The 850 square meters of meeting venues spanning 9 rooms are used exclusively to organize all types of professional and private events. The Pullman Co-Meeting concept is the key to meeting success: it guarantees guests enjoy the comfort and connectivity they need to focus on cohesion and commitment. The wide choice of areas and amenities for business customers include rest areas, meeting-room equipment, dining rooms, videoconferencing services, the Pullman Chill out Space, and innovative breaks. A team comprising an Event Manager and an IT Solutions Manager watches over every detail. The Connectivity by Pullman lounge allows customers to stay in touch, print out documents and work efficiently using latest-generation systems.
These ultra-modern areas (the meeting rooms and private dining rooms, a boardroom and a ballroom), and the adjoining terraces looking out onto amazing views of the Andaman Sea, can cater to groups from 10 to 600 people. The 389-sqm Arcadia Ballroom, for example, has 6-meter-high ceilings. This hotel’s design places the meeting rooms and guest rooms at the heart of the resort.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has opened the first ever Holiday Inn Express in Singapore, located in the heart of the country’s vibrant shopping district and entertainment hub, Orchard Road. Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road is the first of two Holiday Inn Express hotels planned for Singapore during the brand’s rapid expansion across South East Asia. The 221-room hotel is within easy walking distance of popular shopping malls, such as ION Orchard and Ngee Ann City, as well as prime medical centres, Mount Elizabeth Hospital and Paragon Medical Centre. The hotel offers convenient access to great restaurants, bars and entertainment options. Somerset and Orchard MRT Stations are just a stone’s throw away, providing easy access to the CBD and the rest of Singapore.
Guests will stay refreshed and energised during their time at Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road with: – Free and fast Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel, so guests can stay connected all day, every day. – Free Express Start™ breakfast bar to get guests’ days off to a great start or, for those in a hurry, a Grab & Go breakfast option. – Well-designed rooms, featuring high quality bedding with a choice of soft and firm pillows. – Refreshing power showers in the bathrooms with three-head massage showerhead to recharge guests after a long day exploring Orchard Road. – The hotel also features a self-service business centre and laundry room.
Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road is the third Holiday Inn Express hotel in South East Asia, joining two sister hotels in Thailand – Holiday Inn Express Phuket Patong Beach Central and Holiday Inn Express Bangkok Siam. In Singapore, the hotel will be joined by Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay in Q1 2014. Over the next five years 17 hotels are scheduled to open in South East Asia across Thailand (2), Indonesia (12), Singapore (1) and Malaysia (2).
Carlson Rezidor, one of the ten largest hotel groups worldwide and one of the leading hotel operators on the African continent, announces the Park Inn by Radisson Kigali in Rwanda. The stylish upper midscale property featuring 161 rooms is Carlson Rezidor’s second hotel project in Kigali: The group already develops the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre Kigali that is scheduled to open in Q2 2104. The Park Inn by Radisson will welcome the first guests just a few months later in Q3 2014.
The site of the Park Inn by Radisson Kigali is centrally located in the up-market Nyarugenge district of the city centre – less than 12km west of the International Airport, Rwanda’s primary point of entry. Besides 161 comfortable and functional guest rooms, the hotel will offer a 225m² all-day dining restaurant, a 80m² lobby bar, a club lounge, an outdoor swimming pool with a 110m² pool bar and terrace, 500m² meeting & conference facilities as well as gym, spa, hair salon and nightclub.
Joseph Mugisha, Chairman of Hotel Vision Limited, the hotel owning company of the Park Inn by Radisson in Kigali, commented: “We are delighted to partner with such an important international hotel company like Carlson Rezidor and their exciting Park Inn by Radisson brand because of its outstanding quality and renowned services. Our companies share a common vision that will make the Park Inn by Radisson in Kigali the hotel of choice in the mid-market category in Kigali”.
Launched in July, the super clever Revive illuminated mirror range from Bauhaus has Bluetooth® wireless technology feature that can be activated via any smartphone, tablet or device that has Bluetooth® facility. Once activated you broadcast weather, news and sport via online radio or listen to your favourite music via high quality concealed stereo speakers. As with all Bauhaus products, Revive combines smart design with practicality. Mirrors are Class I IP44 rated, have generous head and shoulder proportions, no touch PIR sensor on/off switch and feature wonderful backlit lighting using low energy LEDs through an etched surface design, the 5mm thick mirrors come in oval and rounded corner square shapes. A demist pad means the glass won’t steam up.
“Consumers are looking for new and cost effective ways to update a bathroom. The simple addition of a modern mirror packed with modern technology features like this can breathe new life into any bathroom space and turn a morning-ritual into me-time” Marten Baker, Bauhaus.
Brintons, world leaders in designing and manufacturing woven contract carpets, have launched their latest Australian stocked ranges – Shadow and Fringe in Europe.Shadow and Fringe offers specifiers and end users a choice of sophisticated, high performance, contract specification Axminster carpets which have been designed specifically for hospitality and leisure applications.
The collections are available from stock and are perfect for quick-turnaround projects where timing is of the essence. There is something for every style of interior – from melodic interlocking hoops for the cool and contemporary space, to architecturally-inspired mesh-structures which can be used to create mesmeric, daring spaces. Woven in Brintons’ 80% wool, 20% nylon yarn blend at Brintons own manufacturing plants, Shadow and Fringe offers an expert flooring solution that is engineered to perform in the most demanding, heavy traffic areas.
Shadow and Fringe are also available through Brintons Design Studio Online (DSO) where users can interact with the designs, recolour them and view them in a room.
The hospitality industry has been working to improve its environmental credentials, improving its waste management, energy efficiency, recycling, and water use. Now the UK’s furniture, fabric and equipment supplier, Forbes Group is bringing some glamour to this important area with its latest fabric – EcoFab. Forbes’ chair covers, skirting, table covers, and cocktail covers are well-known for making a special occasion of any event and bringing the “wow factor” to parties, dinners, receptions and weddings.
When made from Forbes’ EcoFab they can now help the environment. This revolutionary new fabric is made 100% from recycled plastic bottles. As a polyester fabric it has all the usual merits of being hard-wearing, crease-, stain- and shrink-resistant, machine-washable and needs no ironing. Besides which it shrugs off spills – useful in the party zone.
Add to this its soft good looks, smart tailoring and a variety of designs, and you’d think it was already angelic enough. But the way it is made has not only kept plastic bottles out of landfill, it has consumed 53% less energy than conventional polyester. It’s making a real difference, here and now, helping the hospitality sector play a material part in protecting the planet.
Who said caring for the environment had to be boring?
For more information, call us now on 01568 616638, email us at info@forbesgroup.eu, or take a peek at www.forbesgroup.eu
Marriott International has recently revealed the new European-inspired design of its upper-moderate Courtyard by Marriott brand with the opening of the 194-room Courtyard by Marriott Aberdeen Airport Hotel in the United Kingdom. As the first example of the design model announced in 2011, the property is a welcome addition to the brand’s offering of 45 hotels in Europe and more than 900 hotels worldwide. Boasting a contemporary and fresh new design and enhanced room functionality, the new Courtyard model is designed to be more locally relevant and appeal to the European traveller. The Courtyard Aberdeen Airport Hotel is the first to debut the new look with the following hotels opening in the next couple of years:
• 230-room Courtyard Cologne, Germany • 120-room Courtyard Le Bourget, France • 175-room Courtyard Gdynia, Poland • 170-room Courtyard Amsterdam Atlas Park, The Netherlands • 135-room Courtyard Ulyanovsk, Russia
The Courtyard Aberdeen Airport Hotel is ideally located 5 minutes’ walk from Aberdeen airport and 6 miles from the city centre, with the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre also just a short distance away. The hotel is the perfect launch-pad from which to enjoy Scotland’s beautiful beaches and walking trails as well as numerous golf courses and whisky distilleries.
The hotel’s 194 contemporary guestrooms feature clean lines, natural light and a Mediterranean colour palette. Designed to promote productivity, the rooms are equipped with ample work space, task lighting and multiple, accessible outlets making plugging in easy. Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel will make working and relaxing on guests’ own terms seamless.
The hotel’s spacious lobby is designed to support the business traveller’s needs for dining, meeting and socialising with flexible seating, an interactive GoBoard™ screen featuring the latest news, weather and local information and a 24-hour market. The hotel also features an all-day Bistro Restaurant with menu items adapted to local tastes and demand, a 40 square metre meeting room, a business lounge and a gym.
Sleep Hotel, dubbed “the catwalk of hotel design”, is set to bring together some of the hotel industry’s best-known designers with several newer names that are making their mark on the sector. Kelly Hoppen, BDP, The Hickson Design Partnership and Purpose Design are headlining the event this year which challenges design companies to create a concept for an imaginary hotel working to a particularly demanding brief. These design teams will collaborate with fit-out specialists and product suppliers of their choice to build their concept for Sleep Hotel, which is staged in London’s Business Design Centre annually.This year, the brief is inspired by the widespread interest in, and nostalgia for, the 1960s, and is asking designers to ‘redesign’ a junior suite in a fictitious hotel originally built during the heyday of ‘Pop Art’, translating the radical spirit of this cultural movement into a contemporary experience that is relevant today. An exciting added dimension to Sleep Hotel 2013 is that the Barbican, London’s leading multiarts venue which will be running a major exhibition Pop Art Design between 22nd October 2013 – 9th February 2014, has joined forces with Sleep. As a result, the Barbican exhibition curator, Catherine Ince, will be selecting the winning room set at the event with fellow judges, Anthony Ingham, Starwood’s VP – Luxury and Design Brands EMEA and Conrad Smith, Managing Director of ReardonSmith Architects.
“Sleep Hotel provides a great platform for designers, with their fit-out team and suppliers, to show just how imaginative they can be,” says Conrad Smith. “As a judge last year, I was so impressed by the talent, enthusiasm and attention to detail that all the contenders demonstrated, and by the fact that the sets weren’t just showbiz. They were rooms with great ideas for real hotels”.
Nous Design is creating another much favoured room set located in the Sleep Hotel space – the bar. “We will be creating a dynamic social experience,” promises Nir Gilad, Creative Director at Nous. “Without giving too much away at this point, think taps flowing with champagne and ice trays exuding mist!”
The Sleep Hotel challenge last year was the creation of a five-star bedroom and bathroom with a meagre 23 sq m space. This stimulated a collection of highly innovative and stylish room sets, all constructed to an astonishingly high quality despite the constraint of a mere one day to set-up. The winning room was Shaded White designed by Scott Brownrigg and built by Wilmott Dixon Interiors.
Speaking of the achievement, Una Barac, Director at Scott Brownrigg, says: “It was an incredible experience and we thoroughly enjoyed the teamwork with Wilmott Dixon Interiors and an excellent set of suppliers. The marketing and profile that the practice has received following the award has been invaluable and led to some very interesting opportunities.”
Sleep Hotel is part of Sleep, Europe’s number one hotel design destination, recognised as an exponent of fresh ideas and a showcase for new products as well as a celebration of excellence in hotel architecture and design. Sleep comprises: The European Hotel Design Awards, a design and development conference and a major exhibition as well as Sleep Hotel. Together, they attract over 4,000 visitors and guests from across Europe, the Middle East and North America making Sleep the number one networking opportunity for the hotel design, development and supply community.
A Wink of Sleep The European Hotel Design Awards Dinner – Tuesday 19th November, Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge, London
Sleep Exhibition, conference and seminars – Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st November, Business Design Centre Islington, London
Sleep Hotel awards ceremony – 7.00 pm, Wednesday 20th November at the Business Design Centre
All of Sleep, apart from the European Hotel Design Awards Dinner, is free to attend. For more information and to book, visit www.thesleepevent.com
Our leather beanbags are shaped, as the name suggests, like the exotic Carambole star shaped fruit. “La Carambole” is the latest in Mille Couleurs’s uniquely designed range of Genuine Leather Beanbags. Unique to Mille Couleurs London, each beanbag is handmade in London and uses the highest quality, durable, genuine Italian leather, available in two sizes and a variety of colours.
The smallest version of the leather beanbag, called La Carambole Petite, is similar to its bigger sister but very versatile in use. Not only can it be used as a normal beanbag, it can also serve as a headrest or pillow on the sofa or bed. Used with the Carambole Grande leather beanbag, it can serve as a footrest.
• Colour: Various colours • Material: High quality genuine Italian leather • Height: 50cm /35cm • Diagonal: 123cm / 60cm • Consists of six leather panels • Embossed with Mille Couleurs London logo • Minimum of 3 extra great extra seating solutions on the bigger one
This is a snapshot of the Kesterport luxury seating collection, manufactured using only the highest quality materials and suitable for both contract and domestic environments.Solid beech frames can be stained to match a colour sample provided and finished in either a matt or high gloss polyester lacquer.
All pieces are available in standard factory fabrics/leathers or upholstered in customers own material.
The Washington Marriott at Metro Center, situated at 775 12th Street and H Street, NW, has announced the completion of the renovation of its 459 guestrooms and suites, a multi-million investment by its owners, Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. In addition to the new look of the guestrooms; the hotel is an early adopter of Marriott Hotels’ new mobile check-in, allowing smartphone users a convenient, easier and faster way to check-in. Marriott Hotels is the signature brand within the Marriott International, Inc. global portfolio.The guestrooms new design is inspired by nature. A fresh green palette and organic elements provide a calming retreat. Splashes of mint green compliment the rich chocolate brown present in the carpet and accents. Dark burgundy wine upholstery with deep patter texture that is utilized on the ottoman accents is unexpected, but compliments this new exciting color palate. Business and leisure travelers both will appreciate the upgraded WiFi, i-pod docking station, Bath&Body Works® Energizing Aromatherapy products, and HDTVs.
With the Marriott Mobile App, check-in is simple to use. All Marriott Rewards members can check-in after 4 pm the day before their arrival and receive an automatic notification when their room is ready. Because credit card information is stored within their Marriott Rewards profiles, members simply walk up to the expedited mobile check-in desk where their pre-programmed key card will be waiting for them. The mobile check-in feature is available in the free Marriott mobile app in the Apple iTunes Store and Google Play.
design-conscious.co.uk are pleased to announce that they are now an authorised dealer of the String® Shelving system: the original Design Classic mix amd match shelving system.Swedish architect Nils Strinning (1917-2006) designed String® in 1949. This super flexible distinctive and minimalist shelving system earned him a reputation as one of the designers who laid the foundations of modern Scandinavian design. Today String® shelves can be found on walls all over the world.
The string system is a collection of just a few components, but each of those components is so well thought through that there is almost an infinite variety of combinations. Thanks to the slim wire panels it is possible to create a shelf large enough to hold a great number of books and objects whilst still looking light. But don’t be fooled, String® is pretty heavyweight too – depending on the layout it is recommended each shelf can accommodate 15-20kg of evenly spread load.
The components are available in a range of colours and finishes, whilst the measurements are fixed and have never been altered. That is why a String shelf can be rebuilt, reinvented and transformed. Grow or even shrink with your requirements, flexibility that lasts a lifetime.
The String® system briefly comprises of two floor standing wire side panels and two wall mounted wire side panels in a choice of three colours; shelves in a choice of two depths, two lengths and five finishes. Accessories include a small desk and angled magazine shelf, cabinet with sliding doors and a two drawer chest. A new folding table is being introduced in 2013 along with some other new ideas to make String® even more indispensable.
In addition to the system there is also The String® Pocket – an off-the-shelf shelf kit. This is a compact wall mounted shelving unit that comes boxed in a kit comprising two wire side panels and three composite shelves (veneered or lacquered). You can install this small bookcase almost anywhere you have a wall; perfect for a little bathroom shelving, in the kitchen or bedroom and narrow enough for a hallway. It’s also perfect for a shop display or exhibition. The String® Pocket can be expanded extensively, vertically or horizontally and is available in various colours: Black, White, Pink, Yellow, and Walnut and with new colours for 2013 Raw, Copper and White Ash, so you are sure to find a version that complements your interior scheme.
If you’d like to know more about the possibilities of String® shelving, just drop us a line.
At the beginning of July, Accor celebrated the opening of the Group’s 5th hotel in Moscow – the 18th in the region made up of Russia and the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States).The Novotel Moscow City capitalizes on the brand’s strengths. The first Accor establishment located in the heart of Moscow City, the capital’s business district, the hotel offers 360 rooms and contemporary design.
For business travelers there are more than 1,000 square meters of meeting space equipped with the latest technology, including a Eureka room designed for creative meetings. Two Mac corners – free access – are available to business customers.
But the hotel hasn’t neglected pleasure – it has a space dedicated to relaxation with a Spa and a gym, while the MC Traders restaurant takes care of dining pleasure with a menu featuring international cuisine in a very modern setting.
AEG and MGM Resorts International have completed and executed transactional agreements formalizing the details of the previously announced joint venture to build a new arena project, which will be the centerpiece of a complete revitalization of the area between New York-New York and Monte Carlo resorts, extending from Las Vegas Blvd. to Frank Sinatra Drive. They have selected Populous, designers of many of the world’s most memorable sports, concert and entertainment venues as the Architect of Record and designer for the new approximately 20,000-seat indoor arena.The arena is expected to break ground in summer 2014, with the grand opening projected for spring 2016. The project is anticipated to cost approximately $350 million and be financed with equity contributions from each of the partners as well as privately funded third-party financing.
“Finalizing our agreement with AEG and selecting Populous, a world-class design firm, as the architect of this project are both important milestones in this process,” said Jim Murren, MGM Resorts International Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “The combination of MGM and AEG, along with the excellent Las Vegas Strip location, is already driving interest from potential investors in this exciting new development.”
Populous is underway creating designs for the state-of-the-art arena set to become Las Vegas’ premier destination for sporting events, major headline entertainment and special events that will drive significant visitation and revenue to Las Vegas. The venue will feature a variety of unique premium seating offerings as well as other hospitality areas for entertaining and private events.
Dan Beckerman, President & Chief Executive Officer, AEG, said, “After spending many years exploring a variety of arena opportunities in Las Vegas, we are excited to have consummated a partnership with MGM Resorts International, the leading gaming and hospitality company, to begin designing and building a state-of-the-art arena on such an ideally located site. Bringing together the knowledge, experience and assets of our respective organizations, we will create an arena that offers fans the best live entertainment experience.”
AEG Global Partnerships, an affiliate of AEG that collaborates with more than 100 venues and other AEG assets worldwide to create sales and marketing platforms, will undertake the sales of sponsorships, premium seating and luxury suite sales as well as seeking a naming rights partner for the new Las Vegas showplace.
Chris Carver, Senior Principal at Populous, said, “The new MGM-AEG arena in Las Vegas will provide the nation’s preeminent entertainment destination with a world-class venue that will redefine amenities and premium offerings tailored to the demanding Las Vegas market. We very much look forward to working with MGM and AEG to fulfill their progressive aspirations and quality standards for the entire development.”
World leaders in the design and development of iconic arena projects, Populous’ portfolio of sports facilities includes more than 20 projects in association with AEG or ICON Venue Group (serving as project managers for the project) including London’s O2 arena, Berlin’s O2 World arena and Kansas City’s Sprint Center.
The plans for the building of the 24th ICEHOTEL in Swedish Lapland are well underway, with the designs submitted and 20 winning artists just announced, including two Brits – film director Marcus Dillistone and sculptor Rob Harding.A total of 200 designs were submitted for this year’s hotel with those selected including a London underground platform, a Frankenstein-esque science lab, pole dancing Polar Bears and a Montmartre-inspired roof top setting – all made of ice and snow. The guest designers, who will be responsible for crafting the eleven art suites in the hotel, have diverse backgrounds including film direction to architecture, children’s product design and visual anthropologists.
Winning British Designs British artist *Marcus Dillistone, who worked on 2010/11 ICEHOTEL (a suite based on the inside of a fridge) has chosen to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the London Underground with his design – a suite called Mind the Gap. **Rob Harding, another selected British artist, has worked with his son on their winning design based on the idea ’Before the Big Bang’.
These winning British designs come in the year when the ICEHOTEL is more accessible than ever from the UK. Discover the World will be offering the UK’s only direct flights from Heathrow to Kiruna (3.5 hours flight duration) and has announced a 30% increase in the number of flights for the forthcoming season to give people more choice of dates and durations especially over the busy Christmas, New Year and mid-February periods.
Discover the World is offering ICEHOTEL breaks from £1,164 per person (based on two adults sharing) including one night in a standard Snow Room, two nights in heated accommodation, morning sauna and breakfast, return direct flights between London Heathrow and Kiruna with complimentary in-flight meal and transfers.
Background of ICEHOTEL ICEHOTEL is a design inspired living museum built on the bank of the Torne river in Swedish Lapland every year since its inception in 1990. Thousands of tonnes of ice are harvested from the river each year for its construction which takes place over eight weeks between late October and December. After the basic structure of the ICEHOTEL is built, each artist has about three weeks to complete their design in the design suites whilst other artists work to add the details to the remainder of the ICEHOTEL.
The interior of the ICEHOTEL remains similar to a conventional hotel with a bar, reception, luxury suites, main hall and even a church. These are additional design projects assigned to the ICEHOTEL’s own creative team which will be announced later.
This year’s hotel will have approximately 65 rooms ranging over five categories, including the eleven individually designed suites by guest artists. The ICEHOTEL complex comprises of warm rooms as well as ice rooms which guests usually stay in for part of their break.
Confirmed artists include: Brooke Erdman, USA Marcus Dillistone, UK Camilla Bergman, Sweden Mark Szulgit, USA Christian Strömqvist, Sweden Mathieu Brison, France Christine Close, France Melanie Peters, Austria Gretchen Alexander, Austria Natalie Close, Japan Jens Dyvik, Norway Natsuki Saito, Japan José Carlos Cabello Millán, Spain Rob Harding, UK/Spain Karl-Johan Ekeroth, Sweden Shingo Saito, Japan Lena Kriström, Sweden Timsam Harding, UK/Spain Luc Voisin, France Yoad David Luxembourg, the Netherlands
Fameed Khalique introduces DXU to his international collection of world-class materials, launching the collection of artistic wall tiles exclusively in the UK for the first time at Clerkenwell Design Quarter, the new design destination at London Design Festival.DXU is the brainchild of Dumas Umemoto, a creative design studio founded by Joel Dumas and David Umemoto in Montreal. The studio’s philosophy of creating beautiful surfaces inspired by travel and people has a strong synergy with Fameed Khalique’s quest to track down the most original and interesting skills in surface materials from far flung corners of the globe. DXU represents a snapshot in the Canadian design studio’s journey of exploration of different forms and materials.
Within the collections of aluminium and copper surfaces, Dumas Umemoto aim to unveil the timeless beauty and nature of raw materials and traditional craftsmanship, transforming them into a tactile and unique experience for the senses. Led by an instinctive creativity DXU brings textures to life with products of the highest quality, combining traditional methods with recycled noble materials, reflecting their honest approach to art, design and innovation.
“With raw materials as primary source of experimentation, and a creative process driven by the instinctive and tactile sense of a sculptor, we’ve come to appreciate the noble and luscious character of copper, as well as the fresh and organic qualities of cast recycled-aluminium.
Playing with various textures, depth and reflection, shadows and light, results in a versatile and unique product. All our products are carefully handmade by artists and skilled craftsmen. Ensuring that each piece has its special character and soul, and therefore is uniquely its own…”Dumas Umemoto.
DXU includes six signature styles in recycled aluminium; Caldera, Metropolis, Lotus, Velvet, Brocade and Komodo and two styles in copper; Batavia and Kalimantan yet it is possible to create bespoke designs tailored to an individual project.
Launched by the Independent Hotel Show (Olympia West Hall, London, 30 & 31 October 2013), this new award aims to celebrate and reward dynamic newcomers to the independent hotel industry.Nominate your favourite independent, luxury and boutique hotel that has been operating for three years or less and can demonstrate a real impact to the industry through their initiative and innovation.
The deadline for nominations is 16 August 2013, after which a carefully selected nominations committee will create a shortlist of the best entries for final vote via the Independent Hotel Show website.
The judging committee is comprised of renowned industry experts, including Peter Hancock, Chief Executive, Pride of Britain Hotels, Tom Bell, Editor, Alistair Sawday’s British Hotels & Inns and Pam Foden, Head of Industry Development, Visit England.
Each entry must include a supporting statement outlining a clear commitment to innovation, customer satisfaction and how the establishment nominated differentiates itself from its competitors.
The winner will be announced at a ceremony which will take place on 30 October 2013 immediately following the first day of the Independent Hotel Show.
To nominate your favourite new comer to the independent hotel industry, click here.
The Chairman of Meliá Hotels International, Gabriel Escarrer, recently explained at the company’s annual general shareholders meeting that emerging markets, in particular the highest potential countries in Latin America, are the focus for growth of its hotel brands, already successfully operating in 39 countries on four continents.The founder of Meliá specifically named Peru as a target for the company, a country where the tourism industry is beginning to take off, as seen in the growth of hotel RevPAR (average revenue per room) which rose by over 4% in 2012. As in other expanding Latin American economies, Escarrer also highlighted both the potential of the Peruvian domestic market as well as its high potential as a source of travellers for other destinations.
Meliá Hotels International has thus announced what will become its second hotel in Lima. After 15 successful years managing the Meliá Lima Hotel in the district of San Isidro, the company has signed an agreement with Grupo Inversiones Hoteleras La Paz S.A.C (VyV Grupo Inmobiliario and Inverko Peru SAC, both with over twenty years of experience in the management, development and marketing of residential properties, office buildings and commercial and hotel equipment), to manage a new hotel under the TRYP by Wyndham brand, the TRYP Lima Miraflores.
The hotel will provide 140 rooms as well as meeting rooms, a restaurant and fitness room, and will be located in the Miraflores area, known for its tourist activity, facilities, green areas and impressive views of the Pacific Ocean. Meliá will take an active role in the final design of the hotel to ensure compliance with the demanding standards of the TRYP by Wyndham city hotel brand and, in particular, will draw inspiration from the latest additions to the brand in New York, Bogota and Panama, bringing a touch of freshness, design and functionality to the hotel industries in these important cities.
Gabriel Escarrer thanked Inverko for their trust in Meliá and declared that “the new TRYP Lima Miraflores is the first hotel for an important brand in the city of Lima, whose growth points towards an explosion in business travel and corporate customers seeking design, simplicity and efficiency in comfortable hotels in the best city locations”.
For Daniel Kohn and Victor Arce, CEOs of Inverko and VyV respectively “our group wants to play an active role in this new era for tourism and business travel in Peru, and we are proud to be contributing with this magnificent project supported by a prestigious international brand, and located in the privileged district of Miraflores in Lima”.
One of Latin America’s most exciting new hotel openings will be unveiled this December on the dramatic Papagayo Peninsula on the northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Andaz Papagayo will represent the debut of the Andaz brand in Latin America.A truly original and inventive resort designed by iconic Costa Rican architect Ronald Zurcher, Andaz Papagayo will showcase groundbreaking ‘naturalist’ design that will change the face of modern Costa Rican architecture and go back to the country’s ancient roots. Zurcher’s design taps into Mother Nature for its inspiration, turning its back on thetraditional architectural thinking of the last three decades, which focused on a more colonial style. Zurcher’s vision will unite the Andaz brand’s creative bohemian focus with a refined, yet comfortable atmosphere and signature personalised service.
Located adjacent to Marina Papagayo and overlooking the Bay of Culebra on a 28-acre parcel of oceanfront, Andaz Papagayo will feature 153 guestrooms including 21 luxury suites – four of which have plunge pools – and one vast Presidential Suite with a private, full-size pool. All rooms and suites will have spectacular views of the ocean and will balance modern design with touches of character that blend into the natural surroundings such as woven textiles, solid woods and carved local artifacts. Each will further have balconies and complimentary health-mindedminibars and bath products created by local artisans.
There will be three themed restaurants and a Marina Bar offering farm-to-table ingredients, locally inspired cuisine and a Latin-inspired cocktail menu. Chefs will infuse dishes with the finest regional ingredients, including Costa Rica’s legendary coffee and exotic fruits.
For those with pure relaxation in mind, there will be an 11,000 square-foot Sanctuary Spa featuring nine treatment rooms and an array of therapeutic treatments, along with a state-of-the-art gym. There will also be two swimming pools and a private beach.
Architect Ronald Zurcher is known for his integration of culture, natural history and the flow of the landscape in his design, which fits the Andaz mission to stimulate the creative senses of guests in refreshing ways. Zucher’s vision for Andaz Papagayo was to integrate organic forms and shapes of flora and fauna of the peninsula which he achieved by creating an imaginary gathering of animals using the shapes of cocoons and shells. As Zurcher says, “Costa Rica is known for its peace-loving attitude and I felt tapping into Mother Nature’s energy was the best way to connect the resort with the overall vibe of the country.”
The free-flowing environment Zurcher has created at Andaz Papagayo is in keeping with the Costa Rican ‘Pura Vida’ philosophy, which the hotel abides to. Meaning ‘Pure Life’ Andaz Papgayo reflects the authentic flavour of Costa Rica and compliments the brand’s own philosophy with no desks at check-in, no processes, no formality and thus, no stress. Guests are made to feel at home right away as hosts will welcome them in the open-air lobby and handle check-in seamlessly.
There will also be 8,200 sq ft of flexible meeting space and open air social spaces designed for anything from brainstorming sessions to wedding receptions which further reflects the social nature of the brand.
Península Papagayo offers a multitude of activities both on land and at sea including an 18-hole Arnold Palmer championship golf course, world record class fishing, surfing and eco-adventures like zip-lining and whitewater rafting. Local cultural sites of interest include the Palo Verde National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Arenal Volcano. The Marina Papagayo offers 180 slips, impressivestate-of-the-art facilities, and a full menu of boating services catered primarily to the yachting community.
Andaz Papagayo will be located approximately 20 minutes from Liberia International Airport (LIR), which offers daily services from several major U.S. gateway cities, frequent regional service from San Jose, the capital city, and seasonal service from other main international destinations. San Jose’s Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) has regular connections to several gateway cities in Europe and Latin America.
Personal and uncomplicated, Andaz is a new hotel experience that is a fresh, stylish blend of engaging hospitality delivered in vibrant settings, created with simplicity and locality in mind. AndazPapagayo will join nine Andaz hotels that are currently open around the world, in destinations such as New York, California and Georgia in the US, London and Amsterdam in Europe and Shanghai in China.
100% GROHE CoolTouch®, GROHE EasyReach™ storage and XL Waterfall
For the new generation of its successful product, GROHE has improved all the key functions and features of a good thermostat.Boasting improved technologies for greater safety, efficiency and showering comfort, a new design for an ergonomic shape and an aesthetic water flow as well as a functional tray – Grohtherm 2000 New is a modern solution for the bath tub and the shower both visually and practically.
Its elegant, no-frills look will enhance any bathroom decor. Well thought-out and intuitive, it combines all advantages of a thermostat with a perfect water experience.
Today, Paul Harvey, the Managing Director of London’s largest hotel brand has written to Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State at the Department of Communities & Local Government calling for an urgent review into how the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is being exploited by London boroughs in an attempt to raise revenue – when in reality it is putting the capital’s growing budget hotel sector under severe threat. CIL was introduced by the previous Government with the intention of ensuring financial clarity for developers in a bid to ensure developments make a fair contribution to infrastructure whilst providing an alternative solution or replacement to Section 106 payments.
However, instead of helping to drive long term sustainable growth, job creation and investment, the majority of London Boroughs are using this initiative to generate additional revenues.
Travelodge, who currently operates 60 hotels across the capital, has identified 19 London boroughs that have already implemented or are looking to put into practice a CIL charge. Across these 19 boroughs, Travelodge is currently looking to develop 95 hotels which would create 2,600 new jobs. However for these developments to go ahead, the 19 boroughs combined are seeking an additional £27 million from Travelodge.
Paul Harvey, Travelodge Managing Director said: “In today’s post recession economic climate, Government should be supporting businesses who are trying to help drive long term sustainable growth and not be placing barriers, such as the Community Infrastructure Levy.
“This additional development charge is being interpreted by some London boroughs as a quick win revenue generator, when in reality by setting such high rates, they are actually losing out on long term growth, revenue and job opportunities. It is unviable for companies such as ours to invest in new developments as a direct result of this extortionate charge.”
“The London hotel market is the strongest in the world however its supply of branded budget accommodation is less than 20%. In contrast other major UK cities such as Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Glasgow boast a 30% supply. It is evident that there is a clear need for good quality budget hotel rooms across the capital as many of the existing B&B’s and hostels offer inadequate accommodation, poor value and extortionate prices.
“However the levels of tax being proposed by a majority of London boroughs rule out future hotel development and job creation. Therefore Eric Pickles must recognise the damage that the poorly thought through CIL levels will have on future economic growth, and he needs to stop Councils implementing such harmful rates of tax.”
Detailed below are two examples of the haphazard approach certain London boroughs have adopted regarding the CIL in relation to hotel development:
Islington The borough is currently proposing two separate CIL rates in relation to hotel developments which include: £350 and £250 per square metre depending upon the location.
Travelodge is seeking seven hotel sites across this borough and under the previous charging regime this would have been at a cost of £1.7 million. However under the CIL scheme the new charge would be £5.9 million – the biggest rise of any London borough.
Barnet Despite having a severe lack of hotel rooms to support a growing population and thriving business community, the borough is seeking an additional £334,000 in tax from each of Travelodge’s two proposed developments which is an additional development cost of £668,000.
Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG (VI) is setting a milestone in its announced growth strategy with the acquisition, via its German subsidiary, of the 4-star Arcadia Hotel Coburg from the German hotel group Arcadia effective 1 June 2013.The purchase of the Arcadia Hotel Coburg by Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG is effective as of 1 June 2013. At the same time, VI is assuming management of the hotel with no interruption to service and will continue to operate the hotel under the Arcadia brand. After the recent hotel opening in Munich, the Austrian hotel group is taking another step in pursuing the growth strategy announced at the end of 2011. The Arcadia Hotel Coburg will continue to be promoted in cooperation with the sales operations of the Arcadia Group as well as through VI’s channels. As a 4-star product, the hotel fits seamlessly into the portfolio of the Austrian hotel group and possesses plenty of potential for the continued business growth of the VI Group.
The Arcadia Hotel Coburg is being acquired by VI Asset GmbH, a subsidiary of Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG. VI is taking advantage of the historically low interest environment to expand the properties in the portfolio. Vendor is the Arcadia hotel group. Both parties have agreed to keep the price confidential.
“I am very pleased to be acquiring another property in Germany so soon after the successful opening of our new angelo Westpark in Munich. Despite the extremely difficult financing environment, we have succeeded in realising this acquisition and are beginning with the implementation of our asset strategy. This gives us reason to be positive about the future growth,” said Dr. Andreas Karsten, CEO of Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG.
The owner of the hotel property is pleased to have realised the sale of the Arcadia Hotel to an experienced hotel developer and manager: “The sale to VI Hotels & Resorts and the future cooperation guarantee that the hotel will continue to be run under the recognised Arcadia Group brand name,” said Dr. h.c. Reinhard Baumhögger.
The hotel staff will be integrated into the operations of the VI Group with no interruption in service. VI’s newest 4-star Arcadia Hotel Coburg offers 123 rooms and meeting space for 64 people.
Report reveals positive prospects for the EMEA hotel market in 2013 and beyond
Latest analysis from Jones Lang LaSalle’s Hotels & Hospitality Group shows that trading expectations across the sector remain positive for the next two years, with average cap rate requirements at 7.1% and therefore very close to their pre-crisis low of 7.0% in 2007. Trading performance expectations are particularly strong for Munich, Berlin, Paris and Moscow. Short term trading sentiment is still positive for London although weaker due to the current challenges faced by London hoteliers such as new supply and weak economic prospects. However, the on-going recession in Southern Europe means that investors are anticipating trading performance to decline in Lisbon, Madrid and Milan in the next six months.
The survey also tracked where investors feel development prospects are the most attractive. The highest levels were recorded in Moscow (45%), the French Riviera (45%) and Istanbul (38%). The average development level across the region was recorded at 20%. The cities that investors saw as being hot markets for acquisitions included Madrid (89%), Milan (82%) and Dublin (78%.) These were all well above the recorded 57% average for EMEA acquisitions and led by opportunistic investor interest.
Low cap rates are mirroring a growing confidence in hotel real estate and improving markets, backed by a general improvement in financing conditions in a number of markets where new lenders have entered the hotel arena such as insurance companies and debt funds . Corporate and government bond yields are also unappealing low which is driving lenders and investors to consider the prospect of returns from investing in hotels.
London posted the lowest internal rate of return (IRR) requirements at 11.9%, followed by Paris at 12.1% and Munich at 12.3%.
The report has also found that Dublin has had an impressive comeback since the crisis period of 2008 and 2009, with Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) growing by a yearly average of nearly 12% since 2010.
Jonathan Hubbard, CEO Northern Europe, Jones Lang LaSalle’s Hotels and Hospitality Group, said: “Our analysis shows good prospects in both the short and medium term, which is encouraging given it has been a challenging and competitive environment so far this year. Dublin is a case in point. After no transactions of note between 2008 and 2010 there has been increased activity in the last 12-18 months. With 78% of respondents identifying Dublin as a hot market, this is set to continue as more product is released. The UK regions, despite short term trading uncertainty, are attracting strong investor interest, who are confident in mid-term growth.”
Christoph Harle, CEO Continental Europe, Hotels & Hospitality Group said: “Results underpin the continued confidence in prime markets although opportunities seem to be emerging, particularly in Southern Europe where investment values are often attractively low. With trading performance set to bounce back in the medium term, investors are developing a particularly strong appetite for hotels in Madrid, Milan and Rome. Other core European markets are seen as more stable and appealing for institutional investor types with adverse risk appetite.”
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. is set to make a celebrated return to the island of the gods with the opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Bali, Indonesia in 2014.The stunning island of Bali enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the world’s most luxurious retreat destinations with its combination of sandy beaches, local Balinese artisan culture and relaxed ambiance.
The location of the exquisite Ritz-Carlton, Bali is uniquely situated with a combination of white beach front and elevated cliff top settings, blended into the landscape gently enlivening the senses.
The resort property is owned by PT Oriental Indah Bali Hotel Company and designed by architects and designers, Burega Farnell. It will feature 288 keys including 90 exceptional suites and 14 villas. The Ritz-Carlton, Bali will also debut 10 cliff top villas that offer sweeping views across the ocean.
Bali is a dream wedding destination, and The Ritz-Carlton will provide a choice of two wedding chapels, a ballroom, three intimate function rooms and outdoor terraces to create memorable celebrations that will stay with a couple and their guests for a lifetime.
The luxury resort will also include six restaurants and bars, which include a cliff-side restaurant integrated into a natural cave that doubles as a private dining room. Other restaurants include a beach grill, an Indonesian restaurant, a Japanese restaurant, a pool bar and all-day dining. Within the resort grounds, there will be a Ritz-Carlton Spa; a water sports pavilion and other recreational facilities.
Nb: Bali draws almost three million visitors a year and records growth of 4.3% in 2012 in arrivals. Its key markets include Australia, China, Japan, Malaysia and South Korea.
Serviced apartments are emerging as another growth sector across Europe, and one whose survival and expansion will depend on the concept appealing to an ever more cost-conscious consumer, according to a new report from HVS London. Straddling the traditional hotel stay and residential letting, serviced apartments are still a relatively new concept in Europe, despite the presence of international operators in the sector such as Accor and Marriott.
At this week’s inaugural Serviced Apartment Summit [8-9 July], being held at London’s Andaz hotel, report co-author Arlett Oehmichen, director of HVS London, says that investors are likely to be attracted to the serviced apartment sector as they can generate higher profit margins than the average hotel.
According to the report, Here to Stay: An overview of the European Serviced Apartment Sector, serviced apartments initially benefited from the economic crisis as business travellers moved from hotels to more affordable, extended stay products. However, operators and owners realised they needed to adapt to smaller travel budgets and offer more competitive prices.
“Many new extended stay properties now offer slightly smaller rooms, allowing pricing to come down, which has been positively accepted by guests. We have already seen a trend for aparthotels to increase the number of studios,” says Oehmichen.
The report says this urge to downsize is just beginning and can be taken further with the move towards micro apartments, which can provide eco- and budget-friendly living in about 20 m². Despite their small size, designers have managed to create an illusion of spaciousness by creating triple functionality space, whereby one room can function as a dining room, living room and bedroom. This has been achieved with higher ceilings, retractable beds and foldaway tables.
“While planning restrictions and minimum length-of-stay regulations remain issues in this sector, lenders and investors are showing more interest in serviced apartments on account of the lower operational cost structure and potentially larger profit margin,” says co-author Veronica Waldthausen, an analyst at HVS London.
“The market has shown continual, albeit small, growth which reflects the growing demand for the product. Additionally, as mobility improves, people will continue to travel more, making serviced apartments a highly attractive consideration for business people, relocating employees and leisure travellers,” Waldthausen concludes.
Edinburgh’s most luxurious boutique hotel will relaunch under Autograph Collection hotels by Marriott following a refurbishment.Marking its ten year anniversary since opening, The Glasshouse will reveal its fresh artistic interiors in July, which includes transformation of all its bedrooms and public spaces, including The Snug lounge and bar, The Observatory and roof top garden, all linked with a subtle arts and theatrical theme.
In addition, the lobby will feature a large bespoke canvas of the famous Capital’s skyline by Edinburgh-based artist Claire Heminsley, and the mezzanine area will open as an exclusive art gallery showcasing some of Scotland’s finest contemporary artists.
The three-month refurbishment began in March and will be revealed at a launch party, which will also mark its new status as the first Scottish member of the Autograph Collection.
Alison Mathewson, General Manager of The Glasshouse, said: “We’re delighted to showcase the new look hotel. Located next to the famous Edinburgh Playhouse theatre and opposite the birthplace of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Glasshouse is in the cultural heart of the city centre.
“The creative inspiration behind the redesign focuses on the artistic world – incorporating art, dance, theatre, and literature – and is reflected in the colours, ambience and style we have chosen for our guests.
“It has been an exciting time for us with the refurbishment, joining Autograph Collection hotels and a nation-wide wedding venue award win, all within the last few months, so this launch will be the icing on the cake.”
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of Fairmont Baku, Flame Towers, the luxury brand’s first development in the emerging destination of Azerbaijan. Located within the highest part of the city in the heart of Baku’s vibrant centre, Fairmont Baku lies within one of the three Flame Towers: an extraordinary, award-winning, new development, now the tallest building complex in the country.
Described by some as one of the most audacious buildings of modern times, the Flame Towers’ three columns are an apt symbol for this “land of fire”. Extraordinary as it seems, HOK International, the architects behind the project, brought the ambitious building to life from a single inspired sketch.
Edinburgh’s historic Assembly Rooms is celebrating the one year anniversary of its double award winning £9.3m refurbishment this July. As part of the extensive project, Chelsom were commissioned to restore the magnificent crystal chandeliers to their former grandeur.With a total of 25 chandeliers throughout the venue, both traditional and modern skills were needed to restore the frames and crystals. Three of the spectacular chandeliers take centre stage in the Ballroom, an elegant addition to this spectacular listed Georgian interior dating back to 1787. Set against a delicate palate of soft greys and dusky whites and with lovingly restored floor-to-ceiling mirrors at each end, the room appears to go on forever.
Chelsom worked in conjunction with Keith Gunn Electrical services to ensure that more than half a million impeccably cleaned crystals were put back in their rightful place on the original lighting frames which have survived the ages of candlelight, gas and electricity. The process was an intricate one taking more than 18months of planning and meticulous execution in its entirety.
Each chandelier was dismantled section by section and the respective parts labelled, packed and boxed for transit to be refurbished while the larger fittings were refurbished in component form and assembled on site over a three week period. Chelsom were challenged with making the lighting scheme throughout the venue as energy efficient as possible; Osram Halogen 42W candle and GLS lamps were selected due to the amazing sparkle these create with crystal, further emphasising the overall impact of the lighting restoration.
After the 18-month refurbishment project, new life has been breathed into the Assembly Rooms. The spaces have been modernised while the building’s character and beauty have been preserved with the chandeliers taking pride of place at the heart of the restoration. Manager of The Assembly Rooms, Shona Clelland, said: “The chandeliers throughout the Assembly Rooms are what makes the building iconic and the Chelsom team did a wonderful job of restoring them to their former glory. When visitors come into the Ballroom, it is the moment they see the three large chandeliers that leaves them speechless. Thanks to Chelsom, the Assembly Rooms has got its sparkle back.”
The Modern Garden Company has some stunning sunshades for Summer 2013 and in most cases, delivery can be made within two weeks of order.To download the full brochure of shading ideas and products, please click here.
To contact The Modern Garden Company with any questions about their products, please contact them on +44 (0)1279 653 200 or www.moderngarden.co.uk.
The most expansive resort to date by luxury hotel management group GHM is set to welcome its first guests on the tranquil beaches of Tanjung Benoa at the end of 2013.Occupying 2.4 hectares of pristine coastline on the Nusa Dua Peninsula, the 261-room Chedi Sakala will be GHM’s third property to debut on Bali.
Located on the northern tip of the peninsula, a 30-minute drive from Kuta, The Chedi Sakala will feature 247 suites and 14 private one- and two-bedroom pool villas, two swimming pools, a wellness spa, health club and lagoon bar. A Kids’ Club will cater to youngsters, leaving parents free to explore the destination’s famous coastline, water sports and local attractions.
A capacious ballroom, top-notch catering service and four private dining areas with prime beachfront views will be on offer for corporate events and weddings. Neighbouring the resort grounds is Sakala Bali, a 150-seat contemporary French fine dining restaurant. Already operational, Sakala Bali and its outdoor tapas area maintain direct access to the Benoa beach.
Leading the group’s newest five-star venture as its general manager is seasoned Australian hotelier Evan Pavlakis. Pavlakis, who was in semi-retirement when approached by GHM to lead this development, had previously spent five years as GHM’s senior vice-president and served as general manager at The Leela Goa and The Lalu Taiwan.
The resort follows a well-known precedent set by GHM’s two acclaimed properties on the island, The Legian Bali in Seminyak and The Chedi Club Tanah Gajah in Ubud. Also on the Nusa Dua Peninsula, GHM has partnered with Singapore’s Sinni Villas to build the Chedi Nusa Penida in Crystal Bay. The 100-villa resort is scheduled to open in 2015.
Award-winning interior design firm, Dawson Design Associates, has been commissioned by Hotel Sorella Country Club Plaza to create a provoking, memorable space that exudes the luxury and romance of a Mediterranean villa. Classic sophistication, European elegance and contemporary chic best describes the ambiance and vibe of this thoroughly modern luxurious hotel. In a fusion of old and new, the Sorella takes a playfully cosmopolitan approach in this latest addition to the City’s famous shopping area, the Seville inspired Country Club Plaza. Intricate custom marble tile mosaics inset into white marble floors, hand carved elaborate wood paneling, blown Venetian glass chandeliers, Renaissance inspired paintings with a contemporary modern twist will all merge together to inspire and delight guests as they enter the hotels dramatic lobby. Juxtaposed with the contemporary architecture of curtain walls of glass and steel, the Sorella is a complex fusion of elegance and romance capturing the seduction and luxury of an exclusive Mediterranean villa.
The intimate Garden lounge, modeled after a private garden observatory, allows guest to take in the sun and relax in a space filled with soft light and romantic sparkle. Hand hewn granite pavers, green walls of plants, festoon lighting and comfortable living room seating make this niche off the lobby the perfect hideaway to escape into to read a newspaper over a morning espresso, or to simply sip a glass of wine after a long day of business.
Guestrooms will continue the story of the exclusive Sorella and its timeless fine taste and sense of refined style. Beautifully subdued, the intimate rooms are a sanctuary from the world. Quite shades of blue white and soft grey with rich warm woods and luxurious velvet’s, surround the dramatic headboard tapestry. As the focal point of the guest room, it is modern interpretation of a classic motif. The sublime white on white guest bathrooms of Carrera marble accented by sleek mirrored stainless steel accents and accessories highlight the extravagantly oversized walk in showers.
The designers of this masterpiece, US practice Dawson Design, recently opened their London office in Twickenham.
“As a collaborative design team, we strive to push beyond the ordinary to reach the extraordinary. Our vision is to create an experience that provokes strong emotions and lasting memories. Our goal is to open people’s eyes and minds to discovering the surprise and delight of a unique hotel experience. Our interiors are our canvas. The guests, our audience,” states Principal and Design Director, Andrea Sheehan .
The Aalerhüs hotel & Spa is located close to the wonderful beaches of St. Peter-Ording in the very north of Germany. The design of the 62 guestrooms and the 1.000sqm of spa-area is a mixture of modern and classical Frisian elements.Based on the design of Studio Architects Düsseldorf, Baulmann developed and supplied the luminaires for this modern but luxury hotel.
All pictures are copyright by “Aalernhüs Hotel & Spa, St. Peter-Ording”
Hillswood’s BO55 collection of high and low back feature chairs and settees are a pleasing contemporary play on the traditional wing back chair. This has been brought up-to-date with this modern take on the traditional design and the generous size and proportions make this collection at home in both modern and traditional situations.
Both high and low back designs are available in chair, two seat and three seat curved settees which would make them an unusual feature concept for lounge and reception areas.
The image also shows the high back chair Hillswood used in a recent Crown Plaza Hotel entrance lobby project.
The expansion of Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts continues at the crossroads of Southwest Asia and Europe with a new deluxe hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan. Scheduled to open in 2015, Swissôtel Baku is currently under construction and will open in time for the first European Olympic Games.The mixed use complex consists of two towers set upon a shared podium which will accommodate businesses, retail and entertainment outlets and numerous restaurants. Swissôtel Baku will be situated in the taller, 160-metre tower and will offer 149 rooms and suites, as well as a Swissôtel Living with 45 furnished apartments and 80 Swissôtel Residences, which will be sold to private individuals looking to enjoy the benefits of Swissôtel services from the comfort of their home. Food and beverage offerings will include a lobby bar and lounge, an all-day restaurant, and a restaurant and bar on the top floor which will boast panoramic views over the city. Additional facilities will comprise a 2100sqm Pürovel Spa & Sport, the company’s signature spa brand, and 3000sqm of meeting and event facilities including a dedicated 900sqm outdoor space.
Swissôtel Baku is ideally situated with a prominent, elevated position featuring unrivalled views across the city and its crescent shaped bay. The hotel is located in an elegant, residential area of the city and is close to the Parliament buildings. Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital is the economic and cultural heart of the country and boasts several universities, colleges, research institutes, theatres and museums. With its population of two million inhabitants, it is the most densely-populated city in the Caucasus.
Nestled between the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan borders Russia to the north, Georgia to the north-west and Armenia to the west. It has been an independent state since 1991 and the economy has seen exponential growth, largely due to the expansion of the oil industry and increased production of natural gas, representing the two most important economic sectors for the country.
The owner and developer of the project is Arya İnşaat, advised by one of the world’s leading hospitality consultancies, Servotel Corporation. The project will be designed by internationally recognized and award-winning architectural firm Kreatif Mimarlık.
Arya Insaat, is a subsidiary of Aral Group and a leading construction company in Azerbaijan with multiple large scale high-end residential projects already completed in the city of Baku. Mr. Ahmet Çetin, President of Arya İnşaat states “This is a landmark project for the city of Baku and we are confident that, with our management partners Swissotel the product and business model will be a perfect match to the city’s tourism patterns while the branded residential components will ensure that the project becomes a focal point of Baku.”
“Azerbaijan, as one of the largest producers of oil and natural gas, is seeing strong growth in the number of business related tourist arrivals, creating strong demand for international brands like Swissôtel,” says Meinhard Huck, President of Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts. “We are thrilled to be entering this dynamic market with such an exciting partner and project and to bring genuine Swiss hospitality in a modern and sophisticated setting to visitors from around the world.”
New research from RPBI Reports has found that if ‘pub with accommodation’ was a single brand it would be the second largest in the UK, snapping at the heels of Premier Inn. With over 50,000 rooms in 5,700 pubs (approx 1 in 9 of the UK pub market) providing accommodation, this much under publicised sector of the market is showing great potential for growth and improvement in standards.Perception is changing about the sector as pubs start to up their game to compete with other accommodation providers. The exclusive consumer survey for the report, showed that 41% of respondees would prefer to stay in a pub against 23% in a branded hotel.1
The report also says that pubs’ combined turnover from just accommodation could reach £750million, if they were to achieve the average level of occupancy as provincial hotels and their average room rate.2
For a long time there has been under investment in accommodation in pubs. The tide is now turning with RPBI finding that pub companies are quietly spending money on acquiring, adding and upgrading rooms, resulting in a new phase of growth for the pub industry.
A separate survey of pub owners found that those running pubs with accommodation are upbeat, confident and anticipate growth in the sector.
Almost two-thirds of those pubs owners surveyed said they expected accommodation revenue to grow over the next 12 months, while one-third anticipated income from rooms to be similar to the previous year. Just over half of all pubs are planning to refurbish their rooms within the next year. 3
Pubs have always offered accommodation. It is hardly a new market. But, with all the focus on food and other industry issues, this potentially lucrative revenue stream has often been overlooked. That is starting to change and pub owners and pub companies are putting more focus on rooms, there is a real trend for licensees and pub operators seeking to increase their revenue streams through letting room accommodation.
Pubs are investing significant amounts in accommodation, and will need to wait longer to see a return on their money than other, more immediate investments. But, done well, this is a long-term revenue source for the pub industry and a way of maximising the value of properties.
The ‘Great British Pub’ has found numerous ways to survive over hundreds of years and the addition of rooms provides another opportunity to ensure it continues to do so.
Happily, the majority of pub operators are increasingly understanding that a diverse customer proposition, delivered excellently, is the way forward. And increasingly, letting rooms are part and parcel of the future shape of the pub.
Offering the perfect way to add a little bling to the hotel bathroom, Bagno Design has introduced a new brassware range with Swarovski crystal handles. The new Princess Nouveau brassware from Bagno Design brings a touch of luxury to any bathroom setting, with the Swarovski crystal handles guaranteed to make the basin into a real focal point.
Available on the range’s mono basin mixer and three-hole deck mounted basin mixer, the tap itself sports a stylish, high-quality chrome finish which offsets the sparkling Swarovski handles brilliantly.
Suitable for use on high pressure water systems, Bagno Design’s Princess Nouveau brassware brings timeless elegance to any bathroom, with its classical styling and is also available in several other finishes including bronze, brushed nickel, gold and copper.
For a completely co-ordinated look throughout the bathroom, the Princess Nouveau range also includes bath and shower mixers.
The New Designers Exhibition showcases newly graduated designers from all over the country. Every year the show helps thousands of graduates launch their career at the spectacular Business Design Centre in London, Britain’s capital of design. Brintons Designers Nikki Coates and Lois Norman went along to the show to select two talented graduates for a special award, which included a two week work placement at Brintons and a cash prize of £250 each. Nikki and Lois awarded prizes to Wahyish Vong and Stephanie Rostron.
Stephanie is a Textile graduate from Leeds University, who had hand drawn a series of intricate botanical designs. Nikki Coates said “Stephanie was chosen because her work blew us away; such stunning drawings that showed she could not only draw exceptionally well, but with sure care and patience, she created stunning finished works of art.”
Wahyish Vong is a Textile graduate from Wolverhampton University. Nikki said ” Wahyish’s work caught our eye for her use of colour, her skill in repeating patterns and most importantly, the process she went through in order to achieve her final designs was very creative and it was very interesting where she took her inspiration from. She clearly had a lovely drawing hand which is one of the main skills we were looking for.”
Stephanie and Wahyish will spend two weeks at Brintons London Design Centre developing a collection of designs suitable for a hotel. This will include rugs for a reception area, an electronic jacquard design for a ballroom and an all over repeating design for public areas.
Wahyish and Stephanie were invited to the Brintons stand at the Coronation Festival, Buckingham Palace to accept their prizes from Spanish Designer Cristian Zuzunaga. Brintons has recently collaborated with Cristian on a runner for The Campaign for Wool event at Somerset House.
Anglo Holt Construction has completed its largest ever project with hotel giants Travelodge.
The company was awarded the contract by clients Merchant Place Developments to build a 219-bedroom Travelodge at Eastern Gate in Cambridge.The Charities Property Fund provided forward funding for the project, which had a value of £8.3 million.
The new hotel has a bar café and basement car park. Built on a brownfield site, the six-storey reinforced concrete and timber frame building has one MW photovoltaic installation on its roof.
There’s now a really big choice of compact basins for cloakrooms, small bathrooms and even twin bowl set ups – but many consumers never stop to think that to look its best, a small basin needs a tap that is in perfect proportion. There’s a Mini-basin mixer from Crosswater to suit all tastes and basin styles; whilst smaller than its full size counterpart appeal maybe even bigger!Ever aware of the need for products that combine innovative design with practical features and top level performance, Crosswater has announced three new additions to its already comprehensive range of Mini mixers. Love Me features a waterfall spout and slim pencil style lever. Svelte has a slim line narrow spout. Zion has an architectural, angular body and style lever. All of the taps are suitable for either low or medium pressure and are finished in fabulous easy to clean high quality polished chrome. As always with Crosswater brassware, these products are part of complete collections that include full size bath and basin fillers, wall mounted mixers, showering and more.
“Our range of mini mixers is the most wide-ranging on the market,” commented Crosswater’s Group Chairman David Hance. “Consumers and their designers have the ultimate in choice. Now that so many homes have cloakrooms and small en suites, Mini mixers have become an important element of bathroom design.”
Today, Travelodge, one of the UK’s leading budget hotel operators has announced that after ten years of dedicated service, Grant Hearn has decided to move on from his role as Chief Executive Officer. Hearn joined Travelodge in 2003 as CEO after previously working for Hilton UK & Ireland as Managing Director for three years. Hearn led the Company as Chief Executive Officer from 2003 until July 2010 when he was appointed to the position of Chairman. Hearn was asked by the Travelodge Board to return as Chief Executive in April 2012 to oversee the Company’s financial restructuring programme.
The Travelodge Board has already embarked upon an external search for a new CEO and Grant Hearn will remain in his role as Travelodge’s Chief Executive through this transitional period.
Brian Wallace, Chairman of Travelodge, commented on today’s announcement: “Grant has been an outstanding leader for Travelodge. Under his leadership, the brand has been repositioned from a roadside hotel operator to being one of the UK’s leading hotel brands. The Company’s portfolio has more than doubled in size and today Travelodge is a household name with an exceptional digital presence. Grant leaves behind an extremely capable team, one which is already working on building the next exciting growth phase for Travelodge.
“On a personal note, I have known Grant for over 12 years and I wish him every success for the future. I am very grateful that Grant will continue as Travelodge’s CEO through this transitional period.”
On his decision, Travelodge Chief Executive, Grant Hearn, commented: “Travelodge has been an integral part of my life over the past ten years and this has been an incredibly tough decision for me to make. It has been a real privilege to lead the Travelodge team and work alongside some of the most talented people in the industry. Together we have built Travelodge into one of the UK’s best hotel brands and made staying away in a hotel an everyday concept.
“Now, that Travelodge has a solid foundation under new committed ownership and is one of the UK’s most recognised brands. I feel comfortable that the Company is in a strong and secure position for me to move on. Also with Brian’s extensive experience of the hotel industry, I believe the Travelodge brand will continue to grow from strength to strength. Exciting plans lie ahead for the business and for the new CEO, who will drive this next phase of development and growth.”
Travelodge is the UK’s first budget hotel brand. It opened its first hotel in 1985 and today the Company operates 521 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain. This year, the Travelodge brand is benefiting from a £223 million investment to help further grow its business. This cash investment will help fuel growth, strengthen the Company’s brand offering and ensure consumers obtain the best value in the marketplace.
As part of this expenditure, £57 million is being spent on refurbishing the Travelodge estate. This programme is well underway and on average more than 50 Travelodge rooms are being refurbished every day. By autumn 2014, over 80% of Travelodge rooms will have been refurbished in line with the Company’s new room design.
Choice Hotels International, Inc. and KAJ Hospitality has recently celebrated the groundbreaking of a new four-story, 103-room hotel, which will be connected to the future 15,000-square-foot conference center in West Fargo, one of North Dakota’s fastest growing communities. KAJ Hospitality, led by the father and son development, ownership and management team of Kevin and Aaron Johnson, has corporate offices in Sioux Falls, S.D., Mitchell, S.D. and Wichita, Kansas, and will be the owner/developer of both greatly anticipated real estate development projects.”Cambria Suites is experiencing impressive expansion throughout the country because Cambria Suites hotels meet the demand for stylish, upscale hotels offering tremendous value,” said Michael Murphy, senior vice president of upscale brands for Choice Hotels International. “Right now, West Fargo is seeing tremendous economic growth and that’s attracting major companies and the region’s top talent. So a hotel which understands what these businesses and travelers need is essential.”
North Dakota is the fastest growing state in the United States, developing at nearly three times the national rate. The city of West Fargo reflects that momentum. In 2012, the city issued 480% more commercial building permits than the previous year. Further, last year’s city-wide growth rate was 72.9%.
The hotel and convention center project represents an estimated investment of more than $17 million and approximately 325 jobs to the greater West Fargo area. The Cambria Suites West Fargo will be the emerging upscale brand’s first North Dakota property and is scheduled to open in the spring of 2014 at 19th Ave. East and Beaton Drive.
“We are proud to bring extensive marketplace knowledge and first-hand experience as a hotel operator in greater West Fargo to this new Cambria Suites hotel,” said Kevin Johnson, president and chief executive officer of KAJ Hospitality. “For years, there has been a need in West Fargo for a mixed-use conference center space such as what we will now develop. With Cambria Suites as the hotel anchor of our conference center, we are filling an important need for this rapidly expanding city. And we are confident we have the perfect combination to achieve great success as a business as well as members of the West Fargo community.”
Building on solid development momentum, the Cambria Suites brand made hotel history by holding ground breaking ceremonies for three hotel projects in the New York market within 24 hours last December, combining an approximate $141 million investment and the creation of nearly 1,000 jobs. Since then, the brand has commenced construction nearby the Washington, D.C. Convention Center, just outside Dallas, Texas and announced major development agreements in other cities as well as a joint venture with its first institutional investor, Fillmore Capital Partners and its affiliates, to develop multiple Cambria Suites properties. Cambria Suites Miami is scheduled to open this fall.
The West Fargo hotel will deliver the consistently high level of style at an equally attractive price guests have come to count on with this brand. All Cambria Suites hotels are new-construction and the brand leads the rest of the upscale lodging segment in guest satisfaction scores as measured by guests’ likelihood to recommend (LTR). As of today, many Cambria Suites hotels are ranked #1 and #2 in their respective markets on TripAdvisor.
Designed as a lifestyle hotel brand, Cambria Suites offers more than just a place to sleep at night. It features a larger lobby to give guests a more social atmosphere, spacious all-suite rooms that include separate areas to work and rest, providing business and leisure travelers room to relax, socialize and network.
All Cambria Suites hotels feature Reflect, a casual dining and gathering area serving a dinner menu, liquor, wine, beer, freshly prepared grab-and-go gourmet salads and sandwiches, a barista bar featuring Wolfgang Puck® coffee and a hot breakfast buffet; Refresh, a state-of-the-art fitness center with an elegant pool and hot tub/spa area; and Refill, a 24-7 convenience store that offers energy drinks, snacks and sundries.
In addition, each suite offers the latest technology, including two flat-screen LCD televisions and MediaHub™ plug-and-play technology, allowing guests to connect their laptop, MP3 player, game console, digital camera or CD/DVD player hassle-free. Free high-speed wired and wireless Internet access is available throughout the hotel so that guests can stay connected.
Versatile, practical and with a classical simplicity that will never date, Glide II from Bauhaus is the furniture collection that meets every bathroom need.Launched this month and available in Calico, White Gloss and real wood American Walnut and wenge finishes, Glide II combines a comprehensive choice of units with basins in either cast mineral marble or slimline ceramic. The two drawer basin units come in 3 widths and offer plentiful and easy access storage space, the range also includes a single drawer link unit and a two door tower that has a very useful laundry basket in the lower section. All units can be wall hung or fitted with optional plant on legs to give a freestanding look.
The cast mineral marble basins are available with or without tap holes, allowing for use of stylish wall mounted fillers (available from sister company Crosswater). The ceramic basins are slab style with useful put down space at either side of the bowl.
Unsurpassed flexibility is provided by the countertop option that allows the designer to specify an unlimited number of sit on basin options.
Drawers are roomy, full extending and fitted with Grass soft close runners and have multiple interior layout options to make the most of space.
“Glide II combines our commitment to good design and customer choice,” says Marten Baker. “It is a range that bathroom designers will welcome because there are so many options. It is also tailor made for a home owner who wants to give a tired bathroom a quality facelift. Just replacing a pedestal basin with a Glide II basin unit and an illuminated mirror from a wide choice of designs can bring a touch of style and luxury to a bathroom that has seen better days.”
Two medium sized Living Art units (1.5m x 1m H) have been incorporated onto the roof terraces at The Hospital Club in Covent Garden by Scotscape Limited.These bring new interest to these compact terraces in an elegant space saving way, echoing the Hospital Club’s passion for all things creative and different!
A third Living Art unit will be installed in September following the completion of new entertaining zones at the club.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has recently announced the opening of the 122-room Holiday Inn® Hotel Guayaquil Airport in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The seven-story new-build hotel is adjacent to the José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport, and is the second IHG®-branded hotel for Ecuador, with the first being the Holiday Inn Express® Quito, located in Ecuador’s capital city of Quito. Guayaquil is Ecuador’s main port and economic hub. The city boasts significant regional influence in commercial, financial and cultural activities, is an important center for Ecuador’s manufacturing industries and home to key business enterprises. The hotel is also close to the city’s convention center and main business area.
Situated in the Kennedy Norte neighborhood, the Holiday Inn Guayaquil Airport hotel features an outdoor swimming pool, business center, fitness center overlooking the airport and city, lobby bar, eight meeting rooms with capacity for over 200 people and free airport shuttle service. On the top floor overlooking the city is the Executive Floor equipped with an exclusive front desk, lounge and a VIP meeting room.
According to Timetric, Singapore’s hotel market value has expanded at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 10.96% since 2008. This is due to a recovery in tourist inflows during 2010-2011. Timetric forecasts that revenue in the Singaporean hotel industry is expected to reach US$6.7 billion by 2017. This is due to an increase in tourism volumes, rising levels of disposable income and more competitive prices for accommodation. As a major business hub, Singapore is especially exposed to the global business cycle, experiencing surges in business travel during high growth periods and suffers declines during crisis periods. In the wake of the global financial crisis Singapore experienced a decline in the number of tourists. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council in 2012, it accounted for 11.3% of the country’s GDP and comprised 9.1% of its total employment. Key growth drivers for tourism to 2017 will be sound economic conditions, rising levels of consumer confidence and government initiatives to increase domestic tourism.
New innovative initiatives will drive tourism in the future “We have to look beyond mere numbers and make a strategic shift towards quality tourism,” says Chew Choon Seng, chairman of the Singapore Tourism Board in its 2012 annual report. “This will emphasize hospitality, service standards, innovative developments and rejuvenation of older attractions, with the aim of offering visitors and experience that will commensurate with higher expectations.”
Skelwith Leisure, the developer behind the £100 million Flaxby Country Resort, located between York and Harrogate in North Yorkshire, has started work on the luxury hotel, and will soon announce which international luxury hotel operator will manage the resort on its behalf.The 300-room hotel and leisure development is located on the existing 27-hole Flaxby Park Golf course will be one of the biggest hotels in the North of England when completed in 2015.
The development will also feature a luxury spa and gym, restaurants and bars and boutiques, totalling over 240,000 sq ft in size.
Paul Ellis, Managing Director of Skelwith Leisure commented: “As you would expect, we are delighted to be finally on site and getting on with the work, something we have been eager to do for a very long time. We are on schedule and look forward to opening in 2015.
“For the past five years we’ve been speaking with some of the worlds leading luxury hotel operators, now that we’re getting on with the construction we will soon be in a position to be able to announce which company will manage the hotel.
“There has been a lot of interest as this is a major hotel development for the local area, region and the UK.”
Leeds based K Rouse is the main contractor for the first phase, including a new roundabout on the A59 and ground works for the hotel.
The world’s leading golf course management Company, Troon Golf, has been involved in the project for the past three years and will step up its role managing the course help to attract major events to Flaxby following the start on site.
May Highlights • UAE hotels see surge in profits driven by strong leisure and MICE demand • Growth in room rates, despite drop in occupancies, boost hotel profits in Egypt
Laufen invites partners from the hotel industry to the Biennale
As part of its partnership with the Salon Suisse Swiss bathroom specialist Laufen invited CEOs from hotel groups, architects, interior architects, project developers and media representatives to Venice in order to give them artistic inspiration and to promote the dialogue between art and architecture. Organized by the Swiss cultural foundation Pro Helvetia, the Salon Suisse offers an event programme that accompanies the Swiss contribution to the Biennale with discussions, lectures and events. It is part of the international art exhibitions’ official events and takes place in several series at the Palazzo Trevisan.“Laufen is committed to supporting this cultural initiative since 2012 and is proud to be able to contribute to the diffusion of Swiss culture and tradition on such an important and internationally significant occasion. As a bathroom manufacturer which deals with very heterogeneous target groups, occasions such as the Venice Biennale and Salon Suisse give us an important opportunity to engage with opinion leaders and decision makers from the world of art and design”, explains Ilker Hussein, Manager Global Projects at Laufen.
Part of the programme was, among others, the visit of the official opening event including a boat trip through the laguna of Venice for invited guests. Furthermore, the guests had a VIP access to numerous events taking place around the Biennale where they could meet artists and curators personally. Thanks to its long-standing expertise as a premium supplier for hotel bathrooms, Laufen is aware of the close connections between art and hotels. Many hotels hold art exhibitions regularly or furnish lobby or hotel rooms with art objects like paintings or sculptures – because art adds even greater individuality to an already stylish interior design. Alongside location and service it should be an integral part of every good company’s flagship.
“If bathroom design is to continue to evolve and break down boundaries”, Ilker Hussein says, “then we have to draw on the inspiration that can be found through art. There needs to be an international dialogue between the fields of art and architecture, which is something that the Venice Biennale encourages and Salon Suisse gives Laufen an unmissable opportunity to inspire and be inspired by an international audience.”
The 26th June 2013 marked the official opening of the new Tulip Inn hotel at Eindhoven Airport. The 8-storey hotel is the first hotel in the world situated on top of an airport terminal and is directly connected to the arrivals and departures halls, affording hotel guests convenient access to the airport’s many facilities. The new Tulip Inn hotel is a part of the reopening of the completely modified and expanded terminal at Eindhoven Airport. Joined by nearly 400 guests, State Secretary Mansveld from the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment together with Joost Meijs, General Director of Eindhoven Airport, inaugurated the new hotel.
The new-build hotel harmoniously complements the airport’s sustainability ambitions. The Tulip Inn Eindhoven Airport meets the certification requirements of the international ‘Green Key’ and ‘Gold’ labels as well as the A++ energy label. This guarantees, amongst other things, that the construction materials used are sustainable and that the installed lighting is energy-efficient. In addition, solar panels and solar collectors are installed on the roof of the terminal and the hotel itself.
According to Pierre-Frédéric Roulot, President of Louvre Hotels Group and Olivier Derycke, European Chief Operating Officer of Louvre Hotels Group, this new development fits in seamlessly with the group’s strategy of increasing Golden Tulip’s presence in major cities and at airports. Golden Tulip has previously opened new hotels at international airports in Brussels, Rome and Paris.
Michael Spetter, responsible within Louvre Hotels Group Benelux for all management and franchise hotels, is very pleased with the new hotel. “This is a very important expansion for Golden Tulip. Because of its location, the new hotel represents a significant asset to national and international leisure and business guests. Moreover, this is the first Tulip Inn hotel in the Netherlands to be managed under the responsibility of the Louvre Hotels Group itself”. Joost Meijs is very proud of the end result. “The new expansion now affords us an airport with an appropriate energy for such an ambitious region. The airport and hotel are very closely interwoven. The entrance to the hotel is located in the hall and the guests can eat in the restaurant or do some shopping in the airport hall’s various stores. The bar in the hotel is also available to travellers and non-guests”.
Tulip Inn Eindhoven Airport Tulip Inn Eindhoven Airport has 120 hotel rooms. The hotel also has a bar, breakfast hall and fitness facilities. In collaboration with Belvedair, the catering operator at Eindhoven Airport, the hotel will make use of the airport’s 6 conference halls and its restaurants. Interior design bureau AbrahamsCrielaers is responsible for the interior design of the public areas and the rooms.
The GROHE Grandera™ collection is both a homage to an age of grandeur long past and an affirmation of a modern sensibility, combining the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship with a love of detail and comfort.Stylistically, the Grandera™ collection can be combined with a wide range of bathroom furnishings, with the added flexibility of two colours – chrome and chrome/gold. Thanks toGROHE StarLight® technology, not only will the fittings retain their shine in the long term but they are also extremely resistant to dirt and scratches.
Cited by famed restaurant critic Giles Coren as the ‘true glory of this place’ and inspired by the hues and grain of limed oak, a beautiful bespoke woven axminster carpet from Wilton Carpets Commercial adorns the floor of The French at The Midland Hotel.
The new Manchester flagship restaurant under Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan, The French’s grade-II listed Rococo style appearance had to radically change to complement its new modern English dining experience.QHotels turned to Wilton Carpets to provide the luxurious experience of fine woven bespoke carpet.
“The historic interior had to transform to matchthe style of Simon’s cuisine, in addition to providing expected levels of comfort and luxurious finishes,” explains Trudi Purtill, director of group development, QHotels. “With the high ceiling and ovoid shaped room, acoustics were a concern. Hard flooring was not an option and so the luxury, comfort and acoustic absorption of woven carpet was an ideal solution. The brief was given to Wilton’s design manager Julie Robertson for a carpet that pays homage to a limed oak floor, as we felt this would be the perfect compromise.”
Turning to the neutrals and contemporary slate hues within theelegant Optimum Palette, Julie created three initial concepts as sophisticated interpretations of parquet, plank and overall limed oak effects. Liaising with Trudi Purtill, the chosen plank style design was refined with additional grain and knot characteristics, giving an understated quality and contemporary feel to the design that plays perfectly with the new décor, lavish Rococo detailing and modern furnishings of the interior.
“It took just one hand-trial before the design was perfected, and having worked with Wilton Carpets Commercial many times in the past, this is not an uncommon experience. The end result has met with much critical acclaim and provided a vital component in achieving a seemingly impossible transformation,” concludes Trudi Purtill.
The 125 square metres of bespoke carpet was woven in a durable and appearance retaining combination of 80% wool 20% nylon at Wilton’s Wiltshire facility in a quality nine-row construction that offers high levels of underfoot comfort and longevity. Installed by Pocklington Carpets Ltd, the carpet has been in daily use since March of this year.
Skelwith Leisure, owners of the Raithwaite Estate near Whitby, has announced the start of construction for nine new eco lodges– the first of the 46 new cottages that were granted planning permission last year.The Estate, which includes Raithwaite Hall Country Retreat, the Lakehouse and the recently opened The Keep development, totals over 100 acres and is set just off the fabulous East coast.
Scheduled for completion in October, the two bedroom lodges represent further significant investment in the Estate by Skelwith Leisure, and will provide a different accommodation offering for guests. They will also attract people to stay longer, enabling them to sample more of the delights that the local area has to offer.
Looking out over the Estate, the new lodges are designed to complement the natural environment in which they sit and feature a modern design. They are also partially sunken into the hillside behind them in order to provide natural insulation. In order to further reduce their carbon footprint the highly insulated cottages also feature the latest sustainable technologies, including highly efficient photovoltaic roof panels so that they can produce their own electricity.
Designed by leading architects Brewster Bye, the lodges will provide the same luxurious surroundings as the main hotel and The Keep, and will include high specification interiors. They will also boast the latest high-end audio visual technologies and lighting systems with hand held tablet controls.
Commenting Paul Ellis, Managing Director or Skelwith Leisure, said: “We are very excited about the new lodges, especially as they come hot on the heals of the opening of The Keep. We are committed to making the Raithwaite Estate one of the best destinations in the north of England. The new lodges represent further significant investment in the Estate and Whitby area, and will complement the entire Estate.”
The new lodges are the first of 46 luxury lodges, cottages and a new education centre that were granted planning permission by Scarborough Council in October 2012. Work on the remaining cottages will begin later this year, along with a new access road to part of the site.
DoubleTree by Hilton is offering visitors to Dundee and Perthshire a glimpse of the majesty of Victorian Scotland with the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Dundee. In partnership with RedefineBDL, the former Landmark Hotel today completed its £1million refurbishment to become the upscale brand’s third Scottish property and its 21st across the UK.The hotel is set within the grounds of a converted private family residence whose original classical period design and intricate Latin inscriptions remain largely untouched. The listed building dates back to 1870, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the elegance of Victorian high society. Guests are free to explore the surrounding six acres of landscaped and maintained gardens complete with an ornate Italian style maze and fountain.
Each of the 92 guestrooms have received a thorough upgrade reflecting DoubleTree by Hilton’s upscale offering. The hotel features a new fully equipped health club complete with indoor swimming pool and offers free internet throughout the property. Fine dining is available on site through the AA rosette winning Maze Restaurant featuring innovative British cuisine. Housed in an eye catching glass house offering resplendent views of the horticultural gardens the venue provides a charming setting for weddings and functions. Guests can also enjoy casual dishes and drinks from The Lounge Bar.
A compelling range of meetings and events facilities are available including the purpose built Landmark Suite Conference Centre, with a capacity of 130. Whilst for functions requiring a more intimate setting The Greystanes Suite holds up to 30 guests in what was originally a private family chapel.
DoubleTree by Hilton has two further Scottish properties, with hotels operating in Dunblane, featuring Nick Nairn’s The Kailyard restaurant, and the thriving city of Aberdeen. The brand will also welcome its first hotel in Edinburgh later this year, once again in partnership with RedefineBDL.
Leading UK shower manufacturer, Roman, has launched a new Gloss finish option for their Roman Stone Solid Surface Shower Trays. The new finish is available now on their popular Infinity Shower Trays, as well as selected footprints from their Orbital Tray Range. The Roman Stone Tray Range was originally launched in a fashionable Matt finish, but following customer requests for a Gloss finish, the new option presents a different design perspective.
The Gloss finish is available on all Infinity Trays, which are designed to give a simulated wetroom look, with their ultra-low 40mm profile. The Infinity Trays can be installed straight down onto joists, so that when tiled up to, they are flush with the floor to achieve total level access. The waste is then disguised with a solid surface matching waste cover, for a seamless finish.
Roman’s Orbital Colossus Roman Stone Trays are also available with the option of the new Gloss finish. This is available on both the 1450mm Colossus Tray, as well as the full bath replacement 1700mm Colossus Shower Tray.
All Roman Stone Shower Trays are manufactured in Roman’s on-site solid surface manufacturing facility, in the North East of England, which has allowed Roman to quickly respond to customer requests and introduce the new finish options with ease.
The Trays are available as standard in a White finish, but different colour options and finishes are available for larger scale projects, to suit specific briefs, Pantones and specifications. The Infinity Tray range is available 5 different rectangular size options, as well as a 900 x 900mm quadrant shape.
David Osborne, Managing Director at Roman commented: “Our Roman Stone Trays have become a popular specification when creating an inclusive designer style showering space. In particular our Infinity Trays are continuing to really increase in popularity as customers, both end users and in the contract market, strive to create a wetroom inspired finish, but with a quick and easy installation. One of the frequent requests from customers was for a Gloss finish on these Trays, so we were happy to respond and add this in as standard option within our brochure.”
RHA make beautiful high quality restaurant furniture to any design specification.
A project for the Conrad Algarve hotel features custom made waiter stations, restaurant tables, banquette seating and shelving units, all skilfully crafted by RHA Furniture at their UK factory.
The impressive looking oval hostess station greets guests at the entrance of the hotel’s Louro restaurant. Designed by Kate Long of ReThink Interiors, the unit is made to a very high quality finish with walnut veneers and a laser cut pattern over leather across its curved front. Custom made waiter stations were produced for the hotel’s main restaurant and private dining rooms, also finished in walnut veneers with marble tops and a bespoke pattern across the doors.
The restaurant dining tables have laser cut stainless steel inlays set into the beautiful wooden tops.
Banquette seating across the restaurant was made to the same high standards, upholstered in Andrew Muirhead leather with deep buttoned inside backs and armrests.
Contact RHA Furniture for more information or to discuss custom made furniture for a project you are currently working on.
Global destination design firm WATG is pleased to announce that Mike Seyle, President and CEO, has accepted the Board of Directors’ request to extend his leadership term for another five years. WATG Chairman and Senior Vice President Dave Moore stated “Over the past five years, Mike has led us through a challenging period of change and we are now seeing the positive upside of this process in terms of company growth to double-digit profitability. We need him to continue what he started as we move into new territories and new client services”.As part of WATG’s expansion plans in the Middle East and Africa, Seyle will relocate with his family to London to be closer to these dynamic and growing markets. The London office was opened in 1991 and is one of WATG’s fastest growing operations. “We have ambitious growth plans for Africa and the Middle East, alongside our ongoing success stories in Asia, Turkey and Russia. Having the CEO sitting in London, close to these markets is simply common sense!” stated Muriel Muirden, Vice President of Strategy. Seyle added “We have important decisions to make to sustain our current growth trend. This relocation, will allow me to travel frequently to our emerging markets and to build important relationships in these regions”.
Geberit’s Sovent fitting, a space saving drainage and ventilation solution for high-rise buildings, has been installed for the first time in the UK at Birmingham’s 140 bedroom Premier Inn. Negating the need for a two stack drainage system, Sovent takes up less space in the service riser, while servicing bathrooms efficiently, quietly and without the risk of unpleasant smells.Installed by Sharpe Mechanical Services, Philip McMaster, from Sharpe, explains the benefits of Sovent: “The Sovent system reduces the requirements for a soil vent pipe throughout the full height of the building, taking up space in the congested service riser, solving a particular problem in tall buildings.”
About Sovent
The flow-optimised Sovent fitting enhances the pipe capacity several times over and dispenses with the need to install a parallel ventilation pipe in most instances.
Rapidly changing pressure situations in conventional discharge stacks above a certain length can lead to unwanted side effects. They could, for example, cause the floor pipes connected to the stack to be sucked dry by high negative pressure or be blown dry by overpressure. This is why the drainage systems of many high-rise buildings include very generously dimensioned discharge stacks and a parallel ventilation pipe that is connected with this stack at regular intervals.
Sovent prevents hydraulic closures in the discharge stack caused by floor connections, thus enhancing its flow capacity. At the same time, Sovent ensures a supply of air between branch discharge pipe and discharge stack, making it possible to dispense with parallel ventilation pipes. In addition, a partition prevents foam or splash water from getting into the branch discharge pipe.
Total hotel plumbing solutions
Installed along side Geberit Sovent is Geberit’s Silent-db20; a waste water pipe with built in sound insulation; ensuring peace and quiet for the hotel’s guests and Geberit Mapress, a press-fit pipe system for general plumbing. Geberit’s long lasting and environmentally sound HDPE delivers above-ground drainage.
The Premier Inn provides an example of where a number of Geberit’s solutions, specifically suited to jobs of this nature, have come together. Philip McMaster concluded: “All of Geberit’s products are of excellent quality, with a range of products to suit different plumbing and ventilation challenges.”
The LaGare Hotel Venezia hotel, MGallery Collection’s second address in Venice, boasts an exceptional location since it is the first hotel on the Island of Murano, which has been a renowned glassmaking centre for centuries.
The views from the windows of the establishment’s 118 rooms attest to its exceptional location: magnificent stretches of water can be glimpsed beyond the Grand Canal, while many of the island’s famous gardens and flowers add to the gentle charm of the setting. Art and design The hotel is located in an old glass factory dating back to the 14th century. After undergoing complete refurbishment, the building now features a subtle blend of art and design. Elegant furnishings are enhanced by Venini glass lighting fixtures, while the common areas feature a permanent exhibition of museum works and objects designed by Murano’s famous glass artist. Everything in the hotel reflects the splendour of this island, which is a rare jewel in Italy’s splendid heritage. The former glass-works’ façade has been preserved and the hotel walls subtly evoke the city’s architecture. The library features a selection of books for those who seek to learn more about the island’s prestigious craft. Of course, it goes without saying that the hotel’s Memorable Moment consists of a private guided tour of one of the neighbouring glass factories.
A heavyweight crew from Marriott last night formally launched the St. Ermin’s as the latest addition to the Autograph collection marketed by the company. Flanked by Tina Edmundson, the Global brand Officer for the non-brand that is Autograph, and John Licence responsible for Autograph Europe, Steve Eckley, the Senior VP of Amerimar who redeveloped the St Ermin’s reported a strong rise in room sales since the switch from Accor. Now some 25% of bookings now coming from Marriott Rewards clients.
My involvement with hotel design goes back nearly 40 years. In those days of the mid to late 20th Century a guest was fortunate if his expectation of an en-suite bathroom would be met by his hotel. Indeed such provision was known once upon a time as an ‘American Room’. When I founded my practice in 1982 for the next ten years our bread and butter work was converting hotels to have en-suite facilities. It is easy to lose sight of how guest expectations have risen, and the launch of Autograph by Marriott in late 2009 was a clear indicator that rising expectation of the nature of the hotel experience continues to dominate the thinking of regular travellers. Creating Autograph, said Marriott, gave “them the ability to capture a broad audience that would not have typically considered a branded concept – appealing to guests who want to stay in independent hotels”. No longer satisfied with what is now a minimum expectation at 2 star level of an en-suite bath or shower room, the seasoned guest is increasingly looking for an hotel experience that compliments travel experience. This rising expectation, first identified in the wealthy luxury end of the market by Anouska Hempel with Blakes in 1981 and followed by Schrager with Morgans in 1984, is causing many groups to look hard at how they can replicate the appeal of the ‘boutique’ hotels. IHG are flying their Indigo brand; Starwood, after failing to capitalise on the start given by Barry Sternlicht with the original ‘W’ still struggle to grow in this end of the market. Autograph represents a simple way for Marriott to leverage their brand strength and cement the loyalty of their Rewards clients whilst serving this demographic.
In essence the Autograph collection allows a good boutique to remain a good boutique whilst providing a brown paper wrapper that enables the use of Marriott’s great marketing muscle without the labels popping out at the guest everywhere in the hotel, or even, possibly, in the booking process. As definitions of luxury shift to the nature of the experience and the cohort with the money to enjoy the experience becomes older, then the rôle of the hotel in the experience changes. No longer is it sufficient for the hotel to provide a great place to sleep, it now has to perform the supporting rôle in the theatre of travel.
Each hotel in the Autograph collection is intended to be independent and unique, to have essentially a boutique type identity and not be clearly branded. To independent owners like Amerimar, owners of the St. Ermin’s, this is an attraction. Previously flirting with Accor, Steve Eckley of Amerimar confirmed the decision to move to Autograph had been driven at least in part by their desire to market into the strongly recovering US market rather than struggling to sell into a Europe still in the deep throes of the depression the Euro is reinforcing.
The evening was rounded off by a tasting from the suppliers of the hotel, including a display of the honey produced by the hotels own bees in their own rooftop hives. The hotel offers bee keeping classes from September…
Ian Schrager returns to London for the first time in 15 years since he introduced Sanderson and St. Martins Lane. His new project, The London EDITION, is the latest from EDITION Hotels, the brand he conceived in a partnership with Marriott International. EDITION Hotels combines the personal, intimate, individualised and unique hotel experience that Schrager is known for, with the global reach, operational expertise and scale of Marriott. This delicate balancing act encompasses not only great design and true innovation, but also personal, friendly, modern service as well as outstanding, one-of-a-kind food, beverage and entertainment offerings ‘all under one roof’. The heightened experience, authenticity and originality that Ian Schrager brings to this new brand coupled with the global reach of Marriott results in a truly distinct product that sets itself apart from anything else currently in the marketplace. As with all EDITION hotels, each one is a cultural epicentre and a microcosm of the best each city has to offer. Each is a portal into the essence of the city. The London EDITION preserves the finest aspects of the historic, landmark building—formerly the Berners Hotel—but reinvents the spaces within to create a dynamic fusion of old and new, past and present. This results in a look and feel that cannot be pigeonholed into a specific time period or look and is incapable of definition or categorisation.
The hotel is inspired by the grand traditions of Great Britain: the traditional, aristocratic English country manor and the quintessential London private gentleman’s club with a modern, edgy, urban feel. When these diametrically opposed aesthetics come together, they create an alchemy, a spark, that takes the hotel and the experience to an entirely new level. Although, these are two aesthetics that do not usually co-exist, the presence of one will serve to showcase the other. Behind the refined Georgian exterior and majestic public spaces, are a dance club, two bars, a 24-hour fitness facility and 173 secluded, intimate and luxurious wood panelled rooms and suites akin to cabins on a private yacht.
When Michelin starred chef Shaun Rankin, Chef Proprietor at newly opened restaurant Ormer in Jersey, commissioned renowned restaurant designer Martin Brudnizki, a vital element of his brief was that standards should never be compromised. It was with this in mind that Martin Brudnizki chose Dernier & Hamlyn to produce the high quality bespoke lighting that they manufactured in their London factory. The result is three fantastic chandeliers for Ormer that feature metalwork finished in antique brass, dressed with hand crafted triedri glass that spreads light from the chandeliers in a unique and beautiful way.Shaun Rankin comments: “I am so proud of Ormer; the restaurant is all I dreamed it would be from the mohair banquets, to the handcrafted furnishings and lighting, to the state of the art kitchen.”
Martin Brudnizki Design Studio adds: “Whenever we want the best quality bespoke lighting for our clients Dernier & Hamlyn is the natural choice. Their reputation is second to none and it is why we call on them again and again for some of our most prestigious projects.”
Great Hotels of the World is pleased to announce that its new member, International Hotel Casino & Tower Suites, recently reopened on 21 June 2013. The hotel has completed extensive renovations following a two-year development at a cost of €20 million.Situated in the heart of the Golden Sands Resort in Varna, Bulgaria, just 90 metres from the beach, the hotel has restructured its architectural design to give the property a more modern look with the help of renowned architect Pavel Ivanov. Ivanov has been involved in projects worldwide, including the Bayan Palace in Kuwait. The five-star luxury hotel has now increased its capacity by 150% to a total of 325 standard and superior rooms, as well as luxury suites and a presidential apartment.
International Hotel Casino & Tower Suites will also now offer an I-SPA Centre, complete with an indoor pool, steam bath, Turkish bath, infrared sauna, Finnish sauna, hydro-massage room, fitness centre, beauty salon with a hairdresser and various spa treatments for its guests. In addition, the hotel has created a unique ‘Skyfall Zone’ which includes an infinity-edge rooftop swimming pool and terrace as well as the hotel’s new High Limit Restaurant and 21 Bar. Guests will also now enjoy the hotel’s Steak House á la carte restaurant, ‘Le Café’ lobby bar and International buffet restaurant, offering breakfast and dinner, with a special kids’ buffet section. A kids’ club and care service will also be available.
Outstanding meeting and conference facilities have been implemented, including a flexible and dynamic exhibition space in the conference lobby, a multifunctional ballroom with capacity for up to 600 in theatre style and seven additional meeting rooms which will be completed in the autumn. An amphitheatre with 450 seats and an impressive stage will also be available for events from April 2014.
The hotel’s casino has also undergone major refurbishment and expansion, making it the biggest live-game casino in Bulgaria, with a brand new design and 24-hour operation. The new International Poker Club will host regular daily tournaments, cash game tables and major poker events, such as the Eureka Poker Tour and Unibet Open. A shopping centre and a special ‘I Club’ package, for its most exclusive hotel services and benefits (including designated areas at the restaurant and pool area) complete the hotel’s facilities and services.
General Manager of International Hotel Casino & Tower Suites, Vladimir Filipov comments: “We have been planning and performing the major reconstruction of International Hotel Casino & Tower Suites for the past few years, to be able to call it the ultimate five-star casino hotel with a beach resort location in Europe. Now it is completed and, not only will it bring our already well-established product to a whole new level, but it will also help establish Golden Sands Resort as a high-quality, all-season destination.”
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Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
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