Marriott International has signed an agreement with Weligama Hotel Properties Ltd., a fully owned subsidiary of East West Properties PLC, to open a hotel in Sri Lanka, the Weligama Bay Marriott Resort & Spa in 2014 – this will be Marriott’s first property on the Indian Ocean Island.The 200-room, 11-storey Marriott Weligama Resort and Spa will be operated under Marriott’s flagship Marriott Hotels & Resorts brand.
Weligama, located 144km from Colombo is a popular tourist destination renowned for its sandy beaches. Famous for its stilt-fishermen perched on a cross bar of a single pole planted into the sea bed, this attraction has been captured in every corner of the world depicting Sri Lanka as a preferred destination of choice for travellers from all over the world.
The Hotel will be located in Weligama, a part of Matara which is one of the largest cities on the south coast of Sri Lanka, where tourism and fishing are the two main businesses. Tourism is the mainstay of the south-western coast of Sri Lanka. The services sector is expected to be the primary engine of growth in coming years which is expected to be led by tourism.
“We see great opportunity in Sri Lanka with ever-increasing visitor numbers to the country,” commented Simon Cooper, president and managing director Marriott, Asia Pacific. “While India, UK and Germany are the largest source markets for hotels in Sri Lanka; the Middle East and Russia are the emerging source markets and with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (“SLTDA”) aiming to achieve a target of 2.5 million tourist arrivals by 2016 we are confident of attracting great leisure and business guests to the property.”
With some 640sq metres of flexible ballroom space, the hotel should prove extremely popular in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibition (MICE) market. While those travelling to Weligama Bay Marriott Resort & Spa on holiday, will be able to take full advantage of the wide leisure offering at the hotel which includes three restaurants, a pool with a pool bar, spa, fitness centre and a beautiful stretch of beach.
Focus Hotels is delighted to announce the opening of the DoubleTree by Hilton London Heathrow Airport, formerly known as the Ramada Hotel Heathrow, following the successful conclusion of a franchise license agreement with the subsidiary of Hilton Worldwide. Focus Hotels rescued the hotel, along with sister property the Ramada Hotel Bristol, from administration in October 2011 – saving a total of 170 jobs in the process. In the space of just nine months under Focus Hotels’ management, the Ramada Heathrow Hotel saw total revenues for the first six months of 2012 rise 29 per cent year on year. Having transformed the hotel’s performance, Focus Hotels has now secured its future by completing this franchise deal with one of the world’s biggest hotel brands. Focus Hotels’ CEO, Peter Cashman said: “This exceptional turnaround is a testimony to Focus Hotels’ expertise and management style. Although it had not been performing to expectation since opening three years ago, there has been no special investment in the property since we took over its management. We simply repositioned the hotel to make it more competitive in the Heathrow Airport market; established a new on-site sales and yield team, led by locally-recruited yield and sales managers; and then provided ongoing close support and guidance to the hotel management team, who were then quickly able to transform the property’s performance.”
This latest success story follows hot on the heels of last year’s major franchise deal with Accor, for 10 Focus Hotels-managed properties. According to CEO Peter Cashman, Focus Hotels continues to actively seek other opportunities to bring its hugely successful management style to underperforming properties.
On behalf of the shareholders of Bouverie No 1 Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels would like to congratulate KSL Capital Partners and its wholly owned subsidiary in successfully acquiring the world famous The Belfry resort located in the West Midlands near Birmingham, United Kingdom. George Nicholas, executive vice president, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, said: “The Belfry attracted wide international interest from investors looking to capitalise on the existing golfing reputation and grow the business through renovation of the hotel and restaurants.”
George Nicholas added: “The sale is vote of confidence by KSL Capital Partners in to the UK and bolsters the sentiment in the UK lodging sector as evidenced by £1.123 billion in hotel property sales year to date 2012, representing growth of 12% over the same period last year with the majority of investment coming from offshore.”
Owners of The Belfry Resort, Sean Quinn Junior and the Quinn family added: “We congratulate KSL Capital Partners on their acquisition of The Belfry, and wish them well. We would particularly like to extend our appreciation to the management and staff at the hotel for their hard work and dedication over the past number of years, and look forward to seeing the proud traditions of The Belfry continuing.”
Situated on 550 acres and housing the headquarters of the UK PGA, the resort comprises 324-rooms, with meeting and conferencing facilities as well as three 18-hole golf courses including the famous Brabazon course, the host of four Ryder Cups, more than any other golf course.
As owner of ClubCorp, the world’s preeminent golf club operator, the investment by KSL Capital Partners in The Belfry represents KSL Capital Partners first golf acquisition in to Europe.
The hotel was sold through Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels as the owners exclusive agents.
Think of prisoners sewing and you probably conjure an image of men in arrow covered overalls, stitching away at hessian mailbags. Nothing could be further from the truth! Up pops the highly regarded social initiative Fine Cell Work with a new shop in Grosvenor Street – one of Mayfair’s smartest addresses.Opening in early August at 5 Grosvenor Street, Fine Cell Work will be selling exquisite needlepoint and embroidered home furnishings as well as a delightful range of home and fashion accessories. Celebrated designers such as Nicky Haslam, John Stephanidis, Cath Kidston, Emily Peacock and Daisy de Villeneuve have created and donated designs for cushions and witty shopping bags which are painstakingly stitched by prisoners serving sentences in UK penal establishments. The products are beautiful, desirable and of the highest quality.
There are plans for a series of fun and engaging events such as lunchtime ‘sew-cials’ where visitors can stitch tapestries and gain advice from Fine Cell Work’s expert volunteers; evening talks by skilled embroiderers and designers such as stitched wallpaper creator Claire Coles; delightful ‘get to know and sew’ sessions with stars who stitch; fascinating screenings and discussions with ex-prisoners about the beneficial effects they discovered whilst participating in the Fine Cell Work prison programme.
The shop will also display some recent commissions that Fine Cell Work undertakes as bespoke projects for interior designers and private clients including tapestry upholstered chairs, patchwork quilts, dedicated wedding gifts etc.
There has long been a connection between fine embroidery and wall decoration so, in what promises to be a unique retail outlet, textile designer Scarlet Oliver is showcasing a range of wallpapers just recently reintroduced from the Warner Textile Archive and described by Giles Kime as “the coolest wallpaper to surface this summer”. This special collection will be officially ‘launched’ for public purchase in September.
Katy Emck, Fine Cell Work’s dynamic chief executive says, “Fine Cell Work has long dreamt of a retail space to give the quality of work that can be done in prison the recognition and broad customer base it deserves. What better place to start than Mayfair?”
The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., reopens the doors to the historic Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Sebastian, following an extensive $25 million restoration. The renovation of Hotel Maria Cristina, which was completed in time for its 100th anniversary this month, is part of a larger strategy to invest in the restoration of Starwood’s most celebrated Luxury Collection hotels. The reopening of Hotel Maria Cristina follows in the footsteps of Hotel Alfonso XIII, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Seville, which underwent a meticulous multi-million dollar refurbishment earlier this year. The restored Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris and The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice, will debut in 2013. Rising above the vivacious and storied city centre of San Sebastian, the building is considered to be one of the grandest hotels in Europe, originally designed by famed French architect Charles Mewès for its namesake, Queen Maria Cristina. The extensive nine-month project, which was led by Idom Engineering & Architecture, features interiors restored by HBA Design; the firm took special care to enhance the élan, soft curves and powerful feminine presence that have characterised the hotel since it opened. The hotel also offers The Luxury Collection Concierge service to all guests, promising the most discerning global travellers an extraordinary experience.
A Century of Elegance Renewed Christened in July 1912 by a visit from the queen herself, Hotel Maria Cristina was built during the Belle Époque, a time when haute couture was still burgeoning and there was a fluid emphasis on Art Nouveau. The restoration of the landmark hotel focused on refined feminine touches added within its existing framework to create a sense of comfortable and abundant luxury.
The public spaces reveal soaring ceilings, intricate mouldings, towering marble pillars, and a polished grey and white Carrara marble floor. Softening the palatial surfaces, a sophisticated champagne colour palette on the walls and furniture blend together with warm mocha and copper coloured touches found in the soft velvet upholstery and hand-tufted wool rugs. Silvery silk curtains frame the passageways and behind the reception desk padded leather walls fill the trio of arched wall niches.
The International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC) is undertaking an examination of the methods used for valuing hotels and other leisure properties, following concern about the different practices being used around the world. In recent years the hotel sector has evolved considerably, particularly in the way ownerships are held and financed, and the need for consistent and reliable valuation has become ever more important.
The IVSC project is being led by Jim Eales, a member of the IVSC Standards Board and Global Head of Ernst & Young’s Valuation and Business Modelling Group.
Eales explains:
“There are many components that together form the value of a hotel. For example the value of land and buildings will be a major part but there can be significant challenges in distinguishing these from the value of all the other components of a hotel business, and in ensuring that there has been a consistent approach in assessment. This can lead to inconsistent practice and valuations. The IVSC aims to bring forward guidance to help valuation providers and investors alike.”
An IVSC Discussion Paper on the subject highlights the main issues identified by the Standards Board and invites responses and comments from valuation professionals, hotel operators, lenders, investor groups and any others involved in the sector who may need to rely on valuations.
Although hotels represent one of the most significant asset classes covered by the project, the IVSC study extends to other “trade related” property affected by similar valuation challenges – for example, bars, restaurants, other properties in the leisure sector and specialised health care facilities.
Yesterday’s mix of economic data and potential policy intervention remain inconclusive and as suggested in the previous report markets remain range bound. The UK has posted its largest overall trade deficit since records began 15 years ago, indicating weak demand for British goods, both in Europe and beyond, exports fell 4.9%, while imports fell 0.5%.
GBPEUR remains locked in consolidation, King’s reluctance to cut the bank rate was clear and does underpin sterling to some extent. Look to euro news to create the next movement with a break of 1.2730 re-opening 1.2870 as a target. Euro sellers could see 1.2580 as the bottom of the trading range for the time being.
Against the USD the pound traded above the 1.56 level throughout the day reaching a session high of 1.5684 at the very beginning of the London session. This morning the pound has fallen below the 1.56 level with the next support at 1.5561.
The number of homes being repossessed in the UK has fallen to its lowest level since the end of 2010, “The figures show that lenders, borrowers and debt advisers are working together to get through the current period of economic difficulty and keep mortgage possessions in check,” said the CML’s director general, Paul Smee. ________________________________________
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The euro weakened for a third day against the dollar hitting 1.2269 from the high of 1.2386 after economists surveyed by the ECBank predicted the region’s contraction this year will be worse than forecast, giving the bank possible new grounds to lower interest rates again.
ECB board member Christian Noyer said the bond purchase program ‘will be sufficient to have a strong impact on the markets,’ and went onto say that the Governing Council will ‘intervene very quickly’ while ‘favouring bonds with shorter maturities’ amid the heightening threat for contagion.
Greece’s unemployment rate rose to a record high in May as the country struggles through a fifth year of recession. The rate rose to an all-time high of 23.1% from 22.6% in April. It was 16.8% a year earlier.
June’s U.S. trade deficit fell to its lowest level since 2010 as exports reached a record level and imports declined due to sliding oil prices. The U.S. deficit in international trade of goods and services decreased 10.7% in June to a seasonally adjusted $42.92bn.
The number of U.S. workers filing applications for jobless benefits fell slightly last week, continuing to suggest that the labour market is stabilizing.
Canadian housing starts fell 6.1% to an annual rate of 208,500 in July this rate was down from a revised 222,100 units in June. Canada recorded another hefty trade deficit in June, the biggest in 21 months, as imports led by machinery and equipment hit a record high.
Most commodity currencies have performed well of late, in particular the CAD and NOK and AUD. While the trends suggest further strength possible all currencies will be prone to a correction and remain at risk of large sell offs should sentiment change dramatically.
The Bank of Japan maintained its assessment of the domestic economy in its monthly report for August, as firm domestic demand backed by reconstruction from the last year’s earthquake continued to help the nation’s recovery.
China’s trade surplus narrowed in July as export and import growth both slowed sharply, signalling continued difficulty for the world’s second-largest economy.
Dawson Design Associates have asked me to advise them on the opening of their London office, which is happening in September. Aside from helping them to find staff, I was invited to spend ten days in the Studio in Seattle, looking at working methods, documentation, FF&E suppliers etc..
I jumped at the chance to work in Seattle for ten days, staying at the rural home of practice Principal, Andrea Sheehan-Dawson, who I hope to be introducing to many suppliers during the Sleep event in November. Andrea is a very committed designer, as is shown by the 6 design awards the practice has won since 2005. She lives with her University student daughter Emily, two cats and a 3 legged dog in 15 acres of wooded land across Puget Sound from Seattle. The commute I have joined her in is a delightful ferry and bus ride, taking just under an hour door to door. Emily drives us to the ferry in the family 4×4, stopping to let the horse from its loose box. Emily achieved prominence locally by her campaign to save the little people that had populated the metalwork of the local ferry terminal, now removed to enable maintenance. To her delight I pointed out that some had survived the cull…
A multi-million dollar renovation of interior and exterior space brings one of the Mid Atlantic region’s most prominent meeting venues to new heights of productivity, professionalism and value. The Wyndham Virginia Crossings Hotel & Conference Center in Glen Allen, Virginia, committed over $3 million to providing state-of-the-art technology in its dedicated conference centre. The renovation includes lobbies, restaurants, meeting and function space, and adding new gardens, reception areas and recreational facilities. Plans are underway for renovation of all 183 guestrooms and suites, to be completed in 2013.Its purpose-built, IACC-approved conference facilities are 21st century, designed “to produce maximum results,” according to General Manager Bob Nelson. Nelson was recently honoured with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts General Manager of the Year Award for 2011. He and his staff are committed to providing everything needed for a productive, cost-effective meeting.
In today’s business environment, meeting planners are under intense scrutiny to produce results. “A significant amount of time and money is lost because of badly planned and poorly executed meetings,” Nelson says. He and his staff have earned a reputation for providing a unique setting with excellent technical facilities, and one of the region’s most experienced and professional staffs that can assist with every aspect of conference and event planning. “Our customers are very loyal because we make them look very, very good,” says Nelson.
Set on 20 landscaped acres that reflect the grace and charm of Old Virginia, the recently renovated Wyndham Virginia Crossings Hotel & Conference Center features a fast and efficient digital infrastructure to power meetings and events to their optimum potential.
The renovations are a perfect blending of classic and contemporary design, combining the most advanced technology and ergonomics within a serene and secure setting. Sequestered behind stately brick walls, the Wyndham Virginia Crossings Hotel & Conference Center recalls a college campus or private estate. Guests pass through a wrought-iron gate, up a tree-lined drive to the hilltop, where the property overlooks the woodlands of Virginia and the greens of the Crossings Golf Club.
Stylematters, who are renowned for designing and manufacturing high quality contract furniture to many of the leading names in the UK hospitality and leisure sectors, have just completed a major project involving over 500 bespoke items within a five week period for the new 4 star Daffodil Hotel By The Lake in Grasmere.Following an extensive three year refurbishment, the doors have finally opened on the beautiful lakeside development which has more than doubled in size and now includes 78 bedrooms with 13 luxury suites, two function rooms, a restaurant, bar, 10-metre hydrotherapy room and three spa treatment rooms.
Working with Head Designer, Paul Sawford of In 4 Design, Stylematters pulled out all the stops to deliver and install all 500 items in just over a month from the order being placed. It represented a major challenge for the factory team at Stylematters during a very busy period but as Stylematters, Chief Executive, Jim Barton commented; “This was a very prestigious project and we are fortunate to have a team of highly skilled and dedicated people who are always able to rise to a challenge to meet our customers’ requirements”
Stylematters were involved in the complete fit out of the bedroom and dining areas with the superb Micha dining chairs chosen for the restaurant together with matching arm chairs which went in to the bedrooms. This was complemented by the stylish CAB sofa range consisting of bespoke sofas with two single beds built into the frames. The sofas, in Sunbury fabrics, were also chosen to enhance the main lounge and common areas throughout the hotel.
Set in one of the most beautiful parts of the UK, the hotel (formerly known as the Waterside Hotel) was originally built in 1855, and after this major re-development the hotel is now twice the size of anything else in Grasmere, with almost all the bedrooms facing out over the lake or fells in Grasmere. Commented Owner, Mark Brady “We’re confident we’ve created something really special here”.
Having been a member of the British Contract Furnishing Association (BCFA) since 2003, Lugo Group Europe was invited to partner with the BCFA in sponsorship of the award for best furniture designer in this year’s prestigious New Designers Awards which was held at the Business Design Centre in Islington in July. New Designers 2012 celebrates 27 years as the foremost graduate design show, presenting the very best graduate designers from the class of 2012 with some 3,500 exhibitors from 200 of the UK’s design courses.
The prestigious New Designers Awards were presented by the Internationally acclaimed designer Jay Osgerby from the Barber Osgerby design studio which designed the Olympic torch. These 16 awards, supported by leading brands and organisations from across the creative industries, herald the arrival of especially talented designers and anticipate the start of successful careers.
As a leading manufacturer of hotel furniture, Lugo offered a month’s internship as a prize. During this time the winner would experience working in a commercial design studio alongside other product designers and to see first-hand the manufacturing process of the furniture in the factory.
Amongst stiff opposition, the award was presented to Hugh Leader-Williams a graduate of Loughborough University who designed a very simple family of stools and tables that could be very easily collapsed and stored within a confined footprint which was ideal for homes with limited storage space.
Lugo’s Group Managing Director, Lee Marvin was amongst the team of judges and commented “Rather than the overall clean aesthetic to the product, it was more the manner in which the components related to each other and were simply well engineered to collapse neatly and effortlessly that drew the judging panel’s attention to this particular design”.
Colin Watson, Managing Director for the BCFA went on to say “A simple concept that was well resolved, commercially viable and an original design”.
The awards themselves were followed by a series of focus meetings involving the judges, the BCFA and University Design Faculty Heads to brainstorm ideas on how the communication and co-operation between education and industry might be further improved and what role the BCFA and its membership might take in any such initiatives.
As expected yesterday saw Mervyn King deliver a gloomy quarterly inflation report cutting the growth and inflation outlook as expected. The bank revealed that it is now expecting zero growth this year after forecasting a 0.7% rise in GDP only three months ago. It also cut its 2013 forecast to 1.7% growth revised from 2.1%. Despite the gloomy report sterling did strengthen after King stated the bank will use asset purchases as its central stimulus tool because interest rate cuts are counterproductive. After these comments we saw the pound make gains against a basket of currencies.
GBPEUR opened near the low of 1.2578 but was propelled to a 5 day high of 1.2688 at the same time as Mervyn King was speaking and was assisted by disappointing Industrial production figures from Germany.
GBPUSD reacted similarly, climbing rapidly to a find a session high of 1.5675 from the low of 1.5574 GDP made the same gains against all major pairs.
With little data out today we expect major currency pairs to be supported by risk appetite but remain range bound ________________________________________
WORLDWIDE
EURUSD opened at the high of 1.2401 but fell steadily through the course of the day to touch a low 1.2327 as ratings agency DBRS announced rating downgrades for Italy and Spain.. The pair should see decent support around yesterday’s low, while 1.2440/50 remains key area of resistance.
German Industrial production figures YoY for June came in at -0.3% against the 0.3% consensus and the 10 year bond auction found yields pushing up to 1.42% from 1.31% – a clear indication of increased risk sentiment towards the economy’s future. As a benchmark, the US also auctioned 10 year notes at yields of 1.68% Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and his Spanish counterpart Mariano Rajoy have begun a new offensive against decisions on Eurozone funding by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, pressuring her to agree to a European shield against the high borrowing costs which are crippling Madrid and Rome.
New Zealand published labour figures from late last night to show unemployment improved marginally from 5.23% to 5.2% but employment saw a big increase reaching 14.0K from -28.3K in the previous month.
Japanese Machinery Order figures for June were up massively MoM from -14.8% to 5.6% although consensus had pitched this at 10.9%. The national bank this morning maintained interest rates at 0.1%.
Key figures from China this morning YoY for July indicated the Consumer Price Index had fallen from 2.2% to 1.8%, exceeding the 1.7% consensus. Producer Price Index however fell more significantly to -2.9% from -2.1% where -2.5% was expected.
Australian unemployment rate for July was down by 0.1% on the 5.3% previous and consensus but employment change went up from -28.3K to 14.0K where only 10.0K was expected.
The Scandies largely outperformed yesterday helped by the turn in risk appetite.
In the earthly paradise of the Alhambra, quiet cloisters contain gardens of reflecting pools. Planted with aromatics, these are spaces that uplift the soul and create a cool oasis in the heat of the Spanish plains…Here in the northern hemisphere we crave the all too rare moments of warmth on our faces. In warmer climes we seek shade and the opportunity of a refreshing breeze. Outdoors we can meet our friends, rendezvous with lovers, absorb the local colours and cultures or simply curl up with a book.
Although the concept of the ‘outdoor room’ is hardly new, it is a wise designer who creates the opportunities for special spaces beyond the building envelope that are truly integral to the form and function of a hotel. Indeed, outdoor spaces make commercial sense; a well-appointed and carefully designed garden or terrace can have significant revenue potential.
Each setting demands thoughtful planning and design, whether you are taking advantage of a view or sunny aspect; offering protection from noise or wind or visually and physically connecting the inside to the outside for an intimate balcony, restful winter garden, convivial terrace or bustling café.
Continuing to grow worldwide, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is eagerly anticipating the opening of a new luxury hotel: Fairmont Jaipur in India. The hotel is set to open its doors on August 9, 2012, marking Fairmont’s entry into India. The hotel is ideally situated within India’s “Golden Triangle”, a geographic region that is home to dazzling palaces, timeless forts and notable landmarks like the Taj Mahal.Created from the ground up, the overarching design influence of the property pays tribute to the great Mughal dynasty, and is a sensitive re-imaging of the traditional Mughal palace. With 255 guestrooms and suites including Fairmont Gold, the rooms reflect a modern, sophisticated style alongside the rich, cultural characteristics of the famed “Pink City” of Jaipur. A focal point of each guestroom is the spacious bathroom, which is entered through glazed sliding door panels, each featuring a traditional ornately patterned screen and boast striking floors which have a complex geometrical pattern of stars and diamonds.
As the Mughals were known for extravagant feasts, the hotel features a number of restaurants and bars, including Zarin (meaning Golden), the Indian specialty restaurant which highlights classical dishes prepared using traditional techniques and spices yet a modern flare. Zoya, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, is where guests can enjoy international cuisine in one of five distinct seating areas, including a Mughal tent. Fairmont Jaipur’s tea lounge, Anjum, brings a new dimension to the art of tea tasting by offering a selection of single origin first flush leaf teas of both black and white varieties, as well as teas infused with herbs such as basil, lemongrass and mint grown on site. As well, Fairmont’s long standing tradition of afternoon teas has been given a local twist with a live Masala Chai station offering the quintessential Adrak Wali Cha’ – the Indian adaptation of ginger-infused tea. Aza is the hotel’s regency style library bar which features an outstanding collection of fine wines, bespoke cocktails and malt whisky, showcased at a whisky appreciation station complete with aged and rare malt whiskies of the world. For the cigar connoisseurs, the Cigar Diwan is a classic smoking room with a rich, masculine feel, artistically decorated with hand-painted artwork. Fairmont Jaipur will also offer 5,500 square meters (60,000 square feet) of meeting space while a 1,300 square meter (14,000 square foot) Willow Stream Spa will debut in the coming months.
Key to a stay at any Fairmont property worldwide is enriching experiences that embody the destination. Fairmont Jaipur offers tea in the gardens, traditional entertainment and dancing in the courtyard, authentic spa treatments and falconry for the enjoyment of guests. A city rich in historical landmarks, guests can visit the Amber and Jaigarh Forts and the Jantar Mantar observatory in Jaipur. Local artisans specialize in captivating textiles, particularly rich, stamped fabrics, as well as jewellery. The adventurous may enjoy elephant rides, or taking in a game of elephant polo.
GBP opened Tuesday’s trading over the 1.56 mark against the US dollar and climbed throughout the day on the background of better than expected, but still poor, manufacturing figures from the UK. GBPUSD managed to climb to a high of 1.5684 before settling at1.5645 when markets closed.GBP rallied back from a lacklustre previous day and advanced to maintain the range-bounce price action carried over from June, but the Bank of England inflation report today may install a bearish outlook for the GBPUSD as market participants expect the central bank to lower its forecast for growth and inflation.
Official data showed yesterday output from the UK’s industrial sector collapsed in June, posting its sharpest drop in more than three-and-a-half years as the extra public holidays during the month appeared to weigh on production.
GBPEUR showed a very tight trading range yesterday. Opening at 1.2572, the pair only managed a day’s high of 1.2618 before settling back at 1.2590 towards the close of trade. GBPEUR opens this morning much unchanged at 1.2592. ________________________________________
WORLDWIDE
EURUSD opened the markets at 1.2423 seeing a brief drop below 1.24 to the day’s low of 1.2396 before holding a steady position for most of the afternoon closing trade close to the day’s high of 1.2442.
The US Dollar and the Japanese Yen declined in overnight trade as Asian stocks advanced, denting demand for the safe haven currencies. Canada’s dollar gained to a three-month high against its US counterpart as risk appetite increased and crude oil, the nation’s biggest export, rose.
The euro rose against the yen and dollar after Germany supported European Central Bank President Mario Draghi’s proposals to stem the region’s debt crisis. Euro gains were supported as the European Union said it had received no requests for the region’s rescue fund to buy government bonds.
Draghi outlined a plan last week under which the ECB may buy debt of struggling euro-bloc countries in tandem with the region’s bailout fund, while saying the details still need to be worked out over the coming weeks.
The euro held gains even after Germany’s Economy Ministry in Berlin said factory orders dropped 1.7 % from May, when they rose 0.7 %. Economists projected a 0.8 % decline.
Australia’s dollar rose to the strongest since March against the US dollar after the Reserve Bank said current policy settings were “appropriate.” RBA Governor Glenn Stevens and his board said in a statement the nation’s growth was close to trend.
The Swiss National Bank’s foreign- currency reserves surged to a record in July as the euro region’s increasing turmoil forced policy makers to step up their defence of the franc ceiling. The franc rose 0.2% to 96.70 centimes per dollar and was up to 1.20184 per euro.
Hilton Worldwide has signed an agreement with long-standing business partner, Egyptian Touristic Resorts LLC, to introduce two new premium Hilton Hotels & Resorts properties to Cairo and Alexandria.The dual signing for the 390-room Hilton Giza Pyramids, located in an exclusive residential and commercial district South of Cairo, and the 195-room Hilton Alexandria King’s Ranch Resort, situated 40 kilometres West of Alexandria, represent the 19th and 20th Hilton Worldwide properties to open in Egypt.
Hilton Giza Pyramids, which is set to be Hilton Worldwide’s sixth property in the capital, will command panoramic views of Egypt’s greatest tourist attractions including the world famous heritage sites of the Pyramids and the Sphinx. The hotel’s 390 rooms include 18 suites and the property will feature a wealth of facilities and conveniences designed to appeal equally to both the business and leisure traveller. Amenities include a large function room, two boardrooms, four meeting rooms, a business centre, a large health club plus spa and an outdoor swimming pool. The property will also boast a wide variety of restaurants including all day dining and three speciality options as well as a lobby lounge and destination bar. The hotel is expected to open in 2016.
As part of Alexandria’s growing King’s Ranch development, Hilton Alexandria King’s Ranch Resort is set to become a stylish and conveniently located landmark hotel aimed at the business and leisure traveller to Egypt’s second largest city.
Located close to the recently expanded Borg Al Arab International Airport and set in lush picturesque landscaping, the hotel will feature a large function room, four large meeting rooms, a business centre and an outdoor and indoor pool. On site dining facilities will include a speciality restaurant and an all-day dining option as well as an executive lounge, a destination bar and a lobby lounge. Hilton Alexandria King’s Ranch Resort is the brand’s second hotel in Alexandria and is expected to open at the end of 2013.
Based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, Brintons has been at the forefront of quality woven floorcoverings for almost 230 years, marrying the latest technologies with the finest wools to create truly beautiful carpets. Brintons not only make carpet for homes, the commercial side of the business carpets the world! From hotels to airports, restaurants to convention centres, over the years Brintons has produced award-winning carpets that have contributed to many of the most exciting interiors in the industry. Brintons global design team work closely with interior designers, architects, specifiers and end-users, specialising in products that offer quality, performance, service and innovative design.
In September 2011, The Carlyle Group, one of the worlds’ largest global alternative asset managers, showed their confidence in the Brintons brand by their acquisition of business and backing management plans for growth.
What does a five star hotel create for its guests? The most uncompromising luxury and peacefulness with plenty of up to the minute amenities; pampering in luxurious surroundings; home for the discerning modern traveller and indulging yourself in uncompromising attention to detail. All these are expectations of a luxury hotel, the environment it creates and the service it offers.This is what the La “Savane de Mayfair” Collection can offer the discerning customer – a luxury product combined with practicality, accessibility and excellent value. It is the very best faux fur throws and sleek golden throw or shawl in high quality fabric with an uncompromising attention to detail.
La “Savane de Mayfair” Collection by Mille Couleurs evokes a moment of calm in the modern world; a collection that indulges your sense of luxury with every detail.
Sterling declined across the board as July Halifax House Prices showed a decline to -0.6% compared to 1.0% in June, slightly worse than the -0.5% consensus.The pound fell around 0.4% against the euro to a 1 month low of 1.2554 after the data, but made a slight recovery and finished trading around 1.2582. Against the US dollar it was a similar story which saw a fall to 1.5542, then a recovery to 1.5618.
Analysts said expectations of the ECB’s action to ease the Eurozone’s debt crisis has refocused investors minds back onto poor UK economic fundamentals and taken pressure of the euro for now.
Market players were also jittery ahead of the BoE’s quarterly inflation report tomorrow, when the central bank gives its latest forecasts for growth and inflation, which may open the door to more quantitative easing or an interest rate cut.
Tensions within the U.K. coalition government escalated Monday after a Conservative Party rebellion forced Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to abandon his long-held goal of reforming the country’s unelected House of Lords. Mr. Clegg said the Conservatives had broken part of their coalition contract with the Liberal Democrats by failing to honor their commitment to the reform. ________________________________________
WORLDWIDE
The ECB said last week it may soon resume its programme of buying government bonds of struggling euro zone countries, leading to some optimism that European authorities would act to dampen bond yields in Italy and Spain.
The euro prospered yesterday afternoon hitting a one month high of 1.2445 before settling at just above 1.2400 against the dollar further helped by Greece and its international creditors agreeing on the need to strengthen policy efforts to support the economy and comply with its bailout terms after nearly two weeks of meetings in Athens.
The markets optimism may prove to be short-lived as doubts linger among investors regarding the potential effectiveness of the measures pledged by European policy makers. As such the current euro rally is on thin ice and more choppy trading is expected.
Germany’s factory orders fell 7 percent in June from a year earlier, the steepest drop since October 2009, according to economist estimates before the figure is released in Berlin tomorrow.
European stocks are expected to start a touch lower this morning as the recent rally for risk assets runs out of steam, while the focus in London will likely be on banking group Standard Chartered, which stands accused by a U.S. regulator of running a “rogue institution.” Standard Chartered is accused of hiding more than $250 billion in illegal Iranian transactions for nearly a decade.
The Swedish krona dropped against most of its major peers as Statistics Sweden said service production fell 0.2 % from May, when it gained 2.3 %. Production rose an annual 1.1 %, compared with May’s 1.9% jump.
Early this morning Australia’s central bank kept interest rates steady at 3.5% as expected, saying it sees signs that China’s economic slowdown has bottomed out, while the local economy continues to grow solidly.
Cornwall Council has this week approved the sale of Old County Hall to St Michael’s Hotel & Spa owner Nigel Carpenter. The sale is subject to a satisfactory planning consent being obtained.Mr Carpenter plans to retain the historic Old County Hall building and restore the distinctive original features of the building, whilst adding luxury and style to create a new four star deluxe flagship spa hotel for Truro and the county.
Much of the ground floor of the building, which will be called The Truro Spa Hotel, is to become a destination spa with eight treatment rooms, a beauty salon, a large hydrotherapy pool with relaxation areas, steam rooms, saunas and a fitness suite, as well as a stylish patisserie and café.
The beautiful old debating chamber will become an 80-seater brasserie with bar and lounges nearby. There will also be extensive meeting, conference and function facilities with new gardens and landscaping .
The Truro Spa Hotel will include approximately 40 bedrooms, including some spectacular suites. The Silcock Suite, named after the building’s architect, will feature lavish lounge space and gaze out across the cathedral and the whole of Truro. There will also be 20 new spacious long stay suites which will be ideal for business people making extended stays or re-locating to the area. There will be car parking for over 60 cars.
The new hotel and spa will create around 100 new jobs for the city and be a significant boost for the local economy. St Michael’s Hotel & Spa uses local suppliers wherever possible and The Truro Spa Hotel will follow the same route. The four star St Michael’s Hotel & Spa was totally refurbished over ten years at a cost of £4.5 million and has won Cornwall Tourism Awards every year for the past five years including “Winner of Winners / Best Hotel of the Year” in 2009.
Owner Nigel Carpenter, who conceived The Truro Spa Hotel, said: “I am delighted and honoured to have the opportunity to convert this wonderful, historic building into a flagship hotel for Truro. It will provide a much needed facility for the city which will help fuel the growth of our capital city. Its location encourages a low carbon footprint with visitors being able to arrive at the main train station, just 200 metres away.
The conversion of Old County Hall to The Truro Spa Hotel will create a public facility, which will allow everyone to enjoy the architectural beauty of such an historic building. It will also ensure the building’s conservation for the future. We hope it will become the hub of the city and a meeting place for all.”
Malcolm Bell, Head of Visit Cornwall, said: “The proposed development would be transformational for Truro by providing a signature hotel and focus which has been sadly missing in Truro. Truro has often been seen as a “mini Bath” due to its historic city centre and range of shops and eateries, but unfortunately, we have not had the equivalent of The Royal Bath Hotel to entertain and accommodate high end visitors and key visiting business people, let alone potential investors to Cornwall.”
Neil Scott, BID Manager for Truro added: “The proposed development would be an excellent addition to the ‘Truro mix’, serving as a catalyst for developing the city into a more complete destination for a broad range of potential visitors and clients.”
Old County Hall was originally designed in 1890 by TB Silcock for the County Council and is a grand, Grade II listed building, constructed of local materials. The office space, layout and environment is no longer suited for a modern office environment.
One of Cornwall’s leading architectural practices, Poynton Bradbury Wynter Cole, has worked with Nigel Carpenter on the development of the scheme. The practice has designed many iconic buildings for Cornwall and undertaken many conversions of landmark historic buildings. Phil Cole, Partner, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this exciting development.”
The sale of Old County Hall was promoted via a nationally advertised public tender competition. Peter Marsh, Cornwall Council’s Head of Property, commented: “The scheme proposed by St Michael’s Hotel & Spa is very exciting for the future of Truro. We are delighted that the building will come into wider public usage and help fuel growth for the city. It is gratifying that, after a national competition, the building is being awarded to a local company experienced in developing and running high end hotels.”
The Truro Spa Hotel is expected to open its doors in 2014, after the building’s current occupants are re-located to more modern facilities.
JAB Anstoetz has launched the latest collection of rugs called Spotline, a modern and versatile range of bespoke, hand-tufted rugs made from high quality felted yarns. The design team at JAB Anstoetz has taken the best-selling Lana Colour Collection and re-invented it to create this fashionable striped range.Spotline introduces four different carpet options; Multi, which features alternative stripe widths and a total of six colour combinations, the regular striped Track with seven colour combinations, Lane which features 13cm block stripes and Rail, a regular stripe design with two colour options. With a total of 19 colours and 89 combinations Spotline offers the ultimate bespoke service and can even be customised to match any colour in the room.
New from Design at Knightsbridge is Mondrian, a range of distinctive seating to enhance hotel lounge and reception areas, guest suites and social hubs. Inspired by the powerful artistry of Pieter Mondrian, the new range has been created for Design at Knightsbridge by James A Wright and is characterised by the painter’s idiosyncratic geometry and simple, uncluttered lines. Models include upright chairs, easy chairs and twin-seat sofas, all incorporating hand-holds within the crafted wooden frame to avoid fabric wear and soiling.
Upholstery is in either fabric or hide to suit customer requirements and the design lends itself to two-tone interpretation. To complement the upholstery, Mondrian is available with show-wood in six standard finishes – Cherry, Mahogany, Natural Beech, Wenge, Walnut or Oak.
Mondrian seating is manufactured in the UK using timber from renewable sources: Knightsbridge Furniture holds FISP and FSC/PEFC certification, ISO 14001:2004 for its environmental management system and BS EN ISO 9001:2008 quality management accreditation.
A dedicated sales division and supporting website are the global gateway to all Design at Knightsbridge collections of seating, tables and occasional furniture for the international hospitality arena. To view the full portfolio, visit www.design-at-knightsbridge.co.uk
On Friday morning UK Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) which surveys purchasing managers in the services industry came out at 51.0 against a forecast of 51.6.During Friday’s session, GBPEUR started the day at the high of 1.2719 with the euro continuing to strengthen before closing the day at 1.2623. The weekend saw the pair move below 1.26 and hit a new 3 week low of 1.2589 struggling to break technical support in place at 1.2583.
The US dollar also started positively against sterling at 1.5526 before moving above 1.56 after negative employment data was released at 13.30 in the US. This morning markets have opened around 1.5600 and a close above resistance 1.5698 is needed to confirm the recent uptrend.
The key news for the UK will be this Wednesday’s inflation report, where the Bank of England is likely to cut its economic growth forecasts, alongside its outlook for inflation, raising expectations that markets will be handed billions more in financial aid. The previous forecasts, made in May, have proved over-optimistic, having been reliant on more ‘orderly’ progress from European policymakers, as well as improvements in bank lending. ________________________________________
WORLDWIDE
On Friday the US dollar fell against most major counterparts after US employers added more jobs than forecast in July even as the unemployment rate rose to a five-month high at 8.3%. US non-farm payrolls came out significantly better against a forecast of 101k at 163k moving the dollar from 1.5520 to the afternoon high of 1.5646 against sterling.
Jan Hatzius, chief US economist for Goldman Sachs, has said that additional Quantitative Easing from the Fed will probably be considered later in the year when Operation Twist expires.
EURUSD moved comfortably into the 1.23 level, starting the day at 1.2209 and continued on an upward trend finishing the day at 1.2388. After such a prolonged downtrend, the close above 1.2326 last week was significant and could trigger a rally towards the next resistance at 1.2464.
The euro fell against the yen and dollar, reversing gains, before key data tomorrow that economists say will show German factory orders and Italian industrial output declined.
The ECB is edging toward a bond-buying program that investors say could end up printing money, echoing efforts by the Federal Reserve and other central banks to fix a credit crisis nearing its sixth year.
South Africa’s rand was the biggest winner against the US dollar, climbing 2.1% to 8.1747. New Zealand’s dollar rose for the third week, after Standard & Poor’s affirmed the nation’s credit rating and said its outlook is stable.
With the Australian Dollar moving over 3.5% in little over a month we continued to see GBPAUD edge closer to a 10 year low of 1.4660, during Friday the pair found support at the low of the day at 1.4752 and closed the day at 1.4799.
GBPJPY advanced 130 pips directly after the US opening bell from 121.65 to break the 122.60 resistance and reach fresh intra-day highs at 122.95, before bouncing off the key level of 123.00.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced the opening of its first dual-branded ski resort complex in Changbaishan, China. Owned by Dalian Wanda Group, Sheraton Changbaishan Resort and The Westin Changbaishan Resort are adjacent to the slopes of the Changbai Mountains, one of China’s leading ski areas and famed resort destinations. The highly anticipated opening marks Starwood’s first ski resorts in Asia Pacific, and further lengthens the company’s footprint as the largest international luxury and upper upscale hotel operator in China where the company recently celebrated 103 hotels in operation, with another 100 hotels in the pipeline. Sheraton Changbaishan lobby at Starwood’s first dual-branded ski resort in China’s Changbai Mountains.
The Sheraton and Westin resort complex is close to Yingfu Expressway and just six miles to Changbaishan Airport (NBS). Known for its breathtaking natural beauty, the Changbai mountain range extends through several countries and is home to 200 animal and bird species. Guests will enjoy downhill skiing on trails surrounded by unspoiled pine forests, as well as ice skating and ice fishing.
The resort complex offers more than 37,000 square feet of state-of-the-art function and meeting space, including a 13,362 square-foot ballroom, nine smaller meeting rooms, and a spacious pre-function area. Six innovative food and beverage venues, along with a professional catering and meeting team, are capable of organizing functions for all types of occasions.
Sheraton Changbaishan Resort Sheraton Changbaishan Resort offers 297 guest rooms and suites with mountain or ski views, as well as a Sheraton Club lounge and Sheraton Club rooms with upgraded amenities. The heart of the lobby features the Link@Sheraton® experienced with Microsoft®- a social hub where connections seamlessly take place. All guest rooms are equipped with an oversized work desk, custom-designed ergonomic chair, high speed Internet, LCD flat panel television, iPhone/iPad docking station, and the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper® bed, designed to meet AAA’s Five Diamond Award® criteria. Additional amenities include full service restaurants and lounge, and fully equipped fitness facilities featuring the brand’s revolutionary new health and fitness program, Sheraton Fitness programmed by Core PerformanceTM.
With a burst of freshness, colour and variety, the Sheraton brand’s signature restaurant Feast® provides an irresistible visual and culinary spread. The open kitchens serve up the freshest a la carte food, while the buffet displays encourage an interactive dining experience for the whole family to enjoy. A third restaurant, Yue®, offers traditional Chinese favourites, with an emphasis on Cantonese cuisine. Additionally, 13 private dining rooms are available for guests.
The Westin Changbaishan Resort The Westin Changbaishan Resort inspires well being with expansive mountain views, world class dining, a Westin Kids Club, the signature Heavenly® Spa, and an indoor swimming pool. All 262 guestrooms are equipped with the world renowned Westin Heavenly® Bed, featuring lush sheets, down cushioning, and a patented pillow-top mattress, for a truly restorative sleep. Another industry first, the Heavenly® Bath creates an invigorating spa-like experience, enhanced with the brand’s Heavenly® Shower, Heavenly® Robe, and exclusive White Tea Aloe bath amenities. In-room, high speed Internet and an ergonomic work space offers convenience and productivity in a tranquil setting. Ski-in/ski-out access also allows guests to ski straight into the hotel lobby.
With an interactive cooking show on display, Seasonal Tastes is the hotel’s signature restaurant. Its international fare is inspired by color, freshness, and flair. Maru, the first Korean restaurant in Starwood branded hotels, spices things up with hearty, tantalizing cuisine.
Aquae Sulis was the Roman name for this spa. The British of course are more ‘lumpen’ than classical, so called it Bath. It has been a resort town for millennia. Fittingly the Francis was built speculatively as a group of refined townhouses by John Wood the Elder, who lived in one of the houses, no.9. The terrace now forms the Francis hotel, no.9 the entrance lobby.
This has always been a wealthy part of the country and property prices in and around Bath are spectacularly higher than in most other parts of the country, in part due to the proximity of Charlie’s country home, but also because we tax payers have indulgently provided the chief of the Westminster chattering classes with a home nearby too. Both these have increased demand amongst the wealthier to live close by, presumably in hope of sharing a sherry occasionally. Into this wealthy town comes Accor, perceptively opening one of its new branded boutique hotels, an M Gallery, known throughout the area as the Francis, to serve both residents and the busy tourist market. The Francis is the chains second M Gallery in the UK, one of a growing number globally as Accor seeks to rework its brands which range from the luxury Sofitel through to the budget Ibis.
The Francis was first used for hospitality in the 1870s. The first owner, a Mrs Francis, moved from another hotel nearby, brought the remarkable canopy over the front door with her when she made it into a proper hotel (an early boutique perhaps) in 1884, converting it from its previous existence as a boarding house. The hotel obviously upset some German guests as they made a couple of return flying visits in the early 1940’s, leaving parts in ruins behind them.
Reopened in the middle of the last century the hotel has now had a major makeover by Accor to the tune of some £6 million. Any refurbishment of a Grade 1 listed building in the UK has to battle a quagmire of regulation and supervision, frequently leaving the designers with conflicting instructions to resolve, energy conservation for example conflicting with a requirement to keep existing single glazed sash windows. Here the designers have acknowledged the history of the buildings throughout the project giving Accor a stunning property full of visual excitement. The theatre is strong whether the hotel is entered from the front door, or from the rear car park. The visual theatre is accentuated by the use of lighting and ornament, bespoke light fittings adding their drama to the rich chromatic palette the interior designer has chosen. This was a bold design strategy, using strong colour and pattern, but the designer has carried it off with consummate skill.
A rear lobby that might have been a dull entrance is lifted by skillfully lit niches echoing Rome with their busts. In the front the entrance drama comes from primary colour allied with a striking black and white floor patterning. The white concierge desk and red individual reception desks are discrete, allowing the space to flow well and providing guests with views into lounges either side. The one decision I would question here is the idea that the bar should be hidden. Already diners from the adjacent restaurant are getting drinks from the bar there rather than the hotel bar, and bringing them into the hotel lounge to drink. As the restaurant is an independent operation this is not good economics for the hotel. A large mirror on the end wall would preserve discretion in hiding the bar behind a wall, whilst still allowing its presence to be evident.
The bar lounge itself uses the history to effect with screens and wallpapers echoing period patterning. ‘Decadent’ light fittings drip crystal jewels and combine with colour to present the perfect sybaritic antidote to those bleak minimalist hotel interiors we have suffered from in recent years. The main lounge on the opposite side of Reception continues the hotels’ tradition of afternoon tea as well as apparently operating as a lounge to the Raymond Blanc restaurant. The smaller bar lounge has a beautifully lit display of blue glass providing the man lighting drama. The slightly Georgian style wing chairs are upholstered in red and blue alternating fabric, which also provides some chromatic drama. Lighting is supplemented with wall sconces and table lamps. The enclosed nature of this space makes it less visible from the area anyway, but the glass mural screen completes its isolation from any sign of the demon drink.
There is a careful balancing act to listening to guests and measuring what they say about the commercial criteria for the operation. This is especially true when the guest profile is elderly but they often surprise by their acceptance of change, frequently being more open minded than the young. Whilst also often the elderly are perceived as resistant to change, here the contemporary take on the design has gone down well from my observation. I suspect the complaints about the bar were probably more to do with its previous style rather than anything else. I have never noticed the older generation generally having any particular resistance to alcohol consumption…
The entrance doors at the end of the lounge and the notice on the hotel’s website of the presence of Bistro Blanc generally suggests that there is a link between the two, but this is not the case. This leaves bookings for dinner for guests at the mercy of the manger of Blancs, and the hotel’s own restaurant just acting as a breakfast area, despite its size and position. It may be the kitchen is inadequate but I would have thought that if capable of providing breakfasts, the famous ‘full English’, then like any other operation it can provide guests with a basic bistro operation as an alternative should Raymond Blancs be fully booked. This is quite possible in Bath where some restaurants are apparently booked five months ahead. My experience of Mercures is that they do not provide a full meal service and perhaps Accor intends for this to continue with its ‘M’ Gallery operation?
Whatever the operational mismatch, the design sings. The architectural layout has been revised but the colour and pattern bring it together. With the original hotel being the merger of a number of buildings, the architects and interior designer have honoured the pattern with each house warranting a different colour scheme in the corridors. Plaques mark each building internally. Whilst the ground floor schemes attempt quite successfully to evoke the era that saw the glories of colour and pattern in such interiors as those of Brighton Pavilion, the bedrooms and bathrooms strike a very modern note.
Bold carpets in solid colour with strong borders are complemented by black lacquer beds. The solid colour is a risky approach as pattern can hide a multitude of spills and splashes, whilst solid colour does not, but visually it is strong. The walls are painted but in some rooms there are line drawings depicting Bath – run off as digital wallpaper prints and showing the versatility now available to the designer. Colour combinations are bold and harmonious, an are used in some rooms to revamp the fitted wardrobes installed by the previous operator. Strong colour and careful detailing such as the use of chrome switch plates and black lacquer for the bedroom case-goods add to the drama. Yet the whole effect is quite restful. So much so the designer has added a picture to the ceiling for you to look at as you relax…
In keeping with many British hotels the sash windows open as there is no air conditioning. This is the case in many British hotels where the view is that it is only needed for 14 days of the year. Certainly in an historic building like this introducing a system is difficult, if not impossible. The rooms have good proportions and all are en-suite, despite the difficulties in running the services that must have been experienced in an earlier build. A word of warning to all designers; glass tops on work desks stop computer mice working as the glass refracts the light the mouse needs to track with. Frustrating for a business man trying to work out why his mouse cursor is not moving. A return to grubby mouse mats perhaps – I hope not. Here the desk is a good size with ample sockets. There is also a table and two easy chairs so it is easy to see how with full meal service this hotel could easily become a five star experience.
The bathrooms too are well designed and behind all the baths and showers is a large mural image of the Roman baths, located in their original form an easy walk from the hotel. Showers are both rain head and a hand unit. The powerful showers throw out a large volume of water. This in turn causes a problem in that the extract is unable to cope, leaving the room dripping as the steam condenses out on the walls and ceiling. Fortunately most bathrooms have opening windows, but either more powerful fans or an additional extract might be needed to provide a solution.
Baths are standard European baths boasted of in the US as being a ‘soaking tub’. The large wash stands give a sense of additional style as well as harking back in style to an earlier era. This is all a part of the designers consideration all the way through the project of reminding the guest subtly of the history of the building. This is, in my view, a glorious refurbishment only marred by some curious operational decisions. However, if an indicator of the general quality Accor are to achieve throughout their new ‘M’ Gallery brand, it will provide serious competition in the boutique hotel market.
After much anticipation, the Sleep Event is pleased to announce that the European Hotel Design Awards finalists have now been revealed! Click here to view the finalists.2012 finalists revealed…
Shortlisted entries in 13 categories, including best architecture of a hotel and best interior design of lobby and public areas, bedroom and bathroom and leisure facilities, are now in the hands of our expert judges and will be announced at the awards ceremony on 20 November.
The European Hotel Design Awards celebrate the passion and vision of those responsible for Europe’s most outstanding hotels. Join the hotel industry’s elite and book your place now! Please click here to go through to the online booking system.
Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou held its official opening ceremony on the 23rd July 2012, celebrating the dawn of a new era of luxury hospitality in China’s third largest metropolitan area. Rising 103 stories above the Pearl River, the new Guangzhou International Finance Centre (GZIFC) building’s top 30 floors are now home to Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou.“We are particularly pleased to be the 88th Four Seasons Hotel worldwide, doubling our luck for a successful future in Guangzhou,” says Regional Vice President and General Manager Bahram Sepahi.
In 302 guest rooms and 42 suites, guests will find beautifully appointed interiors naturally lit by floor-to-ceiling windows. On the 97th floor, the sumptuous Presidential Suite’s contemporary look is enhanced by original artworks throughout 253 square metres of living space. Just below on the 96th floor, the Royal Suite’s design is inspired by a traditional Chinese palette, also accented by original artworks.
Dining With six dining and entertainment venues, Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou is the city’s newest location for gourmet cuisine, impeccable service and see-and-be-seen atmosphere.
Spa Escaping the urban din 69 floors below on the streets of Guangzhou, guests will find a softly lit, gently perfumed retreat where they can relax, rejuvenate, and simply be pampered. The experience at Hua Spa is inspired by flowers – hua in Mandarin – from the light scent of geranium and rose as one enters to the lavish blend of indigenous flowers in signature therapies and treatments.
Westin Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to continue the global expansion of its signature spa brand as it continues to enhance its footprint in the world’s fastest growing markets. Propelled by a growing demand for luxury services, Westin will increase its robust portfolio of Heavenly Spas with 13 openings by 2014, with all but two located outside the United States. The brand’s signature spa concept is currently in 28 Westin Hotels & Resorts around the world. By 2014, Heavenly Spa will make its debut at The Westin Lagunamar, The Westin Chennai Velachery, The Westin Xiamen, The Westin Changbaishan, The Westin Wenzhou and eight other properties across North America and Asia.
“There is a growing demand for spa and wellness services in key global emerging markets such as Asia,” said Jeremy McCarthy, Director of Global Spa Development and Operations for Starwood. “Westin’s Heavenly Spa concept fulfills that demand and provides signature sensory experiences aimed at mind-body wellness and revitalization, designed specifically for the Westin guest.”
The Heavenly Spa by Westin is built upon two of the Westin brand’s core philosophies: preserving wellness on the road and helping guests leave feeling better than when they arrived.
“The global expansion of our Heavenly Spa brand underscores the strong appeal of our distinctive positioning around well-being which dovetails perfectly with the top three things consumers do today to improve their wellness – exercise, eat better and visit a spa,” said Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader for Westin Hotels.
Yesterday the Bank of England left its policy rate and bond-buying target unchanged, as members of the committee look for signs that their continuing stimulus efforts and push to boost bank lending can reignite growth in the UK’s stalling economy. UK expectations for inflation next year were unchanged in July, with the average expectation of the annual rate of inflation in 2013 was 2.4%, the same as in June.
In an interesting report, the National Institute for Economic and Social Research said George Osborne’s austerity measures have pitched the economy into recession and cost the country 200,000 jobs. I am not sure it cited what would have happened if the UK had lost its AAA credit rating status or if there had not been a European crisis in our doorstep.
Construction in the UK expanded in July, but the outlook ahead remains weak as new orders slid to the lowest level in two-and-a-half years. PMI rose to 50.9 in July from 48.2 in June.
The eagerly awaited event did not disappoint traders looking for volatility yesterday. In the lead up to the event risk taps were firmly flowing and the euro was preparing for a rally. For reasons mentioned below most major currencies reversed a weeks’ worth of movements with minutes.
GBPEUR dipped to a low of 1.2655 in anticipation of the ECB press conference reversing as high as 1.2779 before closing 1.2739. The current trend can be seen as sideways until either 1.2888 or 1.2579 is broken.
Cable reached a peak of 1.5676 before bottoming out at 1.5490 as market flocked back to safety. We have now failed a breach of significant support and resistance levels numerous times. As with GBPEUR we are in a neutral trend until a sustained break of either 1.5470 or 1.5740. ________________________________________
WORLDWIDE
The ECB has joined the Fed in maintaining its current course with monetary policy – and in doing so has caught bullish speculators flat-footed. Hope for a short-term rally from stimulus has been deflated by the US central bank’s refusal of QE3 demands and ECB President Draghi’s inability to live up to built up rescue expectations. After so many similar promises can we really be surprised at disappointment?
Mario Draghi indicated that the central bank is ready to restart purchases of government bonds on the secondary market however he only offered only a glimpse of the new strategy, with the actual interventions weeks or months away and a host of obstacles standing in the way before Europe can claim to be on a path out of the crisis that emerged in Greece in late 2009.
The ECB left its main interest rate unchanged at a historic low of 0.75% however we do know that a possible interest rate was discussed at the meeting leaving the door open in the future.
EURUSD lost two cents almost immediately upon realisation that yesterday would not be the day for central bank intervention. Previously the rate has peaked at EURUSD 1.2377 and showed good signs of potential continuation. The reverse in fortune’s sees the current rate at 1.22 with some trades discussing 1.2054 as a key target.
The number of U.S. workers filing applications for jobless benefits rose last week, continuing an uneven pattern that suggested job creation faltered in July. Initial jobless claims, an indication of layoffs, increased by 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 365,000 in the week ended July 28.
Completing a series of better than expected data, Australian retail sales rose 1.0% to a higher-than-expected seasonally adjusted A$21.58 billion.
Accor announces the debut of the ibis brand in Bali with the opening of ibis Bali Kuta. Strategically located in the Kuta area and less than 1 km from Ngurah Rai International Airport, ibis Bali Kuta, welcomed guests on June 1st, 2012.Ibis Bali Kuta sports 156 well-designed and affordable guest rooms equipped with comfortable beds and sofa, 24-inch LCD TVs, an innovative en suite bathroom concept, in-room safes and coffee/tea making facilities and complimentary WiFi internet access. The hotel also features a 24-hour lobby restaurant and bar with a wide selection of food and beverage options as well as a fitness centre.
In addition, ibis Bali Kuta is equipped with two flexible meeting rooms that can accommodate small-to-medium events and private functions of up to 100 people.
Ibis Bali Kuta caters to the needs of business and leisure travellers alike, providing accommodation and services that deliver the best value for money in the economy market category. Quality of service is a daily commitment that lies at the very heart of the ibis brand and guests can be assured of a consistently high quality experience every time they check into an ibis hotel.
“We are excited to be the first ibis hotel in Bali,” says Engkun Kurnia, General Manager of ibis Bali Kuta. “ibis Bali Kuta represents a new and innovative offering to the Bali hotel market, offering high quality accommodation at an affordable price. We are confident that our extensive facilities, excellent service and ideal location in Kuta will make us the hotel of choice for budget-minded travellers to Bali.”
With the components and systems hidden behind the walls being a crucial element of hotel bathroom design, Geberit’s Product Manager Simon Spridgeon discusses the importance of acoustics in making a good impression with guests.There are many elements that make up a successful hotel bathroom design and chief among them, aside from its overall looks and cleanliness, is the acoustics. Above all else, your guests want a good night’s sleep and it doesn’t matter how comfy the bed is or how plumped up the pillows are, if the noise from pipework in the bathroom keeps them awake the only impression they will be left with as they tiredly check-out is one of dissatisfaction.
Part E of Building Regulations aims to protect residents, including hotel guests, from the noise of activities in other rooms or adjoining properties. Helping developers comply with these requirements, Geberit offers a range of acoustic drainage, supply and sanitary systems specifically designed to be compatible with each other and to tackle solid and air borne noise at every potential point of transfer, guaranteeing that hotel guests won’t be disturbed by noisy plumbing in the night.
The first place to look in terms of reducing noise is in the choice of sanitaryware. Wall-hung WCs, with the cistern concealed in a duct, are much quieter than the floorstanding, close-coupled alternatives. The wall in front of the framework also acts as a sound barrier and the frames themselves can be insulated acoustically.
Geberit concealed cisterns are made even quieter with filling valves that are for low noise even at pressures up to 10bar, and polystyrene protection jackets that prevent condensation and further reduce noise transfer.
Of course, drainage and pipework is the other essential element of hotel bathroom design that can affect the acoustics in each room and in the building as a whole. The last thing guests want is to be woken in the middle of the night by someone in a neighbouring room flushing the toilet or washing their hands. Connecting on to the acoustically insulated pipe bracket on the Duofix frames, Geberit Silent-db20 is the ideal drainage system to solve this problem. It achieves outstanding levels of soundproofing with its patented high density material (PE-S2), ribbed fittings for improved sound dampening near impact zones, and acoustic brackets that are rubber lined to prevent solid borne noise travelling to the building structure.
When it comes to water supply, Geberit Mepla pipes and fittings also offer improved acoustic performance with a range of noise limiting parts including rubber lined brackets, pipe fitting sleeves and tap mounts.
The beauty for the developer is that all of these systems are simple to install and are backed up by the Geberit guarantee of quality and reliability, so everyone can sleep easy.
Laufen is delighted to be working with French designer Toan Nguyen to introduce a new award-winning, water-saving urinal to its product portfolio.
Nguyen, together with his design studio The Toan Nguyen Studio, is renowned for creating products that give the contemporary a timeless shape.Born in Paris in 1969, Nguyen worked for various design studios throughout Europe, including for ten years with Antonio Citterio, before founding his own business in Milan. The multi-disciplinary Toan Nguyen studio specialises in design development in various product sectors, from furniture to technology products.
Together with Laufen, he has developed the innovative, water-saving urinal Antero and the urinal divider Cinto.
Winner of the coveted Red Dot Award 2012 for its innovative and ingenious design, the Swiss bathroom specialist is setting the bar very high with the Antero urinal, which combines good design and ingenious functions. Nguyen has created a unique look that in contrast to conventional urinals is neither shaped like a cone or a cylinder. Instead, the ceramic bowl rises organically towards the user out of a rectangular surface.
The large-format base plate also has a practical purpose as in refurbished facilities it completely covers all traces of previous installations, while fitting on all standard connections.
The flushing rims with small holes – a Laufen patent – on the curve at the top and under the rim of the bowl ensure even, thorough, water-saving flushing of the bowl and rear wall. To ensure the splashguard effective and allows liquids to drain away safely, the rear wall is bevelled and the design of the bowl is deep, with tapering to the front.
Fitted with smart functions to ensure economical usage and low maintenance, Antero is suitable for high-user environments, such as in the hospitality industry, offices, public buildings, shopping centres, cinemas, theatres, stadiums and concert halls.
The urinal features an electronic control system which flushes thoroughly and economically and is available in a mains, battery or flush-mounted version. Depending on the type of use, different flushing volumes between 0.5 and 3 litres can be selected, as well as various flushing intervals. An integral overflow protection ensures that flushing stops if the outlet is blocked, preventing flooding.
The urinal’s ceramic surface is quick and easy to clean and has no awkward nooks and crannies or mounting holes for dirt to gather, while even the siphon of the siphonic urinal has an easy-to-clean ceramic cover.
Antero is complemented by Cinto, a ceramic urinal division which has a concave cut to make it appear weightless. When Antero and Cinto are installed in a row an architectural scenario is created that fits perfectly with the geometry of the space.
Pub and hotel operator Young’s are set to launch a new 17 room boutique-style hotel complete with pub and dining room in the Surrey village of Claygate.
Launching this October, following an investment of £3 million, The Foley builds on the success of The Alma Wandsworth, and as such has been designed to be a modern day coaching inn by offering eating, drinking and sleeping all under one roof.Preserving the key features of the original 18th century structure, The Foley’s design-led bedrooms will provide many of the comforts and amenities expected of a modern hotel. Working closely with leisure specialists ADS Design, each room will offer contemporary bold décor, bespoke furniture and textured fabrics. In-room facilities that range from luxury bed linen to flat screen TVs, spacious bathrooms with walk in showers, complimentary Wi-Fi and mini-bars as standard.
The pub and dining room will be at the heart of The Foley, providing a hub for locals and visitors looking for somewhere to relax, drink and dine from breakfast through to dinner. With the option to eat in the bar or dining room, a menu of seasonal dishes will also be on offer throughout the day including daily specials and a menu of traditional British bar snacks, all cooked to order. Many ingredients will be sourced from local producers in and around the town, including award-winning meat from The Game Larder in Claygate as well as a selection of fish from the local fishmonger Williams & Bunkell.
Complementing the food, the drinks offer will include an array of Young’s signature cask ales and craft beers as well as an extensive wine list featuring a wide range of new and old world favourites served by the bottle or the glass.
Patrick Dardis, Young’s Retail Director, said: “The considerable investment in The Foley illustrates our commitment to adding value to and growing our hotel estate. The coaching inn concept is a natural evolution for the brand, allowing us to offer quality food, drink and accommodation under one roof, always retaining the pub’s identity within its community”.
Located on Heddon Street, an oasis of calm away from the hustle and bustle of London’s Regent Street, Piccolino restaurant has recently undergone a stylish transformation with the help of Stylematters, who provided the chairs for the recently completed refurbishment including the Cicchetti Bar situated on the lower ground floor which serves casual Cicchetti plates designed for sharing. Stylematters also supplied white Carrara marble table tops for the new al fresco terrace.Piccolino brings a true taste of Italy to the heart of the city. The restaurant offers a wonderful combination of both modern and classic Italian dishes prepared in an open kitchen in full view of diners.
About Stylematters
Stylematters are designers and manufacturers of high quality bespoke furniture for the hospitality and leisure sectors. From its new design showroom and manufacturing facility in Cheshire, Stylematters provides furniture solutions to many of the leading names in UK hotels, restaurants and bars from independent boutique premises to larger multi-site locations including; IRC Group, Grosvenor Casino’s, Mecca Bingo, Centre Parcs and Chester Racecourse.
Our team of in-house designers and skilled craftsmen work closely with architects and interior designers to provide effective and innovative furniture solutions for our clients.
Stylematters has established a reputation for excellence in design, quality and service over many years.
Sterling strength continues to be dictated by investor appetite or aversion to risk. Against the euro the pound traded between 1.2751 and 1.2666 yesterday, ending the European session at 1.2675 and more than 1.5% down on mid-July’s highs. Volatility suggests that investors are reluctant to make long term moves, focussing rather on the short term.Yesterday morning saw the release of UK manufacturing PMI which missed expectations of 48.6, with 45.4 showing further contraction in the sector and representing a three year low for the Index.
David Noble, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, explained these disappointing manufacturing figures as the result of ‘A perfect storm of wet weather and weak confidence in the UK’.
In the UK the BoE is not expected to make changes to the target asset purchase of £375Bn or the Bank rate of 0.50%, meaning we will have to wait until next week’s Inflation Report and press conference for insights into the MPC’s outlook.
Sterling continued to lose ground over the course of the day as markets price-in what could be the first signs of a coordinated set of measures from the ECB and Fed today. If sentiment on both sides of the Atlantic is considered hollow then we could see greater volatility over the course of the FOMC meeting and after the ECB press conference at 13:30.
GBP/USD mirrored sterling’s losses against the single currency, beginning the morning at 1.5691 and closing the day at 1.5586. In the lead up to the European open today GBP/USD trades at 1.5553. ________________________________________
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Commentators acknowledge the significance of central bank meetings in both the US and Eurozone, and yesterday’s trading saw EUR/USD stay with a narrow 1.2279 – 1.2336 range. Mario Draghi has pledged to do ‘whatever it takes’ to safe guard the euro, and speculators will be out to punish the Eurozone should his sentiments fall short of expectations.
The Federal Reserve signalled more strongly it will take new steps as needed to boost the economy. After the European close USD rallied to 1.5530 against the pound and from 1.2308 to 1.2218 against the euro.
US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner believes the ECB and the EU’s bailout fund could be reapplied to help recapitalise weak European banks and lower sovereign borrowing costs in favour of ailing economies that need time to implement overhauls. Geithner urges immediate short-term support for Italy and Spain, and belief in the ECB’s ability to do this may have fuelled the USD rally.
US ADP non-Farm Employment Change came in better than expected at 13:15. The number of employed during the previous month was 163k as opposed to 121k forecasted. Whilst ADP provides payroll services to many US corporations, pundits are still watching closely during the US earnings season.
Yesterday morning saw manufacturing PMI data for Spain and Italy broadly inline with expectations. US ISM manufacturing disappointed, posting 49.8; 50.3 had been the forecast in the face of June’s 49.7 figure.
Spanish unemployment posted at -27.8k. This is a contraction of 0.6%.
S&P have downgraded Cyprus’s credit rating again and placed the island nation on negative watch because of the significant exposure it faces to the Greek banking sector.
Early this morning AUD retail sales figures came in better than expected, and greater than the previous post. The sector expanded 1% instead of just 0.6%. Also the Australian trade balance was fractionally positive at 0.01B.
With the figures now in for July it is apparent that readership of HotelDesigns continues to rise, with over 104,000 visits from 63,600 originating web addresses. Our twitter feed also continues to grow now being past 6,600.Our visitors read nearly half a million pages, and we have added hoteldesignstv on YouTube this week too and expect this to contribute to continued reader growth, currently running at 3% a month. This only adds to the marketing strength through our pages and our Newsletters, which now have over 11,000 subscribers
The site grows in depth with Reviews and Miniviews of hotels giving you access to 240 hotels for your research supplemented by over 22,000 images in the DesignClub Gallery
As the web continues to develop and change so we move with it, adding streaming video throughout the site and testing out the value of Twitter – follow us at HotelDesigns. We retweet Directory companies and anything of interest or relevance to hotel Design that catches our attention
We also have an HotelDesigns page on Facebook – do ‘like’ us there is you are a Facebook user
The web is attracting numbers in a way trade shows and magazines are unable to match. As once of the first sites on the web covering the interior design of hotels we are first in Google and a key source of information for many decision makers in the industry. We intend to stay that way.
One thing you can also be sure of is that HotelDesigns will continue to show the variety in hotel design across the globe.
Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts and Riviera Tower Limited Liability Company have signed a management contract for a new deluxe hotel in Russia. The Kazan property will help the international hotel group with Swiss roots reinforce its footing in the Eastern European market and is scheduled to open in 2016. The new outstanding hotel will follow the lead of Swissôtel Krasnye Holmy in Moscow, which has successfully gained a superb reputation over the last years, and will offer the Swiss brand a base in another significant Russian city. The Swissôtel Riviera Tower Kazan will have 211 guest rooms and suites to offer business travellers and individual tourists a combination of high quality and modern design. A Pürovel Spa & Sport complex covering 1500 square metres, numerous indoor and outdoor sports facilities, a ballroom, a number of smaller conference rooms and various restaurants will round off the package.
The Swissôtel Riviera Tower Kazan is in the very heart of Kazan, right on the banks of Kazanka river. The city is divided into two halves with their own characters. While one part around the Kazan Kremlin is more historic with a wide range of culture on offer, the other part, where the new Swissôtel hotel will be located, is more the business and banking district. With around 1.2 million inhabitants, Kazan is situated about 800 km east of Moscow and is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. A unique combination of Western and Eastern traditions adds the city an inimitable colour. According to the results of an independent Forbes magazine research, it is on top of business climate and attractiveness rating for Russian cities. It is also known as an important destination for major sports events, including the upcoming Summer Universiade 2013, due to a highly developed infrastructure.
“Our hotel group has had a presence in Moscow for years and we have established an excellent reputation here,” explains Meinhard Huck, President of Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts. “The new hotel in Kazan will join the two deluxe hotels we plan to open in Sochi in 2013 and our existing hotel in Moscow, and represent a perfect addition to what we feel is a key Eastern European market.”
Ivan Voitko, General Manager of Riviera Tower LLC added: “The infrastructure of Kazan is improving every day and the new complex with the state-of-the art five star hotel under Swissôtel brand will become another significant element in the city strategy of advancement and development, and will contribute to a greater disclosure of touristic potential of the region.”
In the latest issue of Green Hotelier, Christopher Hunter delves into the world of the hotel mattress to find out what truly lies beneath and why Naturalmat are setting a great example for other manufacturers.
Despite a growing trend towards sustainability in the hospitality industry, there is evidence to show that cheap, environmentally unfriendly mattresses with short life-spans continue to be a popular choice by hotels at both ends of the market. A standard hotel mattress is made from non-renewable resources, produces a large amount of waste, and has a significant carbon cost associated with its production and delivery.
Hoteliers, unsurprisingly, point to price as a key driver in their product selection. Yet in an environmentally-conscious industry that is supposed to be selling sleep above all else, the investment in the bed and its green credentials should be priorities. After all, given their limited lives, cheap options are not only impractical and wasteful, but they usually also represent poor value for money versus longer-lasting eco-friendly alternatives.
The concept of a natural mattress is hardly a new one. Before the market became dominated by synthetic foam and sprung products, you would have found coir, latex and wool in a mattress. Mattresses made with these constituents often last for longer whilst having a smaller carbon footprint than their modern counterparts.
There are a few sustainable mattress manufacturers in the market that make a truly green product. One of the leaders in the UK market is Naturalmat. As the hospitality industry increasingly embraces the environmental agenda, Naturalmat has a strategic opportunity to grow and develop this area of business.
Stuart Harrison, managing director of the Profitable Hotel Company and an ambassador for Naturalmat says, ‘Hotels are constantly searching for that differential to make them stand out form the run of the mill. An ethical green mattress with the added benefit of its ability to defeat bed bugs and bed mites is such a story. As a hotel marketer I would want to promote this on my website. Similarly if you are attempting to differentiate between room types within a hotel then again this works in terms of the product offering.’
To read Christopher Hunter’s full article click here. Look online at www.naturalmathotel.co.uk to see Naturalmat’s full range of hotel mattress ranges.
Elegant bespoke carpet from Axminster Carpets Commercial now covers the floors of the exclusive Ramside Hall Hotel in Durham, adding a sophisticated flourish to the venue’s lavish ballroom and luxury Pemberton Suite function room.500m² of bespoke Axminster in the best possible quality 8 x 10 row is laid in the ballroom, with 160m2 of another bespoke design in the Pemberton Suite. Van Page Carpet and Flooring Specialists laid both carpets. As Helen Roseberry, Director of Ramside Hall Hotel explains, “both the ballroom and the Pemberton Suite are busy areas with a variety of uses, and the previous carpets, having lasted for 15-20 years, were showing signs of wear. It was therefore imperative that the new carpets chosen offered fantastic levels of durability, while still harmonising with the hotel’s spectacular location and traditional architecture.”
The bespoke carpet that now graces the ballroom is a bold scroll design in a subtle mixture of soft beige and dark chocolate that perfectly complements the pale walls and soft furnishings, and was designed by Helen herself. As Helen explains, “I had a specific colour palette in mind when choosing the carpet for the ballroom in order to create an opulent environment, as this area is used for important formal events such as weddings. I worked closely with the Axminster design team, merging my own designs with their creative talents before choosing the final carpet, which truly does give the ballroom a fresh and modern feel while still retaining a sense of grandeur.”
Interior design company Space ID were chosen by Helen to refurbish the entire Pemberton Suite, a public lounge room that adjoins the main bar area of the hotel. Open for breakfast right through until late at night, when it is used as an area for visitors to relax and converse, the Pemberton Suite has a high footfall and therefore requires resilient carpet. Space ID designed the carpet used here, choosing a contemporary floral design in dark colours that complements the dark brown furniture. Complementing the carpet in the main bar, this bespoke Axminster helps to create the harmonious look that runs throughout the hotel’s interior.
“Both rooms now look stunning,” enthuses Helen. “The Pemberton Suite is arguably the busiest room in the hotel, used from dawn until dusk, and the new carpet gives it an up-to-date look. The patterned nature of both carpets is also something is very appealing – not only because it looks beautiful, but because pattern will also hide the tell-tale signs of wear and tear that are inevitable in busy locations.”
Both bespoke carpets have an 80/20 construction, with the heavy wool content giving the superior levels of durability and resilience that Ramside Hall Hotel requires.
Ramside Hall Hotel is one of the finest luxury hotels in County Durham. Featuring 80 individually decorated bedrooms anda number of deluxe suites, Ramside Hall Hotel is set in beautiful grounds.
Sterling declined versus all except one of its 16 major counterparts as an industry report showed UK consumer confidence stalled this month as the recession deepened. The pound fell for the first time in four days against the euro after Moody’s Investors Service lowered its forecast for UK economic growth. GBPEUR fell a cent from the Monday night high of 1.2820, starting Tuesday on the back foot, eventually falling to a low of 1.2715.
GBPUSD performed in a similar manner falling throughout the day to 1.5632, however a late spike in the afternoon sent the pair back up by 0.5 cents to finish the London session around 1.5680.
All eyes are on the Bank of England interest decision meeting tomorrow lunchtime, most experts believe the central bank are likely to keep its asset-purchase program on hold and leave interest rates unchanged this month, but disappointing second quarter figures released last week may force some members to vote for another round of QE.
Data from mortgage lender Nationwide released this morning showed UK house prices fell at their fastest annual pace in nearly three years last month, as the effects of nine months of recession spread further across the economy. Nationwide reported a 0.7% decline in house prices in July. Prices are now 2.6% lower than a year ago – their biggest annual fall since August 2009.
This morning UK Manufacturing PMI figures were published much lower than the expected 48.5. A disappointing figure of 45.4 initially pushed the pound down further, in particular GBPUSD bottomed out at 1.5623 and GBPEUR fell to 1.2704. ________________________________________
WORLDWIDE
Investors are contemplating whether the Fed will increase their asset buying facility and the resilience of Mario Draghi’s pledge to hold the Eurozone together; this helped the euro move upwards against the US dollar from a low 1.2258 to hit a high of 1.2330 late in the European session. Currently EURUSD is trading around 1.2315 and the markets are considering further gains, resistance levels to watch are 1.2331 and 1.2371.
German retail sales fell slightly on the month in June, defying expectations for an increase, data from the country’s statistics office Destatis showed yesterday morning. In adjusted terms, sales fell 0.1% on the month, after falling 0.3% in May, it was the third straight month of falling sales.
Germany’s jobless rate increased in July after a fourth straight month-on-month rise in unemployment claims, signalling the labour market in Europe’s largest economy is losing momentum. Germany’s unemployment rate rose to 6.8% in July from 6.6% in June in unadjusted terms.
Statistics agency Eurostat said the number of unemployed people in the Eurozone collectively rose by 123,000 to 17.8 million in June, the highest level since records for the 17 nations were first compiled in 1995.
French consumer spending growth slowed in June from May and marked a fall in the second quarter from the first quarter. Household spending in the Eurozone’s second largest economy grew only 0.1% in June from May and was 0.2% higher than June 2011.
Eurozone governments have turned down Greece’s request for a bridge loan to cover a bond of €3.2bn that matures on August 20, in response to which the government will resort to an increased issue of treasury bills this month.
An 11-week high in Australian’s stocks and better-than-expected building data gave a boost to the Australian dollar, which climbed to 1.0520 against the US dollar compared to 1.0489 before the news.
Canada’s gross domestic product grew less than economists predicted in May as a manufacturing decline curbed gains in energy and retailing. Output rose 0.1% to an annualized CAD 1.29 trillion following gains of 0.3% in April and 0.1%in March.
Hilton Worldwide has signed a management agreement with Ramtron Australia Pty Ltd to open the first DoubleTree by Hilton property in Australia. Scheduled to open in mid-2014, the 164-room DoubleTree by Hilton, Karratha will be strategically located in the centre of the Karratha commercial area, nine miles from Karratha airport and 12 miles from the port at Dampier.Karratha is a major mining hub in the Pilbara region, the largest mining region in Australia. Karratha adjoins the port of Dampier and is located just over 900 miles north of Perth, the capital of Western Australia.
The eight-storey property will feature 144 guest rooms, 20 apartments and will have an all-day dining restaurant and bar. The hotel will also offer a fitness centre, an outdoor pool, three function rooms and car parking facilities.
Ramtron Australia Pty Ltd is a consortium led by local Western Australian developer Rothchester Hotel and Resorts Pty Ltd. The consortium also includes well known Karratha identity Kim Loxton, Tang Weng Fei of Singapore-based Ramtron Oil International Ltd, and Perth-based company AYR International Pty Ltd.
Thomas Dudley’s Electroflo Curve infra-red taps are providing a stylish water and energy saving solution at the Holiday Inn Express, Limehouse.
Located in the heart of London’s Docklands, the hotel boasts 150 bedrooms as well as excellent conferencing facilities and is part of the dynamic and forward thinking Splendid Hotel Group.Stylish looks, impressive results Dudley Electroflo Curve taps were installed in the hotel’s public washrooms in 2010 as part of an upgrade and in support of the Splendid Hotel Group’s strategy to use energy saving technology.
Lalji Bhura, Group Maintenance Manager explains “when we looked to refurbish the hotel’s public toilets, we wanted to use products that saved water and energy but were also visually appealing. We therefore decided to replace the old tired looking three hole basin taps and the Curve has helped to complete the transformation. In addition, the new taps are clearly helping us save water and reduce operating costs”.
Proven to save water Electroflo Curve taps combine hygienic touch-free operation with proven water-saving technology. They are activated by a discrete infra-red sensor and shut off when hands are removed from in front of the sensor. Water delivery also stops automatically after 90 seconds, a flow time that can be adjusted.
This saves water by delivering a precise, pre-determined flow of water and also prevents the wastage and potential damage that can occur when traditional taps are left running after use.
Clear benefits Lalji added “the Curve taps have enhanced the appearance of our public toilets, improved hygiene and are helping us to realise significant water savings. I am delighted with our choice and further installations are planned for the future”.
Potential water savings that can be achieved (Assumes each tap is used 100 times per day. Savings shown are for illustrative purposes only).
State of the art Like all Dudley Electroflo taps, the Curve is packed with state of the art features.
Its classic swan neck design and chrome plated finish add the perfect finishing touch to any washroom. The Curve delivers cold or premixed warm water, making it ideal for public washrooms whilst a manual mix option is available for use in individual guest bathrooms.
Electroflo taps have a robust brass body and with no moving parts, provide a vandal resistant solution. The detection range, flow time and other key performance characteristics can be simply adjusted either manually or using the innovative remote control.
Electroflo range The Electroflo range of electronic bathroom products also includes Linear, Contemporary, Contemporary Light Touch and Hygiene taps, urinal flushing controls and ground-breaking WC flushing controls that deliver water-saving dualflush through a single infra-red sensor.
Please refer to our Specification Product Range catalogue for further details or alternatively visit www.thomasdudley.co.uk/specification
The Waldorf Hilton, London is delighted to announce the completion of a £3.4million overhaul of 100 guest rooms. The recent refurbishment is part of a larger £11.5million hotel-wide redevelopment that has seen the Adelphi Suite and Good Godfrey’s bar restored back to their elegant 1920s art deco style.The interior designer, Fox Linton Associates, has brought 100 of The Waldorf Hilton, London guest rooms in-line with the character and Edwardian heritage of the historic hotel. The guest rooms and en-suites have undergone a complete make-over, with state-of-the-art contemporary facilities and amenities incorporated into the sophisticated art deco appearance of the rooms.
The guest rooms are complemented by pastel colours that evoke calmness and tranquillity and are furnished in Italian leather headboards with antique brass studs, lacquered wardrobe doors and fluted glass accessories.
The bathrooms have been designed to create an elegant statement and the monochrome palette of white ceramic tiles with black trim and nickel fittings compliments the era exuded by the rest of the building.
Peter Beckwith, general manager, The Waldorf Hilton, London said, “The newly refurbished rooms use the charm and character of the 104 year old hotel to their advantage, providing guests with a unique and elegant place to call home whilst visiting the city. We want to provide a traditionally British experience and aim to offer a slice of the rich history the hotel has to offer to our guests.”
Situated in Aldwych close to both the city, and the shops, bars, theatres and restaurants of the West End, The Waldorf Hilton, London is perfectly located for both leisure and business travellers.
GBPUSD had a quiet day on Monday, trading sideways for most of the data light day, with the pair opening at a high of 1.5730 to end up at 1.5711 by the close of play. GBPEUR followed Monday morning’s return from 1.2698 after Friday’s volatile trading with GBP making a steady gain against the single currency to trade to a high of 1.28300 before settling at 1.2815.
GfK UK consumer confidence was unchanged this month as efforts by the government and the Bank of England to pull the economy out of a recession failed to lift sentiment. An index of sentiment stayed at minus 29.
Focus for the week moves to the BOE interest rate and asset purchase decision on Thursday, as analysts look for the Bank of England’s next move. ________________________________________
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EURUSD opened at 1.2302 and gained ground in the early session against the dollar, although remaining range bound. The pair finally finished back down towards 1.2259 after belief in the recent bullish comments from Mario Draghi faded.
The Italian 10y bond auction held yesterday tipped the downtrend for EUR against the majors. The auction finished with a yield of 5.96%, below the previous of 6.19% however traders remained sceptical owing to the timely release of the statements by the ECB, EFSF and ESM.
The ratings agency S&P revised its estimate for the Eurozone economy forecasting a contraction of 0.6%, from its earlier forecast of zero growth. It also cuts its forecast for 2013 suggesting the area would grow only 0.4%, down from 1.0% previously.
Today the FOMC starts its two day meeting to consider how to boost the economy; the markets will be looking for hints of a next round of QE from the Federal Reserve.
With the US earnings season well underway, risk sentiment moved to the US equity markets although markets seemed to be holding their breath ahead of meetings by both the Fed and the ECB.
EURSEK was the largest mover across the majors, with the pair moving -1.47% opening at 8.4561 and trading down to 8.3174 owing to a positive Swedish GDP figure yesterday, 1.4% q/q vs market and Riksbank forecast of 0.2% q/q.
This morning German retail sales fell slightly in June, defying expectations for an increase in adjusted terms, sales fell 0.1% on the month, after falling 0.3% in May. It was the third straight month of falling sales. In yearly terms, sales were up 2.9%.
JAB Anstoetz are pleased to present Marrakesch, a range of glamorous and sophisticated textiles at reasonable prices. Inspired by ‘Arabian Nights’, this collection conjures up the exotic sights, sounds and colours of the enchanting Moroccan city.Marrakesch features premium class upholstery fabric in a range of viscose, velvet and matt ground fabrics. Sophisticated textile creations incorporate impressive colours from ruby-red, royal blue to soft greys and beige. The collection offers a mixture of ornamental patterns to modern motifs making the complete range extremely versatile.
The collection also boasts the Tetouan range. Inspired by the glamorous summer residence of King Mohammed VI, the 1.45m upholstery fabric features matte ground material decorated with ornamental patterns in blocked stripes. This stylish premium class collection also features eye catching fabrics in quality velvet and patterned textiles.
The NEW Modern Retro Range is now available from Hill Cross Furniture. A stunning range of side chairs suitable for modern or traditional venues is available in various finishes to create your own retro style. Designed to create impact and style in any restaurant, bar or hotel, it is ideal restaurant seating, bar, golf club, cruise ship and hotel seating.
Please enquire with our sales team to discuss your design and venue.
With six terraces offering a 360 degree view of Paris and 160 square metres (1,630 square feet) of pure luxury, this new Penthouse confirms the landmark Hotel’s intention not to rest on its laurels but on the contrary, to pursue its search for excellence by constantly reinventing itself. Designed as a real Parisian pied-à-terre, The Penthouse offers a romantic hideaway among the city’s rooftops. The understated, light and airy interior architecture designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon places an emphasis on open and elegant spaces. The soft tones of the travertine flooring are reflected in the walls decorated with sycamore and majilite, while the beautiful floral arrangements created by Jeff Leatham, the Hotel’s Artistic Director, create a sense of home the moment one opens the door.
Among the great surprises of The Penthouse is the elegant winter garden, decorated in floral fabric and separated from the living room by a wrought iron door. At any time of the day or night it is the perfect place to enjoy a meal or drink while overlooking the Invalides, the American Cathedral and Eiffel Tower. The terrace, shaped like the bow of a ship, provides an even wider view of the City of Light: the roofs of the Madeleine, the Opera and the Pantheon are at one’s feet, while the Eiffel Tower seems so close one could almost touch it. From the terrace, steps lead to an intimate upper balcony perched even higher on the roof, where guests can enjoy a last glass of Champagne and savour the shimmering city views. The bedroom with its own terrace features an elegant four-poster daybed perfect for taking in the hustle and bustle of Paris from above.
Another gem in this suite is the spectacular beige marble bathroom, designed to be as luxurious as a lounge. Next to the huge walk-in shower stands a grand overflow bath fitted with jets and a chromotherapy system. Elegant white orchids give the impression that the outdoor extends right into the bathroom while a large dressing room bathed in natural light is decorated like a boudoir.
The brain behind this spectacular apartment is Pierre-Yves Rochon. He worked with the biggest luxury houses such as Baccarat, Lalique, Lelièvre, Edmond Petit, Veraseta and Bobic (a Slovenian company specialising in yachting) for the furnishings and fittings, demonstrating the importance he attaches to precision, aesthetics and high standards.
“The aim was to redefine the idea of a hotel suite by creating a refined and inviting apartment,” explains Regional Vice President and General Manager Christopher Norton. “For this haute couture work of art, I gave Mr. Rochon complete creative freedom to design a unique, infinitely sophisticated place where the boundaries between the inside and the outside would be blurred, so that nature is part of the interior and vice versa. With this in mind, we placed mirrors on certain walls of the balconies to create perspective, change the way we see common landmarks, and see Paris even when we are facing the other way. Inside, we created warm, inviting and friendly spaces on a human scale, to recreate the feel of a cosy Parisian apartment.”
GBPUSD hit a high of 1.5768 during Friday’s session, with risk appetite returning to the market. The currency pair continue to trade above 1.57 this morning but have fallen from the highs echoing the EURUSD trading pattern this morning. Cable looks set to test resistance at 1.5800, a failure to break this level could spark a decline back to support at 1.5585.GBPEUR had a volatile trading day Friday, as the UK afternoon trading session started to draw to a close we saw the pair fall to post a low of 1.2698 however this morning the pair are currently trading around 1.2780 price having posted a high of 1.2795 already.
Markets will be paying attention to economic data releases from the UK this week ahead of the Bank of England Interest rate meeting being held this Thursday, for decisions on further quantitative easing and interest rates.
Hometrack Ltd said UK house prices fell in July for the first time this year and may extend their decline as a deepening recession curbs demand for homes.
With no high impact data being released today from the UK and States and only one piece at 8am from the Eurozone, markets will be trading on risk sentiment. ________________________________________
WORLDWIDE
ECB President Mario Draghi, who sparked a global market rally last week by pledging to do whatever it takes to preserve the euro, is trying to build consensus among governments and central bankers for a plan to ease borrowing costs in Spain and Italy before ECB policy makers convene on Thursday. He meets with US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in Frankfurt today and is also attempting to win over Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann, a critic of ECB bond purchases. Berlin, Paris and Rome have already endorsed Draghi’s approach, echoing in his language that they too will do what is needed to protect the euro.
EURUSD hit highs of 1.2388 Friday against lows of 1.2242, showing how volatile the currency pair is trading recently. Currently the pair is trading around 1.2270, having fallen from the high of 1.2306 set earlier this morning. Any upside momentum requires a break above 1.2348 resistance.
Representatives of the European Commission, the ECB and the IMF; the so-called Troika, will remain in Greece for as long as needed in order to determine the €11.6bn worth of consolidation measures needed over the next three years. The Troika had originally planned to leave Athens at the end of July.
Spanish GDP was released this morning to post a figure of -0.4% against a forecast -0.4% figure from last month’s -0.3%.
US GDP figures Friday fell in-line with expectations, posting a figure of 1.5% adding the volatile trading experienced last week. German Consumer Prices rose as expected data showed on Friday posting the 0.4% gain month-on-month. This leaves the annual rate at 1.4% which was also as expected.
Friday’s reading of July’s final University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment figure posted a reading of 72.3 vs the 72.0 forecasted and previous month June’s reading of 73.2.
Striking and seductive, the Lewinnick Lodge hovers on the edge of Pentire Headland, neighboured by little more than the invigorating sea air and captivating Atlantic views. Approached down a winding lane, guests feel as if they’re stumbling upon an undiscovered hideaway amongst the craggy cliffs. A world away from Newquay, yet just a short stroll to Fistral Beach, as locations go, it doesn’t get much better than this.A real hidden gem on the North Cornwall coast, the Lewinnick Lodge boasts a stylish bar and brasserie that’s long been favourite with locals and those in the know.
The addition of ten designer bedrooms has transformed this chic secret spot into Newquay’s first boutique lodge, brimming with understated elegance and cool allure.
Drawing on the owner’s previous success at the Lewinnick’s sister venture – The Plume of Feathers in nearby Mitchell – the new lodge will bring together inspiration from some of the top interior experts and communications agencies in the UK.
Relax in a coastal cocoon Designed by interior architect Guy Bostock – whose London design agency Concorde BGW has worked with some of the UK’s most prestigious restaurants and hotels including Brawn in London and The Wheatsheaf Inn in the Cotswolds – each of the rooms effortlessly balance a stylish flair with a cosy coastal ambience.
A fresh and modern approach has been applied throughout, inspired by the crisp ocean views that pour through the floor-to ceiling windows. Neutral Farrow and Ball hues create a light and airy hideaway, perfectly complemented by the accent colours and natural materials introduced through carefully selected elements of the furnishings.
Designed as a refuge for those in need of relaxation and rejuvenation, indulgent touches abound. Sumptuous mohair, plush velvet and aged leather combine to give the bedrooms warmth and texture, while the bathrooms, clad in locally-sourced stone, offer a luxurious place for pampering. A soak in the free-standing bath, perfectly positioned in the window to maximise the views, will almost convince guests that they’re drifting off to sea…
But it’s the attention to detail that truly sets this boutique beauty apart; think chilled bubbly on arrival, homemade biscuits in the bedrooms and binoculars, constantly on hand for view gazing. Luxury, organic toiletries greet guests in the bathroom, while local art adorns the walls of the bedrooms and all the mod-cons one could need are provided for their convenience.
Once settled in, guests can simply head downstairs to the bar for a nightcap on the terrace or slip straight into the Egyptian cotton sheets and drift off to the sound of the water lapping the cliffs below.
The Westin Xian is pleased to introduce Heavenly Spa by Westin™, an oasis of wellness and luxury in historic Xian. Located at the new Westin Xian in the heart of historic Xian, Heavenly Spa by Westin™ offers a modern holistic approach to wellbeing with a selection of renewing spa treatments, products and healthy cuisine that are unique to the Xian market.“Enjoy world class pampering at the Heavenly Spa by Westin™,” said Magdy Anis, General Manager of The Westin Xian. “We offer many unique experiences for the Xian market, including Heavenly Spa by Westin™ with signature treatments and cuisine that are renowned for helping our guests feel renewed and refreshed after their visit to Xian.”
The Heavenly Spa by Westin™ is a 2500 square meters tranquil haven of indulgence and renewal that includes a state-of-the-art fitness facility with an indoor swimming pool. The sleek, contemporary stone building encircles a large, light-filled courtyard in the middle with interiors that are designed to touch and elevate all the senses. The décor is inspired by the seven Pillars of Wellness: beauty; life balance; harmony; aqua; vitality; nature and nutrition. The spa features ten private “spa within a spa” treatment rooms that are replete with personal bath and changing areas, as well as signature Heavenly Spa massage beds and a luxurious infinity tub. The treatment rooms are named for variety of flora: Tulip, Geranium, Orchid and Magnolia, among others. To help guests relax before or after treatments, Heavenly Spa includes an additional Aquatherapy Suite, equipped with a Dermalife spa jet and rainforest showers.
Heavenly Spa by Westin™ offers products from [comfort zone], developed by the prestigious DavinesS.p.a. of Italy. [comfort zone] cosmetic and spa products are renowned throughout the world for their superior effectiveness, natural ingredients and sustainable packaging.
Heavenly Spa by Westin™ integrates the spa experience with signature healthy cuisine to help guests achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The Westin Xian has created a complete spa menu featuring dishes designed to deliver nutrition deliciously without weighing you down, including many menu selections featuring Westin SuperFoodsRx®. Prepared fresh each day, select menu choices include Salmon Carpaccio; Caesar Salad with or without chicken, shrimp or salmon; Nicoise Salad with sushi grade tuna; Vegetable Spring Roll; Cantonese Wonton Noodle Soup; Club Sandwich; Beef Tenderloin Steak Sandwich; Create Your Own Fresh Pizza; Sea Scallops; Grilled Salmon Steak; and many other deliciously healthy choices.
The scale and diversity of Britain’s furniture industry was put on show for hundreds of MPs, peers and civil servants during a four day exhibition staged by The British Furniture Confederation (BFC) at the House of Commons.As the voice of the British furniture and bed industry, the BFC showcased the excellence and variety of furniture manufactured in the UK, highlighting the fact that the industry contributes £7 billion to the economy and supports in excess of 100,000 jobs across more than 6,000 companies.
Said BFC chairman Paul von der Heyde: “The exhibition was a big success in terms of raising the profile of the industry and was seen by the many MPs, peers, civil servants attending the House and the hundreds visiting committee rooms during the four days it was on display.”
The high profile exhibition was held at the Upper Waiting Hall – the main foyer to committee rooms – from July 9 to 12. It included a display of office furniture, upholstery, domestic cabinet furniture, hospital and educational items, garden furniture, beds and pillows.
Said Paul von der Heyde: “The exhibition was sponsored by Stephen McPartland, MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group to whom we are very grateful.”
The newly refurbished Hilton Barcelona, which first opened its doors 20 years ago during the Barcelona Olympic Games has officially re-opened. The refurbishment sees 289 stunning rooms, 13 suites, Mosaic restaurant, The Vibe Bar and a spectacular outdoor terrace as part of its re-design that captures the vibe of Barcelona. The hotel is among the first Hilton Hotels & Resorts properties in Europe to incorporate the brand’s new innovative lobby design narrative.British designers, Bevis Design Associates, designed the rooms, suites and Executive Lounge, while architect, Matteo Thun, created the public areas including a dramatic, multi-functional lobby. Hilton approaches hotel design with a global mind and a local heart ensuring that local cultures are reflected. The design of Hilton Barcelona brings the vibe of Barcelona through good light, wide open spaces and an artistic flare.
The lobby area has been transformed into a dynamic open space that reflects the evolving needs of travellers – the flexible space allows structures and furnishings to change for a range of hospitality needs. The centrepiece of the hotel’s lobby is a spectacular and colourful art installation of translucent materials created by Milan based artist, Jacopo Foggini.
The Vibe Bar and various private spaces for informal meetings include three distinctive elements of the new Hilton lobby design – accessible technology, an adaptable environment for community engagement and contemporary food and beverage offerings with local flavour.
Matteo Thun comments: “We’ve turned a twenty year old building into a stylish and contemporary urban space. Hilton Barcelona is not just a hotel, but a dynamic open place that embodies the different needs of a constantly changing society”.
Dernier & Hamlyn’s work was a central feature at the recent opening of the Jamie’s Italian restaurant in Edinburgh.Interpreting Martin Brudnizki Design Studio concepts to produce over 30 chandeliers and wall lights that emulated a classic design with a utilitarian twist, the bespoke fittings were handmade in polished brass in Dernier & Hamlyn’s London factory and included three fantastic chandeliers some 2m high.
Director of Martin Brudnizki Design Studio Dan Monk said: “We have previously worked with Dernier & Hamlyn on several occasions and know that we can rely on them for the highest quality of craftsmanship. In common with many of our clients it was important that the lighting not only fulfilled its practical purpose and is a stunning addition to the restaurant, but is also a visual interpretation of the Jamie’s Italian brand.”
Dernier & Hamlyn’s joint managing director Jeremy Quantrill adds: “We love being involved in projects where, like us, the designers and the client are passionate about what they do. Jamie’s Italian in Edinburgh is set to be a great addition to this historic town so knowing that our expertise is adding to the pleasure that customers will get from dining there is great.”
Webb Gray has that winning feeling after completing a major hotel project in London’s East End, just in time to welcome visitors to the 2012 games.
The Birmingham-based architectural practice was awarded the £5 million contract by Accor Group to develop a 169-bedroom ibis budget hotel on Whitechapel Road, London. A former office tower block was transformed into the budget hotel, which has achieved BREEAM Very Good status. The privately-funded, developer-led scheme saw Webb Gray handle everything from the initial feasibility study to the full internal fit-out.
David Delaney-Hall, director at Webb Gray, said: “We are pleased to confirm that the 30-week project was completed within budget and in time to welcome guests heading to the London games. Hotel rooms in the capital are at a premium with the events about to begin so the recent completion of the ibis budget hotel is perfect timing for visitors seeking good quality accommodation at a modest price. The hotel was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Tower Hamlets on 29 June.”
Thomas Dubaere, managing director of Accor UK & Ireland, said: “Last September we announced a change to our ibis offering to boost each brand’s visibility and market potential. The rebrand is a reinvention of Accor’s economy hotel products and services so they can transcend their market segment and cater for the changes in consumer expectations.
“Ibis budget London Whitechapel is the first new hotel in the UK to feature the new, state of the art cocoon style bedroom concept with LED-lit showers and touch-sensitive reading lights, which aims to provide an affordable, ergonomic design solution for the low cost hotel segment. A variety of rooms are available for one, two or three people.
“The new ibis budget London Whitechapel hotel is situated in the capital’s up and coming East End – an area which we expect to provide huge growth potential in the coming years.”
Work on the ibis hotel began in October 2011 and was completed last month (June). The developer and contractor on the project was London-based Bamfords Trust PLC. Accor UK & Ireland is part of Accor, the world’s leading hotel operator and market leader in Europe, with more than 4,400 hotels in 92 countries.
Birmingham-based architectural practice Webb Gray has completed a broad range of projects from the largest commercial developments to smaller works, covering new build and refurbishment in every sector.
Sterling recovered yesterday against all except two of its 16 most traded counterparts as risk appetite increased, gaining over 1.5% against a weakening US dollar yesterday after comments by ECB president Mario Draghi surprised markets and boosted risk appetite with investors. The pound moved from the morning low of 1.5470 to reach the high of 1.5723.Against the euro the pound started morning trade at the low of 1.2730 before reaching the high of 1.2793 before Draghi’s comments, the euro then gained ground to end the session around the 1.2760 level on the back of the euro rally.
Mervyn King yesterday spoke at a global investment conference stating that regulators need to restore confidence in the financial system and ensure that it serves the real economy; confidence in the financial system is currently damaged and without confidence finance is nothing. Mr King said London should continue to aspire to finance a vibrant and expanding global economy yet he didn’t discuss UK monetary policy in his remarks.
Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne came under renewed criticism after Britain’s recession deepened in the second quarter, prompting questions about his economic plans and whether he should remain at the Treasury (we think surely Osborne is a better option than Cable).
Osborne’s 2010 austerity program, which was extended for two years in November, envisaged that the economy would be growing by 2.8% this year. Instead, it is 0.9% smaller than in the third quarter of 2010, just after Prime Minister David Cameron’s coalition came to power, and is struggling to overcome aftershocks of the 2008 banking crisis and the Eurozone debt crisis. ________________________________________
WORLDWIDE
Draghi spoke yesterday and repeated his stance that the euro is irreversible, adding that if the level of bond yields hampers the transmission of monetary policy, it comes within the remit of the central bank to take action. “The ECB is ready to do whatever it takes to preserve the euro,” The statement suggests the ECB may intervene in bond markets as surging yields in Spain and Italy threaten the existence of the 17-nation currency.
Economists now believe the comments suggest the ECB may be preparing to unveil new measures to fight the crisis as potential bailouts for economies the size of Spain and Italy threaten to overwhelm Europe’s rescue funds. Spanish politicians have called on the ECB to do more after yields on the country’s bonds soared to euro-era records this week.
French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici welcomed the comments made by Mario Draghi which suggest the central bank may be ready to embark on new measures to bring down borrowing costs for highly indebted euro-zone countries.
A report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said the Portuguese economy will contract by 3.2% this year more than the government is forecasting, but the country should continue its efforts to meet this year’s budget target to restore confidence and control public debt.
The Euro rallied 1.4% to a 2 week high of 1.2327 against the USD, but the relief rally in the EURUSD could be short-lived as the fundamental outlook for the region turns increasingly bleak. This is not the first promise from the ECB to intervene so unless vast action is really taken this new found optimism will fade quite quickly.
The Irish government returned to the bond markets after an enforced absence of almost two years yesterday, marking an important step in its rehabilitation after suffering the ignominy of a bailout in 2010 and providing a rare hint of hope for the euro zone. They managed to sell EUR 4.19bn of new five year bonds at an average yield of 5.90%.
The Swedish krona strengthened against both the euro and dollar after better than estimated unemployment data and a rise in consumer confidence reduced speculation about an interest rate cut in September.
The number of U.S. workers filing for unemployment benefits fell for the fourth time in five weeks, continuing to suggests that the labour market is finally gaining strength. Initial jobless claims fell by 35,000 to a seasonally adjusted 353,000 in the week ended July 21.
US Manufacturers orders for durable goods, meant to last at least three years, jumped by 1.6% in June to a seasonally adjusted $221.63bn. Manufacturing has played a key role in the US recovery, though there are signs the sector is slowing as U.S. consumers remain cautious and demand from overseas fades.
Japan’s core consumer price index fell 0.2% in June from a year earlier, citing the effect of falling gasoline and other fuel prices. The figures show that the Bank of Japan faces hurdles as it seeks to reach its price-rise goal of 1% and help haul Japan out of its deflationary state.
For the recent redevelopment of the Holiday Inn Gatwick, previously the Worth Hotel, interior designers RSD Interiors chose Hillswood Furniture to supply and install all the chairs in the public areas and bedrooms.The reception area is furnished with special curved settees and a circular seat as a feature piece. The restaurant area uses Hillswood’s Timberly stacking side chair and special seating with varying height backs, all with fully sprung seats. The bar area is predominantly equipped with chairs from Hillswood’s Boston collection and a special corner seating unit.
For more information on how Hillswood can assist with your next project, please contact them on +44 (0) 1474 854 411.
Introducing the latest additions to the GROHE New Tempesta line of showers
GROHE New Tempesta is a line of showers with a lot of value for money in terms of innovative technologies, varied designs and versatile spray patterns. The latest generation of the classic showers is an all-rounder for major projects in particular. The latest additions to the range include a mono spray pattern model without aeration and a shower system priced to fit into smaller budgets.The newly designed showers GROHE New Tempesta and GROHE New Tempesta Cosmopolitan come in a variety of shapes and styles. GROHE New Tempesta comes with four different spray patterns including Rain, GROHE Rain O2, Massage and Jet spray patterns that will trigger different sensations on the skin – from a soft rain shower to an effervescent tingle and a pulsating massage to a firm and stimulating jet. All showers incorporate GROHE DreamSpray® technology which channels water evenly to all nozzles, resulting in highly precise spray patterns and the large 100 mm diameter of the shower head allows the spray patterns to unfold to full effect.
All GROHE New Tempesta showers represent state of the art shower engineering. GROHE CoolTouch® technology prevents the user from scalding as it creates a barrier between the hot water and the outer chrome surface. GROHE StarLight® ensures that the showers and fittings retain their sheen for a long time and are protected against scratching and soiling. Last but not least, SpeedClean technology means that the lime build-up on the shower nozzles can simply be wiped off with your fingers.
Models are optionally available with the innovative GROHE EcoJoy® technology which enables responsible resource management – users can save water on a daily basis without compromising on the enjoyment of the shower.
A perfect match The variety of variants ranges from head showers and handshowers to 600 or 900 mm long shower rail sets as well as wall holder sets for bathtubs to complete shower systems. The wide range meets the most diverse installation requirements and all products are designed for a particularly easy installation.
Alila Bangalore, the 101-room business lifestyle hotel that opened this summer in India’s ‘garden city’, has now unveiled its brand new spa. The latest Spa Alila opening is perfect for business travellers to relax and unwind in after a day’s work, acting as a retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. The spa at Alila Bangalore is an exercise in understated luxury. Elegant black granite sourced from local artisans, dark wood, kota and brass detailing transform the space into an ancient south Indian temple. Brass oil lamps cast a soft glow, creating a relaxing environment.
The spa has one double and four single treatment rooms and is equipped with steam rooms. Guests can choose from a wide range of traditional Asian and European massage techniques that can be tailored to their wellness needs. The double treatment room allows guests to indulge in an invigorating spa experience with their partner.
Signature treatments include a Balinese Crème Bath, a mind-melting, intensely hydrating crème hair bath with essential oils of rosemary, lavender and grapefruit combined with a deliciously nourishing base of coconut and cocoa butter.
The 150-minute ‘Beauty and Balance’ package, uses the caffeine sourced from locally grown coffee grounds to draw out impurities. This rich cocoa, coffee and coconut treatment includes: a signature foot bath: 60-minute therapeutic massage, a coffee and coconut body scrub, a cocoa and coffee body mask as well as a rain shower on a Terrazo hot bed and a herbal steam or bath.
Alila Bangalore also hosts yoga by its infinity pool on the fifth floor. This incredible space looks directly out onto the city’s skyline. Yoga sessions are conducted most mornings by the hotel’s yoga guru, who can tailor the programme to suit individual body types.
GDP figures released yesterday morning sparked a new round of questions over the British economy. The quarterly figures showed a -0.7% drop against a consensus -0.2%, concluding a third consecutive quarter of economic contraction and the countries longest double dip recession in 50 years.Headlines so far have cited possibly risks to our AAA rating, a fresh round of stimulus, a rate cut and a U-turn on tax cuts by George Osborne. Understandably Sterling is not expected to rally this week.
In addition to a European slowdown part of the reason for the large decline was a vast drop in construction (-5.2%), the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and of course the wettest three months on record.
Sterling is up 4% trade-weighted this year in spite of consistently disappointing economic performance and is even up against an index excluding the euro. Yesterday’s drop was surprisingly modest however future forecasts may change with this new information.
Economists remain dismayed at how the best employment recovery in years and significantly lower inflation can be so contradictory to GDP figures.
GBPEUR opened near the high of 1.2855 but then lost 0.6% following the data release to give some temporary distraction from the Eurozone crisis. Any extension of Sterling selling could open up key support of 1.2578 as a target.
GBPUSD reacted similarly, climbing to a session high of 1.5550 before falling 0.5% within moments after the same release. The pair recovered well before falling steadily and remains close to the support level of 1.5480 this morning. We have seen 1.5270 being talked about as a target next week however there are too many global headlines with the potential to distract for any real confidence on that number. ________________________________________
WORLDWIDE
EURUSD showed some signs of a recovery through the course of Tuesday’s session, opening at the low of 1.2053 to touch a high of 1.2168. This respite could well be shortlived as pressure continues to mount in the Eurozone member economies and the risk averse choose the relative security of the safe haven US dollar.
Technical support levels are now at 1.2110 and 1.2040. The euro remains aggressively sold so while it seems far away should there be any glimmer of hope for Spain this pair will rally significantly, the next find resistance is at 1.2190.
This morning CITI Bank economists have predicted a 90% chance of Greece leaving the euro Greece named a new privatisation chief yesterday in an effort to impress the visiting troupe of international lenders and said it was selling the loss making bank ATEbank which had been draining state funds.
IFO surveys in Germany saw disappointing figures across the board for Business Climate, Current Assessment and Expectations for July although this was barely noticeable in major euro pairs.
A plethora of property sector data from America indicated a receding industry with New Home Sales change reading -8.4% against where 0.8% was expected.
The Royal Bank of New Zealand chose to hold their base interest rate of 2.5% amid on-going concerns over Europe’s debt crisis and benign domestic inflation, potentially reinforcing the view that the central bank will hold the current rate until at least mid-2013.
A new generation of LED reading lights is now available in the product range of Baulmann Leuchten from Germany. This new LED reading light can be fully integrated into the headboard and is almost “hidden” until the guest decides to make use of it. While being pulled out of the housing the reading light automatically switches on. The rotatable reflector allows an accurate adjustment of the light beam and the reading light is equipped with a warm-white 3W wide-beam LED (approx. 2.800 Kelvin).
In the standard version the finish of the housing is brushed stainless steel, but as usual in the prodct range of Baulmann Leuchten, the finish of the reading light can be changed according to the wishes of the client.
All pictures are copyright by “Baulmann Leuchten”.
Hilton Worldwide and Rim Hospitality has announced the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Los Angeles Downtown, the latest Los Angeles-area property in the Hilton Worldwide portfolio. With the majority of its multimillion-dollar renovation near completion, the former Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens is now the DoubleTree by Hilton Los Angeles Downtown as it debuts its refreshed Japanese-inspired rooftop garden, the hotel’s signature outdoor event and meeting space. The DoubleTree by Hilton Los Angeles Downtown’s renovation includes significant design and service upgrades to the hotel’s 434 guestrooms and suites, public spaces and corridors, indoor and outdoor meeting and event spaces, business and fitness centres, and its half-acre rooftop Japanese-style gardens. The look and feel of the renovated areas captures the dynamic energy and essence of downtown Los Angeles through contemporary design elements and vibrant colour combinations.
Guests at DoubleTree by Hilton Los Angeles Downtown will be delighted by the soothing earth tones present in new carpet and wall treatments. Additional changes to the guestrooms include the Sweet Dreams bed; 42” flat screen LCD televisions; ergonomic work desks and chairs; and high-speed internet access upgrades that provide business travellers with comfortable and efficient in-room working environments. Significant updates to guest bathrooms include new wall treatments, granite countertops, custom-made vanity tables, and refreshing Crabtree & Evelyn Citron bath and body products.
A significant investment in gardening and landscaping updates to the hotel’s half-acre gardens has returned the site to its original splendour as a peaceful outdoor oasis. Now called the Kyoto Gardens as tribute to the hotel’s former name, the gardens are one of Southern California’s most sought-after social spaces for weddings, receptions, and galas as well as corporate retreats and events. The gardens also present one of the most stunning views of the downtown Los Angeles skyline.
The DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Los Angeles also features 15,000 sq. ft. of flexible conference space for conventions, business meetings, banquets, romantic weddings and social events, including the largest meeting room at 4,212 sq. ft., which can accommodate up to 650guests. The hotel offers a 24-hour self-service business centre and complimentary printing service that includes print-from-your room convenience. For guests who wish to keep up with their workout program while travelling at the DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Los Angeles, a 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness facility is now available.
The contemporary Azalea Restaurant has been redesigned to feature Asian-inspired California cuisine based on locally sourced and seasonal foods, offering guests freshly prepared favourites ranging from crisp salads to hearty sandwiches to grilled fish and chicken. The hotel also serves the brand’s signature Wake Up DoubleTree Breakfast, which includes hot entrees and healthy options to start the day right. Guests can also unwind with a fine selection of refreshing cocktails in the chic atrium of the Rendezvous Lounge and room service also is available during peak dining hours.
Hilton Hotels & Resorts celebrates the official opening of its new landmark hotel, Hilton London Wembley, just days before the start of one of the biggest sporting events in U.K. history. With plans to transform the area into one of the most thriving parts of the capital, for sport, entertainment and architectural excellence, the opening marks a major milestone in the regeneration of the area. Situated directly opposite Wembley Stadium, the 361-room hotel is a striking design-lead property indicative of the iconic events of 2012. Playing on its inherently British location, design features include an eye-catching two-floor feature wall depicting the greatest events in the history of Wembley Stadium and a custom made art installation displaying a sequence of hand-painted porcelain plates following and illustrating the route of the River Thames.
The design of Hilton London Wembley embodies the spirit of Britain through its design and artistic vision. The history and heritage of its location is embraced through every facet, from the open plan ground floor lobby, with its Union Jack motif rugs, to the ninth floor roof bar with its spectacular outdoor terrace and unparalleled views of Wembley Stadium. With both form and function at its heart, Hilton London Wembley offers dynamic and flexible public spaces punctuated by British design elements and patriotic flare.
Wembley City is one of the U.K.’s largest redevelopment schemes, with over one million square feet of construction underway across the area. Quintain, responsible for the regeneration, is transforming 85 acres of former exhibitions lands around Wembley Stadium, which will include a new 280,000 sq ft retail destination – The London Designer Outlet – offering high street and designer brands, as well as a dynamic restaurant and leisure scene.
With architecture and interior design by The Manser Practice, the 281,650 square foot Hilton London Wembley includes 18 suites, a 660-capacity ballroom, 10 state-of-the-art meeting rooms, business centre, boardroom, executive lounge, 200 on-site parking spaces and a full-equipped LivingWell Health Club, complete with 12-metre pool, sauna, steam room, whirlpool and 24-hour gym for hotel guests.
Guests can enjoy spectacular views over Wembley Stadium, Wembley Arena and Wembley Way from the ninth floor roof bar, Sky Bar 9. Its spacious outdoor terrace for up to 150 people is also available for private hire, offering a unique venue for events and private functions. The hotel restaurant, aptly named The Association, seats up to 280 guests and offers a hearty modern-British menu, while the stylish Icons bar is ideal for afternoon tea, a light snack or post dinner cocktail.
The final update ahead of the Games from TravelClick
Just two days before the Olympics opening ceremony, London hotel bookings are looking healthy with committed occupancy currently at an average of 80.4% over the Olympics period.The busiest night in the Capital so far during the Olympics is now Tuesday 31 July, which currently has a committed occupancy of 85.8%. With the men’s road cycling individual time trial final taking place the next day, it seems that the ‘Wiggins effect’ is continuing into the Olympic Games as he aims to add Olympic Gold to his 2012 achievements.
Hotel prices during the Games are up an average of 70% on the same time last year and reach a high of £193 on the night of Sunday 5 August* – the night of the men’s 100m final where we’re hoping to see a record breaking sprint from Usain Bolt.
There is no need to spoil the look of a formal lounge with a large flat screen television, just hide it away. The bespoke cabinets shown here have been designed, created and installed to the exact requirements of a private client in Buckinghamshire. The lounge cabinet houses the client’s collection of artworks and rare books with the TV hidden behind rising doors with faux books. The painted unit in the ‘snug’ which is the room next to the lounge contains books, CDs, DVDs, XBox and of course a large TV.
Bespoke cabinets can be designed to suit any requirements with many different finishes for domestic or commercial projects.
Hotel prices across London have soared to an average £189 over the Olympics period – currently close to a 70% increase in average daily rate (ADR) in comparison to the same time period last year.
With just 11 days until the 2012 Games begin, rates and occupancy have fluctuated as we get closer to opening ceremonies.In the latest report of reservations currently on the books, leading hotel market intelligence provider, TravelClick, has revealed hoteliers are enjoying strong demand in comparison to market data from the previous year over the two week Games period (Jul 27-Aug 12).
At the time of this report committed occupancy across the capital shows rooms currently reserved for the Olympics stands at 77%, an increase of over 40% with a slight decrease possibly due to recent returns of rooms by Games organisers LOCOG, resulting in late bargains at selected hotels.
The busiest day in the Capital so far during the Olympics is Saturday, August 4, coinciding with the Women’s 50m Freestyle and 4x100m Medley Relay finals, as well as the Men’s 1500m Freestyle and 4x100m Medley Relay finals. Occupancy for this date is at 82.3% based on current reservations on the books in comparison to last year.
Editor’s note: The CitizenM Bankside which opened at the beginning of July has said that they will not increase their prices for the period covering the Olympic games. Prices range from £99 – £199 per room per night.
Another article which may be of interest to you is the following:
Olympic Accommodation From £85 A Night at Tune Hotel King’s Cross Or £525 A Night at St Pancras Renaissance Hotel – Which Would You Choose?
Tune Hotel King’s Cross, London (which opened on the 9th July) is offering guests travelling to the Olympic Games, accommodation from just £85 per room, per night. This is in stark contrast to the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel located just 650 metres away, where rooms are priced at £525 a night*.
The small price tag and whopping £440 saving doesn’t ultimately mean guests compromise on quality. Tune Hotel King’s Cross offers space‐efficient, streamlined rooms focusing on high‐quality basics: five-star Hypnos beds, power showers, air conditioned rooms, a clean environment and 24 hour security.
Tune Hotel King’s Cross is ideally located on Gray’s Inn Road, just 500 metres from King’s Cross and St Pancras train stations. Formally Swinton House, the building features 217 bedrooms including twin, double and accessible rooms, with and without windows. Guests can also relax in the large reception area where light refreshments are served.
Similar savings can also be made at any one of Tune’s three other centrally located London hotels, where accommodation starts from £99 a night. Why not swap the Andaz Hotel Liverpool Street at £390 for Tune Hotel Liverpool Street, The Hempel at £349 for Tune Hotel Paddington or The Savoy at £595 for Tune Hotel Westminster. The savings to be had are substantial.
When visiting London how much time do guests really spend in their hotel room? The city is brimming with attractions and if you’re here for the Olympics spending time in the Olympic stadium, Greenwich or Excel is sure to be more favourable than sitting in a hotel room. Tune Hotels offers value, quality and can save visitors a considerable amount of money.
Bedrooms without windows start from £85 a night at Tune Hotel King’s Cross during the Olympics. Bedrooms without windows at Tune Hotel Liverpool Street, Westminster and Paddington start at £99 a night, during the same period.
Through the successful ‘pay as you use’ concept, Tune Hotel guests pay only for their room allowing them the ultimate flexibility to pay extra for the services and facilities that are important to them.
*Prices quoted for the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, Andaz Hotel Liverpool Street and The Hempel is based on a one night stay on Sunday 29th July 2012, for two people sharing. The Savoy price quoted is based on a one night stay on Tuesday 31st July 2012. Rates were taken from the hotel’s website and were correct as of 10am Monday 9th July 2012.
Dawnvale are proud to announce their involvement with G&G Goodfellows on the launch of their exciting new venture in central London.
In association with Paul & Valda Goodfellow, former owners of a well-known distribution company, Dawnvale are proud to have been chosen for the key association of the new central London showroom located at an award winning Michelin starred Restaurant building.G&G Goodfellows offer a highly personalised and bespoke – product service to the Hotel and Catering industry. As exclusive suppliers, the showroom features market leading and innovative products from some of the World’s leading brands.
‘’We intend to go back to our roots of providing a highly personalised service and supplying the best brands in tableware, clothing, technology & specialist product areas; to those professionals who are looking for individuality & innovation’’.
Goodfellows are delighted to have been chosen by De Berkel as the new distributor in the UK for their highly respected clothing range. ‘’We have assembled a tantalising collection of niche tableware brands, along with our ‘Atelier de Table’ & ‘Concepts’ services which will offer bespoke-produced products and solutions’’.
The showrooms unique setting provided Dawnvale’s group divisions to play an integral part creating the slick environment, from the bespoke bar through to full interior fit out of the unique space. The feature VIP Champagne booth and London furniture collection, designed and manufactured through the companies own contract division; plays backdrop to showcase the best brands in tableware, clothing, technology and specialist product areas.
Having been chosen by De Berkel as the new distributor in the UK for their highly respected clothing range, Goodfellows have assembled a tantalising collection of niche tableware brands, along with our ‘Atelier de Table’ & ‘Concepts’ services which will offer bespoke-produced products and solutions.
As well as providing exceptional hospitality environments for some of the UK’s leading designers and premier operators, Dawnvale boast specialist teams with an all encompassing knowledge and service for both front and back of house requirements.
From our London and Manchester locations, our teams cater for bar, club, restaurant and hotel projects.
Sterling lost ground against euro yesterday having breached the 1.2860 psychological level over the weekend – despite fresh revelations regarding regional pressures on the Spanish economy. The session saw an early high of 1.2878 and a low of 1.2796.GBPUSD continued to fall in line with movement from Friday’s session, opening at the high of 1.5608 but receding to a low of 1.5485. USD barely reacted to the Fed’s purchase of Treasury securities in an extension of Operation Twist.
The Bank of England (BoE) cut its corporate bond holding in its asset purchase facility in the second quarter of 2012 by almost a third to £240m.
Surveys by Markit and Experian said the financial prospect for both UK households and businesses are improving. Manufacturing trade body the EEF said “the sector’s suffering will deepen this year”. ________________________________________
WORLDWIDE
EURUSD was somewhat stable in comparison to the other majors with a high of 1.2136 and a low of 1.2067.
The euro sank to a 10 year low against JPY and is expected to keep falling as Spanish debt problems compound European debt concerns.
Spanish bond yields continue to rise as grave concerns over the financial health of Spanish regions intensify, increasing the likelihood the country will need a sovereign bailout.
Ratings agency Moody’s yesterday lowered credit outlooks for Germany, The Netherlands and Luxembourg from “stable” to “negative” in a clear warning that no economy is safe from the fall out of the Greek financial crisis. These three nations in particular are held to ransom by the need to pay out for further Spanish and Italian bailouts.
Adding to their woes Spain’s National Bank confirmed economic output shrank by 0.4% in Q2 after a 0.3% drop in Q1.
Consumer Confidence in the Eurozone fell in July from -19.8 to -21.6 where a reading of -20.0 was expected.
Today auditors from the troika of Greek creditors are expected in Athens to decide if Greece will receive its next loan of €31.5 billion by September.
Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) governor Glenn Stevens gave little away about the outlook for interest rates this morning, simply stating settings are “about right”. Some economists still further rate cuts in August, eyes will be on key inflation data due on Wednesday.
Anglo Holt Construction has secured its largest ever project with hotel giants Travelodge, it was announced recently.
West Bromwich-based Anglo Holt has been awarded the contract by clients Merchant Place Developments to build the 219-bedroom Travelodge at Eastern Gate, in Cambridge, which has a project value of around £9 million.The Charities Property Fund has provided forward funding for the project. The design and construction deal extends the company’s successful 12-year partnership with Travelodge, which has seen it complete 54 hotels, with a further eight contracts currently in progress, worth a total of more than £200.5 million.
The new hotel will have a bar café and basement car park. Built on a brownfield site, the six-storey reinforced concrete and timber frame building will have a one MW photovoltaic installation on its roof. Work on the 51-week project is due to be completed in April 2013.
The 62 UK Travelodge hotels, as far afield as Fort William in the north and Paignton in the south, include 5,536 bedrooms. The average contract length is 29 weeks, with an average value of £3 million. Contracts worth a total of £31.4 million currently in progress include Eastleigh, Epsom, St Helen’s, Wincanton, Poole, Fort William, Woolwich and Vauxhall, London. The previous largest individual contract was the building of the £7.5 million, 201-bed Travelodge at Manchester Airport, closely followed by a 200-bed hotel at Birmingham International Airport.
Significant projects recently completed include Birmingham’s largest Travelodge, which is part of the £45 million mixed-use scheme in Upper Dean Street, a key regeneration area identified in Birmingham City Council’s Big City Plan.
After last week’s much improved employment situation in the UK and also the inflation figure falling to 2.4%, this combination of surprising improvements provides a much brighter overall economic situation. Given the recent turn of events perhaps another surprise could come in the Q2 GDP release on Wednesday which is expected to show the UK is still in recession.Public Sector Net Borrowing excluding financial sector interventions stood at £14.447bn in June, up from £13.919bn in the same month a year earlier, compared with the median forecast of £13.2bn.
GBPEUR started the day at the low of 1.2786 but quickly moved towards the psychological level of Oct 2008’s highs at 1.2868 before finding resistance at 1.2866. During the weekend it has broken to a new high of 1.2891 but has settled down to around 1.2860 again this morning.
GBPUSD also started positively at 1.5694 but failed to break 1.57 confidently as the dollar strengthened, moving to the low of the day at 1.5623 as the risk??’off plunge continues. This morning markets have moved to around 1.5560 and the pair may test support levels at 1.5530 today.
The change in the asking price of homes for sale in the UK dropped to -1.7% compared to last month release of 1% and May’s 0.0%. ________________________________________
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The euro continued to fall against major counterparts on Friday as the formal approval of Spain’s bank bailout by Eurozone finance ministers offered it little relief after the Spanish Valencia region said it will seek central government help to repay its debt.
EURUSD broke below the 1.22 mark at the beginning of the New York session and hit a fresh 2 year low of 1.2145. We have opened up this morning after moving through a number of support levels and currently trade at a low of 1.2085.
The 10-year Spanish bond yield climbed 28 basis points (bps) to 7.309% of Friday, crossing the psychologically crucial 7% mark for the first time in more than a week. This morning we have seen it continue to increase, hitting levels of 7.55%.
Gerda Hasselfeldt, floor leader of Christian Social Union, has been quoted as saying that the party would reject any efforts by Greece to ease its’ bailout terms. The official said “What’s clear for us in the CSU is that we cannot support any move to renegotiate the substance or timeframe for those conditions” adding “If a country is not in a position to fulfil its obligations or is unwilling to, then it must leave the Eurozone”.
The euro slid to the lowest level since 2000 versus the yen on concern the region’s crisis is far from being resolved even after officials agreed on an aid package for Spain’s banks. Japanese Vice Finance minister repeated that he is ready to take decisive action to intervene in the currency markets. The Yen also moved against the Pound from 123.29 to a low of 122.63.
US stocks opened sharply lower on Friday snapping 3 days of gains, as risk aversion surged amid Eurozone woes.
Asian currencies had a second weekly advance on speculation the US and China will adjust policies to revive the world’s two biggest economies, boosting demand for riskier assets.
Early this morning Australian PPI came in higher than expected this morning and GBPAUD moved from 1.5026 up to 1.5110 immediately after the news.
The University of Creative Arts in Farnham prides itself on helping develop some of the best young talent in the Art and Film world.Thought provoking
The “Allysa Art Deco Mirror” seems to be in perfect harmony with the elegant statue in the University Gardens; the light seems to ripple off the sharp edge of the cut bevelled glass.
Mirrors like this can be made in any size thus giving you, the designer, the chance to create a big impression.
Modern Styles
The “Celine Mirror” is often a hard mirror to find a home for, with its modern contemporary lines it will only fit into the most striking of surroundings.
The amazing modern art in the Gardens at the UCA show off how, in the right room with the right decor how the “Celine Mirror” stands apart.
10 years after its launch, “ILBAGNOALESSI One” by swiss bathroom manufacturer Laufen, created in collaboration with “Italian design factory” Alessi and designed by Stefano Giovannoni, has become a real bathroom classic. Today’s collection sees the introduction of new ceramic designs and a complete new furniture range as well as brassware. “ILBAGNOALESSI One” by Laufen was launched in 2002 and immediately got a strikingly warm reception from both the public and the media standing out as one of industry’s most innovative design collections. Some of its elements have become real “icons” like the Tam Tam floorstanding washbasin and the drop-shaped WC.
Explaining the idea behind the latest products that complement the range, Giovannoni comments: “I felt a great desire to find out how much potential can still be tapped in this successful collection – and what Laufen is capable of achieving with its state-of-the-art ceramic technology.”
The original “ILBAGNOALESSI One” Laufen collection focused on the appeal of each product, rather than covering a wide range of styles. After almost ten years, this collection has been developed to create new design classics, more sophisticated and more related to contract projects and equipped to address a wide range of specific requirements. The new semi-recessed and counter-top basins are larger than the original ones and brand new products stand out for their strong and innovative design, such as the Tuna basin and a new set of Tam Tams as well as new electronic brassware.
What makes the design of Laufen’s “ILBAGNOALESSI One” so timeless and yet still up-to-date is that from the very beginning the aesthetics of the collection has been characterised by unmistakable shapes with a remarkable identity. Giovannoni explains: “They derive from nature itself and are anchored deeply in the collective subconscious of mankind – like the idea of white stone polished by water. The products do not distinguish themselves by their details, but by their strength, the clarity of their concept and by their primal forms, transmitting a message of purity and expressiveness.
“ILBAGNOALESSI One” can be considered as a timeless archetype, fashionable and yet not following any particular style, like something created by nature itself.”
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has signed a long term management agreement with the owners of Bilila Lodge, a resort in the Serengeti National Park, and is now operating the property, which will be upgraded and renamed Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Tanzania in Autumn 2012.“We have long wanted to expand into Sub-Saharan Africa and offer new outdoor adventure experiences to our guests,” says Kathleen Taylor, president and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “Now, we’re thrilled to have an outstanding location and partners who share our vision to create a world class lodge like no other in the heart of Africa’s finest safari region.”
Four Seasons veteran James Kostecky has been appointed General Manager as the property transitions to Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti. Most recently General Manager at Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai and Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle in Thailand, he has previous experience in Kenya with a hotel group based in Nairobi.
“It’s great to be back in Africa, where each day brings a new wonder,” says Kostecky, an avid photographer with a keen sense of adventure. “This Lodge will be an excellent opportunity for first time safari travellers, families and groups to experience the natural beauty, astounding wildlife and fascinating culture of the Serengeti.
Once more, Hill Cross Furniture is proud to play a part in the London 2012 Olympic Games which commences on the 27th July 2012. Working alongside Penhaligon Event Consultants, Hill Cross has been completing the quick turnaround of various corporate lounge sites. White upholstery and white laminate table tops dominate the theme throughout the lounge venues. Corporate colours of the individual sponsors personalise each separate venue from bold orange polypropylene tub chairs (EDF Energy) to striking green fixed seating (Lloyds TSB).
The EDF Energy lounge has been furnished incorporating 13 meters of straight banquette seating. Each individual section of the seating has been precisely measured and designed lining each join of the seating accurately to each table. The seating is upholstered in a stunning Jasmine white faux leather, matched with the simple Lia side chairs with chrome legs, completed finally with premium white laminate table tops.
Various loose seating furnish the space, from the shapely square frame of the fully upholstered Verona tub chair (Jasmine white, of course) to the cube low stool in a daring and EDF-appropriate ‘paint pot orange’. The ultra modern Gliss tub chair will be also be making a statement in a transparent orange with chrome skids.
Feature seating in a corporate bottle green is spotted through the LLoyds TSB Olympic Lounge. Floating button banquette seating will line the walls of the venue, while a large deep buttoned back to back bench sofa with bolster cushion, a grand 3 meters by 2 meters dominates the centre space of the lounge. Valentina side chairs finish the space upholstered in a vanilla fabric.
Other venues yet to be announced are underway. From arrow head banquette seating booths precisely designed and manufactured using the CNC machine due to their complex shape, to various loose seating in shades of white and chrome, the venues truly are coming together thick and fast in preparation for this huge event.
It is not the first time Hill Cross furniture has supplied furniture for Olympic events. In October 2008, Hill Cross furniture furnished the International Olympic Committee lounge at the winter Olympics in Turin. With the 2012 London Olympics just around the corner we are proud to be part once again of such a prestigious event.
“May you live in interesting times”, runs the ancient Chinese curse. Certainly, times don’t get much more “interesting” than they are today. On one hand, we have political instability across most, if not all, the world’s continents, sovereign debt crises in the Eurozone, policies of cheap money maintained by many nations, and a slowdown, if not stagnation, of global recovery.All significant contributing factors to the increase in exchange rate volatility amongst major currencies – identified as one of the top four risks to growth in the most recent PWC Annual Global CEO survey.
On the other hand, according to the same survey, 45% of CEO’s believe that the world will become more open to free international trade, and 56% think it will be more open to cross border capital flows.
Volatility threatens margins
Any business that has customers, suppliers, assets or part of its organisation or supply chain abroad is inevitably exposed to risk of exchange rate volatility and its corresponding impact on margins.
As the appetite for, and amount of, international trade continues to grow, it can only become even more competitive. The greater the amounts involved, and the lower the margins, the bigger the impact of even small currency fluctuations.
So it’s essential that businesses understand the impact of their currency transactions on those margins and take steps to manage them as effectively as possible.
Strategy first
At IFX we believe that it is impossible to predict the future movements of currency markets with any degree of accuracy, and irresponsible to try.
The needs of any business – regardless of its size or sector – is best served by a strategic rather than a purely tactical approach.
For the many businesses that lack the necessary expertise and operational capability to manage this themselves, the services of a specialist foreign exchange consultancy can be invaluable.
A reputable consultancy will focus not just on the transactions themselves but also on helping clients understand their risk exposure and mitigate that risk at the earliest opportunity.
They will take time to understand their clients’ businesses, needs and concerns, and monitor the relevant currencies and markets on each their behalf – as well as the events, trends, and developments that could impact on them.
Rather than focus purely on obtaining the best rate, they will provide advice and guidance on the optimal timing for their clients’ transactions, and the most advantageous contract for the needs of their businesses.
Mitigate risk, maximise benefit, minimise cost
Strategy in place, a consultant will also be able to add consistent value at the execution phase.
They will be able to execute currency transactions faster and with less risk than their clients could alone. They’ll also provide access to better exchange rates and lower fees and commission charges than are available through more traditional channels.
As a result, they can make the process easier, safer and, in the face of ever-growing pressure on margins, significantly more cost effective.
IFX is one of the world’s fastest-growing specialist foreign exchange consultancies, serving a growing spread of corporate and private clients throughout the UK, Europe, the US and Australasia. IFX is committed to conducting its business with the highest level of integrity, and stringently observes the compliance and reporting regulations of every jurisdiction in which it is active in order to protect the company and its customers.
Accor Greater China has announced that the group has signed 31 new contracts since the start of 2012. The contracts include 1 Sofitel, 9 Pullman, 5 Mei Jue (Grand Mercure), 1 Novotel as well as 15 ibis projects, thus adding 6,572 new rooms. In all, Accor’s development pipeline in China exceeds 90 new hotels committed, and further manifests Accor’s sound momentum in both the upscale and the economy hotel markets. The Pullman, Mei Jue and ibis hotel brands have experienced the strongest demand so far his year and most of these new contracts are being established in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, in line with the group’s overall expansion strategy, which looks also beyond the main cities in the country.
This includes hotels such as Pullman Zhoushan Seaview, a 22-storey hotel with sea views for all guest rooms, to open in 2015. The hotel is located in China’s only prefecture-level city consisting solely of islands. The destination is included in the priority group of coastal economic developing cities.
After a major re-engineering that tailored the Grand Mercure brand for the Chinese market announced in February, Mei Jue is meeting with support from developers in the country. One recent contract for the brand is the newly signed Mei Jue Foshan Changcheng, which is ideally situated in the centre of Foshan, in southern Guangdong Province. The brand’s first hotel committed in Foshan is of strategic importance for Accor, as the city is located in China’s most dynamic region and has become the third largest manufacturing base in the Pearl River Delta.
“Accor has had a solid start to 2012 in Greater China, which has seen the debut of the tailor made Mei Jue hotel brand as well as robust expansion”, says Michael Issenberg, Chairman and Chief Operating Officer for Accor Asia-Pacific. “There is a sense of recalibration in the Chinese economy, resulting in the distribution of growth spreading to new economic centers and opening fresh opportunities for Accor. Accor has anchored its presence in the key cities of China and deployed an extensive brand portfolio which has helped build its reputation, making the move beyond Tier 2 and into Tier 3 cities easier.”
“In the economy hotel segment, Accor’s ibis hotel brand has enjoyed a strong start to the year with 15 new projects committed,” says Mr. Wayne Li, Vice President of Development for the ibis brand in China, says. “We are receiving significant demand for new ibis projects under franchise in China and are able to select only the strongest propositions. Within this newly committed portfolio, seven of these projects are destined for Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities like Nantong, Quanzhou, Dandong and Leshan. These additions not only serve as proof of the robust economic growth in those cities, but also demonstrate the desire of investors and customers seeking out high quality products in the economy segment.”
Figures from the China Tourist Hotels’ Association suggest that the economy hotel segment now accounts for 30% of the Chinese mainland’s hotel industry and that the industry still expects huge development potential.
Accor, the world’s leading hotel operator and market leader in Europe, is present in 92 countries with more than 4,400 hotels and 530,000 rooms. Accor’s broad portfolio of hotel brands – Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Suite Novotel, Mercure, Adagio, ibis, all seasons/ibis Styles, Etap Hotel/Formule 1/ibis budget, hotelF1 and Motel 6 – provide an extensive offer from luxury to budget. With more than 180,000 employees* in Accor brand hotels worldwide, the Group offers to its clients and partners nearly 45 years of know-how and expertise.
*Including 145,000 in owned, leased and managed hotels
Great Hotels of the World has expanded its portfolio with the addition of five properties from the Pride Hotels. Pride Hotel Ahmedabad, Pride Hotel Bangalore, Pride Hotel Kolkata, Pride Hotel Chennai and Pride Hotel Pune have all joined Great Hotels of the World’s corporate collection. Since June 2011, Great Hotels of the World has increased its hotel signups in Asia by 120%. The alliance will continue to place a strong focus on Asia as it stands as one of the world’s fastest growing markets in today’s current climate.
Pride Hotel Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad, India Pride Hotel Ahmedabad is a five-star luxury property situated in the heart of the elite business area of Satellite. Close to many of the city’s attractions and just 18km from Ahmedabad international airport, the property boasts 164 well-appointed rooms and suites, equipped with state-of-the-art technology. In addition, the hotel features seven meeting rooms of various sizes, with capacity for up to 1000 persons in its Imperial banqueting space.
Guests can enjoy two excellent restaurants: Casablanca, a fine dining restaurant serving international cuisine accompanied by live music, and Café Treat, a 24-hour café offering light meals and snacks. Other facilities include a business centre, gym, steam room, spa, jacuzzi and swimming pool.
Pride Hotel Bangalore, Bangalore, India Ideally situated in the heart of Bangalore’s city centre, Pride Hotel Bangalore is located within close vicinity of many tourist attractions such as the Vidhana Soudha, Cubbon Park and the Vishweshwaraya museum. The property is just 45 minutes from Bangalore international airport. With 100 contemporary bedrooms, the hotel offers all the modern comforts of a luxury property as well as a 24hr concierge service and airport transfer service.
Pride Hotel Bangalore features a business centre and five meeting rooms, accommodating from 10 to 200 delegates. Avant-garde fine dining can be enjoyed at Casablanca, the Resto Bar where guests can experience global cuisine and a warm ambience. Cafe Treat, a 24 hour coffee shop and Puran Da Dhaba, an authentic rooftop ethnic Indian Restaurant with live music, are amongst the other restaurants present at the property. A well equipped gym and a travel desk are also available.
Pride Hotel Chennai, Chennai, India Set in Chennai’s city centre, Pride Hotel Chennai is a four-star property which boasts 115 comfortable guestrooms and suites complete with state-of-the-art amenities. The hotel is located 18km from ANNA international airport. Featuring two meeting rooms, two banquet halls, a boardroom and a business centre, the hotel serves as an ideal venue for various events.
Pride Hotel Chennai also features a rooftop restaurant, Puran Da Dhaba, which serves authentic North Indian cuisine to reflect the traditional and rustic ambiance with live Indian music. Cafe Treat, a 24 hour coffee shop, and the Fuel Bar are also highly recommended for guests. An outdoor swimming pool and health club with a gym, massage rooms, jacuzzi and steam room complete the hotel’s facilities.
Pride Hotel Kolkata, Kolkata, India Having opened in January 2012, Pride Hotel Kolkata is a brand-new property set in the heart of Kolkata’s business centre. With easy access to Kolkata’s IT hub and just 7km from Kolkata’s international airport, the hotel offers guests traditional hospitality with modern comforts. The hotel comprises 153 guestrooms and suites. It offers 24-hour room service, business centre as well as four conference halls and two boardrooms.
Pride Hotel Kolkata boasts a lounge bar, a 24-hour coffee shop, a fitness centre, swimming pool and spa on site.
Pride Hotel Pune, Pune, India Pride Hotel Pune is one of the city’s leading five-star properties with an excellent central location. The hotel is also just a 20 minute drive from Lohegaon airport. The hotel comprises of 112 luxurious guestrooms and suites. In addition, five meeting rooms are at the disposal of guests for business events of all sizes, out of which one is outdoor. Furthermore, the business centre offers a meeting space, various services and secretarial assistance.
Guests can enjoy a wide variety of cuisine at the hotel’s three restaurants. Cuisine ranges from international and Punjabi dishes to seafood and grilled meat. After dark, the Xtasy Grill Room & Bar boasts a lively atmosphere with an array of refreshing drinks to choose from. Guests can also choose to visit the outdoor pool or health club, complete with a gym, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi or enjoy one of the various treatments on offer.
Centara Hotels & Resorts has signed a management contract for an existing resort hotel on Koh Samui that will operate under the “Centra” value brand with effect from 1 July 2012.The contract was signed with owner PDTS Company Limited on 5 June 2012.To be named Centra Coconut Beach Resort Samui, the property is located on Thong Tanote Beach and was originally known as Coconut Villa Resort & Spa.
“We are delighted to add this beautiful beachfront property to our Samui portfolio and thereby extend our Centra value brand to one of Thailand’s most popular tourism destinations,” says Thirayuth Chirathivat, chief executive officer of Centara Hotels & Resorts.”This is an intimately scaled hotel and fits perfectly into the brand.”
Centra Coconut Beach Resort has 55 guestrooms, with one all-day dining restaurant and two swimming pools.
The resort is located directly on secluded Thong Tanote Beach, on the south side of the island, with views across to Koh Tan and Koh Mutsum, both of which are renowned diving and snorkelling spots.
“To have our Centra value brand represented on Samui Island gives us a very sound marketing strategy there,” says Chris Bailey, senior vice president for sales and marketing at Centara Hotels & Resorts.”We are now able to offer three of our hotel brands on the island, which gives us a very strong marketing mix.”
The 24 Deluxe Pool Access guestrooms are spread through the tropical setting and feature sun decks to relax on the patio beside the swimming pool. The room size is approximately 37 sqm, including balcony. There are six Sea View Villas with a living space of 44sqm and one Beachfront Villa of 50sqm, each with a furnished terrace and a Jacuzzi in the bathroom.
The resort will feature Cense by Spa Cenvaree, Centara’s new spa value brand that offers a selection of core treatments for guests who want to look and feel good but who don’t require a full range of spa services.
Thai and international cuisines with an emphasis on fresh seafood are served at the beachfront restaurant, and there is also a beach bar and a pool bar.
One of the swimming pools is located at the beach, while the other is set like a canal running through the resort grounds.
Hotel Indigo has recently announced the opening of its second location in Atlanta in one of Georgia’s largest historic districts and just minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.The hotel, located at 1776 Harvard Ave. in historic College Park, offers guests a unique hotel experience with a comfortable design that blends well with the surrounding neighbourhood. As unique as many of the area’s historic homes and buildings, the hotel offers guests the intimate service typically associated with boutique lodging along with the peace of mind and consistency expected from a large hotel group.
The 142-room, five-story hotel offers a warm and inviting environment with each room featuring a vibrant décor with touches of starbursts and turquoise. Vintage photographs of the neighbourhood can be found throughout the hotel that invite and inspire guests to explore the surrounding historic areas in the city of College Park. Common areas, including the reception area, are well furnished and reflect the region with layered marble brought in from Tate, the marble capital of Georgia.
The College Park neighbourhood has a small town feel where shops and restaurants are family owned and operated along College Park’s Main Street. The town’s architecture mimics the historic Georgia Military Academy founded in 1900 that is now home to Woodward Academy, one of the largest private schools in the nation.
The new hotel is reflective of its surroundings from the artwork on the wall to the menu at BlueGoose Bar and Kitchen, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a casual environment. Guests can enjoy outdoor dining on the spacious patio and visit the exclusive wine and scotch bar that’s open nightly. Whether they’re visiting the restaurant or attending a function in one of the hotel’s two meeting rooms, guests will discover outstanding service provided by a staff that is courteous and intimately familiar with the surrounding area.
For business travellers, the new Hotel Indigo is within five miles of the headquarters of Delta Airlines, Chick-fil-A and AirTran Airways. It is also close to Federal Aviation Administration offices. Among the nearby attractions are the Georgia International Convention Center, the Georgia Aquarium, Six Flags Over Georgia and Turner Field.
The hotel offers free high-speed wired and wireless Internet access in guest rooms and public spaces, a 24-hour business centre and a fitness centre.
Reflective of the trend toward creature comforts with a smaller footprint, space-efficient guestrooms feature plush bedding, high-definition flat-screen TVs, iHome stations and spa-inspired showers with Aveda products. Hard surface flooring with area rugs create a fresh, residential feel.
Hotel Indigo Atlanta Airport College Park is owned and managed by College Park Hotels LLC under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.
Fameed Khalique, the expert in innovative and inspiring surface materials for the interior design industry introduces a ground-breaking collection from Kyle Bunting, redefining how hide is used in interior applications and adding an entirely new dimension to the trend for statement rugs. Khalique brings the company renowned for their luxury collection of decorative hide floor and wall-coverings, to the UK exclusively for the first time. Embracing the trend for rugs in bold colourways, high quality materials, interesting textures and patterns, Kyle Bunting rugs provide an objet d’art for the floor and wall, and a focal point for the room.
Kyle Bunting hide rugs and wall-coverings are among the finest in the world; made with hair-on-hide leather, their luxurious texture and sterling design have attracted international attention and successfully bring an entirely distinctive look to the home. Kyle Bunting uses a pioneering technique for his hide creations where no stitching is used; instead hides are fused onto a rubber backing, ensuring a seamless and flawless look whilst being incredibly versatile.
Sterling gained against the currencies of the U.S., Europe and Switzerland, reaching new highs not seen since October 2008 against the Euro and a 17 month high against the Swiss Franc.Sterling reached a high of 1.2834 despite having followed the EUR upside on EFSF rumours, the EU’s official rejection of those talks didn’t trigger a retracement unlike in the Euro. At the time of write GBPEUR is at 1.2793
Aginst the CHF, sterling a high of 1.5408 having climbed up from a high of 1.5296 on the back of risk reversal away from the safe haven currencies.
U.K. retail sales disappointed for June up by 0.1% from May and by 1.6% from the previous year, coming in lower than analysts’ respective growth forecasts of 0.5% and 2.2%. ________________________________________
WORLDWIDE
The GBPUSD rally that saw it break the psychological 1.57 level ahead of the US jobless claims data wasn’t retracted by the weak figures and has continued to stay above the 1.57 level. GBPUSD reached a high of 1.5721, up from 1.5646 at the start of the session.
EURUSD initially managed to hit a week high of 1.2320 on the back of rumours of a EFSF rumour before retracting to hit a session low of 1.2232. EURUSD is currently trading at 1.2274 With tight supplies of affordable homes limiting first-time buyers in the US, the NAR released a report showing an unexpected drop in existing home sales last month. They fell 5.4% to an annual rate of 4.37 million in June from an upwardly revised 4.62 million in May.
After reporting a notable drop in first time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, the Labor Department released a report showing that initial jobless claims rebounded by more than anticipated in the week ended July 14th. They said jobless claims jumped to 386,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 352,000 Manufacturing firms in the Philadelphia area continued to report weak business conditions in July. While the Philly Fed said its diffusion index of current activity rose to a negative 12.9 in July from a negative 16.6 in June, a negative reading points to a continued contraction in manufacturing activity.
The European Commission that the 100 billion euro rescue fund destined for Spain are to be solely used for the recapitalization of the countries distressed banks. Putting a stop to rumours that earlier in the day that the money could be earmarked for other needs as well.
Spain’s cost of borrowing soared with The Spanish Benchmark 10-yr yield jumping back above 7%, suggesting that despite the respite provided by the latest round of quantitive easing there is still poor demand for Spanish debt.
French yields declined as investors dumped the peripheral nation’s debt in their flight to the perceived safety of the French debt. The five-year paper in particular fetched a record low of 0.86%
Business conditions in Australia weakened in the June quarter, partly reflecting weak demand both at home and abroad. NAB said that its business conditions index fell to -1 in the second quarter from 3 in the previous 3 months.
Hillswood have recently completed a new restaurant at the Holiday Inn Express T5 following a large bedroom extension, making this Holiday Inn Express the largest in Europe with over 300 bedrooms. Hillswood submitted a special stain colour on all the chairs to match one of the upholstery colours. The fixed seating was supplied with three different back heights to suit the particular areas of the restaurant. All the seating had fully sprung seats with solid beech frames making the seating extremely strong and comfortable.
Hillswood worked closely with RSD Interiors, the designers, and also liaised directly with the owners to ensure that the whole project ran to budget and time.
Click here to contact Hillswood Furniture in the Directory
The British made Aquaduct drain covers combine art and functionality, adding a designer finish to any bathroom or wetroom. The mirror finish stainless steel drain covers are available from Marmox in a range of Style, Contemporary and Modern, totalling 12 standard designs. In addition Marmox is offering a bespoke design service allowing leisure clubs or hotels to build their branding into the shower areas.”Until now interior designers have been very limited in the finished look of their bathrooms and wetrooms. Bringing the Aquaduct beautifully engineered and elegantly designed drain grills to market enables us to offer our customers much more choice than before. We are very much looking forward to the opportunities it will open up,” commented Sarah Viney, Managing Director at Marmox UK.
John Harte of Aqua Innovations had this to say; “Aquaduct are delighted to team up with Marmox, renowned for their innovative and high quality products, to provide a shared vision for the wetroom and shower market. With our unique synergy, we will be able to provide a top quality finish to bathrooms and wetrooms around the UK. We are excited that Marmox, as the new Aquaduct distributor, will be able to offer a new customer base for our designer products.”
Marmox launched the new drain covers on 16th July when standard designs will be available from stock, direct from Marmox UK. Bespoke designs will be available upon request.
Only two of the nine members of the Bank of England’s policy panel voted against additional monetary stimulus at July’s meeting, arguing that the raft of measures put in place by the UK’s lender of last resort were sufficient to support the economy. The pound weakened against the euro and the dollar after Bank of England policy makers said they may reconsider the case for an interest-rate cut after assessing the impact of new measures on the economy.
An unexpected drop in UK unemployment boosted the UK stock market on Wednesday. The FTSE was up 0.1% at 5633.33. The index was lifted by the UK unemployment rate dropping to 8.1% for the three-month period ending in May 2012, down 0.2% from the previous period, and better than analyst’s expectations of an 8.2% level.
GBPEUR was a fairly volatile pairing through yesterday’s trading hitting a high of 1.2771 from a low of 1.2708. GBPUSD traded as high as 1.5668 and hit a session’s low of 1.5581. Minutes released from the MPC indicated that the bank may discuss reducing its benchmark rate to below 0.50%, but no for several months. The Eurozone financial crisis and slowing global demand are hurting growth in the UK, the BOE said Wednesday in the minutes of its July 4-5 meeting, and these symptoms could also trigger higher unemployment in the coming months as UK exports weaken.
UK inflation slowed to 2.4% in June, and the MPC said it is likely to be lower than the bank’s forecast in the near term. ________________________________________
WORLDWIDE
The US economy expanded at a moderate pace in June and early July but the jobs market showed only small gains, the Fed said in a report released last night. The economy expanded at a moderate pace in the central banks 12 districts the Fed published in last night’s beige book. The labor market appeared to show more weakness since the last report, with employment levels growing at a “tepid pace” in most districts, the report stated.
Spain’s housing market continued to weaken in the second quarter, with prices declining 8.3% year-on-year, a government report showed Wednesday. Compared with the first quarter, Spain’s housing price index fell 2.5%.
Housing starts in the US. climbed to its fastest rate in June since October 2008, signalling that the residential housing construction market may be picking up. The number of privately-owned housing starts grew 6.9% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 760,000 in June, following 711,000 housing starts in May that was upwardly revised from 708,000 originally reported.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel Wednesday said that despite the on-going difficulties she remains optimistic that rescuing the euro can succeed. Ms Merkel reiterated recent comments that Germany will emerge stronger from the crisis, but warned the country was no island and that Europe’s largest economy cannot do well if the rest of the region is in recession.
Business conditions in Australia weakened in the June quarter, partly reflecting weak demand both at home and abroad. Confidence fell for a second consecutive quarter, despite the central bank’s interest rate cuts since November last year.
Belgium will meet its European Union target of a budget deficit of 2.8% of gross domestic product this year, and balance it by 2015, the country’s prime minister said Wednesday, setting out the government’s latest budget review and measures to spur economic growth.
An auction of German two-year notes today drew a negative yield for the first time as investors sought the safety of Europe’s benchmark government debt as a haven from the financial turmoil in the 17-nation currency bloc.
Swiss investor confidence saw a small boost in July, but still overall negative. The Credit Suisse ZEW survey for expectations was reported at -42.5%, versus -43.4% in June. However, the survey for current economic situation dropped from 19.7% to 18.4% in July. Swiss Franc dropped against the US Dollar following the survey, falling in line with dips in other risk-correlated currencies.
South Africa’s annual inflation rate in June dropped below economists’ expectations, data showed Wednesday, likely giving the reserve bank further room to focus on tepid growth rates.
Canada’s dollar erased losses against its US. counterpart after the Bank of Canada said in its monetary policy report that consumers and business investment will lead modest economic growth through 2014, while weaker global demand curbs exports. The central bank reiterated the next move in interest rates may be upward. The Swedish krona advanced to the strongest since December 2000 against the euro, appreciating as much as 0.9% to 8.4781 per euro. It was 0.4% higher at 6.9311 versus the US dollar. Sweden’s currency climbed amid speculation the nation’s central bank won’t act to halt gains in the currency of the largest Nordic economy.
Politicians in the lower house of Germany’s parliament are expected to vote this afternoon in favour of the Spanish bank bailout after finance minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, gave assurances that Spain would remain liable for the aid.
Plettenberg is not like any other resort town I’ve been to. It perches on top of the rocks above beaches and a salt water lagoon, giving stupendous views along the coast. It has its season when the population booms, but off season it is largely made up of the empty properties that are the second homes of global travellers as well as wealthy South Africans. In season like any resort it is busy, busy, busy.
The main street is a mix and at one end sits the café that is the Grand Café & Rooms. Multi-levelled, the entrance is up a steep flight of steps leading to an eclectic set of interiors and a terrace with breathtaking views along the coast . Dining here is a pleasure, the hard worked small kitchen producing marvels and the view, brushed with a glass of excellent local wine, entrancing. The kitchen is a part of the dining room. With only 9 bedrooms the dining room works hard all day and evening as the core of the operation.
Decor is reasonably sophisticated but spoiled by some tricks like sticking postcards and photographs onto the wall, creating a counter point to the sophistication of the fireplaces and solid wood furniture. White table cloths speak of a desire to be a little upmarket but the posters, post cards and ad hoc additions to the original decor work against this aim pulling in the opposite direction.
Reception desk works as the hotel reception and the maitre d’ desk for the dining rooms and the entrance lobby is informally stylish, dominated by what appears to be a large wood oven, apparently no longer in use.
Whitbread continued to deliver on its sustainability strategy by saving thousands of tonnes of CO2 across its hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops in 2011. The carbon savings were revealed in Whitbread’s tenth annual Environment Report, published on the 1st June 2012.The owner of the Costa and Premier Inn brands achieved an absolute reduction of CO2 emissions of more than 1,579 tonnes in 2011 – equivalent to taking approximately 250 medium-sized cars off the road – whilst opening 29 new hotels and more than 100 coffee shops across the country. The savings represent an 11% reduction in carbon emissions relative to sales revenue.
Chris George, head of energy and environment at Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, said: “Our ambition at Whitbread is to lead the hospitality industry to a more sustainable future. To do that we have set ourselves stretching targets to reduce our energy and water consumption and cut waste across the business. Our recent performance shows we can hit the numbers whilst delivering strong returns to our shareholders.”
Installing energy saving technologies at existing Whitbread sites, investing in new sustainable hotels and restaurants and educating staff to save energy and water all contributed to the reductions.
Every existing Whitbread hotel and restaurant has electricity, gas and water data logging meters installed to record consumption and eliminate unnecessary wastage. At new sites, Whitbread is continuing to lead in the design of new sustainable hotels and restaurants and the business opened its tenth sustainable hotel and restaurant in Camborne, Cornwall in January 2012.
Whitbread employs over 40,000 people and serves 19 million customers every month in its 2,200 outlets across the UK.
Chris continued: “Given the scale of our business, the small changes we make at our sites to mitigate our energy consumption can yield huge carbon reductions across the UK and minimise the impact of our business on the environment.”
The Environment Report also outlined Whitbread’s progress in other key corporate responsibility areas including cutting water consumption by 5% relative to sales and diverting 83% of its site waste from landfill, whilst continuing to deliver its aggressive expansion strategy.
As part of its strategy to lead the hospitality industry to a more sustainable future, Whitbread has set itself the target of delivering a 25% reduction in carbon emissions, a 15% saving in water consumption and zero waste to landfill from direct operating activities by 2017, relative to sales and measured from a 2009 baseline.
Whitbread is also working with its suppliers to lower the carbon emissions generated from its supply chain and has published a new target to deliver a 10% carbon reduction across supply chain activities by 2017 as part of this latest Environment Report.
Hotel La Tour is a spectacular new concept hotel, which recently opened in Birmingham city centre. Its ultra modern and exquisite interior sets new standards of style and sophistication. The hotel boasts 174 guest rooms, stylish restaurant and an Executive Business floor.The hotels Operations Director asked the Brintons design team to work with Hotel La Tour on developing new custom carpet designs to complement the contemporary design of the property. Brintons designed and manufactured over 6,000 sqms of carpets for the guestrooms, corridors, bar areas, and conference rooms.
” From the outset of our project to design and build Hotel La Tour Birmingham, it was critical that we were working with partners who were as passionate as we were and who understood, and could adapt to, our collaborative style of working. The team at Brintons proved to be invaluable both in terms of their creative ideas in helping me to create innovative designs, in keeping with our brand values. We are delighted with the quality of workmanship and the finished product which has helped to create a real wow factor to our building” – Adrian Colman, Operations Director, Hotel La Tour
Project details 6,100sqm of Woven Axminster and Hand Tufted Rugs
Perfectly timed for summer, JAB Anstoetz has launched its latest collection of stunning outdoor only fabrics, called, UV PRO. This fresh and stylish collection of upholstery fabrics offers a vast range of colours in pinks, blues and greens with contrasting stripes, plaids, plains and geometric prints. Ideal for covering cushions and ottomans, the advanced colourfastness and UV, stain and chlorine resistant technology means your fabrics will stay bright for years to come.
To celebrate the launch of an extensive refurbishment project on the 19 July, Park Plaza Leeds took a suite to the street last week, creating a replica of one of its new hotel suites, showcasing their new and excellent standards to people passing through Leeds’ City Square. The Park Plaza Hotel team recreated the suite down to the smallest detail; from the carpeted floor, bed with headboard, flat screen TV, telephone, side tables, lounge chairs, coffee table, crisp linen, plump pillows, scatter cushions and the new and original art work displayed on easels by Leeds College of Art Students, who won a competition earlier this year to have their work displayed in the hotel.Park Plaza Leeds will officially unveil the suites and guest rooms to invited guests and local businesses on Thursday 19 July at the tallest hotel in Leeds situated on the corner of Boar Lane. The hotel’s full refurbishment includes a redesign of all 185 guest rooms, two new bedrooms increasing the total number of rooms to 187 and the creation of the Penthouse suite, situated on the top 20th floor, featuring two en-suite bedrooms, two lounges, private kitchenette, dining area and Leeds’ first hotel waterproof televisions built into the end of the deep baths within the 2 bathrooms. The two top floor suites also come complete with music docking stations, 46inch flat screen TV’s and telescopes for those looking to make the most of the incredible views over Leeds and beyond!
One of 17 contemporary Park Plaza hotels throughout the UK and Europe, the refurbishment has used over a tonne of paint, 748 tubes of silicone, 7,676sqm of carpet (that’s almost enough to cover the Leeds United pitch at Elland Road!) and 3000 linear metres of feature wallpaper situated behind 187 new beds. The work represents the first major investment since the hotel’s opening in 2003.
The project, which has been ongoing since September 2011, will have taken 24 workmen 2166 hours to complete, and includes the refurbishment of over 1500 items of furniture and the purchase of new Italian designed white leather desk chairs.
Park Plaza Leeds’ newly designed guest rooms and suites will incorporate a distinctive jewel-tone colour palette featuring deep amethyst and crimson. Each room will also feature artwork produced from the winning photographs taken by Leeds College of Art Students who entered Park Plaza Leeds’ recent photography competition.
Paul Rogers, General Manager of Park Plaza Leeds, said:
“So much hard work and effort has gone into this project since we began September last year. I’ve seen the hotel transformed, all twenty floors of it, and we are very excited to finally be able to reveal the results of our hard work to the general public. This is an exciting time for Leeds with the Trinity development as well as the new Leeds arena both scheduled for completion by 2013. We are committed to not just delivering a great product and experience to our guests but also in delivering a great service to our customers that exceeds their expectations when visiting Park Plaza Leeds. This is why since our refurbishment has started we have also invested in staff training in developing and delivering exceptional service and have seen a substantial improvement in guests’ feedback both in regards to the new product as well as service levels. This refurbishment will bring the Park Plaza Leeds Hotel back to the fore in terms of facilities and design, and we hope that in turn will attract new business from the leisure and business markets.”
Updates to the hotel’s public spaces will include the addition of a ground-floor executive lounge and a refurbished lobby, check-in area and Scene Coffee Bar, which overlooks City Square.
In early European trade on Tuesday the pound fell after a report showed that the UK inflation annual inflation unexpectedly eased in June to reach the lowest level since November 2009.After choppy trading against the euro and the Swiss Franc during the Asian session, CPI data revealed inflation slipped to 2.4% from 2.8% last month causing the pound to fall to 4-day lows of 1.5255 against the Swiss franc and 1.2695 against the euro, compared to yesterday’s close of 1.5305 and 1.2737, respectively. The next downside target level for the pound is seen at 1.52 against the franc and 1.2658 against the euro.
Against the US dollar, the pound fell to as low as 1.5554 after Ben Bernanke’s testimony in New York drove up dollar demand, GBPUSD fell from a near 2-week high of 1.5680 seen earlier in the day.
Bank of England governor Mervyn King said Tuesday that the Bank of England had no evidence that banks were deliberately misreporting their borrowing costs in 2008. King told lawmakers on a parliamentary panel that scrutinizes economic policy that neither the BoE nor the Fed had evidence of dishonesty in the setting of the Libor, but agreed the process was flawed. ________________________________________
WORLDWIDE
Spanish borrowing costs declined on Tuesday in its first debt auction since the government announced the latest round of austerity measures last week in a bid to attain deficit targets amid a severe recession.
Eurozone finance ministers are likely to meet on July 20 to finalize the €100bn Spanish bank bailout deal struck last month. Spain is set to face a tougher challenge on Thursday when it auctions its medium-to-longer term bonds. The country plans to raise between €2-3bn German investor sentiment declined for the third month in a row to its lowest level in six months, adding to signs that the euro area debt crisis is hurting the outlook for the region’s biggest economy. The ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment dropped to -19.6 from -16.9 in June.
Bouncing back from multi-year lows EURUSD hit a weekly high of 1.2317 yesterday and 1.2340 is seen as the next resistance level.
Canadian factory shipments declined in May, the fourth drop in five months, as refinery shutdowns weighed heavily on results and offset gains in the transportation sector. Financial turmoil in Europe, slowing growth in emerging markets and the US has dampened global demand.
As widely expected, the Bank of Canada retained its benchmark interest rate at 1%. The Canadian dollar edged higher against its major opponents following the rate announcement. As of 1400pm, the Canadian dollar was trading at 1.5842 against the pound.
US consumer prices were flat in June as energy costs continued to fall, keeping inflation at bay. The lower inflation of recent months could give the Federal Reserve more confidence as it considers whether to take further steps to bring down unemployment and stimulate the economy.
Industrial production in the U.S. increased by slightly more than anticipated in the month of June, according to a report released by the Federal Reserve yesterday, with the increase partly due to a rebound by output in the manufacturing sector.
Homebuilder confidence saw a substantial improvement in the month of July, according to a report released by the National Association of Home Builders yesterday, with the index of homebuilder confidence rising to a new five-year high.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke delivered a bleak assessment of the US economy to lawmakers on Tuesday, citing a slowdown in economic activity this year and a stubbornly high rate of unemployment and sounded sharp concerns over weakness in the labour market, which Fed officials have made clear is central to whether they decide to enact more stimulus programs.
GBPEUR traded the day within the 1.27 trading range on Monday with very little in the way of UK data releases to create volatility in the markets. The currency pair posted a high of 1.2768, a more than 3 year high against the low of 1.2705 set in early morning trading. GBPEUR now finds support at 1.2706 and 1.2634.GBPUSD spent the morning trading within the 1.55’s until the release of the US Retail sales where poor figures missing expectations allowed sterling to gain against the greenback and push into the 1.56’s, setting an overnight high of 1.5676. Cable will find support at 1.5592 and 1.5517.
Markets look towards the Inflation data being released from the UK this morning, where forecasts are predicting the lowest level of inflation in two years at 2.8%.
Jerry Del Missier, former Barclay’s chief operating officer said yesterday the bank’s then-chief executive phoned him in 2008 to instruct him to lower the bank’s interbank lending rate submissions but that he didn’t view the decision as “improper.” ________________________________________
WORLDWIDE
EURUSD traded within a 114 pip range yesterday posting a high of 1.2289 against a low of 1.2175, however overnight the pair have pushed higher and has broken above the 1.23 levels in early morning trading.
Yesterday the International Monetary Fund approved the latest tranche of its emergency bailout program for Portugal, applauding the debt-beleaguered nation for its efforts to return to economic health.
US data failed to meet expectations as retail sales posted a negative figure of -0.5% against the forecast 0.1% figure forecast, showing a huge slowdown in the sector, which triggered a rally in the GBPUSD price through 1.56.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke heads to Capitol Hill today for the first of two days of questions, comments and haranguing from lawmakers as he delivers the central bank’s semi-annual report to Congress. With two weeks until the Fed’s next policy meeting, lawmakers are likely to hound Bernanke on whether the central bank plans to launch another round of bond-buying.
New Zealand’s central bank has ample room to keep rates on hold after annual inflation slowed to its lowest level since the fourth quarter of 1999. Statistics New Zealand said this morning that the consumer price index rose 0.3% on the quarter in the second quarter, below expectations of a 0.5% rise. The index was up 1.0% on the year, compared with expectations of a 1.1% rise.
China needs more active fiscal policies among others to support its recent credit loosening measures, which may not be as effective as expected, Yan Qingmin, assistant chairman at the China Banking Regulatory Commission, wrote in Financial News. “Effects of credit loosening policies are waning as the demand for credit is weakening,” Mr. Yan said “Thus (we) urgently need support from fiscal and other policies.”
The Adria boutique hotel has opened its doors in the centre of London just in time for the very busy 2012 summer. The major refurbishment of a classical building has been completed down to the finest detail. Jestico and Whiles, the interior designers, have created a luxurious environment as an ideal haven from the busy streets of Kensington and Chelsea. Frank Hudson furniture were commissioned to design and make bespoke desks for the reception and the suites with discreet wire management and hand carved details to the cabriole legs and worktops. Very large wall hung and floor standing mirrors were also produced to create a lighter more airy feel to some parts of the public areas.
For more information on how Frank Hudson can help with your project, please visit www.frankhudson.com
Encompass are pleased to announce that we will now be acting as the UK distributor for Skantherm.Skantherm are one of Germany’s finest stove manufacturers and a market leader in their field world-wide. Their ranges include varying designs from more contemporary stoves, such as Shaker pictured above and below, to more traditional classical designs which can be viewed on our website.
Models vary in heat output and a colour choice of black, grey or brown is also available for most models.
PICO – SKANTHERM Designed by Sebastian Buscher for Skantherm, Pico is a 7kw log burning stove with integrated log storage. Pico’s contemporary design is enhanced with three glass sides which allow the warmth of the flickering flame to be enjoyed from anywhere in the room. A striking clean design means Pico is suitable for modern and contemporary spaces. A choice of colours broadens the stove’s versatility.
IVO – SKANTHERM Skantherm’s Ivo stove was designed by Akantus and has been awarded the Red Dot design award. A 6kw log burning stove with a generously sized burning chamber, Ivo has a softer aesthetic than other Skantherm stoves, lending itself to a wider scope of installations.
SOLO – SKANTHERM Solo is another Akantus design for Skantherm. This stove is an impressively proportioned 6kw log burner. Solo can either be bought as a standard fixed module or with the option of being rotatable through 60 degrees. Optional heat retention modules also help to improve the efficiency of this stove. Front inlays can optionally be specified in a range of finishes, allowing a certain amount of customisation to suit your requirements.
TRIGO – SKANTHERM At just over 1.2 meters in height Trigo houses one of the largest burning chambers in the Skantherm collection. The fire place has three glass sides thus opening the flame to three aspects of the space in which it is installed. Another Akantus design for Skantherm, Trigo’s 7kw heat output makes it suitable for larger rooms and the integrated log storage increases its functionality further still.
ZIO – SKANTHERM Like Solo, Zio can be rotated through 60 degrees in both directions. Although standing taller than some other Skantherm stoves, Zio has an output of 5kw making it ideal for installation in smaller spaces where the focal point simply has to be a roaring flame.
Many look at the glamorised television shows and think ‘I can do that’. Like being a footballer, anyone can kick the ball, but the level of skill needed to rise to the top is considerable and beyond the capabilities of many people.
What I describe here is a common path. It is not the only path, but this is the one that inculcates the correct skill set. Do not believe siren voices that say you can do it by a shorter method. You may be able to. You may even be successful, but this method provides a surer path, and provides alternative routes if you realise you are on the wrong road. First thing I would say is start young (although I ran a Foundation course for adult returners that was very successful). Not, as one fool told me “because I’ve been doing my bedroom regularly since I was 5” but because the core skill is to have a visual curiosity. To build your own vision this needs feeding. My dad taught me to draw when I was about four – I mean draw, not just hold a pencil. He taught me to look, and if you start drawing for half an hour or so every day you will also sharpen your eye. So keep a sketch book – carry one with you and every time you sit, draw. Don’t mess with your phone, take off the ear phones and tune into the reality around you.
A sketch book, not a scrap book – keep one of those if you want – but a book you draw in will build your own visual vocabulary. No pen? Use whatever comes to hand – a lipstick, stick dipped in mud, learn to make marks, understand their symbology and build your own visual vocabulary. Do it steadily and it will build into you own visual library. Experiment, change the parameters, take risks and it will open your mind as well as your eyes.
Do some research into how your eyes work – I recommend a book called ‘The Eye and Brain’ by E. L Gregory – old but still an excellent primer. Look at galleries and exhibitions – fine and applied art, locally and national. Immerse yourself in the visual language of art and design, theatre and music of all sorts.
If you find none of this appealing do something else.
Roman, the leading UK shower manufacturer, have further expanded their range of bath screens with an Outward Opening Folding Bath Screen, which joins their popular Orbital range of enclosures and bath screens.The Orbital Outward Opening Bath Screen has been designed to cleverly overcome common space restrictions in hotel bathrooms. It features a fixed panel, at the tap end, which prevents water from leaking out from this commonly weak area. The hinged panel can then be opened outwards for easy access, but it stops at 90° to avoid contact with basins and other bathroom furniture.
The bath screen features 8mm thick glass with minimal framing, for a stylish finish. It is also power shower approved; ensuring the area around the bath will remain splash free for easy cleaning.
The Orbital Bath Screen is supplied with an optional bracing bar, for a totally sturdy finish. It also comes with a bath top aluminium seal and horizontal PVC seals for additional water integrity.
Like all Roman Bath Screens, the Orbital Outward Opening Folding Bath Screen incorporates Roman Ultra Care Pre-coated Glass Protection, to ensure it keeps a lasting sparkle and for easy cleaning. It is also service backed by Roman’s Truelife, Lifetime Guarantee for total peace of mind.
David Osborne, Managing Director at Roman, comments: “Showering over-the-bath is still very much a popular showering solution for many hotels which can often be limited by space, therefore Roman offers a diverse range of bath screens to suit a variety of taste, space, situation and budget requirements. Showering is an essential part of the morning routine and is key part of the hotel bathroom, therefore the addition of the shower over the bath can help overcome space restrictions.
“With the addition of this Outward Folding Bath Screen, Roman now has a bath screen to suit every situation. With our collection of bath screens you can install a stylish, powerful and modern showering facility, which just happens to be over the bath.”
Contra Curtains Ltd are pleased to announce the completion of the latest citizenM hotel (read the latest miniview here).
citizenM London Bankside brings one of the most revolutionary spaces for sleep, work and play to the capital.This new property takes what guests love about the brand – high end design, trailblazing technology, innovation, a certain ease and flexibility – and improves it with subtle tweaks that even better suit what modern travelers want and need.
Contra supplied all 192 bedrooms with Silent Gliss “Wave” system sheers, “Wave” was also used in the inspirational public spaces.
Completion of London Bankside continues Contra’s successful relationship with citizenM.
Contra’s project director Chris Wicks says “After working successfully with the project team at citizenM Glasgow, we were delighted to be involved again at Bankside. The citizenM concept brings a vibrancy and energy to the hotel industry, this energy is transmitted throughout the project and I feel the finished property reflects this.”
Contra are working closely with the citizenM team across numerous future locations including two New York properties and three further properties in London.
Best Western International (BWI) has officially launched its first hotel in Kuala Lumpur; BEST WESTERN PREMIER Dua Sentral.
The recently open luxury hotel marks not only Best Western’s debut in the fast-growing Malaysian capital, but also the debut of the luxury BEST WESTERN PREMIER brand in the country. The landmark property has now become Best Western’s flagship hotel in Malaysia.Located in Kuala Lumpur’s new business and transportation hub, KL Sentral, the new 364-room property is less than 30 minutes from Kuala Lumpur International Airport via the KLIA Express rail service and a short ride from the city’s main shopping and entertainment districts, making it the perfect place for a relaxing vacation or important business meeting.
“We are delighted to open this stunning new hotel and introduce our BEST WESTERN PREMIER brand to Malaysia,” said Glenn de Souza, Best Western International’s Vice President International Operations – Asia & the Middle East.
“The location is perfect – just minutes from both the city and airport, it is the ideal place from which to base a business or leisure trip. The hotel’s exquisite facilities also make it wonderful destination in its own right,” Mr. de Souza added.
BEST WESTERN PREMIER Dua Sentral offers a range of contemporary rooms ranging from 34 to 183m², each including upscale facilities such as LCD interactive TVs, DVD players and iPod docking stations. As with all Best Western hotels around the world, it will also offer complimentary in-room internet access.
Guests will be treated to an array of culinary experiences, including the Kembali Kitchen which serves traditional Malaysian and international dishes, Hugo’s on 6, a fusion restaurant combining Mediterranean and Oriental flavors, and Grill 582, which offers the finest steaks and sumptuous seafood.
Business travelers and groups are catered with eight function rooms able to host from 12 to 192 delegates, while those wanting a more relaxing experience can unwind in the infinity-edged swimming pool and Best Western’s signature Bhuvana Spa.
The opening of BEST WESTERN PREMIER Dua Sentral marks a major milestone in Best Western’s Malaysian expansion plans. Also opening in 2012 will be the BEST WESTERN Wana Riverside Hotel in Melaka, while future developments will see new Best Western hotels rise in Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Klang, Shah Alam and Petaling Jaya. In total, Best Western will operate 11 properties in Malaysia by 2015, offering more than 1,700 rooms across nine unique destinations.
Friday’s trading saw a 0.5% improvement in the value of sterling against the euro. From an opening rate of 1.2643, sterling continued to rally throughout the day reaching a high of 1.2717 at 12:40pm. Despite a slight dip in the early afternoon sterling returned to highs as the session closed, and has averaged at a rate over 1.27 for the duration of the weekend. A close above 1.27 today will confirm Friday’s rally and pave the way for gains towards resistance of 1.2840 this week.Friday’s data was light for the UK with only the Conference Board leading index released at 10:00. Although regarded as having muted influence on exchange rates, the CB Index revealed a gloomy outlook for economy posting a negative 0.8% as opposed to positive 0.2%.
The Ernst & Young ITEM Club report says that it expects consumer price inflation to end 2012 at around 1.7% which will serve to spur consumer spending. Despite this predicted relief to the UK’s struggling economy GDP is still expected to be flat for much of 2012.
On Friday GBPUSD saw a rally with the opening of the US session. Cable moved from 1.5441 at midday to close UK trading at approximately 1.5557. In pre-market trading this morning GBP is holding above 1.5550, but expect movement as today will see the release of both core and non-core retail sales figures for the States; both are expected to show a fractional increase for the sector. Support at 1.5467 is likely to be tested during today’s session and a close above 1.5632 could lead on to further gains. ________________________________________
WORLDWIDE
Friday was also a quiet day for global market data. Most analysts were watching out for signals resulting from the Italian ten year bond auction. Contrary to the euro’s movements down against its major peers, yields on the Italian 10yr came in lower than expected. It was feared yields would exceed 6.19%, but 5.82% may give traders some confidence.
Early in the US session on Friday EURUSD jumped from 1.2162 to 1.2254 within a few minutes after the Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index fell. Simultaneously, the US dollar also lost ground to sterling, GBPUSD moved up from 1.5459 to 1.5547.
EURAUD has seen extreme losses for the single currency. The current 1.1959 is the strongest AUD has been against the euro in its history. This indicates both that resources remain attractive to diversified investors, and that provided fiscal and monetary policy is being actively managed, as the RBA has demonstrated it is, risk appetite remains in certain sectors.
A Japanese bank holiday has meant that volumes were less in Asian trading, however Asian shares improved slightly on the back of more positive sentiment. The GBPJPY 100 day moving average indicates JPY could move back to around 121, but at present the pair trade at 122.94, with EURJPY at 96.65.
Friday’s US data surprised the market as PPI confounded expectations and posted positive 0.1%. Although not hugely up, forecasts had suggested a contraction of -0.5%.
Friday’s slide of Chinese figures was largely positive reading. The absence of a further slowdown and signs of improvement in some of the key figures suggest the current cycle in China has bottomed out. The figures were received positively in the markets and Asian stocks rose after China announced it will increase measures to support growth.
The focus for currency traders is now on Ben Bernanke, who will hold his semi-annual presentation on monetary policy in the Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday. Here the market will look for signs of further monetary policy easing, under a scenario where the US economy slows again.
The first guests to see the enhanced Legian Bali checked in last month as the resort put the finishing touches on a four-month refurbishment.
With contributions from its guest feedback folder, the 68-room property reopened June 1 to reveal a new 30-meter infinity lap pool and beachfront sun deck, freshly landscaped gardens, improved lighting in half of its guest rooms and upgraded views of the spectacular Indian Ocean from its private, three-bedroom Beach House.Essential elements of the resort experience — natural light, easy airflow, prime ocean views and inviting green space — were all refreshed in the Legian’s most extensive facelift since its opening in 1996.
“The past half-year has been all about taking a near-perfect property and layering in the subtleties (and one grand swimming pool!) to make it that much better,” said Kevin J. Abramowicz, the resort’s general manager. “Our guests love the Legian’s design, but they wanted more light, so we worked on more light.”
Guests wanted a space to enjoy sundowners, so the resort laid down a deck; they wanted to do laps, so the resort built a gorgeous infinity pool right above the sands.
“We absolutely listened to guest comments when planning the improvements,” said Abramowicz.
In the first of two stages of renovations, workers took tools to half of the Legian’s guest rooms. They fixed the plumbing for better temperature control. They recalibrated the air circulation system in the bedroom, and they installed new lighting possibilities on the terrace.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced the opening of Four Points by Sheraton French Quarter at the centre of New Orleans’ world-famous historic district. Previously known as The Inn On Bourbon, the former Ramada property completed a multi-million dollar renovation prior to opening under the Four Points flag. Four Points by Sheraton French Quarter offers 186 comfortable and stylish guest rooms, more than 4,000 square feet of market-leading meeting facilities, an outdoor pool, 24 hour fitness and all the other amenities that have made Four Points a favourite with travellers worldwide.The hotel sits on the site of the original French Opera House, which opened in 1859 and reigned for many years as New Orleans’ cultural epicentre. It is walking distance to the city’s famous jazz clubs, historic French Market, St. Louis Cathedral, the Mercedes Benz Superdome, and countless shops, restaurants and bars. Guests can book balcony rooms either overlooking Bourbon Street or the quiet, elegant hotel courtyard.
Cafe Opera, the hotel’s full-service restaurant, recently opened under the direction of French native and culinary master, Chef Philippe Andreani. Cafe Opera’s menu offers some of the area’s best continental and Creole cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
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