The anticipation is building for the launch of the latest luxury hotel in Doha as InterContinental Doha The City makes its name public, bringing new perspectives to the city. Set to be a glittering addition to Doha’s hospitality scene, the hotel and residences offer guests a complete “In the Know” experience of the booming capital city of Qatar.InterContinental Doha The City (opening Q1 2012) will offer 58 storeys of the highest standards in accommodation and facilities, surrounded by the towering skyscrapers of Qatar’s growing business district, West Bay.
“Our name reflects the style and ambience of the hotel itself and our prime location, in the heart of financial and diplomatic districts of the exclusive West Bay area, will ensure that InterContinental Doha The City mirrors the bold ambitions of the surrounding city,” said David Todd, General Manager.
The five-star hotel and residence brings a new perspective on luxury, along with superior standards of service, fresh innovative concepts, elegant accommodation and the unique local knowledge that is synonymous with the InterContinental brand across the globe.
“It is an exciting time for us all as InterContinental Doha The City comes together in the final stages before opening. We are strengthening an established brand in an ambitious and forward-looking city and we are confident with our offering as we look to welcoming our first guests,” added Todd.
Morgan Furniture, the design-led British manufacturer of contract furniture, has produced a new standalone brochure that spotlights their inspiring collections of dining, pedestal, coffee and console tables. Rather than being presented by table type however, the glossy, picture-led content is organised by collection, all of which have been created under the auspices of, or directly by, Morgan Design Director, Katerina Zachariades. The Morgan table portfolio is wide and eclectic. Each table is designed and manufactured in-house with either a timber or metal frame and a versatile choice of tops including inset glass, sandblasted, coloured and patterned glass. Ideally suited to contract environments, bespoke tops can also be ordered such as additional lay-on glass to protect the veneer, or decorative tops of mirrored or bronzed glass, marble or stone.
The 43 colour pages include new additions to existing collections as well as two new collections: Lima and Siena, plus a stunning Seville large dining table to match the existing Seville bar tables. With flared timber legs and suggested two colour timber finish, the new Lima coffee tables have a contemporary and light feel. They are designed to harmonise aesthetically with the existing Lima seating collection and match the varying seat heights. The new Siena tables, offered in metal and timber variants, echo the relaxed but elegant lines of the comprehensive seating collection of the same name. The single pedestal design with four-point cross feet and square or circular table top, has softened edges that are also a perfect match for the newer Metro and Oslo seating collections.
The new taster brochure accentuates Morgan’s design competence and also streamlines the table product portfolio with seating, which is already presented by collection. With distinctive, sophisticated designs, the brochure will help interior designers to effortlessly select tables that will blend together across a range of different functions and, in many cases, match with the seating collection of the same name. To cater for every specification need, however, the function remains to search by product type, for tables and seating, on the Morgan website.
Click here to contact Morgan Furniture in the Directory
IHG announces the opening of the new Holiday Inn Express Atlanta Downtown. The 11-story, 130-room hotel at 111 Cone Street Northwest, which had previously been the Centennial Inn Atlanta Hotel, underwent a $7 million conversion that included enhancements throughout the hotel.The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Atlanta Downtown is just a short drive from the Hartsfield-Jackson International airport and within walking distance to several major corporations and universities, including Coca-Cola, Georgia-Pacific, SunTrust, Turner Broadcasting, Southern Company, Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia State University. It is also near many downtown attractions such as Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Underground Atlanta and the Georgia Dome. Other attractions just a short drive away are the Martin Luther King, Jr. Museum and Zoo Atlanta.
The new hotel includes features in keeping with the $1 billion Holiday Inn re-launch, the largest project of its kind in the history of the hospitality industry.
Guests will enjoy free high-speed wireless Internet connections in guest rooms and the lobby as well as in the hotel’s 24-hour business centre. The hotel also features a fitness centre and flexible meeting space able to accommodate meetings of up to 200 people.
The Holiday Inn Express Atlanta Downtown is owned by Jay and Nat Patel and managed by Luckie J. Management LLC under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.
Leading UK Shower Manufacturer, Roman, have had their luxury Embrace Wetroom Panel with Designer Motif and space efficient Orbital Bi-fold Door both filmed for brand new Channel 4 series, Home of the Future, which starts February 12th, 7.00pm on Channel 4.What happens if you ask a normal family to boldly go where no-one has gone before – to live in the future? This five-part Channel 4 series, co-funded by one of the UK’s leading energy companies E.ON, and produced by Twofour, transforms the lives of a family, filling their home from top-to-bottom with futuristic technology and gadgets.
As well as having cutting-edge technology and gadgets to play with, the Perera family in Sheffield will be challenged by scenarios likely to come in the next twenty to fifty years. Overseen by expert Chris Sanderson, the Pereras will discover how we may work, rest and play – as well as eat, travel, stay healthy and power our homes.
The series looks at the effects of working from home and living in multi-generational households and asks: what will we eat when cheap food is gone and mass-produced meat is unsustainable? And the family face being shamed by their bin if they don’t recycle enough and being temporarily banned from short car journeys (electric and hydrogen-powered, naturally).
But the future is not all bad news as the Pereras discover mind-controlled games, domestic power stations that slash their bills, robots they can control from the other side of the world, waterless washing machines, cars, lawnmowers and vacuums that drive themselves and the joys of growing your own fish supper.
The first episode of Home of the Future airs on February 12th, 7.00pm on Channel 4.
Great new additions to the fabric collection with new soft tumbled bed linens, heavy linen throws and much more are now available to view on www.volgalinen.co.uk.Trade Application: Click Here (Trade price list available on request)
IHG has announced the opening of the new-build Holiday Inn New York City Midtown-31st St. The 20-story hotel features more than 120 guest rooms and a rooftop lounge with a spectacular view of the New York City skyline.Centrally located at 30 West 31st Street, the new $52 million Holiday Inn New York Midtown-31st St. is just a short cab ride from major airports serving the metropolitan area; a short walk to Times Square and the Empire State Building; near Broadway theatres and Madison Square Garden; and by dozens of restaurants and night life locations.
The Holiday Inn New York City Midtown-31st St. is home to Contorno’s – a boutique Italian restaurant staffed by world-class chefs.
The design creates a residential atmosphere that is warm, trend forward and comfortable. The hotel will feature a natural, fresh colour palette punctuated by pops of energetic colours. Standard Holiday Inn guestroom accommodations feature comfortable queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair, 32-inch cable televisions, cable television, hairdryer, coffeemaker, iron and ironing board.
Tucked into an elegant urban setting between Fifth Avenue and Broadway, the hotel is owned by Chesapeake Lodging Trust and managed by Real Hospitality Group, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.
Forbes Group’s stand S2109 at Hotelympia from 26th February – 1st March gives you a chance to take a look at the company’s Buffet-Rite table tops that are currently becoming a specified item among international hotel groups.
Buffet-Rite is a heat-resistant waterproof table top that fits over standard buffet tables, making them double up for outdoor or indoor service. Buffet-Rite’s non-porous, laminated surface shrugs off spillages and wipes clean, resisting stains and keeping its uniform good looks for years with minimal care.
Ask to be shown how Buffet Rite can give your tables a contemporary twist, by simply putting it over a table covered with Forbes’s Silcra stretch cover. Silcra gives a table a completely new look, instantly updating your buffet displays with a sleek, sculpted contour.
On the Forbes stand you will also be able to inspect its popular Alu-Lite® tables, cocktail tables, staging and chairs, as well as its well-known skirtings and conference covers in a variety of styles. New in the fabric range is the Mode cover – a familiar sueded top combined with stretch side panels, updating your conference look while retaining the easy-care durable qualities for which Forbes’s products are appreciated.
Forbes Group is also the European distributor for US brand Forbes Industries, so will be showcasing familiar products like the famous Birdcage brass luggage cart, and room service tables.
A one-stop stand to freshen up your venue with value-for money products developed with professionals in the hospitality industry. Forbes Group staff look forward to seeing you there.
Having spun a yarn in Pt 1, now I want to weave you the tale of how the yarn turns into high quality contract carpet. Axminster Carpet’s design library goes back to the days of Thomas Whitty in 1775, with royal palaces representing the peak of their special contract weaving, recognised by the recent award of a Royal Warrant. However the company recognises the importance of their relationship with designers, and their willingness to create bespoke carpets is enhanced by their vertically integrated operation which enables rapid specialist dyeing for matching the designers needs in colour terms, through to their technologically advanced looms (so advanced no photography of the back of the loom was permitted) that cuts the time and cost of changing the loom for custom weaving.Weaving sheds are noisy places. Older generations of weavers, especially in the larger textile weaving sheds of Lancashire, for example, became adept at lip reading to make themselves heard over the clatter of the looms. Carpet looms are not as noisy as textiles looms but the familiar clack and thump of the weaving frames brought a smile to my face as we entered the weaving sheds. There is something magical about seeing wool coming in one end and carpets going out the other.
Of course the starting point is the design. Bespoke design can be presented in many ways. I used art historical references and coloured pencil sketches which were worked up by the designers into detail design. Others make accurate 1:1 scale drawings of the carpet and refer to the tuft box for colours.
Holiday Inn’s iconic Heathrow M4J4 hotel has completed a series of refurbishments following a major £1.2m investment which will see the hotel become a firm favourite with all guests – local – international, for business or pleasure. The 617 bedroom hotel, which is 40 years old, has developed a new hi-tech kid’s zone which includes the latest gadgets and videogames such as Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360 Kinect and iPads; in addition a soft play area for younger children has also been created.
In addition, the hotel’s reception area has received a complete overhaul to provide a bright and modern space for welcoming guests, including up-to-the-minute flight information on new plasma screens.
Food and beverage standards have been taken to the next level with the creation of a modern and relaxed open-plan Rotisserie restaurant which boasts lots of natural light, views of the landscaped gardens and a private dining area. There is also Sampans, a pan-Asian style restaurant, a lounge bar and Callaghan’s Irish Pub, all of which have received extensive upgrades and refurbishment.
The Health Club has also been fully refurbished and has been fitted out with the latest fitness equipment including machines compatible with iPads.
The investment is part of ongoing plans for the hotel to establish itself as a major gateway hotel for guests from across the globe. General Manager, Steve Shipley said: “We are a very big hotel in a great location and therefore welcome a lot of people from very different backgrounds. Through our continued focus on guest service, including listening to and understanding our different customer’s needs we have been able to create a destination that caters for all – we have areas perfect for families, where mum and dad can relax and enjoy a dinner, while the kids enjoy the free entertainment available in our kids zones.
He added: “Not only that, but we have created three dedicated crew lounges to enable flight staff to relax away from the main hotel in a home from home environment.
He continued: “We are continually aiming to improve our standards and stay one step ahead to ensure we are constantly meeting guest needs. We recently introduced valet parking to save our customers time and there is further investment planned this year to develop our bedroom product.”
A quintessentially English dining experience, Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar will celebrate the best of English when it launches at the end of March 2012.
Located in the 5* London Marriott County Hall hotel, Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar will be the most English of English dining destinations, from the interior design to each cut of beef. Set in the County Hall, built 100 years ago to house London’s government, with views of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, few can claim a more inherently English location or vista.
The choice of namesake, James Gillray, a famed caricaturist of the late eighteenth century, reflects the political history of the County Hall’s past, and the intelligence, style and humour of the English personality. James Gillray’s work punctuates the menu and will be exhibited on the walls of the bar and steakhouse restaurant.
An English steakhouse of the finest design, the 110-cover Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar is a homage to top quality beef -35-day dry aged Hereford Cattle from the Duke of Devonshire’s Bolton Abbey Estate in Yorkshire. The menu features nine cuts of steak – bone-out and bone-in – 300g Fillet on the bone, 450g Porthouse and 600g T-Bone steaks. The signature dish, a 1000g ‘Bulls Head’ steak, will steal the show – a 1000g-butterfly cut, double rib steak with the bone in.
As Denver Jeffrey, Director of Food and Beverage, says, “Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar is all about indulging in great English produce – we want it to speak English at every level”. Every inch of the menu reflects this, displaying English food at its best.
The design is sophisticated but unpretentious, playing on the eccentric but charming details of classic lighting and furniture pieces, such as Chesterfield sofa and Waterford chandeliers, all bespoke designs by designers Blacksheep.
The bar offers a sophisticated and stylish Thames-side destination, featuring one of the finest selections of gin in London and an impressive cocktail collection designed by head bartender, Carlos Santos. The newly created cocktail menu is ordered by historical era, from the Georgian era – cocktails such as National Debt, Wife & No Wife and Very Slippy-Weather each taking their name from popular James Gillray sketches – through to contemporary and modern English concoctions. The cocktail collection doesn’t stop there, but gives a nod to the next generation of cocktails – molecular mixology
The Englishness of Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar is evident throughout the bar menu, populated by 10 English beers (and two Scottish beers from Innis & Gunn), 29 English gins (including a few British favourites such as Hendrick’s) and five English vodkas. The bar snacks menu brings Englishness to life in bite-sized morsels – Pigs in Blankets, English Crumpet & Soft Boiled Egg and Venison Sausage Rolls with HP Sauce – England on a plate.
Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar opens at London’s County Hall at the end of March 2012.
design-conscious’s rich collection of coffee tables by Vibieffe offers a wide choice of models, styles and sizes that will be sure to have something to fit almost any space and requirement. These coffee tables are all manufactured with high quality selected materials with tops in wood, steel, glass, leather and the most beautiful (and serviceable) marble.
Conceived to be versatile, they can easily used separately, in combination with each other and, of course, in conjunction with all of our seating and sofa collections.
Available in a multitude of models, dimensions and heights that can all be mixed and matched due to the continuity of the materials used and most have multifunctional uses – as coffee tables, sofa side tables, bedside tables and occasional tables – we even have a particularly useful table that can be positioned over a sofa arm to serve drinks.
So if you fancy our coffee tables – drop us a line to find out more.
2012 is going to be a very exciting year for Burgess as we are launching not one but two superb new products!Two years in the making and designed by Broome Jenkins, starting with cardboard modelling and progressing to rapid prototyping, the new Meet-U™ meeting table system includes simple features to allow for agile working and modern technology.
Carefully designed with the user in mind, a variety of top shapes including rectangles, squares, triangles and quadrants link together to form the perfect layout for any meeting room environment. The full range of tables can be further complemented by bridging units, minimising the number of table legs needed and so allowing more people to sit in total comfort around the table layout.
In addition to this we are also launching a stylish new chair range called Orvia, which has been designed by Peter Roth and was modelled on our best selling Vario range.
The Orvia with its unique extrusion and ergonomic design makes it an ideal product for conference and banqueting venues.
Orvia will be available as a side chair, arm chair and task chair, and is complemented by an extensive range of quality contract fabrics and finishes.
It can be stacked, if required, up to ten high and is available with and without linking and numbering.
Come along to our stand S2420 and see both products in action.
Following Germany, Israel, Belgium, Hungary and Switzerland, Leonardo Hotels is now also to have a presence in Vienna. In the middle of next year, the Israeli hotel chain will be opening its first Leonardo Hotel in Austria — the 3-star Superior Leonardo Hotel Vienna. “By coming to Vienna we’ve been able to add another important European location to our hotel portfolio,” explains Daniel Roger, CEO of Leonardo Hotels Europe. “In a major renovation project led by hotel interior designer Andreas Neudahm, the premises will then be transformed into a modern, fresh lifestyle and business hotel.”
The re-opening is planned for July of 2012. The reconstruction will be financed by the IMMOFINANZ Group, the owner of the hotel property: “We are very pleased to have gained a strong partner for this appealing location with Leonardo Hotels. Together we will further highlight the growing district around the recently newly opened Westbahnhof railway station in Vienna,” says Manfred Wiltschnigg, Member of the Board of the IMMOFINANZ Group.
Vienna’s soon-to-be Leonardo Hotel is located in a central position right on Europaplatz just 100 m from the city’s main shopping street, Mariahilfer Straße, and post conversion will have 213 bedrooms and 3 function rooms with up to 100 sqm. Also planned for the hotel is a spacious, open lobby that will combine bar, restaurant and lounge in an expansive entrance area. “This is designed to be the heart of the hotel, its ‘living room’, and to encourage people from all over the world to linger, chill out and make new contacts,” says Neudahm, explaining his concept.
In order, despite the purist style and modern design, to nevertheless create a link to Vienna and its sights, several special artworks featuring typical Viennese scenes are being produced exclusively for the hotel and will be found in varying sizes throughout the premises.
The world-famous Viennese charm will characterise the atmosphere of the hotel and offer guests a relaxed stay in the hotel – the new rooms in particular should contribute to this. Andreas Neudahm has opted here for warm red tones, offset by fresh contrasting touches of pastel green on pillows, pictures and decorations.
One very special feature of the hotel will be the business level. Extending over two floors, its bedrooms will be tailored specifically to the needs of business travellers and will match the comfort and convenience of 4-star hotels. The business-class bedrooms will, for example, have large desks at which guests can sit in extra comfortable ‘Relax chairs’. The colours will be more subdued, conveying an especially elegant and refined ambience.
In addition to the business-level bedrooms with their high-quality fittings, business travellers staying at the new Leonardo Hotel Vienna will also benefit from a well-lit conference area with its own entrance, foyer and additional small kitchen facilities. And for anyone for whom that is still not enough, the VIP lounge will offer exceptional exclusivity – a relaxing atmosphere combined with a comprehensive range of additional services, such as separate check-in, an extended culinary offering and free Internet access will leave nothing to be desired.
Built by the authorities of Steyr, Austria, the retirement home Ennsleite celebrated its opening ceremony on the 1st. of December 2011. The building is offering up to date facilities for more than 120 elderly people, including care facilities and spacious common areas.
Considering the special needs in this kind of institution the building owner commissioned Baulmann Leuchten to develop and deliver large volume luminaires for the public areas and hallways.
All pictures are copyright by ND Beleuchtungstechnik.
Fameed Khalique, an expert in innovative and inspiring surface materials for the interior design industry, introduces an extensive range of exceptional quality stone finishes including laser-cut marble and stone, ceramic mosaics and semi-precious stones. Khalique and his team works in partnership with their clients to deliver an exceptional level of service and will see the project through from selection and ordering to installation and sign-off from the client. Their mission is to find and create exquisite and rare finishes that provide the wow-factor in a project.
Marble and Stone This collection of laser-cut marble and stone is at the forefront of revolving laser saw technology. The effects yield dramatic three-dimensional applications for interior and exterior use. The effects of light and shadow give the tiles a highly decorative value, transforming a wall into a sculptural masterpiece. The technique used to create the designs has been developed to create curved tiles which were recently added to the collection for the first time. The laser-cut natural stone has excellent sound absorbency properties, making the material an ideal application for walls in theatres, cinemas and libraries in commercial projects or within the home.
Mosaics and Ceramics This collection is expertly crafted in India combining metals with stone, including, brass with sandstone and steel with marble. This unusual way of combining materials and patterns produces an outstanding, contemporary range of wall coverings.
Semi-precious Gemstones This is an unrivalled collection of over 50 gemstones, available in numerous styles from small mosaics tiles to large slabs (max size 240 x 120cm) and finished products. The dazzling stones are solid or veneered onto a variety of substrates and are hand assembled by the finest craftsmen ensuring the highest quality product offered in the UK. The beautiful yet resilient properties of the gemstones make the collections suitable for numerous applications including walls, floors and as counter- and table tops.
Vaughan have had a successful 5 days exhibiting at Maison et Objet in Paris. This bi-annual event is the largest and possibly the most important of its kind catering for the interiors and creative sector in Europe.The show highlights high end design led furnishings across a series of vast exhibition halls, bringing together some of the best of designs of edgy new as well as long established companies.
Vaughan were exhibiting in the prestigious scenes d’interieur Hall 7 with a large inspirational stand designed by Vincent Dane. Vincent’s whimsical creation incorporated silver trees to set off an array of nickel, silver and glass products: Mirrors, Tables, Table Lamps and Floor Lamps to stunning effect.
The Sales Team saw many long established clients and were pleased to make many new contacts. However, if you missed Vaughan at Maison et Objet please contact co************@va************.com
to be sent the show brochure and for further details of the comprehensive range.
The world’s only Southern Indian restaurant to hold a Michelin star has closed its doors to the public whilst designLSM completely redesign the interior. Design inspiration was realised when Steve La Bouchardiere – Managing Director, and Karen Mitton – Senior Designer, went on a whistle-stop tour of Southern India with Executive Chef Sriram Aylur. The first ports of call were Kerala and Cochin whose architecture combines Indian, English Colonial and Portuguese influences. Bangalore proved to be a high-tech emerging city and in Mangalore the team visited a heritage village where the owner had painstakingly acquired and renovated the houses. Mumbai proved to be a full assault on all the senses – it was here that the grand hotels provided a welcome sanctuary from the heat and noise. The final destination was Goa – an eclectic mix of sights and colours – where International visitors and past settlers provide a multi-cultural vibe.
The client’s brief was for the designers to create a unique, contemporary interior, which reflects the spirit and authenticity of Quilon. Dark grey tones are accentuated by vibrant splashes from amber, jade, green and blue fabrics throughout the 200sqm restaurant, 17sqm bar area and 79sqm private room. Layered and intricately-patterned Jaali screens finished in bronze, limestone-rendered walls, weathered timbers and atmospheric lighting provide greater depth of textures, as well as areas of interest. A bespoke, wenge candle wall – inspired by a Hindu temple in Kerala – consists of small portholes filled with tea-lights which throw out a warm, magical glow. Remarkable attention to detail has been executed with stained grey, curved wooden slats applied to the low ceiling, creating a soft wave-like effect. Striking elements include a hanging feature consisting of 1,100 individual, hand-printed ceramic discs, and an imported bespoke 8ft Indian fishing boat, which will be transformed into a glass top bar.
The Quilon Restaurant will re-open in March with the official launch party on 28th March 2012.
Autograph Collection, one of Marriott International’s newest business ventures, announced recently that the 128-room Hotel & Spa do Vinho in Bento Gonçalves in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, will join its distinctive portfolio comprised of similar upscale and independent hotels in early 2012, under a franchise agreement with Harvest Administração de Bens Ltda. Located in the heart of the Vale do Vinhedos (Vineyard Valley), the Hotel & Spa do Vinho opened in 2007 in a Tuscan-style building on 18 hectares (44.5 acres) in an exclusive setting of spectacular scenery, history and culture. The Vinothérapie Spa, under license with French beauty and spa company Caudalie, specializes in unique therapies with patented wine- and vine-related products. The hotel has two restaurants, Leopoldina Restaurante and Trattoria Damigiana, the Sabrage Bar, and a splendid wine cellar with more than 660 international and national labels for true wine lovers. All outlets serve wine grown on the estate, which specializes in the exclusive Merlot VE wine. The resort also offers five meeting rooms totalling 502 square meters/5,400 square feet. In addition to the Spa, recreation facilities include wine tours, a swimming pool, fitness centre, sauna, tennis court, hiking trail and library.
“We are pleased to be part of the Marriott International portfolio through Autograph Collection to showcase our beautiful retreat to a wider audience,” says the couple Aldemir and Deborah Dadalt, directors and owners of Prisma Engenharia SA, a regional real estate development and construction company based in South America which will continue to manage the retreat operations.
“The Spa do Vinho has an excellent local reputation as a luxury hotel with unique identity and experience, making it a perfect fit for the Autograph Collection.” said Guilherme Cesari, vice president of hotel development for Marriott International in Brazil. “This hotel is renowned by the Brazilian bon vivants and connoisseurs, and we are excited about the opportunity to reveal this one-of-a-kind experience, for the rest of the world to also enjoy.”
As part of a complete multi-million pound restoration of The Grosvenor Hotel, part of the Guoman Hotels collection, a magnificent crystal basket chandelier from Chelsom takes centre stage; an elegant addition to this spectacular listed interior dating back to 1862. Suspended from a silk covered chain within the vast entrance void, the chandelier has an overall drop of 8 metres, comprising over 300 individual strands of Egyptian crystal secured onto a slim metalwork structure finished in French Gold. Lit from within by sixty-five E14 LED lamps, the fitting adds sparkle and glamour to the reception area whilst subtly highlighting the restored ornate plasterwork and rich marble columns with gold leaf capitals.
Initially created as the first of London’s great railway hotels, The Grosvenor Hotel was a stunning example of Victorian architecture and opulence. Under the careful guidance of English Heritage the restoration, along with the new interior specification by ADS Design, has ensured that this spectacular 4 star, 346 guestroom hotel meets the client’s intention “to skilfully blend the ambition and confidence of a bygone age with the comforts and technology of today”
Agua continues to strengthen its Field Sales Team with the appointment of Aimee O’Donnell to cover Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Agua now has a team of seven covering the UK and Ireland but are continuing to look for additional representation for the South West.
Agua continues to see an increase in demand from all market sectors despite the current market conditions.
Plans are also in place to launch a new Upholstery collection in March.
The industrial ‘lived-in’ look is certainly in big demand and the Factory leather bar stool from the NEW Urban Vintage from Andy Thornton collection ticks all the boxes. This simple bar stool features a hard-wearing tubular steel frame that is both lightweight and sturdy, providing all the qualities needed in high-traffic environments like bars and clubs.The frames are finished in a tarnished iron patina and have plastic bungs fitted to the bottom of the legs to protect timber and tiled floors. The upholstered seat and backs are available in a choice of either distressed leather, as shown, or hard-wearing washed denim. They are fixed to the frame with leather loops and rivet-style fixings.
The complete range of retro/industrial furniture, lighting and retail display fittings is featured in a 36-page brochure. This eclectic collection is perfect for bars cafes, restaurants and retail environments.
The Urban Vintage range is ever-changing, with newly sourced pieces coming in daily, so please refer to www.andythornton.com for up to the minute stock and availability. And, if you can’t find exactly what you want, you can have it designed and manufactured to order (minimum quantities apply).
IHG announces the opening of the Crowne Plaza Suites Tequendama Bogota, located adjacent to the iconic, 573-room Crowne Plaza Tequendama Bogota. Both properties are owned by Sociedad Hotelera Tequendama. The 30-story, 271-suite Crowne Plaza Suites Tequendama Bogota is located at the International Center Tequendama, a mixed-use building featuring meetings facilities, offices and apartments. It is just minutes from downtown and the financial district, modern shopping malls, gourmet restaurants and cultural attractions. The property is also located just 20 minutes from El Dorado International Airport.
The hotel, which was a conversion from an independent property, underwent an extensive renovation and features two well-designed, spacious suite options (deluxe and executive club), ranging from 580 square feet to 1,000 square feet. All suites have breathtaking views of the city’s skyline and include a living room with a sofa-bed, a dining room table, a fully-equipped kitchenette and a highly-functional work station with wireless Internet access.
The Crowne Plaza Suites Tequendama features rich marble and wood decor, along with a variety of amenities, including a spa facility, health and fitness centre, business centre, four restaurants and an indoor pool. The new property also boasts three meeting rooms on the 30th floor that can accommodate up to 700 people.
The Crowne Plaza Suites Tequendama Bogota is owned and managed by Sociedad Hotelera Tequendama under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.
The English aristocracy didn’t just build their country houses in England. Scattered across the whole British Isles are grand houses that remind one of the divide between a land owning aristocracy and the rest of us. Nowadays we still see trappings of wealth in large houses but few on the scale of the English country house. These country houses have become famous as the basis of fine hotels, frequently charging such expensive rates that they become the playground of latter day aristocrats.
When a country house is used as the basis for an hotel it often stands apart from the new build sections. At Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa, the aristocratic mansion first became a home for nuns; then for a while it served as farm buildings before a six year planning battle (perhaps more English than Irish for its lengthy disputation) finally saw the house incorporated in a new hotel. Incorporated because it is indeed incorporated, not separate from but embraced by the modern structure that hugs its side and rear walls.
The hotel sits in 100 acres of ground next to newly developed commuter homes for Dubliners. The landscaping is a little bleak and the new estate is kept apart through fencing from a rear ‘garden’, an area with a sunken pond and meandering path that sits in a piece of unattractive grassland and car park. More life and vitality, along with possibly more custom for the hotel, might have been generated if the community had been embraced. Instead very formal front landscaping reinforces the separation achieved to the rear. The overall effect is a rather crass new building sitting in a very institutional piece of imitation country house parkland, with the country house standing uneasily alongside.
The institutional feel carried through into an interior spoiled by a mania for cost cutting (see also Irish Hospitality pts 1 & 2) has led to understaffing and other operational ‘savings’. These lead to a visual destruction of good design and poor guest experience alike.
The country house is not central to the interiors, but sits on the side of the modern interiors. Much of the lighting was turned off, creating an uninviting feel which serves to help keep the country house section feeling closed. Its rooms are beautiful and deserve to be fully utilised, instead of which they are kept for weddings and the smaller business meetings. Most of the new building extends to the rear with a magnificent and very large spa. Function rooms and exhibition areas are centrally placed continuing to one side whilst the bedroom block goes off on the other side. From the front the old mansion house is treated with grace and sensitivity but from the back it is lost, its Georgian proportions hidden by the new buildings.
Internally the junction between old and new is again handled well architecturally but is let down by the lighting. I find it difficult to make up my mind whether the lighting is badly designed in the public area or whether management practices which dictate leaving lights off are to blame for the lack of sparkle in these area. The corridor alongside the bar lounge and the old mansion is top lit by daylight, but the lighting in the adjacent spaces is left off it seems in daylight, making the whole area uninviting. I have heard some Irish operators blame the green hotel policies of the Irish government, but this is hotly disputed by the agency concerned and seems more to do with management using any excuse in a difficult market to keep lights off to cut costs. It makes the spaces very unattractive to guests, robbing them of life as the comparative images of the reception area show.
In the old house, with its glorious public rooms, the lack of lighting is a deterrent to guests using the spaces. However the impact of this approach is shown in the bar operations. With so much of the income generated for the hotel now coming from functions, I noted one evening when there was a large wedding reception on the lower bar/bistro closed as staff were seemingly diverted to service the wedding and its bar upstairs.
The physical separation of the bedrooms from the function area does not insulate them from noise either. The outside terraces into the function rooms allow noise transmission and a number of guests commented on this happening in the early hours of the morning when presumably the terrace doors are thrown open to encourage function guests to leave quickly. The artwork is all reproduction Vettriano prints – love’em or loath’em this is the 21st century equivalent of Trechikov, supposedly the most reproduced artist of the 20th century. Like the artwork, the colour scheme is bland and inoffensive but rooms are well lit, all the switches in the right place, and many with balconies and opening windows.
There is a good sized work desk and large mirrors, together with a dining table and chairs meeting criteria for five star rating (unlike some hotels in the UK I have seen recently which fail to meet Visit Britain five star standards yet are given a five star rating – I wonder how?).
Here where inspection is tight and a hotel has to meet certain criteria before it can even be called an hotel, the generous room size would embarrass many London hotels who are second rate by comparison. The UK is increasingly out of step with European rating practise and moves now adopted by nine countries to harmonise standards. The suggestion by UK ministers that TripAdvisor should be used is risible. These rooms are well sized and fitted out and offer free WiFi too.
I say the bedrooms are almost the best part of this hotel, because they are second to a beautifully designed sumptuous Seoid (meaning Jewel) spa area over three floors. It claims to be one of the most luxurious spas in Ireland, and this I can believe. It has all the usual therapies, but also includes a full razul experience. The whole area is well lit and doesn’t suffer from the cheap ‘energy saving’ approach characterising the rest of the hotel. Instead it creates the ambience and luxury to be expected in a top quality spa. The lighting sparkles where it needs to and is subtle where warmth and relaxation are the key. The location of the hotel, close to Dublin but out in the country, makes the spa a good draw and there are also several leading golf courses within a few minutes drive.
The spa reaches over three floors and includes a slightly bleak outdoor whirlpool. The indoor pool is nicely designed (apart from the intrusion of the columns). Interior designers really should whip the architects and structural engineers into line as so many interiors are spoiled by columns being unnescessarily visually intrusive. The outdoor areas really don’t work here. It is almost as if they are awaiting further development. More planting would help keep down noise and add colour to the rear, sorely missed in the views from the bedrooms. For such a luxury spa the outdoor whirlpool is functional rather than indulgent.
Treatment rooms are well designed and offer a range of treatments, whilst relaxation areas are warm and womb like, supporting the therapies offered. There are stylish touches throughout the hotel that combat the slightly institutional feel created by the architecture and landscaping. For example, the staircase down to the sports bar/bistro has been turned into a seating area by simple addition of a sylish throne chair and a small banquette seat. The lighting is the key to all these areas and with it turned off there is a gloom pervading that robs the hotel of the theatre and sparkle it deserves.
Couple this with understaffing (and the staff here are very, very good) and the whole guest experience is downgraded. The sports bar/bistro staff appeared to be transferred to service a wedding bar on my second night so it was closed. The second bar, a snug Irish pub, was deserted – like the Marie Celeste abandoned to voyage alone.
This is a well designed hotel, seemingly caught up in the recessionary pressures that characterise so many Irish hotels and which management is fighting with desperate measures. The ‘coming out balls’ are a great saviour of hotels all over Ireland at the end of the school year it seems, but the view of many in the industry is that there are 30% too many hotel rooms in Ireland.
With over 100 of 900 hotels basically in the hands of the receivers, tourism here will need to recover a long way to turn the hotel economy around. Dunboyne has the location and the Spa, plus nearby golf courses which will makes this one of the flourishing survivors if the short term management solutions being applied don’t deter the well-heeled punters it needs to attract.
Best Western has recently launched their first ever payment card for business travellers. The card is free to all UK businesses and is set to simplify business travel across the country. The Best Western Business Account is also the first in the country to combine hotel accommodation with discounted train travel (up to 51%) making it even easier for businesses to book and pay without the need for time consuming expense claims, receipts and petty cash.
From 1st February, account holders can use the payment card for hotels stays, room service, restaurant spend, bar bills, newspapers, phone calls, leisure activities such as golf and spa treatments, as well as other hotel expenses at any of the groups 278 British hotels – all with no fees. What’s more, a full breakdown of all travel and hotel spend is available through an online centralised billing and reporting facility with regular email updates sent to the account holder.
Further benefits include up to six weeks interest free credit, VAT reporting and Best Western Rewards points for employees.
Keith Pope, Managing Director of Best Western said, “Business travel is a key part of the industry and a real focus for Best Western in 2012. The Best Western Business Account will ease booking and paying for our business guests and eliminate the need for claiming expenses on hotel and train travel.
“By launching the Best Western Business Account we are making our guests lives easier and more enjoyable, with more time to spend enjoying life rather than worrying about expense payments.”
Working with one of the group’s partners, Atos, the launch of the Best Western Business Account will strengthen the group’s business customer base.
Natura is the latest woven collection from Skopos, consisting of textural weaves echoing nature in a vast range of subtle neutral colour tones. Ideal for curtains, Natura fabrics are wide width and have been designed to be railroaded allowing for seam free curtains. The feature design ‘Talia’ is a calming ogee with a gentle gradation of tranquil colours. It is accompanied by ‘Calista’ a smart herringbone with an organic twist, and ‘Linette’ a subtle textured stripe. An extensive colour range of ‘Felicity’ co-ordinates add a lustrous element to the flat matt appeal of the collection.
Emulating the feel and texture of fine wool the delicate weave constructions drape beautifully whilst also offering all the easy care benefits essential for all contract interiors.
All the fabrics are made from 100% Trevira CS, inherently flame retardant to full UK and International contract specifications, and washable to 40oC.
Skopos is an ISO9001 accredited company and has over 30 year’s specialist experience in the design and manufacture of high performance FR contract fabrics for the hospitality sector.
Premier Inn is leading the hospitality industry to become more sustainable with the opening of another green hotel and restaurant at Camborne in Cornwall.The 65-bedroom hotel and 210-cover restaurant is the tenth sustainable purpose-built hotel developed by Whitbread and features an array of sustainable technologies including 10 kW solar photovoltaic panels mounted onto the hotel roof to offset four electric car charging ports at the site – a major innovation for a budget hotel chain.
Chris George, Head of Energy and Environment for Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, said: “Camborne is a clear example of Whitbread using its expertise to lead the UK hospitality industry to become more sustainable. Our intention with the project was to learn from our existing sustainable hotels at Burgess Hill in West Sussex and Tamworth in Staffordshire and design an even more impressive and sustainable product. We have done that and demonstrated, once again, that green hotel design is possible within the mainstream market and does not have to mean ‘boutique’ or ‘expensive’.
“Not only is the hotel a major achievement in its own right but the project will help us to upgrade our existing network of more than 47,000 Premier Inn bedrooms at 600 sites to become more sustainable as we incorporate the best performing technologies from Camborne into future newbuilds and the retrofit programme of our existing estate.”
Whitbread has invested more than £5.9m in the hotel and restaurant which will employ more than 40 people and bring important new jobs to the local area. Locally sourced building materials were used in the build including Callywaith Cornish stone.
Whitbread’s commitment to sustainable hotels is part of its strategy to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 26% by 2020 and its water consumption by 20% by 2020.
Hotel Indigo yesterday announced the February opening of the Hotel Indigo Santa Barbara. The hotel, located at 121 State Street in downtown Santa Barbara, offers guests a unique hotel experience with the modern design and intimate service associated with boutique hotels, along with the peace of mind and consistency guests expect from staying with a large hotel group. Opening after a multi-million dollar renovation, Hotel Indigo Santa Barbara combines the historic Santa Barbara splendour with the architectural sophistication of modern design. The forty-one room boutique hotel has thirteen guest rooms featuring private outdoor gardens and fourteen guest rooms with views of the Riviera and mountains or urban scenes dotted by palm trees. The hotel houses the CAF Satellite @ Hotel Indigo Santa Barbara, curated by the Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum, which provides exhibitions of thought-provoking artworks and site-specific, commissioned installations by local artists.
Local architecture firm AB Design Studios Inc, designed the hotel with a sleek interior inside a deceptively traditional exterior. When guests enter the main lobby of the new hotel, they step into a space of modern elegance and sophistication couched in a timeless and familiar setting.
Interior design by Level 3 Design Group in Los Angeles complements the contemporary architecture with clean lines and a modern aesthetic. Innovative touches include a plant-filled living wall and green space and energy efficient elements, including double-pane windows, on-demand water heaters, ionized water cleaning system, filtered water bottle refilling station and European-style bathrooms with collapsible glass-wall showers.
Colourful murals of artist implements, such as brushes, film, paints, pastels and welding torches by local artist Elizabeth Harper grace the common areas and guest rooms. Guests can browse the collection of exhibition catalogues and publications, including those by area art luminaries, in the hotel’s Art Library and rub elbows with artists during talks and openings provided in conjunction with exhibitions.
Class, from design-conscious, is an upholstered seating range consisting of two sofas, three chair varieties and a footstool.The high-backed versions of the sofas and chairs are reminiscent of a classical ‘bergère, or wingback; traditional, with a modern twist. These are a great solution for creating private seating areas with free-standing furniture as it can be easily rearranged if the function of the space changes. The high-back sofas and wing-back chairs also wraps the sitter a cosy, draft-free environment for those quiet, reflective moments – even in busy hotel receptions.
Class has been designed with generous proportions for that extra luxurious feel. When upholstered in different fabrics, Class sofas and armchairs can satisfy different spheres of aesthetic taste. Class upholstery fabric is available in cream, beige and chocolate brown, denim and graphic patterns with a choice of Feet in either walnut wood or brushed metal.
Whatever your scheme, modern or traditional, our Class sofas and chairs will always create a stylish and exclusive personality.
Class is just a small part of the Upholstery ranges we supply, all of which can to be made to suit your specification. Please feel free to contact us for further information. www.design-conscious.co.uk
Mille Couleurs are widely renowned for their beautiful bespoke products, creating rooms that envelop you with style and irresistible comfort. With Mille Couleurs London you can add a touch of luxury to your environment without the luxurious price tag, whether you’re opting for the simple elegance of antique furniture or need a bespoke design for a more contemporary feel.
Our headboards are upholstered with the best quality materials available and with premium attention to detail. They offer soft luxury with a smooth finish, with a sleek, modern design, handcrafted individually and precisely. We can fit just the space around your bed, from floor to ceiling or even wall to wall. We also offer wall lights and sockets neatly fitted on the headboard.
Our craftsmen bring creativity and essential technical skills of the highest level to each and every product – with graduates in interior decoration and upholstery from Geneva and Paris. Each headboard is handmade to the highest standards in the UK.
Our luxurious handcrafted headboards will bring unrivalled style, glamour and comfort to your hotel room.
In the 1980’s I went to Kidderminster to visit a well known carpet manufacturer. The factory had a stream or river running through it, and the operation took sheep’s fleeces in one end and carpet came out the other. At the time the design studio was adding Mac II’s to their desktops and a large room was occupied by the computer (looked after by two geeks) that controlled the dye mixes for the wool. With the company concerned broken by a combination of poor decision making and the banking crisis, I thought the days of ‘vertical integration’ in this industry were over.
Vertical integration is of course ‘business speak’ for production methods that go back in time. It presupposes local production with the raw materials gathered locally coming in and finished products going out the other end. Ecologically sound ‘green’ manufacturing. What is ‘green’ about there being no market for English sheep fleeces because we get our carpets made abroad? What is green about carpets that have enough air miles to get a free flight to Florence by the time they are down on the hotel floor in the UK? Fortunately vertical integration still exists, and I had the pleasure of a trip to beautifully sunny Devon to see the fleece to flooring operation of Axminster Carpets in the eponymous town. No coincidence that the town is eponymous, as it gave its name to the particular kind of weaving called Axminster. The carpet company has existed here, in rich sheep and cattle farming country, since 1755 – before some colonies achieved their independence.
In this first article of three, I will show you the making of the carpet yarns. Almost as much goes into the making of yarn as goes into the weaving of the carpet itself, and the process is closest to those images of gambolling sheep in green fields that are so characteristic of images of countryside. Wool produces staples of differing lengths depending on the breed it is from and most carpet today uses a mixture of British wool and New Zealand wool, a mixing of longer softer staples with shorter tougher ones. Wool arrives in the factory in large bales and I wish this was ‘smellyvision’ as bales are not just a sight to behold but also a smell that is quite an olfactory experience!
The different wools are thoroughly washed and spun dry ready for breaking down into the slubbing that is the beginning of making yarns. Slubbing? Don’t worry all shall be revealed if you read on
Seating by Design at Knightsbridge is helping to create a special atmosphere for golfers and non-golfers alike in the clubhouse at the award-winning Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire. From its idyllic position next to the King’s and Queen’s 18th holes, the intimate Dormy Clubhouse allows guests to enjoy panoramic views across the world-famous Gleneagles golf courses. Although the sporting heritage is ever-present, the clubhouse still exudes a relaxed and cosy ambience, thanks to sensitive interpretation by London-based design company Sedley Place. Arranged around a circular central fireplace, the comfortable lounge is complemented both by a distinctive horseshoe-shaped bar and by a restaurant where picture windows present diners with a spectacular vista.
Helping to generate this warm welcome is an array of seating selected by Craig Abbott of Sedley Place from the exclusive Design at Knightsbridge portfolio. The Ticino collection is well-represented in the order, with a dozen two-seater settees, eight easy club chairs and nearly 80 upright armchairs. Created for Design at Knightsbridge by James A Wright, Ticino is inspired by timeless geometry, with its understated styling echoed across a wide selection of product options. Backs are buttoned or plain – as selected for the Dormy Clubhouse.
The Ticino seating is complemented perfectly by 40 Maya upright armless chairs, also by Design at Knightsbridge. Making an equally subtle design statement, Maya features deep and supportive chair backs topped by curvaceous wooden capping rails which sweep sensuously down to graceful tapered legs. In addition to upright armless chairs, the collection includes armchairs in upright and easy forms plus matching bar stools.
Both Ticino and Maya are available in fabric or hide upholstery. Show-wood details are in Cherry, Mahogany, Natural Beech, Wenge, Walnut and Oak, and the seating is manufactured at Knightsbridge headquarters in West Yorkshire, using timber from renewable sources.
Contemporary in style and yet traditional in craftsmanship, Design at Knightsbridge furniture captures perfectly the ethos of a company which traces its heritage back over some 75 years. A dedicated sales division and supporting website are the global gateway to the company’s full portfolio of products and services: call 01274 731900 or visit www.design-at-knightsbridge.co.uk
Frank Hudson pride themselves on being experts in their field, with the skills and craftsmanship of furniture making passed down through three generations of the Hudson family.Today the company is run by three Hudson brothers who have all been involved in the business from a very early age. All three brothers were brought up in the industry and trained on all aspects of furniture production, design and management. Each added a different string to the bow; Tim – the beautiful finishes; James – a master carver and Tom – quality control. All three now run the business with Tim and James heavily involved in design and tom in customer service and logistics. Together they have taken the company onto a new level, ensuring they are supported by a team who are also experts in their fields.
This not only includes designing and producing the best quality products, but also the experienced sales function headed up by national sales Manager Andy Shingler, the first class service provided to customers, the warehouse and systems they have in place to support this as well as a complete after sales service.
Their belief in the value of good design is reinforced by constantly investing in new ideas developed by Tim and James and by also working with consultant designers including Paul Galley.
Keith Clarke, who manages the contract side of the business and is a trained and talented furniture designer, often sketches beautiful detailed drawings of product design ideas within moments, which can then be sent to the factories to bring to life.
Frank Hudson’s high quality service encompasses a complete warehouse facility based in the UK where the team are on hand to deliver products to customers quickly. The efficient service team ensures customers are looked after from the start of the order process to the after sales service, with skilled on-site craftsmen available to provide immediate solutions to ensure that each piece of furniture remains in perfect condition. Frank Hudson’s attention to detail throughout the business ensures their standing as a high quality designer and producer of beautiful furniture remains intact.
Sleeperz Hotels, the innovative budget hotel business, opened its second UK hotel in Newcastle city centre last week.
The 98-bedroom, six storey hotel welcomed its first guests to the Westgate Road property on Tuesday, less than two minutes walk from Newcastle’s Central Station.The hotel development has created 25 full time jobs in the North East economy.
The hotel has been built on the site of a former derelict Parcel Works and is the first premium budget design-led hotel in the North East’s capital.
David Myers, chief executive of Sleeperz Hotels, said: “We have introduced a completely new and different product to the North East hotel scene today and one that is perfectly positioned for business and leisure tourism markets in the current economy.
Sleeperz Hotel Newcastle is affordable and stylish, it’s convenient and comfortable. It’s functional and desirable. We are offering a modern urban living experience, in the heart of the North East’s most cosmopolitan city, at great value rates.”
Sleeperz’s philosophy of creating stylish hotel properties with modern cutting edge architectural design sets the brand apart from other competitors in the budget hotel sector.
Boutique hotel owner and interior design expert Janine Powell, who owns the Hamptons Hotel in Ilfracombe, Devon, has been hired as a consultant to advise on the project and create an air of sophisticated vibrancy at Sleeperz Newcastle.
Newcastle’s glass fronted hotel has compact rooms with fresh, colourful and contemporary interiors perfect for both business and leisure travelers.
Wet rooms have under floor heating and steam proof mirrors and rates start from £60 including free wi-fi access and local telephone calls.
David Myers said: “Newcastle is not just the capital of North East England; it’s a thriving visitor destination and a great city for business and conferences.”
Newcastle’s hotel sector is among the highest performing of any UK city, according to the latest figures from destination marketing agency NewcastleGateshead Initiative and national tourist board Visit England,
Average room occupancy for hotels in Newcastle is 78 per cent compared to a national average of 65 per cent according to Visit England.
The company has plans to expand and Sleeperz has earmarked major UK cities, including Liverpool, Manchester and London as potential venues for hotels in the next phase of development.
Interior design is by Janine Powell of Hampton Design Studios
According to experts, the combination of post-Christmas blues, credit card bills, dark, cold weather and the return to work after the seasonal holiday make for true January Blues.
A study by Best Western reveals that Brits feel down up to four times a week during January, meaning the nation feels potentially below par on more than half of the month’s 31 days.
In an attempt to offer some cheer to commuters throughout the capital city, and help kick the January blues, Best Western headed to the streets of London with its own brass band on Monday 16th January.
The 18-man band, consisting of tubas, cornets, trombones and even a tambourine, hit key locations across London including Paddington Station, Marble Arch and Westminster Bridge, playing Tom Jones’ classic It’s Not Unusual.
Hearing the words “I Love You” from a friend or family member we care about deeply is enough to snap 21.7% of Brits out of their January blues, whilst a hot, freshly-brewed cuppa is guaranteed to do a similar trick for a further 16.7% of the UK, according to the national poll by Britain’s biggest group of independent hotels.
The poll was commission as part of Best Western’s Cheer Up campaign. The group is offering up to 50% off stays at their 280 UK hotels throughout January, February and March.
We live in an age of international travel and commerce. Unfortunately the movement of people all over the world has also lead to the global spread of bed bugs. We can easily transport bed bugs and their eggs through the movement of our luggage, clothing or bedding. It is therefore unsurprising that some of the most affected places in the UK are hotel rooms. It’s certain the 2012 London Olympics will have a huge impact on the UK bedbug population. For example, following the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, the number of cases of reported bed bug infestations in Australia has risen by 15,000 per cent. This is a clear warning to UK hoteliers that necessary precautions must be taken, and unlike the London Olympic Games, imported bed bugs will be here to stay. However innovative Devon based mattress manufacturer Naturalmat have come up with an excellent solution for hoteliers. They have created a clean, healthy, hypoallergenic and most importantly anti bed bug mattress. Naturalmat uses a unique chemical free treatment that is based on Geraniol (citrus) in the final finishing of all its mattress covers. In tests this revolutionary process has proven to eliminate any bed bug that comes into contact with the cover within 72 hours, which will guarantee peace of mind for both the traveller and the hotelier.
In addition to Naturalmat mattress covers being anti bed bug, the organic West Country wool used within all Naturalmat mattresses is anti dust-mite, anti moth and anti mosquito. This is achieved through a treatment of essential oils including lemon, eucalyptus and lavender, which is added to the lambswool during the scouring process in Devon using water from the River Dart.
Naturalmat set an excellent example for other mattress manufacturers. They emphasise how important it is to use natural resources and operate a business with minimal environmental impact. These are key consideration behind the creation of every Naturalmat mattress, especially as they are made from sustainable and biodegradable sources, including organic coir, lambswool and cotton.
Naturalmat mattresses provide superb comfort that is long lasting and numerous hoteliers have called upon them recently. In early 2011 Naturalmat successfully won the contract to manufacture all 686 mattresses for Yotel New York City and all mattresses for Z Hotel Soho. Naturalmat have worked with other high profile clients in the past including the Connaught, Claridges and several boutique hotels. Naturalmat already have a busy 2012 ahead of them but they will be unsurprised if further hoteliers decide to invest in their mattresses prior to the London Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. Naturalmat Hotel mattresses ensure that guests really do sleep tight and the issue of bed bugs biting them at night is simply one less thing to worry about.
RHA Furniture has a wide selection of outdoor tables & seating for restaurants, cafes, hotels & spas.It’s not too early to start thinking about outdoor furniture and with the Olympics fast approaching we are expecting an increase in demand, so it is important not to risk ordering at the last minute.
If you’re looking for contract quality furniture on a low budget you should take a look at RHA’s outdoor Classic collections; featuring designs in metal, wicker, teak and a wide variety of design styles to suit any environment.
Cambi, Arc en Ciel & Pigalle folding tables plus stackable chairs are ideal for pavement cafés & multi-functional spaces. For restaurant seating & tables you should consider Ronda, Antonietta, Varanda, Charleston & Nilo.
For some really impressive looking outdoor tables & seating at trade prices you should take a look at RHA’s Advanced & A4-H2 collections.
Collections such as Net, Heaven, Round and Re-Trouvé are highly aesthetic, with styles to suit both a modern and traditional setting; all made to high levels of contract quality & available at trade prices.
View details & download the PDF catalogues by visiting the RHA Furniture website.
Hilton Worldwide has recently announced continued expansion of eforea: spa at Hilton, its innovative global spa concept. Refined at seven properties owned or managed by Hilton Worldwide since debuting in late 2010, the turnkey spa solution is now available to franchise owners across the Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton and Embassy Suites Hotels brands. Hilton Worldwide leverages its expertise as one of the world’s largest spa providers. eforea: spa at Hilton provides a cutting-edge spa concept that meets guests’ needs around the globe while also being cost effective and easy to implement. Thespa’s design concept ensures consistent spa installations globally while honoring local cultures and a sense of place. Design standards are complemented with the ease of standard operating procedures, global supply agreements, training curriculum and an exclusive treatment menu, which can make opening a new spa simpler.
eforea: spa at Hilton also offers owners an online booking engine, pre-opening support, sourcing and distribution of retail products by L’ITYA, Vitaman, Kerstin Florian and Peter Thomas Roth, and a distinct brand identity with standards and a full collateral suite.
In 2011 Spa magazine readers ranked eforea: spa at Hilton as a top five spa brand. The eforea experience is shaped by three signature treatment journeys – the Essentials Journey, Escape Journey and Men’s Journey – all which customized to provide balance and wellness for body and soul.
Marriott Hotels & Resorts, the flagship brand of Marriott International, and Sunstone Hotel Investors have announced the completion of a four year, $30 million full property renovation of the Boston Marriott Long Wharf. Anchoring this extensive renovation is the reinvented lobby, and the adjoining new Waterline restaurant and bar, where guests can work alone or in groups, eat, drink and socialize throughout the day and evening. This landmark hotel also now offers a new Harbor View Ballroom, an expanded health club and concierge lounge, and completely renovated meeting space, guest rooms and suites. Architecture and interior design firm, BBG-BBGM, re-imagined the 412-room Boston Marriott Long Wharf, showcasing picturesque waterfront views at every turn. All of the hotel’s guest rooms have been newly appointed with ergonomic furnishings, luxurious bedding, iPod clock radios and HD LCD televisions with split screen technology and plug-in connectivity for digital devices. Twelve Executive King Suites and two Luxury Waterfront Suites with private balconies have been added, while the hotel’s largest suite, the Long Wharf Suite, has been completely redesigned. An expanded Concierge Lounge provides comfortable dining and lounge seating, complimentary high speed wireless internet access, a laptop station and colour printer.
On the lobby level, Waterline restaurant offers an inviting bar, communal dining table, cosy booths, and a private dining room. Waterline’s menu features quintessential American cocktails and classic New England fare with a focus on local ingredients. The restaurant also provides service to the reinvented lobby, where guests can catch up on work and emails, thanks to WiFi and plentiful electrical outlets.
The newly-added Harbor View Ballroom features floor-to-ceiling windows, a seasonal outdoor patio and panoramic views, making it a breathtaking backdrop for weddings and social events. All of the hotel’s pre-existing meeting spaces have been fully renovated, from the 8,200-square-foot Grand Ballroom, to the 5,750-square-foot Palm Garden with its soaring 55-foot atrium, to the 2,530-square-foot Commonwealth Ballroom, divisible into five break-out rooms. Now with the Harbor View Ballroom, this waterfront hotel provides 21,000 square feet of flexible, modern meeting space.
A significantly expanded 24-hour fitness centre contains the latest equipment, including stationary bikes, Precor treadmills and elliptical trainers, all with 9-inch televisions. The hotel’s indoor pool and whirlpool area open onto a sundeck overlooking the water.
Electrical accessories manufacturer Focus SB will be showcasing its bespoke range of control plates to suit other system suppliers at the 2012 Arc Show.The Hastings-based company can engineer the tools needed to make cover plates for many of the popular existing control systems including Lutron, Teleadapt, and Control 4. With no minimum quantity or order charge this gives designers and installers the option to bespoke these items to match the rest of the room décor.
Focus will be displaying its range of AV plates and modules that can be personalised to meet practically any customer’s specific requirements, including Focus’ extensive range of finishes.
Also on its stand will be the HAL lighting control system: “HAL’s modular design enables it to be expanded from a simple switching and dimming operation to a control system that can operate all lighting circuits within a building,” says Managing Director of Focus SB Roger Kemp. “The system can also be operated and programmed using the infrared handset, allowing four or more scene buttons to set lighting ‘moods’.”
ARC Show, Business Design Centre, London. 29 February – 1 March 2012 (Stand M13A)
Blending classic style with contemporary design, London Syon Park, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel features Glass Rocks cascades from Chelsom in each of the 137 luxury guestrooms. Suspended within ornate moulded recesses, the bespoke fittings comprise individual rocks of polished Venetian glass, threaded onto drop wires which hang from polished stainless steel ceiling plates. Each luminaire uses six 35W MR16 lamps which are low energy halogen-equivalent lamps giving sparkle and drama, without the excessive heat and high energy use of conventional halogen.
Themed to reflect the 18th Century “Syon Pleasure Ground” designed by Capability Brown, the hotel aims to offer its guests the best of both worlds – a tranquil escape in the quality surroundings of the Syon House Estate, home to the Duke of Northumberland, teamed with contemporary state of the art amenities for which Waldorf Astoria is renowned.
Hilton London Olympia has unveiled its redesigned bar and restaurant, Society. The re-launch sees the introduction of new menus by Executive Head Chef Grant Ferguson, and the creation of a new logo identity, designed by cutting-edge agency, Social.The concept behind the bar and restaurant has been inspired by the Victorian era in Kensington, which is typified by a sophisticated sense of style. In Victorian times a person’s hat was an indication of their position in society, and the designers have cleverly featured this idea in the menu illustrations which features rows of silhouetted hats in a variety of styles from the period.
Interior design company, design LSM, was tasked with revamping the bar and restaurant. The bar now boasts a colour scheme of cyan, dark chocolate brown and burnt orange. The dark chocolate brown of the wooden benches and high-backed leather chairs are complemented by bursts of orange and electric shocks of cyan throughout. The crushed velvet armchairs bring texture and luxury to the bar, and low hanging singular coloured glass lights, contrasted with candle chandeliers, mix the old with the new.
The restaurant exudes a sultry atmosphere with a mixture of red, black and cream. The simplicity of the black and cream is complemented with a splash of red in the lampshades hanging above each table.
The bar now offers classic bar food with a twist including a miniature full English breakfast; an onion ring tower (with Japanese panko breadcrumbs) and burgers (3 mini sliders with a custom baked bun), as well as signature cocktails. The restaurant offers more complex dishes with an emphasis on sustainable, locally-sourced ingredients. There are comforting dishes such as steak and kidney pie with mash; gammon with fruit jus; braised beef rump with root vegetables; alongside a succulent pork fillet with creamed cabbage and apple sauce; and a delicate salmon with saffron cream. The dessert list includes firm childhood favourites such as profiteroles, trifle, bread & butter pudding, sticky toffee pudding and apple and blackberry crumble, all with a bit of a modern-day makeover to appeal to a discerning, cosmopolitan audience.
The renovations are part of an ongoing refurbishment plan that has seen a £7million investment into Hilton London Olympia and is due to continue into 2012.
Worldhotels is proud to present a new addition to its growing portfolio of branded hotels: The Worldhotel Grand Winston, named after Sir Winston Churchill, ideally located between the cities of The Hague and Delft in The Netherlands, offers luxury and comfort in a unique design setting.The hotel boasts 252 luxurious guest rooms, suites and apartments in a contemporary and elegant design. Key themes include light, glass and transparency; elements that all contribute to the worldly, cosmopolitan atmosphere that characterises the hotel. All guest rooms have recently been updated to include new bed linen, and several room types feature a Nespresso coffee machine and Rituals bath amenities.
The restaurant Grand Canteen features three menus by Chef Bas Vermeijden: the ‘Classics’, ‘Trends’ and weekly specials. His young, pure and honest cooking style uses fresh and local ingredients. The private dining room LEDS invites groups to dine in an exciting mezzanine space with views of the brightly coloured LED wall. In addition, the hotel features six state-of-the-art event rooms that can host up to 200 people.
The Worldhotel Grand Winston is easily accessible from major highways and offers complimentary parking to guests, while public transport connections to the airport, the city and the beach are available right at the front door.
A Best Chef Hi-Life Award is an accolade that is respected UK-wide and attracts entries from the crème de la crème of the industry. This time for the first year the event took place in the recently launched specialist theatre kitchen at Dawnvale’s North West Design Centre located in Hollinwood, Greater Manchester. Four of the five finalists were filmed so that those attending the prestigious Hi-Life Awards Dinner taking place at The Midland Hotel on Friday 3rd February can see the chefs and judges in action as well as the outstanding food they prepared on the day. Unfortunately, Nigel Smith from The Villa in Lancashire was unable to attend the event due to a prior engagement.
Judges for the Cook-Off included: Matthew Norman, The Daily Telegraph’s Food Critic, Elizabeth Carter, Editor of the Good Food Guide and Denise Jones, a Hi-Life member and Manager of the North West Design Centre. Chefs prepared one dish in a timed environment and presented them individually to the three judges in the Boardroom.
The North West Design Centre was chosen not just for its superlative facilities and equipment but also its close proximity to the motorway network – less than five minutes from the M60.
The five shortlisted chefs were;
Christopher Cleghorn, ABode Chester. Phil Fanning, Paris House. Tom van Zeller, van Zeller Restaurant. Enzo Mauro, Stock Restaurant. Nigel Smith, The Villa (not present)
The winner will not be announced until the awards night which will be held at the Midland Hotel in Manchester.
Hi-Life currently has over 3,500 restaurant partners throughout the UK and over 200,000 members of their Club including Platinum Members all of whom enjoy 2 for 1 dining on an annual basis.
This year the event will be raising funds for the Five Stars Appeal.
There are still a small number of tickets to the event available – costing £75 each they include a champagne reception, four-course meal and fabulous entertainment. Tickets can be obtained by e-mailing aw****@hi*****.uk
One of the first 2012 diary dates for all in our sector is Hotelympia so do please come and visit Villeroy & Boch on stand N2019 where we will be delighted to show you around our product ranges on show.We will be celebrating NewWave’s birthday with some great new pieces and an extra 10% discount show offer.
We have added some new innovations to Stella, Marchesi and Cera and we would love to show these to you too.
CLICK HERE to register on the Villeroy & Boch Registration page with your chance to win one of three great prizes of £250 Gift Vouchers for 10in8 at L’Ortolan, Paris House, La Becasse or Angelique. Also register with Villeroy & Boch and we will email you a voucher to pick up a complimentary gift at the show.
It’s just a couple of weeks now until the Surface Design Show at the Business Design Centre, where we will be promoting Signbox EG, our new digital print division.There will be a range of direct-to-surface printed media for the workplace on display as well as a collection of ‘smart surface graphics’ incorporating NFC (Near Field Communication).
This exciting technology also features in Enlighten – our revolutionary new smart poster system that delivers enhanced customer engagement through NFC proximity marketing.
For more information, or to see the products first hand, visit the Signbox stand number 400 at the 2012 Surface Design Show
7th – 9th February 2012 Business Design Centre, London.
If you would like a ticket for the VIP Preview Evening and save £15, please contact en*******@si*****.uk
St Kilda’s landmark icon, the Cosmopolitan Hotel (Melbourne), welcomes hotel guests for a revamped hotel experience after a lobby refurbishment by interior & furniture designers Hecker Guthrie and hotel room facelift by Rachel Kraus Interior Design totaling up to over $100,000. Rooms are not only aesthetically enhanced with bed heads and fashionable cushions, the practicality has improved just as much with more lighting, additional in room lounges and outdoor furniture in the rooms with balconies.
The hotel lobby now offers a true living room feeling with a new seating area, dining table, rug, fresh plants and a working station.
Panaz are very proud to announce the delivery of more than 12,000 metres of fabric for the prestigious Disney Hollywood hotel in Hong Kong.Working closely to a design brief formulated by the Disney Imagineering studio, Panaz were asked to interpret a range of designs showing the Disney theme and the ubiquitous Micky Mouse motifs.
The designs were closely monitored to provide the right impact and the correct ambiance for the hotels many child guests, whilst still appealing to parents. The designs produced are fresh original and accurately reflect the resorts image.
Whilst getting the designs right it was also necessary to provide the functional performance needed for such an environment. The essential qualities required included – anti microbial, Stain resistance and Fire retardancy, three very difficult qualities to apply.
In order to achieve this Panaz harnessed its latest ‘Shield technology’, an advanced nano technology formulated by Panaz and its business partners for use in healthcare environments.
For more information on Shield Technology please visit www.Panaz.com
Hammer Carpets, the design-led Danish manufacturer of high quality contract carpets, is delighted to announce the appointment of Charles Rae to the new position of UK Business Development Director.
Following a distinguished 15 year textile career at Skopos Design, Charles comes to Hammer Carpets with a wealth of experience and is a well-known personality within the contract furnishing industry due to his position as Social Director of the BCFA.Hammer Carpets have had excellent success in supplying carpets to many of the world’s leading Hotels and Cruise ships and recently won the refurbishment contract for 32.000 m2 carpets on Cunard`s (Carnival) luxury liner Queen Mary 2. With the successful combination of good Design, Quality and fast lead times Hammer are keen to expand their UK Hospitality business.
The new Business Development Director role marks a continuation of Hammers investment and commitment into the UK Contract market and will be a key contributor to the future growth and success of the company. Charles Rae can be reached via email **@ha*************.com
Tom Moller Jorgensen, owner and Managing Director, Hammer Carpets comments, “I am delighted to have Charles on board and I know he will play a leading role in developing our UK contract business.”
The Lubner Group has recently completed the total renovation and installation of new furnishings for five “Old Conch” styled buildings with a storied past at the Coconut Beach Resort in Key West, Florida, positioning the resort to enter a new phase in its legendary history.Located at 1500 Alberta Street on the Atlantic side of Key West, the vacation ownership resort is set against lush gardens and quiet walkways with white verandahs and French doors opening to the sea. The design challenge was to blend existing Victorian gingerbread architecture – rich with living history – with a fresh lifestyle in an updated tropical design that invited guests to relax in serene tranquility. Amenities include a pool, Jacuzzi, and private beach. The resort has been named an Interval International Select Resort.
The Group completed the six-month total interior renovation project in three phases. Work included the selection of all furnishings and energy-efficient appliances for 32 one- and two-bedroom/two bath units plus the resort’s lobby. An important requirement was to create a unified design package for each of the five buildings (two of which were previously single-family homes), with room sizes ranging from 800 to 1,150 square feet and different ceiling heights. The design firm ensured that work was completed with limited inconvenience to guests during continuous high occupancy levels at this popular hospitality destination property.
Some new lighting products from Foscarini, available through UK distributor design-conscious, are definitely making a concerted move away from the tradition archetype of light fittings, where a table lamp must have a base and a shade and are moving more towards being designed as a work of art or sculpture. Obviously new light sources, and in particular LED, is breaking down the traditional barriers to shape the profile of lights that have previously been limited by bulky incandescent and even bulkier fluorescent sources.A beautiful example of utilising LED into a sculptural form is the new Anisha light designed by formidable design team of Studio Lievore Altherr Molina.
This table lamp conceals the LED light source on the underside at the top of the form. This relinquishes the need for a shade and the fluid organic shape of the body itself couldn’t be further from the standard lamp base. The openness of the shape casts a beautiful shadow whilst still effectively lighting the surface of the table. The design embraces the idea of the full and the empty; an object of nothingness, yet fulfilling its purpose with grace and style. Sculptural essence you will fall in love with at first sight.
To complete its minimal essence, the Anisha light has a touch switch integrated into its shape that responds to the simple touch of a finger. It is available in two sizes and two colours: white and red.
The inspiration behind the new Fold wall light designed by Odoardo Fioravanti is the ancient art of paper folding Origami.
Folding a sheet of paper means transforming a two dimensional entity into something 3 dimensional with just a simple gesture.
Fold is a simple form that conceals the light source whilst projecting a direct light upwards and reflecting light off the wall.
Fold is both a serviceable and decorative wall light, even when switched off. The light has a simple aesthetic that is highlighted by the pure white colour of the polycarbonate shade. Available with a choice of halogen or fluorescent source.
The Maki suspension light is also influenced by the simplicity of a sheet of paper. Designed by Nendo the inspiration came from rolling two sheets of paper together. The result is a form that resembles a seashell or a flower; a simple poetic shape.
The light is constructed from two sheets of aluminium, creating an effect that is dynamic yet soft.
While most of the light is cast directly downwards as a soft beam, a little light also filters through the edges, highlighting the curves, giving Maki a charming effect.
Position alone, in groups, or in linear compositions over tables and bar counters, Maki is available in white and grey in a satin finish.
For more information on our stylish lighting ranges, including Maki suspension light, please contact us. For project quantities of 50 lamps or more special colours can be accommodated to your specification. www.design-conscious.co.uk
DoubleTree by Hilton has recently announced that two of Central London’s largest hotels have officially joined the upscale, full-service hotel brand with the opening of the DoubleTree by Hilton London-Tower of London and DoubleTree by Hilton London-Westminster. The hotels are two of eight Mint Hotels across the Netherlands and the UK joining the Hilton Worldwide portfolio of hotels under the DoubleTree by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn brand names during the coming months. The 583-room DoubleTree by Hilton London-Tower of London is ideally positioned in the heart of The City near the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, with easy access to Barbican, The Globe Theatre, The Whitechapel Art Gallery and St Paul’s Cathedral. Located adjacent to the Tate Britain museum, the 460-room DoubleTree by Hilton London-Westminster is within walking distance of the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye. Both hotels are moments from many of London’s key business, government, historical and tourist centres.
The DoubleTree by Hilton London-Westminster and DoubleTree by Hilton London-Tower of London share modern architectural designs that are characterised by their transparency and versatility. Large, floor-to-ceiling windows are featured in each guest room, meeting room and all bars and restaurant spaces within the hotel, providing plenty of daylight and impressive views of the city and the River Thames.
Guestrooms and suites at each hotel are spacious and designed for comfort, featuring a variety of essential and innovative in-room amenities including an Apple iMac computer which functions both as a TV and computer, generous work desks and a gourmet in-room coffee and tea service. Complimentary high-speed internet access is available throughout the hotel as well as in each guest room.
For meetings, conferences and events, DoubleTree by Hilton locations at Tower of London and Westminster present some of the most innovative space in the city. Meeting rooms throughout the hotels have been thoughtfully designed for productivity, technology and spatial orientation, with natural daylight from floor-to-ceiling windows, soundproofed walls, complimentary wireless, high-speed internet access and an iMac for use in each room. Flexible and neutrally designed meeting rooms are ideal for small meetings as individual rooms, or when combined can comfortably accommodate large events.
DoubleTree by Hilton hotels at Tower of London and Westminster both feature a City Café – an informal, yet sophisticated restaurant where guests enjoy modern cuisine with an emphasis on seasonality. The Millbank Lounge and Fenchurch Bar at the Westminster and Tower of London locations respectively present relaxed, contemporary lounge spaces with a Whisky Bar and a wide range of cocktails, beers and wines as well as light lunches and sharing platters.
Skylounge at the DoubleTree by Hilton London-Tower of London is one of London’s most vibrant rooftop venues for both cocktails and fine dining. The stylish venue offers picturesque city views 14 storeys above the city, looking out to Tower Bridge, the historic Tower of London and the River Thames from the south terrace, and the Gherkin and St Pauls from the north terrace. Skylounge at the DoubleTree by Hilton London-Westminster may be reserved for private receptions with outstanding Westminster views for up to 45 guests.
Axminster Carpets has joined an elite group of companies to beawarded the Royal Warrant, a mark of recognition for the supply of goods and services to Her Majesty The Queen for a period of at least five years and adherence to stringent environmental requirements. Awarded to Axminster Carpets in the Queen’s Jubilee year and regarded as a symbol of excellence and quality, the Royal Warrant demonstrates the family-owned company’s manufacturing prowess that has seen it create a world-wide reputation for carpets of the highest quality.
“Being awarded the Royal Warrant is testament to our commitment to manufacturing carpets of the highest possible standard while also striving for exemplary service levels,” comments Josh Dutfield, Group Managing Director.“The Axminster Carpets brand is synonymous with quality, and the Royal Warrant is further evidence of our ability to meet the highest expectations.”
With its Devon manufacturing sites, Axminster Carpets is one of the few carpet companiesstill producing within the UK. The company also has the only fleece-to-floor operation, which sees the manufacturer source British wool and spin and dye its own yarn before the carpet manufacturing process begins.It is this attention-to-detail and complete control of the entire production process that sees the company regarded as one of the foremost carpet manufacturers operating today.
In January the Heimtextil international trade fair took place in Frankfurt and for Trevira CS, its premium brand, Trevira presented a new marketing concept to top customers and trade press representatives. The fibre manufacturer from Germany will be supporting its customers even more strongly, with the aim to expand, on a global basis, their brand for permanently flame retardant textiles, which is particularly well known in the contract sector.Key aspects of the concept are new additional measures to protect the brand and to increase market awareness. The main focus, however, is on further improvement of the traditionally close relationships with customers, as Anke Vollenbröker, head of Marketing, explains: “Trevira CS stands as a trademark for the textile fabric and with every new collection it is our customers that give the brand significance. If we want to expand our product even more, then the best way to do this is to support our partners at the separate processing stages to bring their Trevira CS products to market successfully, and that means on a world-wide basis as well.”
The Trevira CS Club – the community of partners
At all stages of the supply chain there are a large number of suppliers who process flame retardant Trevira fibres, finish the yarns or manufacture and distribute Trevira CS textiles. Trevira is introducing a club model, on the one hand to reward particularly important, committed and dedicated partners for their loyalty, and on the other, to grow further business with flame retardant products. All companies that have a trademark contract and use the Trevira CS brand, belong to the “Trevira CS Club“, the members of which have the standard services of Trevira available to them. These include, for instance, the trademark test, IMO testing, technical support and trend advisory, product literature and certification, and also some participation in fabric catalogues. For top partners the Club model envisages award of Silver or Gold status, which can be gained on the basis of established criteria. The criteria do not reflect turnover alone, but also take account of such factors as loyalty, creativity or the international presence of the partner. Gold and/or Silver status are awarded in each case for one year.
Club members with this status may call on special additional services. The latter will cover a variety of measures, from fast track processing of trademark applications, to offers of participation at trade fairs, promotion of international projects and communication measures. Partners will be classified annually, so that other members of the community too will have the opportunity to acquire Gold or Silver status.
Gold and Silver members
The Gold and Silver members for 2012 were introduced on the occasion of a customer event at Heimtextil.
Silver members are yarn manufacturers Spinnerei Lampertsmühle and Textilgruppe Hof (D), Selvafil (E), Torcitura Fibre Sintetiche and Torcitura Padana (I), fabric makers Gebrüder Munzert, Pongs Technical Textiles, Rohleder and Spandauer Velours (D), Velours Blafo (F), Fiorete Group, Tessitura Mario Ghioldi, Lodetex and Pugi R.G. (I), Ludvig Svensson (S) as well as the converters Exclusive Wind Design (B), Höpke Möbelstoff-Handelsgesellschaft, Kupferoth Interiors, Schewe Textil and Zimmer + Rohde (D), Lelièvre (F), Panaz and Sekers Fabrics (UK).
Gold members include:
yarn manufacturers Fil Man Made Group and Torcitura Lei Tsu (I); fabric makers Müller-Zell, Schmitz-Werke and Verotex (D), Gaudium (NL), FIDIVI Tessitura Vergnano (I), Dina Vanelli (TR) and Creation Baumann (CH) as well as the converters Sonnhaus (A), JAB Josef Anstoetz, Nya Nordiska Textiles and SAHCO Hesslein (D), Kvadrat (DK) and Kobefab International (NL).
In his address Trevira CEO Robert Gregan explained the aim of the new concept: “Working with our customers and partners we want to pool our strengths along the supply chain and exploit the growth potential lying in our strong brand and in the many creative products that are technically and qualitatively outstanding. We are investing in this potential“.
The brand seen from a customer’s perspective
Guest speaker Andreas Heydasch, CEO of Müller-Zell, reported on his experiences gained in 27 years of partnership with Trevira and explained why the brand Trevira CS is important from a manufacturer’s point of view: “With every problem we had solved and with every crisis we had mastered during these two and a half decades our trust in Trevira CS increased. We realized that Trevira CS helps us to be different from our competitors. The worldwide contract-market will continue to grow also in the future, and with our customers, partners and with Trevira we have excellent partners for this concept. We should be proud of our brand.”
Amazing Retreats, a collection of iconic and spectacular properties has revealed their development plans for Stanbrook Abbey, a former monastery located in Callow End, Worcestershire. Following approval of phase one planning applications, the magnificent property will be beautifully restored and transformed into a premier weddings and events venue following a multi-million pound investment from owner Mike Clare.Previously home to a community of Benedictine nuns since 1835, Stanbrook Abbey is largely unseen to the general public and is currently undergoing extensive renovations, phase one of which will be completed in spring 2012.
The developments include the renovation and restoration of the ground floor of the building including the Pugin Chapel, refectory and kitchens. The front entrance will be reconfigured and parts of the grounds will be restored to their beautiful former glory. Once completed, the venue will be available for weddings, banqueting and events and will comfortably seat up to 80 people.
Phase two of developments will be completed by the end of 2012 subject to planning permission. The proposed plans include new stairs and lifts and the former Nun’s bedrooms will be converted into 55 luxuriously appointed bedroom suites. Plans for the second phase of developments will be submitted in February 2012.
The final phase of works and the completion of Stanbrook Abbey is scheduled to be completed in late 2013, subject to planning approvals. Proposed plans include the refurbishment of Stanbrook Hall and the old library. Remaining outbuildings will be converted into a spa and swimming pool complex with leisure facilities.
Decorative electrical wiring accessories, audio and lighting controls manufacturer Hamilton Litestat has announced the appointment of new regional manager Jim Berry, who will work mainly with architects, designers and contractors in the London area across both residential and commercial markets. Hamilton created the new role especially for Jim, 31, who recently returned from the Middle East where he worked as a sales director in the electrical industry. He has expert knowledge of the whole supply chain having trained as an electrician and worked in wholesale and manufacturing. The new role with Hamilton involves working with contractors and consultants to tailor wiring accessory solutions for each project, drawing from Hamilton’s wide range of products and bespoke design service.
Jim will be able to meet clients at Hamilton’s dedicated space at The Building Centre in central London and will be primarily based out of the capital, where he lives.
“It’s fantastic to be joining a UK company with over 40 years’ experience supplying mainly British-made products,” said Jim. “What also really stood out for me is that Hamilton can provide a bespoke product design service for projects that require something unique. Whether it’s a particular function or visual design we can produce special products to meet our clients’ briefs, no matter how big or small. Meeting specifiers and answering these challenges is something I’m looking forward to doing with Hamilton.”
Demonstrating its commitment to providing innovative bathroom solutions for hotels across the globe, Swiss manufacturer Laufen will have a strong presence at all three international Sleep Events, in Europe, China and India in 2012, starting in Shanghai in April.With China now the third most visited country in the world, the Chinese hotel market has witnessed phenomenal growth in recent years and is projected to overtake Japan as the world’s second largest tourist market by 2013, with an 8% share of global tourists and the number of hotel rooms set to hit 6.1 million by 2025, according to China’s National Bureau of Statistics. The Sleep Event China offers Laufen the opportunity to bring its luxury European brand to this rapidly expanding market.
With accreditation already in place from major international hotel groups including Hilton, IHG, Wyndham, and Palmerston Hotels/ Resorts, the Laufen brand assures high quality, innovative and reliable sanitaryware and furniture specifically designed with the hotel market in mind, coupled with a dedicated international sales team delivering the best possible service throughout the project.
On the back of the company’s extremely positive first outing to the Sleep Event Europe last year, Laufen’s stand at The Sleep Event China will be packed with designs and innovations that meet the needs of the hotel and its guests. Products on display will include Palace, a luxurious collection combining timeless design with maximum functionality. The range features an elegant washbasin with ceramic storage shelf and a co-ordinating WC, bidet, furniture and accessories. Also on show will be Laufen’s Living Square washbasin which is both stylish and practical, and like Palace can be fitted with a matching ceramic shelf below the basin, providing an open storage area. The washbasins in both of these ranges can also be cut-to-size at the Laufen factory to fit snugly into a recess.
“The Sleep Event and Laufen share an ambition: to offer inspiration in the design, development and architecture of hotels across the globe,” commented Laufen’s Director of Export and Project Sales, Russell Barnes. “As one of the leading hotel brands, Laufen will use the Sleep Event China to introduce its innovative and design-led hotel bathroom solutions to this emerging new market.”
Visit Laufen at The Sleep Event China, at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre from 9 to 12 April 2012.
When Hotel Bel-Air is mentioned, the mind suddenly becomes awash in ambrosial images of elegant seclusion and natural wonders. Nestled on Stone Canyon Road, just minutes from the bustling centres of Beverly Hills and Westwood, its quiet reputation has swelled over the years to almost mythic proportions, and there isn’t a celebrity or dignitary worth his or her Guccis who hasn’t graced its hallowed space.Over the past couple of years, however, this idyllic portrait has been altered considerably. Although it is generally frowned upon to tinker with works of art, in this case the changes are embraced. Hotel Bel-Air, owned by the Sultan of Brunei’s Dorchester Collection, underwent a comprehensive multimillion-dollar renovation in which just about every aspect of the interior has been nipped, tucked, cleansed, and updated—in fact, it was closed for approximately two years, considered lunacy among the commoners of the hostelry world—leading to its grand reopening last month.
Thanks to the design collaboration of Alexandra Champalimaud and the Rockwell Group—Champalimaud oversaw the rooms and suites for the most part, while Rockwell handled the dining and entertainment venues—the hotel maintains the dashing aesthetic of Spanish Colonial architecture that lured countless members of Hollywood royalty through its corridors for decades with a deft mixture of pleasing indoor/outdoor experiences.
AEB (UK) Ltd has secured the manufacture and installation of a 120 bedroom Holiday Inn Express in Dunstable. The sample room has already been completed in January 2012 with the full Installation during February and March 2012.The company and its individuals have a vast experience of this brand which is constantly developing and evolving improving it all the time.
Declan Hodgson, AEB (UK) Ltd states, “We are very pleased that we have secured this project as we have a lot of previous experience working on Holiday Inn Express contracts and we hope to build on this now and in the future”
All the items are manufactured in the UK and to the Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) design and brand standards. This coupled with the company having its own dedicated installation team will ensure the projects success.
DoubleTree by Hilton has announced two former Mint Hotels have officially joined the upscale, full-service hotel brand and are now welcoming guests as the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester-Piccadilly and the DoubleTree by Hilton Leeds City Centre. The hotels are two of eight Mint Hotels across the UK and the Netherlands joining the Hilton Worldwide portfolio of hotels as DoubleTree by Hilton or Hilton Garden Inn properties. The 285-room DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester-Piccadilly occupies a landmark site in the Piccadilly Place development, and reflects the warm and welcoming feel of this lively city. With an award-winning City Café, the stylish Piccadilly Lounge and elegant Blue Bar, the hotel offers guests a welcoming stay right at the heart of Manchester.
Overlooking the revitalised Leeds waterfront, the 333-room DoubleTree by Hilton Leeds City Centre is part of the architecturally renowned Granary Wharf area. Nestled between the working Leeds Liverpool canal and Leeds Railway Station, the hotel is ideally placed in the centre of Leeds, close to many cultural hotspots such as Opera North, Northern Ballet, Leeds Grand Theatre and the Victoria Quarter.
The DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester-Piccadilly and DoubleTree by Hilton Leeds City Centre share modern architectural designs that are characterised by their transparency and versatility. Large, floor-to-ceiling windows are featured in each guest room, meeting room and all bars and restaurant spaces within the hotel, providing plenty of daylight and impressive city skyline views.
Guestrooms and suites at each hotel are spacious and designed for comfort, featuring a variety of essential and innovative in-room amenities including an Apple iMac computer which functions both as a TV and computer, generous work desks and a gourmet in-room coffee and tea service. Complimentary high-speed internet access is available throughout the hotel as well as in each guest room.
For meetings, conferences and events, DoubleTree by Hilton locations at Manchester-Piccadilly and Leeds City Centre present some of the most extensive, innovative space in each city. Meeting rooms throughout the hotels have been thoughtfully designed for productivity, technology and spatial orientation, with natural daylight from floor-to-ceiling windows, soundproofed walls, complimentary wireless, high-speed internet access and an iMac for use in each room. Flexible and neutrally designed meeting rooms are ideal for small meetings as individual rooms, or when combined can comfortably accommodate large events of more than 200 guests in Manchester and more than 300 guests in Leeds.
DoubleTree by Hilton hotels at Manchester-Piccadilly and Leeds City Centre both feature a City Café – a informal, yet sophisticated restaurant where guests enjoy modern cuisine with an emphasis on seasonality. The Granary Lounge and Blue Bar at the Leeds City Centre and Manchester-Piccadilly locations, respectively, present relaxed, contemporary lounge spaces with a Whisky Bar and a wide range of cocktails, beers and wines as well as light lunches and sharing platters.
Skylounge at the DoubleTree by Hilton Leeds City Centre is the city’s premier rooftop venue for both cocktails and fine dining, with picturesque Leeds and Yorkshire views 13 storeys above the city centre. Skylounge at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester-Piccadilly may be reserved for private receptions with outstanding city skyline views for up to 60 guests.
Preferred Boutique™, an elite collection of intimate hotels and resorts and a brand of Preferred Hotel Group™, is pleased to announce its newest members in South Africa – 26 SUNSET AVENUE LLANDUDNO in Cape Town and 10 2ND AVENUE HOUGHTON ESTATE in Johannesburg. Nestled on the slopes of the Atlantic Seaboard next to the Sandy Bay Nature Reserve in the prestigious residential suburb of Llandudno, 26 SUNSET AVENUE LLANDUDNO provides six luxurious suites and an intimate service. Chapman’s Peak Drive and the renowned Camps Bay, Hout Bay, Noordhoek and Constantia villages are all within easy reach, as is the centre of Cape Town. Guestrooms offer a magnificent 180 degree view of the ocean with the sound of waves crashing a mere 130m away, and the main deck provides unforgettable sunsets.
Spacious and light-flooded, the six one-bedroom suites open up onto large private sun decks and feature floor-to-ceiling glass doors that completely retract into the walls, exposing the outstanding sea-views. For an indulgent stay, services from a butler, masseur, shopping assistant and personal chef are available. Each villa is equipped with a home theatre system, gourmet kitchen, spacious living areas with Wi-Fi , under floor heating, and private sun decks. Other facilities include a heated swimming pool and steam room.
Located in the exclusive suburb of Houghton Estate in Johannesburg, 10 2ND AVENUE HOUGHTON ESTATE is an established five-star boutique hotel with 11 rooms and a Presidential Suite. The 5000 square metre24-hour secure estate is surrounded by lush landscaped gardens within easy reach of the business hubs of Johannesburg, Braamfontein, Rosebank and Sandton as well as just 5 minutes away from the Rosebank Gautrain Station.
Reminiscent of an English country house, the rooms are a spacious 42 square metres and softly decorated in elegant furnishings. Centred around private courtyards with soothing water features, some feature a private balcony while two share a terrace area. For those seeking relaxation, there is a swimming pool, library, lounge room with fireplace and outdoor veranda to enjoy the gardens. The restaurant features an extensive menu with freshly baked pastries for breakfast and seasonal products. Three boardrooms can accommodate corporate gatherings for up to 24 guests.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has relocated its global headquarters from White Plains, NY to Stamford, bringing more than 800 jobs to Connecticut. Located in the Harbor Point development on Stamford’s historic waterfront, Starwood’s new 290,000-square-foot global headquarters comprises a two-tower office complex and is just minutes from downtown Stamford. The new global headquarters will be LEED certified, which aligns with Harbor Points own LEED certification.Starwood will pursue LEED certification from the US Green Building Council for its new office space. Designed by renowned firm HOK, the rejuvenated offices boast a sleek design that utilizes eco-friendly materials to create open spaces with ample natural light. Energy-conserving LED and CFL lighting was installed, along with recycled carpeting, Forest Stewardship Council-certified woods, low-VOC finishes and water conserving plumbing fixtures. Starwood expects to decrease energy use by 15 to 25 percent and water consumption by approximately 40 percent from its previous flagship offices.
Though the global headquarters has moved from White Plains to Stamford, Starwood is not leaving New York state where the company has 27 hotels and more than 4,000 associates. Starwood is also one of the largest hotel operators in New York City which is the only city in the world to boast all nine Starwood brands.
Premier Inn was awarded the ‘World’s Leading Budget Hotel Brand’ at the 2011 World Travel Awards, beating off strong competition from the likes of Best Western, Travelodge and Holiday Inn Express.The awards, voted for by world-wide travel agents were held last night in Doha, Qatar. Described by the Wall Street Journal as the ‘Oscars of the travel industry’, they are renowned for recognising the best hospitality and tourism brands throughout the world.
Patrick Dempsey, Managing Director for Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to win this award and would like to thank everyone who voted for us. To be recognised internationally in this way, whilst still only having a relatively small presence outside of the UK, demonstrates the strength of feeling towards the Premier Inn brand and the excellent standards and levels of customer service that the Premier Inn teams offer across the UK and worldwide.”
Manchester’s Holiday Inn Express on Oxford Road saw a 19.2 per cent increase in revenue during December 2011 having seen an 8.5 per cent increase in occupancy compared to the same period 12 months ago.However, other Manchester hotel occupancy rates only increased by 2.2 per cent in December and hoteliers saw a 1.0 per cent drop in revenue.
Jonathan Smith, general manager at Holiday Inn Express, Oxford Road, said: “December was a great month for us. Being situated so centrally in Manchester and offering rooms of a high standard at reasonable prices enabled us to capitalise on local events on the run up to Christmas as well as key sporting fixtures taking place in the city.”
Since opening, the Holiday Inn Express Oxford Road which is operated by Zinnia Manchester Hotels, has had almost 72,000 guests take advantage of the new style bedrooms, hot breakfast, contemporary bar, function space including meeting facilities and impressive entrance lobby.
Louvre Hotels Group is announcing the signature of a partnership with Groupe ACI OUTREMER, which specialises in real estate and hotel investments, to expand its positions in the French overseas departments and territories under its Première Classe and Campanile brands (two and three stars respectively). A partnership of trust between Louvre Hotels Group and Groupe ACI OUTREMER The partnership between Groupe ACI OUTREMER and Louvre Hotels Group will pave the way for the launch of 16 new projects in the French overseas departments and territories over the next three years, with five hotels in La Réunion, four in Guadeloupe, three in Martinique and four in French Guiana.
Eight of these hotel projects have already been firmed up and will account for a total of over 490 rooms: – Guadeloupe – Pointe à Pitre airport: Campanile (80 rooms) and Première Classe (40 rooms) – French Guiana (Cayenne) – Route de Baduel: Première Classe (70 rooms) – French Guiana – Cayenne airport: Campanile (60 rooms) and Première Classe (40 rooms) – La Réunion – Saint-Pierre: Campanile (100 rooms) – La Réunion – Sainte Clothilde: Campanile (100 rooms) – Martinique – Le Lamentin: Campanile (100 rooms)
For each of the hotels covered by this partnership, Groupe ACI OUTREMER will arrange and finance the infrastructure development plan and sign a franchise agreement with Louvre Hotels Group. Likewise, Louvre Hotels Group will support the construction of the projects under hotel technical assistance agreements to ensure that the standards of the Première Classe and Campanile brands are met. Louvre Hotels Group will provide Groupe ACI OUTREMER with the benefit of its expertise in both the monitoring and smooth execution of the business plans for each hotel and the recruitment and training of hotel managers, as well as handling reservations via its global and centralised booking system.
French overseas departments and territories: a market in which Louvre Hotels Group boasts numerous strengths Under this agreement with Groupe ACI OUTREMER, Louvre Hotels Group is seeking to expand its presence into the still undeveloped market of standardised chain hotels in French overseas departments and territories. The hotel complexes located to date in Martinique, La Réunion, Guadeloupe and French Guiana are situated a long way from the economic centres and are primarily intended for leisure travellers and thus do not meet the needs of business visitors.
The creation of economic hotel chains, such as Première Classe and Campanile, aims to cater to this emerging need in the French overseas territories. Louvre Hotels Group, which will enable business travellers in the French overseas departments and territories to pay 30% to 50% below the usual local hotel rates, is very well-placed to capitalise on the opportunities in this market.
Bolster its global positions through a partnership-based strategy With this latest partnership, Louvre Hotels Group is again demonstrating its determination to bolster its presence outside mainland France and in international markets by joining forces with high-calibre local partners. This partnership-based strategy will give Louvre Hotels Group the benefit of in-depth knowledge of the local market, establish its expertise and raise the profile of its flagship brands in new regions of the world.
What’s more, the Group is looking to help drive economic development in the regions into which it is expanding. Working with a high-calibre partner such as Groupe ACI OUTREMER, which boasts genuine expertise in hotels and real estate in the French overseas departments and territories, will help to secure a long-term future for these projects. This program was presented to the cabinet of the Minister of Overseas France.
The implementation of these projects going ahead will pave the way for the development of new activities in the French overseas regions, by providing accommodation capacity for business customers. These projects will have a positive impact on the performance of the regional economies.
Matthieu Evrard, Chief Development Officer of Louvre Hotels Group, commented: “This agreement will help us to establish and speed up the expansion of the Group and of our brands in these French departments by harnessing Groupe ACI OUTREMER’s first-class knowledge of and experience in the local markets.”
Stéphane de Reynal, Chairman of Groupe ACI OUTREMER, added: “This partnership with Louvre Hotels Group represents a tremendous opportunity for us to harness the benefit of its acclaimed expertise and its very well-known brands to build hotel projects that will meet genuine demand in French overseas regions.”
Marriott International, Inc. has recently celebrated the grand opening of the 107-room Residence Inn Edinburgh, the first Residence Inn branded property in the United Kingdom. The hotel, operated by Marriott International under a management agreement with Gladedale Ventures Limited, is centrally located in the Scottish capital’s new Quartermile development, the city’s most exciting new address.Colourfully dressed stilt-walkers, Scottish bagpipers and giant pandas “Sweetie and Sunshine,” representing Edinburgh’s most famous new residents since their arrival at the Edinburgh Zoo in December, also joined in on the festivities to mark the occasion.
Boasting 107 stylish and spacious studio and one bedroom suites designed by architect Foster + Partners and interior design house ICA Interiors, the Residence Inn Edinburgh is located near the picturesque Edinburgh Castle and the famed Royal Mile, as well as Edinburgh’s bustling business district, University and Haymarket and Waverly rail stations. Each suite offers a kitchen and expansive living, dining and working zones, designed for comfort for travellers staying five days or more. Special amenities include complimentary hot breakfast and Wi-Fi, grocery delivery service, 24/7 marketplace and fitness centre.
Scottish Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing commented, “I am delighted that Edinburgh is home to the first Residence Inn in Scotland. They have chosen to make the most of an excellent location in Quartermile which reflects the unique heritage of the city but also underlines the opportunities for development and growth. Around four million people visit our capital every year to make the most of our world renowned festivals and this will provide Marriott with an excellent platform for success with this new venture.”
As part of The Crown Estate’s £1 billion investment to develop London’s famous Regent Street bespoke lighting specialists Dernier & Hamlyn restored and recreated light fittings in art deco style for the bars and restaurants in the recently completed mixed use development known as Quadrant 3. For Dernier & Hamlyn it was a complex project with the aim of producing light fittings that would help to take the bars and restaurants back to their original style when they were opened in 1915 as part of the Regent Palace Hotel which, at the time, was the largest hotel in Europe with 1028 bedrooms. Since then not entirely sympathetic changes had been made to the lighting and it was The Crown Estate’s intention to re-invoke the unique ambience of the hotel.
Established in 1888, Dernier & Hamlyn has a long and distinguished history in the design and manufacture of light fittings for commercial, historic and residential sites and worked closely with developers Stanhope and main contractor Sir Robert McAlpine at Quadrant 3 which was delivered four months ahead of schedule and under budget.
Based in South London many of the Dernier & Hamlyn team’s varied skills were utilised during this project. For example in the main restaurant three large oval lights made of cast aluminium and glass and eight u-shaped fittings required extensive renovation. Over the years various glass panels had been replaced leaving a mishmash of styles and designs which were removed and replaced, although they have been stored for heritage recording purposes.
In order to replace the glass sections Dernier & Hamlyn first had to produce a variety of straight and curved moulds to produce the various sizes and types of glass panels required which were then installed in the restaurant.
During restoration it was also discovered that the formerly beautiful mirrored columns had been plastered over. Dernier & Hamlyn’s skilled craftsmen have removed this aberration and refurbished the mirrors to their original peach shading to reflect and complement the restaurant’s updated historic lighting.
Dernier & Hamlyn’s joint managing director Jeremy Quantrill comments: “This was an extremely demanding project but one that we are extremely proud to have been involved in. Helping to reinstate the hotel’s former splendour as part of this major historic restoration programme was very exciting and seeing the lights installed makes me extremely proud of our team and what they are capable of.”
As specialists providing comprehensive interior fit out services to Bars, Restaurants and Hotels across the UK, Dawnvale’s in-house manufacturing facilities provide bespoke bars and Joinery, through to contract furniture, commercial kitchens and ventilation. We have the skill sets and experience to provide you with a professional and cost effective solution even within restricted timescales.
Simply put, we offer as much or as little as you require for your project.
From the shell of the building to the bespoke leather on the seating, we manufacture, fit out and deliver project solutions for Restaurants, Hotels and Bars throughout the UK and internationally. We work with Designers, Architects and Industry Professionals to create interior and exterior places and spaces, in individual or roll out developments.
Why not contact our team to discuss your project and arrange an appointment to see our extensive contract showrooms and production facilities in Manchester on 0161 684 7879 or sa***@da******.com
This cosmopolitan and elegant chair from Style Seating is ultra functional, lightweight and stackable for ease of storage. Available in a choice of upholstery and frame colours to enhance its surroundings, the DE14 is sure to be a winner and new for 2012!
ITC Hotels has announced a new addition to its Luxury Collection of Indian hotels – ITC Rajputana, in Jaipur, joins the eight other prestigious hotels inthe Collection.
Designed along the lines of a haveli (a traditional Indian mansion), this sprawling redbrick complex, with its split levels, hidden courtyards, manicured gardens, minimalistic lattice work and sumptuous decoration, is a tribute to magnificent local Rajput architecture.Being unveiled early in 2012, another of Jaipur’s palaces will open to the public for the first time – Jal Mahal (‘lake palace’) is set on the banks on the man-made Mansagar Lake and has been painstakingly restored to its former glory.
Jaipur together with Delhi and Agra make up India’s famed Golden Triangle – three must-visit destinations for any discerning tourist. With the addition of the ITC Rajputana to the Luxury Collection, this portfolio now has a presence in each of these cities and it is excellent timing for those wishing to explore Jaipur’s newly opened palace as part of their Golden-Triangle experience.
ITC Rajputana’s luxurious accommodation is made up of 201 rooms and 17 exquisite suites. Guests will be able to choose from a range of options including elegant Royale rooms, luxurious chambers and Executive Club rooms featuring workspace for the corporate traveller.
ITC Hotels’ acclaimed dining concepts are represented in this property by five restaurants and bars with highlights including an outpost of award-winning Peshawri, which dishes up the authentic, rustic flavours of the North West Frontier and Sheesh Mahal – nicknamed the ‘Palace of Mirrors’ – well-known as the best bar in town.
A wealth of leisure facilities include the luxurious and award-winning Kaya Kalp Spa, an outdoor pool, a spacious indoor gym and jogging track for keen runners. World-class conference facilities are also available for the adroit business traveller to India.
As the first premium brand in the world to achieve LEED Platinum rating when all original eight of the Luxury Collection hotels were awarded this prestigious accolade in 2011, it was ITC Rajputana’s commitment to ITC Hotels’ ethos of Responsible Luxury that elevated it to Luxury Collection status. Already in place are a wealth of eco-friendly measures that make the hotel water positive, carbon positive and solid waste recycling positive. ITC Rajputana is Rajasthan’s first and only LEED Platinum rated hotel.
Gracing the halls of London’s Excel with its latest innovations in sanitary systems, Geberit will be at Ecobuild 2012 in March with a stand packed full of excellent examples of the lengths it goes to in offering ease of installation combined with durable, high quality products.Taking centre stage at Ecobuild will be Geberit’s UP320 concealed cistern, the first of its kind to require no tools to maintain. Boasting a number of innovative features, the cistern which is fitted into the Duofix framing system, has been updated to ensure a top-rate performance while helping specifiers adhere to ‘green’ guidelines for sustainability. . Primarily, the flush valve has been adapted to feature an additional low flush volume setting of 4.5 which can be simply activated and therefore provides flush volumes of 6 and 3 litres, factory set, or 4.5 and 3 litres for use with WC pans that have been designed for low flush volumes.
Alongside the UP320, Geberit will also be showcasing its comprehensive range of products, from plumbing and drainage solutions through to easy to install frame systems for wall-hung sanitaryware, stylish flush plates and touch-free infra-red sensor brassware.
Also, making its debut at Ecobuild will be a new self-sustaining power supply for Geberit infra-red taps.
To find out more about Geberit’s innovative sanitary systems and plumbing solutions visit Stand S225 at Ecobuild, Excel London, from Tuesday 20 to Thursday 22 March 2012.
The stunning range from Hill Cross Furniture comprises side chairs, bar stools and armchairs which add to their already extensive portfolio of products.
The contemporary solid wood Cristiana collection is designed to create impact and style. There are eight design variations to choose from which will allow you to mix and match armchairs, side chairs and bar stools to create your desired look.
These chairs can be upholstered in any fabric of your choice and can be finished to match any wood sample.
This range would perfectly complement any dining area or hotel reception area.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts continues to be at the forefront of digital innovation in the luxury travel industry with the introduction of a new, highly experiential global website. The new fourseasons.com offers an immersive and user-friendly experience, combined with rich global content, impactful design and social media integration. Guests can transport themselves to a distinctive Four Seasons destination with just a click. “Four Seasons has always provided an unparalleled hotel experience, and this level of service and engagement extends into our online presence,” says Susan Helstab, Executive Vice President Marketing, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “The new website anchors our already strong digital presence online, in social media and with the various communities we facilitate.”
As the first luxury hotel brand to fully embrace social media, Four Seasons moved digital to the forefront early on with Four Seasons magazine online, the introduction of blogs such as Have Family Will Travel, and a strong presence on social networking sites to suit the ways guests and travel partners communicate. The new Four Seasons website was thoughtfully designed in the same vein, to deliver an immersive and effortless experience tailored to every user. The brand’s signature service, locations and experiences are showcased through photo-rich, informative property and destination pages.
In addition to the new site, Four Seasons held focus groups globally to better understand guest and travel partner needs. This insight informed the content of the inaugural issue of the 2012 Four Seasons Luxury Trend Report. The first issue, The Luxury Consumer in the New Digital World: Then & Now, is now available online.
Axminster Carpets Commercial will be showing its new Revelry stock contract axminster range, Dunmore tufted stripe collection and the improved Ready to Weave online facility and service at this year’s Hotelympia.The manufacturer will also use the show to underline its position as one of the UK’s foremost hospitality and leisure carpet suppliers, showcasing its capabilities for high quality carpet suitable for everywhere from receptions, bars and restaurants through to meeting rooms and guest suites.
With the 80 strong Revelry stock collection providing specifiers with a wide portfolio of traditional and contemporary carpets, the Ready to Weave concept allowing recolouration of a huge design library in 32 different shades and a bespoke service, Axminster Carpets Commercial offers a complete solution for all hotel environments.
“We are using Hotelympia as a platform to showcase our talents for meeting the needs of specifiers no matter how big or small their project,” comments Richard Lawrence, head of marketing. “Whether owners refurbishing a few rooms to large hotels employing interior designers for a complete refit, Axminster Carpets Commercial has a solution that delivers excellent quality and great value, with the service and speed of UK-based manufacturing.”
Axminster Carpets Commercial is exhibiting in the Interiors & Technology zone on stand S2529.
Frank Hudson unveils the spectacular Shakespeare bed at Interiors 2012 at the NEC. The fourth generation family company has returned to its roots in designing and creating a highly detailed and hand carved four poster bed to showcase the carving skills and rich heritage of British furniture making.Perfectly proportioned to become a focal point in any, castle, hotel suite, or feature bedroom each bed is custom made to order. This bed must be seen to appreciate the quality and craftsman ship. It will be exhibited for the first time on Stand G6, Hall 1. Interiors 2012.
There is also a chance to win a sumptuous Chesterfield bed simply by leaving you business card at the stand.
Contact Keith Clarke, Frank Hudson Limited 07738 540287 or visit www.frankhudson.com
The kind of comfort and convenience offered by luxury hotel room control systems could soon become a much more mainstream feature of the sector thanks to the launch of Jung’s 2-Wire Bus Push Button Modules, available from The Wandsworth Group, Jung’s exclusive UK distributor.The units are simple to install as part of any hotel build or refurbishment and are suitable for both standardised rooms and boutique hotel settings.
While full building control systems often mean that lighting, temperature and blind controls are fully integrated and capable of providing a bespoke environment for each individual guest room in the world’s best hotels, the expense and complexity of these systems means that they are rarely found in sub-five star destinations. But now Jung has combined its intelligent technology expertise and chic, contemporary styling to develop the new modules, which enable hotels to offer their guests centralised switching/dimming of lights, curtains/blind controls and do not disturb indicators in a single wall-mounted unit, without the cost or disruption of installing a full control system.
The discreet module units are designed to allow insertion of a digital image of the room behind the transparent switch panel cover. This allows the hotel guest to identify the corresponding light fitting or control quickly and easily at a glance.
Explains Wandsworth’s managing director Gary Stevens: “Guests at the world’s top hotels expect an outstanding level of specification but the new Jung 2-Wire Bus Push Button Modules mean that middle market hotel operators can now deliver that wow factor for guests in a much simpler, more cost-effective way. And, as you’d expect from Jung, the modules are available in a range of design options to co-ordinate with other style-conscious Jung switches and sockets and complement the hotel’s interior.”
The Push Button Modules are connected to the relay station via a Jung 2-wire bus providing control of up to eight switching, dimming and blind control functions. Extension modules mean that the installation can be tailored to meet the requirements of individual rooms and units can be ‘cloned’ to allow multiple units with the same assigned controls within the room, enabling identical units to be placed by the door and by the bed, for example.
Interior design firm Bilkey Llinas Design (BLD) and hotelier, noted Chinese author Mr Lui, also known as Hai Yan, are pleased to announce the successful opening to critical acclaim for design and atmosphere of the Yan Club in the Kunlun Hotel, situated at 2 Xinyuan Nanlu, Beijing.The designers, having recently renovated the Kunlun Hotel to a contemporary 5-star international standard for Hai Yan, designed the Yan Club in the former backyard garden of the property. The eponymous club is also a play on words, evoking not just the owner’s name but also the connection with the stonework used throughout the club (having the same Chinese character as Yan’s name) and formed part of the design foundation for the designers’ sensitive and inspiring design.
Entering The Yan Club conjures the impression of venturing into a luxurious enchanted garden. This eclectic fantasy world blends rough surfaces with glitz, nature with fantasy, East and West, traditional and modern. The design is further amplified with dramatic and often colorful lighting to create an adventure full of surprises.
The more than 20 separate spaces form an enchanting maze of gorgeous VIP rooms and intimate lounge areas. These range from intimate private lounges and semi private booths, to al fresco garden terraces and the open bar areas where bands play live music. Large windows face onto the gardens and many of the spaces open with glass French doors. It’s a series of different experiences all pulled together with the indoor-outdoor magical garden theme.
The Venice Designer Collection from Lano provides seven beautiful designs and performance enough for hospitality and leisure environments and is distributed exclusively in the UK by the Headlam Group.With a 1,000,000 points finish, the Venice Designer Collection has beautiful pattern reproduction ensuring the contemporary and traditional designs within the range are created with pinpoint definition. Woven from 100% Lanoset polypropylene fibre on Lano’s advanced Wilton looms, all carpets within the collection are fade resistant, bleach cleanable and anti-static making them ideal in areas open to intensive cleaning or prolonged exposure to sunlight.
“Patterned carpet is popular in hospitality and leisure environments because it does much to disguise the appearance of dirt and soil,” explains Birger Karlsson, UK and Ireland Sales Manager. “Yet often these carpets are made from wool which requires a more sensitive approach to maintenance and can fade in extreme situations. However, using our Lanoset polypropylene fibre allows the Venice Designer Collection to be used in areas such as restaurants, bars, conservatories and orangeries, in fact anywhere where intensive cleaning and fade resistance is required.”
Featuring Persian and Turkish influenced designs, as well as a Damask, tartan and geometric patterns inspired by Lano’s Axminster collection, the Venice Designer Collection achieves Class 32 Commercial General suitability rating in accordance with EN 1307 or a Contract suitability rating in accordance with BS 7131, supported by a Low Radius flammability rating in accordance with BS 4790. With 16 options in total available in a four-metre width, colourways have been designed to meet broad needs.
For further information on all Lano carpet ranges, freephone 00800 5266 5266 or visit www.lano.com
Generally it is thought that chandeliers do not yield to the yacht market. People think they are fragile, not seaworthy and will not withstand salty environments and vibrations. Since the structure of chandeliers is completely different and difficult to ordinary pendant lighting, they require sophisticated engineering in order to protect the fragile crystal parts. However, with some modifications they can be converted to suit the yacht market and create an impressive design statement.Crystal Caviar are specialised in custom lighting within moving objects such as yachts, aircrafts and trains. Developed over a number of years, Crystal Caviar‘s specialist knowledge has been applied to fittings used in hotels in earthquake zones and sea coast areas with high corrosive environment. Crystal Caviar‘s know-how comes from centuries of proven technology and tradition of Bohemian crystal production.
How do you design and build a chandelier for yachts?
The owner or designer usually has a certain concept of lighting. They know roughly the size and the style of the chandelier required, whether that is classical, art deco, flower theme, Mother Nature theme, contemporary or ultramodern. The chandelier usually complements the style of the whole space, the colours and textures on other surfaces and the atmosphere.
The next step is the size, glass and glass technology specification. Here Crystal Caviar can suggest and develop the designer´s ideas, creating a feasible concept with appropriate materials. After the design is approved, the testing period starts. Every part of the chandelier is tested in weathering chambers. Parts are exposed to salty environment in special chambers. Parts and an assembled chandelier are tested on vibration platforms to check for latent faults and tension in the glass to avoid rattling. Sometimes unexpected rattling occurs on the platform. It is then rectified through a system of vibration dumpers, silentblocks, silicone beads or gluing the rattling parts. As the director of Crystal Caviar says, “Firstly, the chandelier has to be safe – then it can be beautiful”.
An extremely important part of the process is the onboard installation. Even a beautifully designed and well-produced chandelier, if not installed properly, can result in disaster if the final aesthetic and durability is wrong. On yachts, there are very experienced outfitters constructing the luxury interior spaces, so agreeing the interface and fixings is usually solved easily. Crystal Caviar provides the requirements for power supplies and the interface between the chandelier and ship structure. The chandelier can be installed by the outfitter, or when required, by a skilled in-house team from Crystal Caviar. The building and installation of a chandelier can be, with proper planning, a trouble-free turnkey project.
Amongst those designers who have made a bold decision and experienced the additional impact a chandelier can have on their design include: Andrew Winch Designs, H2 yacht design, Reymond Langton yacht design, Guido de Groot, A Massari yacht design and Evan K Marshal, to name just a few. Some of these designers have successfully used chandeliers as big as ten metres long in their interior designs. They have created a unique chandelier concept for their projects and by doing so have enhanced the beauty of their yacht interiors. Crystal Caviar is proud to work for many designers on a variety of projects on and off the sea.
London’s oldest railway hotel, The Grosvenor, has come to the end of an extensive interior and exterior refurbishment project, as the world’s eyes turn to the capital for 2012.
The iconic Grade II-listed property, which originally opened its doors in 1862 and was the first hotel in the capital to have fully functioning lifts, has been restored to its full Victorian splendour by Guoman Hotels.Managing Director of Guoman and Thistle Hotels, Heiko Figge, says: “The reputation and history of The Grosvenor makes it a valuable addition to the Guoman Hotels portfolio and allows us to build on our London presence for 2012. We have invested a great deal into blending the hotel’s original charm with modern day comforts to reinstate The Grosvenor as one of the grandest and most well-loved hotels in London.”
During the course of the 18-month project Guoman has worked hand-in-hand with experts from English Heritage to lovingly preserve and revitalise the building’s original architectural features. This included the reinstatement of the original gold leaf finish, hand painted onto all the columns in the grand lobby as well as the uncovering of original white marble on the iconic pillars – discovered as the works progressed.
The end of the project will also see the hotel officially become the fifth member within the luxury Guoman Hotels portfolio. Presented at an impressive four-star deluxe standard, all of The Grosvenor’s 346 bedrooms have been transformed to a high specification. There is a new residents’ gym, offering the latest fitness equipment, as well as a fully-enhanced meeting and conference space where all of the rooms are named after iconic trains – a direct homage to the hotel’s heritage as a central railway hotel.
Meanwhile, the sweeping marble staircase at the heart of the building now leads to a new destination bar, Réunion, underlining the hotel’s reputation as the ideal central spot for meetings and champagne gatherings in the hub of Victoria.
Other points of the full refurbishment include: • Restoration of the light and airy lounge area, perfect for an informal meeting or a delicious, traditional afternoon tea • The creation of Grand Imperial, a stunning Cantonese fine dining restaurant which includes a private dining room for 20 • Creation of nine new meeting rooms on the first floor, with accommodation for groups of up to 110 • A new manned business centre • Creation of three new executive Suites including a separate lounge area, heated bathroom floors, a roll top bath and rainfall shower, a Nespresso coffee machine, a complimentary mini bar and flowers, fruit and Champagne on arrival
Students in University of Warwick halls of residence are studying their way to a bright future upon tufted wool carpet from Wilton Carpets Commercial.
Recognising the superb appearance retention qualities and value of wool-rich carpets, the Estates Office of University of Warwick selected tufted graphics carpets from Wilton Carpets for its Claycroft, Bluebell Views, Lakeside and Tocil student accommodation. With an excellent array of semi-bespoke FastTrack collections in a choice of contemporary colourways, Wilton Carpets Commercial is ideally positioned to meet the needs of the education sector. In this instance, the University selected a mixture of FastTrack and bespoke designs for each premises, with a total of over 21,000 square metres installed over the course of a year.
“Making the students feel they are in a comfortable and relaxing environment is vital in ensuring their wellbeing throughout their stay with the University,” comments theEstates Office, University of Warwick. “Yet we also have to consider the punishment the carpets undergo throughout their life and so we selected wool-rich tufted carpets for their excellent value and long-term appearance retention and durability.”
The installation at Lakeside has now endured the studious lifestyle of students for a year and has proven its ability to retain its appearance, as the Estates Office continues:
“16,500 students and 5,168 members of staff attend the University every day during term time and we currently receive about eight applications per place at the university, so demand is high. However, maintaining that demand is down to more than just the academic departments. The standard of accommodation for undergraduates is part of the whole package that the University of Warwick offers and the halls of residence need to be just as well regarded as the faculties. Part of this is making sure our student accommodation is second to none and Wilton Carpets has helped us achieve this.”
All tufted carpets in the numerous corridors and bedrooms of the four residential Lakeside buildings use a performance blend of 80% wool and 20% nylon for a combination of durability, appearance retention and value. Combined with a vast library of designs and colour palettes to enhance interior environments, Wilton Carpets FastTrack tufted carpets provide education environments with a stylish floorcovering solution that will deliver upon expectations.
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort’s $45 million makeover of the iconic Rainbow Tower is complete. The transformation of all 800 rooms began in April with each room receiving a total makeover, including all furnishings, carpet, wall covering, bathrooms, baths, fixtures, drapery and artwork. Architect and designer Ann Matsunami of Pacific Asia Design Group used the colours of Hawaii as the basis of developing themes for the new rooms: the warm and vibrant colours of the sun, the glow of a day at the beach represented by orange and golds. The look and feel is contemporary and welcoming, with tropical textures on clean shapes. The corridors on all guest-room floors, three through to 31, have been upgraded with new light fixtures, wall coverings, carpet and artwork. Lifts lobbies also received new lift door faces and frames, new flooring, lighting and wall treatment.
The tower’s signature suites, the Duke Kahanamoku Suite and the Niumalu Suite on the 31st and 30th floors, respectively, were completed with a total price tag of $1 million in upgrades. The Duke and Niumalu Presidential Suites now feature contemporary and sophisticated interiors with subtle touches of Hawaiian influence. Jewel tones of sapphire blues and golds recall the shimmering ocean in calm, soothing backgrounds of textured neutrals. A large living area and adjacent dining area and pantry with separate sitting area allow for the perfect layout for hospitality and elegant receptions.
The resort features more than 90 shops and 16 restaurants, lounges and bars; and every Friday evening, it sets the stage for a celebration of Hawaiian culture and entertainment ending in a spectacular fireworks show.
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) announces the opening of the new Holiday Inn North Phoenix, which recently underwent a conversion from a Ramada Plaza hotel. The extensive $4.5 million renovation includes a complete remodelling of the hotel. The first hotel in Phoenix to install a solar water-heating system to provide hot water to the entire property, the new Holiday Inn North Phoenix was developed to be more efficient to build, operate and maintain. The 91,000 square foot hotel at 12027 N. 28th Drive – at the intersection of I-17 and Cactus Road – has 174 rooms, including eight suites. The exterior of the hotel, as well as the lobby, restaurant and lounge, feature a modern fresh design unique to the Holiday Inn brand.
The hotel design has a residential atmosphere that is warm, trend forward and comfortable. The hotel features a natural, fresh colour palette punctuated by pops of energetic colours. Guest beds are made using crisp, white bedding with pillows that come in two comfort levels: “soft” and “firm.” While the bathrooms include a specially designed showerhead that offers superior pressure, as well as a signature shower curtain with curved rod and new amenities.
The residential design includes business-focused necessities such as an ergonomic workstation, data ports, complimentary newspapers, complimentary high-speed Internet access in guest rooms and WiFi capabilities. In addition, each room features the standard Holiday Inn guestroom accommodations – comfortable double, queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair, a 32-inch flat-screen TV, hairdryer, micro fridge, coffee maker, iron and ironing board.
Conveniently located just 15 minutes from Sky Harbour International Airport and downtown Phoenix, the new hotel offers 2,750 square feet of meeting space, a fitness centre and an outdoor pool with a whirlpool.
The full service hotel includes the Tandoori Times 3 restaurant, which offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. menu, with signature items such as Rainforest AllianceâAn authentic Indian bistro, Tandoori Times 3 provides guests with a relaxed casual atmosphere that includes a lounge and patio bar. Known for its exotic dishes from the northern regions of India, the restaurant also offers American fare, including the standard Holiday Inn Best-4-Breakfast™ Certified coffee, Cinnamon Supreme French Toast™ and Skillet Inspirations™. Kids 12 and younger eat free at Holiday Inn when ordering from the kids’ menu in the hotel restaurant and accompanied by a dining adult. Room Service Right…On Time™, also a standard at all Holiday Inn hotels, ensures that guests’ room service orders are accurate and delivered on time, every time.
The Holiday Inn North Phoenix is owned by Bel Aire, LLC and managed by Advance Management & Investment, LLC, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.
Bespoke Hotels has recently announced that it has taken over the management of Cotswold House Hotel and Noel Arms in Chipping Campden.
The fast-growing hotel group, which counts a number of Cotswold properties among its 50-plus portfolio, has acquired the two hotels and is promising to restore both hotels to their place in the centre of this vibrant community.Bespoke Hotels chief executive, Haydn Fentum, who grew up in the Cotswolds and whose family have run a number of hotels in the area, said: “We’re very much looking forward to re-establishing both the Cotswold House and Noel Arms. These are difficult times for the hospitality, and many other industries. But both of these hotels have so much going for them, that we feel very optimistic that we can develop trade amongst both locals and visitors.”
“Our first task is to build relations with all of the local people. We really want to play our part in the local business community and help bring more trade and visitors to the area.”
Ptt Design are happy to announce the appointment of Shelley Wilcock as the new Sales Manager for the north of England and Scotland.Angelo Moscatelli, Sales Director of Ptt Design, is convinced that Shelley’s extensive experience in the hotel and leisure industry, coupled with a methodical approach and clear understanding of Customers requirements, will be an added value to the organisation and will establish a stronger presence of Ptt Design in the designated regions.
Leading UK shower designer and manufacturer, Roman Limited, will be undertaking a project throughout 2012 to document a year in the life of the Company through photographs. Officially titled Project 252, due to their being 252 working days throughout 2012, they will publish a photo of every working day throughout the year.The photos are set to showcase all aspects of the business, from shower enclosure manufacture on the shop floor, through to Export meetings all around the World, and from production in their Solid Surface and Tray Manufacturing facility, to their Sales Force and Technical Representatives out in the field.
The whole company will be getting involved and posting photos to truly document a year in the life of a shower manufacturer.
David Osborne, Managing Director at Roman, commented: “We are really excited about Project 252 – everybody in the company is keen to get involved and have their own department highlighted. We are also keen for customers and friends of Roman to be involved and will be asking our customers to send in their own pictures for inclusion on the website. These can be anything from their own Roman displays in showrooms, through to completed hotel bathrooms, from our fitters at work on projects and installing displays, through to business meetings with key clients and Factory visits to our North East head office. We’d really like customers and retail partners to get in touch with their suggested photos.”
White sandy beaches, pristine clear waters and lush tropical rainforests are what make Hainan Island a true paradise and perfect holiday destination. Hainan Island is the smallest of the Chinese provinces and located in the South China Sea. As of Jan 8th, 2012, Kempinski is proud to open the Kempinski Hotel Haitang Bay, only 25 minutes from Sanya Phoenix International Airport. The property is set to become a stunning Chinese hideaway alive with European flair.The five-star hotel is made up of four interlinking parts – the hotel complex, private villas, a conference centre with several meeting rooms and a leisure part, which offers a golf course and a luxurious spa. A 1,200 meter long sea water river connects the different parts of the premises and taking the gondola between the guest rooms and restaurants is a romantic and not to missed experience.
The conference centre offers eleven meeting rooms for any conferences and meeting needs. The Grand Ballroom can host large events up to 1,200 guests. The spacious outdoor venue – a beautiful lawn, leading to a pristine sandy beach – is the ideal setting for beautiful weddings, birthday parties, gala dinners, anniversaries, celebrations and exhibitions.
Executive Chef Nikolaos Lekkas and his team will present delicious culinary creations in six outlets, with Café Berlin offering international buffets, the elegant Yuen Court Chinese Restaurant in modern design with the river floating through the restaurant will serve Cantonese cuisine and Hainan specialties. The El Faro Beach Bar invites guests to linger and relax, snacking and enjoying cocktails whilst taking in spectacular sunsets. At the world-renowned Paulaner Bräuhaus, guests can enjoy freshly home-brewed beer and hearty Bavarian dishes, being entertained by the live band! The Rotunda Café is located at the heart of the hotel complex. A la carte lunch and dinner feature the best of Chinese, Asian and Western cuisines. Crunchy snacks and soft sponge cakes are displayed alongside fine desserts, tempting guests to linger for an afternoon tea served by a tea specialist at the Rendez-vous Lobby Lounge.
The Art Centre, spectacularly located, surrounded by the river and golf has been built brick by brick from an old Shanghai-style house previously owned by Mr. Du Yue Sheng (20th century Chinese celebrity). The 9-hole practice golf course includes a children’s putting green, and blends perfectly into the picturesque garden. The Spa Centre will pamper you, relax and make you feel rejuvenated. Exclusive shopping, two well-lit tennis courts, outdoor swimming pools, fitness centre, games room and many other recreational facilities complete the menu offering.
Room Key, a new venture owned by six of the world’s leading hotel companies, has announced that it has launched Roomkey.com, an innovative new online hotel search engine that will provide the simplicity, transparency and breadth of choice consumers expect from a search engine, while delivering the flexibility, accuracy and assurance consumers expect from the hospitality industry. Founded by Choice Hotels International, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott International, Inc. and Wyndham Hotel Group, part of the Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, or their respective affiliates, and led by a highly regarded management team, Roomkey.com provides travellers a search and book experience tailored for ease of hotel shopping through an uncluttered and trustworthy site. It will give consumers confidence that they have made the right choice by providing accurate hotel information straight from the source. From searching through to booking directly with the hotel, Roomkey.com enables consumers to search, book and relax.
This unique offering will quickly evolve to offer independent reviews, and the ability to compare, plan and share with friends and family. Room Key will initially focus on serving U.S. travellers, followed shortly after launch by the expansion of the site to English-speaking regions outside the U.S.
John F. Davis III, a highly experienced hospitality industry visionary with a history of entrepreneurial successes, is Chief Executive Officer of Room Key. He leads a veteran executive team with deeply relevant and complementary experience and accomplishments, including Chief Marketing Officer Stephany Verstraete and Chief Technology Officer J. Kurt Zimmer.
The Company acquired its technology platform from hotelicopter in an asset deal that closed last year. This innovative and flexible hotel search and direct connect platform allows Room Key to evolve and enrich the user experience quickly. Additionally, hotelicopter’s affiliate platform will provide destination marketing organizations with a hotel marketing platform that helps drive more direct bookings to their local hotels, now under the Room Key Solutions brand.
Mr. Davis said, “Finding the right hotel is complex and, unlike booking a flight or reserving a car, it is a personal decision process – one which no one understands better than hoteliers. We believe Roomkey.com will provide consumers with an innovative resource that will give them unprecedented confidence in their booking decisions by fulfilling their hotel search needs with comprehensive and trusted content, and over time, through additional features such as the ability to connect and share their plans with family and friends – all provided through a simple and flexible site experience.”
The Signbox e-shop has added the Alumino display stand range. Supremely stylish, this contemporary looking silver anodised aluminium floor stand is designed to present A4 and A3 notices in portrait or landscape format.Easy to assemble, the stands are sturdy in construction but light enough to move around a building. Ideal for the modern office reception area, hotels, bars, cafes, restaurants, retail outlets, public spaces or any location where instant information needs to be displayed at a moment’s notice.
The Signbox e-shop continues to go from strength-to-strength assisting more businesses and facilities managers with their corporate and workplace signage requirements. As one of the UK’s foremost sign manufacturers and winner of the coveted ‘Best Sign Company of the Year’ award for 2011, Signbox took the view from the outset that workplace signs don’t have to be utilitarian and purely functional – the ever present “visual clutter of DTP notices”. Their customer research revealed that what many companies wanted were high quality, aesthetically pleasing workplace signs that are in keeping with the quality of their own working environment – yet at affordable prices.
The Signbox e-shop range are all stock items so delivery is quick with most types of signs needed in and around the workplace available including display, health & safety, desk and door, fire escape, paper insert and wayfinding – with the most sought after being fire escape signs.
Bellstar Hotels & Resorts is thrilled to announce the opening of One Wellness & Spa at Solara Resort & Spa. The new wellness facility elevates Bellstar’s flagship luxury Canmore property to the leading wellness destination resort in the Canadian Rockies. Owned and operated by local resident and physiotherapist Hugh Simpson, One Wellness & Spa was founded after Simpson witnessed the destructive effects of extreme stress and pressure on the lives of two close friends. With a revolutionary concept striving to change the traditional ‘passive’ spa experience into an integrated exploration of personal wellness, dedicated to long-term transitions. Programs, packages and services are layered, focusing on the needs, preferences and objectives of the guest.
The Pathways to Engagement process is One Wellness and Spa’s signature experience menu. Guests choose a Pathway that best represents a current need – Sleep, Release, Clearing, Transition or Joy – and then they are led through a process of needs assessment, massage, specialized aromatherapy, custom breath work and guided imagery that best reflects his or her chosen Pathway. The aim is to support and inspire guests to continue along their pathway to wellness and health beyond the treatment room. More traditional spa services are also offered by a team of talented technicians, using the best possible products and ingredients: a Skin Fitness facial or Moisture Drench facial will leave skin nourished, glowing and radiant, while a stimulating Lemongrass Mimosa body scrub will help restore skin’s health and elasticity. Other services offered by the spa include personal training, fitness, Pilates, life strategy coaching sessions, nutrition related services and physiotherapy.
One Wellness & Spa is located at Solara Resort & Spa, Canmore’s most elegant destination resort. This deluxe property features fully furnished suites complete with gourmet kitchens, fireplace and living room. Fresh mountain air and breathtaking views of the majestic Rocky Mountains can be viewed from every window, inspiring guests to renew and escape from the routine of every day life. On site amenities include hot pools, fitness centre and an expansive conference and meeting space with a 96-seat theatre perfect for corporate events and weddings.
Perched on the edge of in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Canmore is nurturing its reputation as Canada’s leading health and wellness destination. With a unique mountain-culture, growing culinary offerings and artisan stores, as well as its proximity to pristine wilderness and world-class selection of exciting mountain sports, Canmore’s appeal continues to build.
Focus SB is showcasing its entire diverse range of lighting accessory plates at INTERIORS UK, building on the success of its stand at last year’s exhibition.(INTERIORS UK: Birmingham NEC, 22nd – 25th January 2012: Hall 3, stand C8)INTERIORS UK is the UK’s largest interiors trade exhibition, the source for furniture, lighting, flooring, fabrics, soft furnishings and accessories for retail and contract markets from leading manufacturers and suppliers. Roger Kemp, Managing Director, Focus SB, says: “The Prism and Prism II range are the ideal plate for interior designers; why have a plate that is going to cover up the detailed wallpaper when you can have a clear plastic plate and with no screws!
“Primed white is another of the designer’s best friends,” he continues. “Once the colour scheme has been decided, the plate can be installed and simply painted over for the exact matching finish. All of our finishes can also be bespoked to any specification with any AV socket required.”
With their second sister branch opening in Newcastle in a months’ time, Sleeperz are slowly building up a brand with an exciting and fresh initiative. Their concept is simple – working around existing plots of land close to mainline stations in order to create something desirable, but without the hefty price tag. In this current economic climate, this is something that is unsurprisingly popular. Being flexible with the exterior of the building has resulted in Sleeperz using up every last square metre of space to accommodate as many guests as possible – there are a total of 74 rooms in the Cardiff property. The rooms are therefore compact, yet in no means do you go without. The bespoke furniture slots in every available angle. This does not mean a lack of design or creativity though – the hotel strives to succeed in all three important factors they target – location, value and above all, style.
A sophisticated vibrancy would be the best way to describe the overall style of the hotel. The reception/bar area invites a colourful combination of red and orange washes, while black seating and bespoke white tables balance out the tones of the room. The seating arrangement is well laid out, ensuring that the amount of seating in one space can by no means be mistaken for overcrowding. A 1920’s art décor ambience certainly lingers. Black light shades hang from the ceiling, giving the room character and edge. Natural light is as inclusive as the furniture as a result of the many windows on either side of the room. Although the rest of the hotel has been exclusively designed by Jamie Buchanen, this room was recently re vamped by boutique hotel owner Janine Powell, currently helping with the design for the Newcastle property.
A corridor leads guests to the breakfast room. The aim was simple – to create the best breakfast room they could have. The result certainly succeeded this desire. Refreshing is the first word that springs to mind. The cool and airy openness results in the same uplifting feeling as a breath of fresh air, or that cup of coffee first thing in the morning – something that is certainly on offer here. Spotlights create sophistication, a far cry away from the conventional budget establishment. Vertical window panels give the room dimension. A breakfast bar runs around the outer circumference, joined by a scatter of modern tables. The room is certainly spectacular and has unsurprisingly been booked for numerous private functions, including Sleeperz’ very own birthday party.
Refurbishment was by Janine Powell of Hamptons Design Studios
RHA introduce a selection of charming retro seating that you should consider including in your design projects over the next few months.If you’re looking for something to add a bit of character to your current design projects, why not consider including a chair, sofa or wing-back recently added to the RHA Furniture website.
The new Maxima chair has straight wooden legs, a round seat and interestingly shaped backrest. Specify a retro patterned fabric to really get the look right.
The Majestic sofa and armchair would be interesting items to feature in a hotel lounge or spa project you might be working on at the moment.
View details & more images by visiting RHA Furniture’s online product directory rhafurniture.com
The Rezidor Hotel Group announces two new hotels in Oslo: The Radisson Blu Hotel, Oslo Alna with 135 rooms and the Park Inn by Radisson Oslo Alna with 208 rooms will be located in adjacent towers, with shared facilities and management. Their opening is scheduled for Q3 2013. Both properties are owned by Norwegian-based Wenaasgruppen, which is one of Rezidor’s most important development partners.
The new hotels are located in a highly visible location along the E6, which is the main road connecting Oslo with the airport. The site is 10km east of downtown and 40km from the airport, making it a convenient destination for corporate travellers and meetings & events. Radisson Blu is Rezidor’s core upper upscale brand and the most preferred brand for business travellers in the Nordics. Park Inn by Radisson is a young and dynamic mid market brand offering great value for money. Besides 123 respectively 202 modern rooms, the new hotels will offer shared facilities such as a restaurant and bar, 1,200m2 of conference space, a fitness centre and parking.
Rezidor is the premier and most important hotel operator in Norway: The group’s portfolio in the country now totals 29 hotels and 7,000 rooms in operation or under development and extends the full length of Norway from the Radisson Blu Polar Hotel, Spitsbergen in the north (near the North Pole and considered the world’s most northern full service hotel) to the Radisson Blu Caledonien Hotel in Kristiansand in the south.
Wright’s Fine Furniture of Shrewsbury are proud to be the furniture suppliers to Verdi’s. In his TV “Great Britain” series (still available on 4oD), Jamie visited the famous Verdi’s ice cream parlour on the Gower Peninsula on the beautiful South Wales coast. Verdi’s is owned and run by The Maruzzi family, who have been making ice cream for generations and are famous for their wonderful variety of flavours. The recipes are a closely guarded secret, (not even available to Jamie Oliver). You can enjoy these fantastic ice creams on the terrace overlooking the sea, sitting on Wright’s chairs of course.
Wright’s Fine Furniture also specialise in canteen furniture and American Diners. Why not check out their website www.wrightsfinefurniture.com
When I started this series at the end of October it was not intended to be in the News columns of HotelDesigns. The first written as an Editorial piece in one of our emails (if you want to receive these then sign up for the Directory and choose which emails you want). However the responses were strong. The third article came out at the beginning of December and again prompted responses, but I have held back from this 4th article until the holiday period was over, as I didn’t want the thread lost in the decorations.
The Editorial was simply an attempt to place in context for designers the reasons behind creating the Company Profiles for them, to increase their understanding of the importance of the processes they are designing for when they seek to produce bespoke units. I said in that first article:
“In many ways the skills of designers such as Katerina Zacharides at Morgan Furniture, artisans such as Frank Triggs at Woodforms who carved the magnificent dragons at the Celtic Manor, or Adam Aaronson at Aaronson Noon are the true inheritors of the William Morris arts and crafts movement. Their involvement in the process from inception to completion is part of a great English tradition” I have consistently warned that exporting manufacturing abroad would lead to loss of design as that followed the manufacturing. As a result there are less local UK manufacturers for Universities to link to, with the result that design for manufacturing becomes more theoretical and doesn’t become enriched through projects being subject to the scrutiny of the potential manufacturer. The process should be symbiotic – the vision of the designer pushing technical developments in an industry, and the technical developments expanding the horizons for designers.
At a recent exhibition there were shining examples of products benefitting from close collaboration, including some quite magical fabrics from companies like Skopos showing how digital production methods change the nature of the end product, and how important the designers vision is in this process. I know many famous and not so famous designers have made their contribution to the design of products as a part of their interiors work – indeed I have trodden this path myself. However if the manufacturer is not there to collaborate with then the ability to innovate is lessened as the understanding of process disappears.
This view was reinforced for my by one of our new Directory companies, Heritage Silverware. Heritage has manufactured Tableware, Cutlery, Holloware and Bone china for the opening of London’s Corinthia Hotel, Coworth Park and the last Cunard luxury Liner Queen Elizabeth amongst many others in last 12 months. Owner Martin McDonagh has spent “40 years in silverware and tableware building a factory and business here in Birmingham” and went on to say:
“Both my children who graduated in design 6 years ago have come into the business which was a shock as I tried in vain to put them off, but they have embraced and loved the world of manufacturing from the very first day.
This was simply because they were able to step on to the shop floor and see their designs being made within hours of drawing and then learn from our craftsmen that the design would struggle to be made competitively without changes to the way it needed to be made.
Instantly they then grasped what was needed and how they should proceed with future ideas and that no Good Design can be done if conceived or planned in a “vacuum”.
Our Universities churn out every year Graduates into the world as though they have been taught and accredited to instantly work in industry without any practical knowledge or skill as to how to make design work.
That’s what has been missing from British Tableware of late as our factories close these kids don’t have the opportunity or the ability to go and see and experience the actual manufacturing process and understand the limitations of product manufacture and how to go about getting around this and coming up with different and even better solutions”
Rodney McMahon at Morgan Furniture has spent time building relationships with local schools in his area of Hampshire, and trains his own work force offering apprenticeships. His comments about the difficulties created by our civil servants (I think we should call them uncivil servants) and ignorant politicians has been echoed by Gemma Stockberger of Versatil who says
“We are a British manufacturer and have been for 44 years now. We would be only too happy to take on apprentices and trainees, but find that legislation makes it difficult.
Due to the machinery we use, legally employees have to be over 21, which then makes them more expensive to employ. The unemployment rate for young people is at record levels which is an absolute crime when there is so much potential out there.
We also have to monitor them at all times when using the machinery, which makes it doubly time consuming and labour intensive. A real catch 22 situation!”
There is much talk now about rebalancing the economy. Desperately overdue, the rebalancing may come too late to save aviation (we no longer produce complete aeroplanes in the UK), large chunks of shipbuilding (Cunard’s Queens were all built in Italy or France), our railway companies (this in the nation that invented railways). Many in the supply chain to the hotel industry have tried to remain small and nimble in an effort to survive the vicissitudes of the British economy. The reluctance to grow and compete globally must be overcome. Companies like PF Collections have successfully serviced the industry in many countries abroad, but we need more of the industry to compete with our German, Italian etc. competitors.
Rodney McMahon has staff who have given his company a lifetime of service. I have a decorated scroll on my office wall salvaged from the London office of Wall Paper Manufacturers Ltd. recording 4 employees who devoted a total of 195 years service to the company.
For manufacturing to survive and prosper over the fifty years ahead we need commitments from all political parties on stable levels of taxation. We need a national industrial strategy that is not going to change every three or four years. We need tax and NI systems simplified, and confidence given to manufacturers so that they take on employees for the long term. Most of all we need to get the monkey that is the national bureaucratic administration system off manufacturers backs.
You can add your views in the comments area under this article – all are checked before publication – be aware that adverts will be deleted!
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) announces the opening of the new Holiday Inn Express & Suites Phoenix Tempe University, which recently underwent a conversion from a Comfort Inn. The $1.5 million renovation includes a new exterior colour scheme and a new interior urban design in all 72 guest rooms. Conveniently located at 1031 E. Apache Boulevard, the three-story, 35,000-square-foot hotel is one block east of Arizona State University and just a half mile from the Mill Street District, which features a mix of outstanding restaurants and shops. The hotel also offers easy access to Interstate 10 and Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport.
With easy access to downtown Phoenix as well as the neighbouring communities of Mesa, Scottsdale, Glendale, Chandler and Gilbert, the hotel features amenities such as free high-speed wireless Internet connections in guest rooms and the lobby as well as in the hotel’s 24-hour business centre. There is also a fitness centre and outdoor pool.
The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Phoenix/Tempe/University is owned by Tempe Hotel Partners LLC and managed by B&T Hospitality Management, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.
Hilton Hotels & Resorts have recently announced the brand’s return to Albany, N.Y., with the reflagging of Crowne Plaza Albany – City Center as Hotel Albany, an affiliate of Hilton.The hotel will undergo extensive renovations to the guest rooms, lobby, common areas, administrative offices and parking garage in early 2012, and upon completion will bear the new name of Hilton Albany. Hotel Albany is the first Hilton property in the Capital District region and joins The Saratoga Hilton as the second hotel in Upstate New York.
The hotel features 386 guest rooms, including suites with a separate living room area and executive rooms outfitted with a spacious and well-lit work space. Guests will enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi access, an indoor pool and two dining outlets, Webster’s Corner and Kelsey’s Restaurant. The hotel offers complimentary shuttle service to-and-from the Albany Airport and Rensselaer Amtrak Station that provide direct access to Manhattan.
Business travellers will find 25,200 square feet of flexible meeting space, including the largest ballroom in the Capital District; 15 meeting rooms; and a modern business centre. Two executive floors feature private access and a club lounge that serves breakfast, afternoon hors d’ oeuvres and cocktails.
Hotel Albany offers a prime location within walking distance of the Capitol Building, Empire State Plaza and Times Union Center. Guests will enjoy the convenience of being located at the centre of the downtown entertainment and dining district, blocks away from the Capital Repertory Theatre, Palace Theatre, New York State Museum and the Albany Institute of History & Art.
Morgans Hotel Group has recently announced that it has entered into a hotel management agreement for an approximately 360-room Mondrian-branded hotel to be located at Sea Containers building on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. This hotel is expected to be the sixth Mondrian hotel in the expansion of the Company’s iconic brand and the first Mondrian hotel in Europe. Upon completion and opening of the hotel, Morgans will operate the hotel pursuant to a 25-year management agreement, with two 10-year extension options. The hotel is scheduled to open in early 2014.
“We are very excited to announce our first Mondrian hotel in Europe,” said Michael Gross, Chief Executive Officer of Morgans Hotel Group. “Sea Containers is an exceptional property in a key gateway city that will allow us to serve our guests for business and leisure throughout the year. Morgans was specifically selected by the property’s owner to develop and manage Mondrian London, which is a testament to the appeal of our lifestyle management and the strength of the Mondrian brand. This is the third new management agreement for a Mondrian-branded hotel that we have announced this year. We believe the Mondrian brand has unique appeal and significant potential for global expansion.”
Jonathan Ofer, Managing Director of the Deerbrook Group, the adviser to the owner said, “We conducted a thorough operator selection process and believe Morgans under the Mondrian brand will create a special destination at Sea Containers.”
Sea Containers is an approximately 412,000 square foot office building centrally located on the South Bank of the River Thames, close to many cultural attractions as well as business hubs. The owner of Sea Containers intends to renovate the building into a mixed-use development to include a 360-room Mondrian hotel and 280,000 square feet of prime office space. The hotel will have an innovative restaurant and both a ground floor bar and rooftop bar, specially conceived by The Light Group, one of the world’s leading food and beverage operators. Morgans intends to invest approximately 9 million pounds, or approximately $15 million, of key money into the project.
Earlier in the year, the Company announced it has entered into hotel management agreements for Mondrian-branded hotels in Doha.
Editors Note: The new owners of the Sanderson and St. Martins Hotels, Cedar Capital Partners, are embarking on refurbishment programmes at the hotels which will continue to be managed by Morgans
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