IDEAL Marble and Granite Ltd from York are delighted to introduce a new range in Split Faced Limestone. It has most recently been used as a feature in one of Antofagasta’s offices to complement the natural wood floors. The engraved logo makes a striking alternative for indoor signage.The slabs are available in 600 x 400mm (as shown) and 600 x 600mm.
Would this enhance your project?
Please call Derek for your free sample on +44 (0) 1759 306161.
This is one of those accidental Reviews. They happen when a stay en-route to a targeted hotel or for some other reason finds me staying in an interesting hotel (in this case an Inn) by random chance. Shibden Mill was local to my hosts, Andy Thornton, when I was writing their Company Profile for the DesignClub. Pub/hotels are an interesting phenomenon that I have written about before (notably recently the Alma, one of Wandsworth’s Youngs Brewery hotels). Often the food is overrated, and rooms fail to compete with standard hotels. However the independently owned Shibden Mill is one of a growing number of properties, like the Alma, which are exceptions to these generalisations.
If you didn’t know about Shibden Mill, you would never find it. Saying it’s just outside Halifax in West Yorkshire is not a lot of help. My navigator started to doubt the satnav as we plunged down narrower and narrower cobbled tracks – she has reason, as Volkswagen once told me I couldn’t expect detailed accuracy as the ‘UK is on the periphery of Europe’. However we have come to habitually drive with very little by way of back-up maps so on this occasion we had no option but to follow directions scrupulously down into the secret valley in which the Mill nestles.
It was a Mill once, in the 17th Century, about the time settlers were landing on the coast of the Americas. The mill and its attached barns have been subsumed into the adjacent hostelry, creating 11 en-suite bedrooms, a reception and small guest lounge quite separate from the pub. Tucked away in a fold of the Shibden valley it has been extended and converted by the owners, Simon and Caitlin Heaton, steadily over the years. In that statement lies the dichotomy of pubs as hotels.
Pubs like the Alma benefit from the investment power of major operators. Its £2.5million (at current rates about $4million) cost has produced a 26 bedroom hotel with a pub/restaurant attached. Professionally designed, executed and managed it was able to employ expertise in both design and operation denied to most owner occupiers. Shibden Mill Inn is a conversion of love by owners who have steadily over years put heart and soul into creating a property that reflects design in its more domestic form, but where the passion for comfort, service and food provides the guest with an experience that the major operators struggle to emulate.
So is it good design? Is it worth a Review, if it is domestic? Well it isn’t domestic – it just lacks the panache that maybe (and it is a maybe) a professional designer would have given it. Too often a professional designer would have been employed on professional fees only to produce a result that would not have matched what the owners have created here. So why does this work? What made me want to write about it? The simple answer is that the operational philosophy has driven the design. Shibden Mill Inn is an evolution – unlike the Alma which was a major reconstruction. The true comparative for this might be the Manor House in Dronfield, but the smaller public spaces there have not allowed the kind of old fashioned sinking into luxury feel that has been arrived at here. In part the space has allowed the luxury, indeed is the main luxury. In part it is a triumph for local sourcing – not just of beers, but of food and of furniture. Some of it came via a close embrace of the local vernacular.
The public areas have struck a fine balance between the food and hotel operation and the very local feel to the bars, with the pub quiz a live feature (note – pub quizzes are ferociously competitive. I once was part of a team of 2 PhD ‘s and 2 Masters graduates which came a notable last in a pub quiz). Yet there is little encroachment one on the other, and the relative sizes seem well balanced – the dining obviously attracts a wide clientele from the area. The spaces are fluid, making both formal and informal dining areas that merge in the evening with no apparent dividers, and which enables the space to be relaxed for the award winning breakfasts in the morning – this pub boast an award from Visit England in 2011 for serving the Best English Breakfast,a ‘full English’, an accolade which will appeal to many readers I know.
Some famous London dining rooms with a reputation for their breakfasts (in part because of the scribes that dine there) would give their eye teeth to serve the home made black pudding served in Shibden Mill. Not that I write about food of course.
The eclectic mix of period furniture works within the half-timbered space, the blackened oak and white plasterwork set off here and there with strong wall colour washes, and strong upholstery colour. There are no modernist surprises here, just the re-emphasis of the traditional pub atmosphere in a very popular fine-dining setting. The eclectic styling gives visual interest, an ocular background noise like an echoing conversation so that the interior provides visual as well as other sensory comfort. The eleven bedrooms (one of which could be described as a suite) too are given up to sensory comfort. Their design treatment aims to keep the feel of the antique, with exposed beams and stonework, and an eclectic mix of furniture. Their sizes vary enormously, depending on which of the converted buildings they are in. All connect via meandering corridors with the restaurant and bar, although there is no need for guests to come and go via the bar or restaurant as there is a separate hotel entrance.
All the touchstones are here – free Wi-Fi, flat screen TV’s, good sized desks, bath tubs with shower over, although occasionally room has been found for a separate shower. All are away from the bar so quiet, and although they overlook the car park this is rural Yorkshire, not boy racer land, so sound intrusion is minimal. The rooms have obviously been done at different times and as the owners have gained confidence the design treatment has improved. However whilst I would change nothing over the treatment of the restaurant and bar, which both work operationally and are redolent of local traditions, the bedrooms lack the panache that characterises those at the Alma. Character charm works for them however, and the latest room, a suite with its own balconied external area is handled more boldly.
There is a widespread fear that designers are expensive to use, but not every hotelier is able to put together interiors that work. A good designer should be able to save his fee on many budgets by their knowledge of the discount structure in the contract market. Yes if you go to a designer ‘shoppe’ you may well pay full retail, but no good hotel design studio will turn down the opportunity to work on ten rooms and will work on a professional fee basis. Our Directory contains a list of professionals who provide such services and can be trusted to be honest and straight forward in their dealings. If in doubt do consult the Editor who will be happy to assist with advice and recommendation on a suitable designer for your property.
The latest rooms show the growing confidence here. The planning is good, and the treatment of the interior harks back to medieval finishes with stone walling and the use of a four poster bed. Spaces in a building of this age can be very difficult to handle with beams and posts appearing in seemingly irrational positions relating to their previous use. One room has a very high window and a roof light – it used to be a hayloft and store so had not openings in the wall suitable for windows lower down. The solution adopted works and the room is light and airy.
The Inn does not set out to be a style statement but a new rendition of a traditional comfortable Inn. In the public areas it transcends this in part by its exceptional food and focus on local produce, but also by its sympathetic treatment of the restaurant which succeeds in being separate from but very much a part of the bar. The bedrooms also work well. Even if bedrooms feel a little dated conceptually the same focus on guest comfort given to the public areas makes them a very competitive offering for someone looking for a place to stay with a little more character as well as an exceptional food offering at a price considerably less than a four star hotel would normally cost.
All this in an attractive location, quiet, sylvan. If you can find it…
Designers and Owners: Simon and Caitlin Heaton. From a Visit in August 2011
The owner lives on the other side of the bay, looking on to his hotel, or at least the Victorian seaside hotel that was there. When he saw the proposed plans for its replacement, he didn’t like it. Refusing to spend his evenings looking at something unsightly, he bought the site and had Cliff House Hotel built. Wouldn’t we all do the same?
The result is a beautifully located stylish new five star hotel with architecture that spills down the hillside and cliffs, belying its seven floors with a roof line the same as the surrounding villas. Its location places the hotel in close contact with the sea. I was there in calm weather and I would imagine during a storm with high seas it must provide a wonderful experience. In calm weather it is possible to follow the path through the gardens to stand on the rocks and if the weather is warm enough, to even go swimming off them.
The link with the sea is followed through by the layout of the building which gives all the rooms sea views, some with seating areas in windows or on balconies overlooking the water. From across the bay, where the owner lives, the hotel is discrete. Interestingly, just a little further around the bay in which Ardmore is situated is a group of mobile homes, apparently places where rich Dubliners bring their families for the summer, giving the hotel large groups of ‘ladies that lunch’ to fill its bistro and Michelin starred restaurant.
During my trip to Ireland I saw many hotels that were in trouble – indeed NAMA, the Irish national ‘bad bank’ has nearly 100 of Irelands 900 odd hotels on its books (see articles). In the rotten economic climate Irelands bankers contributed to, it is all the more remarkable that the Cliff House became profitable in its third year and now in its fourth year it is becoming even more successful.
Part of the hotel’s success is its emphasis on service and the food offering, something enabled by the architecture which includes a greenhouse for the cook as well as a small garden area. Ireland is predominantly an agricultural nation and this hotel, unlike many, makes maximum use of local sourcing of both the produce from the land and the sea. It has a Michelin star for its restaurant but judging by difficulty in securing a table there, its bistro offering is enormously popular too.
The bar bistro shares a large terrace with the restaurant running along the sea front of the hotel, which more than doubles the available seating in summer and looks across the bay. Below the restaurant terrace are the gardens which provide intimate little ‘secret’ seating areas, but also hold part of the Spa which is on the floor below, with both the whirlpool bath and the seaweed treatment baths sitting out on their own terraces. Internally the bistro mixes formality and informality well. There is a comfortable seating area in front of an open fire and bar stools to the bar as well as more formal dining. Dining tables look out through the windows that fill one wall floor to ceiling maximising the view again.
The planning ensures that the kitchen and wine cellar service both the main restaurant and the bistro. The placing of all the service areas, delivery points and other non-guest areas on the rear, inland, side of the hotel ensures that guests enjoy continuous uninterrupted views of the sea from virtually everywhere they go in the hotel. It also preserves the striking architectural area that follows the cliff face down to the sea entirely for guests. The site planning has been meticulous and has served both hotelier and guest well.
Entering the hotel the guest is presented with a view to the sea immediately, looking right through the reception area. The reception area is part of a large atrium space which reaches from the top of the hotel to the restaurant floor, over three floors. On the top floor it forms a guest library lounge giving access to bedroom corridor. Here the lounges of suites are on the rear of the hotel but the suites all are over two floors with balconies off the bedrooms providing space for loungers and private dining as well as spectacular views.
The hotel interiors were done largely by the owners and they have amassed the largest collection of colonial campaign furniture in Ireland which are used as feature pieces throughout the hotel. However, it is the architecture and layout that are the strengths of the interiors. Colour is used cleverly throughout and reinforces the sense of movement through space, such as in the changing hues on the stair carpets, but always it is the views, changing light and sense of contact with the ocean that dominates. The duplex suites are a clever use of the space at the rear of the reception floor, making the guestroom lounges quiet to the rear and keeping the bedrooms with the views, adding deep terraces where dining and sun lounging in privacy are enabled.
The beds are positioned so that the view is seen easily through the large balcony access windows and the bathroom puts the shower in the window too, whilst bathrooms throughout deliver both shower and soaking tubs. The resulting glass walls flood the bathroom with light. This is the case with the glass wall in the bedroom too, but the blackout is effective at night. Rooms in the duplex are large and have their own dining and lounge areas. The campaign furniture works well in these, and specially commissioned artwork graces their internal staircases.
Interestingly the hotel has gone back to brass keys on large key fobs as they found the €8 cost of replacing the smart cards used in the electronic proximity locking system prohibitive as many guests still erroneously believe the cards encode personal details and take them away with them. The weight and presence of the brass keys leads to them being returned rather than remaining secreted in purses or wallets.
In the standard bedrooms there is variety of room layout and colour and all deliver a good sized desk (with free Wi-Fi of course), bay window with window seat or a fireplace, where on rainy days (and there are many in Ireland) guests can enjoy the views or relax without the temptations of the superb gourmet food experience the hotel offers. With all the bedrooms on the seaward side of the hotel, all guests are guaranteed a sea view. I was there in the summer, but a part of me wanted to stay during an Atlantic winter storm as the position of the hotel on the cliff edge must make this a spectacular experience for a guest – with the reassurance and comfort of Michelin food and wines and open fires in the public areas! The appeal of this hotel must, in part, be down to the ability to be on the large terraces in the sunshine and fresh air, but to retreat into comfortable internal spaces with all the cosseting by staff and service within seconds. This warm, encompassing, physical comfort is also a hallmark of the spa and leisure areas.
The entrance to the Spa and its reception are at the bottom of the spiral staircase that runs throughout the atrium. Here the space is internal, creating the initial calm controlled environment that every spa wants to exude on entry. From there it leads to the leisure and spa treatment areas. The design of these areas then maximises the views of the ocean. Treadmills look out through picture windows to the sea. Similarly the pool has one end of glass to give clear views of the ocean. Treatment rooms, which need no daylight, are positioned to leave corridors with the views and the relaxation zone gives the couches different heights to view the ocean. Only here are there problems, with changing floor levels creating trip points marked out by hi-vis tape, a jarring note in an otherwise harmonious set of interiors.
As with the restaurants and bedrooms, the spa and leisure areas spill out onto the terraces with the spa pool and some treatment areas being places on sun-trap terraces. Despite their locations below most of the hotel it is surprising how private many of these areas are. Running below them all is the path through the gardens, again with secretive little areas for taking in the sun and views.
The hotel makes magnificent use of its location. The architectural layout has maximised the relationship with the sea. Location is more than just a seaside hotel in this instance, as Ardmore is a place of pilgrimage, being closely linked with the history of Christianity in Ireland. Within a few hundred metres are some of the earliest Christian sites, making the hotel visibility in the village a critical factor in how the architecture has been treated. Whilst visible from the water, the a fact that most of the site tumbles down the cliff means it has a low profile visually and a low roof line that all relate to the village cottages.
Communities are sensitive to large scale hotel developments which can sometime despoil a community. Here the 39 bedroom hotel has brought employment to the village and enhanced it as a destination, without being destructive visually. Maybe more hotels would benefit from the owner living with it in the vista from their houses…
Business leaders, golfers, hospitality experts and media from across Southeast Asia converged on the coastal retreat of Lang Co from September 22-23, to mark Angsana Properties Lang Co’s official unveiling of the property sales launch at Laguna Lang Co.
Developed and managed by the Banyan Tree Group, Laguna Lang Co will, upon completion, be the first fully and legitimately integrated resort in Vietnam. It will also be the largest, with 2000 hotel keys under the management of seven international branded hotel and resort operators, award-winning spas, a championship golf course, resort residences, convention facilities and a town center replete with retail and recreational facilities.
September’s event featured and spotlighted two specific components of the Laguna Lang Co formula:
• Launch of Angsana Properties beachfront resort investment property; and • Design of the much anticipated resort golf course, whose architect, Sir Nick Faldo, personally delivered a progress report along with thoughts on golf development in Vietnam and across Southeast Asia.
“The gathering in September and, indeed, the entire development here at Laguna Lang Co, is centered around the concept of convergence,” said Michael Ayling, Managing Director, Laguna Resorts & Hotels.
“Laguna Lang Co itself is a convergence of components that together, in a single place, comprise a fully integrated resort: five-star hotels, luxury villas for purchase, retail galleries and recreational amenities like golf, the marina and this beautiful stretch of beach. This is the formula that proved so successful at our flagship development, Laguna Phuket.
“At Lang Co, however, we see the convergence of additional harmonious factors. This location on the East Sea is stunning, and this part of Vietnam is so culturally rich — a former seaside retreat for kings of the Nguyen Dynasty, with UNESCO world heritage sites to the north and south… We are so remote here, hemmed in by the sea on one side and coastal mountains on the other, yet we are just an hour from airports in Hue and Danang. Finally, all across the resort — in its décor and architecture — we have facilitated the convergence of Angsana-style contemporary chic with Vietnamese aesthetic sensibilities that stretch back centuries.
“We are certain that all these factors will, upon completion, combine to make Laguna Lang Co quite irresistible, as a destination and an investment opportunity.”
Designed by Architrave Design & Planning — the award-winning and celebrated design arm of the Banyan Tree Group that is responsible for the architecture and design of all properties under the Group, including Angsana Properties — the villas at Laguna Lang Co embody what you’d expect from the region’s most canny developers of resort properties: an architectural blending of east and west, a convergence of the modern and time-honored that provides luxury and comfort in the here and now — and equity value down the road.
Ayling explained that villa buyers at Laguna Lang Co are entitled to membership in the Angsana Properties Owners Club, wherein members can book stays at other Angsana Properties locations around the world. They can choose to receive a 6% fixed return for six years or opt for a share of the actual room revenue. When owners are offsite, Ayling added, purchased properties can be included in the hotel inventory, where Angsana management takes care of the investment.
While property sales were launched during the September 22-23 event, the resort hotel and golf course are scheduled for grand openings in 2012. Faldo, for his part, made his September visit primarily a working one. He spent most of his time in the field, making sure his design is being built precisely according to plan. With six major championships and numerous award-winning course designs in his portfolio, he appreciates what is taking shape in Lang Co.
“We have been given this unique setting, replete with natural dramatic features,” said Faldo. “It is a gift to have such diversity in trees, sand dunes, rice-paddies, rock formations and a stunning coastline as a framework for a strategic golf course layout.”
“We have always believed that Vietnam holds the greatest potential of replicating the success of our flagship Laguna Phuket destination resort within Asia,” said Banyan Tree’s Executive Chairman, Ho Kwon Ping.
“Central Vietnam, with its unique blend of history and heritage, is a destination like no other in the region. We are confident it has the potential to flourish as an international luxury-tourist destination. This first foray into the Indochina region is a significant milestone for Banyan Tree, and we are delighted to share this momentous occasion with our valuable partners who have helped to make Laguna Lang Co a reality.”
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce the grand opening of The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort, the eagerly anticipated crown jewel along Yalong Bay, China’s premiere resort destination on Hainan Island. As South China’s first St. Regis Resort, The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort will define a new standard of exceptional luxury, contemporary sophistication and bespoke services for visitors to Hainan.
Located on one of the most coveted and beautiful stretches of coastline on Yalong Bay, The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort offers 373 exquisitely designed guest rooms and suites, and 28 oversized and sumptuously appointed beachside villas. The resort’s contemporary architecture is inspired by the concept of two intertwined dragons, reflected as undulating waves which are incorporated in all of the resort’s structural elements. The St. Regis offers three signature epicurean experiences and a sophisticated lounge which are certain to become island destinations of their own. In addition, The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort is introducing the South China region’s first Iridium Spa, a lavish five-star sanctuary of wellbeing.
Exceptional Accommodations The guestrooms and villas at the St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay are designed as “guest quarters by the sea,” – sophisticated, relaxing, and sumptuously appointed with deluxe amenities, including high thread-count linens, plush bath towels and St. Regis signature bath accessories. In addition, each room is equipped with state-of-the-art modern conveniences, such as HD plasma cable televisions, computer and iPod charging stations, and WiFi access.
A New Culinary Scene for Hainan The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort offers a world of epicurean experiences, with three distinct restaurants that are certain to become the elite culinary destinations on Hainan. Social offers all-day dining with a wide selection of international cuisine that offers something for every palate. Located on the beach, Driftwood serves up freshly-caught local seafood accompanied by unrivalled views of Yalong Bay. Ming Xuan features sophisticated, modern Cantonese and Sichuanese dishes amidst a spacious, glamorous setting. Before or after dinner, Decanter offers fine wines from the world’s most celebrated vineyards and private rooms for tastings or dinners. Finally, the Drawing Room Lounge and Bar is a rare haven of refined luxury in which guests are welcome to enjoy the enduring St. Regis tradition of Afternoon Tea or the new signature Sanya Mary cocktail.
South China Region’s First Iridium Spa In addition, the St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort will introduce the South China region’s first Iridium Spa, which will become a destination of its own for visitors to Sanya. Born from the DNA of the prestigious St. Regis brand, Iridium Spa, with three locations around the world, is setting a new five-star standard for spa luxury. Building on a legacy that dates back to the original Iridium Room at the St. Regis New York, the resort’s Iridium Spa articulates the same distinctive elegance, delivering customized experiences that combine signature St. Regis five-star pampering with traditional Chinese treatments and ingredients.
The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort has recently also been honored with the Annual Hotel Award for Most Anticipated New Opening by the respected 2011 Asia Hotel Forum (AHF) Awards. The AHF Awards represent the hotel industry’s international awards of excellence across various categories, all carefully and justly chosen by a jury of esteemed hospitality professionals. The outstanding enterprises selected are thus recognized as recipients of the International Hotel Investment Awards.
Drayton Manor Theme Park’s new hotel has now been confirmed as a 4-star hotel by Visit England, the UK’s national tourist board.The Drayton Manor Hotel successfully achieved the rating after a thorough inspection by an independent professional assessor.
Martin Wright, General Manager of the hotel, said: “This is terrific news. Having this star rating means that guests will know the quality and services they can expect when they book a stay with us.
“Visit England’s star ratings are determined by the type of services and facilities a hotel provides, as well as things like cleanliness, hospitality, standard of bedroomsand bathrooms, and the quality of the food.”
The Drayton Manor Hotel has 150 rooms, all of which have Wi-Fi access, air-conditioning, an en-suite bathroom and LCD TVs as standard. Each room has a stylish, contemporary interior, complete with a unique framed photograph of one of the theme park’s rides. Guests can choose from a range of rooms, including standard, family, interconnecting, executive and deluxe rooms, as well as three presidential rooms
But the hotel’s unique appeal is its 11 Thomas & Friends™ themed family rooms. Each room has a hand-painted scene on the wall and ceiling, depicting a different character from the Thomas & Friends series. There are also themed bunk beds and train track patterned carpets in the corridors leading to each room.
In addition, the hotel features two restaurants, Parklands Brasserie and Parklands Restaurant, and two bars, Parklands Bar and the Carousel Bar.
The Drayton Manor Hotel, which opened in August, was inspected by independent professional assessors on Monday 21st November.
To accompany the press release that the Drayton Manor Hotel has recently been accredited with a 4-star rating, Hillswood Furniture announce that they supplied all the bedroom tub chairs and tables which can also be seen on the Hotel’s website picture gallery. The GT300 chair was specified by John Pass Associates for all the Drayton Bedrooms and the tables were created with polished aluminium bases for its light properties as they would be moved around according to the bedroom layout. Steel or chrome table bases would have been too heavy for this project but the aluminium complements the style of the room and still provides a durable piece of furniture.
Choice Hotels International, Inc. has announced the first Cambria Suites hotel planned for Washington, D.C. and Houston, Texas. The D.C. project is a joint venture between Choice Hotels, Concord Hospitality and Roadside Development. The 182-room Cambria Suites hotel will be part of CityMarket at O, a $300 million mixed-use development, located by the D.C. Convention Center in downtown Washington, D.C. near Gallery Place, the hub of the city’s entertainment district. CityMarket at O is a one million-square foot urban infill project being developed by Roadside Development. Major construction on the over 87,000 square feet of retail, 629 residential units, 500 parking spaces and Cambria Suites hotel is set to commence in the fall of 2011.
This Cambria Suites hotel will offer all-suite guestrooms, an expanded food and beverage area and a rooftop featuring a pool, fitness center and an outdoor patio with views of the U.S. Capitol and the National Monuments. Designed as a lifestyle hotel brand, Cambria Suites offers more than just a place to sleep at night. It features a larger lobby to give guests a more social atmosphere, all-suite rooms that are larger than standard hotel rooms and include separate living, working and sleeping space, providing business and leisure travelers a haven to relax, socialize and network. There are currently 19 properties open across the country.
Like all Cambria Suites hotels, the D.C. property will feature: Reflect, a casual dining and gathering area serving a dinner menu, liquor, wine, beer, freshly prepared grab-and-go gourmet salads and sandwiches, a barista bar featuring Wolfgang Puck® coffee, Cheesecake Factory® desserts and a hot breakfast buffet; Refresh, a state-of-the-art fitness center with an elegant pool and hot tub/spa area; and Refill, a 24-7 convenience store that offers energy drinks, snacks and sundries.
The Wandsworth Group has launched a complete, co-ordinated hotel sector offer from KNX and wiring accessories specialist Jung.Jung’s exclusive UK distributor, The Wandsworth Group can now offer an integrated suite of KNX building control systems tailored specifically for the hotel market to provide seamless lighting, temperature, audio-visual and blind controls. The result is a hotel environment that offers both wow factor and enhanced comfort for the guest, while reducing energy consumption and costs for the hotel operator. Individual room control panels can be clearly labelled with international symbols and lit with LEDs, with centralised control of integrated services in simple to operate two- or four-gang units. KNX room controllers can be installed to control and display individual elements such as room temperature, blinds and music, allowing guests to customise their room environment to suit their own tastes.
While each guest can control the settings for the KNX system in their own room, the user-friendly hotel systems have also been designed to allow the hotel management team control, monitoring and visualisation of all integrated controls for all hotel rooms, public areas and back of house. Jung Facility Pilot software enables all of this functionality on a single PC or touch screen unit allowing the front of house team to set the ideal temperature for a room before guests arrive, for example, or switch off all lighting and air conditioning to save energy after guests have checked out.
The functionality of the range’s KNX control systems is matched by the stylish design of its wiring accessories range, which includes a variety of switches and sockets for all international socket systems to enable hotel groups to adopt a unified look across their entire portfolio. The range includes both recessed and surface mounted designs and sockets and switches can be co-ordinated with ISDN and DSL units, Schuko hinged lidded sockets for safe use in bathrooms, a wall mounted FM radio and temperature controls also compliment the range.
The Wandsworth Group can also supply a range of safety and security products to co-ordinate with the range including card-key units, an over-sized rocker door access switch, control units for automatic door systems and do not disturb indicator panels.
Comments Gordon Fry, KNX technical specialist, at The Wandsworth Group, “Controllability of the hotel environment is important both to the guests and the hotel operators and our new KNX systems offer this in a very simple to operate format that enhances guest comfort and provides the hotel operator with management and energy efficiency benefits. A coherent interior design style that can be co-ordinated across the hotel and rolled out around the world is also an important trend and this range offers six different design options and a host of colours and finishes to ensure a quality finish for any style-conscious hotel.”
Raoul’s Hammersmith is the latest restaurant & deli to be opened by owner and founder Geraldine Leventis. This is the third restaurant in the group following on from the original Raoul’s in Maida Vale and a second in Notting Hill. It is testament to the hard work and commitment of Geraldine, Executive Chef Ziad Jaber and a dedicated and enthusiastic team of individuals vital to the ever thriving Raoul’s.The interior design was by Project Orange, their latest collaboration with the client. The deli is a glamorous room with striking Herringbone marble floors, black-mirrored walls juxtaposed with natural oak and marble surfaces.
The room is illuminated by six Disco Gloss double pendants supplied by Andy Thornton. These adjustable light fittings are suspended from versatile telescopic rods and combine black and chrome metalwork with acrylic gold drum shades.
The complete Disco Gloss collection comprises of the double pendant, plus a single pendant, semi-flush pendant, wall light and table lamp.
You can view the full range of Andy Thornton lighting at www.andythornton.com/products/lighting or talk to a member of their sales team on 01422 376000.
The innovative Devon based mattress maker Naturalmat, joined forces with like-minded businesses including Craster, Another Country, Studiotex, All Square and Axminster Carpets to launch their luxury hotel mattress range in the Naturalmat Green Room. The Naturalmat Green Room exhibited at this year’s Sleep Event, which took place on 23 and 24 November at the London Business Design Centre. The Naturalmat Green Room demonstrated why Naturalmat and its partners are the best producers of the fully sustainable hotel bedroom. The room was manufactured from natural and sustainable materials and provoked the visitor to understand how an eco, healthy and luxurious sleeping environment can be created.
Naturalmat understand that today more and more hoteliers are concerned about their environmental impact, reducing carbon emissions and the amount of waste they send to landfills. Naturalmat have caught the eye of several big names in the hotel industry that have clear green objectives in mind, including Marriott who were ranked number nine in the Sunday Times Best Green Companies in Britain List 2011. The contents of the Naturalmat Green Room showed how an environmentally friendly yet lavish hotel room can be created and is sure to grab the attention of further eco conscious hoteliers at the Sleep Event 2011.
The Naturalmat Green Room contained FSC certified bedroom furniture from Craster and Another Country, lighting from LED specialists All Square and carbon neutral carpet from Axminster Carpets, it also showcased an exciting new EchoPanel wall covering from Studiotex that was made entirely from recycled plastic bottles, demonstrating how quality textiles can remain committed to high levels of environmental performance.
Naturalmat Hotel is taking the hotel industry by storm and offers a more sustainable and environmentally responsible alternative to poor quality synthetic mattresses. Naturalmat are pioneers in natural fibre technology and have developed the perfect natural sleeping environment from creative new raw materials such as Soil Association organic lambswool, which is anti-dust mite, anti-mosquito and anti-moth through a natural treatment using extracts of lemon, eucalyptus and lavender; and unbleached cotton mattress covers which are guaranteed anti-bed bug through a treatment of natural geraniol. Another exciting ingredient is organic coir fibre, a derivative of the coconut husk. This sustainable material greatly enhances the ventilation and spring of the mattress and is another example of intelligent use of renewable natural resources. Other sumptuous materials found in a Naturalmat Hotel mattress are mohair, cashmere, horsetail hair and bamboo from environmentally conscious sources and all biodegradable that combine to create a truly green products made by a great British company.
Naturalmat mattresses provide superb comfort that is long lasting, hence why numerous hoteliers have called upon them recently. This year Naturalmat successfully won the contract to manufacture all 686 mattresses for Yotel New York City, all mattresses for the recent opening of Z Hotel Soho and Naturalmat have worked with other high profile clients in the past including The Connaught, Claridges and several boutique hotels.
’The single most important thing in any hotel room is the bed, and what makes a great bed is a great mattress. The perfect mattress is one that is extremely comfortable, sumptuously supportive, long lasting and consistently good. It is the mattress that will give the hotel guest the definitive ‘wow’ factor. A well made mattress will have high quality natural fillings, be robustly made by hand and offer excellent support, breathability, ventilation and insulation, and ideally offer hypo allergenic benefits as well. The very best mattresses will be all this, manufactured from fully sustainable raw materials, organically sourced where possible and produced by environmentally conscious companies,’ says Peter Tindall, Naturalmat Company Director.
SB Architects and the Mission Hills Group are pleased to announce the completion of Mission Hills Volcanic Mineral Springs and Spa, one of the world’s largest spa destination, on the Northern coast of China’s Hainan Island. The spa and volcanic mineral springs comprise a major component of Mission Hills ▪ Haikou, a five-star resort offering a wide range of wellness, leisure, recreation, entertainment and dining experiences including 10 renowned golf courses. Mission Hills Volcanic Mineral Springs and Spa is home to the largest natural springs reserve in the region, and measures an incredible 950,000 square-feet. The magnificent Spa at Mission Hills is the central defining feature of the expansive mineral springs complex. It is surrounded by 473,000 square-feet of lushly landscaped gardens, 168 springs and water features, and treatment venues inspired by the five continents – Asia, Oceania, North & South America, Europe, Middle East and Africa – which comprise the Volcanic Mineral Springs. Twenty-nine luxurious Spa Villas provide an intimate and exclusive sanctuary for residents and guests seeking longer-term solace.
The Spa The iconic main spa structure is comprised of soaring, semi-circular bamboo, rising from a massive lava stone base that is slightly canted to increase its sense of grandeur. The soaring sense of verticality imposed by the sustainable bamboo makes a powerful design statement, while the use of locally-abundant lava stone and bamboo firmly grounds the design in the nature and topography of Hainan Island.
Featuring 61 well-appointed spa treatment suites, the Spa takes its design inspiration from the traditional Hakka Earthen Fortress Villages of Southern China. These distinctive communal structures—historically used for defense and communal living—have been recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites for their unique contribution to the history of building and human settlement. The space fuses both western and oriental design elements in their most refined form while honoring the long-standing Chinese philosophies of balance and harmony.
BBC’s Newsnight picked up on our theme of resurrecting British manufacturing in its programme Monday night (28/11/2011). It took a trip to an area I consider one of my home areas, the North West of England. I lived in the North West for years and you will know from reading my opening remarks in the Reviews of the Indigo and Hard Day’s Night that I have family roots that go deep on Merseyside, so the programme struck a chord with me.
The North West was built on the Industrial Revolution. The cotton mills of Lancashire were built there because of the rain (an annual 56 inches in Blackburn compared to 24 in Brighton) and the fact they sat on the Lancashire coalfields. The inventiveness of Arkwright and others developed manufacturing and led to the growth of railways, canals, and engineering giants such as Avro, English Electric, Waring and Gillows, Lever Brothers etc.. The programme last night looked at the growth of the infrastructure that made much of this possible such as the canals, and showed how nearly all was privately financed. The programme continued with interviews with manufacturers, many of whom were frustrated at the poor infrastructure, but mainly focussed on the lack of available investment. No, not from government, but the lack of investment in Britain by the City and City banks. Another article I read suggested in part that this was because the City had outgrown the British economy, the size of deals and the amounts of money it handled giving it an International identity rather than a ‘Britishness’. The programme pointed out that not only was decision making now centralised but that it was no longer possible to get local decisions based on the knowledge of industry and its prospects. Indeed it was almost impossible to get any investment decision at all.
Perhaps it is inevitable that younger generations feel international given the global nature of social networks etc., but there is something rotten in the state when there is no allegiance from bankers to their own society. We are a much more globally connected society, but when this global connection is used as an excuse to ignore localism it is like living in an hotel that has no foundations. It may give great service but it is only a matter of time before it collapses. Like hotel guests, bankers seem to feel that they can just move on to another hotel when this happens (“we’ll move abroad if our bonuses are cut”), but the rest of us do not have, nor do we want, that escape route.
In my previous editorial I pointed the finger at the educational elites for much of the lack of awareness of industry. Patriotism is still alive as the service of our young people in Iraq and Afghanistan shows. The lack of a sense of responsibility among the elites is shown by the incompetence of the political administrations that failed to give the Services the right equipment – not a new problem incidentally as the Ministry of Defence was a real problem for Wellington throughout his Spanish campaigns, where he was forced to counterfeit Spanish coin to pay for his supplies.
The problems of this country are deep rooted and varied. I do not pretend to be an expert political analyst, but I do know that we need radical change. In the eighties designers were confident enough in the UK to look at starting their own manufacturing operations here. That was confidence was destroyed by Lamont and his pursuit of the European Monetary System. That same Euro system threatens us once more with economic disaster. Many designers are not even aware of where products they order come from. Several people have suggested I compile a list of UK manufacturers and recommend them to specifiers. Whilst there are many in the Directory, designers should order the best product for their projects. Hopefully that will be British, from Dernier & Hamlyn, PF Collections,Cliq,Axminster, Wilton, Naturalmat or one of the other hundred or so UK based manufacturers we represent in the Directory.
British is not necessarily the best, as those who remember the Austin Allegro will testify. The hammer was not nicknamed a ‘Birmingham screwdriver’ for nothing. But when British companies invest in continual product development through design as Morgan or Panaz do, when they harness the skill base of our people as Andy Thornton do, they are capable of competing with the best in the world, and of exporting their production.
HotelDesigns was started to enable supply companies to reach designers and specifiers across the globe. Over half our readership is abroad. We have enabled designers to find work in Italy, Russia, Egypt and beyond. our list of users of the Directory, now reaching over 19,100, shows most recent sign-ups from Germany, Bangladesh, Portugal, Greece, Lebanon, USA as well as Great Britain (that’s just from the last ten). Whilst the current crisis is ravaging many areas of the globe, some places are still growing healthily – South Africa grew 1.6% in the last quarter, Poland grows 6% a year – so there are still buoyant markets out there.
Nestled in a private estate in the South-West of Mauritius is one of the most prestigious privately owned villa estates. Belle Rivière estate consists of 33 exclusive 3, 4 and 7 bedroom villas with access to the acclaimed new boutique hotel brand Sofitel So Mauritius. The estate’s villas are designed from island stone and exotic wood and all have ocean views. The villas are within 5 minutes of Heritage Golf Club and 20 minutes from Le Morne Brabant Mountain (a UNESCO world heritage site).Each villa has an infinity pool with a magnificent view of the Indian Ocean. The suites are bright and spacious and are equipped with over-sized bathrooms and outdoor showers. There are extra double-bedrooms which become practical for large families with children or groups of over six. The villas feature expected technologies such as air conditioning per room, free Wi-Fi, an iPod docking station, a plasma screen with home cinema & DVD player; adding modern comfort to the exotic lifestyle. The large main living area is made up of the open-plan American kitchen, dining room and living room which lead onto the pool. The villas are all designed with a focus on the outdoor coastal habitat; with lush gardens of indigenous flora opening up to the glistening sea and being constructed from exotic wood and island stone creating the warm Zen ambience.
Located just outside South Africa’s Cape Town, the Pod Hotel overlooking Camps Bay beach exudes luxury and nowhere more than in the guest bathrooms which have been fitted with Laufen’s striking Palomba collection.Designed by Greg Wright Architects, the firm’s in-house design company SITE Interior Design chose Laufen’s Palomba sanitaryware to create the feeling of a spa-like retreat for guests staying at the boutique hotel.
The Pod Hotel has been designed as a benchmark for the future of boutique accommodation in Cape Town, making it all the more crucial that only the very best, highest quality and luxurious fixtures and fittings were specified. The Palomba collection, with its distinctive pebble shape, fits seamlessly into the overall design of the hotel space which combines a range of natural materials and finishes to create an air of elegant simplicity.
Designed by Ludovico and Roberto Palomba, the furniture and ceramics in the Palomba range combine geometric and organic shapes to offer the last word in relaxation, retreat and pure indulgence for Pod Hotel guests.
Laufen’s Palomba collection blurs the boundaries between masculine and feminine forms, with the range’s designers describing the concept as the “fingerprint of nature”. Items from the Palomba Collection have won several design prizes, including the prestigious red dot design award, the iF product design award and the Design Plus label.
The open-plan nature of the bedroom designs enables the beauty of the Palomba sanitaryware to be enjoyed to its full effect, while its elegantly minimalist styling means it blends effortlessly and discreetly into the overall space.
Palomba products specified for the Pod Hotel include a luxuriously deep asymmetric bathtub, wall-hung countertop washbasins and 160cm washbasins with extended space adjacent to the bowl itself providing room for guest toiletries and bathroom essentials. Each of the pieces chosen is used to create focal points in different areas of the bathroom and combine to create a stunningly harmonious effect.
Golden Tulip is continuing its ambitious development process in the CEE region and opens a hotel in the capital of the Czech Republic on December, 1. Nearby the famous Prague Castle the 5-star Boutique-Hotel Savoy – built in 1911 and re-opened in 1994 after an extensive renovation – attracts guests with 61 luxurious rooms and suites. Since 1990 the hotel is owned by the Warimpex Finanz- and Beteiligungs-AG – an Austrian real estate development and Investment Company. From December, 1 Golden Tulip is taking over the management contract. It`s the second hotel in Prague for the brand operating 200 hotels in 40 countries.
Hotel Savoy combines gracious living with the charm from long ago – the face of the building originates from the year 1882. Behind it a mixture of elegance and modern technology is waiting for the guests.
This year the online portal TripAdvisor awarded the hotel with the “certificate of excellence”. Situated in the embassy district of Prague the hotel features a relax center with a whirlpool, sauna and a steam bath as well as a beauty salon and two conference rooms with the capacity of 45 persons. Above that a presidential suite offers an intimate atmosphere for meetings with up to 20 people. The award-winning restaurant Hradčany and a library with an open fireplace complete the offer of the hotel.
David Anderson, Director of Operations for Northern Europe says: “The Louvre Hotels Group is delighted to have this key hotel within our Golden Tulip brand. The Savoy hotel offers the luxurious comfort you would expect from a 5 star Prague hotel combined with such charm that it has made it the choice of corporate and leisure guests and of many celebrities and politicians visiting Prague over the years.”
Ideal Standard International, the leading provider of innovative and design-driven bathroom solutions, returned to The Sleep Event 2011 for the third consecutive year.
Ideal Standard displaying a range of tools, solutions and products developed specifically for the hotel market to make selecting the ideal bathroom easier. These were showcased in a tri-modular approach – Ideal Vision, Ideal Plan and Ideal Care. These three platforms demonstrated how Ideal Standard supports hotel architects and designers with a full holistic project package – from visualization, through project planning and specifications, to dedicated customer contact support and maintenance post-fit.
The display was amplified by a number of Ideal Standard’s new product ranges which reflected a deep understanding of the personal and intimate role the bathroom plays, in line with the Ideal Standard brand ethos “Inspired by Real Life”.
Ideal Standard CeraMix Blue is a new water and energy-saving innovation that takes the eco-challenge one step further. CeraMix Blue offers the highest energy savings in the market for single lever mixer taps it is the perfect solution for hotels keen to reduce water and energy costs without compromising on attractive aesthetics, functionality, increased safety and eco-consciousness.
Ideal Standard ArchiModule is a new modular built-in water control and outlet solution for showers, bathtubs and wash basins created by award-winning design house Artefakt. ArchiModule is quick and easy-to-install, making it the perfect choice for hotel projects where numerous units are installed. In addition the unit is fully hidden behind the bathroom wall, allowing the water controls and outlets to be fitted in any way, maximizing limited space without compromising on features and performance while keeping a clean and sleek look.
Ideal Standard Tonic is a comprehensive, contemporary new range of shower enclosures designed by leading design house Artefakt. Tonic fits perfectly into the complete Ideal Standard range, offering a total bathroom solution with a choice of alcove and corner doors, side panels, quadrants, corner entry enclosures and bath screens available in a range of sizes again helping to maximize space. The frameless shower enclosure range is manufactured using 8mm IdealClean clear safety glass, making it easier to both clean and ensure it stays clean for longer reducing the cleaning time required by housekeeping.
Also designed by Artefakt, Ideal Standard’s Jado Neon perfectly synthesizes cylindrical and angular shapes in a clear and functional design concept. The comprehensive high quality brassware collection was created for people who find that function and emotion go hand in hand and offers a broad selection of choice. With its state-of-the-art technology and class leading craftsmanship it offers a stylish, timeless design to make guests feel they are being indulged in pure luxury.
Tony Rheinberg, Ideal Standard Marketing Manager commented, “We understand what hoteliers want to include in a bathroom. There is no ‘one size fits all’ hotel bathroom solution and so it’s important for us to be flexible. We can do everything from high-end guest rooms to spas to public washrooms.”
Here at the Wallpaper Mural Company we always listen to our Interior Designer and Specifier clients because after all, they are the ones who are constantly at the ‘sharp end’!One of the things we have been developing for some time is a hard-wearing wallpaper. We have been asked for a durable, heavy duty substrate that could be utilised in areas where it could withstand knocks, where a good cleaning capability was essential and possibly be useful in wet room areas.
We’re happy to announce that the new wallpaper is here and ‘Diamond’ not only answers the above questions, but it can also be utilised in hospitals where cleanliness is paramount. Whether you are looking for a wallpaper which is suitable for cafes and restaurants, waiting rooms or wet rooms, we now know that a stimulating environment helps patients to recover quicker, so how about an exciting wallpaper rather than a blank wall?
Interior Designers know the areas of a building which are subjected to the heaviest wear and tear but some wallpapers may not be suitable for heavy use areas such as around and inside lifts, hotel rooms (particularly near luggage racks), bars and corridors which is where Diamond outshines the competition. Not only is this wallpaper washable, it will withstand scrubbing making it a great alternative to re-painting. Diamond is a non-woven fabric backed vinyl with an extra heavy laminate, weighing in at 535gsm. If you require technical specifications then please drop us an email.
So although we are not saying that Diamond is forever, we can say with certainty that it is pretty long lasting!
Click here to contact The Wallpaper Mural Company in the Directory
Sleeperz Hotels, the innovative budget hotels business, is expanding by creating a new niche in the UK’s fast growing budget hotel sector.
Sleeperz Hotels opens its second UK hotel in Newcastle in January and aims to set its design-led premium budget hotels apart from market leaders Travelodge, Premier Inn and Holiday Express.
The opening of the 98-bedroom hotel near Newcastle’s Central Rail station follows Sleeperz Cardiff, which opened in the Welsh capital in November 2008.
David Myers, chief executive of Sleeperz Hotels, said: “This is an exciting time for our business. While development in the global hotel sector has slowed we have found a way to open new hotels in the UK at a time that is right for both the consumer and the Sleeperz product.
A stay at a Sleeperz Hotels is more interesting than at a predictable budget chain. Our philosophy is design-led with bold contemporary interiors and eye catching buildings near to city centre rail stations with rooms from only £60.”
According to the latest report from Hotel Analyst, a leading provider of news and market intelligence for investors, the budget hotel sector is the fastest growing segment of the UK hotel industry.
“Sleeperz is different from the majority of hotel chains in the budget sector. Put simply, we are the first UK hotel business to offer consumers budget boutique, and this gives us a different appeal from the sector’s big brands,” added Mr. Myers.
Sleeperz Hotels feature modern transparent glass business desks, wet rooms and free wi-fi access.
The number of branded budget hotel rooms has more than doubled in the past decade, illustrating the rapid growth of this segment.
Between 1993 and 2010, the branded budget market grew more than tenfold says Hotel Analyst.
Sleeperz Hotels has attracted £7m worth of investment from Connection Capital and has plans to expand with sites under consideration in London, Liverpool and Manchester.
Cascada, the sumptuous new cotton velvet from Sekers is now available in 26 stunning colours! From sophisticated neutrals to vibrant pink, this collection has a colour for all your requirements, is stocked crib 5 FR and achieves 100,000 rubs.
Please visit our website to view Cascada and order samples, your area account manager will be happy to organise books and shade cards.
Numirra Lighting, the decorative lighting specialists for the world’s hotel & leisure industry, will soon be launching their NEW lighting catalogue.
The new catalogue will introduce many NEW products & collections and includes special attention to the development of innovative products using LED technology.
To register for a complimentary copy (in PDF and / or hardcopy), please click here: Catalogue Request
• Numirra are decorative lighting specialists for the world’s hotel & leisure industry. We have a reputation for quality materials combined with attention to detail. Our beautiful products, designed around ‘functionality’, are part of a process by which great interiors are brought to life.
• From large hotel chains to individual boutique hotels, from restaurants to airport lounges, we work with clients as an integral part of a team to complete a project within budget and within deadline.
• Our comprehensive custom service gives clients the ability to alter our existing collections to their individual requirements, and also provides a full ‘conception to completion’ service for new designs – these could range from one off ‘statement’ commissions through to full bedroom fit-out. • We have a friendly team, with many years of experience – if you don’t already know us, please get in touch!
Click here to contact Numirra Lighting in the Directory or via their website at www.numirra.co.uk
Butlins continues its investment programme with the construction of the £25million Wave Hotel at the Bognor Regis Resort. Due to open in spring 2012, Wave will be the resort’s third hotel, joining Shoreline and Ocean Hotel & Spa. Each has its own identity: Shoreline for younger families; Ocean with its Spa and quirky features; and Wave embracing innovative technology as well as offering a combination of hotel rooms and apartments. Wave will consist of 215 bedrooms and 29 apartments spread over eight storeys and most will have balconies and sea views.
Butlins hotel firsts Butlins has listened to the feedback from its guests and as a result, Wave has been specially designed with the following features: • The hotel apartments will each have their own lounge and kitchen area • Bedrooms with separate sleeping areas for parents and kids – giving each generation their own space and privacy • Inter-connecting rooms available for the first time for families looking for more options
Wave will have a modern and innovative theme throughout designed to appeal to families – particularly those with children aged 8 – 14. Some of the exciting features will include: • An Amazon Kindle library – so no one will be short of a holiday read or access to the daily news • An underwater-themed gaming room, housing the latest 3D video games and experiences • iPod docking stations in all the rooms • Unique and contemporary design concepts throughout the hotel, bedrooms and apartments
Mike Crowther, Butlins Operations Director says: ‘We’re very excited to announce the launch of Wave Hotel and reveal its fresh and unique design concept. Facilities like the new gaming room and Kindle library are good examples of how Butlins is continually investing and updating its family offering.
‘Customer feedback is so important to us and we have used it to guide us with the development of all aspects of Wave. We firmly believe that the modern, funky design of Wave mixed with the brand new hotel features will further heighten the Butlins family experience for 2012.’
Wave’s wide choice of accommodation will be attractive for families of all shapes and sizes as well as multi-generation families who enjoy holidaying together. The inter-connecting rooms and apartments offer flexibility for families allowing parents and kids their own space while also providing the perfect place to relax together after a busy day.
The other bedrooms provide full size beds in the children’s sleeping area which is closed off by a door with a porthole in it. As a result, the separate sleeping areas are cozy while offering some privacy. Each child’s bunk also has a TV built into it so they can watch different programmes if they wish.
As well as the new and innovative features, Wave will have the familiar special touches that make a Butlins hotel stay so ideal for families. Wave, like the Shoreline and Ocean Hotels, will be centrally located on the Bognor Regis Resort so guests are close to all the action and attractions that bring to life the sparkle of a Butlins stay.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced the opening of Le Méridien Coimbatore, its newest hotel in India and the 100th Le Méridien hotel globally for the brand. Owned by Appu Hotels Limited, Le Méridien Coimbatore is the first internationally branded five-star hotel in the city.Strategically located, Le Méridien Coimbatore is situated within easy access from Coimbatore Airport (CJB) and features 254 guest rooms and suites, including a Presidential Suite, with timeless chic design and flexible work space. The hotel also features a wide range of cuisine and bar options, including Latest Recipe, Le Méridien brand’s signature all-day dining restaurant, with an interactive, open kitchen serving a selection of international cuisine; Peacock, anauthentic Indian restaurant serving a variety of regional cuisines from around the country; the Pan Asian restaurant Ponzu, with an open kitchen, serving authentic Mongolian, Chinese, Thai and Japanese dishes; and Le Méridien’s signature Italian restaurant, Favola. The Illy Café reiterates the brand’s point of view on the coffee culture, while Latitude 11 offers an ideal location to enjoy fine wine or signature cocktails. The hotel will also feature an international spa concept and night club, both opening soon.
Le Méridien Coimbatore showcases the signature Le Méridien arrival experience, curated by international arts provocateur Jérôme Sans, the brand’s Global Cultural Curator since 2006. The award-winning arrival experience commences from the moment guests arrive at the hotel doorsteps until they have opened the door to their guest room and is designed to make the first ten minutes of the guest’s stay memorable and special. Arrival consists of four elements: large-scale artwork in high impact areas to reset the mind and stimulate dialogue and curiosity; the sensory experience, illustrated through Le Méridien signature scent, sound and use of light, creating a unique and distinctive atmosphere; UNLOCK ART(TM) programme, which features an artist designed key card collection that not only offers access to the guestroom but also to Le Méridien affiliated contemporary cultural centers; and the elevated experience, which transforms the event of riding an elevator into an “elevating experience” through sound. Le Méridien Coimbatore’s UNLOCK Art partner is the city’s contemporary art initiative, “Contemplate.”
With nearly 3,500 square meters of meeting and event space and eleven smaller meeting rooms, Le Méridien Coimbatore offers the largest meeting space in South India with flexible and customized meeting solutions for inspired large-scale social gatherings as well as state of the art conferencing. For thoughtful and personalized weddings, the hotel also features a temple on-site.
Innovation meets high-end design with collections from hand-picked suppliers offering creative solutions, for the hospitality and leisure sectors, with their newest products and technologies.Catch up with the industry specialists all under one roof at the North West Design Centre.
30th November 2011 4.30pm to 9.30pm Drinks served on arrival Talks from 2 x designers Networking opportunities
1st & 2nd December 2011 11.30am to 7.30pm Showcase new collections Client meetings and conferences Launching new areas of the centre
German technology specialist Jung has launched an over-sized rocker switch available from their exclusive UK distributor, The Wandsworth Group. Aimed at the healthcare and hotel sector, Jung has especially designed the switch to provide a robust and aesthetic solution for door release mechanisms.Fabricated from stainless steel and available in either a steel or lacquered white finish, the rocker measures 70 x 212.4 mm and is offered with a compatible frame measuring 81 x 223 mm. The new products are compatible with other wiring accessories in the Jung ‘LS’ range and the plate can be engraved or supplied with an illuminated lens if required to provide bespoke labelling.
Comments Andy Howe, head of sales for The Wandsworth Group, “While there’s a wide range of door release switches on the market, our research indicates that both engineers and architects would often prefer to use something of a less industrial appearance. With the Jung over-sized rocker switch they can specify something that wouldn’t look out of place in a hotel, maintaining the contemporary look of a modern hospital while providing a hard-wearing and functional solution.”
Hilton Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of the new 355-room Hilton Nanjing in Jiangsu Province, China. Conveniently located as part of Nanjing Wanda Plaza, the hotel provides guests with direct access to expansive malls, luxury shopping outlets and the first and only IMAX cinema in town. It is the first of two Hilton Hotels & Resorts properties set to open in Nanjing this fall.Located approximately 40 kilometers from Nanjing Lukou International Airport and approximately three kilometres from Nanjing International Expo Centre, the hotel also enjoys a central location within the Jianye District that is walking distance to Jiqingmendajie Metro Station and close to Mochou Lake Park, Nanjing Yunjin (brocade) Museum and Nanjing International Expo Centre.
The hotel includes deluxe and executive guest room options along with 19 suites. With designs that reflect the rich history of this former capital, the contemporary rooms feature a state-of-the-art sound system, high-speed internet access and generous work spaces. Guests are also spoilt for choice at six innovative dining options: The Square, an all-day dining restaurant, The Gallery Lobby Bar and the Library, an upbeat bar with live entertainment. In addition, there is the Café Deli, serving delectable home-baked items, as well as two Chinese restaurants – Yue Yang, featuring local Nanjing fare and homemade dim sum, and Yue Xuan featuring fine dishes such as abalone, birds’ nest, sea cucumber and fresh seafood.
Hilton Nanjing also offers seven versatile meeting rooms and a 1,200-square meter pillar-less Grand Ballroom. With a nine-meter high ceiling, this makes it the largest ballroom in town. The hotel also has a business centre and wireless internet access throughout the premises.
Hughan Design, the UK based interior design firm for international hoteliers, property developers and private clients, is celebrating after receiving accreditation from Quintessentially Home which is part of Quintessentially – the world’s leading luxury lifestyle concierge group.As an organisation, Quintessentially Home provides its private membership clients with various property management/ household services as well as recommending a select number of related suppliers to them. Hughan Design falls under the ‘design services’ bracket for both residential and commercial projects.
Hughan Design received the prestigious endorsement after meeting with the Quintessentially Home team in London. The news means the group’s ‘Recommended Logo’ will now appear on Hughan Design’s website and it will also offer members of Quintessentially Home exclusive benefits and offers.
Since its launch in 2000, Quintessentially has grown into a global concierge service and it now provides its high end members with an array of exclusive benefits and services; from property, art and design to travel, fashion and food & wine.
Angela Dingle, founder & creative director of Hughan Design, commented; ‘Receiving this accreditation is a real honour and testament to the skills of the team – especially as we only launched this year. Quintessentially is one of the most respected names in the concierge industry and only work with the best of the best so I’m sure the endorsement, and being on its supplier list, will be a real boost for the business.’
Lara Farah, head of Quintessentially Home, added ‘Quintessentially is a name synonymous with quality so we have to be confident that our recommendations meet – and ideally exceed – the expectations of our membership and I’m confident Hughan Design will do just that.’
Hughan Design’s 10-strong design team is located in key locations around the globe which allows for greater flexibility and sound local knowledge – both in the hospitality and residential sectors. The Far East and Asia are seen as key markets as well as the growing economies of South America.
Due to open on the 1st December 2011, Le Chalet Zannier has released images to give a sneak preview of what the hotel will look like.With its 8 rooms and all the luxury services of a 5* hotel, this is the perfect place to rent with once family and friends!
About Le Chalet Zannier Between the mountains and the forest, the former Ferme de Mon Père has been acquired by the Zannier family. Meticulous renovation works have been carried out on the three chalets, creating an unprecedented and exclusive environment, bearing the hallmarks of authenticity, vernacular nobility and outstanding singularity.
The hotel’s simple ambition is to offer travellers and holidaymakers an outstanding restful resort with a new distinct code of luxury. Luxury that is intentionally back-to-basics, evocative and laconic, calling on local materials, resources, traditions and customs that are true to the mountains.
We offer twelve suites and a private eight-room chalet, gourmet dining, a cosy wellness centre with a swimming pool and first-rate treatments, as well as every service one could require for a tête-à-tête, a family holiday or a visit with friends.
Those members that were concerned to learn of the demise of manufacturing in Britain in a recent article by Patrick Goff may be relieved to know that both design talent and manufacturing skills are still very much alive at P F Collections Ltd in Derbyshire.The company has just finished the design and development of its new Icons collection. Designed by Warwick Bergland, a winner of the prestigious DuPont Design Award, the collection is inspired by the classic shapes and nostalgia of the 50’s. Presented in the latest fabrics from Designers Guild, Sanderson, Romo and Villanova the collection is really stunning. And with everything retro, right on trend.
P F Collections specialises in the manufacture for the hotel, leisure and interior design industry and is the preferred supplier to several hotel groups and holiday home operators throughout Europe. The company ensures that all production complies with the latest furniture and fire safety orders and issues test certificates and labelling to ensure that clients meet their fire risk assessment obligations for upholstered furniture used in public areas.
P F’s service and commitment to the interior design industry has been recognised by the recent award of Honorary Corporate Membership of SBID the fast growing Society of British Interior Design.
Further images will be published by hoteldesigns in the coming weeks. If you would like a CD of images or access to a download photo vault, e mail contract sales manger Tom.campbell@pfcollections.co.uk or call 0115 9461282.
The surge of corporate travel to the world’s new economic powerhouses has sent hotel prices soaring for British business executives, according to the latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index™ (HPI®). In the first half of 2011, the soaring demand for accommodation has led to average room rates increasing in the emerging markets of the BRIC nations: Brazil (up 7% to £132), Russia (up 11% to £141), India (up 2% to £85) and China (up 4% to £92).
At the same time, major business hub cities have also witnessed rocketing hotel rates with Sao Paulo – exacerbated by a lack of new hotels – up 27% to £123, Sydney up 22% to £110, Hong Kong up 17% to £110, Singapore and Moscow up 11% to £130 and £157 respectively and Mumbai up 9% to £114.
The findings are consistent with the Global Business Travel Association’s projection that worldwide business travel spending will rise 9.2% in 2011.
Alison Couper, of Hotels.com, said: “At a time of economic turmoil in the developed world, it’s important to remember that some markets are still doing very well and outstripping the traditional powerhouses of the global economy.
“Corporate travel to the booming BRIC nations has undoubtedly helped boost hotel occupancy and prices with an overall 3% rise in the average price of a room in the first six months of the year.
“It’s fair to say that hotel rates are serving as a good barometer of the growing importance and popularity of cities in these rapidly-developing countries to the global business community.”
Other countries which have held their own in the difficult economic environment have also experienced hotel price rises because of robust demand from business travellers with Australia up 15% to £102 and Sweden up 11% to £112.
The Hotels.com survey found that convention travel has staged a revival – filling hotels and prompting recovery – with increased prices in major conference and tradeshow cities in North America, including Boston (up 10% to £134), San Francisco and Chicago (both up 9% to £103) and New York (up 6% to £160).
However, as demand for rooms has increased, so has the supply and this has acted as a brake on prices in some economic hotspots. There was a 19% fall in Shanghai as the city’s hoteliers re-adjusted after the World Expo event last year which saw the opening of a string of new hotels. Furthermore, according to the July 2011 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report, there are still nearly 6,000 new hotel projects in development around the world, adding more than 900,000 hotel rooms.
Alison Couper, of Hotels.com, said: “Monitoring hotel development can help explain shifts in prices, especially in cities where business travel continues to rebound.”
Ayers Rock Resort has appointed the world’s largest hotel operator, Accor, to help take the iconic resort and tourist attraction to new markets as well as maximising opportunities for Indigenous employment and development. Under the agreement, Accor will provide a full range of services to complement the day to day operation of the Resort, which is managed by Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia. Accor will particularly concentrate on opening up new markets for the Resort, boosting domestic leisure and conference demand, and working with the Resort to boost career opportunities for Indigenous Australians.
New initiatives to boost the Resort’s international and domestic popularity will include: • $4.9 million investment in the national indigenous training academy at Ayers Rock by the Federal Govt which will create 200 indigenous positions at Ayers Rock Resort and 100 traineeships annually with graduates to be placed within Accor’s national network of 160 hotels • Major promotion of the Resort in emerging Asian markets • First-ever charter flight from China (in January 2012) • Opening of new Conference & Exhibition Centre in August 2012 • Extensive refurbishment of hotels, starting with Sails in the Desert Hotel • The launch of a new ‘under the stars’ 5-star dining experience (called Tali Wiru) • Introduction of new activities and experiences • Establishment of a pioneering Indigenous Training Academy to develop the careers of over 300 indigenous Australians in the tourism and hospitality sectors
Ayers Rock Resort is the largest integrated resort complex in Australia, consisting of five hotels – Sails in the Desert, Desert Gardens Hotel, Outback Pioneer & Lodge, Emu Walk Apartments, and Lost Camel Hotel. The hotels will retain their names, but will be aligned to corresponding brands in Accor’s portfolio. The addition of Ayers Rock Resort will boost Accor’s Australian network to over 160 hotels, and will add to Accor’s Northern Territory presence, which currently comprises hotels in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs
Announcing the agreement with Accor, Managing Director of Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, Koos Klein, said that Accor would play a key role in re-building and growing Ayers Rock Resort’s market both internationally and within Australia.
“Since the Indigenous Land Corporation purchased Ayers Rock Resort earlier this year we have been looking at a comprehensive range of measures to rejuvenate what is one of Australia’s most important tourism assets,” said Mr Klein.
“We are developing a new vision for the Resort, with new directions, new activities, a program of major refurbishments and upgrades and a far reaching program to involve far greater numbers of Indigenous Australians at the Resort.
“We want to complement the unique nature of the destination with unique services. Our mission goes well beyond attracting tourists to Uluru. We are committed to investing in the development of Indigenous employment and tourism businesses, which is why a fundamental aspect of the agreement with Accor is to enable trainees of our National Indigenous Training Academy to further their careers by working in Accor’s extensive hotel network. This should significantly boost the presence of Indigenous Australians in the hotel and tourism sectors.”
Hill Cross Furniture are delighted to announce we have made the Caterer and Hotelkeeper Web Awards 2011 shortlist within the Equipment Supplier category.The Caterer and Hotelkeeper Web Awards 2011 are the only web awards for the hospitality community. They recognise and reward the people and organisations responsible for developing some of the most effective hospitality websites on the internet today.
Over the last 18 months here at Hill Cross we have completely transformed our website with fresh new branding, all new content, layout updates and improved functionality alongside intelligent search facilities making the whole site more user-friendly.
Hill Cross continually evaluate, plan and carefully implement new and exciting features on a monthly basis in order to transform the selection of contract furniture to the leisure sector. Customers are our driving force and we continue to strive to give customers never-ending choice options.
Managing Director, Jake Bailey, said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted. This nomination is testimony to the hard work of Hill Cross’s staff. Our website development team work tirelessly developing content and assess its visual design, innovativeness and interactivity on a daily basis. We want to exceed expectations for operators and designers alike and in doing so our in-house web development team work closely with Stockton based web solutions company, Visualsoft.”
As a shortlisted website, this means that we are automatically put forward for overall Website of the Year, which is voted by you, our customers.
Mr Bailey continued, “to be shortlisted within the Equipment Supplier category is a huge achievement for us and we will have to beat off some stiff competition – we are all keeping our fingers crossed!”
The judging panel will be made up of web specialists and industry operators, and a full list of winners will be unveiled by Friday, 9 December, 2011.
To vote for us to win Website of the Year, then please vote for us here Please keep your fingers crossed for us.
The lightweight and low cost solution to alternative staging systems
Burgess Furniture’s PRAKTIKUS and UNISTAGE ranges provide a versatile staging system with the practicality of easy handling without compromising strength, stability or safety. Both staging systems are practical to store and operate and comprise of an aluminium frame and a beech core top.The PRAKTIKUS and the UNISTAGE are an ideal low cost solution to your basic and professional staging requirements.
Combined Features include:
• Standard heights available in 40, 60 and 80cm • Quick linking wedges for a secure locking system • X-connectors prevent staging sections from pulling apart • Able to carry a surface load to 750kg/m2 • Corner brackets to ensure extra stability • Both products can be combined and used together • Accessories are interchangeable between both staging systems
The latest Jamie’s Italian, the hugely successful award-winning Italian restaurant concept, has recently opened on Threadneedle Street in London. Located in the heart of the financial district, the building is itself rich in banking tradition featuring many original mouth-watering architectural features. The designers, Martin Brudnizki Design Studio (MBDS), have made stunning use of the decorative high ceilings, stone columns and arched windows and entryways. Much of the restaurant’s loose furniture has been sourced from Andy Thornton, the well-established UK suppliers of contract furniture for restaurants, bars and hotels. They worked closely with MBDS to provide furniture from their extensive range, with special finishes and high quality upholstery.
In the main dining area, Andy Thornton supplied traditional country-kitchen style slat back dining chairs. These high quality solid beech chairs have been specially lacquered and hand-waxed in a deep purple/red colour and upholstered in dark brown pull-up leather, carefully finished with a blend of oils and waxes to create a pleasing distressed finish.
Andy Thornton also supplied 80 solid oak table bases in a mixture of single and twin pedestal and matching rectangular and circular oak tops featuring a special ogee shaped edge profile. Again the tables have been stained and waxed to an exact specification, to help create the desired effect.
These unique touches reflect the ethos of Jamie’s Italian – appealing, informal and unpretentious; a place where everyone feels comfortable.
Go to the Andy Thornton website at www.andythornton.com or call their sales team on 01422 376000 to find out more about their extensive range of hospitality furniture.
Hilton Hotels & Resorts has recently announced the opening of Hilton Bogota – Hilton Worldwide’s first managed full-service hotel in Bogota, Colombia. The opening of Hilton Bogota marks the anticipated return of the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand to this thriving capital city, and serves as a reminder of Hilton Worldwide’s strategy to expand the portfolio throughout Latin America. It joins Hilton Cartagena as the second Hilton Hotels & Resorts property in Colombia.Located just 25 minutes from El Dorado International Airport, Hilton Bogota brings a mix of contemporary design, thoughtful business and leisure concepts and discerning service standards to the city’s bustling financial district and an area known as the “new” downtown.
The 15-story Hilton Bogota offers 245 well-appointed guestrooms including 13 spacious suites fashioned in neutral color palettes and featuring furnishings and artwork with contemporary flair; flat screen HDTVs; iPad compatible alarm clock; a frosted glass pane that separates a room’s rest and leisure areas from the work space with desk; and a walk-in closet next to a sliding-door bathroom. A contemporary executive floor caters to the hotel’s business travelers from around the world.
A defining feature of Hilton Bogota is the elegant atrium lobby which showcases the array of offerings guests can experience from the moment they arrive: the hotel’s signature restaurant with direct street access and sophisticated dining concept; a café that indulges palates with a taste of regional delicacies; a stylish, four-level bar and lounge that looks upon a heated outdoor pool and hanging garden wall; the executive lounge exclusively for executive floor guests; and a quartet of small meeting rooms that follow the Hilton brand’s meetings standard.
A glass-enclosed poolside fitness center featuring a massage room and treatment room area completes the hotel’s recreational amenities, while a ballroom measuring almost 5,000 square feet rounds out the hotel’s nearly 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. Hilton Bogota’s underground parking provides a coveted guest convenience in this city where parking is scarce.
In addition to welcoming global business travelers, Hilton Bogota is poised to appeal to the capital city’s growing number of leisure guests with its proximity to downtown, the city’s renowned zona G dining and entertainment quarter, and a bevy of museums and theatres. Hilton Bogota participates in Hilton HHonors®, the only guest rewards program that allows members to earn Points & Miles® for the same stay and redeem points for free nights with No Blackout Dates at more than 3,700 hotels worldwide.
In recent Newsletters and Reviews I have commented on the inability of the UK’s Hotel standard or star rating authorities to consistently implement their own rating standards, resulting, in my view, in major hotel developments that do not meet the star ratings advertised.
The Guides to Hotel Design (available in the DesignClub) illustrates the hotel bathrooms that work. The standards in the Guide articles are worth a wider mention, so here they are.Firstly what are the major annoyances recorded by all guests in survy after survey? Both designer and hotel need to take note these are: • Cleanliness (or rather, lack of it) • Not enough space to layout wash gear • No space to dry swimming gear/running gear or hand laundered items • Mirrors that steam up • Poor water pressure • Varying temperature in the shower • Eco-flush toilets that fail to clean the pan after use combined with no toilet brush • Poor shaving/make up mirrors • Low powered hair dryer ‘toys’ • Poor quality toiletries (one travel writer said they wouldn’t stay in an hotel whose toiletries were not worth stealing) • Poor lighting • Noisy extract fans
Alila Bangalore in India’s garden city is now open, offering a new and stylish option for travellers visiting the region for business and pleasure alike.
Designed by London-based architects, Allies and Morrison, Alila Bangalore is set in a tranquil oasis in a beautiful suburb of the city, seamlessly combining stylish and innovative design and locally inspired interiors with a commitment to environmentally aware practices.The 101 contemporary Studio Rooms feature private balconies and merge a practical workspace with high-tech amenities and luxurious living quarters. The 12 SOHO Suites, the first of their kind in India, provide a separate living area with guest bathroom, ideal for use as an office or meeting room. The seven Leisure Suites feature over-sized daybeds on the balcony and are the perfect couples’ retreat. For a home away from home for families or longer stays, two 506 sqm Alila Residences comprise a living room, kitchen, three bedrooms, library, large balcony and maid’s quarters.
Apaiser bathware has released a daring and exciting innovation in bathing design, with its stimulating new range of Soka timber clad stone baths and matching basins. Using its unique reclaimed marble stone composite as the core and cladding the bath in recycled marine grade teak, Apaiser has melded two of nature’s most durable elements to create a luxurious bathing experience.Drawing inspiration from the traditional Japanese timber bathing tubs, Apaiser has created a unique solution to the longer term issues of deterioration in a traditional timber bath. Layered around the exterior of the luxury apaiser stone is a reclaimed teak wood, which has been treated with a marine grade sealant to preserve the timber. Available with matching basins, the unique Soka bath is a stand out evolution in bringing natural material in to the bathing space.
Combining natures two natural elements – wood and Apaiser’s unique reclaimed marble stone composite, that is easy to clean, hard wearing and never requires sealing or coating, the Soka Bath and basin will add the touch of the exotic to any bathroom.
Spanish giant Roca bought the long established Swiss family ceramics company Laufen in 1999. Since then the company has capitalised on the Swiss tradition of investment in design and technology to position Laufen for a strong attack on the Global contract sales market though both design and innovation.
HotelDesigns had the opportunity to visit Basle and the Laufen factory to look at the production processes involved in producing those most vitally important elements of the hotel interior – the toilets and wash hand basins. That is not the limitation of Laufen’s production and they produce a whole range of equipment for bathrooms including now their own ranges of baths, shower trays, bathroom furniture, taps and other brassware. The traditional material for production is possibly the oldest production material known to man – clay. As the TV programme ‘Time Team’ shows over and over again, this material survives as a testament to its flexibility. Centuries of innovation and inventiveness continues today, with Laufen working both with high technology and high design input using designers such as Alessi.
Traditional techniques have been developed, the main one of which is slip casting. Using a mix of traditional hand pouring and highly developed high pressure moulding the base material is formed into the shape required. For those who didn’t tease potters at college (second only to sculptors as the butt of many a painters joke) the base material is mixed to a smooth runny consistency and poured into a plaster mould. The plaster and air absorb the moisture and after several pouring and being allowed to dry the clay will hold its shape and can be worked, attaining the consistency of hard chocolate (although not as tasty of course).
Marriott International, Inc. has opened the first Residence Inn branded property in the United Kingdom, the 107-room Residence Inn Edinburgh. 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. Boasting 107 stylish and spacious studio and one bedroom suites designed by acclaimed 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.
“Following on the opening of our first Residence Inn in Europe in Munich just last month, we are thrilled to introduce our first Residence Inn hotel in the United Kingdom in the dynamic city of Edinburgh,” said Amy McPherson, president and managing director for Marriott International in Europe. “With more than 35 years of expertise in long term lodging, Residence Inn offers guests everything they need to thrive and maintain balance while on the road. As Marriott’s third largest lodging brand, we see tremendous potential for growth for this unique service and product in Europe.”
Quartermile is a high quality, mixed-use development that will boast 900 luxury apartments, over 10,000 sq meters of retail space and over 30,000 sq meters of office space when complete.
Sekers will be launching the newly coloured Faux Leather ‘Orzan’ at Sleep along with their other exciting new ranges Gitanna, Carrera, Delta and Cascada. Please come and see the new ranges on stand M7.We are also having a whisky tasting on the stand 6pm-8pm on the Wednesday. Please come and sample Scotland’s finest Single Malts from Auchentoshan and the chance to meet and chat to their brand ambassador Gordon Dundas.
The Sleep Event: 23-24 November 2011, Business Design Centre, Islington
Join Martin Rowell @ 11.30am on Thursday 24th November (Seminar area M43) where he will be discussing why brands need to evolve and create deeper relationships, promoting the need for balance. He will also discuss how hotel bathrooms can go beyond the norm to ensure that beauty is combined with function. This is a free seminar.
Discover the GROHE top ten unofficial list, compiled by consumers who posted their pet hates in Autumn 2011, and find out what really irritates guests when it comes to ill-considered hotel bathroom design. For GROHE, this highlights why design needs to go beyond styling. We want to see more than just beauty; we want to see beautiful products that perform to perfection.
GROHE Headline Sponsors at Sleep 2011
GROHE is the leading provider of premium bath fittings and showers, kitchen taps, thermostats and sanitary systems. Renowned for its quality, technological innovation and stylish design, GROHE has announced that for the 6th year running they will continue to be the headline sponsor for the Sleep event, 23-24 November, London.
Sleep is the only event in Europe which focuses entirely on the design, architecture and development of hotels so a perfect platform to showcase some of the 350+ diverse and award-winning products from the GROHE portfolio.
As a global brand in this sector, GROHE continues to set the standard. Seven decades of research and development have resulted in a range of pioneering technologies and products that are recognized worldwide for their technical excellence and longevity. GROHE’s reputation for manufacturing high-quality, stylish bathroom brassware make them the preferred choice for use in 3 star to 5 star hotels across all design styles as GROHE has a solution for all price points.
Design at GROHE is headed up by Paul Flowers, Senior Vice President of Design, with a dedicated in-house design team who work to fulfill the GROHE design philosophy; ‘to deliver the perfect balance of superior technology, quality and design’. This was further realized with the GROHE Design team’s latest accolade red dot design team of the year 2011.
The GROHE stand will feature the brand new Allure Brilliant range, which was unveiled at ISH 2011 to rave reviews, the latest news on GROHE Digital for all. Sleep delegates will be invited to discover the GROHE SPA concept – a space as individual as your client… an unrivalled range of bathroom fittings enable one to create a unique bathing space, where design, comfort and function meet. Try the organic hand harvested GROHE SPA lotions and enjoy the GROHE SPA experience- refreshing, soothing and comforting.
Jan Shepherd, Global Brand Director at GROHE is looking forward to unveiling the GROHE stand “Visitors to Sleep 2011 can expect alluring architectural appeal of bath spouts and bath/shower mixers that rise elegantly from the floor. Integrated shower fittings that come to life when you turn on the water. Digital or mechanical operation, all in inspiring finishes. GROHE collections consider every detail imaginable including technology that helps to promote guest safety and comfort whilst still creating a stimulating water experience”.
GROHE, Stand V2 @ Sleep, London 23-24 November, 2011.
A message from David Balmer, National Specification Manager – Hotels (Hospitality) at GROHE:
“If you are already going to the Sleep event, please make a point of catching up with me, either if by arranging a convenient meeting or just would like a coffee and chat …. Only too pleased to see you.
If you have not got your entrance pass, please go on www.thesleepevent.com and register now for free, otherwise it’s £25. See you there!”
January 2012 sees the launch of Jiva Puri, a private home available to rent on the authentic and undeveloped south west coast of Bali. Set on two acres of prime ocean-front land with extensive lawns and tropical gardens the villa is the result of the owner’s 20-year love affair with the island. The location is truly exceptional – set on a small cliff, about thirty feet above the water, with a black sand beach surrounded by rice paddy fields. The villa has already been recognised by the design industry, being awarded the Asia Pacific Property Award in the residential Property Interiors category for its design. The architecture and interiors are designed by Ernesto Bedmar – a Singapore based Argentine architect – and it is a contemporary Geoffrey Bawa inspired take on Balinese living. The concept, like Bawa’s own, is to take the Balinese design precepts of organised living spaces around a courtyard and open views of verdant green living spaces and the sea and update them for the 21st century.
The property consists of five spacious bedroom pavilions, each with their own private outdoor spaces of ponds and gardens. They feel like independent villas with a tennis court-sized lawn punctuated by wooden tribal art leading to the common living areas. There is a large living and dining pavilion with wraparound views of the sea and a dining table that can seat 20 – plus a library, gym and spa. The views overlook not only the sea but one of Bali’s most beautiful temples – black and set on rocks in the sea.
The villa also includes a private collection of Indonesian tribal antiques that set off the clean lines and tranquil spaces of the property and includes wood carvings from a village chief’s house in Borneo, a stone Shiva Lingam from Java and a canoe from Medan, near Malaysia as well as stone carvings from the Sumba islands. As a counterpoint there are large black and white photographs of Balinese ceremonies taken by Rio Helmi within the bedrooms.
There is also a 30 metres swimming pool with a separate pavilion with a large dining area plus a professional kitchen with a private herb and vegetable garden. In addition, there is separate accommodation for any staff that a guest may choose to bring with them. Staff on site include a highly experienced manager with over 20 years experience with the Hyatt group, an Executive Chef (a former Grand Hyatt Executive Chef and co–author of the famous Food of Bali Cookbook), sous–chef, short–order cook, driver and 10 staff for housekeeping, 24 hours security and maintenance. The staff can cater for up to 40 people with bespoke menus.
The owner, a former Indian banker based between Hong Kong and India has had a 20 year love affair with Bali, finding it to be the one of the only vacation destinations in Asia that had retained a character and culture independent of the tourism industry. They did not want to be part of an enclave built for tourism. Bali’s rich history of music, theatre, art and religion were the lure of the island and the location for Jiva Puri was the result of a five year search to find the perfect place to build. Most luxury villas in Bali are set on plots that are a third to a half the size of Jiva Puri.
Villeroy & Boch bring examples of their latest collection of premium bathroom designs to the Sleep Event at the Business Design Centre in London on 23-24 November (Stand V6). The brand stands for exceptional quality and sophisticated design and at the Sleep Event they will showcase products from the 360° Projects Service and encourage visitors to get creative with the innovative Your Style – Your Design – Your 360° Projects competition.Competition entrants will get a unique opportunity to express their creativity in colour on an iconic Villeroy & Boch ‘New Wave’ plate and winners of the fabulous Villeroy & Boch prizes will be decided by friends and family voting via the Villeroy & Boch facebook page, www.facebook.com/VilleroyandBoch. Being creative was never so beneficial!
The company’s 1st UK showroom dedicated to bathrooms showcases the 360° projects, a new concept aimed at professional planners, architects and developers. Divided into four colour coded zones, the showroom gives access to the full range of products from entry level to high end. Detailed product information is available via use of bar code technology accessed via a smart phone app.
The Sleep Event stand will showcase various elements from the 360° projects including the O.Novo asymmetrical washbasin (RRP £300), Subway’s Vanity Basin, Loop & Friends and at the luxe end of the collections, Violet from My Nature.
360° Violet: pure luxury thanks to exclusive and first-class design collections. Violet comprises of prestige products from Villeroy & Boch for use in premium projects. Customers can make use of the full 360° projects service with a direct line to Villeroy and Boch experts for post sales advice.
360° Silver: This segment boasts timeless design products like Subway and many other system collections for the top-quality bathroom.
360° Blue: the segment for lasting and practical system solutions. This range includes product innovations such as the splash-reducing urinal, water-efficient Omnia Green Gain and more.
360° Orange: is the entry-level segment, with customary V&B quality, modern design and numerous solution-oriented features.
Visitors to the stand will have the opportunity to plan and view their dream concept bathrooms via the latest technology, chat with the Villeroy & Boch staff and create something unique to take home with them in the shape of their very own customised ‘new wave’ plate.
Hotel 71, located along the picturesque Chicago River, proudly marked the completion of a top-to-bottom upgrade that integrates high-end design and luxury amenities. The renovation of the boutique luxury hotel extends to the lobby, guestrooms, fitness centre and meeting spaces, resulting in a refined and sleek destination fit for both business and leisure travellers.The $20 million renovation includes the following:
Public Areas Guests entering the chic new lobby will be awed by the modern lines and use of different textiles and textures that complement the warm lighting found throughout and create a new, welcoming entrance. A new business centre located on the first floor directly behind the lobby is fully equipped will all the bells and whistles for guests in need of personalized work stations with access to the internet. For travellers looking to maintain their workout routine while out of town, a renovated, state-of-the-art fitness centre on the 7th floor of the property features top-tier cardio equipment, circuit and free weights in a space overlooking the Chicago River.
Guestrooms & Suites 49 new premier guestrooms, including 10 junior suites, feature separate living and parlour rooms, spacious soaking bathtubs and rainforest showers. Fitness suites that feature either treadmills or elliptical machines are perfect for guests looking to enjoy their work-out in the privacy of their own room. The hotel renovation includes abundant technical upgrades to both existing and new guestrooms. The addition of high-speed wireless internet, 37″ flat screen televisions and iPod docking stations are just a few of the new amenities that will appeal to guests.
Food & Beverage Hoyt’s, the sleek dining destination located on the first level of the property, is the hotel’s new signature restaurant. This American tavern features re-imagined Midwestern comfort food and an extensive cocktail program in a chic environment. Additionally, Hoyt’s features a 1,200-square-foot private event space overlooking the Chicago River, ideal for cocktail parties and formal sit-down dinners. The renovation also included updates to Hotel 71’s famed 39th floor penthouse ballroom, which now features fresh, contemporary new carpet and draperies, adding to a more modern feel.
Specifiers looking for a stylish and subtle approach to lighting switches and dimmers can now select from the Jung ‘A Creation’ range, available from The Wandsworth Group, Jung’s exclusive UK distributor.A range of minimalist, translucent frames designed to complement any interior, the ‘A Creation’ line combines German quality with contemporary styling to provide a wide range of colour and finish combinations. Already a popular choice for quality installations across mainland Europe, the range can be used to create a statement look or to blend seamlessly into the interior design of a property, depending on the combination of frame and insert chosen.
Designed to accommodate Jung’s A 500 square-shaped inserts and rockers, the ‘A Creation’ range of frames is available in one, two, three, four or five gang variants, all of which can be either horizontally or vertically mounted. The frames all have an edge radius of 1.25cm and are available in a choice of three duroplastic variants: white, black or aluminium or six glass variants: black, red, blue-grey, soft-white, white or silver (mirror finish).
Comments head of sales for The Wandsworth Group, Andy Howe, “Details such as the framing of wiring accessories can really add a quality feel to an installation and help to bring together design elements in the room. Because it’s available in 1-5 gang options, the Jung ‘A Creation’ range can be used to keep an installation beautifully neat and tidy, even when there are numerous inserts or rockers to be accommodated. We’re confident that it will prove as popular in the UK as it has across much of the rest of Europe.”
Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Abu Dhabi National Hotels have announced the opening of Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas. The hotel is the first Hyatt-branded property in the UAE capital.The stunning island property reflects Park Hyatt’s authentic and elegant approach to hospitality. In addition to the 306 luxuriously appointed rooms, suites and villas, the hotel also offers a first class array of dining options serving a wide selection of cuisine from around the world: The Park Bar & Grill, The Café, Beach House and The Library. Resort activities include four generously sized swimming pools, a range of water activities, the beautiful Atarmia Spa with nine spacious treatment rooms, outdoor private terraces, fitness facilities, a tennis court and Camp Hyatt children’s club. Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi also offers guests an impressive range of meeting venues for any occasion, from exclusive board meetings to large conferences and social gatherings.
Design and Guestrooms
Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi, developed by New York-based architects Perkins Eastman and Singapore-based designers Wilson Associates, incorporates energy efficient design techniques that meet LEED’s silver standards while also complementing the island’s natural beauty. The design team has created an “urban resort” concept for Saadiyat Island with interiors that have a contemporary understated design mixed with Arabian culture. Different components of the resort are connected by landscape elements, courtyards, covered walkways and gardens.
Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi’s 306 spacious rooms, suites and private villas offer guests a secluded and luxurious place to retreat. Each room has a spacious, open-plan bathroom with an oversized stand-alone bath tub and dedicated rain-shower area as well as a spacious balcony with views towards the Arabian Sea, golf club or hotel swimming pools. Surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens, the resort’s luxurious Beach View, Garden View Suites and Villas offer guests a private, residential ambience and also feature a large terrace with a private plunge pool, rain shower and sunbeds overlooking Saadiyat Beach or the Golf Club.
The design of all guest rooms is contemporary with a blend of Arabian décor. All wooden elements in guest bedrooms and corridors originate from a mixture of oak and black American walnut from Finland. Guest bathroom features are made from Chinese lava wave marble as well as white marble originating from Oman.
Morgan Furniture, the design-led British manufacturer of contract furniture, has designed and supplied a range of soft seating for the new Mirror Bar within London’s Landmark Hotel. Described by the hotel as a ‘jewel box of a bar’ the sumptuous interior is a nod to the hotel’s Victorian heritage, with the walls adorned in a range of decorative mirrors and the service style intimate. With direct access from the street, the existing hotel bar area was refurbished and re-incarnated as the Mirror Bar in summer 2011 designed to provide a tranquil destination for pre-dinner cocktails or a late night drink. Classic luxury is ensured by the furniture from Morgan featuring bespoke elements and finely tuned detailing to achieve a comfortable, big chair feel which also meets the requirement for seating numbers within the bar.
Hampton armchairs are a dominant design from Morgan with their classic profile and buttoned cushions. A bespoke Hampton two seater sofa was created especially for the project by Design Director, Katerina Zachariades. Rotunda lounge chairs, in a mix of low and high back options, are also prominent throughout the bar providing elegance and comfort with classic deep buttoning detail and rich velvet upholstery.
Seville wing chairs complete the picture with their contemporary twist on a traditional design. The distinctive shape to the back and long sweeping curve on the arms is reminiscent of a vintage style and the invitation to sit back and relax is further enhanced by the addition of scatter cushions.
Morgan was commissioned by London-based design consultancy Proof.
Some 5,900 square metres of bespoke carpet from Wilton Carpets Commercial has given a luxurious ambience to the lounge, restaurant, corridors and bedrooms of Warwick Conferences’ Scarman, the largest of three conference and training venues based at the University of Warwick.
Using the design flexibility of woven axminster from Wilton Carpets, the designers at the University of Warwick have been able to achieve an interior to meet the much more demanding expectations of guests since the centre was refurbished 7 years ago.
Preferring the greater design capability and looks retention of axminster woven carpets over tufted constructions, the 204 bedrooms at Scarman were designed with a base palette of neutrals and fawns, with a highlight colour that varied from floor to floor. The corridor carpet was designed from a complementary colour palette, but with panel and runner features that enlivened the long unbroken vistas. Special features to demarcate lifts and lobby areas were also incorporated into the design.
In the high quality restaurant facilities, a contemporary rolling crossover stripe design using a dark base colourway and bright accent tones help to create a feel of luxurious dining surroundings for the centre’s guests.
Scarman is one of the largest residential training and conference centres in the UK; it creates a dedicated and focused environment for its delegates who visit from across the country. It has 204 bedrooms, 54 meeting rooms, its own restaurants, bar, lounge and relaxing outdoor spaces.
“It is important that Scarman provides its guests with the very best in modern, purposeful facilities with a true sense of style and quality. With this in mind,the management team decided that a refurbishment would ensure that Scarman continues to meet and exceed customers’ expectations,” comments the Warwick Conferences Scarman team at the University of Warwick. “We invited carpet manufacturers from an approved list to tender for the extensive and intensive project and felt that Wilton Carpets Commercial could meet our needs in terms of design versatility and quality.
“Working with Wilton Carpets’ in-house design team, we were able to create designs that reflected the quality ambience of the centre, while providing practical floor coverings demanded by such a busy venue. We are delighted with the results and have had positive feedback from users of the building.”
The woven axminster carpets supplied to Warwick Conferences’ Scarman were manufactured in a high performance blend of 80% wool and 20% nylon to maximise durability and appearance retention throughout the life of the carpet. Made in Wiltshire and installed by CFA approved contractor CSB Contract Flooring Services, the carpets were produced and delivered within the timescales required by the refurbishment.
For further information contact Wilton Carpets Commercial on 01722 746000 or sales@wiltoncarpets.com
The Riviera Hotel is an institution in Beirut, in one of the best locations. The excellent architecture from the 1950’s, the seaside location and the Mediterranean light were the inspiration for the new interior design for the renovation. The hotel has been refreshed and renewed in its own style; one that is sure to become a classic, like the hotel itself.Together with the design practise SHS International from Düsseldorf, Baulmann Leuchten fitted out the guestrooms of the hotel with a bespoke version of a LED-reading light, fully integrated into the headboards.
Another bespoke solution has been supplied for the lift-portals; a special-made framework with integrated lighting is covering the old lift-portals, creating now an eye-catcher on each floor.
The Sleep Event Stand number: G37; 23-24 November 2011
The Aurora Projects team will be demonstrating to the hospitality industry how, as a global energy saving solutions provider, they can help all hospitality businesses make energy savings. The Aurora Projects team is experienced in lighting design, project management and the delivery of low energy solutions.
Key products being launched at the show are:
• Aurora’s SOLA range of i9 fire rated downlights, which now come with a seven year warranty, are dimmable, have a lamp life of 75,000 hours and can be fast fixed.
• New on display at The Sleep Event is Aurora’s expanded range of modular LED downlighting solutions, featuring interchangeable bezels, modules and drivers.
• Aurora’s new range of state-of-the-art direct replacement T8 tubes fitted with a unique LED safety starter. These T8s are the first to receive LA safety certification, as they remove the risk of electrical shock during lamp installation or replacement.
• Aurora’s range of energy saving lamps offering dimmable, true halogen replacements; some mimic the warming effect of a dimmed incandescent lamp.
All Aurora products on display at The Sleep Event Stand number G37 have been engineered and manufactured by Aurora or one of its integrated partners.
The Group is a dynamic, international manufacturing, distribution and marketing organisation which manufactures all four elements of lighting: control, power, lamps and luminaires. Employing over 600 people, it is committed to supplying solutions which save money, enhance the built environment and are environmentally considerate.
A year ago work started on the new Hampton by Hilton, on a cramped site in central Croydon. With an original target opening date of September this year the operators, Croydon Hotels, recently announced the opening date would be in January 2012.
The new opening date reflects the times, as the main contractor has had to be replaced , apparently after cash flow problems caused the previous contractor to cease trading. In June of this year work on the site came to a complete standstill, with the £11.5million build almost ready to be topped out. Work resumed in August when a new contractor, Ardmore, was appointed. The project is on a 30metres by 30metres site, previously part of the footprint of a carefully demolished office block. On an adjacent part of the site another contractor is creating 56 units of supported housing for the single homeless, both projects making extensive use of offsite construction. I have watched as everything from bathroom pods to prefabricated walls and staircases have been delivered to the cramped site by lorry (the housing units are coming in almost completely prefabricated). Traffic management and disruption has been kept to a remarkably low level first by the original contractor (Bowens) and then by their replacement Ardmore. Indeed the most difficulty was incurred by the use of a mobile crane to install the key component in the construction, the site crane, and will be matched by road closures for its removal. The Hampton by Hilton development consists of an 11 storey hotel. The hotel has 120 bedrooms located on the 3rd to 10th floors inclusive. The building foot-print takes up the greater majority of the site area. There is minimal landscaping area proposed at the front of the building, disabled car parking at the front of the building and a small car holding area at the rear of the building. A covered roadway passes under /though the building at ground floor level to allow vehicles gain access to the rear of the hotel directly from Dingwall Road.
• Ground floor – main entrance, public areas, WC, kitchen, breakfast area, reception, and lift lobbies. • First floor – kitchen, banqueting, lift lobbies and WC. • Second floor – Offices, lift lobbies and WC. • Third floor to Eleventh floor inclusive – 15no bedrooms on each floor and single lift lobby
I think it’s a shame that plant has to occupy the top floor exclusively as from the 12th floor meeting or function rooms would have stunning views (this has been done at the Croydon Holiday Inn Expresspreviously reviewed, with great success). Location is less than 300 metres from East Croydon Station, with 20 trains an hour making the 16minute journey into central London, and easy access to the Tramlink service for Wimbledon as well as buses.
Hilton are accepting reservations for the new hotel from 1st February 2012.
Complementing the luxury Mayfair hotel’s Art Deco styling Dernier & Hamlyn recently created twelve 1930’s design inspired wall lights for the ballroom at Claridge’s. Formed in solid brass and finished in nickel, the fan shaped lights are completed by flash white opal glass panels that spread light onto the mirrors backing them.A spokesperson from Claridge’s commented:
“Our ballroom is used for weddings and other special events so lighting is essential to creating the right ambience for our guests. Dernier & Hamlyn’s work has achieved exactly the results we were hoping to accomplish.”
Marriott International has opened its first hotel in Siberia, the 208-room Courtyard by Marriott Irkutsk City Center. Centrally located within walking distance of the Kirov Square, Angara River and the historic Drama Theatre, the hotel is perfectly situated to explore the sights of Eastern Siberia. Irkutsk, located along the Trans-Siberian Railway, is also 70km in distance from the UNESCO world heritage site of Lake Baikal – the world’s largest fresh water lake.Designed for to help business travelers maintain balance on the road, the spacious guest rooms are stylish and comfortable offer large well-lit work desks, ergonomic chairs and coffee makers. Health conscious guests can also take advantage of the on-site fitness centre. The “Grand Courtyard Ballroom” is one of the largest and most modern event venues in Irkutsk and can host events and celebrations for up to 300 persons. For meetings and events, the Courtyard Irkutsk offers five meetings rooms with a total of 395 square metres of meeting space.
Guests can enjoy all-day dining at the Mesto Vstrechi restaurant, with a range of European and Siberian inspired dishes. The Malachite offers private dining for up to 28 people – an ideal setting for intimate events. Cedar Bar offers a relaxed atmosphere in which to enjoy drinks and snacks throughout the day and the hotel’s 24/7 market is offers a range of drinks, sandwiches and snacks around the clock. Complimentary high speed internet is available in public areas such as the hotel lobby, restaurant and bar.
Manufactured in the UK with reliable lead times, Numirra offer a standard lampshade collection together with a comprehensive custom made to order service.Whether it be COM (Customers Own Material), small, medium or large quantities, our experienced team would welcome the opportunity to discuss your requirements.
Numirra are specialists in decorative lighting for the world’s hospitality industry. We have a reputation for quality materials combined with attention to detail. Our beautiful products, designed around ‘functionality’, are part of a process by which great interiors are brought to life.
Set in 320 acres of rural Essex countryside is the Crowne Plaza Resort Colchester – Five Lakes. The resort has two 18-hole golf courses, spa, two restaurants (Brasserie 1 and Catch 22), Bar Lacu, 18 meeting rooms, 3,500sqm of exhibition space, pool, 194 guest rooms and four suites. Aimed at the business market and those looking for an alternative base to stay during the Olympics in 2012, the resort offers a refuge away from the hustle and bustle of London and prides itself on excellent customer service.The launch of the resort on Thursday 6th October was celebrated with a vast number of guests from the press and local businesses. Entertainment included a string quartet, opera and West End singer and both restaurants and bar offered a variety of meals to sample.
It was an extravagant party with a guest appearance from Andy Priaulx, Triple World Touring Car Champion who Crowne Plaza sponsors.
Overall it was a fantastic night and the resort showcased its high quality food, excellent level of service and services – there was even a section offering free massages to demonstrate the spa but it was so popular I missed out!
Crystal Caviar s.r.o. company designs and produces bespoke chandeliers, lighting, wall cladding and glass artwork for the hospitality industry. Their products can be seen in 5* hotels, 50+ m super yachts, golf resorts, casinos and private residences across the globe and their latest instalment is for the Brussels Marriott Hotel.The project manager, Tomas Kacer, responsible for the Brussels Marriott Hotel job says:
“Hotel lighting is a typical job for us. In this case the client asked us to create a chandelier above the bar that will follow the curved shape. The chandelier was expected to break the large ceiling area into two parts and create a beautifully lit decoration with very a light and airy look. To do this we used twisted glass tubes in two rows hanging on metal wires. Light sources are installed into the ceiling in between the two rows. The light spreads throughout the glass tubes and makes the ends of the tubes glow. The client was so excited and satisfied with the look, that he asked us to double the size of the chandelier during the installation. We had to come for a second installation.”
Crystal Caviar s.r.o. is renowned as a pioneer in new glass techniques. They combine glass into lighting fittings and use techniques developed for a certain purpose in a different way to create beautiful bespoke pieces.
“This results in amazing glass products and objects such as the Crystal Caviar tile you see in the image (right)” says Marek Landa, owner of the company. “These tiles are still waiting to be used for a big chandelier project. If anyone is interested in using these tiles, please contact us for a quote.”
“We started crystal caviar glass just two years ago and we trusted it would work due to the bespoke possibilities.”
You can find out more details about the Crystal Caviar s.r.o. company and their products in Directory.
November is the month to catch a special offer from Forbes Group, the supplier of fabrics, furniture and equipment to the hospitality industry worldwide.If you order £1000 of fabric products from Forbes this month – including table skirtings, conference drop covers or throw covers, restaurant skirtings, table cloths and chair covers – you can claim two free flipchart covers, embroidered with your company logo, free of charge.
Order more than £3000 of fabric products and you will receive 4 free embroidered flipchart covers; or top £5000 and you will receive 4 flipchart covers plus a banner cloth which can be thrown over a reception or top table, similarly bearing a logo of your choice. All these accessories are, like the fabric products themselves, easy-care,, hard-wearing and machine washable, besides coming in a choice of colours.
So if you have been considering updating your conferences or receptions, and want to set off into 2012 in real style, order before 1st December to bag some free accessories to complete your new look.
Abu Dhabi’s new landmark, Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi, has recently opened its doors to guests. Representing the company’s most architecturally bold property to date, the visually striking eleven-storey curved glass structure is the company’s first hotel opening outside of Europe. Blending a European sophistication in design so synonymous with the group, with Arabic elements and sensibilities, guests at the new luxury hotel can expect continuity of the brand’s high levels of personable service and quality throughout. Situated in a prime location close to the downtown area, the exhibition centre and Yas Island, Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi offers 281 spacious, well-considered bedrooms and suites, as well as a dedicated executive floor and lounge, seven diverse and compelling options for dining and recreation, a generous spa, traditional Hammam and wellness centre and some of the UAE’s most sophisticated meeting and events spaces.
Four years in the making, the stunning green and blue wave-shaped glass building was masterminded by architects WS Atkins and Partners and developed by UAE’s Al Farida Investments Company in conjunction with Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), the master developer of tourism, cultural and residential destinations in Abu Dhabi.
Under construction for the past 18 months, the Radisson Blu East Midlands Airport finally opened on 24 October 2011 and is aimed at the premium end of the leisure and business traveller market. It has 218 stylish guest rooms at four-star standard, a bistro-style restaurant as well as conference, gym and spa facilities.
“There are a lot of business and leisure travellers passing through the East Midlands but we don’t think they are well served at the moment so they move onto other areas. We’re near major road and rail links as well as the airport.” said Daniel Keane, General Manager at the hotel.
Radisson Blu chose Nottingham-based public relations agency Redbrick Communications to handle the launch of its new ‘design hotel’ at East Midlands Airport.
Focus SB is proudly sponsoring the champagne reception at the new International Hotel Awards to be held at the Savoy Hotel in London on January 18th 2012.Developed to identify, highlight and reward excellence throughout the global hospitality industry, the International Hotel Awards (www.ihotelawards.com), in association with Bloomberg Television, seek to recognise the finest operations throughout a wide range of areas. In addition to categories for all manner of different sized and specifically targeted hotels, there are also sections for the best hotel architecture, interior design, marketing and website.
Roger Kemp, Managing Director of Focus SB explains his reasons behind sponsoring the awards: “We have been working on a number of hotel refurbishment projects throughout the UK so decided it would be a logical fit for us to have a presence here,” he says.
“Hotels in the UK are among the finest in the world and Focus SB is proud to be a part of these fantastic projects to maintain their rightful status as luxury destinations.”
The Hotel Awards have evolved from the long established International Property Awards. The awards are split into regions covering the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe & Africa, Arabia and UK. Participants enter at their relevant national level and are judged by a highly experienced team of professionals covering the entire range of hotel disciplines.
Those companies selected as winners are invited to attend a glittering awards dinner for each region, with the highest scoring entrants from each region then nominated to go forward to the final judging of the overall International Hotel Awards. After this crucial stage the world’s best hotels and their related businesses are announced to the industry and beyond.
Focus SB will be exhibiting at The Sleep Event, Business Design Centre, London from the 23-24 November (Stand V7)
With the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago the very first Radisson Blu has opened its doors in the United States of America. The 334 rooms-property is set within the stunning Aqua Tower created by internationally acclaimed architect Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang Architect, and awarded as “Skyscraper of the Year”. Situated near the confluence of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River in the Lakeshore East Development, the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel is surrounded by Chicago’s biggest tourist attractions, including Millennium Park, Navy Pier and the fabulous shopping of Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile. The hotel is a joint venture between Carlson Hotels and Magellan Development Group, and a US$ 125 million project. The contemporary and creative design of the interior spaces is a work by Jim Hamilton (Graven Interiors), and Swedish hospitality designer Christian Lundwall created the rooms in two different styles: “Mansion House” is defined by sophisticated strong lines and boasts rich timber finishes, flashes of chrome and a “dark but clubby” aura. “Naturally Cool” is contemporary and features splashes of colour, a soft and sensual white bed, metal lamps, wood flooring and dramatic paper art versatile enough for any setting of climate. All rooms offer incredible views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago Skyline and are equipped with extras like complimentary WIFI access, flat screen TV, iron and iron board, and deluxe Anne Sémonin bath amenities. Two floors of the hotel are exclusively designed for Business Class guests, and comprise a hospitality lounge with complimentary breakfast and evening cocktails.
The Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago also presents Filini, a contemporary Italian restaurant and bar that focuses on the finest fresh ingredients and flavours. Filini’s food is uncomplicated but exquisitely prepared. Unpretentious and stylish, the mood of the restaurant is friendly and subtle with memorable Mediterranean overtones.
Guests of the hotel enjoy access to an indoor and outdoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, a fully equipped fitness centre, an indoor basketball court, a game room, and an outdoor terrace. Meeting facilities of the brand new property include 2,600 square meters of total meeting space with an additional 650 square meters of outdoor space. The hotel’s unique ballroom features 6-meter-high windows overlooking The Park at Lakeshore East. The overall meeting space can be configured into 14 different meeting rooms.
The new Electroscape Electric Fire by Platonic Fireplace Company is an uncompromising design statement that can be fitted in any location. It is available in a range of standard sizes, or as a bespoke product to create a singular focal point to a room. Combined with its simple ease of installation, this Fire requires minimal space, as there is no need for a chimney, flue or hearth.
The Electroscape is proving popular in bars, restaurants and hotels. Recent installations include the Sofitel Hotel at Heathrow, The Radisson Waterfront Hotel in Stockholm, and the Mont Calm Hotel in London.
Choice Hotels International, Inc. has recently announced the development of a new Cambria Suites hotel in White Plains, NY. The project comes on the heels of two additional development deals in New York City and marks Choice Hotels first partnership with Meyer Jabara Hotels, an award-winning hospitality company that owns and operates more than 20 hotels in 13 states. This is a joint venture between Choice Hotels and Meyer Jabara Hotels, who also will manage the property. The 130-room Cambria Suites will be part of a $47 million mixed-use development located at 250 Main Street in downtown White Plains. When complete, there will be 30,000 square feet of new retail space and 17,000 square feet of retail and office space in an adjoining building. Construction on the retail portion of the development is already underway, with hotel construction set to commence in March 2012. The property is anticipated to open in September 2013.
The new property features a unique urban design, with the six-story midrise hotel built on top of two stories of retail outlets. Underground onsite parking will be available for guests.
Designed as a lifestyle hotel brand, Cambria Suites offers more than just a place to sleep at night. It features a larger lobby to give guests a more social atmosphere, all-suite rooms that are larger than standard hotel rooms and include separate living, working and sleeping space, providing business and leisure travelers a haven to relax, socialize and network. There are currently 19 properties open across the country, with additional properties in development.
Like all Cambria Suites hotels, the White Plains property will feature: Reflect, a casual dining and gathering area serving a dinner menu, liquor, wine, beer, freshly prepared grab-and-go gourmet salads and sandwiches, a barista bar featuring Wolfgang Puck® coffee, Cheesecake Factory® desserts and a hot breakfast buffet; Refresh, a state-of-the-art fitness center with an elegant pool and hot tub/spa area; and Refill, a 24-7 convenience store that offers energy drinks, snacks and sundries.
Comments areas generally don’t get a great deal of attention on HotelDesigns. Occasionally a designer will amplify an article but rarely do we get much feedback or comment. The first article was originally an Editorial sent only to subscribers, added here because of a request from ACID to add it to their evidence to a government enquiry into manufacturing and IP rights.ACID and I don’t see totally eye to eye on IP Rights but the article struck a chord not only with them but with other readers. Although the comments are attached to the article I thought it worth adding them as a News item as the criticism is so corruscating. So here they all are:-
Added: Wednesday, 26 Oct, 2011 by Jeremy Quantrill Dernier & Hamlyn UK
Great article regarding the demise of British manufacturing.
As you rightly point out finding youngsters wishing to enrol and learn the skills in the same way that our existing qualified staff is difficult. In my time here we have always reached out to youngsters to encourage them to learn a trade and take forward skills that can be easily be lost. With the continual loss of manufacturing companies in the UK it does become difficult to remain optimistic, however we need to continue to adapt and change in order to survive.
Also we need to look outwards to people in the trade, those that are responsible for the specification and ask them to support the UK. We are often thought of as being too expensive, however the costs of mass produced products mean British built is an option, and often is a far better quality product.
Hope that you are all well.
Added: Wednesday, 26 Oct, 2011 by P J Statham Cardiff
Patrick,
I am now on the Management Guild Mark Committee of the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers and we are trying hard to revamp the award, to turn it into almost a “royal warrant” for British furniture makers…then we need help to get that through to UK specifiers as a standard required…should help to overcome the foreign makers and publicise British-made items.
I will keep you informed as to progress…next meeting on 13 December, with a view to having something worth presenting by early spring. Rodney McMahon has been helpful in the process…I just push it onwards and it seems to be working. Both WCFM and MGM needed to be made relevant for 21st Century…
Royal Doulton…my now-deceased uncle was one of their first reps…with a company car! I have an original white jug with a face on it, numbered underneath, but cannot find any way of valuing it, so I hide it!
Keep up the good work
Added: Wednesday, 02 Nov, 2011 by Frank Triggs Oswestry, United Kingdom
On the button Paddy. Im currently having difficulty offering work experience to my local school that was supposed to have “technical status”. Post graduate Spanish students have sought me out because of my combination of craft and technical (cad cam) skills. Here I get the “Oh well I suppose some of our less bright pupils might be interested” which is such a bloody insult to me and an expression of ignorance on the part of teacher . When she flies I hope she does it in an aircraft the was designed and constructed by some one who was not one of the less bright.
Thanks for the mention.
Best wishes Frank
Added: Saturday, 05 Nov, 2011 by Rodney McMahon Emsworth, United Kingdom
Patrick, as always, very good points.
I am interested in Jamie Lesinski’s remarks which are financially and intellectually unarguable but reflect the misunderstanding, amongst non manufacturers, that is too prevalent about costs and risks.
The fact is simply that enterprise in the UK does not flourish because of the relentless press of legislation and the enormous costs, risks and barriers that they place on any kind of activity. This ranges from Health & Safety to Employment to generalised insurance requirements and on and on.
Bank lending is the least of our problems.
We are beholden to, and paying for, an idle, incompetent, overpaid and bullying bureaucracy which has no concept of the real world or enthusiasm for achievement but enjoys stopping us from generating proper jobs.
Until the wider community, not just politicians and bankers, grasp these facts little will change.
All best wishes
Editors Note: Governments borrow more than they get in taxes. They spend it on social programmes. Results are clear, as the Greek crisis shows. Asking for politicians to cut spending is like asking turkeys to vote for Christmas, so the markets do it for them.
The Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant in historic Old Town San Diego has received three awards this year for its $6.5 million rehabilitation and historic preservation—an effort that brought back this most important historic resource, making it once again a viable part of San Diego culture and society: The SOHO 2011 People in Preservation Award, a 2011 Preservation Design Award, presented by the California Preservation Foundation and a Governor’s Historic Preservation Award.The juries in all three awards were impressed with the level of detail and care that went into the complete restoration of the hotel and restaurant, the intensive research and documentation, and the accuracy of bringing the property back to its original appearance as the 1869 Cosmopolitan Hotel. The restoration was completed by a team of over 60 professionals lead by Heritage Architecture & Planning under the direction of California State Parks.
The Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO) 2011 People in Preservation Award. The jury noted the extensive preservation and reuse of original historic fabric, together with the use of traditional tools and materials; and the number of people involved, including historians, architects, state employees, contractors, artists, and other specialists.
Also noted was the intensive research and documentation, the below- and above-ground archeology, and the overall forensics that took place for the 185-year-old building.
2011 Preservation Design Award is in the “commercial restoration” category. Juror comments: The Cosmopolitan shows a true commitment to preservation, displays extensive research and a tremendous amount of work and detail. It is a project that accurately depicts the property as it appeared in its time. The California Preservation Foundation is California’s only statewide non-profit organization, promoting historic preservation, founded in 1977.
The Governor’s Historic Preservation Award is the only official preservation award presented by the State of California to worthy recipients in recognition of outstanding achievements in the field of historic preservation.
Background After a $6.5 million dollar rehabilitation and restoration the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant—the oldest surviving hotel in San Diego— has been returned to its historic appearance as the 1869 Cosmopolitan Hotel, fulfilling a 50-year goal of historians and many San Diegans to restore the 19th-century landmark and recapture one of San Diego’s most important architectural treasures. The restoration was completed in July 2010.
The Cosmo is one of the most important 19th-century buildings in the state and one of the most important restorations ever done in San Diego because there was so much original fabric still there including trim, doors and windows. State historian Victor Walsh believes that the renovation of the Cosmopolitan is an unprecedented historic restoration; few other buildings in the state rival its scale (over 10,000 sq. ft.), blending 19th-century Mexican adobe and American wood-framing construction techniques.
Originally constructed as the home of San Diego pioneer and early settler Juan Bandini between 1827 and 1829, the building was later adapted and converted into a hotel, apartment building, olive factory, and restaurant. It is not only a rarity because of its long history, but it has also been associated with some of California’s most important people and events, and its distinctive architectural character helps tell the story of the birthplace of California.
Whether you’re looking to give areas a complete overhaul or simple uplift this New Year, introduce a hint of luxury to surface style with the natural Mother-of-Pearl mosaics from Siminetti. From walls and floors to splashbacks and tabletops, the iridescent mosaics are sealed with resin for exceptional quality and durability, which makes them suitable for every surface.Environmentally sourced in Asia from nature’s finest freshwater Mother-of-Pearl shells, customers are spoilt for choice with a pearlescent palette of 15 exclusive colour tones that emanate natural beauty. Available in 4 different shapes and sizes including hexagons, squares and circles, mix and match different style combinations for a bold statement, or use individually for timeless appeal.
New to Siminetti are the bold series of decorative designs that incorporate a mixture of different coloured mosaics. For those seeking a unique creation, Siminetti offers a fully bespoke service producing designs for customers’ own needs and requirements.
Visit www.siminetti.com to view the full collection. T: 0845 458 6944
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) announces the opening of the new Holiday Inn Express Los Angeles Downtown West, which recently underwent a conversion from a Ramada Limited hotel. The hotel’s extensive $1.25 million renovation includes upgrades to the exterior and updates to its 80 guests rooms and 15 Jacuzzi suites. All the guestrooms are fresh and modern with flat screen televisions and new furnishings in a mocha décor complementing the signature white bedding.Guest rooms have been completely refreshed and offer new furniture including comfortable queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair and an in-room coffee machine featuring complimentary Smart Roast® 100% Arabica coffee. Business travellers will find large desks with ergonomic chairs, free local and toll free phones with private voicemail and complimentary USA TODAY® newspapers.
Guests can access free high-speed wireless Internet connections in guest rooms, the lobby as well as in the hotel’s 24-hour business centre. There is also an 800-square foot meeting room as well as a fitness centre and outdoor pool.
Located at 611 S. Westlake Ave. and situated close to Hollywood and Beverly Hills and just minutes from the Los Angeles fashion district, the new Holiday Inn Express Los Angeles Downtown West is close to several entertainment venues, including the Nokia Centre L.A. Live, Staples Centre and the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Guests can be at the beach or in the mountains within a half hour drive from the hotel.
For business travellers, the hotel is located near offices of Kaiser Permanente, Northrop Grumman, Boeing and Bank of America. It is also near the University of Southern California and the offices of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
The Holiday Inn Express Los Angeles Downtown West is owned and managed by Titan Management, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.
Having been impressed by the sound, lighting and AV installation at the Marriott Hotel in Swansea, the prestigious brand’s Cardiff-based chain requested Vaughan Sound’s expertise.Approached by Chief Engineer Mike Fodor, the hotel desired multimedia equipment for two of its multi-purpose function rooms, the Bardd Suite and the Henry Morgan Suite.
The event spaces were subsequently supplied with projectors and retractable electric screens, as well as six-button controllers and Laptop/DVD connection points, which were cabled to a matrix system enabling media to be displayed to a combination of screens.
VSI has worked on many hospitality-based projects, with previous clients including The Brooklands Hotel, Surrey and Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli.
Signbox, winner of the coveted ‘Best Sign Company of the Year’ Award for 2011, have helped contribute to the complete transformation of the Angel Building in London’s EC1. A former BT exchange in what was an under-used site at the corner of St John Street and Pentonville Road in Islington, development company Derwent London have created a striking, ultra modern office complex comprising 260,000 square feet of high specification office space with café, specially commissioned works of art and large rooftop terraces affording spectacular views over London.Signbox were nominated early on by AHMM, the appointed architects for the building, to complete all the ‘base’ build signs, including external, floor, wayfinding and emergency. This contract was quickly followed up with the appointment by Cancer Research UK, one of the earliest tenants to take up residence. This high profile charity relocated to the Angel Building to bring all their London-based staff together in a single, central London building, reducing the charity’s operating costs and increasing efficiency. Now fully implemented, the Cancer Research signage work involved branding displays, wayfinding signage, large format impact walls and extensive manifestation applications. One of the unusual features created by Signbox was a series of projecting LED illuminated light boxes fabricated in acrylic. These formed a timeline highlighting the advances made in cancer research over the past 100 years.
Mark Bartlett, Managing Director of Signbox, comments, “We were delighted to be appointed by AHMM to undertake all the base signage for this multi award winning development. This in turn led to the signage contract for Cancer Research UK. Everything we did was bespoke, especially created to complement the building and meet the specific needs of Derwent London and Cancer Research, both of whom have provided very positive feedback on our work. We have also now just secured the signage contract for the latest high profile tenant to take space in the building”.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the opening of Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa on Vietnam’s central coast. Conveniently located between Hoi An, a UNESCO world heritage site and the bustling city of Danang, Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa is situated on an immaculate stretch of white sandy beach with views of the ocean and the magnificent Marble Mountains. The resort is a 15 minute drive from Danang International Airport. The contemporary design of Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa is accented by Vietnamese-style architectural elements, and the hotel’s 200 guestrooms feature modern design with oversized balconies and floor to ceiling windows. Additionally, there are 182 luxurious residences and 27 private Ocean Villas each with a private pool.
Restaurants, Bar and Lounge
Beach House, the hotel’s signature restaurant, is located on the beach with uninterrupted views of the sea, which stretch all the way to Son Tra Peninsula. Beach House offers authentic Vietnamese seafood and Western grills, complemented by a bar and private dining room.
Green House is an all-day dining restaurant with an open kitchen concept offering Vietnamese comfort dishes and a taste of the Mediterranean. The wood furnishings bring a warm texture, and are coupled with stone from the iconic Marble Mountains. The dining room spills out to the terrace where guests can sit in a Vietnamese style basket boat while enjoying the view.
Other food and beverage offerings include Terrasse, the lobby lounge with indoor and outdoor seating; and Pool House, which is adjacent to the main resort pool and serves lunch and cocktails in the evening.
Spa and Recreation
VIE Spa offers a true wellness experience coupling traditional and innovative therapies and treatments. Cradled by the mountains and the sea, VIE Spa is a simple sanctuary built in harmony with the natural world. Signature treatments include Mountain Air to energize and uplift; Expansive Sea to calm and de-stress; and Pure Earth to purify and nourish. VIE Spa has ten private treatment rooms including eight singles and two doubles.
Other resort facilities include a fitness centre, swimming pools, tennis courts, badminton courts, and Camp Hyatt, which offers a wide range of activities for children and younger guests.
Event and Meeting Space
Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa features event and meeting facilities, totaling 7,500 square feet (900 square meters), which include the Regency Ballroom accommodating up to 400 people for meetings and seven function rooms that cater between 40 and 80 guests. All meeting rooms are equipped with the most up-to-date technologies, high-speed internet access and audiovisual systems.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced the first conversion of an existing hotel to its “style-at-a-steal” Aloft brand, launching a new phase of growth for one of the world’s most talked-about hotel brands.Aloft San Francisco Airport, a former Clarion property, will undergo a significant renovation before opening as an Aloft in the summer of 2012. The 253-room hotel is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts and this significant investment demonstrates Starwood’s strong commitment to the three-year-old Aloft brand.
“Building on the success of adaptive reuse projects like the award-winning Aloft Dallas Downtown, a former railroad depot, we’ve developed a conversion-friendly strategy for existing hotels to meet owner and guest demand for the brand while helping our partners reposition existing assets in a cost-effective manner,” said Simon Turner, President of Global Development for Starwood. “We believe that many well-located, older hotels in metro markets represent enormous untapped repositioning potential. With the right capital investment and the backing of Starwood’s powerful platforms, these assets will benefit from Aloft’s ever-growing guest loyalty.”
Aloft San Francisco Airport occupies a prime location adjacent to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), one of the world’s busiest travel hubs. The property’s strategic location, along with proximity to mass-transit options into San Francisco, made it an ideal choice for a conversion for Starwood. “We see two types of opportunities as ideal candidates for an Aloft conversion: older hotels in need of a major renovation, and unique independent boutique hotels seeking a stronger brand point of view and the ability to utilize Starwood systems,” Turner said.
The Aloft hotel will become the third Starwood property adjacent to San Francisco International Airport, joining The Westin San Francisco Airport and Four Points by Sheraton Hotel & Suites San Francisco Airport.
As part of a £9.2m project to bring the Grade II Listed Leeds City Varieties Music Hall back to its former glory, heritage lighting specialist Dernier & Hamlyn has both renovated original light fittings and manufactured new fittings in keeping with late 19th century style.Dernier & Hamlyn’s work, in partnership with Theatresearch, included refurbishing four original sunburners and manufacturing a new one in the same style as well as producing new chandeliers, wall lights and ceiling fittings that have been installed throughout Leeds City Varieties’ auditorium, lobbies and bar areas.
Jeremy Quantrill, joint managing director of Dernier & Hamlyn comments: “Using our extensive lighting information and image archive built up since Dernier & Hamlyn was established in 1888, we produced a range of histrorically accurate light fittings that are fundamental to achieving the correct look and feel for this very important traditional music hall.”
HBA London has recently won and been shortlisted in three awards programmes for hospitality projects created by The Gallery, the salon within the interior design practice which focuses exclusively on high-concept, bespoke schemes for clients seeking to achieve one-of-a-kind guest experiences. SBID International Design Awards 2011
HBA London’s design of the restaurant and cocktail bar Améthyste at the InterContinental Phoenicia in Beirut was honoured with the top prize as Overall Winner in the SBID Awards (Society of British Interior Design). Once known as the “Paris of the Middle East”, Beirut’s resurgence as a glitzy and vibrant destination is epitomised by The Gallery’s transformation of this once-famous hot-spot into a brilliant new destination. Nostalgic aspects, such as the poolside projection of vintage black and white films depicting Beirut’s legendary panache, have been layered with a “story” derived from the 1001 Arabian Nights folk tales and the amethyst stone. “We were instantly captivated with the jewel-toned purple colour that seemed prevalent throughout various illustrations and interpretations of the tales,” says Inge Moore, Principal of HBA London. “Thus, purple became our signature colour and everything started to work around this element”.
In addition, the team’s design of the ESPA at the Istanbul Edition was shortlisted in the Best Interior Design, Best Commercial Design and Overall Winner categories. The first SBID International Awards 2011 ceremony was held at design exhibition Maison & Objet in Paris last month.
St. Regis(R) Hotels & Resorts have announced the highly anticipated opening of The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort on January 19, 2012. The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort will reveal the affluent Bal Harbour enclave as a coveted international destination: at once a secluded escape with unrivalled amenities and a destination at the intersection of art, design and fashion all within reach of the vibrant energy of Miami. As one of the nation’s most impressive oceanfront developments, The St Regis Bal Harbour will offer guests a new dimension of bespoke luxury with the resort’s 214 elegant, ocean view rooms and suites and 307 residences in three all-glass towers rising 27 stories above an expansive stretch of beach. The magnificent resort will offer signature St. Regis Butler Service, a sprawling Remède Spa, a world class dining experience at Jean-Georges’ restaurant J&G Grill, exquisite interior design by Yabu Pushelberg, contemporary art and the finest finishes with one-of-a-kind West African Movinque wood and Chinese God Flower Stone Marble from a private quarry commissioned exclusively for the resort.
Guestrooms and Suites
Designed by Sieger Suarez Architectural Partnership with interiors by celebrated design firm Yabu Pushelberg, guestrooms will reflect a contemporary Art Deco style, a subtle nod to Morris Lapidus, the legendary architect of neo-baroque modern Miami. Ranging from 650 to 2,800 square feet, all guestrooms will offer expansive private balconies with ocean views.
The exclusive 2,800 square foot Presidential Suite will be located on the 24th floor and accessible via private elevator. Here, guests will discover a gourmet kitchen, a media room, two bedrooms, a dining room and 1,200 square foot private ocean-facing balcony.
The resort will be Wi-Fi accessible and guests will enjoy state-of-the-art hotel technology, such as programmed key cards that automatically whisk guests up to their guestroom floor.
Exquisite Culinary Experiences
J&G Grill(R) will be The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort’s signature restaurant presented by world-renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Featuring the exquisite cuisine of this international star, J&G Grill at The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort will set new standards for Bal Harbour as a world-class dining destination.
The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort will feature an oceanfront grill for casual oceanfront dining called Fresco focused on South American-influenced cuisine as well as Atlantico, a breakfast, lunch and dinner restaurant, with a focus on seafood. Poolside cabana and beach services will complement the resort’s private beach and pools, including an adults-only pool area with exclusive day cabanas.
Free monogram initial on any item in our CHRISTMAS CARD
Choose from panel tablecloths and matching napkins, small pillowcases, damask hand towels, kitchen towels and merino wool throws.For our full collection which includes linen fabrics, table linen, bed linen & curtains please visit our website on www.volgalinen.co.uk
London Shop: 17 Langton St, SW10 Tel: 020 7352 5616
Focus SB’s new Deckle Edge slate finished plates are being installed into the Good Life company’s shepherd huts, an increasingly popular form of accommodation for those that like creature comforts when camping. Phil Jones and his team at the Whitbourne-based Goodlife Company has brought the shepherd’s huts into the 21st Century by adding optional extras: “The trend for Glamping, or glamour camping, has really taken off so we are seeing a marked increase in demand from bed and breakfasts requesting our shepherd’s huts,” he says.
Farmers used to construct shepherd’s huts for the shepherd to sleep in while away from the farm tending his flock.
“Our customers are finding a number of different uses for the huts,” says Phil. “Some are using it as an artist studio, for music practice, a children’s play den. The possibilities are endless!”
Among the many options that can be added to a standard Goodlife Shepherd’s Huts are powered sockets and for those wanting the genuine country house look – the Deckle Edge plate from Focus SB.
Roger Kemp, Managing Director says that design wise it is very versatile: “The Deckle Edge would suit a period country home, and fit well with the décor in the shepherd’s huts. We are pleased to be working with partners that have a passion for working with traditional methods.”
All shepherd’s huts are hand built to individual specifications, with a choice of quality furnishings and fittings. The standard hut includes: oak framed double glazed windows, oak stable door, wood burner made by Windy Smithy, fully insulated floor, walls & roof using sheep wool, cast Iron wheels to original design, solid oak axles and chassis, solid oak flooring, bespoke blacksmith forged light fittings & power points by Nigel Tyas Ironworks, finished internally in Farrow & Ball traditional paints, and fabrics supplied by Vanessa Arbuthnott.
Focus SB will be exhibiting at The Sleep Event, Business Design Centre, London from the 23-24 November (Stand V7)
Renaissance Hotels has recently celebrated the official opening of the new 256-room Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel. The opening marks the first newly constructed full sevice hotel to be built in Baton Rouge in more than 40 years. The new Baton Rouge luxury hotel is also the first Renaissance property to open in the greater Baton Rouge area.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal kicked off the festivities with a ceremonial ribbon cutting, including a host of dignitaries. The opening event culminated that evening with an exclusive gala featuring performances by notable Louisiana musical acts, including members of the LSU School of Music, and The Beat, a 10-piece band that lived up to its name by keeping party guests on the dance floor.
Guests were wowed by the Baton Rouge hotel’s exquisitely appointed guest rooms, including 63 luxury hotel suites, which are furnished with king or double queen beds, flat screen televisions, iPod docking stations and Aveda bathroom amenities. The Concierge level offers 28 spacious guest rooms with dramatic views, access to the hotel’s private Concierge lounge, plush bathrobes and slippers. Additional amenities include room service, valet parking, on-site parking, high-speed Internet access in all guest rooms and a state of the art business center.
Premier among leading Baton Rouge meeting facilities, the hotel offers 13,000 sq. ft. of flexible, meeting space which features a 7,500 sq. ft. ballroom and eight large meeting rooms to accommodate business, leisure and group travelers. Guests can also enjoy a fully equipped fitness center and a courtyard-style outdoor pool including a deck and a nearby fire-on-water infinity fountain.
Tallulah Crafted Food and Wine Bar, the hotel’s new casual upscale restaurant, joins a growing number of Baton Rouge restaurants on Bluebonnet Boulevard. The restaurant, which shares its name with the town of Tallulah, Louisiana, serves notable, indigenous cuisine from around the state, and features a house-crafted menu that incorporates local flavors in fresh and unique ways.
Chef Andy Papson, the hotel’s Executive Chef, oversees the culinary operations of the new Renaissance hotel, as well as Tallulah.
The hotel’s exterior design and vibrant interiors owe their distinctive look to Gensler, who worked with local art consultant Ann Connelly and her team of artists to create a strong visual impact throughout the hotel that celebrates Louisiana’s indigenous art, culture and heritage.
Universal USB charging for every interior – EVOline® has the solution
Schulte & Loughborough are delighted to inform you that EVOline® is now available with a Universal USB power module.Taking the hassle out of connectivity, EVOline’s® latest addition enables clients to charge ‘on the run’ whether between meetings or just having arrived at the office for a major presentation.
Manufactured to specifically work with devices including those by Apple, the EVOline® USB Charger offers flexible charging for Mobile, Smartphone, PDA, MP3-Player or Digital Camera.
Available in complete EVOline® range.
The EVOline® USB Charger can be incorporated into any number of our award winning designs and German manufactured systems for above-desk, flush, under-desk and retractable power and data. See all our latest solutions at www.schulte.com.
Clients can now simply and effectively charge their peripheral devices whether it’s in executive suites, meeting rooms or at a hot-desk or reception.
Click on the above PDF link to access further technical specification details for the USB Charger.
Technical Data Output Current: 2 x 700mA / 1 x 1.400 mA Primary Voltage: 100 – 240 V AC, 50 Hz Secondary Voltage: 5V DC Standby Power < 0.3W (Ekodesign Regulations ErP 2009/125/EWG)
The potential to combine the USB charger with our extensive range of power, multimedia and data modules means that EVOline® can offer clients all connectivity in one place.
We will be delighted to discuss with you in greater detail how EVOline® can help future-proof your spaces.
Luxuriousness and sophistication meets practicality with the new Cashmir collection from Agua. The 11 colours have been carefully selected to tone with modern colour schemes, with the added benefits of being anti-microbial, impervious and with a stain resistant finish Agua Cashmir is perfectly suited for high use Hospitality and Leisure environments.Agua are delighted to be launching this new fabric at the Sleep Event, 23rd & 24th November. Please visit our stand, M24B, to experience this collection for yourself or visit our website www.aguafabrics.com for further details.
Hyatt Regency New Orleans, one of the city’s most recognized hotels, proudly re-opens its doors for business. Following a $275 million redesign and revitalization, the hotel now boasts 1,193 all-new, strikingly sophisticated guest rooms, 200,000 square feet of state-of-the-art, flexible event space, expansive food and beverage offerings, and unprecedented service. The re-opening of this landmark hotel, centrally located downtown adjacent to the Mercedes- Benz Superdome, marks one of the most significant hospitality developments to open in New Orleans in over a decade. Eagerly anticipated by locals and visitors alike, the newly restored Hyatt Regency New Orleans re-opens as the city’s premier meeting and convention hotel. Having doubled its meeting and exhibition space, the 32-story hotel offers the most meeting space of any hotel in the city, as well as the unique ability to self-contain group events of all sizes. This includes two 25,000-square-foot ballrooms, 64 versatile meeting and banquet rooms, 19 executive level meeting rooms, seven permanent boardrooms, and more than 80,000 square feet of exhibition space, highlighted by a new 50,000-square-foot exhibit hall.
With dramatic design that complements the uniqueness of New Orleans, award-winning interior designers Looney & Associates, in collaboration with the creative architectural design team at HC Architecture, conceived the extraordinary redesign of the city’s iconic hotel. Looney & Associates revitalized all interiors, including the lobby, restaurants and meeting spaces, as well as 1,193 guest rooms, including 95 suites, five meeting planner suites and four presidential suites. HC Architecture conceptualized the transformation of the exterior structure paying special attention to the new entrance on Loyola Avenue. The hotel’s new, innovative design makes it the ideal urban destination for business and leisure travelers.
Highlights of the hotel’s expansive culinary offerings include 8 Block Kitchen & Bar, a 360-seat, full-service restaurant and bar; Vitascope Hall, a media/action bar outfitted with 25 flat-screen TVs; and Borgne, the latest restaurant by Chef John Besh (opening this winter). Additional culinary options include a 65-seat Starbucks; Lagniappe Exchange, a 24-hour fresh market and convenience store; Whole Hog Café, featuring award-winning barbecue; and Pizza Consegna, a pizza delivery-only program that will prepare and deliver savoury, hand-tossed pizzas directly to hotel guests and nearby businesses.
Hyatt Regency New Orleans anchors the vibrant Sports and Entertainment District in downtown New Orleans. The hotel is located adjacent to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans Arena and the new Medical District; and just blocks from the French Quarter, Morial Convention Center and Mississippi Riverfront. In 2012, the new Loyola Avenue Streetcar line will make the hotel even more connected to all the city has to offer.
Hyatt Regency New Orleans is owned by Poydras Properties Hotel Holdings, a hospitality venture that includes AREA Property Partners, Poydras Hotel Members LLC, and a subsidiary of Hyatt Hotels Corporation.
With 10% of the hotels in Ireland under the administration of the Irish National Asset Management Agency, and the remainder struggling in a market place that shrank by some 30% through 2009 and 2010, the approach to operating hotels has come under severe monetary pressure. Meeting loan repayments agreed in better times places extraordinary pressures on hotel managements.
Ireland is not unique in experiencing difficulties but the way in which investment has been directed at a national level has had unintended consequences for many hotels. The EU has a policy of funding infrastructure improvements in countries joining the European Union (mind you I didn’t see any evidence of it when the UK joined). Like Poland, Ireland has benefitted with a new motorway system. This has had a mixture of effects on business hotels in particular. Whilst luxury hotels such as the Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore have seen a very profitable lift in bookings as business people can now drive to the coast from Dublin so easily, many business hotels have suffered. Prior to the motorway system being built driving around Ireland was purgatory. Roads were narrow and potholed, keeping speeds well down, so going anywhere by car was a time consuming process.
Now not only has the new motorway system cut journey times, in many cases by half, but improvements to many rural roads have also increased speeds throughout the road system. It is now possible to drive from Dublin for a business meeting in, say, Wexford, and back, in a day. Previously it needed an overnight stay. Many internal air routes, always short within Ireland, have now been closed down and are only being reopened with major subsidies.
Business traffic is much reduced anyway, but now business hotels are finding themselves with reduced use by those businesses that are still busy (note that the Irish economy is growing rapidly again, much more so than the UK generally) as the improved roads system reduces the need for overnight stays. This ‘double whammy’ has led to increasingly desperate measures being taken to keep hotels solvent, and the policies of NAMA, which says quite clearly that it has no interest in operating hotels, broadens the areas in which this desperation becomes evident to the guest.
Hotel le Bristol, the first hotel to be rated as a Palace in France, has unveiled the completion of Spa Le Bristol by La Prairie, two new signature suites and Epicure, the newly decorated 3 star Michelin restaurant, formerly the ‘Gastronomique’. The two new suites – the ‘Imperial’ and the ‘Honeymoon’ will be two of Paris’s most dramatic. The launch heralds the completion of a €100million three year restoration programme which included the launch of a new wing in 2009 and addition of restaurant Le 114 Faubourg. The entire restoration programme has been designed by hotel owner Mrs Maja Oetker in close collaboration with famous architect Pierre-Yves Rochon.
Spa Le Bristol by La Prairie includes eight beauty treatment cabins, a Russian Wet Room with the first affusion shower in Paris, a Turkish Bath for women only, a double VIP suite, a fitness centre, children’s area and a hairdressing salon. The spa is also working with five other famous brands including Organic Pharmacy, Russie Blanche, Maison D’Largon, Les Thermes Marins de Saint Malo and By Terry.
The spa is set over three floors of the hotel, is bathed in natural light and opens out onto a beautiful indoor garden. A welcoming water wall in the reception area invites guests to enter a timeless cocoon of wellbeing and beauty in typical French-style luxury. Two tailor-made signature treatments include – Private Bristol for Traveler and Ritual Rose de Mai.
The two new signature suites will be some of the hotel’s most iconic. Each has two bedrooms and are decorated with superb quality fabrics from the house of Canovas with Aurora pink marble in the bathrooms.
The Imperial Suite spans 320m²/3444ft² and, with its impressive Versailles parquet, boasts its own dining room for up to twelve people overlooking the hotel’s French-style garden, a separate lounge decorated with the famous Taillardat furniture and a large walk-in wardrobe in the main bedroom. The second bedroom features a lounge area, bath, separate shower and double washbasin. The suite also has its very own hamman.
As our printed acrylic is still a best seller for the leisure and hospitality market, we decided to launch a new idea using the acrylic in a different way. The acrylic can be laser-cut as individual designs in panels which still have a decorative appeal for interiors but offers an alternative look to the printed acrylic. They can simply be used as decorative panels on a wall, or as dividing screens – ideal for restaurants, bars and hotels.
Our mirrored acrylic can also be cut to any shape or size with decorative cut-out borders to provide stunning individual mirrors.
Louvre Hotels Group brands are known to generations of UK travellers through France. My first visit to a Campanile in the 1980’s amused me. I watched travel-experienced Brits taking their own pillows to their rooms to use instead of the traditional French bolster. Thirty years on and the Louvre Hotels Group has undergone major change.
In 2005 Barry Sternlicht, the brain behind the revamp of Starwood and the introduction of the ‘W’ bought Louvre Hotels through his Starwood Capital investment arm and set about modernising and growing the Group. Sternlicht has enlarged Louvre Hotels acquiring Golden Tulip hotels as well as a number of luxury five star hotels, making Louvre Hotels Group the tenth largest hotel group globally with 1,000 hotels in 40 countries. Kyriad is the two/three star brand within the group. Established in 2000 there are now 220 hotels with 12,700+ rooms in the brand and as with Campanile they have been redefined and over 30% have now been brought up to the new standard. (A similar process is analysed in the Review of the Campanile Northampton as that brand too is redefined and modernised) The outline of group brands is in the DesignClub Download area .
Kyriad claims to be a guarantee of quality. In the past many British tourists would avoided an hotel at this level in France as they have been very poor. Kyriad challenges this perception, intending the brand to stand for quality with the “charm of variety” (as Camille Sassi, the brand manager describes it). Certainly, the quality achieved in approximately the 14 square metre rooms of the Kyriad Epinal I stayed in indicates that this challenge is being met.
The Designers Favourite to Create Bespoke Interior Design
Meet us and the new KOBE contract fabrics at The Sleep Event, 23-24 November on stand M32.
KOBE presents inspiration, seduction and surprise at The Sleep Event 2011 showcasing their new contract collections, Prega and Toucan.Kobe UK Ltd Tel + 0844 7420 800 Fax + 0844 7420 801 E-mail contractuk@kobe.eu
Centara Hotels & Resorts has announced that Centara Hotel Manila, a four-star property located in the culturally rich district of Malate, in Manila, will open on October 18 this year.The hotel will be operated by Centara under a management contract.
A newly-built 15-storey property, the hotel features 96 rooms and suites, the minimum size being a spacious 43sqm, with all rooms having views overlooking the city or Manila Bay.
Centara Hotel Manila’s 96 rooms comprise 30 Superior rooms, 34 Deluxe rooms, 26 Premium rooms, five Junior Suites and one Executive Suite. Each of the rooms and suites offers a choice of king bed or two double queen beds, accommodating up to two adults and two children in comfort.
The hotel’s all-day-dining restaurant, The World, offers local flavours and international cuisines, with a combination of set menus of Filipino, Thai, Chinese and Mediterranean influences served for lunch and dinner.
The rooftop restaurant and lounge, Ginger & Lime, reinvents Thai cuisine with an extensive selection of fusion dishes and international classics to be savoured al fresco or indoors.
A large swimming pool is located on the hotel rooftop and has its own sundeck and lounge bar, and the Centara-brand SPA Cenvaree offers a wide selection of traditional and modern treatments.
Located on the second floor is a meeting room that can accommodate up to 80 persons and which offers the latest meetings equipment.
The Rezidor Hotel Group announces a new mid-market hotel in Tunisia: The existing Hotel Riu Park El Kebir will be re-branded as Park Inn Hammamet and open in Q2 2012 following a full renovation. It will be Rezidor’s third hotel in the country – the group is already operating the Park Inn Ulysse Resort & Thalasso and the award winning Radisson Blu Resort & Thalasso in Djerba.Hammamet is located at the Mediterranean cost, just 60 kilometres away from the capital city Tunis. The new Park Inn Hammamet will feature a 300 metres beachfront, 4 outdoor- and 1 indoor swimming pools. Further leisure offers will comprise 4 tennis courts, 2 kids’ clubs and an extensive Thalasso Spa. 4 restaurants – including a Tunisian speciality restaurant – will pamper every palate, and 3 bars will be the perfect spots for a drink in a relaxed atmosphere. Business guests will benefit from 600 square metres meeting space and a ballroom with 500 square metres.
Besides 273 comfortable and colourful guest rooms and suites the Park Inn Hammamet will also offer 63 villas making it an ideal destination for families or friends travelling together. Tunisia is one of the top destinations along the North African Mediterranean cost. The country is blessed with year round mild climate, beautiful beaches, distinct cultures and unique landscapes ranging from lush forests to the sands of the Sahara.
Premier Inn has secured planning permission for a new 60 bed hotel and 200 cover Table Table restaurant as part of a mixed use development at Crescent Link, Derry-Londonderry.The new hotel represents a £6m investment by Premier Inn into the local economy, creating up to 60 new jobs in the Waterside area and boosting the local building trades during the construction phase.
The new hotel is scheduled to open in time for the City of Culture celebrations in 2013, details of which can be found at www.premierinn-crescentlink.com.
Keith Freeman, Regional Operations Manager Ireland for Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants said: “Premier Inn is a Northern Ireland success story. Since our first hotel opened in 2008, we have enjoyed fantastic results in Northern Ireland and we are now the largest hotel operator.
“Crescent Link is an ideal location and obvious choice for our first hotel in Derry-Londonderry and we are pleased to be playing a part in the City of Culture celebrations by offering visitors a great value accommodation option”.
The new Premier Inn hotel is part of a larger, innovative mixed use development at Crescent Link being promoted by the Orana Group. As Mark Adams, Development Director from the company explains “We are delighted to have Premier Inn onboard as part of this exciting multi-million project. The hotel and brand sits perfectly on the proposed scheme and will complement other intended uses including a major Sainsbury’s foodstore, multi-screen cinema, retail, offices and private healthcare facilities”.
This new wall light is the latest addition to Dernier & Hamlyn’s extensive range for hotels. Shown here made in brass, the back section is formed by hand to give a hammered effect and the entire fitting has been antiqued. Dimensions are: height: 500mm; width: 250mm and projection: 100mm. However it can be made in any size and a range of metal finishes.
Passionate about providing guests with a distinctive Southwest meeting destination, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has broken ground on a new conference centre, which will add 52,331 square feet of indoor meeting space anchored by the new 23,000-square-foot Palomino Ballroom. Debuting 10/11/12, the new $20 million conference centre gives the resort a total of 150,000 square feet of event space, making it the largest meetings resort in the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts portfolio worldwide. Based on feedback from meeting planners, the resort recognized the need for more meeting space, larger break-out areas and more move-in/move-out time for production. The new conference centre, designed by Kollin Altomare Architects of Long Beach, Calif., will be adjacent to the existing ballroom near the resort’s main entrance. With a modern Southwest design inspired by the spirited Spanish horses that roamed the desert, the new event spaces will feature “nano” walls that open up to the outdoors for a refreshing open-air meeting or evening banquet. All meeting rooms will be wired to offer the latest in technology capability, supporting the most advanced audio-visual presentations.
Existing meeting rooms will be updated to ensure seamless transitions between spaces and private walkways will be added between the two, 23,000 square foot ballrooms to ensure group privacy. The entire 106,000 square feet of indoor space includes 47 meeting rooms, several with their own patios. The new porte cochere and outside veranda will have an artistic water feature and seating to relax between sessions.
The conference center is part of a five-year, $75 million master renovation plan by the resort’s owner, Strategic Hotels & Resorts, since it acquired the Princess in 2006. The first $55 million of enhancements took place resort-wide, adding more modern decor to the guest rooms and lobby; new fire and water features throughout the resort, as well as the addition of Michael Mina’s BOURBON STEAK, Stone Rose Lounge by nightlife entrepreneurs Rande and Scott Gerber and re-opening La Hacienda with celebrity chef Richard Sandoval. The $20 million conference center caps off the multi-phase plan and is being built by Howard S. Wright Construction, creating 350 jobs in Scottsdale over the next year.
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is nestled by the picturesque McDowell Mountains in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. The 649-room, AAA Five-Diamond resort is spacious and sprawling on 65 acres, yet is conveniently self-contained with no need for on-site transportation. Known for its distinctive Spanish Colonial-style architecture, lush landscaping, scenic fire pits, fountains and lagoons, the property is a gorgeous backdrop for meetings and group activities.
Offering 21 outdoor and private dining venues, meeting professionals can take advantage of on-site outdoor venues including the Crown “P” Corral, a 26,000-square-foot 1880s Western town, as well as the Lagoon Lawn, charming plazas and scenic pool decks. Along with top-notch banquet experiences, the resort has award-winning restaurants that are unique venues for group functions. Active groups appreciate the resort’s five pools, two adjacent TPC Scottsdale championship 18-hole golf courses and the 44,000-square-foot Willow Stream Spa. The John Austin Center for Tennis offers seven courts, plus a stadium court with seating for 6,300 spectators and innovative team-building activities. Should meeting attendees wish to venture out, nearby activities include desert Jeep tours, hot air ballooning, desert hikes, mountain biking, world-class shopping, sporting events and museums.
Wilton Carpets Commercial has launched a stunning, brand new website designed to reflect its stature as one of the most design-focused carpet manufacturers in the UK. Now live, www.wiltoncarpets.com/commercial delivers designers, contractors and specifiers a fascinating insight into Wilton Carpets, cataloguing their commercial carpet portfolio, including Ready to Go and FastTrack collections, as well as the manufacturer’s Flexiweave and bespoke services and new tufted collections.
Visitors to the site can search for any FastTrack design quickly and easily, thanks to an easy to use Design Search facility that can home in on styles, patterns or types. The Gallery provides a wealth of inspiration, featuring fabulous images of contemporary and traditional projects, while the News section keeps users up-to-date on the latest installations, events and products. Users can also sign up to have this information delivered straight to their inbox.
The highlight of the website is the clear and easy to use product catalogue, which is designed to make navigation simple even for inexperienced carpet hunters as Suna Jones, marketing manager explains:
“We have spent a considerable amount of time in making sure the website and the way products are catalogued are simple to navigate, as finding what you want from hundreds of designs and colour combinations can be a daunting experience. As insiders, it is all too easy to forget that others are less knowledgeable about our portfolio, but we hope that users will discover that finding just the right design and product is easy with our website.”
Designs being considered for particular projects can be saved as a Favourite, specifications and designs downloaded for moodboards and samples requested – with all details retained with a unique user login and password for future reference. The Brochure Request facility is also well executed and even features the ability to obtain woven colour palettes to help with co-ordination on projects.
“This new website will act as a showcase for our carpet design expertise and manufacturing capabilities,” continues Suna, “and it also reflects our understanding of the importance of a strong internet presence in communicating our message across the world.”
This stunning new “Queen” collection comprises of a lounge chair, two seat and three seat settee.Made using only the best European solid beech, this wood can be polished to customers choice and with luxurious deep upholstery which can be covered in contrasting fabrics or leathers.
With its beautiful sculptured design with solid beech shaped show-wood arms and legs, this regal looking new collection would look equally at home in either contemporary or traditional interiors.
Italian manufacturer Paola Lenti is known for the broad palette of colours in the exterior range of furniture but for the new season the spectrum of colours in the Rope Corda material has grown to an incredible 96 colour combinations!The 10mm diameter cord is UV stable, resistant to sea and swimming pool water and is available in a single colour or as a two-colour mixture, creating a variety of hues and tones.
Hand woven onto frames of chairs, sofas and ottomans the vibrant colours of the Rope Corda creates beautiful statement pieces of furniture with a jewel like appearance.
I started in Art College in 1967. I quickly discovered, as my school woodwork master had told me, that I was inept in the craft skills. Ever since, I have had a strong admiration for those who demonstrate a command of a craft. Where that skill appears on site I enjoy it and the way in which it is reflected in high quality finishes and detailing. When missing, it often highlights the lack of knowledge many designers show of the processes involved in creating not just great interiors, but also the items they use to create those interiors. It is not self-indulgent of me to visit manufacturers such as Andy Thornton or Dernier & Hamlyn as designers should never underestimate the intellectual and practical skills it needs to keep these companies profitably afloat through the boom and bust scenarios created by our so-called ‘leaders’ in the political classes. That we have any manufacturing left at all is a measure of the resilience, creativity and sheer dogged determination of the leaders of these companies.
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 (not forgetting where you hale from, Katerina). Visiting them is not just a part of the job but in many ways a privilege. The reason for showing them is to help designers to a deeper understanding of process, so that they can design new products or commission individual pieces with a real comprehension of what is involved in production.
Many years ago I wrote of the importance of vocational education. I wrote the Chartered Society’s submission to the enquiry that set up the new Higher Education system, arguing against the expansion of degrees (driven, I believe, by academic snobbery). I have consistently warned that exporting manufacturing abroad would lead to loss of design as that followed the manufacturing. I also stated that the new degree structure would kill vocational education, warning that an all degree system would destroy much of our skill base. I am saddened that in both I have been proved right and the decline of our country has continued.
In 1976, I made my first visit to the USA with the dollar at $2.74 to a pound. Now the dollar is at $1.51 to the pound. This is both a reduction in the real wealth of Britain (now being reflected in falling real incomes here) and an increase in the cost of manufacturing overseas. We continue to see great names in British manufacturing becoming bankrupt, Brintons Carpets and Pedley Furniture becoming the latest of these to make the headlines.
Why does manufacturing struggle in the UK?
Our problem is that for years our education and political systems have been dominated by products of public schools and the Oxbridge academics. For a century, it has been considered inappropriate for the graduates of these systems to demean themselves by getting involved with manufacturing and ‘getting their hands dirty’. The result is a continual decline in a country that more than any other was responsible for the creation of the modern industrial nation. It has been argued that this decline has been inevitable, and that we should become the first ‘post industrial’ society. What rubbish this is.
I have just returned from Switzerland where I spoke to trade journalists from across the globe about developments in hotel bathrooms. The hosts, Laufen (Company Profile coming soon), have been manufacturing on the same site since the 19th Century – and if anything, Switzerland is a higher cost base manufacturing centre than anywhere in the UK. Ideal-Standard are the larger UK equivalent manufacturing from their base in Hull, both as Ideal-Standard and as Armitage Shanks. Their latest manufacturing unit is in Bulgaria.
Do you remember Royal Doulton? Their royal warrant was for sanitary ware. Their first blow came in 1956 when the Clean Air Acts forced the closure of the Lambeth factory. They went bust in 2009 when producing ‘collectables’ and tableware in (no pun intended) China, and are now a part of the struggling Waterford Crystal group. So why does manufacturing struggle in the UK?
In part, it is as I have indicated above, a terrible snob prejudice against manufacturing by our ruling classes. Now many children across society think the path to success is celebrity. They would rather we were flogged by bankers than support manufacturing. You would think that with George Osborne – son of the Osborne in Osborne and Little Fabrics and Wallpapers – now Chancellor of the Exchequer, we would be seeing a change. However, instead of looking methods of fostering manufacturing, Osborne witters on inanely about cutting the top rate of tax from 50%.
Where do we go from here?
If we are to recover, we need to look at industry in the way Germany did in the middle of the last century. We need a national focus on restoring the industrial engines of the North of England. More importantly we need new entrepreneurial investment in the supply chain. We need renewal of our infrastructure including railways. To achieve this we need to change the situation in which for every couple of employees a company pays so much tax and national insurance that it is employing a third person in the state system. We need to reduce the burden of regulation that makes it a crime for a company in Wales (for example) not to advertise a job vacancy in 2 languages.
In the mid 1980’s my practise started discussions with another leading interior designer with a view to creating a joint company to manufacture our designs. Futile efforts that died in the face of the determined effort by our political leaders to maintain the value of our currency by raising interest rates, reaching the giddy heights of 15%, which led to mortgage and borrowing rates of 19%+. Can you imagine what it is like to have a commercial mortgage at near 20%? (The idiot behind this, Norman Lamont, is still rolled out by the BBC as an establishment ‘guru’ on the bank and financial systems.)
Only by releasing the creative energies for which Britain has been famous and which led to the development of so many now global industries can we recreate our industrial base. We will know when we are achieving this by the steady appreciation of sterling as the mark appreciated for Germany.
This may bring a second set of problems as German and Swiss industry found in coming to terms with a high value currency. Surely though it is better to have the problems of success, than our current round of problems stemming from failure.
Patrick Goff; Editor
A note from Jamie Lesinski, Senior FX Dealer at IFX:
“I broadly agree with Patrick where he touches on entrepeneurialism in the supply chain; but more importantly, the British consumer represents a diabolical dichotomy. British consumers do not wish to buy British. This may be because we feel we can source more competitively from abroad, but is also because there is relatively little private and internal investment coming from the UK itself. This is so much so the case that certain British brands no longer represent the people that spawned them. British banks won’t lend to British companies in the same way that German banks will, largely because they are not confident that there is a sufficiently hungry domestic market to support sales at the bottom line.
German manufacturing has just risen for the month of September, and the pound has dropped to a six month low as a result (1.1401), but more importantly, contrary to the inferred correlation between the GBP/EUR exchange rate and growth in European manufacturing, British firms are being pinched at home in the credit markets. We can compete internationally with the likes of Germany, France, Switzerland and even Japan, but our banks are not being allowed to speculate on long term lending plans, and this is suffocating domestic production. Ironically companies are sourcing materials and manufacture from abroad because it is cheaper and ‘safer’ to export the design concept and suffer at the hands of a weak pound, than it is to risk developing products in the UK which may not sell internally.
Adding further insult to injury and compounding the struggle of the UK manufacturer, the exchange rate is no longer being determined by the economics of the global situation, but rather by the political PR machines of the large western sovereigns. A solvent Britain attracts less investment and export sales than its debt ridden neighbors in the euro zone largely because the domestic flow of capital and almost impossible lending policies are smothering our ability to capitalize on our potential advantage.”
Wyndham Group have struggled for a number of years to grow their budget brand Days Inn in the UK market, despite the strong growth in the budget hotel sector demonstrated by Travelodge and Premier Inn. The new Days Inn Liverpool, another budget hotel in a converted office block, demonstrates their new brand standards.Large rooms are designed to appeal to the business market, but with settees that turn into additional beds, many rooms are also optimised for the family visitors. The rooms are simply done, but the bathrooms are a good size with plenty of layout space and the bedrooms have a large desk, and throughout there is free wifi.
Morgan Furniture, the design-led British manufacturer of contract furniture, has supplied chairs and tables for the newly opened Quarter Bar and Lounge within the boutique independent 4-star London Bridge Hotel. The new facility provides a Southwark central destination for social gatherings and informal business meetings for up to 70 people. Deep, warm colours, enduring designs and high levels of comfort ensure a relaxed atmosphere amid chic and contemporary surroundings. Opera, Seville and Verona are the three featured collections from Morgan created by Design Director Katerina Zachariades-McMahon. The Opera lounge chair has been designed with a deep seat and gently curved back for inviting comfort. Upholstered in vibrant red velvet, it contrasts wonderfully in seating groups with the higher backed Seville wing chair which is a contemporary interpretation of a traditional design. Generous and distinctive, the Seville chair features a long sweeping curve on the arm which is reminiscent of vintage style. Dining chairs with and without arms have also been used throughout the lounge from the same collection and continued at the bar, where the luxurious, curved back of the armchair is echoed in more compact form with the sumptuous Seville bar stool. Circular wooden tables from the Verona collection were also provided by Morgan.
Morgan previously supplied bedroom furniture to the London Bridge Hotel and its sister property, the Kensington House Hotel, around 10 years ago. This furniture is still in use today – a testimony to its timeless design and high manufacturing quality, and key reasons why the client chose to return to Morgan to have the existing furniture re-upholstered and also supply a range of new soft seating designs for its latest destination bar.
The Hope Light designed by Francisco Gomez Paz and Paolo Rizzatto for Luceplan has been awarded the highest accolade in the design world – XXII Compasso d’Oro ADI 2011
This fabulously original light was recognised as a triumph in design in terms of modernity, intelligence, experimentation, flexibility and wonder.Launched in 2009 with just a few models, the range has grown to include suspension models in four sizes, with diameters ranging from 61cm to a huge two metre diameter – these suspension models can also be put together with a special kit to create impressive large scale configurations to enhance the biggest of spaces with feature lighting suitably in proportion and with added advantage of being a light weight hanging installation.
The Hope family also includes wall, ceiling and floor standing lamps. The ceiling fit light is particularly useful to create the glamorous effect of a chandelier in spaces with lower ceilings, too low to house a fully suspended chandelier anyway. The Wall light is available in two sizes and the Floor lamp also has a large model with tripod base and a new more compact model with stem and cross base.
Incredibly light and easy to assemble, Hope represents the magic of traditional chandeliers reinterpreting them with sophisticated modern technologies and contemporary materials.
A series of thin polycarbonate Fresnel lenses multiply the light from the light source, recreating a pleasant, glittery, and party like atmosphere sprinkled with thousands of tiny reflections.
Hope renews the fascination of the crystal chandelier, only its polycarbonate petals are flat Fresnel lenses with excellent reflective and refractive properties, coupled in twos and mounted on transparent twigs onto a stainless steel frame
The polycarbonate lenses achieve a dioptric effect similar to glass refracting rays of light without any limitations in terms of space, thickness and weight usually associated with a traditional glass or crystal chandelier.
Hope is the fruit of a brilliant project and manufacturing expertise. It has been designed for use with various light sources including the latest generation of energy saving halogens and fluorescent light bulbs. An interesting feature is that although the lenses are spaced apart, giving a captivating effect almost like an explosion – from all angles the light source is not visible.
For large chandelier installations it is possible for bespoke configurations of these lamps to be made to suit your specification.
Autograph Collection has announced that Hotel ICON will join its unique collection of independent hotels from around the world. The 12-story, neo-classical property first debuted as a luxury hotel in 2004 following a $35-million investment in the renovation and rehabilitation of the 1912 Union National Bank building.Located in the heart of Houston’s downtown historic district, the landmark now boasts 135 guestrooms and suites. Since opening, the hotel has played an integral role in the revival of the area, winning numerous awards and accolades in the process. The addition of Hotel ICON – managed by Sage Hospitality – will round out Autograph Collection’s presence in the southwestern United States, which currently includes hotels in New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada.
Under the direction of new building stewards, Canyon-Johnson Urban Funds and Centurion Partners, who took ownership of the property in December 2011, Hotel ICON is now in the midst of substantial capital improvements geared to further enhance the guest experience and engage the senses. An early result is the recent addition of LINE & LARIAT Restaurant and L&L Bar, named to reference the regionally inspired dishes that reflect the bounty of Texas’ coast, waterways, farms and ranches.
Additional amenities include BALANCE Urban Spa, which incorporates four treatment suites and offers a complete range of services for both men and women; an expansive and state-of-the-art fitness facility with around-the-clock access; and approximately 8,000 square feet of unique and flexible function space, including the gracious ballroom, underground Wine Vault, intimate Den and mezzanine level Loft.
Steps from a myriad of top business and leisure attractions, ranging from the George R. Brown Convention Center and Discovery Green to Toyota Center and Market Square, Hotel ICON also offers guests direct access to the METRO light rail line with service to the Texas Medical Center, Rice University, Museum District, Hermann Park and Reliant Center sports and convention complex.
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