Numirra Lighting has extended its lighting collection with the addition of the Hector wall light.Suitable for mounting with shade up or down, it is shown with a polished nickel finish, rectangular shade and UK electrics but can be fully customised to reflect project specific requirements.
For more information and pricing details, please contact Numirra on 0044 (0) 1264 336110 or sa***@nu*****.uk
Click here for a direct link to the Hector Wall Light on our website.
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.
The publication of the UK’S Intellectual Property Hargreaves Review has finally recognised designs’ significant contribution to the UK’s GDP. Professor Ian Hargreaves has made it known that he cannot understand why design has been neglected as a big chunk of the UK’s economic success. He will be urging Ministers to ensure that the UKIPO is held accountable to create constructive IP policy to help the UK’s designers, many of whom are SME’s. This will be music to the ears of small firms and, more specifically, to UK’s designers who often find themselves out on a limb. At a time when design companies need all the help they can get in fighting IP theft, ACID hopes that the Government will act positively on these recommendations. Despite 6 IP reviews over 4 years, very little has been done to help small firms within the creative industries. It is now time to address the costs and complexity of enforcing intellectual property rights within the UK by the setting up of a fast track small claims IP court. SME’s will also be helped by improving access to specialised services to protect, exploit and commercialise their IP. All of these issues were raised in ACID’s submission to the review.Dids Macdonald, CEO of ACID representing over 1000 UK designers and manufacturers said, “Creative design pioneers are among the champions of the UK economy and they deserve to be protected and supported. There is a need for IP policy now that walks the walk, not talks the talk, with a real cost and time- effective enforcement framework. Dissuasive damages are needed to act as a real deterrent. This report goes some way in acknowledging the issues faced by designers but I seriously question the necessity for further research into assessing the relationship between design rights and innovation. The consultation culture has to stop – the real work must begin with tangible implementation and a change of deliberate policy by those who take the fast track to market through design theft.”
Announcing the publishing of the Hargreaves Review at the Alliance Against IP Theft Conference, Business Secretary Rt. Hon. Dr. Vince Cable MP said, “This is not the end of our thinking about IP and growth. It is the beginning of turning thinking into doing.”
The Hargreaves Review highlights research which states that SME’s felt there were too many services available and it was difficult to choose the right one. Some said they could not tell which services were reliable or trustworthy but the majority indicated that they would be interested in having access to an intermediary who could provide basic advice on IP in place of a legal advisor – something that ACID has been doing for the past 15 years effectively! With a UKIPO budget of 69.4 million in 2010, Hargreaves said, “The IPO undoubtedly has the potential to improve the availability of IP services to SME’s though it will need to consider the balance of benefits between direct provision from its own staff and working with a well organised network of intermediaries. To accomplish either of these things effectively and on a sustained basis will require greater clarity in the IPO’s mandate and an evolution in its culture.”
The report did not recognise ACID’s arguable case for Design right to be on a par with other property rights – such as copyright and unregistered trademarks. Copying should be considered a crime, as copyright infringement is; they are the same ‘species of rights’ but the sanctions are different. This leads to widespread poor practice. Ideas are stolen from pitches, or from trade fairs, the point of entry to the market for most businesses. Unlike their EU counterparts, exhibition organizers in the UK, at present, do not take a tough enough stance on IP infringement.
Per AQUUM announces the opening of NIYAMA, Maldives, its newest addition to its award winning portfolio. Due to open October 2011, NIYAMA has been designed as an edgy, modern resort that will offer guests more than a romantic Maldivian escape, balancing tranquillity with a sense of discovery, stimulation and fun. Located in the South Western Atoll of Dhaalu, NIYAMA is a 40 minute seaplane flight from Male and is situated over two idyllic islands, Embudhufushi and Olhuveli.
SLUMBER As Per AQUUM’s first resort concept, NIYAMA will feature 86 Studios and Pavilions introducing for the first time, an elevated array of slumber options. Beach Studios with their stunning outdoor bathrooms, large deck areas and secluded beach views; Deluxe Beach Studios with their own fibre optic lit pool; Beach Pavilions with 24 hours butler service, private pools and exclusive beach access and The Beach Residence with private dining alcoves and large living areas.
Water babies can choose from the expansive Water Studios or Deluxe Water Studios, both offering private pools, stunning views of the vast Indian Ocean, spacious living areas and the latest in entertainment technology. For the ultimate treat, the Water Pavilions with Private Pool are available with one or two bedrooms complete with private Thakuru.
DINE & IMBIBE NIYAMA will challenge the conventional with its culinary exhibitionism, leading guests on a gastronomic adventure starting at Epicure for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with take-away options from the international gourmet deli. Unwind at Fahrenheit, watching the Maldivian sunset from the rooftop with a glass of your favourite drink in hand. TRIBAL, designed as a modern day campsite with culinary offerings influenced by the cuisines of South and East Africa, the Middle East, Asia and South America. Live cooking for guests to observe and close interaction with the Tribal Chefs. Cooking preparations include hot rock grills, Asado grills, woks and open fires.
Built 500 metres offshore, NIYAMA’s signature restaurant and lounge will appear to float on the surface of the Indian Ocean and will only be accessible by boat. Eight metres below, will be the world’s first underwater club, the ultimate experience in music and dance where NIYAMA LIVE will feature emerging and established artistes from around the world.
Another first for Per AQUUM is Deli In. Each Studio and Pavilion will be stocked with a fridge brimming with gourmet deli items; cheeses, olives, cold cuts, wines to name a few. Merging the timelines between meals and offering greater freedom to relax throughout the day.
LIME SPA A first in the Maldives, LIME Spa at NIYAMA will be open 24 hours. Treatments will utilise and infuse indigenous holistic components from around the globe to create unique experiences. LIME will include his and her beauty salons, a contemplation garden and Quench, the juice bar. Each of these areas will be designed to heighten guests’ relaxation, allowing them to enjoy the tranquillity and space around them. PUMP the 24 hour gym will be equipped with state of the art gym equipment for those looking to maintain their routine or try something new.
Mr Smith World Photography, London based fine art photographers feature a captivating collection of images developed over many years of world travel. This portfolio is themed “MORE AMAZING PLACES”, from the WORLD COLLECTION.Prints are available from the online gallery or as bespoke artwork from Mr Smith’s extensive catalogue. These prints can be produced to extremely large sizes and are just a sample from an outstanding portfolio of images. Click on any of the images below for more information.
Nestled in a serene valley near Macclesfield on the edge of the Peak District National Park, the Hollin Hall Country House Hotel & Restaurant offers a tranquil retreat in one of Britain’s most beautiful locations. Standing elegantly in landscaped grounds, the hotel’s classic Victorian features and sumptuous interiors bring a sense of occasion to any visit.Hotel owner Kris Clayton, of Clayton Hotel Group, approached architectural salvage specialist Andy Thornton when he wanted to source a unique outdoor feature piece, to enable wedding ceremonies to be held in Hollin Hall’s stunning grounds. A long-standing customer of Andy Thornton, Kris knew the company would be able to find something spectacular to add the finishing touch he wanted.
We were delighted to supply a stunning bespoke wrought iron orangery to Hollin Hall, in black with beautiful gold highlights. Based on an original Victorian birdcage gazebo design, the impressive structure perfectly complements the hotel’s Victorian heritage; orangeries were highly popular in the Victorian garden, as a symbol of wealth and prestige.
To complete the idyllic outdoor wedding location, we were also commissioned to supply the Four Seasons statues, striking female figures hand-sculpted in solid sandstone, representing spring, summer, autumn and winter. Faithfully copied from originals found in the classic gardens of Italy, the statues add a timeless elegance to the hotel grounds and create a pleasing backdrop for the orangery.
The complete range of spectacular fountains, statuary and sculpture, gazebos and orangeries can be viewed online at andythornton.com, or by visiting our showrooms at Victoria Mills. Our standard product range can be purchased online but if you have special requirements please contact our sales team by calling 01422 376000.
In addition to the article published on the 6th May relating to the new Premier Inn under construction in Leicester Square, HotelDesigns was invited on a tour of the site and managed to grab some photos to show our readers in an early preview…The building, formerly the Queens House (an hotel which closed in 1936) and then which became offices covering over 24,000 sq ft, is located on one of London’s busiest tourist attractions – Leicester Square. This eventful, vibrant square is currently undergoing an £18 million refurbishment of its paving and is ravaged by development work a few yards from the new W London Leicester Square (which opened in March this year).
The developers behind the new Premier Inn site are working hard to ensure that their customers do not experience a bad night’s sleep with their new bedroom concept. Premier Inns ‘sleep guarantee’ means a great deal to the company.
With an opening date set in February 2012, the 84 bedroom hotel is an innovation in hotel construction design. With the Ruby Blue nightclub on the ground floor of the building open until 4am, the design of the guestrooms needed a unique approach to soundproofing which John Lloyd ACOM has been developing in conjunction with Steve Hammond of Whitbread. Steve commented that they were trying to think outside the box with their solution to the noise problem when they turned their thinking to inside the box.
Whitbread initially looked at the site two to three years earlier but noted how the noise would be a problem when converting the building into an hotel. Noise penetration through the windows wasn’t a major issue, which the group has easily solved by installing quadruple glazed windows, but it was the noise transmission through the building structure that concerned the operator.
Focus SB, specialist manufacturer of wiring accessories, designs and manufactures multi-service plates for the hotel sector. The high-end multi-service plates integrates electrical devices, like the TV, room lighting, telephone ports, and acts as a gateway for guests to personalise their in-room entertainment.For example, if a laptop is plugged in, the TV turns into a viewing screen and the stereo becomes a personal sound system.
As one of the few UK companies to make their own metal, timber and clear acrylic thermoplastic plates, Focus SB manufactures any quantity without the need for long lead times for many top hotel refurbishments. Where required, these high specification plates can be engraved or silk screen with lettering to identify the function of each individual switch or control on a multi-gang plate.
For product information and sales enquiries please contact: Focus SB Ltd: +44 (0) 1424 858060 or email sa***@fo******.uk
This is an introduction to the new website for Nest, and we hope – a new idea!
What will nest do that is new?“Essentially, complete independent advice and management for design, manufacture and installation of furniture and joinery for any interior project”.
Founder James Baker feels there is a gap in the market. That gap is between the Client and the manufacturer.
Nest aims to bridge that gap!
The client needs to be able to go direct to a global market with the security in knowing that they are represented on the factory floor and that there contract will be produced as they require and at the cost price that can be had.
The end user buying direct from the manufacturer, gives the obvious benefits.
The service: • Design • Procurement • Project Management
• A service that you employ to deliver designs that are beautiful, functional and costed.
• A service that has a varied and broad portfolio of specialized manufacturers, giving you choices.
• A service that has industry experience, gained, delivering furniture contracts to some of the finest Hotels.
This service offers a complete furniture package from design, to procurement, to final install.
Connects you, the client, direct to a specialized, manufacturing industry.
Nest doesn’t sell furniture, but experience and expertise, which will allow you to confidently approach a global market and buy furniture for yourself.
We introduce Nest and all the benefits we are confident to offer.
Boutique hotel brand Hotel Indigo opened its third UK hotel in Glasgow on 18 April 2011.
On Waterloo Street, in the heart of the financial district, the hotel is in a converted Victorian building. It was originally Glasgow’s first power station and once illuminated the Glasgow School of Art. With 95 bedrooms and the Limelight Bar and Grill, Hotel Indigo Glasgow offers guests easy access to the main shopping area, Central Station and numerous bars, restaurants and cafes.All Hotel Indigo properties have a unique character and feature contemporary design and bold colors, reflecting the location. From the moment guests enter Hotel Indigo Glasgow they will be aware that this is a hotel firmly rooted in the city, with the artwork reflecting the history and architecture of the local area. Artwork includes everything from a mural of famous Glaswegians to paintings of 25 of Glasgow’s greatest heroes created by 25 up-and-coming local artists. Every bedroom and suite is decorated with architectural scenes, with views of the local area, and individual floors feature corridor art showing more of the community story, including the history of the pub scene.
Kirk Kinsell, president, Europe, Middle East and Africa, InterContinental Hotels Group, said: “Hotel Indigo Glasgow offers guests the best of both worlds – the individuality and unique design of a boutique hotel with the reassurance and benefits of a big hotel group. Hotel Indigo Glasgow is right in the heart of Glasgow which means it’s perfectly placed for people who want to explore the sights and sounds of the city.”
Maurice Taylor, La Bonne Auberge restaurateur and founder and chief executive of the Chardon Group which will run the hotel added: “Hotel Indigo Glasgow is a unique, distinctive hotel. The building has retained its original character while the design and artwork inside adds a contemporary twist and reflects the heritage of the city.”
Universally known as a symbol of RENAISSANCE, spring 2011 brings with it the reopening of a unique hotel. Situated between the Eiffel Tower and the Champs‐Elysées, this new jewel amidst Parisian five‐star hotels cultivates the soul of its exceptional outdoor courtyard through the newly renovated, luxurious interior.The new contemporary decor designed by architect‐designer Jean‐Philippe Nuel is perfectly balanced with the hotel’s original architecture featured across four remarkable historical buildings.
THE RENAISSANCE PARIS LE PARC TROCADERO HOTEL stands as a haven of peace and timeless elegance, a world of refinement and serenity to explore… it is simply a privileged and authentic Parisian experience.
Around a fabulous secret garden with timeless charm… At the heart of the RENAISSANCE PARIS LE PARC TROCADERO HOTEL, an exceptional 1200‐square‐meter green courtyard stands out in the centre of Paris. Totally redesigned in 2011, the garden is surrounded by the four historical buildings which were part of the construction from the beginning, nearly one century ago.
Built in 1912, the first building, situated at 55‐57 avenue Raymond Poincaré quickly became a unique and privileged residence for the elite Parisian society of that time. Once you have passed the entrance porch, you will discover three amazing 19th century Anglo‐Norman style buildings, one of these with a charming turret.
In the 1850s, the building at the back of the garden now called “Residence” was first a convent and then a stable whose owner lived in the turret. The pulley which was then used to lift the bundles of straw is still visible on the façade of the building. Nowadays this building offers guest rooms and function rooms.
These Anglo‐Norman style buildings once housed the bronze and glass‐making workshop of the famous wrought iron craftsman, Baguès. Alfred Nobel, who owned a near‐by mansion, also enjoyed this garden where he had a small laboratory and an orchid greenhouse.
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has announced the soft opening of Mövenpick Heritage Hotel Sentosa, its first property in Singapore, with the grand launch earmarked towards the end of the year.Located in the heart of Sentosa, overlooking the South China Sea and Merlion Park, the five-star hotel depicts the colonial history and contemporary flair of the country in its striking interiors, designed by world famous Japanese firm, Super Potato.
The hotel’s facilities are spread out over two distinct wings, the traditional Heritage wing -with colonial heritage dating back to the 1940s, and the new Contemporary wing with modern architecture providing an upscale experience to discerning travellers.
The initial phase sees the opening of the contemporary wing, which offers distinctively designed rooms and suites, dining and entertainment options and meetings and conference facilities.
This modern section features 105 well-appointed Deluxe rooms while 19 Onsen Suites, three Executive Suites and two Penthouse Suites – will open throughout 2011. The signature Onsen suites will each feature a Japanese-style hot tub set in a tranquil outdoor sanctuary while the Penthouse Suites will offer private rooftop pools.
All rooms are equipped with high-speed internet access with wireless connectivity, and feature LCD flat screen TVs with an integrated media system.
The hotel’s current dining options include Library, a lounge area where guests can relax and enjoy snacks and refreshments in comfortable surroundings. The glass covered link-bridge spanning across the two wings of the hotel is home to the Tea Lounge, serving breakfast and an international menu.
Singapore’s premier standing as a year-round conference venue means MICE business will also be courted. The column-free Grand Ballroom allows innovative use of space, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing plenty of natural light.
The upcoming fully renovated Heritage building, set to open towards the end of 2011, will complement the existing facilities with a further 61 spacious rooms and suites and dining options.
The Heritage wing will include an all-day dining restaurant, a Whisky Bar and Cigar Lounge. In addition, the hotel’s unique private dining concept will allow guests to enjoy tailor-made menus.
The hotel is ideally situated to allow easy access to a wide number of leisure attractions. Guests can walk to the Resorts World Sentosa, an integrated resort featuring Universal Studios and the casino, while those looking to get out and about can jump on the Sentosa Express, with Imbiah station located directly opposite the hotel. In addition, the property is located five minutes from Vivo City, the largest shopping mall in the country.
On completion, both old and new wings will complement each other to create an alluring five-star upscale lifestyle hotel.
The most exciting new hotel opening at the heart of the City of London, The Montcalm London City at The Brewery opens its doors with a soft launch on the 23rd May, with the official grand opening being held at the end of September 2011. Formerly the site of the Whitbread & Co brewery, this exceptional Grade II listed building has been stunningly transformed into a contemporary 5* hotel whilst preserving its heritage values. With the soft launch opening on the 23rd May, 100 rooms will be available with all the luxurious amenities expected of a 5* hotel including; a butler service for the suites and studios, an executive Club Lounge, room service, meetings and banqueting rooms catering from 10-100 guests and a contemporary British restaurant and cocktail bar called The Chiswell Street Dining Rooms, run by ETM, the team behind The Botanist and The Cadogan Arms. A further 135 rooms making the complete hotel offering up to 235 rooms and suites, a luxurious wellness centre, and a gastro pub, will be fully opened by the end of September 2011.
Formerly the site of the Whitbread & Co, Britain’s first purpose-built mass production brewery, the original building dates back from as early at 1750 when Samuel Whitbread moved his brewing operations to Chiswell Street on the ‘eastern rim of Georgian London’. The last beer brewed there was in 1976, when the site was then turned into Whitbread PLC’s Head Office and the City of London’s leading Conference & Banqueting Centre, The Brewery.
With a 25 luxury suites, 11 deluxe studios and 199 City and Club rooms at the hotel there is also an additional luxury annexe opposite which holds 25 of the luxury rooms and suites called The London City Suites by Montcalm originally known as The Brewer’s House. High speed wireless internet access will be complimentary and each room will house an iPod docking station and over 40 satellite TV Channels. The beautiful design led suites with accompanying stylish en-suite bathrooms will have rain showers and offer Elemis or Acqua da Palma amenities. For families there are beautifully appointed interconnecting rooms and long stays will benefit from complete kitchenettes. The suites and studio will offer a private butler service.
For meetings and banqueting there are six meetings rooms with natural daylight offering up state of the art audio visual and technological facilities.
W Hotels Worldwide continues its successful collaboration with Design Miami/ Basel with the announcement of the 2011 Designers of the Future Award. This event marks the second occasion that the two organisations have collaborated on the award, having announced the coveted award along with their partnership at Salone del Mobile in Milan one year ago.The Designers of the Future Award, originally launched by Design Miami/ Basel in 2006, recognises young, emerging designers whose work reflects exceptional innovation and beauty in limited-edition design. The winners will go on to present their special commissions at Basel in June. W Hotels, a leader in design and innovation, further backs the award by allowing for the award winners to carry out their legacy in various W Hotels around the world.
“We are very excited to take the partnership with Design Miami/ Basel and the W Hotels Designer of the Future Award into its second year,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader of W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien. “Recognising the W Hotels Designers of the Future in Milan during the Salone del Mobile and presenting their projects at Design Miami/ Basel in June is a great introduction to the next stage of their careers.”
The 2011 “W Hotels Designers of the Future Award” looks beyond traditional product and furniture design, seeking work that is truly groundbreaking and innovative. This year, the recognised designers draw inspiration from “Conversation Pieces,” a theme provided to the design candidates by Design Miami/ Basel. The 2011 Award winners include: UK-based designer Asif Khan, Austrian design team Mischer’Traxler, and Studio Juju in Singapore.
The 2011 Designers of the Future international jury was comprised of Wava Carpenter, Associate Director, Design Miami/; Aric Chen, Beijing Design Week; Li Edelkoort, Edelkoort Inc.; Marcus Fairs, Editor-in-Chief, Dezeen.com; Alexis Georgacopoulos, Director of the Ecole cantonale d’art de Lausanne; Constance Rubini, School of Decorative Arts, Paris; Kenya Hara, Creative Director, Muji; Konstantin Grcic, KGID; Zoe Ryan, Art Institute of Chicago; and Mike Tiedy, SVP, Global Brand Design & Innovation, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc, W’s parent company.
Sekers Fabrics have launched Diva, a luxury crushed velvet pile fabric suitable for upholstery and curtains. With 25 vibrant and sophisticated colours, a rub test of 120,000, Diva will add a touch of glamour and quality to any hotel!
Diva is stocked in Dundee along with all of the Sekers fabric collections which can be viewed at www.sekersfabrics.co.uk
When mono colours are interrupted with the static of black the result is Pixel, the latest loop pile broadloom carpet from Lano Flooring Solutions. Ideal for hospitality and commercial environments where the ability to disguise dirt and wear well are asked of any carpet, Pixel is available in 16 shades ranging from grey through to vivid orange, red and green.
The clever design of Pixel gives specifiers and designers the opportunity to work with a dominant and solo colour to complement the interior scheme without worrying about the appearance of dirt and stains – a problem with any plain colour carpet. The ‘static’ like quality of Pixel will noticeably reduce the appearance of dirt between cleans.
Constructed from 100% polyamide, the 1/10th gauge carpet is also extremely hardwearing with a Heavy Commercial (Class 33) rating. Pixel also achieves GUT certification and meets the latest stringent emissions and chemicals legislation.
For further information on all Lano carpet ranges, freephone 00800 5266 5266 or e-mail ma*******@la**.com
Roman, one of the UK’s leading shower manufacturers, has added a brand new folding bath screen to their Embrace range, which is the perfect solution for when space is limited in the bathroom. The bath screen, which is design protected, has been developed following demand from Roman’s hotel partners who are looking for a practical but stylish solution for over bath showering.When working closely with hotel partners Roman found that their key requirements from a bath screen was for a product which gives flexible access into the bath and allows cleaning of the screen to easily take place from outside of the bath. The Embrace bath screen had been created by Roman’s Design Team to meet these needs.
The Embrace Folding bath screen features a unique dual folding mechanism so it can rotate through 180 degrees. This patented technology enables it to fully open outwards and also inwards towards the bath. This ensures you can have complete access to the bath for cleaning and bathing. When not in use the bath screen can also neatly fold away.
The screen features a unique sealing system between the vertical and horizontal aluminium, ensuring those areas that would usually be prone to leaking when showering over bath, remain watertight. The screen is also suitable for use with power-showers, guaranteeing that performance need not be compromised when showering over bath.
The screen stands at a height of 1500mm off the bath and features chrome on brass hinges, with 6mm thick toughened safety glass. Like all Roman enclosures and bath screens, the Embrace Folding bath screen is backed by Roman’s Truelife, Lifetime guarantee, which is service backed by Roman’s dedicated Customer Relations team and Roman’s team of on the road Technical Engineers.
David Osborne, Managing Director at Roman commented: “The Embrace Folding bath screen is an excellent addition to the Roman range. It is ideal for the UK bathroom where, due to our small bathrooms, showering over-bath is still so popular – around 65% of people in the UK are still showering over bath. This screen is styled in line with current trends – offering a minimalist finish, whilst also being practical. It ensures that style need not be compromised, just because you are showering over the bath.”
Following on from the recent addition of Chandra Luxury Villas in Bali, Australian owned 8Hotels continues to rapidly expand and reshape the boutique hotel scene with the announcement that Hepburn at Hepburn Luxury Villas has joined the collection.The 14 architecturally designed villas nestled in the picturesque bush-land of Hepburn Springs Victoria and directly opposite the world famous Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa is the Victorian spa country’s long awaited high end accommodation.
Designed by renowned architect and owner David Edelman, each Villa has its own north facing secluded deck overlooking the forest. Interiors are by award winning David Hicks with landscaping by leading landscape designer, Jack Merlo.
The villas are fitted with gas fireplaces, marble-clad spa bath, two 42-inch flat-screen TV’s, and designer kitchens. Guest indulgences include espresso machine, L’Occitane bath products, sumptuous bedding, complimentary WiFi and mini bars with locally sourced gourmet produce 8Hotels CEO Paul Fischmann commented, “We are thrilled to be awarded the management of Hepburn at Hepburn Luxury Villas. The 12th hotel in our collection, this unique offer strengthens our network and offers our guests a luxurious accommodation option in an iconic Australian retreat location”.
Mr Smith World Photography, London based fine art photographers feature a captivating collection of images developed over many years of world travel. This portfolio is themed “LONDON LANDMARKS”, from the LONDON COLLECTION.Prints are available from the online gallery or as bespoke artwork from Mr Smith’s extensive catalogue. These prints can be produced to extremely large sizes and are just a sample from an outstanding portfolio of images. Click on any of the images below for more information.
The Wandsworth Group has appointed Gary Stevens as the company’s new managing director.Gary first joined Wandsworth as a sales representative in 1987and has risen through the sales and marketing management ranks becoming Wandsworth’s sales and marketing director in 2005 and completing an MBA.
Gary has been closely involved with the technology shift in the nurse call division of the Group over recent years and, in his new role as managing director, he will have a clear remit to build on the core strengths and heritage of the 105-year-old company in the design and manufacture of high quality wiring accessories and ‘best in class’ nurse call systems whilst retaining his sales director role.
Comments Gary: “I have been a full board director at Wandsworth for six years and during that time the company has embraced new technology to lead the marketplace in the nurse call and healthcare technology sector whilst staying true to our core values to deliver well-designed, high quality, British-made wiring accessories. I am delighted to be taking on the role of managing director and looking forward to leading the team as it takes the company through the next stage in its development. We have a very robust plan moving forward and we are all looking forward to implementing that plan over the next 12-18 months.”
As Cairo emerges from recent history making events, it remains a key travel destination within the region, and the world, due to its vibrant culture and iconic heritage and attractions.Fairmont Hotels & Resorts operates two luxury properties in Cairo – Fairmont Heliopolis and Towers is five minutes from Cairo International Airport and features 835 lavish guest rooms and suites, 15 dining options, and facilities that include a fully-equipped health club, three swimming pools and more. Opened in late 2009, Fairmont Nile City overlooks Egypt’s Nile River and houses multiple bars and restaurants, including a rooftop area featuring a restaurant, outdoor swimming pool and hot tub boasting views of the Pyramids and beyond.
New Spa Offers Luxury Oasis
This May, Fairmont Nile City debuts a luxurious Willow Stream Spa, the newest location of the signature spa brand from Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. Currently the only Willow Stream Spa in the Middle East, Willow Stream at Nile City offers a sophisticated sanctuary designed to escape the daily clamor of the city. Occupying the 24th floor of the hotel, the retreat offers sweeping panoramic views of the Nile River and expansive desert. The 20,000 square foot spa features private Hammam experiences for both women and men with Energized Rain and Ice Mist Showers, Desert Star Steam Rooms and refreshing ice fountains, as well as a spa retail shop and a full beauty salon featuring Mohamed Al Saghir. To further recharge one’s inner energy, the spa offers an integrated fitness center, a yoga studio, a tranquil reflexology lounge, nine single suites and two couples’ suites, each with its own private hydrotherapy, bathing and lounging areas.
Renovations Add Modern Flair to Luxury Resort
Fairmont Heliopolis and Towers has recently debuted renovated guest rooms following a USD $15 million room restoration program in the hotel’s Heliopolis wing. Designed by London based interior designers Hirsch Bedner and Partners (HBA), the rooms provide luxurious accommodation for business and leisure travelers. New features include pillow top beds, flexible bedside reading lights, blackout curtains and sound reduction measures to make for a peaceful experience. Additionally, the facilities include state-of the-art business and entertainment connectivity through the installation of a Media Panel, linking the working environment at the business desk to the new flat screen 42″ television, thus allowing guests to connect iPods, MP3 players and their own laptops to the TV.
On Tuesday (10th May) business leaders, chamber executives, local dignitaries, hotel guests and citizens of Jackson joined Park Place Associates, LLC to celebrate the Grand Opening of the brand new Holiday Inn Express & Suites at Parkstone Place on Exit 85 in Jackson, Tenn.”We are excited about this opportunity to showcase our hotel to the public,” said General Manager Samuel Ward. “The hotel is doing really well in the area and we want to thank the community for its support.”
County Mayor Jimmy Harris and City Mayor Jerry Gist were among the distinguished guests at the event, both speaking during the ribbon cutting ceremony about the economic impact the hotel has had on the area.
“Development in Jackson is booming and the Holiday Inn is in a prime location for both business and leisure travelers visiting our city,” said Gist. “It is conveniently located right by the West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex and by the minor league baseball team, Jackson Generals.”
Kemmons Wilson, Inc. Vice President McLean T. Wilson and Gary Taylor, President of Gary Taylor Investments, welcomed more than 200 guests to the grand opening and invited attendees to participate in VIP tours of the 92-room facility. Guests enjoyed refreshments and hors d’oeuvres while listening to Jazz music on the patio. Guests also received luggage tags and other favors for attending.
Park Place Associates, LLC owns and Wilson Hotel Management proudly manages the Holiday Inn Express & Suites. Gary A. Taylor (GAT) Investment Company, which is the developer of the site, has worked closely with the Wilson Hotel Management to get this project underway.
Leading intellectual property (IP) lawyer, Tony Catterall believes that the home furnishing sector could benefit dramatically from a radical reform in intellectual property law.The economic recession has heightened the issue of plagiarism in the industry and it is an increasing problem which Tony and his team at Taylors Solicitors has been battling for the past 20 years.
Tony, Partner at Taylors said: “IP is a major asset to any organisation but particularly to SME’s and owner managed businesses. In the past it had been difficult and costly for smaller design houses to enforce or defend their designs.
“The potentially huge cost implications involved in protecting designs was significant enough to prevent the smaller home furnishing firms fight anyone unlawfully copying them.”
The reform of the Patents County Court makes it easier for anyone to protect their IP, through new costs and procedural rules aimed at helping SME’s. Trials under this new regime are expected to last no more than two days and costs are capped.
Tony explains: “This streamlining comes as there will be no formal witness statements and cross examination will be limited. The whole process will be driven by the Court to ensure speedy and economical dispute resolution.”
Taylors have recently acted on behalf of Hertfordshire-based Ashley Wilde and successfully forced Primark into a settlement over a copyright infringement of Ashley Wilde’s well known and highly successful ‘Boulevard’ design. Tony has also secured a favourable settlement for Derbyshire-based Belfield Furnishings in a copyright dispute with Global Textiles (UK) Limited.
“It is pleasing that those claims were brought to an early and successful conclusion for our regular clients Ashley Wilde and Belfield. Reputable design houses and converters need to follow their example and stand up to infringers rather than turning a blind eye.
Taylors Solicitors regularly acts for over 200 companies in the home furnishings industry including Ashley Wilde Group, Graham and Brown, Rectella and Turner Bianca. The firm’s main specialism is intellectual property law.
Tony Catterall created legal precedent over ten years ago in the House of Lords when acting for international company Designers Guild, setting the factors for determining the degree of similarity required for copyright infringement of furnishing designs. This case has assisted many clients of Taylors who invest heavily in their design studios to obtain protection from being copied.
Size may not always matter, but for Phnom Penh’s newest luxury hotel bigger is bolder when it comes to luring MICE clients.
With its 1,800-square-metre Grand Ballroom – the largest in Cambodia — providing a show-stopping centrepiece for events, the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra aims to establish itself as the country’s premier venue for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) events.Situated in the heart of Indochina with major hubs such as Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City within easy striking distance, Phnom Penh is positioned to host important corporate events and exhibitions.
Until now, however, the city has lacked truly top grade facilities to match its potential as a major MICE player in the region. The advent of the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra, however, has changed all that.
In addition to the ballroom, the hotel has a range of other facilities for MICE clients, including five boardrooms, mobile communications systems and flexible accommodation for small- to medium-scale functions. The hotel also has a fully equipped business centre. Wireless Internet is available throughout the property.
The ballroom and the boardrooms are all fitted with state of the art audio-visual equipment – the fruit of a USD1.5 million investment on the part of the hotel. Meanwhile, clients who require multi-lingual capabilities can utilise the equipment for simultaneous translation in three languages.
The ballroom has earned its ‘Grand’ moniker. Towering ceilings are bedecked with crystal chandeliers, the floor is luxuriantly carpeted and there’s even an oversized elevator from the hotel’s drive to the ballroom to allow vehicular access for car exhibitions.
At the head of the room, a giant screen backs a spacious stage while two further screens are hung from the room’s right wall.
These additional screens can be used for smaller scale events, for which the ballroom can be partitioned into three separate rooms to create a more intimate atmosphere.
At full size, the ballroom can host up to 2,000 guests theatre-style while, for banquets and buffets, as many as 1,200 guests can be catered for.
A dedicated kitchen serves ballroom functions, and a complement of hotel chefs and wait staff alike have been extensively drilled to cope with myriad challenges presented by large-scale events.
Beyond built-for-business amenities, leisure facilities at the hotel include a spa, a fully-equipped fitness centre and two outdoor swimming pools. The hotel’s eight restaurants and bars cater amply for gastronomes.
With immediate effect, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is undertaking management of the Palm Beach Club hotel and rebranding it Mövenpick Residences Laguna Beach Phuket.
The resort will ideally complement the Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket, the first property the hotel company opened in Thailand in 2006. Both Phuket properties harmoniously blend Thailand’s gentle way of life with the Swiss tradition of hospitality and attention to detail to create two striking holiday getaways for discerning travellers.Mövenpick Residences Laguna Beach Phuket is located on Bang Tao Beach, one of Phuket Island’s most pristine beaches and famous among golfers. The Phuket International Airport and several world-class golf courses, including Blue Canyon Country Club and the Laguna Phuket Golf Club are within a 20-minute drive.
The new portfolio addition features 39 residences including luxurious penthouses and two and three-bedroom suites, all blending the best of Thai and contemporary design. Modern interiors evoke an easy living design complete with large balconies and some come with a private pool or Jacuzzi. All are designed to provide a perfect tropical haven for families, friends and long-term guests, creating a delightful ambience for a memorable holiday.
Spa enthusiasts will enjoy Blossom Spa, a world-class facility offering traditional Thai treatments as well as therapies derived from Asian and European influences.
EPR Architects have been granted Planning Permission to convert Longbridge House at Gatwick airport’s North Terminal from office to hotel use and extend it to accommodate a 192 bedroom Hampton by Hilton economy hotel with associated parking and access. It will include reception lounge, bar, restaurant, meeting rooms and fitness room plus coffee shop with a direct link to the North Terminal’s concourse level. The existing structure will be retained and this has prescribed the building form as rectangular in plan. The building will be increased by two storeys in height giving it a cuboid shape. The facades will be made up of composite metal cladding panels in a pale grey colour on all four sides. Window reveals will be lined in metal, picked out in an accent colour to strongly contrast with the grey of the façade and prevailing colour of the airport buildings.
This proposed hotel provides a sustainable solution to the re-use of the building on this site and provides a positive contribution to the economic future of Gatwick Airport.
In a recent announcement by the French Government, Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome has been awarded a five-star classification of the highest distinction. It has been named one of eight official palace hotels in France.The moniker of ‘palace hotel’ is one that many Paris hotels have adopted over the years as a self-appointed and unofficial title. Last year the government of France decided to make it an official category and laid out specific criteria for five-star properties to compete for the prized rating of Distinction Palace, stating that this new “tourism version of the ‘Pulitzer Prize’ … will be awarded by a most unusual and prestigious jury.” That special jury was made up of 10 respected personalities from the worlds of hospitality, architecture and design, literature, film and television, science and business.
Since the hotel opened in 2002, Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome, located in the heart of Paris and at the epicenter of history on the prestigious Rue de la Paix, has sought to refresh and recalibrate the concept of the palace hotel. As that other French icon, the ‘father of Modern culture,’ Rene Descartes, challenged the world to observe and interpret old tradition with fresh eyes, so has the contemporary yet timeless Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome challenged long-standing perceptions of what makes a five-star property truly stellar.
In addition to checking all the customary boxes – with its exceptional location, historical pedigree (the façade is not only beautiful but was the former couture house of Paquin), world-class spa, Michelin starred restaurant and 40 stunning Ed Tuttle-designed suites – Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome brings to this city a refined and contemporary interpretation of American-style warmth and openness that is quintessential of the Park Hyatt brand worldwide.
Great respect has been paid to the rich, centuries-old history of the property and great pains have been taken to maintain the authentic sense of place one feels at Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome. However, equal care and consideration has been devoted to developing a new standard of superlative hospitality through elegant and enduring design, and effortlessly efficient service from staff that are amiable and welcoming yet sincere and consummately professional.
Decorative electrical wiring accessories and lighting controls manufacturer Hamilton Litestat has announced a series of new additions to its popular Hartland CFX range – Hartland CFX Colours.The new glossy plastic switch plates and sockets replicate every detail of the best-selling metal Hartland CFX collection – even down to Hamilton’s patented concealed fixings system, which gives an even smoother look to the slim, contemporary plates.
Available in bright white, jet black and pillar box red, the new Hartland CFX Colours collection has been designed with aesthetics, functionality and value in mind. The sleek finish is attractive and tactile, whilst the practical, robust plastic provides a lower-priced alternative to the metal designs.
The availability of the plates in pillar box red is ideal for differentiating particular sockets in commercial and healthcare environments for safety reasons but also provides a fun option for brightly designed residential schemes.
W Hotels Worldwide has announced plans to open a W Retreat & Spa located within an exclusive beachfront community, surrounded by the natural beauty of the Mayan Rivera’s lush lagoons and pristine mangroves. Nestled on the eastern coast of Mexico’s magnificent Yucatan Peninsula, the 180-room Retreat is being designed by acclaimed architect Richard Meier. Owned by ALHEL and GIM Desarrollos, W Kanai will be the centerpiece of the Kanai Resort, which will include four hotels and a Beach Club.
Designed by renowned architecture firm Richard Meier & Partners Architects, W Kanai will appear to float on a carpet of mangroves set against the infinite horizon of sea and sky. Buildings and landscape will flow into one another, as meandering gardens and courtyards, sinuous pools and waterworks intersect with brilliant terraces and foot paths, seamlessly connecting the Retreat’s indoor and outdoor spaces. Guestrooms, designed by the New York-based firm Meyer Davis Studio, will have unobstructed views of the sea. Designed as continuous living areas, interior spaces will merge with an exterior deck furnished with lounge seating, cocktail bar, exterior tub and shower. The decks will be enclosed by retractable privacy screens and sun shading louvers.
Only six miles from Playa del Carmen and 24 miles from Cancun International Airport, guests will be able to choose from the Retreat’s extraordinary line up of lifestyle programming, water sports, and wellness activities, including W’s signature Away Spa, offering a detox from a long, playful night out or a refuel for whatever comes next. Boasting more than 10,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor treatment space, Away Spa will feature a range of treatments incorporating local Mexican influences in an unexpected cool and playful way. W Kanai will feature W’s signature Whatever/Whenever(R) service philosophy, providing guests and residences with whatever they want whenever they want it (as long as it’s legal!).
W Retreat & Spa Kanai – Riviera Maya will serve as an ideal island venue for weddings, special events, and innovative meetings. Featuring 7,500 square feet of event space overall, the Retreat’s Great Room (W’s take on the traditional Ballroom) will be 3,000 square feet and wired with the latest in meetings technology.
The Waldorf Hilton, Good Godfrey’s bar and lounge has re-launched having been redeveloped and now features a striking, destination bar.The client’s brief was for designLSM to create a ‘statement’ bar, which would attract residents and passers by. This was achieved by cleverly illuminating the marble, chrome and granite bar with up-scaled lighting to create a bold, visual statement. Existing listed paneled features were retained whilst decorative wallpaper was added to the ceiling recesses and large antiqued mirrors hung from the walls to reflect a sumptuous interior. The lounge furniture has been chosen to encourage guests to relax and a palette of warm grey, gold and burgundy creates a sense of warmth and opulence.
The Lounge and Lobby was minimalist in design with no sense of ‘arrival’ for guests, therefore large chandeliers, feature wallpaper and intricate mouldings were introduced. Heavy, theatrical drapes and grand, antique mirrors add to the sense of theatre. The same furniture was chosen to follow through from the bar in order to create a fluid space and offer guests a choice of seating.
The second phase will see the current, sparse looking reception redesigned to highlight the sophistication and glamour for which the Waldorf Hilton is internationally renowned. Traditional style paneling, plush drapes and antique mirrors will be accentuated by elegant lighting. A library snug will be created and tucked away in the lobby area for those wanting to people watch.
The main consideration undertaken by Simon Spiteri, Architecture Director and Karen Mitton, Senior Designer was to ensure that the design was sympathetic to the existing style and image of The Waldorf. Attention to detail will be paramount when creating an authentic and grand reception area because first impressions count.
Since the 18 century, fabric has been used not only for fashion (clothing) but started to entry the interior industry such as people use fabric on wall, as headboard, and so. In interiors, this translates into embroidery and increasingly distinctive weave patterns.The next couple of year’s textures will be becoming ever more important. Fabric walling is ideal for creating a cosy atmosphere with unique flair.
Not only does the fabric walling add life to your room but it also offers soundproofing qualities.
Whether is in our home, office, or entertainment room, fabric will be perfectively used as antique or contemporary way.
The finish gives a sense of the design. People think that walling is old fashion or don’t suit the modern designs, our popular invisible finish called blind finish gives a modern twist to your decoration. It is mistaken for wallpaper.
Your meeting rooms can be sumptuously decorated with fabric covered walls, for soundproofing, while the state of-art private cinema walls would be stunningly padded again to mitigate the noise.
Not only does it offer luxury, it also serves as thermal insulation which is an exceptional addition.
Quotes for Fabric Walling are available upon request and the showroom is open Monday-Friday 09.30am – 5.30pm.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced plans to open W Mumbai, marking the debut of W Hotels Worldwide in India.Located in bustling South Central Mumbai where modern architecture intertwines with colonial cultural monuments, W Mumbai will introduce its world renowned lifestyle hotel concept to one of India’s hippest cities, where the country’s music, fashion, media and entertainment industries converge. Under a management contract with Jaguar Buildcon Private Limited, W Mumbai will be developed on approximately three acres of land and is expected to open by 2015. Overlooking the Mahalaxmi racecourse, the hotel will form a part of the Namaste Tower, an iconic 55-story mixed-use building designed by WS Atkins to look like clasped hands. Expected to be a landmark in the city of Mumbai with its iconic design, W Mumbai will be a highly anticipated and spectacular addition to India’s financial and fashion capital.
W Mumbai will house more than 350 stylishly appointed guestrooms, including two WOW Suites and one Extreme WOW Suite (W’s take on the Presidential Suite); two contemporary restaurants and one destination bar; the signature W lounge (W’s interpretation of the traditional hotel lobby); WET pool deck; SWEAT, state-of-the-art fitness center; and a signature spa for guests to detox and refuel for what’s to come. W Mumbai will also house stylish spaces for luxury designer retail stores and boast a full calendar of exclusive and exciting W Happenings events that showcase what’s new and next in design, fashion and music for both guests and locals alike.
The NEW BELGRAVIA is a fresh look at a traditional sleigh bed. The slatted headboard and footboard give a nautical feel to the design. Created in ash and finished to a caramel colour which enhances the grain detail of the timber.All of the new collections have both five and six foot wide beds are complemented with a full range of cabinets, dressing table and wardrobe.
Curved lines and attention to detail are the hallmarks of the ANNABEL collection.
Designed in the French Renaissance style, the skillfully hand carved details and hand woven double caned bedstead with a softly antiqued ivory painted finish will add a touch of romance to any bedroom.
The VINTAGE PROVENCAL collection is a robust and rustic design that will suit many types of bedrooms. Created from solid straight grained slow grown Baltic pine it also available in a white painted finish.
All of the new collections are on display at the High Wycombe showroom. Pop in, have a coffee and see how Frank Husdon can help you with your current or next project.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced plans to introduce its fast-growing Four Points brand to Peoria, Illinois. Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Peoria opens in July of 2011 near leading businesses and Peoria’s recently revitalized RiverFront. Owned by SPE LO Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of Textron Financial Corporation, the hotel will feature 319 comfortable and stylish guest rooms, market-leading meeting facilities, a full-service restaurant, indoor pool, and other amenities that have made Four Points a favorite with travelers worldwide.Extensive renovations to all guest rooms and public areas, and smart enhancements throughout the property will completely overhaul the former Holiday Inn in preparation for its new start as a Four Points. Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Peoria will be the brand’s fifth hotel in Illinois.
Located at 500 Hamilton Boulevard, Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Peoria is just minutes from Peoria Regional Airport, Peoria Civic Center, Bradley University and the shops, restaurants and entertainment at Peoria RiverFront. The hotel also offers easy access to Caterpillar Inc. world headquarters, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center and Methodist Medical Center.
Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Peoria will offer all-day dining at Bennigan’s Grill, and more than 19,000 square feet of state-of-the-art conference space for meetings, weddings, and social functions of all sizes. Other amenities include an indoor pool and sauna, 24-hour fitness center and business center.
Today, Birmingham’s largest hotel brand Travelodge has announced the creation of 100 new jobs as a result of opening a further three new hotels in the city.
The first of the three new openings, Birmingham Central Bull Ring Travelodge is the company’s 18th hotel in the city and today was officially opened by Birmingham’s Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Michael Wilkes and Travelodge CEO Guy Parsons. The 210-room hotel which is located at the famous shopping mecca the Bull Ring, represents a £10 million investment into the city and has created 30 new jobs within the community. Rooms are available from £19 per night.
The other two new Birmingham hotel openings will create a further 70 new jobs and are located at Birmingham Airport and Carrs Lane. They are scheduled to open in September and December 2011 respectively.
By the end of the year Travelodge will have 20 hotels and 1,600 rooms in Birmingham.
Birmingham Central Bull Ring Travelodge is being managed by one of the company’s local rising stars Astra Goode who started her career with Travelodge ten years ago as a receptionist. Over the years Astra has climbed the career ladder and successfully managed six hotels across the city. In addition, she was a project co-ordinator helping to assist in Travelodge’s largest acquisition deal to date – when the hotel chain took over 52 Inn Keeper Lodges from Mitchells and Butler in 2010. (Astra assisted in converting the lodges into Travelodge hotels).
Astra has recruited her team of 30 via the Job Centre Plus scheme which helps the long term unemployed back into work.
Astra Goode, Birmingham Central Bull Ring Travelodge’s Hotel Manager said: “Not in my wildest dreams did I think ten years ago when I joined the company as a receptionist, that one day I would be running my own brand new hotel in the heart of Birmingham city centre. It’s such an honour to be given the opportunity to manage Travelodge’s 18th hotel in Birmingham”.
To celebrate the opening of Travelodge’s 18th hotel at the fashion Mecca, the Bull Ring, the hotel chain ran a promotion to find the city’s next top designer. Budding stylists were commissioned to design an outfit using a bed sheet. Twelve outfits were showcased at the opening event this morning and the overall winner was Emily Wakerley.
The judging panel consisted of: the Deputy Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Emily Ford-Halliday, Lecturer from Birmingham Metropolitan College’s Fashion Diploma and Guy Parsons, Travelodge CEO.
Emily Wakerley received a free weekend break at any one of the company’s 469 Travelodge hotels with £100 spending money to splash out on a new outfit.
Emily Wakerley, fashion student from Birmingham Metropolitan College said: “I am thrilled to have won Travelodge’s next top fashion designer competition. It was a tough competition as the calibre of designs was extremely high and I can’t believe I won. It just shows you a simple bedsheet, with a little creativity can be designed into an award winning outfit.
I have decided to use my prize money on new materials for my next project. Having being inspired by Brummie designer Osman Yousefzada, I hope I will one day be Birmingham’s next top designer and have my outfits shown on an international runway.”
Heron International, the pan European property group, is pleased to announce that it has secured planning for a major hotel, residential, retail development and substantial new public open space in the City of London.Four Seasons Hotel and Residences London at the Heron Plaza is the second, and concluding, phase of the works initiated by the construction of the adjacent Heron Tower, which is nearing completion. Both towers come together to establish a new mixed use centre which will offer a significant addition to the City’s architecture, environment and facilities for business.
Heron Plaza is situated at the very heart of the City of London and is just 150m from Liverpool Street Station, one of the biggest local and international commuter hubs in London, and mainline station for Crossrail which will open in 2017.
The 43 storey hotel tower will comprise 190 hotel suites and 120 branded residences, restaurants, state of the art conference and banqueting facilities, top quality meeting and events space, a gym, spa and swimming pool, and will be unmatched in scale and quality by any existing hotels in the City. The residents will have the benefit of enjoying the many services and amenities of the Hotel. The plaza, at the nucleus of Heron Plaza, will create a new public space animated by luxury shops and cafes at its edges whilst retaining the most characteristic buildings on Bishopsgate and Devonshire Row, which will be renovated to form an integral part of the new development.
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has signed a joint venture partnership with Duet India Hotels Group (DIHL), the hotel investment arm of global asset manager Duet Group, to develop 19 new Holiday Inn Express hotels across India.
IHG will invest through a 24% equity stake, making a multi-year investment of US$30 million into the partnership. This investment will go into a fund to support the building of the 19 hotels over the next five years. These 19 Holiday Inn Express hotels will add approximately 3,300 rooms to IHG’s current India development pipeline of over 10,000 rooms (46 hotels) and are expected to be operational by 2016. Richard Solomons, IHG’s Chief Financial Officer and Head of Commercial Development, said, “This deal is a great example of our strategy in action. By investing a small amount of our own capital we have established a strategic relationship with a fantastic partner who knows the market, securing a future fee stream and opening up a huge opportunity for us to develop the Holiday Inn Express brand across India. With strong economic growth and an expanding middle class in India, we forecast strong future demand for mid-market and select service hotels, cementing Holiday Inn Express’ position as one of the fastest growing brands in the hotel industry.”
Upcoming Holiday Inn Express hotels will be primarily located in India’s major metros and key secondary cities, which are well positioned to drive growth and continued investment opportunities including New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.
“This venture marks a significant milestone for IHG. With these 19 new signings, we continue to add momentum to our current India development pipeline. IHG is strongly positioned to build a significant India footprint with a growing presence in India’s key business and leisure hubs. Overall, we are on track to have a 150-hotel presence by 2020. The Holiday Inn Express brand will address the need for internationally branded and high-quality hotels for domestic travellers,” said Jan Smits, Chief Executive Officer of IHG Asia Australasia. “Across the region, over the course of 2010 we signed new Holiday Inn Express deals in key locations including India, Singapore and Thailand. The growing presence of Holiday Inn Express in this region strengthens the brand’s portfolio and introduces the brand to new guests.”
Holiday Inn Express is one of the fastest growing hotel brands in the industry, opening on average two hotels a week globally. There are now 2,075 Holiday Inn Express hotels open and 494 hotels under development around the world. In India, over 75 percent of IHG’s India pipeline is with the Holiday Inn family of brands.
Henry Gabay, Co-founder and Chairman, Duet Group, said, “We are extremely excited to partner with IHG and bring the fast-growing Holiday Inn Express brand to India. Mid-market hotels are the core focus of our hotel business in India and this deal will support the expansion of our growing hospitality development portfolio to its targeted 5,000-6000 rooms from 1,250 rooms today. IHG’s 48-year track record in and continued commitment to India as well as Holiday Inn Express’ strong brand presence and proven product globally make it an ideal partner for a fully integrated hotel development company like DIHL.”
“The mid-market hotel space in India offers a compelling investment proposition given favourable demand-supply dynamics and an attractive build cost to operating returns equation. The strategic partnership with IHG provides DIHL with a strong platform to tap the full potential of this opportunity,” said Anuj Gupta, Managing Partner and CEO India, Duet Group.
Mr Smith World Photography, London based fine art photographers feature a captivating collection of images developed over many years of world travel. This portfolio is themed “GLORIOUS COLOURS”, from the NATURAL WORLD COLLECTION.Prints are available from the online gallery or as bespoke artwork from Mr Smith’s extensive catalogue. These prints can be produced to extremely large sizes and are just a sample from an outstanding portfolio of images. Click on any of the images below for more information.
Following its launch towards the end of last year, Idolise Interiors in Norwich has already been chosen to excite and stimulate the guests of some of the most prestigious hotels in the world.Creative Director Karen Comber had been designing for 16 years before the launch of Idolise Interiors. Offering exclusive interior solutions to the hospitality market, Karen has an impressive portfolio of international experience which she brings to Idolise Interiors, giving it a desirable edge over even its largest of competitors.
“It will be extremely rewarding to see the creations of Idolise Interiors enjoyed all over the world”
“I set up Idolise Interiors to offer the top of the range interior solutions that you would expect from a larger firm but with the personal service that comes with a small company,” explained Karen. “The response to our portfolio of work so far has been incredible and our friendly approach has enabled us to develop great relationships with our clients, which is important so they feel they can be honest and express their opinions but at the same time are open-minded to our experienced input.”
Idolise Interiors, which delivers fresh, urban design solutions to hoteliers, restaurateurs, developers and project managers, is now set for a number of world-wide projects, many of which will involve working in collaboration with Interior Amasia in China as well as on the development of one of the world’s leading international sports brands, which is now branching out into hotels.
Idolise Interiors has also been commissioned to work alongside leading children’s service experts, who have built their reputation on creating activities and exciting environments for children in 5-star touristic venues. They are currently working on a range of stimulating interior solutions that are bespoke to each hotel but still achieve brand recognition.
“It’s a pleasure to be working alongside such well-established global brands,” said Karen, ‘We have so many exciting projects in the pipeline and it will be extremely rewarding to see the creations of Idolise Interiors enjoyed all over the world.”
Leading UK shower manufacturer, Roman, have appointed Mike Spink as Group Sales Director to oversee all Roman Limited, Haven, Roman Designs and Roman at Home sales. Mike will join current Sales Director, Marc Teasdale who currently heads up Roman’s Sales Division. Mike Spink has worked at Roman for over 10 years and joins the Sales Division from his previous role as Logistics Director, which also saw him being responsible for managing the company’s housebuilding business and all of customer relations activity. With his 10 year career history in the company, he brings a wealth of company, product and industry experience to the role.
Mike commented: “I’m very excited to join the sales team – it will be great to take on a new challenge and work within a different area of the business. I have worked closely with Roman’s sales team throughout my time with the company, so already have a good understanding of this area of the business. It will be interesting to develop this further and work on new projects with the team.”
In 1978, I was teaching in Art College in Lancashire, and brought a group of art students to London on the traditional provincial art college weeklong jaunt to look at galleries. I gave it twist by timing the visit for the then top interior’s show, IDI. We also visited a leading interior practice, so we were not just looking at great art but at great design too (and they got to stand in Downing Street and chat to Jim Callaghan, then the Prime Minister, who they roundly booed but also shook hands with when he came unescorted across the road to talk to us all).
Among the designs they enthused about was a modern range of furniture from a company called Morgan Furniture, then leading the way with adventurous modern design. As a designer I specified much from the Morgan’s ranges, but in the late 1980’s they, along with many other companies in our industry, struggled to cope with a Lamont created financial recession. Interest rates rose to unsustainable levels (5% above base meant 19% at one time!) and much of the UK manufacturing economy disintegrated under the pressures. Seizing the opportunity Rodney McMahon and Katerina Zacharides bought Morgan Furniture and have over the last twenty years rebuilt it into a company whose products students would be delighted to see in a similar show today. Rodney is the financial and organisational genius whilst Katerina, initially an architect but then RCA trained furniture designer brought her design ability and passion to the business. Today this remarkable team continue to drive forward a company where some employees can still boast of forty years service to a company, which can boast of twenty years of growth, including during the recent recession.
Company focus remains on production of Katerina’s designs, but focus has sharpened as Rodney seeks to drive the company to almost complete self-sufficiency. Whilst they don’t grow their own trees, they are increasingly encouraging UK growers and sourcing timber within the UK. This is difficult says Rodney as the supply is not large, waving his arm at a stack of newly delivered UK grown beech as he shows me around the production floor. Production methods have changed since my last visit some six or seven years ago, and have become both more efficient and also more involving of a workforce both proud of and loyal to the company.
Rodney explained that they have for a number of years worked with local schools and provided apprenticeships to train and grow their own workforce. Gradually the factory has expanded and Katerina has an established design team that produce their own annual collections as Morgan Studio (award winning in fact with a 2010 Design Guild Mark for the City Collection). They were scurrying around in the background photographing new products as we talked. All photography is done in house in their own studio/showroom at the factory in Emsworth, in the Hampshire countryside.
The Rezidor Hotel Group has announced that its 7th property in the UAE, Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Downtown, is now open. Located on the upper floors of a mixed used building, the new first class- and full service hotel is walking distance from the Dubai Mall and just 10 kilometres from the international airport. Besides 220 contemporary rooms and 22 suites the hotel also features ample meeting facilities including 6 conference rooms, 2 board rooms, and a business centre. For leisure seekers the property has a swimming pool and a gym.
Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Downtown offers a range of excellent food and beverage outlets. Lemon Pepper restaurant specializes in international cuisine and local delicacies, serving up a mouth-watering, varied menu throughout the day. Infiniti Bar & Terrace provide a cosy spot for relaxing, while the outdoor terrace bar is great for catching some sun and enjoying stunning views of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.
Dubai Downtown is the new hub of Dubai hosting top attractions including the tallest tower in the world, the world’s largest mall, Dubai Mall, the waterfall promenade and Souk Al Bahar. The hotel also borders Business Bay, a mega project covering an area of 6 million square meters, which is designed to be the new centre of Dubai commerce. Key destinations close by include Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai International and Exhibition Centre, and Dubai International Financial Centre (the world’s fastest growing international financial centre), just a few minutes’ drive from the hotel’s site.
Rooms at the hotel start from 570 AED per night including airport pick-up, free wireless internet access and Grab and Run breakfast.
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) announces the opening of the Holiday Inn Express Salt Lake City South – Midvale, the newest and most modern hotel in the Salt Lake Valley area. Located in a suburb close to Interstate 15 and Interstate 215, the former Comfort Suites recently underwent a $400,000 renovation that included upgrades to the 66 guest rooms, all of which feature living areas separated from sleeping areas by a partial divider. Leisure travelers can enjoy nearby attractions, including the Hogle Zoo, Temple Square, the Lagoon Amusement Park, as well as Jungle Jim’s Playland, all just a short distance away. The hotel is also close to major sports venues, including Energy Solutions Arena, home of the Utah Jazz, Rice Eccles Stadium and Rio Tinto Stadium. It is also within walking distance to several restaurants and shopping outlets.
For business travelers, the new Holiday Inn Express is just a short distance from the Intermountain Medical Center, South Towne Exposition Center and the LDS Conference Center.
The 42,000 square-foot hotel is 100 percent smoke-free and features a variety of amenities, including an indoor heated pool, whirlpool, fitness center and 24-hour business center.
The Holiday Inn Express Salt Lake City South – Midvale is owned and managed by Pearl Hospitality Inc. The hotel is located at 7134 South 700 East, Midvale, Utah.
Worldhotels has announced the opening of its first office in Delhi, India – a move designed to support the significant growth of the Worldhotels brand in this market. Naresh Chandnani, hospitality industry veteran, has been appointed as the Regional Director of Hotel Development for India Sub-continent and Maldives to establish this dedicated division. Worldhotels’ growing presence in India has seen its portfolio increase from five to nine properties in recent months and it is expected to further strengthen its position with an anticipated addition of another dozen hotels to reach 20 hotels by 2012, in this fast expanding market.
New to the Worldhotels portfolio in India are:
The hill resort Aamby Valley City joined Worldhotels’ Indian collection in January 2011. This five-star ‘city’ is a man-made paradise of 324 designer villas and unique chalets all set in 10,000 acres of gardens and lakes. The unique property offers outstanding facilities, making it an attractive choice for leisure travellers, corporate meetings and incentive groups.
Matthan Bangalore is a five-star property with 145 elegant rooms and is located in India’s commercial, business and IT hub. Boasting several innovative restaurants, bars and a state-of-the-art business centre, the hotel has a traditional Indo-Asian meets modern Zen ambience offering a truly exclusive experience.
The Svenska Mumbai is located in the heart of Mumbai’s media district, close to the Bollywood Studios. With just 29 immaculately designed rooms, this five-star property has a contemporary and personal feel. Featuring leading-edge technology in each room this property is perfect for the business traveller. It’s sister property, the Svenska Banaglore is a luxury boutique hotel with just 56 rooms, and is the newest addition to the Worldhotels collection in India. Located in the technology hub of Electronic City, the hotel is a luxurious oasis, with 24-hour butler service and superb swimming and fitness facilities.
Robert Hornman, Managing Director of Worldhotels, commented: ‘‘India is one of our fastest growing emerging markets and so opening a dedicated office is a significant step for Worldhotels in expanding its presence on the sub-continent.”
“With our growing portfolio and the added impetus of our newly opened office in Delhi, Worldhotels is well-placed to capitalise on this dynamic market. Our priority is not only to build upon our existing network, but also to focus on destinations not yet covered, such as Pune, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Udaipur, Goa and Kerala.”
Worldhotels has also teamed up with hospitality consultants HVS in India to support both existing and future hotels in the portfolio.
As part of a £1.3m refurbishment project, designers APM Design were given a brief to illuminate the St Ann’s House Manchester lift lobby with distinctive contemporary fittings. ‘Bump’ pendants from Chelsom were specified featuring clear individual glass lenses bonded into laser cut metalwork which is finished in polished chrome. Each pendant is fitted with eight 42W halogen lamps to create the maximum level of sparkle through the clear polished glass domes. Removable chrome mesh top diffusers cover the body of the fitting to prevent the ingress of dust and insects and the strainer wires are adjustable during installation to accommodate individual drop requirements.
Engineers KJ Tait were responsible for the lighting installation which brings a touch of glamour to this prestigious office building, managed by Jones Lang Lasalle, which overlooks St Ann’s Square in Manchester city centre.
Following on from the success of the ONDA collection, RHA has just launched the new Wiener collection on their website.Another stylish seating collection dedicated to the hospitality market. Made from beechwood, the 15 different models are available in contract quality fabric or leather of your choice & wood finish options are available for large quantity orders.
Visit the RHA Furniture website for more images & details on the full range. A PDF catalogue is available on request.
Choice Hotels International has announced the opening of the Comfort Inn Hyde Park, bringing the number of Choice-branded hotels in London to eighteen. Previously independently run as the Park Lodge Hotel, the re-branded Comfort Inn Hyde Park has 29 newly re-furbished guest bedrooms, all with modern en-suites and featuring flat screen LCD televisions, free WIFI, and tea and coffee making facilities. Guests also benefit from the free full English breakfast served everyday in the breakfast room. Located 200 metres from Queensway and Bayswater tube stations with easy access to both Central London and London Heathrow, the hotel is an excellent base for both business and leisure travellers.
Duncan Berry, UK CEO, Choice Hotels Europe commented: “We are delighted to open this new London Hotel which will serve both leisure and business travellers looking for a value-added competitively priced hotel. With the forthcoming 2012 Olympics we believe all our 18 London-based Choice-branded hotels are well-positioned to benefit from the inbound tourism expected next year.”
Sayeed Esmail, Director of Operations for SME Group Plc who operates the Comfort Inn Hyde Park hotel under a franchise agreement, commented: “We wanted to work with a strong global franchise brand and Choice Hotels Europe fitted the bill perfectly.”
Choice Hotels Europe’s portfolio of franchised hotels offers business and leisure travellers a full spectrum from premium economy to luxury hotels. Choice Hotels Europe franchises nearly 500 hotels across Europe alone. Brands operated by Choice in Europe include Clarion which could be described as four-star, Quality, which sits in the three-star bracket and provides a mid-scale full service offering and Comfort, Choice’s largest brand worldwide and known for value and reliability.
Hotelier brings Global Cookie CARE Campaign to London as part of worldwide mission to share chocolate chip delights in major cities around the world.
DoubleTree by Hilton today shared 2,500 of its legendary chocolate chip cookies in just 25 minutes with lucky Londoners on their lunch break, to mark the 25th anniversary of the upscale, global hotel brand’s welcoming sweet treat. This special London event is part of a Global Cookie CARE Campaign launched this week to share thousands of the brand’s beloved chocolate chip cookies with the public at special events in major cities around the world this year. Rob Palleschi, global head, DoubleTree by Hilton, said: “The DoubleTree by Hilton tradition of a warm, chocolate chip cookie welcome at check-in has set a unique hospitality standard since 1986 and is symbolic of our longstanding CARE service culture, which inspires us to create a rewarding guest experience for our guests, our communities and each other. We also understand that in today’s dehumanising travel environment small acts of kindness, like providing our warm chocolate chip cookie welcome, can have a positive impact on people all over the world,”
The London event took place on Oxford and Regent Streets, around the four entrances to Oxford Circus underground station, at midday on 5 May 2011. The DoubleTree by Hilton Global Cookie CARE Committee, dressed in chef’s hats, handed out 2,500 fresh-baked cookies in 25 minutes to delighted passersby.
“We’re thrilled to be in London this week to share our delicious cookies with the lunchtime crowd,” added Palleschi, “particularly as our presence in the UK is growing with eight DoubleTree by Hilton hotels now open across England and Scotland, including two in the capital itself.”
Following are a few “tid-bites” about the hospitality icon that is the DoubleTree by Hilton chocolate chip cookie:
• DoubleTree by Hilton gives out approximately 60,000 chocolate chip cookies each day. That’s more than 21,000,000 warm welcomes annually!
• DoubleTree by Hilton began giving out chocolate chip cookies in the 1980s, when many hotels across the country used them as treats for VIPs.
• In 1986, the same secret recipe for today’s chocolate chip cookie welcome at all DoubleTree by Hilton hotels around the world was created
• Nashville-based Christie Cookie Company currently holds the brand’s secret recipe, which ensures that the same, delicious cookie is delivered consistently at every Doubletree by Hilton hotel and resort.
• Every DoubleTree by Hilton chocolate chip cookie is baked fresh daily at each hotel.
• Each cookie weighs more than 2 ounces and has an average of 20 chocolate chips.
• The Christie Cookie Company uses more than 750,000 pounds of chocolate chips each year for DoubleTree by Hilton’s cookies
• In June 2002, DoubleTree by Hilton presented its 100,000,000th cookie!
• To date, more than 230,000,000cookies have been served to delighted guests and customers
• More than 1,000,000 chocolate chip cookieshave been donated by DoubleTree by Hilton hotels to celebrate and thank deserving members of the community from doctors and nurses to police and fire-fighters as well as non-profit groups such as food banks and homeless shelters.
• From the United Kingdom to Canada and Tanzania to China, the signature chocolate chip cookie welcome is presented to travellers at more than 250 DoubleTree by Hilton locations around the world.
Refreshed? Mint is the new brand name for City Inns as they continue to grow the group, this being one of two large hotels they will add during 2011. The second, opening in May 2011 is in Amsterdam. Pepped up? This hotel is the latest in a clutch pepping up Pepys Street hard by the Tower of London. Here in a new ‘hotel quarter ‘ Mint joins a Novotel, Grange and Apex whilst a further five star will soon start construction in the strange building across the road.
The City of London is changing quickly as legions of clerks in bowlers with ink stained fingers vanish, another part of its past, replaced by computers nestling in buildings on sites that were once warehouses full of sugar, coffee, spices and other goods now delivered further downriver in containers at Tilbury.
Now the City is finance predominantly, needing less space than warehousing and gradually it is again becoming a desirable place to live as well as one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, boasting around 25 million visitors a year. Many of these visitors are oblivious to the history, don’t know who Samuel Pepys was, and are only aware of the charms of Tower Bridge when they see it from the roof top bar that is such an attractive feature of this new building. The target audience for this hotel is the local banking industry, which, given London’s status currently as an international banking centre, is a very large audience. As with many hotels that cater for a business market, most of the rooms are shower only. In my view this unfortunate approach leaves hotels struggling to satisfy the family market at the weekends. Families may, with small children will certainly, prefer an hotel that offers a bath with the room, not just the shower.
As a generality, I find architectural interiors lacking in finesse but here the impact of the architecture is managed brilliantly. There are flaws, which I will come to later, but the initial impact of the design of the reception lobby is powerful with a strong visual aesthetic that I found myself enjoying more and more over the two days of my stay. This building delights with the geometry of the interiors and surprises with the views of the same geometry externally.
The first shock is on entry when the geodesic styled ceiling gives a view up the internal lightwell, which has what is claimed as the largest ‘living’ wall in Europe. Most of the space is double height, and around the edge runs a mezzanine that forms the breakout area for the meeting and conference spaces on two side, whilst another side forms a kind of cloister of small more intimate spaces for those little family or business meetings. The hotel enhances the usefulness of this space with free high-speed internet, which is continued throughout the hotel.
The space is architectural, sculptural, a sensation emphasised by the lighting by night. The sense of this as a sculptural space is enhanced by the use of ‘architectural’ furniture – you know the stuff, metal framed, slabs of foam, ergonomically appalling, designed to require a sitter to recline as if in a Roman toga and all looking as if the designer was given only a straight edge and one set square. The architectural purity of this space was spoiled after opening by the addition of some visual variety in the form of bookcases along one wall that add a decorative element through the book spines, to enliven the otherwise too formal space.
The staircase carves its way up one side providing a dramatic white diagonal whilst the reception desk provides a strong horizontal across another side. The result is some entertaining abstract shapes when viewed from various places, with an almost artistic purity. The height and use of carpet renders it a relatively quiet space and tucked under the staircase is a bar, one of three in the hotel. One of the attributes that sets this hotel apart from many others is the staff. Helpful, friendly, well trained they reflect well on the operator, from the greeter at the entrance to the waiting staff. When a jogger twisted her ankle, they were quick with ice and a compress, bringing coffee etc. whilst she was attended to.
The reception desk is long with more than half a dozen workstations along it. Unusually for an hotel everywhere is equipped with those fruit computers, and the screens can be turned to share their contents with the guest. The same brand is used as the entertainment centres in the bedrooms, giving access to television, movies and the web, all included in the room cost.
It is in access to the bedrooms that the architecture works least well. The corridors are long and a little bleak, unrelieved by any images and little colour whilst detailing is simple, minimalist. Nothing decorative lifts the environment. Where the austerity of touch works in the more complex areas of the lobbies etc., here it is just very plain. Unfortunately, this can make it a little disorienting for guests as there is little to distinguish one floor from another.
Access to the guests floors via the lift lobby is secure passing both reception desk and being overseen by the reception for the main restaurant. Unlike most hotels here there is generous lift provision and one lift accesses the Sky Lounge, the rooftop bar that is a feature of this hotel. Lift lobbies have views at every level but once out of the lift lobby there are no clues to help a guest recognise they are on their floor.
The bedrooms themselves are well designed with plain fabrics and carpets. The lack of decoration and the simplicity is almost basic but the service levels and provision of the facilities in the room lifts the hotel above this. All the rooms have good work desks with mirrors above with workstations and keyboards for those who do not want to work on their own laptops. In the suites there are large screens with good sound systems attached, in the bedrooms the large fruit computer screens stand for TV’s as well as working computers – sensible as it enables timeshift TV viewing using online services such as the BBC’s i-Player. Ample sockets allow for those who need to charge laptops/cameras/phones/music players.
Shower rooms are efficient and well laid out. In the DDA rooms the styling is good in chrome and white, perfectly acceptable to the non-DDA guest so no need for these rooms to be last let or considered below the standard elsewhere in the hotel.
All rooms are air-conditioned but windows open allowing fresh air into the rooms. In a surprisingly quiet location for central London this aids the green credentials, allowing rooms to work without the air-conditioning being turned on. The hotel planning is intelligent, with a bar in the lobby, a bar on the roof with terraces alongside private dining areas and another bar on the ground floor. The bar in the lobby sits under the stairs and is essential to service the art performances the hotel is intent on making a regular feature of ‘lobby life’.
The rooftop terrace was popular from opening. With views across the London skyline and down onto the Tower of London its popularity has grown to the extent that the Hotel is now considering whether to charge membership. Already it is difficult to book for afternoon tea and evenings see a crush. It has a large roof terrace and a balcony over the street that is closed off until a solution is found to protect pedestrians below from objects falling from the bar – a great shame as this is where the best views can be obtained.
Alongside the reception is the Fenchurch bar. Windows onto Pepys Street and a pedestrian way leading from there to Fenchurch Street station it makes good use of its position of high visibility. Inside it has private seating areas created down the window side allowing for small meetings or gatherings of friends to take place in semi-private.
In an area teeming with offices the restaurant already does a brisk lunchtime trade to the office workers and also maximises its position to have a street facing side, again on a main pedestrian route to Fenchurch Street, one of London’s smaller commuter termini. All the bars are stylish and the rooftop bar (predictably the ‘SkyLounge’)also offers a function room for private dining with views to the Gherkin, Stock Exchange and the London skyline.
This is a large hotel, with over 500 bedrooms. It doesn’t appear large and the public areas integration of parts such as the conference and meeting rooms lends itself to busy use of public areas but there is still separation. The internal planning is sized well to cope with the numbers. Not only does the internal planning work well but the building is oriented so as to maximise the potential of the site, from the integration of the passenger car drop off at the front and the car park entrance to the visible presence on the street of bars and restaurant. The architecture is strong and creates a stylish hotel . Whilst interiors are sculptural, architectural, and to this designers eyes lack a little inspiration they are still fascinating and work well visually and operationally – something more style oriented hotels opened recently noticeably fail to achieve.
With a superb location this is an hotel that will deservedly become very successful, and make a Mint…
From first appearance the tower block building seems bleak, almost uninviting. The dark presence contrasts to that of the sister branch in Eastbourne, which is accessorised by flags and a novelty ‘The Big Sleep’ deck chair. However, I was taught never to judge a book by its cover. I like to think I am more open minded than that. With this desired attitude in mind, I push all first impressions to the back of my head and step inside.On entering there is a large open plan area, functioning as the reception/ waiting room. This area is also home to the bar and snack zone. Most of the walls are replaced by windows, creating a light and calming atmosphere. One of the most eye catching features is the cerise pink bar. Small and unit like, it stands on the opposite side of the reception desk. The change in carpet colour from blue to pink emphasises its presence, along with the pink and white walls in which it stands in front of. Its decorative flower art conveys in my mind Hawaiian beaches and hot summer nights, giving it an exotic vibe. The snack area around the corner is of the same interior, allowing guests to sit with a cocktail at breakfast time, if desired, imagining (especially on the rare days where sun beams reflect upon the windows opposite) that they are on holiday in a faraway destination. This was a strong visual idea.
As with the two other ‘The Big Sleep’ hotels, the Cardiff branch offers a number of different bedrooms to suit a variety of budgets and demands. The first room that suffered my analytical eye was The Penthouse Suite, the most expensive of the selection, yet, in my opinion still outstanding value. The natural light in the room is a result of the enormous windows that look out to the views of the capital. Duck egg shades create a calming yet sophisticated feel and the wallpaper is stylishly subtle.
Each type of bedroom has a different theme and colour, which is a simple yet effective design idea, enhancing the individual features they have to offer. The twin bedroom is one of the most basic rooms available, yet has quirky touches that made me fall for its simplicity. Merely coincidental or not, I liked how the features of the room seemed to play on the ‘twin’ aspect. The single beds stand parallel to each other with matching headrests and coffee tables. The minimal look is captured through the lack of furniture, while the coffee tables are simply units attached to the wall, allowing for maximum space. Another quirky feature of the room is a retro telephone that sits at the desk.
Hastings based electrical accessories manufacturer, Focus SB, has launched a new brochure illustrating the near endless combination of AV plates and modules it can produce.Designers at Focus SB were noticing a rise in demand for custom built AV plates to fit the modules needed for DVD, TV and various music players so decided to detail its potential offering.
Roger Kemp, Managing Director adds: “With the number of multimedia players now available we have been seeing a marked increase in orders for multi module plates. At Focus SB we can offer a bespoke service – from initial drawings through to the final design, with silk screening and engraving too. There really is almost no end to the combination of plates including finishes we can manufacture.”
Due to its ability to design and manufacturer special wiring accessories, Focus SB is able to incorporate the modules and devices which are used to fully integrate multi-room sound and entertainment systems, lighting and heating controls or other types of control devices.
As one of the few UK companies to make its own metal and clear acrylic thermoplastic plates, Focus SB can manufacture any quantity without the need for long lead times.
Where required, these high specification plates can be engraved or silk screen printed with lettering to identify the function of each individual switch or control on a multi-gang plate. For example, on one plate in the lounge, switches can be allocated functions including ‘TV, PlayStation and Music’.
An incredibly popular solution since its introduction, the FlipTop benefits include minimal depth requirements, modular configurations, brushed stainless steel housings or one of the new finishes to match the environment.EVOline® FlipTop ensures discreet connections exactly where they’re needed without detracting from the atmosphere.
Latest innovations include; white and black alternatives, an adjustable closing action and easy to retro-fit flush installation.
To download a technical guide relating to the EVOline® FlipTop, please click here.
Mr Smith World Photography, London based fine art photographers feature a captivating collection of images developed over many years of world travel. This portfolio is themed “TREES AND FORESTS”, from the NATURAL WORLD COLLECTION.Prints are available from the online gallery or as bespoke artwork from Mr Smith’s extensive catalogue. These prints can be produced to extremely large sizes and are just a sample from an outstanding portfolio of images. Click on any of the images below for more information.
While the heaving masses pushed their way through the overheated halls of the Milan Fiera, a kaleidoscope of life and colour was to be found downtown in the Spring sunshine of the ancient courtyards and colonnades of Chiostri dell’Umanitaria.Once again Paola Lenti offered a uniquely uplifting exhibition of sumptuous seating, rugs and accessories for both outside and in. Bold new colours including lemon, peony, silver, aquamarine and ice white were woven together with existing tones in almost endless combinations to extraordinary effects.
Fibres as fine and strong as a spider’s web stretched over sofa frames of the new Teatime lounge seating collection. Designed by Francesco Rota, this delicate framed sofa and armchairs for interior and exterior environments characterises the sophisticated elegance of afternoon tea in the garden.
The translucent screens on the walls and ceilings of the amazing Cabanne structures offset the finely hammered ‘leather’ finish marble and limestone tops of the Heron and Sunset side tables.
2011 truly is the coming of age of this creative young company. The only question now is what can they possibly do in 2012?
Designing the Future – Why Intellectual Property (IP) Protection Matters?
WIP Day (26th April 2011), saw the launch of ACID’s (Anti Copying in Design) IP Tracker www.acidtrading.eu.com/acid-ip-tracker a simple, cost effective digital method of tracking delivery of IP led and confidential information. It is a natural electronic addition to the already successful ACID Design Data Bank which holds over 350,000 copies of unregistered designs. All too often, design ideas and new product designs are stolen at the vulnerable stage of sending them to third parties. The IP Tracker, reinforced by the powerful ACID brand, will be an additional tool of self help ensuring a further layer of IP awareness. Initially discussed in 2007, the process was only developed recently, after ACID Member and designer John Coleman’s feedback indicated that there was an increasing need for an electronic sending service which would underpin the user’s IP Rights without appearing threatening or unattractive to a potential client or collaborator.It is timely that World Intellectual Property Day’s 2011 theme recognized the importance of design’s significant impact on every aspect of our lives. Design is the catalyst for innovation and a key driver of competitive edge; it is everywhere, shaping tomorrow’s future. Launching WIPO Day 2011 Francis Gurry, Director General of WIPO said, “Industrial design helps companies to differentiate their products from those of competitors and enhance brand image of their products. This is why ensuring the proper protection of industrial designs is so important.”
ACID ambassador and designer Sebastian Conran, commenting on the ACID IP Tracker said, “An unintended consequence of digital technology is the dissemination & theft of identities, ideas and designs… Proving ownership of IP is the foundation of protecting it; and the ACID IP Tracker provides unequivocal evidence for files in digital transit – simply, efficiently and effectively.”
Using the ACID IP TRACKER will ensure that graphic designs, drawings, submissions to tender, responses to brief and indeed any other confidential intellectual property (IP) rights based information sent to a third party has the safeguard of evidence of confirmed delivery for the sender with a copy held by ACID. The service automatically acknowledges delivery of information and the recipient confirms their acceptance of confidentiality of content and the terms of agreement when accessing the file. The ACID IP Tracker will cost £3.50 per transmission for ACID members, £5.00 for non members.
Dids Macdonald, ACID’s CEO said, “Most micro enterprises and SME’s cannot afford to go all the way to Court over IP infringement, so the most important element of IP protection is a deterrent and preventative strategy, particularly when sending sensitive information to a third party. Importantly, providing receipted evidence of sending reverses the burden of proof and makes it easier to take legal action for those whose rights have been infringed.”
Champagne Perrier-Jouët are delighted to announce a collaboration with Leading Mayfair hotel, DUKES LONDON, on the opening of the brand new Perrier-Jouët Lounge on Monday 18th April 2011.
The Perrier-Jouët Lounge will provide DUKES LONDON with an additional relaxation lounge to complement both its ever successful Martini Bar and the newly introduced Cigar Garden, accommodating all guests with individual tastes. Located next to the dining room, the Lounge will also provide the perfect venue for a pre dinner glass of champagne.
The stylish interiors have been designed by Shaun Clarkson to evoke an air of British Tradition combined with a touch of Belle Epoque era Parisian Chic.
Debrah Dhugga, General Manager Commented ‘The DUKES LONDON Perrier-Jouët Lounge will be a fantastic edition to the hotel and will provide guests with an area where they can unwind and embrace ultimate indulgence. As DUKES Martini Bar continues to gain great praise run by Alessandro Palazzi and his team, we are confident we will see the same success with the Perrier-Jouët Lounge.’
DESIGN NOTES:
Carpet The Carpet is a sculpted pattern of green tones of scattered anemones, the Bell Époque signature flower.
Walls The Walls are papered in contrasting designs in tones of gold, champagne and Sage. A gold fish scale on sage green ground, compliments the more graphic gold stripe on a champagne ground.
Lighting The lighting is made up 2 main elements. The central statement is the1940’s original vintage glass champagne colour chandelier, with fluted gold candles. Then there are the vintage glass and wrought iron floor lamps, 4 of, that are topped with bespoke Champagne silk drum shades. These supply the romantic lighting for the furniture vignettes.
Sofas The bespoke sofas are a modern take on chesterfield sofa. Deep buttoned. With squarer arms, that give them a more modern classic feel. These are upholstered in a fresh green glazed linen.
Chairs There are 2 chair designs. An elegant spoon back chair, like a modern salon chair, in contrasting sage green and funky pink glazed linens, and 3 in Champagne leather. There are also 2 wing back chairs taking pride of place, upholstered in a green and cream geometric pattern.
Cushions Cushions in 2 contrasting textures, both in fushia, These set off the palet of greens perfectly
Colours The colour pallet os inspired by the classic Belle Époque bottle, with fresher green tones give the room a more modern mood. Golds, creams and champagne tones, create the background and the hot pick sets the whole lot on fire!
The Rezidor Hotel Group expands the network to 64 countries across Europe, Middle East and Africa and announces the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel, Freetown in Sierra Leone. Formerly known as “Mammy Yoko Hotel”, the property featuring 171 rooms will be re-branded in Q4 2011. Sierra Leone continues to emerge from the aftermath of the civil war, democracy has been re-established in the country, and the IMF has completed a poverty reduction and growth facility program which has improved economic growth and reduced inflation levels. Stability has also led to a revival of key economic activities, such as mining.
The original Mammy Yoko Hotel was an operating hotel for around 30 years. Business was interrupted in 1997 as a result of the civil conflict and the building was heavily damaged. The property is undergoing a complete overhaul and it will re-emerge in late 2011 as the premier hotel for aid agencies, diplomats and business travellers. Besides 171 rooms, the hotel will comprise a restaurant with outdoor terrace, several bars, and meeting rooms. An outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, duty free shopping and a gym will also be available.
The hotel’s name derivates from Mammy Yoko, the “Queen of Senehun” who brought the whole Kpaa Mende region (now comprising 14 separate chiefdoms) under her control through coalitions, warfare and her alliance with the British. She established a famous Sande bush in Senehun where she trained girls from throughout the area. Queen Victoria of England presented Mammy Yoko with a medal for her loyalty.
Morgan Furniture, the design-led British manufacturer of contract furniture, will launch a new modular seating system called Manhattan at Clerkenwell Design Week, 24-26th May 2011. Created by Morgan Design Director, Katerina Zachariades-McMahon, Manhattan combines quality craftsmanship with a minimal pure form to complement modern office interiors. Modular chairs and sofas with low or high backs feature timber or metal legs, optional armrests plus a high screen option that can be used to create private seating zones or break-out areas. Still undergoing the final stages of development, Clerkenwell has been chosen as the ideal launch platform for Manhattan as it is designed to appeal to contemporary office environments seeking style and versatility.
The award-winning Miami sofa from Morgan will also be on display at the show.
A striking version of contemporary vintage style, Miami features slim elegant profiles, generous seat widths and buttoned back detail. The collection offers three sizes: a two or three seater sofa and a single seat. In addition a bench seat and bar stool are available with feature metal swivel bases. The swivel base also makes an attractive and pleasurable option for the single seat. Miami comes to Clerkenwell with impressive credentials having been awarded the prestigious Design Guild Mark in 2010.
Edinburgh Airport Premier Inn was opened last month. Designed by Lawrence McPherson Associates, the 119 bed hotel is situated at Newbridge near Edinburgh Airport in a prime location on the newly developed Axis Business Park directly adjacent to the A90. The opening of the Airport Premier Inn follows close on the heels of the completion of the 60 bed Premier Inn and Brewers Fayre at Dumbarton.Edinburgh Airport Premier Inn is part of the ‘Solus’ range of Whitbread hotels whereby bespoke designs are developed for each individual site in key locations such as city centres and those adjacent to airports. It is a departure from the traditional aesthetic of the standard Premier Inn brand.
The building has a modern aesthetic and features an asymmetric bedroom window configuration, large full height windows to the restaurant and communal areas and an inverted ‘gull wing’ roof.
The introduction of natural light into the building was a particular aim of the designers. The restaurant features two large roof lights which allow light to penetrate deep to the bar area giving this a light and airy feel. Allowing natural daylight to penetrate deep into the building plan reduces the need to use artificial lighting during the day thus reducing the energy consumption.
The materials used in the construction continue the contemporary feel. The gull wing roof is finished with a Trocal single ply roof membrane, the high level frieze is finished in Kingspan microrib panels and the external leaf is finished in a facing brick and Sto acrylic render finish. The hotel is constructed with timber frame built off a precast concrete and steel plinth and finished with a masonry outer leaf.
The building sits directly under the flight path of Edinburgh airport and dealing with the resulting sound issues was a major challenge. To achieve the required sound insulation each window is a fixed double glazed sound reducing unit with the larger windows having secondary glazing to achieve the required sound reduction.
In order to achieve Whitbread’s commitment to carbon reduction, the Edinburgh Airport Premier Inn has individually controlled air conditioning units fitted in every room replacing the standard electrical panel heaters. The fresh air supply to each bedroom air conditioning unit is via a vertical passive vent system.
The Premier Inn, constructed by Ogilvie Construction, features the first ‘Thyme’ restaurant in Scotland.
Roman, the UK’s leading shower designer and manufacturer celebrated 25 years of manufacturing and supplying innovative showering solutions to the UK market in style. The celebrations included a visit from HRH The Earl of Wessex KG KCVO.The 25th anniversary celebrations took place at their County Durham based Headquarters on Thursday 14th April. His Royal Highness was formally welcomed to Roman by Chairman Gerald Osborne. In addition, local MPs, key trade press and local press joined in with the celebrations. Guests were given a showroom and factory tour, and also given an insight into Roman’s operational and design processes.
Roman has gone from strength to strength since it was initially founded in 1985 by Gerald Osborne. In 1985, Gerry launched his first range of multi coloured bath screens matching the bathroom colours of the time. Since then Roman have diversified into many other areas and in 2001 a £1.2million factory extension was formally opened by the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Tony Blair MP. To add flexibility to their research and development and to ensure control of their tray supply, Roman opened a Tray Plant in 2005 to manufacture solid surface level access trays. In July 2009, Roman launched Roman at Home, a collection of bathroom and home accessories which has been a great success and is continuing to grow as the Brand awareness increases.
Roman to this day still remains a family owned business and is now the largest UK shower manufacturing facility employing over 150 staff across two sites in County Durham and Daventry. Roman’s extensive range now encompasses high quality shower enclosures, contemporary wetroom panels, ingenious bath screens, low level shower trays, state-of-the-art water delivery systems and a range of accessories. Roman offers something for every sector, from an affordable price sensitive range, through to the more exclusively designed and luxurious bathrooms.
Roman’s Chairman, Gerald Osborne comments; “We are exceptionally proud to have a Member of the Royal Family come and share this 25 year milestone with us. We are delighted that Roman has continued to grow and transform into the leading shower manufacturer that it is today.”
Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort is pleased to announce the launch of the highly-anticipated Grand Deluxe rooms. Specifically designed for the resort’s most discerning travelers, the Grand Deluxe rooms will offer 66 square meters of contemporary luxury. Chic and stylish with a focus on the arts, an inspiring atmosphere, and innovative cuisine, Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort promises an enchanting stay for any traveler or adventurer with the desire to discover travel with a new perspective.
Le Méridien Chiang Rai offers 159 spacious and contemporary guestrooms and suites. Located in the resort’s newest wing, the thirty Grand Deluxe rooms are the focal point of Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort and combine the best of beauty, comfort, and convenience. Each Grand Deluxe room offers stunning views of the Mae Kok River and the resort’s lake set against a mountainous background from an expansive private balcony, which also provides direct access to the three-tier infinity swimming pool. Inspired by the Lanna culture of Thailand, the Grand Deluxe rooms effortlessly blend Lanna architecture and culture with timeless elegance and design.
Guestrooms were designed with the sophisticated traveler in mind and define contemporary luxury. Each Grand Deluxe rooms offers sumptuous sitting and work areas, the Le Méridien Signature Bed, state-of-the-art technology, private dressing room and walk-in closet, modern bathroom with separate bath and rainforest shower, in addition to an array of VIP amenities. The Grand Deluxe room’s contemporary bathroom is complemented with Le Méridien Chiang Rai’s luxurious “Cing Mondes” amenities, exclusively prepared to enhance each guest’s experience.
Poised along the Mae Kok River and surrounded by two majestic 100-year-old rain trees, the resort is located in Thailand’s premier hillside resort community in the country’s northernmost province, a region known for its breathtaking mountain scenery, Buddhist shrines and ancient ruins. Located mere minutes from Chiang Rai International Airport and a one-hour drive from the Golden Triangle – where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand converge – Chiang Rai offers guests an accessible yet stimulating cultural retreat away from the tourist destination of Chiang Mai.
Baulmann Leuchten has developed a new generation of illuminated bathroom mirrors. This product is equipped with a warm-white LED-strip for the general illumination. The LED is integrated behind a satinized diffusor to provide a glare free lighting.The real innovation of this product is the fully integrated cosmetic mirror. The magnifying mirror is not mounted onto the mirror-glass but integrated from behind. The surface of the mirror remains completely flat which provides a “pure” appearance and makes it easy to clean. The integrated magnifying mirror is illuminated and highlighted by an additional circular LED-strip.
As a standard in the Baulmann bathroom range, the product has a protection rating of IP44, which makes it suitable for the use in bathrooms and wet locations. As usual, customized sizes of the mirror can be produced for projects.
The world isn’t short of beautiful resorts, but the upcoming Mövenpick Dharamshala Resort & Spa in Northern India is poised to take the design and delivery of upscale remote properties to a whole new sustainable level.The 124-room resort, due to open in 2013, will be located 2,400m above sea level in the upper reaches of the Kangra Valley and surrounded by a dense forest and the Himalayan Mountains.
Its key attraction will be a 2,500sqm Ayurvedic spa which will feature extensive preventive health programmes, detox sessions, international treatments alongside Ayurvedic, meditation and yoga therapies.
As befits the resort’s stunning Himalayan setting, it is in the sustainable arena where Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is really pulling out all the environmental stops.
The Swiss hotel company along with the owning group, Kamakhya Hospitality Services Pvt. Ltd. are committed to sourcing mainly locally available materials in the construction process, installing energy-efficient systems to harness wind, solar and hydro power, and serving organic vegetables and fruits, and local products from rural farms nearby.
Links with the local community won’t end there, with guest programmes set to provide the opportunity to interact with villagers and learn about their mountainous lifestyles – and perhaps pick up a tip or two on the secrets to their longevity.
In addition, the resort’s lobby will double up as the living room and serve as a centre point for socialising and gathering around open fire places. The hotel will face the Dhauladhar mountain range and rooms will vary from 45sqm (standard) to 70sqm (suites).
Guests will be able to enjoy a wide range of food and beverage options, and undertake activities which are as varied as the terrain, with everything from mountain biking and trekking to adventure sports, all at their doorstep.
To access the resort, guests will take a one-hour flight from New Delhi to Gaggal, followed by a 40-minute drive through spectacular mountain ranges, trails and gorges.
The Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the fastest growing hotel companies worldwide, announces the Radisson Blu Hotel, Istanbul Şişli. The new built 305-room property is scheduled to welcome the first guests in Q3 2012.“This business & leisure hotel is our 4th property in operation and under development in greater Istanbul and brings our total number of rooms to almost 1,000. This clearly underlines how strategically important the Istanbul market is for our company”, said Kurt Ritter, President & CEO of Rezidor. Rezidor already operates the Radisson Blu Bosphorus Hotel in the city centre and the Radisson Blu Conference & Airport Hotel near Istanbul, and has the Radisson Blu Hotel, Istanbul Asia under development.
Dilek Holding, the owner of the new hotel, is planning to actively expand its business within the 5-star hotel sector – the company also plans to develop a 130-room hotel in Istanbul’s Pera district.
A future landmark, the Radisson Blu Istanbul Şişli will offer 305 spacious and contemporary guest rooms featuring signature services such as free high speed internet access. Food and beverage facilities will be extensive and include 2 restaurants, a ballroom, and 20 meeting rooms with a total meeting space of around 2,000 square meters. For recreation, an outdoor swimming pool and a luxurious spa are planned.
Focus SB’s bespoke design and manufacturing service has produced a 50 gang plate for a private dwelling in Scotland.From initial design to delivery took the Hastings based company six weeks including amends to the silk screening and engraving.
The plate includes a custom made back box, as Roger Kemp, Managing Director explains: “This was a bit of a challenge, even for us. We have in the past manufactured a 24 gang box, but we are extremely proud of the finished product, as is the client.”
Due to its ability to design and manufacturer special wiring accessories, Focus SB is able to incorporate the modules and devices which are used to fully integrate multi-room sound and entertainment systems, lighting and heating controls or other types of control devices.
As one of the few UK companies to make its own metal and clear acrylic thermoplastic plates, Focus SB can manufacture any quantity without the need for long lead times.
The Redstone Hotel, located in the famous seaside resort of Blackpool in Lancashire, has been recently refurbished to offer 8 rooms of luxury accommodation, effortlessly combining traditional features with contemporary twists. As well as offering a luxurious surrounding The Redstone has TLJ Hotel Lock Systems installed throughout the hotel, including the Main Hotel Entrance, for guest reassurance.
“We chose TLJ and their Hotel Lock Solution because after speaking to them we felt they were very professional and understood exactly what we were looking for. We wanted a modern system that our guests would find easy to use and to see an end to the days of bulky keys being lost!
We were very satisfied with the installation and have not had any problems since. They were fitted six months ago and the system is very easy to use.
We would recommend this company to anyone thinking of installing this system.”
The Redstone Hotel is an adult only accommodation, perfect for the discerning guest looking for a relaxing base from which to explore Blackpool.
The hotel offers 8 individually designed bedrooms finished to an extremely high standard boasting two extravagant master suites and six king doubles. All rooms are equipped with Freeview flat screen TV, complementary Wi-Fi, sumptuous ‘Pecksniff’ toiletries and ensuite wet room facilities.
The Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers is proud to announce a $150 million renovation project. Over the next few months, the prominent landmark will receive a floor-to-ceiling transformation, expanding the size of all 1,780 guest rooms, grand suites and the Sheraton Club Lounge, to provide travelers a relaxing oasis in the heart of New York’s mid-town Manhattan.At the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers 1080 guest rooms, including 32 grand suites and the Club Lounge will be completely redesigned throughout the first stage of the renovation, scheduled to be completed May 2011. The remaining guest rooms will begin renovation December 2011 and be completed in April 2012.
Bigger is Better – Larger Guestrooms to Feature New Modern Design
As a result of the multi-million make-over all rooms will be larger in size and every aspect of the guestroom experience will be new and feature rich color palates, graphic patterns and clean lines inspired by the Sheraton brand’s new design scheme. The result is a sophisticated, classic look with a modern touch and elegant feel. To maximize space, without eliminating comfort each room will feature:
• Sleek, low credenzas and wall-mounted flat panel televisions, allowing guests to easily store luggage on top of, and below the furniture • All-white Sheraton Sweet Sleeper(R) bed, designed to meet AAA’s Five Diamond Award(R) criteria • New convenience power outlets at the base of all decorative lighting • Mini-bar units built into the wall offering coffee service • Completely renovated bathrooms, some with walk-in showers • Chaise lounge chairs, which convert into a bed • Energy efficient, state of the art four-pipe HVAC system which allows guests to control the thermostat their room, providing personalized comfort regardless of the season • Technologically-enabled guestrooms featuring a wired and wireless internet platform and radio frequency identification locks
A Lounge with Amazing Views for Work and Play
The hotel’s renowned 45th floor Sheraton Club Lounge will be completely transformed, offering amazing New York City views and a comfortable work space for the “plugged-in” traveler. Embracing the modern design of the new guestrooms, the lounge will become a sophisticated, inviting and warm space for families and business travelers alike. The renovated lounge will include:
• Expanded seating capacity, including counter height seating • 24 hour guest access, with coffee and Espresso station • Complimentary breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres • 5 televisions, including 2 personal TV’s at bar tables adjacent to the bar • Integrated business center with 3 computers and a printer
Top Design Team Renovates New York City Landmark
Wilson Associates is the firm behind the renovation. Under the guidance of Managing Director, Margaret McMahon, the Sheraton New York design team reinforced the firm’s simple design philosophy: design for the client and for the market. Designers John Paul Pederson and Margarita Velez-Mantovani took the design one step further with the custom design of architectural details, lighting, carpeting and fabrics throughout the space. The end result is a chic, timeless design positioned to meet the expectation of the Sheraton’s sophisticated clientele.
The 50-story, full service hotel is owned by Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. and currently offers 1,781 guest rooms including: Traditional Guest Rooms, Superior Rooms, Executive Suites, Sheraton Club Suites, Penthouse Suite and Presidential Suite. The Sheraton New York also features the signature offerings of the brand’s recent $6 billion revitalization effort including the Link@SheratonSM experienced with Microsoft(R)”, Link Cafe and Club Lounge with dramatic views of midtown Manhattan. Conveniently located in mid-town Manhattan the hotel is steps away from Broadway theatres, Carnegie Hall, world-class shopping on Fifth Avenue and a collection of top-notch restaurants. Easily accessible by all NYC airports, Penn Station and Grand Central Station, the hotel is the perfect choice for business and leisure travelers.
Ideal Standard International, a leading provider of innovative and design-driven bathroom solutions, today announced the nomination of Dr. Kerris Bright as Chief Marketing Officer and a member of its global leadership team.In her role, Bright will lead Ideal Standard International’s Strategic Marketing organization focused on branding and strategy, innovation, insights and research, segment marketing, marketing services and planning as well as capability development.
As a key member of the global leadership team, Bright will also actively contribute to the overall management of the group, working closely with the commercial and product divisions to increase market share and profitability. As a leading innovator in bathroom solutions for the interiors and professional industry sectors, the company is moving into an ambitious new period of expansion and growth across EMEA.
Bright will drive the building of the company’s international brands Ideal Standard and Jado as the company drives forward its strategy to become the preferred bathroom solutions provider for consumers and trade partners.
Bright said, “There is clearly an opportunity for Ideal Standard International to become a market leading performer in what is a highly competitive and tough market sector. The company has ambitious growth plans in which the marketing function will play a critical and central role.
Kerris is a Fellow and Board member of the Marketing Society and has a degree in Biology and a PhD in Molecular Neuroscience.
AMS are pleased to announce the contract award of the Drayton Manor Theme Park Hotel. Currently under construction in Tamworth, the 150 bedroom hotel will boast Thomas and Friends themed bedrooms, Standard and Executive rooms for leisure and business users alike and Presidential Suites.The furniture for the bedrooms will be offered in an array of finishes selected by the lead design consultant, JPA. Real wood veneer laminates in Cherry and Mahogany with Zebrano and Tiger wood offered to the suites. A large circular bed will form the centre piece to these rooms. The hotel will be a high four star standard and is seeking to attract the business and conference markets as well as leisure users. The theme park currently has over a million visitors a year.
The Hotel will open this summer in time for the thrill seekers who go to experience the rides at one of the UK’s largest theme parks. The theme park is owned by the Bryan family and was started in 1949 by the founders, George Bryan OBE and his wife Vera Bryan. This still remains a family owned and run business by Colin Bryan and his two sons. The planning consent for the hotel has taken 10 years to pass through and today you can see, in conjunction with the theme park, the hotel has a magical theme to the architect.
The hotel will bring much needed employment to the area with some members of staff being asked to dress up as the characters from the Thomas and Friends, as you will expect to be greeted at the entrance by the ‘Fat Controller’.
Mr Smith World Photography, London based fine art photographers feature a captivating collection of images developed over many years of world travel. This portfolio is themed “SPECTACULAR DESERTS”, from the NATURAL WORLD COLLECTION.Prints are available from the online gallery or as bespoke artwork from Mr Smith’s extensive catalogue. These prints can be produced to extremely large sizes and are just a sample from an outstanding portfolio of images. Click on any of the images below for more information.
The Oasis Hotel, a boutique style, family hotel in Manila, recently reopened is newly refurbished facilities and features 4 new dining and entertainment outlets for its guests.The Baramundi Grill is a bistro and al fresco dining in the Oasis Hotel that features modern Global Cuisine featuring Australian produce.
The New World wine bar is a restaurant, wine and cocktail bar featuring premium wines from around the world.
The Boomerang Sports bar is a sports and recreation lounge with an Aussie style pub ambiance that features live international sports events on big TV screens live.
The Flat White Café is an espresso coffee lounge where guests can come in, relax and have gourmet coffee for drink-in or to-go. The new café is the Paco home of Vittoria Coffee. Experience a warm and welcoming atmosphere with a cup of coffee at the Flat White Café located near the reception area.
About The Oasis Hotel The Oasis Hotel is a boutique style family hotel in Manila, Philippines within the city’s main hotel, business and tourists’ area. Formerly known as the Park Hotel, The Oasis Hotel has been recently refurbished to enhance the hotel’s reputation and services to its guests. Taking pride in its 20 years of personalized touch and individualized care and services for guests, the Oasis Hotel is the new standard in business economy hotels in Manila Philippines. www.oasispark.com
An HVS survey documenting U.S. hotel transactions in calendar year 2010 shows that major sales eclipsed levels in 2009, especially in the latter half of the year. Mid-market hotel transactions rose modestly. “Nearly all of the data drawn from last year’s hotel transaction activity reflects a much stronger market than we saw in 2009,” said Amy Beam, HVS Director of Hotel Transactions. “Of special note is the number of transactions above the $249,000 price-per-room mark, which was more than five times that of 2009. This is a clear indication that buyers and sellers are coming to terms, and lenders are more confident in the long-term performance of high-price hotel assets. Four portfolio sales and one merger rounded out the year, another sign that the market for U.S. hotels is gaining strength after the recession.”
The HVS 2010 Survey of Major and Mid-Market U.S. Hotel Transactions details hotel sales of $10 million and above (major) and between $3.0 and $9.99 million (mid-market). The survey tracks hotel sales from 2008, 2009, and 2010 in detail, revealing market dynamics during and in the wake of the recent recession.
The HVS 2010 Survey of Major and Mid-Market U.S. Hotel Transactions includes an overview of hotel sales price trends since 1990, as well as details on the top sales, price-per-room trends, and the major buyers, sellers, portfolio sales, and mergers in 2010. The survey also features a listing of all major and mid-market hotel transactions confirmed by HVS for 2010, including asset name, location, number of rooms, month of sale, total sales price, price per key, and buyer and seller.
The survey is available for purchase in the HVS Bookstore for $650. For more information about the survey, please contact Amy Beam at ab***@hv*.com
Work will start this month on a £45m development on the edge of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to bring a new hotel-led, mixed use development to the Castlehill area of the city.
Multi-sector property developers, Chris Stewart Group, have announced that they have completed the purchase of a 140,000 sq ft site and have agreed terms with Motel One, one of Europe’s fastest growing hotel groups, to anchor the development by opening their first UK hotel in the Scottish capital next summer. Motel One, a luxury budget operator which has 32 hotels in Germany and two in development in Austria, have agreed terms for a 208 bedroom hotel located in the former buildings of Edinburgh City Council’s Economic Development department on Market Street.
The £25m hotel will form the cornerstone of the development which already has planning consent and will include 30,000 sq ft of residential space including self catering apartments, plus six office premises comprising 10,000sq ft each, and two new restaurants. The development site which stretches from Market Street towards Advocates Close off the Royal Mile will take three years to complete.
Market Street will be the fourth major hotel development carried out by Chris Stewart Group in recent years. The company has successfully developed three other sites in Edinburgh City Centre, two on Waterloo Place now occupied by Apex Hotels and Travelodge, and one further site on Baxter’s Place which is due to move forward later this year.
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has recently announced the opening of the Holiday Inn San Jose Escazu, in San Jose, Costa Rica. The new-build, six-story, 160-room property is owned and managed by Latin American Hospitality Management Inc., San Salvador-based Grupo AGRISAL’S ‘s Hotel Division, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group. The Holiday Inn San Jose Escazu is the third property to open through IHG’s relationship with Grupo AGRISAL, the others being the Holiday Inn San Salvador and the Crowne Plaza San Salvador. The relationship, which began in 2006, includes several additional agreements to manage seven IHG-flagged properties in the region.
The hotel is located within five miles of downtown San Jose, in the upscale neighborhood of Escazu, where a number of major global corporations house their Costa Rican operations. The property’s location, adjacent to the state-of-the-art Hospital CIMA, makes it an ideal destination for Costa Rica’s rapidly evolving medical tourism industry. The property is also within walking distance to many of San Jose’s major centers, including the 350-shop Multiplaza Mall, restaurants and entertainment.
The Holiday Inn San Jose Escazu boasts a contemporary, innovative design that provides accessible comfort and sets new standards for business travelers and families alike. It also includes eight elegantly designed meeting rooms totaling almost 8,800 square feet (800 square meters), the largest one accommodating 240 people, all equipped with the latest in audio-visual equipment. Amenities also include WiFi and high-speed internet, a pool deck with panoramic views, a fitness center, bar and restaurant featuring international cuisine. The hotel design creates a residential atmosphere that is warm and comfortable. The hotel features a natural, fresh color palette punctuated by pops of energetic colors. Guest beds are made using crisp, white bedding with pillows that come in two comfort levels: “soft” and “firm.” And the bathrooms include a specially designed showerhead that offers superior pressure, as well as a signature shower curtain with curved rod and new amenities.
The residential design includes business-focused necessities like an ergonomic work station, data ports, complimentary high-speed Internet access in guest rooms, WiFi capabilities, which will allow guests to conduct conference calls for up to six participants even while using their computer online. In addition, each room will have the standard Holiday Inn guestroom accommodations – comfortable double, queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair, cable television, hairdryer, coffee maker, iron and ironing board.
Marriott International has announced that it has signed agreements with Real Estate Group LLC, a subsidiary of Bloom Properties, to manage two properties in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Opening in 2014, the hotels are the: • 315-room Abu Dhabi Marriott Hotel • 64-unit Marriott Executive Apartments Abu Dhabi City Center
They will be part of Bloom Central, a mixed-use development including 16,200 square meters of office and residential space on Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum St. (Airport Road), one of Abu Dhabi’s main access roads to the city’s central business district. The site is a 20-minute drive from Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Designed to inspire and energize, the Abu Dhabi Marriott Hotel will feature contemporary and stylishly appointed interiors that blend the latest in residential design, bold color, dramatic lighting and real comfort. Guest rooms will have Marriott’s renowned plush bed and bath amenities, internet access, safe and flat screen television.
Its restaurants and lounges will focus on modern classics with quality ingredients, foundational cooking and updated presentations. For dining and entertainment, the hotel will have a casual restaurant serving three meals daily, a specialty restaurant, a lounge that will flow into a spacious, open lobby area and a roof-level pool-bar. Its recreational amenities will include a health and leisure club that will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a variety of cardio, strength training and stability equipment and an outdoor, roof-top swimming pool, spa and fitness center.
Travelers will appreciate the hotel’s executive level and lounge, lobby level business center, room service, laundry/valet service and retail shop.
For conferences and social events, the hotel will offer 1,596-square meters of space including a 600-meter ballroom that will be divisible into three sections, a 370-square meter junior ballroom which will also be divisible into three sections, three meeting rooms in varying configurations, two board rooms and a 40-square meter VIP room.
The 64-unit Marriott Executive Apartments Abu Dhabi City Center will offer the convenience of five-star, full service hotel facilities with the space, ambience and privacy of residential living and the assurance and security of a Marriott hospitality experience. The property will provide a range of tastefully furnished one-, two- and three-bedroom units that will include a full kitchen and laundry, flat screen television, internet access and in-unit safe. Guests will also have access to a private resident’s lounge for relaxing or private entertaining and a separate swimming pool and fitness center as well as a number of other amenities such as private storage, weekly maid service and shopping service.
The Abu Dhabi Marriott Hotel is part of a continued global expansion of Marriott International’s original, iconic business and leisure hotel brand, designed for frequent travelers who want to make the most of every opportunity presented by travel. Currently there are more than 500 Marriott branded hotels in 60 countries globally.
Marriott International, Inc. has announced plans to open a luxury JW Marriott Hotel in Cusco, Peru in 2012. Situated at the gateway to the Andes mountain sanctuary Machu Picchu, the 153-room JW Marriott Hotel Cusco will feature a highly customized design built around a colonial church and ancient Inca artifacts found on the site. The property will also reflect the casual elegance that distinguishes the JW Marriott brand, a global portfolio of 51 luxury hotels and resorts. The JW Marriott Hotel Cusco will be operated under a management agreement with Inversiones La Rioja, S.A. owners of JW Marriott Hotel Lima.Located in the heart of Cusco’s historical district, the hotel will include a museum of prominent artifacts, many of which will be preserved in-situ. (See video, in Spanish language, here:
In keeping with the JW Marriott brand, redefining luxury in distinctive destinations around the world, the JW Marriott Cusco will offer an elegantly relaxed décor with a distinctly colonial feel; a stylish lobby lounge; a restaurant serving imaginative cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In addition to the oxygen delivery system in all rooms, the hotel will help guests adjust to the altitude in spa treatment rooms. All 153 rooms and suites will be equipped with luxurious bedding and sumptuous bathrooms with soaking tub and separate shower, as well as the latest in in-room technology.
Few leisure destinations in the world compare with Cusco, designated a World Heritage site in the 1980s, located 11,000 feet above sea level in the Andes. The city has witnessed the rise of the Inca empire as well as its demise with the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the 16th century. The city’s colonial art school is recognized as one of the most prolific in the Americas. Above all, Cusco serves as the gateway for the world-renowned mountain sanctuary Machu Picchu – accessible only by train along the sacred Urubamba valley – as well as other landmarks, such as the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the Inca sites of Kenko, Puca Pucara and the market towns of Pisac and Chincheros.
At an elevation of 11,200 feet above sea level, the JW Cusco will be the first Marriott property to have an in-room supplemental oxygen system to relieve altitude sickness.
Morgan Furniture, the design-led British manufacturer of contract furniture, has successfully supplied a diverse range of product to three Carnival Australia cruise ships: Pacific Dawn, Pacific Pearl and Pacific Jewel. Commissioned by SMC Design, more than 300 individual chairs, tables and bar stools were manufactured by Morgan and shipped to Singapore as part of the total refurbishment programme for the three luxury liners.Renowned for its comfort, quality and award-winning design, Morgan furniture appears throughout the various public areas on board including bars and lounges, atrium seating and casinos. In addition to standard designs, bespoke bar stools were also created to suit the height of the slot machines within the cruise ships’ casinos.
Morgan collections on board, created by Design Director Katerina Zachariades-McMahon, include Hampton lounge chairs with their classic profile and subtle contemporary detailing. Boston chairs, inspired by the colonial days of luxury travel, look perfectly at home with their upholstered panel back, deep seat cushions and fine arms with softened corner finger joint detail. Diva is an enduring favourite from Morgan with bar stools and chairs alike sporting a pure minimal form with a feature gap at the base of the seat back which allows for easy handling. Co-ordinating tables from the Verona and Como collections appear throughout the ships’ interiors.
Sailing from Australia and New Zealand, Carnival Australia, provides year round tropical escapes to the South Pacific with interiors to ensure high levels of comfort and relaxation all the way. Each with their own unique identity, the three Pacific liners have capacity for around 2,000 passengers and 11 decks housing the very latest in cruising amenities. Examples include an adult-only comedy club on the Pacific Pearl; the largest spa afloat in the southern hemisphere, and a high-wire and circus trapeze arena on the top deck of the Pacific Jewel, and a spacious domed world-class entertainment centre within the Pacific Dawn which was designed by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano.
The cruise sector is a highly successful market for Morgan thanks to their ability to apply the Marine Quality Mark to produce attractive and practical furniture pieces of unsurpassed quality which fully conform to Marine Contract standards. The company also possesses exemplary eco-credentials, a fact independently endorsed by the ISO14001 environmental standard. All products are manufactured in a low energy consuming factory, using sustainable FSC timber, top quality CMHR foams and non rusting fittings.
The new DoubleTree by Hilton has been envisioned by developers to become an outstanding social gathering place for the community. Highlighted by a scenic rooftop bar and contemporary restaurant, which visitors will be able to access via a panoramic glass lift, the stylish hotel also will offer more than 500m² of flexible, contemporary meeting and events space including a ballroom with a capacity of up to 300 guests, theatre style.Developer Brayford Hotels has officially unveiled the designs for the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, which is currently being built on Brayford Wharf North in Lincoln. Brayford Hotels Directors Richard Farrar, Leigh Hall and Dean Wann are looking forward to the hotel’s completion and plan to welcome guests towards the end of 2011. In the meantime, the developers are keen to share their vision for what will be the region’s premier upscale, full-service hotel establishment.
Of the 115 modern and well-appointed guest rooms at the DoubleTree by Hilton Lincoln, 17 have been designed as spacious studio suites, each with a balcony and views of either the Brayford Pool or the Lincoln Cathedral. All guest rooms will feature both work desk and lounge space with flat-screen TVs and wireless internet access. The hotel also will offer guests a state-of-the-art fitness centre and onsite car park.
Farrar, Hall and Wann were keen to ensure the hotel is in keeping with its surroundings and the heritage of the site it occupies, which was once home to one of the city’s electricity substations. As well as retaining the original door to the substation and the plaque commemorating its official opening in 1910, the architects have smartly incorporated wood and metal into the hotel’s designs to reflect Lincoln’s industrial past and create a modern and welcoming environment for its hospitality future.
Because of the hotel’s location on the edge of the Brayford Pool, the hotel’s design also has been inspired by curved shapes and corridors with flowing lines to mirror the movement of the water.
“The DoubleTree by Hilton Lincoln will be a design-led, aspirational hotel,” explained Hall. “Not only will it be a first for Lincoln, but it also represents one of the first, purpose-built DoubleTree by Hilton hotels in the U.K.”
Hall also commented, “Our aim with this hotel design is to create a luxurious and welcoming space, which is contemporary, but still in keeping with the surrounding landscape and architecture. When complete the DoubleTree by Hilton Lincoln will boost the city’s offering to tourists and provide a world-class hotel facility for both residents and businesses to enjoy.”
Hastings based electrical accessory manufacturer, Focus SB, has launched a new website that brings more user-friendly navigation, new project galleries and up-to-date stock checks every 30 minutes.The first major upgrade to its site in many years, Focus SB’s large range is split into three sections -Contractor, Designer and Luxury – so customers can more easily select a range that suits their requirements and budgets.
Managing Director of Focus SB Roger Kemp believes the new look site will encourage more of its existing customers to check stock levels and enquire: “We have improved the old site quite significantly and made it as user friendly as possible,” he says. “Our aim is to be able to direct more of our customers online to order and check that we have the products they require in stock. The online forum is another way we are trying to help our customers by assisting anyone with an installation query.”
The Projects Gallery features interesting or noteworthy installations of products across a range of projects, including many of the major work being carried out in hotels across London and the South East.
Technical support is also available at the site via an online forum for anyone with installation issues or queries.
The whole site is now searchable making navigation far easier from any page, and the complete range of product brochures are available to view online as ebrochures or download as PDF.
Sol Meliá has recently announced an agreement to open a new five star hotel in Indonesia, Meliá Adhiwangsa Surabaya, increasing its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, a key focus for company growth strategy since it announced its globalisation and diversification strategy for emerging markets.The hotel will open in 2013 and is located in Surabaya, the second largest city in Indonesia, located on the north coast of the island of Java, and an important industrial and business centre with a thriving port and strong economic growth along with a growing number of visitors which are boosting the local hotel industry.
The new Meliá Adhiwangsa Surabaya will form part of a major leisure development which includes a shopping mall and golf course, both already open to the public. The hotel will provide 300 rooms, all fully adapted to the standards of the Meliá brand, and will thus help consolidate the positioning of the Spanish brand in Indonesia. Amongst the facilities provided by the hotel are a Spa, swimming pool, children’s area, two restaurants, and extensive facilities for meetings and event, in addition to the golf course.
The fifth hotel for Sol Meliá in Indonesia is owned by the Bukit Darmo Property Group and will be operated by Sol Meliá under a management agreement. Indonesia is the country where Sol Meliá opened its first hotel outside Spain over 25 years ago: the Meliá Bali, thus kicking off a globalisation process which now sees Asia–Pacific back at the heart of growth objectives for the coming years.
In December 2009, Sol Meliá inaugurated its first hotel in China, the Gran Meliá Shanghai, and also boosted its corporate team in the region. Less than a month ago the company announced a strategic alliance with the leading hotel company in China, Jin Jiang, to support Sol Meliá development in China. The Spanish hotel chain is thus preparing for exponential growth in Asia, the region which is expecting the highest growth in tourism and travel in the future. Gabriel Escarrer, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sol Meliá, also highlighted the increasing interest in Indonesia: “in addition to being a major focus for development, travel destinations in Asia–Pacific such as Indonesia are also the preferred destinations of Chinese outbound travel, a market which is increasing exponentially every year”.
Ideal Standard, a leading provider of innovative and design-driven bathroom solutions, today launches its new bathroom collection Playa, created by award-winning design house, ArteFakt. The Playa collection offers a linear design while conceptually remaining distinctly contemporary. Wide surfaces and straight angles deliver a comfortable relaxing bathroom experience, without compromising on style and design. The Playa range comprises of five different basin options, full and semi pedestal options as well as three WC options plus bidet, all of which come with a lifetime guarantee.
ArteFakt’s design characteristic for this new range balances a mix of round and rectangular shapes. The form of the inner basin blends softly towards the front edge meaning that the contour and inner basin shape converge to create the distinction.
The Concept Furniture collection has been expanded to be compatible with Playa along with the Studio and Alto collections, making it the perfect accompaniment to each of these major Ideal Standard ranges.
Achim Pohl, ArteFakt comments “The Playa collection has a very characteristic design line that really stands out. We consciously create a balance between familiar trend shapes and innovative elements. Thanks to this approach, the collection blends well with the contemporary bathroom styles while emphasising a young and modern character”.
Key features: o 5 different basins: 55 & 50cm pedestal, 45cm handrinse, 55cm semi-countertop & 55cm countertop. All available in 1 or 2 tap holes except the countertop which has only 1 tap hole option o Full pedestal, semi-pedestal (large), semi-pedestal (small) o WC options: close coupled, back-to-wall, wall hung. All flush at 6/4 litres and 4/2.6 litres o Bidet options: Floor standing, 1 tap hole o Standard and slow close toilet seat option o Furniture options: Concept Playa additions – 600mm semi-countertop basin unit, 600mm WC unit, Playa collar worktops for use with 50cm & 55cm basins in 600mm unit
Mr Smith World Photography, London based fine art photographers feature a captivating collection of images developed over many years of world travel. This portfolio is themed “AMAZING PLACES”, from the WORLD COLLECTION.Prints are available from the online gallery or as bespoke artwork from Mr Smith’s extensive catalogue. These prints can be produced to extremely large sizes and are just a sample from an outstanding portfolio of images. Click on any of the images below for more information.
The emblematic Majorca hotel has reinvented itself in 2011 as an “adults only” hotel exclusively for people over the age of 15, providing guests with a very different and more intimate experience in an environment guaranteed to be more serene. At the same time, the Meliá de Mar Hotel has also added new services and facilities as well as more personalised customer services designed to meet the needs and preferences of a more adult clientele. The transformation has seen all of the hotel rooms equipped with a Nespresso coffee machine, an iPod docking station, wireless phone and other devices available on request such as eBooks or iPads. The Level rooms, the most exclusive of the rooms offered by the Meliá brand, also provide extra benefits such as private check-in in the room, free access to the YHI Spa, free bar and snacks in the private lounge or Balinese beds in the private chill-out pool area.
New dining options include the new à la carte Q4 restaurant, serving a surprising combination of Spanish and Japanese cuisine; an exquisite selection of cocktails in the Gabi Bar & Q Lounge, and weekly tastings of delicatessen products. Meliá de Mar also proposes special relaxation moments for adults such as the “Jacuzzi Experience” or “Spa Night”: a choreographed massage overlooking the sea and by the light of the moon. During the summer months the festive atmosphere on the island will infuse the evenings at the Meliá de Mar, including the traditional San Juan Night festivities and a magical and mystical event on the beach.
Seeking innovation and personalisation The new “adults only” concept is a further sign of the Sol Meliá commitment to the differentiation of its brands and diversification of its products and services to satisfy the different needs of different types of guests, innovating in the design of its brand attributes and providing more exclusive and personalised vacation experiences which ensure they meet the expectations of their guests in a highly competitive environment.
The Modern Garden Company launches the new 2011 summer season catalogue, featuring a wealth of new and classic exterior furniture collections. Conveniently divided into sections based on materials, there are also sections devoted to a range of sunshade solutions, from motorised canopies to traditional parasols, and practical and elegant exterior accessories.
The catalogue is available as a loose leaf ring binder or as a smaller bound A5 catalogue. Each page is dedicated to a collection and includes images of the products in use with the reverse side incorporating cut out images of the component elements from the collection, material specifications, colour options and dimensions. In addition to the printed versions, a digital version of the entire catalogue is available to download from the website www.moderngarden.co.uk. Alternatively, full colour digital PDF copies of each collection are available by contacting in**@mo**********.uk
.
If you would like to receive a copy of the new catalogue then please contact The Modern Garden Co.
Chicago’s, the newest destination bar and club in Windsor, benefits from a bespoke floor from Wilton Carpets Commercial contributing to a cutting edge interior with a welcoming touch. Some 200 square metres of bespoke woven axminster carpet can be found throughout the seating areas of the venue, complementing a stylish blend of traditional and contemporary interior décor influences.
“When talking through the design with the client, we discussed how we could make Chicago’s a cutting edge venue that also soothed and welcomed visitors,” explains Ian Dean, Arc Associates, responsible for the design of the venue. “We looked at traditional origin companies that achieved a contemporary and modern style, using their history and adding a fresh twist.
“The tartan carpet achieves this blend, taking a design steeped in heritage and adding modernity through oversized scale. We selected colours to complement the interior, using a dark base as is prerequisite for carpets in licenced premises. The whole design process was very smooth and Wilton Carpets understood what we were trying to achieve with the space right from the off.”
Manufactured in a high performance blend of 80% wool and 20% nylon for the ideal blend of durability and ease of maintenance, the carpet for Chicago’s was supplied and fitted within a tight timescale, helping the venue to open on time.
The broadloom carpet was produced by Wilton Carpets at its Wiltshire site and was installed by RJR Technical Services.
Expanding its presence in Asia Pacific, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced the addition of a new property in China, the Fairmont Nanjing scheduled to open late 2012. Situated in Hexi New Town, a burgeoning, new commercial district in southwest Nanjing the capital of Jiangsu province, Fairmont Nanjing will be part of the JinAo Plaza development featuring a 56-story building housing the hotel and office space, along with retail and residential offerings.
The hotel will feature 371 spacious guestrooms and suites and guests will enjoy a variety of restaurants and bars as well as a 1,800 square meter (19,375 sq ft) Willow Stream Spa, pool and fitness facilities. With 2,500 square meters (26, 900 sq ft) of function and meeting space, the property will be able to accommodate groups both small and large.
The project is being developed by Jiangsu Golden Land Group Real Estate Development Col, Ltd. (’Jingao’), a Nanjing-based real estate company focused on commercial and residential enterprises.
“Expanding our impressive collection in China is a key goal for Fairmont, and this project provides many synergies with our existing hotels,” said Chris Cahill, President, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. “Jingao is leading an exciting revitalization project in Nanjing and we are honored to create with them a new, vibrant destination in the community.”
Situated on the south bank of the Yangtze River, Nanjing is a cultural and commercial metropolis and one of China’s most important cities, boasting many historical sites, museums, temples and Ming Tombs which are on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The city is also home to a number of domestic and multinational firms and will play host to the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics.
Fairmont Nanjing expands the company’s growing presence in Asia, joining sister hotels in China including Fairmont Beijing, Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai; Fairmont Yangcheng Lake, Kunshan; Fairmont Haitang Bay Resort, Sanya (2013) as well as Fairmont Singapore and Fairmont Makati, Manila, Philippines (2012).
YOTEL, the revolutionary hotel concept, has announced that it will open for business in New York City with a property featuring 669 stylish cabins. This will mark the first YOTEL opening outside of its current international airport locations and make it the largest hotel opening in New York in 2011. Yotel New York – Premium Double Cabin
YO! Founder Simon Woodroffe OBE and YOTEL CEO Gerard Greene conceived the innovative YOTEL cabins to provide a flexible and convenient ‘first class’ hotel experience at affordable prices. Inspired by first-class airline cabins YOTEL Times Square, located at 42nd Street and 10th Avenue will be part of Related Company’s 1.2 million square foot, 60 storey LEED-Silver complex which will include residential units and the Frank Gehry designed Signature Theatre. The flagship YOTEL property is being designed by Rockwell Group in collaboration with Softroom and will feature a Club Lounge and the largest hotel outside terrace space of any hotel in New York.
Simon Woodroffe, Founder of YO!, said of the New York launch: “YOTEL will bring a unique mix of fun, excitement and luxury to New York and all at an affordable price. YOTEL has a fantastic energy about it which New York’s 44 million visitors a year will love”.
Cool and efficient YOTEL will offer customers a perfectly designed 16sqm (170sqft) of private space in which to relax, refresh, connect and sleep, a true haven of calm. Luxury bedding, rejuvenating monsoon rain showers, relaxing purple mood lighting and YOTEL’s ‘techno wall’ with flat screen TV, and complementary WiFi will now soon be on offer to those visiting the Big Apple.
YOTEL CEO, Gerard Greene stated: “A solution to boring and expensive hotels YOTEL uses radical design to offer the customer an exciting product and better value for money. Not satisfied with airports we are now transferring a successful brand to city centres across the globe.
Directory company, naturalmat, supplied all 686 mattresses for the project which you can read more about here.
The new build Holiday Inn Express at Whittlesford opened for business at the end of 2010 with 74 guestrooms, all bedroom casegoods manufactured and installed by AMS Group.Working closely with the Procurement team at the IHG Head Office, AMS and ICA Architects of Glasgow redesigned the bedroom furniture to complement the new interior design scheme.
The main aim was to ensure that the new generation concept sat well in the market place against its competitors, such as Premier Inn, Hampton by Hilton and Travelodge. The overall room concept provides all you need from a budget hotel brand, with large beds, contemporary styled headboard with canter-levered nightstands for ease of housekeeping, large working desk with an optional drawer, open panel robe with ceiling soffit and long dress mirror with integral hairdryer. All furniture finishes are in a Tobacco Walnut.
The hotel, located close to the railway station in Cambridge, offers good quality accommodation at budget rates and is now one of hundreds of new hotels under the IHG brand.
Roman, the UK’s leading shower manufacturer and designer, has been busy raising funds for their chosen charity, Options, and have handed over a cheque for over £1,500. This is the latest cheque in a series of funds raised by the staff at Roman.The Options project provides support to young adults with learning and/or physical disabilities. Roman have worked to help this project for some time and selected the group as their chosen charity back in 2009.
Roman staff have undertaken a number of fundraising activities throughout 2010 to raise these latest funds. These included a Quiz Night, a Xmas raffle, a World Cup raffle, an auction and a dress down day.
Roman has an employee Charity Committee set up who think up and coordinates the different fundraising activities.
David Osborne, Managing Director and head of the Charity Committee commented: “It’s great that our staff have been so dedicated and managed to once again raise so much money for our chosen charity. Options were nominated as our chosen charity in 2009 – in that year we managed to raise over £2000 in funds. We feel very privileged to have been given the opportunity to work closely with a locally based charity like Options, who are working towards such a worthwhile cause.”
New Designers 2011 – showcasing the very best of graduate design.
New Designers is the premiere showcase for the most exciting design graduates as they emerge from the UK’s design courses to start their professional careers in numerous creative industries embracing fashion, interior design, multi-media, furniture, products, architecture, graphics and more. The popular summer event gives a snapshot of the hottest ideas, the latest trends and creative minds as some 3500 dynamic new designers come together and present their impressive work at the Business Design Centre. The explosion of creative energy is palpable making New Designers a must-see experience for everyone in touch with contemporary design; a chance to discover the stars of the future.The new opening times make it easy to visit and be inspired.
DATES: A two-part event.
Part 1: 29 June to 2 July (Stephen Webster will present the prestigious New Designers Awards on the Preview evening on 29 June)
Part 2: 6 July to 9 July
TIMES:
Wednesday 29 June – 3.00pm to 6.00pm (VIP and Press and Premium ticket holders) Wednesday 29 June – 6.30pm to 9.00pm (Awards Preview Evening – VIP, Premium and unlimited ticket only) Thursday 30 June – 10.00am to 8.00pm Friday 1 & Sat 2 July – 10.00am to 6.00pm Sunday 3 July – CLOSED Wednesday 6 July – 3.00pm to 6.00pm (VIP and Press and Premium ticket holders) Wednesday 6 July – 6.30pm to 9.00pm (Awards Preview Evening –VIP, Premium and unlimited ticket only) Thursday 7 July – 10.00am to 8.00pm Friday 8 & Sat 9 July – 10.00am to 6.00pm Sunday 10 July – CLOSED
TICKETS: Readers of Hoteldesigns.net can purchase tickets in advance for just £8.50* instead of £14 on the door. To take advantage of this special offer please quote ‘ND93’ when booking before 24 June. Book online at www.newdesigners.com.
BOX OFFICE NUMBER: 08448 480 140 (active from 1st May 2011).
Naturalmat, based at Topsham in Devon are delighted to have won the contract to manufacture all 686 mattresses for YOTEL’s exciting first city centre opening. YOTEL was created by Simon Woodroffe, founder of the YO! brand and latterly of Dragons Den fame, and turned into reality by CEO Gerard Greene. They currently have three airport locations at Heathrow, Gatwick & Schipol, but are expanding across the pond with what will be the largest new hotel opening in New York, just three blocks west of Times Square in 2011. Naturalmat has always specialised in the seemingly niche market of organic and natural fibre mattresses manufactured by hand in the heart of Devon. Having predominantly served the nursery market to date, it seems that the demand for a fully green and eco mattress made entirely from sustainable raw materials is spreading rapidly beyond the nursery. Who better to show an interest in what people sleep on, than hoteliers? Their principle product is sleep. They are selling a good night’s sleep to everyone that comes through their door, and if they want to compete for customers they have to ensure they provide a better night’s sleep than the rest. Superb comfort that is long lasting and consistently good, must be a given in any good quality mattress, but it is the attention to extra details that set a naturalmat mattress apart.
Naturalmat are pioneers in natural fibre technology and have developed innovative new raw materials such as an organic lambs wool that is certified by the Soil Association, which is anti-dust mite, anti-bed bug and anti-moth through a natural treatment of essential oil extracts of lemon, eucalyptus and lavender. 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 are mohair, cashmere, horsetail hair, and natural cottons all from environmentally conscious sources and all biodegradable, that combine to create a truly green product made by a British company with a real sustainability gold card.
Waving the flag for British manufacturing and the West Country in particular, naturalmat are already in discussions with another hotel chain opening 3 new hotels in the UK next year. “Sustainability is a buzz word in this market at the moment and those products and businesses that can prove their eco credentials and have a genuinely sustainable business model are in high demand” says Director of naturalmat, Peter Tindall.
Menachem Treivush was just strolling through the quiet back streets off Melrose Avenue with his son when he happened across an old decaying mansion that caught his eye. Amid the neighborhood of post modern split levels, dingbat apartment buildings, and beige tile-roofed Spanish revivals, 819 North Sweetzer stood out for its quaint Tudor style architecture.
In Los Angeles, there is little necessity to recycle urban terrain in order to clear the way for progress because of the city’s simple ability to continually sprawl, allowing eras of architecture to coexist rather than supplant one another. English cottages became a relatively popular building style in the 1920s and remain not uncommon today. “It was a squirrel empire,” Treivush said of the mansion when he first viewed it, indicating that it had been essentially abandoned to the elements for years and had become inhabited by all manner of suburban critters. Yet Treivush said that amid its cracking walls and façade, its bowing floors and broken ceilings, he could sense a mesmerizing aura of history begging to be restored.
“It just took me back, everything about the property brought me back to that era of old Hollywood,” Treivush said. “The property is alive not dead. Some places you feel nothing when you walk into a place. But this was a world where the walls talk to you, where you feel like you belong to the spirits.”
Treivush’s initial impressions turned out to be prescient. The property, he soon discovered, had been built and occupied by the silent film star and Hollywood icon Charlie Chaplin. And behind its unassuming frontage along Sweetzer, it actually was deceivingly large, stretching nearly through the block with a carpool and garden attached. What looks at first glance like a large two story Tudor mansion is actually a series of contiguous duplex cottages that Chaplin used as a place to work and live and that Treivush said he would rent out or loan to a revolving cast of stars such as his friend Rudolf Valentino, Gloria Swanson, Marilyn Monroe, and Marlene Dietrich, among others.
The property’s heritage as a Hollywood celebrity hideaway lives on today. Having turned the mansion into a boutique hotel, that he appropriately named The Charlie, Treivush says the place’s charms, which captivated him at first glance in spite of its initial condition, have caught on with a new generation of stars now that he has finished its meticulous restoration. Robert Pattinson has been a guest and Liv Tyler stayed for months as a renter, gushing that the secluded spot was one of the few places she could parade around the grounds in pajamas without having to contend with the paparazzi.
The property’s reinvention represents the fruit of five and half years of labor. Treivush, who became wealthy in the apparel business, had always had an appreciation for architecture he said, but decided to get into real estate only after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the early 2000s, a reminder of his mortality that prompted him to finally engage his lifelong interest. He bought residential and commercial properties in Los Angeles, including retail buildings along Melrose.
Following the relocation of the Casino Mainz into the “Dom” wing of the Hilton Mainz hotel (Germany), the casino has enjoyed huge success since its grand reopening on the 16th September 2010.Based on the designs of US-based casinos, all entertainments are located on one level which can be observed from the the top of a gallery without disturbing the gamblers. The casino offers a choice of approximately 250 slot machines plus various tables for roulette, poker, black-jack, etc. The catering in the casino is provided by three different bars.
The new flagship company of the “Spielbankgesellschaft Mainz, Trier, Bad Ems” has been completely illuminated with products made by Baulmann Leuchten, from Sundern. Most of the luminaires are pure bespoke solutions related to the famous BIG LIGHTS range of Baulmann Leuchten.
The pictures are copyright by “Mehler & Partner Design Agentur GmbH”.
exterior-interior are pleased to announce that they have been appointed UK agent for the Sywawa brand.A selection of the most popular products, including the new Paddo designed by Lieven Musschoot and Mathias Hennebel, are illustrated here. Further details and other products can be seen at the Sywawa website.
We will be pleased to answer any questions and provide information required.
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has announced the opening of the Holiday Inn & Suites Phoenix – Airport North, conveniently located 1.5 miles from the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport to meet the needs of business and leisure travelers. The four-story hotel includes 190 standard two-room suites, 10 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compatible suites, six executive suites and 21 kitchen suites.Following a $10 million conversion from an Embassy Suites, the hotel now has a contemporary modern feel. The interactive lobby includes a bar and bistro area, which opens into a lush garden courtyard with resort seating, fire pits, gazebo, pool and whirlpool spa. The 100 percent smoke-free hotel also includes a 24-hour fitness center and two restaurants – the 44th Street Bistro serving lunch and dinner and the Palm Court Grill serving breakfast.
The hotel’s guestroom accommodations are relaxing and contemporary, designed with a soft color palette and outfitted with a 42” LCD HD television. Guestrooms also include comfortable double, queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair, cable television, hairdryer, coffee maker, iron and ironing board. Guest beds are made using crisp, white bedding with pillows that come in two comfort levels: “soft” and “firm.” Bathrooms include a specially designed showerhead that offers superior pressure, as well as a signature shower curtain with curved rod and new amenities. Guestrooms provide a work desk and ergonomic chair, data ports, complimentary USA TODAY® newspapers and in-room check-out capabilities.
The hotel is owned by Jordan Hotels LLP and managed by Ocean Properties LTD under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.
Roger Kemp, Managing Director of Focus SB discusses the Castleham Industrial Estate-based lighting accessories manufacturers’ key to success.Manufacturing in Sussex is alive and well – we are now employing more people than at the start of the recession.
You only have to find a niche where either technology keeps you ahead of the competition, or find a high quality, high margin product that is required in low volumes to beat lower priced imported goods.
You must have excellent customer service levels, and be fleet of foot to meet clients’ requirements that can be very demanding.
Despite all the problems regarding employing people that recent governments have heaped upon us, if you treat them fairly and let them share in the good times as well as the bad, it is possible to build and retain loyal staff. Never remove the ‘fun budget’!
With low volume high quality products there is also less resistance to price increases, so forecast increases in raw materials costs need not necessarily lead to lower margins.
You do need to continually look at costs and new ways of doing things. Inward investment is a continual and necessary demand that has to be met.
Above all be proud of your company. You will be surprised how this influences customers.
Ideal Standard, a leading provider of innovative and design-driven bathroom solutions, reinforces their focus on hotels with the launch of its new hotel solutions brochure and design planning service for hotel specifiers at the Bath Room, Ideal Standard’s bathroom design studio in Clerkenwell, London. Following in-depth market research, Ideal Standard has gained a great understanding of the specific needs of the hotel industry. The research has shown that there is a real demand for a company that can offer a complete solution to all areas of hotel bath rooms. Ideal Standard has therefore brought to market a new strategy based on the “one solution, one supplier, one maintenance package” approach.
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 that is why it is important to be flexible. We can do everything from high-end guest rooms to spas to public washrooms. Our new hotel brochure brings together everything you will need in one place, whether you are designing a 10 or 500 bedroom hotel.”
Ideal Standard’s design studio, the Bath Room, in London offers hotel specifiers a chance to see and plan their bathroom and washrooms and provides a 3D visual design service as well as a free of charge mock up area. Specifiers can also see a real-life demonstration of a hotel en-suite setting, and the Gerloff shower and bath system, which incorporates a unique sound, steam and lighting showering experience.
The new brochure brings together a broad range of products for the hotel sector and has been designed to work for all types of hotels. It is the only solution brochure directly aimed at the hotel sector within the UK and offers an extensive collection of products, credentials, industry insights and design resources. The benefits of the hotel guide are vast and range from offering style tips for guests rooms to advice on maintenance and cleaning. The book delivers all the information required to get the most from any area of hotel bathroom design.
Ideal Standard has also introduced a new basin range named Strada which is featured in the brochure. The Strada vessel basin (pictured) is highly suitable for hotels and has been designed with a contemporary luxury look and modern style to suit high-end hotel design.
AVE has recently launched their new 2011 catalogue, introducing a plethora of new products and ideas all of which can be ordered through UK-based distributors, FW Lighting.The new products include: single room – whole house touch screen control systems, lighting controls, door video entry systems, anti intrusion keypads, monitoring systems for water, gas and electricity, temperature control (in conjunction with) window and door control monitors and, fire and intrusion alarms.
Advances have also been made in home automation with the launch of AVE’s NEW Domotics touch screen automation system, a complete package for today’s developer that includes everything you would need to complete a property, from the consumer unit, to data and power sockets right through to the provision of a door bell or, advanced keyless entry system all of which, has identical design features such as crystal glass surrounds and LED backlighting, a genuine one stop shop for all your needs.
AVE began manufacturing lighting control systems in Italy over 100 years ago and is widely respected across Europe for their innovative and contemporary switch and socket designs. Using cutting-edge solutions, AVE create management systems that fully meet the needs of small independents hotel developers to large multinational hotel chains.
The Kessler Collection and Marriott International, Inc. are pleased to introduce Kessler Canyon as the newest member of The Autograph Collection, officially joining on May 11, 2011. The Autograph Collection is comprised of independent and luxury tier properties each with their own distinct brands and personalities.The only ranch-style property within The Kessler Collection, Kessler Canyon’s Homestead and Guesthouse offer a departure from urban boutique accommodations to an intimate, luxuriously designed cowboy oasis set on 23,000 acres of natural beauty ripe to explore.
Nestled among mesas, valleys and streams, Kessler Canyon’s opportunities for adventure are endless and always open to guest customization. Activities range from big game hunting and horseback riding, to fishing and hiking. Once the outdoors have been conquered, freshly prepared gourmet cuisine along with a full-service Poseidon Spa are sure to rejuvenate.
Now celebrating its one-year anniversary with this newest Kessler hotel addition, The Autograph Collection began with the Casa Monica Hotel as its founding property. A majestic, restored 1888 landmark hotel on the National Register of Historic Places, Casa Monica is among seven additional Kessler Collection hotels currently holding The Autograph Collection designation:
• Grand Bohemian Hotel Asheville, Asheville, N.C. • Casa Monica Hotel, St. Augustine, Fla. • Mansion on Forsyth Park, Savannah, Ga. • Bohemian Hotel Savannah Riverfront, Savannah, Ga. • Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando, Orlando, Fla. • Bohemian Hotel Celebration, Celebration, Fla. • El Monte Sagrado Living Resort and Spa, Taos, N.M.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptRejectRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
To keep up to date with all the latest news and features, sign up to receive our weekly newsletter and bi-monthly HD Edit.
