Hotel Designs

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has recently announced the opening of the Holiday Inn Bogota-Airport in Bogota, Colombia. It is IHG’s sixth property in the country, across four brands – InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts and Holiday Inn Express®. The new-build, eight-story Holiday Inn Bogota-Airport features 191 rooms and is located within ten minutes of El Dorado International Airport. Situated within the vibrant neighborhood of El Salitre, one of Bogota’s most important and modern business districts, the property is part of a mixed-use complex called Centro Empresarial Arrecife (Arrecife Corporate Center) and near the Corferias Convention Center, the United States Embassy, Bogota’s main industrial park and downtown Bogota. The Holiday Inn Bogota-Airport, located at Avenida Calle 26 #69-D-91 in Bogota, is owned by Alianza Fiduciaria S.A., under a franchise agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group. The hotel will be operated by METRO hotels on behalf of Alianza Fiduciaria S.A.

The Holiday Inn Bogota-Airport features fresh and stylish décor and an array of amenities, including eight elegantly designed meeting rooms, totaling 4,842 square feet (450 square meters) and with a 400-person capacity. The hotel also boasts a 24-hour gym, full-service restaurant and a business center. Complimentary wireless high speed Internet access is also available throughout the hotel.

With a population of more than 44 million, improved security and a dynamic economy, Colombia has emerged as a key strategic market for Latin America. Bogotá, the capital, is the largest metropolitan city in the country and the main economic center of Colombia. A vibrant city, Bogota is not only recognized as a center in the region for the development of the arts but for its beautiful cathedrals, major universities, grand theaters and an array of entertainment and nightlife venues.

IHG has five hotels in Colombia: two InterContinental Hotels, one Crowne Plaza, and two Holiday Inn Express properties. Two IHG-branded properties are currently under development. The Holiday Inn Cartagena Morros is scheduled to open next month (August 2011) and the InterContinental Cartagena is slated to open in 2013. The Holiday Inn Bogota-Airport is the first Holiday Inn hotel in the country.

On Friday 26th August, the Mayor of Solihull, Cllr Irene Chamberlain and David Winstanley, Operations Director for Birmingham Airport officially opened the £9.8 million Birmingham Airport Travelodge hotel. Situated overlooking the runway on Terminal Road, the new 200 – room property is the Company’s first hotel at Birmingham Airport and the 19th Travelodge hotel in Birmingham – maintaining the budget hotel chain’s position as the biggest hotelier in the city. This new hotel opening has created 30 new jobs within the community.

Birmingham Airport Travelodge offers a range of rooms which includes, family, double and accessible rooms. All Travelodge rooms come with a luxury Hypnos king size bed, which has a royal warrant from the Queen. Each room has en-suite facilities with eco-friendly showers, a flat screen TV with 18 free digital channels, free tea and coffee making facilities and Wi-Fi.

The hotel also has a Bar Café which offers a breakfast, dinner and bar service.

To celebrate the official opening of Travelodge’s 477th hotel in Birmingham, Cllr Irene Chamberlain cut the ribbon and officially declared the hotel open for business at an opening ceremony. She also met the hotel team and took a tour of the 200-bed hotel.

In recognition of the 35,000 travellers that pass daily through Birmingham Airport, from destinations such as France, Spain, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Germany, Poland, Dubai, Pakistan and Iran – Travelodge staff have been trained to say Hello, welcome to Travelodge” in ten languages – so that they can greet international guests in their native tongue.

Birmingham Airport Travelodge is also an ideal base for plane spotting enthusiasts, as all rooms at the back of the hotel over look the airport’s busy runway. The airport’s biggest plane, an Emirates Boeing 777 which lands from Dubai every day is the main attraction for aircraft fanatics. The hotel has already been flooded with requests from guests wishing to sleep on the runway wing of the hotel so they can grab the best views.

Travelodge has invested £26.5 million in Birmingham during 2011 with the opening of four hotels. The first hotel at Birmingham’s Bull Ring Shopping Centre opened in May, followed by Birmingham Airport and finally Birmingham Moor Street and Birmingham Halesowen in November. By the end of the year the hotel chain will have 21 hotels across Birmingham and have created 100 jobs.

Birmingham Airport Travelodge is being managed by local girl, Sarah Appleby, who has been working for the Company for five years. Sarah started her career at Birmingham Fort Dunlop Travelodge as a receptionist in 2006. Within six months of joining the company, ambitious Sarah fast tracked her career and moved to become the manager at Walsall Travelodge.

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has announced that the Crowne Plaza Albuquerque will open in Sept. 2011 following a brand change from a Hilton that included $14 million in renovations throughout the property. The 261-room hotel features 26,000 square feet of meeting space that includes an 8,000 square foot conference centre and is conveniently located just six miles from the airport and three miles from historic Old Town.The hotel is on a 14 acre oasis in the university and midtown district that captures the unique flavour and artistry of the popular Southwest New Mexico destination. Guest rooms are tastefully decorated and spacious with breathtaking views of Albuquerque’s spectacular high-desert landscape of mesas, volcanoes and the Sandia Mountains.

A recipient of the “New Mexico Green Zia Environmental Excellence Award,” the hotel is convenient for leisure travellers as it is minutes from historic Old Town, Balloon Fiesta Park, the world’s longest tramway, championship golf courses, Indian gaming casinos and wonderful shopping. Sante Fe is a short 55 minute scenic drive away.

The hotel features the famous Ranchers Club of New Mexico restaurant, the only AAA 4 Diamond Award Winner in Albuquerque, and is also a repeat winner of the prestigious DiRōNA (Distinguished Restaurants of North America) Award. Recently opened, the new Stonestreet Restaurant features innovative New Mexican cuisines for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The full-service hotel is located at 1901 University Boulevard NE in Albuquerque and includes 22 meeting rooms in 26,000 square feet of meeting space, an outdoor pool, fitness centre, complimentary wireless access throughout the hotel, business centre and complimentary parking.

The Crowne Plaza Albuquerque is independently owned and will operate under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.

The Rezidor Hotel Group announces the Park Inn Trysil Mountain Resort in Norway. The property featuring 369 rooms is scheduled to open in December 2011 – just in time for the next ski season. Park Inn by Radisson is Rezidor’s young and dynamic core brand in the mid market segment; offering a hassle free stay, a relaxed and personalized ambiance, and comfortable rooms with modern amenities. “The Park Inn Trysil Mountain Resort will perfectly complement our existing Radisson Blu Resort, Trysil. We are delighted to further strengthen our presence in our key home market Norway and to also further grow our chic and contemporary resort portfolio”, said Kurt Ritter, President & CEO of Rezidor. The new hotel is developed and built by the company Peab, and owned by Peab and SkiStar in equal parts.

Minutes from the slopes, the resort will comprise 369 rooms, suites and apartments with up to 3 bedrooms, making it the ideal destination for family or friends travelling together. Further services will include a restaurant, a bar, a wellness area including indoor swimming pool, sauna and 12 treatment rooms, and a conference centre with a 425 square meter ballroom as well as with several meeting rooms.

Trysil is located in South-eastern Norway, 2.5 hours drive from Oslo. It is one of Scandinavia’s premier ski resorts and attracts a significant international business. For the non-skier, Trysil offers a first-class golf course, canoeing, fishing, cycling, and hiking in a beautiful nature.

After Germany, Israel, Belgium and Switzerland Leonardo Hotels customers can look forward to a new travel destination. Since mid-August Leonardo Hotels has been managing the first Leonardo Hotel on Hungarian soil, the Leonardo Hotel Budapest (formerly Ramada Hotel Budapest). “Budapest is one of the most beautiful cities in the world”, explains Daniel Roger, General Manager of Leonardo Hotels Europe.

“We are very proud to expand our portfolio with a new house in this attractive city and to have the possibility to present a wonderful new travel destination to our guests.”

The 4-star Leonardo Hotel Budapest is located only a 15 minute walk from the city centre and just a few minutes from the Danube and is part of the blooming business district Ferencváro. It comprises over 182 modern rooms and suites. Business travellers have an entire floor tailored to their needs standing at their disposal. Furthermore, there are three conference rooms with space for up to 120 people. Up to date technical equipment and natural daylight provide a professional and pleasant atmosphere.

On a culinary level guests will be spoiled at the hotel restaurant offering international cuisine. The associated bistro-bar serves breakfast as well as special wine selections, coffee and warm snacks around the clock. A modern health club with fitness room and sauna is available for workout or relaxation.

The 4-Star Hotel will be managed by General Manager Rafi Carmon. Mr. Carmon previously was responsible for running the Sheraton Moriah Eilat in Israel (1998 – 2011) and previous to that worked as General Manager of the Sheraton Four Points in Tiberias (1994 – 1998).

“This is only the beginning” emphasises Daniel Roger, “in 2011 Leonardo guests can look forward to numerous other projects that will be just as multifaceted as the needs of the travellers themselves. I am sure that within our chain everyone will find just the hotel he needs.”

The Rezidor Hotel Group has opened its second hotel in Georgia: the Radisson Blu Hotel Batumi, Georgia. The stunning new landmark with wave-inspired glass façade offers 168-rooms in a prime beachfront location within easy reach of Seaside Boulevard, Batumi’s business, commercial and nightlife destination, and minutes from the International airport.The hotel’s minimalistic design was overseen by Italian architect Michele De Lucchi. All 168 guestrooms offer floor-to-ceiling glass windows, providing panoramic vistas across the city, coast and countryside, as well as signature Radisson Blu amenities, including: complimentary high-speed internet, Nespresso coffee machines and LCD flat-screen televisions.

The hotel’s 19,000-square-foot wellness facility features an Anne Semonin SPA and a fully-equipped fitness centre. The spa offers five treatment rooms, a couples’ suite, indoor pool, outdoor pool surrounded by a sun deck with chairs and parasols, kids’ pool, Finnish sauna, aroma steam bath and relaxing “Ozone” Bar for refreshments.

Dining options at the Radisson Blu Hotel Batumi include the relaxed Medea Bar & Restaurant and the hotel’s signature Clouds Bar & Restaurant on the 19th floor. This spectacular rooftop venue is perfect for pre-dinner cocktails, followed by a menu of local and international grilled dishes.

The hotel’s beachside meeting space includes seven air-conditioned meeting rooms equipped with the latest audiovisual conference technology, as well as a Grand Ballroom, spanning 3,700 square feet with space for up to 350 guests. The Grand Ballroom can also be divided into three sections for smaller events and conferences.

Bowmer & Kirkland has just completed a project for the Manchester Airport Group Plc to create one of the UK’s greenest commercial hotel developments.Project value: £14.9m
Client: Manchester Airport Group Plc
Location: East Midlands Airport, Nottingham

Objectives
To deliver one of the UK’s greenest commercial hotel developments – in line with East Midland Airport’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2012. The hotel features 218 bedrooms, full conference and meeting facilities, a swimming pool and health club.

Additional features
In line with East Midlands Airport’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2012, the hotel utilises a range of low energy technologies to reduce the energy demand of the building; supplemented by an on-site Combined Heat and Power (CHP) engine with a Pure Plant Oil (PPO) Tri-Generation Energy Centre, to export electricity to the national grid outside of normal occupancy hours. This innovative system collects and stores waste heat in a thermal store to heat and cool the whole hotel, delivering an 87% reduction in CO2 and supplying 90% of the consumed energy from a renewable source.

The build also incorporates a number of Sustainable Construction Techniques. A sustainable Surface Water Drainage system with porous paving in the car park; attenuation tanks and a rainwater harvesting system is also integrated into the design of the hotel to serve the WC’s in the building and water the external landscaped areas.

Challenges
A key challenge was the fact that a project requirement was to achieve an excellent environmental rating at an economically viable price point. In addition, one of the coldest winters on record provided challenges at various stages of the build.

Solution
• Fundamental to the successful delivery has been a detailed understanding of all of the cost drivers in hotel construction ensuring value is maximised at every level.
• Using cost consultants and project managers with experience of delivering more than 3,500 rooms across many different hotel brands.

Outcome
The hotel reaffirms Rezidor’s position as one of Europe’s leading airport hotel operators with 27 hotels (7,096 rooms) currently in operation and a further 3 hotels (938 rooms) in the development pipeline.

IHG (InterContinental® Hotels Group) and the Real Estate Group RICSHER, S.A. de C.V. have opened the doors to the new Crowne Plaza Tuxpan, Mexico.

The Crowne Plaza Tuxpan is in a prime location situated on Carretera a La Barra Rd Km 6.5 in La Calzada neighborhood. The hotel is at the edge of the spectacular Tuxpan River, distinguished by the tranquility of its warm waters, and just five minutes from the beach. It also offers convenient access to the commercial and industrial area and is 40 minutes from the El Tajin airport.The Crowne Plaza Tuxpan’s contemporary style is a product of the young Veracruz architect José Luis Vázquez Cuellar. The hotel has 136 guestrooms, a grand luxurious Presidential Suite and one Imperial Suite, both equipped with a Jacuzzi for rest and relaxation. In addition, guestrooms are equipped with high-speed Internet access, voicemail, a work desk, ergonomic chair, LCD TV with satellite, direct dial telephone, safe, coffeemakers, hair dryer and vanity mirror.

The hotel has a club floor that offers a complimentary deluxe continental breakfast, wine and cheese during the evenings and a lounge with a large, comfortable social area. Other features include a gym, outdoor pool and children’s pool. The hotel has three restaurants: Tambuco Restaurant, which is a parrilla offering cuisine cooked over a wood fire grill and the capacity for 167 guests; the exclusive Tanhuijo Bar with live music and seating for 120; and the original pool bar “Tochtli” on the river’s edge.

For meeting planners and social events, the hotel offers the Tochpan Convention Center with seven meeting rooms that have the largest capacity in the region — holding up to 1,700 people; and three boardrooms — Tampamachoco, Tenechaco and Tabuco — with a 10 to 49 person capacity. Crowne Plaza is The Place to MeetTM with the signature comprehensive meetings program that ensures a seamless planning process and exceptional meeting experience consisting of three key components: a Two-Hour Response Guarantee, a Crowne Meetings Director and a Daily Meetings Debrief.

A master plan by Goettsch Partners (GP) has been selected as the winning scheme in the design competition for a prominent site in the new Pazhou district in Guangzhou, China. Three urban parcels form the triangular site, which is planned for seven buildings totaling 428,000 square meters. The client and developer is Poly Real Estate (Group) Co., Ltd., China’s leading state-owned real estate company. Set along the Pearl River Delta, the Pazhou district anchors the city’s expansion to the east. The winning master plan establishes a framework for the three-parcel site as a vibrant and iconic commercial destination that merges the new riverfront with the larger urban fabric.

A nautilus-like spiral defines the organizing concept for the complex, with its physical center providing a direct visual link to the city’s historic pagoda. The centerpiece of the development is a large public piazza, which helps unify the three urban parcels while clearly segregating pedestrian and vehicular activity. Sustainable design initiatives start with a series of elevated bridges that provide unobstructed breezeways and shade for the ground level. These bridges also house indoor social spaces linking the towers and are topped with habitable garden spaces that minimize the urban heat-island effect.

A landmark tower at the northeast corner of the site anchors the development in the skyline, positioned for maximum visibility and presence. The six other buildings encircle the piazza and are designed with podium-level retail and dining venues that activate the public spaces. Sky bridges between buildings define the perimeter of the piazza and link the complex, while maximizing views to the riverfront and adjacent canal. These elevated structures also form gateways that lend an overall permeability to the complex.

In the piazza, a terraced court rises from the site’s lower-level pedestrian access, passing beneath the development’s main connecting roadway. Lined with retail and restaurants, this court features a series of distinct landscaped amenities and terminates at a jewel-like exhibition facility, intended to be an educational and cultural venue. This entire network of pedestrian pathways also has a direct link to the area’s subway lines, providing convenient and intuitive access to the development.

Identified by a larger plan as parcels 4, 5 and 10, the three urban plots each includes a mix of commercial functions. Parcel 4 totals 210,000 square meters, featuring the landmark office and hotel tower, as well as a separate serviced apartment tower; the two are organized in a semicircular arrangement fronting the main piazza. Parcel 5 comprises 100,000 square meters, with three office towers triangulated on the development’s southernmost portion and configured around a secondary public plaza. Parcel 10 totals 118,000 square meters, including an office tower and a hotel, aligned along the adjacent canal. While each building will have its own unique identity, collectively, the buildings will form an ascending spiral, defining a singular urban gesture for the complex.

The Pazhou project represents GP’s fourth major assignment with Poly Real Estate. Other projects include a 159,000-square-meter mixed-use development in Deyang, including hotel, office, conference, and cultural functions; a 200-meter-tall office building in Shunde; and a two-tower, 150,000-square-meter office complex in Chengdu. As one of the largest real estate developers in China, Poly Real Estate operates 119 subsidiaries across 35 cities nationwide.

Bellstar Hotels & Resorts is excited to announce the opening of a leading conference and weddings venue in Canmore, Alberta. The Three Peaks Conference Centre & Aurora Theatre at Solara Resort & Spa, was recently completed and has proven to be an instant hit with business groups, convention organizers and brides-to-be. Facilities, which include meeting rooms, multi-use spaces and a theatre, are fully-equipped with the latest audio-visual technology. Three Peaks Conference Centre brings a new standard of venue to this popular Canadian Rocky Mountain resort community.

This 5,000-square-foot conference centre caters to a diverse range of groups, from company retreats and conferences, to visioning sessions and weddings, with space to accommodate up to 300 people in three unique rooms. The Solara Conference Room showcases built-in projection screens with the flexibility to be separated into two smaller meeting rooms (Bow and Chinook) and the Aurora Theatre, where up to 100 guests can enjoy a full size (24ft x 13ft) projection screen and retractable seating for set-up versatility. The Solara Conference Room and Aurora Theatre are equipped with high-tech audiovisual equipment and surround sound systems.

The flexible Solara pre-conference foyer space, which accommodates up to 70 guests, may be used for delegate registration, morning breakfasts and standing receptions. The Solara Grand Foyer – a bright, open space with floor-to-ceiling windows and an impressive fireplace – is an ideal delegate registration area or a casual standing reception for up to 40 people. Amenities at the 38,000-square-foot resort include hot pools and a family play area. A fitness centre and a health spa operated by One Wellness, will launch in the fall, although interim spa services are available via a unique spa suite, housing a full service satellite spa.

Eight decades after French architects imagined an exquisite mansion in the heart of Vietnam, their vision is now fulfilled as La Residence Hue Hotel and Spa joins the elite MGallery Collection — a collection of memorable and unique hotels by Accor.Introduced in 2008 by Accor, the largest international hotel operator in Vietnam, the hotels and resorts in the MGallery Collection are chosen from thousands of upscale properties on the basis of outstanding design, vision, history or location. World-traveller and actress Kristen Scott Thomas is the ambassador for the MGallery portfolio of properties, which numbers 45 unique hotels on 5 continents with the inclusion of La Residence Hue.

The 81-year-old boutique hotel is the third property in Vietnam to become a member of the MGallery Collection, and the first in the country to join the MGallery roster of “historic” hotels, alongside time-honored establishments such as the Covent Hotel in Amsterdam, the Grand Hotel Beauvau in Marseilles, and the Hotel Frances in Santo Domingo.

Besides its heritage background, the hotel also boasts strong design connections borne of its architectural roots. At the height of the art deco movement in 1930, the mansion at 5 Le Loi in Hue was built as part of the French Governor’s official residence in the former colony of Annam.

Over time, the hotel, with its distinctive bowled façade, long horizontal lines and nautical flourishes, has become a Hue landmark and a destination in its own right. With 200m of frontage along the south bank of the fabled Perfume River, the hotel’s terraces, gardens and ample banks of windows offer outstanding views of Hue’s Flag Tower bastion and Truong Tien Bridge.

Inside, the hotel’s age-old ambiance is evoked by a fusion of art deco styles. In three, linked buildings, the hotel’s 122 guest rooms and suites blend old-world charm with Asian opulence. Nostalgic touches like louvered shutters, hardwood floors and lofty ceilings evoke the romance of the Indochine era, encouraging guests to take a step back in time.

The Signature Suites — including the palatial, 76-square-metre Resident’s Suite — are a collection of individually designed and uniquely decorated spaces.

In the centre of the hotel’s main building is Le Gouverneur Bar, where a spectacular mural by Roland Renaud arches over the room, depicting scenes of Vietnamese daily life. The hotel’s fine-dining restaurant, Le Parfum, serves up a blend of Mediterranean cuisine with strong French overtones, plus traditional Vietnamese dishes.

International hotel operator, Club Quarters, is developing a new hotel and restaurant scheme at Kingsway, London WC2. With an outdoor terrace to Lincoln’s Inn Fields, the 10,000 sq ft restaurant building and 160 room hotel development are currently on site and due to open early in 2012. Leisure property specialists Davis Coffer Lyons has been appointed by Club Quarters to seek an flagship restaurant occupier for the space, which has open plan layout and exceptional floor to ceiling heights.

Club Quarters already operates 14 hotels across the UK and the USA, including three in London located at Trafalgar Square, St Pauls, and the City, primarily aimed at business travellers.

Rob Meadows, Davis Coffer Lyons, said: “This is a really impressive space both in terms of size and grandeur, with two prime entrances and an al fresco dining terrace. Kingsway is one of London’s main through-roads, with high pedestrian footfall and close to Covent Garden and the London School of Economics. The area is bustling with Londoners, day trippers and international tourists and is very much in need of a quality, innovative dining concept to enhance the range of catering provisions on offer in the area. The space can provide the opportunity to establish an iconic restaurant and it is rare to find this size of premises with a large al fresco terrace in this part of London.”

Hilton Worldwide has recently announced the signing of four new Hampton by Hilton hotels in Turkey, as it expands its brand offering in what is a key development market for Hilton Worldwide, with 34 hotels either currently operating or under development in the country. The four new signings are: Hampton by Hilton Istanbul Kayasehir; Hampton by Hilton Rize; Hampton by Hilton Corlu; and Hampton by Hilton Gaziantep.

Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, Europe and Africa, Hilton Worldwide, said, “We have already seen significant growth of our Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn brands in Turkey and now we have a further four Hampton by Hilton hotels under development. These latest signings join the existing Hampton by Hiltons currently under development in Ordu and Bursa, which are expected to open later this year.”

Hampton by Hilton Istanbul Kayasehir
The new-build hotel will be located in the heart of Kayasehir, a new satellite city currently under construction to the north of Istanbul, which will be home to more than 250,000 residents. Hampton by Hilton Istanbul Kayasehir will feature 144 bedrooms and form part of a mixed use development including a shopping centre, leisure facilities, restaurant outlets and office space. The hotel will benefit from the extension of the Istanbul metro line, a new highway and a third Bosphorus bridge – all key infrastructures improvements either planned or underway. The hotel build will consist of a six floor tower with three meeting rooms, a 24-hour fitness suite and car parking. The announcement of Hampton by Hilton Istanbul Kayasehir follows the signing of a management agreement with Makro Insaat Ticaret Ltd. Sti.

Hampton by Hilton Rize
Overlooking the Black Sea and located on the main coastal road to Artvin, the new-build Hampton by Hilton Rize will feature 90 bedrooms and will be located approximately seven kilometres from the city centre. Rize is becoming increasingly popular as a tourist destination, with the local area known for its incredible mountain range, which attracts visitors for outdoor activity tours. The hotel will also benefit from the city’s organized industrial zone, which boasts significant industry including tea production, nut processing and food manufacturing. The nearest airport is Trabzon, which is approximately 72 kilometres away. The announcement of Hampton by Hilton Rize follows the signing of a franchise agreement with YTP Turizm Yatirimlari ve Iisletmeleri A.S.

Hampton by Hilton Corlu
Located on the east side of Corlu, a rapidly developing industrial city, the new-build hotel is strategically located on the main thoroughfare from Istanbul to Turkey’s border with Greece and Bulgaria. Hampton by Hilton Corlu will feature 136 bedrooms and form part of a mixed-use development with restaurant outlets in close proximity to the hotel. Corlu International Airport is approximately five kilometres away and the hotel will benefit from its proximity to the Cerkezkoy Organized Industrial Zone, one of the largest industrial zones in Turkey and home to multiple major industrial companies. The hotel will consist of a seven floor tower with three meeting rooms, 24-hour fitness suite and car parking. The announcement of Hampton by Hilton Corlu follows the signing of a franchise agreement with Onur Isil Otomotiv Insaat Turizm Sanayi veTicaret Ltd. Sti.

Hampton by Hilton Gaziantep
The new-build hotel will feature 116 bedrooms and will be located in the city’s busy commercial district, within the Milenyum Business Centre, which is also home to office, retail and restaurant outlets. The hotel will benefit from three meeting rooms, a 24-hour fitness suite and car parking. Known as a gateway to the Middle East, the city has an important role in Turkey’s commercial and industrial infrastructure with four organized industrial zones and connections to key cities in the region. The announcement of Hampton by Hilton Gaziantep follows the signing of a management agreement with Muharrem Balat – Insaat Yuksek Muhendisi.

With a Turkish pipeline of six Hampton by Hiltons, all of the new hotels will feature the brand’s signature offerings, with a stylish lobby, free internet access throughout and working zone. Guests will also enjoy comfortable and flexible bedrooms all featuring the Clean and Fresh Hampton Bed. The hotels are designed and styled to appeal to business and leisure travelers, offering best-in-class service and comfort. Additional guest amenities include the free On the House hot breakfast, a 24-hour snack area, and a bar area to help guests connect after meetings.

The 4-star Drayton Manor Hotel officially opened its doors to guests on Monday 15th August.

Drayton Manor Theme Park’s Managing Director, Colin Bryan, Hotel Manager, Martin Wright and popular Thomas & Friends™ character, The Fat Controller, were at the launch to cut the ceremonial ribbon and welcome the hotel’s first guests personally. The hotel boasts 150-bedrooms, all of which have wi-fi access, air-conditioning, an en-suite bathroom and LCD TVs as standard. Each room has a stylish, contemporary interior, complete with a unique framed photograph of one of the theme park’s rides. Guests can choose from a range of rooms including standard, family, interconnecting, executive and deluxe rooms, as well as three presidential rooms, each with fantastic views overlooking the theme park and grounds, for those wanting that extra something special.

Eleven rooms are Thomas & Friends™ themed, each with a hand-painted scene on the wall and ceiling, depicting a different character from the Thomas & Friends series, along with unique themed bunk beds, and train track patterned carpets in the corridors leading to each room.

Guests can choose from two restaurants, Parklands Brassiere and Parklands Restaurant as well as two bars, Parklands Bar and the Carousel Bar, so guests will never be stuck for a choice of fine food and drink.

The hotel will also be a popular venue for both private and corporate events as it includes a beautifully styled, large hospitality suite, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows. This suite can accommodate up to 150 delegates for the likes of conferences, exhibitions and product launches or wedding parties and other celebrations. In addition, the hotel has three smaller rooms, each accommodating up to 12 people, making them ideal for board meetings.

Colin Bryan comments: “It’s been a long time coming and we’re all really pleased that the hotel is now ready to welcome visitors through the door. With the hotel now open, we can turn Drayton Manor into more than a theme park, it will become a leisure resort where families can come and enjoy a few fun filled days away from it all and let our excellent hospitality team take care of all their needs.”

Directory companies involved with the project includes:
AMS Group
RJD Interiors Ltd
Contra Curtains Limited
Hypnos Limited – Contract Division

Courtyard by Marriott, continues to gain popularity in the Indian market as the brand recently opened its seventh hotel, 179-room Courtyard by Marriott Pune City Centre. The opening today of Courtyard by Marriott Pune City Centre marks the third Marriott International hotel and the second Courtyard in the exciting Indian city. The Courtyard Pune City Centre is owned by The Advantage Raheja and operates under a long-term management agreement with Marriott International headed by Harinder J. Singh as general manager. Bright vibrant colors and modern smart design, the new Courtyard Pune City Centre features great in-room amenities such as the deluxe bedding, iPod docking stations, high speed internet access and a 37” LCD television. Throughout the hotel, from the lobby area to the guestrooms, Courtyard allows guests more control and choice over their stay, with services and amenities that create a healthy balance between business and leisure.

The hotel features a variety of great restaurants that appeal not just to guests, but also to Pune’s local food lovers. MoMo Café, offers all day dining options, combining Western dishes with local favorites. Red Zen features Pan Asian cuisine while Momo2Go is the perfect option for those who are looking for grab-and-go salads and sandwiches.

Presenting great value for money, the hotel caters well to both international as well as domestic travelers. The property also features four spacious banquet halls, a fitness centre, an outdoor swimming pool, party deck, a business centre and an executive lounge.

Simon Cooper, president and managing director Asia Pacific, Marriott International said, “The Courtyard by Marriott is a smart business hotel that caters to the needs of the traveler who is on the move. Asia-Pacific as a region has seen a tremendous growth curve as far as economic thrust and business acumen is concerned. A second Courtyard property in Pune was needed looking at the steady expansion the city has seen in various industries. We are delighted to be opening the Courtyard by Marriott Pune City Centre and to be working with such great partners in The Advantage Raheja.”

Rajeev Menon, area vice president – India, Malaysia, Maldives and Australia added, “With the influx of IT, ITES, manufacturing and automobile industries we see tremendous potential in Pune in the coming years. Given the demand, this is our third offering from Marriott International in Pune. We are extremely delighted to present our newest hotel today which is magnificently built and will stand ahead for the great hospitality standards that Marriott International is committed to offer.”

Swiss Development Group has commissioned visionary and award-winning architects and designers Michael Graves & Associates and Marc Michaels Interior Design to create 51º Spa Residences, the world’ first residence with in-home thermal spas direct from the source. Situated at the Northern head of the Leukerbad valley, overlooking the historic village, renowned architect Michael Graves vision for the luxury development pays homage to the iconic chalets of the 19th century golden age of mountaineering in Switzerland. Celebrating the serenity of the region and its famed thermal water, the extraordinary development appears to be carved out of the rock of the mountains and rise against the backdrop of the dramatic landscape. From a roughly massed base of boulders, the architecture rises into a staggered six story building encircled with private terraces and balconies created from reclaimed stone and timber complete with a slate roof.

51º Spa Residences offers owners the ultimate marriage of intricately crafted Old World luxury combined with a streamlined, contemporary design. Every residence is designed around a wood-beamed great room, the centrepiece of which is a massive open fireplace and key features include split-log walls, wide-plank floors and high beamed ceilings. Each residence is a symphony of today’s cleanest and purest materials – reclaimed oak, translucent white quartz, charcoal green slate and smoke-gray granite, taking inspiration from the natural surroundings.

Leukerbad’s famed thermal waters are central to the development and design. Each residence has its own personal spa facility with an indoor/outdoor soaking pool, steam room an indoor master bathtub, all of which have direct unlimited access to Leukerbad’s thermal spring. The Moon Bath, a Concetta stone slab tub, built into the oversized balconies provides residents with an unforgettable mountain experience with stunning views over the mountain range.

Phase 1 of 51º Spa Residences is expected to complete in late 2013.

It starts with a blob of pigment. Dipped into a furnace full of molten glass. What happens then is, as with all highly skilled craftsmanship, a little piece of magic. Huffing and puffing, toing and froing. Plenty of heat. The roar of burners in the furnaces drowning out conversation. Heat. My shirt sticks to me and I start trying to remember the camera specs. At what point does a digital camera melt?The two craftsmen work in near silence, a dance around the work area from furnace to bench, sensing each other’s movements, swinging their lances(’punteys’) with their points of molten glass in an unchoreographed but much practiced dance. Cheeks puffed, they blow and heat again in the furnace. The globule grows and is shaped by blowing down the hollow bow pipe, and fondled with gloves blackened by scorching. Sparks rise from newspaper pads , the continuous roar of the furnaces, the heat of the glass forming a counter point to the pauses and gestures.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts (Fairmont) has recently announced a new property scheduled to open in 2014 in Taiyuan, a historic city in Northern China and the capital of Shanxi Province.The luxury hotel will be situated along the Fen River offering spectacular views, yet within walking distance of the new Central Business District in Taiyuan. Shanxi Jun Lian Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. (Junlian) is developing the Sumeru project, a mixed-use development featuring luxury residential accommodations, a 7,000 square meter private club and retail facilities in addition to the hotel. The nearby convention and exhibition facilities, as well as a new major sports center currently under construction, will generate substantial business and leisure travel and demand. Taiyuan is a strategic center for industry and energy development in China as well as an important location for education and research in fields such as science and technology.

Fairmont Taiyuan will offer corporate and leisure travelers 330 guestrooms and suites, located on the upper floors of the tower anchoring the development. Guests will enjoy an extensive selection of lounges and restaurants featuring a variety of culinary offerings. For corporate events and local galas, the hotel features 3,500 square meters of function space, including a 1,500 square meter ballroom. Fairmont Taiyuan will include a Willow Stream Spa, the award-winning signature spa brand as well as fitness and pool facilities. All therapies at Willow Stream in Asia are “energy inspired” drawing from modern Western and traditional Chinese philosophies using prestigious international spa products.

Taiyuan, an important industrial city along a key communication route in the region is bordered by mountains including the famed Tianlong with its ancient grottos and over 1500 statues and embossings dating back to 420 and spanning 10 dynasties. The city itself has a 2500-year history, evident by the number of rich cultural and historic temples and attractions.

Fairmont Taiyuan joins Fairmont Beijing, China; Fairmont Jakarta, Indonesia (2014); Fairmont Makati, Philippines (2012); Fairmont Nanjing, China (2012); Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai, China; Fairmont Singapore and Fairmont Yangcheng Lake, China.

During the period of May 28th to June 10th 2011 the 5-star explorer cruise liner MS HANSETIC, part of the Hapag Lloyd fleet, had to undergo regular maintanance works in a shipyard in Hamburg. As a part of these works all cabins and suites had been refurbished according to the contemporary designs of the German interior designer, Wilfried Köhnemann.

All cabins now offer remarkable comfort and an individual atmosphere for a maxiumum of 184 guests, having “on board” table lamps and wall-mounted luminaires produced by Baulmann Leuchten.

As a burgeoning contender in the franchise market with two new franchise partners and a reputation for rapidly expanding innovation in new style hospitality – Roomzzz Aparthotel have released their latest figures after 10 months of this financial year that show remarkable growth for the independent brand. Figures are reading a certified 27% growth year on year highlighting a trend which is continuing to move forward. Heartening news indeed for a brand whose expansion is well documented.

Mark Walton Head of Roomzzz Aparthotel comments ‘the brand is evolving, morphing into a force which is smashing historic growth patterns and sales figures. Our investment into researching the marketplace is considerable and this knowledge has enabled us to make bold directional changes to drive and keep up with demand’.

Roomzzz are known for their own take on deciphering their target audience and tailoring the appeal of the brand to match and manage expectation of customers across the four sites which will soon show an additional two sites taking the company from a Northern (originally Yorkshire) brand to a Nationwide concern. Both new sites as part of the franchise model success occupy prime locations with one in East London near to the Olympic stadium and one in the centre of Bristol. The sites have been carefully chosen to relate to audiences looking for affordable yet luxury boutique accommodation solutions in City central locations.

Walton continues, ‘The Roomzzz Aparthotel franchise model has already been very well accepted and we are in discussions with several more franchisee partners to take the brand site total into double figures for 2012 and 2013 and could see us expanding into Europe’.

Exciting times ahead for the brand which has recently tackled the last bastion of customer service – real time loyalty with a new product, The Royalty Club. Figures are showing a 70% increase in new business as a result. Recently launched to a corporate audience the traditional concept of ‘corporate rate’ has been updated with real time discounts giving a far greater advantage to business travellers.

Two new sites are opening 2011/2012 in southern locations. Bristol and East London. One of which is under construction the other is in planning.

The newly completed 550-bedroom hotel for Mint Hotel Group is the latest and most prominent element of Amsterdam’s Eastern Dock Island regeneration project, sitting within Erik van Egeraat’s masterplan, adjacent to Amsterdam Centraal Train Station. The hotel occupies the sharp point of the development, with the historic canal basin directly to the south. The remainder of the Eastern Dock Island is densely developed and carefully sculpted with housing, offices, the Amsterdam City library and a music conservatoire.

Bennetts Associates’ hotel rises from eight to eleven floors and comprises of three linked blocks of bedrooms above two public floors that contain conference and dining facilities.

The composition of the building ensures that the bedrooms, terraces and the SkyLounge rooftop bar make the most of the views across the waterside and Amsterdam Old Town. The large suites, which sit in the angular corners of the building, have panoramic views across the dock whilst the central courtyard increases daylight to the internal bedrooms.

To the south and west of the hotel, the public areas spill out onto a pedestrian quayside, facing the city and acting as a “shop window” for the hotel. Road access is beside the railway embankment, contained by a continuous, elevated range of buildings on all the masterplan sites.

The hotel’s facades are a complex series of layers, consisting of moveable perforated shutters, glazing and brickwork, echoing the spirit of traditional Dutch architecture. The palette of materials in each part of the building responds to the different architectural styles around the site: the south-facing elevation incorporates the most brickwork in response to the architecture of the old town which it faces, whilst the east and west facades and bridges between the three blocks are predominantly glazed, reflecting the architectural language of the more contemporary parts of the city. All internal courtyard-facing facades are clad in red zinc, responding to the changing quality of light to this central area.

Rab Bennetts, Director of Bennetts Associates said: “It is hard to imagine a more dramatic and challenging site for a large hotel anywhere in Europe and it has been extremely satisfying to watch the project take shape within such a dynamic and forward-looking regeneration project.

We are delighted to see our third major project with Mint Hotels reach completion and it represents the latest stage in a hugely rewarding client/architect relationship. Mint Hotel’s belief in good design was fundamental to seeing this project come to fruition.”

The hotel is the third major project that Bennetts Associates has undertaken for Mint Hotel Group and follows the practice’s recent completion of a 583-bedroom hotel near the Tower of London. The firm’s first hotel, the 460-bedroom Mint Hotel (formerly City Inn) in Westminster, was completed in 2003.

Delicately illuminating the deep recessed ceiling of the Equus Bar at the Royal Horseguards Hotel London, suspended strings of clear acrylic shapes offer subtle sparkle to the bar and reception areas. Designed in collaboration with STS Design, to give a contemporary organic focus to the coffered ceiling with glints of bright light whilst highlighting the classic Victorian features, each recess houses hundreds of random acrylic shapes, all highly polished to catch the light. Eight low voltage 35w IRC downlighters are encased within each stainless steel ceiling plates giving flashes of brilliant light, reflected by the individually strung acrylic drops.

Part of a major restoration for this magnificent 5 star Guoman hotel, the Equus bar is now an eclectic mix of furnishings combined to recreate the ‘Gentleman’s Club’ atmosphere of yesteryear.

The Mezzanotte series of bollards has been designed to allow architects and designers the flexibility to personalise many path, barrier, parking and perimeter lighting applications with twenty two options to choose from.Manufactured from Lecce or Lava (volcanic igneous stone) and diffused plate glass, Mezzanotte combines clean lines with strong, solid features. Available lamp options are fluorescent, halogen and metal halide.

Stone is the world of materials par excellence. Every architect or designer that appreciates the tactile and chromatic aspects of stone is passionate about Materials, and when using natural stone it makes us at Ca’belli think about territory, its evolution, its future, the fragility of its equilibrium, but for the population of that territory stone can becomes an identification, a reference for the area, such as is found with Bath and Bath stone.

The path traced by the many hands working stone, from its extraction to the final use, fulfils a gap in our society; an antique wisdom that is kept alive through the use of almost forgotten workmanship.

Stone Architecture enables us to recuperate a physical relationship with nature’s products, with their transformation and with the use that man makes of it. Mere utopia, maybe, but the aim underlying our Stone Architecture is to allow Mother Earth’s inhabitants to develop a renewed awareness of sustainable growth. Other learning experiences and opportunities arise naturally all along this stone route.

Our future is based on materials, innovationn and design. This formula sums up Ca’ Belli’s work. Our team is made up of craftsmen, designers and experts in a creative workshop that is our essence and the core of Made in Italy.

If you would like to receive your own copy of the Ca’belli Luce 2011 catalogue then please send your request to info@fw-lighting.com

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announces that it has signed an agreement with Silk Way Airlines LLC to open a Sheraton hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan this Fall. The opening of the Sheraton Baku Airport Hotel marks the entry of Starwood into the country and is part of the company’s strategic expansion plan to open more than 60 Sheraton hotels around the world in the next three years.According to Roeland Vos, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa, and Middle East, the hotel marks an exciting milestone for Starwood’s continued growth throughout Eastern Europe. “Reaching out to new frontiers is a focus of our expansion strategy, so we are delighted to partner with Silk Way Airlines as we debut the first Starwood hotel in Azerbaijan,” Vos commented. “Baku is the main economic hub of the country and one of the most important tourist destinations in the region. Sheraton’s strong reputation will assist in further positioning Baku as a destination for the international traveller.”

The Sheraton Baku Airport Hotel will be located directly in front of the Heydar Aliyev International Airport, the main airport in Baku. The hotel will have 207 guest rooms, including 14 suites, offering the only branded accommodation option in the vicinity of the airport. The hotel will also feature extensive dining, conference and leisure facilities as well as signature Sheraton amenities including the luxurious all-white SweetSleeper beds, a Sheraton Club Lounge and the Link@Sheraton experienced with Microsoft communications hub where guests can socialise and also go online.

Sheraton recently announced that it has invested more than $100 million into upgrading 120 Club Lounges around the world. The enhancement to Sheraton Club Lounges – one of the most popular Sheraton signature amenities – is the final chapter of the brand’s recent $6 billion revitalization effort.

The organic movement that swept the food industry is manoeuvring into GHM’s spas, property by property, banishing chemically enhanced formulations for the purest, greenest product lines available.Starting this month in Chiang Mai, Thailand, GHM embarks on a spa-by-spa makeover, embracing new organic lines from Voya, Ila and SpaRitual and a green philosophy that deepens the hotel management group’s holistic bona fides.

“We’ve always had a holistic spa concept, but until now the choice of suitable product lines has been limited,” says Brenda Ramen, GHM’s spa director. “Savvy spa goers are demanding alternatives to chemically based formulations. If I wouldn’t put it in my body, why would I put it on my hair or skin?”

The new line-up from GHM champions products approved by the Soil Association in the UK and the USDA in the United States. They contain no harsh chemicals, no parabens, no toxins — products that go beyond pure and natural to organic.

The commitment to organic products by GHM does not come without cost. The shelf life for its new product lines is far shorter than its former lines. But commercial concerns took a backseat to what Ramen describes as an ethics-based approach.

Items by Ila, for example, are hand-made in the Cotswolds, England. The company uses exotic ingredients — such as rose oil from India and argan oil from Morocco — and takes pride in its quality control.

Ila’s founder, Ramen says, regularly visits the oil farms to make sure she gets something that’s genuine and 100-percent pure.

“The Moroccan argan oil is especially fantastic because it’s rich in anti-aging fatty acids and it’s a ‘dry oil’ so there’s no greasy residue on the skin,” says Ramen.

To jump-start the new initiative, Ramen summoned GHM spa trainers and managers from as far away as Miami and Muscat for a two-week training session in Chiang Mai. Manufacturers detailed the new lines and Ramen reinforced the hotel group’s commitment to this new, expanded realm of responsibility.

“Our guests want upscale amenities, to be sure, but these days they’re as concerned — I’d say more concerned — about green solutions and green products,” says Ramen. “It’s not just the planet people are concerned about, it’s their own bodies. They’re after health before wealth.”

Once the makeover is complete in Thailand, Ramen — a 17-year veteran of the spa industry and native of Canada — will see to the same changes on the spa menu at one of Asia’s most renowned resorts, The Nam Hai in Vietnam.

From there, the new menus and products will debut at The Chedi Muscat in Oman, The Setai in Miami, The Legian in Bali and The Chedi Club Tanah Gajah, also in Bali.

By the time the six-month project wraps, all GHM wellness specialists will qualify as experts on what makes the new products unique and how to apply those lines in the new treatments.

The Drayton Manor Hotel has released a sneak preview of its rooms ahead of its imminent opening on Monday 15th August.The photos show the luxurious family room, which can accommodate up to two adults and two children and comes with wi-fi, air conditioning, an LCD flat screen TV as standard, as well as a comfy sofa to relax on following a day in the park or at a corporate event.

The hotel has also released a preview of the Thomas & Friends™ themed rooms. There will be 11 of these rooms, which have each been hand painted with fantastic images of the characters from the popular Thomas & Friends TV series. The rooms will also feature unique themed bunk beds each with fitted televisions.

The 150-room hotel will help transform the park from a popular day out attraction to a leisure resort. Guests will be able to enjoy a full day in the park without the worry of a long journey home that same day. Whether it’s a family wanting to wind down after an action-packed day in the park, or a couple looking for a fun-filled weekend break, the hotel can accommodate everyone.

The hotel is also the ideal venue for those travelling on business as it’s located only a short distance from Birmingham city centre and has excellent links to national motorway networks. The hotel’s excellent hospitality facilities ensure it’s a sound choice for those looking to organise for corporate events and exhibitions as well as private parties.

The hotel also boasts two restaurants, Parklands Restaurant and Parklands Brassiere, along with two bars the Parklands Bar and the Carousel Bar, where guests can unwind and relax.

New restaurant, bar and F&B offering for Brighton hotel

PURE Pop-up Restaurants & Events has announced a new partnership with The Royal York Hotel, Brighton.

The collaboration, which will see a new F&B concept in every aspect of the boutique hotel from bespoke conference and banqueting menus and room service, to private dining in the Karaoke pods and a new concept restaurant and bar, starts this summer as an extended partnership with the 51-bed, 4* hotel. Pop Restaurant and Bar at The Royal York Hotel will unite a sumptuous mix of city chic with bohemian seaside charisma in a vibrant and bustling Brighton surrounding, just minutes from the famous Palace Pier.

POP will be managed by Nicola Delmege, a well-known face in Brighton having owned and run The PV @ The Jury’s Out, Brighton since 2003. Evensus Ltd owner and managing director, Jerome Ibanez will retain overall management of the venue in partnership with the hotel.

Neal Brunning joins the team from The Courtyard in Brighton. As Head Chef of POP, Brunning has created a menu that celebrates the restaurant’s seaside location and local suppliers. Dishes include Roast Cod and Clam Chowder, Risotto of Crab, Avocado Ice Cream, and Pan Seared Wild Sea Bass Fillet with Crab beignet.

PURE marks its first foray into hotel catering partnerships with the summer launch of POP Restaurant and Bar. Part of bar, restaurant and event management company Evensus Ltd, the team behind the launch have previously managed restaurants, bars, pop-up venues and private event spaces, working with leading chefs and establishing partnerships with brands such a Relais Chateaux and Pommery Champagne.

POP launches on 7th September.

To exceptional services, add exceptional recognition: the Domaine Les Moulins and its Original Camping have just been awarded their 5th star, thus becoming one of the most prestigious sites in France.This crowing point sets the seal on a new concept, “Glamping”, a mix of luxury and authenticity, glamour and nature.

On the glamour side are high quality facilities – heated pool and wellness spa, steam room and relaxing massages – and services to match its 5-star rating: bar-restaurant, kids club, entertainment for all, but also the piano bar and shows, room service, daily papers, etc.

On the camping side, Domaine Les Moulins has been able to restore its former glory by putting to the fore what gives the campsite all its charm: a real connection with nature.
Comfortably installed in their homes made of canvas and pale wood (tipis, tents or ecolodges), the Original Campers live as close to nature as possible without harming it since all facilities are part of a 100%.sustainable development approach.

Domaine Les Moulins is now a “must”, thanks to a passionate entrepreneur, Alain Dominique Perrin.

Businessman and philanthropist, founder of the Cartier Foundation and developer of the famous “Must de Cartier” brand, mentor of an institute for training the elite, patron of the arts and owner of an extraordinary vineyard at Chateau Lagrezette: it goes without saying that Alain Dominique Perrin shows a taste for eclecticism.

And the running of two high-quality campsites in Noirmoutier, in tune with the environment and coastline, adds a new touch to this impressionist tableau.

Yet there has been real consistency in the path taken by this aesthete and businessman: whatever adventure he has started, he has always strived for exacting standards and excellence.

Whether it is to environmentally friendly camping, beautiful pieces of jewellery or an exceptional grape variety, Alain Dominique Perrin always brings his mastery of the business world and his passion for the beautiful and the good.

A brilliant illustration how to combine the useful and the pleasant…

What are your thouhgts on “Glamping”? Comment below!

Inverlochy Castle Management International (ICMI), the hotel management consultancy behind some of Scotland’s most luxurious hotels, has expanded its ever-growing portfolio with the acquisition of two new properties – Holm House in Cardiff and Albergo Villa Casanova in Tuscany.ICMI is currently enjoying phenomenal success with a number of hotels stretching from the corner of North West Sutherland to the central belt. The addition of two new properties marks the venture into new luxury markets.

ICMI is famous for transforming the reputation of hotels and advising on all aspects of hotel management from the kitchens, to interior design, to sales and marketing.

With top names such as Albert Roux OBE and John Green of John Green Communications on board, the team has grown to win national acclaim. They won the Hotel Consultancy of the Year Award at the Scottish Hotel Awards in both 2010 and 2011 and have won a plethora awards for their properties over the last two years.

Albergo Villa Casanova in Tuscany is the result of a complete renovation of an 18th century farmhouse set in 360 acres of mixed woodland just ten minutes from Lucca.

It’s a distinctive and relaxed five star hotel which boasts 14 luxury suites, magnificent terraces, an infinity swimming pool and a tennis court.

Holm House in Cardiff is a 12-bedroomed boutique hotel which boasts stunning views across the Bristol Channel to the islands of Flatholm and beyond. The hotel is home to a luxury spa which includes a relaxation room with sea views; a gym and a large hydrotherapy pool.

For the first time in the 117-year history of the National Trust, one of Britain’s largest and most respected charitable organisations, an external agency has been brought in to oversee a major interior design project. Cornwall-based designers Absolute Interiors were commissioned to breathe new life into the tea rooms at Killerton House, the 18th Century mansion located on a 6400 acre Devonshire estate near Exeter. After a record visitor year in 2010 (in excess of 140,000) the National Trust felt that the ground floor venue needed a facelift.

To create a new restaurant space that would pay tribute to the heritage of the estate and its period features in a contemporary but sensitive way, teh designers spent one month weaving elements of the Killerton story into the renovation work and adding layers of detail inspired by various physical aspects of the existing estate. The ‘Killerton Kitchen’ restaurant as it is now known includes reclaimed furniture and floor stencils that allude to the interiors of Killerton’s Prayer room, Flower room and Housekeeper’s Room.

Meanwhile, quirky touches such as a recycled yoghurt pot counter-top, teapot lights and bespoke montage wallpaper featuring family photographs of the original estate owners and founders, the Acland family, give the new space a fresh and endearing ‘talking point’ quality.

“We felt deeply honoured to be working with the National Trust,” says Helen Blake “The estate itself is magnificent but there was a clear need to revitalise the ambience and character of the restaurant space. With a project like this we obviously wanted to respect its historic value and heritage while adding a new sense of appeal and interest for visitors. There was also a need to be highly practical with the design work as the interior is regularly well-used. We hope people will feel the new restaurant has a genuine ‘wow factor’ but also that it blends seamlessly with everything that Killerton represents.”

Killerton’s General Manager Phillip Smart adds, “This was a real first for the National Trust so we had to get it right. Killerton is a lovely place that continues to draw thousands of visitors every year. To move forward and retain the appeal of the estate we needed to ensure that the new restaurant area would be something that retained the spirit of Killerton but also something that would really turn heads and add to the visitor experience. It was a pleasure to work with Absolute as they made it their mission to completely understand exactly what we needed to achieve. Their creativity and ideas were refreshing and incredibly perceptive and the feedback we’ve received so far about the design work has been excellent.”

The Block vertical and horizontal range of indoor and outdoor lighting has IP55 water ingress protection. In this line of products the “Lecce stone” obtained from Ashlar block is structural, thus the material acquires great impact and presence. Six light options are available including metal halide, to address a wide range of illumination needs.The union of materials offered by Nature and common to all mankind makes each and every object born of Ca’ Belli unique. Thus the creation of Nature combined with the creativity of our designers reach out to all our senses, and the primeval and cultural roots that are part of our DNA.

Made in Italy, Ca’ Belli has always used natural materials from various regions of Italy, processed by craftsmen who have passed down the trade from generation to generation, likewise, glass processing that has not changed over time and the blowpipe technique is still used by us today.

Ca’ Belli has also gained a unique understanding of stone based on design, materials and abilities, enabling us to start from an innovative concept and obtain objects that can be introduced in projects of varying dimensions. Our standard selection will meet most needs but there are projects that have characteristics that are so unique that they need specially designed luminaries. These “specials” often come from ideas of the client or architect, so together we define, design and utilise materials and light sources to create the object demand.

Our future is based on materials, innovation and design. This formula sums up Ca’ Belli’s work. Our team always involves craftsmen, designers and experts in a sort of creativity workshop that is our essence and the core of Made in Italy.

Please visit FW Lighting’s website to see many more unique designs and to order your copy of the 2011 Ca’ belli catalogue.

A seating collection that will help make your world a more colourful place.RHA Furniture’s extensive B10 seating collection offers a wide range of standard colours, plus the option to specify any colour you desire.

Not only does a colourful chair look striking, but can give any interior a real sense of individuality.

The new Croissant (B10) is available as a side chair, armchair & lounge chair. The seat & back can be upholstered in fabric or leather of your choice; the beechwood frame can be stained or lacquered any colour you desire.

The Cafe (B10) is available as a side chair, armchair & bar stool. The beechwood frame can be stained or lacquered any colour you desire. You also have the option to have the seat upholstered in fabric or leather of your choice.

For further details on the whole seating range please contact RHA Furniture or visit www.rhafurniture.com.

8Hotels has announced the launch of Diamant Hotel Brisbane.

Opened in 2009, this near new 84-room contemporary boutique hotel has now joined the upper scale Diamant collection of sister properties located in Sydney and Canberra. Superbly positioned on tranquil Astor Terrace, elegantly designed and home to Brisbane’s hot newcomer O’Bar and Restaurant, the Diamant provides for a quintessential boutique hotel experience. 8Hotels CEO Paul Fischmann commented; “We are delighted to bring the Diamant brand to Brisbane. Brisbane is fast becoming Australia’s most dynamic city with a forceful movement dedicated to creativity, arts, design and commerce and we’re proud to be a part of the fast paced progress of this cosmopolitan city.”

The Diamant Brisbane is the second Brisbane property for 8Hotels alongside the iconic Limes Hotel located in Fortitude Valley. 8Hotels now offers guests two of Brisbane’s best boutique hotel experiences.

To celebrate the opening of the Diamant Hotel Brisbane, 8Hotels is giving away an iPad2 to a lucky Facebook member who ‘likes’ the Diamant Hotel Brisbane before the 31st of August 2011.

Being recognised as one of the most green-friendly and environmentally responsible hotels in Hong Kong, Langham Place, Mongkok, Hong Kong is once again at the helm of taking the dining experience to a greener and more engaging level.Gone are the days of lengthy-paged menus… Believing cutting the amount of paper used does even more to preserve resources and reduce carbon emissions, Langham Place Hotel’s vibrant dining outlets are replacing traditional menus with over 30 handy iPads. With just a click and flip on the sleek screen, guests can pick their nibbles and drinks in seconds…you know the drill…

Elaine Joe, Executive Assistant Manager – Food and Beverage who led the evolution of menus, says, “We used to update menus with new items every season. Upon the implementation of iPad menus, we have elevated the dining experience by creating sparkling surprises on the menu every week, not to mention reducing the use of paper tremendously.”

The hotel’s fun and interactive vino app, the WINE BUFF, is used in Ming Cellar and is a favourite with guests. Besides housing the hotel’s wine menu, the WINE BUFF engages guests in a series of wine-related entertainment. While foodies can test out Wine Guy Zach Yu’s innovative Chinese food and wine pairing top tips, the boys can have a cheeky moment and pick what they think are chick wines…a.k.a. wine for the ladies and wine for the men. Spin the wheel (or even better, spin the bottle…) and adventurous guests may discover an unexpected grape that works for them better than their regular…

As Ming Cellar develops more captivating features for the WINE BUFF in the coming months, Tokoro – Robatayaki & Whisky Bar, Portal – Work & Play and The Backyard have all rolled out iPad menus enabling them to constantly and continuously update them with their impressive gourmet goodies. In the near future, guests can expect even more stimulating tastes to be unveiled…Langham Place, Mongkok, Hong Kong, evolving, yet again…

Travelodge has announced that it will be seeking to develop ‘Metro’ (small) style hotels, in prestigious locations and in office blocks across the UK; in a bid to meet the growing demands of its customers. These properties which will be between 20 to 40 rooms in size, will allow Travelodge to build small hotels in highly priced, much sought after locations and occupied office buildings across the UK. The desired locations will include:

• The City of London
• London Boroughs such as: Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster, Fulham and Richmond
• Major UK cities such as: Oxford, Cambridge, Bath, Cardiff, York, Bristol, Chester, St Albans and Edinburgh
• The coastline of the UK
• Popular holiday hotspots such as: Cornwall, Devon, the Lake District, the Scottish Highlands and near to theme parks

The ‘Metro’ hotel model will allow the hotel chain to open properties near to existing popular Travelodge’s in locations where larger development sites are either not available or have unrealistic price expectations. In addition to enabling the budget hotelier to open in suburban locations where larger sites may not be deemed desirable by local authorities and development land is at a premium.

Properties that will be considered under this new scheme include: floors in office buildings, business parks, pubs, old cinemas / theaters, snooker halls, listed buildings, retail outlets and derelict buildings.

The desire to build smaller Travelodge hotels has been inspired by two successful development ventures the company invested in during 2010. The first initiative was opening a ‘Metro’ style prototype hotel in one of Edinburgh’s busiest tourist areas (Rose Street which is just off Princes Street). Travelodge built a hotel in a Georgian listed building which also houses two bars and a restaurant. The 43-room hotel sits above the three properties and has a small entrance sandwiched between the bar and restaurant. The hotel has become one of the company’s top performing hotels due to its key location..

The second venture to support the ‘Metro’ style Travelodge concept is the successful conversion of 52 Innkeeper’s Lodge’s into the Travelodge estate following their purchase from Mitchells & Butlers in July 2010. The majority of these acquired hotels are under 40 rooms and have proven to be highly profitable additions for Travelodge. A prime example is the 18-room Southgate Travelodge, in the London borough of Enfield, which has been full nearly every night since acquiring it. There is little competition nearby and there are no development opportunities within the local vicinity, despite the clear demand for hotel rooms.

This new building approach will run alongside Travelodge’s existing growth strategy to expand to 1,100 hotels and 100,000 rooms by 2025. The ‘Metro’ style properties will still be called Travelodge hotels and the room size will be based on a standard double Travelodge room (15sqft)

The ‘Metro’ Travelodge’s will be run by existing managers of nearby larger Travelodge hotels and will provide the perfect training ground for trainee managers, recruited via Travelodge’s new Apprenticeship programme – JuMP (Junior Management Programme).

This announcement also ensures that Travelodge will continue to be the most active developer in the hotel market. Since the collapse of Lehman brothers, the company has opened or exchanged on over 14,000 rooms/4.5m sq ft, more than any other leisure company in Britain. Travelodge has also become the largest hotel brand in: London, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Cambridge.

Over the last five years Travelodge has heavily focused on city centre growth to rebalance its portfolio – away from roadside locations. Today these motorway and trunk route sites represent just 25% of the company’s hotel stock with the remaining quarter in suburban, seaside and tourist locations.

Travelodge currently has 472 hotels (over 32,000 rooms) across the UK and is currently building 40 hotels this year.

This new collection from fledging Belgian company Bastalpe is a sophisticated range of dining tables and benches. The simple linear form of the powder coated aluminium frame punctuated with black core Trespa (high pressure laminate) tops makes this a durable and robust product suitable for bar and restaurant areas.