Top 5 stories of the week: Suites in the sky, defining trends and X marks the spot in Toronto
Hamish Kilburn Hamish Kilburn https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/81d2884aeeac3c45e38c47cacc508c2178bab773320ff2d6a83bdcc803d93aec?s=96&d=mm&r=gIn the same week Hotel Designs’ announced a new floating hotel in Edinburgh, a mountain of so-called 2019 trends and major openings were among the highlights of this weeks headlines, as editor Hamish Kilburn reports…
January arrived, and what inevitably followed was a plethora of emails of which each subject claimed to have the answers to this year’s must-have trends (I use the term loosely). And while it’s interesting to read all about whether the ’70s will or will not makes its return, or whether chrome really will replace the brushed-brass finishes, hotel designers must ensure that whatever they produce is timeless. The age-old argument between whether it’s best to be fashionable or stylish is never more relevant than it is in hotel design. Style, in our industry at least, wins every time over ever-changing fashion. It is somewhat hypocritical of myself, therefore, to have uploaded a piece about flooring trends this week, but I urge you to approach this topic with a pinch of salt. If trends were concrete (and I’m not referring to the industrial-chic bathroom look that was ‘in’ in AW19), international hotel design would become static with nothing ever changing. My hope is that this piece, along with all my features I have the pleasure of writing for Hotel Designs, can be seen as a guide – one opinion among many, if you like, with the ‘many’ referring to our wonderful readers of course.
To start the conversation over the weekend, leaving trends aside for now, here are five headlines that have grabbed the attention of our industry this week.
1) New luxury floating hotel launches in Edinburgh
Image credit: Fingal
Developed by The Royal Yacht Britannia’s trading company, Royal Yacht Enterprises, Fingal, a new floating hotel with 23 luxury cabins that are each named after Stevenson lighthouses, has launched.
The hotel, which will be permanently berthed in Edinburgh’s historic Port of Leith, includes considered design that offers high specifications of craftmanship and finishes with nautical touches and polished woods throughout. Sumptuous Scottish leathers and the finest linens are in colour palates inspired by Fingal’s journey from land and sea.
2) SPOTLIGHT ON: Major hotel openings for Q3 & Q4 2019
Image credit: Iniala Malta
Last week, we brought you what we considered to be the top hotels that are planning on opening in the first half of this year. Following suit, we have identified even more significant launches of design hotels that are planning to cut their ribbons from this Summer onwards this year. From beachside resorts, to cliff-side eco hotels, here are the editorial team’s top picks.
Read more about the major openings in Q2 & Q3 >
3) Checking in to Hotel X – the luxury Canadian hotel that stands alone
Image credit: Hotel X Toronto
Juxtaposing the neighbouring buildings in the Liberty Village area, which were once cut off from the rest of the city of Toronto, Hotel X Toronto is the new sought-after boutique kid on the block that is making waves as a new kind of luxury experience in a city that welcomes more than 40 million tourists each year.
Read more about Hotel X here >
4) Hotels At New Heights: Airlines’ race to launch luxury suites in the sky
Image credit: Etihad Airways
Travelling the world today is arguably the most comfortable it has ever been. And it comes with few raised eyebrows that the long-haul travel market is dominated, without a shadow of a doubt, by the airlines. In 2017, National Geographic reported that air travel is predicted to over the next 20 years. In the same year, Forbes reported that within just 12 months more than a staggering four billion passengers travelled by plane, which set a new record. But with slower forms of travel, such a luxury cruises and iconic train carriages, making their return in popular demand, airlines are having to adapt for the luxury market – and each other – in order to welcome guests into suites in the sky.
Read more about suites in the sky >
5) Radisson Blu opens two hotels in Abu Dhabi
Two new Radisson Blu-branded landmark hotels have arrived in Abu Dhabi, one of which is located on the vibrant and iconic sea walk of Abu Dhabi, while the other is situated in one of the UAE’s cultural gems, known as the Garden City for its natural springs, plantations and lush palm groves.
Read more about the Radisson openings here >
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The practice has been led by Liz Pickard for more than 20 years. Pickard is an accredited RIBA Client Adviser.
Omar Nicholls, Development Director for LGH Hotels Management Ltd, was tasked to oversee and execute the refurbishment plans for the hotel and has worked closely with external design agency Design Coalition to achieve the new Holiday Inn open lobby concept.“Our main goal with the open lobby design was to create a space that feels familiar, like an extension of home, and has a logical flow so guests can truly relax and utilise each corner in a way that makes sense to them and accommodates all of their work and relaxation needs,” he explains.
Working with David Archer, Howard Jones is a Project Director with 20 years’ experience specialising in delivering a diverse portfolio of building typologies
With more than 25 years’ experience of architectural practice, much of it focused on luxury hotel refurbishment, James Twomey has been responsible for statement projects such as The Beaumont, Four Seasons Park Lane and Four Seasons St Petersburg.
John Denton’s principal interests in both architecture and urban design have shaped a range of projects over more than 40 years of owning the company. Denton, who is the founding partner of the London-based studio, lectures to schools of architecture, professional institutes and is a well-known keynote speaker.
John Simpson pioneered mixed-use sustainable urban design long before it was adopted as government policy in the UK.
Established in 2010, Ben Adams Architects has quickly developed a reputation for elegant, contextual architecture balancing function with an appropriate degree of innovation and flair. Its portfolio demonstrates an ability to design buildings that fulfi ll clients’ immediate needs, but which also provides enough fl exibility to meet changing requirements in the future.
As Head of Hotels for 3D Reid, Gordon Ferrier brings with him more than 30 years’ hospitality experience on a wide range of hotel projects, covering both new-builds, refurbishments and conversions.
Recently reviewed by Hotel Designs, and the venue chosen to shelter the inaugural Hotel Designs Meet Up North event, King Street Townhouse is a shining example of how hotel design in the north is booming.
Johnson Joseph arrived at LaLiT in November 2017 from his role with the Cairn Hotel Group, where he was most recently hotel manager at Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross.
After two years leading the restaurant team at The PIG near Bath, during which she was awarded a Hotel Catey, Sarah Holden was promoted to the position of Hotel Director in 2015. Since then, Holden has made a name for herself on the British hotel scene by overseeing 90 staff in the stunning 29-key property.
The Zetter Group has become known for value-driven, boutique properties, rich with character. It is this attention to detail, narrative and the guest experience that sets The Zetter Group’s properties apart from the competition.
A Lover of cycling, fair weather and discovering new food and drink, Fiona Moores became the general manager of The Pig at Combe in 2016, when the 27-key property opened. Under Moores’ leadership, the hotel became the winner in the Conde Nast Traveler HOT LIST 2017 awards.
Gareth Banner is the Managing Director of The Ned: a hotel, members club andcollection of restaurants in the City of London from Soho House & Co and Sydell Group.
Located in the Neighbourhood of Cinematic Glamour, Hotel Indigo London-1 Leicester Square boasts 95 boutique style rooms, a sky-high rooftop bar and Restaurant including private space suitable for meetings, media events, pitches and huddles.
Harry Gregory has more than 35 years’ experience in designing hotels, restaurants and private residences worldwide. After graduating from the Royal College of Art, he worked on product design and later specialised in furniture design at Dale Keller & Associates.
Prior to working with Twenty2Degrees, Joseph Stella worked as a senior designer for Jestico + Whiles and RPW Design.
Just minutes from the historic city centre of Athens stands a pine-clad peninsula jutting into the Aegean Sea. Now home to the new
, the Hotel’s General Manager, said: “Nowhere in the world do ancient culture and modern lifestyle come together so beautifully than in Greece.
Having recently led her team to complete the £6 million refurbishment of the Radisson Blu Hotel Nice and the Radisson Blu Stansted airport, including new
