The Viero UK team like to make all of their clients feel special. That’s why our range of surface designs span way beyond the traditional Italian finishes that you may be accustomed to.
Some of our strongest client relationships have been born from creating something unique for their projects. Our design studio is filled with talented Artisans who have a real passion for creating new surface finishes – and they do it every day.
Specification Manager David Wragg said: “We are speaking to new designers and architects every day who are always looking to differentiate themselves from their competition.
“The creative team work closely with our clients to produce new samples that are tailored to their design brief. It’s exciting because it means every project is different allowing us to keep pushing the boundaries of our products.”
Jalu Ltd recently launched its first two collections of striking outdoor floor lamps.
Inspired by outdoor living products whilst working and travelling overseas, Alison Cavey and Juliet Kauffmann have spent the last 12 months “exploring a wide range of novel materials, production methods and designs in order to bring something fresh and exciting to the UK market”, says Juliet.
Jalu’s original designs provide both an object of beauty during the day and ambient light in the evening. Each lamp is hand cast to order in the UK from a novel and versatile material that is lighter than stone and lends itself to a wide range of colours and finishes, producing inherently beautiful and tactile lamps that are fully weatherproof and can be left out all year round.
The company has now unveiled its latest addition to the novel modular Holix Collection – a range of attractive interchangeable table tops that transform the outdoor floor lamps into a ‘table lamp’. Building on the inherent flexibility of this design concept, the existing lid is simply removed and replaced with the hexagonal table top. These new elements echo the aesthetics of the core lamp modules and are available in any of the company’s current palette, including finishes that ensure that each is individually unique. Available in range of heights from coffee table to bistro, the Holix Table Lamp provides both a striking focal point and a stylish piece of furniture for your outdoor entertaining space. Colour matching and bespoke commissions are also available.
Jalu designs are relevant to any setting: garden rooms, patios, terraces, pool sides and gardens. Available to order now, see www.jalu.co.uk.
GROHE is delighted to reveal its brand new Smartbox, an extension to the award-winning SmartControl shower line.
The “Push, Turn, Shower” experience has now become even more diverse thanks to new models and combination options. In addition to the stylish on-the-wall model, the new Smartbox offers a concealed behind-the-wall installation. For even greater design variety, both the spray faces and the Smartbox concealed units are now also available in an on-trend white.
Exposed or concealed The perfect design for every bathroom – the new Smartbox offers an elegant and sleek solution. While using the same self-explanatory push-and-turn buttons as the on-the-wall SmartControl, it features a stylish minimalist design and comes in a wide variety of options. Available in square and round designs as well as in chrome or white finishes, the new shower control system provides a solution for both any bathroom décor and for any installation point. Moreover, the XXL-sized Mono head shower is now also sold separately.
Coordinated or contrasting The latest additions to this popular line are designed to provide even greater design freedom. In particular, the shower faces on the head showers and the concealed fittings are now available in white, as well as the popular chrome. This allows for coordination with the hand shower, which also features a white shower face. Alternatively, the chrome versions can be used to create exciting design contrasts.
Smart and intuitive The new GROHE Smartbox uses the latest German technology and is manufactured to the very highest standards of German workmanship, as encapsulated in the label “Made in Germany”. At its heart is the combined push-and-turn technology which gives users finger-tip control of the head and hand shower’s different spray patterns, while allowing control of the water flow rate by rotating the buttons. The intuitive operation is helped by easy to understand pictographs. When the water is switched off, the system automatically memorises the chosen flow rate until the water is switched on again.
For a truly personalised shower experience that pampers the whole body, the generously dimensioned GROHE Rainshower 360 Duo head shower combines the gentle GROHE PureRain or GROHE Rain O2 spray with the energising TrioMassage setting. The invigorating shower experience is completed by the GROHE Power&Soul hand shower delivering flexibility. GROHE CoolTouch technology protects against scalding by preventing the chrome surfaces from heating up.
The GROHE SmartControl shower system has recently won the Green Good Design Award for its combination of stylish design and intuitive flow rate control. Entries to this award are rated not only on their design but also on aspects such as energy consumption, environmental friendliness and resource conservation.
Kengo Kuma is planning a Parisian project which hopes to incorporate sustainability and hospitality design into an ‘innovative eco-luxury hotel’ which will ultimately serve as a landmark, as well as a popular destination.
The building, which will be called ‘1hotel Paris’ will be bedecked with greenery, becoming what the firm is calling a ‘green lung’ for the neighbourhood. Wooden façade panels will overlap and be arranged in a certain way to blur the shape of the structure.
In a comment, the firm said: “Within a series of repetitive volumes along the Avenue de France, our design strategy was to develop a sculptural form, as if shaped by natural erosion, allowing light to reach the avenue below.”
The centre of the hotel will be open, with inner rooms with private balconies overlooking a series of gardens below. On the roof, the hotel will have a rooftop terrace overlooking the bustling neighbourhood. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2022.
Autograph Collection Hotels, part of Marriott International, has welcomed its third distinctly independent property in Madrid with the opening of Hotel Círculo Gran Vía.
The magnificent neo-classical building is the former home of the Merchants and Industrialist’s Circle and has been transformed into a boutique, adults-only hotel and casino following a multi-million euro renovation. Offering 71 stylish rooms and suites, Hotel Círculo Gran Vía joins an ever-evolving ensemble of more than 110 Autograph Collection Hotels around the world that are independent, one-of-a-kind and share the brand’s values of vision, design and craft.
“We are delighted to bring new life to this iconic building in the heart of Madrid,” said John Licence, VP Premium & Select Brands Europe, Marriott International. “With its grand architecture and carefully curated design that nods to the building’s rich history, Hotel Círculo Gran Vía, Autograph Collection evokes the spirit and heritage of this captivating city and embodies our Exactly Like Nothing Else brand philosophy perfectly.”
Hotel Círculo Gran Vía is located on the world-famous Gran Vía, a lively street lined with magnificent buildings and delightfully quirky Art Nouveau and Art Deco facades. Built in the 1920s, the building was a meeting place for intellectuals of the famous Bilis Club, a literary society “without rules, directive board or address.” The property’s history prevails throughout with classical features showcasing the grandeur of the time.
The hotel’s design aesthetic is inspired by the building’s historic role as a gentleman’s club. Muted colours, textured fabrics and aged wood are artfully combined to balance the majestic with the contemporary. A photographic art exhibition entitled “Memories of Gran Via” composed of 175 historic pictures is displayed throughout the guestrooms and public areas offering a fascinating perspective on Madrid in decades past.
One of the hotel’s many highlights is Casino Gran Vía, the most famous casino in Madrid featuring traditional Baccarat, Poker and Black Jack tables as well as American Roulette. Another highlight is the stunning Royal Hall, a grand and atmospheric space dotted with sumptuous furnishings, which serves as the hotel’s living area where guests can relax, read and enjoy a drink.
Hotel Círculo Gran Vía, Autograph Collection is the brand’s third charmingly independent hotel in Madrid, joining Hotel Palacio Del Retiro and Hotel Santo Mauro.
Who do you think stands out as a deeply passionate, creative and innovative independent hotelier? Which new hotel do you believe has made a significant impact on the industry in a short space of time?
Setting the stage for the industry to recognise its champions, the Independent Hotel Show (17-18 October) invites you to nominate and vote in the Independent Hotel Show Awards in association with Sky.
The Independent Hotel Show defines five differentiating factors for today’s independent hotel: individuality, locality, freedom, personality and innovation. The awards celebrate the manifestation of these factors in two categories:
Independent Hotelier The Independent Hotelier award recognises the spirit of an individual who drives the luxury boutique hotel sector forwards with creativity and wisdom. The individual will have made a significant contribution to the independent hotel sector and has a reputation for pushing boundaries and creating exceptional guest experiences. Above all, the winner is someone committed to the development of their team, the success of the establishment and the industry at large.
Outstanding New Hotel The Outstanding New Hotel award celebrates an independent hotel (operating for no more than three years) that brings dynamism and coveted ideas to the sector. A game-changer with a unique style, the hotel has influenced attitudes within the sector, whilst providing exemplary service and amazing guest experiences, as well as demonstrating remarkable business efficiency.
Hoteliers and hotels are now able to submit their applications via the Independent Hotel Show website. Nominations close on Friday 14 July. A shortlist of six nominees for each category will be created by a panel of industry experts. The winners will be chosen by you, the industry, by voting via the show registration form, and will be announced on Tuesday 17 October at the Independent Hotel Show.
We’re just over two weeks away from the Hotel Designs Brit List event, which will see some of the biggest names in the UK hotel and design industries all in one room for an evening of drinks, celebration and networking.
For the past few months, Hotel Designs has been taking soundings and nominations to create the Brit List – a celebration of the most influential and inspirational hoteliers and interior designers.
The attendee list has now hit more than 200 people, with some fantastic representatives from across the hotel industry; including InterContinental Hotel Group, Hotel Gotham, Fairview Hotels, Mondrian London and Montcalm Hotels. And attendees from firms from the design industry confirmed to attend include Reardonsmith Architects, NH Interiors, Rethink Interiors, Goddard Littlefair and RPW Design. Suppliers looking forward to meeting top names from both industries include Hypnos, Crosswater, HEWI, Hansgrohe, Sleepeezee and Kohler to name but a few.
Also covering the event on behalf of the media will be members of the press from the Times, the Daily Telegraph and the New York Times. With such a fantastic array of industry figures all in one room, you don’t want to miss an opportunity to get your company name on show – a limited number sponsorship opportunities are still available for the Hotel Designs Brit List.
100% Design, the UK’s largest design trade show, returns to Olympia London from 20-23 September. Taking place in the burgeoning design district of West Kensington over four days, 100% Design showcases leading national and international exhibitors, many of whom will be launching new products at the show.
Split into five sections, the show presents products across Interiors, Workplace, Kitchens & Bathrooms, Design & Build and Emerging Brands. With a combined spending power in excess of £3.9 billion, the show provides an unrivalled business experience for architects, interior designers and other design and construction specialists. Attracting more than 27,000 professional visitors, 2017 marks 23 years of London’s iconic design show.
For this year’s edition 100% Design hosts Dealer Day, a professional programme of networking, seminars and talks for this influential design community.
Ceramics feature heavily across both the Design & Build and Kitchen & Bathroom show sections, whether it’s in the form of new flooring ranges from Grestec Tiles, a Portuguese ceramics showcase from Apicer, or Concrete LCDA’s concrete for interior architecture.
Many exhibitors are utilising natural materials in response to growing demand for homes and buildings that demonstrate harmony with the natural world. Design & Build exhibitor Mobilane UK will show their ranges of living walls, while in Kitchens & Bathrooms, Esthec Terrace will launch a 100% recyclable and sustainable terrace system at the show.
Duravit has launched Vero Air, the next development in the successful Vero series at ISH 2017. The new collection retains the iconic, rectangular character of the Vero washbasins while introducing new technical distinctions.
Through the recent additions of rimless toilets, a new range of bathtubs and various pieces of furniture using c-bonded technology, Vero Air has become a complete bathroom range while retaining its strong, design-focused identity.
In 2001, Duravit’s Vero range laid the foundation for architectural bathroom design. With its understated rectangular form, the successful series concentrates on the essentials and can be combined in a versatile manner. Throughout the creation of the Vero Air bathroom range, Duravit has consistently adhered to the distinctive design language of its predecessor.
The washbasins and bathtubs range impress with reduced edges and a striking linear charm. State-of-the-art technologies used in Duravit’s manufacturing processes allowed for this extremely precise design.
Specifically, the straight interior surface and precise edges of the Vero Air washbasins reflect the collection’s distinct look. The washbasins are available in five sizes (500 mm – 1200 mm), and the above-counter basins come in two sizes (500 and 600 mm). They can be combined with other furniture from the Vero series (designed by Kurt Merki Jr.) or from the L-Cube range (designed by Christian Werner).
The striking design of the Vero Air bathtub is a logical continuation of the Vero design language. By optimising the radii and wall thicknesses (55 mm), the iconic washbasin design is reflected in the acrylic bathtub’s monolithic form, available in four sizes, as a freestanding or built-in version (from 1700 x 700 to 1900 x 900 mm). A special extra feature is the new, discreetly-integrated air whirl system with Piezo buttons. This special push button contains no moveable mechanical parts and is as a result extremely low-maintenance.
The series’ toilets and bidets adhere to the classic rectangular Vero form. The toilet seat and cover can be easily removed for cleaning with the press of a side button. Duravit has optimised the flushing system specifically for the square geometry of the toilet: innovative Rimless® technology demonstrates outstanding performance by flushing the entire inner surface of the bowl. Clever features have been added for greater comfort and hygiene, including the use of HygieneGlaze 2.0 and the optional SensoWash Slim shower-toilet seat meet the highest standards.
Following revised planning permission being granted for the Grand Central Hotel, Hastings Hotels has announced that its investment will be £53 million on what will be Northern Ireland’s largest hotel.
Building work is now well under way following the approval of the revised plans by Belfast City Council which will see an additional 104 bedrooms bringing the total number to 304 with the creation of over 150 jobs.
Sir William Hastings, Chairman of Hastings Hotels said: “We are pleased that the revised planning permission for the Grand Central Hotel has been approved. This represents our company’s biggest single investment to date of £53 million and is the sum required to create a top quality hotel befitting the name, Grand Central, and of which Belfast City can be proud.
“The Grand Central Hotel will be more than a hotel when it opens in mid 2018. The original Grand Central was built in 1893 and was the thriving hub of Victorian Belfast as well as the finest hotel in Ireland. Winston Churchill, the King of Belgium, Al Jolson, Mario Lanza and the Beatles were all guests who enjoyed its luxurious hospitality. I am extremely proud to be able to pay tribute to this much loved property of the past by naming Belfast’s newest hotel after it.
“The new branding for the hotel will incorporate the Seahorse which is part of Belfast’s Coat of Arms and celebrates the City’s Maritime history. Old photos from the Glory Days of the Grand Central show the Seahorse motif featuring on menus and plates and our new interpretation of this classic Belfast emblem is a permanent reminder of the new Grand Central’s connection with its elegant past,” Sir William continued.
“The Grand Central is a legend reborn and to celebrate this we have created a building wrap which will be changed at regular intervals before the hotel opens. It will help tell the story of the hotel as it is being built and pay tribute to some of the local companies we are working with who are each playing key roles in helping Hastings Hotels create this major development.
“We look forward to working with a wide range of local companies during this major project. Our lead construction partner is Graham Construction and their building expertise and quality of workmanship is second to none. The structural steel has been fabricated in Lisburn and the cladding is being designed and procured through a company based in Moira. The mechanical and electrical contractors are also local as are the bricklayers, joiners, plasterers and even the tower crane driver,” Sir William concluded.
After the successful launch of the Kerry Hotel on Hong Kong’s waterfront, acclaimed Hong Kong-based designer and architect André Fu sees a contemporary art gallery in Tokyo completed for Galerie Perrotin, the spa at the now iconic Villa La Coste open and the VIP lounge at Pacific Place finished.
With Andaz Singapore set to open in autumn this year and the prominent Cantonese restaurant Guo Fu Lou, at the Murray Hotel, Hong Kong, launching towards years end, André Fu and AFSO continue their illustrious ascent.
Conceived as a contemporary lifestyle destination that embraces Singapore’s local urban spirit, André Fu has sought to captivate the eclectic shop-house experience at the Andaz Singapore, which will open this autumn. Working within the framework of the modernist Duo development by Ole Scheeren, Fu has conjured a layered journey of relaxed luxury.
As guests explores the hotel, a strong sense of discovery prevails, much akin to the distinct neighbourhood experience at the nearby Bugis and Kampong Glam area – an experience that is quintessential to Singapore itself.
Scheduled to open late 2017, Guo Fu Lou, at the Murray Hotel, Hong Kong, is a prominent Cantonese restaurant featuring sensuous interiors reinforced by Fu’s rigorous pursuit of new Asian sensitivities. Designed to inspire and indulge, the restaurant will be elegant and chic with authentically inspired design.
Made up of a 90-seat restaurant, with numerous private dining rooms, Guo Fu Lou is crowned with a sprawling outdoor terrace, a unique feature among Chinese restaurants in the region.
Viero’s clients often ask why they are so passionate about recommending and specifying our range of lime-based plasters and paints, the answer is so simple it’s difficult…
The qualities of lime are so far-reaching that pinpointing just one to talk about can often be a challenge. In another instalment of our blog exploring our admiration for lime, we round up our top six reasons why lime-based products offer so many benefits to the end user:
BREATHABILITY Lime is vapour permeable, which means it reduces the risk of trapped moisture and therefore makes the chances of damage far less. This limits the requirement for future maintenance work.
COMFORT Its ability to absorb and release moisture in a cyclical fashion helps to boost a room’s comfort as it will not encourage humid conditions.
BEAUTY Provides soft textures with graceful and organic movements which results in a beautiful finish. It’s contemporary feel is worthy of any interior or exterior surface.
LONGLASTING It will outlive us all as it has an indefinite lifecycle. Not only does it survive, in fact, it gets better over time
SURFACE PRESERVING Acting as an anti-bacterial surface, it is able to neutralise the development of substances such as mould and fungus. It hardly ceases to amaze us with its unrivalled qualities.
Want to find out more? Check out the first part of lime blog series, exploring the great history of lime. Click here to read.
Areen Design’s award-winning hospitality division has been working on two new hotels in Nairobi, both under Marriott’s Four Points by Sheraton brand.
At Nairobi’s international airport, the new 172 room hotel is scheduled to open later in the year and is expected to set a benchmark of contemporary design, with all the quality and functionality expected by international travellers and residents alike.
Areen Design is responsible for the concept design of all the public areas, including a reception with a double height feature wall, the Lobby Café with a display that changes from day to night and the rooftop pool with views out towards Nairobi National Park.
The second project, located within the bustling hub of Hurlingham in Nairobi has just opened, and represented a different challenge. Formerly a Best Western Premier, this hotel was converted to a Four Points by Sheraton property requiring an interior design approach which preserved successful elements, but brought the design in-line with Marriott’s expectations, ensuring it now operates as a leading business hotel. Guests are already enjoying the same high level of finishes as planned for the airport hotel including a full redesign of the reception, with a new Lobby Café.
Vivek Mathur, General Manager, Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Hurlingham comments:. “Areen Design’s concepts have dramatically improved the hotel space with a dynamic new addition to our Food and Beverage offering. The new lobby feels so much more spacious with sit down check-in facility for our SPG guests. An upgrade of the all-day dining restaurant Pablo’s is also currently underway.” He continues: “Whilst the delivery programme was undoubtedly demanding, by working closely with the Areen Design team, our deadlines were all met. This close working relationship is essential and has also led to the team now working with us on our airport project. That says it all.”
Andrew Linwood, Head of Hospitality Design, Areen Design, comments: “With innovation being a key part of the Four Points by Sheraton offer, we want guests in both hotel projects in Nairobi to appreciate the quality and creativity of our interiors, whilst also respecting the culture and heritage of the locality. This has become a familiar challenge for us and we look forward to many more.”
A new £35 million venture for Apex Hotels Limited is set to boost the company’s portfolio this summer as the doors open on its newest hotel, in the city of Bath.
The completion of The Apex City of Bath Hotel project is a significant milestone for the Group marking the first opening in England outside of London and expanding the portfolio to ten hotels across the UK.
The 177 bed property, opening to the public on 1 August 2017, will bring 130 new jobs to the area and will also see the creation of Bath’s only purpose-built city centre conference facility for up to 400 guests.
Apex Hotels Limited, which has properties spanning Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and London, continues to go from strength to strength under the leadership of CEO Angela Vickers.
The Bath opening follows a highly successful financial year for the company which saw an 11.8 per cent rise in underlying profits before tax, up from £9.2m to £10.3m in 2016. Angela Vickers, Chief Executive Officer, Apex Hotels Limited said: “This is a significant milestone for the business and one that we have been working towards for some time.
The Apex City of Bath Hotel will be our first opening in England outside of London and is set to be the historic city’s largest hotel in terms of conference and events spaces and number of bedrooms. This is an attractive proposition for businesses looking for new locations to host conference and events and the hotel is already taking bookings from international brands keen to get in early.
“We have in place a very strong senior management team who are committed to putting this venue on the map and offering a guest experience that is second to none.” In the last 12 months, Apex Hotels Limited, have made significant investments in the portfolio including a 30-bedroom extension to Apex City of London with further refurbishment plans scheduled for Edinburgh Grassmarket and Dundee hotels.
“Our portfolio is stronger than ever as our presence in key cities grows year on year. Now the finishing touches are being put to Apex City of Bath Hotel, we can move our attention to new opportunities that will continue to strengthen the Apex brand,” Angela added.
The four-star Apex City of Bath Hotel will open on 1 August 2017 and will feature 177 bedrooms, restaurant, bar, gymnasium and pool alongside a city centre conference facility for up to 400 guests. The hotel is ideally located within easy reach of tourist destinations with the world famous Roman Baths situated just 200 metres away.
From hotel openings to product spotlights to everything in between, we collate the top 10 most read stories on Hotel Designs this week…
1. GUEST BLOG: XOTELS’ PATRICK LANDMAN – STARTING YOUR OWN HOTEL For many people starting their own hotel or bed and breakfast is like a dream. Most are drawn by the charm of hospitality and see it as a chance to start fresh. However opening a hotel, just like any new business, is more difficult than it might seem at first sight.
The 135-bedroom Crowne Plaza Leeds hotel has completed a £4.5m refurbishment, 18 months after it was forced to close for eight weeks following the Boxing Day flood of 2015.
6. SIX SENSES IBIZA OPENING 2020 Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas has announced the latest addition to their portfolio, Six Senses Ibiza.
7. HISTORIC MANCHESTER FIRE STATION TO BE REIMAGINED AS BOUTIQUE HOTEL Manchester’s historic London Road Fire Station has sat largely vacant in recent years, but after a collaboration between an award-winning property development firm and an architectural firm, that might be changing soon.
10. LUXURY COLLECTION TO ADD ITALIAN CRISTALLO RESORT & SPA The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts has announced that Cristallo, a historic hotel located in the renowned Italian town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, will join The Luxury Collection this June.
In a pared-back Queen’s Speech on 21 June, Theresa May’s Government set out its legislative agenda for the next two years.
The speech focused on Britain’s future outside the European Union with a focus on industries such as agriculture and fishing, along with the Great Repeal Bill and an Immigration Bill. A Travel Protection Bill will be introduced to protect holidaymakers by updating the UK’s financial protection scheme for holidays.
The speech opened with a promise to work with business to build consensus on Britain’s future outside the EU.
Ufi Ibrahim, the Chief Executive of the British Hospitality Association, said: “The hospitality and tourism industry, the fourth largest in the UK, looks forward to working with Ministers to build the widest consensus on Britain’s future outside the EU. The Government is already aware of the industry’s vital need to have continuing access, in the short term, to the EU labour market while we encourage more UK workers to take up a career in hospitality and tourism.
“We have also made clear that the National Living Wage should be decided by the Low Pay Commission after 2020.
“The trade bills announced to help British businesses export to markets around the world should also consider that tourism is the UK’s sixth largest export. With this in mind it is essential that the immigration system encourages, rather than deters tourism to the UK and allows visa-free access for Europeans.”
Upper upscale contemporary brand Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts has announced the official opening of new hotel Park Plaza London Waterloo – the biggest hotel opening in London for 2017.
Welcoming guests through the doors on 22nd June, the 494-room hotel is ideally located right by Waterloo station and directly opposite Lambeth North station and offers the ideal choice for those wanting to stay in the sightseeing hub of London’s South Bank.
Park Plaza London Waterloo features superior rooms, studio rooms and one bedroom suites, destination all-day dining & bar Florentine, an exclusive executive lounge, Illy caffé, Mandara Spa, and a gym with swimming pool, providing the ideal South Bank base for exploring the city. For corporate functions and conferences six flexible meeting rooms provide an ideal meeting space for all occasions.
Converted from its former premises which housed the Central Office of Information, the UK government’s former marketing and communication agency, the new state-of-the-art building has been designed by architecture and interior design practice Digital Space. Also responsible for the award-winning Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London, the design team has brought a fresh energy and innovative vision to this sought-after space which will act as the perfect haven for those seeking to enjoy the adventures this great city has to offer.
Axel Krueger, General Manager at Park Plaza London Waterloo comments: “We are delighted to announce that the newest addition to the South Bank is now fully open for business. Joining four neighbouring four Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts’ properties on the South Bank, we are within easy access of landmarks including the London Eye and Imperial War Museum which proves ideal timing as London’s tourism industry continues to boom.
“It’s an exciting time for the South Bank’s development pipeline and we’re thrilled to be a part of it.”
The 135-bedroom Crowne Plaza Leeds hotel has completed a £4.5m refurbishment, 18 months after it was forced to close for eight weeks following the Boxing Day flood of 2015.
Located on Wellington Street, the investment has resulted in the creation of a new bar, restaurant, Club lounge, lobby, mezzanine level, grand staircase and installation of £25,000 of technology across its function suites.
All the bedrooms have also been refurbished. There are now two different styles of King Suite, an Executive Suite and Club Rooms all with additional benefits, such as a Nespresso coffee machine, a free standing bathtub and access to the Club lounge.
Work on the new bar and restaurant was carried out by contractors Murray and Willis and architects Falconer Chester Hall.
Palladium Hotels & Resorts is rebranding its adults-only luxury resorts known as The Royal Suites by Palladium to TRS Hotels. The rebrand includes a fresh and elegant look on property as well as an updated marketing campaign & logo.
TRS Hotels will become independent of Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts while remaining true to the mission of offering the best adults-only luxury experience and personalised service at the current properties in the Dominican Republic and Mexico as well as the new Costa Mujeres property set to open in autumn of 2018.
“As the adults-only market in the Caribbean and Mexico continues to grow and expand, Palladium Hotels & Resorts looks to differentiate itself by evolving its adults-only brand, TRS Hotels,” said Sergio Zertuche, Palladium Hotel Group’s Chief Sales & Marketing Officer.
In addition to the rebranding, TRS Yucatan in Riviera Maya will be undergoing various upgrades and renovations from 1 July until 15 November. These upgrades include completely renovated guestrooms, swim-up rooms, additional exclusive à la carte restaurants, a new infinity pool, and integration of the entire room stock of the former Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa along with a Signature Beach Club. TRS Turquesa in Punta Cana will also be undergoing changes with the addition of a signature Beach Club, which is scheduled to open by 1 December.
Along with attention to upscale amenities, luxury hospitality and desirable offerings like accommodating beach clubs, the redesigned brand boasts an ultimately guest-centred experience where every service is designed specifically to fulfil each individual guest’s needs. As Palladium Hotels & Resorts continues to evolve, TRS Hotels drives to keep ultimate guest satisfaction at the forefront of this initiative.
TRS Yucatan and TRS Turquesa will begin their rebranding online in July featuring a simple and refined logo to represent the new and improved adults-only hideaways. On-property rebranding will be completed by late autumn 2017.
Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas has announced the latest addition to their portfolio, Six Senses Ibiza. Set to open in 2020, the resort will be tucked away on the peaceful northern tip of Ibiza in the crystalline Cala Xarraca Bay.
With its unobstructed westerly sunset views, dramatic rocky beach and picturesque seafront with yacht access, this full-service resort, spa and residential community dances to the beat of a new mantra: transformative wellness to nourish the body, mind and soul.
Chief Executive Officer Neil Jacobs of Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas said: “We”re very excited to open our first resort, spa and residential project in Ibiza, a project that celebrates wellness, sustainability and community spirit. This third European property complements our sister resort in Portugal”s Douro Valley, residential project in Courchevel, France and seven fabulous spas in France, Greece, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.
Six Senses has signed a management agreement with Beach Box Ibiza to open the resort in 2020 as a benchmark in innovative design, unique entertainment concepts and eclectic dining experiences. “We could not be more pleased to work with Beach Box Ibiza on this truly creative project,” said Jacobs
Six Senses Ibiza will offer 134 guest accommodations across a 25-acre site including fully appointed Townhouse Suites, Deluxe Pool Suites with private decks, Beach Cave Suites and two extraordinary six-bedroom Mansions. Available for a handful of residential buyers are nine captivating private villas located above the resort with expansive sunset views. Every aspect of the property”s physical design will facilitate the feeling of community and the activities and amenities offered to guests will focus on learning and experience.
The Axel Beach Hotel Ibiza has obtained a degree of modernity and distinction with Tubbo – an attractive transparent gallery of 60m that receives the guests in the entrance and accompanies them through the lobby and main hall.
Open on the 15th of May, the hotel Axel Beach has focused on latest trends in interior design for its 89 rooms – but was missing a touch of innovation in its lobby and common areas.
It has obtained an original and trendy look with the installation of this gallery, that creates a translucid tunnel decorated with multiple led lights that accompanies the guest in their journey through the lobby and main hall. The result is what the owners call the ‘Axel experience’.
Tubbo is an innovative product of the Spanish company Capotex. It is a structure with metal arches covered by transparent and resistant polycarbonate sheets that creates a gallery of modern and elegant design. The structure creates both resistant indoor and outdoor spaces with a diameter per module of 3.6m that can extend in length from 2m ad infinitum.
The trendy Tubbo structure is strengthened with its customization such as led lighting, screen-printed impressions and projections, as it is predicted to do in the Axel Beach Ibiza. Another of its great advantages is that it can be installed without anchoring to the ground, therefore the installation process is clean and quick.
With Tubbo, Axel hotel has been able to reform, in a record time, an expressionless hallway into a visual experience that captivates guests from the moment they enter the hotel.
Tubbo galleries are used in more than 12 countries in terraces as restaurants, bars and spas, garden shelters or outdoor sport tracks, smoking areas, pop up store, even cruise port and building connections.
Axel Hotels is an international hotel chain focused towards the LGTBI community, with a heterofriendly philosophy, such as, spaces that are conceived, developed and thought for the LGTBI community but open to everyone.
Hotel Designs is delighted to announce, once again, its media partnership for the 2017 edition of Decorex International, being held at Syon Park, London on 17-20 September.
As Hotel Designs continues to grow its name within the interior design and hotel industry, partnering with shows of the pedigree of Decorex is the perfect way to reach key influencers and figures from across the industry.
With a rich heritage of 40 years, Decorex is internationally renowned for being the destination where interior design professionals discover the finest and most coveted luxury products from new, emerging and established talent.
Daniel Fountain, Hotel Designs editor, said of the partnership: “We thoroughly enjoyed partnering with Decorex last year, and I am delighted we will have a presence at one of most well-known shows in the sector once again.
“For four decades, Decorex has more than earned its reputation as one of the key places for interior design professionals to discover the very latest trends, luxury products and innovative design. I am truly excited that Hotel Designs can be part of one of the most coveted shows in the business,” he added.
Manchester’s historic London Road Fire Station has sat largely vacant in recent years, but after a collaboration between an award-winning property development firm and an architectural firm, that might be changing soon.
Allied London and Levitt Bernstein have submitted a design proposal that stands as a full-scale reimagining of the unique and storied property. This plan, if put into action, seeks to reinvigorate more than the just the fire station — it seeks to overhaul and vitalise the surrounding neighbourhood as well.
Allied London has owned the building, which is a Grade II* listed Edwardian Baroque-style structure, since 2015. At the time of purchase, the property had fallen into wide-spread disrepair. Levitt Bernstein’s submission, however, is aimed at refurbishing and expanding the property to include a boutique hotel, bars, restaurants, communal workspaces and private residence apartments.
For those concerned about the history of the classic building, there is cause to celebrate, as the submitted plan goes to careful lengths to preserve the building fabric wherever possible. It seeks to accomplish this while still having the new hotel wing of the structure seated in front of the existing London Road courtyard elevation.
The original façade of the building will become a side of a corridor that will connect the new hotel wing. The designers at Levitt have conceived of the structure’s new extension as a metal tableau, able to simultaneously reference the heritage of the site while creating a harmonious composition that is housed within the confines of the courtyard.
Another key component of this design is the Fairfield Street wing. In this section of the property, the old firemen’s flats where the men once lived will be adapted to something more modern: a series of communal workspaces and private residency apartments. These properties will also response to the building’s overarching layout, striving to maintain many of the interior details that were inherent to the original.
At the core of this reimagined building, however, are the modern trimmings that mark world-class global hospitality properties. There will be a spa, several themed bars, and restaurants for all manner of dining.
In the central courtyard, this design features a new pavilion, where visitors can access other bars as well as an event space, which has a proposed glass prism installation that creates a grand sweeping staircase that descends upon a subterranean area. This section will be festooned with semi-reflective glass, which means that during the day it will reflect the architecture surrounding it, blending it into the background. At night, however, it will be illuminated within, creating a truly stunning effect.
Currently in the planning stage, the London Road Fire Station will begin the renovation and construction process in late 2017.
NH Hotel Group has celebrated the opening of another hotel under its NH Collection brand, the NH Collection Grand Sablon in Brussels. This is the second of the Company’s upper-upscale brand in the Belgian capital, adding to its 67 existing hotels around the world.
Located in the very heart of the city, the NH Collection Grand Sablon is in the Sablon district renowned for its many antique shops and art galleries. The hotel comprises 192 fully refurbished rooms, as well as 11 function rooms which can host 250 people.
The commitment of the Company’s upper-upscale brand to haute cuisine is once again present in its second NH Collection hotel in the city. Those staying at NH Collection Grand Sablon, or those who wish simply to enjoy the finest quality cuisine in Brussels, can do so at Hispania Brasserie and at Hispania Gastronomique, the restaurant headed up by renowned chef, Marcos Morán (1 Michelin star).
With the opening of the Company’s second hotel in Brussels under its upper-upscale brand, NH Hotel Group is continuing to consolidate a brand which only last year appeared in countries like the Netherlands and Germany.
The Company also launched new locations throughout Europe, as was the case in the Americas, and also reopened flagship hotels in Rome, Madrid and Barcelona.
For many people starting their own hotel or bed and breakfast is like a dream. Most are drawn by the charm of hospitality and see it as a chance to start fresh. However opening a hotel, just like any new business, is more difficult than it might seem at first sight.
Especially if you have never worked in the hotel industry you will be faced with many unexpected situations and complications you might not have imagined. The international hotel business is highly competitive and achieving good financial results is not as easy as it seems.
In my experience in dealing with entrepreneurs and investors I have found that there is no shortage of creative ideas for innovative boutique hotel concepts. The challenge however lies more in the strategic and organizational areas of the business.
Where to get started if you want to open your own independent hotel? What kind of hotel should it be? How does location influence my business? How to attract guests? How to control operational costs and run a profitable business? These are all important questions that should be dealt with prior to getting into the business.
It will be extremely important you prepare yourself well, do a lot of research and develop a detailed business plan to ensure success. Unfortunately I still see too many startup hotels fail due to little planning. In my previous articles I already pointed out some common mistakes made in the pre-opening phase of hotels.
Skamania Lodge, the Columbia River Gorge’s awarding-winning destination, recently broke ground on two new tree houses, set to open in September of 2017. This is the second pair of tree houses, the first opened in the summer of 2016.
“We’re thrilled at the way our first two tree houses turned out,” said Skamania Lodge General Manager Ken Daugherty. “They became so popular, we wanted to be able to provide our guests with additional options to truly have that quintessential Columbia River Gorge experience.”
Like the first two tree houses, these are nestled in the tall Douglas Firs of the Columbia River Gorge, and a simple yet stunning aesthetic connects guests with the beauty of the Gorge; the new tree houses are also elevated 15-20 feet above the ground. The biggest difference between the new tree houses is they will boast two beds, meaning couples and families alike can experience the luxury of nature.
A bit of whimsy, a bit refined-rustic and a dash of nostalgia, the new tree houses will also have a large outdoor deck with stunning views of the Gorge, a fireplace for cozy nights, a spectacular bathroom, a lavish king bed and a cozy “nook” double bed with a curtain that can separate the two.
In line with the first two tree houses, design elements were once again inspired from the idea of a creative childhood, with carefree days and playing outdoors. Tree house guests are a short walk from all the lodge’s offerings, like the Waterleaf Spa, hiking trails, Skamania Lodge Golf Course, and dining facilities, while still experiencing the peace and quiet of sleeping among the trees.
Seattle-based architectural design firm MG2 designed the tree houses; Portland-based Ankrom Moisan created the interior design.
The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts has announced that Cristallo, a historic hotel located in the renowned Italian town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, will join The Luxury Collection this June.
Owned and managed by the Gualandi family, Cristallo, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, marks the brand’s first hotel in Cortina, and first ski resort worldwide.
Located in Northeastern Italy and nestled within the spectacular Dolomites mountain range, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the dual-season property will reopen after a redesign of the hotel’s rooms and suites, as well as the hotel’s lobby.
A second phase of renovation will be complete by December when the property will celebrate its first ski season as part of The Luxury Collection. With this reopening, The Luxury Collection expands to eight hotels in Italy, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to growing its European portfolio.
Boasting majestic views across Cortina and the monumental Dolomites, the hotel’s 74 guestrooms, including 20 suites and two Presidential suites, have been distinctively furnished to complement the property’s Italian heritage. Pale wood panels are offset by intricate wild flower detailing and delicate cornicing, full of local character. Each room has been well-appointed with the signature Luxury Collection bed, en-suite Carrara marble bathroom with heated floors, and modern technology.
The iconic property, which first opened in 1901, has a storied history that includes hosting The Winter Olympics, Hollywood film crews such as The Pink Panther, and celebrities such as Frank Sinatra. Cortina is one of Italy’s most sought after destinations for skiing, summer activities such as hiking and mountain biking, as well as one of the region’s top epicurean destinations. As the newest member of The Luxury Collection, Cristallo will continue to surround its guests in extraordinary period details like pendant chandeliers and hand-painted wall ‘frescos’, while expanding on its modern-day amenities to provide a truly luxurious guest experience.
The Hinduja group has signed a deal with Europe’s largest hotel chain – Accor Hotels Group – to turn the UK’s iconic Old War Office building, once the office of Britain’s war-time prime minister Winston Churchill, into a luxury hotel.
Raffles Hotels and Resorts, the luxury brand that is part of France’s Accor Hotels Group, has announced the signing of an agreement with the Hinduja Group and Spanish firm Obrascon Huarte Lain Desarrollos (OHLD) to transform the building in Whitehall into the most unique hotel and deluxe residences in London.
“The Raffles Hotel in London will be the heart and soul of this exciting landmark destination”, a statement said. “Raffles Hotels and Resorts is delighted to complete its already stunning portfolio with such an exclusive asset in such strategic city and location, the group said in the statement.”
Steeped in history, the first Raffles Hotel was opened in 1887 in Singapore, named after the British statesman and founder of Singapore, Thomas Stamford Raffles.
The Old War Office, with its 1,100 rooms across seven-floors, and two miles of corridors, was completed in 1906.
It was the office to many of the UK’s most important and influential political and military leaders of the twentieth century, notably Churchill, David Lloyd George, Lord Kitchener, Herbert Asquith and T E Lawrence. It was also the offices of the British Secret Service.
Close to 10 Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, the Old War Office was bought by Hinduja Group and OHLD in December 2014 following a public bid.
Staying Cool, the award-winning boutique serviced apartment operator, has announced plans for a new 41 unit apartment hotel in Manchester to open next year.
The hotel on Chorlton Street, within the Whitworth Street / Princess Street Conservation Area, will see the regeneration of a strategic city centre building – a former cotton warehouse – that has lain empty for several years.
Once home to Oliver Peyton’s Mash & Air in the 1990s, the building was acquired by the Cringle Corporation. In January, Staying Cool won a competitive tender, led by CBRE, to find the right hotel or serviced apartment operator.
The two parties have signed heads of terms and submitted a joint planning application, which includes the addition of a new roof top extension. If approved, redevelopment works will commence this Autumn and Staying Cool will welcome its first guests in late 2018.
“Given the location of the building, and its particular loft style features and appeal, interest in leasing the site was significant, with strong bids received from a range of regional, national and international operators. We selected Staying Cool for their forward-thinking business style, attention to detail, quality and award-winning brand,” said Cringle Director, Joshua Senior.
“The building is a real gem, a classic Manchester warehouse, with tonnes of character,” said Paul Taylor, co-founder of Staying Cool. “We believe that the significant redevelopment schemes in the immediate neighbourhood, including Kampus across the road, make this a perfect location for a design-led apartment hotel by Staying Cool.”
This is the first joint partnership scheme with Bespoke Hotels, announced last year, which will see the Staying Cool brand brand roll out across the UK. Staying Cool already has a 45 bed apartment hotel on the top floors of Birmingham’s iconic Rotunda. “We’re delighted to be able to announce this new scheme – one of a number over the next few years as we move ahead with our ambitious expansion plans. We are especially pleased to be opening in Manchester as it is the city where our story began,” continued Paul Taylor.
The architects on the scheme are Halliday Meecham and Euan Kelly Property Solutions the planning consultants. Staying Cool was advised by Tony Bray of Pure Real Estate Solutions. Nick Huddleston of CBRE managed the tender process on behalf of the Cringle Corporation.
Euro-cool specialists Leonardo Hotels has chosen Edinburgh as the location for its first property opening in Scotland.
The Berlin-based company, one of Europe’s fastest growing hotel groups, has invested more than €7 million (£6.1 million) in the complete refurbishment of the former Premier Inn in Edinburgh’s Haymarket district.
Guests can look forward to bedrooms with iconic panorama images of the Edinburgh skyline, bathrooms with a giant mural of sheep as well as stylish Scottish-themed furnishings, while the lobby and bar/restaurant areas offer sophisticated and boutique-style glamour.
The design of the new hotel – which offers 4-star superior accommodation across its 282 renovated bedrooms – was created by acclaimed interior designer Andreas Neudahm and continues the Leonardo Hotels’ philosophy of developing non-standardised hotels that have their own distinct regional character.
Operations Manager Lucy Basnett said the decision to create the hotel under the premium Leonardo Royal brand underlines the group’s positioning of Edinburgh as a prime new location in its continued European expansion plans.
She said: “Our opening brings a new destination in stylish hotel living to Edinburgh. While we are a chain hotel, we are as far removed from a chain hotel as possible.
“Each hotel is designed to be individual, like our guests, and to reflect the surrounding area, using special local touches and features such as a breakfast range distinct to the region. So if you are staying at a Leonardo Hotel in Edinburgh, you will know for sure that you are in Edinburgh. We are very excited to be Edinburgh’s newest hotel and we are confident that our future guests will not be disappointed.”
The Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh takes the Leonardo Hotels’ portfolio to more than 80 hotels in 40+ locations.
The hotel is aiming to appeal to both leisure guests, given its location near to tram and train stops, as well as Edinburgh’s ever-growing corporate and business tourism market – fuelled by its proximity to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre and the under-construction tHe Haymarket development. The hotel also offers more than 90 parking spaces.
This summer De Vere Tortworth Court will complete a £5 million refurbishment that will position the mansion house back at the heart of the estate. One of Gloucestershire’s hidden countryside retreats, the Grade II listed Victorian mansion is part of the De Vere portfolio of country estate hotels and modern, market-leading event spaces and, following the refurbishment, will boast some of the largest suites in the county.
With a history dating back to 1343, today’s Victorian mansion was designed by esteemed gothic revival architect Samuel Sanders Teulon for the 2nd Earl of Ducie in 1853. The family continued to develop the estate with the introduction of hundreds of trees, including many rare specimens, to create an arboretum that is regarded as one of the finest in the British Isles.
The focus of the renovation is occurring in the mansion house with the transformation of meeting rooms into 11 new spacious suites, to bring the total number of guestrooms and suites in the main house to 55. The sensitive refurbishment is preserving many of the original features, whilst adding new touches of modern countryside charm to the grand gothic mansion, including the hotel’s grand staircase and galleries above the newly refurbished reception and public areas. The largest suite, The Kipling, will offer a stand-alone in-room dining table for six guests and lounge within 78 square metres that can also be connected to The Paxton, to form a family suite that spans 129 square metres, overlooking the formal gardens.
All 201 guestrooms, in the mansion house and courtyard wing, feature up to 1GB of superfast free Wi-Fi and flat screen TVs, whilst suites and deluxe rooms come complete with king size beds, fluffy robes and slippers as well as luxury bathroom toiletries.
Soon to be launched, 1853 Restaurant will welcome guests and residents once again from August 2017. The original gothic wooden panelling and ornate painted ceiling will be enhanced by fresh dove grey walls and emerald coloured soft furnishings. Originally a church within the mansion house, the refreshed restaurant will serve locally sourced, seasonal British dishes.
Mark Payne, General Manager at De Vere Tortworth Court commented: “The mansion house and the grounds provided us with a stunning base in which to enhance an existing beautiful product. The new-look hotel is one that I am very proud to welcome guests into and the introduction of large suites allows guests to indulge and live some of the grandeur that the original Earls would have enjoyed.”
“It was important to us to blend modern comfort with the hotel’s history and I believe we have done this successfully both internally and externally across the estate.”
The completion of De Vere Tortworth Court’s refurbishment marks another important milestone in De Vere’s wider multi-million-pound country estate hotel renovation project, which places the mansion house at the epi-centre of the group’s country estate portfolio. The investment in the gardens ensures that the great outdoors becomes an extension of the hotel itself.
We’re just one month away from the Hotel Designs Brit List event, which will be taking in some of the biggest names in the UK industry.
For the past few months, Hotel Designs has been taking soundings and nominations to create the Brit List – a celebration of the most influential and inspirational hoteliers and interior designers.
The full Hotel Designs Brit List will be revealed via a glossy print publication this summer, with a party to celebrate the List taking place at Urban Coterie, London on Wednesday July 12th.
And we’re delighted to announce that representatives from Hansgrohe are booked on as VIP guests at the event = if you are interested in taking advantage of a VIP guest package, contact Jennie Lane on 01992 374098 or email j.lane@forumevents.co.uk.
Coming to Olympia London this summer, for the very first time, is the House & Garden Festival. The four-day event will bring together three leading lifestyle events: Spirit of Summer Fair, The HOUSE Fair and GROW London, to create the ultimate celebration of summer and stylish living.
The House & Garden Festival is offering an eclectic mix of interior and lifestyle brands to explore and shop, all hand-selected by an expert team, including the editorial team powering House & Garden. Style-seekers will have everything they need at this ultimate destination for summer living inspiration and shopping. GROW London is bursting with ideas on how to transform your outside space, from garden design to furniture, sculptures, plants, gadgets, pots and tools. The Spirit of Summer Fair offers an extensive mix of independent boutiques and lifestyle products, accompanied by a collection of the country’s finest artisan producers including Great Taste Award winners. The HOUSE Fair adds design inspiration and interior products to suit any style; including furniture, fabrics, cushions, bespoke lampshades, rugs, lighting and accessories.
The House & Garden Festival will play host to over 550 exhibitors from Wednesday 21st to Saturday 24th June. Showcasing a hand-selected treasure trove of interior, garden and lifestyle brands to buy or be inspired by, the Festival will welcome over 23,000 visitors.
—— HEADING TO THE EVENT? WHY NOT MEET HOTEL DESIGNS CLIENTS JALU WHILE AT THE SHOW? FIND OUT MORE HERE… ——
‘Style Rooms’ and ‘Decorated Spaces’, will be designed by stylists using their favourite pieces from the huge array of products available at the Festival, the event will also offer inspiration alongside beautiful feature gardens jam-packed with ideas for visitors to steal for their own gardens, including a garden installation by Richard Miers in association with Quintessentially Travel. Guests will also be able to enjoy a Mosimann’s pop-up restaurant and two Louis Roederer champagne bars.
Show Manager, Thi Dinh of the House & Garden Festival says: “The House & Garden Festival is the perfect marriage of three great brands. We’re very excited to be launching this summer and bringing unrivalled inspiration and professional advice to our visitors. We have everything you need for stylish summer living. Gardening lovers will enjoy the relaxed and fun atmosphere with GROW London. Shoppers will be tantalized by the Spirit of Summer’s array of accessories, fashion, jewellery and children’s clothing. While The HOUSE Fair is the perfect place for design inspiration and beautiful interior products. Our experts top it all off with great guidance on how to bring it all together for all round ultimate summer style.”
The Festival will be offering a whole host of free seminars, talks and interactive workshops. The timetable boasts leading interior, garden and lifestyle experts offering all-round interior and design inspiration with specialist insight, key design tips and practical advice.
Tickets are on sale for £16 in advance (£20 on the door) at www.houseandgardenfestival.com. The House & Garden Festival takes place from Wednesday 21st – Saturday 24th June 2017, open from 10am-5pm daily, 10am-6pm on Saturday at Olympia London, W14.
Luxury aparthotel brand, Roomzzz, is set to expand into Scotland with a brand-new aparthotel confirmed within the £1bn Edinburgh St James development, scheduled to open in 2021.
The new Roomzzz Edinburgh aparthotel will take prime position within the 1.7 million-sq-ft Edinburgh St James development in the heart of the city. With 73 luxury apartments planned, from smart studios to luxury penthouses, Roomzzz Edinburgh will give guests the luxury of a boutique hotel with the convenience and home comforts of a serviced apartment.
The development will become Edinburgh’s most popular retail hub, with a line-up of 86 new shops over four floors, 20 restaurants and a flagship Everyman Cinema, guests to Roomzzz Edinburgh will benefit from unrivalled local amenities. The new aparthotel will be ideally situated within a close proximity of tram and bus transport links and just a short, three-minute walk from Waverley Station.
Featuring a rooftop terrace and balconies to every apartment, guests will appreciate breath-taking views of the city’s historical landscape, including Edinburgh’s highest peak, Arthur’s Seat. Each apartment is individually designed to create a comfortable and spacious living area to give a home-from-home experience. Catering for everyday living, Roomzzz’ apartments feature fitted kitchens, widescreen TV, complimentary Wi-Fi, free UK nationwide calls, ultimate comfort bed, 24-hour concierge, around the clock fresh coffee and grab and go breakfast.
Mark Walton, Chief Operating Officer of Roomzzz, adds: “We were the first in the UK to launch the aparthotel concept back in 2006 in Leeds and the Roomzzz Aparthotel brand has experienced phenomenal growth ever since. We have aspirations to expand our offering throughout the UK and internationally, developing our existing aparthotel brand. In addition to our expansion into Scotland, we look forward to opening our first aparthotel in London later this year, as well as three additional sites planned for Liverpool, Manchester Corn Exchange and York.”
Roomzzz Aparthotels are conveniently located in the UKʼs most vibrant city centres, including Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Chester, and appeal to both corporate and leisure travellers alike with guests staying for one night to a year.
Roomzzz Aparthotels has appointed Christie & Co to spearhead their expansion plans and grow their portfolio of Aparthotels across the UK, with national law firm, Shoosmiths, handling legal proceedings.
The Steigenberger Alcazar-Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt, a new built five-star resort located in the Nabq Bay directly on the Red Sea coast, opened for business this week.
Each of the 610 luxurious rooms is at least 46 square metres in size, 99 of them are swim up rooms with direct access to the pool. Twelve Junior Suites and two villas equipped with private pools offer even more generously proportioned accommodation.
Expansive gardens provide plenty of green spaces as well as containing three public pools and two for kids. Guests will also enjoy exclusive use of a 3000 square metre private beach to soak up the sun and the sea. The diverse underwater world surrounding the Sinai Peninsula is an ideal place to go diving and snorkelling.
The hotel offers numerous additional sporting facilities, both water and land based, as well as housing a spa and a gym. Five à la carte restaurants offer Asian, Lebanese and Italian specialities as well as grill- and seafood and several bars cater to all the guests’ culinary needs: An Ultra all-inclusive package is also available. A modern conferencing area is able to stage meetings and events of every kind.
One particularly attractive feature of the resort is its close proximity to Sharm El Sheikh Airport, which can, for example, be accessed in only ten minutes via the hotel’s dedicated shuttle bus service. The Steigenberger Alcazar-Sharm el Sheikh Resort is already the eleventh hotel which Deutsche Hospitality has launched in Egypt, and CEO Puneet Chhatwal is delighted with this new addition to the company’s portfolio: “The Steigenberger Alcazar-Sharm El Sheikh is a beautifully appointed and highly modern resort in an extremely desirable holiday region. Sharm El Sheikh represents a considerable enrichment of our hotel portfolio and is a facility which is bound to fire the enthusiasm of our guests.”
Situated in the heart of London’s St. James, just a short walk from Green Park and Piccadilly, DUKES LONDON provides a sophisticated and elegant venue for meetings and events.
This summer, DUKES is proud to unveil the St. James Suite, a beautifully refurbished space which can accommodate up to 90 people. With a dedicated events team on hand to ensure no detail is left to chance and catering masterminded by Executive Head Chef, Nigel Mendham, a meeting or event at DUKES is in exceptionally safe hands.
Blending quintessential British charm and cosmopolitan luxury, DUKES LONDON offers timeless hospitality and a home away from home ambience. Its central location, enthusiastic and talented team, elegant décor and outstanding cuisine, make it an ideal choice for exclusive meetings and events.
The new St. James Suite, the hotel’s largest event room, has been elegantly re-decorated to create a chic, city venue for events of up to 90 guests (reception) or 60 guests (dining). The perfect space for a meeting, private dining or cocktail reception, the layout provides an ideal area for break-out sessions or pre-dinner drinks. The St. James Suite is fully air-conditioned with wireless broadband Internet access.
Those with further to travel may choose to stay overnight in one of DUKES’ classic style bedrooms or deluxe suites, and, after a day of meetings, a drink in the legendary DUKES Bar is the ideal way to unwind. DUKES Bar is internationally renowned for its famous martinis – an experience not to be missed!
In April 2018, Whistler will welcome the opening of the Pangea Pod Hotel – a visionary property situated in the centre of the city’s pedestrian village. Designed for the discerning solo traveller seeking a boutique hotel feel, impressive design and a prime location at an affordable price-point, Pangea is set to fill Whistler’s void between hostels and hotels.
“Pangea is unlike anything else offered in Canada, and we are thrilled to launch this concept in Whistler. Our unique pod hotel experience will speak to sophisticated, value-conscious guests unwilling to compromise on location, function, and aesthetics,” says co-founder Russell Kling. “Currently we are working obsessively to perfect the industrial design of the pods and suites, as well as the interior design of the communal spaces. We are also relentlessly focused on the significant gut renovation to the interior and a complete update to the exterior to bring this prime property into the 21st century.”
Pangea will feature a series of custom suites housing a total of 88 private sleeping pods. Each boutique pod will be luxuriously lined in wood and comfortably outfitted with a memory foam double mattress and high-end linens. They’ll also be equipped with individually controlled LED lights, multiple charging points (including USB ports) and an integrated fan for ventilation and white noise. There’s a place for everything, with a lockable cabinet for valuables, hangers and hooks for clothes, and a storage area for luggage. Mirrors and artwork lend a personal touch, while curtains provide a fundamental level of privacy.
Perhaps one of the most ground-breaking design aspects of Pangea is its modular bathroom concept. Unconventional thinking led to the conventional bathroom being separated into four individually accessed components: spa-like shower cubicles, washrooms, vanities, and changing rooms. More than 60 of these bathroom components are spread among Pangea’s suites.
“After travelling the world extensively with my husband, Russell, we knew we had to approach the ‘bathroom situation’ differently to excite the kinds of travellers we want to attract,” says Jelena Kling, Pangea’s co-founder. “By creating these four-piece bathrooms and locating them all within the suites themselves, we add a level of privacy and convenience not commonly found in hostels or other capsule hotels.”
While the pod suites encourage a tranquil and restful ambiance, Pangea’s guests will relish the lively atmosphere and connection to Whistler in The Living Room, Pangea’s stylish communal space. As the property’s hub on the second floor, The Living Room’s large drop-down glass panels overlooking the Village Stroll will create the feel of an outdoor patio, with long shared tables in the café for socialising and cozy sitting areas in the bar and lounge for relaxing. The Patio, Pangea’s rooftop bar on the third floor, will offer a unique outdoor experience and sensational views down to the Village Square.
Hamburg has long remained just under the radar, playing second fiddle to the gritty glamour of Berlin, and yet the eagerly-awaited opening of the iconic Elbphilharmonie has cemented Hamburg’s position as Germany’s most exciting cultural hub, befitting of an equally thrilling new residence.
On the Nikolaifleet waterfront, Sir Nikolai is sandwiched between the Altstadt (Old Town)—the city’s historical and cultural nucleus—and the regenerating, super-modern HafenCity district to the south. The luxury boutique hotel—with curated art, vintage rugs, and polished marble throughout—is a showcase for artisanal quality and tradition, seamlessly blending local heritage and international sophistication in the shadow of one of Hamburg’s oldest churches, Sankt Katharinen.
Design agency FG Stijl has directed their award-winning nous into artfully converting a former warehouse to create the 94-room Sir Nikolai. Extending into the glass-covered courtyard, The Patio is the beating heart of the hotel with its fluid interior/exterior setup playing host to both cozy fireside soirées and the eternal cocktail hours of summer thanks to a fully retractable ceiling. Two canal-side terraces further blur the lines between inside and out.
Opening late 2017, the 300-square-metre subterranean SPA will take on an elegant yet casual vibe, with a pool and sauna overlooking the canal, as well as having three treatment rooms, a steam room, and a gym. While the SPA takes care of spiritual nourishment, more immediate sustenance comes courtesy of THE ENTOURAGE GROUP’s destination restaurant IZAKAYA Asian kitchen & bar. Incorporating the entire ground floor and patio, the innovative Japanese-Peruvian dining experience pushes the boundaries of Nikkei cuisine in urban-chic surroundings.
Spanning between 20 and 56-square-metres, Sir Nikolai’s 94 rooms and suites afford views over The Patio, the Nikolaifleet canal, or the Altstadt, where boutique shops and cafés wind along the waterways. Each is luxuriously outfitted with custom-made furniture and lighting, while vintage carpets, contemporary artworks, and a carefully curated selection of design books and novels ensure a unique touch.
A goody box of decadent treats sourced from around the city replace the staid hotel mini-bar and queen or king-size beds are made up with the Sir Hotels’ bespoke signature bedding collection. The luxurious marble bathrooms feature oversized rainfall showers, and signature DEAD CLEAN spa body amenities.
Commercial property consultancy Lambert Smith Hampton (‘LSH’) has been appointed by Duff & Phelps to sell the freehold interest in the part-complete hotel at Portland Crescent near the Leeds Arena. The city centre development site has an existing planning consent and is on the market for offers in excess of £6 million.
The 206-bedroom hotel is currently part complete to nine storeys with it eventually being 14 storeys once completed. The site is located in close proximity to many of Leeds bars and late night venues, including Leeds Arena, O2 Academy Leeds, Grand Theatre and Opera House and Carriageworks Theatre. Given the strength of the location, the scheme also has the potential to attract interest for alternate uses such as student accommodation or the Private Rented Sector – subject to planning permission.
Despite a 13 per cent increase in average daily room rates in Leeds since 2013 and strong occupancy, the city has only seen three significant new hotel openings since 2013. Buoyed by an increasingly robust market performance, hotel development activity is returning with two new developments having recently been announced: Singaporean Heeton Holdings and idé real estate – this increased development will add 332 new hotel rooms in the city.
Hugh Anderson, Director – Hotels at Lambert Smith Hampton, commented: “Over the past few years, strong occupancy levels in the city have resulted in a number of new developments coming to fruition to meet the demand. Growth in the sector is on the up, both locally and regionally, and this site will give investors the chance to own one of the best, strategically located development opportunities in the city, with potential for strong returns on completion.
“Due to the location of the site, which is a short walk from cultural and transport hubs and Leeds Beckett University, we expect the asset will be in high demand and as such, we anticipate a high volume of interested parties.”
In line with the plan to meet the rising demand from millennial travellers, Frasers Hospitality, a division of Frasers Centrepoint Limited, is expanding its Capri by Fraser brand footprint with the opening of Capri by Fraser Berlin.
Capri by Fraser Berlin marks Frasers Hospitality”s seventh operating Capri-branded property globally and the second in Germany. Frasers Hospitality is on track to expand the brand to a total of 16 cities over the next four years. These cities include Leipzig, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Jakarta, Johor Bahru, Balikpapan, Kalkara and Gurgaon.
Within the unique property is an archaeological excavation site that was discovered by chance during construction, which is now carefully preserved and showcased through a glass floor. Swings are installed above the excavation site to offer guests a playful and novel way of engaging with this historical landmark. In addition, the apartment decor adopts the same approach by juxtaposing symbols of modernity, such as current city maps, with historical graphics of iconic buildings. Furthermore, the ceiling structure of Capri by Fraser Berlin takes cues from classic architectural styles, and is accented by rich gold and warm colours that create a relaxed, convivial ambience.
The Capri by Fraser brand caters to the needs of the e-generation, evident by its offerings at all hotel residences. The Spin & Play concept, resisting the usual expensive hotel laundry model, provides laundrettes with the latest games consoles, kickboxing and other activities for the millennial traveller. Guests have further options to de-stress at the 24-hour gymnasium or at the all-day dining restaurant, bar and deli. Meeting and conference facilities are also equipped with the latest audio-visual capabilities including interactive touch-screen panels and integrated whiteboard-projector features. Furthermore, local activities can be customised for guests seeking an authentic and unique experience.
Core to millennials and Capri by Fraser DNA is technology. Apart from state-of-the-art meeting and conference facilities, Capri by Fraser is developing a suite of technological initiatives to offer guests an unforgettable stay, where cutting-edge technology is seamlessly integrated into the travel experience at every possible touchpoint.
Conveniently situated in the heart of the vibrant German capital, Capri by Fraser Berlin offers easy access to international organisations, cultural attractions and popular tourist destinations. Numerous public transportation links are also available in the vicinity, with the closest underground station being 4 minutes away, while the Ostbahnhof train station is 10 minutes away.
Frasers Hospitality”s global portfolio, including those in the pipeline, stands at 148 properties in more than 80 cities with over 23,600 keys worldwide.
Pestana Hotel Group will build a new Pousada de Portugal located in the historic centre of Vila Real de Santo António, in the most eastern area of the Algarve, thus continuing its investment in the Portuguese region.
This investment will provide the historic heritage building with 57 rooms, 114 beds and create 30 new jobs. The official opening is scheduled for summer 2018.
Luís Castanheira Lopes highlighted the historic nature of the new Pousada, saying: “The Pestana Hotel Group will restore the buildings in full harmony with its architectural relevance allowing visitors to experience its very rich cultural legacy, a core characteristic at the heart of the Pousadas de Portugal brand DNA that celebrates 75 years in 2017.”
This will the be the fourth Pousada de Portugal in the Algarve and the 17th Pestana unit in the region. There are currently 16 Pestana units in the Algarve, 13 Pestana Hotels & Resorts and 3 Pousadas de Portugal (Palácio de Estói in Faro, Fortaleza de Sagres and Convento de Tavira).
The new Tile-In system from On The Level (OTL) is the perfect solution for customers wanting to see more tile and less drain when they stand in the shower.
Available in linear and square options, the new drain covers have a minimalist stainless steel finish on one side or can be flipped and completely tiled in to create a seamless wet room shower floor.
Linear Tile-In OTL’s linear channel products are among the company’s best sellers, with a five star modern look and the ability to work well with large slab tiles. The new Tile-In linear channel is available in a variety of standard sizes from 600mm to 1200mm lengths and is available for bespoke projects on request.
Square Tile-In The 15x15cm square grating option provides a versatile and more traditional look for the shower floor. It is compatible with most tiling styles but is particularly suited to mosaic. Both linear and square tile-in options are available in brushed or polished finish, giving them a timeless look for any bathroom floor, and have a lower price tag than the classic linear and square patterned and detailed alternatives.
They provide two stunning options to choose from making them versatile as well as affordable: tile in or flip it for a simple, yet sophisticated steel look. This can even be done once the system is fitted – if you get bored of one look, simply turn it over.
Tile-in is made from stainless steel, and with a flow rate of up to 50 litres per minute, can be used in conjunction with most showers. The system is easy to install and comes with full instructions, plus OTL’s dedicated team of advisers are on hand during working hours to help you if you have questions.
A UK trade association has called for the new government to review its approach and consider the importance of tourism to the country in the upcoming Brexit negotiations.
UKinbound says the general election results show that the electorate has rejected Theresa May and the Conservative’s vision of a ‘hard Brexit’.
The travel group is calling on any potential government formed by the Conservatives and Northern Ireland’s DUP to implement a strong sector deal and visa reforms, after 75% of its members stated these as the most important issues in one of its surveys.
UKinbound’s chief executive officer Deirdre Wells, said: “The general election result clearly shows that the electorate is against a hard Brexit, and so is the UK inbound tourism industry. Our members are calling for a continued strong relationship with the EU and the implementation of a sector deal that addresses issues such as the Customs Union, Open Skies Agreement and residency rights for EU workers. For inbound tourism to prosper long-term we need the Conservatives and DUP to champion our industry.”
With negotiations scheduled to begin next week, UKinbound wants to remind the government that the UK’s tourism industry employs more than three million people across the country and in 2016 was responsible for contributing over £22 billion annually to the UK economy.
UKinbound wants the Government to address the following points during Brexit negotiations: • An immigration system flexible to business needs – residency rights for EU workers • Continued access to the Open Skies Agreement • Visa-free travel between the UK and the EU • A strong narrative promoting the UK as a welcoming destination
Hamburg will soon gain a new architectural spectacle with the 15 October opening of The Fontenay, a 131-key property designed by Jan Störmer of Störmer Murphy and Partners.
Located directly on the banks of Lake Alster, the hotel features a sculptural form resembling three interlocking circles that frame views of the lake and downtown cityscape.
Occupying a substantial 14,000m² plot of prime waterfront real estate, the hotel has been designed as a luxury urban resort covered in thousands of white porcelain tiles that mirror the fluid lines of surrounding parkland and water.
The circular, flowing shape of the building’s architecture repeats itself throughout the hotel, and, aside from the partitions dividing each guest room, there are no straight walls and no wall is parallel to another.
We’re just one month away from the Hotel Designs Brit List event, which will be taking in some of the biggest names in the UK industry. For the past few months, Hotel Designs has been taking soundings and nominations to create the Brit List – a celebration of the most influential and inspirational hoteliers and interior designers.
The attendee list keeps on growing, with some fantastic representatives from across the hotelier and interior design industry already confirmed to be at the event; including Fairview Hotels, RPW Design, Hotel Gotham, Goddard Littlefair, Hypnos, Crosswater, the Dorchester Hotel, InterContinental Hotel Group, Rethink Interiors and GLH Hotels to name but a few.
With such a fantastic array of industry figures all in one room, you don’t want to miss an opportunity to get your company name on show – a limited number sponsorship opportunities are still available for the Hotel Designs Brit List. To find out more contact Jennie Lane on 01992 374098 or email j.lane@forumevents.co.uk.
Taking centre stage in Milan”s hip Porta Volta neighborhood with its stunning glass façade framed with lush vertical gardens, Hotel Viu Milan is rewriting the rule book on how to make an entrance in Italy’s capital of cool.
The newly built 124-room property boasts the only hotel rooftop in Milan with an outdoor swimming pool and stunning 360-degree views of the city skyline—perfectly located for aperitivos set to an intoxicating soundtrack of bossa nova. Throw in a Michelin-starred chef and exquisite Milanese design and you have summer in the city wrapped up.
Marriott International recently announced the expansion of its extended-stay brand, Residence Inn by Marriott, with the signing of two new properties in London. With additional openings in Amsterdam and Aberdeen this year, Residence Inn expects to more than double its European portfolio in 2017.
The opening of Residence Inn London – London Bridge in Q2 2017 will mark the debut of the company’s industry-leading extended-stay brand in the capital, and the opening of Residence Inn London – Kensington will follow in Q4. Both properties, owned by a controlled affiliate of Starwood Capital Group, will be operated under a franchise agreement with hotel management company and specialists in the extended-stay market, Cycas Hospitality – London’s second largest operator of serviced apartment and aparthotels.
Editor’s Opinion: The extended-stay market has definitely been on an upward trajectory in this country for a few years now, catching up with our continental cousins at a rate of knots. I have been invited to (and visited) several of these sites around the UK in the last couple of years, and I can only see this market expanding in the coming decade. With Marriott having been a major player in this sector for four decades, with its Residence Inn brand, it is certainly exciting to see their expertise being brought to these two London properties, and further afield in the near future.
Located on Long Lane in Southwark, Residence Inn London – London Bridge will offer 87 generous suites. Well-connected with good transport links, and a short walk from some of the city’s main historic attractions such as Tower Bridge and St. Paul’s Cathedral, it is ideally situated for leisure and business travellers alike.
Residence Inn London – Kensington will be situated on Warwick Road in Earls Court, with 307 suites. The Kensington Olympia Exhibition Centre is a 10-minute walk away, while cultural attractions such as The Victoria and Albert museum, the Science Museum, Royal Albert Hall, and the Natural History museum can be reached within 10 minutes by car. Both properties will cater to guests looking for longer stays with spacious suites and separate living, working and sleeping areas featuring upscale design and amenities.
Editor’s Opinion: Speaking to Diane Mayer, Residence Inn VP and global brand manager, during a hard-hat tour around the soon-to-open site, she tells me the brand ethos of Residence Inn – a slightly upmarket home-away-from-home – fits in perfectly with the London neighbourhoods selected to host the new developments. Becoming part of the locale is an important factor in Residence Inn properties, and the London Bridge property will be no different. Considering the length of a guest’s stay at the property, allowing them to feel part of the community is a unique selling point for the brand. There is no doubt the ‘public areas’ of this property will go a long way to achieving that goal.
The interiors have a very clean feel, with studio apartment-esque finishes and muted colour schemes, of varying greens, browns and blues. The separation of living and sleeping spaces has been well done in both the smaller and larger offerings. I have no doubt, that these two properties certainly will mark a very good debut for the brand in the UK capital.
Fully functional kitchens; grocery delivery service; fitness facilities; 24-hour markets; complimentary breakfasts and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel help guests maximise their time and thrive on long stays. Staying fit is made easier at Residence Inn properties courtesy of custom running routes that guests can access via MapMyFitness, thanks to the brand’s global partnership with Under Armour Connected Fitness.
Carlton Ervin, Chief Development Officer Europe, Marriott International said: “Residence Inn is already the global leader in the extended-stay lodging segment, and we’re excited that 2017 is set to be a pivotal year for the brand in Europe. We see these latest signings as a fantastic opportunity to grow the brand in such a strategic global destination, and we’re excited to be working with Cycas Hospitality, which has a strong history of hospitality expertise.”
John Wagner, Founding Partner of Cycas Hospitality said: “We are thrilled to welcome the world class Residence Inn brand to the extended-stay sector in London and to our own expanding hotel portfolio. We look forward to creating memorable moments for all our guests visiting these two new Residence Inn properties. Delivering a first-rate guest experience is in the DNA of all our Cycas Hospitality staff and we have an excellent track record to prove it.”
The two London properties will be joined by new openings in Aberdeen and Amsterdam this year, growing the European portfolio from three to seven hotels. The four additions planned for 2017 will see almost 600 rooms added to the Residence Inn portfolio, and there are a further eight properties anticipated by the end of 2019.
Italy has an ever-appealing charm – the food, the passion, the beautiful coastline and incredibly historic cities, the architecture and of course, the landscapes. For centuries, Italy has attracted holidaymakers, and continues to do so today, making it almost a sure thing for hotel developers.
One of the more recent hotel projects to open was the La Bagnaia Golf & Spa Resort Siena, a luxury 5-star development branded under Curio by Hilton and situated close to the picturesque town of Siena, known for its medieval brick architecture. The 101-key hotel, resort and golf course allows visitors to take advantage of the serene setting while playing golf or indulging in the swimming pool set within the idyllic grounds of the hotel. The resort is also equipped to handle large events and conferences.
The ultra-modern La Lama in Rome is currently under construction and set to open in the second quarter of 2018. Nicknamed “The Cloud” because of a nebulous structure in the interior of the hotel, the 409-key luxury new build complex will house a 5-star hotel as well as an 1,800 seater auditorium for conferences and events. The complex will be built with sustainability in mind and incorporate modern technologies in its construction and design.
IHG is in the process of building their first hotel in Venice, the InterContinental Venice – Palazzo Nani. Under construction at the moment, the new 51 room luxury hotel will be house in a converted 16th century palace, which will be refurbished to the highest standard, keeping the palace’s stunning ceiling frescoes and hand-carved wooden beams. Set to open at the beginning of next year, the hotel will also have wellness facilities and corporate spaces.
More information on hotel construction in Italy can be found on TOPHOTELPROJECTS.
The trail-blazing Dutch hotel group citizenM will open two exciting new hotels in Paris this summer including a hotel in the heart of Paris”s business district, La Défense and a flagship property opening in August in central Gare du Lyon. With its existing hotel at Charles de Gaulle airport, citizenM will now have three hotels in Paris all offering affordable luxury, smart technology and clever design.
citizenM La Défense is now open within the bustling business district of Paris, located to the west of the city. La Défense, best known for its iconic arch-shaped building, the Grande Arche, is currently undergoing a major revamp, complete with sprawling terraces and gardens, new avenues and towers, organic restaurants and fashionable bars.
At the ground level entrance guests are greeted by coffeeM, citizenM’s own coffee bar concept which was first introduced at the Tower of London flagship last year. This vibrant space has been adorned with a ceiling fresco featuring a repeat-pattern of Andy Warhol photo-booth selfies. societyM meeting rooms are located next to coffeeM and provide wonderfully creative environments which are perfect for hosting meetings and workshops. The breakout space features a playful Parisian kiosk.
From here, two escalators, a new design element for citizenM take guests up to the Check In and Living Room. Alongside each escalator is citizenM”s signature shelving, featuring a range of colourful and quirky objects, from Eames birds to artworks, books and curiosities.
The elevator up to the Check In is cladded from ground to first floor with a bespoke mural by Paris and NY based AVAF, an artists” collective who have previously created pieces for citizenM Bankside and Shoreditch.
The Living Room is the heart of citizenM, providing space to work, eat and socialise. At citizenM La Défense, the Living Room is on the first floor and enclosed by a glass façade with a large terrace. The Living Room also features collectionM, citizenM”s retail component offering easy travel accessories, inspiring gifts and books. Here another piece of bespoke fresco adorns the ceiling, created by local artist Romain Froquet.
canteenM forms the lively heart of the public area. Together with intimate booths and communal tables this is the place to drink, eat and meet. With a design nod to French cuisine and its reliance on traditional copper pans, the walls here are clad with copper.
From hotel openings to product spotlights to everything in between, we collate the top 10 most read stories on Hotel Designs this week…
1. GUEST BLOG: ROB SYKES ON THE FUTURE OF HOTEL DESIGN As the global hospitality marketplace evolves and travelers’ preferences shift, what are the future trends that hotel designers need to anticipate? And how can we be visionary in our approach to each and every assignment? Rob Skyes, senior associate WATG shares his thoughts.
2. BREXIT A YEAR ON – OPINION: ‘PERFECT STORM’ ON THE WAY FOR UK HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY Heidrick & Struggles , a premier provider of executive search, leadership consulting and culture shaping worldwide, spoke to Chairmen and Chief Executives from some of the biggest organisations in the industry, representing businesses with revenues of over £40 billion and employing more than a million people across the UK
7. PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: NO-ROCK – SELF-STABILISING EVEN TABLE BASES FROM CONTRACT FURNITURE STORE One of their latest creations, No-Rock, provides an unrivalled Even-solution to table instability. Meeting the everyday needs of cafes and restaurants, No-Rock Even table bases self-stabilise on uneven indoor and al fresco surfaces, while exhibiting an innovative and contemporary design aesthetic.
8. BRIT LIST 2017: STYLO ANNOUNCED AS EVENT PARTNER Hotel Designs is delighted to welcome Stylo as an event partner for the Hotel Designs Brit List, which is taking place on July 12 at Urban Coterie at the vibrant Urban Coterie sky bar and restaurant in London, from 6pm until 11pm.
9. FOUR SEASONS MALDIVES AT KUDA HURAA UNVEILS NEW WATER SUITES Four Seasons Maldives at Kuda Huraa has unveiled their much-anticipated water villas; two-bedroom suites, three-bedroom suites and the family water villas. The new accommodations are now open for booking.
Hilton has announced the opening of Sanya Yazhou Bay Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton, the first Curio Collection property in Greater China and Asia Pacific to join the exclusive, upper upscale collection brand of more than 35 distinctive hotels and resorts around the world.
Located on the West Coast of Hainan Island’s southernmost city, Sanya Yazhou Bay Resort is only a short drive from renowned attractions to discover such as Dongtian Park, Nanshan Temple and the unique Tianya Haijiao. Sanya Yazhou Bay Resort’s 267 rooms and suites include large soaking tubs and boast panoramic views of the sea, pool or tropical gardens.
Other amenities include a 2,000 square meter swimming pool beach access, as well as a kids’ club and game room for adults.
Sanya Yazhou Bay Resort, which is a 25-minute drive from the Sanya Phoenix International Airport and 35 km away from the Sanya city centre, offers full support for meetings and events.
Meeting and outdoor banquet spaces, which can be configured for events of any size, make up a total of 2,000 square metres. Equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual technology, these flexible spaces include a main 1,200 square metre meeting area and nine meeting rooms.
pentahotels, the design-led and neighbourhood lifestyle brand, today announced a new management agreement with The Nest Property Company a subsidiary of PM Group, to open the first pentahotel in Bangkok, Thailand in 2020.
pentahotel Bangkok, Ploenchit, will be located in Lumpini in the central business area of Bangkok. The announcement marks the first official step in pentahotels’ expansion in Southeast Asia, building on the brand’s plans to open its second Hong Kong property in Summer 2017.
As a new build property, tailored to pentahotels’ design standards, it will feature the brand’s hallmark design-led environment, including the signature pentalounge, a new-concept reception area that combines function with entertainment, welcoming guests to relax and socialise around a stylish bar.
The hotel will also feature 157 guestrooms, a swimming pool and gym. Located close to many large shopping outlets, high-rise offices and the Lumpini park, pentahotel Bangkok will offer business guests and leisure travellers alike the perfect window into the capital’s modern, vibrant and tropical lifestyle.
MKDA, a Miami-based architecture and interior design firm, has announced that its distinguished hospitality studio is the lead architect on the $12.5 million redevelopment of Jamaica”s long-shuttered Breezes Montego Bay Hotel into the 120,000-square-foot The Spanish Court Hotel Montego Bay.
Located on the beachfront along Gloucester Avenue in St. James, popularly called the Hip Strip, the resort hotel is an expansion of The Spanish Court brand in Kingston, and also a departure for the brand, whose popular Kingston location established in 2010 is primarily a destination for business travelers.
By introducing to the Caribbean a minimal architectural style similar to that found in Miami”s famed South Beach neighborhood, MKDA hopes The Spanish Court Hotel Montego Bay will redefine and elevate the concept of a Jamaican resort.
To achieve this architectural elegance, the exterior was stripped of its Mediterranean-inspired decorative elements in favor of clean, contemporary lines. A beautiful porte-cochere at the entrance features a large grey granite slab that creates a contrast to the stark white lines of structural elements, such as columns, slabs and walls, all of which frame full-height glazing walls. The architectural team is also reinforcing the structure in order to add two floors.
Most of the beautifully appointed 120 guest rooms will have views of Doctors Cave Beach, renowned in Jamaica for its clear turquoise waters, white sand and calm waters. Each will feature plush beds and spa-like bathrooms with roman tubs and sauna showers. Some will also comprise exterior balconies, and on the ground level, private plunge pools.
One of the most exciting details of the resort is the open-air lobby that frames—in beautiful wooden slats—the resort”s crystal blue infinity pool that melds flawlessly into the ocean. MKDA also designed a world-class restaurant and spa on either side of the lobby, as well as a pool and rooftop bar, café and gym.
MKDA is a corporate planning and interior design firm that was established in New York, NY in 1959. The firm also has a Stamford, CT studio that provides corporate interior design services, and a Miami, FL studio that provides architecture and interior design services. MKDA has been named one of Interior Design magazine”s Top 100 Interior Design Giants, has been an Interior Design Best of the Year Honoree, and has received numerous other accolades and recognition. Client brands have included Snapchat, SoundCloud, Guggenheim Partners, Design Within Reach and Heineken USA, as well as leading building owners Silverstein Properties, George Comfort & Sons, Vornado Realty Trust, Blackstone, ClearRock Properties and Boston Properties.
Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International, has marked a milestone: reintroducing the brand to Italy and reimagining an iconic palace to debut Le Méridien Visconti Rome.
Following its meticulous renovation and conversion, Le Méridien Visconti Rome, owned and managed by the Toti Group, now boasts custom-designed guestrooms, suites and a transformation of the hotel”s public spaces, including the brand”s signature lobby concept: Le Méridien Hub.
Located in the charming Prati district, ideally situated between the Spanish Steps and the Vatican, Le Méridien Visconti Rome is deceivingly residential with 240 guestrooms and suites – ideal for business, leisure and group travel.
Led by ara Design International, the hotel”s redesign is rooted in a classic Italian style with understated, geometrical references to Rome”s fabled treasures, including the Pantheon.
Following its UK debut at The Water Studio during CDW 2017, the new hansgrohe Metropol range of mixers makes a striking appearance with its consistently geometric design language.
In collaboration with its partner of many years, Phoenix Design, the brand hansgrohe has developed its most comprehensive range of mixers to date; it not only features a choice of three types of handles, but it is also the first range to include a floor-standing washbasin mixer for use with free-standing washbasins.
The basin mixers come in four different tap heights, providing space for individual needs, whether for washing hands, shaving or filling receptacles. The hansgrohe Metropol 100 basin mixer is available in two versions; with either a 160 or 190 millimetre spout length for a variety of uses at the washbasin.
Striking design is the distinctive and defining feature of the new Metropol mixers: precise geometric contours, spheres and rectangles blend with expansive surfaces, casting delicate reflections of light. The cubic shape of the base conveys an elegant modernist aesthetic. Handle and spout harmoniously complement each other thanks to their parallel alignment. The rectangular shape of the escutcheon is consistent in keeping with the overall design.
Versital is delighted to announce the launch of its ‘Metallic Marbles’ collection, a range comprising of three brand new metallic and marble-inspired finishes. The stunning collection is the first of its kind launched June 2017. The trio of designs will be available to the hospitality and contract industry followed by a roll out into kbb retailers.
The collection features three stunning colours: Copper Stratos blends a backdrop of white marble with statement metallic copper veining; Gold Stratos incorporates high quality gold veining for an opulent finish; whilst Silver Stratos completes this on-trend trio with a modern and contemporary look.
Gemma Stockberger, Sales, Marketing and Development at Versital explains the company’s inspiration behind the collection: “In the past year the trend for rose golds, coppers and precious metals in the home has been at the forefront of interior design in both residential and commercial sectors. We are excited to have developed a stunning formula that incorporates these colours in a beautifully subtle way. By blending luxurious Mica pigments with our signature cultured marble we have created ‘faux’ veining that represents the beautiful complexity of marble and takes the metallic look one step further.”
The range, which has been manufactured by hand, offers the fantastic properties unique to Versital’s bespoke, made to measure, stone-resin material such as its 100% non-porous, waterproof surface, stain resistance and anti-slip coating on its bespoke shower trays. It is the ideal surface solution for bathrooms and hospitality settings and has many applications including: – Bar surfaces, work tops and table tops – Shower trays – Shower panels and shower enclosures – Washroom Vanities
Launching in June 2017, prices start from £380 for shower panels per square metre, and £990 for bespoke shower trays…
The opening of a prestige passenger facility for Signature Flight Support, at London Luton Airport, marks a European flagship for the company, the world’s largest network of Fixed Base Operations.
Within the stunning 3DReid designed building, bespoke woven carpet from Wilton Carpets, inspired by the building’s modernist architecture, provides a luxurious floor to welcome flight crew and passengers.
Boasting the latest in technologies for entertainment, communications, passenger and crew amenities, and onward travel solutions; the building’s interior was designed by Hi Design, involved in a long-running consultancy since the plans for the facility were first conceptualised back in 2011. Hi Design conceived a linear design that would respect the language of the space, while simultaneously offsetting the sinuous curves of the interior.
Susan Whittle, managing director, Hi Design, explained: “We focused on Signature Flight Support’s clients and asked ourselves what kind of hotels they stay in, what are their homes like, what cars they drive and ultimately, what experience and level of finish they would expect in such a facility. We then concentrated on exceeding expectations.”
Hi Design turned to the quality and luxury of bespoke wool-rich woven axminster from Wilton Carpets, creating a series of three coordinated stripe designs. At times, the carpet incorporates a border of corporate blue, to reflect the colour’s use on high-gloss ceilings and walls, or is juxtaposed with hard flooring to create zones of luxurious relaxation. Featuring in meeting rooms, VIP lounge, bar and crew facilities; each area has been given a bespoke variant on the stripe sequencing and colour selection, creating subtle distinction between areas, while providing a notable link to the next.
The clean simplicity of the carpet took time and patience to achieve, with multiple CADs and hand trials needed to make sure the finished carpet reflected the identity of Signature Flight Support and provided a luxurious and welcoming atmosphere demanded by the operator’s high-wealth clients. Woven axminster was selected in a nine-row construction to deliver appearance retention and a quality expected by the international clientele, while still falling within a commercially viable budget. Susan Whittle, noted:
“Finding the right calibre of suppliers was key to the project’s success as we needed to specify high-quality, luxury products that would reflect the tastes and expectations of Signature Flight Support’s discerning clients. We worked closely with trusted suppliers, including Wilton Carpets, to design bespoke one-off pieces for the interior and we are delighted with the finished result.”
Featuring 80% British wool and 20% nylon, the carpets were woven in Wiltshire, bringing the quality and attention-to-detail of British manufacturing that makes Wilton Carpets one of the country’s most highly-regarded names in carpet for the hospitality sector.
For further information contact Wilton Carpets Commercial on 01722 746000 or sales@wiltoncarpets.com
Paris is for lovers, New York never sleeps, and in Bergen it rains. Every city has its stereotypes – some less flattering than others.
The citizens of Bergen, on Norway’s west coast, are saddled with a reputation for enduring 266 days of rainfall a year – the price they pay for their spectacular mountain backdrop, verdant woodland surrounds, and picture-perfect ocean horizon. But the Bergensers don’t mind. When it rains, they grab an umbrella and make the most of it.
That’s certainly the case at Zander K – the newly opened addition to the De Bergenske family of five hotels in central Bergen. Here, rain is an integral part of the hotel’s design scheme, wittily featured in playful storm-cloud artworks by Swedish illustrator Jesper Waldersten and postcards featuring nuggets of watery wisdom such as: ‘Some people walk in the rain. Others just get wet.’ Even the curtains in the bedrooms are wittily patterned with raindrops so that, even when the sun’s out (which happens much more frequently than people think), you can pull across the semi-transparent curtain and make it rain again.
We wanted the hotel to feel like Bergen: friendly, modern and somewhat modest in scale. The hotel is located in three visually different but, in reality, fully connected buildings. More or less only the façades of the old buildings were kept, with two new extra floors discreetly added on top; most of the interior is newly built. But instead of making it look like one big building, we opted for visually downscaling it into three smaller volumes to suit the Bergen streetscape. We really like the fact that the hotel appears much smaller than it actually is. It’s the opposite of most new hotels.’ – Eero Koivisto, Architect, Claesson Koivisto Rune
Lobby The hub of the hotel is the lobby area – separated from the street by a green glass windcatcher (a distinctive feature of many Scandinavian hotels). This expansive, airy and fluidly multifunctional space leads into a congenial lounge and reception area on one side, and the easygoing Matbar restaurant on the other, with a zinc-topped bar in between. With an abundance of tactile raw materials – solid wood, concrete, polished marble and velvet – irregularly positioned pillars, a dark green ceiling and a leaf pattern spread across the tiled floor, the experience is rather like entering a modernist vision of a forest – appropriate, given Bergen’s lush woodland surroundings. The hotel’s connection to the natural world and the Norwegian landscape also comes across in Zander K’s wider interior palette – a soothing canvas of blues, whites and greys set alongside locally sourced wood and stone, creating both a feeling of calm and an authentic sense of place.
Restaurant The Matbar (which translates, simply enough, as ’food bar’) is another aspect of Zander K that makes the most of the Bergen rain. Being so well watered, natural produce thrives in these parts, so the menu provides a seasonal showcase of the region’s finest. Chairs and tables – like most of the hotel’s furniture – have been custom-designed by Claesson Koivisto Rune. Their two-tone tabletops present uneven contrasts of light and dark woods – as do the Thonet chairs, cross-assembled from different batches to create playful juxtapositions of natural materials.
Bedrooms The five floors above the lobby house the 249 bedrooms, linked by dark blue corridors that reference the colour of the hotel’s façade. Fresh, functional and bright, thanks to large windows and intelligently positioned mirrors, each room is a masterclass in contemporary comfort, with a touch industrial chic, courtesy of Claesson Koivisto Run’s bespoke features and furniture, including mirror-finished stainless steel desks, softened with rounded edges; gridlined wallpaper; pebble-grey and ‘Bergen blue’ upholstery textiles; and two-tone bedside tables (a design affectionately named ‘The Zander’) that echo the tables in the restaurant.
Hotel Designs is delighted to welcome Stylo as an event partner for the Hotel Designs Brit List, which is taking place on July 12 at Urban Coterie at the vibrant Urban Coterie sky bar and restaurant in London, from 6pm until 11pm.
Stylo are specialists in large format print and display, offering bespoke tailored solutions for retail, hospitality interiors, exhibitions, museums and 3D installations.
One of the pioneering companies has been Stylo, the Hertfordshire-based print firm, which is now at the forefront of some incredibly exciting possibilities in three-dimensional printing.
Daniel Fountain, editor of Hotel Designs, said: “We have worked with Stylo before at some of our previous events and their 3D-printed items are always a talking point for all the attendees. It’s great to have such an innovative, cutting-edge company on board for what will be a great evening of networking and a celebration of the very best of design and the hospitality industries.”
A few sponsorship opportunities are still available for the Hotel Designs Brit List. To find out more contact Jennie Lane on 01992 374098 or email j.lane@forumevents.co.uk
W Barcelona, an iconic flagship of W Hotels Worldwide, part of Marriott International, has unveiled a multi-million euro transformation of all 473 guest rooms and suites, along with the addition of Europe”s first W Sound Suite (a music studio and writers room, now available at four W Hotels around the world).
The award-winning in-house design team at W Hotels partnered with London-based design studio Bowler James Brindley to reimagine the hotel, inspired by the 24/7 energy and privileged location on the shores of the buzzing Barceloneta.
Combining the personality and cutting-edge style of a boutique hotel with distinct positioning, W Hotels has created an entirely new segment in the hotel industry. W hotels provides the insider access to what’s new and next, offering a unique mix of cutting-edge design and passions around design, fashion, music and fuel.
At the beginning of this year Style Library Contract shared 4 design trends they see as having the greatest influence in hospitality design during 2017.
After Clerkenwell Design Week, the home of leading British brands Zoffany, Harlequin, Sanderson, Scion, Morris & Co., Anthology and FROne share four colour trends for Summer 2017 – ZEN, NOMAD, BLISS, and Pantone’s GREENERY…
NOMAD The word Harlequin means ‘varied in colour or decoration’, which sums the in-house studio’s eclectic design ethos perfectly. Driven by their love of colour, collections are inspired from around the world. The intensity of colour found in nature is evident in Fauvisimo’s powerful colour palette which ranges from cobalt blues and deep magentas to moody greys, on trend mustards, highlights of muted greens, blush pinks and honey shades.
ZEN Moody metropolitan tones in subtle textures and combinations of matt and shine capture the essence of Anthology, a new generation of contract specification fabrics and wallcoverings. Sophisticated complexity that interior designers and hotel groups worldwide can easily access.
BLISS Harlequin’s Poetica range is an enchanting homage to the natural beauty and intrinsic charm of England’s spectacular countryside and delightful cottage gardens. Drawn with a refreshing lightness of hand and tinted in watery hues, it creates a shabby-chic contemporary look for a romantic escape.
GREENERY As part of their Alchemy of Colour research, the Zoffany studio identified their own unique colour palette, which includes a dazzling malachite green. During this process Peter Gomez, Head of Design for the Zoffany Studio, experimented with a number of green shades and advises, ‘Be bold and use this colour in its purest form in a plain fabric, a great way to introduce a contemporary look is to champion green in a lustre effect against natural linens. Green really sits well off shades of sunstone and russets.
Jeremy Quantrill, managing director of Dernier & Hamlyn explains how beautiful, bespoke lighting does not have to be as expensive as you may think…
Having products specially commissioned to make the hotel interiors you design unique is usually highly desirable but often considered impractical within budgetary constraints. Whether you are talking furniture, carpets, artwork or lighting, bringing your personal touch makes the setting exclusive in every sense of the world.
It is often assumed that a high price tag always comes with individually specified items. However, with lighting, bespoke doesn’t have to blow the budget. We spend a lot of our time working with designers to produce lighting that meets their aesthetic and practical requirements cost-effectively whether it’s a one-off statement fitting or hundreds of table lamps or wall lights.
We have worked on hundreds of projects around the world where the interior designers’ initial ideas cannot be achieved with the money they have to spend. So, we talk with them about what’s important and, based on our experience built up over many years in lighting manufacture, we come up with solutions that meet their requirements but are less expensive. We can accomplish this in all sorts of ways.
Often it’s by adapting the manufacturing methods and techniques that are employed, so that products can be created more quickly resulting in reduced costs. Maybe modifications can be made to the design which do not change the overall look and feel, but, for example, reduce the amount of materials needed or reduce the number of processes involved resulting in significant price reductions, especially where this is replicated for an order of hundreds of products.
Or by looking at the lamps used we can often cut how many fittings are needed to provide the required light levels and quality. Frequently we can replace an especially costly material with something that looks similar but is much less expensive by using finishing techniques that give it the effect of, say, solid brass or copper, when in fact it is much cheaper, and easier to install, lightweight aluminium.
Time after time the highly skilled team in our London factory look at ways in which a light fitting can fulfil several purposes. So a chandelier may look as if it’s just hanging in a hotel lobby as a thing of beauty, but could also conceal emergency lighting so that there is no need to produce two separate fittings which can help to cut costs too.
So, next time you are thinking about lighting, whether it’s for the next must go to restaurant in London, a five star hotel in Dubai, a boutique set up in the Midlands or anywhere else for that matter, don’t discount the idea of commissioning bespoke lighting as out of hand. Consider carefully what you’re aiming to accomplish and whether there are ways to get there that are outside of usual thinking. And if you need help give us a call, we relish a challenge and will be delighted to talk through your aspirations and how we might be able to help you achieve them.
Contract Furniture Store, a leading online specialist supplier of luxury hotel, office and restaurant furniture. With more than 100 different European brands and more than 4,000 products they are dedicated to delivering the highest quality modern affordable furniture for their clients.
Their team of dedicated designers ensure that their modern furniture is unique, bespoke and highly comfortable. Their meticulous attention to detail and experienced craftsmanship combined with the latest cutting edge technology makes them an industry-leading provider of modern and affordable commercial furniture.
One of their latest creations, No-Rock, provides an unrivalled Even-solution to table instability. Meeting the everyday needs of cafes and restaurants, No-Rock Even table bases self-stabilise on uneven indoor and al fresco surfaces, while exhibiting an innovative and contemporary design aesthetic.
Sekers announces the launch of Milan (pictured above, right), a luxurious viscose cut velvet collection. Taking inspiration from Miki Sekers and utilizing archive pieces from the 1960s, Milan is a versatile collection of three elegant, contemporary designs suitable for contract upholstery and cushions.
Milan is available in a versatile palette of refined shades ranging from cool metallic tones and sophisticated neutrals to saturated jewel tones. With a plush hand and subtle lustre, Milan is a handsome addition to any interior and is an ideal choice for the designer specifying for the hospitality, leisure and marine markets.
With a high abrasion performance of a minimum of 45,000 Martindale and supplied with crib 5 backing, Milan is ideal for the contract market, meeting all relevant UK, American standards and IMO standards for upholstery.
Meanwhile, Sekers proudly launches Quasar (pictured above, left), a new upholstery collection of six textural designs, available in a palette of 30 colours, ranging from earthy neutrals to radiant jewel tones. Quasar is a versatile collection of woven textures incorporating a variety of yarns including twists, chenilles and bouclés. Supplied with a Crib 5 flame retardant backing and with a minimum Martindale abrasion performance as high as 140,000 rubs, Quasar is perfect for the most demanding upholstery application and the ideal choice for the commercial hospitality, leisure and marine markets.
LMN Architects, a multidisciplinary design firm with a reputation for distinctive, community-focused projects, announces the topping out of the building podium for the new Hyatt Regency in downtown Seattle.
Positioned at the nexus of Seattle’s downtown commercial, convention, and high-rise residential neighborhoods, the 1,400,000-square-foot Hyatt Regency Seattle synthesizes a diverse mix of urban influences into a skyline-scaled, mixed-use building. The tower’s monolithic composition will provide a bold, yet quiet, counterpoint to the highly articulated neighboring towers; its ethereal exterior conceived to dissolve and merge into the silvery sky as it rises above surrounding buildings.
The 45-storey, 500-foot-tall building is composed of two primary volumes: one, a semi-detached, eight-story podium bisected at street level by a mid-block connector; the other, a 37-story tower. The podium will provide 105,000-square-feet of meeting and ballroom space integrated with a two-story glazed base featuring a restaurant and hotel lobby functions. The tower above will host a 1,260-room hotel. The tower will rise above the podium’s rooftop terrace atop a glass-enclosed fitness center and club lounge.
The building will activate the city at street level through a series of highly transparent spaces including the lobby, porte-cochere, restaurants, bars, and shops. Ground level spaces are designed to spill out onto the wide, landscaped sidewalks—a visual merger of inside and outside. The second level will feature additional retail, including a grab-and-go market, a large bar and restaurant, and expanded lobby lounge space for hotel and meeting guests.
The tower’s placement on the southwest corner of the block will allow it to knit together with the dense commercial high-rises of downtown and the convention center expansion. The overall massing strategy will minimize shadows cast over adjacent blocks to the north where the lower height of the podium aligns with the residential and mixed-use neighborhood. A new mid-block connector will interface with an existing alley for pedestrian, garage, and back-of-house access within the interior of the block, leaving the street perimeter free for continuous public space with wide sidewalks, street furnishings, and generous plantings. A vertical window wall rising above the mid-block connector will divide the podium into two smaller volumes. The northern portion will be devoted to ballrooms, and feature a pre-function hallway and event space that will open to views of Stewart Street via a deep-set window wall. The southern portion will contain meeting rooms. Paintings and sculpture, located throughout the building’s public spaces, will animate the building’s refined aesthetic.
The hotel, which will be operated by Hyatt Regency, is expected to be completed in 2018. LEED Gold Certification is anticipated.
Project team: LMN (architecture, interiors, urban design) R. C. Hedreen Co. (developer) Zena Design Group (hotel room, tower lobby interior design) Sellen Construction (contractor) Hyatt Regency (hotel brand) Berger Partnership (landscape architecture) CPL (civil engineering) MKA (structural engineering) Arup (MEP engineering)
Four Seasons Maldives at Kuda Huraa has unveiled their much-anticipated water villas; two-bedroom suites, three-bedroom suites and the family water villas. The new accommodations are now open for booking.
Each of the new water villas offers luxurious indoor and outdoor living and dining areas, vast wooden decks with shaded loungers, overwater hammock nets, infinity pools, direct lagoon access and lightly air-conditioned interiors featuring designs inspired by the vibrant colours of Kuda Huraa.
The Two-Bedroom Water Suite give guests the choice to choose their layout; swim towards the horizon or float adjacent to it with two different pool and deck orientations; parallel and perpendicular to the sea. The Three-Bedroom Water Suite is designed to let guests live their fantasy escape through private spa treatments and yoga in the comfort of their own ocean-view deck.
Finally, the new Family Water Villa is designed to keep everyone in the family delighted, said the resort. Guests can keep a close eye on their little ones in the gorgeous sunken children”s room located a step down from the lounge with a wall of windows framing the endless turquoise lagoon beyond.
The enchanting garden island of Four Seasons Maldives at Kuda Huraa lies a half-hour speedboat ride from Velana International Airport, offering 96 thatched beach and water villas. In addition to the Island Spa sanctuary located on its own private island, Four Seasons Maldives at Kuda Huraa has four restaurants and two bars that are complemented by private dining options, including sandbank barbeques and private over-water gazebos.
Heidrick & Struggles , a premier provider of executive search, leadership consulting and culture shaping worldwide, spoke to Chairmen and Chief Executives from some of the biggest organisations in the industry, representing businesses with revenues of over £40 billion and employing more than a million people across the UK. While views on their specific business or sector could vary, the overarching theme was one of significant concern.
The report by Heidrick & Struggles, in partnership with the British Hospitality Association, found a range of issues worrying industry leaders. Most notably, rising costs are high up the agenda, with the fall in the pound following Britain’s decision to leave the EU having a huge impact on the cost of key imports that is yet to be felt by consumers. One CEO complained about the cost of butter, with an increased cost to her business of 46%, while another was seeing meat costs rise by 29%. This will mean higher bills for diners and holidaymakers, but according the majority of CEOs, consumers are yet to react negatively to price rises because the majority of these costs are yet to hit them.
Businesses in the sector are anticipating a recruitment gap of over a million jobs by 2029, according to a report by the BHA and KPMG earlier this year, which would mean the industry would need to recruit 60,000 UK workers in addition to sustained recruitment of 200,000 more per annum to meet the demands of growth. Filling these openings would likely be impossible without hiring migrant workers. Firms are heavily reliant on European workers, with half of CEOs reporting their workforce as 25-50%European, with more than a third of those businesses hiring EU citizens to fill 50-75% of their workforce.
According to the report, post-Brexit the hospitality industry pay bill will increase by £1.4 billion in the first year, and could rise by just over £1 billion a year over three years, amounting to a total cost of £3.2 billion. Wider economic changes are also adding to the pressure for the hospitality and leisure sector as business rates rise, and the apprenticeship levy and pensions auto-enrolment begin.
Ben Twynam, Partner at Heidrick & Struggles, said: “We have seen real concern from the most senior people across the hospitality industry, not only about talent and other Brexit-related concerns, but due to a number of headwinds facing the industry. With the cost of imports continuing to rise, increasing prices for customers and an expectation of decreasing consumer confidence in 2018 and 2019, there are a number of challengers facing businesses across the sector. While industry leaders are relatively confident about the remainder of 2017, they are far more pessimistic about the two years thereafter, when the real impact of Brexit will come to fruition.”
Ufi Ibrahim, the chief executive of the British Hospitality Association, said: “It is no exaggeration to say that hospitality and tourism face a perfect storm which is well articulated by our industry’s top executives in this report – a looming recruitment crisis caused by cuts to come in EU immigration, rising costs on both materials and labour, increased business rates and a tax regime that favours our European competitors. We have been urgently discussing these matters with the last government and will do so with the next. Our 10-year strategy to encourage more UK workers into the industry has been well received and we have confidence that with government support we can continue to grow what is the fourth largest industry in the UK.”
The hospitality and leisure industry is the fourth-largest employer in the UK, with 4.5 million people working in more than 180,000 businesses across the country.
As the global hospitality marketplace evolves and travelers’ preferences shift, what are the future trends that hotel designers need to anticipate? And how can we be visionary in our approach to each and every assignment? Rob Skyes, senior associate WATG shares his thoughts…
Our industry constantly yearns for innovation, with each hotel brand and independent operator seeking ways in which they can differentiate themselves to gain their own unique space in a very crowded marketplace. However, ‘out of the box’ thinking must always be balanced with economic pragmatism. Ultimately, hotels, as a real estate asset class, are challenging. Any investment risk must be justified by the requisite financial rewards.
Hospitality industry experts first started talking about brand proliferation in the mid-1990s. Over the years, we have seen a torrent on independent innovators and brand extensions from the major operators. Indeed, today, the big six hotel companies hold an incredible 90 brands between them. With such saturation in the marketplace, our clients are asking us one key question: How can we differentiate to get ahead?
Trends of the last five years include themes such as the rise of ‘localised’ design, trendy independent ‘lifestyle’ hotels and animated public areas. But what concepts are currently on our drawing boards at integrated hospitality design firm, WATG, that will be entering the market in the next few years?
Hospitality trends and influences: A healthy obsession Across the generations we have become preoccupied with our personal wellbeing – boomers strive to hold back the ravages of time, millennials aim to optimise their personal fitness. Our lives are jam-packed with wearables, apps, healthy-eating blogs, fitness mash-ups and endless pop-ups to lure us into the belief that if we become disciples we can live forever.
Yet, the hotel sector, with a few notable exceptions, lags behind such innovations. Hotel fitness facilities remain largely traditional in nature. This has to change. That said, we do have some interesting brand combos and extensions happening. Equinox, the high end fitness operator is moving boldly into the hotel arena with its first property opening in New York in 2018. Likewise, 1 Hotel Miami Beach has teamed up with Soul Cycle to offer popular spin classes’ at the hotel.
But as consumers demand more bespoke fitness and wellness routines and a more experiential approach to the tedium of exercise, hotels and resorts will need to become more experimental and absorb some of the entrepreneurial ideas spinning around the fitness and beauty market.
We do not see a future of robot services and virtual reality experiences. Technology is expensive and quickly becomes dated. First-class hospitality will always require the ‘human touch’. Particularly true of resorts, consumers will increasingly seek to reconnect with nature, spend quality time with loved ones and return to ‘the simple life’. These principles are driving our designs of late; a return to analogue rather than digital. That said, there will of course be ways to utilize technology to enhance the guest experience. But we see these as subtle touches, rather than drastic interventions.
We experience ever-growing pressure, from both developers and consumers, for environmentally responsible and ‘resilient’ hotels and resorts. Many land owners we work with have a genuine commitment to stewardship, and we see this as integral to the enduring success of a project. Therefore, we must stay ahead of the curve regarding new construction techniques, the create reuse or ‘up-cycling’ of materials, and landscape design innovations that will help us deliver low-impact, yet beautiful hotels. In essence, we see our role as a master-craftsman of destinations, rather than ‘just another design firm’.
The trend away from the cookie-cutter hotel experience will gather pace. Developers will progressively ask us to define niche hospitality concepts. These will be bespoke to the demands of very specific and evolving target markets. Design concepts will focus increasingly on generational consumer and technology trends and the nuances in habits of specific geographic source markets. Unique, tailored hotel concepts tend to gain industrywide attention and despite their targeted strategy, often end up as part of the mainstream.
Rob Sykes is a Senior Associate on the global strategy team with WATG. This article consolidates the thinking of WATG’s design teams in London and Singapore, covering architecture, interior design and landscape. WATG designers Tony Menezes, Kevin Scholl, Nicole Hammond, John Paul Pederson, John Goldwyn, Edouard Gillon, Christine McGinnis, and Tom Williams took part in the two cross-functional working groups, along with Rob Sykes.
About WATG WATG is a leading integrated design firm, ranked second in the world among hotel architectural firms. WATG’s interior design firm, Wimberly Interiors, was ranked 10th by Interior Design Magazine in their 2016 Hospitality Giants survey.
The Ritz-Carlton, the legendary luxury hotel brand, opened the doors of its first hotel in the capital of Kazakhstan. With the capital city an emerging destination for business and leisure travelers, The Ritz-Carlton, Astana elevates the local hospitality landscape with exceptional service, elegant accommodations, and commitment to creating memorable experiences.
Located in the Talan Towers, The Ritz-Carlton, Astana, owned by Verny Capital Group, joins an elite business center and luxury shopping gallery to create the city’s first high-end, mixed-use complex, creating a new type of lifestyle and luxury experience in the region. With a unique yet graceful design, The Ritz-Carlton, Astana is also a natural extension of the square around the nearby Bayterek Tower, a monument and symbol of modern Astana.
The Ritz-Carlton, Astana features 157 guest rooms, including 32 suites, and 27 residences, all of which offer panoramic city views, thoughtful design that celebrates the beauty of the capital city, and spacious layouts. A Club Lounge on the 14th floor provides guests with an additional sanctuary, private check-in, dedicated Club Concierge, and culinary presentations throughout the day.
Three new restaurants showcase gastronomic excellence from around the world and will delight guests and local residents alike. Adjacent to the main entrance, Өzen offers the finest selection of organic produce, while Mökki, an all-day dining restaurant, offers guests a sense of comfort. The selection is completed with Selfie Astana, the newest creation of the Russian-based restaurant group White Rabbit Family, which will offer masterful cuisine to accompany the stunning city view from the 18th floor.
A peaceful spa retreat will also offer an array of treatments and spa packages that include seasonal offerings and signature treatments, all of which are chosen for their holistic qualities. Spa amenities include a dry and steam sauna and swimming pool, with a fitness studio adjacent to the spa. Additionally, The Ritz-Carlton, Astana will help create unforgettable meetings and events by offering luxurious settings paired with exceptional cuisine and personalized service. The hotel’s 1000 square meter ballroom, well-appointed meetings rooms, and modern business and banquet amenities are well suited to accommodate a diverse range of meetings and events.
Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills has opened its doors, adding a much-anticipated, soon-to-be-iconic hotel to the intersection of Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards – the gateway to Beverly Hills.
Adjacent to The Beverly Hilton, the 12-story hotel is the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts” first new build on the West Coast and second California property, joining the legendary Waldorf Astoria portfolio of now 26 hotels and resorts worldwide.
Owned by Alagem Capital Group and clients of Guggenheim Partners, the hotel”s 119 deluxe rooms and 51 suites are part of a world-class, Art Deco-influenced design created by renowned interior design firm Pierre-Yves Rochon.
The Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills is located at 9850 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. Jerone Werdmolder serves as the general manager and Luc Delafosse is the managing director.
Who are the most inspirational and influential names in the UK hotel business?
The finalists in the Hotel Designs Brit List have been named, taking in some of the biggest names in the UK industry. For the past few months, Hotel Designs has been taking soundings and nominations to create the Brit List – a celebration of the most influential and inspirational hoteliers and interior designers.
The final list will be unveiled on the evening of Wednesday July 12th at the vibrant Urban Coterie sky bar and restaurant. It’s free to attend if you work in the sector – to find out more click here.
The shortlist is now being studied by our panel of judges, who will decide the 25 top hoteliers and 25 top interior designers. The panel includes Dr Vanessa Brady OBE, President of the Society of British & International Design; Glyn Adams, Academic at the Edge Hotel School; Patrick Goff, Founder of Goff Associates; Daniel Fountain, Editor of Hotel Designs.
The finalists are:
Hoteliers Andrew Wildsmith – Owner, Wildsmith Hotles Louise & Andrew Macbeth – Owners, Beck Hall Mailo Power – Director, Athenaeum House Bharat Rai – General Manager, Grange Tower Bridge Hotel Marwan Hemchaoui – Manager, The Vineyard Patrick Burke – Owner/Manager, The Atlantic Hotel Paul Brackley – Manager, Shangri-La, The Shard Peter McCarthy – Chairman, Clevedon Hall Robin Sheppard – Chairman, Bespoke Hotels Aidan Flanagan – Manager, Muckrach Country House Hotel Tony Troy – CEO, Principal Hotels Michael Obray – General Manager, Lords of the Manor Hotel Lynn Brutman – General Manager, Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire Charles Lowther – Owner, Askham Hall Chris Hurst – General Manager, Hambleton Hall Andrew Thomason – Managing Director, Gravetye Manor Jennifer McCabe – General Manager, Charlotte Street Hotel Tom Ross – General Manager, The Pig Near Bath Mario Ovsenjak – General Manager, Hotel Gotham Adolf Schauer – General Manager, The Landmark London Mark Bevan – General Manager, Chewton Glen Olivia Immesi – Manager, Ace Hotel Shoreditch Jan-Paul Kroese – General Manager, Belmond Le Manoir aux Qaut’Saisons Sue Williams – General Manager, Whatley Manor
Designers Conrad Smith – (Posthumous award) – Reardonsmith Architects Ariane Steinbeck – Interior Designer, RPW Design Emma King – Head of Interior Design Europe, IHG Geraldine Milsom – Milsom Hotels & Restaurants Group Sarah Ramsbottom – Managing Director, Elle R Leisure Deema Sahyoun – IND Creations Andrew Linwood – Areen Hospitality Dennis Irvine – Dennis Irvine Studio Dexter Moren – Director, Dexter Moren Associates Malgosia Hendzel – Architect, Alex Kravetz Design Henry Chebaane – Designer, Blue Sky Hospitality Space Graeme Banks – Design Director, Barr + Wray Michelle Holland – Associate, Goddard Littlefair Alesia Sirokina – Senior Designer, Project Orange John Lewis – Associate Director, Richmond International Bee Osborn – Director, Osborn Interiors David Richard Mellor – Principal/Head of Design, David Richard Mellor Yasmine Mahmoudieh – Yasmine Mahmoudieh Architecture & Design Patrick Tyberghein – Director, Carter Tyberghein Helen Fewster – Director, Suna Interior Design Robert Angell – Principal/Director, Robert Angell Design Michael Simmons – Founder/Designer, Space ID Nicholas Hollinshead – Senior Designer, NH Interiors Lucy Goddard – Creative Director, NoChintz Michael Squire – Senior Partner, Squire & Partners Susie Atkinson – Founder, Susie Atkinson Design Andy Cooper – Head of Design, Oulsnam Design Esra Kumbasar – Senior Designer, Wrothams Elizabeth Warden – Principal, Elizabeth Designs David Carter – Designer, A La Carte R
A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are available for the Hotel Designs Brit List. To find out more contact Jennie Lane on 01992 374098 or email j.lane@forumevents.co.uk
3. HYPNOS LAUNCHES NEW RANGE OF SOFA BEDS FOR HOSPITALITY SECTOR Award-winning British bed manufacturer and Royal Warrant holder Hypnos is celebrating the launch of its new range of sofa beds specifically designed to meet the demands and rigours of the hospitality sector.
The General Manager of the 4* Mercure Gloucester, Bowden Hall hotel, Gavin Jones, has today announced plans for a comprehensive refurbishment of the hotel’s 72 bedrooms.
trivago data shows that London is the most popular destination for international visitors, beach locations are popular with locals, travellers from Ireland, Italy and France are searching for the longest stays.
Ana Garcia Maldonado is leading Spanish developer Taylor Wimpey España’s highly experienced head of interior design who has worked independently with developers for almost 15 years.
Coming together to mark the final stages of this spectacular seven-year project, the attendees gathered on the grand steps of Ten Trinity Square, the former Port of London Authority Headquarters.
Germany’s largest owner-managed hotel group has increased its conference and incentives offer by upgrading more than a quarter of its German portfolio and introducing green initiatives.
Over 34,000 design professionals from 73 countries at London’s most important commercial design festival.
The eighth edition of Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW), sponsored by Renault, delivered huge benefit to London’s creative hub with over 57,000 new business leads generated during the three-day festival. With more than 200 brands exhibiting across the 7 venues and 92 showrooms, CDW brought life to the area from 23-25 May and further cemented the festival as a key event on the international design calendar.
This year’s festival focussed on refining the visitor experience and access to the extensive combination of exhibitions, installations and over 300 live events. The eye-catching way-finding, designed by Space Agency and sponsored by URW++ was a vital aspect of this and guided visitors easily through the Clerkenwell Exhibition Trail, along which visitors experienced immersive installations including the ambitious 8m tall Beacon at Design Fields and The Bolt: A Celebration of Craft, an impressive structure created by Giles Miller and Shinola.
CDW 2017 Facts and figures… • 34,128 total visitors • 64% visitors were architects or designers • 57563 business leads captured at the show • Visitors from 73 countries • 300+ events • 92 showrooms • 209 exhibitors
The Conversations at Clerkenwell series, sponsored by eporta, staged in a specially designed talks space located within Design Fields, included a host of design thinkers and influencers including Doshi Levien, Sebastian Cox and many more. The eighth edition also welcomed 25 fringe partners, including the Museum of London, who organised themed walks on the past, present and future of making in Clerkenwell and Craft Central who presented a collaboration with TfL, celebrating TfL’s unique heritage of design with a specially commissioned collection of thirteen brand new Underground-inspired brooches.
Daren Newton, Managing Director of Clerkenwell Design Week, commented “The eighth edition of Clerkenwell Design Week was hugely successful and has proven that the festival is a substantial player in the global design scene. The festival saw some of the best global design brands occupy the unique setting of medieval and victorian Clerkenwell and we have had brilliant responses from exhibitors and visitors alike. The new layout for the festival was cemented this year through enhanced wayfinding, making the festival a much more complete experience – aided significantly by the great weather! We are now very much looking forward to next year.”
Max Fraser, specialist in contemporary design was announced as Content Editor last month and going forward, will advise on the content curation, strategy and programming for Clerkenwell Design Week. He will also take on the same position on 100% Design (20-23 September), the cornerstone event of the London Design Festival.
Clerkenwell Design Week 2018 will take place Tuesday 22- Thursday 24 May.
Nicknamed The Spy House because of its connections with WWII, Grade I listed De Vere Latimer Estate has this week unveiled a £7 million renovation that places the mansion house back at the heart of the estate. Situated in Latimer, among Buckinghamshire’s rolling Chiltern Hills just five miles from the M25, the refurbishment uncovered and restored many original features, as well as subtly celebrating the hotel’s connection to a secret history.
De Vere Latimer Estate boasts a rich history that dates back to the 16th Century when the original house held Charles I during his imprisonment. The red brick Tudor-style mansion standing today was completed in 1838 and became the temporary host of captured German U-boat submarine crews and Luftwaffe pilots during the Second World War before becoming the National Defence College until 2006.
De Vere Latimer Estate’s biggest transformation occurred in the mansion house, where no stone was left unturned. The refurbished original sweeping staircase with stained glass windows leads guests to 31 new deluxe rooms and suites that were previously meeting rooms and offices, bringing the total number of guestrooms to 205.
All guestrooms feature free Wi-fi and flat screen TVs, whilst suites and deluxe rooms come complete with king size beds, fluffy robes and slippers as well as luxury bathroom toiletries.
The new 1838 Restaurant & Bar, which is open to members of the public as well as hotel guests, is located in the mansion house and features an open kitchen cooking up locally sourced, seasonal British dishes. Guests can choose to dine in the modern, wooden-floored restaurant, with soft green touches and indoor trees, or head outside to the courtyard and dine under the trees by candle light. The new Huntley Bar features stunning views across the Chess Valley and offers both guests and locals a relaxing, stylish environment in which to enjoy a drink whilst taking in the surroundings.
For those booking a wedding or event at De Vere Latimer Estate, the mansion house provides four new look spaces; including a traditional grand drawing room, The Cheyne, with original features that can host intimate celebrations for up to 30 guests, to The Cavendish Suite for weddings and events up to 200 guests. Respectively added to the mansion during the refurbishment, the Cavendish suite offers state-of-the-art facilities that can double in size by the opening of bi-folding doors on to a new terrace that offers views across the countryside. Couples who like to mix the tradition of a church wedding with a country house reception can have both at De Vere Latimer Estate, as the estate’s church is short walk from the stately home.
Antonio Campanile, General Manager at De Vere Latimer Estate, commented: “We’re very proud to have restored this remarkable mansion house back to glory; a lot of time and work has gone in to this project, to ensure homage is paid to its important history. The newly refurbished bedrooms are looking fantastic and we’re already receiving excellent feedback from guests.
He continued: “As a popular venue for the meetings, conferences and private events market, the renovation was planned and designed to appeal to all our customers, whilst providing a stylish standout venue in stunning surroundings.”
De Vere Latimer Estate, nestled in 30 acres of formal gardens and grounds, boasts free superfast outdoor Wi-fi, a restored Victorian Pond, as well as specially commissioned sculptures by artist Emma Stothard. Guests of the hotel also have access to a gym, indoor pool, sauna, steam room, as well as a boot room which provides complimentary Hunter wellies in which to explore the stunning grounds.
The property also boasts 28 flexible meeting and events spaces, some of which are located in the Cormorant and Mews buildings, which sit adjacent to the mansion house. The refurbishment has also seen the introduction of De Vere’s first Burr & Co. coffee shop concept, where guests can enjoy high quality ethically sourced coffee, tea, juices and soft drinks, artisan cakes and pastries to take away or eat in.
The completion of De Vere Latimer Estate’s refurbishment marks another important milestone in De Vere’s wider multi-million-pound country estate hotel renovation project, which places the Mansion House at the epi-centre of the group’s country estate portfolio. The gardens will also receive investment with the addition of outdoor dining patios and sculptures, making the great outdoors an extension of the hotel itself.
Award-winning British bed manufacturer and Royal Warrant holder Hypnos is celebrating the launch of its new range of sofa beds specifically designed to meet the demands and rigours of the hospitality sector.
Made for practicality, sofa beds offer a comfortable seat as well as the option of converting a double or single occupancy room into a family or multi-occupancy one in just a few moments.
The new range from Hypnos comprises six different models, all of which have been stylishly designed to create a series of traditional and contemporary sofa beds. Available in a range of sizes, from a single seater chair bed to a corner unit, the range offers hoteliers a versatile working and lounging area in their guest rooms. Furthermore, each sofa bed can be tailored to suit the aesthetic and tone of the suites in which they will sit, using Hypnos’ specialist hospitality fabric collection, or the client’s own choice of fabric, thereby allowing them to take control of the design and offer their guests a unique sleep experience that is not only practical, but also highly stylish.
Customers can pick their perfect sofa bed inspired by some of the most iconic and desirable places in the world which share their name with the products in the range, including London, Paris, Milan and Manhattan. Paying homage to two of the UK’s most stunning cities, Lichfield and York complete the collection, which has been designed for Hypnos’ customers worldwide.
As experts in creating beds for the hospitality industry, Hypnos has made its new sofa beds with handy, in-built storage features. Designed to be a multi-use product, these new sofa beds offer a wide range of benefits to hoteliers and the housekeeping teams who can keep key items within them.
Clare Taylor, Hypnos Contract Beds Marketing Manager, said: “Our latest range of sofa beds offers an all-round solution to our customers, providing them with the comfort their guests seek, alongside the quality and design hoteliers need for a stylish looking guest suite or room.
“All of our sofa beds are highly durable and backed by a 5 year guarantee. They are also protected by our state of the art hygiene treatments as well as being 100% recyclable at the end of their life,” she added.
For more information on the full Hypnos range, or to download the Sofa bed brochure, please visit www.hypnoscontractbeds.com
The General Manager of the 4* Mercure Gloucester, Bowden Hall hotel, Gavin Jones, has today announced plans for a comprehensive refurbishment of the hotel’s 72 bedrooms.
The announcement follows just weeks after the launch of the hotel’s new Bar & Brasserie Restaurant. The hotel’s stunning ballroom was redesigned two years ago, followed by the reception and public areas in 2016.
The bedroom renovation will take place gradually over the coming months whilst the hotel maintains normal business with minimal guest disruption. The new bedroom design, created by Jupiter Hotels’ interior designer, Helen Hooper of HH Interiors, will be unveiled on 19th August when the refurbishment is completed.
Commenting on the developments at the hotel, Gavin Jones, General Manager of the Mercure Gloucester, Bowden Hall, said: “It is such as exciting time at the hotel. We have seen major transformations over the last two years starting with the redesign of the Lakeside Suite and the renovation of the historic hotel’s reception area. To now be undergoing an extensive refurbishment of all our 72 bedrooms is fantastic. Once complete the hotel truly will be one of the finest hotels in the Cotswolds – I am very proud.
“Last month we celebrated the opening of our new Bar & Brasserie restaurant and are already welcoming locals and guests from across the county and further afield. We have already built strong local connections such as Cotswolds Distillery and the new gin list is proving particularly popular,” he added.
Mercure Gloucester, Bowden Hall Hotel is a beautiful Georgian country house hotel set in 12 acres of sweeping parkland.
Conrad Hotels & Resorts is SET to welcome guests to the new Conrad Guangzhou, the seventh Conrad property to debut in China.
Created as a stylish urban oasis in the heart of CBD Zhujiang New Town, Conrad Guangzhou boasts panoramic river views from its rooms and restaurants while offering intuitive amenities and flawless service. The hotel is ideal for leisure and business travelers alike who want to explore, do business and stay inspired.
Conrad Guangzhou offers 309 spacious guest rooms and suites in a modern 27-storey tower overlooking the Pearl River. The hotel enjoys a prime location in the midst of a new, multi-use complex, where guests can easily walk to premium shopping, entertainment and public art, or attend to business at the nearby corporate offices. Popular landmarks like the Guangdong Museum, Guangzhou Opera House and Canton Tower are minutes away, as are the subway system and bus stations.
Conrad Guangzhou features a variety of modern and spacious rooms and suites with panoramic river views and best-in-class amenities. Starting at a generous 48 square meters, rooms feature walk-in closets, large flat screen TVs, WiFi and wired internet access, Nespresso coffee machine, and a shoe dryer, a thoughtful amenity unique to Conrad Guangzhou to keep your shoes dry and toasty.
Conrad Guangzhou guests can stay healthy, fit and inspired while traveling with a stunning fitness center located on the sixth floor with state-of-the-art equipment, a 25-metre indoor pool and sweeping views of the city. The onsite spa offers relaxing and rejuvenating treatments.
Ideal proximity, convenience and unique services make Conrad Guangzhou the preferred choice for business travelers and conferences as well as corporate events or weddings.
Duravit is continuously breaking new ground when it comes to introducing innovative products derived from new materials – combining performance with aesthetics whilst being sensuous and inviting. The latest Duravit new materials include; DuraCeram® and DuraSolid® which play an essential role in their latest Luv designs.
The Danish designer Cecilie Manz has encapsulated all of these vital characteristics in the Luv collection, combining Nordic purism and timeless emotional elegance with soft shapes that follow a stringent geometry.
DuraCeram® Conventional bathroom ceramic material requires a thickness of 12 to 14 mm to ensure the necessary strength after firing. For finer forms Duravit has developed a new, innovative material called DuraCeram®, which is thinner and notable for its extreme accuracy, high strength and elegant finish. In this way, a new dimension in design diversity is achieved: maximum elegance without any sacrifices in terms of quality, robustness and ease of cleaning.
This material is for example used for the Luv oval above-counter basins with subtle lines, generous inner basins, and clean edges.
Cecilie Manz’s refined sense of materials and colour is known all over the world. The optionally glazed exterior of the wash bowls is available in satin matte White, Grey or Sand. The colour palate of matt lacquers and glazes in soft shades was developed exclusively for Duravit and emphasizes the fresh character of Luv.
DuraSolid® With DuraSolid®, the Duravit AG research team developed a new and unusual mineral material. The interaction of selected raw materials creates a high-tech material that is particularly suitable for the production of baths and shower trays. It stands for durability, high stability and slip-resistance.
In addition, thanks to the special material quality, it can be used to create new shapes.The free standing Luv bath tub made from DuraSolid® is as unique as it is inviting and a matt surface provides a premium, velvety finish. The material is warm and pleasant to the touch, and the result is a success in both look and feel as well as being easy to clean.
trivago data shows that London is the most popular destination for international visitors, beach locations are popular with locals, travellers from Ireland, Italy and France are searching for the longest stays, and hotel guests from USA and Australia search for the highest prices-per-night on average.
These are just some of the insights from an analysis of summer travel trends in the United Kingdom, which reveals where international travellers are visiting from, and compares their search behaviour and destinations-of-choice with those of domestic travellers.
The top ten destinations in the UK account for more than 87% of searches from international travellers, to UK destinations. The most searches from off-shore countries to UK destinations are from Germany, USA, Italy, Spain, Australia, France, Ireland, Canada, the Netherlands and Sweden, are the top countries based on searches for UK hotels. The most popular destinations for domestic and inbound travellers is London, followed by Edinburgh and Glasgow. Glasgow ranks much lower for UK residents, who prefer Blackpool, Bournemouth, other seaside locations and other cities.
The most popular destinations for domestic and inbound travellers is London, followed by Edinburgh and Glasgow. Glasgow ranks much lower for UK residents, who prefer Blackpool, Bournemouth, other seaside locations and other cities.
Traveller behaviour from the key markets, for searches to destinations around the globe, show that travellers from Australia are the biggest spenders, with an average clicked price per night of £161, followed by USA with £152 and the UK with £151.
Visitors from Ireland, Italy, and France are likely to stay the longest, searching for stays of eight nights on average, to destinations worldwide.
The most popular week to travel varies for each visiting country, but in terms of search volume from all markets the biggest influx of travellers is set to arrive in the UK in the week beginning 31 July.
For more detailed insights into popular destinations and traveller behaviour for the UK this summer, visit the trivago Hotel Manager blog.
Developers of the £25m DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Hull have announced that they have just passed the halfway point of the build.
The hotel, located in Ferensway, is being delivered by Lincolnshire-based developer Manorcrest Group who began work on the site in October 2016. With a 14-month construction period the eagerly awaited hotel, which will boast 165 bedrooms and a 1000 sq m ballroom for events and conferences, is due for completion in November this year.
Over the last eight months, the concrete lift shaft was constructed and the floor slab and structure to the conference centre has been finished. Over the course of the next few months and until completion, works on site will include the development of a restaurant space and rooftop bar, and the internal fit out of the conference centre and communal areas and the installation of its bedroom pods, which are being delivered from China.
Director of Manorcrest Group, Dean Wann, said: “The construction of the hotel is on track and now we are past the half way point you can really see the building being brought to life.
“This hotel will bring much-needed beds to Hull and the support we have had from the local community has been great. We are building a luxurious facility that the city can be proud of and it will accommodate Hull’s busy visitor economy and increasing business travellers. We have another busy seven months ahead of us but things are progressing well,” he added.
Onsite works are continuing to the roof of the build which is 80% complete, whilst the decking and concrete floors are being put in place. General manager of the hotel, Sarah Whitfield, said: “The hotel construction is progressing quickly and as we move into the second half we are starting to look ahead to the opening at the end of the year. I’m particularly excited about the ballroom which will bring large scale events and exhibitions to Hull. The hotel will also allow us to introduce over 100 new jobs to the local community once complete, great news for the local community.”
Other suppliers on the build of the hotel include London-based architects Aros, Hull-based P&D Engineering, Jamie Millar from Bridlington who is delivering the specialised concrete flooring, White Star Security based in Hull which is providing electronic security services, and Nottinghamshire-based David Ashley Construction which is delivering the concrete structure.
Germany’s largest owner-managed hotel group has increased its conference and incentives offer by upgrading more than a quarter of its German portfolio and introducing green initiatives.
Expanding on the company motto ‘Conference and living under one roof’, more than 3,000 rooms, bathrooms, public areas, meetings and events spaces have been refurbished as part of a comprehensive redevelopment programme.
These new features can be found in rooms at some of the 33 Maritim hotels across Germany including in Königswinter, Ulm, Munich, Hannover, Stuttgart, Darmstadt, Bad Homburg, Cologne and Würzburg and its adjacent Congress Centrum. Maritim’s hotel in Bonn is set to be upgraded this year.
The largest hotel in the city, Maritim Hotel Stuttgart has recently completed an 18-month renovation. The property features 13 conference rooms, including the historic 750 capacity, 19th century riding hall, ‘‘Alten Stuttgarter Reithalle’’. For larger events, the hotel offers direct access to the renowned “Liederhalle” convention centre.
Maritim’s flagship hotel in Hannover has recently revamped 15 event rooms and ten conference suites which can host groups of all sizes from 3 to 1,500, as well as new sound systems. Reaffirming their commitment to environmental matters, all Maritim hotels across the region are taking proactive steps to support the landmark German Sustainability Codex, which measures the sustainable performance of organisations.
LeRoy Sheppard, Maritim Director of Sales UK & Ireland, explains: “Sustainability is now an essential part of the meetings and events industry, with an ever greater number of delegates and organisers requesting their venue provide a socially responsible package. Mindful of this trend, we’ve incorporated these environmentally conscious demands to deliver a dedicated meetings and events offer. With a wide range of city centre hotels and conveniently located airport hotels, we have something for everyone.’’
In celebration of the grand opening of Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square, Isadore Sharp, Founder and Chairman, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Dr Chanchai, Chairman of Reignwood Group and Andrew Parmley, the Lord Mayor of the City of London gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the hotel last week.
Coming together to mark the final stages of this spectacular seven-year project, the attendees gathered on the grand steps of Ten Trinity Square, the former Port of London Authority Headquarters, in a ceremony reminiscent of the original building opening in 1922.
After the ribbon cutting ceremony, guests enjoyed an exclusive concert in Seething Lane Gardens by Placido Domingo and a section of the London Symphony Orchestra, followed by a dinner reception in the hotel’s UN Ballroom, the setting for the inaugural reception of the United Nations General Assembly in 1946.
“The grand opening ceremony marks an important milestone,” comments J. Allen Smith, President and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square is a testament to our strong partnership with Reignwood and our shared vision for this magnificent property.” Continues Smith, “It demonstrates our long-term commitment to London, a city that continues to be the destination of choice for the world’s most discerning leisure and business travellers. As we extend our presence in this critically important market, the Hotel is the perfect complement to our existing property on Park Lane.”
Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square opened its doors in January 2017 and the project has continued to evolve. The next stage includes the launch of Asian restaurant, Mei Ume (opening in June) to complement the existing restaurants La Dame de Pic London, by acclaimed French Chef Anne-Sophie Pic, and the Rotunda. The hotel will also be introducing nine Heritage Suites and a Presidential Suite to follow in summer 2017.
Charlie Parker, General Manager of the hotel comments, “I’m proud to have been involved in the restoration of this landmark building. Ten Trinity Square holds such a strong place in the history of the City of London and this grand opening event celebrates all that this building will continue to offer for both locals and visitors to the capital.”
In addition to the hotel, Ten Trinity Square incorporates 41 Private Residences and the Ten Trinity Square Private Club.
It’s not a property’s location or indeed what it looks like from the outside, interior design is just as vital when choosing a perfect holiday home abroad to relax in style.
Ana Garcia Maldonado is leading Spanish developer Taylor Wimpey España’s highly experienced head of interior design who has worked independently with developers for almost 15 years.
Forget dated wicker furniture and terracotta colour palettes, the design of Taylor Wimpey España’s abodes are very much on trend and well thought out. Ana frequently attends all furniture and decoration fairs to maintain a creative flow of ideas and to keep up to date with Spanish design. Working alongside Taylor Wimpey España’s head architect, Pablo Live Sanchez and also her husband, Ana shares her trade secrets and what is it about interior design that she enjoys so much…
Q. What is your vision for the interior design of Taylor Wimpey España homes? In all Taylor Wimpey España homes the first premise is quality, comfort, and an aesthetic mix of modernity and elegance that pleases a wide range of buyers. Our goal through decorating is to offer not a house, but a home.
Q. What influences you in your design choices? I try to follow and respect the line drawn by the Architecture Studio, which since the landmark Avalon development on the Costa del Sol, has been modern lines without leaving aside comfort and warmth of a home. When choosing colours and furniture, we usually take into account factors such as the name, location and even logo of the development, as each of them have their own identity.
Q. What are the key materials / pieces of furniture / brands / colour palettes that you are using for Taylor Wimpey España interiors at the moment? We always look for functional furniture with light lines that does not detract from the spacious feel of each property. We like wood or matte finishes, natural tones and textures such as linen and cotton. For the walls we prefer a large canvases or mirrors, wallpapers with personality but still discreet, and playing around with the same colour tones in a single environment. We use an endless number of national and international brands in furniture, fabrics, papers, carpets, lighting, and choose brand depending on the budget we are allocated.
Q. What should owners avoid interiors wise when furnishing their holiday homes? From experience I know that many clients give much more importance to furnishing the terrace than to the rest of the house, without taking into account the inclement weather. So my only advice is to equip the house with the same degree of comfort on the inside as the outside.
Q. Finally, how do you find working so closely with your husband on the architectural side? It is a true privilege. We help and complement each other whilst enjoying our work. Can you ask for more?!
The hotel at The Grand, one of Birmingham’s most iconic buildings, is to be redeveloped into a luxury, 180-room hotel through a partnership announced between Hortons’ Estate – which owns the Grade II-listed property – and Principal Hotel Company. Financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed.
The Grand was developed by the Horton family between 1879 and 1895 and contained shops, offices and the Grand Hotel, which the family ran until 1969. The hotel was subsequently managed by a number of operators until it closed in 2002.
“The Grand is a magnificent building in a great location. We have no doubt that it can once again become the finest hotel in the city,” said Cody Bradshaw, Managing Director and Head of European Hotels at Starwood Capital Group. “By adding Birmingham to our portfolio of Principal hotels, we further strengthen what we believe is already the finest collection of UK hotels ever to be assembled in a single portfolio, which includes our flagship London hotel, due to open on Russell Square this autumn following a stunning, £75 million restoration.”
Starwood Capital Group in November 2016 launched Principal, a collection of city-centre hotels based in landmark buildings in exceptional locations across the United Kingdom. The creation of Principal is a part of Starwood Capital Group’s rebranding of its portfolio of UK hotels under the new name of Principal Hotel Company, which also comprises De Vere – modern, country estate hotels, with mansion houses at their heart, mixing leisure with market-leading conference facilities. Principal Hotel Company is currently in the midst of a £250 million investment programme across the portfolio.
The Grand represents Principal’s first investment in Birmingham – the UK’s second-largest city by population, with a rapidly growing tourism market and an established conference centre offering, located just one hour from London. In addition to 180 bedrooms and suites, the refurbished asset will include extensive conference and banquet spaces, a restaurant and bar, a spa and a rooftop infinity pool. Interiors will be designed by Robert Angell Design under the direction of Starwood Capital’s Head of Design, Kemper Hyers, and the in-house Principal design team.
Since 2009, Hortons’ Estate has invested £25 million in the award-winning restoration of the building, resulting in the creation of 10 new shops and 1,000 sq. m (11,000 sq. ft) of offices fronting Colmore Row, together with significant re-modelling of the interior of the former hotel. The work has been supported by grants from Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, Birmingham City Council and Historic England.
From hotel openings to product spotlights to everything in between, we collate the top 10 most read stories on Hotel Designs this week…
1. ARTWORK FOCUS: RENOWNED ‘ART’ HOTELS No more bland landscape paintings for hotel rooms – artwork is a serious aspect of interior design. We look at some of the hotels around the world renowned for their artwork…
2. GUEST BLOG: WHY TREETOP HOTELS ARE GROWING IN POPULARITY… Loved by guests awards and the millions of genuine guest reviews they’re based on, ten amazing hotels have been crowned winners in the brand new Best for Treehouse category.
4. HOTEL LIGHTING Q&A: GANESH PRASAD – CHELSOM HEAD OF TECHNICAL Ganesh Prasad recently joined international lighting specialists Chelsom as Head of Technical. Having worked in India, the Middle East and the UK he brings a wealth of experience in all aspects of technical lighting with a speciality in LED light sources, their design and function.
7. CHIA LAGUNA OPENS THE NEW HOTEL BAIA, SARDINIA The prestigious Chia Laguna resort, Sardinia, part of the hotel brand Italian Hospitality Collection, is delighted to announce that its fully refurbished Hotel Baia is now open for the summer season.
9. KIMPTON DE WITT OPENS IN AMSTERDAM InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has opened the doors to the highly anticipated Kimpton De Witt in Amsterdam. The unveiling of the hotel in the heart of the city, marks the first Kimpton in Europe and outside of the Americas.
10. POLI HOUSE – EXPERIMENTAL LUXURY MEETS TEL AVIV DESIGN The Poli House is a 40-room “experimental luxury” property harnessing the essence of Tel Aviv’s past, present and future and dressed with interior designs by world renowned industrial designer Karim Rashid.
Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts is delighted to announce the re-launch of its iconic Petronius Suite following significant investment and enhancements, allowing guests to experience heightened levels of luxury in the Eternal City.
Combining Rome’s sense of history and traditions with Waldorf Astoria’s signature style and service, the newly enhanced Petronius Suite at Rome Cavalieri provides an unforgettable experience that reflects its namesake, the arbiter of elegance and fine taste. Located on Rome Cavalieri’s top floor, commanding spectacular views of the city below, the Petronius Suite’s ornate bedroom, marble bathroom, kitchen, wine cellar, dining room for up to 8 guests and living space are adorned with antique furniture, precious brass, wooden parquet and rare seventeenth century paintings depicting Santa Caterina and Santa Cecilia. From mosaic tables to a sofa designed by fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, this is a suite that doubles as an exhibition and museum in its own right.
Classic meets contemporary with the Petronius Suite’s subtle yet slick technology system, allowing guests to control audio, visual and lighting at the touch of a button and Rome Cavalieri to provide modern luxuries without losing its long-standing traditions and charm. This extends to the state-of-the-art Valcucine kitchen from the ‘Artematica’ line, fully equipped to cater for a decadent private dinner and allowing guests to treat the Suite as a luxurious home from home.
Rome Cavalieri has paid attention to the demand for space, privacy and flexibility from high-net-worth travellers and the Petronius Suite is therefore adaptable to comprise three additional Imperial Rooms with an adjacent Vista Suite, creating a unique apartment concept with the benefit of access to the resort’s extraordinary facilities.
These include Rome Cavalieri’s Imperial Club, which has also benefitted from recent enhancements, and offers a selection of drinks and light bites best enjoyed with views from the terrace, from morning through to night. Guests are also able to discover 15 acres of manicured parkland, Europe’s largest private art collection adorning the walls, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, the Cavalieri Grand Spa Club with treatments by La Prairie and Rome’s only three Michelin starred restaurant La Pergola. Whilst unforgettable experiences include gladiator training for children, taking a super-car for a spin on the winding roads of the ‘Gran Turismo’ or pampering a Very Important Pet with a choice of nutritious meals, spa grooming and dog sitting.
In addition to the re-launch of the Petronius Suite, enhancements to the Corner and Vista Suites has also reached completion, providing a Suite to suit all tastes at Rome Cavalieri.
The Ritz London has been named the best hotel in Europe for a second time at the annual Ultimate Luxury Travel Related Awards (ULTRAs).
It is the second consecutive year that the property has received the accolade, which is voted for by the readers of the Daily Telegraph’s Ultratravel magazine. The luxury hotel was just pipped to the ‘best hotel in the world’ title, losing to the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah in Dubai.
Princess Eugenie of York presented the award to the Ritz.
Sal Gowili, General Manager, said: “We are extremely proud and honoured to have been awarded the highest of accolades by Ultratravel’s discerning, experienced and well-travelled readers. This award is recognition of the team’s continued commitment to offering the very best levels of service and luxury to every Ritz guest.”
What do you think – a justified winner?
Please note that image within this story was supplied courtesy of Marco Verch
Decorex International, the UK’s only show for high-end interior design, has announced its initial list of exhibitors for 2017.
Taking place this September [17-20] as part of the London Design Festival, the highly anticipated event will see more than 400 established and emerging designers descend to the historical grounds of Syon Park, to launch new collections – from furniture, lighting and decorative accessories to fabrics, wallpapers, tiles and architectural elements – over the course of four days. Expect something special in 2017, as Decorex celebrates its 40th anniversary and will be exploring 40 years of design collaborations, both past and present.
A loyal community of established exhibitors return to Decorex each year and 2017 is no exception; A Rum Fellow, Benchmark, Cox London, Julian Chichester, Nicholas Haslam, Original House, Royal Crown Derby, Sebastian Cox, Tom Faulkner and Vispring to name a few. Renowned for always supporting and celebrating rising talent, Decorex will also host a selection of exciting, new industry names, both from the UK and overseas.
Hunt & Hope, a design duo based in London, are creators of modern, vibrant, hand-stitched needlepoint designs using traditional techniques, but with a fresh and modern approach. Look out for their debut collection of bold and colourful patterns. Larusi will also be exhibiting for the first time this year. The company has built up a large collection of crafted and weaved textiles from all over the world, some of which will be on display at the show. Artist, Margit Wittig, will offer seven striking, A Rum Fellow Ptolemy Mann sculptural lamps, while Jonathan Rogers will present his range of contemporary hand-blown glass designs. Ceramicist Fenella Elms will showcase her intricate, nature-inspired porcelain panels, and Sotis Studio will also be presenting his ceramic pieces, inspired by his childhood spent by the sea in Greece.
Dutch company, Beck & Kinch will showcase an array of design items, taking visitors on an emotional journey through all sensual inputs. Italian firm, Turini & Werich, born out of Carlotta Turini’s and John Werich’s mutual love for Italian furniture and design, will showcase their line of high quality furniture.
While Layered, a new Swedish fashion interior brand, will present its latest collection of woven rugs. Other new exhibitors to look out for this year include Boho 1325, Charlotte Jade, Materiko, SkinFlint, Susi Bellamy, Zoe Glengross and Witch & Watchman.
Global hospitality giant Hilton has been crowned the world’s most valuable hotel brand. The 2017 annual report Brand Finance Hotels 50 has ranked the Hilton group as leaders in the hospitality field in terms of their net worth, which is valued at $8.4 billion (£6.4 billion).
The brand is AAA rated, putting it among the top names in the hotel industry, along with Marriott, Sheraton and the Holiday Inn. North American brands are placed in the top four spots of the leader board by the report carried out by the valuation and strategic consultancy firm Brand Finance, cementing North America’s position as a commercial heavyweight in an increasingly competitive industry, with alternative markets such as China and Asia Pacific growing steadily.
The news will be welcomed by Hilton, whose worth up 7% on 2016. The hotel brand has staved off competition from new trends in hospitality in the form of temporary accommodation such as AirBnB, poshtels and boutique hotels, who appeal more to a younger demographic such as millennials. Hilton has built a loyal client base since its foundation nearly 100 years ago, surely a contributing factor to its sustained popularity. The power of the Hilton brand has been bolstered by new initiatives in sustainability and recycling, and also by new brand partnerships and acquisitions.
Premier Inn was listed at the top of the report as the world’s most powerful hotel brand. The UK group’s draw lies in the sheer quantity of hotels it operates, and the reliability of the brand in terms of economy and service it provides. Holiday Inn and Days Inn follow suit in the power brand category, pointing to a steady demand for mid-range accommodation that serves a wide range of customers.
Harland and Wolff has been transforming their Belfast headquarters into a Titanic-themed luxury hotel, aptly names the Titanic Hotel Belfast.
The building, some of which dates from the 1880s and where plans for incredible steamships, including the doomed Titanic, were drawn up, is to be given a new lease of life as a 4-star hotel with amazing period details. These Drawing Offices were also where the idea of the “floating hotel”, the model for many of today’s modern cruise ships, was conceived.
The new boutique hotel will offer 84 prestigious new rooms and suites, such as the Superior King Titanic View, which affords the visitor impressive views of the Belfast Titanic building through industrial-style windows, the Penthouse Suite and Corner Suites, which give panoramic views over the entire Titanic Quarter. The rooms are a mixture of industrial chic, the original character of the building, Art Deco inspiration and modern refinement. Exposed brick walls and Herringbone-tiled floors give the rooms a warmth, Egyptian cotton bedlinen and plush carpets lend a sense of comfort and minimal decoration give the room a contemporary edge.
The new hotel will also provide a host of corporate and entertainment spaces for events and conferences. The grand architectural studio of the Drawing Offices will now be available for use, with a capacity of 250 people for a variety of events. Smaller events can be held in the Heritage Rooms, which also have the possibility of being catered. A team of award winning chefs use locally sourced ingredients to create their delicious plates, and the dining rooms looks out onto the buildings that make up this historic Belfast neighbourhood.
Travellers can now live the luxury treetop dream with a little help from the Hotels.com. Loved by guests awards and the millions of genuine guest reviews they’re based on, ten amazing hotels have been crowned winners in the brand new Best for Treehouse category, and they’ll be climbing straight to the top of your wish list.
Today’s travellers are aiming high and dreaming of a vacation in the sky, as the travel experts at Hotels.com saw almost a 30% increase in demand for treehouse hotels last year. With treetop luxury (33%) proving more popular than sleeping in a spaceship (28%), checking into a hotel made of gold (24%) or bedding down in an ice hotel (23%), Hotels.com reveals the best-of-the-best Loved by Guests award winners…
Arkansas Adventure Eureka Springs Treehouses—Eureka Springs, Arkansas Review Rating: 4.8 out of 5 on Hotels.comIf you’re looking for a secluded romantic getaway, this is the place to be. This resort is a hidden gem with quirky features and fun at every turn. The treehouses are held on cedar logs, surrounded by beautiful greenery and destination themed, so guests can stay in Venice, New York, Santa Fe and Paris. If treetop life isn’t for you then fear not, as Eureka Springs also offers stays in fairytale castles, with hidden passages and Jacuzzi towers, and guests can even check in to enchanting hobbit caves that are like magical cocoons. Rate Available upon request.
Beachside Bungalows Among the Trees Azulik – Adults Eco-Resort & Maya Spa – Tulum, Mexico Bring out your inner child and swing above the turquoise sea of Tulum, all from the privacy of your own villa at this luxurious beach hideaway. Azulik is a celeb spotting hotspot, but its biggest draw is the stunning villas. These wooden-crafted abodes feature spectacular water views, outdoor mosaic bathtubs and a deck with a swing and hanging Balinese bed. Guests can enjoy fine dining and entertainment with a 12 course tasting menu at the Kin Toh restaurant that’s built 12 meters above the Mayan jungle, all while watching artistic performances.
Float Among the Clouds Keemala – Phuket, Thailand (main picture) Fancy taking a dip on the edge of a cliff in your own 30-meter infinity pool? You can do just that at these gorgeous Bird’s Nest treehouses on stilts, located just 40 minutes from Phuket. Keemala is an enchanting evergreen wonderland, and these unique villas feature giant monsoon showers and freestanding bathtubs that have amazing views over the rainforest. Beach luxury, spa treatments, sunset cocktails and champagne picnics are also all on the menu at Keemala.
Style in the Sky Tree Hotel – Harads, Sweden The Tree Hotel has upped the style stakes with its quirky, custom designed eco-treehouses. Imagine sleeping amongst the tall pine trees in a Mirror Cube, a Bird’s Nest or a UFO! Treehouses come complete with their own private giant hammock, so you can stargaze and seek out the Northern Lights. Guests can relax in the tree sauna, enjoy some authentic homemade Swedish food or zip line over Swedish Lapland and the Lule River for some exclusive and spectacular views.
Breath-Taking African views Tsala Treetop Lodge – Plettenberg Bay, South Africa High in the treetops, this hotel hideaway is set in the wilds of South Africa, in the heart of the Garden Route. With breath-taking views and a mystical charm, the treetop suites are pure luxury. They come complete with their own private spa bathrooms, fireplaces and even infinity pools. The hotel also offers a unique dining experience from a special dining deck suspended above the forest floor, where you can enjoy a sumptuous breakfast or a lazy lunch.
Treetop Tranquillity Silky Oaks Lodge – Mossman, Australia Imagine a rejuvenating spa experience in one of the world’s most ancient rainforests. Located along the Mossman River, Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef – there are rainforest walks, crystal waterholes and a billabong beach, all at your disposal at this hotel. The luxury treehouses have large verandas and hammocks, perfect for unwinding in the heart of the rainforest canopy. Guests can also enjoy dinner in their open-sided treehouse restaurant.
Hotel Designs is producing the Brit List 2017, a celebration of the country’s most inspirational and influential hoteliers and designers.
The full Hotel Designs Brit List will be revealed via a glossy print publication this summer, with a party to celebrate the List taking place at Urban Coterie, London on Wednesday July 12th.
Via the Hotel Designs website and weekly newsletter, we have been asking our readers to nominate those people who inspire and influence them. The individuals nominated can work in sectors across the broad spectrum of the industry.
For those wishing to attend the event in July, ticket prices are £150. Sponsorship packages start from £1,000 plus there are a limited number of advertising opportunities available for this prestigious and influential publication.
No more bland landscape paintings for hotel rooms – artwork is a serious aspect of interior design. We look at some of the hotels around the world renowned for their artwork…
Hotel Arts, Barcelona “Designed by the distinguished architect Bruce Graham of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the Hotel Arts is part of Barcelona’s recent cultural renaissance, and as modern as the city itself. Built to coincide with the Olympic Games in 1992, this Barcelona luxury hotel is a landmark on the Barceloneta boardwalk: 44 storeys of blue glass and exposed steel soaring high above the seafront. Inside, hard edges and materials give way to an environment of elegance and refinement, filled with luxurious spaces to explore and discover at your leisure.”
45 Park Lane, London “With its landmark architecture, dynamic interiors, contemporary art collection and with contemporary boutique hotel interiors designed by New York-based designer Thierry Despont, each of the spacious guest rooms and suites enjoys captivating views of leafy Hyde Park. The Penthouse Suite is the ultimate experience with its Art Deco design and wrap-around balcony featuring panoramic London cityscape views.”
Le Royal Monceau Raffles, Paris “The in-house Art Gallery is the hub of the artistic and cultural life of the hotel. A new venture into the world of contemporary art in Paris, Art District welcomes artists, art connoisseurs and collectors, patrons and art professionals.”
Blumen Haus Lech, Austria “This hotel in Austria leans heavily on traditional Alpine architecture for its style, albeit with a modern take. Vienna’s Contemporary Art Advisors have chosen works by the likes of Roy Lichtenstein to adorn the hotel’s walls, alongside emerging artists, which will change with the seasons.”
21c Museum Hotels, Louisville, USA “Founded by Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson, contemporary art collectors and preservationists who believe in the power of contemporary art, each of their hotels exhibits its own collections of 21st century art works by up-and-coming and well-established talents. The line-up in Louisville, for example, includes Yinka Shonibare, Andres Serrano, Kara Walker and Bill Viola. Each hotel additionally puts on a feast of cultural events, from films and music to artist talks and poetry readings.”
The Culloden Estate & Spa has announced the completion of a renovation programme which has seen Hastings Hotels invest £4.8m in their leading 5 star property over the last three years.
This week, the Estate’s General Manager Eoin O’Sullivan was joined by the group’s Managing Director, Howard Hastings, to unveil the complete redevelopment of two floors of bedrooms which has seen a selection of the smaller bedrooms remodelled to be augmented in size, bringing the hotel stock to 98.
Also included in the renovation programme has been the extensive redevelopment of the Mitre Restaurant, the Stuart Suite and the Spa which has ensured that the Culloden remains one of the top hotels in Ireland.
Eoin O’Sullivan, General Manager of the Culloden Estate & Spa said: “We are thrilled to have completed a three year renovation programme which has seen almost £5m spent on Northern Ireland’s premier 5-star hotel. As part of this programme we now have a brand new facade to a wing of the hotel with larger rooms and magnificent bathrooms overlooking landscaped gardens, all with the aim of providing our guests with an even more enjoyable experience when they stay at the Culloden.
“As well as the bedroom project, we undertook a complete redesign of the Mitre restaurant together with new menus created by Chef McKnight, and an upgraded spa with new quiet room, exclusive nail bar and remodelled gym facilities as well as a beautiful refurbishment of the Stuart Suite for our weddings, conferences, and banquets to enjoy. In addition we have installed a brand new lift allowing easier access to the new rooms and to the spa.
“It is continual investment like this that has enabled us to pick up prestigious awards throughout Ireland. Most recently, this year we were delighted to have been named Luxury Hotel of the Year at the Irish Hotel Awards and highly commended at the first ever Georgina Campbell Breakfast Awards in the Best 5-Star Hotel category,” Eoin added.
Ophir PR will be taking a group press trip to visit the Culloden Estate and Spa to celebrate the renovations and 50 years of The Culloden from 3rd-5th June 2017.
The Lowry Hotel has scooped the Best Bedroom Award in the CHS Awards 2017 – held at the Royal Armouries, Leeds earlier this month.
The CHS Awards provide hotels and venues with a unique opportunity to showcase their facilities. The Awards are judged by an independent panel of over 50 event professionals from leading agencies throughout the UK. The Lowry Hotel fought off tough competition from the likes of the Seaham Hall in Durham and the Principal York Hotel to prove to the judges that its suites offer something special.
In 2016 the Lowry Hotel underwent a £5.25m refurbishment of six of its suites inspired by artworks of the internationally acclaimed, Oldham-born Alan Rankle – helping to further cement the Lowry Hotel’s standing as the art hotel of the North of England.
The project was delivered by boutique global architecture and interior design practice Arney Fender Katsalidis (AFK), in collaboration with the renowned artist. AFK designed all six bespoke suites, each of which correspond to unique abstract artworks by Rankle. The six abstract artworks are reflected within the space through the selected colour schemes of the textiles and furnishings.
Each suite contains an extraordinary over-scaled headboard, curved slightly around the bed, depicting an image of the original artwork. The art has been printed onto the 4m x 2.5m upholstered headboard, which is reflected into two mirrored doors opposite, allowing guests to view the piece from multiple vantage points in the room.
With floor-to-ceiling windows and views of the River Irwell, Salford’s Calatrava Bridge and Manchester beyond, the suites enjoy some of the best views of the city.
On the 4 May 2017, the Lowry Hotel was acquired by Singapore-Based CDL Hospitality Trusts for £52m.
Adrian Ellis, General Manager at the Lowry Hotel said: “We are delighted to win such a prestigious award. The collaborative restoration project proved to be a great success and the feedback from our customers has been outstanding. However, to win this award really reinforces this and helps to strengthen our standing as one of the country’s most established art hotels.”
The prestigious Chia Laguna resort, Sardinia, part of the hotel brand Italian Hospitality Collection, is delighted to announce that its fully refurbished Hotel Baia is now open for the summer season complete with two new restaurants, a new bar, a semi-Olympic pool and 77 new rooms.
The renovations are the next stage of Italian Hospitality Collection’s €50 million (£43 million) investment plan for Chia Laguna resort that began in 2011 and resulted in a 60% rise in UK guests in 2016.
Hotel Baia’s 77 new, light and airy rooms come in four categories with the majority sleeping up to three guests, a cot can also be provided. Most rooms are also interconnecting making them a great choice for families. The spacious new Junior Suites with sea views offer two rooms – bedroom and living room – and can sleep up to four guests plus a cot for babies.
A spacious new 140sqm, two-bedroom Suite Incanto with a large garden boasts two double-rooms with sitting areas and en-suite bathrooms, a spacious living room with a sofa-bed and a separate bathroom, creating room for up to six guests. A new semi-Olympic 25 metre infinity pool with a separate children’s area takes pride of place in the hotel’s gardens.
The resort has opened two ultra-stylish new restaurants at Hotel Baia. The new La Pergola restaurant, reserved for guest of Hotel Baia, offers the finest in Sardinian and Mediterranean show cooking. Whiteluna, open to all resort guests, has a lively atmosphere with an open-air garden bar where live DJ sets take place before and after dinner.
Chia Laguna is a collection of four hotels set amongst the turquoise waters and unspoilt countryside of Chia Bay in enchanting Southern Sardinia. Guests are spoilt with a mini club and babysitting services, land and sea sports, a Natural Spa and no less than nine restaurants which serve a vast range of gastronomic choices from local Mediterranean flavours to the best in international à la carte cuisine.
The Alternative Accommodation Committee held its first educational event last week at the Park Regis, Birmingham. The event was well attended by 30 agents and 10 suppliers.
Erica Livermore, Alternative Accommodation Chair said: “This was an important event for us, it served to highlight the importance of a growing sector in hospitality and hopefully enlighten both agents and venues on the various buying behaviours and requirements by our corporate clients.”
The event took the form of a panel discussion, included in the panel were; Alex Neale, Head Account Manager for SilverDoor, Gavin Bailey, Operations Director for City Suits and Amy Chapman who is a Senior buyer for Siemens.
Chapman began buy detailing the main benefits for choosing this type of accommodation: “It has the comforts of home but with Hotel touches and flexibility on tenancy.” She went to explain that for long projects their teams need a ‘Home from Home’ base; “guests need a freedom to have a normal life while they are away from home, the ability to cook and relax in a home environment but with services available if needed, like a gym or laundry service.”
Neale explained for SilverDoor their typical users are those relocating, theatre workers, construction, IT, with an average stay of 2 months, he said: “Corporates are really starting to think about wellbeing much more and where there is a stay that is deemed too long to be comfortable in a Hotel and where there is a benefit to looking after yourself the Serviced Apartment is a clear choice”.
Bailey also highlighted the mix of clients, from pure leisure to those on very short projects. City Suites consciously put a minimum 4 night stay into their apartments and Bailey said: “The serviced apartment is a good all round product offering flexibility, short lead bookings, ease of use and transparency of billing”.
As a senior buying Chapman explained: “With serviced apartments we see quality and added value with a high level of service and better rates, we have seen up to 50% savings over hotel stays”. The panel inevitably was questioned over the Airbnb effect and what if any competition this brings to the sector, Chapman responded: “Health and Safety aspects and a record of where and how people are is key to us, we are asking ourselves the question about Airbnb but it’s how we make this work with these fundamental issues.”
Neal responded by saying: “You have on one hand the rigid fully-serviced Hotel product, then on the other someone’s house on Airbnb and sitting in the middle you have the Serviced Apartment with all the home comforts, services, quality assured and Health and Safety checked.”
Top Tips from the panellists were: – Communication across all parties to ensure the briefs and needs are fully understood. – Flexibility from both suppliers and agents, appreciating that corporates can’t always be tied into onerous contracts and that ‘one solution fits all’ is no longer viable. – Choice and understanding the client’s needs, they are forever changing and any type of facility needs to be explored and presented back, the agent support in this area is vital.
Livermore concluded the lively discussion by thanking the panel and taking questions from the floor. She said “The HBAA is really delighted to be having these kind of educational discussions that certainly help us all understand our changing market place much better and in the end helps us give a better service to our clients”.
Kimpton Shorebreak Hotel has announced the completion of a major hotel update, refreshing outdoor spaces, lobby, all 157 guestrooms, and the opening of a new restaurant. The updated rooms and public spaces now showcase a fresh take on Southern California style, incorporating modern graphics, moody ocean tones and windswept ripples paired with retro inspired prints and furnishings.
The refresh comes on the heels of the new fitness centre launch, better known as ‘The Gym.’ The stylish 1,600-square-foot space includes the latest equipment and new workout tools, such as treadmills, truck tires, squat rack, kettlebells, medicine balls, resistance bands, power racks and more. In addition, the hotel installed a 40-foot wide outdoor bouldering wall, adjacent to ‘The Gym.’ Coastal design elements include rustic and tropical alternating wood planks and marine colors, and a multi-panel mural of the Huntington Beach Pier. In total, over $3 million (£2.3 million) was dedicated to the updates since fall 2016.
One of the goals of the revamp was to capture the essence of the local surf culture and truly wrap elements of the coast into all areas of the property. Drawing inspiration from the nearby historic Huntington Beach pier, as well as a bustling neighbourhood, Designer Theresa Fatino blended more sophisticated colors with lively patterns and retro furnishings that portray California fun.
Hotel design elements include striped and solid vinyl headboards, fresh carpet and beautifully detailed furnishings, including retro surf lamps and patterned love seats. The color palette captures Southern California’s playfulness and relaxed energy and includes a range of blues, yellows, greens, among others. The upscale Southern California vibe continues externally, with an entirely repainted exterior in marine colors, including shades of blue and green.
“Our goal with this refresh was to update the entire property and bring a more quintessential Southern California look, reminiscent of Huntington Beach,” said Justin Simpson, general manager at Shorebreak Hotel. “With tourism booming in the area and summer right around the corner, we are looking forward to sharing our fresh new look, added amenities and incredible food with guests and locals alike.”
In addition, the Shorebreak announced the opening of Pacific Hideaway, a modern American restaurant, featuring a fusion of flavors from Southern California, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Japan. The menu, curated by Executive Chef JT Walker, highlights small, colorful plates—from sushi rice cakes with ahi tuna poke, to fried avocado tacos with tamarind and chiles—and larger plates, such whole Mexican-beer-can chicken, served with salsas, tortillas, and other accoutrements.
Designed as a casual, yet polished and global restaurant, Pacific Hideaway’s signature statement pieces include roll-up garage doors, a large hand-carved bar depicting ocean waves, an expansive patio and lounge and incredible views of Huntington Beach Pier and the Pacific Ocean. Fatino also incorporated vibrant colors, textures, and decor, including unique, hand-crafted finds from Mexico, Indonesia and Japan, with a Southern California vibe present throughout.
Ganesh Prasad recently joined international lighting specialists Chelsom as Head of Technical. Having worked in India, the Middle East and the UK he brings a wealth of experience in all aspects of technical lighting with a speciality in LED light sources, their design and function.
Since he joined the company, Ganesh has noticed an interesting difference in the type and direction of technical questioning that comes from the interior design industry as against those from an architectural background. Questions tend to relate to creating ambience rather than the hard technical facts covering industry standards, detailed light output measurement etc.
Q: Are there any specific light level requirements for hotel guestrooms? GP: To answer simply there is no specific legislation or standards relating to light levels in hotel guestrooms. However associations like CIBSE and SLL in the UK or IESNA in North America do set down guidelines rather than mandatory requirements. They would cover a suggested light level for task areas such as desk or reading areas like bedside or armchair. In essence though, the correct light levels for guestrooms are defined by guest satisfaction. The biggest single complaint registered by hotel visitors is the lack of sufficient lighting in guestrooms. Such spaces are multifunctional and designers should therefore build in sufficient light points with optimum light output to ensure guests can work, read, relax and live. There is one part of guestroom lighting which does however follow stringent regulations and that is emergency lighting for use during a power failure, fire or other emergency. Such requirements can be found in building regulations or codes which may vary according to region or type of property.
Q. If so how do we measure the light output of a decorative light fitting? GP: The output from decorative light fittings is measured in lumens and it’s a numerical scale starting from zero which is complete darkness and going upwards. Photometric test equipment would be required in laboratory conditions to give an absolutely accurate lumen output reading but for example a 10W LED lamp will give an output of around 1000 lumens. Of course once that lamp is shrouded by a diffuser or fabric shade, lumen level will drop significantly.
Q. Is there any difference between types of switch? GP: Operationally there is no difference and when the switch is open, then the power is off and when the switch is closed the power reaches the light source. For aesthetic reasons, designers may choose a push button switch, a rocker switch, a toggle switch or a cord switch. Touch switches are another alternative but are often misunderstood in hotel guestrooms when the visitor looks frantically for a switch that isn’t there. Dimmer switches are of course another option and are usually of the rotary type or slide type.
I am often asked about two-way switching, in other words a light fitting that can be switched from the unit itself or from the entry point to the room. Technically it is entirely possible providing we are made aware of the requirement before manufacture so that a four core cable can be installed giving 2 separate lives.
Q. Dimming always seems complicated why is that? GP: Dimming itself is not at all complicated. However there are many types of dimming systems and technologies in the marketplace just as there are many different types of dimmable lamps or light sources. Where confusion can arise is in the compatibility of the systems, the intermediate switching and the lamps themselves. This confusion arises particularly with LED light sources whose compatibility needs more care. The simple answer is ask a specialist such as Chelsom who can advise on the best lamp and dimming technology combinations which will ensure a full range of smooth dimming without flicker or noise.
Q. LED lamps seem to be the only way forward is this right? GP: Yes! Legislation over recent years has banned the manufacture of higher wattage less efficient lamp types; LED’s consume far less energy than other lamp options; they last up to ten times longer than a compact fluorescent equivalent; they are dimmable; they now give out a wide range of colour temperatures including the same warm light as incandescent; they contain no toxic substance such as mercury nor give out any UV glare; they are instant start with no flicker and most importantly costs continue to come down through mass production.
Q. Can you explain IP? GP: IP stands for Ingress Protection and ratings consist of 2 numerical digits on a scale of 0-9, the first digit covering solids such as dust or insects and the second liquids. Most interior hospitality lighting products should have an IP20 rating which basically means it is not possible to access internal electrics and live parts. Bathroom lighting would require, in certain cases, an IP44 rating meaning luminaires are fairly well protected against solid ingress and water ingress. What is important in bathrooms are the zones which are described in the attached diagram and which cover areas created by the bath or shower and areas within 600mm of the bath or shower. For zone 1 only low voltage fittings with a minimum rating IPX5 are allowed. For zone 2 fittings with a minimum rating of IPX4 are required. Outside zone 2 any luminaires can be used providing they are protected by an RCD.
Q. What is colour temperature? GP: The colour temperature of a lamp relates to how the human eye sees the colour emitted from a light source once it’s illuminated. The range is from a ‘cold light’ to a ‘warm light’ and the colder the temperature, the more blue is involved and the warmer the temperature, the more red is involved. The colour temperature itself is measured in Kelvins and the higher numbers are colder say 6000 Kelvins with the lower numbers being warmer say 2000 Kelvins. Recent scientific research has shown that a colder blue light makes you more alert as it gives the feeling of bright light in the middle of the day. Warmer red light is more relaxing as it replicates dusk at the end of the day. There are no legal or guideline requirements for colour temperature in hotel guestrooms but once again guest satisfaction is the driving force. The general consensus is that 2700 Kelvin gives the right ambience as it is the closest to incandescent light which we have all been used to for a hundred years.
Q. Is it easy to fit USB ports and will the same port charge all devices? GP: A USB port requires sufficient space including a depth of about 30mm. As long as a table lamp base or wall light backplate has that space it is relatively easy to fit the ports. There are 3 different types of ports relating to the 3 different types of connector in the marketplace. We usually work with Type A which is widely used with most smartphones and tablets. The voltage required for all devices is 5V but the amperage varies from device to device. For example an iPad will take 2.1A and an iPhone will take 0.5A. You need to be sure therefore that the USB connectors are compatible with the higher load capacity in order to charge all devices.
Ganesh adds “I joined Chelsom at a very exciting time for guestroom lighting. Not only is LED technology developing extremely fast but dimming systems and guestroom lighting management systems are playing a large part. Lighting management can create huge savings in running costs whilst giving the guests a more satisfying stay at the hotel. The crucial thing is to talk to the experts and talk to them early in the project.”
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