The material revolution continues with new experimental projects designed by students at HGK, the Academy of Art and Design Basel/Switzerland, utilising the material capabilities of SaphirKeramik, to be presented inside the Swiss country pavilion at TENT in collaboration with Design Prize Switzerland and Laufen Bathrooms.
For the 10th edition of the London Design Fair, 22 to 25 September 2016, Laufen Bathrooms will be on hand at TENT, Truman Brewery with a special area in collaboration with Design Prize Switzerland, the competition whose goal is to encourage exchange, mediation and promotion of Swiss design.
This area will host a selection of winning projects in the SaphirKeramik contest – a competition involving students from the Academy of Art and Design (Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst) HGK of Basel, who were asked to explore the limits and potential of SaphirKeramik through the creation of innovative objects for the bath using the award winning material developed by Laufen. An expert jury, which included the renowned designers Konstantin Grcic and Toan Nguyen, honoured the best designs.
Besides the results of this stimulating competition, the space will feature several products in SaphirKeramik from the VAL collection designed by Konstantin Grcic, which demonstrate Laufen’s ability to also produce items with this material on an industrial scale.
The incessant research continues on SaphirKeramik, the revolutionary material launched by Laufen in 2013, which thanks to the corundum additive in its formula makes it possible to produce ceramics in smaller thicknesses with very strong walls, leading to slimmer lines, a true breakthrough for the world of bathroom ceramics. Started in-house with a long development phase and then pursued in collaboration with renowned designers, this research has now been opened up to students as well, with their ability to bring a different, stimulating approach – fresh, creative ideas, free of the influences generated by years of professional experience.
Experimentation has always been one of the strong points of Laufen Bathrooms, which once again demonstrates its role of leadership in terms of innovation and design, working not only with internationally acclaimed designers but also with talented young creatives.
Sekers are pleased to launch Idaho, a distressed antique look mock-hide upholstery collection, available in a palette of 12 rich colours, including warm naturals, greys and red. Idaho is a versatile fabric with a wonderfully soft handle.
Supplied with a Crib 5 flame retardant backing and with a Martindale abrasion performance of 50,000, Idaho is perfect for the most demanding upholstery application and the ideal choice for the commercial hospitality, leisure and marine markets.
ALL SALES AND SAMPLING ENQUIRIES TO: Sekers Fabrics Limited 7a Nobel Road, Wester Gourdie Industrial Estate Dundee, DD2 4UH Sales Tel: +44 (0) 1946 517501 Sales Fax: +44 (0) 1946 517502 UK & Ireland Email: sales@sekers.co.uk Export Email: export@sekers.co.uk www.sekersfabrics.co.uk
Demonstrating the impact of good carpet design, Wilton Carpets Commercial is coming to the Independent Hotel Show with In Stock ranges designed to meet the needs of the sector.
With the brand-new Iona woven axminster heritage tartan designs, as well as the tufted Chantilly and Signature ranges, Wilton Carpets will be showing independent hoteliers that it can deliver striking design across a range of carpets suitable for public areas and bedroom use, all with fast delivery.
“We understand that many hoteliers do not need or want a completely bespoke solution and are looking for well-designed carpet that provides them with flexibility, quality and value, all while being easy to get hold of,” comments Damian Roscoe, head of creative, Wilton Carpets Commercial. “Our In Stock portfolio does exactly this and we take great pride in ensuring the designs available bring a special touch to interiors, giving that boutique feel without the longer lead times or price-tag of a fully bespoke option.”
Visitors to the Wiltshire-based manufacturer’s stand will be able to discover the depth of its design library in both woven and tufted styles, as well as its ability to deliver fast-track bespoke solutions for orders as little as 100m2 in Ready to Weave. Certainly of interest to larger independent hotels, this service allows existing designs to be recoloured or new designs created in one of three colour palettes for delivery in just two to four weeks.
Wilton Carpets will be exhibiting at the Independent Hotel Show, Stand 222, Olympia, 18-19 October 2016
For further information contact Wilton Carpets Commercial on 01722 746000 or sales@wiltoncarpets.com
Hilton has welcomed the 30-acre DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as the latest addition to the DoubleTree by Hilton portfolio of 465+ hotels after a property-wide renovation and expansion project of the resort.
Formerly known as the Springmaid Beach Resort, the seaside hotel now boasts a 20,000 square-foot main building, ocean view restaurant and lounge, “grab & go” snack area and outdoor entertainment terrace.
The centerpiece of the 12-month, multi-million dollar transformation is a new main building, which houses the new lobby area and guest registration, offering stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean shoreline as well as new entertaining amenities and offerings including restaurants and a food market.
“Delivering a fantastic sense of arrival, the main building perfectly embodies the new look and feel of the resort,” said Michael Frits, general manager, DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront. “Our guests are now immediately greeted by the expanse of shoreline and Atlantic blue waters through floor-to-ceiling windows as well as a sophisticated beach design and vibe created by vaulted ceilings, dramatic lighting, sleek furniture, and coastal colors and fabrics.”
“Since the purchase, we were eager to complete the renovation of this celebrated resort, taking careful consideration to preserve its status on the Grand Strand, while introducing modern amenities and offerings for guests to enjoy for a lifetime,” said Kenneth Fearn, managing partner for Integrated Capital.
Cotswold House, the award winning luxury hotel and spa has undergone a significant £1 million restoration which includes a full renovation of their restaurant, bistro, suites and bedrooms, as well as wedding and event spaces.
Cotswold House has also opened a new Tea Room, inviting guests to enjoy delicious scones, sandwiches and teas throughout their stay. The contemporary hotel will be officially re-launched with an exclusive event on Thursday 6 October 2016.
Craig Webb, general manager of Cotswold House Hotel & Spa commented: “The hotel refurbishment has been an exciting project for both our staff and the local residents of Chipping Campden. We’ve had an excellent response from clients new and old and look forward to welcoming more and more guests over the next few months.”
Craig concluded: “We’ve got a fantastic, experienced team in place who are eager to show off the new renovation. We’re looking forward to welcoming guests on 6 October and hope the public are as thrilled with the refurbishment as we are.”
Marriott International has opened Residence Inn by Marriott Maui Wailea – Hawaii’s first.
Set against a contemporary Hawaiian motif, the all-suite hotel consists of studio, one and two bedroom offerings. Each suite boasts spacious living zones and fully equipped kitchens. The upscale furnishings; deluxe bedding; flat screen TVs; functional work surfaces, and generous lanais (balconies) that open to a views of the ocean or mountainside — all provide the comfort and flexibility for guests to feel at home in paradise.
The Great Room leads to the outdoor living area where guests will enjoy the outdoor pool and hot tub and the patio bar with fire pits. For fun in the sun, guests have the option of putting on the golf green or shooting hoops at the Sport Court® — all with Maui’s natural landscape as the perfect backdrop.
Residence Inn’s signature services and amenities including: complimentary hot breakfast, free grocery delivery service; fitness centre; Wi-Fi; business centre, and laundry facilities are available to all guests. The property also features a 24/7 Market, which provides easy access to grab-and-go snacks and sundries. Additionally, guests who wish to explore the island are encouraged to log-in to the Under Armour mapmyfitness app for a curated running route of the surrounding area. The Residence Inn Wailea Maui also accepts pets.
The property contains 1,800-square-feet of indoor function space, which breaks out into the Molokai and Molokini meeting rooms, and a lush green lawn for outdoor special events. The 410 square-foot Boardroom is complete with state-of-the-art audio and visual equipment and designed to accommodate business meetings.
In addition to the resort-like features, Residence Inn Maui Wailea offers guests convenient access to The Shops at Wailea, three championship golf courses at Wailea Golf Club, Wailea Tennis Club and three beaches: Makena, Wailea and Ulua. The resort is in close proximity to several of the area’s top visitor attractions such as Maui Ocean Center, and Pacific Whale Foundation, accessible via the courtesy shuttle.
With Decorex just a few days away, the excitement for this year’s event is building. Here’s a preview of just some of what attendees can expect…
The Heritage of Chair Making: A spectacular entrance embracing this year’s theme, the roots of design, curated by renowned British Furniture Designer Tim Gosling. Working with the historic collections from the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Frederick Parker Collection, the exhibition will document the links between interior design, architecture and the exceptional heritage of British craftsmanship throughout the ages. Tim has asked 12 leading British visual creators: Jasper Conran, Michael Craig-Martin, James Dyson, Tim Gosling, Anya Hindmarch, Roger Jones, Robert Kime, Jo Malone, Philip Mould, Sir Paul Smith, William Yeoward, and Andrew Winch, to choose their favourite piece and why it speaks to them.
Crafthouse: A series of interactive roomsets presented by The New Craftsmen, which explores the fundamental characteristics of what makes a home by studying the domestic rituals by which we live. Building upon the strong anthology of British makers, materials and skills, ‘Crafthouse’ will look to reconsider and question craft and how it is used in our lives, with makers taking up residency in each roomset, contextualizing them within a familiar environment and pushing them to the limits of their skills. The New Craftsmen will be hosting daily tours at 2pm.
120 New Exhibitors: More than 400 brands launching new collections, with 120 exhibitors new to the show. Don’t miss Allyson McDermott’s first ‘ready to hang’ wallpaper collection, Tom Raffield’s range of steam bent furniture and Hand & Eye Studio’s new ‘A-Beam’ terracotta light.
Future Heritage: An exhibition of new works by some of the leading names in contemporary British craft. This showcase of new materials and techniques is curated by renowned design and applied arts critic, Corinne Julius, with a select group of 14 makers presenting new work exclusively for this year’s Decorex. The works can be commissioned by interior designers and architects for use in their projects, such as lighting, flooring, and sound absorbent, fire resistant textiles.
Talks Programme: An interesting and diverse series of talks in the Seminar Theatre, in association with LuxDeco, offering debates and an insightful exploration around industry relevant topics, hosted by some of the leading names in the design world, including Ben Pentreath, Christine Van Der Hurd, Nina Campbell and Nicky Haslam. Not to be missed are a series of BIID mentoring roundtables in the Syon Estate Restaurant on Tuesday 20th September at 4:30pm, designed to support new and emerging designers making their way in the interior design profession.
Pedro da Costa creates new work for Decorex’s Crafthouse
Hospitality Offering: A classically inspired Champagne Bar designed by 1508 London, five-star dining at the Syon Estate Restaurant in association with Country Life magazine with scenic views of the Capability Brown landscape, gourmet cuisine from the ‘pop-up’ street food market, an entrance café transformed into a botanical fantasy designed by Nicky Haslam in collaboration with de Gournay, and the main café in association with HK One.
Wool Trail: Supporting The Campaign for Wool, Decorex has teamed up with Homes & Gardens to create a wool trail. Maps will be provided to visitors guiding them around the show highlighting the array of furniture, textiles and accessories made from this natural and sustainable material. Don’t miss the flock of live sheep in the pen at the entrance from ‘The Little Grey Sheep Company’.
Decorex International 2016 Date: Sunday 18 September – Wednesday 21 September 2016 Location: Syon Park, London
Continuing Harlequin’s rich tradition for producting stunning feature wallcoverings, the Design Studio has taken the concept into a new dimension with its latest, aptly-named collection: Standing Ovation.
A fashion-inspired, couture collection, Standing Ovation is assertive and flamboyant, oozing with vivacity and sophistication. A consummate celebration of pattern and colour, Standing Ovation comprises nine confident designs, over a total of forty options. Drawing on both existing best-selling fabric designs and on original artwork, the collection represents a mix of subtle silhouettes with an extravaganza of full-on colour and pattern.
Retailing from £50.00/roll, Standing Ovation’s wallcoverings come in either standard or wide-width, depending on the motif. They offer an aspirational yet affordable designer look and are guaranteed to bring an added verve to even the most understated scheme.
Bella Stripe: A recolouring of this design from Anoushka features ribbon stripes of varying widths in a stunning array of colours Coquette: A welcoming paradise of silhouetted flower stems, billowing florals and leaves, in a peaceful monochrome colourway Doyenne: Immerse yourself in a glorious world of overblown flowers and leaves, in a riot of delicious colours Epitome: Exotic and embracing, a stylised interpretation of pine cones, complete with prickly needles and flowers
Exuberance: A watery wonderland of painterly, expressionistic florals, appearing as though they are just drying on a corrugated cardboard background Floreale: A deliciously beguiling painterly floral motif featuring overblown peonies, foxgloves and foliage Persico: A glorious representation of British birds perched on branches Quintessence: An opulent 140cm wide x 3m long digitally-printed panel depicting oversized seedheads, artichokes, figs, pomegranates and other exotic fruits: wall art at its best! Salice: A magical backdrop of graceful and elegant sprays of pussy willow depicted in an abstract painterly manner to dramatic effect
The mouth-watering palette of colours, judiciously enhanced by hints of metallics, comes in a glorious array of shades: turquoise, emerald and navy; tangerine, coral and fuchsia; copper, gilver and gold; lemon, sepia and cornflower; ochre, stone and olive.
Standing Ovation will be launched at the beginning of September, and will be available nationally and internationally via a network of stockists.
Edwardian Hotels London has launched a new online and mobile check-in/check-out service across its portfolio of 12 hotels in the capital.
The service has been launched at the group’s 11 Radisson Blu Edwardian London Hotels and the May Fair Hotel, which it owns and manages. It follows a three-month trial period in which around one in four guests opted to test the service.
The web-based check-in, which can be accessed via a link sent to email or SMS, aims to give guests a “fast and convenient” check-in and check-out process.
On check-in, guests are able to choose preferences such as room type, proximity to lifts, a specific floor or room number and in-room amenities.
The service is part of a wider project to digitally transform the way the group engages with guests, and follows the launch of a robot concierge earlier this year.
Michael Mrini, director of IT, said: “We know that our guests’ time is very precious and they want their arrival at any of our hotels to go as seamlessly as possible. The option of checking in online or on mobile in advance of arrival lets them do that and pick up their key from concierge or guest relations.”
Guests who use the service can also check-out online, with invoices for their stay being sent directly to them via email.
Tucked away in 22 acres of Kent countryside is the beautiful Chilston Park – a Grade I-listed manor house from the 15th century – home to a 53-room hotel offering in the Hand Picked Hotels Collection.
But its idyllic location belies a fantastic location, close to the M20 and Channel Tunnel, and ease of access to London and the Eurotunnel. Not that you would know when walking around the extensive grounds or spending time in its rooms.
The building’s rich history over the centuries has seen architectural additions and furnished enrich this stunning property – 16th century wooden, carved panels above the main fireplace, twelve-paned sash windows and a smattering of priceless antiques left by the various families who have owned the property over the last five centuries.
On our visit, we were given a feature room and a suite to sample – Treen and Tudor respectively – and the design and furnishings in both continue the celebration of classic antiquity seen throughout the rest of the hotel. The Tudor suite in particular was a joy to behold, with stunning original beams throughout, spacious living spaces and a sumptuous standalone bath being the highlights – a perfect example of country house splendour.
Of Chilston’s 53 individually-named rooms, there are 15 in the main house, with the remainder located in the stone stables, coachman’s cottages and new extension outside. Mews rooms in the Stables and Coachman’s Cottages feature a more homely feel and courtyard views. All rooms are luxuriously appointed with Hotel Designs partners Hypnos beds, plush bed linens and toiletries.
The main dining option of Chilston Park is the Wedgwood blue-themed, classically decorated Culpepper’s Restaurant where the majority of guests will dine. But all the public spaces carry the same charm, with the centrepiece being the main staircase (above, left); a fantastically grand space and a perfect spot for drinks. Chilston Park also caters for business guests, with 10 meeting spaces and the ability to cater for up to 150 delegates.
With a blend of beautiful interiors, classic luxury and superb location – Chilston Park is a gem, and well worth a visit if one is in the area.
According to Global Industry Analytics’ Report – ‘The Global Tableware Market, February 2016’ – the global market for tableware is set to exceed $41 billion by 2020.
Two of the main drivers for this growth have been cited as consumers’ interest in social dining and the growing importance of food presentation. Also of importance is a surge in demand for vintage-styled tableware, a shift in preference from white bone china to more natural shades and a greater use of materials such as earthenware, iron stone, wood, cast iron, plastic and slate in response to the rising focus on materials and their functionality, rather than simply the design of tableware.
ADI Trading Ltd has represented leading tableware brand, Fortessa®, since 2004. Ian Bailey, Managing Director, comments: “We had observed some top chefs moving towards more rustic styled, stoneware products because it was easier to commission bespoke items. However, stoneware is heavy, easily chipped and not suited to the harsh environment of a busy catering establishment and as a result we have seen a move recently towards vitrified china with ‘handmade-inspired’ designs.”
The Fortessa® D&V TechnoCeramTM vitrified china range can deliver a beautifully rustic collection in colours such as ‘saffron’, ‘cayenne’ and ‘cilantro’ while the catering operator benefits from an extremely scratch resistant glaze, excellent chip resistance, high edge strength and a polished foot to avoid stacking marks.
Bailey added: “Towards the close of every century we see a ‘mega-trend’ and the latest trend for rustic tableware falls into this movement for nostalgia as we look for the ‘yesteryear’. However, we believe this trend will pass as we move towards the 2020’s and peoples’ interests become more futuristic.”
100% Design, the UK’s largest design trade show, returns to Olympia London 21-24 September, presenting leading national and international exhibitors across five sections; ‘Interiors’, ‘Workplace’, ‘Kitchens & Bathrooms’, ‘Design & Build’ and ‘Emerging Brands’.
As the outstanding meeting place for business and design, the 22nd edition explores the theme of ‘Experience’, which considers the many ways in which design guides, frames and improves the ways that we live, work and consume. Visitors can physically engage with the latest product innovations, establish new business relationships and network with design professionals.
Talks with 100% Design has been curated by the Design Museum as part of their ‘on loan’ campaign: bringing the museum out in to the world and the design community. The talks will feature agenda-setting discussions exploring trends in contemporary practice and the future of design, as well as giving a glimpse of what to expect from the new museum when it opens in Kensington on 24 November 2016.
Asif Khan (Credit: Jenny Lewis)
The programme is staged in a specially commissioned auditorium, designed by Miska Miller-Lovegrove. A second talks series focussing on professional development takes place in the Forum.
Tickets: 100% Design is free to trade professionals who register in advance, or £15 on the door Click here to register
LuxuryMade 21-24 September 2016, Olympia Pillar Halls Making its debut at the London Design Festival 2016 is LuxuryMade, a new show dedicated to contemporary decorative interiors. Staged alongside 100% Design close to the site of the new Design Museum, it is the latest addition to West Kensington’s burgeoning design offer. www.luxurymade.co.uk
Australian-owned Hotel Management Company StayWell Hospitality Group is staying true to its plans of global expansion by entering into a partnership with renowned United Kingdom hospitality company Fiveways Hospitality.
The newly formed Master Licensing Agreement between the two parties will enable StayWell Hospitality Group to significantly grow its Park Regis and Leisure Inn brands within the UK market.
StayWell Hospitality Group CEO Mr Simon Wan said that entering this agreement will help to secure an additional four hotels in the region within the next 48 months which is part of the groups overarching plan to reach 100 hotels globally within the next three years.
The United Kingdom and Europe as a whole, presents a great opportunity for our Park Regis and Leisure Inn brands, especially after the successful opening of Park Regis Birmingham in March 2016, Mr Wan said.
Fiveways Hospitality has a well established reputation and our partnership will deliver not only opportunities for further growth for StayWell in new destinations and cities but also offer top-shelf operational support to our hotel teams within the region, he said.
Fiveways Hospitality Managing Director, Stuart Broster also agrees that the brands future within Europe looks bright following the formalisation of the partnership agreement.
Rising above the banks of Bangkok’s picturesque Chao Phraya River, the world’s first purpose designed AVANI hotel, AVANI Riverside Bangkok Hotel, offers a smooth blend of contemporary style, modern warmth and stunning views across Asia’s most dynamic city.
On arrival guests are immediately greeted by an arresting view of the Chao Phraya River from the vast lobby, located on the eleventh floor. The open plan design blends reception, lounge, meeting, chill out and restaurant spaces. The interiors are spacious, the driving ethos is modernity, fused with comfort and great craftsmanship.
All of the hotel’s 248 stylish guest rooms and suites, boast uninterrupted city and river views.
The neutral décor is a blend of comfort and modernity, natural materials and high-tech equipment, along with extra conveniences such as a rain shower, dedicated work station with free WiFi and a media hub docking station. Each of the spacious River View Junior Suites features a bathroom with a view, outfitted with a freestanding tub.
At the other end of the terrace is ATTITUDE, Bangkok’s newest rooftop hot spot to see and be seen. Different areas of the restaurant and bar, intimate or collective, are designed for socialising and include an indoor lounge with a DJ booth, an open show kitchen, wine wall and outdoor lounge-style restaurant and bar.
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts has announced the designation of Sheraton Salzburg Hotel as a Sheraton Grand, welcoming it to the brand’s premier tier of hotels recognised for their enticing destinations, distinguished designs, and excellence in service and guest experiences.
Having just completed a comprehensive, five year top-to-bottom renovation, the Sheraton Grand Salzburg joins a portfolio of 34 other Sheraton Grand properties worldwide, with destinations ranging from Istanbul and Dubai, to Beijing and beyond. Sheraton Grand is one of many initiatives currently underway as part of Starwood’s comprehensive plan to solidify Sheraton as a leading global hotel brand of choice, everywhere.
“As Starwood’s largest and most global brand, we remain focused on our work to keep Sheraton in the spotlight through the continued growth and halo effect of Sheraton Grand,” said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “With a refreshed and enhanced aesthetic thanks to its 10 million euro renovation, Sheraton Grand Salzburg is a best-in-class example of the brand’s new elevated approach to design, making it an ideal candidate for the brand’s premier tier.”
The refreshed Sheraton Grand Salzburg combines contemporary touches with traditional Salzburg design. The hotel has added 29 new rooms and suites, and carefully restored the entire sixth floor with tech-enhanced furnishings and premium materials, such as oiled oak floors and bespoke wooden furniture from Tyrol.
The minimalistic design concept of the rooms is harmoniously complemented by small details, such as the selection of black and white pictures depicting historical Salzburg scenes. The Sheraton Grand Salzburg also boasts an elevated dining experience with the addition of a show kitchen to the Mirabell Restaurant, providing guests a first-hand insight into culinary creations.
Brad Pitt is considering building an upscale complex for about 2,500 people in Croatia’s coastal town of Zablace.
It would be an extension of Zablace that would include a hotel, villas, a golf, restaurants and retail stores.
The Hollywood star wants it to be eco-friendly; its cost is estimated at $1.5 billion.
Brad Pitt already considered a project in this Croatia in 2012 when he wished to develop a resort in the country at Istia, under the name “Barabriga”, but it was not completed.
The current project is part of a collaboration with the architect Nikola Bašić and the investment firm TFI Holding. The investment firm has already invested about $70 million.
Hilton has reached a management agreement with Agricola Merse to bring Curio – A Collection by Hilton to Tuscany. The 101-guestroom La Bagnaia Golf & Spa Resort Siena is set to welcome guests from March 2017.
Surrounded by the beautiful Sienese countryside, La Bagnaia is a tranquil oasis set against a landscape scattered with charming medieval hamlets and towns. Spread over 1,100 hectares, the upscale hotel has a village-like look and feel, divided across a number of buildings and featuring two main ‘hamlets’ – Borgo La Bagnaia and Borgo la Filetta.
The resort includes the Buddha Spa by Clarins and is connected to an 18-hole golf course. The range of facilities provided by the hotel for leisure and business travellers include two restaurants and two bars, three swimming pools, 12 treatment rooms, a tennis court, and conference rooms which combined cater for almost 1,000 delegates.
Situated just 12km from the city of Siena – a World Heritage Site and one of Italy’s most popular tourist destinations – the hotel is conveniently located for guests wishing to access the city’s many attractions including the Piazza del Campo, the Mangia Tower and the Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral. Steeped in history, culture-rich Siena and its surrounding areas offer multiple attractions including exquisite Italian cuisine and world-famous vineyards.
Aberdeen City Council and Hilton Worldwide have signed a franchise licence agreement to open a 200-room Hilton Hotels & Resorts property at the new AECC, which will be managed by Redefine|BDL Hotels – the UK’s leading independent hotel management company.
Hilton Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre, set to be the fourth Hilton property in the city, will connect directly to the new AECC and is expected to create approximately 350 jobs.
The hotel, which is due to open in 2019, will include an executive lounge and up to 10 meeting rooms of variable size to complement the outstanding facilities of the adjoining conference centre. The hotel will also include a cocktail bar, speciality restaurant, fitness centre and wet leisure and spa facilities for guests and visitors to the exhibition centre to enjoy.
Hilton Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre is to be managed by Redefine|BDL Hotels. The Glasgow-based firm’s portfolio includes DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre and DoubleTree by Hilton Dundee.
Hilton is well established in Scotland with 20 properties currently trading in the country. Hilton Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre joins three Hilton hotels in Aberdeen – Hilton Aberdeen Treetops, DoubleTree by Hilton Aberdeen City Centre and Hilton Garden Inn Aberdeen City Centre.
The new hotel will be built in to the new AECC, which will provide four times the exhibition space available at the current venue, double the seated entertainment. The foremost conference and entertainment venue will be competing not just within Scotland but on a global stage.
Transforming hospitality interiors with beautiful bespoke design in the fastest lead-times currently available, Ready to Weave carpets from Wilton Carpets Commercial are ready in just two to four weeks.
Available in Ready to Weave – Our Design and Ready to Weave – Your Design, the two services allow creative freedom for hoteliers and interiors designers when specifying their ideal carpet.
In Our Design, users are invited to work with any of Wilton Carpets’ library of designs, with the option to use existing colour combinations or create a unique twist by selecting any of 12 colours from a pre-determined palette.
In Your Design, any library pattern can be recoloured, or custom designs realised, but in this case colours can be selected from any one of three permanently loomed palettes.
“Not only is the Ready to Weave service the fastest of its kind in the UK, it is also one of the most flexible, really allowing hoteliers and interior designers to explore the design potential of carpet,” says Damian Roscoe, head of creative, Wilton Carpets. “Whether guided through our pattern library, or adventuring into the world of bespoke design, Ready to Weave is a great way to create a unique look to hospitality environments.”
Delivering excellent versatility through a selection of woven axminster qualities (seven to 10-row) in a quality wool-rich construction, Ready to Weave carpets are great value and accessible from a small minimum order of just 100m2. Ready to Weave – Our Design and Ready to Weave – Your Design carpets are delivered in just 28-days from order, the shortest lead-time currently available for carpet made in the UK.
For further information contact Wilton Carpets Commercial on 01722 746000 or sales@wiltoncarpets.com
While the newest generation of travelers – the oft written about ‘millennials’ – may not yet have the discretionary spending muscle of Gen Xers and Boomers, they are having a decidedly pronounced impact on the evolution of the branded hotel space. Unique experiences, lifestyle, design, and authenticity rule the day now. Does that sound the death knell of the branded hotel?
Vaunted brand names like Marriott, Starwood, Hilton, and Hyatt have given way to Andaz, Aloft, Curio, Canopy, and Moxy. Despite sounding oxymoronic, the terms “consistent,” “dependable,” and “predictable” (read: cookie-cutter) at one time were unique selling propositions. Now those descriptors have become toxic. Driven by the evolving demands of a younger, hipper, better educated and tech savvy consumer, terms like chic, unique, customised, curated, and personalized are what differentiate the hospitality product these days. Across the full spectrum of the hospitality sector – design, brand marketing, packaging, and promotion – if you want to get the attention of today’s traveler, you have to answer their question: “What have you got for ME?”
Hospitality companies are being challenged to offer unique, experiential, local, and authentic while maintaining the efficiencies their shareholders expect. The enforced uniformity of the major hotel companies was part of a larger business strategy that worked well for previous generations of travelers. Consumers liked uniformity and reliability, and so did the hotel companies’ bottom lines. Predictable amenities, features, furnishings, and layouts were appealing to both the guest and the hotel company CFO. Now, however, there is real pressure to carve out a distinct and authentic brand promise, while maintaining the efficiencies and economies of scale. And is that not an inherent conflict…the ‘commoditisation’ of unique?
As the shape of the bell curve changes, with the lifestyle/boutique properties moving from the fringe to the mainstream, are they in danger of becoming the mass-market hotel of the future? And will the Millennialsbegin to eschew the very movement they were responsible for driving in the first place? Ask brands like American Eagle, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Gap that are reeling from the Millennials’ desire to express themselves as their own brand, rather than serve as ambassadors for someone else’s.
Whether the traveler wants to stay independent, seek the remarkably uncommon, or enjoy an unforgettable stay, hotels now more than ever need to figure out how to realistically serve this very demanding segment. Can smaller lifestyle brands keep up with the standards and scalability of the large brands? We’re at an inflection point where established norms of hospitality marketing and operations are on a collision course with Millennials’ preferences, behaviors, and attitudes.
Kerry brings proven leadership, client relationship management, and business development skills to MMGY’s Orlando office. He is an experienced marketer, entrepreneur, and innovator with deep travel industry connections and over 20 years of success connecting buyers and sellers in the travel arena. MMGY Global, the leading integrated travel and hospitality marketing firm in the USA.
North Hill City Resort, opening this month, is a new five-star luxury resort incorporating a modern contemporary design that embraces the destination of Chiang Mai. A five star resort, the design highlights the beauty of the resort’s idyllic and serene location while still close to tourist destinations, and captures outstanding views of Doi Suthep.
“We have put in a lot of thought into designing North Hill City Resort, and we are pleased to see it finally coming to life as we approach opening this month,” said Kanlapat Trakarnkoolpunt, managing director of North Hill City Resort. “We’re thrilled to welcome guests to experience the finished product, and we’re confident that they will enjoy the calming and fresh design with first-class materials and elements, ultimately focusing on the stunning Doi Suthep.”
Only 20 minutes from the hustle and bustle of the city area, the boutique 42-room property’s primary design element is the surrounding green space and nature. Designed by landscape and architecture firm, RAFA, the resort maximizes outdoor spaces with an expansive outdoor amphitheater alongside a swimming pool and deck. In addition to panoramic views of Doi Suthep, this outdoor area serves as a venue for functions, meetings, weddings and also features a BBQ area.
With a modern design highlighting traditional Thai design elements, guestrooms feature a neutral color scheme with earthy brown and tan tones complimented by elegant stone and wood throughout. Additionally, the rooms feature state-of-the-art luxury amenities such as a 40” LED TV, 500 thread-count white bed linens, an area with a wooden desk and workspace and sprawling windows offering unobstructed views of the resort’s beautiful environs. Guests will enjoy luxurious bathrooms, including a large marble soaking tub and a shower panel with an overhead rainfall shower, a hand-held showerhead and body massage nozzles for the ultimate relaxation.
A quick walk away is North Hill Golf Club, a pristine 18-hole golf course in signature mint condition with panoramic Doi Suthep scenery. Next door will be a luxurious and state-of-the art clubhouse, including a welcoming lobby, a sweet and richly scented coffee corner and a Pro Shop where guests can purchase personalized services, souvenirs and golf equipment. The clubhouse will include a business lounge designed to meet the needs of business travelers on the road, a fitness studio with top-of-the-line equipment, a Cheval Blanc Lounge, a karaoke room, and a games room.
Perfect for groups of five to 300, the North Hill City Resort’s meeting and conference functions have a lot to offer. Each room has a unique design, including The Forum which features luxury dark brown hues and suites intimate groups of five to ten or the medium-sized The Merit Conference Room ideal for groups of up to 30 people. The Glory Room is features a serene white and grey color scheme, making it perfect for weddings or large company functions. Additionally the resort’s meetings space includes an outdoor area with a golf course view, holding up to 1,000 people.
The Spa has a Thai-contemporary design where luxury meets northern Thai influences. Consisting of three private rooms and four Thai massage rooms, spa-goers can expect to indulge in the ultimate relaxation and peace. Guests will also enjoy a jacuzzi, steam room and sauna
This autumn, luxury fabric specialist Kobe introduces Enchanted, a stunning collection of luxurious 100% flame retardant fabrics, perfect for contract window décor.
A balance between contemporary and traditional, the range features three woven jacquards with a smooth, supple feel. The palette of rich striking tones and neutrals complements the sophisticated collection of medallion, stylish lattice and coordinating geometric designs.
David Harris, MD Kobe UK: “For affordable luxury this autumn, the Enchanted collection showcases an exciting, rich and neutral palette of fire retardant fabrics suitable for commercial installations. The range benefits from the logistical expertise and quality of Kobe, while giving access to a wider customer base through its realistic price points.”
Enchanted contract window décor offers affordable prices and value for money while enjoying the signature Kobe style.
The Kobe UK sales office and studio is based in Crowthorne, Berkshire
The Edinburgh Grand is the latest addition to Lateral City Apartments’ portfolio of beautifully appointed serviced accommodation. As with existing developments, Old Town Chambers and Merchiston Residence, The Edinburgh Grand has evolved from a building of unique historical merit with an illustrious heritage, to offer a luxurious and distinct place to stay, in the heart of Scotland’s capital by the summer of 2017.
A striking Neo-Classical building, it stands on the south-east corner of notable St Andrew Square, within Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site and just minutes away from key transport links. This prestigious area, known for its designer boutiques, is steps away from the renowned George Street with its reputation as a lively and vivacious hub.
Formerly the National Bank of Scotland, the building was constructed between 1936 and 1942 gaining inspiration from Modernist American architecture. The imposing sandstone exterior reveals a grand interior with vast atrium, original marble columns, bronze balustrades and dark wood detailing.
Throughout the Edinburgh Grand’s transformation many of the building’s remarkable original features will be retained and incorporated into 50 luxury apartments. Clean lines and contemporary fixtures and fittings will integrate seamlessly with a decadent colour palette of olive greens and teal blues. Velvets, sheers and leather have been sourced to complement the unique wallcoverings and tailored furnishings to achieve an elegance that befits such exceptional architecture.
Over the next 12 months The Edinburgh Grand will emerge as the one-time bank is thoughtfully renovated and genuine features are restored. This is particularly evident as the original plate steel bank vaults are transformed into a modern on-site gym, while throughout the contemporary bathrooms, homage is paid to the original geometric black and white flooring that characterised the banking hall. The building’s distinctive circular atrium, a constant hallmark that dominates the soaring vestibule, will be carefully preserved and continue to fill the space with light.
Each apartment will retain a unique quality and layout, from the Grand Studio apartments, lined with rich Cognac timber panelled walls and furnished with striking authentic fireplaces, to the three-bedroom rooftop Penthouse, with its vast city view. Sleek kitchens, kitted out with the latest Siemens appliances and Nespresso coffee machines, offer guests independence whilst retaining that sense of aspirational luxury.
Apartments are suited to both short city breaks and longer business-focused stays, and can accommodate a range of group-sizes from six, down to the single traveller.
Alongside these stunning apartments, the building will also house a 200-cover bar and restaurant located in the former banking hall. Additionally, a coffeehouse and evening venue, will be run by Bon Vivant, offering late night entertainment and dining, while further retail outlets, to complement the site, are also planned and will be announced in due course. The apartment conversion is expected to be completed by summer 2017, adding The Edinburgh Grand to the remarkable portfolio of properties within the Lateral City Apartments group.
DoubleTree by Hilton has unveiled its first property in the bustling Dallas suburb of Arlington and its eighth throughout the Dallas metroplex.
DoubleTree by Hilton Arlington DFW South opens just a few miles from the community’s Entertainment district following an extensive, $10 million renovation.
Less than five miles from Six Flags Over Texas, AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Park and other attractions, the 237-room, five-storey property offers wide-ranging amenities and more than 6,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, all designed to serve the needs of leisure and business travelers. Formerly the Admiral Hotel, it is owned by Admiral Hotel Group LLC and managed by Hotel Equities.
From the moment they step into the welcoming, open-spaced lobby, visitors will see evidence of the property’s extensive renovation, with design treatments, artwork and architectural styles that pay homage to Texas landscape and history. The lobby’s Connectivity Zone features a floor-to-ceiling metal wall of TVs and decorative lighting, the perfect spot to socialize or explore online.
Guest rooms offer complimentary WiFi, a 40-inch HDTV, mini-refrigerator, coffeemaker and workspace; and many provide a pool view, patio or balcony. Whether featuring one king bed or two queen beds, each room provides guests with the soothing DoubleTree Sweet Dreams Sleep
Leisure-seeking guests may swim in the outdoor pool, or relax in one of the poolside cabanas. The complimentary fitness centre is accessible at any time, and features Precor cardio, strength and core fitness equipment. Other complimentary offerings are a 24-hour business center, as well as a roundtrip shuttle to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
DoubleTree by Hilton Arlington DFW South hotel can also accommodate business conferences, banquets and other events for up to 250 guests with 6,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. Optional features include a state-of-the-art sound system, LCD projectors and other A/V equipment, and high-speed Internet access.
Dubai master developer Nakheel today signed a Letter of Intent with Hilton Worldwide to manage a new, 256-room hotel at Jumeirah Village Triangle.
Under the proposed agreement, the 18-storey hotel will be managed under the DoubleTree by Hiltonbrand, known for its warm, friendly service that provides upscale comfort for business and leisure travellers.
Announced three weeks ago as a major new feature of Nakheel’s upcoming Al Khail Avenue retail, dining and leisure hub, DoubleTree by Hilton will be directly linked to the mall’s 350 shops, restaurants and entertainment outlets.
The hotel will have 256 rooms (including four suites), an all-day restaurant, coffee shop, lounge, outdoor terrace, pool deck, gymnasium and car park, as well as a leisure club with preferential membership rates for residents of the Jumeirah Village Triangle community.
Nakheel awarded the AED1.5 billion contract to build the mall and hotel complex earlier this month. Construction will begin in October this year, with completion in 2019.
Nakheel’s growing hospitality portfolio includes nearly 5,200 rooms across 14 hotels and serviced apartment complexes at various locations in Dubai, while its retail project portfolio – the biggest in the Middle East – has more than 16 million square feet of lease space in operation or under development.
The Marriott-Starwood merger was back in the news this week – we look at potential hurdles to the deal. We’re just over a week away from the Hotel Designs as we welcome a speaker from trivago, Aly Thompson, who joins a fantastic seminar line-up for the two-day event at Radisson Blu London Stansted…
1. Opinion: Spanner in the works for Marriott-Starwood deal? Recent reports – albeit very liberally-sourced ones – seemed to suggest that Marriott was feeling a sense of ‘remorse’ about the deal and was looking for a way out to back out
7. ‘Pretty in Pink’ – Trends at Decorex 2016 Decorex International is the UK’s leading design show and the only one of its kind in the UK for the luxury interiors market
8. Banyan Tree launches first ever project in Australia Last month, Banyan Tree Executive Chairman Ho Kwon Ping and Lord Mayor of Brisbane Graham Quirk officially launched the Banyan group’s first ever Banyan Tree project in Australia
9. Soho House and Sydell Group reveal plans for The Ned London’s Soho House & Co and New York’s Sydell Group will join forces to create The Ned – a hotel, club and collection of restaurants in the former Midland Bank building City of London
Hilton has announced the opening of Chateau on The Park – Christchurch, a DoubleTree by Hilton.
Formerly Chateau on The Park, this Christchurch icon is adjacent to Hagley Park, within walking distance to Christchurch Botanic Gardens and the western business district, and just a five-minute drive into the city. The hotel will be the second DoubleTree by Hilton to enter New Zealand and joins four Hilton Worldwide hotels in Auckland, Taupo and Queenstown.
Paul Hutton, vice president, operations, Australasia, said, “The city’s strong tourism market was the key driver for bringing the brand into the city. We are especially proud for the brand to be represented in the re-emerging city of Christchurch – an important hub for both business travellers and leisure tourism in New Zealand.”
Located on Deans Avenue and nestled amongst five acres of verdant gardens, this fully-refurbished hotel features 192 modern guest rooms. The cozy Den Bar is a great place to meet friends for a drink and the Garden Court Brasserie is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering al-fresco style dining. The hotel also features seven meeting spaces, a business centre, a heated outdoor swimming pool and a modern fitness room.
The Autograph Collection has welcomed a new boutique property to its collection. Hotel Xenia will be Autograph Collection’s third hotel in London, joining St Ermin’s and Threadneedles.
The first Autograph Collection property to grace West London, Hotel Xenia is an urban designed hotel located in a beautiful Victorian building on Cromwell Road in South Kensington. The 99 spacious guest rooms and suites offer some of the city’s largest living space and maintain a boutique charm through a combination of traditional comforts and contemporary touches, which complement the design ethos of Autograph Collection hotels.
The crowning glory of the hotel is the Xenia Suite with its own private balcony and onyx stone Turkish bath, complete with stunning views over West London.
The Xenia Lounge is an atmospheric setting for morning coffee or evening drinks with handmade Bohemia wallpaper and designer pieces. As night falls, soft lighting and the sounds of the Grand Piano transform the space into a relaxed and sultry bar area.
For further relaxation, guests can retreat to the Living Lounge, a cosy bolthole with an 84″ 3D Ultra HD TV, pool table, ping-pong table and a selection of board-games. The hotel is also home to a heated herb garden and humidor that houses a collection of Cuban cigars for guests to purchase.
John Licence, brand leader for Autograph Collection Hotels in Europe, comments: “We are delighted to welcome our third London hotel into the collection. As a hugely popular destination for both leisure and business travellers, we are really excited to have a presence in South Kensington. The portfolio continues to grow in Europe, and we believe that Hotel Xenia is a powerful addition as it truly embodies the philosophy of the collection, ensuring the brand’s offering continues to be exactly like nothing else.”
The Independent Hotel Show, presented by James Hallam Hospitality & Leisure, has released the much anticipated shortlist for its 2016 Independent Hotelier and Outstanding New Hotel Awards in association with Sky.
The Independent Hotelier Award gives recognition to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the boutique and independent hotel sector. The winner will already be making waves within the industry with a strong reputation for pushing boundaries and having the confidence to evolve and do things differently. Above all, the winner will be someone committed to the development of their team, the success of their establishment and the industry at large.
The shortlist for the Independent Hotelier Award is: Andrew Wildsmith – owner, Hipping Hall & Forest Side, Cowan Bridge, Kirkby Lonsdale Ian and Christa Taylor – owners, Abbey Hotel, Bath & Villa Magdula, Bath Paul Milsom – chairman and MD, Milsom Hotels, Essex and Suffolk Richard Ball – executive chairman, Calcot, Barnsley House, Lord Crewe Arms, The Painswick Kate Levin – general manager, The Capital, Knightsbridge, London Edmund and Charles Inkin – owners, EATDRINKSLEEP
Now in its fourth year, the Outstanding New Hotel Award is designed to highlight and recognise independent, luxury and boutique hotels that have been opened or relaunched within the last three years and have made a significant impact within the industry. The winning hotel will showcase the pinnacle of innovation, demonstrating outstanding service and guest experience as well as creating a unique personality and hotel culture.
The shortlist for Outstanding New Hotel is: The Laslett, Notting Hill, London Penally Abbey, Penally, Wales Soho Farmhouse, Great Tew, Oxfordshire The Pig at Combe, Honiton, Devon Padstow Townhouse, Padstow, Cornwall The Royal Oak, Swallowcliffe, Salisbury, Wiltshire
The shortlist was selected and decided by a panel of industry heavy-weights and experts. Voting for the awards is now live and the winners will be announced at the awards ceremony immediately following the first day of the show on 18th October 2016. Previous winners include Olga Polizzi, voted Independent Hotelier 2015 and Hotel Gotham, winner of the Outstanding New Hotel award 2015.
To discover more and to register for this must-attend event for independent hoteliers and industry professionals, visit independenthotelshow.co.uk.
The re-imagined Grade II listed Palé Hall is now officially open as one of the finest country house hotels in Wales and the UK, and the first member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World in Wales. New owners Alan and Angela Harper have lovingly restored the historic house to its former glory, creating a peaceful and luxurious retreat surrounded by the natural beauty of the Welsh valleys on the edge of Snowdonia National Park.
Palé Hall is one of Wales’s most important surviving homes with a fascinating history dating back to the late 19th century when Henry Robertson, a railway engineer, industrialist and contemporary of Brunel, bought the estate as a grand personal project at the end of his transformative career in building public works. Since construction, the manor house has played host to some of Britain’s most famous figures including Queen Victoria and Winston Churchill.
In its new chapter as a hotel, 18 guest bedrooms and suites have been individually designed with their own style and personal identity, as have the beautiful light-filled public areas of the house including the opulent drawing room and tranquil parlour overlooking the grounds. General Manager Pim Wolfs, who has a wealth of experience from establishments including Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, is in charge of ensuring guests experience the very best personal service throughout their stay.
The individually designed guestrooms use soft yet playful Zoffany furnishings and quintessentially British William Morris prints. Each room holds its own history, such as the aptly named Victoria Suite, home to the bed that Queen Victoria once slept in and her original bathtub. Choose from ‘Classic Rooms’, ‘Turret Suites’, ‘Grand Rooms’, ‘Master Rooms’ and ‘Superior Suites’. A very special highlight is the amazing wood panelled Churchill Suite, where Churchill is alleged to have played snooker on his many visits to Palé Hall. Every guestroom enjoys a stunning view across the rural Welsh landscape, with window seats or deeply comfortable sofas and armchairs from which to watch the world go by.
The three dining areas within the house provide breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner to residents and non-residents, each with a different look and feel. The largest of them is the grand Henry Robertson dining room, followed by the Venetian dining room and finally the intimate library, the perfect setting for private dining.
Is there about to be a spanner thrown into the works for the Marriott-Starwood merger? Recent reports – albeit very liberally-sourced ones – seemed to suggest that Marriott was feeling a sense of ‘remorse’ about the deal and was looking for a way out to back out.
While the source cited is allegedly ‘close to the deal’, the veracity of their claims and their anonymity remains very much in question.
So, could there be a kernel of truth in the claim? Possibly. The fact Marriott beat out Anbang has led to a ‘transaction review’ from the Chinese which is delaying the closure of the deal. While frustrating, the review is unlikely to stop the deal closing. But as with all merger deals, the longer the closure takes, the more the negative voices grow louder. Seeds of doubt about how good a deal has been agreed will begin to grow in the minds of Marriott executives.
Secondly – and it’s been a talking point since the deal was first announced – the uncertainty in combining the two groups’ reward programmes is proving more of an obstacle than first hoped. Granted, this will be the key in ensuring Marriott have got the best deal for the $12 billion spent. But there’s no reason to suggest such difficulties will lead to a breakdown of the deal.
And, in truth, small hurdles that sour the deal in the short term and could be used by twitchy Marriott executives as justification for pulling out of the deal are unlikely to derail this ‘megamerger’ in the long term – executives on both sides should rest easy that anonymous sources will have to do a lot more to do so.
Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay is expected to open just north of Patong Beach in November offering stylish rooms for hotel guests. CLUB Wyndham ASIA, a part of the Wyndham Vacation Ownership business, has also signed an agreement subject to specified requirements which once complete, will give CLUB Wyndham ASIA members access to luxurious apartments at the resort.
Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay’s 214 rooms and facilities are designed to highlight its stunning locale nestled on the edge of a cliff which boasts sweeping views of the Andaman Sea. The resort is a stone’s throw away from Phuket’s vibrant entertainment precinct yet just far enough to enjoy only the sounds of peaceful waves rolling into shore.
The rooms will bring the outdoors in by illuminating its plush setting and spectacular sea views. The 48m2 standard rooms will offer guests the luxury of space together with plush furnishings and a full suite of in-room amenities. Each of the resort’s 152 pool villas, the most in the Kalim-Patong area, will feature a private outdoor sundeck and a six- or nine-metre infinity pool overlooking the ocean, providing guests with privacy and seclusion as well as ultimate comfort and relaxation.
Wyndham Hotel Group is actively expanding its diverse footprint of offerings in the region, having just recently announced the signing of a new Wyndham hotel in Danang, Vietnam. The company currently has nearly 8,000 properties worldwide with over 1200 hotels open and operating across the Asia Pacific Region under its Ramada, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Days Inn, TRYP by Wyndham and Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Super 8 brands.
Last month, Banyan Tree Executive Chairman Ho Kwon Ping and Lord Mayor of Brisbane Graham Quirk officially launched the Banyan group’s first ever Banyan Tree project in Australia.
The iconic site atop the Kangaroo Point cliffs offers panoramic views across the river city, which has proved to be a major draw, along with an unprecedented level of features and inclusions that has not been seen before in the luxury residential market.
While the Brisbane residences have a unique aesthetic to others in the Banyan Tree stable, there is commonality with a number of key elements for which the brand has become synonymous including a 24-hour onsite concierge, Banyan Tree Spa and Gallery, providore-style food offering on the ground floor and rooftop gardens and infinity pool.
Interest and sales in the AUD $150-million-dollar development have been strong, with over a quarter of the 76 private residences sold in the pre-launch period to a mixture of local and interstate buyers as well as current Banyan Tree owners.
Coinciding with the official launch, the Queensland headquartered Watpac are in line to be announced as the successful tender to oversee the construction of the project. Over 500 jobs will be created during the works slated to commence in Q4 of 2016 and to be completed in early 2019.
Banyan Tree has also unveiled an outstanding display suite adjacent to the construction site, which offers prospective buyers a preview of a full-scale two-bedroom residence showing off the voluminous space, premium finishes and attention-to-detail.
The holistic offering for owners includes 24-hour Banyan Tree concierge service, onsite Banyan Tree Spa and retail Gallery, premium dining venues and an exclusive rooftop garden with private function room, barbeque facilities, daybeds and an expansive infinity pool.
The property will also feature additional gymnasium, and a secure underground car park. Residents will also enjoy proximity to some of the city’s best dining and cultural precincts, as well as schools, universities, hospitals and transportation.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, alongside Hotel Properties Limited (HPL) and ASB Development Limited, has announced that the renowned luxury resort – The Nam Hai Hoi An – will be managed by Four Seasons as of December 20, 2016.
An intimate resort, Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An, Vietnam will offer 40 private residence villas and 60 newly-renovated resort villas, all featuring outdoor showers, terraces, and expansive indoor and outdoor living spaces. At the heart of the Resort lies a series of three pools, flanked by palm trees and offering unobstructed views of Hoi An’s white sand beach and breaking shore. The extensive amenities at the Resort will include three world-class dining venues – offering both beach and pool-side dining, as well as an all-new Vietnamese cooking school.
J. Allen Smith, President and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts adds, “Vietnam is an important growth market for Four Seasons and this is a unique opportunity to quickly establish a presence in the country’s top resort destination with partners HPL and ASB, who believe in the culture of Four Seasons and share our vision for success.”
“As we continue to extend our presence across Asia Pacific we are focused on ensuring that each new addition to our portfolio represents the very best of Four Seasons, offering the highest levels of service excellence and product quality,” continues Smith. “Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An, Vietnam will be no exception and we are excited to mark our entry into Vietnam with such a desirable location and a luxury product that will appeal to regional and international travellers, as well as private residence owners.”
Renovations to the resort will add an all-new beach bar, kids club and a variety of water sports to the existing tennis, badminton and basketball courts, and fitness centre. The Resort will also offer a world-class spa, featuring eight private pavilions surrounded by the glass-like waters of a lotus pond.
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An, Vietnam will be the latest addition to the exclusive collection ofFour Seasons resorts in the Asia Pacific region, including two resorts in Bali; two resorts, a private island, and a private catamaran in the Maldives; three resorts in Thailand; and resorts in Bora Bora and Langkawi.
Home2 Suites by Hilton, part of Hilton Worldwide’s industry-first All Suites portfolio, announced earlier this month its newest property, Home2 Suites by Hilton Houston Willowbrook.
Offering 108 suites, the hotel is designed for travelers looking for a fresh, new stay experience, as the Home2 Suites Houston Willowbrook complements increased attention the city is getting from travelers planning trips next year for Super Bowl LI.
Managed by TMI Hospitality, Home2 Suites Houston Willowbrook offers guests all-suite accommodations featuring fully-equipped kitchens and modular furniture allowing for guests to personalise their room.
The hotel also features easy access to technology with complimentary Internet, inviting community spaces, and trademark Home2 Suites amenities such as Spin2 Cycle, a combined laundry and fitness area, Home2 MKT for grab-and-go items, and the Inspired Table, a complimentary breakfast that includes more than 400 potential combinations.
Guests can also enjoy an outdoor saline pool, grill and patio area. Most Home2 Suites properties are pet-friendly.
Exhibiting at the Independent Hotel Show for the first time, British electricals designer and manufacturer Hamilton Litestat will be demonstrating its vast range of luxury products and new technologies to enhance the hotel guest experience at the must-attend show, held on 18-19 October 2016 at Olympia West in London.
In such a fast-paced culture, consumers are continually seeking innovative technologies and the highest levels in comfort and style: it can be extremely difficult and costly for independent hoteliers to keep up with the latest demands. Hamilton will showcase its cutting-edge technologies and chic products that deliver the latest functionality cost effectively for the boutique and independent hotel sector.
Smart controls deliver huge experiential impact but can actually save a hotelier money. Get inspired by the Hamilton’s Mercury Lighting Control system at the Independent Hotel Show. The Mercury system can be used to deliver appropriate mood lighting schemes at the flick of a switch or touch of a button while also achieving significant cost and energy savings of up to 80%.
The latest development in lighting control is the RGB DMX option, where a colour-wash can be used as accent lighting to add drama to a space. – ideal for use in guest rooms, bars and restaurants. Matching control plates are available from the Hamilton collections for that totally coordinated look.
Also on show is Hamilton’s Mercury Multi-Room Audio System, which allows guests to listen to their own music effortlessly via USB and/or Bluetooth connections throughout their suite. Audio can be isolated to one area or can be played through all of the room’s speakers, again at the touch of a button.
Both the lighting and audio systems can be controlled via Hamilton’s vast portfolio of switch plates and ‘key card switch’ systems, which can be effortlessly programmed to activate specific pre-set lighting scenes as well as control other room functions such as air conditioning, blinds and entertainment centres.
Hamilton’s coordinating socket plates will also be on show, including the latest USB charging options and international sockets. There’s a design and finish to suit every taste, with a special bespoke service available to create a solution that’s tailor-made to your exact requirements.
Visit Hamilton on Stand 261 at the Independent Hotel Show to get inspiration and see how the latest products and technologies can enhance your guest experience.
Accelerating growth in emerging markets across the globe, Starwood Hotels & Resorts has announced the signing of Four Points Benin City, Nigeria.
Owned by Eagle Hospitality and Leisure Limited, the sleek new Four Points hotel is built for the modern traveler with an emphasis on approachable design and stylish comfort. Conveniently located in the heart of Benin City – the capital city of Edo State, one of the 36 states in Nigeria – the hotel is situated within a five-minute drive to the airport and no more than 10 minutes from the government and business district.
Four Points Benin City offers 176 spacious guest rooms and suites along with exciting food and beverage options including an all-day dining restaurant, a pool bar and the brand’s signature Best Brews™ program featuring local beers at the lobby bar and lounge – the ideal spot to watch sports matches and unwind with friends and colleagues.
Other hotel facilities include a state-of-the-art 24-hour fitness centre, an outdoor pool, 400 square meters of flexible meeting spaces and a fully equipped business center. The hotel will provide all of the brand’s defining elements including the signature Four Points bed, complimentary bottled water in all rooms and suites, fast and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, and an energizing breakfast with fresh coffee that helps guests start and end the day right.
With over 200 hotels in nearly 40 countries around the world, Four Points continues to penetrate new markets, globally. The brand is on track to expand its portfolio of rooms by more than 50% in the next five years.
Curio – A Collection by Hilton announced this week the opening of Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza, Curio Collection by Hilton. The upscale, one-of-a-kind hotel is Hilton Worldwide’s first property on the island of Ibiza. Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza is part of Hilton Worldwide’s Curio brand, a rapidly-expanding global collection of distinctive upscale and luxury hotels.
Originally established in 1933, Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza is steeped in history as it was the first purpose-built hotel on the island and has been declared an asset of cultural interest by UNESCO. With its opening as part of the Curio collection, the property has been fully refurbished while maintaining its neo-colonial facade. The hotel’s 33 elegant guest rooms have been decorated by famed interior designer Lázaro Rosa-Violán and most rooms offer views of the old town and harbour.
Cafe Montesol sits on the ground floor of the hotel and has been a hub for social life in Ibiza since it was originally established in 1933. It is known among local residents as a place to gather and socialise while enjoying Spanish Mediterranean cuisine and tapas specialities, and can accommodate up to 300 guests. Its cocktail bar is the perfect place to lounge while enjoying a refreshing drink and its street terrace overlooks Vara de Rey Boulevard.
“Each hotel selected to join the collection is hand-picked for its distinctive character and Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza is no exception to this as it joins 23 Curio hotels open around the world, including Reichshof Hamburg in Germany which was the first Curio hotel to open in EMEA,” said Dianna Vaughan, senior vice president and global head, Curio – A Collection by Hilton and DoubleTree by Hilton. “We are delighted to add this property to our growing portfolio. With its prime location, bespoke concierge service and top restaurant, the hotel is ideal for travellers to Ibiza.”
We’re less than two weeks away from the start of the new-look Hotel Designs Summit – two days dedicated to hotel design, facilities and development – being held at the Radisson Blu London Stansted on 12-13 September 2016.
As part of this year’s speaker programme, we’re delighted to announce the attendance of Aly Thompson, Industry Manager for UK and Irelandfor trivago, the world’s largest hotel metasearch that serves 120 million visitors per month and receives 4 million requests per day.
She’s part of trivago’s newly founded Hotel Relations team; a unit that is reinventing the way trivago connects with hoteliers worldwide through its core product, trivago Hotel Manager (tHM). Her goal is to establish trivago as the number one marketing channel for hoteliers, to empower them to boost their ranking on trivago and drive bookings directly to their hotel websites.
Before taking on her current role, Aly has been working at trivago in Advertiser Communication and our Marketplace team, gaining an advanced understanding of trivago’s market dynamics and developing resources to guide advertisers in optimising their campaigns on trivago.
Aly studied marketing and communication in New Zealand and Australia and has worked in strategy and communication for several government agencies in New Zealand. She comes from a family of entrepreneurs and is passionate about empowering hoteliers to harness the power of digital marketing to target guests around the world.
About trivago Hotel Manager
trivago aspires to become the number one marketing channel for hoteliers by reinventing the way they connect them with their 120 million monthly travelers – via the trivago Hotel Manager (tHM). Over 200,000 hoteliers worldwide already use the metasearch marketing platform to boost their ranking on trivago by building a unique hotel profile and driving direct bookings on their own website. The platform currently operates in eight languages across 17 countries.
At trivago, we are focused on empowering our 120+ million monthly travelers to find their ideal hotel at the lowest rate, by offering total transparency of the online hotel market. Our team of over 1000+ creative and focused minds from all corners of the globe, are working to develop fast, game-changing, unbiased, consumer-centric products — in order to better not only what we do, but the industry as a whole. Using trivago’s hotel search, you can sift through over 1 million hotels, from 250+ booking sites and hotel chains in 190+ countries, at once. Founded in 2005, trivago currently operates on 55 live international platforms in 33 languages.
Previously known as the Hotel Summit and rebranded as part of Forum Events’ acquisition of Hotel Designs, the HD Summit can help you find the perfect match and can save time sourcing suppliers through a proven concept of meeting and negotiating supplier contracts.
W Hotels Worldwide, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, has announced the completion of its highly anticipated multi-million dollar renovation of W Seattle.
The hotel’s Pacific Northwest location inspired the renovation, with all 415 guest rooms and suites, lobby space, restaurant and meeting spaces transformed by design firm, Krause + Sawyer, along with the award-winning design team from W Hotels.
In a nod to the city’s reputation as one of the defining music capitals of the world, the W brand also recently announced that W Seattle will soon be home to the first W Sound Suite in North America, a private music studio and writer’s room for professional recording artists, studio musicians, as well as hotel guests, to record in style while on the road.
Inspired by the destination’s timeless beauty, W Seattle is naturally connected to the city’s burgeoning business empires of tech, music, design and more, which sit alongside the lush wilderness that the Emerald City is renowned for.
Serving as the setting where backpacks and briefcases mix and mingle, the hotel’s innovative design mirrors the duality of this cosmopolitan centre. Upon entry, grand wooden ‘lodge poles’ (inspired by the Northwest’s Native American culture) and tree-ring flooring (a nod to the city’s logging industry), greet guests alongside a DJ booth crafted from an airplane turbine, which illustrates Seattle’s aviation history.
Newly reimagined guestrooms evoke a sense of the ultimate ‘urban lodge’ through design that captures the innovative spirit of Seattle. The color palette is derived from the blue hues of Seattle, with pops of purple, teal and yellow gold incorporated into a grey canvas inspired by the city’s infamously moody skies. The focal point of each room is the headboard ‘Lodge Wall’, connecting creative design to nature through stacked wood beams backlit by LED lights.
The spirit of the great outdoors is contrasted against elements inspired by the city’s iconic grunge music scene. The rooms feature plaid accent pillows and a Pendleton pattern reflected in the silver, white and gray Mylar wallpaper created exclusively for the guest rooms. Details mimicking Seattle’s storied aviation history influenced materials and finishes – polished, aerodynamic shapes for wall and desk lighting, as well as the design of the desk chair. The throw blanket pattern comes from a Boeing 747 model kit on scale, and a pillow with a jet image punctuates each bed.
Two Manhattan hotels designed by Gene Kaufman Architect for Quadram Global’s new micro-hotel Arlo brand are slated to open this autumn in Manhattan, one in NoMad and one in Hudson Square.
The 11-storey, 325-key Arlo Hudson Square, which will open at 231 Hudson Street (also known as 503 Canal Street) on September 6, is a 97,000-square-foot hotel created by merging two adjoining parcels. The project increased in size during the design process as two sets of air rights were obtained, allowing the architects to design for a larger space than had originally been envisioned.
The hotel will have expansive outdoor space comprising a large rooftop terrace with a bar/lounge and an equally large ground floor courtyard, also with a lounge. Arlo Hudson Square will also have the latest eatery of Chef Harold Moore, Executive Chef and owner of the West Village’s successful Commerce Restaurant. Called Harold’s Meat + 3, the restaurant will be 2,400 square feet.
The hotel’s interiors, which include meeting rooms, have been designed by AvroKO. Landscape design is by MDD Landscape Design.
The 37-story, 250-key Arlo NoMad will open later this fall at 11 East 31st Street, between Madison and Fifth avenues. One of its many attractions is the roof deck, with its wrap-around views of the city and large terrace, both made possible by the stacked mechanicals that free up the maximum amount of space. The roof is just one of the many spaces the hotel offers guests for relaxing and meeting friends. In fact, with its small but well-appointed guest rooms and its large public spaces, with places to eat, lounge and enjoy cocktails, the 91,000-square-foot hotel will be a new type of high-end hotel, one designed as much for socializing as for sleep.
Says Gene Kaufman, Founder and Principal of Gene Kaufman Architect: “Our goal for each of these hotels was to create a look that reflected the neighborhood in which it resides. In Hudson Square, we’ve used aged brick to emulate the appearance of the area’s historic industrial buildings, while in the more bustling, urban NoMad we’ve designed a light, airy glass tower that floats above its neighbors and towers against the sky.”
Hilton and Al-Rai Real Estate have announced plans today which will see the luxury Conrad Hotels & Resorts and midscale Hilton Garden Inn open their doors to guests in early 2019.
The development forms part of an ambitious expansion project which will see almost $1 billion devoted towards solidifying the position of The Avenues Mall in Kuwait City as one of the world’s top retail destinations.
Conrad Kuwait This 158-guestroom luxury property will form part of the extension of the Mall’s popular ‘Prestige’ district, which opened in 2012. The district forms Kuwait’s largest luxury shopping destination, home to 47 luxury retail units under a 23 metre dome. The hotel will feature a ballroom, multiple dining options, and an outdoor pool and spa. The hotel’s design concept will complement the Prestige district’s use of copper and rare ‘Portoro’ stone, imported from the mountains of Italy.
Hilton Garden Inn Kuwait Adjoining two of the new districts being created under the fourth phase expansion, Hilton Garden Inn Kuwait will become the brand’s largest hotel in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region. Boasting 430 guestrooms in an imposing tower structure at the Northern end of the Mall, the main entrance of the property will be located in ‘The Forum’ which will provide a central meeting point within the mall. The property will also border the new ‘Electra’ district set to create a vibrant international atmosphere inspired by the bright lights and high technology of cities such as Tokyo and Hong Kong.
Jim Holthouser, executive vice president, global brands, Hilton Worldwide, said: “The Avenues is a truly world-class destination and a fitting home to two of our world-class brands. Both have celebrated landmark openings in the Middle East this year, with Conrad becoming our first luxury brand to welcome guests to Makkah, while Hilton Garden Inn has debuted at another of the region’s flagship retail spaces, Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates. We look forward to adding Kuwait to both portfolios.”
The Hyatt Place and Hyatt House brands continue growth in new markets with the opening of 10 hotels across the globe during the second quarter of 2016.
Of the 10 Hyatt Place and HYATT house hotel openings in the second quarter, 40 percent were in the Asia Pacific region, including the first dual-branded Hyatt Place and HYATT house hotels in Shenzhen, China, which create a combined experience that enables guests to enjoy the benefits of both brands under one roof. Additionally, HYATT house Shenzhen Airport marks the first HYATT house hotel in Asia.
“The openings of four Hyatt Place and HYATT house hotels in Asia Pacific are a testament to our commitment to strategic growth for these brands throughout the region and the world,” said Steve Haggerty, Hyatt’s global head of capital strategy, franchising and select service. “We are proud that Hyatt Place and HYATT house hotels continue to meet travelers’ needs in key cities globally, further demonstrating the overall strength and resonance of the brands with developers, owners and guests.”
The newly opened Hyatt Place hotels include: – Hyatt Place Phuket Patong (161 rooms), Phuket, Thailand – Hyatt Place Washington DC/Georgetown/West End (168 rooms), Washington, D.C. – Hyatt Place Kansas City/Lenexa City Center (127 rooms), Lenexa, Kan. – Hyatt Place Shenzhen Airport (167 rooms), Shenzhen, China – Hyatt Place Luoyang (248 rooms), Luoyang, China – Hyatt Place London Heathrow Hayes (170 rooms), Hayes, United Kingdom – Hyatt Place Cleveland/Lyndhurst/Legacy Village (135 rooms), Lyndhurst, Ohio – Hyatt Place Chicago/O’Hare Airport (200 rooms), Rosemont, Ill.
The newly opened HYATT house hotels include: – Hyatt House Shenzhen Airport (112 rooms), Shenzhen, China – Hyatt House Chicago/Evanston (114 rooms), Evanston, Ill.
Additionally, the HYATT house brand has been recognized by J.D. Power as “Highest in Guest Satisfaction among North American Upper Extended Stay Hotel Chains.” As a result of guest ratings in the recently released J.D. Power 2016 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index StudySM, the HYATT house brand led the upper extended stay segment with 856 points, scoring 12 points higher than the segment average.
To learn more about Hyatt Place hotels or to make a reservation, visit www.hyattplace.com, and for more information about HYATT house hotels or to book a reservation, visit www.hyatthouse.com.
Imagine asking a hotel room to turn up the air conditioning when it gets too hot or to turn on the lights before getting out of bed. Well, the future is here and it just checked in at Aloft Hotels. Starwood has unveiled the results of its top secret “Project: Jetson” experiment, and are excited to reveal the first-ever voice activated hotel room, giving guests entirely new ways to interact using “Hey Siri.”
Each Aloft Voice-Activated Hotel Room is equipped with an iPad running a custom Aloft app used for controlling the in-room guest experience, with HomeKit-enabled accessories including room temperature, lighting options and more. These new rooms are available today at Aloft Boston Seaport and at Aloft Santa Clara.
“Forget the phrase ‘at the touch of your fingertips.’ Today’s early adopter, hyper-connected traveller wants a level of personalisation unlike ever before, and that means being able to control their hotel experience with the sound of their voice,” said Brian McGuinness, Global Brand Leader, Aloft Hotels. “We’re thrilled to be the first hotel brand to bring voice-activation to our guests in this way, using Siri to control room temperature, lighting and more during their stay.”
When guests arrive, they will launch a custom Aloft app on their in-room iPad to control various aspects of their voice-activated room. A personalised welcome screen will advise guests on how to set up their room and use their own voice with “Hey Siri.” Each iPad also offers a simple tutorial to guide guests through the setup process and answer any questions they may have.
Here is a sampling of what the smartest hotel room in the world can do:
– Control Temperature – Wake up hot at 2 am? Simply ask Siri to adjust the temperature on the Ecobee HomeKit-enabled thermostat by saying “Hey Siri, cool the room” to your desired setting. – Adjust Lighting – Watching a movie or reading in bed? Use Homekit-enabled Philips Hue lights to select preset lighting options for every mood including: Re:set (standard lighting); Re:lax (evening); Re:view (movie theater); and Re:vive (morning). Just ask Siri to turn on the lights, turn off the lights, or simply say good morning. – “Set the Mood (Music) – Singing in the shower but want a new track? Say “Hey Siri, put on my morning playlist.” To use this feature, guests must be signed into their iTunes account on the iPad. Music plays through the guest’s personal device. – Explore Local Attractions – Need a virtual concierge? Just ask “Hey Siri, what are some attractions near me?” so you can navigate the area like a local.
The new Aloft Voice-Activated Hotel Rooms also allow guests to browse the internet, check the weather and more. At the end of each stay, all iPads are reset and all personal preferences are removed from the device.
Rezidor announces the signing of three new properties in the UAE: the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Waterfront and the Park Inn by Radisson Resort Ras Al Khaimah Marjan Island will already welcome the first guests in Q2 of 2017. The Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Canal View will open its doors in Q1 of 2018.
“The UAE is a key strategic market for us. Dubai, the world’s fourth most visited city in 2015 with 14.2 million overnight visitors has been on an unprecedented growth journey for the last decade. The emirate’s ambition is to hit 20 million visitors by 2020 and position the country as both a world-class business and leisure destination. We want to contribute to the on-going journey and support this fast-growing sector together with our experienced regional partners”, said Wolfgang Neumann, President & CEO of Rezidor.
The Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Waterfront is located in the largest and most impressive waterfront development in the world within Business Bay known as Dubai Water Canal, the new business district of Dubai. The property will comprise 432 rooms including designer suites. It will offer several dining experiences, including one all-day dining restaurant and bar with stunning views of the Burj Khalifa – currently the tallest skyscraper in the world – a Makar Scottish bar and the brand’s signature FireLake Grill House and Cocktail Bar. Guests will also appreciate the pool and the spa. The property will also address local and international business guests with meeting and conferencing facilities on a surface of over 1,000sqm.
Also located on the Dubai Water Canal in the city’s new hub of Business Bay, the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Canal View has an ideal central location. It comprises 188 stylish rooms and 16 suites, a meeting and conference area on a surface of 131 sqm, a business center and a 341sqm banquet hall. Guest will also enjoy one of Radisson Blu’s signature Food & Drink concepts in its four restaurants, one coffee shop, a selection of shops, a gymnasium on a total surface of 181sqm, and exceptional views of the Burj Khalifa.
In the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, Rezidor is adding its first the Park Inn by Radisson Resort on Ras Al Khaimah Marjan Island. Meaning “headland of the small huts”, Ras Al Khaimah is a growing destination for leisure and business travel. On Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah’s first man-made archipelago, guests will enjoy impressive views of the Arabian Gulf. The beach resort, comprising of two buildings, will offer 408 rooms including 24 superior rooms, family rooms and suites, one all dining restaurant, 2 restaurants, one lobby café and one lobby bar. Extensive meeting and event spaces are planned, such as other facilities including a swimming pool and a spa.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced that the group will add five new Holiday Inn and Holiday Express hotels to its growing presence in Germany. Having signed 4,000 rooms (24 hotels) within the first half of the year, this is the company’s best signings performance since 2008.
Robert Shepherd, Chief Development Officer Europe, IHG, said: “The German hotel market is accelerating at pace and we are well positioned to take advantage of the appetite for branded growth. 57% of the market is unbranded, so there is a lot of opportunity for IHG to add value with our international brands. Several of our signings in the last few months have been with long-standing partners of IHG, who have signed multiple development agreements with the company. It’s a great start as we head into this quarter.”
The signings are confirmed to develop properties within the following regions:
Baden-Wuerttemberg As part of the MDA signed with long-standing partner TriStar, who will be the owner and franchisee of the hotel, Holiday Inn Express Pforzheim will be a new build with the advantages of our next generation design.
• Guests will enjoy the hotel’s most innovative and smart technology at every stage of their stay including a better more comfortable night’s sleep, a functional and flexible place to work and relax in the room, and a lobby that provides a welcoming space to relax or meet with friends or colleagues • The 140-room hotel, set to open in late 2019, will be of benefit to the area given its position as an economic and cultural hub and ideal location, being situated between Karlsruhe and Stuttgart
Baden-Wuerttemberg will also benefit from two further Holiday Inn brand family hotels within Mannheim. Holiday Inn Mannheim City – Hauptbahnhof (pictured, main) is ideally located outside Mannheim train station and within walking distance of the city centre, financial district and University of Mannheim.
It will open in 2018 and has been signed in conjunction with MDA partner Primestar. The second largest city in Baden-Wurttemberg after Stuttgart, travellers will be able to enjoy the iconic Luisenpark, just twenty minutes’ walk from the hotel’s location. It will also feature an Open Lobby, a central element to the development of newly built Holiday Inn hotels. The lobby enables dwell time for our guests and the community alike. Holiday Inn Express Mannheim will be located within Mannheim City Centre. Owned and franchised by MDA partner Foremost Hospitality, the new build hotel will have 160 rooms and feature next generation design.
Bavaria Holiday Inn Express Regensburg will be constructed with Hubert Haupt Immobilienmanagement GmbH. The hotel will be franchised by Success Hotel Management GmbH, a MDA partner who already license four other Holiday Inn Express hotels.
• Holiday Inn Express Regensburg will form part of a new development retail and office site and also offer the next-generation design in each of the 182 rooms and public areas • Regensburg is a UNESCO world heritage site with a renowned Christmas market, making it popular with leisure travellers, and with several global brands including BMW, Amazon and Toshiba recently setting up bases in the city, it has confirmed itself as a business centre. The hotel will open in late 2017
North Rhine-Westphalia Franchised by TriStar, Holiday Inn Express Oberhausen will feature next-generation design and is set to open early next year (no, will not open early next year – they have not started construction yet, will probably open early 2018). Oberhausen is a city of cultural nuances: it annually hosts the International Short Film Festival, but is also a hub for the steel industry. The hotel will have 140 rooms.
IHG has 64 hotels in Germany and 33 in the pipeline, including 53 Holiday Inn brand family hotels open with 32 in the pipeline.
W Hotels Worldwide expands its Latin American portfolio with the opening of W Punta de Mita in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit.
W Punta de Mita is the 48th W Hotel worldwide and fifth W Hotel in Latin America following W Santiago, W Mexico City, W Vieques Island and W Bogota, bringing closer Starwood’s goal of reaching 75 hotels by 2020.
Designed by ASET/AOMA in collaboration with Oakland-based design firm Mister Important Design, and Starwood’s award-winning design team, W Punta de Mita is inspired by the local bohemian surf culture found throughout Mexico’s Pacific Coast. Steeped in historical, social and spiritual context, the design of the hotel conveys colourful Mexico; the blues of the bay and the coast surrounding Puerto Vallarta; traditional patterns of the Huichol people (indigenous people of Nayarit); images of traditional Mexican celebration; sensational sunsets over the beach; vivid handcrafts with ancient roots and the amalgamation of Spanish and indigenous cultures all of which are brought to life throughout the hotel’s luxurious and stylish villas, public spaces, and buzzing bars and restaurants.
When designing the property, careful measures were put in place to ensure that the natural surroundings – the ancient fig trees and natural springs – were not disturbed during construction. Many of these natural features are showcased throughout the hotel’s design including the reuse of spring water in the reflection pools and within the spa.
Upon arrival, guests are greeted with a cheeky and oversized 9-foot Huichol statue standing in a reflection pool, along with a fleet of colourful Tuk Tuks with artwork customized by Revolución Del Sueño, a Sayulita based design studio, that whisk travelers from the main entrance to the Welcome area and Living Room (the brand’s take on the hotel lobby), as well as around the grounds. Backdrops behind the Welcome Desks, are reimagined versions of Papel Picado, a traditional Mexican folk art that hangs in villages during community events and celebrations and evocative of being welcomed into a Mexican fiesta. Mexican wrestling masks (Lucha Libre); historical figures with surfboards; mariachi instruments; candy skulls, evoking death; and sayings such as “Mexico es Amor” and “Canta y No Lllores” translating to Sing and Don’t Cry (a line from a famous local song which highlights the culture’s upbeat disposition) are artfully embedded into the hotel’s design.
A bright blue and green mosaic “Camino Huichol” walkway, stretching over 450 feet, acts as the central nervous system of the space, with restaurants and shops branching off. The walkway guides guests from the Welcome area, through the Living Room and onto the center walkway of the WET deck (pool area), finally jutting out over the beach for that Insta-worthy view of the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. Comprised of more than three quarters of a million individual tiles, the colours and scenes depicted within the design are inspired by the Huichol people who are indigenous to this area of Mexico.
W Punta de Mita’s Living Room (W’s answer to the staid hotel lobby) is inspired by a traditional Palapa, one big open space with no walls to divide the area, and is anchored by a rectangular bar that replicates an altar.
Located about the property are three beautifully designed, locally-inspired murals by Mexican graffiti artist Nacho Bernal, depicting different takes on W Punta de Mita’s surrounding area. One piece of art found on the side of the beachfront villas depicts a jungle scene with a jaguar adorned in Huichol beads, an animal that was said to be the guardian of the Huichol culture. However, the jaguar is always hidden (as it is in the mural) and legend says that if the animal is seen it will only be seconds before it pounces.
The hotel offers a selection of 119 stylishly designed guest villas, including one Extreme WOW Suite (the W brand’s take on the traditional Presidential Suite). All villas and suites feature private balconies or patios, artisanal Mexican tiled floors and headboards fashioned from either surfboards or punctured tin replicating the design found in local churches, as well as the signature W Bed and sumptuous Bliss® bath amenities.
Cleverly incorporated into the décor of each villa are repurposed vintage photographs of Mexican historical figures, such as Frida Kahlo, by Revolución Del Sueño. A cluster of casitas called Ocean Escape Villas resemble a pre-Hispanic fishing village of the past. Surrounding the property’s spring-fed lake, the villas are designed in a way to highlight the natural beauty – each has private terraces and an enclosed open-roofed patio for stargazing by night and natural light by day. The Jungle Escape Villas feature private balconies allowing for intimate views of the surrounding natural beauty, including the bright red trunks of the papelillo trees and hanging vines of the forest. The villas are offset to accommodate these ancient trees and to respect the topography of the area.
The 4,460 square foot, 2-bedroom Extreme WOW Suite is inspired by the Mexican Flag – the red is found in the tiles of the pool, the green in the surrounding vegetation and the white in the expansive views of the crashing waves on the beach seen from the suite’s private terrace. The center focal point of the room is the swimming pool that circles around the suite’s island-like living room and can only be accessed by a small wooden bridge above the water.
Chevrolet 3800 truck, the vibrant Latin American recipes blend citrus and raw fish or seafood seasoned together for a refreshing break from the Mexican sun. Venazu, open all day, is the hotel’s casual dining restaurant offering guests authentic Mexican cuisine with must-try dishes like Taco de Langosta al Pastor, Risotto de Huitlacoche, and Venado Cocida en Hoyas de Aguacate. With locally sourced materials – from the colorful upholstery to the brightly painted, refurbished Mexican baking shelves reused as partitions – the space fosters a convivial, lively atmosphere with sweeping views of the ocean, evocative of a Mexican town during their weeklong fiesta.
W Punta de Mita’s 4,000 square foot AWAY Spa is designed to feel like a forest cave. Centered in the room is a hanging chandelier of glass flowers in the colors of a Mexican sunset, alongside a beauty bar with stations for manicures, pedicures, waxing, blow outs and more. The Relaxation Deck features intricate cutouts in the wood to accommodate for the roots of surrounding guardian fig trees. The Therapy Pools beside a natural spring offer different treatments such as hydrotherapy, cold mist, hydro jets, pressure showers, and waterfalls with varied temperatures. Each of the five treatment rooms incorporate water into the design with beds strategically placed over glass cutouts in the floor to overlook a fish pond.
An A-Z* of the hotel trade will be attending this unique two-day networking event…
There are less than two weeks to go until the Hotel Designs Summit takes place. And if you’re a hotel owner or manager – or if you supply this booming sector – there’s a limited time to book your place at this hugely influential event.
The Hotel Designs Summit takes place on Monday September 12th and Tuesday September 13th at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Stansted. This unique event matches hoteliers with hotel suppliers for a series of pre-arranged one-on-one meetings. In addition, a series of informative and inspirational seminars are hosted, while a gala dinner with evening entertainment, plus other networking opportunities, provide further business opportunities and peer-to-peer engagement.
An A to Z* of the UK’s leading hotel brands are attending – from Arts Club London to Best Western; Carlton Hotels to DeVere Venues; Episode Hotels to Frithwood House; Grafton Manor to Hotel Café Royal; InterContinental to Kew Green Hotels; Lemo Hotels to Merlin Entertainment; Nine Capital to Park Inn; Ravis Hospitality to Suite Hospitality; The Lanesborough to Ufford Park Hotel to Village Hotels and Wyboston Lakes (*okay, A to W… you find a hotel brand starting with ‘Z’…)
The seminar programme includes sessions from Trivago, Areen Hospitality, Edgar House, Yasmin Chopin Interior Design and the Institute of Hospitality.
There are just a handful of supplier booths available now, so contact Jennie Lane today to secure your place at the event. Contact her on 01992 374098 or email j.lane@forumevents.co.uk
Decorex International is the UK’s leading design show and the only one of its kind in the UK for the luxury interiors market.
Decorex – now in its 39th year – is firmly recognised among the international design community as the trusted resource for high-end interior designers, retailers, property developers, hoteliers and architects.
L-R: ‘Jet Set Collection – New York’ flooring by Artisans of Devizes, £12 per sheet (artisansofdevizes.com) // ‘Perse Gray’ paint by Paint and Paper Library, from £31 per 750ml (paintandpaperlibrary.com) // ‘Venezia – Gray’ rug by William Yeoward, £1,495 (williamyeoward.com)
Decorex is where the trade comes to discover trends for the upcoming season and this year will be no exception. With over 400 exhibitors, from leading names to emerging talents, visitors have the chance to see new collections first-hand.
L-R: ‘405 Line’ cushion by Eleanor Pritchard, £110 (eleanorpritchard.com) // ‘Kala Checks’ organic cotton towel by Stitch by Stitch, £40 (stitchbystitch.com)
The four-day show takes place each September in the prestigious location of Syon Park, attracting 13,000 professional trade visitors from across the globe. Decorex will be exploring the roots of design as the 2016 show theme.
Nobu Miami Beach is delighted to unveil its new website, now taking reservations for stays beginning September 16, 2016. Guests can use the site to book reservations and discover the property’s exclusive guest room retreats and unique amenities.
Renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Academy Award winner Robert De Niro, Hollywood producer Meir Teper and Australian business tycoon James Packer are the visionaries behind the flagship hotel, slated to soft open this fall. “Since opening my restaurant in Miami Beach 16 years ago, I have felt a connection to this city and the people. Now with the Nobu Hotel, I feel like I have a new home,” Chef Nobu said.
The Nobu Hotel features world-renowned Japanese restaurant Nobu Miami, Helene Henderson’s Malibu Farm, along with rooms and suites set within the Eden Roc Miami Beach’s landmark Morris Lapidus tower.
Designed by architect David Rockwell, the property will deliver a fun-luxury experience with Nobu amenities for guests, while paying homage to Eden Roc’s venerable heritage. The hotel’s 206 spacious guest rooms and suites offer stunning ocean and Intracoastal views with designs that draw upon Japanese architecture and the hotel’s oceanfront location to evoke a contemporary Japanese beach house. All rooms and suites feature private bars and exclusive food and beverage offering, Barcelona’s Nature Bissé bath amenities, custom Nobu mattress and Fili d’Oro bed linen.
Thirty-five luxury suites embody peace and relaxation and are adorned with sleek furnishings and teak accents. The three penthouse suites offer breathtaking ocean views and 2,400 square feet of elegant decor available for guests seeking luxury accommodations or a venue for an exquisite event.
The perfect hotel for food lovers, the heart of the experience is Nobu Miami. The restaurant serves its genre-defining cuisine to a strong following of international tastemakers and devotees in its soaring dining room, and also offers a tantalizing 24 hour in-room dining menu designed especially for Nobu Hotel Miami Beach. Nobu guests will soon have exclusive access to a private Nobu pool with soaring views of the ocean and beach with Nobu poolside service and menus.
Complementing Nobu’s high-energy dining experience, the first east coast outpost of Chef and Swedish transplant Helene Henderson’s Malibu Farm will grace the property’s oceanfront dining space. Helene’s food philosophy – “fresh, organic, local” – is simple and revolves around finding the best ingredients and doing little to modify them. Malibu Farm at Nobu Hotel Miami Beach will source produce from area farms and markets, combining local influences with Helene’s California home.
Belfast waterfront will be the site of the city’s newest hotel with the construction of Marriott International’s City Quays Hotel.
This will be Marriott’s first hotel in Northern Ireland, joining the company’s portfolio of nearly 4,500 hotels located in 87 countries and territories around the world. The four-star hotel will include 188 rooms, a restaurant, a bar/lounge, fitness facilities and meeting rooms.
Graeme Johnston, Belfast Harbour ’s Property Director, said: “Bringing Marriott to Northern Ireland for the first time is great news for both business and leisure travellers as well as for the city.
“The hotel will also be well placed to tap into Belfast’s growing reputation as a conference destination with the newly-refurbished Waterfront Hall just a short riverside walk away.
“With views of Titanic Belfast and SS Nomadic the hotel will also appeal to inbound tourists and – given Marriott’s reputation for quality – we’re confident that it will appeal strongly to local people looking for a new leisure experience.”
Marriott already has two hotels in Ireland: the world famous Shelbourne Dublin, a Renaissance Hotel and Powerscourt Hotel, Autograph Collection in Co Wicklow. Marriott International hotels in London include the five-star JW Marriott Grosvenor House and St Pancras Renaissance Hotel.
“We are delighted to bring our lifestyle hotel brand, AC Hotels by Marriott, to the revitalised City Quays area of Belfast,” said Paul Thomas, Director International Development.
“This will be the first AC Hotel by Marriott in Northern Ireland, demonstrating our commitment to opening design-led hotels in thriving destinations where we see growing demand from discerning travellers seeking a refreshed hotel experience. We look forward to being part of this exciting and flourishing city.”
London’s Soho House & Co and New York’s Sydell Group will join forces to create The Ned – a hotel, club and collection of restaurants in the former Midland Bank building City of London.
The Grade I listed former bank building was designed by Sir Edwin ‘Ned’ Lutyens in the 1920s as the headquarters of Midland Bank which at the time was the largest clearing house bank in the world.
The beautiful building will be fully restored and converted to hotel use and will feature nine unique restaurants and bars, majestic event spaces converted from the former executive offices and board rooms, extensive health and leisure facilities, grooming facilities, a roof top terrace with pool overlooking St. Pauls as well as a membership club.
Guest rooms will feature 1920s and 1930s style design with brass and mahogany furniture, chandeliers, vintage pieces, hand-knotted Afghan rugs and rain forest showers. Staying at The Ned entitles guests to a temporary membership of Ned’s Club.
The property is scheduled to open in early 2017. Photos: thened.com
Thamrin Ekspress Indonesia has announced the opening of Four Points Jakarta, Thamrin. The opening marks the first Four Points property in Jakarta, and the sixth in Indonesia. The hotel is part of an approximate 159,000 square foot mixed used development that consists of offices located on the upper floors of the building and the hotel.
Four Points Jakarta, Thamrin features 164 guest rooms fitted with the Four Points brand’s signature bedding. The hotel features an all-day dining venue, which incorporates the brand’s signature Best Brews program, allowing guests to sample a range of local craft and artisan beers.
For meetings and events, Four Points Jakarta, Thamrin has three comfortable, stylish meeting spaces totaling 1,615 square feet that overlooks the lively Thamrin business district. The hotel also offers a 24 hour fitness center that is fully equipped with a range of high-endurance and low impact workout equipment.
Four Points Jakarta, Thamrin is strategically located along Jl M.H. Thamrin at Menara Topas, a major road running through the Central Business District in Jakarta with high visibility for corporate clients. The hotel is located just under one half a mile north of the famous Selamat Datang roundabout near multinational corporate offices, embassies, megamalls, retail shops, restaurants and bars.
For guests looking to immerse in the rich history and culture of Jakarta during their stay at the hotel, they can visit Pasar Baru, the oldest shopping centre in the city that dates back to the Dutch colonial era, Sunda Kelapa, a 17th century port to see the world’s last wind-powered trading schooners, or take in captivating views from the observation deck at Monas, a National Monument located in the centre of Freedom Square. All are located within 7.5 miles of the hotel.
London-based Distinction Group have partnered with Portuguese decking company Tecnodeck and the two will be exhibiting together at the forthcoming Hotel Show in Dubai.
Distinction have been designing and manufacturing high quality furniture for over 30 years, working with both boutique and world-renowned hotel and development groups to create luxurious hotel bedrooms, bars and restaurants furnished and finished to the very highest standards. Distinction are proud of their British base but are gaining an enviable reputation in the Middle East, with a number of projects already underway or approaching completion in the region.
Tecnodeck, a manufacturer of innovative wood-plastic composite decking, recognised the importance of the Middle East market some time ago and has been looking to grow its commercial presence in the region.
“We know that Distinction is a well-recognised UK company and very well placed in this booming region of the world, with all the skills to promote and develop an interesting market for both companies” says Tecnodeck CEO Pedro Machado. “We decided the timing was right to establish a distribution co-operation. We already have projects running and the decision of both companies to exhibit together at the Hotel Show Dubai reflects our ongoing collaboration.”
Distinction Sales and Marketing Director, Thomas Elliott agrees: “We’re very proud to be partnering with Tecnodeck for this year’s exhibition. Their innovative decking saw great interest at the Hotel Show Jeddah and we look to gain them more business here – their products are perfectly suited to the growing Saudi market and it only makes sense for us to partner at the show together.”
“This is our third year attending the Hotel Show Dubai. The previous two shows have proved it to be the best platform for meeting new clients in the UAE, leading us to develop some of our biggest business deals in the region.”
Distinction will be showing a selection of new furniture designs at the Show, including the striking Cubo Armchair and the EHL Chair. The EHL hotel chair has been designed specifically for the UAE climate, featuring a wood-effect metal frame to ensure durability.
In Dubai, Distinction are working with luxury hotel brands such as The Langham hospitality Group and Viceroy, both to debut in 2017. Meeting this increasing demand for their sleek design and high quality finish, Distinction are planning a new showroom in Immam Shaffi Street, Jeddah. The showroom will allow for even smoother client liaison and project management, building on the company’s expertise and experience in the region.
Distinction can be found at stand 3D121 at the Hotel Show Dubai, 17-19 September at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Limitless are in the process of revolutionising the concept of disability by correcting the misapprehension that ‘disabled access’ is a synonym for ‘wheelchair access’, thereby ensuring that businesses can better serve the needs of all disabled people.
By failing to grasp the broad spectrum of meaning covered by the term, ‘disability’, a majority of businesses are forfeiting some £1.8 billion per month, as over 75% of disabled people avoid services which they feel do not meet their needs.
With a loyalty rate of over 85% and a yearly spend of more than £3 billion on accommodation in the UK, this is a market that the hospitality industry cannot ignore. Skyline Apartments recognises this and has partnered with Limitless Travel in a move to satisfy a demographic that constitutes more than 10% of the population.
Having assessed Skyline’s facilities and procedures, Limitless will consult with the senior management team to set out clear recommendations on how they can make low-cost improvements to the service they provide for disabled guests.
Angus Drummond, the CEO and founder of Limitless Travel, said “Through this partnership, Skyline apartments will distinguish themselves as an organisation committed to providing the very best in accessible accommodation.”
Thiago Hahn, CEO at Skyline, agreed with this assessment and added, “Skyline is passionate about ensuring the best possible experience for all guests, regardless of their personal circumstances. Therefore, we are delighted to enter into this partnership with Limitless Travel, which will result in a more comprehensive and wider-ranging service for our guests with disabilities.”
Limitless Travel will use their innovative and in-depth bespoke training methods to equip Skyline’s entire front of house team with the skills required to provide the best services possible for guests with disabilities. The result will be an organisation that is fully conversant with the requirements of all disabled people, an outcome which can only enhance Skyline’s international reputation as a progressive company.
The new Holiday Inn Manchester City Centre, designed by Dexter Moren Associates, has officially opened.
The vibrant interiors for the 298-key hotel have been inspired by the city’s cultural icons and rich industrial heritage. The interior concept combines custom-made nostalgic features, combined with the latest technology and high quality contemporary finishes.
A signature open lobby concept combines an open plan reception, restaurant, lounge and Starbucks cafe. Suites are named after famous local footballing heroes and function rooms after home-grown musicians. Guest rooms range from standard to luxury top-end suites.
“There is a quote by the legendary Tony Wilson (of Factory Records fame) illuminated in neon lights on the ground floor reading ‘This is Manchester, we do things differently here’ and I think this perfectly sums up the significance of the city, the hotel brand, our approach and this particular design concept,” says DMA interior designer, David Harte.
Hyatt Hotels has officially opened the Andaz Ottawa ByWard Market, marking the brand’s official entry into Canada.
Andaz Ottawa ByWard Market, the thirteenth hotel in the portfolio, joins other Andaz hotels in global gateway cities and top resort destinations. Three other Andaz hotels plan to join the portfolio by the end of 2016, including Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa, Andaz Delhi and Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya.
Set in the heart of ByWard Market, a historical marketplace and present-day urban centre of chic boutiques, galleries, restaurants and nightlife, the capital’s newest hotel boasts 200 contemporary guest rooms, six inspired studio meeting spaces, a ground floor restaurant and bar, as well as a stunning rooftop lounge, offering sweeping views of the Ottawa cityscape.
Andaz Ottawa ByWard Market worked with award-winning interior design firm Mason Studio to bring the hotel’s local vision to life. Each floor of the 16-storey hotel reflects the history and character of a Canadian province or territory. Upon entering the space, guests are welcomed into an inviting lounge environment with custom-designed low sectional seating.
Overhead, Mason Studio enlisted the expertise of Toronto-based furniture makers Hollis + Morris to create a lighting installation made of mixed Canadian-wood species. Patterned rugs and copper metal accents provide pops of color and texture against the understated lobby, clad in natural, local materials such as oak paneling and grey stone floors. Artwork throughout the hotel gives a nod to its surrounding culture and has been curated by the Canadian Council Art Bank, home to the largest collection of contemporary Canadian art.
Andaz Ottawa ByWard Market offers spacious studio spaces and lounges that create a customisable backdrop for a variety of events and functions. Spanning 4,500 square feet of flexible function space, the natural light and creative dining and drink menus make the spaces ideal for meetings and intimate social functions. In keeping with the interior design of the hotel, the studio space furniture features modern detailing and a neutral palette.
The positive impact of the UK’s Brexit decision on the domestic hotel market was revealed last week as official figures show billions of pounds staying in the United Kingdom.
While the surge in UK holidays after the 23 June vote had been predicted, the findings by the Tourism Alliance exclusive to the Mail on Sunday show a huge rise both in visitors from abroad and in Britons opting for a staycation – worth some £1.4 billion to the UK economy.
The extra takings in 2016 for staycations alone are set to be £2.4 billion, according to the findings, whose members include the British Hospitality Association, ABTA and regional tourist boards. While £1 billion of that was spent before June 23, the total additional staycation income for the whole year is expected to be £1.4 billion.
The falling pound since the Brexit vote has made holidays more expensive for Britons going abroad and cheaper for foreign tourists coming here – giving Britain’s tourism a double boost. It all means the industry is set for a record-breaking year, and factors believed to be adding to the boom include the recent good weather, low interest rates and fears of terrorism overseas.
The Tourism Alliance estimated that spending by Britons on UK holidays has been up by 17 per cent on 2015 so far this year. Alliance director Kurt Janson told the Mail the additional £2.4 billion has the potential to create around 40,000 new jobs in tourism and hospitality.
A British furniture maker, landscape designer and taxidermist are among the first artists to be announced for this year’s seasonal ICEHOTEL which is set to open its doors to the first guests in Swedish Lapland in less than three months’ time.
However, the big news for this year is for the first time ever a whole new ice experience will be opening in Jukkasjärvi – ICEHOTEL 365, the world’s first ever year round ice hotel which will be open 365 days of the year and will coexist during the Winter months alongside the seasonal ICEHOTEL.
ICEHOTEL 365 is expected to open first in mid-November, a month ahead of the seasonal hotel which will open as usual in mid-December and melt back into the river in the spring. During the summer months solar panels warmed from the Midnight Sun will generate power to cool ICEHOTEL 365. It will feature 20 ice suites in total, nine of which will be ‘deluxe’ offering a warm en-suite bathroom, sauna and changing area adjacent to the frozen bedroom area. In addition, there will be a champagne bar as well as an ice art gallery.
A few of the other ingenious designs which will be enjoyed by guests this year include a House of Cards made from ice and snow, an exotic palace inspired by Casablanca, and an Art Deco suite. There will be a total of 35 unique ice suites made entirely from ice and snow showcasing different designs across both hotels. A total of 40 artists’ designs have been chosen which will also be used for the ice chapel, ICEBAR, the main halls and a new ice gallery in ICEHTOEL 365. Like the seasonal hotel, suite designs will change in the permanent hotel on an annual basis.
Two particularly enticing designs include ‘Lapland Waves’ where the waves have frozen to ice with the bed floating as if buoyed by the ocean, as well as the ‘White Cathedral’ created as a homage to sculptor Ferdinand Cheval who built what is known as the ‘ideal’ palace in south east France in the late 1800s from pebbles he collected on his rounds as a postman.
The amount of snow taken to create its 55 rooms, as well as its church and bar, is enough to make a staggering 700 million snowballs. The chandeliers alone will feature over 1000 hand cut ice crystals. 5,000 tons of ice are harvested each spring from the Torne River and stored until October when the building process starts in earnest and the artists gather to be personally involved in the build.
Conrad Hotels & Resorts smart luxury hotel brand, today announced the opening of Conrad Xiamen, on the southwestern coast of Xiamen Island.
Owned by Shimao Group and managed by Hilton, Conrad Xiamen is the first Conrad hotel in Fujian province, the sixth in China among a portfolio that includes Conrad Hong Kong, Conrad Sanya Haitang Bay, Conrad Dalian, Conrad Macao, and Conrad Beijing, and joins the larger Hilton portfolio of over 70 hotels in China.
Conrad Xiamen occupies the 37th to 54th floors of the iconic 300-metre tall Shimao Straits Tower, in the heart of Siming’s Central Business District. Designed to be a shopping, leisure, and business hub, Shimao Straits Tower is a striking sea-facing landmark with a sail-shaped design boasting expansive views of the famous Gulangyu Island.
Conrad Xiamen has 241 guest rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer breathtaking views. Averaging 60 square meters, the rooms have walk-in wardrobes, large flat screen TVs, Wi-Fi and wired Internet access, Nespresso machines, hydrotherapy rain showers and 400-thread count luxury bed linens. Alternatively, guests can opt for suites and executive rooms with exclusive access to the Executive Lounge on the 54th floor.
Overlooking the city from the 37th floor is a 24-hour Health Club with a full range of cardio and strength training equipment, as well as personal trainers. The heated 25-meter indoor pool offers sea views and guests can also unwind in the Jacuzzi or enjoy personalized treatments at Conrad Spa, which uses only the purest natural products.
With over 2,000-square-meters of flexible meeting space and state-of-the-art audiovisual technology, Conrad Xiamen is also an ideal venue for corporate events, social gatherings and weddings. There are eight multifunction meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 210 people and a pillar-less, 760-square meter ballroom that is connected to a sea-facing 380-square-metre foyer.
Luxury chalet operator Bramble Ski is delighted to introduce two new ultra-exclusive chalets for the 2016/17 ski season. Chalet Weiss Spa sees Bramble Ski’s first foray into the picturesque resort of Kitzbühel, Austria, while Chalet Tschöder grows the operator’s elite offering in St Anton to nine properties.
The Bramble Ski chalets both sleep 14 people in seven bedrooms and between them boast exceptional facilities including a spa, sauna, hammam, gym, cinema room, indoor pool, outdoor hot tub and more.
Chalet Weiss Spa, Kitzbühel, Austria Beautifully put together, the bottom two floors are dedicated to spa and wellness, with one of the highlights being the 15m indoor swimming pool. The lower ground floor houses the pool, a sauna, hammam and massage room. The floor below has a well-equipped gym with cross trainer, running machine, power plates and yoga space.
The master bedroom is a work of art with an open fireplace, dressing room, en-suite bathroom with a whirlpool bath tub and separate shower. It has direct access to the chalet‘s spacious south-facing terrace.
Chalet Tschöder, St Anton, Austria Spread over four floors, the chalet offers a spacious drawing room with open fire place, a bar where guests can enjoy a pre-dinner glass of Champagne, a main living and dining area, a large terrace which can be arranged to create a sitting and dining area and affords spectacular views of skiers skiing home, one bunk room and six en-suite bedrooms including a master suite that is located in the eaves of the chalet and has its own floor.
Guests staying at the Holiday Inn Express Cheltenham will soon enjoy a new and improved hotel experience, as the Redefine|BDL Hotels venue begins a revamp of its guest bedrooms.
The Cheltenham property – managed by the UK’s largest independent hotel management company, Redefine|BDL Hotels – will undergo extensive upgrades in August, bringing it up-to-date with the Holiday Inn Express Next Generation redesign.
With over £125,000 earmarked for the revamp and with 40 guest bedrooms receiving improvements across fixtures, fittings and bedding, Holiday Inn Express Cheltenham will be only the fourth hotel in Redefine|BDL Hotels portfolio to undergo the new Next Generation redesign.
Daniel Sharpe, general manager of Holiday Inn Express Cheltenham, said: “The revamp of our 40 guest rooms will offer today’s smart travellers the ultimate stay, providing all of those at-home luxuries they’re accustomed to, and surpassing both their leisure and business needs.
“It’s an incredibly exciting time for the hotel as the investment and modernisation elevates our venue and its already high standards to the forefront of the hotel industry. We look forward to welcoming future customers to the hotel and we are in no doubt that they will enjoy their experience.”
The Holiday Inn Express Next Generation redesign was developed with industry-leading experts to meet the changing needs of today’s ‘Smart Travellers’ and is to be rolled out to a number of properties across Europe.
Anantara Angkor Resort has made its final transformation from a quaint boutique resort to a luxurious all-suite resort.
Nestled only 10 minutes away from the UNESCO World Heritage Area that includes the legendary Angkor Wat, no other 5-star resort in Siem Reap will offer such a comprehensive destination experience, all while supported by the renowned expertise of the Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas brand.
The New Year roll-out includes soft refurbishments of the resort’s 34 rooms, main restaurant, entrance and lobby. Eight suite categories will unfold, including converting the resort’s ground and first floor Deluxe and Premier Rooms into Premier and Terrace Suites, increasing overall square footage both inside and out.
The new suites will take bookings in time for this year’s peak season. Aficionados of Southeast Asia and textiles will regale in the addition of a one and two bedroom Jim Thompson Explorer Suite. Boasting 178 and 235 square meters respectively, imported Thai silk will overflow throughout each suite, draping the furniture in bold colours and lustrous appeal. The Explorer Suites will be available by January, 2017. The Anantara and Sothea suites are not forgotten, and will also receive a fresh makeover.
The Ramble, an independently-owned hotel will open in late 2017 with 50 guestrooms, an intimate theatre and bar and flexible meeting space.
Located at 2450 Larimer St., just north of Downtown Denver, the hotel will be among the first to open in the burgeoning RiNo neighbourhood. Known for its blend of urban grit and industrial revival, RiNo’s historic warehouses and factories now house jazz bars, restaurants, brewpubs, art galleries and working studios.
RiNo’s distinct character will be an inherent characteristic of The Ramble Hotel, which is being developed by local Denver firm, Gravitas Development Group. The firm, which is behind many notable projects in some of Denver’s most sought-after urban neighbourhoods, pays close attention to the personality of each enclave in which it develops, creating projects that are tailored to the individual cultures and residents of each. Most recently, Gravitas developed 25th & Larimer, a mixed-use complex made entirely of shipping containers, located directly across the street from the new project.
“Not only is our most recent development in RiNo, but our office always has been as well,” said Ryan Diggins, Gravitas Development Group partner. “The neighborhood is fertile ground for artists and creative entrepreneurs, and we hope to create a space where travelers and locals can personally experience the art, authenticity and ambition that make RiNo so great.”
Los Angeles-based Avenue Interior Design (Avenue ID) is directing the interior design concept, including execution of all public spaces and guestrooms at the hotel. Leaders in the hospitality industry, Avenue ID has not only created interiors for notable boutique brands such as The Redbury and Kimpton Hotels, but also for larger brands such as The SLS Hotels and MGM Resorts International. Design at The Ramble Hotel will integrate industrial elements inherent to the RiNo neighborhood with eclectic “found” elements, and soft, luxurious fabrics that highlight patterns and texture.
Johnson Nathan Strohe (JNS) is the architect of the project. Throughout the past 23 years, the firm has worked on multiple award-winning design projects, and has designed numerous new-build and renovation hotel projects, including six large-scale urban hotel projects on the National Register of Historic Places. The Ramble Hotel’s intended permanence as a fixture in the neighbourhood will be evident through its exterior, which will display a high level of detailed masonry work not often seen in new-build projects.
The ethos of the hotel will be fully embodied within its lobby, a 4,700sq-ft space with 20ft ceilings. The hotel takes inspiration from French salons of the 17th century, and the salon’s utility in society as not only a platform for the exchange of ideas through conversation, but as a catalyst to creating community. As such, the hotel’s name is a nod to Catherine de Vivonne, Marquise de Rambouillet, a renowned salon host known for her egalitarian gatherings in which participants from all walks of life, who held sincere and passionate ideas and a love of good conversation, were welcomed.
Dubai is known for its outlandish and ambitious projects.
And now, the upcoming Rosemont Hotel & Residences will feature the Middle East’s first rainforest. Designed by ZAS Architects, the hotel will house 450 rooms and 280 suites, offering amenities only Dubai could offer including a man-made beach, aquarium, infinity pool and trampoline park.
“When you’re being dropped off at the hotel, you’ll have 4D animations on the ceilings which change theme every week or every night,” ZAS Dubai managing partner DJ Armin told the Huffington Post. “Then you go into the lobbies, and you’ll be greeted by a robotic host.”
As if a fake rainforest wasn’t enough, guests will be seen to by robotic hosts. “Of course, there will be a human host as well,” Armin added, but the march of hospitality technology appears not to be abating.
The hotel’s rainforest will be open air and will be open to hotel guests as well as outside visitors. “You’ll have dense trees, canopies, some sun coming through, and during the summertime we will use the recycled condensation from the towers to have the mist coming down from the trees to cool down the air,” Armin said.
The Rosemont is already under construction and scheduled to be finished by the end of 2018.
With more than 400 brands taking part, Decorex, the UK’s longest running event in the design and interiors calendar, returns this year with a host of new exhibitors for the 2016 edition.
Contributing names include…
– Aiveen Daly, a specialist upholsterer who is known for her complicated couture inspired work featuring fine beading, pleating, stitching and fabric manipulation techniques using the finest fabrics and butter soft leathers. At Decorex, she will be unveiling her new seven-piece upholstery collection, ‘Treasured Possessions’, inspired by the intrigue of haute joaillerie and its associated preciousness.
– An authority on conserving, recreating and hanging historic wallpapers, Allyson McDermott Interiors works with clients such as The National Trust, Historic Royal Palaces and interior designers and architects worldwide. This year’s Decorex sees the launch of its first ‘ready to hang’ wallpaper collection, combining historic patterns with contemporary colourways.
– Benjamin Moore, one of North America’s leading manufacturers of paint, will show at Decorex for the first time, distributed exclusively in the UK by Shaw Paints. Paint & Paper Library will also be offering its new colours and paint finishes at this year’s show, made of two palettes: ‘Architectural Colours’ and ‘Original Colours’.
– Textile design studio, Eleanor Pritchard, presents the ‘Aerial’ upholstery collection alongside an accessories range. Designs characterised by bold geometrics and graphic reversible patterns, the studio will also be launching a new upholstered edition of its ‘Long Eaton’ bench – a collaboration with Assemblyroom. Nigerian born Eva Sonaike will introduce her latest printed textile collection, ‘Falomo’. Taking inspiration from mid-century West African architecture, also known as Tropical Modernism, the collection consists of hand-made lampshades, cushions and pouffes.
– Established in 2011, Hand & Eye Studio will launch its new ‘A-Beam’ terracotta light designed by Founder, Tom Housden. The light is hung from two suspension cables that also provide power to the lamp, and can be glazed to a bespoke colour.
– Tom Raffield will launch a new range of steam bent furniture and lighting. Hand-made and produced by a skilled set of craftsmen, in his woodland workshop in Cornwall, the collection will include the ‘Amble Hanging Seat’, the ‘Gwelson Screen’ and the ‘Artus Table Light’. Sebastian Cox, renowned for his use of native British wood, presents three new additions to its Bayleaf collection, with pieces in Tiger Oak, Apple, Sycamore and Chestnut.
– Founded in 1996, Plateaux Gallery will bring a selection of works from some of the internationally acclaimed glass artists’ it represents. With particular emphasis on Eastern European glass, featuring leading-edge sculptures by Vladimir Zbynovsky, Oliver Lesso, Stepan Pala, Jan Frydrych, Tomas Hlavicka, Zoltan Bohus, Pavol Hloska and Laszlo Lukacsi, to name a few.
Other names to look out for include: Laura Meroni, Lost Cowboys, NB Boutique, Neatsmith, Santorus, Stitch by Stitch, The White Company and Waterworks.
Wyndham is leading hotel growth in Korea’s secondary cities with two new openings in Gangwon and Gunsan to meet the demand for accommodation in the country’s emerging tourism regions.
Wyndham’s strategic expansion in Asia sees Korea being underscored as a country of key focus for the group, as the government plans to invest KRW25 trillion (£17 billion) to enhance its tourism and transportation infrastructure.
Ramada Gunsan and Ramada Gangwon Sokcho are franchise agreements with KG Development Corporation and Korea Asset Management respectively, and bring Wyndham’s total number of hotels in Korea to 18 and add 693 rooms to its portfolio. The group plans to operate 40 hotels by 2018 with hotels in Taebaek and Pyeong Taek in the construction pipeline.
Ramada Gunsan Set in front of the scenic Eunpa Lake, Ramada Gunsan features 137 guestrooms with standard rooms equipped with queen, twin, ondol or family twin-bedded configurations offering views of the surrounding mountains or Eunpa Lake. For larger families, the hotel offers three exclusive deluxe suites with a living area and bathroom with a glass-encased rainshower and bathtub.
Facilities include an all-day dining restaurant and a day spa, which provides an array of oil massage therapies. The hotel is also equipped with a grand ballroom, which is able to accommodate up to 120 delegates and six smaller breakout rooms. A communal open-plan business centre equipped with two computers is available for the modern business traveller together with photocopy and fax services.
Ramada Gangwon Sokcho Ramada Gangwon Sokcho consists of 556 rooms spanning across 20 floors, which includes 495 standard rooms and 61 suites, comfortably furnished with mini bars, flat screen televisions and a full suite of amenities. Hotel facilities include an all-day dining restaurant, a spa and sauna, a fitness centre, and a banquet hall for conference and events.
Located just across the Daepo Port, Ramada Gangwon Sokcho enjoys easy access to the Daepo fish market, which offers a variety of fresh seafood produce and local restaurants. Sokcho is also a popular gateway to Seoraksan National Park and home to a plethora of attractions including hot springs and golf courses.
The elegant Bowden Hall Hotel has undergone an extensive refurbishment, transforming the grade II listed four-star Georgian country house hotel.
The hotel, nestled in 12 acres of sweeping parkland, will unveil its new, locally inspired look at an official opening on the 6th September 2016 with a special event planned to launch the hotel’s stunning new interior design. The renovation includes a transformation of all public spaces, including the restaurant & bar, lounge and reception areas.
Interior designer Helen Hooper of HH Interiors, who has previously worked with Jupiter Hotels on renovation projects across the UK, managed the project. Helen explained: “We wanted to give the hotel a new look, which was influenced by the hotel’s exquisite countryside setting and deliver locally inspired touches throughout, which lie at the heart of the design concept. The new interior fuses contemporary fabrics and colours with traditional, period features and detail, epitomising nostalgic elegance with a modern day style.
“There’s a Beatrix Potter inspired gold ‘M’ wall, a Gloucestershire inspired pig table complete with spots and a country forest mural; all of which enhance the hotel’s local heritage and picturesque countryside backdrop. We added pink leather and blue velvet chairs, a marble bar and marble coffee tables to convey luxurious elegance. Pastal tones are used throughout to deliver a serene and calming energy.”
The new look comes after the stunning Lakeside Suite was renovated last year, offering the perfect space for dreamy weddings or special events and accommodating up to 180 guests.
The lounge at Bowden Hall Hotel, with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the front lawn, offers the perfect setting for guests to enjoy a traditional afternoon or a round of cocktails with friends and family before savouring a delicious Sunday lunch in the stylish new restaurant.
Emma Kewley, Interior Designer at House & Hotel Interiors, worked alongside Helen on the project. Emma comments: “There’s an array of unique design features, which draw inspiration from the hotel’s beautiful countryside surroundings. The carpet pattern is designed to look like water and was inspired by the stunning lake at the bottom of the hotel’s sprawling grounds.
“We’ve added contemporary and bespoke artwork throughout with a butterfly cello, a copper wire bird migration, and boxed pictures, which contain maps of Gloucester, to enhance the hotel’s rural English heritage. Bespoke chandeliers and gold leaf lighting was added to deliver a sense of grandeur throughout.”
Commenting on the refurbishment, hotel General Manager Gavin Jones said: “We are delighted with the recent refurbishment and feel the new design concept continues to elevate our new vision, enhancing the hotel’s heritage and local community, whilst offering a contemporary edge.”
Shane Harris, CEO Jupiter Hotels, added: “The investment demonstrates our continued commitment to the growth and transformation of our portfolio in the UK. The renovation of Bowden Hall Hotel provides a taste of what’s to come over the next year as we increase hotel development and elevate customer experience in the mid-scale sector.”
Mercure Bowden Hall Hotel is ideally located in the Cotswolds country village of Upton St Leonards, just three miles from Gloucester city centre. The hotel is set in extensive grounds showcasing exquisite landscaped garden views.
From a look at the stunning work by Jean-Michel Gathy at One&Only resorts around the world to ‘pretty in pink’ trends we can expect at the upcoming Decorex, we collate the top ten most read stories on Hotel Designs this week…
3. Project Spotlight: Jean-Michel Gathy and One&Only Jean-Michel Gathy, the pioneering Principal Designer at Denniston Architects, is continuing to bring his awe-inspiring design and architectural innovations to One&Only Resorts with some exciting developments in the pipeline for 2017 and beyond
4. DoubleTree by Hilton to open first hotel in Lithuania Hilton Worldwide and Vičiūnai Group are bringing the upscale DoubleTree by Hilton brand to Lithuania for the first time. Construction of DoubleTree by Hilton Vilnius City Center is to begin this year, in the heart of the Lithuanian capital
6. Blumen Haus Lech, Austria to open in December Blumen Haus Lech will soon offer the ultimate Alpine retreat in the Austrian mountains, when this extraordinary nine suite hotel launches on 1 December 2016
7. ‘Pretty in Pink’ – Trends at Decorex 2016 Decorex International is the UK’s leading design show and the only one of its kind in the UK for the luxury interiors market
10. Hilton Hotels & Resorts arrives in heart of Scottish capital Hilton Hotels & Resorts has announced the official opening of Hilton Edinburgh Carlton, marking the 16th property in the Hilton Worldwide portfolio of brands in Scotland and the eighth Hilton Hotels & Resorts hotel in the country
Starwood Hotels is about to enter the Armenian market with the opening of The Alexander, a Luxury Collection Hotel, in the capital Yerevan.
The unique hotel is scheduled to open in summer 2017, underscoring Starwood’s strategy to meet the growing demand for experiential luxury travel in emerging markets around the globe.
The new-build property will feature 114 luxurious guest rooms, including 17 opulent suites and a Presidential Suite. In addition, The Alexander hotel will also offer event and meeting spaces including a ballroom, eight meeting rooms and a business center.
The unparalleled wellness facilities include an indoor pool, spa and a fitness center. Culinary offerings at The Alexander will include an all-day dining restaurant, a cigar club and a lobby bar.
“We are confident that The Luxury Collection brand’s unique and refined offerings will perfectly complement the hallmarks of The Alexander hotel,” said Anatoly Kondratenko, Senior Director, Starwood Development, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “In addition to being the first Starwood hotel in Armenia, the signing showcases our commitment to the burgeoning CIS travel market.”
Radisson Blu recently opened its first location in Chile. The opening of the Radisson Blu Santiago La Dehesa follows Radisson Blu Sao Paulo and Radisson Blu Belo Horizonte, Savassi in Brazil, which opened earlier this year.
Formerly the Radisson Santiago La Dehesa, the hotel recently completely an extensive renovation and enhanced service training to become Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group’s upper-upscale brand, Radisson Blu. Renovations of the hotel included a redesigned lobby, updates to dining facilities and refreshed guestrooms.
Pablo Marconi, general manager, Radisson Blu Santiago La Dehesa, stated, “Prior to joining the brand, our staff underwent extensive, enhanced training to ensure that an elevated service culture is at the forefront of the stay experience and every staff member is driven to delight our guests.”
Combining elements of the Chilean culture with the style of the Radisson Blu brand, the hotel is situated near a variety of attractions and is 20 miles from Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport.
Gallery Direct is proud to have worked together with Bassam Shlewet, the owner of newly refurbished Hurley House Hotel and fine dining restaurant, to develop a 10-bedroom luxury boutique hotel in the heart of the Berkshire countryside.
The Chic collection of Frank Hudson furniture created in a weathered ash finish blended so well with the natural materials and stylish contemporary detailing throughout the hotel.
“It was a pleasure to work on such an interesting project that had such a high specification standard and attention to detail in everything they did,” said Keith Clarke, Contract Development Manager for Gallery Direct. “The result speaks for itself.”
The whole building and gardens have been extensively altered to transform the hotel into a destination for lovers of luxury living and fine dining.
Pennyhill Park, an exclusive hotel & spa in Bagshot, Surrey, has launched a new luxury stand-alone suite, The Granary, to complement its collection of individually-designed bedrooms and suites.
Located adjacent to The Spa, the unusual hexagonal building is set within a bijou private landscaped garden and features exposed roof beams, a double height ceiling and a luxurious free-standing bath in the stunning master bedroom.
The interior design scheme, created by Trevillion Interiors, pays homage to the building’s original use as a granary, blending deep, warm rustic colours and sumptuous fabrics with stylish contemporary fixtures and fittings.
The master bedroom is located on the first floor and has been designed to showcase the original exposed roof beams, enhanced by a bespoke designed lighting scheme. The open-plan room incorporates the ultimate bath-time indulgence; a free-standing copper-lined timber-clad bath from which guests can enjoy a view of the landscaped surroundings. Behind the king-sized master bed is a walk in dressing area and the room also incorporates a desk / dressing table and a comfortable seating area.
The ground floor accommodation is comprised of a light-filled dining / study area with a sofa-bed, a desk and a seating area and includes a spacious luxury bathroom with walk-in shower and double basin.
A palette of stunning copper and aubergine fabrics, including velvet and tweed, flows through the furniture and soft furnishings, contrasted by a more muted paint scheme of warm dusky pinks and barley shades.
Julian Tomlin, General Manager of Pennyhill Park, commented: “We’re delighted to open The Granary for guests. Already the suite has been very popular with advance bookings and is a great addition to our portfolio of rooms. It’s the perfect place for an unforgettable stay, offering a luxurious home-from-home where guests can enjoy some privacy whilst being right at the heart of Pennyhill Park.”
Frances Blackham, Design Director, at Trevillion, commented: “The Granary has been a fantastic project for us. The building’s interesting heritage and stunning features led us to create a warm and welcoming interior that blends real luxury with the warmth and welcome for which Pennyhill Park is famous.”
The opening of The Granary is the latest milestone in Pennyhill Park’s ongoing programme of refreshing rooms and facilities to ensure it continues to deliver exemplary experiences for its guests. In the past two years, 18 suites have been refurbished, incorporating the very latest luxurious bathrooms including horizontal shower beds and glass baths offering ‘chromotherapy experiences’. The hotel has also opened a screening room for up to 24 guests, created a kitchen garden and developed The Spa’s pool bar and barbecue area.
Excelling with a vast, exciting and innovative product range has led Bauhaus to become one of the most pioneering brands in the UK.
Dedicated to bringing you cutting edge design and innovation to meet the demands of today’s modern bathroom schemes, be inspired by our latest collections of bathroom furniture, sanitary ware and washbasins for generously sized bathrooms and bijou spaces alike. Excellence in design quality is the cornerstone of all Bauhaus sanitary ware. Every porcelain product is made from the distinctive vitreous clay and fine fireclay that has been designed and manufactured by genuine ceramic artisans in Civita Castellano, Italy…
Gallery Basins Taking its cue from ancient fine art, our latest collection of beautifully formed basins has been created to offer pioneering ceramic design with stunning visual appeal. Featuring a creative mix of shapes from organic, elegantly refined forms to slender architectural designs and squared styles with softened angles, Gallery basins are also a leap forward in ceramic technology. Produced from fine fire clay that allows for more complex designs and a super-slim wall profile, this incredibly durable product is light in weight too. Finished in a white glaze, opt for our superlative ‘Platinum’ finish for a glamorous hint of luxury in any bathroom.
Allure Mirrored Cabinets Designed to offer the latest in functional technology, Allure is the ultimate bathroom storage solution boasting smart features throughout and up-to-the-minute visual styling. Beautifully illuminated from all angles, the cabinets feature the next generation of LED lighting, offering superior performance at the lowest possible energy consumption. Plentiful storage space is provided behind Allure’s double-sided mirrored doors, which conceal the cabinet’s patented hinge technology, complemented by a stylish and practical mirrored back panel, ensuring clear reflection at all times.
Wild Rimless WC Crafted from the highest quality vitreous china, the new range of Wild WCs feature a sleek, curvaceous silhouette teamed with a genuinely comfortable seat. The innovative rimless bowl provides superior flush technology to ensure the very best in hygiene function, ensuring 100% of the flush water is used to clean the toilet bowl whether on a full flush or eco-friendly half flush.
Elite furniture with push-to-open doors A generously deep single drawer offers plenty of space to store away clutter, whilst the soft close, push-to-open door allows easy access to the interior with a smooth gliding motion.
From coral clean-up to sustainable water sourcing, Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort is leading the way in eco-sustainability within the luxury travel sector.
Currently in the midst of an extensive £3.5 million renovation aimed at eco-sustainability, Phi Phi Island Resort is committed to protecting the beautiful nature that surrounds this spectacular destination.
The resort recently installed a new reverse osmosis (RO) plant which provides 20,000 litres of clean, sustainable water per hour using a system that requires little maintenance at low cost. In addition, a five-acre plot on the resort grounds has been dedicated to the planting and nurturing of new mangroves.
Resort guests will also have the opportunity to join staff and community leaders in bi-annual mangrove planting events, with up to 700 mangrove trees to be placed in the on-site plantation. This tropical coastal vegetation protects shorelines from erosion, helps maintain water clarity, and provides breeding and nursery grounds for a number of marine organisms.
The 18th of every month is named “Save The Sea Day” at Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort. This is when trained staff members check and maintain the resort’s coral nursery with help from hotel guests to collect any rubbish that has built up within a one-kilometre radius of the resort. After 10 months, when the coral is strong enough, it is transplanted onto the offshore reefs that surround the island to replenish the natural beauty beneath the sea.
Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort has also undertaken other sustainable initiatives to reduce the impact of the resort’s ecological footprint, including making natural fertiliser from food waste created at the resort, using earthworms to dispose of wet food waste.
“We are constantly increasing our efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of the resort, and we are also encouraging guests to do their part in sustaining the resources and beauty of the region.
“We aim to reduce the stress that is put upon our environment and return balance to the delicate ecosystems to the best of our ability. With these initiatives in place, we hope to stand as a figurehead for a more environmentally sustainable Koh Phi Phi,” said Mr. Chao Treenawong, General Manager.
The resort’s owners, Singha Estate Plc is working with leading experts from Phi Phi Island National Park Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Marine Science Department, Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University and Faculty of Science at Chulalongkorn University; to implement and manage a range of environmentally friendly initiatives at Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort and on Koh Phi Phi island.
“Change comes from collaboration as we work together to restore Phi Phi Island as a world-renowned destination for marine resources,” said Mr. Naris Cheyklin, CEO, Singha Estate Plc.
As part of the “Phi Phi Set To Change” Programme, the number of boats and visitors to nearby Loh Ba Gao and Phai Island has been reduced with a ‘park & ride’ system introduced for operators to drop off visitors and moor their boats at floating docks, instead of anchoring at sea, which damages the coral reef. Watchdog boats have also been provided to help park officers work more effectively, assisting visitors and keeping violators away.
Tucked away between the golden sands of Borth Beach and the rugged mountains of Snowdonia National Park, Ynyshir is one of Wales’ most highly acclaimed restaurants, with a dramatic backdrop of some of the most spectacular rural scenery in the country.
Previously known as Ynyshir Hall, and operated as a hotel with a fine-dining restaurant, the new purveyors of the property are to bring head chef Gareth Ward’s Michelin-starred food to the forefront of the Ynyshir experience, repositioning the property as a restaurant with rooms in the autumn of 2016.
Ynyshir will maintain the high levels of service that hotel guests have come to expect, but with a focus on the dining experience, pushing Ynyshir forward as a destination restaurant with rooms. In line with the changes, opening days will be reduced to five per week, where both the restaurant and rooms will be closed on Sunday and Monday.
Gareth Ward arrived at Ynyshir in 2013 and quickly made his mark on the restaurant, gaining a coveted Michelin star in his first full year, as well as being awarded the Good Food Guide 2015 ‘Chef to Watch’ editor’s award. Four AA Rosettes quickly followed, making Ynyshir the only establishment in Wales to hold the accolade. During his time at Ynyshir, Gareth has quietly made a name for himself in the restaurant world for his creative and unique dishes, setting the foundations and raising the anticipation for this exciting new direction.
Once owned by Queen Victoria as a hidden retreat, Ynyshir offers ten bedrooms alongside the restaurant, each with their own identity. Each bedroom, including two garden suites, offers spectacular views over the gardens and surrounding landscape of RSPB Ynyshir Nature Reserve, one of Britain’s finest bird reserves. Ynyshir’s unspoiled setting offers guests a chance to explore some of the most dramatic and breathtaking scenery the UK has to offer, alongside an opportunity to revere the the quiet of the idyll, taking in fresh air and stunning night skies.
The remoteness of Ynyshir is what makes it so special and this new direction is set to re-establish the property as not only one of Wales’ most revered destination restaurants, but of the UK too, and with the added option to stay overnight, Ynyshir is the perfect location for the ultimate foodie retreat.
Making its much-anticipated debut in September 2016, YOO Hotels and Resorts is launching the group’s first property under the urban Yoo2 brand in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Designed by the acclaimed YOO Design Studio based in London, the 143 room-and-suite Yoo2 Rio de Janeiro will connect Rio’s local soul with cutting-edge design. The launch marks an exciting phase of new openings for the brand, with hotel developments announced in Bali, Thailand and the UK.
TRAILBLAZING DESIGN Showcasing the brand’s acclaimed design ethic, Yoo2 Rio de Janeiro’s rooms and interiors offer spectacular, unrivalled views of the beach, Sugar Loaf Mountain and Corcovado (Christ the Redeemer) from opposite sides. The design reflects local influences and the hotel has worked with local artists and artisans – including Marcelo Ment, a Rio based street artist who has designed a striking graffiti mural in the lift shaft which can be marveled at from glass lifts as guests travel through the hotel.
Interiors incorporate Rio’s signature colours, patterns and energy with palm-tree and rainforest inspired ceiling prints, street art bedside tables – available for guests to purchase and take home – and the iconic Brazilian-tiled and parquet flooring. The YOO Tree, an organically-designed furniture piece for state-of-the-art AV and books, is a signature feature in every room as is the distinctive YOO Bed.
Warwick Hotels and Resorts is proud to announce a new addition to its collection, The Mist Hotel & Spa By Warwick, located in Ehden, Lebanon.
The luxurious 71-room hotel, situated in the northern mountains of the country, around an hour-and-a-half away from the capital Beirut, opened its doors last month. It boasts spectacular views of Ehden valley & the Mediterranean Sea horizon and benefits from Ehden’s famous location on the Mar Sarkis mountain.
This new property in Lebanon is not the first WHR property in the region. Since 2012, the brand has been implanted in this country and three other hotels of the Collection are located in Lebanon: the Warwick Palm Beach Hotel and the Warwick Stone 55 in Beirut, and the Warwick Pangea Beach Resort & Spa in Jiyeh.
At a higher scale, this new opening increases the presence of WHR in the MENA region and completes the business and leisure offer in this area of the globe. WHR is also present in the UAE with the Warwick Dubai, in Qatar with the Warwick Doha and in Iraq with the Babylon Warwick Hotel in Baghdad.
This new opening confirms the ambition of WHR to keep on increasing its presence in the region with new management contracts. Also two more Warwick Hotels are opening soon in Riyadh and Al Khobar in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Indidesign has just completed a renovation of the 17,160-square-foot lobby at Hilton San Francisco Union Square Hotel.
The firm were inspired by San Francisco’s raw, yet detailed, steel structures, bridges, and turn-of-the-century flare.
Design details include custom elements with structural features throughout the lobby, such as the metal edges that stamp the corners of columns and a massive, central geometric light fixture.
One of the design challenges was integrating the new bar and Herb N’ Kitchen Market into the pre-existing space. As the majority of the lobby area – including the building’s structure, stone flooring, and central entry door system – was maintained, the team had to come up with several creative solutions to shift the dynamic of the lobby into a cohesive lounge space.
To fit all desired components and make the most of the space, the team streamlined the columns and front desk, as well as integrated furnishings that complement the lobby.
A specialist furniture business is preparing to move into new premises four times the size of its original base after a rapid increase in orders.
Top Brass has built up a multi-million pound turnover making furnishings for some of the UK’s biggest hotel chains, providing everything from blinds to beds to complete furnished rooms. As well as relocating, the business will also double its workforce to reflect the growth.
Director John Harrington, who is relocating to Hartlepool with his family from London where the business has a head office, said Top Brass had “outgrown” its premises on Longhill Industrial Estate and hopes the move will take it to a new level. The business will move into its new 30,000sq ft premises on Oaksway Industrial Estate in September, a former cake factory, which is undergoing extensive redevelopment to house not only manufacturing capabilities but a design studio and office space.
Case Study: Mercure Bristol
He said: “Or growth has been a real success story so far and has been aided by the decision to locate in Hartlepool where we find the myriad of skills and talents we need, but we are fully aware that if we stand still then we go backwards. We have some very talented people with us, and there is a need that we are constantly creative and inventive.
“Over the last or 15 years we have developed into commercial refurbishment, and 80 per cent of our work is for hotels and the commercial sector. We won our first major contract in 2012 with an international hotel chain, and it has grown from there.”
With backing from Hartlepool Borough Council and the Regional Growth Fund’s Let’s Grow initiative, John and the management team at Top Brass have invested heavily in both machinery and staff and have seen the order book flourish as a result. John added: “When we started off with just two of us, we relied on word of mouth to raise our profile. But then we won two £2m orders for beds with a big hotel chain, and that led to other contracts coming in from franchises.
Case Study: Mercure Eastgate
“We can fit out refurbs or new build hotels from scratch. If you think about it the bed is the most important aspect for any hotel. You can have the facilities and the views and everything else that we all like in a hotel, but if someone has a poor night’s sleep because the bed isn’t right then they won’t go back. We pride ourselves on providing that quality, and everything else we do to furnish the rooms is of an equally high standard.
“”We have invested not just in our workforce, but in our machinery as well. We service a service industry, so everything has to be spot on. You can’t invest in staff without the right tools, and vice versa.”
In previous years Top Brass would outsource various components to create pieces of furniture, but now everything is done at the Hartlepool base and John added: “The hotel will have a concept for a design, we will look at it and advise how we can alter it to make it more cost-effective.
Case Study: Ibis Hotel, Euston
“We can then provide every single item, from the bed to the headboard to the bedside tables and other pieces. The client appreciates the fact we are effectively a one-stop shop who can provide everything they need, and we get a lot of repeat business from that.”
Top Brass operates with a team of designers and project managers, and everyone in the workforce can have an input when it comes to creating new products.
“We can turn our hand to anything really, even the most bizarre requests. We were asked to make some stools for a hotel in the south which were like spacehoppers, so that was a fun project to work on. We created a table and chair set for children centred around the Rubik’s Cube, and we’ve provided seating for schools shaped like a caterpillar for story-telling.
“We’ve also created a sofa-bed which pulls out into a bunk-bed, there are lots of examples of things like that. We have a lot of talented people in our team, and that is reflected in the products we produce.”
Jean-Michel Gathy, the pioneering Principal Designer at Denniston Architects, is continuing to bring his awe-inspiring design and architectural innovations to One&Only Resorts with some exciting developments in the pipeline for 2017 and beyond.
Jean-Michel Gathy, the world-renowned architect has been tasked to design the first One&Only resort in China, One&Only Sanya, and also their inaugural resort in Europe, One&Only Portonovi in Montenegro, as well as enhancing and developing his iconic design of One&Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives.
One&Only Sanya, China Scheduled to open in 2017 on the island of Hainan, One&Only Sanya will command enviable views of azure waters from over 380 metres of private coastline and over 11 hectares of coconut palms set amidst dramatic water gardens throughout the resort. The vision of the resort will reflect the local culture of the region bringing a sense of destination both indoors and out, enhanced by his inspired contemporary twists and ideal for the traveller seeking ultimate luxury. Red will be a prominent colour throughout the resort, in homage to the Chinese sentiment for the colour, with playful touches such as a red lacquered piano. The interior design throughout the resort will be lively and animated with an evident art deco theme in the bar and Chinese restaurant.
The resort will feature 190 luxurious guest rooms, suites and villas, to be situated either within the main Manor House or Mansions, as well as a varied collection of restaurants, bars and private dining spaces. “My role is to serve the market and I have considered this in all aspects of the design of One&Only Sanya,” Jean-Michel Gathy commented.
One&Only Portonovi, Montenegro Scheduled to open in 2018, the resort will be located at the entrance to Boka Bay, boasting stunning views over the Adriatic Sea and will offer approximately 120 luxurious guest rooms, suites and villas over 58 acres, a prestigious residential component, a world class Marina, dining and retail options, as well as an exclusive spa in partnership with Henri Chenot. Gathy and the team from Denniston International Architects are responsible for the architecture and interiors, as well as the design of the exterior spaces surrounding the resort. Jean-Michel was tasked with keeping three words in mind – luxury, space and privacy to ensure ultimate luxury is provided to guests. The country’s rich history will be reflected throughout the resort by highlighting the natural juxtaposition of elements from snow-capped mountains to undiscovered lakes and pristine coastlines.
One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives Surrounded by the crystal blue waters of the Indian Ocean, set on one of the largest islands in North Malé Atoll, Jean-Michel Gathy was tasked with having Reethi Rah live up to its namesake, ‘Beautiful Island’ in Dhivehi in 2005. Gathy and his team are responsible for the resort’s enhancements that are currently taking place, and ensuring the changes are in line with One&Only’s over-riding philosophies. Jean-Michel Gathy will once again bring his iconic design skills to the resort, as the enhancements include soft renovations to the resort’s villas and facilities.
A new boutique hotel has opened in Bedford, on the site of the old Shakespeare Hotel, as the new owners bid to bring ‘a bit of excitement’ to the town’s hotel scene.
The now-called Verve Hotel on Shakespeare Road opened last month following a £500,000 transformation that saw its interiors given a ‘London-inspired’ makeover and the property become a sleek, modern boutique.
The new-look hotel is home to 23 bedrooms, a garden, a bar and dining room, plus a large function room.
Speaking to Bedfordshire on Sunday, manager Milena Horrocks added: “We want to bring a bit of the big city, without the big city prices, and we are excited for the people of Bedford to come down and see what we have here.”
Decorex International is the UK’s leading design show and the only one of its kind in the UK for the luxury interiors market.
Decorex – now in its 39th year – is firmly recognised among the international design community as the trusted resource for high-end interior designers, retailers, property developers, hoteliers and architects.
L-R: ’Hua Trees Pink’ wallpaper by Sian Zeng (sianzeng.com) // ‘‘Fumiko’ fabric by Bluebellgray, £86 per meter (bluebellgray.com) // ‘The C hevron’ chair by Aiveen Daly (aiveendaly.com)
Decorex is where the trade comes to discover trends for the upcoming season and this year will be no exception. With over 400 exhibitors, from leading names to emerging talents, visitors have the chance to see new collections first-hand.
‘Ida Andrea’ armchair from Dom Edizioni (domedizioni.com) // ‘Aluro’ lamp by Eva Sonaike (evasonaike.cm)
The four-day show takes place each September in the prestigious location of Syon Park, attracting 13,000 professional trade visitors from across the globe. The show will be exploring the roots of design as the 2016 show theme.
Adding to its growing global portfolio of distinctive, one-of-a-kind properties, Luxury Hotels Group is delighted to announce its newest member this month.
Deep in the tropical forests of Batangas in the Philippines, The Farm at San Benito is a renowned luxury retreat with unrivalled health and wellness credentials. Describing itself not as a hotel but a healing journey – a ‘must-have’ in every individual’s life at least once a year, The Farm brings together a holistic approach to well-being with the feel and facilities of a five star resort. Built around a 250-year-old mango tree said to possess healing powers, it’s a beautifully landscaped oasis where nature redresses the imbalances of modern life.
The Farm’s exquisite luxury villas reflect the pristine natural setting. Entry category Sulu Terrace villas reference the area’s traditional rice barns with thatched roofs and wood beamed ceilings, while others combine rustic chic with contemporary design cues, including The Lakan, a jaw-dropping, design-led hideaway complete with koi ponds in the private gardens and hydro jets in the heated pool. Dotted around the grounds, most villas also feature an open-air bathroom experience, and all benefit from WiFi, iPod docking stations, yoga mats and handmade bath amenities produced from the resort’s organic coconut plantation.
Much of the produce for the award-winning restaurant Alive! is also sourced from The Farm’s own organic garden, with vegan and raw food dishes a stand-out speciality. Spa treatment programmes are all-encompassing, with everything from stress reduction to circuit training and ayervedic yoga to aqua aerobics offered by highly trained therapists. The resort also features a 27-hole all-weather championship golf course.
Increasingly popular with small corporate groups and incentives as well as affluent spa aficionados, this holistic healing hub has consistently glowing reviews, and is ranked among the world’s best health resorts. Vivek Thadhani, VP Sales & Marketing for Luxury Hotels Group, said of the new partnership: “We’re thrilled to be working with The Farm at San Benito. It’s not only a beautiful product, but also a true pioneer in the luxury wellness market. This kind of individuality and unique appeal is the perfect fit for our portfolio”.
Rouel Guanzon, General Manager of The Farm at San Benito, agreed, commenting: “From our first meeting with Luxury Hotels Group it was clear they understand the challenges and opportunities of our market, and their bespoke approach is important for us. We’re delighted to have found such a good fit for our business”
John Spence, Chairman and Founder of award-winning international travel and lifestyle brand, Karma Group and Mark Fuller, top London hotelier and CEO of Sanctum Hotel Group have announced a joint venture to develop a series of authentic luxury rock styled and orientated hotels in strategic locations around the world, accompanied by an exclusive private membership club.
Combining the ultimate in luxury and comfort with a rock edge, the hotels will be the number one destination for the discerning traveller accustomed to a stylish and vibrant lifestyle. Boasting the finest quality furnishings and impressive attention to detail, the hotels will feature top of the range facilities such as recording studios, cinema screening rooms, spas, world-class restaurants and bars.
Additionally, there will be a highly aspirational and exclusive membership club based around these properties, providing members not only great rates and discounts at the properties, but also ‘money cant buy’ benefits such as preferential tickets to rock concerts as well as VIP experiences like meeting bands and back stage tours. Initially the members club will focus on the existing Sanctum Hotel Group properties in England, as well as Karma Group’s stable of resorts, but the partnership is currently investigating options to roll out new hotels, primarily in major music hubs visited by leading touring artists, such as New York, Los Angeles, Melbourne and Berlin.
“Bringing together our enormous collective experience, in both the music and hospitality industries, to plug the gap in the market for authentic, quality rock and roll inspired hotels seems only natural,” said John Spence. “Both Mark and I feel that our brands are ideally aligned to create an extremely successful venture and, above all, we share the mantra is that we are not in the accommodation business, but rather the entertainment business. Our global partnership uniquely opens the world’s finest locations to lovers of music and followers of our philosophy of life being a celebration of hard work followed by hard play.”
“We’ve created a strong brand in the UK and our existing hotels, year upon year continue to achieve fantastic success,” said Mark Fuller, CEO of The Sanctum Hotel Group. “We provide a unique offering; a five star hotel experience, a twist of rock ‘n’ roll and an abundance of incredible facilities. We’re thrilled to be working with Karma Hotels to bring our vision to 20 key cities across the world.”
Spence and Fuller have both enjoyed extensive and successful careers in both the music and hospitality industries. In the early ‘80s, John cut his teeth as a music agent in London and it was during this time that he formed a friendship with Fuller who has had huge experience over the years setting up and running some of the leading clubs and venues in London. Mark’s partners at Sanctum Hotel Group, Rod Smallwood and Andy Taylor are two of the most prominent managers in the music business who have looked after many high profile bands and artists, including Iron Maiden.
The final touches of Pulitzer Amsterdam’s extensive restoration have been put into place, and the iconic 45-year old hotel celebrated its grand opening recently with the completion of a quintessentially Dutch redesign across its labyrinth of 25 Golden Age canal houses.
The re-opening of Pulitzer Amsterdam’s Prinsengracht canal side of the hotel sees the unveiling of areas including the main entrance and lobby, the inner gardens, a two-storey gym, as well as a further 145 guestrooms and suites.
An impressive new entrance, the first new building since the canals received UNESCO status, now welcomes guests in style, guiding them into the eccentric yet luxurious lobby, furnished with vintage Persian rugs, antique furniture and a collection of historic and contemporary artwork.
The jewel in the crown is the inner gardens – occupying an unexpectedly large and serene hideaway nestled at the centre of the hotel. Creative Director, Jacu Strauss, has created a casual park-like feel within the space, a flexible area for guests and visitors to relax, work or socialise amongst seasonal plants and playful sculptures. Spanning areas of the lobby and the garden is Pause at Pulitzer, the hotel’s inviting café which serves drinks and light dishes throughout the day.
A total of 225 guestrooms and suites balance Amsterdam’s rich past and contemporary present in an eclectic mix of finishes, designs and elements which complement each room’s individual charm. Each room provides free wifi, a vintage telephone, Le Labo amenities, a custom-made minibar with cocktail mixing facilities and a bike repair set to complete the experience of the Dutch capital.
Four exceptional Collector’s Suites are inspired by the narrative of elaborate characters who may have lived in the buildings throughout the years; from a compulsive art devotee to an eccentric book lover; a music composer and a grand antique collector.
Quirky features include a dramatic floor-to-ceiling archway of books, a wall of trumpets, and a large painting depicting a modern scenario of The Last Supper. Each has a private entrance and stunning views of the canals. Meanwhile, the beautifully romantic Pulitzer’s Suite, with its freestanding grand bath tub, super king size bed and views over the gardens, is ideal for those staying with a loved one.
Formerly a senior designer at Tom Dixon’s Design Research Studio, Strauss has worked with a highly skilled team to painstakingly deconstruct the heritage of the canal houses and bring new light to their best kept secrets. From trade merchants to flamboyant Dutch aristocrats, past inhabitants of the canal houses have inspired the rich character of the hotel to invite guests to explore and discover. Eclectic yet elegant, the understated new look blends original and historic features with luxurious modern-day elements.
Pulitzer Amsterdam’s restaurant, Jansz., demonstrates the hotel’s deep passion for elegant culinary craftsmanship. Executive chef Cassidy Hallman has used an old-fashioned, quality-loving approach to create a menu of beautifully crafted modern classics that respect the simplicity of quality produce and ingredients. Next door, Pulitzer’s Bar is a classic and chic hotel bar with sumptuous furnishings and a rich and intimate atmosphere. The cocktail menu offers drinks that are classic in element and style, but modern in execution.
Alexander van Gastel, General Manager of Pulitzer Amsterdam, commented: “We are overwhelmed by the positive feedback we have received so far from guests and locals on the new-look Pulitzer Amsterdam. Our Grand Opening marks the next chapter and a very special moment in the hotel’s history. We are excited to reveal our complete offering and once again fully re-open for business. I am so proud of the dedication from all involved to bring this together, delivering our vision above and beyond.”
Pulitzer Amsterdam is located in one of the chicest neighbourhoods of the Dutch capital’s city centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within easy reach is the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum, the Van Gogh Museum and The Anne Frank House. The fashionable Nine Streets, the quaint shops of Jordaan, the flower market and the Royal Palace are also a short distance away.
The popular spa at the 38-bed hotel is benefiting from two new treatment rooms, including a double room, a new hair spa and nail spa with luxury manicure and pedicure stations.
A new relaxation lounge has been designed for privacy with 12 loungers and four pod chairs hidden behind a central curtain, plus Tweed Mill blankets for extra comfort. The changing rooms and treatment waiting area have both been given a facelift and the Utopia Spa has boasts the addition of a new retail shopping area.
Originally built in 1868 as the summer house for 18-year-old Alice Alexander, Rowhill Grange became the first property in the Alexander Hotels Group in 1994.
The hotel’s 38 bedrooms are surrounded by 15 acres of grounds and gardens and the hotel itself is also home to a 2 AA Rosette fine dining restaurant.
James Perry, general manager, commented: “After a 10 week refurbishment to our Utopia Spa, we are truly delighted with the finish and feel we have achieved. The addition of our new facilities will further enhance our guest’s luxury spa experience and offer a truly unique spa experience within the Kent County.”
W Hotels Worldwide, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, opened W Hotel Dubai – Al Habtoor City on Sheikh Zayed Road in the UAE.
Singapore-based firm Silverfox Studios were responsible for the design of the property. The hotel stands at 33 storeys high. Guests checking into the hotel are sent up 30 floors to the W Lounge, W Hotels’ reinterpretation of the traditional hotel lobby. Here, there are various lounge and entertainment areas set within a multi-tiered floor space.
W Hotel Dubai – Al Habtoor City has 365 rooms and 76 suites, all with a contemporary design. Inspired by the hotel’s location, adjacent to Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road, the interiors have linear patterns. Future forward technology and custom furnishings double as abstract art to complement the color palette in the guestrooms.
For dining, the property has Namu, Level Seven, W Lounge and the poolside venue WET Deck. There are six meeting rooms, with the largest meeting space measuring 7,804 square feet (725 square metres). Other amenities at the property include the WET indoor pool and FIT fitness centre.
Meliá Hotels International has announced the opening of Meliá Yangon, the first hotel operated by the company in Myanmar.
Situated on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, only 15 minutes drive to the city centre and 10 minutes drive from the iconic Shwedagon Pagoda. Yangon’s largest and newest shopping mall, Myanmar Plaza, is directly connected to the hotel.
The hotel overlooks the scenic beauty of the Inya Lake, and provides 430 spacious, modern and inviting rooms starting from 48 square metres, all furnished with state-of-the-art amenities.
Guests on The Level, the Meliá’s signature executive floor, enjoy a personalised service with exquisite privileges, such as exclusive access to The Level Lounge, on the top floor with stunning 360 degrees views of the city and Inya Lake.
Meliá Yangon boasts three high-end restaurants. The Market, an all-day dining restaurant in an authentic open market setting, offers local delicacies, Asian favourites and western classics, perfect for business meals as well as casual dinings with family and friends. The Lantern delights with the best that Vietnam has to offer: reinterpreted classics to reflect modern fine dining for eclectic palate. The art deco touch meets Vietnamese ambience, letting guests also enjoy an intimate atmosphere in its private rooms. In just a few weeks, Olea restaurant will open its doors and invite guests to a journey in the Mediterranean: an exquisite and modern culinary restaurant of pure European cuisine with an exotic twist.
At the end of the year, Meliá Yangon will introduce a luxurious and elegant Hollywood golden age atmosphere in the trendy Garbo Bar, named after the famous actress Greta Garbo. Enjoyable moments in a casual and glamorous ambient to unwind with top shelf liquors and delectable morsels in afterwork hours. More than 2,000m2 of convention area with various sizes of ballrooms and function rooms equipped with the latest technology will hold any type of events, from small meeting to state level conference, including banquets and weddings.
Its facilities will also include an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center and a soon-to-open 1,800m2 world class YHI spa will offer treatments such as hydro-massage, Vichy and jet showers, jacuzzi and sauna.
Room Mate Hotels, the award-winning hotel chain founded and chaired by Kike Sarasola, has opened its fourth hotel in Barcelona.
Room Mate Anna is located in Passeig de Gràcia, better known as the Quadrat d’Or, the ‘Golden Square’ of Catalonian modernism and is the heart of life and culture in Barcelona.
The hotel offers 81 rooms in four categories: basic, standard, deluxe, and junior suite. Notable features include a terrace and a circular rooftop pool with views of Barcelona landmarks such as the Agbar Tower and the Gaudi masterpiece Casa Batlló.
Room Mate Anna has been designed by renowned interior designer and antiques expert Lorenzo Castillo, who previously worked with the group on Room Mate hotels in New York and Florence. Guests of Room Mate Anna can enjoy the services found in all Room Mate Hotels, such as breakfast served until noon and the innovative free WiFi Service WiMate, which provides free WiFi for guests not only in the hotel itself but also throughout the city.
Sarasola, president and founder of Room Mate Hotels says, “Barcelona represents one of our key business areas and the city is a global tourism destination, which is why we are firmly committed to opening two further hotels by 2017.”
INTERIOR DESIGN BY LORENZO CASTILLO In designing Room Mate Anna, Castillo has created a scheme that reflects the Catalonian Mediterranean roots of Barcelona and pays tribute to the sea, the sun and the tropics. Bursts of bold colour are a notable aspect of the hotel’s design scheme, incorporating the hues of the Catalonian landscapes, such as the turquoises and aquamarines of Palamós, and the earthy and green tones of the cypress trees of Empordà.
In the rooms, the Mediterranean Sea is the central theme, as seen by the use of bright red Trapani coral and giant shells. Wardrobe doors and headboards are fashioned from Venetian blinds and slatted shutters; the coloured marble floors add a further design dimension. A fresh, contemporary look is created by the use of white fabrics with accent colours such as red, blue, black and green.
There is bespoke furniture in natural woods and wax finishes, made with traditional methods, in updated and modern designs. Colour and brightness is further highlighted with the addition of metals such as brass plus wall lamps and giant skylights in the dining room of Room Mate Anna.
With 23 establishments and a presence in six international markets, the chain plans to open eight additional hotels throughout 2016 and 2017 in cities that include Rotterdam, Florence, Rome, Paris and Madrid. This will allow the company to grow its size and reach a total of more than 4,000 rooms, while establishing its global presence.
Hilton Worldwide and Vičiūnai Group are bringing the upscale DoubleTree by Hilton brand to Lithuania for the first time. Construction of DoubleTree by Hilton Vilnius City Center is to begin this year, in the heart of the Lithuanian capital.
The 175-room hotel forms part of a wider project, in to which Vičiūnai Group has invested more than €20 million (£17.2 million), whqich will also create new public spaces, designed to attract residents and visitors to the city. Alongside the hotel, a modern outdoor terrace will be built to connect the property to the Vilnius Energy and Technology Museum, which will also benefit from a modern new 1,000sqm exposition hall.
Set to open its doors in 2019, the hotel will also host a conference centre and spa, swimming pool, a restaurant, and a rooftop Sky Bar overlooking Gediminas Castle, the Cathedral and the Old Town. Once the hotel is operational it will create approximately 100 new full time jobs in Vilnius. The new hotel, will be designed by architect Algirdas Kaušpėdas, and built by Vičiūnai Group-owned real estate development company, Sunrise Kaunas.
Having joined Hilton in announcing its first project in Vilnius at a press conference last month, the capital’s mayor Remigijus Šimašius Vilnius greeted the news: “I am very pleased that the negotiations with the Energy Museum on this project were successfully completed, and Vičiūnai Group has committed to invest in the new premises of the museum and a modern public space for residents, which we all are eagerly anticipating.”
Dianna Vaughan, global head, DoubleTree by Hilton, said: “This hotel will be a fantastic addition to our portfolio in Eastern Europe which already boasts properties in Moscow, Warsaw and will soon include Minsk. We look forward to providing travellers to Vilnius with the welcoming comforts and hospitality common to all DoubleTree by Hilton hotels, starting with a warm chocolate chip cookie at check-in.”
RIU Hotels & Resorts will celebrate its first inauguration on the Asian continent with a 5-star hotel in Sri Lanka. The Riu Sri Lanka will open its doors tomorrow, August 5th and is a perfect choice for both new and loyal Riu guests who want to discover this exotic destination.
The hotel’s location in Ahungalla, in the south-east of Sri Lanka, makes it the perfect location from which to explore the island or as a luxurious base, having been designed specifically to offer a relaxed and laid back atmosphere.
The newly-constructed hotel offers a 24 hour all inclusive service and is located overlooking the beach and set against a stunning backdrop. The hotel has three large pools and a children’s pool, sunbathing terraces, jacuzzi, gym and the Renova Spa wellness centre which includes a hairdresser and massage service. In addition, the rooms offer many home comforts including a balcony or terrace, 43″ flat screen satellite TV, air conditioning, an electronic safe and a minibar.
After a detailed study of the markets and opportunities, RIU saw this destination as the ideal location from which to launch its operations in Asia. Sri Lanka, known as “the tear drop of India” due to its shape and proximity to the country, is a tourist destination which attracts European guests, as well as customers from India, China and Australia.
With the inauguration of this hotel the first stone will be laid in the company’s project to expand throughout the Asian continent which includes the construction of up to three more hotels set to open between 2018 and 2019. The first will be in the Maldives, where two hotels will be inaugurated offering a combined total of 422 rooms, including suites constructed over the water. In addition, the chain plans to open its first hotel in the UAE in Dubai in 2019. The hotel will be located on the Deira Islands and will be unique to the area. With 750 rooms it will be the largest ever constructed and the first to offer a 24 hour all inclusive service
From the news of Portonovi launching villas for purchase to facts about the Starwood-Marriott merger, we collate the top 10 most read stories on Hotel Designs this week…
1. Hilton Garden Inn Brussels Louise opens Hilton Garden Inn is pleased to announce the opening of Hilton Garden Inn Brussels Louise. The 143-room property is located in the heart of the city, in the art deco quarter of Brussels close by to the European Parliament
2. 5 facts to know about…Hilton Hotels The move will form the largest hotel group in the world, and whatever your thoughts on it, here are five things you need to know about the deal
3. New DoubleTree by Hilton opens in Poland DoubleTree by Hilton has announced the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Wroclaw, housed in the uniquely designed 6-storey OVO Wroclaw complex
5. W Goa to open in September The new W Goa opens this September – it marks W Hotels’ first property in India and is located in the tropical paradise of North Goa’s coast, with secluded beaches, pristine sands and coconut palms, lined with dramatic red cliffs and scenic views
8. Starwood unveils Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho hotel The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, has announced the opening of The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho, a Luxury Collection Hotel, marking Starwood’s first-ever luxury hotel in Japan’s capital city
9. UK hotels show mixed results in Q2, Brexit to play a role Hotel occupancy in London showed its sixth consecutive quarter of year-on-year decline with Brexit poised to subdue the sector further, according to the latest Hotel Bulletin: Q2 2016, published this week by HVS, AlixPartners and AM:PM
10. Review: Clevedon Hall, Somerset “The work already completed on the property, and considerable refurbishment to come on the ground floors (which I cannot wait to see for myself later in the year), make this an exemplary case study of interior design and using existing spaces well…”
Paloma Resort Properties has announced the completion of the second phase of extensive renovations to its The Ridge Hotel property.
The Ridge Hotel’s $4.5 million in sleek, modern upgrades include new dining and drinking concepts, an inviting and techsavvy lobby and reception area, enhanced fitness facility with new Life Fitness equipment, plus a fresh facelift to hallways, restrooms and the glass-adorned staircase to the ballrooms.
In addition to the new bean + vine coffee and wine bar, which opens up into the airy entrance, The Ridge Hotel is anchored by Crafted Americana, a contemporary restaurant featuring artistic, handcrafted American fare.
“We brought this rustic lodge-looking resort into the 21st century with this second stage of renovations and a stylish new brand,” notes Paloma Resort Properties President Garth L. Chambers, whose company took over management in 2011 of the 146-room, full-service hotel. “When we pulled what was then Geneva Ridge under the Paloma umbrella, we promptly revamped operations and staffing and made vast physical improvements to the building’s infrastructure, allowing for $1.7 million in upgrades.”
This initial phase of improvements included an expansive backyard veranda highlighted by a 12-foot-long fire feature and lounge; poolside sports bar overlooking the wooded Lake Como shoreline; outdoor wedding pergola and aisle; and a refreshed Aspen Ballroom with raised ceilings, state-of-the-art finishes, and French doors opening out to the patio.
Chambers anticipates that the redesign also could affect guest demographics. “The Ridge has a unique location just off the beaten track, five minutes from the bustling tourist town of Lake Geneva,” he notes. “Add to that prime location the property’s recent enhancements, and The Ridge Hotel becomes even more attractive to the business professional and millennial, while continuing to draw in golfers, vacationers and group business from weddings and retreats.”
According to Chambers, Paloma will monitor the success of the current renovations while also planning for the final redesign, geared to further enhance the guest experience while attracting the next generation of travelers to Lake Geneva. “Our goal is to start what we finished: reviving a struggling sleeper property and transforming it into a leading lodging and restaurant destination in Wisconsin.
Famous Paris hotelier Jean-Louis Costes has been given planning permission for his first UK hotel, in London in partnership with Cadogan Estates.
The go ahead was given to architects ReardonSmith to convert the 19th century porperty at One Sloane Gardens into a 40-bedroom luxury hotel. The existing property was designed by Edwin T Hall, the designer of Liberty’s store in Regent Street. The 40 bedrooms will be spread across eight floors.
Jean-Louis Costes is responsible for the Hôtel Costes in Paris, which has now become a hotbed for celebrities and A-list Hollywood stars.
His UK debut in London will be designed internally by the French-born François-Joseph Graf and will be home to a rooftop extension encompassing a fine dining restaurant, a coffee shop and on the lower ground floor, a bar.
The new hotel has been described as bidding to have ‘the authenticity of an Edwardian hotel with the most contemporary infrastructure and servicing’, and all work ReardonSmith carries out will be in-keeping with the existing architectural style.
Hilton Hotels & Resorts has announced the official opening of Hilton Edinburgh Carlton, marking the 16th property in the Hilton Worldwide portfolio of brands in Scotland and the eighth Hilton Hotels & Resorts hotel in the country.
The hotel is owned and operated by Amaris Hospitality and is part of their 73-hotel portfolio across the UK and Ireland. Hilton Edinburgh Carlton showcases the rich history of Edinburgh and is within walking distance of myriad attractions, from the famous Royal Mile, which it overlookss, to the beautiful St. Giles’ Cathedral.
Andreas Lackner, vice president, area brand management, Hilton Worldwide, said, “Hilton Edinburgh Carlton offers a chic hotel experience in a prime Edinburgh locale with its sleek design, top-notch amenities and all the benefits and high-quality service expected from Hilton Hotels & Resorts. We are delighted to be extending our footprint in Scotland and to welcome guests from all over the world, especially with the Edinburgh Fringe Festival taking place this month, attracting thousands of visitors.”
The hotel offers 211 stylish and spacious guest rooms, including junior suites and executive rooms, all designed with comfort and convenience in mind to provide a place to relax and unwind or to catch up on work. All rooms are equipped with a desk, 40-inch TV and modern bathroom. Guests staying in executive rooms can enjoy complimentary snacks and drinks in the hotel’s Executive Lounge throughout the day. Hilton Edinburgh Carlton also boasts a Marco Pierre White Steakhouse and Grill, offering local produce and a classic dining menu, along with signature dishes and drinks for guests to sample.
With seven dedicated meeting spaces that can accommodate up to 200 people, Hilton Edinburgh Carlton is a superb venue for events and occasions. The main event room, the Highland Suite, offers panoramic views across the city and natural daylight with high arch windows and ceilings. The hotel also offers bespoke dining options for private events along with dedicated breakout spaces.
Luxury fabric specialist, Kobe, has introduced its Bufera collection of contemporary upholstery fabrics.
Bufera is a plush chenille woven dobby with a soft luxurious texture. The mix of cotton and viscose yarns is complemented by a natural palette of pastel and neutral tones.
The 100% natural fabric collection is suitable for both domestic and contract upholstery use, passing all required flame retardant standards.
Said David Harris, md of Kobe UK: “This exciting collection has been specially designed with today’s upholstery in mind, offering a versatile and timeless elegance to any interior setting.”
All Kobe’s upholstery fabrics offer exceptional durability, scoring highly on the Martindale Rub Test.
The Kobe UK sales office and studio is based in Crowthorne, Berkshire
An innovative £2 million scheme to create the UK’s first hotel for young people with autism and learning difficulties has been given the green light by Gateshead Council.
The St Camillus Care Group was last week granted planning permission to transform the former Rivers Edge Hotel at Gateshead into The Vault, which will not only provide respite care for young people with a range of learning difficulties but will also train them to work within the hospitality industry.
Initially 20 jobs will be created to carry out the refurbishment, with 30 jobs within the hotel when it is opened in October.
Already the ground floor of the hotel is operating as an American-style diner which is currently used by people with autism, but the hope is that eventually this will be open to the public. The hotel also has a function room which is currently used by groups, with a long term aim of this being available for hire for business meetings and celebrations.
Work will now begin on transforming the 28 bedrooms to make them suitable for respite care, while training has already begun on giving young people with autism and learning difficulties the opportunity to work alongside trained staff.
St Camillus Care Group has partnered with Gateshead College and its Project Choice scheme – which helps young people with autism and learning difficulties find internships – to help the young people learn the skills they need for a career in hospitality. John Heron, Managing Director of St Camillus Care Group, said The Vault was giving young people an unprecedented opportunity for a career in hospitality.
“This is a real chance for young people aged from 18 to 25 to learn alongside professionals in the hospitality industry in a real setting, so that they can hopefully go on to a full time career,” he said.
“At the same time it’s also a place for people with autism and learning difficulties to come to and enjoy the facilities.
“In particular the diner is a great place for families who may have young people with these challenges, knowing that they can come to a restaurant where people understand them and make no judgements.
“We are very excited about the opportunity to progress what is going to be an exciting opportunity and a first not just for the North East but for the UK.”
Stuttgart is getting a designer business hotel – a NOVUM Style Hotel with more than 200 rooms is being created at the Pragsattel. Construction will commence in mid-2017, and the hotel is scheduled to open in 2019.
The hotel will be part of a high-rise with twelve floors. The project development is done by a joint venture between AVONIA Real Estate GmbH (Leinfelden-Echterdingen), Merkur Development Holding GmbH (Rüsselsheim) and OSWA Planen und Bauen GmbH (Ingersheim).
For the project, the property Leitzstrasse 52 was purchased at the Pragsattel. The project company Stuttgart Leitzstr. 52 GmbH has planned a hotel and office complex with an approx. 11.000 m² large overground gross floor area. Thanks to the Hamburg-based NOVUM Hotel Group, a strong hotel partner could be secured, which will operate the property as a Novum Style Hotel.
A building permit will be requested within the next weeks. “We are expecting the project to be approved in early 2017” explains Marcel Djafari, CEO of OSWA Planen und Bauen GmbH. The property with an area of more than 3.000 m² is located near the Mercedes-Benz Bank and Stuttgart’s Theaterhaus. The total investment volume amounts to about €36 million and completion is anticipated in 2019. “We are convinced that we can realize an attractive product with this lot size and utilization mixture of approx. 2/3 as a hotel and the remaining 1/3 as corporate offices.” says Marcus Hientzsch, CEO of Merkur Development Holding GmbH.
More than 200 hotel rooms will be spread among the building’s twelve floors, which will offer an incomparable view on nearby Killesberg and Stuttgart’s city centre. “We were convinced by this property right from the start, thanks to its proximity to the inner city and its exposed position,” reports David Etmenan, CEO of the NOVUM Hotel Group.
The marketing for the 4.000m² of office buildings is scheduled to begin in Q4 2016. The office areas will be located in a dedicated part of the building, divided in six overground floors, each with approx. 600 m² of rentable areas. A dual-level parking lot with over 126 parking spots will be created under the whole complex. “We are glad to be able to offer modern, connective office areas in Stuttgart, in a phase of increasing areas shortages around the city” says Reimund Sigel, CEO of AVONIA Real Estate GmbH. Colliers Stuttgart has been tasked with the leasing.
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