The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has revealed its first hotel in Hungary this week.
The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest, is housed within a protected historic building, located on Elizabeth Square, with views over St Stephens Basilica. Constructed in 1914 as the headquarters for an Italian insurance company, the building has seen many incarnations, but today it opens as a luxury property with 170 elegantly appointed rooms and 30 suites. Whilst many of the building’s original architectural details have been retained, including elegant statues on the exterior walls, the interiors offer guests a spacious and relaxed contemporary environment, inspired by the cool colours and swirling water of the Danube River.
The Kupola Lounge, situated beneath the building’s iconic stained glass cupula and grand crystal chandelier, is ideally placed for a leisurely farmer’s market breakfast or light lunch overlooking the hotel lobby. The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest, also houses a fresh, contemporary bar. Combining sleek finishes with the building’s uncovered original architectural columns, the Kupula Bar focuses on serving innovative cocktails in a metropolitan, sophisticated ambience.
The property’s facilities are completed with the ballroom, situated on the lower ground floor. Seating 180 people and the perfect new Budapest location for milestone celebrations, it is adjacent to five flexible meeting rooms, which combine contemporary interiors with state of the art technology.
“The Ritz-Carlton service standards are globally recognised and we’re delighted to bring them to a new market. Budapest is an extraordinary city and perfectly placed to welcome the newest property in our portfolio,” said Herve Humler, President and Chief Operations Officer.
New York’s hippest new hotel – 11 Howard – has opened in SoHo and has all the markings of its owner’s style. However, in an uncharacteristic move, Aby Rosen has also pledged to donate a percentage of the hotel’s room revenue to the Global Poverty Project.
In a similar vein to his other properties, Paramount Hotel or Gramercy Park Hotel, Rosen’s new $180 million hotel is aimed at a ‘fashionable clientele’, featuring Scandinavian design and tablets in every room for ordering food or drink.
Three designers joined forces on the 221-room project – Anda Andrei with SPACE Copenhagen’s Signe Bindslev Henriksen and Peter Bundgaard Rützou – who were tasked in implementing the self-confessed ‘conscious hospitality’ ethos of the hotel into its design.
Wooden floors, unique rugs as well as custom furniture and lighting exclusively designed for the hotel by Henriksen and Rützou are the order of the day. Custom artwork specifically chosen by Rosen and Andrei dots the walls which also feature 11-foot-high ceilings and oversized windows, allowing for abundant natural light—unique in this area of the city. Bathrooms are finished in marble and brass, with specially procured products made from organic botanical ingredients.
Luxury bed manufacturer Hypnos welcomed HRH Duke of York on Wednesday, to officially open its new contract factory in Castle Donington.
The state-of-the-art premises on Station Road houses the contract arm of the business which produces beds and mattresses for the hospitality market, including some of the world’s leading hotel chains, such as the Marriott, Corinthia, InterContinental Hotels Group and Premier Inn. It also caters to the independent boutique hotel market, making a range of products which meet the diverse and bespoke needs of this sector.
With environmentally friendly technology, showrooms, design studios and training facilities, the premises has received an investment of over £750,000 to help Hypnos meet growing demand for its beds in Europe and around the world, as well as fast growing UK market segments, such as the serviced apartment sector.
Hypnos has held a Royal Warrant since 1929. The founders – the Keen Family – were honoured to show Prince Andrew around the newly acquired site. A prestigious gathering of local dignitaries, staff and key Hypnos family business members greeted HRH Duke of York. He was taken on an informative and educational tour of the factory, gaining an understanding of bed making and the importance of sleep, before he unveiled a commemorative plaque and officially opened the site.
Hypnos moved to the new 39,000-sq-ft premises at Castle Donington following substantial business growth, and currently 162 people are based there. Acting as the new facility for Hypnos’ global operations, overseeing and directing activity for a network of 19 manufacturing partners, the site is key in enabling the business to meet international demand and supply hospitality sleep solutions to customers around the world.
Group Managing Director, Stephen Ward said; “We are extremely honoured to have HRH officially open our new factory. We are very proud that we have been able to take Prince Andrew around our new premises and show him how our beds are made. He met some of our staff and saw the intricate lengths we go to, to create high quality beds and mattresses. It was a very exciting day and a landmark in our business growth.”
Whilst growing and expanding, Hypnos has been careful not to lose its focus on CSR and sustainability which has always been extremely important to the business. The Castle Donington factory runs on a biomass heating system which was installed as part of the company’s ethos and commitment to protecting the environment. This renewable heating source runs on wood pellets meaning no fossil fuels are used. Hypnos aims to save 74 tonnes of carbon a year through this system.
Hilton Worldwide has announced its second hotel in New Caledonia with the signing of Hilton Lifou Wadra Bay Resort. The 50-room resort is due to open in 2019.
Lifou Island is one of the three Loyalty Islands located off the east coast of the mainland of New Caledonia. This will be the first hotel of this standard on the island which is largely undiscovered and features a combination of Melanesian culture, unique nature, and magnificent beaches. Lifou Island is accessible by air or by boat leaving from Noumea, the capital city of New Caledonia.
Robert Scullin, vice president, Development, Australasia, Hilton Worldwide, said: “What a terrific place to continue our New Caledonia story. This beautiful country surrounded by the Pacific Ocean has a deep, rich cultural heritage. Global travellers trust the Hilton brand and together with our partners we look forward to making this destination more accessible to global travellers.”
The resort will include 50 villas all located on or close to the beachfront and will boast an inland lagoon with local fish, rays and turtles following an agreement with the Noumea Aquarium. Two restaurants, a health club, spa, outdoor pool and event spaces complete the resort facilities.
Plymouth City Council has resolved to grant planning permission to Thames Bank Property, advised by planning and development consultant Iceni Projects, for the £50 million redevelopment of the former Derry’s Department Store in Plymouth.
The 300,000 sq ft mixed-use scheme is set to rejuvenate the western edge of Plymouth and support the ongoing regenerative vision of the council. The redevelopment will include the delivery of 500 student accommodation beds (in a mix of clusters and studios), a 100-bed hotel, which will help accommodate the ever-growing tourist numbers in the city along with some 60,000-sq-ft of commercial space that is primarily aimed at food and beverage providers.
Colin Morris at Thames Bank Property, said: “The redevelopment of the former department store presents a significant opportunity to develop a high-quality scheme that will not only ensure long-term sustainable use, but will also provide a welcome and enhanced night-time economy to the western end of the city centre. This is an exciting time for Plymouth and we look forward to delivering this project over the coming years.”
Ian Mayhead, Associate at Iceni Projects, added: “Iceni has demonstrated successful multi-discipline working by helping secure planning permission for the redevelopment of the former Derry’s Department Store. Our planning and engagement consultants have worked alongside each other to great advantage, and we are thrilled to have aided in the approval of a scheme which will transform this underutilised, landmark building.”
The project is due to start on site in early 2017 and is estimated to complete in August 2018.
A Spanish-Swiss architectural firm has come out on top to design a new mega-tower in Dubai – which will surpass the world’s current tallest building Burj Khalifa in height – after the emirate’s ruler chose its design from a field of international suitors.
Architect Santiago Calatrava will join forces with Emaar – the firm behind the Burj Khalifa – to create what they say will become ‘an icon of a nation’ in a similar vein to the Eiffel Tower.
Speaking at the weekend, Calatrava said: “There’s no doubt that the Eiffel Tower has inspired over 100 years, it represents a city, a whole nation. It is still today a monument. I feel so proud to be part of a team that aims to obtain a similar achievement.”
While the building in Dubai Creek will serve more as an architectural achievement than a working building, there will be floors dedicated to a hotel, restaurant, meeting space, an interior garden and an observation deck.
Both this new Dubai mega-tower and the Burj Khalifa will be surpassed by the 3,280 ft-high Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia, which is also slated for completion in 2020.
The Hansgrohe Group concluded its 2015 financial year once again with record sales and earnings. Thorsten Klapproth, Chairman of the Executive Board at Hansgrohe SE and Udo Kraus, Vice President Controlling and Finance, announced the results at the company’s annual press conference held on 15th March in Frankfurt.
The globally-operating company generated a total of €964 million in sales compared to €874.1 million in the previous year. This corresponds to an increase of 10.3 percent over the previous year. EBITDA rose by €6 million to €187.5 million (€181.5 million in 2014), which means that results also hit an all-time high.
“In 2015, more than 3,800 hugely dedicated and committed people contributed to carrying forward our company’s story of success. Hansgrohe’s employees can be proud of themselves,” Thorsten Klapproth summarised the past year.
Worldwide Growth “Generally speaking, we grew in nearly all market regions in 2015, thus contributing to a positive sales trend around the world,” said Thorsten Klapproth. For several years, Hansgrohe has been steadily generating nearly 80 percent of its overall revenue outside Germany. At 77.3 percent, the proportion of international sales remained nearly unchanged over the previous year (77.2 percent in 2014). This makes the Hansgrohe Group one of the few global players in the sanitation industry, supplying products to more than 140 countries worldwide.
About half of the company’s sales are generated in Europe and the other half in the rest of the world. This distribution guarantees profitable growth as it enables Hansgrohe to benefit both from large growth regions, such as China, and from regions with strong performance in parts of Europe. The decisive factors contributing to this profitable growth are in particular the innovative products from the Axor and Hansgrohe brands, offering every customer greater value through design, comfort and functionality. In addition, customers enjoy efficient and personalised service. Creating Employment A key element in the steady and successful growth rate of the Hansgrohe Group is its staff. The number of employees around the world rose in 2015 to 3,805 (2,255 of them in Germany) strengthening the Hansgrohe workforce by 155 people over the previous year (3,650 employees in 2014). Last year, 42 young talents began their training at Hansgrohe. A total of 147 trainees brought the company’s trainee quota to 6.5 percent.
Strategic Investments in the Future Investments in future growth are another key element in the success of the company. In 2015, the Hansgrohe Group invested some €55 million, more than ever before in the 115-year history of the company. Of this amount, about €47 million, or 85 percent, were invested in Germany. Hansgrohe built a new lab for research and development at its company headquarters in Schiltach. It also invested €1.6 million in a new plastics technology centre built on the premises of its Offenburg plant.
Hansgrohe’s largest investment is the expansion of its logistics centre at its Offenburg site. The centre is currently undergoing expansion at the cost of about €30 million to enable the company to supply its customers around the world even more rapidly. The extension is expected to go into operation later this year.
Ambitious Targets “We achieved a record high in 2015 by increasing turnover by more than 10 percent to €964 million,” said Thorsten Klapproth. “But we will not rest on our laurels. We have set ourselves ambitious targets because profitable growth guarantees that Hansgrohe will maintain its competitive edge.” Another top result shows that the company is on track to success. Hansgrohe was just recently ranked as one of the ten best companies in the world in the area of design. Hansgrohe now holds a place among the Top 10 in the international iF ranking, taking the lead over some 2,000 listed companies, including brands such as Apple, Daimler and Nike.
The Culpeper Pub in Spitalfields, London is on the verge of opening five new rooms to add to its already-successful food and drink offering.
Five new rooms will mark the pub and restaurant’s first accommodation facilities, which open in addition to the east London property’s dining and function spaces.
Each bedroom at the Culpeper has been designed with interiors to match the current aesthetics of the building, and fits the bohemian-chic vibe prevalent throughout the Spitalfields area – each having been furnished using local craftspeople and will operate on a B&B basis. Beds have been provided by Hotel Designs Directory members Hypnos.
The rooftop greenhouse houses many of the plants used in the kitchen below, but it also serves as a bookable space for up to 12 people during the winter months.
Marriott International is celebrating the grand opening of the highly anticipated SpringHill Suites & Residence Inn San Diego Downtown Bayfront at BRIC. Adding to the expanding portfolio, the SpringHill Suites marked the 3,000th Select Service property for the Marriott Global Portfolio.
Marriott International’s end-to-end hotel management solution – Managed by Marriott (MxM) – will operate this new hotel. The John Portman & Associates designed hotels deliver an integrated guest experience for both of these Marriott brands within one shared footprint.
The hotel offers cutting-edge design with its striking yellow wall, spectacular bay and city skyline views, fifth-floor outdoor swimming pool, bay-front patio area and state of the art fitness centre.
“The hotels in the first phase of BRIC are unlike any hotel property that has been built on the waterfront in San Diego’s recent history,” said Ambrish Baisiwala, CEO of Portman Holdings. “We, along with our partners at Lankford & Associates and Hensel Phelps, are so pleased we were able to work with Marriott to bring the vision to life on the San Diego Bay.”
This hotel encompasses not only lifestyle amenities with the SpringHill Suites, but also helps guests thrive on long trips with the leader in extended-stays, Residence Inn. The properties’ 11,000 square feet of meeting space can accommodate up to 225 people. This space includes the Ted Williams Room and Bayview Terrace and overlooks the USS Midway, while also presenting panoramic views of San Diego Bay from the Coronado Bridge to Point Loma.
April will see representatives of the world’s fashion and design industry converge on Milan, where the 55th Milan Design Week will be held from 12 to 17 April 2016. GROHE is delighted to host an exclusive dinner on 14 April, called “A View on Innovation” which will provide architects, business partners and media representatives exciting insights into the industry.
In addition, the Milan GROHE Showroom, which can normally only be visited by special invitation, will be open to the public for the whole of the Milan Design Week.
GROHE’s products will also be displayed at the exhibition “different suites X different people” by renowned architect, Simone Micheli.
For more information on GROHE’s involvement at Milan Design Week 2016, please visit GROHE’s website here.
Hilton London Paddington has completed a £350,000 refurbishment to its flexible conference and events space, and public areas.
New carpets and furniture including multi-functional tables and ergonomic chairs have been part of the makeover. The investment also included new carpet in all public areas including the imposing staircase, the sunlight atrium, lobby staircase and all meeting rooms.
Further improvements have also been made to ensure the best facilities for delegates, both in terms of comfort and practical requirements. The new meeting tables include power sockets and the ability to have network enabled internet so delegates can be connected at all times.
With a 15 minute connection with Heathrow Airport via Heathrow Express; access to South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, and large parts of Southern England with GWR rail services, and with four London Underground lines on its doorstep the Hilton London Paddington is one of London’s best connected venues and is a leader in the Conference and Events industry.
Among other accolades the hotel was recently recognised by Cvent, a leading events management platform, as one of the top 50 European meeting properties. This makes the hotel one of the top 10 choices when it comes to convenience and flexible meeting space in London. The dedicated team understands the intricate needs of customers and the importance of an easy location, flexible meeting space, modern amenities and high quality service and strives to exceed guests’ expectations.
Hyatt Place Shenzhen Airport and Hyatt House Shenzhen Airport opened this week in southern China’s Guangdong province. The opening of Hyatt House Shenzhen Airport marks the first Hyatt House hotel and the first combined Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels in the Asia Pacific region. Find out more about the properties below…
Hyatt Place Shenzhen Airport offers: • 167 spacious guestrooms and suites with separate spaces to sleep, work and relax, as well as a Cozy Corner sofa-sleeper • Free Wi-Fi everywhere • Meetings Places with more than 3,200 square feet (300 square meters) of flexible and multi-functioning spaces equipped with the latest audio-visual technology and supported by the hotel’s expert Gallery Host team. Ranging from 650 square feet (61 square meters) to 750 square feet (70 square meters), the five meeting rooms are perfect for business gatherings, interviews and training events • 24-hour gym featuring cardio equipment with LCD touch screens and free ear buds
Hyatt House Shenzhen Airport offers: • 112 Suites, ranging from spacious studios to one-bedroom Kitchen Suites with fully-equipped kitchens. Each Kitchen Suite features a full-sized refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, and other small appliances and utensils, as well as a separate living space, bedroom and work area with a flat screen high definition television • Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and guestrooms • Gathering Rooms with more than 1,900 square feet (180 square meters) of flexible meeting spaces, Hyatt House Shenzhen Airport features three Gathering Rooms ranging from 645 square feet (60 square meters) to 688 square feet (64 square meters that can accommodate up to 50 people in a variety of meeting formats. With all-inclusive packages available, each meeting room comes fully serviced with extensive menu options, comprehensive event planning support and audio-visual equipment • A 24-hour Workout Room to keep fitness routines going
Design-led boutique hostel brand Generator Hostels has launched its latest project in Amsterdam.
Generator Amsterdam is located in the up-and-coming eastern side of the city overlooking Oosterpark. This former zoological university building can accommodate 564 guests in 168 twin and quadruple rooms with en-suite bathrooms. There is also a luxury apartment for six people with views of the park and a self-catered kitchen.
Priding itself on building a community spirit, it has flexible and spacious social areas, filled with creative design touches like glass-fronted elevators, a raised café and an outdoor terrace. The designers have turned the former lecture hall into an impressive chill-out lounge and bar, while the old library is now a relaxation and private events room.
The basement and café are now dining destinations and the original boiler room has become a secret late night bar.
This opening marks a series of three new launches from Generator this in 2016, with Rome and Stockholm scheduled to open in the next few months.
Global modular flooring manufacturer and Hotel Designs Directory members, Interface, has launched its new collection, Touch of Timber, a hybrid textile floor which resembles timber.
Co-developed with leading yarn supplier, Aquafil, the innovative product is a first for the carpet tile industry and showcases the benefits of advanced contrast and colour twist technologies, combined with Interface Microtuft yarn construction.
Developed over an 18 month period, Touch of Timber delivers a wooden floor in appearance, with all the benefits of a low impact carpet tile.
The collection is made with 100 per cent recycled yarn as standard and is one of the first to feature Interface’s recycled PVB precoat, which has a carbon footprint 80 per cent less than traditional SBR latex precoat. The new range also comes with biobased formaldehyde-free glass fleece as standard in the backing.
Mandy Leeming, Design and Development Manager for Interface EMEA, explained: “Touch of TimberTM is a first for Interface, Aquafil and the carpet tile industry. Customers want the look of a natural floor, but the hard materials used are not a practical solution for many commercial spaces given the transfer of noise, so this is the perfect solution offering a distinctive aesthetic, great underfoot comfort, slip resistance and acoustic benefits.”
Touch of Timber Herringbone – Interface
Luca Bertamini, Head of Customer Technical Service at Aquafil, added: “Aquafil is thrilled with the collaboration between our Research and Development team and the Interface design team to create these unique-look collections using ECONYL yarn. By merging Aquafil’s technical ingenuity and expertise with Interface’s creativity, we have developed a product unlike any other in the industry.”
Touch of Timber is now available in 25cm x 100cm skinny planks, allowing for easy installation, and 12 colourways. www.interface.com T: +44 (0) 12 74 69 06 90 E: Interface.uk@interface.com
The traditional get-away-from-it-all break is fast becoming the stay-connected-to-everything trip, with travellers expecting hotels to provide smart technology, charging points and free internet access.
A survey by E.ON of 2,000 people – both leisure and business customers – found hotel guests’ expectations have changed significantly, especially in the last five years. Travellers now take 40% more gadgets away with them than they did at the turn of the decade and expect convenient connections rather than the traditional features of a hotel. The use of e-readers has increased three-fold, wearable tech such as smart watches has doubled, and two in five people (44%) now take a tablet on holiday compared to only one-in-20 people (6%) five years ago. These rapidly shifting demands have important implications for owners and designers of hotels.
Guests are now becoming savvy to tricks designers have been pioneering for years; namely half of consumers surveyed said they would like hotels to provide universal chargers and to locate plug sockets next to the bed for convenience, 40% expect USB charging sockets in their rooms, and a fifth (22%) demand wireless charging points. Expectations around more traditional hotel features have also changed. Three quarters (76%) of travellers want their hotels to provide free Wi-Fi, with 20% of people saying this is more important than a complimentary breakfast. 40% would happily forgo that stalwart of hotel rooms, a landline telephone in their room.
Guests don’t just expect hotels to help power the gadgets they bring with them, but are increasingly demanding that the latest smart technology is provided. A third of travellers would like a smart television, while 18% want smart appliances like automatic coffee makers for when they wake up.
Almost a quarter (24%) would like to be able to control things like air-conditioning or the entertainment system remotely using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and in a rather space-age twist, 5% said they would even like to have a robot butler to serve them in their rooms. The provision of smart technology is now a deciding factor in whether some guests stay at a hotel, with one in 10 saying they would choose a hotel based on whether it had the latest technology.
The increasingly technological demands of hotel guests will have implications for their energy use during their stay. What’s more, a third of people surveyed admitted to using more energy than they would at home. At the same time, half of travellers say that the sustainability and energy use of a hotel is important to them. The same number would be willing to be an ‘eco-customer’ if they got a 10% discount for adopting environmentally friendly behaviours such as using one towel throughout their visit, having their lights and electricity on stand-by, and using a limited supply for hot water.
Almost a third of guests go so far as to say that hotels should be judged on how sustainable they are, with an accreditation system to rank their sustainability.
Phil Gilbert, Head of Business Energy Solutions at E.ON, said: “Consumers are demanding more and more from their hotels who are in turn having to use more energy to accommodate for the rising use of technology. It is therefore more important than ever that hotels stay on top of their energy use and monitor growing consumption.
“The changes in travelling habits and the demands of guests will have a significant impact on hotels both small and large – not just from their impact on energy consumption, it’s also something to bear in mind when renovating your accommodation,” he added.
Most hotels refurbish every 7–10 years and this provides a significant opportunity to implement these changing guest preferences as well as adapting for energy savings. According to the Carbon Trust, some hospitality businesses have seen energy costs reduce by as much as 40% if energy efficiency opportunities are maximised during refurbishment.
E.ON has developed an online Energy Toolkit which helps businesses of all sizes track and adapt their energy use through reports and alerts.
Hilton Worldwide has reached a franchise agreement with Grupo Avintia to bring Curio – A Collection by Hilton to Ibiza’s historic town centre. The 33-guestroom Gran Montesol Ibiza hotel will welcome guests all-year-round and is set to open this summer, marking Hilton’s debut on The White Isle.
Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, EMEA, Hilton Worldwide said, “Ibiza is the perfect location to welcome Spain’s first Curio. The island has a considerable reputation as an upscale summer destination and is world renowned as one of Spain’s most frequented and vibrant destinations. Gran Hotel Montesol will be one of the few internationally branded hotels on Ibiza, and as a part of the Curio collection it will benefit from Hilton’s prime commercial engine while maintaining all of its unique character and charm.”
Established in 1933, the hotel was the first purpose-built hotel established on Ibiza and was used as a military barracks during the Spanish Civil War. The building is recognised as a site of heritage and cultural interest by the Spanish Ministry of Culture and many of the hotel’s historic features, such as its characteristic neoclassical white and yellow façade will be retained as part of the new designs.
Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza will have a restaurant on the ground floor as well as a rooftop terrace that can be used as an exclusive meeting space for business travellers. Part of the restoration and the interior of the hotel will be designed by prestigious Spanish designer Lazaro Rosa Violan.
Dianna Vaughan, senior vice president and global head, Curio – A Collection by Hilton and DoubleTree by Hilton, said: “With its fascinating history and elegant look-and-feel this landmark hotel is a sought-after addition to the Curio collection. The well-balanced synergy of the island’s legendary nightlife and its long history make Ibiza the perfect location for a Curio hotel.”
Bathroom furniture allows designers to add additional storage space while also completing a room’s finish. Often, dead space under sinks is a difficult spot to fill successfully – with plumbing and piping to cover up – so using units is a brilliant way of solving this problem; and at the same time adding a cleaner finish to the look of the room.
The units within the Pier range by Simpsons are a perfect example of stylish units to complete bathroom furnishings. With a range of mobile and fixed units – with cast mineral marble basins included – the Pier furniture selection offers finishes to fit numerous overall styles, being both aesthetically appealing and practical. The three finishes of Anthracite, Steel and Ebony will especially complement hotel designers going for colourless bathrooms.
Likewise, for designers dealing with spaces too small to install a bath, choosing a small shower enclosure with a hinged or sliding door is the most practical option; both of which are included in the Pier range.
Conrad Hotels & Resorts has made its debut in India with the opening of Conrad Pune. Located in the heart of the central business district, the hotel is managed by Hilton Worldwide and owned by Palm Grove Beach Hotels.
The new property is located near Koregaon Park, the city’s commercial, residential and entertainment districts. It is accessible to the city’s IT and business hubs as well as the airport.
“The introduction of the Conrad brand in India marks a significant milestone for the brand’s expansion in South Asia, and Pune enjoys a robust demand for high-end hospitality from affluent travelers from around the globe,” said Amit Midha, general manager, Conrad Pune. The hotel includes 310 guestrooms, starting at 450-sq-ft, including 20 suites, featuring up-to-date in-room technology and five-fixture marble bathrooms with walk-in rain showers and soak tubs.
The dining options at the hotel include three restaurants, a bar, a poolside cafe, delicatessen and a lobby lounge. According to the company, the hotel features a dedicated rejuvenation floor with the city’s first outdoor temperature-controlled pool, a kids’ pool, whirlpool, a 24-hour fitness center, a full-service Conrad Spa and a salon. The 20,000-sq-ft of meeting and event space at the hotel features a grand ballroom, meeting rooms, seven boardrooms, indoor automotive lift and state-of-the-art audio visual technology.
The number of planned hotel rooms in Africa has soared to 64,000 in 365 hotels, up almost 30% on the previous year, according to new figures from the annual W Hospitality Group Hotel Chain Development Pipeline Survey.
The increase is largely down to strong growth in sub-Saharan Africa, which is up 42.1% on 2015 and is significantly outstripping North Africa which achieved only a modest 7.5% pipeline increase this year.
A major shake-up in the rankings by country saw Angola, never before listed among the top 10, push Egypt out of second place, due to a major deal there signed by AccorHotels.
The W Hospitality Group survey is published ahead of the African Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) (www.Africa-Conference.com), which is organised by Bench Events. The conference attracts all the major international hotel investors in Africa and is being held for the first time in Lomé on 21-22 June. A second AHIF will also take place in Kigali, Rwanda on 4-6 October.
Trevor Ward, W Hospitality Group managing director, said: “The evidence from our survey is clear – investors remain confident about the future of the hospitality industry on the continent. Even when pummelled daily by low commodity prices, exchange rate problems, political challenges and poor infrastructure, Africa remains resilient.”
The IMF forecast for economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa is for an increase of 4% this year and 4.7% in 2017, up from 3.5% in 2015. Overall this is down on the 5-6% increase enjoyed over the past decade, but it’s still double or more the forecast for the world’s advanced economies, such as Europe, the USA and Japan.
Matthew Weihs, managing director of Bench Events, said: “Africa is still on the up. For business, trade and capital investment, the continent remains an attractive proposition, leading to continuing demand for accommodation and other hospitality services.”
Located in the heart of Baku’s White City district, and set right on Baku Bay, the Boulevard Hotel, Baku has joined the collection of independent hotels under the Marriott Autograph Collection.
This stunning hotel offers 818 guest rooms, three restaurants and conference and event facilities, currently the largest in Azerbaijan. All the guestroom and public area lighting manufactured by Baulmann including, floor lights, wall lights and LED reading lights, as well as large public area lighting was conceived and designed by talented UK interior designers from Robert Angell Design International and MKV Design. Each creation was then custom engineered to the meet the extremely high standards of quality of finish demanded by the clients, Marriott and the Autograph concept. Due to the speed in construction, delivery of all the lighting was time sensitive, and everyone involved was working to very strict schedules.
The lighting provided for this project was delivered on-time and on budget.
To contact Baulmann Leuchten visit baulmann.com or call +49 29338 47251
Marriott International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide have announced that at separate special stockholder meetings today the stockholders of both companies approved proposals relating to Marriott’s acquisition of Starwood, which will create the world’s largest hotel company.
Holders of over 97 percent of Marriott shares present and voting at the meeting, representing over 79 percent of outstanding shares, voted in favor of a proposal to issue shares of Marriott common stock in connection with the transaction, and holders of over 95 percent of Starwood shares present and voting at the meeting, representing over 63 percent of outstanding shares, voted in favor of a proposal to approve the transaction.
“With today’s successful stockholder approval milestone, we are that much closer to completing our transaction,” says Arne Sorenson, Marriott’s president and chief executive officer. “Our teams continue to plan the integration of our two companies, and we are committed to a timely and smooth transition. We appreciate the stockholders’ vote of confidence in our ability to drive long-term value and opportunity as a combined company.”
“Today’s vote is a significant step toward closing, and we are grateful for the continued enthusiasm and support for this merger,” adds Thomas B. Mangas, Starwood’s chief executive officer. “There is no doubt that this transaction puts our company on the best path forward and we remain excited about the opportunity this combination will create for our stockholders, associates, owners and guests.”
At closing Starwood stockholders will receive 0.8 shares of Marriott common stock plus $21.00 in cash for each share of Starwood common stock.
As previously announced, the parties have cleared the pre-merger antitrust review in the United States and Canada and multiple other jurisdictions. The transaction remains on track to close mid-2016 pending completion of Starwood’s planned divestiture of its timeshare business expected on or around April 30, 2016, obtaining remaining regulatory approvals, including in the European Union and China, and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Irongate announced plans recently for a luxury resort and private residences on the pristine beaches of Baja’s eastern shore.
With planning in place for a 2018 opening, Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas will be part of the exclusive Costa Palmas resort community, which will also feature a private marina and members-only beach and yacht club, all set along a two-mile (3.2 kilometre) stretch of immaculate white-sand beach.
The 145-key resort will feature a low-density layout spread across multiple buildings, and a collection of whole-ownership oceanfront, marina-side and golf-side private residences, as well as an intimate collection of custom single-family beachfront private residence villas. Alongside multiple pools, extensive indoor and outdoor event and wedding facilities, and five unique dining outlets, the resort will also feature a Robert Trent Jones II signature 18-hole golf course, full-service spa and progressive fitness facilities.
The extensive grounds of the Resort will be connected to an adjacent yachting marina that will feature up to two hundred slips to accommodate yachts up to 250 feet (76 metres) and its own ocean-side marina village, complete with artisanal boutiques, additional dining options and locally-curated music and art.
“We created Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos for families and groups of friends who appreciate a fresh and mindful approach to resort design and lifestyle. The Resort is a place for those of all ages who seek both a spirited adventure and impeccable service,” says Jason Grosfeld, founder of Irongate. “Positioned on Costa Palmas’ unprecedented two-mile stretch of coastline with a safe, swimmable beach and an international marina, Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos is set to become the preeminent place for family and friends to reconnect year after year.”
Just launched, Harris, the new wool-rich tufted range from Wilton Carpets Commercial, is causing quite a stir amongst interior designers and hotel owners, with its timeless herringbone design and smart boutique look. Such has been the response to the design, the carpet is being sold with immediate availability for all five classic colours.
Bringing a tailored look to the floors of boutique hotels and hospitality spaces, this elegant take on timeless design creates a bespoke feel that leaves a lasting impression. Available as part of Wilton Carpets Commercial’s stock tufted collection – it has an 80% wool and 20% nylon construction to cope with the demands of a busy hotel.
“The latest addition to our in-stock carpet collection, Harris is already generating interest from interior designers and hoteliers keen to bring a sense of occasion to their space,” comments Alan Whittle, sales director. “The carpet effortlessly transforms with little fuss, is stylistically on-point and blends value and quality perfectly.”
In five colourways covering rich tweed browns, charcoal, wheat and sand hues, the neutral overtone of Harris comes in a four-metre width that is eminently versatile. This new collection from one of Britain’s most loved boutique carpet manufacturers is ready today.
For a brochure or samples, contact Wilton Carpets Commercial on 01722 746000 or sales@wiltoncarpets.com
According to sources, the building housing the US embassy in London is set to be redeveloped into a five-star hotel as part of a £1 billion renovation project.
With American diplomats moving to new premises in Nine Elms, the Grade II-listed building in Mayfair will be converted into a 137-bedroom, Qatari-owned hotel. As part of the redevelopment project there will also be six shops as well as five restaurants.
The plans for the whole project are set to be submitted to Westminster Council in May by building owners Qatari Diar who have touted British architect Sir David Chipperfield as the person they want to design the project.
The developers wish to keep the iconic square, stone frames on the building as well as the aluminum eagle which sits atop the building.
Diplomats will be moving to the new site in 2017, when work can commence on the hotel project.
Shangri-La has announced the development of the first Hotel Jen in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Opening in 2019, Hotel Jen Kuala Lumpur is the second Hotel Jen project under development in Malaysia, following the signing of Hotel Jen Kota Kinabalu in Borneo in September 2015.
The announcement was made at a signing ceremony held in Hong Kong to finalise a management agreement between Concorde Arch and Hotel Jen.
Concorde Arch initially acquired the land for building the corporate office; however, the opportunity of venturing towards hospitality became apparent with the advent of millennial travellers seeking more curated lifestyle and leisure accommodation inspired by this growing target market.
The hotel is strategically located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur at the intersection of Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan P Ramlee, just 800 metres from the city’s landmark Petronas Twin Towers and 300 metres from the KL Tower.
The property will cater to both business and leisure travellers, being in close proximity to the central business district and Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), as well as having easy access to some of South East Asia’s largest shopping malls, street markets and a wide range of restaurants and entertainment.
Greg Dogan, president and CEO of Shangri-La, said: “The announcement of Hotel Jen Kuala Lumpur reinforces our interest and expansion in Malaysia, in the country’s capital city, where we will now increase the group’s presence with our third hotel and newest brand Hotel Jen”.
Fresh, friendly and fuss-free, the new brand launched a year ago to cater to a new “Jeneration” of independently minded business and leisure travellers. The brand launched quickly with the first ten Hotel Jen properties opening in major cities in Asia Pacific in under one year, followed by two new developments soon after Hotel Jen’s first anniversary. Shangri-La is targeting fast-track growth of the brand in key cities in Asia.
The properties, which boast excellent facilities and transport links, bring the number of hotels managed by the company up to 65. Redefine|BDL Hotels, the UK’s largest hotel management company, took over operation of the hotels on Tuesday (5th April).
Marking its expansion into two new localities, the Southampton M27 Jct 7 boasts 176 rooms and Redditch offers 100 rooms.
Now, with 19 Holiday Inn Express properties in its portfolio, these acquisitions further strengthens Redefine|BDL Hotels’ relationship with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and cements the operator’s position as the largest IHG franchisee operator in Europe.
John Stuart, Redefine|BDL Hotels’ Chief Operating Officer, said: “We’re very excited about these two fantastic hotels joining the Redefine|BDL Hotels portfolio. The hotels both sit in prime locations for both business and leisure travellers, with great access to local attractions and major transport hubs.
“We will bring our wealth of experience in running 19 Holiday Inn Express hotels across the length and breadth of the country, ensuring all guests have a fantastic experience.”
Starwood Hotels & Resorts has opened The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa, in partnership with Ghanem Al Thani Holdings, in the heart of Qatar’s rapidly growing capital.
The opening marks Westin’s debut in the country, reinforcing the brand’s growth in the region, with hotels opening in the UAE, Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia within the next three years, which will double its presence in the Middle East.
The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa features 365 thoughtfully-designed guestrooms and suites, including five expansive pool villas and an impressive presidential suite.
Photos: starwoodhotels.com
The nine-story hotel’s crisp limestone and glass façade floods the space with natural light, while a custom art installation anchors the atrium-like foyer to create a modern sense of arrival.
Featured throughout the hotel, meandering paths and lush botanicals reinforce Westin’s biophilic design principles, which suggest a connection to nature enhances wellbeing.
Architect and developer John C. Portman has converted an office block he once designed in Atlanta into a multi-use building which houses Hotel Indigo Atlanta Downtown as well as his fine-dining restaurant JP Atlanta.
“It is a unique experience to be able to revisit a building designed at the beginning of one’s career,” says architect and developer John C. Portman, Jr: “I feel quite fortunate to once again be able to contribute to the evolution of downtown Atlanta. This building with its revitalised plaza and one-of-a-kind connection to AmericasMart will serve so many people coming into the heart of our city.”
The Hotel Indigo Atlanta Downtown lobby welcomes guests with a spiral glass staircase accented with sleek, steel railings. The Portman style is incorporated into each element of the guestroom aesthetic, while area rugs are custom made from digitised images of Portman’s designs and murals depict the unique shape and structure of the overall building (230 Peachtree). The rooms are painted in a rich, clean Portman White hue.
Guest rooms feature plush bedding with contrasting hard-surface flooring and area rugs, whilst incorporating spa-inspired bathrooms. The hotel also offers two spacious suites. Guests have access to a 24-hour health club facility featuring state of the art equipment and 1,750ft² of meeting space.
The Atlanta hotel features the brand’s Neighbourhood Guide, an innovative touchscreen display that connects guests to each other, the locale and to Hotel Indigo locations around the world. Hotel team members, many of whom are locals themselves, will share recommendations with guests looking to explore and discover the neighbourhood.
230 Peachtree is connected to AmericasMart’s 7.1million ft² campus by a skylight corridor and adjacent to the Peachtree Center MARTA Station. It is the latest in the aesthetic continuum from Portman, who also designed and built Hyatt Regency Atlanta, the Westin Peachtree Plaza and the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, over a 48-year span.
Chelsom are delighted to once again be exhibiting at HD Expo 2016 which takes place at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas on 4th-6th May. HD Expo is the USA’s premier trade show and conference for the international hospitality industry, remaining at the forefront by offering the newest and most innovative products and services, providing inspiration and connecting hospitality professionals from all facets of the business.
This will beChelsom’s 5th consecutive year exhibiting at the event and this year will mark the international launch of their exciting new lighting collections, Edition 25.
Designed by Robert and Will Chelsom, the collections harness and refine the latest trends in finishes and materials and have been created with the requirements of the international hospitality marketplace at their core. The Edition 25 collections are the company’s most distinctive to date both in terms of design and technology with nearly all pieces having an integral LED light source or available with a LED option.
“HD Expo is the number one show in terms of interior design for the hospitality market in the USA and we are very pleased to be exhibiting again. As part of our expanding export division we have focussed our efforts on the US market over the last couple of years and HD Expo is a key date in the diaries of many leading hospitality professionals so it’s incredibly exciting to be launching what is undoubtedly our most different and design-led collection yet.” Commented Philip Macaulay,Sales Director.
Chelsom has become one of the leading designers, manufacturers and suppliers of decorative contract lighting to the international hospitality sector working on a number of significant projects in the last 18months including The Beekman and Grace Hotel in New York, a trio of central London Morgans Hotel Group projects including Mondrian at Sea Containers, The Sanderson and St. Martin’s Lane, Four Seasons Bahrain and Six Senses Douro Valley. Supplying both standard and custom designed lighting products, Chelsom has the expertise to enhance any hotel interior, whether 2-star or 6-star, from cutting edge contemporary to period buildings, guestroom to corridor to public spaces.
Chelsom will be on Stand 12100. For more information on HD Expo and to register to attend please click here. . .
Secluded on a pristine private island in the Quirimbas Archipelago off the northern coast of Mozambique, Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort has reopened following an extensive refurbishment.
The 12-villa, adults-only African island hideaway now features refreshed décor, luxury villa upgrades and new signature experiences, including a Robinson Crusoe-style star bed for the ultimate romantic escape.
Now, with a host of enhancements, the resort has reopened to offer more unique signature experiences and natural attractions and will soon be the only African island resort to use 100% solar energy.
Refreshed décor gives Anantara Medjumbe a distinctive African island identity. The resort has been extensively restyled using colourful patterns to depict the vibrancy of local culture. Shades of blue and aqua reflect the evolving hues of the Indian Ocean. All of the 12 thatched Beach Pool Villas, which open onto soft powdery sands, exude a sense of natural luxury, including newly designed private splash pools with an aqua mosaic finish, and a built-in Champagne step to sip bubbles while admiring the Indian Ocean view.
In the guest villas and public areas, the majority of furniture and lighting was custom designed by interior designers, Savile Row, and produced in Indonesia and South Africa with incredible attention to detail. Various accessories were sourced from around the African continent and framed artworks were created using traditional wax printed capulana fabrics that were sourced from local markets.
The Liberty, an icon of the Boston hospitality scene, has completed its $11 million (£7.8 million) guest room renovation. The former jail and now architectural gem features 298 newly-designed accommodations, reimagined by acclaimed interior designer Bill Rooney.
Rooted in history and fortified with contemporary design, the completely transformed guestrooms evoke a quintessential Boston atmosphere. Custom furniture and fixtures, tailor-made accents and artwork, herringbone wall coverings, wide-plank hardwood floors, library-style club chairs, and leather headboards create a warm and luxurious New England feel. Bathrooms offer four-fixture floating granite vanities, sleek glass showers and large soaking tubs. Many of the newly-appointed guestrooms offer spectacular views of Beacon Hill and the sailboat strewn waters of the Charles River.
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In addition to the refurbished guestrooms, The Liberty’s renovation project included the redesign of some of Boston’s top suites, including the Ebersol Suite and the Charles River Suites. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap the 2,220 square-foot Ebersol Suite, which includes an expansive living room, dining room and butler pantry, library, master bedroom and bathroom, and a 300 square-foot outdoor patio. The Charles River Suites also boast floor-to-ceiling windows, featuring sweeping views of the Boston skyline.
“The Liberty’s renovation project is a cornerstone in The Luxury Collection brand’s $300 million dollar investment effort to renovate and reopen some of the most iconic hotels in North America,” stated Hoyt H. Harper II, Global Brand Leader, The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts. “We are thrilled to deliver enhanced accommodations while still allowing guests to experience the authenticity of one of Boston’s most notable landmarks.”
Malmaison has announced that its recently acquired Hotel Seattle Brighton will be transformed into a Malmaison hotel – taking the total number of Malmaison hotels in the UK to 14.
The Hotel Seattle was acquired in November 2015, as part of a larger acquisition by the Malmaison Hotel du Vin Group of a portfolio of four hotels in the UK. The fast-growing and ever-popular Malmaison and Hotel du Vin Group portfolio now comprises of 33 leading boutique lifestyle hotels across the UK.
With improvements being made to the day to day booking activities for rooms and dining through Malmaison.com, a focus on improving the already high levels of service, guests of Malmaison Brighton will soon see the emergence of the iconic Malmaison signature touches as works starts at the hotel immediately.
Scott Harper, COO Malmaison, said, ‘We are delighted to reveal that the Seattle Hotel Brighton will re-brand as a Malmaison. The vibrant setting of Brighton’s marina and wider Brighton and Hove area community is an ideal fit for our famous lifestyle brand. We can’t wait to get started.”
Renaissance Hotels’ new US flagship property, the Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel, which opened in Manhattan on March 21, 2016, is leading the way for the brand in its ‘Fearlessly Chic’ global design philosophy and ‘Business Unusual’ outlook.
Award-winning design studio Jeffrey Beers International (JBI) has captured the authenticity and glamour of the city through innovative technology never before showcased in a New York hotel.
To bring the design to life, Beers himself collaborated with Roger Parent of interdisciplinary technology firm Réalisations Inc. The city’s first ‘living’ hotel is comprised of sensational, ever-changing digital experiences inspired by the fashion and artistic industries in the neighbourhood which are an integral and informative element of the design.
Specifically designed to interact with visitors from the moment they enter the hotel, the property features ambient intelligent corridors that respond to human movement, digitally enhanced elevator banks, and a never-before-seen Discovery Portal Powered by Time Out that showcases neighbourhood guides on a user-friendly digital alcove to be accessed with the point of a finger or tap of a toe. A four-story LED digital clock at the top of the building will also bring the hotel to life and will add a beacon of light to the city’s skyline for all to enjoy. Using New York City as his muse, Beers’ vision was to capture the energy of the locale by juxtaposing high-low design components, such as smooth millwork and polished marble against the rough texture of exposed concrete walls, to create elegant yet edgy public spaces and guest rooms. The purposeful disparity of materials was new to Beers, known for his work at properties around the world including Miami’s Fontainebleau, Daniel Boulud’s db Bistro Moderne in New York and Singapore, and the One&Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas, making the Renaissance New York Midtown unlike any project he has worked on. “Having grown up in New York, I thrive on the fast-paced rhythm of the lifestyle here. I wanted the design of this hotel to capture the vibrancy and creative energy of the city; to immerse visitors in the real New York,” said Beers. “There are a number of elements throughout the design that are meant to provide an unexpected moment of enjoyment and playfulness — inspired by Renaissance’s ‘look and look again’ philosophy. The artwork, for example, might appear to be a two-dimensional painting from afar, but as visitors get closer they will see that it is actually composed of pins or pencils.” Surprising design elements are found throughout the hotel, from flirtatious graphics at the back of each guestroom closet, to inspiring quotes in the bathrooms. Life-size images are etched on the back walls of the elevator cabs and each time the elevator doors open on the ground floor, guests will be treated to specially-curated digital imagery showcasing local artists and neighbourhood experiences. Timed to mirror the opening and closing of the elevators, the projected digital displays will always be evolving and the hotel will be visually different on each and every visit.
Located on 35th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, the hotel boasts 348 guest rooms, including seven Executive Suites and one Empire Suite. Each guest room offers a sophisticated neutral palette with pops of purple or grey throughout the bedding and upholstery. With floor-to-ceiling windows, the spacious rooms use pale finishes, maximise natural light, and adhere to an uncluttered aesthetic. A gradient frosted-glass shower wall separates the all-white Italian marble en-suite bathroom from the sleeping area. On the sixth floor guests will find a sleek Lobby Bar, Library Lounge, a clandestine DJ booth and Club Lounge for Elite Marriott Rewards members and preferred guests. The hotel offers 4,500 square-feet of meeting space which can be separated into smaller conference rooms with glass air walls. Floor-to-ceiling windows will offer magnificent views of the city, while stylised inspirational quotes from fashion greats such as Coco Chanel and Oscar de la Renta painted onto the raw concrete back wall, pay homage to the surroundings.
Minor Hotel Groups has announced it will be adding to its 145-property portfolio with the addition of two new hotels in the UAE; Anantara Jebel Dhanna and AVANI Jebel Dhanna in Abu Dhbai. Development is set to begin shortly and both are scheduled to open in 2018. Aecom has been appointed as the lead architecture and interior design consultant for the project.
Jebel Dhanna is located along the coastal area of the Al Gharbia region in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, close to the ferry departure point for Sir Bani Yas Island. Anantara Jebel Dhanna Villas will have a total of 60 keys across three villa types: 20 One-Bedroom Villas, 38 Two-Bedroom Villas and two impressive Three-Bedroom Villas. The new Anantara will offer two restaurants and a pool bar, a gym, a swimming pool and an Anantara Spa.
The neighbouring AVANI Jebel Dhanna Hotel will have 230 keys across two different room types: 170 Deluxe Rooms and 60 Superior Rooms including a kitchenette. Facilities at the AVANI will include multiple dining options, a gym and a swimming pool. Shared facilities will include flexible meeting and banqueting space, a kid’s club and outdoor recreation areas.
Dillip Rajakarier, CEO Minor Hotel Group, commented, “Minor Hotel Group is already well established in Abu Dhabi through our existing Anantara portfolio in the city, desert and on Sir Bani Yas Island and we are excited to today announce the first AVANI in Abu Dhabi, to be developed alongside what will be our sixth Anantara. We are looking forward to partnering with Dhabi Contracting in this exciting new project.”
Pitching the lighting of various spaces within a hotel is a challenging but rewarding experience for designers. The impact a well-appointed fixture can bring to a space or the mood created by just the right light levels can make or break a guest’s experience of a room.
Yet, one of the hardest and probably the least-considered rooms is the bathroom. Owners on a budget will often divert money for lighting to areas deemed more important – the lobby, the restaurant, the corridors. But the bathroom is one of the key areas to concentrate on as a designer. Aside from the bedroom, the bathroom is going to be one of the most-scrutinised rooms by a guest; especially as they will most likely begin and end their days in this room.
From positioning vanity lighting correctly to pitching the right mood for ambient lighting, there are various facets to consider. Choosing the right fixture is one such consideration; and Hotel Designs Directory membersVaughan has a wide array of bathroom light fixtures for both the EU and American markets – such as the Arras Bathroom Wall Light (pictured below).
The Arras bathroom wall light is available in chrome and nickel, has a special bulb fitting to ensure the light is IP44 rated while retaining a lampshade which can be made up in any colour or fabric to add a decorative touch to the fitting.
For more information on this and other products within the Vaughan range, please click here. . . Main Photo: pope24 on Flickr
Despite its name, it appears Manchester’s Hotel Football is not just for avid football fans – it is celebrating a hat-trick of awards this week as Laterooms.com declared Hotel Football as the ‘Best Hotel for Business’ in its Simply the Guest awards. This follows its ‘Guest Review Award’ from Booking.com and the hotel securing a ‘Stellar Stay’ award win from HotelsCombined.
Open for just over a year, these latest accolades add to the hotel’s national and regional hospitality credentials, following nine consecutive months at the #1 spot of ‘Manchester Hotels’ on TripAdvisor.
The Laterooms.com ‘Best Hotel for Business’ award saw Hotel Football top the table for business travellers. The awards, which recognise excellent service, are decided solely on customer reviews over the past 12 months. While the ‘Guest Review Award’ from Booking.com and ‘Stellar Stay’ award win recognises the hotel’s ongoing delivery of outstanding hospitality experiences for consumer guests.
Paul Walsh, general manager at Hotel Football, said: “The recent award wins are testament to the hard work from our team and the passion they have for offering world class customer service for guests, whether visiting for business or leisure.
“Since opening, we have strived to create a hotel that appeals to everyone, not just football fans. It’s a completely unique experience and it’s great to see our guests coming back for repeat visits, whatever the event.”
Located opposite Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium, the four-star 133 bedroom hotel, event and conference facility boasts a number of unique features making it the go-to destination for fans, families, business users and tourists.
Harbour Hotels has announced that from Monday 4th April, The Radisson Blu Edwardian Guildford Hotel will convert to the Guildford Harbour Hotel.
The hotel has been managed by Edwardian Hotels London on behalf of the owners for the past four years, who have mutually worked together to successfully establish the deluxe four-star hotel within Guildford and the surrounding area, winning a number of prestigious awards.
With a prime position in the heart of Guildford, this 183-bedroom hotel features a stylish restaurant, vibrant bar and alfresco dining terrace, as well as an accompanying spa. The Harbour Hotels Group will now expand on its offerings; introducing its award-winning concepts to the hotel and town.
Mike Warren, Managing Director Harbour Hotels, said: “We are very excited to be taking the Harbour Hotels brand to Guildford; with a principal position in the heart of the town, we plan to maximise on this popular location with a full refurbishment programme – to include our award-winning restaurant and bar concepts.”
Charismatic hotelier André Balazs’ plans for a first Standard Hotel outside of the US are well and truly under way as work has begun on converting the 150,000-square-foot Camden Town Hall annexe (pictured) into a 250-bedroom hotel.
Balazs, who has built his reputation with iconic hotels across the United States and the Chartered Firehouse in London, entered into an agreement with Crosstree Real Estate Partners.
The site is perfectly located on the Euston Road, in the up-and-coming district of King’s Cross where property prices have rocketed in the last five years. Plans for the site include a lobby on the ground floor with 10 floors above. It will include a rooftop bar and restaurant with a terrace.
Balazs is hoping to repeat the success he has had with the properties in Miami, Los Angeles and New York.
Hilton’s newest hotel opened last week as the dual-branded Hampton Inn & Suites and Homewood Suites by Hilton Houston Downtown started welcoming guests through the doors. The opening brings 300 rooms to the heart of the Texan city and further establishes Hilton Worldwide’s presence in the market.
“This latest opening adds to the growing Hilton Worldwide portfolio and continues to provide unique lodging options for travelers,” said Phil Cordell, global head, Focused Service and Hampton Brand Management, Hilton Worldwide.
“Opening in one of America’s largest cities, the dual-branded Hampton Inn & Suites and Homewood Suites welcomes business and leisure travelers alike,” he added.
Both properties are located at 710 Crawford Street, offering guests a central location and convenient access to local attractions like the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Minute Maid Park, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Space Center Houston, just a short drive away.
The dual-brand concept creates enhanced and larger communal areas than what would be standard at a stand-alone property, benefitting both business and leisure travelers. The hotel has two distinct lobbies and dining areas – each catering to the needs of their respective guests – while sharing one registration desk, fitness center, and roof-top pool. The hotel also offers 5,000 square feet of flexible meeting space that can accommodate up to 225 people.
Last year AccorHotels opened more than 70 hotels across Asia Pacific, meaning the group launched at least one new hotel per week in the region. This year the group is on target to reach 700 hotels in APAC. Here are some of the most exciting recent and upcoming openings to entice travellers from all corners of the globe.
New hotels SO SOFITEL HUA HIN, THAILAND SO Sofitel Hua Hin offers an imaginative beachside escape for guests seeking a luxurious, playful retreat. Featuring private access to Cha-am Beach, it is located 2.5 hours’ drive from Bangkok. It acknowledges the growing market of travellers seeking a fun and design-led atmosphere with a distinct style and attitude. Hua Hin has long been a retreat for Thailand’s aristocracy and the resort blends a nostalgic sense of seaside charm with the trendiest design. Drawing inspiration from the ‘Evolution of Life’ guests will be surprised by animal statues hiding in the gardens and rooms that are either themed ‘So Arty’ or ‘So Nature’. The resort brings four innovative food and beverage outlets designed to spark the local scene including White Oven, the Hi-So rooftop bar and Beach Society, a lively lifestyle club which hosts amazing parties on a monthly basis. Other facilities include the SoSpa and SoFit as well as an adults-only solarium pool and a family-friendly SO pool. The So Ballroom is equipped with cutting-edge equipment and is perfect for company events or lavish weddings for up to 150 guests.
SOFITEL SINGAPORE SENTOSA RESORT & SPA, SINGAPORE Located just ten minutes from the city centre and yet seemingly worlds away on Singapore’s ‘entertainment island’ the Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa is set on 27 acres of tropical woodlands. The Sofitel features 215 spacious rooms and private villas, outstanding MICE facilities with 13 meeting rooms and two ballrooms, and the largest SO Spa in the world, with 20 treatment rooms, six outdoor spa pavilions, a float pool and Singapore’s only mud pool. The resort’s leisure facilities include two pools, tennis, volleyball and badminton courts. The Sofitel also offers some of Singapore’s best dining including the famous Il Lido at the Cliff, its signature Italian restaurant overlooking the sea and Kwee Zeen for amazing Sunday brunches and all-day dining. With a bold, elegant design themed around Paris’ Jardin du Luxembourg, the resort creates a sense of flow from inside and out for the perfect urban oasis.
NOVOTEL MANILA ARANETA, PHILIPPINES A new Novotel has opened in Araneta Centre, the premier lifestyle hub of Quezon City in the Philippines. The 24-storey hotel features 401 contemporary rooms, plus an executive sky lounge with 360-degree views of the city. The hotel is part of a massive development of the area, which is bustling with life and activities including weekend night markets, food festivals and street performances. Its vibrant décor and facilities contribute to the well-being of guests including an In Balance Wellness Centre with gym, spa and pool, a Gymboree kids’ area plus two new dining concepts – the Food Exchange Manila and Gourmet Bar by Novotel, which showcases organic and local produce. The hotel is a few steps away from the light rail and metro stations providing easy access to all the city’s best attractions. For meetings there is a 2500sqm landscaped outdoor garden area and a ballroom for up to 1200 guests.
ELEMENTS OF BYRON, MGALLERY BY SOFITEL, AUSTRALIA Byron Bay’s first world-class beachfront resort, Elements of Byron, MGallery by Sofitel opened its doors in February 2016. Situated on 50 acres of rainforest and natural ponds and lakes, the $100 million resort boasts two kilometres of beach frontage and provides the perfect natural setting for relaxation, with just 94 villas. Three separate pavilions make up the central leisure facilities including a signature restaurant and lobby bar, poolside bar and kiosk, gym and five-suite garden spa. Weaving throughout the resort is a luxurious infinity lagoon pool area complete with sunken fire pit. The design of the resort references the four ecological systems in place in the area – rainforest, dunal, eucalypt and wetland, with specific native landscaping and furnishings as well as works by local artists to create a true sense of place. Along with conferencing facilities for up to 450 delegates, the resort features a range of dining options including Graze at Elements, Drift Bar and the Barefoot Bar and Kiosk, with another restaurant opening in the next few months, along with a private beach club.
PULLMAN & NOVOTEL NEW DELHI AEROCITY, INDIA AccorHotels has opened a combined Pullman & Novotel New Delhi Aerocity project which adds 670 international-standard rooms at the gateway to India. The 270-room Pullman and 400-room Novotel are located in close proximity to Indira Ghandi International Airport and offer easy access to the prominent business hubs of Gurgaon and New Delhi. Set around a central garden and outdoor heated pool, guests can enjoy the facilities of both during their stay including a spa, with a wide range of Ayurverdic, Thai and Swedish treatments, plus a fully equipped health club and heated pool. The Pullman was launched as the brand’s 100th hotel globally and features a gorgeous design themed around a peacock, while the adjoining Novotel is one of the best examples of the brand’s classic blend of modernity, design, simplicity and efficiency.
NOVOTEL PHU QUOC, VIETNAM Located on one of the island’s most beautiful white-sand beaches, Novotel Phu Quoc offers an unforgettable resort experience with views of turquoise waters, lush vegetation and a wide-range of hotel amenities, eco- tourism activities and attractions for guests of all ages. The resort is conveniently located near Duong Dong town and close to many of the island’s top attractions, such as Sao beach, Ham Ninh fishing village and various pearl farms. There are 366 rooms including private pool villas and there is also 650 square metres of meeting and event space. Dining options include Food Exchange, featuring international a la carte and buffet and guests can also enjoy a selection of cocktails with spectacular views over the Gulf of Thailand from the resort’s Lounge Bar, Pool Bar and Beach Pool Bar. Leisure facilities including a fitness centre, two tennis courts, spa treatments, an outdoor pool, a separate kids’ pool and a kids club, make it an especially great retreat for families.
Upcoming hotels
SOFITEL CITY CENTRE SINGAPORE The 222-room Sofitel Singapore City Centre will be part of the upcoming multi-billion dollar Tanjong Pagar Centre, which will redefine mixed use developments in Singapore. Located between historic Chinatown and the vibrant CBD, Tanjong Pagar Centre will feature Singapore’s tallest building at 290 metres, a prestigious residential and office tower, premier retail and event spaces and the luxury Sofitel hotel, all set around beautifully landscaped parklands and with direct MRT station access. Guests at Sofitel Singapore City Centre will appreciate the unique, state-of-the-art equipment and programmes offered at the Virgin Active gym, as well as a host of health and fitness-related public activities and events at Tanjong Pagar Centre’s Urban Park which can accommodate up to 2,000 people. The 150,000 sq ft Urban Park will be an ideal location to host public fitness events, such as Zumba and yoga, for the broader community, including hotel guests. Positioned as an ‘Integrated Vertical City,’ Tanjong Pagar Centre will provide a holistic, end-to-end hospitality service for hotel guests. Opening late 2016.
SOFITEL SYDNEY DARLING HARBOUR, AUSTRALIA As the city’s newest conference and entertainment precinct gets ready to launch its multi-billion dollar transformation, the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour is set to open in 2017. The 35-storey luxury hotel will boast a rooftop pool with stunning views over the harbour city, several dining outlets and 600 beautifully appointed rooms. Darling Harbour will become the most vibrant entertainment hub in Sydney, just ten minutes from the central business district and providing easy access to Star City Casino, Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Wildlife World plus the Chinese Garden of Friendship and National Maritime Museum. Opening 2017.
MERCURE DANANG BANA HILLS FRENCH VILLAGE, VIETNAM Mercure Bana Hills French Village in Vietnam is truly a unique destination, perched atop a hill reached by a cable car that holds two World Records – for both the longest and highest non-stop single track cable car. The entire village is modelled on 19th century France. The hotel currently features 162 guest rooms with a second phase to finish mid-year, which will bring the total to 455, seven dining outlets, a spa, pool and fitness centre. Fantasy Park provides fun for the whole family and is themed around Jules Verne’s novels Journey to the Centre of the Earth and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with lots of rides and games. There is also a separate Alpine Coaster which winds down the mountains in a stunning course and for more cultural pursuits there is the Linh Ung Pagoda, which is an impressive sight amongst the hills. Bana Hills is located 25 minutes outside of Danang and offers a great base for exploring nearby UNESCO World Heritage sites as well as three golf courses, the Cham Ruins in MySon, Pagodas and Marble Mountain, as well as the charming town of Hoi An. Opening March 2016.
MERCURE MALDIVES KOODDOO RESORT, MALDIVES The Maldives is renowned for being high-end and quite expensive, but the new Mercure Maldives Koodoo Resort is set to change that when it opens late 2016, offering visitors to this pristine paradise one of the best-value accommodation options in the area. The Mercure will open in the south of the Maldives in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll, a spectacular lagoon teeming with colourful marine life and unmatched diving and snorkelling options. It will feature 68 villas (43 overwater), and will be built using local materials, bright colours and stylish furniture, with the interiors designed to reflect the Maldivian culture and the spirit of travel. It will be the only Maldives beach resort directly accessible by domestic plane, without the need of an additional speedboat journey. Facilities will include an all-day restaurant, lobby lounge, pool and pool bar, sunset bar, spa and gym as well as a range of watersports including a dive centre. AccorHotels is also developing a 120-villa Pullman Resort in the Maldives, which will open in 2018. Mercure opening late 2016.
The transformation of the Wembley area of north-west London in the last 15 years has been nothing short of incredible. The most obvious and celebrated symbol of that regeneration is of course England’s new national stadium. Indeed, tales abound of how run-down the antiquated-yet-iconic Empire Stadium at Wembley had become by the time it was unceremoniously bulldozed to the ground after an acrimonious send-off in 2000 — a depressing 1-0 England defeat to the Germans in the driving September rain.
A decade-and-a-half on and very much like the game of today it plays host to, the new stadium is a gleaming beacon of sanitised modernity and corporate hospitality heaven. The surrounding area has benefited from this gentrification too, which is most probably why hotel chains are queuing up to set up shop on the doorstep of a much-improved, internationally-renowned venue.
Hilton London Wembley Executive Lounge
One such chain was Hilton; its London Wembley hotel has slotted into that business-like vibe surrounding the stadium perfectly since opening its doors in 2012. And make no mistake, this hotel is geared up unashamedly for hosting corporate guests and large-scale business get-togethers. Having spent a morning being shown around this 321-room hotel, it’s clear to see that it does it well.
From its exterior with its striking corner-point catching the eye as soon as you walk up to the hotel to the seemingly ceiling-less lobby with its bold use of greys and browns, this Hilton makes a statement-filled first impression. The neutral tonality of the lobby interior is broken up somewhat by the splash of colour brought about by beautiful light fixtures, an array of sporting shirts and jerseys plastered on a wall at the far end and by the wallpaper accompanying the escalator ride up to the second-cum-mezzanine level which depicts all the great sporting events held at Wembley — both old and new.
London Hilton Wembley Lobby
The second floor houses a fitness centre replete with a fantastic indoor pool, an added bonus for guests especially considering the locale and the restriction of space in such a built-up area. Aside from this, however, there is nothing else contained on the level except lift wells and another escalator going up to the Ballroom, Association Restaurant and Icons bar. My guide for the day, Gemma, assures me the space is used for overspill during conference registrations but I can’t help feel the space is somewhat wasted and a blip on what is otherwise a brilliantly designed and decorated hotel.
Indeed, the third floor bears all the hallmarks of a savvy designer throughout. The Grand Ballroom, where the majority of the conferences and meetings held at the hotel take place, is a fine example of an event space and is one of the better designed ones I’ve seen in the capital; the space has a feel of luxury about it thanks to lush carpets and grand light fixtures. With enough room for 900 delegates, the flexibility to be laid out in a variety of set-ups depending on the function as well as cleverly-placed exits and entrances to the restaurant and bar to keep delegates within the event space rather than wandering off elsewhere — this is an example of canny design.
The Association Restaurant itself also contains pleasing touches of design; in a bid to remove the feeling of eating in a canteen it has been broken up into sections through good use of walls and dividers. And a London-themed wall display made up of custom-made plates marking major landmarks throughout the city was a particular favourite of mine. Again, the neutrality of the lobby’s colour scheme has been used in the Icons bar with browns, whites and pale greens dominating with the occasional accentuation of colour added by bright red, high-backed armchairs.
I’m next shown a more intimate meetings and events space on the fourth floor, which comes with guest rooms on the same level — all of which can be hired out by smaller groups looking to keep an element of privacy or exclusivity to their events. All meeting rooms have excellent AV capabilities and are decorated slightly more sumptuously than the Ballroom below, with well-appointed carpets and furnishings.
Guest rooms are a very generous size; their walls and carpets decorated with muted browns, deep purples and subtle yellows. Stunningly simple headboards above the beds frame the rooms perfectly on entry. As with the rest of the hotel’s spaces, the bedrooms are well-lit thanks to the large floor-to-ceiling windows which are simply dressed with delicate mesh and two-tone fabric curtains. In the suites, an extra living room also benefits from the generous natural light, and those built into the building’s pointed façade (often a nightmare for interior designers ‘gifted’ by the architects) have dealt with this issue by placing a prominent pillar to keep the space contained.
The bathrooms I saw were tiled in brilliant black-and-white, with beautiful plain white ceramics and bold, statement taps. A very good-sized, LED-bordered mirror sits above the basin offering a reflection of the entire space.
The last spot on my whistle-stop tour is the executive lounge and Sky Bar 9 — appropriately located on the ninth floor — with both offering incredible views of Wembley Stadium and the cityscape beyond, especially from the outdoor terrace. These are stylish and elegant spaces, as expected from a Hilton property located in a capital. In the lounge, I particularly love the copper, fish bowl-shaped pendant lampshades and photographs of iconic artists who have performed at the nearby arena and stadium. And in the Sky Bar 9 I’m instantly drawn to the striking, gregarious yellow upholstery and cladding.
Where the designers may have had to work with an element of restraint in decorating the corporate spaces within the hotel, they were clearly given a lot more freedom to play with on the ninth floor. It’s the best designed and pleasingly decorated space in the whole hotel and marks the high-point of a fine piece of work by both design and architectural teams. From my lofty viewpoint, it was impossible to avoid seeing the numerous construction projects going up left-right-and-centre in the Wembley area and beyond. It won’t be long before this Hilton is entirely encircled by commercial and residential properties all around, but many will have a long way to go if they are to deliver a finished article as elegantly functional as this…
Based on a visit in February 2016 Photos by Daniel Fountain // Hilton Media Centre (hilton.com) www.hilton.com
Over the last few years we have seen a new type of guest evolve – they’re knowledgeable, savvy and will rarely be caught without their smartphone in hand. Whether it’s looking up the local hot spots, using maps to navigate around a new city or trying to book a table at the hotel restaurant, millennials will be doing it digitally. Mark Brooks-Belcher, Global Sales Director at Quadriga, explains…
Millennials are looking for a quick, flexible and efficient service, all in real-time. They also expect this to be tailored specifically to their preferences, meaning any form of communication needs to be as instant and effortless as possible. While this may seem like a lot, it’s actually just a combination of things that hoteliers should already be implementing and if not, certainly planning towards.
Hoteliers should be making digital a part of everything they do – taking it beyond traditional interactions such as self-check in and in-room entertainment, to the power of digital marketing, personalisation and real-time information delivery.
Photo: hotelkamp.com
Guests are becoming more demanding for interactive platforms that have the ability to self-serve and provide information at their fingertips. Hotels that implement digital signage solutions across the board will not only be projecting a stronger, more unified brand image, but ensuring any millennials staying with you aren’t greeted by A4 paper signs in Times New Roman font.
marriott.co.uk
With technology only set to advance, hoteliers need to ensure they’re catering for the digital demand that their millennial guests are searching for, all the while providing a streamline experience. This new generation of jet-setters not only expect, but demand a quick, flexible and efficient service, soon becoming aggravated or confused by limited access to information, and the inability to use digital platforms throughout their stay.
Recent examples of Quadriga’s solutions at hotels include designing and installing a converged solution offering high quality WiFi and wired internet access across all the rooms at the Pullman Liverpool as well as a TV system offering a ‘better-than-home experience’. At the various hotels of the Kämp Group in Finland Quadriga integrated several technological services under one umbrella; and at the Renaissance Malmo was tasked with updating the listed building’s internet access without damaging the aesthetics of the highly-rated hotel.
The swiftly expanding serviced apartment provider Skyline recently announced the opening of its latest acquisition; the newest building located in the prestigious Canary Wharf and Docklands area.
Lincoln Plaza by Skyline is a serviced apartment development offering stylish, sophisticated accommodation for family, leisure or corporate travellers in a location boasting an international reputation and status.
Comprised of two principal apartment towers, Duckman Tower and Jackson Tower, the development is divided into units of studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, all designed to offer spaciousness, as well as modern lifestyle facilities, all finished to the highest of standards. Skyline is currently servicing 40 of these units. This will increase to over 80 by April this year.
Lincoln Plaza is within easy walking distance of Canary Wharf Station and will, by the end of the year, have further amenities added, including a swimming pool, gym, cinema room and residents’ lounge. Skyline is already the leading provider of serviced apartments in the Canary Wharf area, and this latest acquisition will serve to firmly consolidate that position.
Skyline’s founder, CEO and Director, Thiago Hahn, said: “This chic, sophisticated and spacious new addition to the Skyline portfolio is a key aspect of our London expansion and constitutes another major step forward in our business development plans for 2016.”
During the first half of 2016, Skyline is planning to expand its London portfolio still further by offering two more properties; Providence Tower in Canary Wharf and Euston Reach in the King’s Cross area, to add to over 350 Skyline serviced apartments throughout London.
Park Regis Birmingham, the city’s newest four-star hotel and the brand’s first in Europe welcomed its first guests on Tuesday 29th March.
The £50 million development at Five Ways has undergone a vast transformation, with 1960s office tower ‘Auchinleck House’ having been converted into the sleek and modern upscale hotel. With 253 bedrooms, two junior suites and the largest presidential suite in the city, Park Regis Birmingham is set to become a destination for both leisure and business travellers.
Photo: parkregisbirmingham.co.uk
The hotel plays host to two restaurants; the fourth-floor ‘1565’ restaurant and bar will feature signature dishes, grills and classics, as well as be home to one of the city’s largest outdoor terrace spaces. ‘Rofuto’, its 16th-floor Japanese eatery, is a concept by former Ivy head chef Des McDonald. At 137-ft in the air, Rofuto and its accompanying cocktail lounge and Sake bar ‘Kurabu’ will provide panoramic views across the city.
The hotel also boasts an executive level complete with conference and meeting spaces and a business lounge with check-in facilities. In addition, Park Regis is also home to ‘Shakina’ Urban Dry Spa, offering indulgent treatments in its state of the art therapy rooms, as well as a gym for hotel residents.
Specialist business property adviser Christie & Co has been appointed to sell and is inviting offers for six Mercure-Branded Hotels.
All six properties are available free and clear of the current management but with the benefit of a franchise agreement with Accor under their Mercure brand. The hotels are available on a whole, sub-group or single asset basis…
Mercure Bowdon Altrincham Hotel – This freehold hotel is located in one of Cheshire’s most affluent suburbs close to many key commercial and leisure attractions. The property comprises 87 en-suite bedrooms, restaurant, bar and a variety of meeting rooms. The leisure facilities include a gym, swimming pool, sauna and steam room.
Mercure Chester North Woodhey House Hotel – This freehold hotel ccomprises 75 en-suite bedrooms arranged over 3 floors on an extensive freehold site. The property has on-site leisure club facilities with mini gym, sauna, steam room and swimming pool. Large conferencing facilities allow for a maximum capacity of 250 guests in addition to a restaurant, bar and 200 car parking spaces.
Mercure Hatfield Oak Hotel – This property is located close to the A1M motorway and comprises 76 en-suite bedrooms, restaurant, bar and a range of meeting facilities.
Mercure Telford Madeley Court Hotel – This freehold Grade II listed country house property also includes modern detached bedroom blocks and function suites on site. The hotel’s location and large function space means it benefits from commercial, leisure and wedding demand. Enjoying a lake setting in extensive grounds, the hotel’s main building dates back to 1544 and comprises 17 en-suite bedrooms, a selection of small function spaces, restaurant, bar and wine cellar which can host up to 60 guests.
Mercure Wolverhampton Goldthorn Hotel – This freehold hotel comprises 74 en-suite bedrooms arranged over 2 buildings. The accommodation consists of a restaurant, 2 bars, a variety of meeting rooms and leisure facilities including a gym, swimming pool, sauna and steam room.
Mercure Wigan Oak Hotel – This hotel is available as a long leasehold. This is a purpose-built property comprising 88 en-suite bedrooms arranged over 5 floors served by a single passenger lift. There are a variety of function rooms, large restaurant, bar and a terrace area adjoining the main function suite. The hotel is within walking distance of the main shopping attractions of Wigan and a short drive from the DW Stadium, home to Wigan Athletic FC and Wigan Warriors RLFC.
Jeremy Jones, Head of Brokerage – Hotels, at Christie & Co commented: “These hotels are each located within vibrant regional UK trading markets. Initial interest has been very encouraging on a group, sub-group and single asset basis.”
Award-winning design practice Areen Hospitality has completed the first phase of the 467 guest room renovation of the iconic Westin Palace Madrid, one of the oldest and most prestigious hotels in Spain.
This latest appointment adds to Areen’s growing reputation within the international hospitality sector, offering clients both interior design and procurement on an integrated basis from a single supplier.
The design concepts allowed a fresh interpretation of the hotel’s classic heritage and location, alongside a more contemporary and revitalising ambience to be created for the interiors of its guest rooms and suites.
As Andrew Linwood, Head of Design, Areen Hospitality, explains: “Leading international hotels, such as the Westin Palace Madrid, are increasingly looking at renovation opportunities to maintain brand values and provide guests with the standard expected. Their investment provides a great return, in terms of both customer experience and building brand loyalty.
“We’re delighted to have been appointed on this latest renovation project which follows on from our success on the refurbishment of Sheraton hotels in Zagreb, Bucharest and Stockholm.”
East Devon’s Deer Park has revealed its new additions at its estate – including the Orangery, which will boost the hotel’s wedding offering.
The owners have also revamped several main bedrooms as well as the estate’s gardens. Deer Park Hotel has also unveiled its new luxury thatched tree house. Designed by Blue Forest, the one-bedroom offering has a lounge with log burner and tree-top balcony.
In addition, the new three-bedroom CEO House accommodation adds to the corporate offering at Deer Park.
Commenting on these new developments at the Deer Park, managing director, Mark Godfrey says: “I know we’re bound to be bias, but to say the new Orangery is exquisite is an understatement. The craft and skill which has gone into its design is outstanding.”
The Hotel Designs Summit has announced a date change from May to September to accommodate the needs of all those designers, hoteliers and developers interested in coming along.
HD Publisher Katy Phillips said: “Research in to the market has shown us that the latter part of the year is favourable with this audience and in order to deliver the best event possible we need to respond to the views expressed by this market.”
Supported by partner HotelDesigns.net, the Summit will now take place on September 12th – 13th 2016 at the Radisson Blu, London Stansted.
The main aim of the event remains; to bring together suppliers and buyers from across the industry by supporting new and existing client relationships. In addition, we’ll look forward to welcoming first class speakers from within this truly vast sector.
Royal Warrant holder, Brintons, has been awarded the prestigious Woven Carpet Design Installation of the Year award for its Art Deco inspired carpets at Quaglino’s.
Celebrating quality, style and innovation, Campaign for Wool’s International Wool Carpet and Rug awards was launched for the first time at this year’s Wool Floor Show in London.
Hosted on the 23rd March at Stamford Bridge in London, the awards included 14 different categories, some of which were sponsored by leading interiors magazines.
Ranging from Rug Design of the Year to the award for Innovation in Yarn Development, Brintons was awarded Woven Carpet Design Installation of the Year award for its 1930s inspired designs that it created for the renowned Mayfair based restaurant and late night venue, Quaglino’s.
Brintons supplied a striking custom carpet featuring geometric designs for the restaurant to compliment the period’s style of its multimillion pound refurbishment project. The carpet was installed throughout the restaurant and staircase, featuring a dramatic linear style to reflect the Art Deco influence of the interiors.
Sarah Draper, Commercial Marketing Manager for Brintons, said: “We are really honoured to have received such a fantastic award from such a renowned industry figure, Campaign for Wool.
“Our range of designers utilise our 230 year old archive to create bespoke creations that truly reflect a commercial interiors specific identity. Working with Quaglino’s to create such a stunning Art Deco design was a fantastic experience and we are delighted for our work to have been recognised with such a prestigious award.”
Brintons was at the Wool Floor Show with its latest commercial collection, QuickWeave, which offers a shorter turnaround time and is ideal for clients who are working on projects where timing is of the essence.
For more information on Brintons and its range of products and services for the commercial sector, visit www.brintons.net or call 01562 635665.
ME Cabo has officially reopened following an extensive $16 million renovation. All of the hotel’s rooms, suites and public spaces have been revamped to elevate the overall guest experience and cement its place as one of the destination’s most popular resorts. Architects, Patricia Rios and Leonardo Díaz Borioli, have worked alongside renowned interior designer Alejandra Contreras to completely transform the property.
The resort features 162 guest rooms, including 62 ME+ Suites, which combine Mexican culture and design with modern resort amenities to create a luxurious beachfront experience. ME Cabo offers exclusive custom-designed furniture and décor pieces handcrafted by Mexican masons, carpenters and craftsmen, and new custom-designed wallpaper. The Lobby and Rose Bar are decorated with brightly coloured fabrics, while contrasting shades of grey and white provide an elegant and soothing vibe in the guestrooms, as well as a re-tiled pool deck and new beach club.
ME Cabo’s culturally traditional artwork was curated to complement the modern re-design of the hotel. The property showcases unique paintings and sculptures by celebrated Mexican artist Yuri Zatarain, which are displayed in guestrooms and public spaces, as well as contemporary images by Portland, Oregon-based photographer Kineo.
Alvaro Tejeda, Regional Vice President of The Americas at Meliá Hotels International said: “The unveiling of ME Cabo’s highly anticipated property renovations is a thrilling time for our brand and this property. Guests will be welcomed by a new level of luxury and entertainment that is sure to facilitate memorable ME experiences for even the most discerning travellers.”
A consortium led by Anbang Insurance has increased its all-cash offer to acquire Starwood Hotels & Resorts to $82.75 per share for $13.9 billion. The revised, non-binding offer is “reasonably likely to lead to a superior proposal” than one from Marriott, allowing the company to engage in discussions with the Beijing-based group, according to a statement from Starwood.
This new offer comes after a bidding war between Marriott International and Anbang. Marriott had struck a $12.2 billion deal to acquire Starwood Hotels & Resorts in November, creating the world’s largest hotel company. But a consortium led by China’s Anbang Insurance Group offered $13.2 billion for the company at $78 per share. Marriott countered by raising its offer to $21 per share, valuing the total bid at $13.6 billion or $79.43 per share.
According to a Marriott statement, it is committed to completing the deal with Starwood but has not yet raised its current offer. “Starwood stockholders should give serious consideration to the question of whether the Anbang-led consortium will be able to close the proposed transaction, with a particular focus on the certainty of the consortium’s financing and the timing of any required regulatory approvals.”
“The Starwood board will carefully consider the outcome of its discussions with the consortium in order to determine the course of action that is in the best interest of Starwood and its stockholders,” Starwood said in a statement.
Under the terms of the consortium’s current, revised proposal, it would acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Starwood for $82.75 per share in cash, an increase of $4.75 per share from the consortium’s prior binding proposal on March 18th, 2016 for $81 per share.
ME by Meliá is set to launch its first luxury lifestyle hotel in the United States in vibrant Downtown Miami in April 2016.
ME Miami will be located in the epicentre of the city’s cultural hotspots, such as Pérez Art Museum, Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center and the highly anticipated Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science, which will open in summer 2016. It will also be within close proximity to the thriving Miami Design District, Midtown and the Arts & Entertainment community.
The luxury lifestyle hotel will boast 129 rooms across 14 floors, including three ME+ suites, many of which feature their own private balcony with views overlooking Biscayne Bay and Downtown Miami. Situated on the 11th floor, the signature Suite ME will offer guests tropical floor-to-ceiling vistas, as well as a private bar. Additionally, a luxurious Personality Suite and Style Suite will be located on the 14th floor.
ME Miami’s interiors will be a fusion of contemporary and innovative design with cream and grey hues, accompanied by bursts of gold and silver to reflect the city’s energy and vibrant personality. Upcoming global fashion photographer, Alberto Van Stokkum, has been commissioned by the brand to create a bespoke collection of artworks exclusively for ME Miami that will be showcased throughout the hotel.
ME by Meliá hotels are renowned for their breathtaking rooftop spaces, with the brand’s flagship hotel ME London and ME Milan Il Duca featuring rooftop bars with impressive, panoramic skyline views. Located on the 14th floor terrace, ME Miami will feature two swimming pools; a main pool and infinity pool. It will also offer a bar and lounge area, surrounded by sunbeds and cabanas, so that guests can take in the views of Miami’s skyline, whilst relaxing to laidback beats from the hottest DJs.
ME Miami is a key addition to Meliá Hotels International’s expanding hotel portfolio and the company, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, already has a strong presence in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.
The opening of ME Miami follows closely in the footsteps of ME Milan Il Duca, which opened in May 2015; ME Mallorca and ME Ibiza launched in 2014; and the flagship hotel, ME London, opened in 2013 and ME Madrid, the first ME by Meliá hotel, launched in 2006. The brand will continue to expand with openings in key markets including ME Caracas in 2016, ME Barcelona in 2017 and ME Dubai, which has been designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, is set to launch in 2018
Hyatt Hotels has announced the opening of Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro combines the brand’s effortless luxury experience with a Brazilian design and hospitality in an urban resort setting. Guests can enjoy its prime beachfront location in the exclusive Barra da Tijuca neighbourhood and access to world-class shopping, dining, cultural and outdoor activities.
As the second Grand Hyatt hotel in Brazil, Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro is a significant addition to Hyatt’s existing portfolio in South America and the growing brand portfolio. The hotel is meticulously designed to exemplify the Grand Hyatt brand’s signature level of grandeur with an abundance of options for creating spectacular experiences. Every aspect of the hotel, from simple delights to elaborate gatherings, embodies the brand mantra of Living Grand, an expression of the ways in which Grand Hyatt hotels deliver extraordinary experiences and infuse care into every encounter.
“We are delighted to open our first hotel in Rio de Janeiro, a vibrant destination known for its natural beauty and hospitality. Expanding Hyatt’s brand presence in South America is critical to our global expansion strategy as we bring more quality experiences to our loyal guests in destinations where they want to travel to,” said Pete Sears, group president – Americas for Hyatt. “With much attention on Brazil this summer, we couldn’t be more excited to welcome travelers from around the world to Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro.”
Designed by internationally acclaimed interior designer Yabu Pushelberg and with the local assistance of Brazilian designer firm Anastassiadis Arquitetos, the hotel provides a relaxed, care-free coastal living experience with large balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows, along with stones and fabrics authentic to Brazil.
The 436 guestrooms include 40 suites, two 1,561 square foot Presidential Suites, and one 2,100 square foot Penthouse Suite with a 1,248 square feet terrace including a lounge area and a plunge pool. The stunning beachfront location affords all of the guestrooms views of the blue-green Atlantic Ocean or the magnificent Marapendi Lagoon that surrounds the hotel. Among the special local touches, each guestroom has Brazilian flip-flop sandals, and in the botanical tradition of Brazil’s oldest pharmacy, Granado bath amenities.
Award-winning German bathroom specialist Hansgrohe launched a brand new concept ‘Water Studio’ in the heart of London’s design district on 1st March.
Marking the latest chapter in their remarkable story, The Water Studio specification centre will act as a hub of inspiration, resource and a collaborative space for those serious about creating show-stopping bathrooms. Situated at 12-16 on the bustling Clerkenwell Road and spread over two floors totaling 262m2, The Water Studio is a true brand experience and brings water to life through the Hansgrohe SE values of innovation, sustainability, quality, design and expertise.
UK Managing Director, Martin Mongan, comments, “Customer intimacy has been a key driver for us in the UK over the past few years and this new London home allows us to get even closer to the talented A&D community. This means offering both practical project support and building stronger professional relationships.”
Share, Explore and Learn Unlike conventional ‘showrooms’, The Water Studio is all about interaction. In addition to four working water stations and more than 200 products, other features include podiums with ‘Quick Connectors’ that allow easy exchange of products to showcase function and a ‘Behind the Wall’ area for installation tips. The first of its kind globally from Hansgrohe, the ‘Test Rig’ allows measurement and comparison of different products’ flow rates using sensors.
Come Together and be Inspired Visitors to The Water Studio can become acquainted with Hansgrohe’s unique interactive online tool, iSpecify, which is accessible through screens within the space. Designed to make specifying as simple and user-friendly as possible, iSpecify provides inspiration with a growing library of global reference projects and can highlight exact product details to generate a Hansgrohe or Axor specification. For meetings, a large open design table faces out to the bustling Clerkenwell Road where customers: professional specifier, retailer or end consumer can discuss their project requirements over coffee.
Experience the Art of Moving Water Water is evident throughout the studio in more abstract, artistic expressions, such as the central ‘cascade’ feature. Here, working showerheads and mixers are set against the backdrop of a 4D-mapped ‘digital waterfall’ animated artwork, inspired by the power of water harnessed and engineered by Hansgrohe. Further artistic water-statements are the window display which features billowing fabric evocative of water flowing from an Axor Starck V mixer tap and the Axor WaterDream installation sculpture (by Front) hangs above the staircase.
Part of the Hansgrohe Global Family Designed by international Experiential Design Agency, I-AM, The Water Studio’s strategic location will serve as a project base for professionals specifying bathrooms both in the UK and overseas. It will also act as an important global hub for the Hansgrohe family, for launches, events and for overseas subsidiaries to meet and visit with their customers. Hansgrohe retail partners are encouraged to use the space with their customers and experience the brand first-hand. They will be introduced to the world of Hansgrohe, whilst being supported and advised by the Clerkenwell expert team where they can refine and agree their personal Hansgrohe requirements.
Another week, and another fascinating speaker announced for the Hotel Designs Summit (12th-13th September, 2016 at Radisson Blu, London Stansted) – this time; the founder of the eponymous Elizabeth Marsh Floral Design.
Elizabeth is one of the last independent artists to design and install the window displays at Harvey Nicholls. She spent 20 years working at the top of the London floral scene working with Le Caprice and the Ivy back in their heyday and still working closely with the Corbin and King group today.
And Elizabeth has now extended her repertoire as the company has grown to help top retail companies such as Rolex, Mappin & Webb and Montblanc to not only protect but also galvanise their brand through the use of flowers.
She is fast developing a reputation for state-of-the-art Christmas decorations and was recently commissioned to create an avant-garde art installation for the Top Drawer giftware exhibition at Olympia.
In her book, Petal Performance: the Art and Economics of Floral Design, she talks about her philosophy on flowers and floral décor: aimed at helping managers and individuals alike to achieve the maximum value from their floral décor.
At the Summit, Elizabeth will be speaking about the economics of floral design in the hotel industry and how to get the best out of investing in it.
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.
Lea Marston Hotel, in the heart of the Midlands, has revealed 30 new bedrooms and suites as part of its near £2 million investment.
Set in 75 acres of North Warwickshire countryside, the award-winning hotel now boasts an impressive 118 luxury ensuite rooms, as well as extensive wedding, spa, conferencing and event facilities. The additional superior, executive and luxury suites have been provided in a brand new extension to the hotel, spanning two floors and overlooking the golf course.
All 30 air-conditioned rooms have been styled by local designer Ilze Reinke, based in No Mans Heath, and feature warm contemporary interiors, cutting edge technology and the little luxuries that are in keeping with Lea Marston Hotel’s ethos of providing a warm welcome.
As well as the new build, the hotel has been given a brand new look with extensive refurbishment throughout. An additional 30 members of staff have been taken on to help keep day-to-day operations running smoothly as the business goes through this latest phase of growth.
The new look and new rooms were unveiled at a special launch party last week attended by 100 guests and visitors, including suppliers, corporate customers and the hotel’s long-standing health club members.
Lea Marston Hotel sales and marketing director, Phillip Allsopp, said: “As a family-run hotel group, we are always looking to grow and expand our offering in order to maintain our reputation as one of the best independent hotels in the Midlands.
“With so much to offer here at Lea Marston Hotel and in the wider surrounding area, demand is always high and the new rooms represent one of our most significant investments to date. Although the additional facilities have only been available for a few weeks, we have already had nights where we have been sold-out across the hotel, which is fantastic news for the area.”
There are just two months to go to Clerkenwell Design Week, 24 – 26 May 2016. In addition to inspirational product launches, the central theme for Morgan at this year’s event in their 1, Dallington Street showroom is wellness in the workplace.
Relaxing music, an indoor garden and alternatives to spending 6 hours at a desk will be ideas that are explored as ways of improving the working environment.
A programme of events will include an art installation, talk and workshop by Remi Rough that considers the effect of art in our environment and colouring in ‘therapy’.
Three key product launches will include additions to the Manhattan collection and a new Lucca meeting bench with stools that are ideal for informal meetings and break-out areas. Visitors who were wowed last year by the 3D printed RIO seating collection, can anticipate occasional tables also using 3D printing that will be unveiled during the event.
Downtown Rotana, Manama has officially opened its doors and is welcoming guests to its slick-city property in the heart of the Bahraini capital. Set against the iconic backdrop of the Manama ‘souq’ and the city’s central business and financial district skyline, the new 26-storey property is the third new property opening in Bahrain for Rotana, the leading hotel management company in the MENA, South Asia and Eastern European regions.
Boasting striking design elements and panoramic city views, the hotel is a perfect blend of contemporary minimalism and understated elegance; designed to complement the quality and sophistication of Bahrain’s hospitality scene.
The new hotel sits in downtown Manama, and is walking distance from the historical Bab Al Bahrain and traditional local market; key corporate hubs such as the Bahrain Financial Harbour and the World Trade Centre; and a short drive from the country’s largest retail and entertainment outlets.
With flourishing development being made in its growth strategy, Rotana is set to continue its ambitious expansion plans across the globe. Mr. Omer Kaddouri, President and CEO of Rotana spoke regarding future prospects: “This year we will roll out 10 new properties across different markets including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey, DR Congo, Jordan and Iraq. With the opening of Downtown Rotana, our company’s inventory in the Kingdom [of Bahrain] has increased to more than 680 rooms.”
The resort offers 249 rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, high-speed internet connection, and 48inch flat screen TVs, in addition to Club Rotana Executive Rooms and Lounge. Downtown Rotana is also home to seven state-of-the-art meeting rooms and a spacious and elegantly-designed ballroom. The new hotel also offers four new dining concepts, including the award-winning ‘Teatro Downtown’ and ‘Flavours on 2’; a relaxed setting serving international flavours.
Leisure facilities include a rooftop swimming pool, a Bodylines Fitness and Wellness Club with professional instructors and a fully-equipped gym, as well as a sauna, steam-room, Jacuzzi and treatment rooms.
Newmor Wallcoverings launched two new designs this month which add raw tiled textures and intricate herringbone weaves to their collection of commercial quality fabric-backed vinyl wallcoverings.
Sorrento (pictured above) is a burnished tile effect available in 19 lustrous metallic and buffed matte tones. The deeply embossed surface catches the light, and metallic inks create a dramatic ever-changing effect. In contrast, the matte colourways have an attractive rough plaster quality.
Suzanne Edwards, Newmor Design Manager, gave us an insight into the development of the design: “This sumptuous design draws on trends which are evolving in commercial interiors – weathered metals, raw surfaces and textured etched surfaces. Don’t miss the copper, petrol and putty tones.”
Herringbone (pictured below) is a tactile tweed design inspired by British tailoring and traditional artisanal weaving techniques. This faithful representation of the much loved textile is available in 16 versatile colours, from cotton whites, to cognac browns and contemporary teals.
Moray Forrest, International Sales Director of Newmor, explains: “We see the design becoming a modern classic in our range. The considered palette has something for every market sector, and the design is distinctive and on-trend while remaining versatile for use in all sectors – from hotels to healthcare.”
Newmor have also extended the Write ‘n’ Wipe range to include dry-wipe surfacing on a roll. As easy to install as standard wide-width wallcovering, this can be used straight after installation and is available by the meter for next day dispatch. Cover any area large or small, including curved walls and folding doors.
After a two-year, £1.7 million revitalisation project Foxhills Club & Resort in Surrey has unveiled its two new double-storey, 200-square-metre Deluxe Suites.
The Deluxe Suites are situated in the heart of the resort, close to the health spa and first tee of the Longcross Championship golf course. Interior designers Parker Liddell have drawn inspiration from Foxhills’ quintessential English country setting to meticulously create two elegant interiors, using mainly bespoke British furniture to retain the air of a country cottage.
The soothing hues selected for the ground floor sitting rooms are a neutral palette of soft grey and deep blue in one suite, with olive green and taupe in the other. These colours are accented throughout each suite in the L-shape sofa and footstool from the Sofa Studio of Romsey, Hampshire. The wooden dining table from Bampton Design of Witney is complemented by a well-equipped drinks bar, whilst bespoke woollen carpets have been commissioned and woven in Denmark by Hammer Carpets.
Stairs lead up to the mezzanine level bedroom where the exposed beams and the original king truss ceiling scape are preserved. Wallpapered in a restful Bellflower design by Colefax & Fowler, with a super-king size Hypnos bed, the bedroom area features mirrors and pictures supplied by Quintessa Art in North London. Windows are adorned with handmade rick silk drapes in Harlequin fabric and Sanderson braids for a smart, contemporary touch.
The sumptuous bathroom features a freestanding stone bath, separate shower with over-sized shower head, and an elegant double vanity unit.
Foxhills’ General Manager, Jason Adams commented: “Our new Deluxe Suites are a fitting enhancement to our 70 well-appointed bedrooms, taking the standard of accommodation to yet another level. We expect them to be particularly popular with couples celebrating a special occasion or enjoying a luxurious golf or spa break.”
Inspired by Art Deco, the most fashionable international design movement in modern art from 1925 until the 1940s, luxury fabric specialist Kobe is launching its Elegance collection of opulent curtain and upholstery fabrics.
Providing endless creative opportunities, this rich array of innovative fabrics features statement pieces, combined with timeless plains and semi plains in sumptuous velvet, woven jacquard, cool linen and soft silk and satin appearance.
Reflecting the lavish glamour reminiscent of this style period, a palette of soft and sumptuous shades ranging from metallic tones to gentle graceful hues, complements the distinct and intricate designs of geometric, floral, medallion and trellis patterns,
David Harris, managing director of Kobe UK, said: “The Elegance collection is inspired by the Art Deco era to create a range of fabrics that make a statement of elegance and grandeur. The collection uses a blend of rich velvets and soft satins to create an ambience of pure luxury in any interior.”
All Kobe’s upholstery fabrics offer exceptional durability, scoring highly on the Martindale Rub Test.
Kobe’s UK operation is based in Crowthorne, Berkshire T: 01344 771653 F: 01344 771663 E: salesuk@kobe.eu
Simpsons is proud to announce the new Arcade Nickel range, an elegant range of shower enclosures to suit the most exquisite of tastes.
Arcade comes exclusively in a tasteful nickel finish, exuding traditional flair. Also included in the range is a bath screen, so any bathroom size or set-up is catered for.
To see this and all the other ranges in the Crosswater portfolio, click here…
Chelsom bolsters its Sales team with the appointment of Karen Brennan as Sales Consultant for the South of England as the company consolidates its position as a leading designer, manufacturer and supplier of decorative lighting to the international hospitality and marine markets.
Cementing what has been a particularly successful eighteen months for the company, Chelsom has recently appointed a highly experienced new team member to further enhance the continued expansion of the Chelsom brand. The new appointment accompanies a series of high profile international project wins and a significant increase in sales across the global hotel, marine and leisure sectors.
Chelsom Swing Reading Lamp
With a professional background in the interior design market spanning more than 20 years in both the UK and UAE, Karen Brennan has spent the last 8 years specialising in the contract hospitality marketplace. Her career to date has provided her with a thorough understanding of the decorative contract market and she brings with her a wealth of experience from her previous roles with companies including Decca Furniture, JAB Furnishings and Skopos Design. During her time in these positions Karen has developed a large number of key relationships within the hospitality industry and has completed projects across a wide client base including Langham Hotels, Monaco Yacht Club, IHG Group, Accor, Hilton Worldwide and St. Regis Hotels to name a few.
Chelsom – Esprit Cove Lounge
Brennan says “During my career in the contract market and within the hospitality environment specifically, I have understood that providing first class client service is the corner stone of any business relationship. I want to add that first class service to Chelsom’s enviable reputation for superior design and quality. Having had a sneak preview of the 2016 collection I am even more excited about joining the UK’s leading hospitality lighting specialist.”
Sales Director, Philip Macaulay says: “We have been very diligent in our search for the right person to join the Sales team. Karen understands the Chelsom ethos and all we are looking to achieve and is well respected within the industry. We are delighted to welcome Karen to the team, she’s certainly coming on board at a very exciting time ready to tackle the opportunities ahead in 2016 with the launch of our new lighting collections, Edition 25, around the corner in May.”
Hamilton Litestat is confirmed as one of just eight exhibitors to showcase its product range at the annual conference for the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID). Set to explore the theme of ‘interior identities’ this year, the BIID Conference will take place on 16th June 2016 at Royal Geographical Society in London.
British designer and manufacturer Hamilton Litestat will display its high quality decorative electrical wiring accessories, lighting control and multi-room audio systems at the event. With its design-led collection of products created to meet the exacting project demands of architects, interior designers and interior specifiers, Hamilton is a trusted partner and solutions provider to the sector.
Gavin Williams, Marketing Manager of Hamilton Litestat, says: “The interior design industry is extremely important to Hamilton and we’re delighted that our commitment and strong working relationship with interior designers and specifiers will be reinforced by attending such a central show as the British Institute of Interior Design Conference.”
Rex Liddiard, Marketing & Events Exec at the BIID, adds: “Since joining the British Institute of Interior Design in June last year, Hamilton has shown dedication and commitment to creativity and interior design, making it a valued ‘Industry Partner’ to the BIID. We look forward to welcoming Hamilton and its innovative, style-led collection of products to our conference.”
Hamilton Litestat will showcase its portfolio of 18 designer switch plate and socket collections that span current trends and classic designs. Manufactured in metal, plastic, wood and glass, the collections are available in a variety of finishes, including four new shades of bronze.
Its in-house design and manufacturing service allows Hamilton Litestat to also produce bespoke non-standard size plates in a special finish or colour to meet the requirements of any design project. One-of-a-kind electrical accessory solutions are created, with highly finished prototypes provided as standard to ensure the bespoke solution is exactly right for the interior environment.
Come and meet the Hamilton Litestat team on Stand: E
Hollywood director Guy Ritchie is set to convert a barn on his Ashcombe House estate into a luxury hotel and spa resort, according to media reports.
The 12-room hotel and spa, with indoor pool, cinema and library, will be built amongst a shooting retreat on his 1,200-acre estate. Ritchie has reportedly submitted planning permission papers for the property, which have been approved.
A source, speaking to The Sun newspaper, said: “Guy loves shooting and knows that there’s a gap in the market to provide a world-class retreat for it. He knows that tourists from America and Japan will pay thousands to hunt pheasants in England but they also demand luxury accommodation.”
There is already a USP on the site, as a micro-brewery sits on the estate.
Fusing contemporary and classical influences in a striking bespoke design, Wilton Carpets Commercial has continued its partnership with QHotels, bringing elegance and poise to the carpets at the luxurious Oulton Hall Hotel and Spa.
The interior’s classical architectural features of the 18th century former family mansion work perfectly with the scroll and floral motifs in highlighted with gold accents, while the modern luxury of the four-star hotel is embraced with a contemporary 3D design in charcoal greys that flow through the reception, the design is then simplified for stairs, while in meeting rooms a lighter version of the effect is worked beneath a complimentary motif.
“The classical elegance of Oulton Hall and its status as a four-star destination meant that the carpet had not only to achieve a look befitting of its surroundings, but also reflect the hotel’s position as a destination offering modern levels of luxury and relaxation,” comments Trudi Purtill, director of group development, QHotels. “Wilton Carpets Commercial has once again fulfilled our ambitions with the carpet’s striking and on-point design, the colours working perfectly with the fabrics and furnishings we had chosen for Oulton Hall.”
Some 900 square metres of the bespoke nine-row woven axminster carpet were installed by Pocklington Carpets through the main reception, staircase and gallery, as well as meeting rooms of the hotel. Situated close to Leeds and featuring a luxurious spa and golf course, the 152-room Oulton Hall is set in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside. It is one of 26 premium four-star hotels in the award-winning QHotels group.
For further information contact Wilton Carpets Commercial on 01722 746000 or sales@wiltoncarpets.com
The new modular Brompton sofas by Morgan offer versatile seating arrangement and the highest standards of luxurious lounging.
Designed by Katerina Zachariades, the latest two seat and three seat sofas, two and three seat daybeds and a corner modular sofa have a deeper and softer sit, wider arm and generous loose back cushions.
First launched in 2013, Brompton was designed as a contemporary collection with a traditional touch. The resulting, timeless lounge chairs and sofas were awarded a Design Guild Mark in 2014.
Showcasing Morgan’s expertise in fine upholstery and beautiful timber detailing, the pieces all have a square form with fitted seat cushion, and the lounge chair has an optional, elegant walnut frame.
Hilton Worldwide last week broke ground on its very first Tru by Hilton property located in McDonough, Georgia. The celebration came just eight weeks after its public unveiling, which marks the fastest brand announcement to groundbreaking in Hilton history.
Demonstrating Tru’s promise to ‘break the mould’ at every occasion, the milestone event tossed traditional hard hats and shovels aside, treating guests to an unveiling of 3D chalk paintings created of the hotel’s exterior and guest room design that allowed attendees to feel as though they were part of the hotel.
In addition, attendees had some fun in an interactive photo booth that placed them right inside the lobby of the 98-room, 4-storey hotel. It is expected to be completed in summer of 2017.
The value proposition continues to drive developer interest. Hilton Worldwide announced today that it has 189 Tru hotel deals in process to date, up from 130 hotels in January when the brand launched at The Americas Lodging Investment Summit. When completed, the new Tru by Hilton McDonough will provide guests with smart and efficiently designed guest rooms and reimagined public spaces, including an open lobby with four distinct zones for lounging, working, eating or playing.
It’s fair to say our daily lives are in the midst of an ongoing ‘digital revolution’. So many day-to-day aspects of our lives have now been digitised — no more so than in our homes where technology plays a considerable role in how we do simple, everyday tasks. So it figures, we expect the same if we’re staying at a hotel when travelling — essentially a ‘home away from home’.
This has definitely begun in a whole host of areas ranging from check-in to temperature control. And one such area that is benefitting from the rise of technology is the bathroom. And these innovations aren’t just making life easier and more convenient, but can now offer a personalised, luxurious touch as well.
Digital technology has arrived in the bathroom and it is here to stay. The next step will be to enable even more efficient networking between the different types of digital products and create truly comprehensive digital solutions for the smart home of tomorrow. Hotel Designs Directory members GROHE are pioneering digitisation in sanitary technology and have been at the forefront of industry progress for more than a decade, with products like the GROHE Ondus beginning major design trends…
Intuitive operation for enhanced comfort What all digital GROHE products have in common is that they can be operated intuitively – their user interfaces are simple to understand and self-explanatory, designed to make life easier for the user. At the same time, they incorporate modern technologies to create unique water experiences, which users can enjoy time after time.
F-Digital Deluxe – GROHE
Technologies for personalised luxury GROHE F-digital Deluxe takes the concept of luxurious and personalised showering to the next level. A user can simply select a coloured lighting to suit the mood, favourite music and the right amount of steam to enhance the shower experience. All the individual modules of GROHE F-digital Deluxe can be controlled from a variety of mobile digital devices via an app for ease and convenience.
GROHE Sensia® shower toilets also offer high levels of user comfort. Their cleansing functions can be set and activated via a remote control unit or, for the Arena model, via an app. Simple, intuitive symbols on the keys or touchscreen provide direct access to all functions. All settings – including the temperature of the water, the pressure of the spray and the position of the shower arm – can be personalised to meet each user’s individual needs and preferences.
GROHE Sensia® shower toilets
All digital products from GROHE are designed to enhance their users’ daily lives and create distinctive and enjoyable experiences. In addition, many digital functions also help to save water and energy, allowing users to enjoy a deeply relaxing shower, while also feeling good about saving water and energy.
Kobe won its fifth consecutive Trevira Gold membership award at the annual Trevira CS Club ceremony, in Frankfurt, Germany earlier this month.
The award was presented to the luxury fabric specialist at the Heimtextil International Trade fair and reinforces the company’s continued successful partnership between the Trevira brand and its contract collections. Trevira’s focus on innovation and quality complements the company’s passion for fabrics which reflect the very latest trends for today’s high-end domestic and contract markets.
Many of Kobe’s collections feature a wide range of 100% Trevira CS fabrics, regarded as the highest quality in FR and are enjoyed by the company’s partners, customers and contract projects worldwide.
Trevira is a global supplier of a complete range of polyester products for residential and contract markets, apparel, automotive interiors, hygiene textiles and technical applications.
Kobe’s UK operation is based in Crowthorne, Berkshire. The company has been supplying UK interior design and soft furnishing customers for 20 years and has a first class reputation for outstanding quality, innovative design and excellent customer service.
Jeremy Robson, owner of the Great Northern Hotel in King’s Cross London, has launched a new boutique hotel collection called Aries Hotels and appointed three new members of senior management to support the new venture.
Anthony Lee will be CEO at the GNH as well as spearheading the operational leadership of the new group, Iain Duncan as the group’s marketing director and Andrew Wheal as revenue director.
Jeremy Robson, Owner of Great Northern Hotel and Aries Hotels said: “All three appointments mark a deliberate plan I have put in place to bring extremely strong operational and strategic expertise to Great Northern Hotel and the wider Aries Hotels group, as we strive to become a leading developer and operator of upscale boutique hotels. Following our exciting news of Great Northern Hotel becoming part of Starwood’s Tribute Brand in Q4 of 2015 I am delighted to welcome Anthony, Iain and Andrew to our team to continue our growth and success”.
Congham Hall Hotel in Norfolk has almost completed its latest phase of refurbishment, and some of the refreshed rooms will be available to book from Easter.
Five of the new-look rooms will be ready to book from the Easter period, a further three will be available from the end of April and the final three, including one suite, refurbished in January 2017.
The refurb features a contemporary palette, which complements the manor house’s classic Georgian style, including feature wallpapers by Jane Churchill, paint by Farrow & Ball and Little Greene, elegant illuminations supplied by Jim Lawrence Lighting, fabrics by Hotel Designs Directory membersSanderson and Zoffany and luxurious carpets by fellow HD Directory membersWilton.
One of the new look bedrooms – ‘Clover’
The redesigned Writing Room – the hotel’s wedding venue
Among the stand-out rooms that have been redesigned are the Dandelion, a new honeymoon suite with its own sitting room and private balcony overlooking the parkland and the Writing Room, which is available for meetings, events, private dinners and wedding celebrations.
The changes are the work of the new management who took over and relaunched the hotel in 2013.
After announcing Natalie Gardner and Andrew Linwood in recent weeks, the Hotel Designs Summit is pleased to welcome interior designer Yasmin Chopin to the event at Radisson Blu, London Stansted on 12th-13th September 2016 as a speaker.
Yasmin lives in Cambridgeshire and her practical advice and quirky colourful style is popular with clients across the county and further afield. She is keen to promote sourcing from UK based businesses whenever possible and supports the maker community. To help her clients find a suitable maker, and to provide a service to the interior design profession, Yasmin set up Select a Maker Ltd in 2015.
This is an online directory of UK designer-makers who accept commissions in the interiors and gardens sector. With the aim to support and grow the UK’s bespoke market the site is quickly establishing itself as a comprehensive resource.
Yasmin is regularly engaged as a speaker and writes a monthly column for HouzzUK. Her online activity has gained her a number of accolades and she is listed in the Top 100 Design Influencers by Decorex International.
At the Summit, Yasmin will be presenting on blogging and how it can help your business; where your resources should be going, how to get the most out of it and how it can open doors to new revenue streams.
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.
Oman’s continued hotel construction boom got an additional boost this week after it was announced that Hilton have signed an agreement with local investors to open a Garden Inn hotel in Muscat. It would be Hilton’s first in the Omani capital and the second in the country.
Carlos Khneisser, vice president of development, Middle East and North Africa for Hilton Worldwide, said: “With a well-established tourism industry and historic reputation as a trading hub, Muscat is continuing to develop its infrastucture in response to steady increases in business and leisure arrivals. Oman welcomes almost 3.5 million visitors each year and with Muscat’s expanding airport capacity, as well as the expected opening of the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre this year, we look forward to supporting this growth and developing Hilton’s presence here.”
Hilton Garden Inn Muscat will feature 232 guest rooms and occupy a prime position in the centre of the city. Visitors will be in close proximity to Muscat International Airport (16 kilometres) as well as sites of interest including the renowned Royal Opera House and Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.
An example of a Hilton Garden Inn in neighbouring UAE (Dubai)
Expected to open in early 2019, guests will also have access to a 24-hour business center, complimentary Wi-Fi and benefit from more than 147-square-metres of meeting space. Food and beverage options at the hotel will include the signature 24-hour Pavilion Pantry.
John Greenleaf, global head, Hilton Garden Inn, said: “As we continue to expand our presence in the Middle East, travellers to Oman will soon be able to experience the very best in mid-market accomodation as we expand Hilton Garden Inn to the country. We have recently established the brand in the UAE and grown its presence in Saudi Arabia. With 16 hotels either trading or under development in the Middle East, our global footprint of 650 Hilton Garden Inn properties will continue to expand to include a growing list of exciting destinations.”
Hilton Worldwide has operated in Oman since 1999, when it opened the upscale Hilton Salalah Resort, located in the south of the country. Hilton Garden Inn has grown rapidly in the Middle East over the last 12 months, with properties now open at Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates; Al Mina and Al Muraqabat – as well as in Riyadh and Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.
AC Hotels by Marriott has opened its fifth property in France, the AC Hotel Marseille Velodrome, in the heart of the city’s business district.
The 126-room hotel offers close proximity to key locations – such as Calanques National Park, Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica, the historic district and the Vieux Port. The property is 30 minutes from the International Marseille Provence airport and 10 minutes from the Saint Charles train station.
Reflecting the contemporary architecture of the city, the guestrooms incorporate an urban colour-scheme with hints of bright colour, clean lines and hardwood floors. Furniture is lifted from the ground to create a sense of space and white linens are used to craft a look that is both refined and elegant.
The hotel’s Oh Massalia restaurant serves authentic Mediterranean cuisine amid a landscaped garden. For small meetings and events, the hotel features one versatile space for up to 12 people featuring the latest technology. The hotel offers complimentary WiFi throughout all rooms and public spaces.
The new hotel joins AC Hotel Ambassadeur Antibes, Juan-les-Pins, AC Hotel Nice, AC Hotel Paris Porte Maillot and AC Hotel Paris Le Bourget in France. Marriott will bring 22 new AC hotels slated to open in 2016.
The North East’s newest hotel is nearing completion, marking a Northern landmark for one of hospitality’s biggest brands. The Hilton Garden Inn Sunderland will open adjacent to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light later this spring.
It will be the first Hilton Garden Inn property to launch in Northern England and the only one to date between Birmingham and Glasgow.
“It is a real coup for us to be bringing the Hilton Garden Inn brand to such an exciting location just opposite the Stadium of Light,” said Kim Kelso, Hilton Garden Inn Sunderland’s General Manager. “The new hotel will help to fill a gap in the market catering for the growing number of people coming to work and play in Sunderland.”
The Hilton Garden Inn Sunderland, created by Gateshead-based architects, Redbox Design Group, will offer high quality, good value accommodation, with two wings housing 141 en-suite guest rooms.
Construction on the H-shaped property, which began in summer 2015, is being managed by professional service provider, Turner & Townsend and led by Tolent Construction Ltd. Key contractors include Opus Building Services, based in Sunderland, Walker Modular, based in Yorkshire and Swandene Specialist Contract Interiors, based at Washington, Tyne and Wear.
The Hilton Garden Inn Sunderland, which is expected to launch in early May, is already accepting bookings and looking ahead to a busy first quarter.
“Once completed, we’re confident that the Hilton Garden Inn will make an ideal base for tourists exploring the sites of Sunderland and the surrounding area,” said Kim Kelso. “It will also offer an accommodation option for those attending events at the Stadium of Light, including football, weddings, corporate events and the performance by Beyonce in June.”
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts has announced the brand’s debut property in Malaysia. Scheduled to open on April 6, 2016, The St. Regis Langkawi Resort will become the first luxury resort to open within the last decade in Malaysia’s coveted “Island Jewel of Southeast Asia”.
Located in the 99-island archipelago of Langkawi, a UNESCO’s World First Geopark, the resort is composed of resplendent architecture, landscape, and interior design and is a masterpiece of the Rajawali Property Group and the St. Regis brand.
Envisioned by a group of world-class designers and architects—including San Francisco-based Gensler, Bangkok-based landscape architect Bill Bensley, and UK-based hospitality design specialists, GA Design—The St. Regis Langkawi Resort weaves a compelling story of discovery and is designed around the concept: Paradise Found and Refined: Rainforest Meets Riviera Lifestyle. The resort embodies a harmony of contrasts where tropical splendour blends seamlessly with the style and energy of a European mansion, thoughtfully accented by Middle Eastern finishes.
“Expanding on the concept of a paradise found and refined, the design team sought to provide a resort to strengthen Langkawi’s position in the luxury tourist market. Our compelling architectural vision for The St. Regis Langkawi defines the entire resort experience as a journey of discovery—of sanctuary, of vistas, of wellness, of cuisine, of fresh water, and of salt water.” said Tom Lindblom, Principal Architect at Gensler.
Paradise Refined Tucked away in an exclusive enclave in its own tranquil, private cove on Langkawi’s southern tip, The St. Regis Langkawi is fringed by a 600-metre private white sand beach overlooking the emerald green waters of a 100,000-square-metre natural salt, private swimming lagoon, and integrates with the shimmering Andaman Sea. Blue lights, cooling mists and a dramatic garden oasis are wrapped in lush ferns and surrounded by villas with azure tiled plunge pools and airy cabanas.
The architectural footprint of the resort closely adheres to that of a luxurious private residential palace nestled within steep rocky hills forming two small peninsulas along a sandy shore. In keeping with the design concept, the resort thoughtfully blends indoor spaces naturally with the outdoors, and consists of a six-storey central mansion with two lagoon suite wings cascading outwards towards the shorelines.
Rainforest Meets Riviera Capitalising on its expansive lagoon, The St. Regis Langkawi is the first luxury all-suite resort on the islands, offering four overwater villas and 85 suites, including 20 private pool suites with cabanas. A four-bedroom overwater villa and three one-bedroom overwater villas offer unrivalled sunset views. A fresh, light colour scheme inspired by the island’s brilliant corals, emerald green sea, and lush jungles along with bold, precious metallic accents and local artwork underscore the island’s rich heritage and natural surroundings.
With flush plate design growing ever-more diverse, the online Geberit Flush plate Showroom provides end users with an at-a-glance reference tool for the brand‘s wide range of styles, finishes and innovative technology.
Sales of wall-hung sanitaryware are on the rise, and with this comes a consumer desire to choose the perfect finishing touch, in the form of a stylish flush plate.
From the smallest flush plates on the market, to remote flush buttons, those with infra-red sensor technology and even bespoke models, Geberit has a solution for practically every situation. With so many options to choose from, the Flush plate Showroom, online at www.geberit.co.uk/flushplateshowroom is a handy reference guide for retailers to use when putting the finishing touches to their bathroom designs and to share with potential customers.
Making flush plate selection simple, the website acts as a virtual showroom, with all the benefits of each and every Geberit flush plate clearly detailed, alongside full-colour photography. As well as making it simple to choose between the various styles in the Geberit Sigma, Omega and Kappa ranges, the showroom also works as an aid for retailers to point out the advantages of the technology hidden behind the wall to the end user, to assist the selling process.
Design elements for the Guest House at Graceland, a 450-room hotel located a stone’s throw from Elvis Presley’s iconic mansion home, have been revealed by designers Hnedak Bobo Group (HBG) – who worked closely with Priscilla Presley on the project. It is set to open in October with interiors said to be inspired by Elvis’ personal style and his home.
Speaking to the media, HBG’s principal designer Mark Weaver said: “We all recognise Graceland almost as a time-capsule of 1970s design, but if Elvis was here today, he most likely wouldn’t design his new guest house to look like it was still 1975.
“So, we took cues from his design style using contemporary pieces to pull it all together. We focused on creating a sense of intimacy between the guest and the property – creating a way for visitors to have an informal and personal experience as a true guest of Graceland that has previously not been possible – an experience that we think would make Elvis proud,” he added.
Reservations are now being taken for the October opening.
With sustainability being the key issue it is today, it’s fantastic to see projects like the Cachet Resort Wanfeng Valley in the pipeline. Cachet’s first resort development in Asia and located in the relatively unvisited Guizhou Province, the project is set to open in October 2016.
Designed by world-class Milan-based architect Stefano Boeri with Chinese artist Simon Ma – one of China’s most well-known and acclaimed artists as Art Director – the resort complex will feature a 182-room Cachet Resort Hotel and a 71-room URBN hotel. The lifestyle destination will also offer two restaurants and lounges. These will include a signature all-day dining venue and a specialty restaurant that will offer distinct culinary experiences for both guests and locals alike. Recreation facilities on property are set to include a swimming pool, spa and fully equipped fitness centre.
As can be seen from the images, balconies all around the building will be planted with dozens of trees to create a ‘vertical forest’, hiding much of the concrete exterior. There will also be green roofs and forests in the surrounding area.
Boeri has worked on similar projects, and he is perhaps best known for mixing nature with architecture as he did with the Vertical Forest skyscrapers in Milan.
Caesars Entertainment Corporation has announced plans to upgrade more than 4,800 of its hotel rooms this year at four of its Las Vegas resorts, and more than 900 rooms at three regional casinos – at Atlantic City, Biloxi and Tunica – totalling more than 5,700 owned or managed rooms across the enterprise.
This renovation effort represents approximately 20% of rooms in Las Vegas and 15% of total rooms throughout the company. At the end of 2016, following the completion of this series of room renovations, Caesars Entertainment will have updated more than 10,000 hotel rooms in the last three years.
These resort upgrades include the transformation of the original tower at Caesars Palace to create the 586-room Julius Tower as well as the refurbishment of the resort’s 948-room Augustus Tower. Additional room upgrades will include Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, Paris Las Vegas and Harrah’s Las Vegas. In the regional markets Harrah’s Gulf Coast, Caesars Atlantic City and Horseshoe Tunica will complete room upgrades.
This year of room renovations and upgrades began with the already underway transformation of the roughly 586-room original tower at Caesars Palace, newly branded as the Julius Tower, and the planned full refresh of the approximately 948-room Augustus Tower. Planet Hollywood will reimagine more than 1,294 rooms and suites; Harrah’s Las Vegas plans to overhaul approximately 672 rooms of the hotel’s south tower and Paris Las Vegas plans to transform approximately 1,320 rooms and suites. Caesars Atlantic City is expected to renovate nearly 274 rooms; Harrah’s Gulf Coast plans to renovate 499 rooms and Horseshoe Tunica will refresh 193 rooms.
The room and suite upgrades at all four Las Vegas hotels will include modern room designs, enhanced in-room electronics, new furnishings, and soft goods. All rooms will feature large, 50″ TVs or more complete with fully refurbished bathrooms along with elevated in-room amenities and services. For example, the suites at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino will offer a fresh design complete with retro round sleeping beds and hanging daybeds.
At Harrah’s Gulf Coast and Horseshoe Tunica these room renovations will feature a fresh and new room design complete with modern wall coverings, lighting and wood finishes.
Hilton Worldwide, currently with 35 properties across London, has announced its plans to open a £76 million hotel development in Aldgate in the east of the city.
The company will join forces with site owners 4C Hotel Group to open a Canopy property – its lifestyle brand – next to the train station in 2018. The hotel will form part of a wider residential and office development, which will also have a public garden and public square.
According to the developers, the interior design will draw its inspiration from the ‘legacy of the Whitechapel Gallery and the melting pot of cultures in the area’. “Aldgate was chosen for its proximity to both the stylish City of London and the more edgy and energetic East End,” said Gary Steffen, global head, Canopy by Hilton.
The BHA is pleased to see the abolition of the Carbon Reduction Commitment energy efficiency scheme in George Osborne’s Budget 2016 which was very bureaucratic and cumbersome and caused difficulties for franchise arrangements.
Devolved powers to regions to improve transport and connectivity will support job creation and local tourism. We are pleased that English counties and regions will get elected mayors. Tourism should be a top priority for these mayors especially in coastal and rural areas.
We were also pleased to see the support for tourism and cultural activity with the announcement of cathedral investment, tax breaks for museums and travelling exhibitions.
We were disappointed not to see a reduction in National Insurance and a delay in the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy which would have been helpful in reducing the total impact of the National Minimum Wage and the introduction of National Living Wage in April this year.
Small businesses will be pleased to see the business rates reductions.
Despite the catastrophic effects of recent flooding, our industry has – and continues to – rally together to support local communities and the people living in them. The BHA welcomes the Chancellor’s announcement to support flood struck businesses with the investment in flood defence and resilience measures.
Laptop tables are growing in popularity as interior spaces are designed to be more multi-functional. Hotels are responding to the requirement for guests to work anywhere, whether in the lobby area, cafe or their bedroom.
While many offices are creating more informal spaces for working and interacting with colleagues, in favour of traditional fixed desks. Whether for work or pleasure, so many people now have mobile devices that it makes sense for the combination of seating and table to facilitate this in a comfortable way.
The latest Metro laptop table from Morgan is inspired by the form of a boomerang. The foot of the metal base is shaped and scaled for ease of use and the table top is a geometric form based loosely on a triangle with squared corners. Offered with a solid wood lipped detail and a variety of laminates, this laptop table offers a lightweight and versatile solution.
Morgan’s Metro laptop table
The Boston laptop table with circular top and cantilever base looks attractive in traditional all timber finish, but is also offered in a versatile range of materials. Bases can be powder coated metal in any colour and the top can be sandblasted or coloured glass, laminate or patterned glass to suit individual design briefs.
Morgan’s Boston laptop table
Both tables are 620mm high and can be pulled toward the user with the foot sliding under the seat to allow an ergonomic seated position.
Hansgrohe UK has transformed its warehouse facility in Woking, Surrey to create 35% additional capacity to cater for future planned growth.
Led by Logistics Manager, Steve Court, the 1,200m2 warehouse has been entirely re-organised and upgraded. Additional racking, new packing bays and a revised layout allow for more efficient work processes and provide extra storage space equivalent to 8 articulated lorry loads.
All the work was carried out during evenings and weekends to ensure that daily operations were not affected. Woking is the logistics centre and warehouse facility for Hansgrohe UK, where goods are dispatched out daily to customers across the country.
Helen Kronheim, Director of Finance and Operations, says: “This planned investment forms part of our ongoing drive to deliver our customer intimacy strategy. With this project we needed to maintain optimum service levels during the upgrade whilst re-organising for our forecasted growth. Customers were not impacted by the change and, crucially, are now assured of receiving the same excellent levels of service and delivery lead times as the business continues to grow.”
Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas has announced the opening of a second luxury resort in Oman by the middle of this year – the Al Jabal Al Akhdar, which will join the Al Baleed Resort Salalah.
Set in the Saiq Plateau on Oman’s fabled Green Mountain, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar is perched some 2,000-metres above sea level on the curving rim of a great canyon, making it the highest five star resort in the Middle East and one of the highest in the world.
Designed to reflect traditional Omani and Middle Eastern architecture, the resort blends seamlessly into the surrounding landscape, offering panoramic canyon views. A scenic two-hour drive from Muscat International Airport and a four and a half hour drive from Dubai, passing date plantations, valleys or ‘wadis’ and historical forts, the resort will offer an exhilarating escape for adrenalin-junkies as well as culture and history enthusiasts, with the ancient city of Nizwa only a 30-minute drive from the hotel.
The 82 Premier and Deluxe rooms, overlooking either the spectacular canyon or tranquil gardens, will each feature private balconies or terraces, whilst the 33 one, two or three bedroom villas complete with private swimming pools, separate living spaces and personal butler services, offer the epitome of luxury.
Both resorts will boast a world-acclaimed Anantara Spa, which will harness the essence of Arabia with ancient hammam rituals as well as treatment rooms offering signature spa treatments using indigenous ingredients and traditions. In addition, the resorts will each feature extensive meeting and banqueting facilities to host weddings, events, conferences and team building activities.
Much like paintwork or wallcoverings, carpets are one of the best and easiest ways to convey a theme and add a touch of ‘personality’ to a room or space. They can form a ‘neutral’ foundation for the rest of the room’s design in the background. Or, alternatively, a brightly coloured or vibrantly patterned carpet can form the focal point of an interior.
Brintons’ work in the Ramada Encore Dar Es Salaamel, Tanzania (Photo: brintons.net)
Indeed, manufacturing techniques and technology allow manufacturers – like HD Directory members Brintons, Wilton, Interface and Lano – to create carpets and rugs with patterns and textures such as swirls, bows, lattices, plaids, dots and fleur-de-lis.
Wilton’s 1970s-inspired designs at Cranfield Management Development Centre (Photo: wiltoncarpets.com)
This year, there are a few design trends that will impact carpets and their implementation in spaces in the months ahead. Wider trends such as the emergence of warm minimalism, the rise and rise of Scandinavian design and rustic simplicity – which incorporates Mediterranean style with ‘contemporary country’ will all have an impact on carpet and rug design.
The ‘Over the Edge’ range from Interface Hospitality (Photo: interfacehospitality.com)
More specifically to carpets, and those with a more conservative approach, new neutral colours – like soft greens, pale yellows and subtle blues – are more likely to be used if the standard tans, beiges and creams aren’t used. Furthermore, flecks of colour will be incorporated into these schemes. Textures and patterns are becoming more popular because vacuum marks are less likely to show up on these carpets. Additionally, these textures also give guests an impression of high quality and can contrast perfectly with smoother surfaces such as counters, wardrobes and walls.
Lano’s pale yellow carpets in the Fraser Suites, Le Claridge Champs-Elysees (Photo: lano.com/en)
For designers wanting to make a bit more of a statement, attention-seeking carpets with bold colours and patterns can work when set against neutral wallcoverings. Also, 1970s-inspired design will play a big role in the year ahead and we could see elements of this make its way into carpet design.
The Wycombe Nest of 2 Tables is part of the new Wycombe Collection from Gallery Direct. Made from the finest solid oak with a beautiful washed finish, the nest of tables offers both practicality and style.
The Wycombe collection features an inspired range of living, dining and bedroom furniture which offers great value and flexibility. With its quality materials and craftsmanship, competitive pricing and universal appeal across different generations, it offers a range of coordinating products to suit all interiors.
Manorview Hotels, an independent Scottish hotel group, is unveiling a new look for its Boclair House Hotel in Bearsden after a £3 million investment.
The Tudor mansion is opening its doors at the end of the month and already has bookings across the next 12 months. The two-storey listed building features a castellated tower and a series of arches to the front of the building, reminiscent of Romantic Italian cloisters.
It has 12 individually-styled suites, a restaurant and a grand ballroom which will host weddings, special occasion dining and private celebrations.
Steve Graham, managing director, Manorview Hotels & Leisure Group said: “We are delighted to be opening Boclair House Hotel. It is a stunning venue and we expect to host many happy occasions over the years. The fact that we already have bookings for 67 weddings and special occasions shows the level of interest in this stunning new venue.
Launching this Spring, Nocturne is a collection of textured blackout fabrics, perfect for contract drapery solutions. Nocturne sits within the Skopos Accents portfolio, offering 17 colours, ranging from flexible neutrals to rich statement tones. This collection can be used alone, unlined for best value, or with other fabrics to dress contract windows and block out light, facilitating a good night’s rest.
Alongside Nocturne as a textured plain, Skopos is also launching a new print collection called Enchant. A collection of 30 skus, Enchant is a printed collection of semi-plains and small scale designs. Printed on our FR blackout quality, it offers a cost effective alternative for blackout drapery. In-line with Skopos’ other print collections, Enchant will be available on 9 basecloths including drapery, bedding and upholstery qualities.
Nocturne is available in both narrow and wide width, Enchant will be available as 137cm width as standard.
Sitting alongside Skopos’ other Accents, including Mezzanotte dimouts, the response to both collections has already been extremely positive. Samples of both collections are available immediately.
The next speaker at the Hotel Designs Summit – 12th-13th September 2016 – has been confirmed, and we are delighted to announce the Head of Areen Hospitality, Andrew Linwood will be joining us at Radisson Blu, London Stansted. Andrew is involved in and monitors all aspects of a project: from initial client contact, brief and concept development through to documentation and site installation.
Andrew has designed interiors for many of the world’s leading hotel operators including Hilton, Marriott, Radisson, Raffles, Swissôtel and Starwood.
After gaining a degree in Interior Design in London and working in the UK and Europe, Andrew became Managing Director of regional Interiors group GTD in Hong Kong and Singapore. He went on to become Senior Project Designer with globally-renowned hospitality specialists Hirsch Bedner Associates in Singapore and London, designing luxury projects in Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Russia and Thailand.
On his return to the UK he was invited to become an Associate at Richmond International – part of the Areen Group – and in 2008 he established Areen Hospitality Design.
As well as regularly featuring in hospitality publications, Andrew is a seasoned public speaker, frequently invited to leading industry events and exhibitions to share his unparalleled insight into design and the challenges facing developers and operators.
Andrew will be speaking at the Summit about the importance of ‘place and cultural context’ and ‘localisation’ in hotel interior design.
Areen Hospitality Design is currently working on projects in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India, Central Asia and China.
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.
Following its acquisition of Twyford Bathrooms last year and as part of Geberit’s ambitious growth plans, building work has begun on the manufacturer‘s new 22,500-square-foot headquarters.
Geberit moved to its current bespoke built offices just seven years ago and is now building a premises twice the size. A significant investment for the company, the new head office is conveniently situated on the Tournament Fields business park, adjacent to the company’s current building, just off Junction 15 of the M40 motorway in Warwick.
The ground floor of the new building will be home to the Geberit and TwyfordTraining Academy where customers attend free workshops to gain hands on experience with the latest plumbing and piping systems. There will also be a 400 square metre showroom featuring the latest bathroom designs and technology, while the second floor will host Geberit’s central operations.
The new development, designed by Warwick based Corstorphine Wright Architects, will see the creation of 30 new jobs across marketing, customer service, finance and technical support areas of the business. An official groundbreaking ceremony took place at the site of the new building in February, with the new headquarters due for completion in January 2017.
“The building work on the new Geberit and Twyford headquarters marks an exciting and important milestone for the new business,“ comments Geberit UK Managing Director Mark Larden. “As a centrally based location it makes good sense to choose the existing Geberit site in Warwick for the development. Doing so means we are able to remain accessible to our customer base, with good transport links close by and with excellent facilities that will futureproof the company and support our significant growth plans in the UK.“
Luxury, five-star Edinburgh hotel, The Chester Residence, is undergoing a £1 million refurbishment.
The refurbishment is being carried out by Aberdeen-based firms Ambiance Interior Design and Bentleys, a bespoke joinery manufacturer and interior fit out specialist, and is due to be completed in May 2016.
Many apartments will be newly decorated with chic, contemporary décor including accent patterns with geometric prints to complement the current more muted palette. A combination of Elitis and Armani Casa wallpapers have been specially chosen by leading interior designer Karen McKimmie, and key furnishings will be updated with luxury fabric from companies such as Mulberry Home. The technology upgrade includes faster Wi-Fi, and new 55-inch Smart TVs. Blu-ray DVD players will also be standard throughout. Aberdeen social enterprise company Glencraft are supplying new luxury beds throughout the hotel.
Owner of The Chester Residence, Graham Wood, said: “Maintaining a first class product and creating that ‘wow’ factor for guests when they arrive is key to ensuring an enjoyable stay. Great service needs to be complemented with impressive, yet comfortable surroundings if we are to maintain our number one position in Edinburgh, as voted by our guests on Tripadvisor.
“We use only the highest quality suppliers and try to source local products and tradespeople where possible.”
Designer Karen McKimmie, said: “The feedback we received from guests is that they really enjoy the essence of what The Chester Residence is, so we wanted to update the apartments without compromising that. We’ve added a range of on-trend patterns and geometric pieces to complement the timeless décor of the apartments.”
The refurbishment is due to finish at the end of May 2016 and the hotel remains open throughout.
Manchester’s iconic Palace Hotel is set to be renovated in a multi-million pound project which aims to ‘rediscover the soul’ of the building.
Starwood Capital, the American investors who bought the property last year, have claimed in the media that the property has become ‘corporate and lifeless’ in recent times and have submitted plans for the overhaul.
Guest bedrooms, suites, wining and dining areas will all get a full-scale upgrade under the masterplan.
General manager Richard Morrell said to the Manchester Evening News: “This is a significant investment which was needed for an iconic building – and it’s an exciting time to see it being replenished into one of the greatest hotels in the north of England.”
Originally finished in 1895, the Palace was designed by Alfred Waterhouse – the renowned architect behind both the city’s (then) town hall and Manchester University – as a home for insurance firm Refuge Assurance.
Meliá Hotels International has made the surprising announcement that it is to enter into the Iranian market with the Gran Melia Ghoo Hotel.
Developed by Iranian businessmen and investor, Ahad Azim Zadeh, the hotel will be situated in the largest mixed residential, commercial and hotel complex to be developed in Iran – currently being built in Salman Shahr, a popular holiday destination on the Caspian Sea.
Referred to as the “Ghoo Middle East Diamond”, this new development is set to be a year-round business and holiday destination, featuring two residential towers, a sports centre, parking and a retail mall – all within an area of 180,000 square metres. The Gran Meliá Ghoo Hotel itself will occupy a 130-metre high tower, with 319 deluxe rooms of different types, including a Presidential Suite measuring more than 500-square-metres
“We have always been pioneers in the development of new markets in the travel and tourism industry, so it is a fantastic challenge for us to be involved in a project which is so important for the future of the industry in this country, in a historic moment for the international relations within the area,” says Gabriel Escarrer, Vice Chairman and CEO of Meliá Hotels International. “We firmly believe in Iran’s tourism potential and I am also very proud to have earned the trust of our partners in the management of this hotel, a further demonstration that we are a significant international player for the most prestigious hotel projects anywhere in the world,” he added.
It’s been an enlightening – and some might say worrying – week for designers across the UK after it was revealed Magmatic, the parent company of luggage design firm Trunki, lost its infringement case against PMS International at the Supreme Court last week. It’s a verdict that further highlights the need for clearer and more defined design infringement law.
In a judgment handed down on 9th March, the court ruled that the European design registration of Trunki, Magmatic’s award-winning ride-on suitcase, was not infringed by PMS’s lookalike product. During the last three years PMS had produced their own very similar design which they had admitted was inspired by Trunki. The judgment follows a three year campaign by Trunki to uphold a July 2013 High Court ruling that Trunki’s European design registration was infringed after it was reversed by the Court of Appeal in March 2014.
Trunki CEO and founder Rob Law said: “We are devastated and bewildered by this judgment, not just for ourselves but for the huge wave of uncertainty it brings to designers across Britain. We created an original product in Trunki and protected it by computer generated registered design – a process used to protect a third of designs across Europe. In my honest opinion, the Trunki was wilfully ripped off. We stood up to this behaviour, held it to account and took our case all the way to the highest court in the land – only for the judges to rule that we are not protected against the copy.
Dids Macdonald, OBE, CEO of Hotel Designs partner ACID said: “This plunges design law into an abyss and will foster widespread confusion for UK designers. The ability to rely on clearly defined and enforceable intellectual property rights, and in this case, a registered Community design right, has been denied and will contribute to design law chaos, allowing those who produce lookalikes a free rein. The Supreme Court’s decision is a sad day for justice and for UK designers.”
Rob Law added, “We’ve now reached the end of the legal process. I’d like to thank everyone who has supported us along the way. Despite all the time, expense and anguish of the past four years, I would do it again as I believe protecting British designers is an essential right if we’re to continue to be pioneers on a world stage. I’m just sorry this view isn’t shared by our country’s Supreme Court.”
For more information about design and copyright infringement law visit acid.uk.com
Marriott International announced earlier this week that it plans to open an additional five Moxy Hotels in key European cities in 2016, including Munich, Eschborn and Berlin in Germany, Oslo in Norway and Aberdeen in the UK.
As previously reported by Hotel Designs, in addition to the five European openings there will be two new openings in the United States in Tempe, Arizona in March 2016 and New Orleans in April 2016. The brand expects to offer a portfolio of nearly 150 hotels around the world within the next ten years.
Amy McPherson, president and managing director of Marriott International, Europe, said: “This is an exciting and pivotal moment for the Moxy brand as we move into the second phase of development with five new hotel openings this year and nine more expected in 2017. In 2014, Moxy Milan hit the market with a bang, as the first budget-savvy hotel brand to shake up the industry with a fun, stylish, and unexpected hospitality experience.
“We are so pleased to be able to offer this game-changing experience to more travellers in more major cities. This is just the beginning of a sensational journey for Moxy in Europe.”
In partnership with Vastint Hospitality as the owner and developer and franchise partner, Nordic Hospitality, the following Moxy hotels are expected to open by year-end 2016: – Moxy Munich Airport, Germany — 252 rooms – located five minutes from the main terminal — March 2016 – Moxy Eschborn, Germany — 176 rooms – located 10 minutes from downtown Frankfurt and 15 minutes from Frankfurt Airport — July 2016 – Moxy Berlin Ostbahnhof, Germany — 210 rooms – located in Berlin city centre five minutes walk from Ostbahnhof train station — October 2016 – Moxy Oslo Exporama, Norway — 276 rooms – located at the Exporama exhibition and conference centre — November 2016 – Moxy Aberdeen Airport, UK — 200 rooms – located seven minutes from the main terminal — December 2016
With shower toilets being the latest must-have technology for the bathroom, a visit to the Geberit stand at Ideal Home Show London this March is a must for anyone looking to raise the comfort levels to spa-like proportions in their family bathroom or en-suite.
Not only will Ideal Home Show visitors be able to learn about the many benefits of the market-leading Geberit AquaClean shower toilets and see the products in action, anyone dropping by Stand H319 throughout the show will also have the chance to win one. The shower toilet that looks just like a normal WC, Geberit AquaClean Sela has a streamlined design which is guaranteed to fit discreetly in any bathroom. At the touch of a button, it washes the user clean with a gentle, airy water spray at body temperature. Simple to use by all the family the AquaClean Sela can even be pre-programmed and operated via a remote control.
Sure to be a talking point at the show will be the latest model to join the line-up, Geberit AquaClean Mera, which takes toilet technology to the next level. Behind its elegant design lies patented TurboFlush technology, an orientation light, automatic lid function, seat heating and integrated odour extraction, making this the ultimate WC for the 21st Century bathroom.
Several models from the Geberit AquaClean range will also be on display at the Ideal Home Show, from the Geberit AquaClean 4000 and 5000 enhancement sets which make upgrading an existing WC easy, through to the designer Geberit AquaClean Sela, and top-of-the-range Geberit AquaClean 8000plus.
Gallery Direct delivered 12 rooms of furniture and mirrors to the Muckrach Country House Hotel in February 2015, as part of the hotel’s refurbishment. The Muckrach re-opened in April 2015 after their 14 month renovation project. Following on from this, it was recently announced that they have been ranked as 3rd best in the UK and 11th best in Europe in the Best Small Hotel category of the 2016 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards for hotels.
Keith Clarke, Contract Sales & Development Manager for Gallery, worked with the Muckrach to select and deliver the furniture and mirrors for the refurbishment, which included the stunning Alexandria, Maine and Spire bedsteads from Gallery’s Frank Hudson brand.
As a luxury, boutique hotel, Muckrach Country House Hotel requires only the finest furniture and mirrors, and they recognise the quality of Gallery Direct’s products. Following the refurbishment, Phil and Ed Cowap, the owners of Muckrach, commented that it had been a pleasure to work with Keith from Gallery Direct, adding “His attention to detail and vast knowledge of the industry has been invaluable in the refurbishment process. Keith has helped us to create stunning and fabulous bedroom sets which create an immediate impression of luxury and charm.”
Keith has many years’ experience in the furniture industry, and has travelled extensively and designed products and projects all over the world, from individual bespoke heirloom pieces for the finest homes, to production collections of furniture, to total commercial interiors for some of the best known 5* and boutique hotels.
Gallery’s superb range of high quality furniture and furnishings and their ability to offer a bespoke service, combined with Keith’s skill and experience, means they are the perfect solution for hotel refurbishment projects.
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