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.
I still consider the historic centre of Bruges (or to use its correct, local name; ‘Brugge’) to be a relatively ‘hidden gem’. Of the numerous locations around Europe deemed appropriate for a city break, Bruges somehow still features low down on the lists of many people. Yet – and I say rather selfishly, ‘unfortunately’ – I figure it won’t stay this way for long as more and more people discover and fall as hopelessly in love with this beautifully quaint city as I have.
Be it summer or winter, there is an effortlessly relaxed vibe about Bruges; it’s a city comfortable with and yet nonchalant about its appeal, as if it doesn’t quite know how remarkable it is – which adds to its lure even more. Befitting a city oozing class and character, its countless independent hotels hidden at the ends of the famous ‘alcoves’ offer the visitor a delightful blend of understated luxury, old-world charm and homely service. Chain hotels can be found dotted around, as modernity begins to encroach, but even they must try to fit in with the city’s medieval aesthetic or set up shop further afield from the historic centre.
The timbered facade of the ‘canal’ side of the Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce
Back in December I boarded the Eurostar headed for this ‘Venice of the North’ to revel in the joys of the city’s Christmas markets and had the pleasure of staying at the four-star, boutique Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce. My companion and I were in good company – it’s rumoured to be a favourite of the-now King and Queen of Belgium as well as the location for filming of the movie ‘In Bruges’ (cue all of those ‘ze alcoves’ jokes…) whose stars Ralph Fiennes and Colin Farrell called the hotel home during the shoot.
The building is made up of four medieval houses that were joined together in the 1720s. Its roots as a focal point of the city’s old business district are clear to see from the exterior, with its half-timbered façade and wooden, canal-side double doors guarding a store where stock used to be traded from. The timbered side of the hotel is also part of a ‘picture-perfect’ image of Bruges emblazoned all over the postcards available around the city, as it overlooks a famous scenic viewpoint on a bend in the main canal (see main image).
The building is set back from the tourist-heavy Woolestraat on a pedestrianised jetty which juts out over the canal. With this in mind, expect to see throngs of tourists using the jetty to take photographs overlooking the canal if you’re staying in one of the 11 ‘courtyard view’ rooms. These 11 make up the majority of the hotel’s 16 bedrooms; the other five offering ‘canal views’.
As soon as we enter the Bourgondisch Cruyce, we’re met with sumptuously elegant and indulgent interiors that hit us immediately. It doesn’t take me long to notice the rustic, wooden floorboards and lime wash wood furnishings set against rather garish light fixtures and Louis Vuitton chests. It’s an odd mix, but an oddly pleasing one. I’m also delighted to see the artwork (original, as I later find out…) scattered on the walls around the ground floor – the owner is clearly a serious collector – with works from the likes of Klimt, Matisse and amazingly Botero.
Our Superior Deluxe room is a ‘courtyard view’ offering and the bedroom is rustically but comfortably decorated. Antique items adorn the walls and surfaces and a beautiful, Persian-style rug dominates the majority of the floor. Despite the relatively small gap between the building housing the hotel and its neighbouring building (such were medieval architectural trends…), natural light still pours into the room through stylishly dressed double casement windows.
The lime wash look from the ground level makes its way into the rooms as the doors of the ample-sized wardrobes sport the look as well. It’s in the bathroom, however, where the biggest surprise and most interesting design choice can be found. Decadent, copper-hued marble dominating the walls, more wooden floorboards and ornate lampshades all add a touch of luxury to this well-laid out space – not to mention the superb Damana Earth and Sun toiletries set in a hamper-like basket. It’s at this point my companion sums up the feeling of the room perfectly – “homely, warm luxury,” she says. I couldn’t have put it better myself.
And that feeling is mirrored, if not accentuated, by the hotel’s public spaces. The lounge/bar area sits in an alcove (sorry, I couldn’t resist…) between the reception and lift area up to the rooms above. But it’s the dining room that wins the award for the hotel’s most sumptuous room. Built in an L-shape, its outer walls are all windowed, looking out over the canal, the inner bedecked with antique artworks, clocks and even a floor-to-ceiling tapestry on one of the sides and the floors smothered with more beautiful, detailed rugs. An open (albeit gas-powered) fire sits at one end within an ornate, wooden frame and under a rather sinister-looking Christ-on-Crucifix, a reminder of the very entrenched and deeply-rooted Christian identity of the city. The kitchen fills the rest of the L-shape and allows for easy access for the service team to the 24-cover dining area.
Allow me here an aside from the design elements for a brief moment; and tell you that it’s one of the best settings for breakfast I’ve experienced in my years of staying in hotels. And this, as evidenced by the public spaces and the bedrooms, is why this hotel works so well on so many levels. The owners have pitched the décor to fit in with the romanticism and history of Bruges perfectly, without it being too kitsch or trying too hard. Yet this has been done with an eye for luxury, detail and a guest’s every requirement in mind. It helps, too, that the owners have a well-oiled and professional team working for them throughout the hotel.
Photo: Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce, TripAdvisor
I’ve stayed in many ‘city hotels’ around Europe. I’ve also stayed elsewhere in Bruges. And yes, there are more salubrious properties to be found in the city – think Duke’s Palace, Hotel de Orangerie and Hotel Prinsenhof – but the family-owned Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce is as close to the perfect city hotel as I’ve found. The owners have a gem of a hotel, an example for others to follow and boutique owners across the continent could learn a thing or two from this superb property. As they’d say in Flemish – ‘prachtig’…
Hyatt is the latest hotel group to get in on the ‘independent hotel’ action after it announced it is launching the Unbound Collection – an exclusive portfolio of upscale properties – which will include historic properties, contemporary boutiques as well as resorts.
According to the group, each property will be ‘story-worthy’; be it an interesting historic past, an exclusive build with a famous architect or designer or with an award-winning dining experience.
Speaking about the new collection, Mark Hoplamazian, president of Hyatt Hotels, said: “The Unbound Collection by Hyatt provides us with a myriad of opportunities to grow, not only in new markets, but also in places we know our guests want to go.
The Unbound Collection by Hyatt launches with properties around the world, including The Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas; the Hôtel du Louvre in Paris, France; the Carmelo Resort & Spa in Carmelo, Uruguay; and the Coco Palms Resort in Kauai, Hawaii.
Starwood has announced its plans to open a 192-room Aloft hotel on Dubai’s iconic man-made island – the Palm Jumeirah.
Scheduled to open in 2017, Aloft Dubai, The Palm will be the brand’s first resort in the Middle East, complete with beach access, when it opens its doors as the first mid-market hotel brand on the island.
Featuring an urban-influenced design, Aloft Dubai, The Palm will have 192 guest rooms, including 10 suites, with plush platform beds, large walk-in showers and complimentary Bliss amenities.
The Palm Jumeirah is the world’s largest man-made island and one of the most ambitious developments in the world, and the Aloft resort will be located on the right side of the Palm’s crescent. Dynamic lifestyle programming being part of the brand’s DNA, the hotel will set a buzzing social scene within The Palm, offering guests and locals live, free access to the hottest emerging musicians.
“Aloft hotels continues to gain momentum around the world and is expected to quadruple its portfolio in the Middle East by 2019,” says Neil George, Senior Vice President Acquisitions & Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Africa & Middle East.
“The signing of Aloft Dubai, The Palm marks a milestone for the brand as its first resort-style property in the Middle East in one of the world’s most iconic destinations, The Palm Jumeirah.”
Marriott International in conjunction with Ian Scharger and KKH Property Investors have announced their plans to open a new EDITION hotel in Barcelona in 2017. The 100-room hotel will be in the Ciutat Vella district, close to the Cathedral of Barcelona and nearly adjacent to the iconic Santa Caterina Market.
“We are delighted to announce what will be our third EDITION Hotel in Europe, debuting in one of the most sophisticated and vibrant cities in the region,” said Dan Flannery, global managing director of EDITION.
“EDITION continues to thrive following the recent and iconic openings of London, Miami Beach and New York City, and we couldn’t be more excited about the potential for the brand throughout Europe,” said Mr. Flannery. Ian Schrager, chairman and chief executive officer of Ian Schrager Company, commented, “I am proud to further the global expansion of the brand with this incredibly exciting project in Barcelona. The city represents a great, cultural epicentre of Europe, making it an ideal location for the region’s newest EDITION.”
The unique project will encompass a total transformation by Office of Architecture in Barcelona – OAB (Carlos Ferrater Studio), of an existing office building into a modern and contemporary luxury-lifestyle hotel with a casual yet timeless feel co-created by Ian Schrager and famed Spanish designer, Lázaro Rosa-Violán. The space will include three distinct restaurant experiences, along with an activated lobby space, club and rooftop bar area.
Now open in New York, London, Miami and Istanbul, EDITION Hotels has marked the next chapter in the lifestyle hotel story. This delicate balancing act encompasses, for the very first time, not only great design and true innovation, but also great personal, friendly, modern service as well as outstanding, one-of-a-kind food, beverage and entertainment offerings “all under one roof”. The authenticity and originality that Ian Schrager brings to this new brand coupled with the global reach of Marriott International results in a truly distinct product that sets itself apart from anything else currently in the marketplace.
Each hotel with its rare individuality, authenticity, originality and unique ethos reflects the best of the cultural and social milieu of its location and of the time. Although all of the hotels look completely different from each other, the brand’s unifying aesthetic is in its approach and attitude to the modern lifestyle rather than its appearance.
Future hotels are planned for Sanya, China (2016), Bangkok (2017), Abu Dhabi (2017), Shanghai (2017), Times Square (2018), West Hollywood (2018), Reykjavik, Iceland (2018), Bali, Indonesia (2018) and Dubai (2019).
With comfort and luxury at every turn, Geberit AquaClean 8000plus shower toilets were the natural choice for the five-star Park Hyatt Vienna Hotel.
Situated in the heart of Vienna’s old town, the hotel has been converted from a 100-year-old bank building. Geberit AquaClean shower toilets were chosen for the guest bathrooms to help designers achieve a contemporary finish in a building steeped in history.
When furnishing the 143 spacious hotel rooms, the interior designers combined timeless, elegant design with local Viennese flair. The market-leading Geberit AquaClean shower toilets are a feature of the 108 luxurious and spacious hotel rooms, plus 35 suites, offering guests the opportunity to indulge in spa-like comfort throughout their stay.
The Geberit AquaClean 8000plus combines the functions of a toilet and a bidet in one compact unit. At the touch of a button the shower toilet washes the user clean with a gentle, airy water spray at body temperature. The intensity of the water can be adjusted to one of five levels, while the oscillating spray provides a particularly beneficial clean.
The Geberit AquaClean 8000plus also offers many pampering functions in addition to the shower function, including an adjustable spray temperature and intensity, a pulsating massage function has an invigorating effect, an integrated warm-air dryer and an automatic odour extraction function, which fills the room with fresh, clean air.
“Shower toilets are a standard feature at the Park Hyatt Vienna because they offer unparalleled comfort and are also expected by international guests,” explains Dietmar Ploberger, Project Manager at Signa Development, the company responsible for the conversion.
A major refurbishment project will soon get underway at a serviced apartment complex in the heart of Scotland’s capital city.
Princes Street Suites will undergo a £350,000 makeover over the coming weeks, with each apartment given new décor and furniture.
Each of the building’s 37 apartments will be fitted with new furnishings. New bathrooms, carpets and artwork will also be installed across the apartments, which are managed by the UK’s largest independent hotel management company, Redefine|BDL Hotels.
The refurbishment will be the first major project undertaken by Princes Street Suites’ new General Manager, Fiona Mackenzie (pictured above), who took over the role last July. The work is expected to be completed by the end of March this year.
Fiona said: “This is an exciting project that will give Princes Street Suites a modern and refreshed look, meaning that the comfort and style our guests have always enjoyed will be enhanced.
“Our location is absolutely first class, and by investing in the property, we will continue to provide our guests with the perfect location for exploring Edinburgh.
“This, coupled with our dedication to maintaining high standards of service at the apartments, will ensure that we continue to provide an unforgettable stay for all of our guests.”
Situated in the heart of Edinburgh, the high-end apartments are perfectly located for exploring Edinburgh’s historic landmarks and attractions such as Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile and Princes Street.
Marriott International in Europe announced on Tuesday that it will double in size once its parent company completes its acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is complete.
When Marriott’s 61,000 open rooms join with Starwood’s 40,500 open rooms and the combined pipeline of 21,500 rooms, the company will reach over 123,000 opened or signed rooms in Europe.
Starwood’s luxury brands, including St. Regis, Luxury Collection and W Hotels, are set to complement Marriott’s luxury brands, including The Ritz-Carlton, EDITION and JW Marriott. The newly acquired luxury brands will complement Marriott’s existing offering in the economy and mid-tier sector, including Moxy Hotels, AC Hotels and Courtyard Hotels, yielding 22 lodging brands across Europe from economy to luxury.
“It’s been an extraordinary time for Marriott,” says Amy McPherson, president and managing director, Marriott International, Europe. “We signed over 10,000 new rooms in 2015 for the first time in our history, doubling in size since 2010. Added to this unprecedented growth was the announcement of our Starwood acquisition which is expected to close in mid-2016. Our momentum is incredible.”
Marriott’s Autograph Collection is also set to open four hotels in 2016 including two Roomers hotels in Germany. AC Hotels, the urban European design hotel brand, which has recently been introduced to the US to positive reviews, is expected to open 22 hotels globally and will launch in the UK for the first time in Manchester and Birmingham later this year.
Hansgrohe received not one but eight “iF”awards this year. The mixer and shower manufacturer from the Black Forest currently holds eleventh place in the iF company ranking list, taking the lead over its competition in the sanitation industry.
Hansgrohe SE outperformed some 2,000 companies, beating even top brands such as Daimler, Volkswagen and Adidas. The award-winning Axor products are its new all-in-one Axor One shower control unit, the Axor ShowerSelect thermostats, and the Axor Citterio Select kitchen mixer.
The premium brand Hansgrohe impressed the jury with its Talis E washbasin mixer, its range of Croma Select overhead showers, the Crometta S 240 showerpipe, the Crometta E 240 overhead shower and the Crometta hand shower.
Hansgrohe Limited Units D1 and D2 Sandown Park Trading Estate Royal Mills, Esher, Surrey KT10 8BL UK
The Carson Ebony Leather Armchair from Gallery Direct offers an uber-cool design. With its sleek curves and dark ebony leather upholstery, this luxury armchair brings simple elegance to a room while offering practicality and comfort.
To give a deco glitz look, combine the Carson chair with the Banbury Mirror for a perfect on trend interior. The Banbury is a sophisticated window style mirror that offers cool sophisticated design. With individual mirror panels and a metal frame with a burnished brass finish, it would suit a range of interiors.
Chelsom was recently commissioned to supply bespoke public area lighting on-board Crystal Cruises’ newest addition to the fleet, the luxury 5- star plus Crystal Esprit. The ship marks Crystal Cruises first foray in to the super yacht market as part of a major growth plan for the company.
Chelsom worked closely with the design team at AD Associates to create a unique lighting scheme designed to enhance the striking contemporary interior concept whilst demonstrating not only their ability to bring a designer’s vision to reality but above all else showcasing their superb engineering capabilities.
Stand out fittings include a magnificent ceiling fixture for the Cove Lounge consisting of multiple rows of triedri crystal drops suspended from an Antique Brass rectangular frame and illuminated by LED retrofit lamps to create a truly eye-catching centrepiece. Along a similar design aesthetic, a configuration of nine rings of varying sizes were designed to adorn the ceiling of the contemporary Patio Café, featuring triedri crystal drops suspended from Antique Brass frames and illuminated by LED light sources.
Chelsom created a dramatic waterfall effect statement lighting installation for the Yacht Club which comprised of Antique Brass rods fitted to an Antique Brass frame interspersed with crystal rods of varying heights to create a striking wave aesthetic. Chelsom also created the main lighting feature for the reception area featuring decorative Antique Brass rods from which hang teardrop shaped illuminations positioned at random to emanate a cascade of water.
Nuremberg, Germany; home to an eclectic blend of Medieval and Renaissance architecture is welcoming the best-connected, contemporary 177-roomed Park Plaza Nuremberg in spring 2016. Bringing a fresh energy to the vibrant Bavarian city, the striking Albrecht Dürer and Martin Behaim-inspired hotel will open in an enviable location opposite Nuremberg Central Railway Station in the former home of the Bavarian-American Hotel.
Park Plaza Nuremberg has taken its inspiration from the Renaissance Nuremberg artist and theorist Albrecht Dürer and Martin Behaim, a German mariner and astronomer. All bedrooms feature Park Plaza’s bespoke beds complemented by luxurious linens and pillow sets; a modern, contemporary design feel with flat screen TV’s, large work desks, in-room entertainment systems, mood lighting and Elemis amenities throughout. The hotel also features a fitness centre and seven meeting rooms, in which a selection benefit from natural daylight, designed to connect up to 80 business minds with a video conferencing facility.
Park Plaza Nuremberg is also pleased to announce Carsten Baumann as General Manager, appointed February 2016. Bauman brings with him a wealth of international experience with seven years in the luxury hospitality industry with roles across the United Kingdom, United States, China, Hungary, Germany and Austria.
Baumann added: “My first task was to ensure that we recruit the best team members in the business and this was achieved by running a recruitment day at the hotel on Saturday 27 February. Potential team members visited the best-connected Park Plaza Nuremberg and met with myself and Thomas Borsbach, our Regional General Manager Germany & Hungary and we’re both excited to have seen first-hand a range of new talent that will ensure our hotel and outlets exceed the highest of standards and guest experience.”
Park Plaza Nuremberg will join Park Plaza Wallstreet Berlin Mitte, Park Plaza Prenzlauer Berg Berlin, Park Plaza Berlin Kudamm and Park Plaza Trier in Germany, with the Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts brand recently having added Park Plaza Arena Pula in Croatia to its portfolio and with additional openings planned in 2016 across London.
This Spring sees a new velvet welcomed into the Skopos Accents portfolio. Tahoe, a deep-pile upholstery velvet has the added interest of a delicate strié and an elegant distressed crush.
Offered to the contract market in 15 colours, the palette ranges from pearl neutrals through to deep exotic tones. The effects within the fabric provide texture and dimension, creating a dramatic statement for contract interiors.
Tahoe comes with Crib 5 FR backing as standard, meets IMO requirements and achieves over 100,000 martindale rubs, providing a durable as well as stylish solution. Tahoe presents fantastic opportunities for the contract hotel, cruise and leisure sectors and demonstrates versatility for use across Europe, Middle East and America, complying with contract FR and technical requirements.
Skopos launch new fabric collections each year across drapery, bedding and upholstery qualities, reflecting trends in the marketplace. Skopos is an ISO9001 accredited company and has approximately 40 year’s specialist experience in the design and manufacture of high performance FR contract fabrics for the hospitality sector.
To view the Tahoe collection and the full range of Skopos products please visit their website at www.skoposfabrics.com or speak to their sales team on 01924 436666. Free samples of the collection are available immediately and shade cards are available from Account Managers.
It’s fair to say that until relatively recently, airport hotels didn’t have the best of reputations. Seen as merely a necessary concession for ease of access to terminals, guests have generally viewed them with apathy. And this attitude hasn’t been helped by all-far-too-often lazy approaches to design and interiors on the hotels’ part. But this is now beginning to change.
In light of its recent opening of the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol hotel, Hilton commissioned a study of global travellers, and discovered what we’ve known for a while – that the majority of people use airport hotels purely out of convenience, often for business and missed/inconvenient flights. Some travellers had no intention of staying again at airport hotels, describing them as “boring, expensive and crowded.”
Yet, given how frequently airport hotels are used, particularly for business travellers, clearly this negative perception must to shift to meet customer’s needs, especially as the survey revealed: • The majority of business travelers (between 56% and 88%) feel that there is a connection between their satisfaction with their hotel stay and their ability to perform their job well. • While business travelers are away from home, they still want their hotel to feel like it is their home (63%+), with amenities available that will help them to relax or otherwise enjoy their stay. • A majority (61%+) say they “always try to use hotel amenities like bars and spas as a way to relax when traveling for work.”
Inspiring design, updated amenities, unique F&B offerings and wellness options that you’d expect of a top city hotel, rather than a traditional airport hotel – Hilton is incorporating these features into their next-gen airport hotels. The recently opened Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is a key example of a next-gen Hilton airport hotel.
DESIGN o Hotel has a distinct cubic design that features a 42-metre high glazed roof. o Spanish artist Israel Páez has created a wide range of bespoke pieces for the hotel such as story-telling tile walls in the open kitchens and a series of headboards for the guest rooms representing the Dutch landscape. o Hotel showcases Hilton’s new lobby concept which brings together, in a single open-plan area, unique ‘islands’ which serve as multi-functional spaces, including a reception area, lounge and bar.
M&E o Hotel is the largest conference hotel near Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, boasting 23 flexible meeting spaces, including a ballroom with a capacity of up to 640 delegates and offers state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment.
F&B o In the lobby and cocktail bar, guests can star gaze within the atrium whilst being able to choose from a large bar selection of gins and jenevers in The Netherlands. o The Bowery restaurant features three live cooking stations and offers authentic grill and Asian dishes inspired by its Dutch heritage and made with fresh ingredients sourced from local suppliers and farmers. o The Vine Room, seating up to 20 guests, serves as a private, intimate event space.
WELLNESS o The hotel is home to Hilton’s global spa concept, eforea spa, alongside a 24-hour fitness centre.
After seeing images of next-gen hotels similar to the above, travellers attitudes change dramatically. • In the U.S., 72% of those surveyed shifted their viewpoint from “boring” to “modern,” and 71% to “luxurious.” • 74% who were unlikely to stay at an airport hotel said they are now likely
Given that nearly seven out of 10 travellers would only consider staying at airport hotels for missed or inconvenient flights, the vast majority of travellers are yet to be won over with new concepts, enhanced amenities and a better overall understanding of what next-gen airport hotels have to offer.
Marriott International has announced its 250-room, luxury JW Marriott Monterrey property will open in 2019.
The LEED certified hotel will feature guest rooms and suites with its renowned JW luxury, a striking rooftop pool and bar with sweeping views of the city and the Sierra Madre Mountains, a 3,200-square-foot, state-of-the-art fitness centre, a 2,100 square-foot Executive Lounge, two restaurants, a lobby bar and more than 18,000 square feet of modern meeting and event space.
Monterrey, often referred to as the “City of Mountains”, is the third largest city in Mexico and serves at the country’s High Tech capital. The city is a key industrial and business hub – home to an array of Mexican companies as well as international companies such as Sony, Toshiba, Samsung, Dell, among others.
Located on Miami’s historic Collins Canal, Vintro Hotel South Beach has joined Curio – A Collection by Hilton as the brand’s second hotel in Florida. The brand’s other Florida location is The Diplomat Resort & Spa Hollywood, which joined the Collection in 2014.
Welcoming guests to the Art Deco-styled hotel is a large mosaic wall in the lobby, which embodies the relaxed vintage personality of the area. Other unique features include a large rooftop sundeck with a jetted infinity pool, a library and pop-up art galleries.
The hotel’s deep history dates back to 1934 when it opened as The Park Avenue Hotel and housed approximately 50,000 troops training for the Air Corps Service during World War II. After the war, The Park Avenue Hotel added a restaurant and became one of the hot spots for Miami’s elite. The hotel later closed for many years until – exactly 80 years to the day from the original building’s debut – it reopened as the Vintro Hotel South Beach, bringing back its historic charm and quickly becoming one of the top hotel destinations in Miami Beach.
Today, Curio – along with the hotel’s ownership group, ENCOTEL, LLC – is proud to celebrate the hotel’s heritage as it joins the growing Collection. Guest rooms – emblematic of the hotel’s unique décor – feature original artwork, bright furnishings and a voyeur shower. Each of the 50 guest rooms and suites includes Wi-Fi, a 46-inch HDTV with media hub and two mini bars.
“Vintro Hotel South Beach truly captures the essence of the emerging cultural center of the ‘new’ South Beach, due in large part to its large rotating collection of local artwork,” said Enrique Colmenares, owner and president of Vintro Hotel.
Hotel Designs Directory members Newmor Wallcoverings has announced the launch of a new, redesigned version of its website, www.newmor.com.
Key features of the site include a fresher and more intuitive design, search by colour, style and backing, case studies arranged by market sector, a blog featuring trends updates, product launches, videos and industry news, samples ordering for same day dispatch and an update on their YouChoose custom colouring tool.
“We are excited to launch this fantastic new site and we believe it will be a useful resource for our customers and the commercial interior design community. We will be regularly updating the site with new products, our latest case studies from all over the world, trade show round-ups, industry news and trend reports,” said Eleanor Cardwell, PR & Marketing Manager. “The design is intuitive, contemporary and really brings the products to life.”
The new site, designed by Birmingham based web design company, Lightbox, is now live. The latest blog posts include a trends round-up of the Surface Design Show, a video tour of the factory in Wales and details of the newest collection — Textile Effects. New content will be published regularly and there is an ongoing plan to develop user-friendly features for specifiers and contractors.
Private members club – and favourite with London’s celebrity scene – Soho House is planning to open its first hotel in northern England with a Manchester property, according to reports.
The group has sites across Europe, North America and in the south of England and would look to move into the Old Granada Studios as part of the ongoing £1.2 billion regeneration of the Quay Street site by Allied London.
According to reports in the Manchester Evening News, the project will take up the space currently occupied by Granada TV’s Studio 4 (famously where The Beatles made their first TV appearance in 1962) and will boast 150 bedrooms as well as the city’s first rooftop swimming pool.
Group founder Nick Jones, husband of Desert Island Discs host Kirsty Young, has previously been vocal about his desire to open a northern hotel in Manchester or Leeds.
The historic Braemar’s Fife Arms Hotel will undergo a major renovation and upgrade after planning permissions was granted by the Cairngorms National Park Authority.
The refurbishment project on the B-listed building is expected to take around two years to complete and is scheduled to reopen in early 2018.
According to the planning application, major internal and external alterations to the property will be made, which will see the demolition of 20th century extensions. A heather roofed courtyard has also been included in the plans and will be added to the hotel.
The Fife Arms is currently a 78-bedroom property and contains a bar, lounge and restaurant, as well as a coffee shop. The lounge also houses the original coat of arms of the Duke of Fife above its open fire place.
Marriott Hotels – Marriott International’s signature brand – has welcomed The Hague Marriott to its portfolio following an extensive four-month refurbishment.
The hotel, situated in the Netherlands’ diplomatic capital, now boasts an array of new facilities and design features; including 306 rooms and suites inspired by the city’s coastline, the ‘Greatroom’ lobby and the Garden Terrace social space.
The Executive Lounge on the ninth floor – home to an all-day cocktail bar – showcases views over the sea and cityscape. The hotel has a lean towards business travellers with flexible and stylish meeting spaces, with the largest accommodating up to 700 people.
The move comes as part of Marriott’s latest marketing campaign, which urges guests to ‘Travel Brilliantly’. The campaign allows mobile check-in/check-out and room-ready alerts as well as a pilot scheme for keyless entry with mobile devices – currently being tested at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel.
Gallery Direct are never standing still. They recently released their Spring/Summer 2016 Lookbook, which features the stunning new Kielder, Marlow and Wycombe furniture collections, along with a selection of mirrors and soft furnishings to add to their already extensive collections. There are new products across Gallery’s Frank Hudson, Gallery Home, Hudson Living and Parisian House brands.
Named after a unique British forest, the Kielder collection is an understated range that offers simple, contemporary and fresh design. Crafted from beautiful solid oak, using the planked and jointed build method, the range creates defined lines for a stylish design solution. The collection is finished with hand crafted brass handles, which are made using the traditional ‘lost wax casting’ method. The range is enhanced by the mellowed oak with white hues, to induce a sense of calm and serenity. With a wide selection of dining, living and bedroom furniture, Kielder offers strong forms and high quality.
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Marlow, with its modern lines, classic appeal and hint of rustic charm, offers an easy to live with range which will enhance any interior from country chic to contemporary city living. This new collection of stylish furniture offers the up to date contrast of soft grey paint and solid mellow oak tops with a subtle hint of white in the grain.
Bringing simple elegance to any room, be it dining, living or bedroom, Marlow offers a stunning range of furniture. The bedroom collection includes the softly painted, classic design of the panelled bedstead and the contemporary solid oak slatted bed. With the selection of coordinating furniture, this collection has a sophisticated allure, making it perfect for any interior, modern or traditional.
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High Wycombe has a long history of furniture making with iconic designs coming out of the town, including the famous Windsor chair. Gallery Direct have decided to name their third new collection after the town to reflect Wycombe’s furniture making history, whilst also paying tribute to Frank Hudson’s heritage.
Designed to embrace the craftsmanship and style of the Windsor chair era, the new Wycombe furniture collection has been updated with on trend design details and a washed finish to give a wide appeal. Made from a combination of the finest solid oak and veneers for practicality and functionality, this dining, living and bedroom collection adds simple understated elegance to a room, and offers a design solution to any interior.
Adding a touch of individual boldness to today’s contemporary style, Gallery Direct’s new collection of mirrors, lighting and accessories can bring a room to life. Why not combine the new furniture collections with elegant, traditional or geometrically modern mirrors and decorate with brightly coloured cushions and sumptuous textured fabrics.
One Warwick Park, an elegant 39-room hotel, will open in Tunbridge Wells’ historic Pantiles district this June. The new property designed by HMY architects in collaboration with interior architects KTB and Interior designer Envy London will offer stylish and contemporary interior design as well as a carefully curated experience in each of its rooms, suites and entertainment spaces.
The hotel will inhabit a creatively reimagined brew house and schoolhouse, taking the previously unconnected structures and creating a unified building, filled with light. A feature gallery space will link the two buildings and promises to surprise with a stylish, shifting canvas of showcases from local, national and international artists.
“Our biggest challenge, is now our greatest achievement,” said Melanie Ellis Director of Envy London. “Creating the gallery space has been a true feat of engineering with builders BJBabb taking the building down to basement level, and then sub-basement level – no easy accomplishment in a busy town centre – creating an unique link connecting buildings old and new.
“The task of marrying the new with the period building and its features has been a success. We embraced the irregularities of the period architecture to create a very special property, full of charm.”
Bedrooms and suites at One Warwick Park will focus on comfort, with no detail of the guest experience overlooked from lighting, to linen, to intuitive power-point positioning. “We started with a list of everything that irritated us about staying at a hotel from poor lighting and badly designed bathrooms, to sockets in the wrong place and confusing directions” continued Ms Ellis.
“We then analysed a guest’s practical requirements ensuring we created a comfortable, functional and relaxing environment, where guests would feel calm and cosseted. It is this level of attention to detail which makes One Warwick Park different to the usual ‘identikit’ hotels.”
Each room will be individually styled to make the most of the space, ensuring intrigue in every area. A neutral palette of five different colour schemes and the use of bespoke furnishings sourced from local ateliers adds to the distinctive and contemporary style.
The three Deluxe Balcony rooms offer a private landscaped terrace with views over Tunbridge Wells’ tapestry of assorted architecture. All bedrooms will feature a King or Super King bed with locally, hand-finished furnishings, large flat screen TVs, luxurious Temple Spa toiletries, complimentary refreshments and WiFi.
A double height Atrium will be at the heart of the hotel; a light, flexible space for entertainment and celebration. The Duplex Suite overlooking the quaint Kent cobbles, pairs period features such as a listed staircase, with a fresh, elegant design perfect for bridal parties or families. The three Deluxe Balcony rooms offer a private landscaped terrace with views over Tunbridge Wells’ tapestry of assorted architecture.
Louise Clark, MD of Markerstudy Leisure, owner-operators of One Warwick Park said: “We’re incredibly excited about opening our doors in June. Every element of the hotel has been carefully crafted and curated, we want our guests to feel like it’s their home from home, where comfort, ease and beauty are priorities.
A multi-functional piece of equipment, boasting an output of up to 400 ice cream cones and 250 milkshakes per hour; a queue-busting smartphone app and compostable cutlery made from trees, sugarcane and corn are the big winners in Hotelympia’s 2016 Innovation Awards.
‘Multiple Choice’ by Carpigiani UK (Catering Equipment) ‘Wi-Q’ by Wi-Q Limited (Technology) and ‘Recycled Compostable Black Cutlery’ by Vegware (Interiors) were unveiled during a ceremony hosted by highly respected chef Cyrus Todiwala OBE in front of a packed audience on Hotelympia’s Stage.
The three innovations were whittled down from hundreds of paper entries to just 18 finalists, with the process culminating yesterday in a behind-closed-doors pitch to a panel of respected judges including journalists, industry figureheads and buyers.
‘Multiple Choice’ by Carpigiani UK
An innovative machine which can produce ice cream with three different types of variegato and four different flavours of milkshake, boasting an impressive output of up to 400 cones and 250 milkshakes per hour. The space-saving machine eliminates the need to purchase multiple pieces of equipment while significantly reducing energy usage and accompanying expenditure. Multiple Choice also boasts an innovative self-pasteurisation system, meaning the machine only requires a deep clean every six weeks, saving significant amounts of labour and downtime, while also reducing the amount of stock wastage during the cleaning process.
‘Recycled Compostable Black Cutlery’ by Vegware
Vegware’s ‘Recycled compostable black cutlery’ is made from 100% recycled plant material, with 90% less carbon than plastic, certified compostable, and heatproof to 85ºC, the cutlery is practical, stylish and eco-friendly. The only recycled compostable black cutlery on the market, Vegware allows brands to meet sustainability targets without compromising on style.
‘Wi-Q’ by Wi-Q Limited
Wi-Q allows customers to order and pay for their food and drinks via any device, with no apps needed to be downloaded, no passwords, no updates and no roaming charges. Rather than focusing on managing queues, operators can focus on providing customers with the highest levels of service. Customers can pre-order and collect at their specified time, to beat the queue, have their favourite orders on repeat, or simply pull down their bill, when ready.
The hotel will operate under a management agreement with InterHotel Grand – Hotel Sofia AD. The existing hotel will undergo a refurbishment and emerge as a 182-room luxury InterContinental hotel in 2017. The hotel will feature seven meeting rooms and five boardrooms, a lobby bar, a spa and fitness centre as well as a rooftop restaurant overlooking the main square.
Robert Shepherd, Chief Development Officer, Europe, IHG said: “We’re delighted to have signed our first InterContinental Hotel in Bulgaria, in the very heart of Sofia’s city centre. The signing of this hotel demonstrates the momentum of our iconic luxury brand in key international cities and resorts. InterContinental Sofia will be a fantastic addition to our European portfolio.”
With 184 InterContinental Hotels & Resorts open worldwide and 52 hotels in the global development pipeline, IHG continues to expand the brand’s portfolio in the most sought-after destinations around the world. There are currently 32 InterContinental Hotels & Resorts properties in Europe and five in the pipeline.
The Swiss bathroom specialist Laufen continues to innovate, now presenting Sentec, a mineral material which can be used for bathtubs and shower trays, as well as for the realisation of individual designs created by architects or designers.
Sentec is a new mineral composite material from Laufen, combining a multitude of product properties, which make the material predestined for use in bathrooms. The name, which is a combination of the words ‘sensual’ and ‘technical’, perfectly captures the advantages of the material: Since Sentec is polished again and again in multiple work sequences, its velvety shiny surface feels warm and pleasant to the touch – a real pleasure for the skin when bathing, for example.
Under the shower, too, the surface demonstrates its strengths with the material’s non-slip properties, which give the user a secure feeling. Optically Sentec provides a sensual impression, because it can be produced in numerous colour variations – although until now Laufen has concentrated completely on white in its collections, for example Val, Ino, Il Bagno Alessi One, Kartell by Laufen and the Palomba Collection. In addition, the Sentec surface is anti-bacterial, easy-to-clean, resistant to chemicals, UV-resistant and robust even when temperatures vary greatly.
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Angular corners and demanding shapes are possible. The technical advantages of Sentec become clear when we take a look at the production of the material: During a fast production process a homogeneous mixture of different minerals is cast in a mould under high pressure, and then heated in a furnace until it hardens. Thus even sharp-angled corners and demanding shapes without joints, which would be impossible in ceramics, are possible – for example for freestanding bathtubs.
A further advantage of Sentec is that the bathtub has a single wall, and can be created in one casting, instead of with a double wall as is usual in the case of bathtubs produced using conventional materials. The Sentec bathtubs from Laufen, for example from the new Val or Ino bathroom collections, thus weigh far less, yet feature an integrated overflow and are installed in a conventional way.
A further advantage of Sentec is the possibility of reworking products made of the material at a later date: Thus surfaces made of the material can be cut to size individually, or the fitter can make holes for faucets using conventional tools. With the assistance of a repair kit even light damage, scratches or stains can easily be repaired.
The new five-star Steigenberger Alcazar Resort, set in a beach location directly on the Red Sea coast, will be ready to receive its first guests from mid-May. This will be Steigenberger’s eighth venture in Egypt. Three contracts have been signed during the last three years.
The hotel will offer 610 rooms, including seven Junior Suites and two villas as well as five different restaurants and four bars. Visitors will also be able to enjoy the benefits of a modern conference area able to stage meetings and events as well as being able to access spa and gym facilities.
“Egypt is an important location for the Steigenberger Hotel Group,” said Puneet Chhatwal, CEO of Steigenberger Hotels AG. “The new resort in Sharm El Sheikh fits seamlessly into our existing portfolio and strengthens our position on the market. Together with the opening of the Steigenberger Tahrir Square in July we are well set.”
The Alcazar Resort is situated in the Bay of Nabq on the Sinai Peninsula and offers hotel guests the use of a 3,000 m2 private beach. The area features an extensive underwater environment which is ideal for diving and snorkelling.
Marriott International and Japan’s leading lodging company Mori Trust Group have announced the signing of five hotels in Japan under the Marriott Hotels brand.
The agreements for five Mori Trust hotels will see Marriott International double its footprint of its flagship Marriott Hotels brand in Japan, and will increase its Japanese presence by one-third as the company reaches its 20th property, upon completion of the rebranding of all hotels.
Over the next two years, Mori Trust Group will renovate five existing Laforet properties and rebrand them as Marriott Hotels, offering approximately 840 rooms. The agreements between the two companies extend a relationship that has seen the successful opening of the Tokyo Marriott Hotel, Courtyard by Marriott Tokyo Station Hotel and Courtyard by Marriott Shin-Osaka Station Hotel.
Mori Trust and Marriott have worked together on several projects including the Tokyo Marriott Hotel
The five rebranded hotels – Lake Biwa Marriott Hotel, Nanki-Shirahama Marriott Hotel, Fuji Marriott Hotel, Izu Marriott Hotel Shuzenji, and Karuizawa Marriott Hotel – are all located in Japan’s most scenic destinations. They are part of the large-scale hotel renovation plan announced by Mori Trust Group in October 2015 and an investment of approximately JPY16 billion (£101 million).
Marriott International currently runs 15 hotels in Japan spanning five brands, The Ritz-Carlton, Marriott Hotels, Renaissance, Courtyard, and Autograph Collection Hotels.
Melia Hotels International is opening its first ME and Innside-branded properties in the US in March.
The ME Miami will debut on March 3. The hotel, on the site of the old Casa Moderna on Miami’s Biscayne Boulevard, will have 129 rooms and more than 5,000 square feet of food and beverage space. Melia has three ME properties in Spain, two in Mexico and one each in Italy and the UK.
Additionally, Melia will debut its Innside brand the following week (March 7) in New York’s NoMad neighbourhood. The Innside New York NoMad, a newbuild property on West 27th Street between Avenue of the Americas and Seventh Avenue, will contain 313 rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, free WiFi, flat-screen TVs and complimentary minibars. Melia has 11 Innside properties in Germany, three in Spain and one in the UK.
Visitors to the Canadian capital now have even more choice of quality accommodation to choose from thanks to the opening of the newly-renovated 261-room Holiday Inn Ottawa East, the latest offering from the Intercontinental Hotel Group.
Formerly the Chimo Hotel, the Holiday Inn Ottawa East opens after an extensive CAN$9 million (£4.6 million) renovation. Facilities include an indoor swimming pool, fully equipped fitness centre and more than 8,500 sq. ft. of meetings space with capacity for up to 180 people.
Holiday Inn Ottawa East joins six other Intercontinental Hotel Group properties in the city. They include the centrally located Hotel Indigo Ottawa, the 232-room Crowne Plaza Gatineau-Ottawa and the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ottawa Airport; which is conveniently located just a stone’s throw from the airport terminal.
The new opening further strengthens the capital’s diverse hotel offering. UK visitors to Ottawa can already choose from a wide range of accommodation from intimate boutique properties to state of the art business hotels.
With climate change being the hugely important topic it has become, it is little wonder the hospitality industry is beginning to focus a lot more on its environmental impact. Indeed, in the UK – which ranks in the top 5 globally for energy and utilities usage – there has been a monumental shift in the industry over the last decade to ensure that ecological responsibility is factored into building design and amenities usage post-build.
With this in mind, we’re featuring a blog post from Xeros – purveyors of polymer bead cleaning technology – and how innovations such as theirs can help the hotel industry commit to greener techniques…
According to the Xeros blog: – Marriott, one of the top three largest hotel chains in the world, has committed to reducing energy and water consumption across their entire property portfolio by 20%, by 2020. – IHG, the largest hotel group in the world, has challenged their properties to realise savings of up to 25% through their Green Engage policy. – In the UK alone, the hotel and foodservice industry is estimated to consume around 156 billion litres of water annually, equivalent to 62,400 Olympic swimming pools – Hotel laundry systems are often one of the worst offenders when it comes to water and energy waste – running just one machine 8 times a day, 7 days a week can equate to 18 litres per kilo and annual consumption figures of 1.3 million litres per year.
Technology like Xeros’ bead-cleaning system allows this load to be drastically reduced to around 4 litres per kilo, saving an average of nearly a million litres of water on a like-for-like basis. Couple these reductions with significantly improved wash quality, technology like this is helping hotels such as Whittlebury Hall in Silverstone (partners of Hotel Designs publishers Forum Events) who are looking to enhance guest experience and do their bit to save the planet at the same time.
You can read the blog in full and find out more about Xeros’ bead-cleaning system here…
It’s an exciting time for Southport’s The Bold Hotel at the moment, which was bought in December 2015 by new investors who have spent millions of pounds on transforming the hotel.
Mikhail Investments took over the reins at the end of last year and set about refurbishing and renovating straight away, meaning the hotel has been closed ever since.
It is set to reopen in early March, with a new name – ‘The Bold Hotel Bar and Grill’ – new modern interiors, boutique-style rooms and a brand new menu. According to local media reports, Mikhail Investments say the hotel has seen “the refit touch every corner of the historic building”.
The purchase is said to have been a nostalgic one, as Andrew Mikhail often visited Southport as a child. He told the Southport Visiter: “We’re raising the bar in every way possible – we’ve put so much time and effort into really creating something special.”
The latest financial figures have been released by award-winning bed manufacturer Hypnos, revealing a period of considerable growth and expansion across the UK hospitality and retail markets, and also internationally.
The British-based business, which has been making luxury beds and mattresses for more than a century, has focused on developing its portfolio of global hoteliers and retailers which has led to an overall turnover for the Group of £47.3 million, a 29% increase on 2015.
The directors of Keen and Toms Holdings – which own Hypnos Limited and Hypnos Contract Beds Limited– are putting the growth down to the continued development of dedicated and focused teams, strategies and processes which efficiently manage Hypnos’ increasing operational scale.
This international approach has seen Hypnos develop its retailer network throughout Europe; create a new range of beds for the USA, made under license there and extend its USA retailer network; as well as increase the number of international licenses to make hotel beds, thereby strengthening Hypnos’ reach and capability to supply international chains like Marriott throughout the world.
John Woolley, Managing Director at Hypnos Contract Beds Limited said; “Our contract division has continued to see great success not only across the UK, but internationally too, with the company supplying both new and existing key accounts across the globe.
“This has contributed towards the Hypnos brand as a whole becoming more and more recognised around the world, and our reputation for superior quality and expertise in the UK bed market has now been cemented internationally. We are reaping the rewards of this success and are delighted to report another year of significant revenue growth, which has resulted in a very solid financial performance with improved margins, and profit growth of more than 78% in like-for-like operating profit.
“The business continues to perform extremely well with further significant growth being delivered in the current year. We had a 5 year plan for the business which we actually achieved in 4 years and our new plan reflects the need to maintain the focus on our performance in the areas where we’ve been successful, and to apply more focus to new markets and new opportunities that we have identified.
Whilst growing and expanding, Hypnos has been careful not to lose its focus on CSR and sustainability which has always been extremely important for the business. It was the UK’s first bed manufacturer to be awarded carbon neutral status and both UK factories have achieved FSC and PEFC certification, ensuring timber is sourced from managed forests. The business regularly undertakes tree planting exercises with local schools, as well as carrying out educational school tours to teach young people about the benefits of a good night’s sleep. The business ensures – wherever possible – that this responsibility to the environment and local communities is imitated overseas.
A 100-room, £10 million hotel being planned for the Anfield area of Liverpool – part of the district’s ongoing £260 million regeneration programme – has been given the green light by city councillors.
The hotel, being proposed by Your Housing Group, will be situated on Anfield Square and will neighbour the new housing scheme and Liverpool FC’s home ground.
It is planned that the hotel will support training and employment opportunities in the hospitality industry to local young people.
Cllr Ann O’Byrne, Deputy Mayor of Liverpool, told the Liverpool Echo: “The creation of a training hotel will be a vital part of the whole vision for the Anfield area and the potential of YHG relocating their regional office into the heart of Anfield sends a very strong message about their commitment and will bring added footfall all week and attract further activity.”
Sekers announces the launch of Charleston, a new upholstery collection of three distinctive jacquard designs – Joplin, Edwin and Fitzgerald – including a simple, elegant diamond design with a multicolour weft, an abstracted, broken geometric with a fresh modern look and a textured ottoman with a sophisticated, subtle movement of colour, all woven with a luxurious chenille yarn, creating a rich and sumptuous feel reminiscent of the Jazz Age.
Available in a range of 29 colours from rich jewel reds and purples to soft neutrals in platinum and taupe creating a coordinated and flexible collection easily included in any project.
With a high abrasion performance of 40,000 rubs and supplied with crib 5 backing, Charleston is perfect for the most demanding upholstery application and the ideal choice for the designer specifying for the commercial hospitality, leisure and marine markets.
ALL SALES AND SAMPLING ENQUIRIES TO: Sekers Fabrics Limited 7a Nobel Road, Wester Gourdie Industrial Estate Dundee, DD2 4UH Sales Tel: +44 (0) 1946 517501 Sales Fax: +44 (0) 1946 517502 UK & Ireland Email: sales@sekers.co.uk Export Email: export@sekers.co.uk www.sekersfabrics.co.uk London Showroom: Unit 1/20 Chelsea Harbour Design Centre, London, SW10 0XE
Relais & Châteaux, a leading and prestigious collection of hotels and restaurants around the world, welcomed 4 new hotels to its family this January. The properties join the collection of more than 540 landmark properties across the globe All share the Relais & Châteaux brand ethos of promoting the richness and diversity of the world’s cuisine and traditions of hospitality…
The Idle Rocks, St Mawes, UK Hotel & Restaurant 19 rooms Owners: David and Karen Richards Maître de Maison: Paul Goodwin
The Idle Rocks is idyllically situated on the Harbourside of St Mawes. Perched perfectly on the rocks, it’s a home from home where guests can make themselves comfortable in one of 19 individually designed bedrooms, each with its own style and charm.
Photo from idlerocks.com
Llangoed Hall, Brecon, Wales, UK Hotel- Restaurant 19 rooms Owners: Calum Milne and Roger Hancox Maître de Maison: Calum Milne
Llangoed Hall is a wonderfully elegant and historic country house hotel situated in the beautiful Wye Valley in the heart of the Welsh countryside. It offers the quintessential Edwardian country house experience.
Villa René Lalique, Wingen-sur-Moder, France (Opened September 2015) Hotel – Restaurant 4 rooms & 2 suites Owner: Silvio Denz, President of Lalique Maître de Maison: Jean-Georges and Nicole Klein
Villa René Lalique is an homage to the exceptional work of the craftsmen at Lalique factory and to the century-old heritage of visionary artist, René Lalique. Under the direction of Silvio Denz, Chairman and CEO of Lalique, the Villa, built by René Lalique in 1920, has now been reinvented as a sophisticated hotel and gourmet restaurant. With six sumptuous suites, and an exceptional restaurant housed in a dramatic glass and sandstone building, the property sits within six acres of glorious parkland in Alsace, north eastern France.
Photo from villarenelalique.com
La Bamba de Areco, San Antonio de Areco, Argentina Hotel – Restaurant 9 rooms and 1 suite Owner: Pascale Decaux Maître de Maison: Guillermo Savino
Located in the heart of the Pampa, one of the oldest estancias in Argentina, La Bamba de Areco is a boutique hotel combining luxurious comfort and colonial elegance. The property gives the feeling of being welcomed into a private home, into a property steeped in history and tradition.
Nile & York was founded in the 1990s to produce classic, timeless patterns designed and coloured to work with single or multi-coloured fabrics.
The first range was developed from a silk lining printed by Nile & York for world-renowned interior designer Jane Churchill. From the success of this lining, the Small Prints range was created by the owner, Simon Greenland, using five designs each printed in the same six colours. Nile & York’s Small Prints is now regarded as a classic and contains 63 fabrics, based on nine small designs covering a wide range of design styles.
Although the Small Prints range was originally designed for the high-end interiors, designer and decorator market it has now entered the world of hotel interiors. From four poster beds to lampshades, from headboards to the lining for bedcovers in exclusive and boutique hotels, it has become a product to consider.
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The Small Prints range has now been joined by the recently-launched Small Linen Prints range, based on a linen/cotton fabric woven in Scotland and printed in England. The range comprises 39 fabrics using five original designs created in house by Simon Greenland and is designed to coordinate with many interior moods and styles.
This range can be seen in use for blinds and bedcovers, but was originally designed – and is used primarily – for curtains. Where appropriate, it is used as light upholstery returning a rub test of 20,000. Again, designed to fit with many interior styles, the range has great potential for use in smaller exclusive hotels whether modern or traditional.
Nile and York has always been committed to supporting the British textile industry, and all of its ranges are, and have always been, produced in the UK.
Moxy Hotels, Marriott International‘s edgy new lifestyle brand, is shaking up traditional hospitality and making its mark in the USA with Moxy New Orleans, LA, and Moxy Tempe, Arizona – both set to open in Spring 2016.
Moxy New Orleans: Developed and owned by Noble Investment Group, the contemporary 108-room hotel is scheduled to be unveiled in April 2016.
Moxy Tempe: The hotel will feature 186 industrial chic, yet comfortable, bedrooms and an abundance of free-flowing indoor/outdoor space enabled by modern roll-up garage doors off the lobby.
Moxy Hotels, which first launched in Milan in September 2014, is entering the US market in a bold way, with several identified projects slated for major metropolitan locations in addition to New Orleans and Tempe, including New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago and Nashville.
Upcoming international openings include Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin, Oslo, Aberdeen, and London. The brand expects to offer a portfolio of nearly 150 hotels around the world within the next ten years.
Minor Hotel Group has announced its continued expansion in South East Asia with the development of Anantara Ubud Bali Resort.
MHG has formed a 50/50 joint venture with Indonesia-based PT Wijaya Karya Realty on this $41 million development. Scheduled to open in 2019, the new-build Anantara Ubud will offer a total of 70 guest offerings including suites and pool villas, several restaurants, a bar and pool lounge, meeting facilities, a gym and a spa. In addition 30 Anantara branded residences will be developed within the resort.
Artist’s rendering of the Anantara Ubud Bali Resort
Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotel Group, commented, “We are thrilled to be announcing our third Anantara resort in Bali. We are confident in the longevity of the island as a hugely popular tourism destination and the addition of Anantara Ubud will perfectly complement our existing resorts. We are looking forward to working closely with PT Wijaya Karya Realty going forward during the development of this new resort.”
MHG operates two Anantara resorts in Bali – Anantara Seminyak and Anantara Uluwatu – and an Anantara Vacation Club property. In addition there are currently two further properties under development which will see the debut of MHG’s AVANI and Oaks brands to the island.
Brintons is to launch an innovative Axminster collection engineered specifically for the corridor.
BLOKWERK presents a range of carefully composed designs, taking inspiration from the influential De Stijl movement and offers an innovative solution to corridor design.
Oren Sherman brings a restrained simplicity to the world of Axminster, resulting with the truly collaborative collection of elementally flexible designs. Constructed with harmonious textures and contemporary color palettes, Brintons’ BLOKWERK offers a multitude of ways to balance color and shape, manage scale and proportion, turn corners, and extend perspectives.
“These designs have been engineered with extraordinarily long repeats,” explains artist-illustrator Oren Sherman, “allowing designers to chart inventive pathways through corridors and transform often overlooked spaces into exciting opportunities.”
Contemporary interiors are welcoming more unified concepts to corridor space; with cohesive and unbroken carpet designs washing over door drops and erasing transitions.
Utilising simplified elements and static textural layers, the designs from BLOKWERK can be cut and reassembled in a variety of combinations without compromising visual integrity. BLOKWERK offers a practical solution to waste management and caters to the needs of the contemporary interior designer.
For more information on Brintons and its range of products and services for the commercial sector, visit www.brintons.net or call 01562 635665.
IHG are pleased to announce the signing of two new Hotel Indigo Properties in Europe:
• Hotel Indigo Stratford-upon-Avon, UK – The hotel will operate under a franchise agreement with St James’s Hotel Group and open in early 2018.
Located on Chapel Street in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon’s town centre, the hotel is within walking distance to the popular Shakespeare Theatre, nearby shops and Stratford-upon-Avon Train Station. It is also only a thirty minute drive from Birmingham International Airport. With easy transport links, Hotel Indigo Stratford-upon-Avon is the perfect place for a short break.
The 92-room property will be rebranded from the Falcon Hotel, a historic building full of character and old charm, and will feature a restaurant, bar and lounge, as well as a gym, and a meeting room.
• Hotel Indigo Krakow – Florian Gate – The hotel will mark the brand’s debut in Poland, and is due to open later this year under a franchise agreement with Hotel Filipa 18 ltd and SAO Investments.
The hotel will mark the brand’s debut in Poland, and is due to open later this year under a franchise agreement with Hotel Filipa 18 ltd and SAO Investments.
As one of the oldest and largest cities in Poland, Krakow is famed for its many styles of historic architecture and its rich culture, making it a perfect boutique hotel destination. The property is a 100 year old former residential building which will be converted into Hotel Indigo Krakow – Florian Gate whilst preserving its original architecture.
Featuring 56 guest rooms, a meeting room, gym, restaurant and bar, the hotel will be located near Krakow’s main train station in the heart of the city. Not only rich in historical antiquity, Krakow is one of Poland’s most important economic hubs, with many large multinational companies headquartered in the city.
The Wycombe Bed from Gallery Direct offers simple elegance to any bedroom and is available in three sizes.
It is part of Gallery’s new Wycombe Collection, an understated yet stylish range made from a combination of the finest solid oak and veneers for practicality and functionality.
The collection also includes a range of bedroom furniture, along with coordinating living and dining furniture that would look at home in any interior.
The new SS16 bed linen – Hollyhocks – from Sanderson embraces pretty blooms and celebrates colour. Pair with crisp white and metallics for a contemporary edge, or let vintage reign and combine with wood finishes, pastel palettes and shabby chic accessories, alternatively the brave could try an eclectic mix.
Printed onto a 300 thread count pure cotton percale and immersed in English nostalgia, Sanderson’s Hollyhocks design features a lavish bouquet of multi coloured blooms, against a backdrop of blue. The reverse offers a classic ticking stripe.
To introduce some texture to the look, team this bed linen with its counterparts – Jura, a petrol blue 100% cotton knit throw (£150) and 100% linen decorative floral cushion (£45).
Duvet cover available in Single (£80), Double (£95), King (£110) and Superking (£125). Oxford (£20) or Housewife (£17) pillowcases also available.
To view the Hollyhocks range alongside the rest of our Bedlinen collection please visit our website.For further details please call 01895 221005 or email press@a-sanderson.co.uk.
Kata Rocks incorporates a clever piece of design to give the illusion that you are in fact on your very own super yacht adrift on the Andaman Sea. A minimalist presence throughout, the modernistic layout gives those who visit an entirely new luxury experience in Thailand. Kata Rocks appointed architect firm Original Vision to take the lead in creating this particular vision; with an emphasis on clean and uncomplicated spaces designed towards the exceptional panoramic views.
Photos from katarocks.com
With the exclusive positioning in mind each of the Sky Villas has a clear, unobstructed view over the Andaman sea. Kata Rocks’ apartment-sized Sky Villas combine the space and opulence of a modern villa, with eye-catching wraparound glass and metal, a breath-taking retro and nautical auras, the boutique resort provides a chic and stylish setting where guests can experience an alternative to luxury in Thailand.
Photos from katarocks.com
Each privately owned and managed by Infinite Luxury with the service standards of a 5 star boutique hotel. With 34 one, two, three and four bedroom Sky Villas stacked across the hillside, these are big, bright and beautiful. The apartments (134-334sqm) and Penthouse (460sqm) come with a fully-fitted kitchen, living and dining areas with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors opening onto private infinity pools – each of which is a minimum of seven-metres long. The design inside and outside has been well thought out; the furnishings are sleek and Italian-made, all white-on-white, from white linens to white umbrellas shading white sunbeds overlooking a white-tiled pool.
Photos from katarocks.com
The privacy of the villas, each with their own luxury amenities offer an unparalleled sense of space and tranquillity, creating a feeling of harmony and balance set against its lush tropical surroundings. Kata Rocks has already collected many prestigious design awards – such as ‘Best Apartment in the World’ and ‘Best Small Hotel in the World’ – in the International Property Awards, triumphing over luxury properties from over one-hundred countries around the world.
Facilities extend to a stunning picturesque restaurant, a 35-metre swimming pool with a stylish poolside bar, a sublime Infinite Luxury Spa which houses everything from energy pods to light-emitting treatment beds and one of the most cutting-edge fitness facilities in Thailand. Between two of the islands finest beaches, Kata and Kata Noi, Kata Rocks is quickly becoming one of the island’s most fashionable resorts.
Tapping into the trend for apartment living and industrial-style finishes in the contemporary kitchen, Hotel Designs Summit headline sponsors Caesarstone introduces Raw Concrete, a new colour in its best-selling Classico worktop collection.
Strikingly understated, Raw Concrete combines beautifully with any style of furniture, from high gloss to painted. Sitting equally as well with other natural materials such as timber, this new finish offers a contrast to stainless steel appliances to create a look that has undertones of an industrial kitchen.
Caesarstone is a beautiful engineered quartz stone, which is scratch and stain resistant and guaranteed for 15 years. Caesarstone worktops never need to be sealed and require minimal maintenance to keep them looking like new. The non-porous surface makes cleaning simple, with soap and water or a mild detergent all that are required to maintain its lustre. Available in a wide range of colour and style options, Caesarstone countertops are ideal for virtually any interior surface including kitchens and bathrooms.
Raw Concrete is available in thicknesses of 13mm, 20mm and 30mm, with prices starting at £400 per square metre.
Bespoke Hotels is delighted to unveil the new-look Caroline Suite at Stonehouse Court Hotel, which has been transformed via significant investment into a stylish facility for up to 150 guests, further strengthening the property’s reputation as one of the South West’s finest wedding venues.
The 17th century Manor House, which is surrounded by six acres of beautiful grounds overlooking the Stroud Valley, Stonehouse Court also boasts extensive conferencing facilities and 36 elegant bedrooms.
Following widespread investment in transforming the main lounge as well as the full range of guestrooms, the experienced wedding and events team at Stonehouse Court are delighted to showcase the £150,000 investment enjoyed by the Caroline Suite.
It boasts panoramic garden views and a large private terrace, as well as everything from luxuriant carpets and natural oak doors, to a state of the art PA system and air conditioning.
General Manager Matthew Cain commented, “the new Caroline Suite will firm our foundations for the future, putting us on the map as a five star wedding and events venue as well as providing new employment opportunities for people in the local area.“
Travelodge’s monumental recent expansion continues to build up a head of steam.
That’s as Chatham Maritime Travelodge, the company’s 524th hotel, a 90-room hotel with a Bar Café opened last week. It represents an investment value of £7 million. Since acquiring the property, Travelodge has invested more than £600,000 modernising the hotel so that it features the company’s new contemporary brand design throughout.
The hotel is being managed by Sarah McSherry who returns to Travelodge after working at the company’s flagship hotel in London Covent Garden from 2007 to 2010. Sarah’s team of 21 have transferred over from the Ramada Encore Chatham hotel. Travelodge currently operates ten hotels across Kent which have been all been upgraded as part of the company’s £100 million, countrywide investment programme to deliver a greater quality product and service to customers. These hotels also feature Travelodge’s new room design.
Travelodge Revenue Director Tom Edwards announced that Travelodge is seeking to open a further five hotels across Kent. The locations include Canterbury, Folkestone, Maidstone, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge. This proposed expansion programme is expected to represent a total investment value of £35 million and will create 150 new jobs.
The Swing Reading Table Lamp by Chelsom is a sleek and contemporary piece fusing clean and stylish design with the latest technology.
Also available as a Floor Lamp and Wall Light, the Swing Reading range features robust detailed hinges allowing arms to swivel and cylindrical heads with ventilation hole that rotate to give efficient directional light for reading and working.
Standard finish options available include Polished Chrome and the industrially inspired Black Bronze both featuring a coordinating push switch in the base. The range is also available in a number of alternative finish options to special order for minimum quantities including the striking Stone with Black Bronze as pictured.
Dhofar’s newest luxury hotel, Anantara Salalah – Al Baleed Resort, developed by a joint venture between Omran Hotels & Resorts & Musstir, is set to open this summer – just in time for the upcoming season known locally as ‘Khareef’, which brings cooler temperatures and lush greenery.
Welcoming guests with traditional Omani style, the resort, located between a natural lagoon and the beach, will be managed by Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas. Carefully designed to reflect Dhofar’s rich heritage, the resort’s striking Dhofari design featuring intricate artistic details is inspired by the region’s iconic coastal fortresses and is surrounded by towering palms, magnificent trees, tropical gardens and lush water features.
READ A FULL REVIEW OF ANANTARA’S EASTERN MANGROVES RESORT AND SPA IN ABU DHABI
With 136 guest rooms and studios as well as one, two and three bedroom pool villas — the first of their kind in Salalah and Oman – the resort is conveniently located just 10 km from the city centre and 15 km from the airport.
In line with Anantara’s ongoing commitment to the local community in each of its destinations, the resort team’s goal is to provide long-term employment and development opportunities for residents of Dhofar.
For more information, click here. The resort’s website will be launching soon and further information can be obtained from www.omran.om and www.musstir.com.
Tewkesbury Park Hotel, the four-star boutique hotel which suffered from fire damage last week, is still open for business as usual. That’s according to its general manager, Patrick Jones, who was speaking to the Gloucestershire Echo.
Last week a fire broke out in the roof area of a non-used part of the property and all 43 guests and 20 members of staff had to be quickly evacuated as four fire engines from the surrounding area controlled the blaze.
General manager Patrick Jones reassured locals and guests that the hotel is running as usual. According to Jones, its restaurants, gold club and leisure complex all remain unaffected by the blaze, as well as the bedrooms.
The hotel is in the middle of a £1 million refurbishment project, which is adding nine new luxury suites to the property, all of which were unaffected in the fire and are still on schedule to be completed by early next month.
The work is part of a £3 million overall refurbishment programme which has transformed all 94 bedrooms, the public lounges and the indoor pool area over the last 12 months.
The authorities do not believe the fire to be suspicious.
Water sustainability in the hospitality industry is an issue beginning to raise its head above the metallic-edged parapets of hotels springing up all over the world. It’s no secret that water consumption levels in the industry could definitely be reduced and cannot be maintained at its current levels.
Indeed, some statistics recently printed in a recent issue of HD member GROHE‘s magazine about the worldwide water shortage make for sobering reading:
– Drinking water is running out. By 2030, global demand is expected to outstrip supply by 40 percent, and many rivers and lakes are drying up. Currently, 1.1 billion people lack access to water, and only one percent of all water consumed is fresh. The problem is critical, and the United Nations (UN) is responding by introducing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The causes of global water shortages are complex, ranging from climate change to urbanisation and population increase. As a result, the solutions are diverse, and although governments and multinational organisations have a responsibility to tackle it, so do individuals. –
Some of GROHE’s water sustainability products
So, with this in mind, those fitting hotels with water consuming items are having to not only factor these solutions into their product designs but also their construction and installation. One such firm is GROHE themselves:
– Conscious of this dilemma, GROHE, the world’s leading manufacturer of sanitary fittings, are integrating sustainability into their business. It’s present in every aspect of our corporate structure,” says GROHE executive Thomas Fuhr. “It determines everything we do, from product development to manufacturing and logistics as well as use and disposal.”
One of GROHE’s biggest customers is the hospitality industry. According to a recent study by the Malta Business Bureau, 365 trillion litres of water could be saved by the EU’s hotel business every year. The problem represents an area in which, by reducing their water consumption, hotels can also improve cost efficiency. –
Indeed, while we are seeing hotels monitoring their usage more and managing their laundry loads, we are also seeing a lot more manufacturers introducing ‘low-flow’ products with technology like aerated shower heads to help hotel firms reduce water consumption by up to 30% in some cases. GROHE are at the forefront of this:
– And by focussing on this issue and staying true to their commitment to high quality design, GROHE has been working with many of the world’s leading hotel brands to help deliver the results they need. One case in point is luxury Danish hostel chain, Danhostel, whose Copenhagen city location recently swapped its older fittings and showerheads for water saving, environmentally-friendly ones made by GROHE. And the results speak for themselves: water usage was reduced from 13 to 5.8 litres of water per minute. –
You can read the whole article from GROHE Magazine here…
The Hamilton Coffee Table, from Gallery Direct’s, is a decorative statement piece for any lounge area. This updated classic is made using mindy ash solids and inlaid parquet detail with an antique distressed finish.
Using architectural veneer which is thicker than conventional veneers, this table is made to the highest quality to ensure strength and durability. The piece can be used singularly or combined with the complementary side table to finish a room with a traditional yet timeless approach.
Starwood is bringing its Sheraton brand to the upmarket resort town of Cascais, Portugal with the signing of the Sheraton Cascais Resort. Owned and managed by United Investments Portugal (UIP), the property will join the Sheraton brand on February 24th, 2016 under a franchise agreement with Starwood.
“We have successfully partnered with United Investments Portugal for over 24-years at Pine Cliffs, a Luxury Collection Resort in the Algarve, positioning it as one of the finest resorts in Europe. We are extremely proud to extend this collaboration and bring a third Sheraton hotel to Portugal,” said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “The signing of this fantastic hotel underlines our strong relationship with UIP and highlights the continued demand for the Sheraton brand as we move toward our goal of adding 150 new Sheraton hotels around the globe by the year 2020.”
Sheraton Cascais Resort, which previously operated as the Vivamarinha Hotel & Suites, boasts an enviable location on Portugal’s sweeping Atlantic coast just 30 minutes from Lisbon and about a mile from the famous Guincho Beach, one of the finest surfing spots in Europe. Comprising of 138 rooms and suites, Sheraton Cascais will feature a signature restaurant and two bars, as well as a wide range of leisure facilities including a state-of-the-art fitness centre, outdoor swimming pool and an expansive spa with six treatment rooms and hydrotherapy suite. A perfect location for golfers, the resort is surrounded by seven of Portugal’s top golf courses. Business guests will enjoy a range of multifunctional meeting rooms, the largest accommodating up to 150 people.
Sheraton Cascais Resort will complement the two existing Sheraton properties in Portugal – Sheraton Lisbon Hotel & Spa and Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa.
In June 2015, Starwood Hotels & Resorts launched Sheraton 2020, a comprehensive 10-point plan designed to put Sheraton Hotels and Resorts firmly back into the global spotlight. Sheraton 2020 includes a multi-million marketing campaign; the launch of the new premier tier, Sheraton Grand; continuous innovation of the Sheraton guest experience; and a goal of adding more than 150 new Sheraton hotels worldwide by 2020.
Award-winning British bed manufacturer Hypnos has pledged its support for proposed regulations to ensure properties advertised on home exchange sites, such as Airbnb, meet appropriate fire safety standards.
Home exchange websites allow users to list, find and rent properties or spare rooms across the globe. Such websites have seen a huge growth over the past year, with an increasing number of guests opting for short-term properties available on online marketplaces, rather than regulated hotels and serviced apartments.
However Ufi Ibrahim, chief executive of the British Hospitality Association (BHA) recently advised a House of Commons committee that home exchange websites are enabling professional landlords to operate on an industrial scale, avoiding fire safety regulations that commercial properties must legally adhere to, therefore putting guests at risk.
John Woolley, MD Hypnos
John Woolley, managing director at Hypnos Contract Beds Limited, echoed the concerns of the industry: “The possibility of a fire breaking out in a property is something that any property owner needs to prepare for and take steps to reduce the risk. It’s therefore crucially important that products, such as furniture and bedding, have certain levels of protection against fire to ensure guest’s safety and keep them protected.
“Although properties may not be listed as hotels or serviced apartments by name, the reality is that in circumstances where landlords continuously rent out their properties to guests, questions should be raised around the regulations they adhere to and if it does in fact count as a commercial property.
“Ultimately, the strict requirements that are in place for commercial properties are there to protect guests. For properties unofficially acting as hotels and serviced apartments, it’s important that there is legislation in place to protect users who may unknowingly be putting themselves in danger.”
In the UK, fire safety requirements for domestic upholstered furniture are well established, having been in place since 1989. However fire retardant regulations for furniture used in a commercial environment are far more stringent. In a commercial setting, there is a legal requirement to ensure all mattresses, beds and sofa beds meet strict UK and EU fire regulatory standards. This includes meeting the Crib 5 BS6807 standard which guarantees that a product has been specifically tested for high resistance to ignition. Every single bed that complies with this rigorous standard will clearly display the fire retardancy Source 5 (Crib 5) label.
And more recently, the Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA) has developed a new ‘fire standard’ specifically for contract beds. The new standard looks to enhance the BS EN1725 test methods currently used for domestic beds, reflecting the fact that beds used in the hospitality market are subject to far more rigorous use.
Find the latest Bauhaus product update from January 2016 below:
NEW Pier Furniture Range (pictured above) – Available in 800mm, 1000mm and 1200mm width. – Available in three different finishes – Ebony, Steel and Anthracite. – Single or double drawer options. – Supplied with a wall template to ensure straightforward installation, along with wall brackets featuring a 3-way adjustment and clever locking facility for the ultimate safe and secure fitting. – Scratch and stain-resistant – Pre-prepared for one, two or three tap hole installation. – Complete with a sleek, virtually seamless undermount basin, which is factory-fitted to save time and reduce onsite work during installation. – Water-resistant. – 10-year guarantee.
Click here to download the entire range of Crosswater brochures
Hilton HHonors members can now receive an exclusive discount on room rates by booking directly through its brand websites, its award-winning mobile app and reservation call centres, or through preferred corporate travel partners and approved travel agents. This guaranteed discount is available at more than 4,500 hotels around the world.
In a move expected to take the online fight to the array of third party booking websites, Hilton’s new ‘Stop Clicking Around‘ marketing campaign – the largest ever launched in the company’s 97 year history – will also emphasise the other benefits of booking direct and being an HHonors member.
These benefits include HHonors Points that can be used for free room nights, free Wi-Fi, and the ability to check-in, choose your own room from a digital floor plan and use a Digital Key all via the HHonors mobile app on a smartphone. In addition, when HHonors members book direct with Hilton, hotels are able to provide more personalised and memorable experiences for each stay.
“Our customers don’t need to worry about sorting through a dizzying array of websites, enduring hundreds of clicks and wasting hours of time. They can be assured that booking a room directly with us at any of our hotels doesn’t require extensive searching and price checking to find the best prices online,” said Geraldine Calpin, chief marketing officer at Hilton Worldwide.
“Last year, 57 billion Hilton HHonors Points – or more than 1.6 million free nights – went unearned because guests booked their stay through a third party,” said Mark Weinstein, global head of customer engagement, loyalty and partnerships at Hilton Worldwide. “There is a huge misconception that third parties always offer lower prices for our hotel rooms, which is simply not true.”
A leading hospitality interior design practice, RPW Design, is repositioning the five-star London Marriott County Hall hotel for the global market. With their trademark interiors alchemy, RPW Design is transforming the guestrooms and public areas to create a ‘quintessentially British’ feel. This multi-million pound transformation will see all 200 bedrooms and suites and public spaces completed by May 2016.
RPW was inspired by the history and location of Marriott County Hall, in particular taking note of decorative architectural components designed by the architect, Ralph Knott. The original wrought iron detailing apparent in the building’s entrance and ceremonial gates leading to the council chambers were a key inspiration for the designs. The bronze tone in the linear metal work has been re-interpreted into the bespoke cabinetry and ironmongery in the guestrooms. With the original building being completed in the 1930’s there are nods to Art Deco patterning within the carpet design and bespoke decorative lighting pieces throughout.
Bold, oak timbers were selected as a basis for the colour schemes to create a connection to the listed panelling in the principal corridors. A refreshingly light palette creates harmony between the past and future of the building as well as reflecting its essentially masculine style.
Each room is laid out in the finest detail to bring ease, luxurious functionality and comfort for the guests’ every-day needs; from the tiniest element such as the bespoke handles for the cabinetry, the correct angles for mirrors and of course intuitive technology throughout, practicality reigns without compromising on style. Sumptuous soft furnishing and subtle plays on iconic London landmarks are featured throughout.
Design touches in each room include tasteful homages to the building’s history and location including chairs upholstered in a deep orange as a tribute to the orange red leather upholstered seating used in the former London council chambers. Bowler hat prints on the corridor wall paper echo London’s business culture. Elizabeth Lane, Director of Projects, said: “Through a careful exercise of understanding and re-incorporating architectural and historic details of the building, both architecturally and decoratively; the space at the Marriott County Hall has been significantly enhanced while maintaining its inherent distinctiveness.”
The Westminster Suite The Westminster Suite (the hotel’s largest) has had a full refurbishment and now the luxuriously panelled suite lives up to its fantastic views across the River Thames to Westminster. A collection of 7 artworks of varying sizes installed on a curved wall behind the dining table creates a narrative and history of the property around the open plan suite. Each piece is made up of a collage of newspaper prints relating to London, Southbank and the arts. There are highlights of hand-sketched architectural imagery of the building and references to the Coade stone Lions of the Southbank.
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The Public Areas “While being respectful to features in the public areas, we plan to enhance the space by both refurbishing existing furniture and details and introducing new furniture elements and soft furnishings that again nod towards to the history of the building and it’s completion date in the 1930s,” said Heather McLellan, Senior Designer for the project.
“The before-and-after views of any of the areas RPW designed-be it the stunning guestroom areas, corridors or the wonderful Westminster Suite are remarkable. I strongly believe we have once again successfully demonstrated how we can unlock great value within our client’s assets through sensible, yet bold design moves” says Ariane Steinbeck, Managing Director of RPW Design.
Debenhams’ love of creating beautiful spaces within the home has now extended to the hospitality arena and in an exciting move for the British high street retailer, on 2 March 2016, Debenhams launches its designer open plan apartment in a year-long partnership with Cheval Three Quays.
The takeover kicks-off in March with much-loved designer at Debenhams, Ben de Lisi, followed by Matthew Williamson in June. Both designers will exclusively dress the apartment in their own inimitable style and showcase their current designer homeware collections for Debenhams.
Having opened on 10 March 2014, Cheval Three Quays has raised the bar in the serviced apartment sector. The open plan apartments boasts dramatic floor to ceiling windows with unrivalled views across the River Thames, Tower Bridge, The Shard and City Hall. Every detail of the apartment, curated by the designers, has been carefully considered to effortlessly mix luxury with the designer’s own personal style.
Bringing a brand new travel experience to the public, Ben de Lisi’s apartment showcases his SS16 collection for Debenhams. Offering adventure and exploration, the room is brought to life with a lively combination of hand drawn graphics, soft geometrics, quirky objects and multi coloured stripes.
“I am thrilled to be part of such an innovative collaboration with Designers at Debenhams. It’s such a fantastic opportunity for loyal customers to experience my new collection in the luxury environment of Cheval Three Quays, and for guests to live the designer lifestyle,” de Lisi said.
What’s more, each guest will receive a luxury food hamper on arrival and gift on departure, plus exclusive treats to be redeemed in the Debenhams Oxford Street Store. These include a range of luxury beauty treatments and exclusive offers, Personal Shopping appointments and restaurant vouchers.
Changing four times per year, the further designers will be revealed on Debenhams’ social media channels in advance of launch. Follow @debenhams or #DebsDesignerApartment for updates.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts has announced it has entered into a franchise agreement with Brighton and Hove Albion to open a new Aloft hotel in the popular southern England coastal city. The 150-room Aloft Brighton, which is due to open in September 2017, will expand the brand’s growing footprint to four hotels in the UK, including two in London (Aloft London Tobacco Dock opens 2018), one in Liverpool and now one in Brighton.
Located adjacent to the new American Express Community Stadium, home of Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club, Aloft Brighton will form a key part of a new major development that includes a proposed specialist cancer treatment center underneath the hotel. The site also enjoys superb transport links, with an on-site mainline rail station and parking for 422 cars (including 27 disabled spaces).
“This agreement illustrates the strong demand for stylish, yet affordable accommodation in mature and strategically important cities such as Brighton,” said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “We are delighted to partner with Brighton and Hove Albion in this venture, and look forward to introducing our cutting-edge Aloft brand alongside one of the country’s most exciting sports and leisure developments.”
“As a global brand and leading hospitality company, Starwood’s UK market expertise gives us confidence that this alliance will be a huge success,” said Martin Perry, Brighton and Hove Albion Executive Director. “With its affordable price point, stylish design and accessible technology, the Aloft brand is the perfect choice for visitor accommodation at the American Express Community Stadium, appealing to multiple business segments including conference delegates, football supporters and visitors to the two Universities adjacent to the stadium.”
Delivering urban-influenced design and an energetic guest experience, Aloft Brighton will offer 150 loft-like guest rooms with ultra-comfortable plush platform beds, large walk-in showers and complimentary Bliss amenities. The hotel will feature the brand’s signature W XYZ bar. Additionally, every Aloft hotel around the world offers live, free access to emerging artists and performances from some of the hottest local bands.
Jumeirah’s Burj Al Arab is bringing an innovative design project to the UAE in the second quarter of the 2016, as the ‘North Deck’ gets set to officially open to guests.
It has been developed using state-of-the-art environmental technology, design, manufacturing expertise and marine installation mastery, a combination which has never before been attempted. The 10,000-square-metre private luxury deck will fan 100 metres out into the Arabian Gulf and accommodate 32 cabanas, 400 sun loungers, one fresh water pool measuring 612 square metres and one salt water pool measuring 828-square-metres, one restaurant and a bar.
In a bid to deliver the most exclusive guest experience with minimal disruption, the deck has been developed in six sections off-site in Finland by marine construction experts, ADMARES. The structure has been built in a controlled cruise ship and yacht production facility which guarantees the highest standards in both construction and luxury finish.
Made from steel and weighing around 5,000 tonnes, the North Deck is currently being lifted by crane and lowered onto a grid of 90 steel piles, 914 millimetres in diameter, facing north into the Arabian Gulf.
The deck will sit north of Burj Al Arab’s island, therefore the work around it will be visible from Bab Al Yam’s terrace and the marina garden will be closed off during the installation period. The installation and welding of North Deck is expected to take six weeks to complete, weather permitting.
Lea Marston Hotel in Sutton Coldfield is about to start work on its £2 million expansion, which will see its size increase by a fifth.
The hotel, which was opened in 1991, will see its total number of rooms increase to 117 after the new 30 bedrooms have been built.
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(Photos from leamarstonhotel.co.uk)
According to a hotel statement, the expansion comes amidst an increase in demand in the area for hotel rooms and will be supplemented by Lloyds Commercial Bank with a £1.8 million.
Mark Blake, chairman of Lea Marston Hotel, said the new bedrooms would be contemporary and come with free WiFi. Blake said: “Starting the expansion of the hotel has been a milestone achievement for us and supports our vision of long-term growth.”
Dreamworks Beds, providers of top quality beds, mattresses, headboards and bedsteads all designed and manufactured in the UK to the highest standards, have upgraded their range with 100 new fabrics and a choice of mattresses. The exciting range of sofa beds have optional matching fixed sofas and accompanying chairs to complete the collection.
Returning to the AIS Show for another year, Dreamworks Beds’ new range of fabrics and collection of sofa beds were the focus of the show. Showcasing the wide range and variety of products, the collection demonstrates the fine craftsmanship that goes into each of these luxury products. Over four days this January, buying group AIS welcomed members and non-members alike to the AIS furniture show, offering independent retail visitors a refined choice of furniture.
Rachel Brown, Bed Selector at AIS explained: “I am so pleased that Dreamworks Beds chose to launch their fantastic new fabric collection for their range of sofa beds at The AIS Furniture Show.” She continued: “Our members have been extremely positive about the new range, which offers a massive choice of designs. With over 100 quality fabrics to select from, they have incorporated a great mix of contemporary, traditional and kids’ designs. We really are delighted with the members’ response.”
Overall the show was an outstanding success for Dreamworks Beds, with the range of high quality sofa beds being extremely well received by both customers and industry commentators alike.
Owners of a hotel near the Lake District have revealed their plans for a major extension which would see 9 new bedrooms added to the property if it’s approved.
Planning application has been submitted to Barrow Borough Council by owners Lancaster Brewery to expand The Duke of Edinburgh Hotel in a £300,000 project.
Lancaster Brewery celebrates its tenth year of ownership this year, having taken over the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel in 2006, a property they have spent more than £2 million refurbishing and renovating – including a complete overhaul of the bar area.
If given the green light, the project would take the number of bedrooms at the four-star hotel to 51. Lancaster Brewery hope to be starting the project in the next eight weeks.
In a newly developed grandstand, Cheltenham Racecourse now enjoys an array of bespoke carpet embracing apparently effortless design and celebrating the famed gold diamonds of owner, The Jockey Club.
Tasked to evoke the feeling of the rolling landscape in which Cheltenham Racecourse is found, architecture practice, Roberts Limbrick, worked closely with Wilton Carpets Commercial through an evolutionary design process that has had stunning results. Having developed original design briefs inspired by contemporary artists and involving wave elements across a palette of natural colours, Robert Limbrick worked with Wilton to reinterpret these concepts into a simpler design that embraced the gold of The Jockey Club for the fifth floor Panoramic room. This simpler look was wholeheartedly embraced by the Racecourse and formed the basis for carpets throughout the grandstand.
“Our initial concepts reflected the course’s original intention for a design inspired by its surroundings, but after deliberation with the team at Cheltenham, a simpler look first suggested for the Panoramic room was used throughout,” explains James Vincent, senior associate, Roberts Limbrick. “The suite proved an ideal trial and the whole process has involved a close working partnership with the design team at Wilton, with their input and expertise proving invaluable as we looked for the perfect balance in colour and pattern. We worked from a palette of landscape tones to uphold the original brief of being inspired by the course’s surroundings, balancing against natural wood finishes and the luxurious fabrics found in furniture throughout all areas.”
The contemporary texture effect in a purple with gold fleck was chosen for level one, where it works well with the Jockey Club branding. On this level, the champagne bar has added detail with a ‘horseshoe’ crescent motif used to suggest champagne bubbles while remaining elegant. Level two sees the same contemporary texture as level one, this time in a green colourway with a range of gold tone highlights.
The Royal Box on level four is another area of special interest. Here the design went through several variations, before an elegant neutral palette was finally selected to balance the colour and detail in walls and furniture, creating a sense of luxury befitting this prestigious interior.
“While the finished designs could be seen as plain with detail highlights, the entire project was exceptionally complex due to the shape of the impressive new building and that the apparently simple design features a complex integral border effect of a darker texture,” comments Julie Robertson, design manager, Wilton Carpets Commercial.
With over 3,300 square metres of wool-rich bespoke woven carpet installed, including existing Wilton library designs in corporate boxes, Cheltenham Racecourse was a sizeable project that demonstrated the ability of the manufacturer to work with architecture practices to achieve a striking interior. The numerous bars, members’ areas, hospitality suites and corporate boxes of Cheltenham Racecourse exhibit a unique set of demands on carpet design:
“Apart from the need for a high-quality broadloom that offers ease of cleaning and longevity, the design of Cheltenham Racecourse and its need to be adaptable threw up several challenges along the way and working with Wilton helped greatly in achieving an end result that has left all delighted,” continues James Vincent, Robert Limbrick. “From a brief that evolved considerably to finding the right colour and design combinations to suit the area in question, Wilton were highly influential in the design process.”
For further information contact Wilton Carpets Commercial on 01722 746000 or sales@wiltoncarpets.com
Savoir Beds, the world’s most luxurious sleeping system, teamed up with luxury fabric specialist Kobe UK, to add sophisticated glamour to its specially designed bed for The Savoy’s 125th Anniversary.
Savoir was first created for The Savoy hotel in London in 1905, and its tailor-made beds have become almost as legendary as the stars that have slept in them. In creating a special bed to mark the occasion, Savoir’s designer, Mandeep Dillon, used Kobe’s best-selling chic and contemporary Chacar fabric to capture the very essence of the hotel.
The design is inspired by the 1920 and 30s, the heyday of glamour, jazz and movie stars at The Savoy. Visually, the bed echoes the slim elegant lines of 1920s design and has a futuristic ‘Flash Gordon’ look with the use of sharp angles and metallic bronze silk. Its shape is emphasised by the deliberate use of a single fabric to upholster the whole bed including the legs. Lastly, there is no fussy detailing on the bed to detract from the simplicity of the shape.
Said Nikki Harris, head of contracts at Kobe UK: “We were delighted to help Savoir on this assignment. “The team works closely with interior designers on major projects around the UK and it was very exciting working with Savoir on the specially designed 125th anniversary bed for The Savoy.”
Chacar is suitable for domestic and contract window décor, upholstery and soft furnishings. The luxurious cotton satin comes in 94 colours from soft delicate neutrals, to vivid oranges and vibrant blues. All Kobe’s upholstery fabrics offer exceptional durability, scoring highly on the Martindale Rub Test.
Said Natalie Byrne of Savoir: “The Chacar fabric was perfect, as The Savoy bed needed to reflect the timeless elegance of the hotel, as well as to celebrate its anniversary. Kobe’s experience and expertise made working with them on this project a pleasure.”
The anniversary bed was photographed in The Savoy’s famous Beaufort Bar and features as the main attraction in The Savoy Travelling Bedroom in its showrooms worldwide.
“We have a passion for fabrics and believe in creating interiors that reflect the very latest trends for today. We consider the innovation and development of high-quality products of paramount importance to both us and our customers,” added Nikki.
The Kobe UK sales office and studio is based in Crowthorne, Berkshire.
Following an extensive renovation, The Kensington has re-launched. The majestic property sits in the heart of South Kensington, where Queen’s Gate meets the Old Brompton Road and comprises four traditional white Victorian townhouses.
Set amongst the leafy squares, museums and parks of the Royal borough, The Kensington now feels more like a beautiful private residence than traditional hotel. Its 126 rooms and 14 suites are individually designed with elegant fabrics and custom furnishings to complement the hotel’s period architecture.
Completely redesigned spaces include the hotel’s restaurant now called Town House; the fabulous interconnected drawing rooms on the ground floor ideal for afternoon tea or a relaxed meeting; K Bar – a glamorous new bar; and also a new look for all rooms and suites, including the transformation of The Knightsbridge and The Brompton Suites into two of London’s most beautiful accommodations.
The renovation is part of a multi-million pound investment programme across The Doyle Collection’s portfolio of eight properties in the UK, Ireland and Washington DC and is the first of the hotels to unveil a complete new look and style. The re-design – as with all Doyle Collection properties – is overseen by Chairman Bernie Gallagher and the group’s design team whilst collaborating with talented designers to suit different design projects. The conversion of the three ground floor spaces of The Kensington has been overseen by Alexander Waterworth Interiors, the east London-based design collective well known for its private houses in west London as well as branches of Kerbisher & Malt and The Musket Room in New York.
Town House, the hotel’s elegant dining room, now has its own discreet entrance on Manson Place and is made up of three adjoining rooms. The Library is an intimate space lined with books and collectables, opening into The White Room, with its open fireplace and small covered terrace and, in turn, connecting to The Study. These distinctive, flexible spaces can be used independently or opened up into one larger space, creating a variety of settings for informal dining, cocktail and canapé events or elegant business meetings.
Each room is infused with light from large bay windows and furnished with elegant jewel-toned pieces that perfectly complement the heritage features and contemporary décor. The kitchen is supervised by Executive Chef Steve Gibbs, who trained under the great British chefs Jason Atherton and Mark Hix. His menus offer guests and visitors alike an enticing selection of fresh, seasonal, locally-sourced dishes, served alongside a dazzling cocktail and wine list.
The final piece of the puzzle will be the launch of The Brompton Suite in March 2016, with a fresh new design by Emily Brady of Brady Williams Studios of London. Stepping into this 753 sq ft space will feel rather like entering a beautifully appointed luxury apartment in a grand historic building.
The suite has been designed to create the look of an art curator’s London apartment and signature details will include a warm oak herringbone wood floor, beautiful 1960’s table lamps, window dressings designed to allow maximum natural light to flood the suite and exceptional views over the rooftops of South Kensington and beyond. The Brompton Suite will interconnect with The Knightsbridge Suite and a Luxury Studio Suite to create a two to three-bedroom space. This suite will compliment the new Knightsbridge Suite – a spectacular large suite with three bedrooms all with en-suite bathrooms, two living rooms and a luxurious daybed.
Autograph Collection Hotels, Marriott International’s growing collection of independent hotels, is celebrating further expansion across the Caribbean and Latin America, and the brand’s second hotel in Costa Rica, with the addition of El Mangroove.
El Mangroove, located off the Gulf of Papagayo, is a sustainable boutique, lifestyle resort that boasts a modern design which incorporates Costa Rica’s natural beauty through wood and water elements along with bamboo, stone and natural furnishings that merge all indoor and outdoor spaces.
The hotel has 85 luxurious guest suites outfitted with every imaginable amenity, a pool stretching over 130 feet with sweeping views of the Gulf of Papagayo and a state of the art spa and fitness centre that includes outdoor “wild-fit” areas and multi-functional exercise decks.
In addition, its ample and exclusive meeting facilities are ideal for groups, with more than 3000 square feet of functional space, both indoors and outdoors.
Minor Hotel Group (MHG) has announced the completion of the final stage of its acquisition of Tivoli Hotels & Resorts, a well-known Portugal-based brand with 14 properties across Portugal and Brazil. The acquisition of Tivoli Hotels & Resorts, which totals €294 million (£228 million), not only marks MHG’s strategic entry into Europe and Latin America, but also provides the group with a strong operating platform to drive further growth in those markets.
This represents the largest-ever hospitality transaction in Portugal and is a highly lucrative acquisition for MHG. The acquisition not only adds strong earnings underpinned by valuable hotel assets, but is also well-timed to capitalise on recent strong growth in Portugal’s tourism market.
Dillip Rajakarier, COO of Minor International and CEO of Minor Hotel Group, commented, “We are excited to add Tivoli to Minor Hotel Group’s portfolio of hotel brands. With over 80 years of history, the Tivoli brand brings with it a rich heritage, a highly experienced team and a deeply loyal customer base. The Tivoli acquisition further cements MHG’s position as a world-class hotel operator, with a portfolio now extending to Europe and South America. Looking forward, we have already planned further investment into the Tivoli hotel assets and its operating and distribution infrastructure to realise the full potential of this strategic investment.”
The Tivoli acquisition is the latest in a series of international investments by Minor Hotel Group as part of its long term diversification strategy, which over the last two years has seen the group invest over $550 million (£378 million) in hotel projects in Southern and East Africa, Asia, Australia, South America and Europe. These investments include, in addition to Tivoli, a joint venture with Sun International, new hotel projects in Australia and Malaysia and investments with existing joint venture partners Rani Investment and Elewana Collection in Southern and East Africa.
With these additional Tivoli hotels, MHG’s overall hotel portfolio now totals 145 properties across 22 countries. Tivoli is a member of Global Hotel Alliance, to which three of MHG’s existing brands — Anantara, AVANI and PER AQUUM — also belong.
The Louis XV bed from Gallery Direct’s Frank Hudson range is a classic statement piece, available in two finishes, antique blonde and charcoal.
Both finishes are a hand-applied stain to bring out the soft tones and beautiful detail of the wood grain and hand carvings. Using fine quality mahogany for the blonde antique finish and Mindy Ash for the charcoal finish, the beds have hand-woven cane inserts that are beautifully combined with the skilled hand carvings.
The Louis bed can be complemented by a bedside cabinet that has the same quality of craftsmanship, with solid wood hand-cut dovetail joints and hand cast handles to finish this classic look.
Following a £13.5 million investment by the Spanish hotel group, the five star property is now fully open with refurbished rooms and suites, a renovated restaurant and a revamped beach area. The recent developments form part of a wider project by Palladium Hotel Group that is seeing a series of facelifts at its other Caribbean resorts, in Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
All Junior Suites, One Bedroom Suites and Honeymoon Villa Suites have been redesigned and refurbished in the colonial style that prevails throughout the Caribbean resort, transporting guests back to times gone by while maintaining the essence of today’s Jamaica and without sacrificing modern comforts.
New details include ivory cream marble floors, luxurious bathrooms, brass light fixtures and elegant walnut furniture. Yellow jungle motifs combined with elegant touches of black in the updated décor add a typically Jamaican touch, with ethnic-styled Arte Internacional wallpaper that makes reference to the hotel’s Jamaican roots.
New decorative items include period maps of the country and bright illustrations of local wildlife and plants. The new bathrooms feature London Underground tiling in a nod to the British influence in Jamaica through the country’s history.
Indian-themed Bhogali, one of the resort’s seven à la carte restaurants, has reopened after a full renovation, meaning guests can once again enjoy traditional spiced dishes from the open-air restaurant. The Las Brisas beach area is now also fully open following a revamp.
Plans to revitalise one of Aberdeen’s most historic buildings – the Woolmanhill Hospital – have been revealed.
Developers CAF Properties want to transform the 18th century Woolmanhill Hospital into a 50-room boutique hotel and residential complex. Aside from the hotel offering, initial plans for the Victorian site, which includes the A-listed Archibald Simpson building, include serviced apartments, residential apartments, and affordable housing.
The scheme will involve four of the buildings on the site, which was the location of the city’s first royal infirmary; opened in 1749 and which remains one of Aberdeen’s most distinctive granite buildings. Most of the hospital was shut down three years ago to help NHS Grampian cut a £160m repair bill backlog. A public consultation over the plans will be held at Aberdeen Central Library at Rosemount Viaduct on March 23.
The Carlson Rezidor hotel group, over the last decade or so, has been steadily building up and expanding its portfolio across the globe with strategic purchases and a prudent selection of locations – think Radisson Blu’s planned and continuing expansion in Africa. With nearly 1,500 hotels and 170,000 rooms, its progress has been successful despite being a relative ‘David’ to the ‘Goliaths’ of Hilton and the now-merging Marriott-Starwood group.
And one of its brands in particular (since SAS pulled its partnership in 2009) has benefitted considerably. The Radisson Blu collection now boasts nearly 400 hotels open or in development in more than 80 locations around the world. And whenever I’ve visited a Radisson Blu property, from Dubai Media City to London Stansted, I’ve always found the brand’s offerings to be contemporarily designed and focused – usually with a lean towards the business traveller – and the service to be of a high standard. This recently revamped and refurbished Leeds chapter is no different.
The hotel is contained within the walls of the centrally-located and well-restored former home of the Leeds Permanent Building Society and directly neighbours the commercial complex ‘The Light’. As I arrive, I consider this fact might cause a noise pollution issue once inside the hotel, but my fears are allayed by the positioning of the public areas away from any of the main thoroughfares in the shopping complex.
This location means sprawling space is at a premium, so the ground level of the hotel is split cleverly between lobby area and bar/dining area to create the feeling of two distinct spaces, despite the two bleeding into each other structurally. One quick check-in and warm welcome from the manager Valerie Donaldson later and I’m walking through the corridor to my room, which gives me a chance to get a glimpse of the ‘doughnut’ structure of the inner well of the building from where the near-150 rooms in the hotel branch away and explains how the majority of rooms aren’t disturbed by activity in the shopping complex next door.
The darker, warmer hues of the corridors – with their grey-brown carpets, olive green wallcoverings and slight vintage feel – contrast with the cooler, industrial palettes of my modern room. I’m staying in a Junior Suite and as soon as I enter I’m struck by the considerable size of the room, especially considering the architect has had to factor in a curve of the exterior wall of the building. And, as mentioned, the room interior stands out immediately as having been designed to reflect an image of the modernity that the brand prides itself on espousing.
There are several little touches of clever design around the room; like the wooden-finished ‘pillar’, which quadruples up as a TV stand, a home for the mini-bar and tea and coffee facilities as well as a means of discreetly housing the mains sockets needed for the work desk – it’s a brilliant use of space and a tidy, well-thought-through solution to the question of where to locate all of these elements. As a rule, I’m a big fan of rooms with curved walls for the obvious aesthetic reasons, and it’s no different here with the designers having used the feature to great effect in order to light the room. (See image 2, below).
Further touches such as the ceiling paintwork matching the fabric of the soft furnishing on the bed, the impressive headboard of which all add to the feeling of the room being in the hands of a thoughtful and thematically-minded designer. I am surprised to see the bold use of coal-grey floor tiles throughout the bedroom and living space – mostly because, while these complement the clinical and modern feel, it’s a vast space for the housekeeping team to ensure is always clean. I needn’t have worried, as both underneath the bed and under the 12’x6’ rug were spotless.
The bathroom’s use of tiles creates a completely different feel, with tiling making up a dazzling three-quarter-wall of brilliant blue overlaid on a beige-brown, clear wall. (See images below) Likewise, the half-moon glass basin container and simplistically functional finishing of the bathroom fittings (provided by HD Directory members GROHE) work very well.
There are some tell-tale signs that this is a hotel designed with business users in mind; namely the ‘economical’ wardrobe space available – perfect for short stays but not practical for more than two people staying for several nights – and the good number of mains sockets strategically located around the room for the inevitable number of devices required on a business trip. Given this focus, it came as no surprise to see the level of quality in the design and finish of the hotel’s meeting facilities located on the newly refurbished mezzanine level. The space is flexible enough to offer a range of events – especially with the breakout room having the space for a full bar – and a touch I particularly like is the meeting room titles; each named after a Yorkshire-related theme and containing small items in each room to reflect its individual title.
The hotel is unique in the UK, and indeed outside of the US, in as much as it houses the only Fire Lake Grill House & Cocktail Bar – the flagship restaurant of the Minnesota-based hotel brand – beyond American borders. As a dining option for guests for breakfast, lunch or dinner, this ‘industrial chic’, left-field-decorated eatery is impressive. The conversation-starting focal points of design include the huge, striking wall display of Leeds-born actor Peter O’Toole brought to life by upward-facing lamps as well as a floor-to-ceiling fire pit. Having done prior research into the previous space and its interiors, which were classically-inspired and somewhat dated, this incarnation is a huge improvement. (A FULL REVIEW OF FIRE LAKE CAN BE READ ON OUR SISTER SITE PA LIFE)…
Combine this four-star Leeds hotel with its restaurant and its meeting spaces and you have a convincing case as to why the wider Radisson Blu collection has to be one of the most consistent upper-upscale brands globally. Like the other properties in the chain I’ve visited and stayed in, this property will do a good trade with weekend-breakers and even more so with businesspeople. But make no mistake, this is a well-designed hotel where comfort hasn’t been forgotten in the planning-to-production process – indeed, who says business-like practicality can’t have a touch of luxury? Add to this the fact manager Valerie Donaldson has a professional, committed team working with her and you have the foundations for a very successful property for the Radisson Blu brand.
Indeed, I’m reminded of a note I read when I arrived in my room under the heading ‘Manager’s Guarantee’ which said: ‘We’ll make your stay right or you won’t pay’. The manager can sleep easy because, on this evidence, she won’t need to be handing out complimentary stays very often at all…
Tuesday 9th February 2016 — Hotel Designs is pleased to announce the launch of its new fully responsive website. Through a complete ‘redecoration’, the aim is to give the brand a more succinct look and feel. With a logo that looks more like the emblem of a well-established hotel chain rather than a website, Hotel Designs is appealing to its high calibre of clients and readers alike.
The new website has been designed and developed to give readers an optimal viewing experience – with readily accessible content and easy navigation, everything has been created with the reader at its heart.
The ability to showcase a range of images in high resolution, at scale is fundamental to the overall appearance of the new site. Not only are there a greater number of opportunities to offer to clients wishing to work with the Hotel Designs team, but those opportunities look a lot more attractive. The Hotel Designs website is there to provide the latest news from across the hotel industry as well as hotel reviews, industry jobs and updates from our extensive directory of suppliers with hoteliers, designers and industry specialists at the heart of everything we cover.
This relaunch comes after the renaming and repositioning of the Hotel Designs Summit which we announced back in November. This event was renamed in order for it to explore additional areas from within the hotel industry namely design, facilities and development.
Katy Phillips, Publisher of Hotel Designs said “As a business we acquired HotelDesigns.net last summer and felt it hugely important to create our own identity in the marketplace. We are all very excited about the newly designed website and its capabilities in addition to the branding overhaul and hope that our readers like it too.”
Brintons Carpets collaborated with Birmingham City University at this year’s prestigious January Furniture Show.
Attended by over 16,000 buyers and 4,000 exhibitors, the four-day show at Birmingham’s NEC arena depicts the latest interior and furniture trends for the coming year.
BA Textile Design students from Birmingham City University used Brintons’ latest technologies to create two carpet designs, depicting how key interiors trends can be transformed into physical products and designs. The students showcased their latest work at the show as part of their final year trend project.
Currently in its eighth year, the project encourages students to create a range of designs inspired by industry trends. The project focuses upon the power of collaboration within different disciplines, joining science, technology, design and art together with renowned brands such as Brintons.
Charmaine Stint, Programme Manager for the Institute for Creative Innovation at Birmingham City University, said: “Challenging our students, staff and partners to come up with brand new concepts which are fresh, engaging and new, generates some truly innovative content. It’s this innovation which drives us and our partners to push the boundaries and is one of the most motivating elements of this showcase.”
As part of the project, each year students unravel two future trends, creating a portolio of moodboards and a final project. Influenced by Colourhive’s Autumn / Winter 2016/17 forecasts, this year’s project was inspired by two trends: ‘Strata’ and ‘Play.’
Inspired by the Natural World and its significance with the everyday, ‘Strata’ focuses upon the importance of geology and the unrefined beauty of the earth. Student Rosie Williams’ monochrome room set simultaneously explores human influence on nature. Student Chloe Baker’s ‘Play’ vibrant room set focuses upon the creativity and optimism possessed by our inner child.
Charmaine continued, “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to work with Brintons, through using its revolutionary 32 colour High Definition looms, allowing us to showcase our students new thinking and impressive designs.
Brintons worked in partnership with the University and the students to help support their design development and creative potential.
Sarah Draper, Commercial Marketing Manager for Brintons, said: “At Brintons industry trends constantly shape our designs and collections, so we were extremely excited about the opportunity to collaborate with the students at Birmingham City University.
“The future of design lies with upcoming students and being able to help them achieve their vision is a fantastic process.”
For more information on Brintons and its range of products and services for the commercial sector, visit www.brintons.net or call 01562 635665.
One of the country’s finest chefs, Paul Ainsworth of the Michelin-starred restaurant Number 6 in Padstow has now extended his offering to include accommodation, opening six exquisitely designed suites in a newly renovated Georgian townhouse, just a stone’s throw from his restaurant.
As a chef, Paul has quite the pedigree, working for Gordon Ramsey, Gary Rhodes and Marcus Wareing. In addition to recent TV appearances he in 2011 he appeared on the BBC2 TV series Great British Menu, competing against the country’s top chefs. A finalist in the cookery contest, he won the dessert round for his offering, Taste of the Fairground. Taking inspiration from his dessert, the six bedrooms are named after fairground treats and retro sweets. Guests at the Padstow Townhouse can stay in Marshmallow, Popcorn, Rhubarb and Custard, Toffee Apple, Honeycomb or Bonbon.
Photo: Jonathan Cornes Associates (jcassociates.co.uk)
During the 16-month project, Paul and his wife Emma worked with interior designer Eve Cullen-Cornes, design director at Jonathan Cornes Associates, to create the six bedrooms, each significantly different from the next.
“Our intention from the start was to create a truly unique and welcoming experience for our guests,” explains Paul. “We loved the idea of sweet-themed bedrooms. It started as a play on the word suite/ sweet, but quickly became the foundation of the design process. So for example, the Toffee Apple suite has warm caramel colours and a botanical theme. Eve discovered beautifully restored furniture and lamps, plus a retro line of botanical plates for the wall and beautiful botanical illustrations of fruits to highlight the hand buttoned head board.
Photo: Jonathan Cornes Associates (jcassociates.co.uk)
“Our Rhubarb and Custard suite is an eclectic collection of textures, including red and orange velvet, to represent the sweet and sour of rhubarb and custard. Eve managed to source these amazing cracked leather sofas in a deep, almost blood red, that are perfect for the room.”
Interior designer Eve Cullen-Cornes explains how she used storytelling during the design process to define the character of the six bedrooms at the Padstow Townhouse: “Emma and I created a backstory for each room, imagining who the room belonged to and defining the character. Once we had these well-rounded characters fixed in our minds, we could imagine their taste in décor, furniture and art. It’s a method I devised to tease out the individual characteristics, helping to clearly distinguish each of the six bedrooms.
Photo: Jonathan Cornes Associates (jcassociates.co.uk)
“So for example, for the Bonbon suite we pictured a smartly dressed gentleman who relishes a sense of occasion. An Oxbridge type, he can always be seen at Wimbledon, Ascot and the Henley Regatta, and spends his spare time skiing and race car driving.
“The suite is decorated with one of Cole & Son’s classic wallpaper patterns, the aptly named Wimbledon Stripe. We furnished it with an oxblood wing back and club-style chairs. The room is dotted with vintage sports memorabilia to set the scene, but the bed is my favourite part – it has an upholstered fireplace headboard, which would have been adorned with all of the trophies our gentleman has collected from his sporting exploits.”
Photo: Jonathan Cornes Associates (jcassociates.co.uk)
With the help of Eve, Paul and Emma have successfully restored the Georgian townhouse to its former beauty. The renovation process of this Grade II listed property involved a brand new roof, strengthening of the outer walls, floors and ceilings, and traditional sash windows have been re-installed. Inside, it has been completely re-wired and re-plumbed from top to bottom, and every wall has been re-plastered. The eclectic style of the townhouse was achieved by gathering exceptional pieces of furniture and sourcing the right materials and fabrics, over a matter of months.
Paul adds: “The design is very respectful of the age and architecture of the townhouse and we’ve made the most out of the building’s quirks. Emma and I feel we have good taste and we know what we like, but we relied on Eve’s incredible vision and creativity to steer us in the right direction. It’s just been the most amazing experience working with Eve; she’s in a league of her own! I think creatively, Emma and Eve really fuelled and energised each other. It may sound odd, but I’m genuinely gutted it’s over, it was just such a brilliant experience.”
As an interior designer, Eve has worked on a range of varied projects, from tiny townhouses to mansions, and hunting lodges to French chateaus. She has also worked with other chefs, designing the bedrooms at The Hand and Flowers in Marlow, the Michelin starred pub owned by TV chef Tom Kerridge.
The company’s 524th hotel is a purpose built, 83-room property which represents an investment value of £6.5 million and has created 23 new jobs. The hotel features Travelodge’s new contemporary design and becomes the latest Travelodge to feature a Bar Café.
Travelodge currently operates six hotels across Oxfordshire which have been all been upgraded as part of the company’s £100m investment programme to deliver greater quality to its customers. All the company’s UK hotels now feature a new contemporary room design and include the bespoke luxurious king-size Travelodge Dreamer bed.
Travelodge is now embarking on an expansion drive to add hotels in up to 250 additional locations across the UK. Travelodge Chief Executive, Peter Gowers announced at the opening that the company is seeking to double its presence in Oxfordshire, with plans to open or secure further sites in key locations including: Oxford, Abingdon, Didcot, Witney, Banbury and Henley-upon-Thames.
The proposed Oxfordshire expansion programme is expected to represent a total investment value of £40 million and to create 175 new jobs, offering a £10m boost to the local economy – with every Travelodge guest expected to spend double the amount with local businesses during their stay that they spend on their hotel room. Each room has en-suite facilities with eco-friendly showers, in-room toiletries including liquid soap, a flat screen TV with 18 free digital channels, free tea and coffee making facilities, and free Wi-Fi for 30 minutes during every stay.
Peter Gowers, Travelodge Chief Executive said: “The area around Oxford is becoming an ever more desirable place to live and work. With rising demand for value hotels, especially from start-up small businesses and families on a tight travel budget, it’s a place we want to invest in. We are looking to double our portfolio in Oxfordshire, creating new jobs and bringing a further boost to the local economy.”
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the opening of the newly-renovated 148-room Holiday Inn Resort The Lodge at Big Bear Lake hotel in the southern mountains of California. This hotel is the first Holiday Inn Resort location in the state.
Eric Lent, Vice President, Holiday Inn® Brand, The Americas, IHG said: “With locations around the world, the Holiday Inn brand plays an important role in the journeys of guests wherever they travel – from the boardroom to the mountains. As part of that iconic brand family, this Holiday Inn Resort location provides the warm hospitality our guests expect and helps them create lasting memories on unforgettable family vacations.”
Guests can take advantage of the hotel’s outdoor pool with Jacuzzi and sauna, arcade, complimentary Wi-Fi and full service restaurant, Stillwell’s. They also get to relax in the resort’s renovated rooms and suites, offering a tranquil mountain cabin atmosphere.
Ray Reyes, General Manager, said: “We are thrilled to welcome guests to our newly-renovated property. With our close proximity to so many local attractions, shopping and entertainment options, we anticipate our hotel will quickly become a favorite choice of leisure travelers visiting the area.”
Minor Hotel Group (MHG), currently with a portfolio of 136 hotels and resorts in 22 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, South America, Africa and the Indian Ocean, has announced its first Oaks property in India with the development of Oaks Neemrana.
Oaks Neemrana is under development in the centre of the town and is scheduled to open in 2017. The new property will be housed above NSP Arcadia Mall which is also currently under construction and will offer a supermarket, banks, department stores and retail outlets, along with restaurants and family entertainment including a multiplex cinema. An additional internationally branded hotel is under development in the neighbouring tower, which is expected to open shortly after the mall and Oaks.
Facilities at the 116 unit Oaks Neemrana will include an all-day dining restaurant with sky garden, a lobby café and lounge area, a pool bar, meeting space of 160 square metres with capacity to accommodate up to 80 people, plus a gym and a kids’ play area. There will be three different room types: 68 Studio Apartments; 40 One Bedroom Apartments and eight Two Bedroom Apartments.
Oaks Hotels & Resorts offers a range of contemporary accommodation, from hotel and resort rooms and suites, to furnished serviced apartments, in central city locations and resorts. Oaks is one of Australia’s largest, self-contained accommodation providers in the 4–4.5 star market and was launched in Australia in 1991. The growing portfolio currently comprises 52 properties across four countries — Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates, with more than 6,000 guest rooms under its management. Additional properties are currently under development in China and Bali, Indonesia.
Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotel Group, commented, “We are excited to announce both the first Oaks in India and also the first Minor Hotel Group property in India. The Oaks brand is a great fit for this market, which represents a huge opportunity, and we are confident that the property will be a great success.”
Four-star Lancashire hotel Oak Royal Hotel has revealed plans to expand and hire more staff, a mere six months after opening its doors for the first time.
The Oak Royal, near Chorley, opened in August 2015 after a £2 million investment, and it has proven to be such a success that the owners are now planning to add six new bedrooms, taking the total number of rooms from 26 to 32. The hotel is owned by entrepreneur Charles Downes. Nearly ten years ago, he launched the nine-hole Oak Royal Golf & Country Club on his farm, with a restaurant and café in the club house and the opening of the Oak Royal Hotel last year marked his first hotel project.
Alongside the hotel’s bedrooms, the Oak Royal Hotel is home to the Lark Hill Restaurant, the Bubbles Lounge Bar and Sportsman Bar and two function rooms, the Jubilee Suite and The Boardroom. The expansion work will cost £600,000.
Luxury fabric specialist Kobe UK is celebrating a successful first time run at this year’s January Furniture Show.
Bringing its new upholstery collections to the show, the company was able to meet up with existing customers as well as growing its new customer base and significantly boosting sales.
New to the show was Kobe’s Elegance, inspired by Art Deco, reflecting the lavish glamour reminiscent of this period. Also for the first time and giving even greater choice, Kobe brought together timeless designs with an array of textiles in a library of 36 sample books. It included more than 700 fabrics in a wide range of colours, textures and patterns for today’s high-end domestic and contract markets.
Said David Harris, MD of Kobe UK: “This was a fantastic show for us. It was a great opportunity to meet new customers and the ideal platform for us to promote our new collections.”
On a separate stand the company also showcased its Essente collection for those who want a cost effective option with the quality and reassurance of the Kobe name. This fresh and contemporary range features a variety of plains in a cool linen, soft suede and silk satin appearance. Said David: “Listening to our customers is our number one priority and the feedback we got about the collections was fantastic. We will certainly be back again next year!”
Kobe’s UK operation is based in Crowthorne, Berkshire. For further information contact Julie Croston or Jan Turner on 01756 795374 or email julie@akapr.co.uk / jan@akapr.co.uk
A topping out ceremony has been held at Europe’s first Park Regis in Birmingham as construction work nears the end of its final phase.
During a sneak preview inside the hotel, guests were given a tour of the £50 million project and saw the scale and progress of the building ahead of its opening.
Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Raymond Hassell, attended the ceremony alongside West Midlands business people, booking agents, key stakeholders in the development and the media.
The 253-bedroom hotel has seen former office building Auchinleck House at Five Ways transformed into a state of the art, four-star hotel which will boast some of the best views across the city from its newly built 16th floor sky bar.
Robin Ford, General Manager at Park Regis Birmingham, said: “As we head towards our grand opening, we’re thrilled to be able to bring people into the building to show them the culmination of all of the work that has been going on for the last three years. This is a significant milestone in the project and today we have been able to share our excitement with our stakeholders.”
2016 has been dubbed a vintage year by judges in Hotelympia’s prestigious, original and best Innovation Awards to date.
Judges, including Jack Sharkey, CEDA Chairman, Carl Weldon, CEO HOSPA (Hospitality Finance, Revenue and IT Professionals) and Stirling Johnstone, Editor of GS Magazine, have whittled down hundreds of entries – innovative new product launches set to be on view at the four-day show (29th February – 3rd March) – to just 19 finalists in the categories of interiors, technology, and catering equipment. The winners will be decided at the event itself.
Below are the finalists in the ‘Interiors’ category:
Alfresco Spaces with its ultimate stylish outdoor heating solution ‘Fire N Table’
Divine Atmos Private Limited with its eco-friendly ‘Palm Leaf Slippers’;
Hotel Contract Interiors with ‘Engineered Vinyl Tile’, the 100% waterproof, no hassle commercial floor;
Signature FSE with ‘Inductwarm® tables’, the only wooden table in the market to allow dishes to be kept warm through induction technology, and another first in its field,
Vegware with ‘Recycled compostable black cutlery’, the only recycled compostable black cutlery for stylish eco-friendly dining.
HD Directory members Burgess Furniture’s iconic ‘Inicio’
“Without question, the best batch of entries to date. Some truly great ideas which have been well thought through to provide the industry with new and improved products. Finding a winner from these will not be an easy task”. Stirling Johnstone (Chair of Judges), Editor, GS Magazine.
Toby Wand, Managing Director at Fresh Montgomery, said: “Once again, the Innovation Awards has unearthed the most ground-breaking new products in hospitality! Visitors should seek out our dedicated area at the show housing the finalists’ products for all to see and marvel at throughout the four days. No other show is equipped to give a clearer snapshot of the weight of innovation that this industry is capable of delivering.”
Launched in 2010 Hotelympia’s highly prestigious Innovation Awards shine a light on the very best new products that the hospitality sector has to offer.
Dusit Fudu Hotels and Resorts is pleased to announce the signing of an agreement with Hainan Jinxiu Industrial Company Limited to manage a new luxury Dusit Devarana Resort in Haikou City, Hainan Province.
Complementing the group’s original Dusit Thani brand, Dusit Devarana is a significant niche offering that leverages Dusit International’s rich Thai heritage and history of service excellence to offer an intimate, high-end sanctuary experience for discerning travellers.
Scheduled to open in 2018, the Dusit Devarana Resort, Haikou West will offer 108 guest rooms and villas, conveniently located within a 15-minute drive from the city centre and a 30-minute drive from Haikou Meilan International Airport.
A new 222-room Motel One hotel in Newcastle has opened with a unique mix of tradition, industrialisation and modern style and rooms Travellers visiting for the city’s attractions will find the Theatre Royal, Grey’s Monument, the River Tyne and the beautiful Quayside all within close proximity to Motel One Newcastle.
Sports fans can visit nearby St James’ Park and music lovers can enjoy concerts at the Sage Gateshead Hall, both within walking distance of the hotel.
During construction great care was taken to preserve some of the old brick walls to retain the original building’s charm. Motel One Newcastle has taken its design inspiration from old industrial charm blended with stylish modernism. This is showcased by the carefully conserved old brick walls contrasting beautifully with sparkling chandeliers and the reception’s black and white stripes of Newcastle United Football Club.
The hotel’s One Lounge breakfast area d�cor has been inspired by the iconic seven bridges over the Tyne. In the bar the decor is influenced by Robert Stephenson’s invention, the steam train Rocket. Signposts similar to those found within Newcastle city centre are found in the lounge, creating a real sense of identity between the city and the hotel. Comfy Italian leather furniture provides the perfect place to relax with a special selection of single malt or gin and tonic after a busy day in the city.
Rooms located in the carefully preserved and renovated historical part of the building showcase a modern style blended with velvet curtains and beautifully detailed wallpaper, perfectly combining the old and the new. Rooms in the newly built section of the hotel are designed in the contemporary Motel One style. All rooms guarantee sweet dreams with 100% Egyptian cotton bed linen.
The bathrooms are all elegantly fitted with granite and glass Dornbracht washbasin fittings, as well as a monsoon rain shower. Complemented with exclusive Artemide Tolomeo lighting and LOEWE flat screen TV, each room provides a peaceful escape from the city outside. Clever functional design ensures there is plenty of storage space.
Radisson Blu has announced the launch of ‘BluPrint’ – a new dynamic interior design offering for the styling of its guest rooms, social and public spaces, as well as meetings & events. According to the brand’s statement released this week, BluPrint is an ‘innovative, coherent way to evolve a property’s design according to guests’ changing lifestyles and trends’.
Rose Anderson, Vice President of Branding, said: “For our owners, BluPrint provides more distinctive and localised styling while aiming to achieve process efficiencies across interior design and refurbishments.”
Radisson Blu has a long pedigree of pioneering unique interiors going back to its first design hotel in 1960; the Royal Hotel, Copenhagen — today known as the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Copenhagen.
And now in the 21st century, Radisson’s BluPrint is centred on three key aspects of the guest experience:
Guest room styling BluPrint aims to blend definitive design classics with bespoke furniture, fixtures and fittings that revolve around core DNA components developed to create a perfect fusion of function and form. Flexible to influences of local culture and design, the room styling is bespoke to each location resulting in a variety of unique room configurations — a radically new approach to hotel design providing a more enriching and relevant guest experience.
Social spaces In the lobbies, BluPrint takes shape through the thoughtful selection of iconic furniture pieces, an attentive use of lighting and the flexibility to introduce unique elements according to the location of each hotel. Bars and restaurants come to life through a variety of concepts, some with a distinct identity, others more adaptable to local sensibilities. The common thread is exquisite food, thoughtful service and a relaxed mood.
Meetings & events Breaking the conventions of a generic space conceived to accommodate corporate events as well as special celebrations, BluPrint creates an environment for meetings and events that comes to life with character and soul.
Radisson Blu will begin implementation of BluPrint this year across its global portfolio of hotels. Moving forward, it will form part of the brand’s comprehensive renovation and refurbishment program.
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